NOV. 2008 - The Rainbow Times

By: Romeo San Vicente*Zeta-Jones Walks - andDances - Like an EgyptianWhat do Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Jackman,Steven Soderbergh,Cleopatra, choreography,and 3D glasses have incommon? If you guessed "everything," thenyou have even more strangely specific BusbyBerkeley dreams than Soderbergh, whosenext big idea involves just that. Theacclaimed filmmaker wants to stage an allsinging,all-dancing, all-3D, big-budget musicalversion of Cleopatra, starring Zeta-Jonesand Jackman, and is in talks with those starsto make his vision a reality. There are no otherdetails at the moment, but the very idea thatthis could take place should be enough towarm the heart and excite the over-the-topimagination of Chicago-loving, Wolverinelusting,musical-loving queers (not to mentionall those Jaws 3D fans in desperate need ofstuff fake-flying off the screen) everywhere.More two-dimensional details coming soon.Rosie O'Donnell Pursues AmericaYou may miss seeing Rosie O'Donnell takingCATHERINE ZETA-JONESElisabeth Hasselbeck down a peg or two onThe View every day, but Rosie's keeping herselfvery busy on the small screen. Followingher recent hilarious appearance on LittleBritain USA and her upcoming gig hosting awww.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • 7new NBC variety special, Rosie will be starringin and executive-producing America, anew movie for the Lifetime network. Basedon the book by E.R. Frank, America tells thestory of a troubled 16-year-old and his struggleswith the foster care system. The title roleof the teenager hasn't been cast, but O'Donnellwill play his therapist, and Oscar nomineeRuby Dee has signed on as the boy's caretaker.Yves Simoneau (HBO's Bury My Heart atWounded Knee) will direct. See America firstin February.Hayes, Hathaway May Make Promises!Promises!Now that Mad Men has made 1960s officepolitics sexy all over again, perhaps it's nosurprise that gay producers Craig Zadan andNeil Meron (Chicago) are talking aboutreviving the Burt Bacharach musicalPromises! Promises! on Broadway. A tunefultake on the Billy Wilder classic TheApartment, P!P! was a big hit on the GreatWhite Way in the late '60s. (It's also the showthat gave us "Turkey Lurkey Time," so memorablyperformed in the recent movie Camp.)While no one has yet signed on the dottedline, Sean Hayes and Anne Hathaway recentlyparticipated in a workshop reading in NewQueerWoodDeep Inside Hollywood: Zeta-Jones Walks - & Dances - Like an EgyptianYork and are presumed (read: ferventlyhoped) to be the first picks for the lead roles.Since it's still early in the process, an openingdate has yet to be promised.At Last, The Big Gay MusicalGays and musicals go together like chocolateand peanut butter, so it seemed inevitable thatsomeone would combine the two. And so wehave The Big Gay Musical, which startedshooting in October. Directed by CasperAndreas (whose Slutty Summer and A Four-Letter Word were popular on the gay film-festivalcircuit), Big Gay Musical tells the storyof two gay song-and-dance men. One of themhas abandoned the search for Mr. Right andchooses instead to get slutty, like all the chorusboys he knows, while the other copes withissues of family and faith. The cast includesvets from just about every recent Broadwayshow, from A Chorus Line and Mamma Mia!to Wicked and Xanadu. Look for Musical topop up at next summer's fests.* Romeo San Vicente has been known tolaunch into numbers from "Merrily We RollAlong" at the most inopportune momentsimaginable. He can be reached care of thispublication or at this email:DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.Couch from Page 6country’s first Black presidential hopeful, Iquestion the ethical judgment of anyone whowould offer humankind a pill to forget.Humanity, and our deep ability to feel whatothers feel, is needed more than ever in ourworld’s history. It wasn’t that long ago wewere forced to wear black or pink triangleson our clothing. We were marked, caged andexecuted.Thankfully, there were others whofought for our rights to be free. But what if afuture fighting force were to forget the painthey caused? What if they could go on notfeeling what the consequences of theiractions were? That would be a very grim day,indeed.What our country is really suffering fromisits own style of PTSD. Forgetting is whathas gotten us into this mess to begin with.Americans are suffering a form of civicamnesia: we have allowed ourselves to forget.We’ve forgotten what men and womenhave breathed and died for to allow us thefreedoms we take for granted. We’ve forgottenthe struggles of those who dared to standat Stonewall. We’ve forgotten our brothersand sisters in foreign lands who at this verymoment, are being beaten, jailed or put todeath because they are gay. We’ve forgottenAmerica is a land of immigrants, that we areall allowed to live under this flag, and wearen’t just meant to be a Christian nation…ora completely hetero one.American may have forgotten their roots,but our community needs to work to rememberits own. And about that pill to forget: itmay sound sweet, even tempting but, we needto always remember our own his(or her)storysoit doesn’t continue to repeat itself.Yes, our past has left its mark, but it’s a scarwell worth keeping. It hurts, but it’s areminder of where we’ve been, as well aswhere we’re going. Just ask Frankenstein.* Suzan Ambrose, when not cruising downthe road less traveled, playing Pinochle withfriends or listening to talk radio can be heardon her call-in radio program, The NakedTruth, Monday evenings at 8 p.m., on103.3FM, Northampton, MA. Also catch theshow streaming on the web at www.valleyfreeradio.org.TRTHeaded East? No prob!

www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • 13

14 • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com

By: Nicole Lashomb/TRT’s Editor-in-ChiefLove Makes a Family (LMF), a statewidenon-profit organization that advocates forequal marriage rights, celebrated CT’s samesexmarriage victory. However, LMF is pressingforward with recent plans to help enhancesame-sex couples’understandingof the newmarriage laws,and tackle theopposition ahead,according to theorganization’sAssociateDirector.“We are educatingsame-sexcouples on how toget married,” saidCarol Buckheit,AssociateDirector, LMF,Hartford, CT.“With our colleaguesat GLAD,we are co-hosting‘Legal MarriageCounseling’ seminarsfor same-but around the world. People are looking fordemons to blame their problems on, and we'reat the top of the list.”Kerrigan & Mock v. Connecticut Dept. ofPublic Health, the Gay & Lesbian Advocatesand Defenders’ (GLAD) case that compelledthe recent ruling,commencedin 2004after eightsame-sex coupleswererefused marriagelicensesand sued thestate claimingtheir constitutionalrightshad been violated.In October2005, the statebegan issuing“civil union”licenses, limitedto same-sexcouples, as amethod oflegally recognizingtheirsex couples,relationships.attorneys, andHowever, theanyone else whocourt ruled thatwants to hearthe enactedabout implementationcivil unions’of the newlaw did notmarriage laws.Plaintiff couple Jeffrey Busch and Stephen Davis with their soncomprehensivelyprovideWe are planningElijah, at the press conference a few hours after the Kerriganahead for the legislativesession,same-sex coupleswith thedecision was announced.Photo by: Glenn Koetznerwhich will begin in January. The legislaturewill have to deal with how to dissolve theinstitution of civil unions, so we will supportefforts to do that and educate our members onthat. We will also need to defend our newmarriage rights, since our opponents willalmost certainly attempt to use the legislatureto amend the CT Constitution to ban marriagerights for same-sex couples.”The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled infavor of same-sex marriage, a historic decisionwhich made Conn. the third state, precededby Massachusetts and California, toafford same-sex couples marital rights.According to a Hartford Courant poll takenin mid October, Connecticut residents supportthe decision to legalize same-sex marriage bya margin of 53-42. However, a backlash isexpected.Groups such as The American FamilyAssociation (AFA), a non-profit organizationthat promotes conservative Christian values,vehemently opposes same-sex marriage andlobbies against it.“I have grave concerns about such groups,”same rights as heterosexual couples, especiallyrelated to social or historical significance.Separate is not equal, according to the justicesin the 4-3 decision.“Although marriage and civil unions doembody the same legal rights under our law,they are by no means ‘equal,’” the majoritywrote. “The former is an institution of transcendenthistorical, cultural and social significance,whereas the latter most surely is not.… the very existence of the classification [forsame-sex couples] gives credence to the perceptionthat separate treatment is warrantedfor the same illegitimate reasons that gave riseto the past discrimination in the first place.Despite the truly laudable effort of the legislaturein equalizing the legal rights affordedsame sex and opposite sex couples, there is nodoubt that civil unions enjoy a lesser status inour society than marriage.”Conn. same-sex couples, singles and familiesweigh in.“As a couple, we feel that that we have justbeen given a right that should have alwaysbeen there for us,” said Anthony Cervonisaid Billy Urich, New Britain, CT. “Although along with partner Robert Haydasz,they preach love of God, etc., ad nauseam,they live their lives with fear, misunderstanding,intolerance, bigotry and hate. As a result,any ‘out-group’ pays the price. We see thiswith the Mathew Shepards, Jessica Mercadosand the many more, not only in this country,Southington, CT. “It means that our relationshipis recognized and that nobody inConnecticut can claim that we don't have theright to speak for each other. In the past, ifone of us had to talk to the insurance company,the bank, or the doctor's office on behalfwww.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • 15of the other, we would just ‘pretend’ to beRobert or Anthony because we weren't surethey would talk to us otherwise. Now, we cansimply tell them that we want information onbehalf of our legal spouse.”Patty Connelly-Cohen of Hartford, Conn.furthers.“Full marriage [rights] being afforded toGLBT people legitimatize my children, aswell as my partner, myself, and all GLBT lovingfamilies,” she said.One local resident believes that the new lawwill not only affect same-sex couples, but willalso impact the dreams and fantasies of childrenalike.“Knowing that I was gay almost my entirelife I never really thought about my wedding,”said Jenn Tracz, Suffield, CT “Everygirl says they’ve been planning that day theirwhole life, not me. But, when I heard that it[same-sex marriage] was legal and a reality inthe state I live in, suddenly I became that girl.Same-sex Marriage NewsSame-sex marriage victory in CT, opposition lies aheadCall me crazy, but I’ve begun planning [mywedding] without a future bride to be!”As LMF continues to serve the gay communityat large, CT same-sex residents can restassured that, at least for now, their love andfamilies are protected and governed by thelaw.“Thousands of couples who have pledgedto love each other and spend their lives to takecare of each other can finally have their governmentrecognize them as legally marriedcouples,” said Buckheit. “These couples willfinally have the dignity and respect that isafforded by the word ‘married.’”According to GLAD, the Supreme Court’sdecision will likely be enacted and same-sexcouples can expect to marry on or shortlyafter November 10, 2008.For more information (age limit, residencyrequirements, re-marrying, or what to do ifyou have .a civil union) visit www.glad.org, orcall LMF at 860-525-7777.

16 • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.comLesbian VoicesA Lesbian’s Post-election MusingsBy: Rev. Irene Monroe*Depending on whichmedia outlets you tunedinto for “fair and balanced”reporting on theelection campaign’spresidential candidates,Senator Barack Obamacouldn’t do any wrongand Senator John McCain couldn’t do anyright. Or, Obama was spun as an elitist eruditewith anti-American cronies, and McCain’s aswashbuckling maverick. The V.P. hopefuls—Senator Joe Biden and Governor SarahPalin—were not spared from the “info-tainment”and insults, either. And while the 2008election coverage had been nonstop in providingexcitement, too much political theater andfighting became exhausting over time.While political ideological lines were warringfactions in the campaign, so too wereidentity issues. The intersections race, gender,and sexual orientation played out in this campaignwhere women and blacks have been pittedagainst each other, and blacks againstgays. The dynamics of status, power, privilege,and inequality also impacted theseissues. At times, we behaved as a nationintractably embattled and divided across theseidentity lines than as a nation striving towarda participatory democracy.As a LGBTQ community we saw that notime was the right time to push to the forefrontas national campaign issue marriageequality.Marriage is a litmus test not only for thoseof us seeking it, but marriage is also a litmustest for our government to honestly say that itgrants equal rights to all its citizens.Democracy can only begin to work whenthose relegated to the fringes of society canbegin to sample what those in the rest of societytake for granted as their inalienable right.The gap between heterosexual marriage andun-recognized same-sex partnerships includemore than 1,100 rights and protections, suchas Social Security benefits, veterans’ benefits,health insurance, Medicaid, hospital visitation,estate taxes, retirement savings, pensions,family leave and immigration law, toname a few. This election was no differentthan previous ones, in that no candidateattempted to grant these rights and protectionsto us under the name of “marriage.”Without the right to marry a failed economyhurts, LGBTQ taxpayers more. For example,aside from HIV/AIDS prevention programsthat will be slashed if not all together gone,our Medicare and social security benefits willbe slashed disproportionately more than therest of the population, if we are partnered/married, simply because we are LGBTQ taxpayers.Why? With only a few states recognizingsame-sex marriage we not only areforced to file separate income tax forms, butQueer Cinema You Can’t Miss!Milk (G)Genre: Biography, Drama; Rating: Not yet ratedDistribution: Wide ReleaseDirector: Gus Van SantDistributor: Focus FeaturesStarring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch,James Franco; Release Date: 10/29/08Notes:General release in NovemberSynopsis: Harvey Milk (Penn) was the first openlygay man elected to officce in 1977. A year later, hewas assassinated by Dan White (Brolin), a rivalpolitician. Also included in the story is Scott Smith(Franco), Milk's lover and campaign manager, aswell as gay rights activist Cleve Jones (Hirsch), whowent on to form the NAMES Project AIDS MemorialQuilt.The Women (L)Genre: Comedy, Drama; Rating: PG-13;Distribution: Wide Release; Director: Diane EnglishDistributor: Picturehouse EntertainmentStarring: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes,Jada Pinkett Smith, Debra Messingwe also as its consequence are thrown into ahigher tax bracket. And, to add insult toinjury, our social security benefit packageswon't benefit our partners like those of heterosexuals.All of us hope for a speedy solutionto our country’s financial crisis. But one, Isay, that take into account the way all its taxpayersshare households, including itsLGBTQ partnered and married citizens.Women’s issues had never been so exciting—andso frightening—in a presidentialcampaign until this August when McCainAs an African American lesbian, Christian minister andtheologian I know that the struggle against racism is legitimateonly if I am also fighting Anti-Semitism, homophobia,transphobia, sexism, classim and other oppressionstogether. I know that all of these “isms” are merely tools ofoppression, which will continue to keep us fractured insteadof united toward a common goal.Release Date: 09/08/08Synopsis: In this remake of George Cukor's 1939film of the same title, Mary (Ryan) a wealthy NewYorker, leaves her cheating husband and bonds withother society women at a resort. Among her supportgroup is Alex (Pinkett Smith), who is an out lesbian.Happy Hookers (G,T)Genre: Documentary; Rating: Not yet ratedDistribution: Limited ReleaseDirector: Ashish Sawhny (Happy Hookers),Alessandrea Zeka (Harsh Beauty)Release Date: 00/00/00Synopsis: Happy Hookers looks at the lives of threemale hustlers in India. Harsh Beauty follows the joysand struggles of the hijras, a cult of eunuchs wholive between genders.Jack & Diane (L)Genre: Drama; Rating: Not yet ratedDistribution: Starring: Ellen Page; Status: delayeduntil 2010; Synopsis: About a young lesbian dealingwith her sexuality.picked Palin as his running mate. Viewed bymany women Democrats as the G.O.P.’s dragqueen, lip-synching the party’s rhetoric,Palin—a moose-hunting, gun-toting maxedouthockey mom of five—has the worstrecord on women’s issues of all four candidates,including McCain’s. The NationalOrganization of Women refused to supporther. Astonishingly during the Biden/Palindebate, women's issues were scantly touchedon. If you were not listening closely youwould have missed this topic all together.More amazing was that the moderator, PBS'sGwen Ifill, a noted African-American femalejournalist, never broached the topic head-onby asking the candidates questions concerningwomen. Only Biden briefly mentionedRoe v. Wade. And though Biden authored theViolence Against Women Act, he did not takethe time to stress the significance of the bill.In our efforts to erase race in this campaignwe have had to confront the issue of genderbias, or more bluntly stated the issue of aBlack man competing against white womanfor the highest office.The race between Obama and Hillary forthe White House highlighted the fault lines ofboth race and gender, and a nation still at thecross roads of how to overcome these socialills. And with a media that pandered toObama's charm and parsed Hillary's words wesaw not only unfair treatment of the candidatesbut also a race/gender divide amongDemocrats as a consequence of it. Race in thisinstance did indeed trump gender and thealchemy of the two in a male- dominated societyI confront all the time as a black woman.As an African American lesbian, Christianminister and theologian I know that the struggleagainst racism is legitimate only if I amalso fighting Anti-Semitism, homophobia,transphobia, sexism, classim and otheroppressions together. I know that all of these“isms” are merely tools of oppression whichwill continue to keep us fractured instead ofunited toward a common goal.And while it is also true that employing anarrow understanding that all oppressions areinterconnected ignores the salient pointsabout differences within oppressed groupsand that these differences are neither all thesame nor all equal to each together, it is alsotrue that ignoring how oppressed groups canwork together truncates the possibility for fulland equal rights for all Americans.With this new presidency the moral andpolitical imperative before us all is that unitedwe can stand striving toward a participatorydemocracy or divided we can fall as a pettypeople.* Rev. Irene Monroe can be reached care ofthis publication. For more information, visit:therainbowtimesmass.com.

“Milk” the film resource kitOn Nov. 26, 2008, the much-anticipatedfilm Milk will be released, creating an opportunityto give audiences a unique perspectiveinto the early days of the modern LGBT rightsmovement.The feature follows Harvey Milk (played bySean Penn), an outspoken advocate for lesbianand gay equality who successfully ranfor the San Francisco Board of Supervisorsand became the city’s first openly gay electedofficial, and one of the first openly gay electedofficials in the country. Unfortunately,Milk’s life came to an abrupt and tragic end.On Nov. 27, 1978, Milk and San FranciscoMayor George Moscone were shot to death byDan White, a former member of the Board.Thirty years after the murders, Gus VanSant has directed a star-studded cast in a featurefilm retelling of the story. Set for anOctober 28 premiere in the Castro District ofSan Francisco, followed by a release in selectmarkets nearly thirty years to the day of hismurder a month later, the film has the potentialto introduce a tremendously importantpiece of LGBT history to mainstream audiences.Milk was shot on location in the CastroDistrict of San Francisco. Archivists pouredover historical materials to formulate adetailed, accurate vision for the period landscape,which was then accomplishedby both small andlarge scale changes, such asde-modernizing storefronts,repainting the Castro movietheater marquee, and evenswitching the trash cans on thestreet.By all accounts, filming wasa very emotional experiencefor those involved. In one ofmany such stories, a local man on the set ofMilk broke down in tears during a speech inwhich actor Sean Penn delivers the lines,“Brothers and sisters, you must come out toyour parents... It may hurt them. But thinkhow they could hurt you in the voting booth.”The 63-year-old extra explained to the SanFrancisco Chronicle that Milk had influencedhim to come out to his family, and that thefilm “is an important thing for me because Iwant all the kids to know what Harvey did.”“I have cried every single day since westarted working,” said Cleve Jones, a gayThe 63-year-old extra explained to the San FranciscoChronicle that Milk had influenced him to come out to hisfamily, and that the film “is an important thing for mebecause I want all the kids to know what Harvey did.”activist working as a historical consultant onMilk. He is played by Emile Hirsch in thefilm and is best known as creator of theNAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. “Somany of the things we take for granted now,in the age of ‘Will & Grace’ re-runs and MarkLeno and Carole Migden holding office, wereunimaginable not so long ago,” said Jones.According to Jones, Milk does fictionalizesome elements in its transition to the screen,but tries to stay as true to the story as possible.“If we tried to explain exactly the politics ofthis city, the movie would be long, dull, andconfusing”For more information about the filmvisit:filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • 17W & C Mass.Blu105 Water StreetWorcester, MAClub Car64 Water StreetWorcester, MADIVA'S492 Pleasant St.Northampton, MAHob Knob234 Chestnut StreetSpringfield, MAThe Pub382 Dwight StreetSpringfield, MAMB40 Grafton StreetWorcester, MASin City350 Worthington StreetSpringfield, MAClub OZ397 Dwight St.Springfield, MABoston209 at Club Cafe209 Columbus Ave.617.350.5555Alley14 Pi Alley, 274 Washington Street617.263.1449dbar1236 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester617.257.4490Estate (Thr., Sun.)1 Boylston Place, 617.257.4490Eagle520 Tremont St.,617.542.4494Fritz26 Chandler St., 617.482.4428Jacques Cabaret79 Broadway Street617.426.8902Machine1256 Boylston St., 617.536.1950Midway Cafe (gay Tue., lesbian Thr.)3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain617.524.9038Milky Way Lounge (Sun.)401 Central Street, Jamaica Plain,617.524.3740Paradise180 Mass. Avenue, Cambridge,617.868.3000Ramrod1254 Boylston Street617.266.2986Rise (after hours)306 Stuart Street617.423.7473Roxy (Sat.)279 Tremont Street617.338.ROXYRumor (Wed.)100 Warrenton Street617.338.8061Shine (Thr., Fri., Sat., Sun.)1 Kendall Square, Cambridge,617.621.9500Suite (Mon.)1 Boylston Place617.257.4490Tribe at Felt (Thr.)533 Washington Street, 4th Floor,617.350.5555Underbar (Thr.)275 Tremont Street617.292.0080Venu (Wed., Latin Night)100 Warrenton St617.338-8061ConnecticutChez Est458 Wethersfield Ave.Hartford, CTTriangles66 Sugar Hollow RoadDanbury, ConnecticutPolo Club678 Maple Ave., Hartford, CT168 York Street Cafe168 York StreetNew Haven, CTBar254 Crown StreetNew Haven, CTGotham Citi CafeChurch & Crown StreetsNew Haven, CTPartners Cafe365 Crown StreetNew Haven, CTNew YorkWater Works Pub76 Central Ave.Albany, NYQueer Voices from NYThe Night OwlBrought to you by: The Rainbow TimesCheck out our Best LGBTQ Clubs in our Gayborhoods!Club Phoenix348 Central Ave., Albany, NYJoey's Bar664 2nd Ave., Troy, NYOh Bar304 Lark Street,Albany, NYFuze Box Bar12 Central Ave., Albany, NYClinton St. Pub159 Clinton St., Schenectady, NYProvincetownA-House6 Masonic Place508.487.3821Alibi291 Commercial Street508.487.2890Bayside Betty's-Mixers177 Commercial Street508.487.0120Boatslip161 Commercial Street508.487.1669Crown and Anchor247 Commercial Street508.487.1430Chaser's293 Commercial Street508.487.7200PiedBar193A Commercial Street508.487.1527PorchSide Bar11 Carver Street508.487.9793Post Office Cabaret303 Commercial St., 508.487.9793Purgatory911 Carver St., 508.487.8442Vixen336 Commercial Street508.487.6424Wet Spot at the Boat Slip161 Commercial Street508.487.1669Randolphtemporarily closed forrenovations/Randolph Country Club44 Mazeo Drive781.961.2414TRTNot plain, LGBT HOT!Jennifer L. DexterAttorney at Law & Notary PublicSpecializing in: Real Estate, Family Law, Wills, Education Law &Criminal Law95 State St., Suite 724Springfield, MA 01103attydexter@comcast.net413-214-7626

18 • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • The Rainbow Times• www.therainbowtimesnews.comQ-lebritiesA few Q’s:Ari Gold, Hebrew heartthrob[Hit Recording Artist Ari Gold has had the #1 MusicVideo on LOGO and a Top-10 song on Billboard'sDance Chart. He's releasing his newest single andmusic video for his cover of "Human," by the HumanLeague, released on Oct. 18.]TBy: Mikey Rox*/TRT Specialhe Hebrew heartthrob chats aboutcharity, the new book ‘Crisis,’ andthe criticism of his latest release,Transport Systems.MIKEY ROX: In addition to being an awardwinningvocalist, you’re also an activist and aphilanthropist who supports diversity andhealth charities like the HRC, ACLU, andGay Men’s Health Crisis. With all that’s happeningwith your music career, why is itimportant to you to stay involved?ARI GOLD: I see my art as part of myactivism, and I only hope I can make moreand more of an impact when it comes tohuman rights and LGBT issues. It’s the wholeGhandi thing of being the change you want tosee in the world. I don’t want anyone to sufferlike I did when I was growing up, and I didn’teven have it as bad as a lot of people. The creativeprocess of making music as well as performingis incredibly fulfilling, but I feel likeI’ve been given this gift of responsibility thathelps keep me going strong–especially in acrazy business like the music business.MR: The new book Crisis: 40 StoriesRevealing the Personal, Social and ReligiousPain and Trauma of Growing up Gay inAmerica, features personal essays from gaynotables, including Nate Berkus, CandaceGingrich, Billy Bean and you. What’s yourstory about?AG: You have to read it! I focused primarilyon being 16 years old in Yeshiva (orthodoxJewish parochial school), which was aroundthe time that I had sex for the first time withboth a girl and a guy.MR: You’ve received major props fromWhoopi Goldberg, who remarked that you’rechanging the face of pop music, and CliveDavis, who was quoted as saying, “Ari wrotea very personal album and the lyrics attest tothe battles that he’s been through … he writesfrom the heart.” What kind of weight do thesecomments carry, given the resistant nature ofmainstream America to fully embrace anopenly gay artist?AG: It meant a lot to hear that from Clive,knowing how influential he’s been at bringingartists like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston,Billy Joel and Alicia Keys to the world. Andhearing that from Whoopi–and getting to meether–I mean, she’s so inspiring ’cause she’sone of those people that when she first cameon the scene there was nobody like her, andthere’s still nobody like her. She made a genrefor herself, and that’s very inspiring. And nowthat’s she’s on The View, people are really listeningto what she has to say about everything.MR: Your third studio album, TransportSystems, was released earlier this month.While you described it as being about movement,progression, transportation and transformation,Pink magazine said your lyrics lingeredon “gender, sexuality, addiction andrace.” Is that an accurate description? How doyou respond?AG: There are definitely songs that deal withall of those issues, and we need to move forwardwith our thinking when it comes to thosethings. It’s challenging for me to be able tosay something meaningful in pop music butalso make sure that I’m keeping it fun andsexy. There’s a lot of hope in this album, too;I was very conscious of making sure of that.MR: On a lighter albeit final note, you sharethe same name as actor Jeremy Piven’s characteron Entourage. Helping hand or hindrance?AG: I think it adds a layer to the story that’sinteresting, being that I’m all about challenginggay and Jewish stereotypes and he’s thismildly homophobic stereotypical Jewishagent. It makes my message all the moreclear–I’m combating the stereotype in thisstrangely literal way.* Who is Mikey Rox? Who gives a &#@%!But you can find him at www.mikeyrox.com.

Victory: Legislature repeals 1913 lawBy: Gricel M. Ocasio/TRT PublisherHidden Element from page 2are the qualities that truly bring visitors andtourists from all over to this city. And, theseare the qualities in which Northamptonthrives. The Rainbow Times is one of the firsttools that outside members of the LGBT communityuse to ask community members aboutthe town openness, for they are thinking aboutmoving into town. TRT serves as a resourcewithin a community that needed its presence.But, with change and success also comehatred, bigotry and disunion. First it is TheRainbow Times, and then it could be a communitymember, another business owner, or“It seemed like we had a lot of more signatures,”was MassResistance’s excuse printedon its website for failing to provide theamount of signed petitions needed to reinstatethe 1913 law. The organization wanted toplace a referendum on the 2010 ballot to reinstatethe law and leave it up to Massachusettsvoters to prohibit same-sex couples fromother states to wed in Massachusetts.The law, used by former Governor MittRomney to prevent same-sex couples tomarry in Massachusetts, first banned marriagesfrom couples from out of state whosemarriages would be null in their home states.In July, the legislature and Gov. DevalPatrick repealed the law. In August,MassResistance filed a Referendum Petitionto force its vote on Mass. residents.Approximately 33,000 signatures were neededto reinstate the law. However,MassRessistance efforts were in vain.Delivered to the Secretary of State’s Officelast week were less than 11,000 petitions.The website, which uses derogatory languageagainst members of the Lesbian & Gaycommunity claims that their efforts were“done strictly on principle.” Claiming to bethe pro-family action center forMassachusetts—and beyond, this large groupof nameless individuals maintained that oneof the reasons for this fiasco had to do withpeople’s fear to sign the petition because“their names would end up on ‘homosexual'web sites and they would be harassed.”Brian Camenker, MassResistance’s leader,admitted defeat in their campaign throughtheir website while calling the anti-gay supporters“heroes.”To Lisa Vanderbilt, and thousands of lesbianand gay people in Massachusetts andthroughout the country, the defeat was a greatvictory.“Now I can get married in Massachusettsand go home with that piece of paper, whichwill enable me to better present my case in myhome state,” said Vanderbilt, who has been ina same-sex relationship for 22 years. “I knowI won’t be the only one thinking ofMassachusetts, Connecticut and California, orif all else fails, there is always Canada.”even you, the reader of this letter. I am askingfor your help to bring an end to this cowardiceand underhanded behavior. Please, keep youreyes open for our product on the streets ofNorthampton, and alert us when/if you witnesssomething disturbing. Please, do so notjust for TRT, but for every other publicationthat lives on the streets of our belovedNorthampton and represents our thriving culturallydiverse community.Thank you for your support!Gricel M. OcasioTRT Soon in Boston, here 1st!www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • 19QPuzzle & MoreQ Puzzle: Newman’s MenAcross1 Bessie of the blues6 Mary had a little one10 Straight, in a bar14 Father, to Gloria Anzaldua15 Foundation for Humanity name16 Verb of Verlaine17 No longer lying with one's partner18 Balls19 Backup date?20 Paul Newman's character in Thornton Wilder's OurTown23 You can send one to pick up a trick on AOL24 No. in a little black book25 "Beats me"29 Help out30 Without a date32 It's tiny but attractive33 Newman's character in Tennessee Williams' SweetBird of Youth37 Colette's tea38 Straddled a stallion39 Earhart's medium40 Switch end41 Threesome for Caligula42 Newman wanted to play this character in Patricia NellWarren's The Front Runner46 Tongue ending47 Sea eagles48 "Don we now ___ gay apparel ..."49 Family of Mary, Queen of Scots51 The whole shebang52 "Morally straight" org.55 Newman's character in Tennessee Williams' Cat on aHot Tin Roof59 Noble title for Chablis62 Illegal block by Esera Tuaola63 Wet spot on a blanket of sand64 Retreat for D.H. Lawrence65 Hang out66 Fairy tale hag67 Oral sex protectors68 Cock attachment69 Roo's momA tribute to the late, great Paul Newman.Down1 Orgasm, e.g.2 Poles for your first mate?3 Where to see Tom, Dick, or Harry4 Math branch5 Joan of Arc, allegedly6 Lambda ___ Defense and Education Fund7 Ball of film and TV8 Actress Kunis of Gia9 Like the Singing Nun10 Former Indian head11 Sappho's long E12 Prince Valiant's boy13 Food and wine expert Allen21 Ancient Persian22 ___ of Seventeen26 Big bang cause, briefly27 Gomer's not at all28 "There's a single runner," to Billy Bean29 Hydrocarbon ending30 Travels with one's first mate31 Model Banks33 "Lesbians ignite!" and others34 Get up35 Foucault's final word36 AfterEllen.com editor Sarah40 Pull a boner42 Cabaret mister43 The Advocate piece, e.g.44 Publisher of same-sex couples' legal guide45 Queer Duck voice Jim J.50 Immeasurably vast hole51 Big fruit of New York?52 Male offspring that goes either way?53 He wrote "Englishman in New York" as a tribute toQuentin Crisp54 Cruising, maybe56 Tight group57 Scot's skirt58 Byron poem59 Inc., to W.H. Auden60 Org. that comes when you break down61 DeLuise who was in drag in Haunted HoneymoonSolution on Page 20

20 • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.comQueer Movie Reviews‘Half a Person’ packs whole lotta punchMBy: Ginger Harris*/Special for TRTayhem ensues when a lovelornworking stiff and his freeloadingbest friend leave their smallOntario suburb behind and hop on a bus headedfor the big city. Straight and single Alex(Nigel Smith) and his gay best friend Mark(Michael Majeski) tackle the Canadian countrysidein search of a good time and a littleperspective in Half a Person, on DVD sinceOctober 21.Desperately single Alex is searching fororder in a life he finds increasingly uncertain.With his school days behind him and “nothingto show” for his success – neither personallynor professionally – the 20-something sets outto sate his demons and confront his futurewith loose ends tied up. Meanwhile, charismaticMark adopts his best friend’s quest ashis own, inviting himself along at the lastminute. Mark’s own demons, however, beginto rear their ugly heads as situations destabilizeon the road to Toronto: his relationshipwith live-in partner Tom is on the rocks, and alife spent guarding his sexuality and thenanswering for it has left him fleeing consequence.Both boys’ expectations of the tripare higher than the experiences it yields, astheir pilgrimage to the city is fraught withmild to moderate inconvenience: Bad timingresults in the pair missing their ride at a reststop; Mark’santagonisminstigates severalrun-inswith authorityfigures; andcavortingabout townwith a pair offlirtatiousyoung girlsthey meet onthe bus–Juliea n dCrystal–throwsa wrench ineveryone’semotionalcogs.Julie andCrystal’s relationshipparallelsMark andAlex’s, withone being thereckless thrill seeker and the other passivelyfollowing her own agenda. And when a nighton the town with their new travel companionsturns into more than they bargained for, Markand Alex arethrust into asort of latentcoming-ofagewherethey mustreevaluate,above all,their feelingsfor oneanother.Alex’sconvolutedsearch forclosure andthe means toa newbeginningcomes to ahead whenhe findshimself onhis father’sdoorstep. Inspite of asurprising revelation, the confrontationbetween father and son comes off as a touchanticlimactic but keeps with the consistentvein of “wrong turns” in the film. And thoughthe two friends are looking for answers inerroneous places, the day finally arrives whenAlex can no longer put his own life on hold tofix Mark’s problems.Half a Person raises some important issuesconcerning the transition from impressionableyouth to accountable adult. There’s effectiveambiguity here surrounding an oft-referencednight spent hiding out in their high school asteenagers, which manifests Mark’s strugglewith his family’s rejection of his sexuality.The intimate nature of this night spent alone isan early representation of the therapeuticfunction of their friendship and proves to be apivotal point for both boys.Tensions run high in this 70-minute whirlwindof self-discovery, where two pals on theedge of adulthood come face to face with theirrespective pasts. As fraught with mishap astheir sojourn proves to be, there is tendernessto be found on the road, and the childhoodfriends discover that what they feel for eachother transcends the inevitable hardships ofgrowing up.* Ginger Harris is an intern with Line/BylineCommunications in New York City. Reach herat ginger.harris@sju.edu.HELP WANTED: $$$$Deliver The Rainbow Times tothe Capital District of NY:(Albany, Schenectady & Troy)Must have:• Disposition to work 1x month• Valid NY or MA Driver’s Licence• Car Insurance & a reliable Car• Deliver paper on the exact date• Be courteous• Good communication skillsNPP from page 5“She can be found on the front cover ofCurve Magazine this month. It will be loadsof fun and extremely entertaining.”According to Seymour, the New Year’s Evecelebration will feature dinner, a VIP cocktailhour with Suzanne Westenhoefer, dancingwith DJ Studebaker Hawk, a comedy show,raffle, and ringing in the New Year with aChampagne toast at midnight.”Tickets are $100/person, $190 for two,”she said. More deals are listed on our website.There are opportunities for corporate sponsorshipas well.”The Clarion and Conference Center hasjoined forces with NNP to offer a special NewYear’s Eve nightly discounted rate of $89.00when attendees book their reservation andmention NNP’s New Year’s Extravaganza.“It will be like a big ol’ lesbian pajama partywith our gay boy friends as well,” saidSeymour.Advanced ticket sales for the New Year’sEve Extravaganza with SuzanneWestenhoefer are available at NPP’s Florenceoffice, online at www.NohoPridePromos.comand at Pride & Joy, Northampton, Mass.“Tea dance tickets are not purchased inadvance,” said Seymour. “Just come ondown! Our events are 18+ to party and 21+ todrink.”All events are sponsored by The RainbowTimes, Web-tactics, Out! For Reel FilmSeries, Noho Pride and Smooth Movers.For more information about Noho PridePromos, visit their website atwww.NohoPridePromos.com or e-mailinfo@nohopridepromos.com.Q Puzzle Solution from P. 19For more information,please call518-391-2617TRT is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EOE.

The CT pages are brought to you by:NOV. 20, 2008Transgender Day ofRemembranceThe Transgender Day of Remembrance was setaside to memorialize those who were killeddue to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.This day and vigils held are to honor RitaHester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the“Remembering Our Dead” web project and aSan Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Sincethen, the event has grown to encompassmemorials in dozens of cities across the world.Rita Hester's murder--like most anti-transgendermurder cases--has yet to be solved.Vigils in our area:Nov. 14: 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; 3300 Main Street,Springfield, MA; hosted by UniTy, aSpringfield Trans support group andBaystate Hospital.Nov. 20: 7 p.m.; UU Meetinghouse,121 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MAhosted by the UMass Amherst StonewallCenter, the Massachusetts TransgenderPolitical Coalition, and The Rainbow Times.Nov. 20: 5:15 p.m. Gather at the FirstPresbyterian Church, 136 Capitol Ave,Hartford. Vigil walk from the church to theState Capital where there will be a rally at5:30 p.m.At 7:00 p.m. the Transgender Day ofRemembrance program will beginat MCC Hartford, 155 Wyllys Street,Hartford. FMI: call (860) 983-8139 or emaildiana@transadvocacy.com.Proudly serving the LGBT communityPhone: 203-772-7767Website: www.murthalaw.comOut Film CT, organizer of the CT Gay &Lesbian Film Festival, and EROS(Encouraging Respect Of all Sexualities), theTrinity College student organization, presentthe 10th EROS Film Festival from Nov. 5ththrough the 9th. As always with this FilmFestival, there will be an eclectic mix of filmsand documentaries, old favorites and excitingnew works that will appeal to all LGBT filmlovers. Here is this year’s line-up:Breakfast with Scot (Friday, 11/7 @ 7:30p.m.) This touching comedy tells the story ofa very 'straight' gay couple. Eric and Sam areliving the good life: happy, healthy, devotedto each other and their careers. However,their comfortable world is turned upsidedown when the mother of swishy 11-year oldScot suddenly dies, leaving Eric and Sam astemporary guardians. Will they be able togently nudge Scot away from scented handcream and all things pink, towards a more'acceptable' pastime – hockey?Pageant (Friday, 11/7 @ 9:30 p.m.) Pageanttakes you behind the scenes as 52 ordinarygentlemen go to extraordinary lengths inorder to be crowned the 34th Miss GayAmerica®. Pageant features stunning musicalnumbers, while diving into the heart andsoul of this make-believe world: the menbehind the makeup. Everybody has a dream;these men are making theirs a reality.Red Without Blue (Saturday, 11/8 @ 2:30p.m.) An honest portrayal of a family in turmoil,Red Without Blue follows a pair of identicaltwins as one transitions from male tofemale. Captured over a period of three years,the film documents the twins and their parents,examining the Farley's struggle to redefinetheir family. Through its portrayal ofthese articulate and independent twins, eachhaunted by the painful experiences of theiradolescence, the film questions normativestandards of gender and identity—as Markand Clair reassert their indescribable bond asidentical twins. Filmmaker Brooke Seboldwill be in attendance.www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • 21Searching 4 Sandeep (Saturday, 11/8 @ 7:30p.m.) Australian director Poppy Stockell isdelighted when her "research" on a lightheartedlook at lesbian Internet-dating leadsto an unexpectedly deep connection with anEnglish woman, Sandeep Virdi. However,their relationship is complicated by the realitythat Sandeep is Sikh, lives at home with herconservative family, and has kept her sexualitya secret. Humorous and thoughtful, thisdocumentary film explores the collision oflove with ethnic, religious and sexual identity.And this film is presented with No SecretAnymore: The Times of Del Martin &Phyllis Lyon. A memorial screening of theConnecticut Connection10th Annual EROS Film FestivalRed Without Blue follows a pair of identicaltwins as one transitions from male-to-female.award winning documentary: No SecretAnymore is the inspiring story of Del Martin& Phyllis Lyon, founders of the modern lesbiancivil rights movement and partners inlove and political struggle for half a century.A breathtaking personal/political history narratedby Kate Clinton. Delightful and illuminating!Itty Bitty Titty Committee (Saturday, 11/8 @9:30 p.m.) Part social commentary, partdrama and part romantic comedy, Itty BittyTitty Committee has a blast exploring socialchange and coming out. When we first meetAnna, she is working at a plastic surgeon'soffice and generally moping her way throughher days. One night when leaving work, shecatches Sadie spray-painting the front of theplastic surgeon's building. Instead of callingthe cops, she and Sadie find common groundand Sadie recruits Anna into her group of radicalfeminists. In the end, the universality ofthe desire to be in a posse that can change theworld is what truly elevates this engaging ridethrough the mosh-pit of 20-something girlieactivism.The Laramie Project (Sunday, 11/9 @ 2:30p.m.) To honor the 10th anniversary ofMatthew Shepard’s passing, we will be sharinga free screening of “The Laramie Project”—a groundbreaking film that recreates theefforts of a New York theatre troupe to shedlight on a western town's loss of innocencefollowing a hate crime perpetrated on a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student.Adapted from the acclaimed play of the samename, the film features an all-star cast.For additional information, please visit theOut Film CT website: www.OutFilmCT.organd read TRT’s Calendar of Event’s page.More Connecticut News & Events/Info. on Pages 14-15CT Neighborhood OrganizationsAIDS Testing: www.guardinhealth.orgGay Father’s Group: (203) 938-2881HartfordCommunity Center: (860) 724-5542CT Freedom toMarry Coalition: (203) 791-9553Love Makes a Family:www.lmf-ct.org (860) 525-7777Married Lesbian SupportGroup: trucolur@aol.com (203) 430-9227Married Men’s Bisexual Support Group of Hartford:(860)264-5605Metropolitan Community Church of NewHaven: (203) 397-2312New Haven Gay & LesbianCenter: www.nhglcc.org; (203) 387-2252PFLAG Danburry: www.pflag.org; (203) 797-4743Connecticut ’s Kids: (203) 256-8414Senior Lesbians Happily at Play (SLAPHAPS): Kathy(203) 929-8113True Colors CT: www.ourtruecolors.org; (888) 565-5551NationalRunaway Switchboard: (773) 880-9860ConnecticutWomen's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF): 135Broad Street, Hartford, CT 06105 - 860.247.6090 Info.and Referral program: (800) 479-2949 or GreaterHartford 524-0601 - Statewide women's rights organizationworking to end discrimination and hate crimes; providesfree legal information and referral to the LGBTcommunity.XX Club (Twenty Club): Rev. Cannon Jones - 45 ChurchStreet Hartford , CT 06141-0387 - (860)646-8651 -Povides knowledgeable info., and ongoing peer supportto transsexuals. 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, 2 -5 p.m.connecticuT View (cTView): A Transgender social andsupport club, for the TV, TG, TS, CD, both male andfemale. Monthly meeting in New Haven as well as e-membership, and more. A no dues club, with all the frills;www.transgender.org/ctv/If you’ve ever considered being a Foster Parent …NOW is the time to do it.Connecticut’s children need you more than ever.The Professional Parenting Program needs individuals who are willingand able to support our LGBTQ youth in Connecticut.Help us to help them achieve their goals and dreams of belonging to afamily.Connecticut residents only.Please call us today (888) 968-4489 x1341764 Litchfield Turnpike • Woodbridge, CT 06525 • www.ippi.org

24 • Nov. 6 - Dec. 3, 2008 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com