Marriage Debate Between Savage and Brown

Unity Will Always Trump Division

The vigil for the shooting victims.  Photo: Regina Minniss

Over a hundred people from all races, genders and sexual orientations gathered on August 14 at West Square of Mount Vernon Place to honor the memory of Alex Ulrich and to pray for the complete recovery of Larry Peterson.  The men were the victims of a senseless shooting attack in the early morning of August 10.

The high-profile incident called into action these men’s families, friends and neighbors to protest the wanton violence that grips Baltimore and that is seeping into the once tranquil Mount Vernon-Belvedere neighborhood. 

Ulrich, who was killed in the attack at the age of 40, had not been living in Baltimore long, but while he did, he amassed many new friends.  Peterson already has tons of friends including city councilman William Cole who respect his leadership in the neighborhood and love him as a human being.  As of this writing, he remains in critical condition following several surgeries.

The show of unity in the shadow of the Washington Monument was not only to grieve the loss of one of the community’s members and to pull for the other’s recovery.  It was also intended to stop the epidemic of violence.  The motive for the shooting has not been identified, nor have the two suspects been apprehended.  Some speculate it was a hate crime because the victims may have been perceived as gay.  Others theorized it was a robbery gone wrong.  Still others maintain it was random or a response to an earlier incident that evening.  When Mr. Peterson recovers, perhaps he can shed light on the case.

Unfortunately, demonstrations of unity are frequently born out of violence.  We have seen people coming together following homicides committed against transgender people.  We have witnessed the large vigil outside a Rosedale McDonald’s in the wake of the famous Chrissy Lee Polis beating.  We have observed a huge crowd marching then assembling outside City Hall following the Trayvon Martin killing.  This was yet another example.

We can be unified without being single-minded.  The LGBT community is a disparate one—a tiny sliver of the general population, a microcosm of society.  We are comprised of all ages, races, political and religious beliefs, economic components, etc.  Clearly, we all don’t think alike and have different goals in life, and that’s a good thing.  As such, there are few issues that could unite us besides violence, like equality and HIV. 

Sadly, others aren’t on board with those issues.  If you don’t mind being treated unequally or unfairly and relegated to second-class citizenship, don’t jump in.  If you feel that your same-sex relationship doesn’t deserve the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples, sit on the sidelines.  If you believe that marriage is not for you but don’t care whether or not you or your friends have that option, fine.   If you believe that people should lose their jobs or not get promoted simply because they are LGBT, that’s your call.

Most of us, fortunately, do see a cause as a unifying catalyst and are willing to do something to advance it.  For others, their cause is division.

A noisy but small fringe of the LGBT community takes pleasure in pitting one against another—whether it is by race or gender or gender identity.  They go out of their way to drive wedges within the community not because it would do some good, prevent the scourge of violence, or improve society but merely to satisfy themselves.  They use blogs and social media as their platform to register their disdain for certain demographic groups within the LGBT community and fill it up with irrational negativity.  For what purpose?

The best advice is not to engage them in a public discussion; they are not sufficiently open-minded to listen to alternative viewpoints.  Instead, they resort to forms of cyber bullying to inflate their egos.  Ignoring their shrill repetitive rants, no matter how tempting it is to argue, starves them from the attention they insatiably crave and minimizes their influence.

As T.H. White wrote in The Once and Future King: “The Destiny of Man is to unite, not to divide. If you keep on dividing you end up as a collection of monkeys throwing nuts at each other out of separate trees.”

We have plenty of external enemies trying to block progress and we don’t need to fight among ourselves.  Get behind and fight for a positive cause and ignore the divisive noise.  Perhaps, some good will come of it.

Little Shop of Horrors Will Grow on You

Photo: Heather Litiri

Should you purchase a house plant that resembles something between a Venus flytrap and an avocado, be wary.  And if it asks to be fed, that should definitely send up a red flag.  Because this isn’t your garden variety plant; it could be an alien from another planet sent here to take over the world by feasting on human blood and possessing incredible powers over earthlings.

That is the premise behind Little Shop of Horrors—a comedy horror rock musical by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman based on the low-budget 1960 B-movie horror of the same title.   Not to be too hyperbolic, but the Olney Theatre Center’s production of this gem, under the superb direction of Mark Waldrop, is as close to perfection as it can be.

For full review, visit MD Theatre Guide.

Shining Light on Equality



Photo by Mike Bernard

Mark Patro is leaving no stone unturned in the effort to defend the Civil Marriage Protection Act that is being challenged in November by a referendum.  As president of the Baltimore County chapter of PFLAG he is working hard to gain the support of allies and clergy.  Using his own initiative, Patro sought training and then trained others on how to register voters.  He has tirelessly worked farmers’ markets and festivals to gather pledges to line up volunteers and voters for marriage equality.

And recently Patro launched a new project called Light Brigade Maryland.  Inspired by a similar effort (Overpass Light Brigade) in Wisconsin to recall Scott Walker this spring, volunteers hold lighted panels at dusk on highway overpasses and bridges that contain messages promoting marriage equality. The messages will vary but the goal is to bring attention to the need to vote in favor of the Civil Marriage Protection Act.

“My first exposure to the Overpass Light Brigade  was a short segment on one of MSNBC's evening shows at the end of May or early June, just before Scott Walker's recall election,” Patro told me. “I was excited about the visual aspect of their presentation.”

His education is in visual arts, so the visual aspect appealed to him. “I did an Internet search and contacted them to ask about how to make the panels,” Patro explained.  “I did some research and found a few local suppliers for corrugated plastic panels. These are usually used for disposable signs. I found some battery operated LED lights on eBay, and picked up some gorilla glue at the home improvement center.”

Patro recognized that many people want to do something to help with the referendum battle, and this project appears to meet that desire.  “They don't all feel like they fit into prescribed jobs set up by the larger bureaucratic organizations. Most of them are worker-bee/assignment style organizations and some folks just respond better to more free-lance-like or gorilla-activist roles. We hope using this method will motivate an additional group of people who will bring currently untapped energy to the effort of protecting the Civil Marriage Protection Act and keep it law.”

Patro believes this project will help stir up excitement to at least match the passion by the opposition.  “The vote will be close and we could lose if we sit back and do nothing. The opposition will be running to the voting booth. We need to out-work them.”  

Light Brigade Maryland will provide an opportunity for volunteers to do something small which will have a huge impact.  To find out more, visit the Light Brigade Maryland Facebook page and click “Like.”

Midsummer Reflections

The quiet dog days of summer that usually characterize Baltimore have been anything but.  With record-breaking heat to this point, politically the temperature will be rising to a fever pitch up to November and potentially beyond that.  With that in mind, this is an opportune time to reflect on recent events.

Chicken S**t: We start with a brief look at the flap over Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy’s comments that prompted a bitter reaction from the LGBT community and an ensuing backlash from, well, others.  Cathy said that the restaurant chain supported “the biblical definition of the family unit.”  He has the right to say that.  But his company donated roughly $5 million to what are considered “hate groups” and that fact stuck in the throat like an errant chicken bone.

The masses that lined up on “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,” orchestrated by homophobe Mike Huckabee, to consume artery-clogging garbage did so not as a protest against stifling free speech but it was a show of support for the anti-gay messaging emanating from Cathy’s mouth.  They played the victim card.  Had Cathy come out for marriage equality and was chastised by the likes of Limbaugh, would those same people line up to support his free speech?

This issue may have motivated our opponents but it got our side fired up as well.

The List: Over 13,000 names and addresses of folks who signed the petition to send the Civil Marriage Protection Act to a November referendum were made public.  There was a degree of shock, sadness and anger on the part of marriage equality advocates when people whom they assumed would be supportive appeared on the list.  Some noticed friends (as I did), co-workers, neighbors and even relatives who signed on to put marriage equality to a popular vote.

This is disheartening because people who we banked on for support went the other way, probably unaware that the names would be made public.  There were petition signers in neighborhoods with a strong LGBT presence on the list and many from normally progressive Howard and Montgomery counties.  Conversely, anti-gay Delegate Emmett Burns was not on the list, but you know how he will vote.

Howard County Register of Wills Byron Macfarlane—the first openly gay office holder in the county—was also stunned by the list.  “As any of us looks through this list I think we’ll receive a wake-up call to just how much work we have to do to win at the polls this November,” he told me.  “It really is disappointing to see so many people we know on this list. Personally, finding that aunts and uncles and my own father had signed was very upsetting. My hope is that over the next few months we're able to tell our stories and talk to them about love and commitment and win their votes.”

New Poll, Same Caution: A more optimistic development occurred when a new independent poll by Hart Research Associates that indicated supporters of marriage equality in Maryland lead the opposition by a 14-point margin—54 to 40 percent. 

While this appears promising, there is a cautionary note: the margin of error is plus/minus 4.5 percent, a rather high number for a survey.  This means that the margin could be much tighter based on the sample.  Also, people tend to portray themselves in phone interviews as non-bigoted on social issues thereby artificially raising the support total.

“We're winning over undecideds and the intensity is clearly on our side,” said Marylanders for Marriage Equality Campaign Chair Josh Levin in a statement.

Levin was correct in acknowledging that “polls looked good in Maine, North Carolina, California, and almost every other state fighting to defend equality. But in the end, every time this issue went to ballot, marriage equality failed.” He promised in a fundraising pitch that the campaign will “redouble our efforts” and urged advocates to keep fighting.  We should act as if we are behind.  You know the opposition will. 

Farewell Lisa: As you are probably aware, Lisa Polyak stepped down as Chair of the Equality Maryland Board of Directors.  “This was a planned transition,” Lisa told me. “Truthfully I am so happy and grateful for the new board members, and I am exhausted from the last few years, so this is a healthy transition for both me and the organization.”

Lisa had been a key leader of Equality Maryland, helping to guide the organization through some rough times with her steady hand and wisdom. She has always been tough, passionate and smart as well as accessible to the press and will be missed.

She and her partner Gita Deane, who have now been together for 30 years, were the lead plaintiffs in the marriage equality lawsuit (Deane and Polyak v Conaway) filed in 2004 by Equality Maryland and the ACLU of Maryland.  A lower court ruled for the plaintiffs but the ruling was stayed pending appeal. In 2007, the Maryland Court of Appeals by a margin of 4-3 ruled that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage did not violate the Maryland Constitution.

The couple married in D.C last year and lives in Baltimore raising their two daughters.

If Only: It was sad to read about the passing of Sally Ride, the first woman astronaut at NASA.  Her obituary mentioned she had a female partner of 27 years—a fact that had remained secret during her lifetime.  Ride had been an inspiration to women for decades.  Imagine what a role model she could have been to lesbians. 

Coming out is a personal matter that should be respected.  We clamor for celebrities suspected of being gay or lesbian to come out and give encouragement to young gay, lesbian or questioning people but we never know the internalized battles that such an individual must wage before making that decision if one is reached.  But unquestionably, Ride’s disclosure would have had a major, positive impact on others.

How Will the Obama-Romney Brawl Play Out?

Courtesy of Dan Pearce, myfantastic.escape.com

I thought the gloves would come off around September between President Barack Obama and the Republican presumptive nominee Mitt Romney.  With so much at stake riding on the outcome of this election, the pugilism from both campaigns began in earnest in late spring. 

For his part, Romney has done nothing but attack Obama since the GOP primary season.  In fact, all his Republican competitors did.  That’s what you do when you try to unseat an incumbent.  It’s perfectly reasonable to do so and backed by the Supreme Court’s decision on the Citizens United case, the Romney camp will have all the money in the world to inundate the air waves with negative ads.

Team Obama is not pussy-footing around either.  They are well aware that the unemployment numbers have been stubborn, and although the Republican-controlled Congress failed to act on a jobs bill, the sluggish recovery and high unemployment will be laid upon Obama’s doorstep that would ordinarily spell disaster for an incumbent.  Remember, it’s the economy stupid!

Realizing that axiom, the Obama folks have aimed their sights on Romney to make this a choice between not only the direction of the country but also who is better suited to run it.  Fortunately for Team Obama, he has a weak opponent that few feel excited about and whose baggage from Bain Capital, his record as governor of Massachusetts, and his head-scratching refusal to release more than one year’s tax returns provides a terrific target to exploit.

Most national polls reveal a virtual dead heat.  There has been very little variation in the national surveys and little movement is expected until the conventions and ultimately the presidential debates.  It seems that most people have already solidified their choices; those who haven’t probably are not focused on the election yet and many of those may not vote at all.

The country is so divided by red and blue that national campaigns don’t exist anymore. Since the Electoral College decides presidential contests, the election will be won not by national totals but by a handful of venues that are termed “battleground” states.  They include such prizes as Ohio, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Iowa, New Hampshire, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.

You will see the candidates spend more time and advertising dollars in those states and perhaps a few others than anywhere else.  They are the targets, and that’s where this contest will be decided.

Obama can count on his consistent likeability among voters, including the coveted “independent” segment of the electorate.  Those who have paid attention can see the remnants of gridlock and divided government, and depending if either he or Congress will be blamed for this inertia that alone could decide the outcome.

With surprisingly so few partisans showing the love for Romney, it has been clear from the outset that the election will be defined as Obama vs. the anti-Obama.  Romney’s negatives are too high at this stage to explain why there is a dead heat.  His support is more about getting Obama out of office than getting Romney into it.

Obama is on shaky ground now.  The economy could falter, setting off higher unemployment and stall the fragile recovery.  It can even trigger another recession.  The drought that is gripping much of the nation most likely will have an impact on the economy including gas prices, but when?  Though he obviously should not be blamed for this natural phenomenon, a faulty economy is his to own.

Moreover, economic destabilization in European countries can affect ours—another factor beyond anyone’s control.

Then there are international tensions that could pop up between now and November which could affect voters’ preferences.  Usually the population rallies around a president during an international crisis.  But those rules may not be in play anymore.

Romney is banking on the Obama haters to propel his candidacy, and there are lots of them.  The hatred towards the president began during the 2008 campaign and continued in earnest the night of his inauguration and it hasn’t subsided.  Even the major victory in the war on terrorism—the killing of Osama bin Laden, once considered public enemy number one—failed to generate praise from the opposition.

Then there is “Obamacare”—the defining piece of legislation that galvanized the Republican base and the Tea Party.  Unfortunately for Romney, this law was patterned after his own Massachusetts version rendering him ineffective in his criticism of it.

Romney is also saddled by his experience at Bain, which is relevant since his business experience is used as the rationale for unseating the president.  His refusal so far to release prior tax returns will likely turn off swing voters as he will be perceived as hiding something.  People don’t like that.

For the country in general, this is a pivotal election.  For LGBT folks in particular, there is also much at stake.  Obama was successful on most of the large initiatives: he ended “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” ordered hospitals receiving federal funds to allow visitation by members of same-sex couples, signed a comprehensive hate crimes bill into law, publicly supported marriage equality, and appointed more LGBT individuals to key positions than any previous president.  And the Justice Department ceased defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in several court challenges.

Romney threatened to reverse those victories.  With a potential control of both chambers going to Republicans, that could be accomplished more easily.  Keep that in mind.

The remainder of the campaign will be a big-time brawl, so brace yourself for the ugliness that will ensue.  The outcome, like an evenly matched prize fight, may not be clear until the final bell.  We just can’t have judges deciding it—again.

If voters use their heads, they will re-elect Obama

Letter published in the July 19 issue of the Howard County Times/Columbia Flier

In his letter titled, “In 2012, Americans should vote with their heads, not just their hearts,” (July 12), William W. McCollum offered sage advice: voters should select a president by using their heads.  In disagreeing with the letter writer, however, I believe that by using their heads, voters should support President Obama.

Mr. McCollum argues that the president failed to deliver on his promises especially when the Democrats had so-called control of the legislative branch as well as the White House during his first two years.  The problem with that premise and what Mr. McCollum failed to acknowledge is that new Senate rules require a super majority to stop filibusters and to  enact any legislation.  Merely holding a majority in the Senate does not equate with “control” any more.

With Senate Republicans under orders from Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to ensure that Mr. Obama is not re-elected by eschewing the traditional practice of working in a bi-partisan manner in that chamber for the benefit of the country, it is amazing that the president accomplished what he did. 

Among his stellar achievements was the prevention of a ruinous financial collapse that would have hurled the country (and the world) into a depression, the rescue of the American auto industry, the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which, yes, benefits tens of millions of Americans, and the repeal of the insidious “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.  And under the president’s wise leadership and courage, the decimation of al- Qaeda and the elimination of its head Osama bin Laden helped make our country safer.

Mr. McCollum chides President Obama for his lack of executive experience prior to the 2008 election.  As President George W. Bush tragically demonstrated over the course of eight miserable years of running up the debt to historic levels and engaging in two unpaid-for wars—one of which was based on lies to the American people—prior executive experience is clearly overrated. 

Yes, people,  use your head and vote to re-elect President Barack Obama.

Steve Charing

OMG! Toby’s Legally Blonde is Totally in the Pink

Never mind that you may not be apt to hum the melodies from Legally Blonde the Musical as you exit the theater.  Ignore the fact that the content defies modern social consciousness and plays on a multitude of stereotypes: ditsy blondes, shallow sorority girls, trailer park folks, blood-thirsty lawyers, gays, lesbians, and even UPS delivery men.  Forget that the plot is improbable at its core.  But with Legally Blonde the Musical, currently playing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia you will be hard pressed to experience more fun over a span of two and a half hours.

From the rousing, high energy number “Omigod You Guys” performed by a spunky, talented ensemble that kicked off the show to the very last scene, Legally Blond will have you hootin’ and hollerin’ throughout.  While the melodies composed by Laurence O’Keefe and Neil Benjamin in this romantic comedy aren’t always tuneful, that minor deficiency is more than made up by the clever and hilarious lyrics that the duo penned as well as the book by Heather Hach that tell the story of a stereotypical airhead blonde sorority sister who stays true to herself and follows her dreams.

For full review, visit MD Theatre Guide.

The Center's Needed Reset

Just two days removed from a successful and joyous Pride celebration in Baltimore, news that the Board of Directors of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland, or what is commonly referred to as the GLCCB or the Center, has changed its leadership.  In doing so, the Board announced it is re-writing the organization’s bylaws and presumably ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability.

This is welcome news.

“The GLCCB is a truly historic center,” Bud Beehler, the newly appointed president told me. “As one of the oldest five in the nation, we are proud of our history... Like many LGBT centers, we have had a bumpy path that has been magnified for us in the past few years. The Board spotted some problems in how the Center was being managed and because the current Board is committed to due diligence, we made some important changes.”

I’m not going to sugar-coat this.  The Center’s “bumpy path” has been fraught with a series of “misses” over its 35-year existence: mismanagement, missteps, misinformation, miscues, misunderstandings, miscommunication, and misappropriations.

Clearly, there have been very capable and dedicated people on the Board and at the helm and have done well in their roles.  Unfortunately, there has also been, at times, ineffective leadership that was comprised of good people with simply bad ideas as well as bad people who did bad things.  The actions or inaction from this tapestry of leadership has led to a decline in respect for and confidence in the Center within Baltimore’s LGBT community. 

Several factors play into this: 

·       occasional controversies, such as alleged thefts and misappropriations, have sullied the Center’s brand; 

·       the clear lack of financial reporting and disclosures to the community sustain lingering suspicions;

·       the reputation that the GLCCB only surfaces during the run-up to Pride but retreats into dormancy following the event erodes confidence in its relevancy and viability;

·       the reluctance to use its clout to fully engage in non-candidate, issue-related equality efforts also impacts its relevancy; and

·       the perception that the Center lacks inclusiveness especially among women, African-Americans and transgender people has been detrimental.

While it may seem easy to point fingers at the GLCCB’s past leadership over the years, in all fairness, there is plenty of blame to go around.  As the largest multi-service LGBT organization in Baltimore as well as the sponsor of Pride, the community as a whole, including myself, has failed to demand transparency from the Center’s leadership.  This hands-off approach enabled the Center to function without the necessary oversight to ensure a diverse, smooth-running, well-managed, financially sound organization. 

But the pendulum may now be swinging in the right direction.  In April, a revitalized Board, with the financial help from a grant, commissioned the services of Strategic Management Consulting, LLC, a local firm with Odette Ramos, a former candidate for the City Council, as President and CEO.  Its mission was to survey the LGBT community regarding the GLCCB’s performance and recommend what it should be doing in the future.  Ms. Ramos interviewed dozens of community members for the study, and we look forward to her findings and recommendations very shortly.

The very fact that such an undertaking was launched is encouraging, as it demonstrates a willingness on the part of the Board to right some wrongs and to improve the Center’s operations.

Installing Bud Beehler as President of the Board is another positive.  At a community town hall on June 25—the initial such meeting in a series and the first since 2000—Beehler explained that this is a “reset” for the GLCCB, and the Board is committed towards “striving for transparency and engagement.” Beehler envisions the GLCCB to be “the lighthouse LGBT organization in the community,” meaning that it will be more visible and more involved at important community events.

The personable and responsive Director of Programs Gary Wolnitzek is a plus for the Center as is Maggie Beetz, the smart and affable editor of the revamped Gay Life—the GLCCB’s monthly publication.  

The Center should continue its fine work with LGBT youth and in particular, The Den, Baltimore’s all-volunteer LGBTQ Youth Center.

The new Board seems very earnest in their attempts to put the Center on the right course.  It does need minority representation, however, and the Board recognizes that and promises to recruit accordingly.

When Harvey Schwartz, the first executive director of the Center, arranged for the purchase of the GLCCB’s current abode at 241 W. Chase Street in 1980, he had a vision that was shared by so many community members.  He saw the building as a nucleus of gay life in Baltimore whereby people could drop in, meet and share experiences.

I think that vision should hold true today.  Additionally, a small LGBT history museum could be housed in the Center.  A speaker’s bureau could be established to enhance visibility and to provide education on LGBT issues to business, religious and community groups as well as area schools and colleges.  Undoubtedly, Ms. Ramos’ findings will disclose other low- or no-cost initiatives.

If the Center’s new leadership can learn from past mistakes and proceed along a more open path, it could win over the skeptical members of the community.  The result should attract enough resources to improve not only the building but also its place in the community.  

We need a strong, viable GLCCB in Baltimore.  The time is right for this reset.

Banking on the 'Big Mo'

Courtesy of Jay W Photos

There’s no question that the rainbow gods are smiling on our LGBT community.  They ordered up absolutely glorious weather for the annual Baltimore Pride celebration right before an oppressive heat wave gripped the area.  This may be a sign that things MUST be going well to experience such good fortune.

That’s been the talk—how we have momentum or the “big mo” on our side as we enter the critical months leading up to Election Day when the law to legalize marriages between same-sex couples will be put to the voters by a referendum.  This momentum will hopefully propel us to reach that coveted goal.

There is ample reason for the optimism. 

The president’s complete support for marriage equality could turn out to be a game changer.  In a state where he enjoys widespread popularity, Obama’s revelation could tip the balance our way by convincing those who may not have been saddled by conservative religious dogma to lean towards fairness. The NAACP’s unequivocal endorsement framing marriage equality as a civil rights issue was also huge.  

Moreover, with the Dream Act referendum scheduled to share the ballot in Maryland with same-sex marriage, the National Council of La Raza, the largest Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., announced its support for marriage equality.

Country superstar Carrie Underwood’s backing of same-sex marriage to the chagrin of some of her conservative fans may have appealed to a different demographic altogether.  To that point, don’t dismiss the power of celebrities who, through their visibility and popularity, command a higher level of influence than ordinary folks.  America’s infatuation with celebrities and entertainment in general is embedded in our culture to such an extent that the TV sitcom Will & Grace has rightfully been credited, in part, for the improved attitudes towards gay and lesbians in our society. 

Then there is Mary Cheney, the daughter of the former conservative Republican vice president, who recently married her longtime partner Heather Poe.   This added a sense of “ho-hum” to the hot-button issue of same-sex marriage.

We’re confident of victory,” Josh Levin, campaign director for Marylanders for Marriage Equality, wrote in the June 15 issue of Baltimore OUTloud.  “Any campaign would be thrilled to have the momentum we’ve seen recently.”

Levin has also cited favorable poll results to augment the momentum perception but he quickly pointed out to me that he will not rely on them.  He knows better than to fall into that trap. “They offer a snapshot,” he said.  That recognition of reality presents me with further cause to be optimistic.

Indeed, when marriage equality went before the voters through ballot measures in the past, we have a 0-32 record.  Even in blue-state California and purplish Maine the polls indicated a similar degree of favorability this far out from the election.  Then the garbage came from the opposition with their well-funded air attacks that helped to reverse the outcome. 

A clear difference is that none of those battles had the President of the U.S. publicly on the side of equality.  Therefore, marriage equality advocates in Maryland, Maine (again), Minnesota and Washington State experiencing ballot referenda this November may benefit from that recent level of support.

Another reason for optimism that is fueling momentum is the increased engagement on the part of the LGBT community.  Sure, way too many see politics as a toxin to be avoided at all costs.  That’s a reality in all segments of the population.  But now we’re starting to see more rainbow folks engaged on this issue.  As an example, my colleague at OUTloud, Gerry Fisher, has been on a mission to bring marriage equality to fruition by jump-starting a grass-roots movement through face-to-face contacts with voters and using social media. (See related article in this issue.)

This is crucial for votes, of course.  As important as turnout is to success, the need to recruit volunteers and raise money to counter the lies and scare tactics from the opposition is also critical.  Josh Levin feels that Marylanders for MarriageEquality can get by on $5-7 million.  Others disagree.  Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry, estimates over $10 million would be needed in Maryland to defend the law in a referendum.

Regardless, a heap of cash needs to be raised, and fundraisers have been taking place throughout the state and will continue until November.  How do you get people to reach deep into their pockets?  They need to think they have a good chance of winning; no one wants to contribute to a losing cause.  

Yet, there is a thin line between exuding confidence of a victory and acting like it’s in the bag.  While no one wants to contribute if defeat is likely, the same thinking would apply if it appears a win is a slam-dunk,   That money could be spent on other matters.

Therefore, it behooves the Marylanders for Marriage campaign to maintain an upbeat but cautious posture, leave nothing to chance, and capitalize on the “big mo” that is ostensibly taking place now.

Fun and Games at Olney’s Sleuth

BobAri as Andrew Wyke, left; Jeffries Thaiss as Milo Tindle

Gamesmanship abounds in Anthony Shaffer’s playful mystery Sleuth, which kicks off the Olney Theatre Center’s summer season.  Artistic director Jim Petosa, who is leaving Olney after 20 years, orchestrated a splendid mix of accomplished acting, clever lighting, special effects and scenic finery in a fast-paced two-hour production of this 1971 Tony Award-winning play.

Sleuth opened on Broadway in November 1970 at the Music Box Theater and ran for 1,222 performances.  Shaffer adapted the play into a film in 1972 starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine and then another film adaptation occurred in 2007 with Michael Caine and Jude Law as the co-stars.

For full review visit MD Theatre Guide.

Marriage Equality Activists Going Above and Beyond

While efforts are underway by Marylanders for Marriage Equality (MfME) to fight the November referendum attempt by opponents of same-sex marriage, some LGBT folks and allies are anxious to get into the fray on their own.  Gerry Fisher, a Life Coach and columnist for Baltimore OUTloud (Getting Unstuck) and his husband David Kimble, have taken steps to help ensure marriage equality becomes law effective January 1.

Gerry Fisher and husband David Kimble

One of the early initiatives was the establishment of a Facebook page called “Marriage Equality Information Exchange-Maryland.” Currently there are over 600 members and is growing steadily.  Fisher and Mike Bernard are administrators of the page.

On this page like-minded individuals can discuss a variety of grass-roots techniques to gain support for the movement.  It is a “closed’ group, meaning that other Facebook users can see the existence of the group and members but not the contents.  The page is intended “to build community, share strategies for marriage-equality signature gathering and other events, post documents and pictures, and to inspire one another.”

Members post related articles and announce events including signature-gathering activities at farmers markets, rallies, festivals, such as Hon Fest, Orioles games and other venues around the state where crowds typically form.  The signatures are part of the strategy by MfME to obtain as many “pledges” as they can for compiling a database, which will be used as a means of communication with voters, fundraising, recruitment of volunteers and get-out-the-vote drives.

“It was our goal to set up an online presence similar to the ones we saw in the Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) campaign and with MassEquality. Something that connected local activists so that they could organize locally more efficiently,” explains Fisher. “We also hoped that some areas of the state could share ideas and information with other areas of the state, so there'd be a cross-pollination of ideas, across geography and across subgroups.”

Shortly after the creation of the Facebook page, Fisher and Bernard were contacted by MfME. “We quickly agreed on a few concepts: the Facebook page does not speak for the campaign (it's individuals speaking on their own behalf), and that we'd emphasize positive messaging about love, commitment, and family. Based on that agreement, we began a partnership with the campaign.”

Fisher adds, “Mike and I are team leaders for MfME; we're in every-other-day contact with the MfME Director for Baltimore.  We collect signatures for the campaign, and we encourage our membership to participate in MfME volunteer efforts and events.”

However, Gerry Fisher and husband David Kimble are going beyond social media to attract activists.  They are working to hand out stickers, amass signatures and chat with supporters at the Waverly Farmers Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. until Noon.  They are seeking leaders to work the Downtown and Canton farmers markets as well.

In addition, until the election, the couple will be hosting an open house in their Charles Village residence at 2721 Guilford Avenue, Baltimore 21218 every Friday night.

 “The purpose of the ongoing open house is to provide a space for people to meet, get support, have a laugh and vent some steam, get information, talk informally, brainstorm ideas, strategize, announce events, pick up supplies (pledge sheets, stickers), connect across a diverse set of subgroups within the community, and begin the process of ‘having conversations’ that we’ll take with us back out into our daily lives,” explains Fisher.  “Hang out on the porch, hang out inside.  Come, connect, talk, and let’s figure out together how we’re going to reach the people we need to reach to win this referendum.” 

Those who cannot make it to Baltimore, the couple can be contacted through Skype.  Refreshments, such as soda, lemonade and light snacks will be available. BYOB. For more info, contact Gerry at gerryfisher61@comcast.net or 410-949-7888.

Working with MfME is imperative. “This effort is helping the grassroots to find its voice and use it, to get on its feet and move, that will provide the campaign with the foundation from which to organize,” says Fisher. “Without the glue of grassroots participation, it becomes ‘dueling campaign calls,’ and we're vulnerable to losing. If everyone is having the conversations with family, friends, and coworkers, we can't lose. But we've got to nurture, support, and encourage those conversations.”

Watch Out for the Gay Agenda

Silhouette Stages Announces Auditions for RENT Jul. 12 & 16

Silhouette Stages proudly announces auditions for its fall production of Jonathan Larson’s musical/ rock opera Rent– the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical that changed Broadway forever. Auditions (by appointment only) will take place Thursday July 12 & Monday July 16 - 7:00pm-10:00pm in Howard Community College's Horowitz Center, in HVPA 115 (Directions/Parking info – see “Rent Audition Details” www.silhouettestages.com).  The production, directed by Susan G. Kramer, will begin rehearsals early September; performance dates include October 25, 26, 27, 28 and November 1, 2, 3, 4, 2012 at Slayton House in Columbia, Maryland. Audition appointment information is available on Silhouette Stages’ website:  www.silhouettestages.com. About “Rent”:  The cast includes a diverse cast of 5 Men, 3 Women, Ensemble 6+ - Ages 18 and up.  All roles are non-paid.  Set in the East Village of New York City, RENT is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, RENT has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.  Based loosely on Puccini's La Bohème, RENT follows a year in the life of a group of friends struggling to make it in the big city. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves, and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.

About Silhouette Stages Silhouette Stages is a 501c3 non-profit organization and is proud to contribute a portion of their proceeds to local charities in need through tax-exempt donations from patrons and community members like you who support our work. Silhouette Stages started life as Shadow Block Productions in May 2003 with a production of “Quilters,” an unconventional, vignette-based musical about frontier women. The name “Shadow Block” actually referred to the blocks individually sewn into the quilts. At that time, the goal of Shadow Block was to produce rarely seen, small-cast musicals - the “hidden gems” of Broadway and Off-Broadway. Over the next five years, Shadow Block shows ranged from the serious, Violet and Working, to the seriously funny, Lucky Stiff, Johnny Guitar, and Is There Life After High School, to the satiric Ruthless, Nunsense and Nunsensations. These shows and many others entertained and enlightened Howard County audiences and the small group developed a loyal following. In 2008, a change of venue provided the opportunity to re-examine the group’s mission statement and reach out to a broader population. Having relocated to Slayton House in the Wilde Lake Village Center of Columbia, MD, the first season’s offerings included the familiar; You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Rock & Roll Review, as well as the peculiar and very funny, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Sugar. The group formed a new Board of Directors, incorporated and officially re-named themselves as “Silhouette Stages” in fall of 2009. Each season’s offerings will include a mix of big-name musicals, straight plays/comedies, and the obscure gems. Silhouette Stages touches an ever-expanding community of actors, musicians, production and technical crew, and creative staff in its mission to bring audiences the joys of the theatre experience.

Shane: A Model for Pride

Upon his graduation from CCBC-Essex earlier in the month, Shan can reflect on the journey he has taken during his young but full life.  He’s had to overcome a number of challenges, and at this point in that journey, he is so comfortable in his own skin that he wants to be a role model for others. 

It started out rocky for Shane though.  His father came out as gay while Shane was 5 years-old.  That disclosure upset his mother very much and his parents divorced, costing the family their home.  They moved in with his grandmother in Essex, Md. where he lived most of his life.

“My family did not like that he got married and had kids knowing he was gay, but as I got older I realized he had to try and live a lie, and times were much less safe then, than they are now,” Shane told Baltimore OUTloud.

He hated his father for being gay because it meant he had no father living at home. “Ironically, at 14 when I came out as gay myself, I realized like father, like son.” 

But having a gay dad made it easier for him to come out to his mom.  “I was a bit unsure how she would take it but it was a very simple coming out. I did not have the beating-around-the-bush moment. I think I told her within a week of my realizing it.”

Shane, now 22, feels lucky about that experience.  “My mom and grand mom have always loved me, and when I first came out I was very in your face about my sexuality, so they worried about my safety and tried to limit how much I expressed it. As I got older I calmed down and things were fine.”  Even though his oldest brother does not like that he’s gay, Shane says that he would be one of the first to help him out and keep him safe.

Shane with his Mom, Donna Lewis

But his mother continues to be a huge supporter and had appeared on YouTube with Shane as the supportive mother of a gay son.  She and his grandmother once went shopping with Shane for “drag clothes” and accessories for his first drag performance at “So You Think You Can Drag.”  Beaming, he says, “I was told I placed third so we must have shopped right!”

Shane says his mother is amazing.  “She is one of my best friends, I can talk to her about nearly anything, and I only wish every other person got to feel that way.”

His physical appearance was an obstacle for him early on, but no longer.  “Growing up I was the chubby awkward kid that everyone loved to hate. As I got older I thinned out and became a lot more popular.”  Indeed, Shane evolved into a handsome, tall, square-jawed lad with a mega-watt smile.  And people noticed.

After trying his hand at theatre early on, he found a new outlet.  Last October Shane was signed as a model and actor by L&M Modeling and Talent Management.  This was something Shane had never imagined possible given that he grew up chubby.   He has done some promotional work and was a “Top Ten Cover Boy” contestant for Metro Weekly.

“My goal is to be an actor, a full time actor and not struggling. I want to be in feature films, nationwide commercials, leading TV roles. I have gotten to do some pretty cool things so far as an actor. I was in a nationwide commercial for a Zombie 5K race called ‘Run for Your Lives.’ I was also in a WWII National Geographic special airing later this year, and I was in a feature film called Jamesy Boy coming out next year I believe.”

Currently he is in a web series called Rebels and Rejects, directed by Aaron Smith.  He plays the role of Lucas, a gay student in high school.  He is also the Assistant Casting Director.

Shane loves all that but Glee is his current dream. He auditioned for The Glee Project four times, even made semi-finals in Season 1 but did not make the show.  Shane would also like to be in horror movies and be a victim that has to fight for his life but is killed toward the end. “I feel a scene like that shows many emotions, and I know I could do it. I want to be the role model for all LGBT youth by giving a lot of attention to those fields as a celebrity.”

And Shane wants to perform that mission as an activist.  “In high school I was in our GSA, and I always was very outspoken about myself and I never liked seeing people bullied. We all do it at some point but going through the bullying that I did, crying every night because you will wake up and go back to hell... I would never want anyone to go through that.”

At CCBC-Essex he discovered the LGBT Rainbow Club.  He was elected vice president and became president a year and a half later.  The group participates in the National Day of Silence and Coming Out Day.  Shane’s mother appeared as a guest speaker before the club.

“After the Chrissy Polis attack we had a film on transgender education, and in Pride 2011 we walked with two themes (No TXT N DRIVE, and Transgender support).”  His biggest accomplishment as president was organizing “Drag-U-Cation”—an event that focused on creating understanding for the drag community through a drag show and a Q&A session.  

“We had local queens from Baltimore (Sue Nami, Anita Minett, and Anastasia) and we were able to have Jessica Wild from Season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race perform as well. We raised money for HIV/AIDS research and sent a check for over $430 to AmFar.”

The goal of the Rainbow Club was to foster equality throughout the campus and it ventured into the issue of same-sex marriage.  After a presentation by Marylanders for Marriage Equality, Shane created a Facebook event to vote YES for same-sex marriage this November, and has currently over 500 attendees.

“Our college awarded us best club program for the three years I was at CCBC-Essex. I will miss being such a big part of activism on campus. Outside of college, I was on a collab channel I started called  “7DailyGays” to try and help the youth. I think I will always be involved as an LGBT activist in some way, shape or form.”

Shane would like to see more accepting parents and families as well as more gay adoptions and full marriage equality.  “A big thing is I would love to see is more transgender support from everyone especially the gay community. I feel they face more discrimination then anyone and it makes me sad.”

And Shane would like to see less preaching of hate through religion, less divisiveness within the LGBT community, less violence towards our community and less outbreaks of STD’s/HIV.

As Pride nears, Shane ruminates further.  To him, Gay Pride means “family.”  “We are all family in this community, and fighting for the same things gives us a creative bond. Although we should already have these rights, I feel it creates a bond that heterosexual people will never know.”

He also feels that “Pride means finally living your life and being you. It means loving who you are and loving what you are.  What I have gone through has created me to be the person I am. As my mother says, ‘tell the truth or live a lie.’ Gay Pride is something that takes time sometimes, and I hope anyone reading this gets to feel that soon enough.”

Shane’s overall message for Pride: “We get one life. Be proud of yourself; don't focus on living it for someone else.”