2011 11 03

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www.sfbaytimes.com

November 3-16, 2011 | www.sfbaytimes.com

The LGBTQ Newspaper and Events Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area | July 28 2011

Senator Dianne Feinstein Speaks Out for LGBTQ Rights at HRC Gala

Shocking Report on Queer Domestic Violence Governor Signs

Gender NonDiscrimination Act

AB 887 was authored by Assembly member Toni Atkins (D-San Diego).

By Dennis McMillan

Senator Feinstein spoke optimistically during the HRC dinner on the status of LGBTQ rights legislation.

By Dennis McMillan Human Rights Campaign held its 27th annual Bay Area gala awards dinner at the Fairmont, featuring Senator Dianne Feinstein as keynote speaker. HRC President Joe Solmonese said, “This year has been nothing less than remarkable, and we’re only just getting started.” He continued, “There have been setbacks and speed bumps along the way, but we have accomplished more in the past two years than in the previous forty, I believe.” He noted in the last few years we have won marriage equality in six states plus the District of Columbia. He said we should remain optimistic about the eventual repeal of Prop 8 and DOMA. He cautioned, “If we don’t do everything to reelect President Obama, we are going to likely find ourselves right back in the f ight against the federal marriage amendment where we were seven years ago.” He added, “Obama may not have evolved as quickly as we’d like on every issue, but he has done more for our community than any president before.” Every one of the Republican candidates for president has signed a pledge against same-sex marriage, he pointed out, “and that means we must stand strong with Senator Dianne Feinstein.” He introduced Senator Feinstein, giving a long résumé of Feinstein’s work for civil rights and full equality. Feinstein said she was proud that membership in HRC has gone up in the past seven years from 700,000 to 1,000,300. “I count on all of you to keep the pressure on Washington until we achieve our shared mission: equal treatment under the law for all LGBT Americans,” she said. Feinstein gave a progress report towards that goal. She said she was “only one in a handful of senators who voted against ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ nine years ago in 1993.” She said the only qualifications for military service should be “courage, conf idence, and a willing to serve. Period.” Feinstein said while Congress was successful in lifting the military ban, it was a very different story regarding marriage equality. “I believe strongly that the discriminatory Defense of (continued on page 21)

A new report on LGBTQH intimate partner violence reports an increase of 38.1 percent in 2010 over 2009.

By Dennis McMillan The National Coalition of AntiViolence Programs (NCAVP) has released its report, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Intimate Partner Violence in the United States in 2010.” In 2010, NCAVP programs received 5,052 reports of IPV, an increase of 38.1% from the 3,658 reports in 2009. The L A Gay & Lesbian Center (LAGLC) received additional funding for their IPV programming, accounting for a significant portion of the increase in reported numbers na-

tionwide. “In 2010, we were able to hire a dedicated staff person to focus on gathering information about local IPV incidents,” said Susan Holt, program manager, STOP Partner Abuse/Domestic Violence Program at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. “The increase in reports of intimate partner violence during this time demonstrates the tremendous impact that increased funding can have in allowing anti-violence programs to better support LGBTQH IPV survivors.” The 2010 report highlights a number of disturbing trends. This year’s re-

port shows an increase in the severity of violence experienced by LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of intimate partner violence. In 2010, more than half of survivors (55.4%) experienced physical violence at the hands of their abusive partners - a substantial increase from 2009 (36.5%). “Survivors can be subject to many types of violence by abusive partners, including threats, outing, stalking, and physical attacks. This year’s escalation in physical violence demonstrates the real danger that LGBTQH people face in violent relationships,” said Kelly Clark, Community Safety Program director from the Gay Alli(continued on page 4)

The Art of Living Mike Ward (1962 - 2011)

Mike Ward with one of his favorite cabaret stars, Carly Ozard.

By Mike Ward On July 19, Bay Times’ Jazz & Cocktails columnist Mike Ward slipped into a coma and died. Just days before, he sent me the first installment of what he hoped would be an ongoing column, “The Art of Living.” They say that people who are dying always understand best what it means to live. Mike had lived with cancer for so long, he had mastered the Art of Living. His writing was a joy – a reflection of what a truly special man he was. Mike’s friends will gather to remember him at an event called “Joy of Mike: A Memorial Service Celebrating the Life of Mike Ward.” It takes place Nov. 16 at the Jazz Heritage Center, 1320 Fillmore Street, SF. It runs from 6:30-9:30pm, a small sliver of time for such a remarkable human being.

Mike Ward in 2011 wearing a ready smile.

S o here it i s, Mik e’s la st column . -Kim Corsaro December 20, 2010. I’m 48 years, 1 month and 21 days old on that day, waiting for some off icial news at UCSF Parnassus along with my partner, Michael, and my closest friend/ live-in caregiver/former partner, Daniel. “Your prognosis is as we discussed earlier this week… 9 to 11 months to live,” my gastroenterologist says. “Eleven months if you use Nexavar. It’s the last and only treatment available to you. And it’s not 1 new tumor of 2.4 cm, it’s 2 tumors over 3.0 cm. All surgical options are off the table. Transplant, too. As are all liver-directed therapies, the treatments we’ve successfully used over the past few years,” she finishes.

48. 1. 21. 9 to 11. 1 of 2.4 cm> to 2 of 3.0 cm< Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Joyous Winter Solstice. “If there’s any travel you’d like to do, I’d suggest doing it now. And get your affairs in order. I’m sorry, I wish I had better news,” she adds. I’m living the cliché of a movie. Living it, yes, but cliché nonetheless. On many levels this news is not entirely unexpected. I was told on the phone December 15, 2010, though now we find it’s not one 2.4 cm tumor, but two tumors, both over 3.0 cm. The 12/20/10 visit was a face-to-face formality to confirm that, yes, the tu(continued on page 21

Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law Assembly Bill 887, the Gender Nondiscrimination Act, which will strengthen employment, housing, and other civil rights protections for all Californians, particularly those who face discrimination based on gender identity and expression. The bill was authored by Assembly member Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Equality California, Transgender Law Center, and Gay-Straight Alliance Network. “The Gender Nondiscrimination Act protects all Californians. No matter your skin color, your age, where you come from or whether you’re gay, straight or transgender; we are all protected by the same rights,” said Assembly member Atkins. “We share equal protection in employment, housing, and education. This bill ensures that no one is left out.” While California antidiscrimination laws already define “gender” to include a person’s gender identity and gender expression, the Gender Nondiscrimination Act provides clarity to those who are victims of unlawful discrimination. It also specifies that business owners, employers, and other entities are required to comply with the antidiscrimination protections by explicitly enumerating gender identity and expression as protected categories in a number of state codes. “All hardworking people in California, including transgender people, should have an equal opportunity to earn a living and provide for their families,” said Roland Palencia, former executive director for Equality California. “No one should have to live in fear of being fired from a job or denied housing simply because of who they are. The Gender Nondiscrimination Act ensures that the law is clear and folks who experience discrimination know they are protected.” In 2009, the Transgender Law Center released its “State of Transgender California” report. The report revealed overwhelmingly that Californians who experience discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression at work or elsewhere often times do not file complaints because (continued on page 9)


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