September 30, 2015
Top U.S. 'ally' Saudi Arabia tells UN to stuff its gay-rights agenda Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, told the UN that his country will do as it pleases in regard to LGBT citizens.
OBSERVER STAFF NEW YORK CITY -- Saudi Arabia, one of the world's most repressive countries despite U.S. politicians' claims that it's on our side, has told the United Nations not to try putting LGBT rights on the table in any form. The Saudis are especially worked up over a UN goal
Inside Thanking a generous community See Community Voices Page 8
Putin condemns U.S. anti-gay laws Page 4
Walking to keep the conversation going See Fireside Chat Page 5
Argentina law makers rule that 1 percent of civil service jobs must go to trans workers Page 12
October G3
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Hillary now seems to be listening to voters . . . some of the time Page 3
Issue 1601
Get ready for Gay Days at Disneyland
of having universal access to "sexual and reproductive health-care services" by the year 2030. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir told the UN General Assembly that sex, "to us, means exactly male and female. Mentioning family means consisting of a married Continued on page 4
Free tickets to arts and culture at the library TUCSON -- Go to the opera. Visit a museum. Walk around the garden. Take a friend to the symphony. See a show. Now you can check out free passes to all of these places and more when you visit your library. On Oct. 1, at 10 a.m., join us at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library for a ribbon cutting and launch celebration as we kick off the Culture Pass program in Pima County. Starting Thursday, if you’re a Pima County resident and have a valid Pima County Public Library card you can check out free passes to visit some of the most unique cultural attractions and enjoy world-class performances and concerts. The new Act One Culture Pass program launches at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library in downtown Tucson, and seven other libraries will offer the passes in November. A Culture Pass is good for two free admissions at participating arts and cultural venues. An Arts Performance Pass is a special pass that provides free admission for two people to a cultural event like a show at the Arizona Opera, Arizona Theatre Company, Tohono Chul Park and many more. They’re free, and they’re a great way to experience all that our community has to offer. Visit www.library.pima.gov/ news for more information.
Pool parties, drag queens and more red T-shirts than you can shake your stick at – we’re talking Gay Days at Disneyland. This “unofficial” event attracts more than 30,000 visitors, is inclusive, familyfriendly and happening this Friday thru Sunday. Check out www.gaydaysanaheim.com for more info.
Someone made a game where you scrub naked men in the shower NSFW story on page 9
NYC St. Patrick's parade to allow LGBT group after 25-year pissing match OBSERVER STAFF NEW YORK CITY -- It may not be world peace, but organizers of New York City's famed St. Patrick's Day parade will allow an LGBT contingent to march under its own banner for the first time. Gays had fought for inclusion in the Roman Catholic event for 25 years. Only after a large commercial boycott of the 2015 event did the ban get lifted. The last parade did feature an LGBT group from NBC after the broadcaster threatened to drop coverage of the event, but other queer groups remained verboten.
Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
The Lavender and Green Alliance (Muintir Aerach na hÉireann), an Irish LGBT group, will be allowed to march openly with its banner in the March 17 event.
Brendan Fay, the group's founder, was ecstatic. "As LGBT Irish Americans we thank John Lahey and the Continued on page 10
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Roland Emmerich’s ‘Stonewall’ tanks on opening weekend Although the police raid of New York City’s Stonewall Inn 46 years ago sparked riots that led to a movement impacting millions, the controversial movie based on that seminal event in LGBT history failed to draw a sizable audience on its opening weekend. “Stonewall” raked in only $112,414, as Indiewire reported. The disastrous performance of the film by disastermovie maven Roland Emmerich made it easily the lowest earning of any new release by several thousand dollars, according to the website. Given that “Stonewall” opened in limited release of just 129 theaters, Indiewire estimated that the movie that cost $17 million to make earned an embarrassing average of $871 per theater for the entire weekend. Indiewire calculated that based on the $8.12 cost of an average movie ticket, a box office performance as weak as “Stonewall’s” reveals only 107 people on average went to see the film in each of the theaters opening weekend showings combined.
Georgia man sentenced to life in prison in brutal killing of gay man ATLANTA -- A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years in the fatal beating of a gay man as part of a gang initiation. Darrius Aderhold pleaded guilty to killing 46-year-old Robert Ross in 2012. Prosecutors told the court they believe Aderhold and two other men Jonathan Ray and Christopher Foreman lured Ross to a motel room in Tucker, DeKalb County, according to media reports. In the room, Ross was tied to a chair and was beaten so badly that his skull was fractured and almost every bone in his face was broken.
OBSERVER or present, it does boost hopes that the harsh landscape still offers some refuge for microbes to cling to existence.
Marge’s sister Patty coming out as a lesbian in 2004 and Duffman outed as gay in 2008.
“The existence of liquid water, even if it is super salty briny water, gives the possibility that if there’s life on Mars, that we have a way to describe how it might survive,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA.
The show’s co-creator, Sam Simon, who passed away in March, notoriously paid $5631 to rescue a “gay” bull from the slaughter last year.
Netflix and Facebook now offer gender reassignment surgery as employee benefit A survey of 780 companies by the Human Rights Campaign has found that 415 now offer gender reassignment surgery to transgender members of staff as a potential employee benefit. The LGBT advocacy group says that the figure has doubled since 2012, while in 2009, only 49 companies offered the benefit. Household name companies that now include the procedure among its employee benefits include Nike, Google, Gap, eBay, Dell, Wells Fargo, Boeing and CBS Corp. Three of the latest companies to introduce the benefit are Facebook, Netflix and Tesla Motors. According to Jody Herman, a researcher into law and public policy with the University of California, between one in 10,000 and one in 20,000 take advantage of gender transition health coverage. However, more and more people are taking advantage of such benefits. Dr. Curtis Crane, a San Franciscobased doctor who specializes in gender change procedures, told Bloomberg News that he is performing around 700 surgeries a year, and the number is rising. He is soon to open a second clinic in Austin, Texas.
Springfield’s worst kept secret is about to be ‘revealed’
The court heard that the victim’s body was so mutilated that paramedics couldn’t determine his sex or race.
The writers of iconic show “The Simpsons” have announced that the long suffering assistant of the evil Mr. Burns will finally come out as gay in Season 27 of the show
The beating is said to be part of Foreman’s gang initiation and the victim was targeted because they perceived him to be a gay man, said prosecutors.
The show’s executive producer Al Jean revealed earlier this week that Mr. Smithers’ journey to self-acceptance would be a big part of the new season.
Foreman and Ray had previously been sentenced to life in prison after accepting plea deals, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
It will also explore Smithers’ relationship – and unrequited love obsession – with his boss.
Liquid water exists on Mars, boosting hopes for life WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Potentially life-giving water still flows across the ancient surface of Mars from time to time, NASA scientists said Monday in revealing a potential breakthrough in both the search for life beyond Earth and human hopes to one day travel there. While the discovery doesn’t by itself offer evidence of life on Mars, either past
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“In Springfield now, most people know he’s gay, but obviously Burns doesn’t,” Jean told TVLine. “We deal with that in two episodes. We actually do a lot with Smithers this year; he gets fed up with Burns not appreciating him and considers his options.” Smithers’ sexuality has long been a source of comedy on the show, and he has made a number of lists as one of the most famous gay TV characters. However, as the series grew other characters have come out – with
‘Who’s the Boss?’ star Danny Pintauro comes out as HIVpositive After keeping his diagnosis a secret for 12 years, former child star Danny Pintauro told Oprah Winfrey he is HIV positive during an episode of “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” on Sept. 26. Pintauro played the son Jonathan on the ‘80s sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” which also starred Tony Danza. Now the 39-year-old former actor told Winfrey he has known about his status since 2003. “I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I wasn’t ready — I’m ready now— that I’m HIV positive, and I have been for 12 years,” Pintauro told Winfrey. “It’s just a big deal. It’s not something that people are talking about right now really.”
September 30, 2015 "Otherwise we would end up in a situation where we select what is a right, saying: 'This right has merit, this one does not,' " he added. Umm . . . that's exactly what constitutions and laws do, of course -- select which rights are protected and which ones aren't. He didn't specifically name Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who has tried to make herself a martyr over same-sex marriage.
AZ's John McCain backs Kim Davis' refusal to do job WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Arizona's senior U.S. senator, John McCain, told reporters at the Values Voter Summit last weekend that he supports Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis in her refusal to process paperwork related to same-sex marriages. McCain attempted to distinguish between violating the law and simply saying "I refuse to do it," but it isn't clear what distinction he was making. Davis herself headlined the rightwing smooch-fest on Friday, accepting the group's Cost of Discipleship Award Continued on next page
Pintauro came out as gay in 1997, when he was an undergraduate student at Stanford University.
Ex-hedge fund manager raises old AIDS drug price by 5,500 percent
A 62-year-old drug that is used to fight off parasitic infections went from costing $13.50 per pill to $750 overnight, according to The New York Times. And it’s all thanks to 32-year-old ex-hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli. The drug, pyrimethamine (brand name Daraprim), is often used for people battling AIDS, malaria, cancer, pregnancy, and other immuneweakening conditions to treat toxoplasmosis. About 2,000 Americans use the drug. It is also listed as an essential drug by the World Health Organization. In an interview with Bloomberg, Shkreli attempted to clear the air around the controversy, stating that his company “had to turn a profit on this drug” and that compared to other lifesaving courses of treatment, Daraprim was still “underpriced.”
Pope Francis backs religious bias for elected officials Speaking on the plane back to Italy this week after his 10-day trip to the U.S. and Cuba, Pope Francis told reporters he supports public officials refusing to do their job if they claim the job conflicts with their religion. Of course, you have to consider the guy leads an organization that once specialized in overruling secular laws. According to Reuters, Francis said, "Conscientious objection must enter into every juridical structure because it is a right."
1830 E Broadway Blvd #124-215 Tucson, AZ 85719 www.observerweekly.com info@observerweekly.com Voice Mail 520-812-0909 Editor-In-Chief Bob Ellis Executive Editor Nicholas K. M. Pafford Senior Editor Greg Miller Assistant Editor Christine Beall Assistant Editor Christopher L. Pankratz Phoenix Area Distribution T-Media Promotion Send Classifieds, Inquiry Letters, etc to: info@observerweekly.com Publication of names or photos of any person or organization in the Observer Weekly is not to be construed as indication of the sexual orientation of such person, organization or advertisers or any employees thereof. Opinions expressed by contributors, advertisers or in PSA’s are not necessarily those of the Observer, its staff or advertisers. The Observer assumes responsibility for its own editorial policy only. © 2014 by Observer Publications Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted or archived in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Observer Publications Inc.
September 30, 2015 Continued from previous page for thumbing her nose at numerous federal court orders and claiming a religious exemption to following laws with which she disagrees.
Gay teen suspended for not attending homecoming dance MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A gay senior at an all-boys Roman Catholic high school was first told last year that he could take a same-sex date to the school's homecoming dance last weekend, but then school administrators reversed that decision, so he simply didn't attend the dance. Now he's suspended from Christian Brothers High School because the administrators don't like the publicity generated by their reversal of the decision. Lance Sanderson returned to school Monday only to be told he was suspended for a week. Aside from missing exams, he will miss a visit to the campus by college admissions representatives. "I haven't done anything wrong and haven't hurt anybody," Sanderson stated in a letter to the school asking to have his suspension dropped. Apparently his letter didn't point out that bullying isn't about anything the victim did.
Michele Bachmann: Equality may turn us to pillars of salt
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By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST With last week's statement that she now opposes the Keystone XL Pipeline, Hillary Clinton took a big step toward cementing support from the progressive voters she'll need in the Democratic presidential primary. Then she stomped the positive publicity she was getting by seeming to renege somewhat on her apology a week earlier over using a private email server while she was secretary of state. Let me first say this: I'm one of those who still believe that the email imbroglio is likely to be another case where Republicans spend a ton of money trying to pin something big on Hillary and end up pinning egg on their own faces. Yes, it was dumb of her to use the private email server when she was secretary of state -- handling the secrets of the most powerful nation on earth. But it's also the same thing previous secretaries of state did, and the regulations against it -- which have consumed so much "news" space -- came into effect when John Kerry became secretary of state. That is, the rules came after Hillary was no longer there -- an inconvenient fact often left out by bloggers. Plus she's the most investigated person in world history, and so far nothing "big" has stuck, despite the Republicans spending untold millions looking for glue.
She compared the U.S. to the Genesis story in which God rained "fire and brimstone" on the cities of Sodom and Gamorrah before turning Lot's wife into a pillar of salt.
Given the past 20 years of probing for this and probing for that, and knowing she'd be running for president again, it's hard to imagine she left a trail of clues about anything questionable she might have done.
It's possible . . .
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Hillary now seems to be listening to voters . . . some of the time
Former wingnut congresscritter Michele Bachmann said last week on the radio show "Understanding the Times" that abortion and allowing gays to marriage will bring on the apocalypse.
Well, it's possible . . . like it's possible the giant, undetected meteor will explode the earth tomorrow ... like Bachmann will eventually reveal a scintilla of intelligence or reality-based thinking.
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So, given all that, why has her campaign dealt with the email business so amateurishly? For months, she treated the situation with surprising nonchalance. Then, earlier this month, she seemed to do an
about-face, apologizing for using the personal server.
"I have never seen so much expended on so little. The other party doesn't want to run against her. And if they do, they'd like her as mangled up as possible. . . . and so this e-mail thing became the biggest story in the world." -- Bill Clinton to CNN, talking about the media shitfest over his wife's e-mail -- and talking as if he doesn't know that public perception, not facts, counts in politics
But, last Sunday on "Meet the Press," she responded lamely to the discovery of emails between herself and the embattled Gen. David Petraeus that had not been turned over when she said it was all turned over -- and in fact, emails that date back to a few months before she claimed she started using the personal server. But when asked about it, what did she say? "Whatever happened to them, happened to them." So much for the earlier apology! Granted, when she originally said all the email had been turned over, I believe she said "to the best of my knowledge." No one (except Republicans) would expect her to be too personally involved in this while she has a campaign to oversee. Now, as I said, I doubt that there's any "there" there. But the handling of it is astounding. Both Hillary and her husband, who recently went on CNN to poo-poo the email "scandal," know very well that in politics, facts often run a distant second to perception. Continued on page 4
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Putin condemns U.S. anti-gay laws
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Top U.S. 'ally' Saudi Arabia tells UN to stuff its gay-rights agenda Continued from page 1
man and woman," and that his country will not follow any ruling "counter to Islamic law." Conveniently, he ignored the fact that in his country, Islamic law is what the government says it is, and many Muslims flatly reject the Saudi government's harsh interpretations.
President Vladimir Putin signed Russia’s gay ‘propaganda’ law in 2013.
Gay sex is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. Needless to say, humanrights organizations were scandalized last week when the country's UN ambassador, Faisal bin Hassan Trad, was appointed to chair a panel of UN human-rights "experts." Trad had said in June that efforts to improve treatment of gays in his coun-
By Darren Wee GAY STAR NEWS President Vladimir Putin has condemned U.S. anti-gay laws while saying Russia ensures equal rights to LGBTI people. The former KGB agent made the comments in an interview with “60 Minutes” which aired on Sunday night. “The problem of sexual minorities in Russia had been deliberately exaggerated from the outside for political reasons, I believe, without any good basis,” he said. Putin pointed out that some U.S. states still have laws that criminalize gay sex on the books – although they were all struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 – adding that a similar Soviet law had been abolished. “It’s well known that in four states in America, homosexual orientation is a crime . . . It’s not completely removed from American legislation, but we don’t have that,” he said. “I definitely condemn that. “I believe there should not be any criminal prosecution or any other prosecution or infringement of people’s rights on the basis of their race, ethnicity, religious or sexual orientation.” “We have no persecution at all,” Putin continued. “People of non-traditional sexual orientation work, they live in peace, they
get promoted, they get state awards for their achievements in science and arts or other areas. I personally have awarded them medals.” Putin also defended Russia’s controversial gay “propaganda” law – which bans the “promotion” of “nontraditional sexual relationships” to minors – he signed in 2013.
September 30, 2015
try amount to "flagrant interference in its internal affairs." So yeah -- name a world-renowned gay-hater to head the panel overseeing equality. That's constructive. Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, had this to say about that: "It is scandalous that the UN chose a country that has beheaded more people this year than ISIS to be head of a key human-rights panel. Petro-dollars and politics have trumped human rights." LGBT rights is one aspect of the UN's Global Goals, under which the 193 member states pledge to make progress on poverty, equality and climate change. Overt references to lesbians and gays were already stripped out of the final wording.
Hillary now seems to be listening to voters . . . some of the time Continued from page 3 Public perception is the biggie, and if the Clintons screw around and let the public decide that there is something big being hidden, it matters not a damn whether there is in fact or not. The timing truly sucked. She should have been enjoying positive coverage about her Keystone statement, and instead the media crawled all over the email issue again.
“I don’t see anything un-democratic in this legal act,” he said.
While most people (including Clinton herself) have attributed her drop in the polls to the email mess, I haven't seen any real evidence that it's true.
“I believe we should leave kids in peace. We should give them a chance to grow, help them to realize who they are and decide for themselves.
Who decided that it isn't just because of her lackluster campaign so far?
“Do they consider themselves a man or a woman? A female? A male? Do they want to live in a normal, natural marriage or a non-traditional one? That’s the only thing I wanted to talk about. “I don’t see here any infringement on the rights of gay people.” Earlier this week, Putin awarded the author of the law with the state’s highest civilian honor. Asked if there is as much recognition for LGBT rights and gay marriage in Russia as there is in the U.S., he replied: “We not only recognize, we ensure their rights.” “In Russia, there are equal rights for everyone,” he said. “Including for people of non-traditional sexual orientations as well.”
Seems to me she should have long ago dumped most of her campaign staff (including the guy who was a lobbyist for the Keystone pipeline) and hired people who can breathe some life into a campaign that is threatening to be D.O.A. We've got four months to go before the first primary, and that's enough time to lose the farm.
September 30, 2015
Fireside Chat
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Walking to keep the conversation going By Wendell Hicks Executive Director SAAF
With more than a million dollars in refurbishments, the downtown venue is now home to a nightclub/lounge combination. The ground floor hosts H2O Discotec with the Aquatic Lounge perched on the roof top. Be there from 5 to 9 p.m. There’s free street parking and parking in garages nearby. The venue is ADA accessible. Must be 21 and have an ID.
By Zach Sparrow
Getting involved with AIDSWALK is important to me because of the continued need to focus on awareness, prevention, and support for those who are affected by HIV/AIDS. When I was a teen in the ‘90s the message was that AIDS is a disease that primarily affected gay men. In fact, when I came out to my family at 16 years old, my mother’s reaction was, “Oh no, I don’t want you to die of AIDS!” That response aggravated me so much because out of all of my siblings, I was the only one who was not sexually active, yet the STD conversation never came up with my heterosexual siblings. It was that moment that made me realize there was
October G3 features H20 Discotec and The Aquatic Lounge TUCSON -- After five years G3 returns to the site of the old Sapphire Club, 61 E. Congress St., on Oct. 9.
AIDSWALK Tucson is celebrating its 27th anniversary on Oct. 11. Over the next few weeks, I will feature first-person accounts from participants about why they Walk. AIDSWALK is the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation’s flagship event and largest annual fundraising initiative. To learn more about this year’s Walk, to register, or to support a Walker, please visit www.aidswalktucson.com
I have lived in Tucson for 13 years and started getting involved with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation soon after arriving. A very dear friend of mine works at SAAF and I have friends who have benefitted from SAAF’s many services. After volunteering for AIDSWALK several years ago, I witnessed the unique sense of community that is fostered by SAAF and the diverse collection of participants, volunteers, and employees. After my first AIDSWALK, I started volunteering for other SAAF events because I discovered a passion for helping others in this community and because of the good feeling I got by being part of the energy and fun that abounds.
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Michael Sam takes break from football for graduate school COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Gay football star Michael Sam has enrolled in graduate school at his alma mater, the University of Missouri, while he regroups to consider his future in sports.
Zack and Todd a need for awareness and education and I was inspired to take on the subject for a high school sophomore class research paper assignment. Talk about an awkward reaction from my teacher and classmates in a small, remote town in Utah in 1995!
still get AIDS?” Definitely a sign that our message has not reached everyone. Having AIDSWALK happen on the same weekend as Tucson Meet Yourself has upped the level of energy and fun that can surround an event focused on making a difference. It’s hard not to be pumped up from the high-energy music and “pep rally” that occurs just before the walk begins. I hope you will join me and 100s of others as we Walk to keep the conversation going.
Since then, my passion for awareness and involvement has grown and it’s so amazing to see the community’s involvement. I have met and connected with others who have lost family members to AIDS and it encourages me to stay involved because To support Zach’s Walk directly, visit: there is still so much that can be done. http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ Recently, a co-worker asked, “People ZacharySparrow/aidswalk-tucson-2015
Sam became the first openly gay player in NFL history, but after brief experiences with the St. Louis Rams and Dallas Cowboys and signing a two-year contract with Montreal of the Canadian Football League, he dropped out due to what he described as mental-health issues. He has said his career probably would have been easier had he not come out. Jim Popp, general manager of the Montreal Alouettes, said previously that anyone who had experienced the media frenzy over Sam would be sympathetic. "It's a huge story because everybody keeps hounding and hounding and hounding. Michael Sam just wants to be a football player," Popp said. "I would think anybody that's 25 years old that has been going through it for a year and a half, it would have to affect him."
Where God's love for all is the good news!
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Community Voices
Thanking a generous community By Scott Blades Executive Director TIHAN
Beyond Video; Chris Pankratz and Greg Miller; Human Rights Campaign / Alec Thomson; David S. Livingston Printing & Promos; Miss Gay Arizona America Pageant / Daniel Eckstrom and Nick Ray; Mark Rosenbaum and TIHAN’s front desk receptionists; Valentin Leon; DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson–Reid Park; Zink’s Fudge; silent auction item donors and buyers; all the volunteers who helped with set-up, event support, and clean-up; and TIHAN’s amazing volunteers, board, CarePartners, and staff.
When a stellar group of performers comes together and puts on a magical evening of entertainment to raise funds for an important cause, you know you are part of a community that cares. Not only cares, but puts its efforts and energy to work to make a difference. I want to thank so many people and groups for making the Turnabout for TIHAN benefit show such a great success. First to the individuals and groups who performed — thank you for wowing the crowd with your talent and creativity! Diva (Miss Gay Az USofA): your energy and talent was amazing as you worked up the crowd and channeled Celia Cruz. Don’t Blink Burlesque (Fanny Galore, Ida Tapper, Raisin Wood): your show-stopping performance was the highlight for many in the audience, and they’re still talking about it. Nevaeh McKenzie (Miss Gay Arizona America 2015): thank you for gracing the stage and sharing your excellence. MusicalMayhem Cabaret: thank you for sharing the thrill and joy of live vocals and musical theatre. National Latino AIDS Awareness Day and Mac Chismo: we loved your uptown funk and all that you do to help create a stronger community with your support for HIV awareness in our Latino community. Bianca Solei (Miss Gay Tucson America 2015): you were a sight to behold in that amazing gown, and you were glowing with excitement that was contagious. SAGA and Jeri Sellers: that live performance took a lot of guts, and helped us better appreciate the difference between a drag queen/king and being trans. Tucson Pride: what did you do to make us feel proud? You brought a diverse team of performers (Lady Ashley, April, Donnie, and State Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford). IBT’s Bar
+ Food (Alvaro, Ralph, Abe, Josh, and Alex): a classic Turnabout performance, carrying on the tradition that started this show, with five crazy bar staff doing it up and spicing up the house. And to our mistresses of ceremonies, Tempest DuJour and Janee’ Starr, thanks for the laughs and for keeping the show running smoothly. Tempest: what a great way to start the evening with your incredible “Defying Gravity” performance! Janee’: you closed the evening with perhaps the most talkedabout number of the show — that amazing journey of transformation and realness brought people to tears. The crowd of 350 looked on, with pride and admiration, as some of the best performers from Tucson and Phoenix gave us a night of outstanding performances. And they responded generously with applause and with tips too! The performer who brought in the most tips this year: Janee’ Starr. The evening brought out the generosity of our community, especially Ken Arnold and Shelley Gallichio, whose $500 challenge encouraged 10 others to each contribute $50, and Mike Steinberg and Alan Taylor, whose $2,000 challenge was met by 20 people who responded with $100 donations to TIHAN. THANK YOU!
A huge thank you to our event sponsors: Beyond Video / Glenn and Annyce Meiners; GayTucson.com / Tony Ray Baker of Tierra Antigua Realty; The Lostboys Southern Arizona / Duane Hough; IBT’s Bar+Food / Alvaro DeAsis and Michael Kramkowski; Master Mixx Mobile DJs / DJ Michael Lopez; Observer Weekly / Nicholas Pafford, Christopher Pankratz, and Greg Miller; T-Media Promotion / Bill Travis; and Tucson Pride / April Moss. Counting up the tips, ticket sales, money from the 50/50 raffle and the silent auction, challenges, and sponsorships, the event raised almost $13,000, all for HIV awareness and support services for people here in our community. There are many others who helped make the benefit successful. David Zinke, our stage manager and set designer; DJ Michael Lopez and his team provided sound and a surprise light show; Cathy Ernst and Mark Walton provided table decorations and helped run the raffle and auction; and more support came from photographer Scott Kirby; Jacoby & Meyers Law Firm / Bonnie Dombrowski, Esq.; University of Arizona Theatre Department; IBT’s / Alvaro De Asis and Mike Kramkowski; Mark’s Ace Hardware; Nikki Belio; Mark Little; SAGA / C. Michael Woodward and Miki Odawa; Josefina Ahumada;
Some of the biggest supporters of the evening included Andres Cano; David Cormier and Curt Beall; Linda Girard; Mark Goldsmith-Holt; Pamela Grissom/Arizona List; Allen Kinzey; State Rep. Dr. Randy and Susan Friese; Kim Matas; David Saavedra; Mark Sawyers and Scott McCaw; George Vissichelli; Jim Yancey and Jack Durham/Water of Life Metropolitan Community Church, Mark Rosenbaum; Jim Nation; Cheryl Cage; Quinton Jenkins; James Scott Pignatella; Gene Carlson; Nick Ray; Dan Uroff; Tom and Cheryl Muller; Ann Evans; Ricky English; Julio Soto; D. Gary; Paula Aboud; Linda Thomas and Holly Lyons; and Robert Wortman. In addition to fabulous performances, great comedy, and a spirit of generosity, the evening included some reminders about trans issues; tabling from HRC, Equality Arizona, and Competitive Arizona; a parade of married couples and a toast to our new-found marriage equality; and a touching tribute to former state senator Paula Aboud, who was presented with TIHAN’s 2015 Stonewall Award for her long term contributions to the LGBTQ community. It was a fun and successful evening, and a reminder that our community is stronger because we come together to celebrate, to learn, to perform, to enjoy, and to give from the heart to support those in need. Thank you all!
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Someone made a game where you scrub naked men in the shower: Warning NSFW OBSERVER STAFF Finally something electronic solitaire!
to
replace
Indie game developer Robert Yang made an artistic project called “Rinse and Repeat,” in which the objective is to help naked hunky men in the shower. Sal Mattos of GayGamer writes in his review of the game: “. . . Yang has built a wonderful gaming experience that manages to grab your attention before digging below the surface to make for some great commentary on gay life.” Riffing off gay porn, the shower cruising simulator game – available for free on PCs and Mac – grades players on how thoroughly and consistently they help scrub their naked heterosexual hunk’s different body areas. Writing on his blog, Yang – who also made BDSM simulator “Hurt Me Plenty” and erotic car game “Stick Shift” explains: “This game plays on the ‘locker room / shower’ genre of gay male porn. “For the uninitiated, the basic fantasy is this: Imagine you’re a dude who just finished doing something manly, like sports or something, and now you’re showering with other naked dude(s). “Then someone compliments a body or notices ‘something,’ and one thing leads to another, and then latent man-on-man lust boils over into risky semi-public sex acts.
“Older gay men understand this in a tradition of cruising and gay bathhouses, while younger gay men might imagine it more as a reversal of bullying dynamics in high school gym.” He adds: “Above all, the locker room is understood normally as a place of danger, where you could be discovered or outed or beaten for ‘looking at someone the wrong way’ even if you were just minding your own business — and there’s nowhere to hide, not even in your own clothes.
“So as a porn genre, it is basically a fantasy about everyday consent and safety. “Not just the consent to have weird exciting uncomfortable sex on a tile floor, but also the consent to be able to shower and use public facilities While Being Gay. What if we actually did what homophobes are so irrationally afraid of us doing?” Every time you enter the game, the
hunk will be willing to let you do slightly more – though in true artistic style you have to log in at allocated real-world times to find him. Yang explains: “Waiting is an act of submission, but that’s not really a bad thing. Delayed gratification is an integral part of pacing that can enrich an experience; you can’t feel a drop without a build-up.”
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To volunteer, call Mark Rosenbaum For support services, call a Link Specialist For more information, events, or to donate, visit www.tihan.org
Page 10
As Clark Saw It
Zoe’s World
OBSERVER By Gary Clark
WEEKLY
September 30, 2015
NYC St. Patrick's parade to allow LGBT group after 25-year pissing match
By Zoe Continued from page 1 members of the board for this historic decision which reflects the feelings of most Irish and Irish Americans," Fay said. "With the decision we cross a historic threshold and our members will proudly march up Fifth Avenue with our banner." Lahey, the parade's board chairman, noted that 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of Ireland's Easter Rising, considered the birth of Irish independence from England. "We are working with the government of Ireland in this anniversary year to teach our young people the lessons of sacrifice and heroism, of love and
tolerance, embodied in the Irish spirit," Lahey added. Irish Queers, the group that led the 25-year fight, posted a blog celebrating the decision. "This is a victory for the grassroots organizing, civil disobedience, and street protest of the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization and its successor, Irish Queers. Protests held the line year after year where politics constantly failed. It’s also a victory for our beautiful queer and Irish community of support, stretching from New York City to Ireland and beyond," the blog states. "Our thanks: we're thankful to the many ordinary New Yorkers who supported us over the last 25 years, as well as the many elected officials who refused to march in the parade while we were left out," Irish Queers continued. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has boycotted the parade since taking office, saying that he would not take part in the event until it was fully inclusive.
September 30, 2015
Monday BRODIES TAVERN - Service Industry Night 7 p.m.- 2 a.m. $2.50 House Well, Long Islands, Margaritas on Tap, $3 16 oz. BudBud Light-Mic Ultra Cans, Fireball Shots. IBT’s 11a.m.-2a.m. Taking Back Mondays hosted by Diva featuring *3-4-1 Well Vodkas (Regular, Grape & Cherry) 9 - Close. Karaoke Inside or Lounge on the Patio 9 p.m. VENTURE-N Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.
Friday BRODIES TAVERN - Get the Party Started Friday 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $3 Malibu Rum Black-House Long Islands-Pucker Vodka, Margaritas on tap-XX Pints IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m., Flawless Fridays featuring “Absolutely Flawless” Drag Show hosted by China Collins @ 9 p.m. DJ Import Inside after the show, Million$DJ on the Patio 9pm. GoGo Boys @11p.m. VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.
OBSERVER WEEKLY Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
BRODIES TAVERN - Two Buck Tuesday 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $ 2 House Well, Fire Eater Shots, $2 Margaritas on Tap, $2 Long Islands IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m.; Taco Tuesdays. $1 Tacos. Drink Specials 9-Close: Mix-n-Match Mexican Beer Special, Tequila Specials (Patron $6, Milagro $4.50, Hornitos $4, Cuervo $3.50), Million$DJ Inside 9 p.m. VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.
BRODIES TAVERN - Whiskey Wednesday 7-2 a.m. $3.25 Jack-Jim Beam-JamesonFireball-Makers Mark-Johnny Walker Red IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m., “Viva La Diva” Drag Show Hosted by Diva at 9. “Whiskey Breath” Drink Special Every Wednesday 9-Close. $2 Well, $3 Call, $4 Select Top Shelf Whiskey and Scotch Blend Whiskies. Million$DJ Inside after the drag show. VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.Dave’s $3.50 Margaritas and Long Island Iced Teas
BRODIES TAVERN - Customer Appreciation 7-2 a.m. Two-for-One Well-Domestic Bottles, Margaritas on Tap House Kasiz Shots IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m. Therapy every Thursday. All Day *2-4-1 Drink Specials (excludes top shelf, wine & draft). Million$DJ Inside at 9 p.m., DJ Sid the Kid on the Patio 9 p.m. GoGo Boys @11 p.m. VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm. 4.00 Titos/Absolut, Cosmos/Martis from Dan G
Saturday
Sunday
BRODIES TAVERN - Back Pocket Sabado Latino 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $3 Magaritas on tap-Corona Bottles, $3.25 Latin Beers-XX Micheladas, $1 Tequila Shots-Corona Ritas IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m., Karaoke on the Patio 5 - 8 p.m., “Saturday Night Starlettes” drag show Hosted by Janee Starr 9pm, Million$DJ on the Patio 9 p.m., DJ Import Inside after the drag show. VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi
Monday 12-3 p.m. 4-5:30 p.m.
4:30-6:30 p.m.
6:30-7:30 p.m.
7-9 p.m.
7-10 p.m.
7-8:30 p.m. 7-9 p.m. 6 p.m.
sources
Mah Jongg Mondays Himmel Park Library. Ages 50+, 1035 N. Treat. In Our Own Voices, Women’s therapy group for survivors of sexual trauma, SACSA, 1600 N. Country Club, 520.327.1171 Cancer Support Group for LGBT People, Arizona Cancer Center at UMC-North, Rm 1127, 3838 N. Campbell Ave. 520.694.0347 Regardless of… NA LGBT Meeting, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 400 E. University Blvd. SAGA General for trans forlks and allies 1st Monday SAGA Desert Girlz for trans Femanine folks 2nd Monday Reveille Men’s Chorus Open Rehearsal, Rincon Congregational Church, 122 N. Craycroft Tucson Women’s Chorus rehearsal.Call for details: 520.743.0991 Desert Girlz meeting at Wingspan PFLAG en Español Meets the 1st Monday of each month at Fortin de las Flores: 243 W. 33rd St.
4 p.m.
LGBTQA Support Group. LGBTQ Affairs Office, UA Student Union level four. SAGA Desert Boyz for trans masculine folks 3rd Tuesdays
7-9 p.m.
Wednesday 3-8 p.m.
SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources
12-1 p.m.
Pink Triangle AA Meeting, 439 N. Sixth Ave. Everyday. Gender Spectrum support Group. UA Campus Health Service Building Room C312. $5 TMC Hospice LGBTQ Grief Support Group. 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, Peppi’s House Chapel, 2715 N. Wyatt Drive. RSVP at: 520-324-2438. Wednesday Night Christian Bible Study, Cornerstone Fellowship Social Hall, 2902 N. Geronimo Ave. Weekly Bears Coffee at Crave, 4530 E. Broadway Blvd.
3-4:30 p.m.
4:30-6 p.m.
6:30-7:30 p.m.
7-9 p.m.
Two Spirit support group. African American Student Affairs MLK Center, 1322 E. 1st Street. 6 p.m. Write Now! a writer’s group open to all at Revolutionary Grounds 606 N. 4th 6:30-7:30 p.m. Regardless of… NA LGBT Meeting, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 400 E. University Blvd. 7 p.m. Weekly Meditation Classes in Central Tucson, cost: $10, Kadam Meditation Center Arizona 1701 E. Miles St. 7-9 p.m. SAGA Desert Partnerz for cis-gendered 4th Thursday 7-10 p.m. Triangle Tribe, Men’s Support Group. Call 520-398-6826
3-8 p.m.
SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources
4-5:30 p.m.
Support Group for Transgender Survivors of Sexual Trauma, SACSA, 1600 N. Country Club Queer People of Color &
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Ajia Simone, Owner 426 E. Ninth St. 520.624.8400
10-11.30 a.m.
10-12 p.m.
2-5 p.m. 2:45 p.m.
Friday 4 p.m.
5:30-6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Wingspan’s Eon Youth Program New Youth Orientation Fridays at 4p.m. Youth Center Open M-F Oasis LGBT Social Group. Email oasis.wingspan@gmail.com Bingo at MCC Every Friday call John 975-3166.
2nd Saturdays
Bears of the Old Pueblo Potluch 2nd Saturdays 520.444.2275 Transparents For parents of trans kids. RSVP SAGA to attend.
Sunday 9-11 a.m.
Co-ed Softball, all abilities welcome. Oury Park, 600 W.St. Mary’s
Advice For Life & Prayers for World Peace. Bud dha’s teachings, Kadampa Meditation Cen ter Arizona 1701 E. Miles St. LGBT Buddhist Medita tion Group meets every Sunday at The Three Jewels, 314 E. 6th St. in Tucson. Meditation sessions with readings, recordings, and discussion. Welcoming to all.For info call Jim at 520-884-4218. Mamasitas! Men’s Sports club at Menlo Park The New Men’s Massage Group. Sept 21 at 4 pm. Call Marc at 881-4582 to sign up. Or email bleu55@gmail. com in advance. It’s a great place to meet men. Safe, non-sexual but very sensual and a little erotic. Donation.
3-5p.m.
Men’s Social Network “H” Club open to entire LGBTQ community. This is a fun discussion, learning and participation group meeting for discussions on major words beginning with the letter “H.” Doesn’t meet the 1st Sunday of the month.
5:30 p.m.
Puertas Abiertas Latin/ Hispanic LBGTQ/Ally support group meeting at Wingspan 430 E 7th St – every 3rd Sunday of the month at 5:30pm.
Saturday
Thursday
SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health re-
BRODIES TAVERN - Funday 7 p.m. - 2 p.m. $2.50 House Well, $3 House Long Islands, Tap Magaritas, $1 House Kasiz Shots, $1.75 Domestic Pints IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m., Karaoke 4-8:30 p.m. “Cheap Ass Sunday’s” 9-Close feat. 2-4-1 Drinks and Bottle Beer (exclude top shelf, wine & draft), Karaoke Inside 9pm; DJ Sid the Kid on the patio 9 p.m. VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi
2:30-4:30p.m.
Tuesday 3-8 p.m.
Page 11
Page 12
OBSERVER Argentina law makers rule that 1 percent of civil service jobs must go to trans workers
BUENOS AIRES -- A province in Argentina has set a 1 percent hiring quota for transgender workers to local government employment.
are placing our province at the forefront of the recognition of a group that is among the most marginalized,” said Karina Nazabal in a statement.
The rule was passed unanimously by the Buenos Aires Province Senate, reports USA Today. Around 13 million people – or 30 percent of the country’s population – live within the area, which includes the capital city of Buenos Aires.
Supporters of the law say that it will help to tackle societal stigma towards transgender people and to integrate trans people into the workforce.
The text of the law states that it will extend to, ‘transvestite, transsexual, and transgender people older than 18 years of age that comply with the ideal conditions for the post they are applying to.’ The original author of the law welcomed its passing. “Today is a historic day. We’re taking a big step towards equity and we
Salina
WEEKLY
September 30, 2015
It follows Argentina passing its Gender Identity Law in 2012; legislation that the World Health Organization described as the most progressive gender-identity law on the planet. That law allows trans individuals to officially change their names without having to go through legal or psychological examinations, and makes it the government’s responsibility to pay for surgical procedures and hormone therapy to aid transition.
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This beautiful one year old kitty loves to lounge around and snuggle up. Salina is as sweet as she is lovely, and is super affectionate. She’s also quite a quiet kitty, preferring quiet afternoons to racing to and fro. She doesn’t mind being on a leash and harness—but would prefer to meander her own way, as all kitties do. She gets along with other cats quite well.
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