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Gays y lesbianas piden a Consejo de
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The Duzz: Grace Jones
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WWW.S&-*N0TBS.C0M NOVEMBER B
2003
I
Gay Theatre
for the Holidays
Expelled gay
student sues school 10
Phelps’ Shepard
‘monument’thwarted Tl
Taiwan moves
toward gay marriage 12
AFFIRM Greenville
gets gay
youth center
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Would you consider
coimponding
./with a
gay or ^
lesbian inmate?
Episcopal church consecrates gay bishop
Anglican Church severely divided over
appointment of Bishop V. Gene Robinson,
possible split looms
by Taylor Owen
DURHAM, N.H. — Following months of vocif
erous debate and even death threats, Rev. V. Gene
Robinson was consecrated Sunday, Nov. 2, as
bishop of the New Hampshire Diocese.
The church’s decision makes Robinson the
first openly gay man to achieve such a level in
Episcopal hierarchy and in the Anglican commu
nity the world over.
Robinson, 56, accepted the appointment while
dozens of approving bishops surrounded him. His
ex-wife and two daughters were at his side, as
was his partner of 14 years, Mark Andrew, who
was designated to hand Robinson his bishop’s
miter during the ceremony.
Near the end of his consecration, Robinson —
\vearing his golden miter and matching gown —
looked up toward the crowd and joined the choir
singing “Hallelujah” while the proces
sion of clergymen who took part in
the ceremony were leaving the stage.
“You cannot imagine what an
honor it is for you to have called me,"
Robinson said following the appoint
ment. At times he appeared to be on
the verge of tears.
Robinson noted that many people
in the church were in “great pain"
because of his appointment.
“There are faithful, wonderful
Christian people for whom this is a
moment of great pain and confusion
and anger,” he offered. “They must
know if they must leave, they will
always be welcomed back."
Reaction from around the world
to- Robinson’s consecration was
swift, with voices of dissent seemingly among
the majority.
Archbishop Robin Eames, leader of the Church
of Ireland, said that while the church was enter-
Bishop V. Gene Robinson and partner Mark Andrew
embrace following Robinson's consecration.
ing “unknown territory,” leaders had made it
known that they wanted to maintain unity.
“I don’t think you can prevent a realignment,"
see BISHOP on 6
Rep. Frank goes to Wilmington
L RESULTSi
openly gay
Massachusetts
Representative speaks
to New Hanover County
Stonewall Democrats
and makes an
appearance at ■
UNC-Wilmington
Interview compiled by
David Moore
WILMINGTON, N.C. — At
press time, Massachusetts
Rep. Barney Frank was sched
uled to visit Wilmington, N.C.
to address gay and lesbian
Democrats on Nov. 8. In addi
tion to the meeting to be held at
the home of New Hanover
County Commissioner julia
Boseman, Frank is slated to speak at UNC-
Wilmington and will be the guest of honor at a $250
a plate dinner at Wilmington’s Portland Grill.
Frank has long been an attention-getter in
American politics — not only because he’s openly
gay, but also for his straightforward, no-nonsense
approach and his liberal views. A member of
Congress since 1981, he is the Senior Democrat on
the Financial Services Committee and is also a mem
ber of the Select Committee on Homeland Security
where he serves on the Subcommittee on
Infrastructure and Border Security and the
Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism.
in an exclusive interview with Q-Nofes,
Frank talked about his upcoming visit to the
Tarheel state and shared some thoughts about
important issues.
Q. What prompted your visit to North Carolina?
A. The Stonewall Democratic Club. 1 was one of
those that helped found it. I thought it was very
Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank says President Bush
lied to the American people.
important to have a national GLBT Democratic
club, for two reasons — the Democrats are so
much better on gay and lesbian rights and 1 want
ed a political group that could make that point to
the LGBT community, but also within the
Democratic Party to keep them moving even bet
ter in the right direction. The role of this club is to
persuade GLBT people to vote Democratic and to
persuade Democrats to get even better than they
are on the GLBT issues.
Q. When do you think we’ll see a resolution on same-
sex civil ceremonies in Massachusetts?
A. Nobody knows. That’s the value of being the
Supreme Court. Nobody knows and they can do
whatever the hell they want.
Q. What do you think is the biggest problem gays and
lesbians are facing today in the United States?
A, The thing that troubles me the most is that
see REPRESENTATIVE ofl 4
Gay soldier
discusses his
deployment
'Ryan' reports acceptance from peers,
hardships under ban
by David Stout
Q-Notes staff
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A gay U.S. soldier
who claims his sexual orientation was, known to
most members of his unit has returned from a six-
month deployment in the Middle East and is talk
ing about his experiences.
Research indicates that 'Don't Ask, Don't
Tell' negatively impacts both gay and
straight service members.
The soldier, id,entified only as "Ryan," told
researchers at the Center for the Study of Sexual
Minorities in the Military (CSSMM) at the
University of California, Santa Barbara that his
homosexuality was a “non-factor" within his unit.
“Especially in a combat situation, it’s really
the last thing on anyone’s mind,” he told
CSSMM. “It’s just a question of doing your job."
see GAY on 6