Minneapolis Law Firm Models Diversity

Speaking of GLBT friendly local businesses, the Spokesman-Recorder has an article about a Minneapolis law firm, Halleland, Lewis, Nilan and Johnson, that is breaking barriers in terms of diversity, including the GLBT community:

“We have also created a reputation about being a firm that is very open to the GLBT community. We have a couple of openly gay/lesbian shareholders. We’ve been very supportive of GLBT events and initiatives to expand outreach of the legal profession to the GLBT community.”

The firm is committed to mentoring African Americans interested in a law career, and is one of the few firms that have African American women lawyers on staff.

But it’s not only African Americans who are welcomed into the firm: “If you look just at the shareholders and the owners of the firm, women are over 35 percent of the ownership — which is significantly in excess of the national average,” Lewis says.

Best Places to Work: GLBT Friendly Workplaces in Minnesota

The Human Rights Campaign released their Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality this week. Here are the eight Minnesota-based businesses that made the list:

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
Cargill, Inc.
General Mills, Inc.
Carlson Companies, Inc.
Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America
Dorsey and Whitney
Faegre and Benson
Best Buy Co., Inc.

For an Upper Midwest comparison, only Illinois had more GLBT friendly businesses (14). Wisconsin had one. None in the Dakotas or Iowa. The Twin Cities strong business sector which has a strong committment to GLBT equality is something we shoud be proud of, even if these folks tend to clog our Pride celebration with corporate staleness every year. But it would be hard to say they don't belong.

New Lesbian Bar Slated for Seward

Rumors of a new lesbian bar in Minneapolis (or more accurately the opening of Minneapolis' only lesbian bar) have been flying for a few months now. A new bar is indeed in the works. It will be called Pi, and will open in the Seward Neighborhood sometime around year's end. Meeting minutes from the Seward Neighborhood Group's meeting in August indicate that some upgrades will be needed to the property and adequate space for parking secured. And here's a brief description of the future venue:

A bar/restaurant is proposed by several women for the former American Legion building at 2532 25th Av. S. Tara Yule [a co-owner] described the business as a �social club� and gathering place for the lesbian community. There will be dancing by the public, live bands, good food purchased from coop suppliers and a modestly upscale atmosphere.

The area could definitely use a GLBT gathering spot, as nothing exists in Minneapolis outside of Loring Park and Downtown. The Twin Cities could definitely use a space dedicated to queer women, because the closing of Over the Rainbow, Lucy's, and the Club Metro over the past 5 years has left virtually no options for women in the nightlife scene (aside from the Townhouse, of course).

Brass Rail for Sale

True to my promise, Lavender has an article about the sale of the Brass Rail. John Moore and Andy Anderson, who also own the Saloon and Hotel Amsterdam, have owned the Brass Rail since 1986, and are selling it because they don't have the time to devote to it. But, they want it to remain a LGBT bar and keep it in the community.

As Moore puts it, �We hope to keep the Brass Rail a gay bar. We�re looking for someone who wants to own a good bar with loyal customers, one that has been in the community for 32 years. This is a great opportunity for a person who likes people, and wants to be actively involved in the GLBT community.�

The Brass Rail is small, but is often busy. Tuesday nights are popular because of Bango, a night hosted by drag nun, Mother Pearl. It used to be called Bingo, but the gaming commission told them they had to change the name or face stiff penalties. The night features a charity "Lunchbox" with proceeds going to the Aliveness Project and Minnesota AIDS Project. The weekends tend to be very busy as well, with male dancers after 9 pm.

Since Lavender doesn't archive, I've archived the article below.

Brass Rail For Sale
Owners Want It To Stay Gay

by George Holdgrafer

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Brass Rail, 422 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, is for sale. Co-owners John Moore and James (Andy) Anderson are seeking to sell the business to someone who will keep it a GLBT bar.

The third-oldest GLBT bar in the Twin Cities, the historic Brass Rail has been gay since 1974. Anderson and Moore, who bought the Saloon in 1980, purchased the Brass Rail on December 31, 1986. They also own Hotel Amsterdam (above the Saloon), which opened in 1994.

Moore says, �We are selling the Brass Rail because it deserves to have an owner-operator. We have 75 full-time employees within the three businesses, and all of Andy and my time and energy are absorbed in the operation of the Saloon and Hotel Amsterdam.

�More than 25 years after we took over, the Saloon is doing well. We bought the Brass Rail in 1986 because we liked the bar, and intended to have a hands-on ownership. But the reality is that it has been shortchanged by our lack of presence there. It�s a �Cheers�-type bar that needs an owner physically present.�

Over the years, Moore and Anderson have made many improvements to the Brass Rail, such as the beautiful mirror-backed front bar and the front window. At the same time, they have retained its classic features, like the handsome four-columned wooden back bar and the Tiffany ceiling panels near the front entrance.

Even though it�s one of the oldest buildings on Hennepin Avenue, the Brass Rail today is in excellent physical condition. The well-established business, with its solid, diverse customer base, would be a turnkey venture for a potential buyer.

Moore emphasizes that he and Anderson want the Brass Rail to stay in the GLBT community. That�s why they�re taking the big step of becoming the first local GLBT bar owners openly to market an establishment to the community. They don�t want the Brass Rail to suffer the same fate that has befallen several others bar businesses over the past five years, which have lost their GLBT identity when sold.

As Moore puts it, �We hope to keep the Brass Rail a gay bar. We�re looking for someone who wants to own a good bar with loyal customers, one that has been in the community for 32 years. This is a great opportunity for a person who likes people, and wants to be actively involved in the GLBT community.�

For more information, contact Moore at (612) 801-4824.

Jake Reitan on CNN

Watch Minnesota's Jake Reitan on CNN with Paula Zahn discussing the Right to Serve campaign. SoulForce has done a great job of highlighting the discrimination that LGBT people serving in the military are faced with. Not to mention the benefits of service (college tuition, job training) are denied to people who may not have the means to otherwise finance their own careers.

The Right to Serve kicked off its nationwide campaign to raise awareness of Don't Ask, Don't Tell at the National Guard recruiting station in Roseville in August. Four people were arrested.

Lucy's is Back: Last Friday of Every Month

Lucy's was the lesbian hangout after Club Metro closed in late 2001. Then Lucy's was bought out in 2004. Every once in a while it comes back for a while, and for now Twin Cities queer women will have the last Friday of every month:

Lucy's is back!!!!! Every last Friday of the month at the Moonlight Magic (601 Western Ave, St. Paul) formerly known as "Lucy's Saloon" is your LADIES connection! Come enjoy drinks, dancing, drag and more!!! $5 cover, $2 rails and domestics until 10pm... Upstairs opens at 9:00pm! Variety show hosted until 11pm which features some of the best queer performers the Twin Cities has to offer. Don't miss it..... THE ONE AND ONLY ALL LADIES HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY ON FRIDAY OCT. 27TH!! BE THERE!!

The night is called DIVE, which is kind of an appropriate label for the bar. For more info, visit their Myspace page.

Anti-Gay Hate Crime at the U of MN

According to the Minnesota Daily today:

Early Saturday, two Augsburg College students were attacked for being gay, they said.

Sociology senior Donovan Lessard and Walter Gies, a social work junior, walked into a party in Dinkytown when Gies was confronted about a scarf he was wearing, Lessard said.

Lessard responded by telling the man both he and Gies were gay.

"They started calling us 'faggots' and 'fudge-packers,' " Gies said. "They told us to get out of the house."

Lessard and Gies left the party, got on their bicycles and started riding away when they were attacked, Lessard said.

A group of about a dozen men knocked Lessard and Gies from their bikes and surrounded Lessard, threatening to beat him, he said.

"(Lessard) was in the middle, covering his head," Gies said. Gies and a woman from the party ran into the circle and yelled for the group to disperse, he said.

The group broke up and allowed Lessard and Gies to leave, Gies said.

"This is a social issue," Lessard said. "It's almost a regular part of the weekend, especially if you wander into (Dinkytown)."

Minnesota's Jake Reitan on CNN

I missed Jake Reitan on Paula Zahn Tuesday night discussing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and the Right to Serve campaign:

It's outrageous. I am 24 years old. I'm bright. I graduated in top 10 percent of my class from one of the nation's best universities, but I'm turned down because I was born gay. And this is a very serious form of government-sanctioned discrimination that's happening in America.

The full transcript is available at CNN.com or I've posted it below.

O'BRIEN: Our "Top Story" in the war on terror continues with the incredible strain on the nation's military and the shortage of troops. But you might be shocked to learn that just today, some physically fit, well-educated Americans tried to enlist but couldn't and they're angry.

They're part of a protest movement called Right to Serve and they say the military's don't ask don't tell policy on homosexuality keeps them from serving at a time when many soldiers are facing a third combat tour. And not only that, military standards have been lowered to allow high school dropouts, even some with drug and alcohol violations, to join but gays cannot. And they want to change that.

Three of them join us this evening for our "Top Story" panel. Alexandra Douglas-Barrera is a sophomore at the University of Maryland. She was turned away when she tried to enlist today. Rhonda Davis served in the Navy for 10 years, was discharged under the don't ask, don't tell policy. And Jake Reitan is a Harvard Divinity School student who was rejected from military service because he's gay.

Nice to see you guys. Thanks for talking with us.

ALEXANDRA: Thank you. Thanks for having us.

O'BRIEN: Alexandra, let's start with you because today you were turned down. Was your plan basically to enlist or was your plan to make a bigger point about gays in the military?

ALEXANDRA DOUGLAS-BARRERA, "RIGHT TO SERVE": I feel like my plan was twofold. I've always had a desire to serve my country and, you know, in my opinion I think the ultimate way to serve one's own country is join the military. And on the other side of it, there is a definite problem going on with the don't ask, don't tell policy. And we felt that this kind of publicity would call attention to this fact, this problem.

O'BRIEN: Jake, at the same time, as we mentioned, you hear about these extended tours of duty, you hear about a shortage -- really a quite severe shortage of troops. When you hear that and you know that you are being rejected from military service, what do you think of that?

JAKE REITAN, "RIGHT TO SERVE": It's outrageous. I am 24 years old. I'm bright. I graduated in top 10 percent of my class from one of the nation's best universities, but I'm turned down because I was born gay. And this is a very serious form of government-sanctioned discrimination that's happening in America.

And it's not just the three of us who would serve if the ban was lifted. You have thousands of others across America. And so the American people have really got to ask themselves a question. Why in the world do we still have this policy in place when there are bright, fit, capable young adults like us who want to answer the call to duty?

O'BRIEN: The people who oppose you serving in the military would say you are a distraction, Rhonda, that when you are there, and you are a lesbian and you're boarding with other women that you could potentially hit on these women or something like that and you would be distraction.

RHONDA DAVIS, DISCHARGED UNDER DON'T ASK DON'T TELL: I'll bringing the flannel shirts in and all of that. Well, these are actually some of the same arguments that we made in the late '50s for integrating African-Americans, and we said that it would destroy unit cohesion and the military would be destroyed and when we decided to integrate women for the first time, we said this is going to ruin the tradition that is the military.

But, you know, our society evolves. And we weren't destroyed by integrating blacks and other minorities and women. And we're not going to be destroyed if we integrate gay people. And there's 26 other countries now that are proof of this because they have already integrated openly gay people and there's openly gay people serving alongside of our own American troops in Iraq right now, some in integrated units.

O'BRIEN: After 10 years in the Navy, you were finally discharged. You got an honorable discharge but on paper I read, they wrote homosexual. What's it like?

DAVIS: It makes me angry. But, you know, I can serve my country in better ways, you know, and I know that it this is the first steps towards opening the American public's eye. And even though it says -- I'm not ashamed of being homosexual. I'm upset that if I had done other things, there are people who were discharged by drug abuse and discharged for criminal activity and those things are coded on their federal discharge papers.

But for me, any hillbilly down south -- I'm from the south -- and anybody can see those words "homosexual" on there. But I don't look at that as a disgrace. I look at that as that was me. That was me speaking out and being honest. And I don't feel not ashamed of being honest.

O'BRIEN: Jake and Alexandra, there are people who would say, listen, if you really wanted to serve your country, you could you do it. You could keep your mouth closed and you could go sign up pretty much anywhere and they would take you.

REITAN: Well, that's a lot easier said than done. Being closeted really is a very difficult thing to be. Everyday questions, seemingly innocuous questions -- what did you do last weekend, who were you on the phone with, who is that letter from -- become a point of great stress for the closeted service member, and so they lived every day in fear that, like Rhonda, their military career could come to an end in an instant.

And nobody who is willing to fight and die for our country should be forced to lie in order to do so.

DAVIS: You have to watch every pronoun, you have to look over your shoulder. When you're on your private time and you're in a restaurant, you have to look and see if there is anybody there that knows you. You have to watch what you say to your own physician, or your mental health professional, because those people do and can turn us in. And for me, I reached a point in my career after 10 years -- and I was a leader now -- and I've reached that point that I've said, there's lot that I'm willing to give up for my country, but I'm not willing to give up my dignity.

O'BRIEN: Rhonda Davis and Jack Reitan and Alexandra Douglas- Barrera, thanks for talking with us this evening. We certainly appreciate it. Our top story coverage will continue in just a moment. First, though, let's get right back to Melissa Long with our CNN.com countdown.

Anti-Gay Therapist Reinstated

Mike Mosedale at the CityPages has the scoop on the reinstatement by the Minneapolis Police Department of Michael Campion, the former Illinois Family Institute board member who worked as a psychologist for the MPD. Controversy arose over his connections to IFI and his writings in the past advocating ex-gay therapy for gays and lesbians.

The suspension of Campion and subsequent investigation led to an outcry from the Religious Right:

"Of the 40 calls and emails I got, two were local. Everything else was from out of the state," says MPD spokesman Greg Reinhardt. Reinhardt reports that some of the messages were hateful but most stuck to the same basic theme: "'How dare you do this? This is religion under attack,'" Reinhardt recalls. "I had one call me up and say, 'You wouldn't hire a Muslim, would you? Their purpose is to kill all the Christians in the world.' I just said we hire whoever is best for the job."

You have to wonder how effective someone will be in a diverse police force like MPD, when they have supporters like that.

Parent Objects to Same-Sex Parenting Book

A mother, Gena Bounds, went on KSTP channel 5 last night to protest a teacher reading the book, Asha's Mums, to the 2nd garde class at the Inter District Downtown School. The school has supported reading the book that tells about a little girl with two mothers. Rainbow Families pointed out that Hennepin County has one of the largest concentrations of same-sex households with children in the country. You can view the whole story here.

Boom! Closing Events

Lavender has the schedule for Boom!'s closing week:

Wed., Sept. 20
Final Comedy Night with Miss Richfield 1981
Video Premiere of Miss R�s Latest and Greatest Video File
Best of Boom! Comedy Clips All Night

Thu., Sept. 21
Final Boys Singles Night
Cupcake Shots and Beer Bust Hosted by Cupcake Softball Team

Fri., Sept. 22
Best of Boom! Videos
Favorite Boom VJs with Special Video Sessions

Sat., Sept. 23
Boom Farewell Dance Party
DJ Red Richard in Live Session

Sun., Sept. 24
Showtunes Send-Off
Hosted by Jason Matheson of Channel 9
Theater Ticket Giveaways
Champagne Celebration

MBLGTACC 2007 in Minneapolis

The Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC) 2007 will be held at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities on February 16-18. The conference, which is affectionately referred to as Alphabet Soup 2007 has at its heart the motto "No Matter the Letter We Stand Together." The conference draws thousands of college students and activists from all over the Midwest and Northeast. This is the first time the Twin Cities has hosted the 14-year old conference.

In the past, Alphabet Soup has brought in big name entertainers and speakers including Laramie Project director Mois�s Kaufman, singer songwriter Dar Williams, drag supermodel RuPaul, Michelangelo Signorile, Jim J. Bullock, and Larry Kramer among many others. This year's entertainers and speakers promise to be the best yet.

The webiste for Alphabet Soup 2007 is now online: www.alphabetsoup2007.org/

Star Tribune on Boom! Closing

The Star Tribune has news on the closing of Northeast LGBT bar, Boom!

The six-year run of one of the Twin Cities' swankiest gay bars is coming to an end. Boom! will close its doors Sept. 24, its owners saying times aren't as good as they once were for the stylish, innovative nightspot. The three owners have no plans to open any other clubs, but will instead focus on their other businesses. Boom! hopes to go out with a bang. There'll be events such as a dance party and best of Boom comedy clips next week and into the weekend, so stop in and say goodbye. Call for full schedule. (401 E. Hennepin Av., Mpls. 612-378-3188.)

And remember, you heard it here first.

OutFront Assists MPD Investigation of Anti-Gay Psychologist

Outfront Minnesota is assisting the Minneapolis Police Department with the investigation of a police psychologist with ties to the Illinois Family Institute:

Dr. Campion, from 1998 until 2005, served on the board of the Illinois Family Institute, an organization which strongly opposes the rights of GLBT citizens and opposes hate-crime laws. Dr. Campion also said during the meeting with the PCRC that he had worked �very closely� with Dr. James Dobson, a nationally-known anti-gay leader of Focus on the Family. When questioned about his involvement with these organizations, Dr. Campion was evasive and repeatedly stated �you�ll just have to trust me� with regard to his ability to effectively evaluate police candidates.

Previously:
Suspended MPD Psychologist Advocated Ex-Gay Therapy

Renew America Bashes Minneapolis, Gays

Illinois Family Institute Responds to Campion Suspension

MPD Suspends Contract With Anti-Gay Psychologist

Minnesota African American LGBT Pride

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder has a recap of the Minnesota Soul Essence celebration in August, as well as a brief history of the event:

Minnesota Soul Essence began four years ago after Joseph Ward, following a suggestion from Earl Fowlkes, president of the International Federation of Black Prides, and a group of other community members created an organization that would be affiliated with the IFBP. Although there have been Gay Pride celebrations in the Twin Cities for decades, the African American GLBT community has long felt that they needed a celebration that reflected more of their culture and experiences. Two similar local organizations preceding Soul Essence had created and tried to sustain an annual GLBT Pride celebration for the African American community (most notably Twin Cities Black GLBT Pride), but for whatever reason they were unable to keep the celebration going.

Minnesota Soul Essence is in its 5th year and it continues to grow.

Boom! and Oddfellows to Close This Month

Northeast Minneapolis LGBT bar, Boom!, and attached restaurant, Oddfellows, will both close by month's end, according to a credible source. Oddfellows' last day will be September 10, while Boom! is expected to close by September 25.

The bar and restaurant have been in business serving the LGBT community for almost 7 years, a closing celebration is being planned for those who have enjoyed Boom! in the past.

Be sure to get one last taste of Oddfellows next week when it will be open Wednesday through Saturday. Reservations are encouraged (612-378-3188).

Religion Gone Bad

I just received this notification for a book signing by Mel White, founder of Soulforce, an organization whose mission "is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance." Soulforce has been responsible for many actions including the Equality Ride campaign to expose discrimination at Christian colleges and universities, and the current "Right to Serve" campaign dedicated to full inclusion for gays and lesbians in the military, and ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

***

MEL WHITE IN MINNEAPOLIS
Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 7 pm
Wayzata Community Church
125 East Wayzata Blvd, Wayzata, MN 55391

Best selling author, activist, and founder of Soulforce to speak and sign copies of his new book
RELIGION GONE BAD:THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT

The bestselling author of Stranger at the Gate: To be Gay and Christian in America provides an insider�s
expos� of the Christian Right�s agenda�and a playbook in how to resist it nonviolently. The Reverend Dr. Mel White sees fundamentalism as �Evangelical orthodoxy gone cultic.� He believes that the true goals of today�s Christian fundamentalists are to break down the wall that separates church and state, superimpose their �moral values� on the U.S. Constitution, replace democracy with theocratic rule, and ultimately create a new �Christian America� in their image. White�s new book, Religion Gone Bad, is a wake-up call to all of us to take heed.

White is singularly qualified to write this expos� of the Christian Right because he served the evangelical movement as pastor, professor, filmmaker, television producer, author, and ghostwriter for such fundamentalist leaders as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Billy Graham. White is also a gay man, who made news when he came out more than twelve years ago with his bestselling autobiography: Stranger at the Gate: To be Gay and Christian in America.

Twin Cities Pride Hiring for Exec. Director

GLBT Pride/Twin Cities is looking to hire its first paid full-year staff person in an effort to expand and improve the massive GLBT Pride Twin Cities event held each summer at the end of June:

GLBT Pride/Twin Cities, the producers of the Twin Cities Pride Celebration, the third largest celebration in the USA, has an opportunity for a strong executive director to make a difference in the lives of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Minnesotans and their friends, families and allies. Lead GLBT Pride/Twin Cities into an expanded role in providing open and inclusive events that showcase the diversity of our community. Reporting to the President of the Board of Directors, you will set our development plan and priorities and work with the board to present a professional image to corporations, civic organizations, individual donors and foundations.

Visit their website for details. Also, don't forget that Twin Cities Pride can use volunteers year-round to help coordinate the event.

Suspended MPD Psychologist Advocated Ex-Gay Therapy

A psychologist who was recently suspended by the Minneapolis Police Department for his ties to the anti-gay group, Illinois Family Institute, advocated ex-gay therapy in 1977, according to Ex-Gay Watch. In a document titled, "A Biblical Perspective an Homosexuality and Its Healing: When Was the Last Time You Hugged a Homosexual?" Campion and his co-author say:

We have known many who practice homosexual behavior who feel they are "caught" or that this is "the way they were made". Freedom lies in the fact that they are not made this way, but rather that through help, this "habit" may be overcome.

More quotes from the document below...

Many quotes from the document question Campion's ability to psychologically evaluate openly gay candidates for the Minneapolis Police Department:

"A choice is required. We believe a man or woman is not born a total homosexual nor is he born as a bisexual with a heterosexual and homosexual orientation being natural to him. But rather, he is born with a total heterosexual orientation and chooses to indulge in homosexual behavior.

There appears to be little support for a genetic or hormonal cause of homosexuality in the Scriptures, which teach that the homosexual is responsible for his behavior.

The third basic factor is the fact that homosexuality satisfies man's basic nature of selfishness.

Homosexuality's alleged "incurability" or "constitutionality" as espoused by some in our society today is supported by neither Scripture nor solid medical evidence. It is time that the homosexual is told that he has chosen this lifestyle and that he is responsible for it.

There are certain environmental factors during childhood which may predispose a person toward a homosexual orientation. However, a person can become aware of these factors and being aware of them, can then choose an alternative course of behavior. Man is not determined to the extent that be has no will * Homosexuals have chosen their behavior. This again points out that the individual is responsible and that homosexuality is not a condition but rather a conduct.

Since our society will not, it is important that the church take an intelligent stand against the flaunting of homosexuality in our present-day society."

Renew America Bashes Minneapolis, Gays

The Religious Right echo chamber continues to claim that the City of Minneapolis suspended Michael Campion, a former board member of the Illinois Family Institute, because he is a Christian. From Renew America:

If you're a Christian working for the City of Minneapolis, watch your step � your job may already be in jeopardy. In what may be one of the most blatant acts of anti-Christian bigotry and discrimination by an American government agency to date, the Minneapolis Police Department has suspended a Police Psychologist, Dr. Michael Campion of Campion, Barrow & Associates, at the behest of pro-homosexual activists.

The Illinois Family Institute is an organization that promotes "sexual conversion therapy," a harmful practice that aims to "pray the gay away." Because Campion is a psychologist and former leader of an organization that promotes "praying the gay away," it is vital that the city ensure that no bias is present in Campion's evaluations of potential and current police officers. Considering the City of Minneapolis' anti-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation, and a number of openly LGBT officers, the city is doing the right thing in investigating Campion.

And as I pointed out yesterday, the City of Minneapolis hires a lot of Christians.

Earlier this month, Renew America cam under heavy fire from LGBT bloggers for making the claim that gay people have sex with infants.

If you support the City of Minneapolis' decision to investigate Campion, let them know. The Religious Right is sending this contact info all over the web. MPD could probably use some encouraging words.

Timothy Dolan
Interim Chief of Police
350 South 5th Street
Room 130
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1389
612-673-2853
Fax: 612-673-2613
E-mail: police@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Illinois Family Institute Responds to Campion Suspension

The Minneapolis Police Department recently suspended Michael Campion's contract as a police department psychologist after complaints of his serving on the board of the anti-gay Illinois Family Institute. IFI Executive Director David Smith responded with a press release claiming religious discrimination:

"Does this mean that any person with a Christian or moral belief system cannot work for the City of Minneapolis?" Smith asked. "This case has all the markings of blatant anti-Christian discrimination and bigotry. People of faith should follow it carefully, because they could be next."

The City of Minneapolis hires many people who are Christian and many people who are Christian work for the city, and have for years. It would be nearly impossible for the city not to employ Christians, given that 77% of the US population is Christian and 75% of Minnesotans identify themselves as Christians.

The Minneapolis Police Department merely responded to concerns by citizens over Campion's involvement with the Illinois Famliy Institute. The IFI is based in religion, but is not a church or place of worship, nor is it a specific belief system. It's a non-profit dedicated to making life miserable for gay people. The talk of Christian discrimination is a page from the Christian Nationalism movement, a network of churches and organizations such as IFI that are committed to forcing their version of Christianity down everyone's throats.

Smith of IFI went on to say:

"It is ironic that advocates of tolerance and diversity would deny Dr. Campion's right to exercise his First Amendment freedoms of speech and association--not to mention his freedom of religion."

It is ironic that IFI would be tossing around terms like 'tolerance and diversity' when the major platform of their group is to eliminate homosexuality from the United States.

MPD Suspends Contract With Anti-Gay Psychologist

The Minneapolis Police Department has suspended the use of a screening psychologist, Michael Campion, after his position on the board of the Illinois Family Institute came to light.

Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief Don Harris said it was only within the past week that they became aware of Campion's association with the Illinois Family Institute, a nonprofit group that says it advocates for religious freedom and opposes gay marriage, civil rights protection for gays, abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

Campion is a partner in a company called Campion, Barrow and Associates, which according to CityPages also ran into problems with the Illinois chapter of the NAACP, after two candidates for the Springfield, IL Fire Department claimed that Campion was biased in his psychological sceenings.

Campion's leadership at the Illinois Famliy Institute raises a red flag. The Illinois Family Institute advocates "ex-gay" therapy, a harmful process that uses a Christian-based immersion to compel gays and lesbians to suppress their physical attraction to members of the same-sex. It's been deemed harmful by virtually every psychological and social science association, and many people that have tried the process have spoken out against the harm it causes. That Campion was a leader on IFI's board should be cause for alarm, especially since the City of Minneapolis has a non-discrimination statute that includes sexual orientation.

Princeton Review: Macalester College 4th Best for Gays

The Princeton Review has their 361 Best Colleges Ranking up. One category they looked at was "Gay Community Accepted," which Macalester College in St. Paul was ranked 4th. No other Minnesota colleges or universities made the gay inclusive list. Macalester also ranked 7th in "Politically Active" and "Best Quality of Life."

Last year, Macalester was ranked 2nd on gay inclusiveness.

Duluth-Superior Pride 2006

This Thursday (August 31) kicks off 4 days of Duluth-Superior Pride. Technically, a longer running Pride event than the massive Twin Cities Pride, this year marks 20 years for the festival that Out Magazine recently named "The Hottest Small Town Pride." The festival continues to be important for visibility of LGBT people in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin.

After years of lack of support from former Duluth Mayor Gary Doty, Duluth-Superior Pride has the recognition of the City of Duluth. Mayor Herb Bergson will kick-off the event with a Mayor's Reception followed by a music festival.

The Duluth News Tribune has an article about the history of GLBT Pride in the Twin Ports, and be sure to check out the Duluth-Superior GLBTAQI Pride Celebration website for a full list of weekend events.

OutFront MInnesota Launches PAC

OutFront Minnesota, the state's leading GLBT equality organization has launched a Political Action Committee (PAC), the first in the state for GLBT issues.

OutFront Minnesota Action PAC will be working on state Senate and House races, and endorsing those that support the GLBT community and opposing those who work against full rights for GLBT people:

All of the 201 state lawmakers are up for re-election. Many of these candidates stood by our side at the Capitol during the contentious three-year battle against a constitutional amendment. They need our support to continue their courageous work. Many new candidates are running to un-seat anti-GLBT legislators. They need our support to usher in an era of equality. We have the capacity to reach all corners of the state and build a broad base of elected officials who support GLBT equality.

This is a great opportunity for the GLBT community and something that has been sorely needed in recent years.

Minneapolis Fire Chief in Hot Water

Minneapolis Fire Chief Bonnie Bleskachek made headlines last year when she became the first lesbian fire chief in a major US city. Unfortunately, the last year has been plagued with scandal for Bleskachek, as the City of Minneapolis has found probable cause that she violated civil rights laws. In addition, earlier this year Bleskachek was sued in a discrimination suit by her ex-partner.

Some Issues Too Tough for Air America Minnesota

Part 2 of 2: Janet Robert Responds
Part 1 is here.

An article in CityPages this week has quotes from three former employees accusing Air America Minnesota station owner Janet Robert of censorship. Last summer she sent a memo to bloggers countering the one leaked to Centrisity, stating it was only a draft and the real policy was just to help guest and weekend hosts deal with controversial issues:

Because certain hot button social issues such as gun control, abortion, or gay marriage tend to arouse strong emotions among our listening audience, JR Broadcasting wishes to be respectful in discussing these issues. It is the position of JR Broadcasting that persons often hold positions on these issues as deeply held moral beliefs that therefore deserve respect, and focus on these issues can undermine the very opportunities we seek to advance.

Robert also responds to claims of censorship in the CityPages article:

Robert insists that there's no prohibition on flashpoint topics such as abortion and gun control. "It's not that we don't talk about them," she notes. "That's just false. Anybody who listens regularly knows we do." She says that the only guideline is not to continuously dwell on these controversial topics and to treat all opinions with respect. "I don't want to hear people ridiculing people at Planned Parenthood," she says. "I don't want people ridiculing the pro-life movement. That's our policy."

Robert's disputes the claims that she censors hot button issues on-air, but her public stance on these 'controversial topics' was made clear in her run for Congress in 2002:

[T]he logic behind [Janet Robert's] candidacy was that she is a social conservative. She and [Mark] Kennedy have the same views on abortion (they oppose it) and on gun control (they oppose further restrictions). Democrats argued that by neutralizing those issues, the Republican advantage in the district goes away and that Democratic positions on taxes, education, corporate responsibility, health care and Social Security will prevail." Eric Black, Star Tribune, November 2, 2002

Robert's doesn't seem to have a public stance on same-sex marriage, but supported Elwyn Tinklenberg who ran for the 6th District on support of the Federal Marriage Amendment over fellow DFL candidate Scott Mortensen who opposes such legislation.

Her history of social conservatism certainly jives with the accusations of former employees. The big question: does Janet Robert run Air America without letting her political views color the programming?

Some Issues Too Tough for Air America Minnesota

Part 1 of 2

Former employees of Air America Minnesota say that on-air discussion of gay marriage, abortion, and gun control are taboo, according to this week's CityPages. Air America Minnesota faced similar criticisms last year, when an internal memo barring certain topics on-air was leaked to local bloggers.

Three employees have left the station objecting to what they see as micromanagement and censorship from station-owner, Janet Robert. Carla Kjellberg tells Citypages that she caught flack from Robert for discussing gay marriage on air:

Other people who have been associated with Air American Minnesota voice similar concerns. Carla Kjellberg, a local attorney who hosted a weekend show called It Takes a Village until earlier this year, says that some of her segments seemed to offend Robert. "I certainly knew that there were some shows that I did that might have ruffled some feathers," Kjellberg says, citing in particular a program that dealt with gay marriage. "I never heard this directly from Janet Robert," she notes, however. "She never said a word to me. It was just the feeling I got."

Former Minnesota Matters host, David Schultz:

After another contentious meeting, Schultz and Air America parted ways by mutual agreement. Schultz, however, remains bewildered as to why Robert is running a progressive radio station when her own political beliefs seemed to skew right-center. "One day she turns to me and says that 'I'm a pro-life, anti-gay marriage, fiscally conservative Democrat,' and I'm thinking to myself, what the hell is that?" Schultz's comments echo those voiced by Coleman when he quit the station a year ago. The Star Tribune columnist complained that gays, guns, and abortion were verboten and that he was chastised for criticizing DFL candidates such as Sen. Mark Dayton. "If I'm going to be put on a leash, I'm leaving," Coleman told City Pages at the time.

Nick Coleman's departure from the station last summer generated a lot of noise from local blogs. Flash at Centrisity was leaked an internal memo that backed up Coleman's story:

6. Certain Subjects Prohibited JR Broadcasting will not permit discussion of the issues of gun control, abortion, or gay marriage. It is the policy of JR Broadcasting that discussion around these issues tend to be more sensationalistic than substantial. In order to provide for reasoned, substantial discussion of other issues, JR Broadcasting prohibits discussion of gun control, abortion, or gay marriage. Exceptions to this policy can be obtained prior to broadcast by request in writing to the station Manager.

Janet Robert denies having close editorial control over the show's programming. I'll have Robert's response in part 2 of "Some Issues Too Tough for Air America Minnesota"

OutFront MN Avoids Fines, Complaints Dismissed

The anti-gay Minnesota Citizens in Defense of Marriage filed a complaint against OutFront Minnesota, Northfield PFLAG, Equality Minnesota, and the Faith, Family, Fairness Alliance this spring after MCDM group faced criticism over it's lobbying disclosure practices.

The squabble was over whether lobbying and campaigning over a ballot issue constituted lobbying or campaigning. Long story short: the rules are complicated and both sides of the anti-gay marriage amendment debate have had problems finding the most legal way to support or oppose the amendment to end domestic partnerships and ban civil union and same-sex marriage.

Fortunately for the side of fairness and equality, no fines or punishments were imposed, and the Campaign Finance Board dismissed much of the complaint filed by the anti-gay Minnesota Citizens in Defense of Marriage.

Four People Arrested in DADT Protest

Four people were arrested at 6:30 pm at the Roseville Army National Guard recruiting office after they refused to leave in protest of the US Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Three of the four arrested were among those that tried to enlist in May, and were denied the ability to serve because of their sexual orientation.

The military personel in charge gave the protestors a warning at 6 pm that they would have to vacate the premises by 6:30 pm or the Roseville Police Department would be called. The Roseville police showed up at about 6:25 pm and came in to warn the protestors they would be arrested. At 6:30 pm, they were taken into custody.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Protest in Roseville

Over a dozen people are packed into a small recruiting office at the Army National Guard in Roseville, Minnesota this afternoon to protest the military's ban on service by openly LGBT people. Earlier this year, three young gay and lesbian folks attempted to enlist at the Roseville recruitment center, but were denied once they revealed their sexual orientation. Shortly after, LGBT people in 31 cities nationwide attempted to enlist only to be denied the ability to serve in the military.

Today's sit-in represents a sharp change in strategy. The protestors will remain in the recruiting office until they are forcefully removed, expected to happen sometime around 6 pm this evening. The protest is organized by SoulForce's "Right to Serve" campaign. Today's action is the kick-off for sit-in protests of DADT in 36 cities nationwide.

Soulforce is quick to point out that support or opposition to the war in Iraq has little to do with the decision to shed light on DADT:

"While Soulforce as an organization is against the war in Iraq, we remain committed to freeing LGBT people from political and religious oppression. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is rooted firmly in religion-based bigotry. We will fight this discrimination that makes second-class citizens of the LGBT community by showing the American people that this law is not a good compromise."

Sitting-in with the group was a great experience. The military recruiters at the center were incredibly gracious and treated us all like guests. It was clear that many staff there held negative views of DADT, and would rather see LGBT people openly serve, even if that was never the official statement from anyone. They set up tents, and made everyone as comfortable as possible.

Three members of religious organizations were present to support the protest and sit-in with the rejected recruits. The pastor of University Baptist Church and 2 representatives from All God's Children Church were sitting on the floor with us. Over the few hours I was there, more and more people showed up to sit-in.

The protestors will remain in the office until it closes at 6 pm. At that point the protestors will remain, and will likely be arrested. I'll do my best to be down there as well. I haven't decided if I'll be taking pictures, or getting arrested myself.

Appleton Wisconsin on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

The Appleton Post-Crescent asked it's readers what they though about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). The response was overwhelmingly to abolish the flawed policy. Ten out of 13 letters supported abolishing DADT, including a number of veterans. Here are a few great quotes:

"What do the U.S., Russia and China militaries do that no other member of the UN Security Council does? Discriminate against homosexuals. "

"I spent 23 years in the Army, active and reserve, enlisted as well as officer. My experience has been that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy has caused more problems than ever existed before it was established."

"First blacks weren't capable of serving until proven wrong in WWII, then came women who have proven that they too can serve and die for their country. "Don't ask, don't tell" is a remnant of the Dark Ages in my estimation. Gays can also serve with distinction without having to hide in the closet."

"I would point out that Baron Von Steuben, who did an excellent job of training troops for George Washington, was openly gay."

If you would like to protest DADT, there is a sit-in in St. Paul on Wednesday.

University of Minnesota Top 20 for Gays

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus has been selected as one of the nation's top twenty campuses for LGBT students. The University of Minnesota-Duluth campus was also selected as one of the top 100 out of the over 700 campuses nominated. The ranking were done by the Advocate.

"That two of our campuses have been chosen among the top 100 says a lot about the university's system-wide commitment to improving the climate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and allied students,� said Anne Phibbs, system-wide director of the university's GLBT Programs Office. �We're a national model on how to serve GLBT students, faculty, staff, alums and visitors,� Phibbs said.

I like to think my time at the U of MN helped to contribute to that high ranking. However, the campus still has some very anti-gay people in the Students for Family Values group and Christian groups like Maranatha Christian Fellowship, both of which spend a lot of time handing out anti-homosexuality materials. The University does a great job of helping to resolve conflicts when these groups clash with fair-minded people.

The Gay 90s Stinks?

A lot of people say the Gay 90s stinks. A lot of times the area outside the building smells like a sewer. In fact, there are a few areas of downtown Minneapolis that just plain stink. I wrote a post to Metroblogging Minneapolis that I hope will 'clear the air.'

NYT: Maplewood Church Rejects Campaigning From the Pulpit

The New York Times has an excellent article about a pastor at a "mega-church" in Maplewood who has rejected attempts by the GOP and related organizations to influence his sermons. He's Rev. Gregory A. Boyd of Woodland Hills Church and he's a conservative evangelical.

"Before the last presidential election, he preached six sermons called 'The Cross and the Sword' in which he said the church should steer clear of politics, give up moralizing on sexual issues, stop claiming the United States as a 'Christian nation' and stop glorifying American military campaigns."

His actions cost his church members and money, yet he refuses to drape his church in the American flag, setup tables in the lobby with anti-abortion info, distribute conservative voter guides, or announce rallies against gay marriage.

"Mr. Boyd lambasted the 'hypocrisy and pettiness' of Christians who focus on 'sexual issues' like homosexuality, abortion or Janet Jackson�s breast-revealing performance at the Super Bowl halftime show. He said Christians these days were constantly outraged about sex and perceived violations of their rights to display their faith in public. 'Those are the two buttons to push if you want to get Christians to act,' he said. 'And those are the two buttons Jesus never pushed.'"

He advocates Christian sacrifice to help the less fortunate, not domination over other. I get the feeling he's saying that Christians should lead by example and not by brow beating.

�I don�t think there�s a particular angle we have on society that others lack. All good, decent people want good and order and justice. Just don�t slap the label �Christian� on it.�

I'm not a Christian, but I do agree with a lot of what Mr. Boyd says. If Christians want their values reflected in society, they need to lead by example and clearly articulate where they are coming from. Telling gay people they are going to hell and calling abortion doctors 'babykillers' and supporting a Republican party that actually contributes to pain and suffering through poverty promoting policies is not the way to win non-believer's over. It's also not the way to run a government.

Gay Bashing in Minneapolis

Last night, I witnessed a gay bashing. I've posted details at Metroblogging Minneapolis. I don't know if it's because of the funding cuts that the Minneapolis Police Department have endured due to Republican policies or the constant negative images of LGBT people portrayed by Republican politicians and Christian activists or both, but this should NOT HAVE HAPPENED!

***Update***
A commenter takes offense at my characterization of funding cuts to MPD due to GOP policies and doesn't see the correlation I meant to make.

Basically, a reduction in state aid has resulted in a cut to every department in the city of Minneapolis. The MPD is the largest portion of the budget and took the biggest cut. There are less police to patrol the streets. The cuts come from Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget which continues to cut local aid to Minneapolis. Republicans in Congress and Republican President Bush were responsible for rolling back a federal program (COPS) that added police to crime-ridden areas. Recent studies (related to terror level alerts, interestingly enough) point to a correlation between number of police on the streets and crime levels. Essentially it describes what seems a bit obvious: more cops leads to less crime. That's the direct point I was trying to make.

And of course the problem is complicated. Why would the city cut the police force? Why not cut other programs? Well, some of the programs that they could cut are programs to reduce poverty and inequality for citizens of the inner city.

Inequality and crime are linked. Without going into specifics, Republicans have cut many programs that try to address inequality. Of course there are abuses of 'welfare' and not every government program is ideal for addressing inequality, but cutting these programs very much has an effect on inequality and therefore some effect on crime. And these cuts are Republican policy. This same argument goes for cuts to programs for mental health and substance use, both of which are also associated with increases in crime.

Lastly, cuts in education and after-school programs, a Republican policy, lead to increased crime rates. Studies have looked at programs like Head Start and found that they are effective at reducing crime.

That's a very simplistic version. I could start an entire blog dedicated to crime policy. I'm not going to. And I stand by this post. I feel that Republican policies contribute to an increase in crime, and an increase in bias crimes against LGBT people.

Minnesota's Real World Gay

Tyler Duckworth, the token gay on the Real World Key West, has an interview in the Pioneer Press.

Also, here's his Friendster profile. Via Towleroad.

And here he is with some sparkly drag queens, er, I mean Burnsville Cheerleaders.

Pink Cowboy Blogger

In case anyone reading this site ever doubted my gayness, the Star Tribune found me last night at "Oscar Night on Ice," a fundraiser for HIV/AIDS at the State Theatre.

"Before the broadcast, Andy Birkey, 28, a local blogger who sported cowboy garb, along with a pink bandana, pink pants, a lamb sticking out of his pocket and a little hat that would have looked right at home on Curious George, called it 'the greatest Oscar party ever.'"

I meant it was the best of the Oscar parties held at the State Theatre. This was my fourth one.

And here are the pictures of the "cowboy garb" (images pop up larger in a new window):

KARE 11 on Equality Riders and Me On Tammy Faye

KARE 11, Minneapolis' NBC affiliate, has a story up about the Soulforce Equality Riders who set off today to make a difference in the realm of religion and GLBT rights (I had a prior commitment at the U of MN speaking about GLBT rights, or I would have attended. Sorry guys!).

The Equality Riders are highlighting GLBT discrimination at 2 Minnesota schools of higher education: Bethel University and North Central University.

In response, Bethel University Provost Jay Barnes said, "We believe whether a student is gay or straight that those intimate forms of sexual behavior can only be expressed in the context of traditional marriage."

You'll note he said 'traditional marriage.' Jacob Reitan of the Equality Ride responds: "Gay and lesbian people do not have that freedom at Bethel and that is discrimination." And we don't have that freedom in Minnesota.

North Central University is extremely Christian, but it's not as bad as it could be: it's the alma mater of tele-evangelist Tammy Faye Baker, a most unlikey ally of GLBT people. And if you haven't seen the "Eyes of Tammy Faye," you really should. Here's what Tammy had to say about the film and gays:

"MW: Your film, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, had enormous camp value. And it seemed to do well within the gay community.

TAMMY FAYE: It was popular with everybody -- not just the gays. It turned my life around, really. The gay guys have Tammy Faye parties all the time where they show the film. That just makes my heart melt right down to nothing. One young gay man came up to me and told me every time somebody comes to his house, they can't live without the film. And so he gives it to them and buys himself another one. He said �Tammy, I've bought twelve of them.� And that really touched my heart.

MW: What is it do you think about the movie that�s made it so popular with gays?

TAMMY FAYE: So many things have happened to the gay people -- they've been made fun of, they've been put down, they've been misunderstood. A couple of the gay guys told me, �We put it on every time we get discouraged.� I've even heard people outside the gay community say that every time they get discouraged they put that movie on and they realize they can make it. I didn't know how that movie was going to turn out, I wasn't promised anything on that movie, but I'm just in disbelief of what has happened to my life [because of it]. I thought I was a Titanic and that I was going to sink and never come up again. But I guess I had the greatest captain in the world -- the lord Jesus Christ. He promises to get us safely to the other side and He certainly has."

If only North Central University would take a hint from its most famous alumnus, this world might be a little bit brighter. If only we all could take a lesson from Reitan and the Equality Riders, the world would definitely be brighter.

Freak of Nature

For those interested in the biology of homosexuality:

"What do a sex advice columnist, the religious right, and gay sheep have in common? They are all featured in the new documentary, Freak of Nature. This film explores questions like: What causes homosexuality? If homosexual animals won�t procreate, why do they exist? Are there evolutionary benefits to homosexuality? If films about homosexual animals have been produced in Britain and France, why has legitimate research on this topic been suppressed in the American mainstream? Freak of Nature weaves interviews with national experts including Dan Savage, sex advice columnist and cultural critic, Dr. Brian Mustanski, who�s searching for the �gay gene�, Greg Spicer, gender theorist, and Anne Perkins, animal behavioralist and sheep scholar. The result is a compelling discussion about the state of science on animal homosexuality, and how the topic of homosexuality reverberates throughout American culture.

Be the first to see this provocative new work in progress, meet the filmmaker, and participate in a lively post screening discussion with professors Naomi Scheman, theorist, and Anna Clark, sex historian, both from the University of MN, Cynthia Norton, animal behavioralist from the College of St. Catherine, and Bonnie Ploger, an evolutionist from Hamline University.

Award winning independent filmmaker Amanda Taylor has screened her work at the Walker Art Center, on Twin Cities Public Television, and in festivals worldwide from New York to Hong Kong. Freak of Nature proves to be her most ambitious and timely documentary to date. Donations are encouraged to support the production, but not required. All collected donations will be used to support upcoming interviews with Paul Vasey of Lethbridge University, Manitoba, who studies homosexual female Japanese macaque monkeys, radical theorist Joan Roughgarden of Stanford University, and Frans de Waal, head of the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta.

TICKETS ARE JUST $2"
February 1 at 7pm at the Bell Museum
For more information, visit the Bell Museum.

Minnesotans to Protest Lesbian-Bating Coach

Penn State Women's Basketball Coach Rene Portland has a long history of discrimination against her players that are lesbian or perceived to be lesbian. The Washington Blade Blog has a great rundown of her homophobic antics dating back to 1986. One of her former players is suing her after Coach Portland removed her from the team for being a lesbian.

From OutFront Minnesota: "Women's Basketball Game to Draw Protestors"
OutFront Minnesota supports the protest of Penn State coach's discrimination.

A long-time women�s basketball coach is drawing protesters to this weekend�s game between the Penn State and University of Minnesota women�s basketball game. The protest, which has the support of OutFront Minnesota, is drawing attention to allegations of discrimination against lesbian team members by Penn State coach Rene Portland. Visit the OutFront Minnesota website to read our official statement.

Many people are wondering how to show their opposition towards Coach Portland�s practice. Anyone planning to attend the game on Sunday, January 29 at 5:00pm is urged to wear lavender or rainbow clothing and/or bring a sign. To see the overwhelming reaction this brought to the game at Michigan State University click here.

For more information on the Federal Discrimination Lawsuit filed against Rene Portland or to support The National Center for Lesbian Rights Sports Project visit their website.

Big Gay Mardi Gras

Here's an event organized by a guy I know knows how to throw a party, and Ti-Nea is hilarious and one of my favorite performers. Everyone should go!

Next SOL Party in Minneapolis
Big Gay Mardi Gras Party and Open Mic

Visit the NEW website at www.solmpls.com

Faux-femme favorite Ti-Nea emcees this evening of pomp and compromising circumstance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender People of Color and their friends. This Mardi Gras themed night begins with an Open Mic for performers, and cha-chas from there into a celebration of dance, drink an diversity. Featuring the best in Hip-Hop, Salsa, R & B, and Dance as well as great cocktails, plenty of room to sit and socialize, and hot men and women. Dressing up is encouraged, we'll supply the beads! An all inclusive event (Wheelchair accessible)

Open Mic session for GLBT Performers of Color from 9-11pm. Spoken word, drag performers, singers, dancers, almost anything goes! Sign-up begins at 8:30.

Friday, February 3
Doors open at 9pm and close at 2 am.

$7 cover
18 to party, 21 to drink

SOL at Varsity Theater
1308 4th Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Going by bus? Take the 6 or the 3 to Dinkytown.

www.varsitytheater.org for directions and venue photos
For more information, contact: solevents@gmail.com

African-American Asian American Latino/a Middle Eastern Native American and Everyone In Between

Party Raves:

"I love this event!"
"Gorgeously decadent."
"Fierce. The house is hoppin."
"The music was better than any club I've ever been to, and I'm almost dead

Duluth News Tribune on Gay-Straight Alliances

The Duluth News Tribune has a couple of articles today on Gay-Straight Alliances in the Duluth area. In the interest of 'balance,' they give us this ominous message from Minnesota's anti-gay crusader headquarters:

"The Minnesota Family Council, a research, education and communication nonprofit group, is launching a program that encourages students to find alternatives to homosexuality, said Tom Prichard, council president." [Link]

Launching a new program? Alternatives to homosexuality? I can't wait to see what kind of bible-based programming MFC would like to force on impressionable teens.

The GSA article has a lot of information on the reality for Duluth's GLBT teens.

"A total of 481 students in grades 8 to 12 from East, Central, Denfeld and Two Harbors High School took the survey. Of those, 36 percent felt that GLBT students weren't safe in school and 22 percent reported seeing at least one student physically harmed during the month before the survey for their real or perceived sexuality. In a comment section of the survey, one student wrote that gays should be thrown out of school. "If it was my choice and choices of many others, they should be shot," the student wrote."

It's pretty clear to me that these groups provide some sanctuary from harassment. Especially, when ideas of violence are still articulated by fellow students and especially when groups like MFC provide "alternatives to homosexuality' that send the message to students that homosexuality is wrong, and perhaps the students' violent tendencies towards queers is justified.

Is the Gay 90s closing? Or wishful thinking?

Every couple of weeks lately someone has the scoop: the Gay 90s is closing. They say the owners sold the property and condos are going in.

Minneapolis Insider has the rumor. Someone recently told me they read about it in Downtown Journal. I can't find a thing. The manager of a downtown Minneapolis club also told me they were going to be gone within the year. Staff at the Gay 90s have insisted that this is definitely not the case.

It's a rumor that's been going around for years, but there's been an awful lot of noise lately. I'm happy to spread the gossip, mostly because the Gay 90s is one of the least community minded 'gay bars" in the Twin Cities. Anyone heard anything?

Illegal Immigrants are the New Gays in 2006

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota Republicans have switched from gays to immigrants as the new evil plaguing Minnesota in 2006. Pawlenty released a report on illegal immigrants in December that many saw as misleading and incomplete.

The DFL called him on his switch from gays to foreigners: "He's following a line from the Republican National Committee about what their wedge issue of the year is going to be. In 2004 it was gay marriage; this year it's illegal immigration," said Brian Melendez, chairman of the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. [Pioneer Press]

Wilde Roast Cafe Announces Downtown Skyway Location

"Dean Schlaak and Tom DeGree are bringing their Wilde Roast Cafe (518 E. Hennepin Av., 612-331-4544) to downtown Minneapolis, aiming for March. The weekday only spot will be located on the skyway level in Marquette Plaza, the former Federal Reserve Bank at 250 Marquette Av., with outdoor seating on the Bloch Cancer Survivors Park. " [Link]

And, in a move that will be very unpopular for those whose laptops are permanently attached to our bodies, they are cutting back the hours that they will have wireless available at their Nordeast location. [Wilde Roast Diary]

AP Story on Minneapolis' Lesbian Fire Chief

365Gay.com picked up an Associated Press story highlighting Minneapolis' openly lesbian fire chief, Bonnie Bleskachek. When you get frustrated by the long, cold and dreary winters, it's good to think about how progressive our city is. The mayor had this to say about his appointment of Bonnie Bleskachek a little over a year ago:

"'The appointment was made the week after last year's election, where there was some extraordinarily damaging rhetoric about members of the gay and lesbian community,' Rybak said. 'I was stopped on the street about a month afterwards, by a woman who is raising her child with her partner. She said for their daughter to be able to see someone like them on front page of the paper, after hearing all the bad things -- it meant a lot.'

But ultimately, Rybak said, 'the significance of all of the labels attached to Bonnie is that they are not as important as her skill as a leader and a professional.'"

The article also notes that Minneapolis has the highest ratio of women in the Fire Department in the nation.

Hamburger Mary's in Minneapolis?

What is Hamburger Mary's? It's a "bar and grill for open-minded people." There are 14 Hamburger Mary's in the United States, which means it's a chain restaurant for queers, and rumor has it, they are opening one in the Twin Cities: Minneapolis Insider has the scoop.

They've begun advertising in Minnesota's GLBT fashion and advertising glossy, Lavender, and rumor has it, they may be opening at 'Block G', the block that occupies the Minneapolis Eagle, the Bolt, and Underground, and was the former site of failed GLBT restaurant, the Rainbow Rooster. They also have a website for the Minneapolis location.

I've sent an email message to the contact, but haven't heard back. Let me know if you all hear anything!

Lucy's Reunion

Savvy House Entertainment presents Lucy's Reunion! Remember that dyke bar on Western that made the news when an off-duty St. Paul police officer beat up some lesbians for hitting on his wife? It's the same one that closed a year or so ago, leaving Twin Cities queer women without a truly dykish space (although the Townhouse and Over the Rainbow are picking up some slack).

Next Wednesday, November 23, Lucy's will be back for one night only in the same space with drinks, drag show, and dancing. It's a $5 cover, the venue is 21+, and it's located at 601 Western Ave N in St. Paul.

U of MN Hires GLBTPO Director

The University of Minnesota has hired Metro State University GLBT student services director Anne Phibbs for University-wide GLBT Programs Office director, according to the Minnesota Daily.

NGLTF Elects St. Paulite to Board

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has named St. Paul Public Schools Out for Equity coordinator, Alan Horowitz, to the board. This is pretty cool given the tough fight we're going to have over the anti-gay amendment next session. It's good to have some local membership on national boards. Here's a bit about Alan:

"Alan Horowitz is the coordinator of the Out for Equity program in Saint Paul, Minnesota, one of five school-based LGBT programs in the country. Its mission is to create safe, affirming school environments for parents, staff and students. He is a leading expert on best practices for reducing homophobic behavior in schools and in school-based social work interventions to decrease isolation and improve academic performance. He co-created the Common Threads Youth Empowerment Project in New York, and developed a national safe schools curriculum and a statewide training of trainers about sexual minority issues. Mr. Horowitz is originally from New York, where he taught elementary school for 11 years."

Beth Zemsky, the former and first director of the GLBT Programs Office at the University of Minnesota was a past NGLTF board member, as well. It says a lot about Minnesota that we have many national GLBT leaders right here.

New GLBT Youth Center to Open in St. Paul

A unique safe space for GLBT students will open soon in St. Paul. This means, with District 202, GLBT youth will have two spaces. This is great news.

A new space for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teens to meet, study and earn school credit will open next week in St. Paul. The Safe Space Lab, sponsored by the St. Paul Public Schools and the city of St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department, will give GLBT teens and their friends a safe place to gather and learn, said Alan Horowitz, who directs the schools' Out for Equity Program, which provides support, training and outreach regarding GLBT youth in the schools. [Link]

Via fiveoclockbot

Of course, some people (conservatives) will get their panties in a bunch: "Why can�t every single group in society have their very own PUBLICALLY FUNDED private club house? Noty allowing everyone to have it is DISCRIMINATION!!!!!"

Instead of getting all bent out of shape everytime something good happens for the GLBT community, why don't we actually read the whole article: "Any interested St. Paul teen may use the center, Horowitz said. All students must go through a screening process that includes orientation and a pledge to follow the center's rules." I assume the rules will include something about respect, and about not trying to force people into Christianity. Well, probably not that last part.

Soulforce to be Arrested at US Naval Academy

MInnesota's own Jake Reitan, who was arrested earlier this year by Focus on the Family, and whose mother is the totally awesome Randi Reitan, will be arrested at the non-violent protest today.

Naval Academy officials told the Lynchburg, Va., group it won't be allowed on campus, calling the protest a "disruption." "Our policy is to decline any special interest groups from coming aboard the academy to advocate their own causes, business interests and advance personal agendas," academy spokesman Cmdr. Rod Gibbons said in a statement. Soulforce vowed to walk on campus anyway, setting up a possible showdown. "If they don't let us on campus, some of us will get arrested," said Jacob Reitan, director of Equality Ride, part of Soulforce. "The gay and lesbian community has to show the severity of 'don't ask, don't tell,'" Reitan told The [Annapolis] Capital. "We are going to come on campus; we are going to walk in...like any normal visitor."

Farheen Hakeem

Doug Grow has a great column about Farheen Hakeem who recently ran for Minneapolis mayor as a Green Party Candidate. Here's a great quote by Hakeem, on bringing the GLBT and Muslim communities together:

She does believe she'll run again. Her dream is to bring together members of the gay and lesbian community with the Muslim community. "It's a difficult bridge to build," she admitted. "But just imagine if I can pull it off. We'd have George Bush's greatest nightmare. We'd have the terrorists and the perverts working together."

Amen.

Rochester Lesbian Couple Denied a Marriage Announcement

A lesbian couple from Rochester who were recently married in Canada tried to get their wedding announced in the Rochester Post-Bulletin, but were denied because editorial policy prohibits same-sex marriage announcements. From KSTP 5 News:

"Although the paper does publish wedding announcements for free, the publisher will not post announcements from gay couples. The couple instead was told to purchase an ad in the paper. Publisher and Editor Jon Losness created the policy. He declined an interview with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS."

The article also notes that papers in the Twin Cities area do allow same-sex marriage announcments.

Here's who to contact to let them know you think this sucks:

Jon Losness
Publisher & Editor
507 285-7725

Marriage Display Makes Conservatives Uncomfortable

Minnesota's conservative legislators are really uncormfortable at the fact that state historians would try to accurately tell the whole story about commitment and relationships in Minnesota. It's just a dirty, perverted shame that anyone would acknowledge that same-sex relationships happen here:

A picture on display at Minnesota Historical Society is stirring up controversy amongst state legislatures and nonprofit groups. The exhibit, entitled "Happily Ever After," involves two men in formal wear photographed at a Minneapolis church. The Historical Society notes that the picture doesn't include the phrase "gay marriage," but instead uses the term "commitment" to better describe the picture. Since the picture debuted around Valentines Day, there has been a flurry of letters sent by several "very disappointed" conservative House members that disagree the presentation of homosexual relationships. Legislators said the picture "promotes the idea that homosexual relationships are marriage when they are not." The Historical Society's Deputy Director, Michael Fox, argues that the picture includes historic photographs of changing wedding patterns dating back to 1854. Fox says the purpose of the exhibit is to illustrate how the views of marriage, the ceremony, and customs surrounding it have changed overtime. Legal Ledger (St. Paul MN)

Via Gay Marriage Central. The Legal Ledger website is woefully out of date. But this jives with what was said earlier about the exhibit.

Randi Reitan: Minnesota's PFLAG Mom

Randi Reitan, Minnesota's favorite, and I must say sweetest, PFLAG mom has a great editorial in the Star Tribune about the struggles her family have gone through with religion and love. Here's a great excerpt:

"To leave this church, which was at the core of our family, is one of the most painful things we have done. But we can no longer worship in a church that treats God's beloved gay children as sick and sinful based on their sexual orientation. We can no longer sing songs of justice on Sunday morning, knowing the injustice this church lives each and every day with its policies against God's beloved gay community. We can no longer hear pastors preach of God's love for all people when the church policy treats its beloved gay members as lesser children of God. We can no longer hear words of love and concern spoken to us in private but never hear them spoken from the pulpit or never see the hierarchy of the church lead with justice."

If you ever get the chance to meet her, or see her speak, please go. You won't be disappointed.

Gay-Friendly Macalester College

The Princeton Review has named Macalester College in St. Paul America's 2nd most gay-friendly college in the nation! Mac is the alma mater of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. It's definitely a top private Liberal Arts college.

Like a small Liberal Arts college, the student population is wealthier than most, and can get very cliquey. The education at Mac is also very politically liberal and many Macalester students have that early 20s "I know more about the world than you" attitude.

So, while Mac may be very gay-friendly, they don't have very many friendly gays.

And I'm just generalizing. I've met many friendly gays at Mac. And trust me, there are many, many queers at Mac.

Twin Cities ranked 13th best for (hetero) singles

Forbes has released their Best Cities for Singles, and the Twin Cities ranked 13th. Not too shabby. But what about the queers? Is the Twin Cities a good place for GLBT singles?

The Forbes site has a quote about the negative aspects of the dating scene that is likely as accurate for queers as it is for straights:

"Running into ex-boyfriends! Minneapolis is really just a mite-sized metropolis disguised as a bustling Midwestern hub. Spend time at art galleries, music venues, coffee shops or city lakes, and you're likely to encounter an ex with his new, younger hipster-of-the-month in tow. That's the time to engage in what locals call 'Minnesota nice,' a wily misnomer for frigid civility."

Where Do Twin Cities Queer Women Go?

A good chunk of my close queer friends are lesbians, heteroflexible women (just learned that term last night!), or gender queer folks. It seems to be a considerable challenge for my friends to find a good space to go out in the Twin Cities.

Club Metro in St. Paul was THE place to go in the 1990s for queer women. It was like the Gay 90s for lesbians, and it was huge: a sports bar, kareoke bar, cavernous dance room, cabaret area, a leather goods store, and a few more nooks that I can barely remember.

Club Metro closed in 2001, and Lucy's in St. Paul became the new hangout. It was big, but not as big, and has some crime issues including the incident involving an off-duty St. Paul cop. Lucy's changed ownership in early 2004, and Over the Rainbow has since been a surrogate women's bar for the past 2 years or so.

One very fun option is Twilight. While not a bar per se, it was ironically voted the Best Lesbian Bar in this year's Citypages' Best of the Twin Cities. Twilight started 3 years ago with this goal:

"The goal has always been to assemble an exclusive event for queer women bridging the gaps of age, ethnicity, and class in order to offer an exciting and sexy space for women, of all kinds, who love women. The goal of Twilight has been and will continue to be to offer a beautiful ambiance, good music, great drinks and the chance to meet other women. Martinis in hand and dressed to the nines, we're here to stake claim to the fact that queer women do live in Minnesota and they do love to go out. We hope to see you at the next Twilight."

That a monthly event held at various Twin Cities bars qualifies as the Best Lesbian Bar 2005, is indicative of the lack of adequate space for queer women. Even more indicative of the lack of bars for queer women is the City Pages award for the Best of the Twin Cities Best Place to Meet Single Women (Lesbian): Lynx Games.

But times are not so bad. The Saloon, generally thought of as somewhat hostile to queer women, began a weekly women's night on Wednesdays known as Sugar.

And I had the pleasure of joining some friends Wednesday night at The American for Ladies Night, which was named Best of the Twin Cities 2004 Best Lesbian Bar. Again, not really a lesbian bar, just a night. But it was a really fun night, and I even got some of the free "ladies' night" drinks which speaks well for the staff.

And that's the rundown for queer women's night out. Sometimes it's more fun to scope out the underground crowd, but at the same time, I think everyone who remembers the hey-day of Club Metro misses it dearly. And as a queer man, I'm sure there much that I'm missing. Feel free to correct me if I've missed a few places. I'm sure that my friends and I would welcome the information.

City Pages Best of the (Queer) Twin Cities 2005

The City Pages Best of the Twin Cities is out! And I'd like to highlight the queer establishments that top the list:

Best Queer Coffee Shop: Wilde Roast Cafe.

Best Adult Video Store: Smitten Kitten

Best Gay Bar: 19 Bar
Reader's Choice: Gay 90s

I wrote about the 19 Bar last year, and I've changed my mind significantly since then. The 19 is the definitive neighborhood gay bar, and I'm there at least once a week for a pitcher with friends and some Erotic Photo Hunt, pool, or darts. Of course, the Gay 90s is the popular choice among queer and straight folks who don't mind rude security, dank decor, and throngs male and female Paris Hilton wannabes. It's also the only 'gay' bar in the Twin Cities that charges a cover before midnight.

Best Lesbian Bar: Twilight
Reader's Choice: Townhouse

This is a tough one, and later in the week I'll be posting a lengthy writing on the queer women's scene in the Twin Cities. Twilight is fun, and ironically not a bar at all. The Townhouse is THE queer place to be on Wednesday nights with $1 domestic beer and well drinks with a $3 cover. Wednesdays at the Townhouse really does have the best mix of queer folks in the city.

Best Place to Meet Single Men (Gay): Vera's Cafe

Best Place to Meet Single Women (Lesbian): Lynx Games

Best Bookstore (Independent): Query Booksellers
Reader's Choice: Bound to be Read

Almost everything I read has HTML tags around it, so as far as bookstores go, I'll leave it to paper readers. But I have had personal and professional dealings with Lyle from Query, and he's got to be one of the most helpful and knowledgeable book-people ever. And it really is a cute, cute place. Oooh, and they have the best cards for any occasion.

UCC Decision and Minnesota

I'm going to start posting at least one positive thing a week. It's getting kinda dreary around here with all the Bachmann, Kersten, [insert other anti-gay Christian Republicans] shenanigans.

Here's some good news from greater Minnesota, and it involves gays and Jesus coexisting in harmony. From the Strib, enjoy.

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - A Mankato pastor for the First Congregational United Church of Christ said his church will follow recommendations issued by the church to support same-sex marriages.

"We're going to take our recommendations seriously,'' said the Rev. Al Thompson, pastor of the Church of Christ in Mankato.

Thompson said churches aren't obligated to change their practices, but Thompson said he is happy the church will support same-sex marriage.

"In many ways it's a justice issue,'' said Thompson, who says he's been a supporter of gay rights since he was ordained in 1970.

Roughly 80 percent of the representatives on the United Church of Christ's 884-member general synod voted to approve the resolution Monday, a day after a committee recommended it. The United Church of Christ, with its 6,000 congregations and 1.3 million members, is the largest Christian denomination to endorse same-sex marriage.