Mrs. Ehrlich Turns Troops Into Props

Letter published in the Baltimore Sun--7/2/2006

Most Republican elected officials are dutifully following Karl Rove's playbook by incessantly using patriotism as a means to stoke the conservative base and to bludgeon any Democratic politician who dares to disagree with GOP policies, especially on the tragic war in Iraq. The GOP also trumpets the "support the troops" mantra ad nauseum as a way of sidestepping criticism of their failed policies and to avoid substantive debate.

Whether this tactic will be successful in November is anyone's guess at this point. But Kendel Ehrlich, the wife of the Governor, sees political gain in this strategy even if the war is not the particular subject of discussion ("Critical first lady takes off the gloves," June 28).

Mrs. Ehrlich added a new page to this insidious playbook by invoking the "troops" card when discussing the Democratic effort to allow for early voting. According to the article, Mrs. Ehrlich feels "the Democratic efforts to 'mess with our franchise' makes a mockery of U.S. soldiers who are dying overseas to promote democracy."

The true mockery is using our troops, who were sent to fight and die in a war that has been proven to have no legitimate basis, as political pawns. Mrs. Ehrlich should apologize for her crass remarks in allowing our soldiers and Marines to be props in her political theater.

Steve Charing

Does the Gay Vote Matter?

Not many candidates trolled for votes at Pride, but maybe there’s a reason

By Steve Charing

Senior Political Analyst

This is a huge election year, both nationally and in Maryland. The direction of the country and the state is at stake as never before. Many tight elections are forecasted, so every vote counts. Every vote matters.

Or does it?

With huge throngs on hand at both the Pride parade-block party event and the festival at the park, a golden opportunity was afforded to local candidates to seek votes from the lgbt community and its allies. The crowds were surely large enough to troll for votes. A phone call to GLCCB executive director Craig Wiley to obtain crowd totals was not returned as of press time. The GLCCB is the producer of the Pride events.

On Saturday, I only saw U.S. Senate candidate Allan Lichtman meandering through the crowd, although Baltimore City Councilman Kieffer Mitchell was at the parade route along with Douglas Gansler, candidate for Maryland Attorney General. But the intense crowds of Saturday’s block party plus the fact most of the people are strictly there to socialize and party wasn’t conducive to normal campaigning and would be likely to be resistant to such activity.

The sultry Sunday at the park presented a better opportunity for candidates. A more laid back crowd is easier to deal with than a partying one. Hundreds of votes or contributions are to be had— just demonstrate your support for lgbt equality and not be Bush and you have a shot. But it was surprising that so few candidates for elected office took advantage of this major event.
Congressional Democratic candidates Paula C. Hollinger and Andy Barth actively worked the masses in pursuit of votes, if not name recognition. They are in a crowded field seeking the 3rd Congressional district seat currently held by Rep. Ben Cardin, who himself, is running for U.S. Senator along with Kweise Mfume, Michael Steele and the aforementioned Lichtman.

Neither Mfume nor Cardin made an appearance although volunteers from both camps handed out stickers to the festival-goers. And Steele wouldn’t dare set foot on rainbow ground; his anti-gay positions would render any campaigning at the festival as seemingly a waste of time. Mfume has been a supporter of lgbt equality and strongly opposes any attempt to enshrine discrimination in either the state or Federal constitutions, as does Lichtman. Cardin has been less forthcoming but opposed the Federal Marriage Protection Act.

The gubernatorial race is hot and is likely to get hotter. But only Martin O’Malley bothered to come to the festival and made brief remarks, which were amply ignored or not heard by the largely politically apathetic crowd. Neither Doug Duncan nor Governor Ehrlich was there, although no one would have expected the latter’s appearance. This despite the startling firing by Ehrlich of an appointee, Robert Smith, from the Metro Transit Board for characterizing homosexuality as deviant behavior.

According to a statement released by Governor Ehlrich, "Robert Smith's comments were highly inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. They are in direct conflict to my administration's commitment to inclusion, tolerance and opportunity." The Governor’s memory is short or has an unusual definition of "inclusion;" he fully supports an amendment to the state’s constitution that would ban same-sex couples from marrying. And "tolerance" is not where we want to be. We are seeking full equality.

Ehrlich’s firing of Smith may have appealed to some in the lgbt community and to moderates, while pissing off such conservative bigoted organizations as the American Family Association, which condemned the governor.

To my knowledge, besides O’Malley and perhaps Hollinger, no major candidate bothered to press flesh with the gay voters attending the Pride events. It may not have been a snub though. It was Father’s Day, and other events could have been scheduled as well. Candidates and their staffs must prioritize and allocate their available time.

Given the degree of political apathy that characterizes our community, I believe the other candidates made a calculation that attending the event and working the crowd would not be productive. O’Malley needed to be there to at least try to mend fences with the community for his "marriage is between only a man and a woman" comment. The others probably saw little value to show up in person.

It wasn't that long ago when fiery, passionate political speeches and activism dominated the Pride speakers'stage at various cities. Alas, it’s all about entertainment now, which caters to this community. Perhaps politicians are beginning to take notice of that.

Pride of Baltimore: This is Our Time

By Steve Charing
Senior Political Analyst

Another year has gone by where our community has been under attack by the religious right and by those politicians who are owned by these bigots. Another year of enduring the diatribes denouncing lgbt folks as second-class citizens worthy of discrimination has passed. President Bush and his GOP cohorts in Congress are again pushing a divisive Constitutional amendment to discriminate against gay and lesbian couples.

Massachusetts remains the only state in the U.S. where same-sex marriage is legal. Openly gay and lesbian members of the armed forces still cannot serve their country although convicted criminals can. And members of the same sex cannot hold hands in public lest they get harassed, beat up or more. We continue to be verbally and physically bludgeoned for being who we are.

Many of us are angered; many simply do not care. But our spirits will not be shaken. For it is June—Pride month—and now it’s our time to stand up and be heard as one: gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, black, white, Latino, Asian, old, young, single, coupled, rich, poor, activist, apathetic, you name it. This is our time, and we will celebrate.

And we will do so right here in Baltimore.

A large majority of the people who will be watching and participating in the parade up Charles Street, jamming Eager Street and Charles for the traditional block party (June 17), and/or attending the festival at Druid Park (June 18) were born after 1969 when the Stonewall riots took place.

That historic movement-altering weekend in late June to which most gays all over the world credit as the start of the modern gay rights movement began as another intrusive police raid of the Stonewall Inn—a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village. The forceful resistance by the bar’s patrons, consisting largely of drag queens, sparked a small riot outside the establishment over the weekend and sent the message that "enough was enough."

The uprising received little notice initially, but then word of the incident spread rapidly in New York and other gay conclaves throughout the U.S. Starting in 1970 and continuing today, the celebration of this uprising had sprung up in hundreds of cities and towns globally. Even an attempt to march, albeit thwarted by police and right wing opposition, was launched in Moscow recently.

But these younger people today who were not around for this epic event or are shamefully unaware of it, probably have not experienced the trauma of a police raid and its arrests or at least the fear of such an incident.

Nonetheless, despite not knowing the basis of Pride celebrations or the rationale, these folks will still show up at the block party and parade and bring their dogs, partners, friends, or just themselves to the festival in the park. Rainbows, balloons and confetti will abound, as will food, beverages, books, jewelry, literature from myriad lgbt and supportive organizations, music and camaraderie. They will party and run into old friends and make new ones, perhaps oblivious to the symbolic significance of the occasion.

And that is just fine, because this is our time.

Regardless of our ages, gender, race, interests, agendas, or even fetishes, this community can rightly celebrate pride in ourselves. We are who we are, and we shall continue to live our lives the way they were meant to be and not pretend to be somebody else. We should be proud of our own individual accomplishments and what our community has achieved over the years. We will be ourselves this glorious weekend, undeterred by what others may think.

Let’s come out and show our pride. Let’s understand the meaning of the events. And let’s enjoy ourselves. Happy Pride, Baltimore! This is our time.

Mary Cheney breaks silence too little, too late

By Steve Charing
Senior Political Analyst

Mary Cheney is a sham.
Just thought that you should know,
When we needed her to speak the most,
She was mum ‘til book dough made her crow.

Mary Cheney, openly lesbian daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney is well known throughout the informed wing of the gay community. She had been out to her parents for a long time, was the gay liaison for Coors, and has a partner of 14 years. Right wing extremist goofball Alan Keyes had dubbed her a "selfish hedonist."

Recently Mary Cheney has been hitting the talk show circuit promoting her book, "Now it’s My Turn: A Daughter’s Chronicle of Political Life." I have not read it, nor would I ever consider it. I have seen and heard reports, however, that her book discloses her coming out issues including her brush with personal destruction, her family, and well as GOP politics and her father’s election campaigns.

Forgive me if I sound so loathsome towards Mary Cheney and her clan; that’s only because I am.

I took it personally when her father’s GOP, led by the rat named Rove, saw fit to label gays and lesbians as second-class citizens. They did this during the 2004 election campaign when Karl Rove managed to secure anti-gay marriage amendments on the ballots of 11 states to draw out so-called social conservatives (bigots) so they could tip the election towards the Bush-Cheney ticket. It worked, and I hate it.

But the lesbian daughter of Cheney quietly helped with the campaign while the President, conservative talk-show radio jocks, GOP surrogates, right-wing religious leaders and others vilified the gay community, some equating us with animals, incest, rape and polygamy.
An opportunity to defend herself and other lgbt individuals and to express strong opposition to this divisive tactic withered into eerie silence. So absent was Mary throughout these attacks that her photo was mockingly placed on a "Mary Cheney Missing" milk carton. Incensed gay advocates circulated the image around the Internet.

Now she is talking. The one million dollars she has received on her book advance obviously lured her out of the closet of silence. While she opines that the Republican-led effort to write discrimination into the Constitution is wrong, she ostensibly never explained why she didn’t speak out against it in 2004 or why her father couldn’t exert his vast, boundless influence to thwart the effort.

Even more disingenuous was her claim that she was piqued when John Kerry brought up her sexual orientation during the third presidential debate of the 2004 campaign She called his comments "a cheap and blatant political ploy," and that he tried "to make political points over my personal life."

Perhaps, but this faux outrage is coming from an openly gay woman whose Republican party used the wedge issue of "gay marriage" during the campaign to divide Americans. That certainly was a cheap political ploy, and its goal was to make political points. But it was carried out at the expense of millions of gay and lesbian Americans and their families.

Her repugnant mother Lynne ranted as well, calling Kerry "tawdry." Mary (and Mom) seemed to have forgotten that two weeks before Kerry’s comments, her father literally thanked John Edwards during the vice-presidential debate for his "kind words," which were similar to Kerry’s. What a family!

"I struggled with my decision to stay on the 2004 campaign," Cheney told ABC’s "Primetime." following President Bush’s statement that the nation must defend the sanctity of marriage. But instead of making a statement of her own, she remained on the staff and continued to receive her $100,000 salary from it.

More big bucks from her book advance coaxed Mary Cheney to finally speak out. The timing is right, however, since the dreaded second attempt of passing the Federal Marriage Protection Amendment is underway. But when it was needed most, her voice was silent. This time, it’s too little, too late.

Desperate GOP Trotting Out an Old Favorite

To cling to power, Republicans dredge up ‘gay marriage’ again

By Steve Charing
Senior Political Analyst

Take your pick: Iraq, soaring gas prices, Katrina, no-bid contracts, immigration, Iran, Dubai ports, unprecedented deficits, Dafur, CIA leaks, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, the Abramoff scandals, ethical behavior, secrecy, Big Oil, Haliburton, Tom DeLay, the Harriet Meyers debacle, insufficient health care, Teri Schiavo, global warming. Oh, did I mention George W. Bush?

These are not happy times for Republicans, and with good reason. Most, if not all, of these problems have the Republican finger prints all over them. All the errors in judgement, all the deceit, all the arrogance, all the incompetence was made in GOPland and attributed to their leaders.

Finally, finally the voting public has taken notice. Around three-fourths of those polled in a recent survey said the country is on the wrong track—a politically ominous sign. President Bush’s approval rating is in the low thirty percent area (it makes you question the sanity of the third of the country who still believe he is doing a good job) and Republicans significantly trail Democrats nationwide as to whom people would prefer running Congress.

The two principal concerns—Iraq and gas prices—are going to be the leading factors in what appears to be at the moment a major shift in the political winds. The "throw the scoundrels out" mantra is starting to be heard loud and clear, and Democrats hope that it will be reverberating in November.

Noticeable improvement in the tragic war in Iraq is unlikely to be realized by then. Gas prices will continue to trend upward. For the GOP dark clouds loom on the horizon because there is no upside potential for this administration, and we haven’t had the 2006 hurricane season yet! The revolving door of press secretaries and CIA directors will not stop the bleeding.

Republican strategists admit they have given up on trying to increase their hold on both houses in Congress; they are content to play defense and try to maintain what they have so that they may continue to control all three branches of government. They will use this strategy by reinvigorating their base, especially cultural conservatives.

The GOP is rightfully scared. So when a rat (named Rove) is cornered, it becomes mean and dangerous. What is the course of action? Appeal to the dark side of humanity, whip up the bigoted base and trot out gay marriage.

Why not? It worked in all 11 states in 2004 where a ban on same-sex marriage was on the ballot. President Bush was the beneficiary having won the swing state of Ohio, which many political analysts credit that issue as the tipping point in that state.

Retiring homophobic Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) will attempt to launch his presidential bid by bringing up once again a federal constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman. The hearings for this endeavor begin June 5. It is likely to fail, but it offers crumbs to the "base."

These crumbs are needed to hold the base together. The latest AP-Ipsos poll indicates that many conservatives may sit out November’s elections because, among other reasons, Bush isn’t doing enough about ‘gay marriage.’ Despite all the problems facing this country—economically, politically, environmentally and socially—this is what some are obsessed about. What is wrong with these people? They were handed the Supreme Court, for heaven’s sake.

I predict the ‘gay marriage’ gambit will not pay off this time. Even some conservatives are opposed to a federal constitutional amendment that would infringe upon states’ rights. Former Missouri Republican Senator John Danforth, now an Episcopalian minister, calls such an action "silly."

When a person is paying $75 to fill up his gas-guzzler and American bodies keep coming back from Iraq, less worry outside the reddest of districts will be aimed at the marriage aspirations of Adam and Steve down the street.

GOP still knows how to scare the voters

Letter Published in the Baltimore Sun

May 9,2006

I had to do a double-take to make sure I was correctly reading the name "Cal Thomas" as the author of "Republicans run out of gas" (Opinion • Commentary, May 3).

Mr. Thomas, a conservative, wrote a rare indictment of many Republican elected officials "who seem to care less about change than perpetuating themselves in office." He also cites faulty leadership in the White House as a major blemish on the party.

While I agree with Mr. Thomas that the GOP has applied the brakes on any good ideas for the sake of power and made a detour on traditional Republican values, I disagree with his claim that "Democrats are better at scaring voters than Republicans."

Mr. Thomas should recall how the GOP scared Americans into re-electing President Bush in 2004 on the basis of frequently hyped, color-coded terror alerts during the campaign to convince voters that only Mr. Bush was capable of protecting the American people.

They also scared many African-American, evangelical and Catholic voters in key swing states into believing that gay marriage would lead to the demise of society.

The Republicans may have run out of gas on fresh ideas and sound governance, but they seem to always have a reserve in their tank when it comes to scaring voters.

Steve Charing

Clarksville

Everwood’s Coming Out Scene Hits the Mark

By Steve Charing

If you are reading this column, you would most likely appreciate how traumatic the coming out process can be—even if your personal experience was event-free. For most lgbt people this significant step is fraught with all kinds of potential downsides: alienating the person you’re talking to is prominent among them. It is especially dicey if you are divulging your sexual orientation to a family member or perhaps to your best friend and mentor.

The latter was the case during a recent TV episode of Everwood, a family drama series shown locally on the WB54. The character of Kyle (played by Steven R. McQueen—grandson of actor Steve McQueen) is a 15 year-old moody, talented, piano-playing loner who was taken under the wing of series regular Ephram Brown—also moody and about age 19 (played by Gregory Smith, pictured). Ephram sees himself in Kyle when he was that age, and offers to tutor the boy for free to help him get into Julliard.

During the episode, Kyle was resistant to attending a school dance and also blew off one of the school’s hottest girls. His initial lack of interest prompted Ephram to discuss the situation with his gym-obsessed roommate Reid (played by the hunky Justin Baldoni) who suggested that Kyle may be gay.

Ephram was disturbed by that prospect, but was quick to tell Reid he is not a homophobe. He just doesn’t want the boy to be even more alienated. To test the hypothesis that he may be gay Ephram pressed Kyle hard to attend the dance and offered to chauffeur him back and forth. He was hoping, of course, that Kyle would have a great time and have a babe on each arm. Reluctantly Kyle attended, and one would think he was heading to death row by his negative demeanor.

When Kyle left the dance early, alone and angry, Ephram saw the pain Kyle was experiencing and felt guilty for pushing him into this situation. By now the audience has assumed Kyle had to be gay; he may as well have worn the rainbow flag on his shirt. But wary of the gay tease that was put forth in the case of Reid earlier this season, I was wondering if this was yet another maneuver by the writers.

The denouement occurred whereby Ephram confronted a teary-eyed Kyle in the boy’s bedroom following the traumatic dance experience. Before Kyle could finish the sentence that made the admission, Ephram helped him out by saying the g-word: "There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being… gay."

Kyle then questioned, "Why do I have to be something I don’t want to be? Why can’t I pretend it’s not there?"

Ephram responded, "Then you’d be lying to yourself and denying to yourself the entire life you deserve. For what?"

He went on, "Listen to me. The sooner you can accept who you are, to be okay with it, the better off you’re gonna be, the happier you’re gonna be."

When Kyle admitted that he doesn't want to give people "another reason to hate me," Ephram assured him, "Right now, you're the only one that hates you."

OK, this is fiction, so what is the significance of this story line? First off, the show’s creator Greg Berlanti is openly gay. Through the four years of Everwood’s run, very few plot lines have touched on lgbt issues. Perhaps this one was near and dear to Berlanti’s heart; maybe he related Kyle’s experience to his own. It could be that Berlanti wanted this included, as this could be the final season for Everwood. The merger between UPN and the WB could spell doom for many of the current series.

Secondly, the show is viewed by a predominantly young audience—mainly teens and those in their twenties watch this critically acclaimed drama.

"Kyle’s coming out on Everwood will have a great impact on young people," Damon Romine, Entertainment Media Director of GLAAD told OUTloud. "Gay teens need to see that they are not alone, which is why our visibility is so important." He added, "Kyle's feelings of isolation and confusion are something many gay teens experience, but Ephram stepping up to be an ally and a friend sends a great message to straight and gay viewers alike."

Indeed, for young gays and their allies, this episode hit the mark.

Is ‘Immigration’ the GOP’s ‘Gay Marriage’?

By Steve Charing

The thing about election wedge issues is that they don’t always have to originate from opponents. They can be self-inflicted, as is the case with the smoldering issue of immigration.

‘Gay marriage’ was a wedge issue imposed on the Democrats during the 2004 presidential campaign. The Karl Rove-designed Republican game plan was to drive a wedge among the Democratic voters, primarily splitting African-American and Catholic Democrats from other socially progressive voters in the party by diverting the main issues of the day to the fear of ‘gay marriage.’ The scare tactic was used in states that had constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage on the ballot and was fostered in churches to help arouse anti-gay sentiment. It was most evident and crucial in the battleground state of Ohio.

The incendiary anti-gay rhetoric spewed from these pulpits led to increased higher voter turnout by religious conservatives. This strategy worked sufficiently, many believe, to help George W. Bush carry Ohio and ultimately the election. And, of course, America, if not the world, is paying the price.

The newest wedge issue is immigration reform. This time, it wasn’t one party driving a wedge into the opposition’s faithful. The Republicans are doing it to themselves and are deeply divided on the best way to handle the immigration “problem” with a significant number parting ways with the President himself.

For business owners, many of whom identify with the GOP, undocumented workers (illegal immigrants) provide a ready pool of cheap labor that allows businesses to increase profit margins. These immigrants frequently work on jobs that Americans have no desire to perform—especially at low wages. They include low-skill agricultural jobs, custodial services, child-care, hotel and restaurant services, landscaping and other necessary but financially unrewarding jobs. Supporters argue they are essential for economic growth and keeping inflation in check.

Social conservatives (read: bigots who prefer America to be white, Christian, immigrant-free, English-speaking, and heterosexual), want to deport the approximately 11 million illegal immigrants already here in the name of security. They complain the undocumented workers are changing the identity of America, taking jobs away from Americans, and holding down wages. These conservatives are overwhelmingly Republican.

The House of Representatives passed a harsh bill that would not only sanction detainment and deportation of illegals and authorize the building of a wall along the Mexican-U/S. border but would also penalize anybody, including medical providers, who had offered assistance or services to these new “criminals.”

President Bush assumed a middle-of-the-road position for once and supports the enforcement of border security as well as to institute a guest worker program for those immigrants who are already here in order to pave the way for ultimate citizenship. The Democrats, for their part, are more closely aligned to the President’s plan than to the House’s severe version.

Following a debate in the Judiciary Committee, the Senate then took up the highly controversial question and attempted to pass a bipartisan compromise agreement that virtually mirrors the President’s position. However, it collapsed and failed under the weight of procedural and other amendments, which had been originally disallowed based on the earlier agreement.

Both sides pointed fingers at each other for the failure to enact immigration reform prior to recess with Bush, who is rapidly losing credibility among America’s citizens, blaming the Democrats. Many political observers believe that the matter won’t be taken up again before the mid-term congressional elections in November.

Regardless of which version eventually passes and is signed into law, it will likely cause hardships for gay immigrants. According to an article appearing in the Washington Blade, “many immigrants who are wading through the lengthy documentation process, including those … who overstayed a visa or asylum seekers who lack proper identification documents, are detained in county jails and immigration detention centers.”

Immigrant rights advocates reported widespread abuses and humiliation at these facilities that are directed towards gay immigrants, especially those with HIV, or transgendered individuals. Increased problems will arise if more detainees are thrown into the mix, which would happen under the proposed bills. Unfortunately, a solution is not on the horizon, and only 16 countries offer immigration to same-sex couples—the U.S. is not among them.

From a political perspective this will be yet another hot-button issue with which Republicans must grapple. Amidst steadily declining poll numbers that are causing normally cocky Republicans to be extremely nervous, many are already splitting up over the war in Iraq, the Administration’s failure to exercise fiscal restraint, the Dubai ports deal, the CIA leak, the DeLay ethics probes and the Abramhoff scandals. Now along comes immigration reform to further exacerbate the divide—not just between Congress and the White House, but within the GOP per se.

Millions of illegal immigrants poured through the streets throughout America to protest expulsion. These are stirring images and invoke strong emotions from those who want to show compassion to a group that has been productive in the workforce and those on the opposite side of the chasm who would rather send them all home.

The Republicans have touted the recent inroads they have made with the Hispanic community. But this issue will likely scar the GOP, not only because Latinos will see the Republican hard liners as anti-Latino, but will also incur the wrath from moderates and independents who are wondering where the compassion went from ‘compassionate conservative.’

The opposition to strict reforms is oddly diverse, as strange bedfellows have been formed when Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and evangelical Christians were aligned in forgiving current illegal immigrants. This forgiveness is the wedge itself: the A-word—Amnesty.

‘Gay marriage’ was a successful tactic to divide Democratic voters in selected states. But immigration—a wedge issue that the GOP must cope with—is broader and deeper. A recent AP-Ipsos poll shows that Americans are as much concerned about the immigration dilemma as the economy.

The growing concern over illegal immigration and the fate of the 11 million men, women and children already here will not wane as a result of Congress’ trepidation to address reforms until after the election. The Republican-led Congress, although split over this issue, cannot duck the controversy because the public demands a solution. And with such polarization within the GOP itself, politically this is their ‘gay marriage’ and deservedly so.

DeLay's departure won't save the GOP

Letter Published in the Baltimore Sun--April 10

The Republicans are whistling in the graveyard if they actually believe that Rep. Tom DeLay's bowing out from Congress prior to the election will mitigate the Democrats' assault on the "culture of corruption" that embroils the GOP ("DeLay's decision fuels GOP concerns," April 5).

Mr. DeLay's public explanation for his departure was tinged with his signature bitter partisanship. The fact remains that he is leaving Congress because of a tightening noose that will undoubtedly strangle him as the legal process unfolds.

The Democrats will and should highlight the hypocrisy and corruption of Mr. DeLay, as well as other affected self-righteous Republicans who were hellbent on impeaching President Bill Clinton.

Yes, politics is local, as GOP leaders like to point out. But one hopes that the electorate will clean house this year and in 2008, as they correctly come to their senses and realize enough is enough.

Steve Charing
Clarksville

Crossing the Red Line

Why the NHL may be the first major league to embrace a gay male player

By Steve Charing

Philadelphia Flyers goon Donald Brashears perhaps said it best: "This game is gay now." Of course, his absurd comment was in response to penalties, a fine and suspension levied against him in response to a punching incident. But was his comment that farfetched? Could hockey be the first major male team sport that is, um, gay?

Other sports don’t seem to hold out immediate promise. We have heard the rumors and innuendoes (and wishful thinking), as well as the vehement denials concerning major league baseball players. Precious few have come out but only after their careers ended. The same could be said for pro football. And with public homophobic denunciations through the years by hoop players, it is more unlikely that one would come out in the NBA.

No active player possessing Jackie Robinson-like courage has stepped out onto the field of play in uniform as an openly gay man. No man thus far has been willing to battle the potential distractions, threats and shunning from teammates, opponents and fans to weather the storm.
For gay men, this has been a daunting barrier. The epitome of the macho culture in organized sports does not create a hospitable setting for an openly gay athlete. This paradigm needs to be broken, but where?

Why not hockey. Brashears already provided the opening. And with the Stanley Cup playoffs are on the horizon, a coming out story would add more spice to the sport that is still reeling from last year’s lockout. So, has anyone considered ice hockey as a fertile area for a gay man to come out?

You can be forgiven if you are shaking your head about now. After all, which sport is more macho than hockey, and which sport can boast more macho players? If you had ever seen Eric Lindros without a shirt you can swear the NHL oozes testosterone along the ice sheet.

Some of the hottest male athletes are hockey players if you discount those with more stitches than teeth and those whose noses resemble San Francisco’s Lombard Street.

But it’s not a stretch to suggest that hockey can handle an outwardly gay player. For one thing, look around the NHL and see where some of the franchises are located: Vancouver, San Jose (a spit away from San Francisco), Los Angeles, Sunrise (Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area), Tampa, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Columbus, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, three in the New York area, Boston, Montreal and Toronto. Think of it: every one of these venues has a large, viable gay population and a fabulous gay scene. The gay fans would raise their sticks in jubilation if they had a gay hockey hero to worship.

These are happening cities, and they showcase hot ice skaters, albeit padded and helmeted, with long hard sticks in their hands banging each other against the boards and shouting. "Get the puck outta here!" Some even get called for "charging"—a gay retail habit. As for endorsements, what can be more appealing than a gay hockey player touting an Armani scarf in Boston? Or modeling Speedos in Sunrise?

Hockey, more than any of the "big four" professional sports, has an international flavor. To be sure, baseball is signing Asians and Latinos in increasing numbers, and basketball has ventured into the European and African continents to lure human high-rises to the league. But the NHL has the largest percentage of non-Americans playing. And this is a good thing, especially if a gay player chooses to come out.

Canadians and Swedes, for example, are far more progressive than Americans are when it comes to accepting gays. Several European countries (and Canada) have legalized same-sex marriage, and many have established equal rights for gays. All those who had been liberated form Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other Eastern European nations who play hockey in the NHL know all too well the shackles of oppression. It can extend to gay oppression. These players appreciate their newly found freedom. Only in America is there a hang-up when two men kiss as a greeting.

Moreover, hockey players are better equipped to withstand any possible harassment from coming out because they generally give as well as receive. Players of this ilk are not easily intimidated.

A recent Sports Illustrated poll indicates that hockey players are for more willing than their counterparts in the other major sports to embrace an openly gay teammate. Just about 80 percent of 346 surveyed said they would—nearly 20 percent higher than baseball players.
Assuming the poll is reliable, that’s a huge statement regarding the attitudes of hockey players.

Baseball, football, basketball—those sports have balls but the players don’t. At least not in coming out of the closet. Maybe in hockey the puck will stop here.

Homophobia before 'The Dance'

Duke’s J.J. Redick shrugs off fans’ taunts with class and courage

By Steve Charing

As the college basketball spectacle called "The Big Dance" winds its way through March and edges into early April, we are reminded that the darkness of homophobia in male athletics can cast a shadow over such a shining event. Prior to his fourth NCAA tournament, J.J. Redick, Duke University’s standout senior all-American guard, had been a frequent target of homophobic taunts and jeers while playing on the road.

Taunting isn’t a new phenomenon in the world of men’s college basketball by any stretch. Opposition arenas and gymnasiums have had a long history of being hell for visiting players. And if you don’t think the tactic of employing derisive chants, name-calling, and boos is effective, compare the home vs. road records of NCAA teams.

It seems that each venue has its own style of intimidating the visiting team’s players in some fashion. Locally the University of Maryland’s Comcast Centre, for one, is notorious for mocking the opposition. Sometimes the spirit goes too far as loud curse words are audible over national TV microphones and debris is sometimes launched at the visiting benches.

Most taunting, however, is usually accomplished through chants directed towards the targeted player’s personal physical characteristics (as Duke fans derided the supposed homeliness of former Maryland Terp Steve Blake), or as has been the case of Maryland’s D.J Strawberry in other arenas, his controversial father, Darryl Strawberry. Even a player’s family’s political leanings are in bounds it seems. Duke fans hurled catcalls at Maryland Terp Nik Caner-Medley by shouting that his parents are "Liberal!" Gasp!

Among the iniquitous forms of ridicule that are flung at a young visiting player, however, is his perceived sexual orientation. Again, this isn’t new. It doesn’t matter if a player is gay or not, fans know this is how to get inside his head. This is what J.J. Redick has been experiencing throughout his career.

Undaunted, Redick, who was born in Tennessee in June 1984 as Jonathan Clay Redick (his older twin sisters nicknamed him J.J.), has proven to be arguably one of the very best collegiate basketball players of all time and is a leading candidate for the National Player of the Year. He has amassed myriad offensive records for Duke, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA.

The 6-foot 4-inch senior is a prolific scorer with a deadly three-point shot and is virtually automatic from the foul line. (Alas, his Duke career ended earlier than expected during The Dance’s Sweet Sixteen.)

Because of his accomplishments and the Blue Devils’ perennial success, he is hated by opponents’ fans. It’s hard to comprehend why though. He is not a trash talker nor does he show up his opponents. He just plays to win.

No matter where he performed away from the friendly, cramped confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium, J.J. Redick had to endure a wide array of catcalls from the home team’s spectators. Some mocked the fact he loves to write poetry while others harassed him for being gay, or so they thought.

Outsports.com columnist Jim Buzinski pointed out how anti-gay taunts are intended to demean opponents. He mentioned a well-documented slur from NC State guard Scooter Sherrill last year that was aimed at Redick. " [Redick] has a little bit of cockiness to him," Sherrill said. Referring to the fact that the Duke star holds his hand in the follow-through position after making a shot while dropping back on defense, he said, "You see him hit a 3, and he's running down the court hollering. He's got his hand up like he's gay or something." He later half-heartedly apologized for the comment and admitted he was trying to agitate Redick.

For his part, Redick let it slide. "It's just the nature of sports," Redick told the Durham (NC) Herald-Sun. "Not just with me but with anybody—they're going to try to find ways to get an edge." It seems to motivate Redick more. Following the remarks, Redick outscored Sherrill 28-11 head-to-head, albeit in a losing effort.

This wasn’t an isolated homophobic incident in the chronicle of male college sports. According to a published article in the Daily Illini, the University of Hawaii changed the name and logo of its football team from the Rainbow Warriors to just the Warriors in 2000 because of the association with the gay rainbow flag. And the University of Southern California marching band reportedly taunted UCLA by playing the notes F, A and G in successive order at football games also as recently as 2000.

For J.J. Redick, the advent of "Brokeback Mountain" added more fuel to the fire. Opposing fans have been chanting "Brokeback Redick" or pasted his likeness on Brokeback posters and hoisted them up. The "gay cowboy" film had also prompted Gonzaga fans to tease opponents by chanting "Brokeback, Brokeback." School and team officials asked fans to cease the verbal homophobia.

In Redick’s case, it’s just another day at the office. Outsports.com co-founder Cyd Zeigler, Jr. gave Redick his props for at least addressing the issue when he could have simply ducked it. While noting Redick is most likely not gay, Zeigler comments, "It warmed my heart to hear a college basketball player, one of the nation's best this year, talk so openly about his sexual orientation being a topic of discussion."

He continued showing his poise in the midst of the NCAA’s Big Dance during an interview on Fox Sports’ "Best Damn Sports Show." Just a couple of days prior to the number one ranked Blue Devils’ shocking elimination that ended his collegiate career, Redick again owned up to his being jeered without hesitation.

Redick matter-of-factly acknowledged to the former jocks who were interviewing him, specifically Rob Dibble, the anti-gay slurs he received during the season. He courageously mentioned the Brokeback-themed chants, and did so with his engaging smile. He didn’t use the platform to gay-bash, or yuck it up about gays, which could have been a convenient strategy to help mitigate the taunts. Instead, he shrugged it off—no big deal.

It would have been ideal if Redick had taken the opportunity then to pronounce his heterosexuality but at the same time speak out against the homophobia that is so rampant among those who jeer. But it would have been hardly plausible in the macho culture of big time sports and probably a major distraction during the tournament.

What is unclear is J.J. Redick’s attitudes are towards gays and lesbians. A devout young man, he recently got a tattoo with the number 19 inscribed to denote Joshua 1:9, his favorite verse. It says, in part, "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord is with you wherever you go."

Clearly his faith helped him deal with the taunting so he was able to focus on his game performance. His inner character helped him discuss it with class and courage.

The Military's Double Standard

Letter Published in Washington Post

Monday, March 20, 2006; Page A14

I commend the March 7 editorial "Now Repeal the Ban," which assailed the Pentagon's policy of barring openly gay and lesbian citizens from military service. The editorial correctly attributed the ban to "bigotry and inertia."

The front-page article the same day about the Supreme Court decision upholding the right of the military to recruit on the campuses of law schools that accept federal funding quoted one of the staunchest supporters of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), as saying, "This decision will ensure that the military will continue to be comprised of our nation's finest -- men and women who know how to defend our country in a manner consistent with our values and principles."

The values and principles Mr. Cornyn heralds are being compromised more by the Pentagon's lowering of standards to allow convicted felons and drug addicts into the armed forces to meet enlistment quotas than by gays and lesbians who refuse to deny or hide their true selves.
For example, Pentagon records indicate that at least 88 gay and lesbian language specialists were discharged between 1998 and 2004, of whom 20 were proficient in Arabic. These linguists would have been useful in gathering intelligence in the war on terrorism.

The rationale for discharging gays and lesbians from the military is that their acknowledged sexual orientation would hurt the morale of the troops. Does the recruitment of criminals boost troop morale?

STEVE CHARING
Clarksville

Speech to River Hill HS (Columbia, MD) National Honor Society--3/15/06

Character: Human rights and social conscience…

The Declaration of Independence proclaims: "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal."

Gaping holes in this essential principle have been patched up throughout our history by amending the Constitution. That process extended rights to African-Americans, women and other minorities whereas before they were non-existent.

However, the sad truth is that for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals, there remains some unfinished business when it comes to equality and human rights.

The current controversy, as you are probably aware, surrounds marriage equality for same-sex couples.

What gays are seeking are the same rights, benefits and responsibilities that are conferred upon heterosexual couples. They would include the financial security and medical decision-making rights that heterosexual couples take for granted.

We’re not asking for religious blessings. We’re not attempting to force churches, synagogues or mosques to sanctify a union. The Constitution’s First Amendment protects these institutions from that. Civil marriages can take place in county clerk offices or city halls. In fact, 4 in 10 marriages in Maryland occur in such venues.

When Britney Spears went through that fake marriage a couple of years ago, in those short 48 hours she was entitled to some 1,100 rights and benefits. Yet my partner and I, who have been in a committed relationship for over 26 years, do not have a single one.

Our opponents say that if we were allowed to get married, it would threaten the institution of marriage.

Ask your parents…ask them if my partner and I were legally permitted to marry, would they storm off to a lawyer to seek a divorce as a result?

In Massachusetts where same-sex marriage has been in effect for nearly 2 years, the divorce rate is the lowest in the country. The sky did not fall.

Our opponents say homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible. Well, so is murder a sin according to the same Bible, but murderers can get married. So can thieves and other criminals. So can men who shave or women who wear blended fabrics or people who ever talked back to their parents, or eat bacon. These are all sins, but the individuals who commit them are not barred from marrying.

The religious extremists cherry-pick passages from Scripture and had used the same arguments to justify racism and to prevent interracial marriages. And they do it to justify their homophobia. Our social conscience cannot allow a repeat of that type of bigotry.

It is clear the opposition is not concerned about protecting marriage because if they were they would rail against divorce, adultery, out-of-wedlock births, poverty, and domestic violence—all of which threaten the stability of marriage. Divorce alone accounts for the destruction of half of all marriages.

It’s not about protecting marriage at all. It’s all about homophobia. These people are opposed to anything that provides gays with equal status. To them, we are second-class citizens, and they want us back into the closet or as was advocated recently by one candidate for Senate in Ohio—the death penalty.

Folks, sad to say, extremism is very much alive in this country.

The political and religious rhetoric and bigotry that is unleashed as a result of homophobia is a human rights threat, a threat to our character, and a threat to the fabric of our society. Homophobia is very much a threat…Equality isn’t.

You Don't Have to be Coupled to Want Marriage

By Steve Charing

Senior Political Analyst

Many, if not most, in the lgbt community are not involved in long-term relationships at any given point. Some have foregone any notion of having a boyfriend or girlfriend, much less a committed partner. They either cannot find someone to their liking or they don’t want to bother. There are those who have had bad experiences and are apprehensive about entering into another relationship. Then there are folks who enjoy the freedom of being single. Regardless of the reasons, a large number of lgbt people are single, and some may even remain that way.

Setting aside the pros and cons arguments of such a status, one thing is very clear: supporting same-sex marriage, or at the very least, opposing the opposition, is in every lgbt individual’s best interest.

Those of you who find marriage to a partner to be the furthest thing from your mind, the push for marriage equality will benefit you as well. "Marriage and marriage equality is not directly applicable to my life right now," said 19 year-old college student Stephen McCarthy. "But I understand the importance of it in our community's struggle for equality and respect and the specific opportunity it may offer me someday in the future."

If lgbt couples were legally recognized as married, they would enjoy about 1,100 benefits and rights, including medical decision making rights, that are conferred upon their heterosexual counterparts. These would add to financial and emotional stability and security to themselves and their families—areas whose importance cannot be overstated. And most people, I believe, still aspire some day to be involved in a long-term relationship. In that situation, they would materially gain from these added rights.

But the quest for same-sex marriage isn’t only about securing benefits that heterosexuals take for granted. It is about equality.

The opposition folks in the General Assembly and in the Governor’s Mansion have reared their ugly heads in the wake of the Baltimore Circuit Court decision in January (the ruling was stayed pending appeal) that said the existing marriage law in Maryland is unconstitutional. They are mobilizing to amend the Constitution so that marriage would be limited to heterosexuals. After such a move failed in the House, the effort is still alive (albeit on life support) in the Senate with SB 690.

These vile people want the issue of our rights put up for a popular vote in November. If minority rights were routinely voted on by the majority, do you think the equal rights of African-Americans, women, the disabled and other minorities would exist today?

And with the GOP floundering right now and Republican officeholders scurrying like rats on a sinking ship to escape the Bush effect, don’t be surprised if "gay marriage" is again injected into the fall congressional (and Maryland) election campaigns as a distraction from their pitiful records and to re-energize their bigoted base.

As I have written numerous times in this space, the opposition isn’t about marriage; it is about homophobia. Why else would some state constitutional amendments (including the original one proposed here by homophobic Delegate Don H. Dwyer, Jr.) go beyond marriage in their scope and try to eliminate domestic partnerships and civil unions as well? Their intent is to prevent lgbt individuals from reaching any equal status with heterosexuals.

This opposition transcends both political parties as even most Democrats are loathe to address the issue, let alone stand up for marriage equality. Democrats fear the political consequences of such courage produced by the GOP smear machinery that attaches "anti-family" labels to their candidacy.

They further understand the issue has been framed as "gay marriage," which embraces all the religious associations and trappings as opposed to civil marriage equality for same-sex couples with no obligation on the part of religious institutions to sanctify the union. In fact, approximately four marriages in ten in Maryland take place at county clerk offices or city halls. The electorate is probably not be aware of that.

When they diss gays and lesbians as they are wont to do, they are slamming all lgbt people—not just those in relationships. Single people, and even those who have no intention of marrying if the opportunity existed, are also being told they are inferior to our straight counterparts.
Didn’t we hear that enough when we were growing up?

Don’t they defend the horrendous "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy in the military by saying we’re not worthy enough to defend our country? (Never mind that they have kicked out key gay and lesbian Arabic linguists who would have been significant in the war on terror.)

Don’t they tell us that we are immoral perverts and should not be teaching in schools? (Never mind we are paying taxes to educate other people’s kids.)

Don’t we hear all the jokes and homophobic subtext concerning "Brokeback"? (The poor, poor religious right saw their comfort zone shattered by non-stereotypical gay characters in a multiple award winning film that is experiencing a huge box office bonanza.)

The last thing the homophobes want is for lgbt people to achieve equal status. Same-sex marriage would do just that. Their arguments are increasingly less compelling. Even the use of the Bible is being discredited more and more as passages are conveniently selected to support their bigotry. Resentment is steadily building against those who are forcing their archaic religious beliefs on others while a broadening theocracy is taking hold in our government.

Columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr. also sees the transparency of some of these so-called people of faith. He wrote, "They're so panicked at the thought that somebody accidentally might treat gay people like people. They run around Chicken Little-like, screaming, 'Th' homosex'shals is comin'! Th' homosex'shals is comin'!’ Meantime, people are ignorant in Appalachia, strung out in Miami, starving in Niger, sex slaves in India, mass-murdered in Darfur. Where is the Christian outrage about that?"

The assault on same-sex marriage is an assault on all lgbt individuals. Even if one does not want to be married, it is difficult to imagine why one doesn’t want at least to have the option.
There is no shame in receiving the same rights and benefits as others; we should all strive for equal footing. We should NOT accept being looked upon as inferior as we’re NOT less than anybody else.

And that applies to single and coupled lgbt individuals alike.

Gay Political Apathy is Hurting Us

Mt. Vernon-Bolton Hill residents and other local lgbt need to step up

By Steve Charing

Senior Political Analyst

On the surface, one can easily label the Baltimore neighborhood of Mt. Vernon the gay capital of Maryland. It is the site of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB)—one of the longest-running centers of its kind in the country, if not the longest name. The largest lgbt multi-faceted health center in the state, Chase-Brexton Health Services, calls Mt. Vernon its home.

Mt. Vernon is also the venue for the two most popular gay bars in the state. Both Maryland lgbt newspapers—Baltimore OUTloud and Gay Life—are published in Mt. Vernon. Lambda Rising, the venerable lgbt bookstore, maintains its only Maryland store in Mt. Vernon. The state’s largest gay pride parade and street festival take place there as well. The adjoining neighborhood of Bolton Hill claims a large number of lgbt residents.

And when you factor in the other gay or gay-friendly eateries, drinkeries, bistros, boutiques, shops, antique stores, churches and some of the major cultural centers of the city, it seems to be a virtual slam-dunk that Mt. Vernon is the gay capital of Maryland.

Or is it?

To be truly a "capital" or a focal point in the lgbt movement, it also needs to be engaged politically. Areas that spawn activism like New York’s Greenwich Village, San Francisco’s Castro district and DC’s Dupont Circle would qualify. And if you go back to the sixties and seventies, Baltimore’s Charles Village and Waverly neighborhoods would also fit.

These places are the domains of lgbt leadership and advocacy. Politics—good, bad and ugly—would dominate the conversations. Grass-roots movements are born there. Fliers to rallies and meetings are handed out to passers-by. So are gay newspapers. These are genuine gay "capitals." Mt. Vernon in 2006, however, appears to be anything but.

Despite the large gay population within the Mt. Vernon-Bolton Hill area, a disappointing number showed up at last month’s Equality Maryland Lobby Day in Annapolis to attend the rally and visit with their local legislators. Based on pre-event registrations obtained from one of the organizers, Mt. Vernon and Bolton Hill’s participation paled compared with such city neighborhoods as Homeland, Roland Park, Tuscany, Canterbury, Mount Washington, Charles Village, Guilford, Northwood, Federal Hill, Canton, and Fells Point.

The rally crowd itself fell short of expectations. A goal of 2,000 had been established, but it barely reached last year’s total of several hundred. This occurred despite the anti-gay marriage rhetoric spewing from the mouths and press releases of Republican legislators and conservative or weak-kneed Democrats during the days just prior to the event. The motivation was there, but the anticipated large crowd wasn’t.

"There are many factors that contributed to attendance," said Meredith Moise, Field Coordinator for Equality Maryland. "Many folks were sidelined by the weather. Other people had difficulties with getting off of work, getting childcare or getting transportation to Annapolis. We are excited about those who attended the rally," she told OUTloud.

Indeed, those braving the chilly late Monday afternoon weather following a major snowstorm earlier in the weekend were largely suburban and white. A large chunk of the Lobby Day crowd came from Montgomery and Howard counties as well as from other suburban jurisdictions. Moreover, among those attending the rally was a sizable number of straight allies or parents of lgbt children.

The primary reason for the rally was to help those in the lgbt community to achieve equal rights and to prevent a discriminatory constitutional amendment from advancing to the floor of the General Assembly. But where were the masses of lgbt individuals? Aren’t they interested? Involved? Concerned?

Local gay activists are realizing a disturbing truth that too many members of the community are politically averse. This crosses gender and racial lines, urban and suburban.

"I see the apathy here," Craig Wiley, executive director for the GLCCB told OUTloud. "Sometimes people think that if the issue is too big, they don’t feel they can make a difference." He related the frustration of the Center’s renting a bus for last year’s rally but only a handful chose to get on board.

This year, the Center opted not to repeat the same error but did send out mass e-mail notices to those on their extensive mailing list with Equality Maryland’s Lobby Day information as an attachment. It obviously did not work.

Bar patrons can be just as frustrating when it comes to political apathy. A friend of mine who frequents the Quest reported that out of a dozen random people he spoke with, very few ever heard of Equality Maryland and fewer still knew of Lobby Day. He said no one picked up any of the gay papers on their way out that night, which would have informed them that the Governor and state legislators are trying to make them second-class citizens. This pattern is noticeable at other bars and clubs as well.

Political avoidance is not necessarily confined to Mt. Vernon or Baltimore City for that matter. In Howard County, where a gay men’s dinner group has been operating for over a decade, there is a need to motivate and mobilize. The group communicates information to a couple of hundred members through a newsgroup.
When I asked the current proprietor of the newsgroup, to publicize the formation of a Howard/Carroll County political investment organization (www.lgbtcaucus.com ), he said he would post it. Then he decided not to fulfill his promise ostensibly because he did not want to include anything political. However, he recently allowed the posting from a 22 year-old man announcing his arrival to the area. You can clearly see where his priorities lie.

Of course, political apathy is not necessarily a gay affliction. Look at the low level of participation from eligible voters during elections. But the general population has the right to marry. They have the right to make medical decisions for their spouses. They can openly serve in the military. They are not vilified as a group on the floors of state legislatures and Congress, nor are they chided by the President. They cannot be fired from their jobs for being straight. But lgbt individuals can.

Events like Lobby Day should have drawn thousands. We were under attack by religious zealots, hateful or insecure legislators and a governor who is aligned with the religious right. It was critical that we demonstrate against their demagoguery and their actions that are harmful to lgbt families. The media and officials needed to be impressed by the forcefulness of the lgbt effort. The opposition has no problem mobilizing the masses to sling hatred towards us, but we cannot seem to effectively respond.

"Apathy is one of our greatest enemies," said Jay Smith Brown, spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lgbt civil rights organization. "Political issues are always personal. You need to find out the area that make individuals most passionate and reach out to them," he told OUTloud last June.

Our community needs to re-establish its priorities, read our newspapers and get more passionate about our struggle to achieve equality. And it wouldn’t hurt if it started from Maryland’s so-called gay "capital."

Lobby Day Was Just the Beginning

More lgbt involvement needed to achieve equality

By Steve Charing

Senior Political Analyst

Nearly a thousand lgbt folks and their supporters participated in a process that makes our democracy so great. One day removed from a massive snowstorm, these crusaders trekked to Annapolis on February 13 to be part of Equality Maryland’s third Lobby Day.

On a chilly afternoon, they attended a rally in Lawyer’s Mall, which is adjacent to the State House. The event featured several prominent speakers, including U.S. Senate candidate and former Congressman and President of the NAACP Kweisi Mfume. They also trudged through the slush-filled Annapolis sidewalks and streets to visit office buildings housing the state’s senators and delegates.

The crowd came prepared to denounce the attempts by many members of the state’s General Assembly for pushing a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. These efforts came on the heels of the court ruling last month, which concluded the existing Maryland statute defining marriage as only between a man and a woman was unconstitutional. Baltimore Circuit Court Judge M. Brooke Murdock stayed the ruling pending appeal.

The hour-long rally was intended to stir the crowd and galvanize the efforts to persuade the local legislators in private meetings that a proposed constitutional amendment is unfair and a misuse of the document. A good line-up of speakers made brief presentations to the shivering rally-goers and members of the media in attendance.

Lisa Polyak spoke following introductory remarks by Equality Maryland’s executive director Dan Furmansky. She along with her partner Gita Deane were two of the nineteen plaintiffs in the lawsuit that has sparked the current debate.

Other speakers in support of lgbt equality ranged from a representative of the National Coalition of American Nuns/New Ways Ministry to the President of the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO. But the main message was delivered by Kweisi Mfume, who invoked the memory of Coretta Scott King and her life-long struggle to achieve equality and human justice for all. Mr. Mfume related how at her memorial service people carried signs read, "Rest in Hell" to protest her actions for equal rights. He said we obviously still have a long way to go.

Mr. Mfume told the excited crowd that he opposes discrimination in any form and that there should be equality for all citizens. "Make room at the welcome table for everybody," he implored. While he stopped short of explicitly advocating at the rally same-sex marriage (clearly for political considerations), he vehemently opposes a constitutional amendment, which would prohibit it. "If legislators don’t want to expand rights, then they should come out and explain why," Mfume told the cheering throng.

After the rally, Mfume reiterated this message when he said to me, "Let me make this very clear: I oppose a constitutional amendment [banning same-sex marriage] at the federal or at the state level."

Mr. Mfume is a rare candidate for a major office to be up front about marriage equality. He recently told the Washington Blade he supports equal marriage rights for gay couples. "As someone who was raised to believe in traditional marriage, it does not mean others cannot have different beliefs. I recognize [civil union] laws don't cover all the benefits and all the rights that could and should be accrued to same sex couples," he said.

Before, during and following the rally, participants had dispersed to meet with their representatives that had been scheduled in advance. Some had small meetings and others were larger.
For example, Senator Schrader (R-Howard County) was stunned to see as many as 49 constituents from District 13 packing her office. This effort was led by the organizing and mobilization by PFLAG-Howard County. Several among us related their personal stories and conveyed their perspectives on how a constitutional amendment would be harmful to ourselves and families and why marriage equality is so important.

Following the presentations, Senator Schrader did not commit as to how she would vote if any of two current bills supporting an amendment find their way to the floor. Most observers are pessimistic that she would buck her GOP Party leadership by voting against it, but many of us came away from the meeting thinking that she would be somewhat bothered by having to toe the Party line. I believe we made a good impression.

Other delegations weren’t as successful, as several conservative legislators from District 5 in Carroll County stood up their constituents even though pre-arranged appointments were made, or they simply ducked them. These legislators are too closed-minded, and it is virtually impossible to change their homophobic views.

But we must still try.

We are finding out more and more that when legislators who are relatively unfamiliar with lgbt individuals and can actually put a human face on the prevailing issues as a result of meetings, there is a shift by varying degrees to their openness on these issues. Hearing our stories and concerns helps removes some barriers.

A sizable crowd at this event was essential to impress the legislators and the media. But a greater proportion of the participants came mainly from Maryland’s suburbs like Montgomery and Howard counties. The event’s organizers and other observers noted a disturbing low turnout from Baltimore City in general, especially the Mt. Vernon area. This validates an ongoing theory among gay activists that too many lgbt city residents are apathetic. I plan to examine this issue in a future column.

Even if you didn’t attend the rally and meetings, there is still an ample opportunity to make your voice heard. The proposed amendments are not going to protect marriage; they are homophobic and discriminatory. And you don’t have to be in a long-term relationship to be stung by this anti-gay legislation.

Please go to the Equality Maryland website at http://www.equalitymaryland.org/ and look up your district and your state senator and delegate(s). Call their offices, write them, e-mail them and let them know you are a citizen of this state, you pay your taxes, and you do not want discrimination written into the constitution. The bills you want them to oppose are House Bill 1393 and Senate Bill 690.

Call Governor Ehrlich, too. His number is 1-800-811-8336. He thinks the people are behind the amendment. Tell him that the constitutional amendment harms lgbt families and that he’s wrong for supporting it.

Do on the phone what the Howard County folks did with their Senator in person: overwhelm!

The Death of a Civil Rights Icon

She was a major advocate for lgbt equality

By Steve Charing

Ironically, on the day Judge Samuel Alito was confirmed as justice to the Supreme Court, the civil rights movement lost one of its shining jewels. Coretta Scott King, widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., passed away on January 31 at the age of 78. She had suffered a severe stroke and heart attack in 2005.

You won’t see it in many of the obituaries that simultaneously expresses sadness for the loss and exults her life’s work in the civil rights movement, but Coretta Scott King was an enormous beacon in the quest for equality for lesbians and gays.

"Once in a lifetime God grants us with the ability to witness an extraordinary life dedicated to justice," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "With Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., God smiled on us and fortunately granted us two." He added, "She saw justice as a birthright and lent her voice as a relentless advocate for all fair-minded Americans, gay or straight, black or white."

Through the years, Mrs. King stood for lgbt rights when other leaders chose to side step the issue. She took the bold stance in equating the struggle for lgbt rights with the civil rights movement for African-Americans. In 1998, Mrs. King said, "I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. ... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’"

"I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people," she implored." Mrs. King resolutely supported ENDA, a federal bill prohibiting anti-gay discrimination.

Mrs. King was a mighty advocate for same-sex marriage and railed against constitutional amendments that would ban such marriages. "Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union," she said in 2004. "A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."

Her passing is a loss for all humankind, but she left a legacy of being such a strong, graceful force for justice and equality. She will be dearly missed.

Don't Let Them Fool You

The pro-amendment rhetoric is not about protecting marriage

By Steve Charing

Senior Political Analyst

Now that a Baltimore Circuit Court judge ruled against the constitutionality of Maryland’s marriage law that limited marriage to heterosexual couples only, the rhetoric supporting a constitutional amendment has begun in full force.

Immediately following the ruling the anti-gay forces have been marshalling their resources and allies to strike fear in the minds of the citizens of Maryland and press for a constitutional amendment that will define marriage as the province solely of heterosexuals. In fact, "The Marriage Protection Act" (House Bill 48), introduced by homophobe Donald H. Dwyer, Jr. (R-Anne Arundel) and co-sponsored by over 30 legislators, is designed to do just that—and more.

In a sweeping bill targeting gays and lesbians, all same-sex relationships including domestic partnerships and civil unions would also not be recognized by the state. The Senate version, Senate Bill 262, has been introduced by Sen. Janet Greenip, also of Anne Arundel County, to cross-file the house version.

"Now more than ever, we need to pass the Constitutional Amendment to protect marriage," the clarion call from Dwyer’s website said. But don’t be fooled. The demagoguery isn’t about protecting marriage.

For if protecting the institution of marriage was so near and dear to their hearts other actions would have been taken long ago that would have helped stave off the erosion of marriage. For example, a ban of divorce would have been the most logical first step since it accounts for the dissolution of about half of all marriages.

If these politicians were so keen on protecting marriage there would be some effort—perhaps criminalization—that targets those responsible for children born out of wedlock. Don’t the religious right keep reminding us that the goal of marriage is procreation? Well, if couples procreate without the official union, they are circumventing marriage and thus, undermining it.

Of course, there are married couples who cannot have children or who do not wish to have them. Those marriages, if we follow the logic of the "protect marriage" crowd, should be deemed null and void.

And how would two men getting married keep others from having children? Some even blame gays for abortion! It’s pure nonsense.

Moreover, there are other gnawing factors that chip away at the foundation of marriage: poverty, domestic violence, single-parent households, a lack of healthcare, and adultery top the list. But you won’t see demonstrations against those maladies too often, not to mention constitutional amendments.

And don’t pay any attention to the "biblical scholars" who maintain that traditional marriage has always been between one man and one woman. Just check out the Book of Genesis where men, including Abraham, typically had five wives.

Then there is the popular "homosexuals are sinners" argument. Please. So are murderers, but they can marry. So can men who shave or women who wear blended fabrics. They’re sinners, too, but they can marry. These are lame, selective and bogus excuses to discriminate. The Bible thumpers also tried to use cherry-picked passages from Scripture to prevent interracial marriages.

With all this fire and brimstone rhetoric going on, is protecting marriage the true aim? No, because marriage can take place in a civil or secular environment, such as a courthouse and religious institutions are not forced to marry same-gender couples.

It’s homophobia, pure and simple.

The last thing the conservatives want is to grant gays equal footing with straight people. The notion that gays and lesbians can be married similarly to heterosexual couples is icky to them. They can hold their noses and swallow some anti-discrimination measures, but marriage is off the table.

To many of our opponents, the "homosexual lifestyle" is anathema. Whether we are born gay or not, the sexual activities are considered abhorrent and behavior-oriented. They still see the lgbt community through the lens of the outrageous images that pride parades produce. It’s always the shocking fetishes and attire they point to and use for fundraising as well as to scare mainstream politicians and voters whom otherwise might be supportive of equality.

The rallies, the sound bites, the pronouncements from the opposition are politically motivated and bigotry-driven To many of these adversaries, the lgbt community is comprised of sub-humans not worthy of marriage—religious or civil.

What is being ignored by those who feel the need to "protect marriage" is the fact that other countries have moved forward in their social thinking. Canada, Spain and South Africa have joined several European countries in legalizing same-sex marriage. Has the institution gone by the wayside since? Not hardly.

Closer to home, Massachusetts, the only state where same-sex marriage is legal, is again in the crosshairs of extreme conservatives who are attempting to overturn the court’s decision. Where they are lacking is the fact that the institution of marriage has not been adversely affected since gays and lesbians tied the knot in 2003. In fact, Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate in the country. Therefore, heterosexual couples in the Bay State did not rush to seek divorce attorneys once gays and lesbians got hitched.

The Massachusetts case brought out a new entry into the lexicon: activist judges. To conservatives, activist judges are those who decide cases in a way that are unfavorable to the right. They had no trouble with activist judges when they anointed Bush president in 2000, and they sure will not rail against them when the new Supreme Court overthrows Roe v. Wade.

Expect the anti-gay rhetoric cloaked in defense-of-marriage smokescreens to play out in the weeks ahead, as these folks would like nothing more than to get the issue on the ballot in November. Republicans are solidly behind the amendment because they want the election to be about "gay marriage"—a convenient distraction from the record of GOP candidates and to put Democrats on the spot. They want very much to create a wedge issue to divide Democrats and their supporters.

By doing so, more conservative voters will flock to the polls a la Ohio and help the GOP in the election. They’re trying to fool everyone into believing that it’s all about protecting marriage. It’s not. It’s about the politics of homophobia.

One way to combat that is to make an impression on wavering legislators. Please contact yours. Lobby Day in Annapolis on February 13 is a crucial event that is aimed at presenting our side. Your participation is greatly needed. Please check out the Equality Maryland website at www.equalitymaryland.org for more information.

Calendar Boy in Motion

By Steve Charing ©2006

If you celebrated New Year’s Eve at the Hippo, you couldn’t help but notice the gyrating, shirtless, blond dancer atop the northeast speaker of the club’s famous dance floor. As a matter of fact, if you were there at around 11 p.m. and decided to step out for whatever reason and re-entered the Hippo at 1 a.m., you would have still seen this dude dancing at the same fast-paced, high energy level as when he started two hours earlier.

Even when the track slowed at times to a near standstill, which can suck the energy right out of the floor, he continued to squat, bend, twist and spin with arms flailing and flexing at a frenetic tempo.

His New Year’s performance spanned the years 2005 and 2006 without once stepping down, or stopping period. I mean for two hours straight, pardon the term! My Goodness, I get tired after driving for two hours, and I like to think I’m in good shape.

Just below the eardrum-splitting, vibrating speaker as well as the area of the Hippo’s promenade immediately adjacent to it where this guy was in perpetual motion, stood a cluster of ogling fans, friends and admirers—male and female. At various times they smiled at him, shook hands, hugged, toasted the New Year and hopped on the speaker box to join this marathon dancer. And he was friendly to all, whether he knew them or not.

He had the strength and endurance to continue dancing beyond the two hours except for that pesky, ill-timed nature break. He finally stepped down from his small stage, revealing his glistening, cut torso amidst the remnants of the colorful balloons, confetti and glitter that the

Hippo unleashed upon the revelers from the ceiling at midnight.

This guy with the Energizer bunny-type stamina is Paul Hummel, a familiar figure among Mt. Vernon’s clubs, particularly the Hippo. There he occasionally works as a dancer on the club’s catwalk at special events, such as Pride or at the Jeanie Tracy Show, or simply as a patron mixing it up on the crowded dance floor. Or you may catch him singing at Karaoke. And all the while he shows skin.

Paul is known almost as much for taking his shirt off as the Washington Wizzards' guard Gilbert Arenas. Because once that shirt comes off, you can expect this diminutive, boyish bundle of animation to let it rip.

And that’s not a stretch, because Paul is ripped, but in the good meaning of the word. He displays chiseled pecs and the all-too-elusive (for us mortals) stone-solid 6-pack. And when his hands are held behind his head, arms stretched out, as he frequently does as part of his dance routine, his peaked biceps pop up like two hard tennis balls.

Paul’s well-defined and proportioned physique that fuels his obvious aerobic skills coupled with his youthful surfer looks and his friendly, outgoing personality made him a slam-dunk selection to be included in the 2006 edition of The Men of Mt. Vernon calendar. He was voted in by a combination of the contest judges’ tallies and the applause of the Grand Central patrons.

The calendar is an artistically crafted black and white work by photographer Scott Henrichsen, whose proceeds benefit Baltimore Pride. The models were photographed bare-chested from the waist up.

"Last year many people suggested I enter the contest, but I was busy dating," said Paul, who is single. "This year more people encouraged me, so I decided to try."

And if you want to get past winter, as most people do, head right to March (no offense to Mr. January or Mr. February or any other of the months’ fine representatives). You will see Paul in a series of provocative, but tasteful, photos that highlight the defined, linear contours of his gymnast-type torso.

"I really enjoyed being in the contest," Paul says beaming. "It was a lot of fun, I’m meeting new people as a result of it, and it’s for a worthy cause. I really want people to buy the calendar." Indeed, The Men of Mt. Vernon Calendar is available for $10 at Lambda Rising bookstore, or you can order it online at www.menofmtvernon.com.

Paul’s appearance belies his age. At 32, which does not exactly make him a Centrum Silver candidate, one can easily reverse the numbers and assume he’s 23. The Baltimore County native is the perfect antidote to the adage "size matters." Although he is 5’7" and weighs only 125 pounds, he is well sculpted.

And no wonder. Paul has been working out continually since he was 13. He currently spends 12-14 hours a week at Gold’s Gym. His body is reflective of a guy that clearly pays attention to the regimen in the weight room with a body fat percentage in the low single digits.

In addition to intensive weightlifting to build muscle mass, there is also a focus on working to "cut up." Paul is a big proponent of the elliptical equipment, which is used for cardio as well as to build strong leg muscles that burn calories. This helps keeps the body fat percentage low and increases definition. His prolonged dance sets don’t hurt either.

Some folks fail to recognize that his physical achievements are a derivative of his work ethic and commitment. He occasionally gets perturbed when people assume his physique is a result of genetics and high metabolism. "No, I work my butt off in the gym," he asserts.

Between his regular job, working out, and his social life, Paul manages to find time helping the lgbt community. The Towson University graduate with a degree in mass communications is a member of the Human Rights Campaign and has recently joined Equality Maryland as a volunteer. "Equality Maryland focuses on local issues, and that’s how our rights will be won—state-by-state," he explains. He believes that lgbt organizations must try to counter the apathy that exists within the community. "Gays need to get involved more. They have to."

Frequently this calendar boy is asked to take off his shirt at his Karaoke performances, which, of course, is by no means a problem for Paul. "I’m flattered that they ask," he says. "It’s fun for me." He loves all kinds of music with his clear faves being Madonna and Van Halen, but he likes to perform Queen and other rock music at Karaoke.

Paul enjoys meeting a variety people when dancing and singing and during his occasional stints of selling shooters at the Hippo—often shirtless, sometimes clad only in briefs that showcases his slim but muscular legs.

Although he would prefer the Baltimore scene to be bigger, its smallness has an appeal. He explains, "It’s easier to know a different variety of people. It’s more personal."

"Mr. March" is not concerned that some may perceive him as a show-off or conceited, as Paul is quick to dismiss such characterizations. "If people talk to me, they will see I’m far from that." In fact, he appears quite modest regarding his appeal.

Showing off the many years of hard work that he put into his body doesn’t make him conceited. It simply makes him proud. And as they say, if you got it, flaunt it!