Charles Pierce

Charles Pierce (July 14, 1926 - May 31, 1999) was one of the 20th century's foremost female impersonators, particularly noted for his impersonation of Bette Davis.

Born in Watertown, New York, he began his show business career playing the organ and acting in radio dramas at station WWNY. He branched out into a comedy routine, attired in tuxedo, yet managing to evoke eerily convincing imitations of popular movie actresses. Eschewing the term drag queen, which he hated, he billed himself as a male actress.

Initially playing in small gay clubs, his fame spread. He took up residence in San Francisco, California, where his act became well-known to Hollywood stars. As he toured, his costuming became more elaborate, initially adding small props, later full costume and makeup changes. His imitations were imitated by other female impersonators, and his roles included Bette Davis, Mae West, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Carol Channing, Katharine Hepburn, and Joan Crawford, which became the drag queen canon. His act was centered on wit rather than accurate mimicry, though it was often said that he looked more like Joan Collins than did Joan Collins herself.

He performed at many clubs in New York, including The Village Gate, Ted Hook's OnStage, The Ballroom, and Freddy's Supper Club.

He was a guest actor on an episode of "Wonder Woman". Pierce also appeared on an early episode of the hit 80's TV sitcom, "Designing Women" as a guide on a cruise ship. During the episode, he imitated Joan Collins (as the ship's waitress) and Bette Davis (as the ships lounge entertainment). As Davis he quips: "WAS that Joan Collins I saw earlier? ONE bitch on this boat is enough!"

He died in North Hollywood, California, aged 72, and was cremated. His ashes were interred in the Columbarium of Providence, Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

In Bea Arthur's Tony Award-nominated one-woman show, Just Between Friends, which she played on Broadway and in London's West End, Arthur performs Pierce's favorite joke, A Mother's Ingenuity. It can be heard in the CD soundtrack.

Here is Charles as Bette Davis!

News and Notes, May 31

A new poll finds that for the first time in the state's history, a slim majority of voters supports same-sex marriage, which the state Supreme Court declared legal this month. According to the nonpartisan Field Poll, 51 percent of California registered voters favor allowing same-sex couples to marry, 42 percent are opposed and 7 percent have no opinion. Support for same-sex marriage has steadily increased during the 30 years that the Field Poll has surveyed voters on the issue. But this is the first time more voters expressed support than opposition. The poll also found voters are not inclined to support an amendment to the California Constitution banning same-sex marriage, such as the one targeted for the November ballot. Only 40 percent of those surveyed said they favored such a measure, 54 percent were opposed and 6 percent had no opinion.


County clerks can begin issuing California marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Tuesday, June 17. The state Office of Vital Records said in an email to county clerks Wednesday that June 17 was chosen because the state Supreme Court has until the end of the business day June 16 to decide whether to grant a stay of its May 14 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. “The tricky thing here is we still don’t know whether anything is going to happen up until the close of business on the 16th,” said Vicki Petersen, the chief deputy clerk for Sonoma County. “In any event, we’ll be ready to begin using the new form on 17th.” The new marriage license forms include lines for “Party A” and “Party B” instead of bride and groom.

New York Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada. In a directive issued on May 14, the governor’s legal counsel, David Nocenti, instructed the agencies that gay couples married elsewhere “should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union.” The revisions are most likely to involve as many as 1,300 statutes and regulations in New York governing everything from joint filing of income tax returns to transferring fishing licenses between spouses. In a videotaped message given to gay community leaders at a dinner on May 17, Mr. Paterson described the move as “a strong step toward marriage equality.”

Equality Arizona Radio - May 31

Join Equality Arizona every Saturday from 10:00am - 11:00am for Equality Arizona Radio. Listen live at 1480 KPHX in Metro Phoenix or throughout Arizona (and the country) streaming live on the web!

Join Equality Arizona radio at camp as we learn all ins and outs of helping our favorite candidates. Listen up to learn what you can do and what is worth fighting for! How do you run for office? Is going door to door helpful? Learn from the best as Equality Arizona and HRC partner for this groundbreaking education event!


If you want to join the conversation during the live show call (602) 258-8800 in Metro Phoenix; outside the area call (800) 989-1480. You can send questions to be answered on air to radio@equalityarizona.org.

Gay West '08 Update

Old Tucson Studios will again proudly serve as “party central” for Southern Arizona’s largest Gay Pride event, Gay West 2008. Gay West is a western-themed fundraising event that benefits Wingspan, Southern Arizona's non-profit, charitable organization and community Center.

Headlining this year’s event is none other than Disco Diva and Grammy Winner Thelma Houston, a huge favorite among the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community. Ms, Houston’s personal anthem, “Don’t Leave Me This Way” is sure to bring down the house at Old Tucson Studios which has hosted the event for nine years.

Houston will be presented with the 2nd Annual Gay West Humanitarian Award for her work in the fight against AIDS. Throughout her career, Ms. Houston has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of people with HIV/Aids, donating her talents to organizations such as AIDS Project Los Angeles and the Minority AIDS Project.

The event also includes a one-of-a-kind drag show, dancing to the hottest music, great food, stunt shows with flair, and much, much more!

The event kicks-off at 6pm and runs until 12 Midnight.

Tickets are $16 in advance (before 6/18/08) or $19 at the gate. VIP ticket ($100) includes exclusive meet and greet with Ms Houston, VIP seating for the concert and special gifts to mark the occasion. Reduced price $75 VIP tickets may be purchased at Tucson’s Woody’s Bar.

For tickets visit Old Tucson's website.

Man2Man Seminar, June 7-8

Free Weekend retreat for Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Men… Let’s talk Man to Man.

You are invited to attend a two-day seminar providing education on sexuality and intimacy between men. All men who have sex with men or are attracted to men, and are 18 or older are invited.

Seminar Goals and Topics: •Learning about healthy sexuality •Sexuality across the life span •Understanding effects of fear, violence and abuse •Sexual identity formation •Developing assertiveness and empowerment •Male intimacy and relationships •Breaking isolation and developing networks •Bisexuality and sexual diversity •Being sexual in the age of HIV/AIDS •Sexual functioning

Next Seminar: June 7-8, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., SAAF, 375 S. Euclid.

All participants will receive a free digital camera and will be entered in a raffle to win a new iPod Nano! Lunch, snacks and refreshment will be provided. The Man 2 Man seminars are a collaboration between Body Positive Inc. and The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF).

For more information contact Cesar Egurrola, (520) 628-7223, cegurrola@saaf.org http://www.azman2man.org

Wingspan Community Conversation, June 7

TUCSON - Wingspan’s Community Conversation series is celebrating Wingspan’s 20th anniversary, Saturday June 7 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Wingspan, 425 E. 7th St.


History Matters: Looking Back on LGBT Life. From the 60s to Now, explores intergenerational perspectives on how national and local events over the decades influenced the rise and the sustained fire of the activist spirit of local people. Local LGBT activism gave birth to Wingspan, and Wingspan gave birth to more local activists.

For more information, go online here or call (520) 624-1779.

Meanwhile By Mark R. Kerr

Up at the state capital, it is another week and Arizona’s Legislature is still in session, as of press time, 138 days into their 100-day, self-set deadline, considering frivolous measures and are no closer to dealing with the real issues, such as the next fiscal year’s budget, thanks to the Republican leadership of House Speaker Jim Weiers of Phoenix and Senate President (and Congressional District 8 candidate), Tim Bee of Tucson, who hold their super-secret meetings with Republican legislators on the matter.

This means for taxpaying Arizonans, struggling to make ends meet, paying for gasoline and trying to stay in their “homes,” that the “gang of ninety” continues to get into your pockets and collect their per-diem money thanks to the posturing of the Republican leadership.

With the continuing legislative session, no bills, memorials and most importantly, concurrent resolutions are “dead” until that magic phrase “sine die,” are uttered and the “gang of ninety” leave 1700 West Washington, putting an end to the second regular session of the 48th Arizona Legislature.

SCR (Senate Concurrent Resolution) 1042 still lives and if the elephantine nitwits come up with a budget proposal for the next fiscal year, resulting in very quick negotiations with Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano, all happening within the next proverbial “15 minutes,” the proposed state constitutional amendment to make Gays and Lesbians “a wedge issue” on the upcoming November general election ballot can still happen.

As previously reported SCR 1042 was amended and passed by the Arizona House of Representatives and awaits a concur/refuse vote by the Arizona Senate.

One vote only will it take to give Cathi Herrod, Peter Gentala and the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), a “$500,000 handout,” to place a proposed state constitutional amendment to define marriage, even though their law, approved by their minions and signed by their governor has been upheld in court, this despite their protestations over the recent California state Supreme Court decision on the subject.

CAP, on their website, have proclaimed that it can happen here! “We are less than 30 days away from an Arizona same-sex couple being able to ‘marry’ in California, then return to Arizona to file a lawsuit challenging our state to recognize their California ‘marriage.’ CAP has already received reports of Arizona same-sex couples registering for gifts and making preparations for California weddings,” Family Facts Arizona, CAP’s newsletter breathlessly and factlessly reported in their May 20 edition.

Standhardt V. Superior Court, filed in Arizona Superior Court and upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court (during the time frame of July 2003 - May 2004) upheld the law (Arizona Revised Statutes 25-101 and 25-112 respectively) as constitutional (per the state constitution), so that same-sex marriages conducted in states that recognize them within their boundaries are not recognized in Arizona. So how many legal challenges have been filed since, CAP?

It is interesting that CAP, the group whose previously leader, Len Munsil, drafted and lobbied the law into existence, had prior to the decision, ignored their previous work, quotes and writings (scrubbing their website, azpolicy.org of mention) to get their ballot measure but then embrace it when it is convenient, just after the May, California Supreme Court ruling or in April, when the Arizona Governor’s Regulatory Review Council considered and subsequently approved a measure giving the domestic partners of state employees (same and opposite sex) medical and dental benefits.

So once again let your state Senators know that SCR 1042 should not see the light of the “legislative day,” not for fairness, not for equality but at a cost to Arizona taxpayers: for the businesses who open offices in Arizona resulting in lost income to the state and its citizens due to the missed opportunities; due to the printing cost of the sample ballots, ballot measure books, postage and subsequent election expenses; donating to both the proponents and opponents when the money could be better spent elsewhere on more important issues and, for the all the time wasted and the per-diem money spent.

To speak to your Senator, go online here.

Equality Arizona Dinner, June 14

SCOTTSDALE - Arizona’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) rights organization, Equality Arizona will be holding their 2008 Dinner, Saturday, June 14, 5 - 11:00 p.m., at the Scottsdale Princess Resort, 7575 East Princess Drive.

This year's Awards Dinner will inspire you, entertain you and challenge you to engage in our collective campaign for Equality in Arizona.

Here is the list of this year's honorees: Barry Goldwater Human Rights Corporate Award - The Honorable Joe Shirley, Jr., President, The Navajo Nation and First Lady Vikki Shirley; Barry Goldwater Human Rights Individual Award - The Honorable Tammy Baldwin, Second Congressional District Wisconsin; Equality Arizona Corporate Award - State Compensation Fund, Don Smith, President & CEO; Equality Arizona Individual Award - Dennis K. Burke, Co-Chief of Staff, Office of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano; Equality Arizona Activist Award - Northern Region - Frankie Reynolds, Founder/Executive Director Prescott Pride Center, Central Region - The Honorable Robert Meza, Arizona State Representative, Southern Region - Vicki Gaubeca, Tucson Community Activist; Equality Arizona National Philanthropist Award - Jared Polis, Founder/President, The Jared Polis Foundation; Equality Arizona State Philanthropist Award - Dr. Timothy J. Dyer, Founder/President, The John & Genevieve Dyer Educational Foundation.

Tickets prices: Individual ticket: $240, Table of 10: $2,400; Young Emerging Leader (YEL) Ticket: $210, Young Emerging Leader (YEL) Table of 10: $2,100. To order tickets, call the 24/7 ticket hotline (480) 477-7444, toll free at (866) 551-8404 or online at Equality Arizona and follow the links. The deadline to RSVP is June 2.

Observer Remembers Those We've Lost

Nothing beautiful in this world is ever really lost. Those we cherish will always live on in memory....... Each year on Memorial Day, the Tucson Lesbian and Gay Community remember its lost brothers and sisters.

Phil Aaberg

Jim Ableman

Michael Stephen Acosta

Theresa Marie Acrea

Mark Adams

Steven Adcock

Tracy Adkins

Javier Aguilar

Michael Rene Aguilar

George Alameda

Ian Duncan Alexander

Robert Alexander

Francisco Alexander

Alfonso

Vincent Alger

Mohammed Alikha

Randy Allen

Robert Alley

Glen Almack

Danny Almada

Peter Alpert

Dean Alsobrook

Lucio Alvarez

Andy Anaya

Craig Anderson

John Anderson

David Andrews

Richard Ansell

Larry Anspach

William Applegarth

Michael Arcoletta

Freddy Arias

Victoria Armstrong

L eonardo Arvizu

Larry Scott Ashlock

Ched Ashmead

Giselle Astola

Charles Aitchison

Richard Lee Austin



Todd B.

Bill B.

Crystal Badia

Francisco Javier Badilla

Larry Bailey

Bruce Bak

Gary Baker

Paul Baker

David Balliotti

Bobby Balog

Bradley Barba

Robbie Barber

George Barela

Roger Barger

Stuart Barkel

David Barker

Peter Barnes

Chester Barrett

Oscar Barrill

Edward Barris

Michael Barth

Tom Bartone

Ray B. Basham

Johnnie Batiste

John Bauman

Richard “Rick” Baumlein

David Baus

Chris Beasley

Jerome Beillard

Alex Bejarano

Edward “Eddie” Bejarano

Gordon Bell

Frank J. Bellafiore

Rene Benjamin

Charles Bennett

Greg Bennett

Michael Bennett

John R. Benson

Richard Bergstrom

Bob Bernardi

Greg Berndt

David Horten Berry

Edward Betancourt

Eddie Betrano

Andrew Bidlingmaier

Paul Bigley

Charles “Chuck” Bilbro

Ken A. Billingsley

Doug Billow

John Bircumshaw

Bob Bishop Sr.

Frank Bishop

Phil Black

Larry Bloch

Tim Blodgett

Richard Wayne Blum

Samuel Bruce Bobo

Carl Bocock

Donna Bohrer

Henry Boido

Adelina Borgaro

Tom Bortone

Michael Bosch

Tom Bowers

Francisco Bracamonte

Greg Bracht

Charles “Chuck” Brady

Robert Brady

Thomas Brady

Peter Brandlen

Randy Bratton

David Brause

Matthew Breakey

Mike Brederman

Neil Brennan

Michael Shawn Brewer

Phil Brock

Carlos Brockman

Andrew Siliar Brooks

Allen Brown

Austin Brown

Brian Brown

Gerald Allen Brown II

Leonard Brown

Mark Brown

Melinda Brown

Karen Bruce

William E. Bruder Jr.

Mark Brunelle

Clark Bryan

Jeff Bryan

Terry Bryant

Richard Buckley

Buffer

Jerome “Jerry” Buggin

Gary Bunge

David Burrows

John Busenbarrick, Jr.

Ruben Bustamante

Timo Butters


Steve C.

Vincent Cabello

Felix Caez

Kevin “Andrew” Callaghan

Dale Calloway

Juan Carlos Calvo

Michael Campbell

Otis Campbell

Nicholas Candelaria

Viola Caneloz

Carolla C.

James Henry Carlin

John Carlson Jr.

Eugene Carr

Marcos Carrasqo

Cuberto Castanada

Roberto “Beto” Castanada

Iidefonso Castanos

Hector Castillo

Jerry Castrillo

Fletcher Knight Catron

Bill Chapman

Jeffrey Van Chapman

Darryl Chapple

Charles

Charles

Scott Alan Childress

Joe Christopher

Jean Renee Cicci

Charles "Chip" Ciperley

Brian Clark

Charles "Chuck" Clapp

Steve Clark

Don Codner

Terry Coen

David H. Cohn

Lou Colby

Bruce Collins

Jock Collins

Lonnie Dean Combs

Rick Condor

Efrain“Jamie” Contreras

Mike Conway

Bill Cook, Jr.

Ronald D. Coon

Randolph “Randy” Cooper

W.N. “Bill” Coplies

Ben Corbin

Eddie Cordova

Corky

Christopher Corr

Steven Corty

Francisco Corral

William Cottrell

Neil Cowhey

Nick Cranz

Mace Edward Crawford

Richard Crellin

Michael W. “Bullwinkle”

Crinage

Adrian Crites

Ivan Crocker

David Croft

James Allen Crouch

David Cruice

Roy Cruz

William Cruz

Mark Cumberworth

Jerry Curl

Dan Curtis



Alvin Dabney

Michael Daley

Dan

William E. “Bill” Darnell

William H. Daniels

Rev. Bernardo David

Carl Davis

James “Jimmy” Dawson

Harry Dean

Derek

Patrick De Armond

Rob Detwiler

Phyl Jay "PJ" DeWolf

Tom Di Antonio

Nathaniel Todd Dickerhoff

Daniel J. Dickerson

Harold "Hal" Dickey

Robert Diffie

David Dixon

Roger Dixon

David Doane

Cary Dobbs

John Dobson

Charles “Chuck” Donaho

Candas Doolittle

Keith Douglas

Michael Dralle

Mark Drum

Rory Drwinga

John G. Dubs

Bruce Thomas Duggan

Al’Lisa Ja’Rene Duke

Christopher “Rick” Duncan

Donald Dupie

Richard DuPont

Shirley Jean Dykstra



Tim E.

Jesse Eberhardt

Ron Edgerly

Bruce E. Edward

Michael Patrick

Edwards

Edy

Michael Egli

Larry Eichberg

Val "Valerie" Ekins

Tim Elchuck

Mark Alan Elenz

Frank Elias

Suzanne Elliott

Bill Ellsworth

Bruce “Popcorn Polly”

Elward
Lewis Elze

John Emerich

Tony Encinas

Chuck Ennett

Bill Enos

Gustavo Enrique

Ruben “Mama Reyña”

Escamilla

Emilio Escarega

Brad Essuary

Phillip Estrada

Roy Estrada

Richard Everett

David Eyde


Dick F.

David E. Farfard

James Farias

Juan Farmer

Chris Farnsworth

Eddie Felix

Richard Felix

Dan Fenstermaker

Gary Feltner

Dr. Daniel Gregory

Wolther-Femmer

Brent D. Ferrin

Dr. Ben Field

Mark Alan Fields

Alejandro Figueroa

Bill Findley

Nina M. Finley

James E. Fisher

Larry Fisher

James Fisher

John Fitzgerald

Keith “Keill” Fleeman

Christopher “Rick”

Flener

Eddie Florez

Elsa Burgess-Flores

Matt Flores

Paul Flores

Yolanda Flores

William Flores

Jack Dean “Poonie”

Foley

Vernon Fontecchio

Daniel Foote

Robert Foreman

Bruce H. Fowler

Gary Matthew Fowler

Myron Foxx

Alex Francisco

Walter Franks, Jr.

David Fredricks

Jesus “Jesse” Fregoso

Bill Fry

Jose Fuentes

Doug Fuller



Peter Gabor

Robin Gabriel

James Ggner

Garry Galeoto

Vito Galeoto

George Gallego

Reno Gannon

Apolonio Garcia

Ken Garcia

Maria Garcia

Mona Garcia

Michael Garcia

Jerry Gardner

Heather Joy Garvey

Douglas E. ‘Doug’George

Jeremy George

Christopher Giano

Ira Gibson

Monte-Jon Gilmer

Jean-Claude Girard

Mark Gish

Carroll Gladson

Dennis Allen Gladu

Jeff R. Glasser

Ramon Gomez

Antonio Gonzalez

Armando Gonzalez

Alexander John Goodrum

Tom Gora

Ron Gould

Patrick Grace

Garold "Gary" T. Graham

Robert Allen Graham

Emil Grandberg

Donald Grant

Arthur L. Green

John Green

Jeff Greer

Gregory

Richard “Dick” Gregory

Michael Griffin

Gary Grimes

Grace Maria Groves

Felipe Guerrero

René Guimond

Rebecca Guiterrez

René M. Guiterrez

Betsy Guthrie


Anna H.

Archibald H.

John Haase

Cliff Hachimoto

Charles Hacker

John “Rob” Haddix

Dennis Hale

Herb Hale

Randy Hale

Kevin Hall

Michael Hall

Stephen M. Hall

Eric Hallam

James Hallaway

George Hamilton

Ken Hannon

Robert Hanson

Don Harris

Shirl Harris

Alice Harrison

Terry Harrison

Bob Hart

Kent Harvey

Patrick Hayes

Thomas Hayes

Larry "Mavis" Hemeon

Roy Henderson

Jay Henley

James "Jimbo" Henry

Graciel A. Hernandez

Joe Hernandez

Michael Hernandez

Oscar Hernandez

La Hanna Heyde

Delbert Hibdon

Bruce Hickcox

Rick Hildreth

John High

Brian Hill

Danny Hill

Rev. Randy Hill

Walter Hill

Warren Hogan

Hector Holgen

Bobbi Holiday

Carl Michael Holiman

Andrew Holland

James Hollaway

Mark Holly

Richard L. Holmes

Herbert F. “Bert” Hoop

John Horne

David Horton

Sam Hosp

Gary Hotham

Bob Householder

Joseph A. Houser

Mark Howe

Paul Hoye

Brian Hoyt

Randy Hubbard

Robert Hubbard

Keith Huffman

Henry Hufford

James L. “Jimmy”

Hughes

Maureen Hughes

Larry “Papa” Humphrey

Jeff Huntoon

Bart Andrew Hust

Steven Hutchings

Luke Hynes



Ian

Teko Ipock

David Iszler


Edmond “Bob” Jacques

Harold J.

Christopher Jenner

Jim

Jimmy J.

Jess

John

Juan

James E. "Jimmy"

Johnson

Paul "PJ" Johnson

Thomas Johnson

Brad Jones

Dickie Lee "DJ" Jones

Terry Jordan

Scott Jordan

Rudy Juren


Phil Kanenan

Kip Karr

Douglas Karschner

Jamie Kealoha

Randy Kellems

Raymond Kelly

Steven Kelly

Gene Kelton

Lawrence King

Rex King

James Kinney

Bruce Kiron

Steve Kissler

Brian Klomp

Randy Klutts

Bruce Knapp

Thomas Koch

Jim Kogel

Jerry Kohihoff

Steve Kopelberg

Richard Koussa

Charles Krahe

Victoria Kratina

Dennis Krenick

David R. Krough

David Phillip Krug

"Pat" Kube

James Kusiak



Russell L.

Steven L.

Gary L’Abbe

Michael LaBossiere

Fernando Labrada

Jack F. Lacey, Jr.

Dan Laguna

Bobby Laine

Mark Allen Landsfeld

Larry Lang

Larry (with the cast)

Darla Laughlin

Mitchell LaVern

Eric Lavers

Bruce Lazarus

Adrian LeChance

Terry Lea

Joseph R. “Joe” Lee Jr.

Steve LeGro

Margo Leigh

Lou Leoni

Tony Leoni

Russel Lepard

Scottie Levine

Art Lewis

Denise Lewis

Steve Lewis

Tom Lewis

Richard Lisa

Rusti (Blanche) Liston

Jerry Livingston

Regioberto Llanez

Curt Long

Murray Lorenzen

Kent Lott

James Howard Lucas

Joseph Lucero

Enrique Luna

Jesus Luna

Robert Lundien



Octavio M.

R. Harrison MacArthur

Charles Mac M.

John Mackin

William Madsen

Garry Magnum aka

Tish Tanner

Matthew Magnussen

David Majia

Jason Mallonee

Ella F. Manciet

Larry Mann

Tracie Manos

C. Larry Mantz

Jim Manus

Larry Gene Maple

Carl Marcum

Sergio Marino

Daniel Maris

Jessie Martin

Joseph Martin

Kenneth W. Martin

Peter Martinez

Louis Robert Martinez

John Mason

Carl Matajasik

Skeets Alan “Skeeter”

Mathews

Dana "Barritt" Matthews

Larry Mavin

Chuck Mayer

Linda Mayer

Greg Mayes

Brenda McClain

Fr. Peter McClintock

Kevin McCormick

Ron McCourt

Jerry McCoy

Lauren McCoy

Marilyn McCutchin

“Mac” McElvain III

Curtis McGowen

Brian J. McKee

Farrell McKee

Raymond McKintosh

Dale Autry McKissack

Maurice McLain

John McLaughlin

John J. "Jack" McMahon

Michael McN.

Edward McNeal

William McTarnahan

Peter McWhorter

Edward Meadows

Billy Meek

David Paul Mejia

Eric Melcher

Bruce L. Meyer

Buzz Metzger

Jan Meyer

Darrell Micholski

Ivan Millard

Robert Miller

Terry Lee Miller

Leonard G. Mills

James Minor

Gary Mitchell

Lawrence Mixon

Gary Moore

Gene Moore

George Moore

Rev. Robert Moore

Edwin Mora

Sergio Moreno

Tina Morgan

Tom Morgan

Dan Morris

Gary Moss

Patrick Thomas Murdock

Brian P. Mulford

Michael Mulholland

Leo Murillo

Larry Murphy

John B. Murphy

Michael Murphy

David James Murray

Kevin Murray

Jose “Joe” Murrieta

Kenneth “Kenny” Muse

Mike Mustard

Dr. Jon F. Myers II



Chris Nakamura

Jesse Lee Nance

Michael Navauo

William H. "Bill" Neal

Kelly Nesbitt

Kevin Nevison

Ernie Nicholson

Carter Nicely

Marilyn Nicholson

Jon Night

Mike Nikolin

M. Alexx Niles

Frank Norton

Ed Norway, Jr.



John W. O’Brien

John H. Ochs

Bobby O'Connell

Patrick O’Connor

Robert D. O'Connor

Jesse James Onken

Mark Orosz

Amelia Ortega

Jesus Orozco

Raphael Ortiz

Larry Owens

James “Jimmy” Owens

Wm. Edward Owens, Jr.

Billy Owmbey



Nate P.

Raymond “Mon” Padias

Danny “Moose” Pagel

Bob Palmer

John Palmer

John Parrish

Rachel Pasternack

Robert P. “Bob” Patton

Lynne Payne

David "Willie" Peck

Bruce Pegg

David Peña

Lance Penny

Paul Perez

Rev. Eduard E. Perry

Lance R. Perry

Ray Peterson

Henry Petter

Rick Pfensdorf

Cecil Phillips

James Phillips

Ward Pickard

Jim Pickett

Rudy Piper

George J. "Gina Who"

Plencencio

Dick Pletcher

James Plumb

Robert J. "Bobby"

Plummer

Eduardo “Eddie” Polanco

Michael John Polonis

Louis-John Porcelli

Lynda Sue Poss

Wade Poteet

John R. Potter

Nancy Powell

Jerry Prall

Dean Pratt

Phillip Prell

Ed Prendergast

William Provo

Christopher Charles

Pruett

Paul R.

Roger A. Radabaugh

Robert Raines, Jr.

C. Roger Raines

Robert M. Ralston

Albert Ramirez

John Paul "PJ"

Ramirez Jr.

Jose Luis Ramirez

Raul

Robert Ratcliff

Paul Ratella, M.D.

Jerry Ray

George Rederus

Jerry O. Reece

John H. Reed

Mitchell Reed

Paul Reed

Will Reeder

William Reeves

Michael Alan Reid

Joel Reiter

Bill Relph

Andrea Remson

Rene

Rock Renze

Tim Renze

Charles Renovato

Glen Reynolds

Freddy Rias

Rev. James C. ‘Jim’ Rice

Robert Rice

Steve Richards

Lee Ridinger

Rudolph “Rudi” Riesgo

Riff

Eddie Rios

Ron G. “Ronnie” Rios

Riley Ritchie

Frank Rizzuto

Gerard Roberts

Jason Roberts

Rocky Dean Roberts

Craig Robinson

Lucille Robinson

Barnabe “Barney” Robles

James Rocco

Donald L. Rodriguez

Lionel Rodriguez

Logan Rodriguez

Richard Rodriguez

Joe Rogers

Joe Romano

John Romano

Ray Romero

Thomas Romero

Tony Romo

David Alan Root

John Edward Rose

Julie Rosen

Jack Rossdeutcher

Mike Rouse

Gerald Roy

Al Russek

Martin Russell

Glenn “Rusty” Rust

Ruth

Jessica Rutledge

Gloria Ryan

Paul Ryan



Chuck S.

Tim S.

Glenn Sabel

Daniel Saenz

Charles Andrew Salano

John Salazar

Mario “Arnold” Salazar

Matthew Sanders

Joseph Daniel Sanchez

Joseph Sanchez

Robert Santa Cruz

Rosa “Rosie” Santana

Phillp C. Santhon

Jorge Santos

Joe Sauer

Leonard Scarbrough

John Schimmel

Dennis L. Schmidt

Robert "Klee" Schmidt

Fritz Schneider

Pete Schneider

William “Bill” Schober

Richard Lee Schoenlaub

Kathy Schot

Louis “JoJo” Schraeder

David Schweda

David Schweinitz

Ronald C. Schuyler

John B. Scipio Jr.

Scott

Leonard Scott

Vern Scott

Bruce Seleb

John Semmens

Robert Sexon

Michael Julian Sewell

James E. “Jim” Shafer

Lila Shakeridge

Paul Shanks

Ernest Shaw

Russell Shaw

Larry Sheets

James Sherbo

Fran Shevitz, MD

Albert “Del” Shockley Jr.

Fred Sibnic

Ernie Silver

Shane Sims

Ryan Sinatra

James Sindeldecker

Victor R. Silcox, Jr.

Stuart Eric Sinding

Herb Skinner

Newton John Skinner

Eric Smith

Doris W. Smith

Frank Smith

James Smith

Jeff Smith

K. Smith

Leigh Smith

Mark S. Smith

Rodney “Ronnie" Smith

William Bonner Smith

Jerry Smithson

Robert L. Smock

Richard L. Snook

Craig Snow

Charley Solano

Jody Sommers

Albert Soto

Frank Soule

Timothy Speck

Sid Spencer

Tim St. Pierre

Fred Stahl

Joe Stanson

Roger Stallings

Rue Starr

Michael Stefan

Lee Stephens

Troy Stephenson

Keith Stern

Steve

Steven

Stan Stevens

T-Barr Stevens

Glade “Steve” Stilson

Jean Stillson

Terry Stinnett

Anita Story

Dennis Stowell

Robert Olen Strickland

Jeffrey A. Strickler

Chris Coronado Strigle

Steve Strigle

Ken Stringer

Michael Stryker

Tommy Ray Stumbo

Tommy Stumbs

Mike Swanson

Rodger G. Sweet



Thomas A.“Tom” Tanner

Robert Tamango

Steven J. Tapter

John Tarone

James M. "Jim" Tate

Hal Taylor

Sloan Taylor

Valerie Taylor

Gary Teague

Ruben Tellez

Ronald ”Ronnie"

Templeton

Stephen Terry

Harry “Rey” Tester

David Thacker

Jeffrey Theis

Sean Thomas

Thommy

Lee Thompson

Robert “Rob" Thompson

Scott “Sadie” Thompson

Jonathan George Tiaz

Jeffrey Tidwell

Ollie Joe Tillman III

Tito

Stan Tolonen

Tony

John Torregrossa

Gary Lewis Trent

Randy Tribble

Carlos Trujillo

Phillip Turlan

Hal Tyler



Juan “John” Uresti, Jr.



James V.

Lillian V.

Tim Vaccario

Jim Valitan

Carlos Valladares

Daniel Valdez

Gregg Van Ash

Jonathan L. Vandine

John Van Meter

Bruce Van Nostrand

Kevin Van Polen

Lillian Vasquez

Ophelia Vasquez

Tomas Vega

Hermalinda Velasquez

Christopher M. Veoukas

Gene Verhaagen

Andy K. Villalba

Linda Brown “Elbie”

Vindiola

Michael J. Vining

Glen Vogt



Michael W.

David Wade

John Walker

Richard Walker

Edward “Big Ed” Walls

Sgt. P.A. “Pat” Walters

Louis “Louie” Walsh

Philip A. Walsted

Bennett H. Walzer

Darren B. Wamhoff

Anita Ward

David Warner

Rev. Henry Warner

Donald Warren

Lila Washington

Dennis A. Wasser

Cliff Waterson

Elmer Watford, Sr.

Danny Watson, Jr.

Andy Webber, Jr.

Mary Webber

Kevin Wells

Russell Wells

Jackie Ray West

John West

Ronald "Ron" Wetzel

Willie Weyant

Bryan Michael Whelan

Roger Whitaker

Stephen F. Whitaker

Larry White

Reggie White

Roger Whitehead

Oza Whittin

Norris Whittom

Allan Wiggins

Gilbert D. "Gibb" Wihour

William C. "Bill" Wiley

Lee Willetts

Tom Williams

Tracy Williams

Roy Williamson

George Frederick Wilson

Jack "Blanche" Wilson

Winifred Wilts

David Windsor

Tom Winters

Alton Wisdom

Richard Wise

Thomas Wohlgemuth

Richard L. Woodworth

David Wright

Lillian “Sunshine” Wright

Robert S. Wright Jr.

Travis Wright



Leon Yi

Francis Young

Norman Young

Terry Young

Dale Yount

Joseph Yurkovich



Robert E. Zack

Gerald L. Zagst

Gene Zarr

Armando Zegri

Donald Anthony

Zelkowsky

Teresa Zell

Joseph Ziemer

A man whose name

cannot be used


NOTE: Although the great majority of persons named here died of complications of AIDS, some died from other illnesses, natural causes, suicide, murder, accidents, etc. This list has been compiled from obituary notices that appeared in the Observer and Arizona Gay News, and information received from the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. It is not a complete list by any means. It has been updated each year since May 24, 1989. For any corrections, additions or deletions please contact the Observer.

Emigration By Jimmy Petrol

The fact is, people change countries when they get it in their heads that this place is no fun anymore or that place will be better. Often, of course, it is an economic better that the migrant is after. But this isnt about that kind of migrant. This is about us.

My two Greek grandfathers fled the thousands-year old war with Turkey over Cypress and came to America. It was a time when steel mills ran round the clock, the railroads lay rail night and day and the country was booming. It was 1920 America and the immigrant was welcomed to do the work of building Americas infrastructure, to butcher her meat and to man her factories. My grandfathers both begin by laying rail with sixteen-pound sledge in the cool, clear air of the Rocky Mountains. They finished up knowing they had brought us all into the world in a better place than if they had stayed home.

My Mexican grandmother came fleeing the Mexican Revolution; she and her seven brothers swam the Rio Grande to save themselves from war. She lived knowing we were better off as well. For a long time, Greece and Mexico had held our family. Now, for three generations, America has received the benefit of our work; we are workers all....some would say work-aholics...but we produce, day in, day out, year after year. We contribute to America with sweat, skill and toil. America, in return, has kept us safe from the civil war that my grandmother fled, from the senseless, endless wars of the Middle East and the Balkans.

And now, having been built with the blood and sweat of the immigrant, America has embarked upon this last war, the War of Resources. Without a doubt, our country pursues a military plan that is predicated on the presence of natural resources; we only go where there is stuff to get control of. We will pretend that we are fighting for something else, but we are not and we all know it. The problem with this final scarcity, as we poise to consume the last of the earths bounty, is that lots of people are going to do without. That is a euphemism for die.

This is not an indictment. Someone will have to eat the last fish, the last rabbit, and drink the last water. There will not be enough for all. The question as to who will get to eat and drink and dance till the last is settled; it will be the Americans. The proof is in the American attitude; Americans consume not by need, but by right. Americans perceive the divine right of money; if they can buy it, then it is all right to eat it right up....even if there is nothing for someone else. That is what it is to be an American and drive a huge truck that is not needed for work....few Americans would stoop to haul anything like wood or dirt in the big American truck; most see themselves as too good to do manual labor.

So what will people of conscience do now, here? Shall we flee to the North, and man the lines against America when she goes after the Canadian water to fill her pools and grow her lawns? Or to the south, to suffer with my relatives when the Great Mexican Famine begins? Farther south, the cannibals masquerade as presidents and generals....the jungle hides the dead. There is no road there.

Europe goes Muslim next week; the holy wars began anew in Paris this last decade. Muslims are interesting, like any religion...but a bit of a stretch for Jimmy Petrol to start wearing a veil. But I digress. The religion is not at question; all will be fighting for the same thing: that divine right to life, to the bread and water of the chosen people. Choosing for myself, I am at a loss.

To stay is to begin to fight in earnest against the ideal of consumptive right; to become militant. To go is to cast the only vote that counts; the one we cast with our feet. To do nothing but keep driving that truck, voting for fools...that is madness. Bad Monkey....how will you spend your days?

Equality Team Tucson Meeting, June 3

Equality Arizona's Tucson Equality Team will meet next Tuesday, June 3 at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Wingspan, 425 E 7th Street.

If you are interested in getting involved in the statewide movement for equality and want to help our community have an impact on this year's elections, please join us. The Tucson Equality Team is made up of local community members and activists, like yourself, who are helping to build our political power on a local level so that we can positively change public policies statewide.

For more information, please feel free to contact Sam Holdren, Public Affairs Director, at samh@equalityarizona.org.

Camp Equality, May 31 - June 1

PHOENIX - There's still space available for the Phoenix Camp EqualityTM on May 31 - June 1. This is an exciting opportunity that will prepare you to help make 2008 the Year to Win for the LGBT community Register now at http://eqfed.org/ct/77MA4p116RTH/!

This year, elections will occur for a new president, all U.S. House members, one-third of the U.S. Senate, and thousands of state legislators. And voters in Arizona may be facing another anti-LGBT ballot initiative this year.

Equality Arizona will be on the campaign trail every step of the way - and we want you to be there, too.

That's why we're holding Camp EqualityTM - a two-day training session to develop and hone campaigning skills - in Phoenix on May 31 - June 1, in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign, Southern Arizona Stonewall Democrats, Young Democrats of
Arizona, AFL-CIO, and ACLU.

Whether you are just getting involved in the electoral process or are a campaign professional, Camp EqualityTM can help you learn how to become more effective at advocating your causes and your candidates. We will offer two training tracks:

Fundamentals Track: Designed to give you the step by step fundamentals necessary to be successful at the grassroots level. Topics will include: planning, recruitment, volunteer coordinating, event fundraising, earned media, and creating a local activist plan. You will learn the basic skills that are essential to putting your issue campaign or local committee in the best position to win.

Advanced Track: For our more seasoned activist or campaign professionals. This track offers the fundamentals of political campaign management. During your sessions you will learn advanced techniques of fundraising, field organizing, media relations, volunteer coordination, targeting, candidate relations, and the latest campaign technology.

If you have ever thought about volunteering for a campaign or already have experience in campaigns, we hope that you will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to gain valuable knowledge that you can apply to all aspects of campaign operations. Registration for Camp EqualityTM is $50 and includes. Scholarships are available. For more information about Camp Equality scholarships, contact Tony Wagner, HRC's Western Regional Director, at anthony.wagner@hrc.org.

Bisbee Pride, June 13-15

BISBEE - On June 13th, 14th & 15th, 2008, the Bisbee Pride will be hosting the Bisbee Pride Festival. Held in a number of venues in Olde Town Bisbee, the festival promises an array of entertainment including music, stage, cuisine, booth vendors and more.

Friday, June 13th – Leather & Lace Street Party, 8 PM – 2 AM, Drag Show, Ajia Simone, Tucson’s Black Cat, 9:30 PM – 12 AM

Saturday, June 14th – Music in the Park, starting at noon, Desert Voices at 5:30 PM, Grassy Park Vendors, 10 AM – 5 PM, Pool Party BBQ, 11 AM – 3 PM, Pub Crawl, 7 PM – 10 PM, Luminary Lighting & Music, 7:30 PM – 10 PM, UnderStock Party, 10 PM – 2 AM, Helen’s Place (Tinker Bell Park), Greek Food, 5 PM – 3 AM, Obscure Productions presents “My Blue Heaven”, 7 PM – 8:30 PM, Sunday, June 15th – Farewell Breakfast, 7 AM – 10:30 AM.

In addition, ten panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display at various venues during the festival. Specialists from the U of A and representatives from the AZ Department of Health Services will be on hand with their expertise. Bisbee Pride has been named one of the top five rural Pride Celebrations in the country in 2007 by a number of highly recognized web-sites and publications.

Bisbee, “Queen of the Copper Camps,” located approximately 90 miles southeast of Tucson, offers old-world charm, new-world charisma and is Arizona’s premier destination for arts and culture, western mining heritage and serves as a gateway to nature and recreation. For more information, contact Adam Lamb, (520) 236-3699, 432-2216 or online at Bisbee Pride.

Evelyn Schave to Visit Cornerstone Fellowship, Jun

TUCSON - Have you been rejected by churches? Do you want to know how it is possible to be LGBT and Christian? Do you want to learn about God’s promises and His love for you, just as you are? Then please join Cornerstone Fellowship on Sunday, June 1 as special guest Evelyn Schave ministers at our 10:30 a.m. worship service

In October 1993, Cornerstone Fellowship began supporting a new work done by Evelyn Schave from Houston, Texas. Evelyn and her husband Dennis were actively involved in the Assemblies of God when God began to convict her of the need to start a unique new ministry. Little did Evelyn know that she was being called to be an evangelist to churches in the LGBT community! Now she travels around the country encouraging and challenging our congregations, and also goes to non-LGBT churches where she tries to help them see that God accepts us and uses us the same as all believers.

Evelyn is a dynamic woman of God, and all are invited to share in this exciting experience. Cornerstone is located at 2902 N. Geronimo. Please call Pastor Paul Chambliss at (520) 622-4626 for more information.

Lesbian Derailing The Double Talk Lobbyist Pandering Express Paid For By His 'Wife'

Investigative reporter Ellen DeGeneres, a Lesbian, let McBush have it regarding her's and others upcoming nuptials.

Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann do it yet again. Enjoy!

A Four Letter Word, June 20

Tucson Pride and Wingspan's Reel Pride join up to present A Four Letter Word on June 20 at the Loft. Casper Andreas's sexy comic follow-up to Slutty Summer nabbed the Grand Jury Award for Best Screenplay at L.A. Outfest.

"A Four Letter Word coasts on a good-natured raunchiness that's explicit but never sleazy ... it's a surprisingly endearing romantic comedy that explores gay relationships with low-budget verve. - New York Times

Come out with Community to enjoy A Four Letter Word and give Pride Week a great start!

Indie Filmmaker's Fashion Show

This special event will help raise funds for the completion of the short film Esmeralda Del Desierto, by local queer activist and artist Oscar Jimenez. The film tells the story of a Transgender woman who decides to leave her small Mexican hometown to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion supermodel in New York City. Jimenez's collection that was designed for the film will be featured at this runway show. Tickets ($10) include reception and fashion show. For more information, please call 400-3852.

Event Details - May 31, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., 299 South Park Ave., Tucson. Event Sponsor - Cool Planet Films. For more informatio, contact Oscar (520) 400-3852, miparaiso@hotmail.com.

Website - http://www.myspace.com/coolplanetfilms.

Museuming With Maurice, June 15

On June 15, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., meet in front of the Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N. Olive Road, located on the UA campus, then have a personal guided tour with retired art professor, Maurice Grossman. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Park on the street or convenient visitor parking is available at the UA garage on Park Ave. just north of Speedway Blvd and walk through the tunnel under Speedway. The building is the second on your left.

For more information, contact Penelope Starr (520) 624-1779 x 122, pstarr@wingspan.org.

Bush-McCain Fundraiser Scaled Back Due To Lack Of Takers

A planned mega-fundraiser for the GOP, featuring President Bush and John McCain, has now been scaled back in the face of a daunting problem: Too few people actually wanted to buy tickets, reported TPM Election Central

According to the Phoenix Business Journal, fundraiser set for this Tuesday in the city's convention center failed to sell enough tickets, leading to fears that the anti-Bush protesters might end up outnumbering actual attendees.

The new plan is for the Bush-McCain fundraising effort, which will benefit both the McCain campaign and the RNC, to be held in private residences in the Phoenix area away from media coverage.

Wingspan CyberCenter Refresh

Thanks to the generosity of the David Bohnett Foundation, Wingspan's CyberCenter will be undergoing a "refresh." Our CyberCenter will be closed until further notice. Stay tuned for a relaunch date for a freshly painted CyberCenter with brand new computers!

If you have any questions, contact Geovanna De La Ree at 520-624-1779 ext. 119 or E-mail gdelaree@wingspan.org.

Democratic Party wins lawsuit to obtain past and future electronic voting records

TUCSON - A judge ordered the release of past and future electronic election data in a public records lawsuit by the Pima County Democratic Party against the Pima County Board of Supervisors. The judge found no proof of any security risk to future elections by releasing the records.

Vince Rabago, Chairman of the Pima County Democratic Party, applauded the decision. "This is a national victory for open government and transparency in elections," declared Rabago. "If you are going to have electronic voting and election records, you need to have electronic oversight. This is an important win for accountability, oversight, and transparency in our democracy."

Since late 2006, the Democratic Party had fought for release of public records to conduct its statutory oversight role, after finding anomalies in a post-election review of audit log data. Pima County refused to release the records and forced the Party to file a public records lawsuit. After a four-day trial in early December, the judge ordered the release of 2006 primary and general election databases. On January 8, 2008, the Pima County Board of Supervisors was met with public pressure from citizens and activists, including representatives from the Republican and Libertarian parties, and agreed to go beyond the judge's initial ruling by releasing records for the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority election, after a motion for reconsideration by Chairman Richard Elias. A week later, Supervisors Bronson, Valadez and Day reversed course and decided to continue fighting to keep past and future election records secret.

On May 5, the Democratic Party went back to court seeking election records dating back to 1998 and the ability to obtain records in future elections. The Party presented testimony from national experts who concluded there was no security risk from releasing the databases. Today's ruling orders the release of past election records and allows for future election records to be released immediately after the official results of an election are released. The timing of the release is important because Arizona law has a 5-day period to challenge election results after the official results are released.

Rabago also commented on the review of election records in the future, noting that consultants working for the Party have designed and are developing a software program to allow for rapid review of electronic election data for any given election to check for tampering or even electronic glitches that could affect the outcome of an election. "The software code for this analysis tool will be ‘open source,' which means the software will be open to review or use by anybody and will not be subject to any proprietary or trade secret restrictions. This is how election software should be, but isn't yet."

Position Open At TIHAN

The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) seeks a full-time Director of CarePartner Support to oversee support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Responsibilities include coordination of CarePartner support services, supervision of volunteer CareTeams, Poz Cafe monthly lunch program, and other volunteer-based support services for CarePartners living with HIV/AIDS. Additional responsibilities include recognition and retention practices that will support TIHAN volunteers and programs, and maintaining relationships with healthcare providers and social service agencies. Full-time position (32-40 hours) requires Bachelor's degree, three years experience in client support services and volunteer coordination, sensitivity to HIV-related issues, interfaith and multi-cultural issues, and confidentiality. Requires some evening and weekend availability.

Salary DOE; benefit package includes health/dental insurance. Bilingual persons and persons living with HIV encouraged to apply. AA/EOE. Submit cover letter, resume and list of three professional references to scott@tihan.org or TIHAN, 1011 North Craycroft Road #301, Tucson, Arizona 85711.

Cox and the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation Nominated for Cable Positive Award

The partnership between Cox Communications and the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) has been nominated for a Positively Outstanding Programming (POP) award for Outstanding Community Partnership by Cable Positive. The award ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 10th, at the Time Warner Screening room in New York City. Entries go through a judging process conducted by a blue ribbon panel of media writers and critics and HIV/AIDS experts. Judging criteria is based on content accuracy, message clarity and program quality.

The Outstanding Community Partnership Award is given for local programming created in partnership between a local cable outlet and a community-based AIDS service organization highlighting the issue within their community. Programming was for airing of a public service announcement created by Ridgewood Associates for AIDSWALK 2007, held on the University of Arizona® campus on October 14, 2007.

The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation provides care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS in southeastern Arizona, including case management, housing, transportation, a food panty and mobile meals program, medical and dental assistance and support groups. In addition, SAAF provides outreach to groups at high risk of HIV/AIDS through seven different culturally targeted prevention programs. AIDSWALK is an annual fundraiser and educational opportunity, now in its 20th year. This year’s AIDSWALK will be held on Sunday, October 19th at the University of Arizona® campus in Tucson.

Cox Communications, as a Title Media sponsor for AIDSWALK for many years, provides airtime for public service announcements to be shown to further the mission of SAAF and increase awareness of AIDSWALK, which raises money to help stop the spread of HIV and to improve lives affected by HIV and AIDS.

Cable Positive continues to use the power of cable television to communicate important messages about HIV and AIDS through public service announcements (PSAs). Since 1992, Cable Positive has provided their cable network and systems partners with PSAs free of charge. These PSAs have received millions of dollars of pro-bono airtime and support from their partners to ensure that cable television is a leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS. For more information on AIDSWALK 2008, please call SAAF at (520)628-7223 extension 258.

Armistead Maupin in Tucson - June 25

In anticipation of author Armistead Maupin's visit to the Loft on June 25, come enjoy a free screening, Saturday June 21, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at the Joel Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone in the Lower Level Meeting Room, of the original TV mini-series Tales of the City based on his work! Free popcorn will be provided.

Then on Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 p.m. at the Loft Cinema, 3233 East Speedway, Join the Pima County Public Library and the Library's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Committee in welcoming Armistead Maupin, author of Tales of the City, The Night Listener, and Michael Tolliver Lives to Tucson! Maupin will talk about and read from his books. A book sale and signing will follow.

For more information go online here or here.

SCR 1042 Update - Of Sorts By Mark R. Kerr

With the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature still posturing in regard to the budget for the state government for the upcoming new fiscal year, SCR (Senate Concurrent Resolution) 1042, the proposed state constitutional amendment defining "marriage" and barring governmental and legal recognition of "same sex relationships" is still alive.

SCR 1042 still faces a concur/refuse vote in the Arizona Senate, since the original intent was to honor Arizonans who served in the armed services during the Vietnam War with an unpaid holiday, so Republicans screwed Vietnam Veterans for queer bashing during this election year.

To see if the bill has been scheduled, check the Senate calendar at least once a day since it can be revised, again and again and again.

If the measure is scheduled, let your Senator know of your opposition to SCR 1042 and that they should vote no.

Report: Anti-LGBT Violence Up 24%

A report released Tuesday (May 20) shows that violent attacks on members of the LGBT community nationwide grew by 24 percent in 2007 over the previous year.

The 78-page report was prepared by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs with input from more than 30 of its members across the U.S.

The number of incidents of anti-LGBT violence rose from 1,486 in 2006 to 1,833 in 2007, based on reporting from the exact same reporting regions as the year prior.

Additionally, 2007 had the third highest murder rate in the past 10 years that NCAVP has been compiling the report with murders more than doubling from 10 in 2006 to 21 in 2007.

LGBT people also reported a 61% increase in sexual assaults perpetrated as hate crimes.

Part of the increase is attributed to an increase in the willingness of LGBT people to report hate crimes.

The full report can be viewed here.

Beyond Therapy - May 23 - June 1

Alternative Theatre Company will kick off its 2008-2009 theatre season with “Beyond Therapy,” a hilariously off-kilter comedy by Christopher Durang. Directed by award-winning playwright/actor/director Joe W. Marshall, “Beyond Therapy” runs May 23 – June 1 at the Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theatre, 330 S. Scott Ave.

There will be an opening night silent auction in support of the 2008-2009 season on May 23, starting at 7:00 pm. Additional information is available online.

“Beyond Therapy” addresses the thin line between being Gay, straight and Bisexual. Set in Manhattan during the early 1980s, two singles seek love and find sanity (sort of) as they navigate the neuroses of their not-so-stable psychoanalysts. Prudence’s macho therapist swears a lot and calls her nasty names; Bruce’s wacky female shrink recommends barking as a form of self-expression. Prudence is urged to be more assertive, while Bruce is encouraged to meet women by placing a personal ad. His therapist does not fully comprehend that Bruce has a male lover who is not pleased by Bruce's desire to date a woman, so when Bruce’s personal ad brings him and Prudence together, the hapless couple must come to their senses and overcome their zany therapists’ “help” to find romance in a whacked-out world. They ultimately learn to live beyond therapy in this delightful Off Broadway hit that moved successfully to Broadway.

Director Joe W. Marshall appreciates the quick wit of the script, but also recognizes the human emotions that bring the characters in “Beyond Therapy” to the brink of insanity. “The characters in this play exist in a world where everything is permitted,” says Marshall. “That makes it very difficult for them to figure out the best way to find happiness. They spend a lot of time wavering, trying to work through things with their therapists, but ultimately each one has to decide whether or not to compromise on issues that are important to them. As bizarre as the situations are, we find ourselves reflected in the characters’ dilemmas, and that empathy is where the comedy comes from.”

Performances are held at 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $13 in advance, $18 at the door, and may be purchased online or by calling the Alternative Theatre Company box office at (520) 883-8246.

CAP is CRAP - By Mark R. Kerr

Soon to be featured most likely in Tucson’s afternoon daily newspaper, also known as the Arizona Republic’s ugly stepchild, the Tucson Citizen is a fictional ditty from Cathi Herrod and Peter Gentala from the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), entitled “We Must Prevent Gay Marriage in Arizona,” which ran in the Tuesday, May 20 edition of the Republic.

First is the opening in which the “unelected” California Supreme Court is derided, to the surprise of no one, over their recent decision in regards to marriage, criticized for their ruling which is interesting since the California Supreme Court justices are initially appointed but then face a retention vote by the “will of the people.”

Cathi and Peter ignored the fact and the record that the California Assembly and Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger approved and signed into law a measure creating “domestic partnerships” giving all but a few rights that opposite sex couples have to same-sex couples in loving, committed relationships - thus creating the legal challenge that the California courts ruled on, stating separate is not equal because of the state’s equal protection clause in their constitution. Plessy V. Ferguson and Brown V. Board of Education, remember?

Another interesting point ever so conveniently missed by the ruling is that the court gave the California Assembly an out by giving them the opportunity to revisit and revise the law to create an equal recognition of relationships. Civil unions for all perhaps?

Further in this fictional ditty, they state it can happen in Arizona since “ . . . we face the exact same threat as California of having unelected judges trample on the will of the people.” In Arizona, there is voter retention of judges as well.

The people of California, through their representatives in the State legislature, twice approved a bill to provide for the inclusion of same-sex couples in their "marriage" laws, but both times, the bill was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger, who said when he vetoed it that he believed "it is up to the state Supreme Court" to decide the issue.

“That's exactly why Arizona voters should have the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage in November,” is the next sentence following in Cathi and Peter’s piece, but they don’t want the people, a minimum of 230,047 registered Arizona voters, to sign petitions, as other organizations with proposed state constitutional amendments are doing, they want the Arizona Legislature to give them a free handout, to the tune of roughly $500,000, and place their proposal on the November general election ballot.

Sound familiar? Flash back a dozen years to 1996, when the then President of CAP, Len Munsil - the former 2006 Republican gubernatorial nominee, drafted the law (Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 25-101 and ARS 25-112), defining marriage as between “one man and one woman,” and not having the people vote on it but getting it approved by the Arizona Legislature and signed into law by then Governor Fife Symington.

“Opponents of allowing the people to decide on marriage claim that an amendment is unnecessary in Arizona because of a court ruling from 2003. That is absurd. What happened in California can happen here,” they wrote.

Covering up the truth for convenience can be the nicest term to use in this part of Cathi and Peter’s piece since it was the court case Standhardt V. Superior Court they are referring to. In this, the plaintiffs challenged the Arizona statutes on 34 instances and the courts, including the Arizona Court of Appeals and the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the laws were constitutional and thus, court precedent some that is followed in the judicial branch of government, something you think Peter would know being a lawyer.

Cathi and Peter end their written diatribe with “ . . . The definition of marriage is not a judge's decision. It's not a politician's decision. Let Arizonans decide the future of marriage in our state.” Interesting to say the least since CAP went through politicians to define their view of marriage and were happy in 2004 with the Arizona court decision and the voters told Cathi, Peter and CAP, that they were crap with their ballot proposition in 2006 on the same subject!

PFLAG-Tucson Meeting, June 4

The Tucson Chapter of PFLAG will hold their next support meeting, Wednesday, June 4, 7:00 p.m., at the Ward VI Council Office, 3202 E. 1st Street.

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) promotes the health and well-being of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender persons, their families and friends through: Support, to cope with an adverse society; Education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

PFLAG Tucson provides opportunity to dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identify, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

If you need help, please call our hotline at (520) 360-3795 or e-mail at pflagtuc@pflagtucson.org. PFLAG-Tucson will connect you with a PFLAG member who has been where you are and who understands.

AIDS Candlelight Memorial Held In Tucson - By Mark R. Kerr

More than 150 Tucsonans, straight, LGBT, young and old, HIV- and HIV+ gathered at Himmel Park Sunday, May 18 for the annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial.

This annual event is held to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, show support for those living with or affected by and to remember those who lost their battle to this dreaded disease.

Before the Memorial, people had a chance to view the display from the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), marking the 27 years of AIDS, from “Patient Zero” to the term “Gay cancer,” to the discovery of the virus to the global expansion of the disease. SAAF’s time included local, national and global statistics of the disease. Also present were panels from the AIDS Quilt, remembering those Tucsonans who had died from AIDS.

Tucson was just one of more than 100 Memorials held in cities across the United States and the world. This year marked the 10th event in Tucson, in 1983, New York and San Francisco where the first cities to hold candlelight memorials.

A “Call to Gather” by Native Images Woman Drum brought people together at the amphitheater, Seh Welch, director of HIV/AIDS services and co-founder of ACT-UP, emceed reminding the crowd to “never give up” in the ongoing fight against AIDS and to “never forget” those living with or who lost their lives to the disease, echoing the theme of this year’s Memorial.

Religious blessings, prayers and chants were delivered by several Tucson and Native American religious leaders; African-American dance and stories by the Barbea Williams troupe; musical songs by Reveille Men’s Chorus and Desert Voices were performed to a grateful crowd and sharing the journey, people telling their stories about HIV/AIDS and how it affects them or affected loved ones, were part of the program.

Tucson Vice Mayor Nina Trasoff (representing Ward 6 that Himmel Park is in) and Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias (District 5) read proclamations marking May 18.

Trasoff told the crowd, "I wish we were here to only remember," and not because AIDS will claim more lives. "There is a lot to look forward to here in this community; we all get it and care passionately."

Elías said the stigma that persists in many communities prevents people from sharing their situation with others. But when brave people step forward, their actions help everyone, he said, adding that the stories people tell at the vigil are about the "people who live in our hearts. The strength of these stories will lead us to fight back against the stigma that exists today.”

Wendell Hicks, the new Executive Director of SAAF, delivered the keynote address, talking about the people, loved ones and friends he knew with AIDS and those who had passed away, stating that he got involved because he had to because “it’s my place.” Hicks urged the crowd to get more aware and knowledgeable about AIDS which in turn will translate into action.

After the lighting of the candles, the most emotional part of the Memorial was the "calling of the names" portion of the ceremony in which audience members said the name of someone they know who lives with HIV/AIDS or died of the disease. Looking out, those present saw the array of light emanating from the candles and hearing the names of the many from Tucson and the world who had passed.

Around The Old Pueblo

Kit Yan, a Transgender Hawaii boi and champion slam poet and Melissa Li, a lesbian folk-rocker, will bring their Good Asian Drivers (goodasiandrivers.com) tour to Wingspan, 425 E. 7th on May 27 at 6:00 pm. For more information, call Geovanna De La Ree (520) 624-1779 or gdelaree@wingspan.org.

The Desert Coyotes LGBT and straight supportive bowling league has started their summer season, Wednesday’s, 7:00 p.m., at Santa Cruz Lanes, 3665 S. 16th, (520) 622-2186. The league has openings on teams and enjoys people who can also sub for missing teammates. For more information, E-mail: bgdiffie@cox.net.

Puertas Abiertas, the LGBT Latino/a Social Group, Grupo Social LGBT Latino/a. Ven a conocer amigos, Come and meet friends, May 29, 6:00 p.m., Pan Dulce – Meet & Greet at Wingspan, 425 E 7th St. Más informacíon llame a Felipe - (520) 624-1779, ext 116, for more information, please call Felipe at (520) 624-1779, ext 116.

Look Out You're Dead - By Jimmy Petrol

I know a guy who figured the world was headed for meltdown way back in the early Seventies; he's been smoking dope, snorting crank and doing as little as possible ever since. Last I heard, he still lives out back of his Mom's in a little trailer. The way he saw it, there was no point in busting any butt to get anything or build anything up if the world was going to hell anyway.

He'll be dead soon, I am sure, from one of a dozen things that get you if you use needles, have sex so rarely that anything will do and exercise only the mouth. So I guess he loses. The world still turns, the banks are still solvent and there is plenty of work to be done.

The danger that lurks for the intellectually courageous is that the end becomes too clear, too certain. With mankind all of the same nasty cut, what hope for the future?

The guy in the first paragraph fell for this bit of big thinking....and lost his whole life to it. Where he thought he was the smart guy, the guy that could see it coming and not get taken in, he lost it all to despair. And soon he will not even be alive, so there can be no hope for him. He was, all in all, a suicide from the very first moment he started to try to figure things out.

The thing people like him miss is that there was never any way for this world to last forever. The “meltdown” would come even in a perfect, Utopian world; we die.

That's it. We fall down dead one day, whether there is war or peace, feast or famine, whether Bush is driving us into the brink or Nero Fiddles as Rome burns...it is all just a diversion, a trick. The real deal is our own, little, precious, personal life.

That's it. Nobody need worry about the end of the world, or about the politics of the planet; the end has always come as personal death and the politics are the same as they were when Caesar led Roman troops to battle; them that can, gets.

For my former buddy, that little world he inhabits is all there is. He can pontificate and rant against the insanity of the social and economic order, but all his world really is can be seen from his Mom's back door.

Being really big-brained, people tend to get caught up in the enormity of the socio-political-military machine and forget to live their own lives. Silly people mourn celebrity deaths and celebrate celebrity lives while letting their own slip away into dust just like my buddy. It doesn't matter is you don't live in a trailer in the corral behind Mom's house; if you aren't doing much more than working for a living, you might as well be.

All of this is not to indict, but excite.

Since our own reality was never forever, it can not matter very much where humans are taking the world. Not to any one of us personally.

What does matter is what we do with the time we have.

It is an election year. The social-system would have us all spending lots of our precious time paying attention to the inanity of lying politicians and all that. I suggest it is a ruse.

Instead of spending our brain-power trying to figure out who is lying the least, I suggest we spend it doing something.

Anything.

Take your Mom out to lunch; somewhere away from the corral.

Wash your car, clean your house, do your job....get a second one that you like.

Volunteer a teeny, tiny bit of your time doing something for anybody...hell, do something for yourself, even....take a class, read a book, learn something, build something, screw something, seduce your neighbor or the whole neighborhood.

Just do it.

Who knows? Maybe you'll find out you can do quite a bit and end up making a change, a difference, a life for yourself you can be happy to have lived.

Do it even if you do it badly at first. There is a learning curve to everything.

Do it before the end of the world becomes moot for you, as it has for my buddy. I know for certain that he spent more time watching television than he ever did doing anything. He's been dead a long time and his mom never even noticed.

Phoenix's Body Positive Changes Name

In order to reflect its expanding reach and awareness, Body Positive christened its new name on Saturday, May 17, at "Night for Life," the organization's annual gala fundraiser. Visionaries in the field-activists, doctors and researchers-were also among the guests that gathered at the Camelback Inn to celebrate nearly two decades of being at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Arizona as Body Positive, founded in 1990 by Kirk Baxter. The agency's new name, Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, marks a new era of the organization's expanded outreach and continued commitment to building awareness locally and regionally.

The vanguard HIV/AIDS organization in the desert Southwest region, Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, continues to pave the way for research, prevention, education and wellness for people affected by HIV/AIDS. In an effort to combat this devastating disease, the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS has created broad awareness, and its leading-edge clinical trial program has worked to bring 26 of 28 Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs to the market to treat this devastating disease. It is the only HIV/AIDS nonprofit organization that delivers all three services in what it coins as an "individual health, individual help" model.

"The Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS provides the public with knowledge to prevent this disease while providing critical resources to help individuals live long and well with HIV," said Carol Poore, president and CEO of the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. "Since its inception, the organization has grown in scope to address the shift in reported cases of HIV/AIDS that have erupted among minority women, adult men as well as youth."

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), there are 12,000 people infected with HIV/AIDS in Arizona, and another 12,000 who may be infected but unaware of their status. Among these people, Black and Hispanic women show the largest trend of new infections, with Black women being seven times more likely than women in any other ethnic group to become infected. The changing nature of the disease is evident by the following statistics:

- Hispanics form approximately 28 percent of the population in Arizona but 20 percent of the HIV/AIDS cases.

- Blacks, while constituting less than four percent of the state's population, represent 12 percent of the HIV/AIDS cases.

- Native Americans represent five percent of those infected in Arizona.

- Men having sex with other men of all races represent 70 percent of HIV/AIDS cases.

- Intravenous drug users represent 15 percent of HIV/AIDS cases.

"Many people view HIV/AIDS as only a gay man's disease, however the face of HIV/AIDS is changing," said Mark Howard, board chair for Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. "This is not a disease that discriminates, it can affect anyone and we understand the changing needs of the communities we serve. Our particular concern is the careless attitude toward the disease among youth. Many believe that a simple pill can be taken to combat this disease and are unaware of the devastating side affects the medication causes. Prevention is critical as we battle to educate our most important audience, our youth."

According to ADHS, 490 people will be infected in the next hour. Worldwide, 14,400 people are newly infected each and every day and fighting this disease becomes a devastating reality.

"It is the goal of the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS to bring this destructive epidemic back to the forefront through education and awareness," added Poore. "We want to be on the front lines of preventing this disease from spreading."

The Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS proven individual health, individual help approach takes into consideration the client's behavioral state, personal finances, wellness and health, since all these factors greatly affect which medicines each person receives. It also provides a variety of nutritional and naturopathic interventions designed to improve quality of life and overall health.

The Phoenix-based Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS is the only HIV/AIDS service organization in the United States that combines research, prevention/education and wellness services under one roof. The agency is a leading HIV/AIDS research and resource center, and serves more than 1,200 clients infected by HIV/AIDS while providing outreach to more than 25,000 at-risk men, women and youth annually. The Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS' history of partnership with pharmaceutical companies for clinical trial research has helped bring 26 of 28 FDA approved drugs to the market to treat this destructive disease. Visit the Web site http://www.swhiv.org/ for more information or call 602-307-5330.

A 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization, several programs at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS are funded in whole or part by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, the Ryan White Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, Maricopa County Department of General Government, Arizona Department of Health Services and other state municipalities. Other major funding sources include (but are not limited to) Valley of the Sun United Way, Arizona Diamondbacks, private foundations and donors, and agency fundraising events.

The Real McCain 2

For more information, go online here.

The Real McCain

For more information and videos, go online here.

Around The Old Pueblo

The Alternative Theatre Company kicks off its 2008 seaon with a silent auction Friday, May 23, at 7 pm, preceding the 8 pm performance of Beyond Therapy. See the Alternative Theatre Company website for a list of items in the auction. Beyond Therapy addresses the thin line between being Gay, straight and Bisexual. Set in Manhattan during the early 1980s, two singles seek love and find sanity (sort of) as they navigate the neuroses of their not-so-stable psychoanalysts. Prudence's macho therapist swears a lot and calls her nasty names; Bruce's wacky female shrink recommends barking as a form of self-expression. Prudence is urged to be more assertive, while Bruce is encouraged to meet women by placing a personal ad. His therapist does not fully comprehend that Bruce has a male lover, who is not pleased by Bruce's desire to date a woman, so when Bruce's personal ad brings him and Prudence together, the hapless couple must come to their senses and overcome their zany therapists' "help" to find romance in a whacked-out world. They ultimately learn to live beyond therapy in this delightful Off-Broadway hit that moved successfully to Broadway.

Tickets are $13 in advance, $18 at the door. Performances are Fridays: May 23, 30 at 8pm. Saturdays: May 24, 31 at 3pm and 8pm. Sundays: May 25, June 1 at 3pm. For more information, contact Adrian Maynard, (520) 883-8246 or E-mail, or online. ...

Puertas Abiertas - Grupo Social LGBT Latino/a Puertas Abiertas – Social Group LGBT Latino/a.

Ven a conocer amigos, Come and meet friends. May 22 at 6 pm, Cine: El Norte at Wingspan, 425 E 7th St., Tucson. May 29 at 6 pm, Pan Dulce – Meet & Greet at Wingspan, 425 E 7th St., Tuscon

Más informacíon llame a Felipe - (520)624-1779, ext 116. For more information, please call Felipe at (520) 624-1779, ext 116. E-mail Felipe Hernandez.

O'Reilly's Rant On Inside Edition - Video

An interesting twist on the most popular video on the Internets. This one is for you Kenny!

Behind The California Marriage Court Decision

Pictured is California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George, appointed to the state's highest court by Republican Governor Pete Wilson, no friend to the LGBT community.

So with that pedigree, one would think otherwise on how Chief Justice George would rule but an article in the Sunday, May 18 edition of the Los Angeles Times shows otherwise. A very interesting read indeed.

Vote TMI Before May 21

It's time again for the Tucson Area Music Awards (TAMMIES).

Too Much Information would really appreciate your support by voting for us for Best Cover Band.

Please mail in your ballots, which you'll find in the current issue of the Tucson Weekly and don't vote more than once. But please do vote!

If you have a question about the band, check out TMI's web site or visit TMI's MySpace page.

Winners to be announced sometime this summer.

VOTE NOW--DON'T WAIT!!

California Marriage Decision Follow Up

Two good articles by Art Leonard and columnist Glen Greenwald which explains the ruling. So after the celebrations, take a look at both.

Arizona Marriage Amendment Update - By Mark R. Kerr

As of this posting, the Arizona Senate on Monday, May 19, isn't taking up SCR 1042, the proposed state constitutional amendment to define marriage as between "one man and one woman."

Keep calling and E-mailing your state Senator to let them know that this travesty, known as Senate Concurrent Resolution 1042 should not see the "legislative light of day."

Gay West - June 21

Yee-haw! Slap on your spurs and saddle up for Gay West '08 on June 21 from 6 to 11 pm at Old Tucson Studios. Hold on to your hat because this year's event features an exclusive Old Tucson Studios performance by Grammy legend Thelma Houston performing her #1 Dance/Pop hit Don't Leave Me This Way and songs from her newest CD A Woman's Touch.

Known as a humanitarian for her ongoing support for a variety of charitable causes and most specifically for her tireless efforts in the battle against AIDS, the dynamic disco diva will be presented with the 2008 Gay West Humanitarian Award. Throughout her career, Ms. Houston has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of people with HIV/AIDS donating her talents to organizations such as AIDS Project Los Angeles and the Minority AIDS Project.

Gay West is a western-themed festive fundraising event that benefits Wingspan, Southern Arizona's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center. General Admission Tickets: $16 online before June 18. Special VIP Tickets $100 - includes an all-access pass to the event activities, transportation to and from Woody’s Bar, entry to a special meet-and-greet party with Thelma Houston and VIP seating at the concert!

For tickets or more information, go online here.

Abstract Art Comes to Journalism By Jimmy Petrol

If I write something and you cannot tell what I am saying, cannot see the picture I am drawing with my words, you do not call it ‘abstract writing'; you call it bad writing.

Of course, that's just the way it is because of the precision of words; it is the nature of writing to clarify, not obfuscate, right?

Oddly, there is a large and proud cadre of writers on this planet whose job it is to write things and paint a picture that is not accurate. Rather, they are paid to draw conclusions that are not supported by fact, present them in such an artful and ‘abstract' manner as to make it appear that what they are saying is true.

I allude most directly to the Wall Street Journal.

It has been my privilege to make the intimate acquaintance of a number of intelligent people with whom I have differences of ‘point of view'. I say it this way because I do not think that we actually have any differences of consequence in matters moral; we just have a different point of view (they read the Wall Street Journal) which results in a different end view on various matters.

Take ‘What Women Want'.

My point of reference , vis-a-vis women and what they may want, comes from canvassing (sometimes against my will, I admit) the views of various women who, from time to time, have tried to get what they want out of me. Not being a woman myself, I am hampered somewhat in my abilities to get this stuff right on my own and find I am required to listen, not tell.

The Wall Street Journal is onto this too. Being smart guys over there, they are down with the idea of the survey. They also know that the interpretation of any survey can give various results; it just takes a little intellectual dishonesty to get ‘em. That is no problem for The Journal; the paycheck and the grand feeling of superiority they must get from misinterpreting facts to provide justification to their troubled readers provides the incentive....training in the art of debate from a college or university provides the expertise and the Devil does the rest.

Here's the scoop.

The Journal surveyed some women. I do not doubt that proper protocol was followed. The results are not surprising; only the Journal's interpretation is at question.

The Journal found, when they asked women to list the things that were important to them, in the order of that importance, that women value things like family and health first.

They don't get down to wanting ‘equal pay for equal work until a few lines down. Very close to the top, but not quite number one. This is all the ‘men' at the Journal need; with this survey and a little intellectual dishonesty, they can help hold the line on the "tire old litany" of equal pay for equal work.

Clearly, says the Journal, hiding a Cheshire smile, equal pay for equal work is unimportant.....women want time with the family first...they don't mention equal pay as number one.......so there is no need to service this terrible wrong.... women don't care...well, then why, we don't have to pay them!

What a revelation! What a scoop! Thank the Gods for the insightful and intelligent writers and editors at the Wall Street Journal.

By their logic, since women don't mention it at the very top of the list, I'm guessing that the Barons at the Journal would not consider it amiss to grab a little booty from the underpaid ‘Executive Assistant'...I mean, if it were important to them, they would say so right up front, yes?

Intellectual dishonesty from a well-paid journalist is probably all we can expect. It certainly is what we get from the smart-but-morally-bankrupt editorialists at the Journal.

For more miss-information and the good news on the infinite planetary resources, the real causes of poverty, et all, get a copy of the Journal today. Don't buy it. Steal it. It is no more dishonest and certainly within the realm of reason to attack the paper in any way one can. Dishonesty like this is nothing short of evil.