Il
APRIL 12. 2003 • Q-NOTES
noted . notable . noteworthy GLBT issues
Volume 17 • No. 24 • April 12, 2003
The Carolinas'most comprehensive Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender newspaper . Published every 2 weeks
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contributing writers
Bo Dean/OutWilmington, Nathanial Frank,
Brent James, Charles Karim, Robert Kirby,
Charlene Lichtenstein, Eils Lotozo, Ed Madden,
Brian M. Myer, Leslie Robinson, Leah D.
Sepsenwol, David Stout, Trinity, Bert Woodard
on page one
• Beware: Carolina scam!
• NC Senators introduce pro-LGBT bills
• Pride Prom exceeds its promise
articles
25
18
11
23
19
21
23
06
06
08
21
11
21
31
29
09
Accepting all your co-workers
Benefits brouhaha due to 1804 law
Bi conference includes health summit
Discriminatory language removed
Drug findings trigger radal face-off
Episcopals deeply divided on unions
Gender expression added into law
Gen. Clark declines invitation by AVER
Kerry crticized for supporting DADT
National G/L Chamber's new programs
Presbyterian leader scolded by panel
Proud and Healthy Sisters campaign
Rev. Kuiken trial held in Cincy
SC Pride March to celebrate diversity
SC Progressive Network honors activists
Women-owned hard hat companies
features
30
30
34
26
07
13
Confronting HipHop homophobia
Drifiting at the Bottom of the World
"Geography Club" charts new territory
Oh, Canada has a new gay web site
Stress of war on closeted couples
UNCC Day of Silence
columns
04
04
04
33
43
42
03
10
03
42
36
17
30
01
15
35
Action Alert: ACLU-Oppose profiling
Action Alert: Equality NC-Legislation
Action Alert: HRC-LLEA
Audiophile
Classifieds
Community Cards • 37-39
Curbside
Editorial: We are all transgender
General Gayety
Letters to Editor
News Notes • 37-39
Out and About
Out in the Stars
Outside Track
Q-Bits
Q-Poll
QFYI
Tell Trinity
advertising deadlines
issue: 26 April
issue: 10 May
issue: 24 May
deadline: 04-18
deadline: 05-02
deadline: 05-16
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...ue are all transgender
In the midst of a groundbreaking US
Supreme Court case whose positive decision
just might overthrow of all sodomy laws in the
remaining 13 states that still cling to them; in
the midst of war which still expels our queer
military heroes; there is earth-shaking news
right here at home almost lost to such intense
national and international tumult.
Hate crimes. Sexual privacy. Employment
Discrimination. North Carolina Senators have
stepped up to stand by their convictions and
our rights in three major pieces of legislation.
Remember their names: Sens. Charlie
Dannelly (D-Mecklenburg), Katie Dorsett (D-
Guilford), Robert Holloman (D-Hertford), Wib
Gulley (D-Durham), jeanne Lucas (D-
Durham), Eleanor Kinnaird (D-Orange),
Vernon Malone (D-Wake) and Stephen
Metcalf (D-Buncombe).
Political paths are rife with pork barrel
compromise and people are afraid to positive
ly promise what they can not absolutely prc-.
diet. On the introduction of such promising
legislation, it is hard to breathe for fear of
undoing delicately balanced legislation and its
hard won positioning by lobbyists.
Though Equality NC still cannot predict
outcome, the advocacy group is confident in
the Senators who will make the case for the
entire LGBT community. We have lived the life
of LGB too long...
When we leave people behind, their blood
runs in the streets. They are murdered and
maimed and left to die — discarded, disre
garded. They are not conveniently defined.
They each have a niche all their own. The
truth is, LGBs owe them the life we enjoy.
Those brazen, boa-clad, banner-waving
transgenders cleared a space for all queers on
the planet. They are the ones who live life in
everyone’s face and taught the rest of us not
to settle, and above all, not to be quiet. So...
If transgender activists are seemingly
impatient, if their impassioned voices seem
piercingly shrill, if their words are unkindly
blunt and their finger-pointing 'accusations,
unsettling, thank them. Promise to pay back
by stepping up. They let us go first because
they trusted us to fight for everyone.
We can not go forward without the whole
community. We are all transgenders. We
criss-cross dress, flip-flop roles and fly in the
face of hetero norms. We are one ... in a mil
lion, each of us.
Demand gender inclusion in all legislation.
See ActionAlert-ENC, page 3.
edLtor@Q-notes.co(n • comnients encouraged
Maybe it's all about
what you call it
Ed note: Cliff Tupin and Kelly last moved
to Vermont from Mebane, NC.
My heart goes out to Officer Coppola.
C‘Poster boy for gay marriage”, Q-Notes, March 15,
2003, NYPD officer lost partner on 9- II relegated to
a back seat at his funeral.) It is time for the
Gay/Lesbian Community to stand up and say,
“Enough is enough. I’m not going to be treat
ed as a second class citizen any more.”
I am very lucky my partner’s parents are
understanding and realize the love and rela
tionship we have is no different from theirs.
My partner and I had our Vermont Civil Union
November 5, 2001, in Bennington, VT, because
we wanted to be recognized as a couple.
Our lives arc no different from any other
married couple. We have constant discus
sions about all those critically important
“married things:’’ who washes dishes, who
does laundry, who makes the bed, who does
grocery shopping, etc. We differ only in that
we do not decide based on traditional
male/female roles.
In February 2002, Q-Notes honored my
partner, Kelly and me with an article about
our Vermont Civil Union and this fall, the
Advocate recently included us in a Civil Union
article.
Kelly and I arc life partners and the best of
buddies. A Civil Union was right for us, even
though Vermont still defines marriage as the-
“joining of a male and female.” Am I content
with that definition? Certainly not, but for the
time being it’s the best we can have. And no
one stops me using the word “married’ when
discussing our relationship.
What matters most is that I can make
legal decisions on Kelly’s behalf and he on
mine. We don’t have to worry about being
denied visitation rights in a hospital, death
benefits, or survivor rights on our joint check
ing account, and the list goes on Civil Llnions
guarantee our life rights.
Marriage is just a word, what counts is
what you have in your heart, how you feel
and your love for each other.
Same-sex marriage in other states has
been defeated, perhaps because the word
“marriage” was used in the legislation. Maybe
those states heed to use another word, like
union — just to get something passed.
Am 1 wrong in not demanding it all? You
may think so, but our Civil Union has given
me what I need and wanted with my partner
—equal rights under the state laws of
Vermont. Even if it isn’t every thing, it is a very
significant step on the way to it.
Our web site started out as a place to
announce our Civil Union. It has grown into an
indepth educational resource for Vermont Civil
Unions. Please feel free to visit our web site.
website; www.outunion.homesfead.com
Clifford E. Tupin ■ email; cliff0316@yGhoo.com
Beware, prisoner was less
than honest
You just ran an ad for an inmate by the
name of Bronald Johnson #89572, address of
KSP PO Box 5128, Eddyville, KY 42038, who
said he was 24 and getting out soon. He is not
— for sure — getting out soon. And he defi
nitely is not 24. He’s about 42.
KY Corrections has a web site where any
body can check. You can too. He has defraud
ed several of your readers who responded to
his ad. Allowing this inmate to run another ad
with you would be negligent and not to (sic.)
considerate of your outside readers.
— Greg Chapa
Thanks for the information. To check Kentucky pris
oner information, use the The Kentucky Online
Offender Lookup (KOOL) system:
www.cor.statc.ky.us/ ~ kool/.
It is wise when dealing with any incarcerated person
to be cautious, vigilant and utilize all forms of infor
mation available. Q-Notes has not heard from any
one "defrauded” by said prisoner.