Openly Gay Candidates Enliven Milwaukee City Council Primary
February 19 Primary Likely Bigger Than Spring Election
Milwaukee - Milwaukee's 2008 common council race has already been described by various pundits statewide as "vigorous," "energetic," and a "watershed election." Fourteen of the fifteen districts will have contested races in the Spring general election to be held April 1.
  Moreover eight of the districts will hold primary elections February 19 to winnow down candidate fields with as many as nine contenders. To make things even more interesting, political experts are predicting a larger turnout for the primary than for the general election due to the presence of the wide-open presidential primary for both Democrats and Republicans on the same ballot. Record numbers of voters have turned out in nearly every state that has held a primary election or caucus thus far.
  While most Milwaukee political junkies may be taking particular interest in the 6th District race where embattled, anti-gay epithet-shouting Alderman Mike McGee is running his reelection campaign from the county jail, the city's LGBT community is delighting in the prospect of three openly-gay candidates running for seats on the council. The problem for some gay voters will be that two are running against each other.
  (Editor's Note: For personal reasons a fourth candidate who identifies as LGBT declined Quest's offer to be included in this story. Also, announced 12th District candidate Victory Ray - profiled in a Quest feature last November - dropped out of the race prior to the January 2 filing deadline.)
  The most seasoned gay candidate, in terms of numbers of races run, is 11th District contestant Michael D. LaForest who is involved in a three-way race against incumbent Joe Dudzik and Dennis L. Bach. This is LaForest's second try for public office. In November, 2006 LaForest ran as the Green Party candidate for State Treasurer, garnering over 93,000 votes, while "spending just $200."
  "I ended up with about 4.6% of the total vote, which is pretty darn good," LaForest said. "I got the most votes of any third party candidate."
  LaForest and his partner of seven years have lived in the 11th District since April, 2007. "We bought this house here and remodeled it," he said. "I'm living here full-time, working as an employment counselor." LaForest's partner is a teacher in the Milwaukee Public School system.
  LaForest, who describes the dominant make-up of his southwest district as "Polish," is running to unseat a Polish-surnamed incumbent who has served about six years, but feels there are several issues that may favor his challenge. "Property taxes are extraordinarily high in Milwaukee and I really, truly want to try to lower property taxes," he said.
  The city's sluggish snow removal response in recent years also has LaForest's attention. "We had a big fiasco down here the first couple of snowstorms," he noted. "People are really angry about it."
   But LaForest sees the issue that "really hits home in this neighborhood" are police and fire department staffing problems. According to the challenger, many police and firemen reside in his district and  "people are very angry at the incumbent."
  "He voted to eliminate six full-time positions from the Milwaukee Fire Department and he's done nothing to fully staff the Police Department," LaForest said. "There are about 200 police short of a full staff - that's an incredible number to be short."
  Community safety is a top priority for LaForest. "It's right on my website: to fully staff both the police and fire department," he said.
  And if elected, LaForest will serve all the people. "An elected official has to serve, to be the voice of their constituents. That's what I believe is the greatest failing in our state and local governments. When people get elected they go to their posts thinking they are their own voice. They're not."
  As for being an openly-gay candidate, LaForest is asking his community to look at the bigger picture. "I'm not asking people to vote for me just because I'm an LGBT member," he said. "But if the LGBT community wants to have equal representation in our government, we've got to start voting for and encouraging LGBT members to run for public office."
  Will LaForest be the first openly-gay candidate to serve on Milwaukee's Common Council? Possibly. "I'm optimistic in my race because the incumbent is not very well liked," he said. "I think I will at least win the primary."
  LaForest sought the endorsement of the Center Advocates PAC (formerly the Human Rights League PAC) but the LGBT-issues focused political action committee decided to endorse no one in the 11th District. "I'm registered as a Green Party candidate, even though this is a nonpartisan race, I'm still registered (that way)," he said. "I think that is why I'm not being endorsed... because I'm not a Democrat. I could be way off base, but I think that's why it is."
  Quest asked Center Advocates PAC co-chair Laurie Guilbault to comment on LaForest's allegation. She disagreed with LaForest's assessment. "Because we're a nonpartisan political action committee, we do not take party affiliation into account," Guilbault said. "We have - in the past - endorsed Republicans, though that has been rare. We have, of course,  endorsed Democrats and we have, of course, endorsed some Green Party individuals. This is a nonpartisan race, so it was not even a question in this race. We hope that more party-affiliated individuals, regardless of whether they're right or left, do include more progressive ideals of equality for LGBT individuals in the State of Wisconsin."
  Guilbault cited several reasons, including limited resources, political viability and PAC membership in the various council districts, for the limited endorsements in the February 19 primary. Guilbault also noted that there will be another endorsement process for the Spring general election.
  LaForest hopes his example, win or lose, will encourage other members of the LGBT community to run for office. "You don't have to be an Einstein or a wealthy person to run," he said "we need people to run for public office."
  As for his own race, he hopes his LGBT neighbors will "rally behind qualified LGBT community members who are running for public office."
  "I'm ready, I'm willing and I'm qualified to serve," LaForest said.
  To learn more about LaForest's campaign, visit his website at: www.laforstfire.com.

Third District Race Features Two Gay Candidates
  The decision last November by longtime 3rd District incumbent Michael D'Amato not to seek reelection has resulted in a flood of candidates to succeed him. Eight are running - John A Connelly, Sura Faraj, Patrick Flaherty, Daniel Fouliard, Nik Kovac, Sam McGovern-Rowen, Matt Nelson, David Schroeder. Faraj and Flaherty are gay.
  Sura Faraj describes herself as "a long time community activist" who has "been involved in a very wide range of issues."
  Faraj was the 2007 chair of the Riverwest Neighborhood Association (RNA). "I've done a lot of work in Riverwest so last year I was the chair of RNA," Faraj said. "Previously I was one of the founding members of the Riverwest food co-op. I was on the steering committee of the Riverwest Rainbow Association during its most productive years."
 Faraj also touts accomplishments outside of the Riverwest neighborhood. "I'm a founding member of the Milwaukee LGBT Center," she noted. "I've been working to preserve the bluff of the (Milwaukee) River from development for over ten years." Faraj's work to preserve the river has resulted in her being selected as a working member of the Milwaukee River Work Group.
  Faraj is also the co-founder of Nerve House, which is an arts and activist publication, and a  founding member of the Wisconsin chapter of the American-Arab Antidiscrimination Committee.
  Faraj is also interested in urban agriculture. "I've been participating with the City of Milwaukee's northeast side plan and on their contract management team," she said.
  Faraj's varied career experience - small business owner, real estate broker, journalist and activist - has brought a variety of expertise and community involvement to her candidacy. "I owned my own wholesale whole grain bakery, and was the associate editor at QLife for a year," she said. "I've  worked on criminal justice issues at the Benedict Center and I've worked at Citizens For A Better Environment as their bookkeeper. It's a lot of different backgrounds."
  Faraj was one of the first candidates to announce for the race, along with close friend Nik Kovac. Both were featured in an August, 2007 OnMilwaukee.com profile piece. "Nik and I were the first two to step up and run against Alderman D'Amato. I think that shows some leadership and some gumption that the other candidates don't have," she said. "This wasn't an opportunistic move for me. This was my desire to make my community better. People know that. I think I'm going to get a lot of credit for that."
  Development is a key issue in the district, according to Faraj. "The area has been overdeveloped with upscale housing, specifically condos," she said. "I have a lot of experience in development, starting from my days as a real estate broker, through my work on zoning around the rive, to my position as chair of the RNA where I helped resurrect our development committee. Development has been viewed in very narrow terms in this city. I am the candidate who is bringing up the idea that development is not just upscale housing. Development includes cultural development, development includes economic development and development needs to be sustainable."
  Faraj also feels being openly gay in her campaign materials says something about her candidacy. "I'm the only candidate with LGBT on my literature, or website or press releases," she noted. "So I consider myself to be the only 'out' LGBT candidate. Patrick (Flaherty) has done some wonderful things for the gay community. It surprises me that he doesn't want to mention LGBT on his lit or talk about the initiatives that he helped pass."
  Faraj was surprised when she did not receive an endorsement from the Center Advocates PAC, who selected Flaherty instead. "I was the first LGBT candidate to step up and run," she said. "I'm the only woman running for an all-male Common Council in this district. I was surprised that they didn't at least do a dual endorsement."
  Quest asked PAC co-chair Guilbault about dual endorsements. "Over the years when we have done dual endorsements, there has always been a group of individuals who have been disappointed with us for not narrowing down the slate for them," she explained. "Obviously were  not saying that because we have endorsed someone that you 'must' vote for them if you're for LGBT rights. We chose not to do dual endorsements because we thought it would be a disservice to the community."
  Faraj noted that she expects to lose votes from some district voters by being open about her genetic sexual predisposition. "I've talked to people who've asked me 'What does LGBT mean' and were very disappointed to hear what it was," she said. "But I'm representing, and I'm representing proudly. I trust that my community is bigger than bigotry - and that fair-minded people are looking for fair-minded leadership and vision, not just some easily recognizable 'politics as usual' package."
  Faraj has other endorsements however. "I have a lot of endorsements and I'm very proud of them," she said, listing openly lesbian Milwaukee Public School Board member Jennifer Morales (who is also serving as Faraj's campaign treasurer), former Alderwoman Lorraine McNamara-McGraw (who immediately preceded D'Amato), and former 9th District Alderman Don Richards, among nearly a dozen others. "I'm going for the people's endorsements."
  Faraj feels her vision for her community drives her candidacy. "I think there's been a real lack of vision in this city," she said. "We haven't had leadership, we haven't had thought towards our future, other than our very, very immediate future. I think this district is the engine for Milwaukee: we have the highest rate of education, the most creativity. We have the lake and the river, some of the finest resources in the city. Its a diverse district and I'm a diverse candidate that can represent people from all kinds of concerns. My background can speak to everybody."
  Faraj has a "100 day plan" of action should she get the voters' nod, "something the other candidates don't have."
  Quest asked for key points of the plan, which Faraj was quick to offer. "I'm going to open an office in the district, I'm going to secure the river with solid, protective zoning," she said. "The Milwaukee River has become a key issue in this race and I'm the only candidate who has been working to stop development along the river for over ten years."
  Faraj offered additional action steps. "I'm also going to propose legislation to kick start the green economy," she said. "The Mayors' talking about this but we need to get that going. The city could offer low interest loans to homeowners to retrofit their houses with renewable energy or environmentally sustainable appliances. It would be good for the environment. It would be good for the economy because we need people to make those, we need people to install them, we need people to sell them and we need people to service them."
  Faraj noted the green economy initiative could also be a "win-win-win-win" because "its good for homeowners, good for business, good for the economy" and "will help reduce crime."
  "We have 59% unemployment among black men in our central city," Faraj said. "That is far worse than during the Great Depression, that's worse than South Africa. You cannot have that kind of unemployment and not expect some kind of fall out. We need jobs in this city."
  Lastly, Faraj would put urban agriculture on "a fast track" toward implementation and meet with each neighborhood association in the district. "We have hundreds of people who were very interested in not only starting community gardens and victory gardens in their own yards - but urban agriculture as a serious source for our food. Locally grown, organic and something that again could potentially provide jobs, while reducing the carbon footprint of the City of Milwaukee."
  Faraj feels that her wide variety of interests will ultimately benefit the LGBT community. "Because I have so much support from my (wider) community, I can bring more support to LGBT issues. People know that LGBT issues aren't my only issues. People know that I truly care about my whole community. I have a unique opportunity among all the candidates to really make LGBT issues central without making them threatening. A lot of people claim me as their own. I'm broad issues person and a broad issues candidate. People know that and people respect that"
  For more information on Sura Faraj's campaign, visit here website at:www.suraforchange.com.
  Also running in the field of eight candidates is Patrick Flaherty, a self-described "nonprofit leader and community organizer" who "wants to put my track record of results to work for the residents of the 3rd District," has owned a home there district since 1994.
  From his near daily jaunts canvassing the district, Flaherty has identified "three qualities that people are looking for." One is trustworthiness. "There's a sense that the 3rd District office has lost some of that sense of trust with the (voters)," Flaherty said. "I want to bring that back."
  "People are also looking for a responsive alderperson," he added. "I'm looking to make government more responsive - that's what my career has been about. So when someone calls our office, they're gonna get a return call back and we're gonna get to the bottom of their problem."
  Achieving results is the last quality Flaherty feels voters are looking for. "It's something that distinguishes me from a fine field of candidates," he said. "I have led the passage of four different pieces of legislation through the Common Council. I think I'm the only candidate who has worked the state budget process to bring resources back to Milwaukee. I've managed millions from forty different funding streams. And I can take the heat!"
  Flaherty enumerated his four Common Council successes in reverse order: "Last summer we got the nondiscrimination ordinance updated to cover transgender people and military veterans - and also to end the city's own exemption from its own rules. In 2005, we got the city to direct its lobbyists to work against the ban on civil unions and marriage. In 2001 I worked with all the stakeholders to get domestic partner benefits for City of Milwaukee workers and in 1999 I led the passage of a domestic partner registry that a lot of area employers require to put a gay or lesbian partner on the company health plan."
  Flaherty also explained his success with the state budget process. "We worked the state legislature to get money in the state budget to adjust health (care) disparities in southeastern and southern Wisconsin."
  Flaherty also feels one other thing distinguishes him from he fellow candidates. "I've always been involved in the big issues of the day," he said "I helped organize 'Take Back The Night' rallies in the district... to helping organize the first AIDS Walk. I currently serve on the board of Citizen Action, which is a coalition organization that helped bring about SeniorCare and is working for health care reform."
  Flaherty can point to a number of key endorsements as well, including the Milwaukee County Labor Council and the local council of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees union. "I've got the deepest resumé in the race. I've got this history of bringing unlikely coalition partners to work together," he said. "I think the east side and Riverwest have had a lot of contentious battles and I think the district is looking for someone who can bring people together and move the process toward positive solutions."
  That resumé includes Flaherty's LGBT background, though - as his gay opponent Faraj notes - its hard to find directly in his official campaign materials. "I am most certainly running as an openly gay candidate," Flaherty noted with a chuckle. "I think I'm probably one the best-known gay people in Milwaukee. My problem has not been getting support from the gay community - it's been overwhelming."
  Flaherty sees having two LGBT candidates in the race as a positive sign the gay community is bouncing back from the marriage ban loss in 2006. "I think that its a sign of progress that we have multiple LGBT candidacies," he said. "I remember that after the (1996) 'No On Nine' campaign in Oregon, the following year I think there were six openly gay members added to their state legislature. So I think to some degree what we're seeing is a growing awareness of how important elected representatives are to the lives of LGBT folks."
  "But I'm not running as the gay candidate, I'm running as the best candidate," Flaherty added.
 Because most of the initiatives he has worked on benefited the city's LGBT-community, others have suggested that Flaherty is a "one issue candidate," a tag he strongly denies. "This is sort of Zen-like: I'm not gay enough but I'm too gay!"
  "My goal is to get out and talk to the thousands of east side and Riverwest voters", he said. "And demonstrating that I've got the track record that they're gonna want in their next alderperson."
 Flaherty then suggested that voters ask the organizations that are endorsing him. "I'm probably the only candidate who's been out there on picket lines, been there at rallies protesting the elimination of shared revenue under Governor McCallum," he said. "I've been there fighting for community benefit agreements when there's large public outlays in development projects."
  One of the biggest issue facing the district is redevelopment, according to Flaherty. "We need more transparency in the development process," he said. "We have the good fortune to being a part of the city that's growing but it is growth that needs to be managed in a transparent way that allows for neighborhood input."
  Environmental issues also are high on Flaherty's priority list. "We need to protect the green space along the Milwaukee River," he noted. "It's a wonderful escape from the city to walk down this area that divides the district. It's been returned to a green state and we need to protect that from being developed."
  Public safety  and shared revenue are also important. "We need to make sure that people feel safe leaving their homes," Flaherty said, "We also need to fight for Milwaukee's fair share in shared revenue. Today only a third of our city budget comes from shared revenue and ten years ago it was almost half of the city budget. It create enormous pressure on property taxpayers. The average 3rd District assessment is twice the city average. People are willing to pay hat's necessary for quality services, but it would also help if we got our fair share from Madison... and strategic about growing other areas of the city so that the property tax burden were more evenly distributed"
  Flaherty has received the endorsement from Center Advocates PAC for the primary contest. Though he is the director of Center Advocates, he is not involved with the PAC. "We have separated myself entirely from that (PAC) decision-making process," he said. "We have protections in place that separate me from the endorsement decisions of the organization. It's not a surprise that an organization that I founded would believe in the same values that I do but I had nothing to do with that endorsement, but I'm proud to have it."
  PAC co-chair Guilbault volunteered confirmation of Flaherty's separation from all PAC matters during discussion of other Center Advocates endorsements independent of any Quest query.
  Flaherty is thankful for all the support from his community. "I'm very appreciative of all the LGBT support I've received thus far," he said. "I've received both financial and volunteer help."
  To learn more about Flaherty's campaign, visit the campaign website at: www.patricknewleadership.com.
  Quest will continue to cover the progress of all gay and gay supportive Milwaukee Common Council candidates throughout the Spring election cycle.

3rd District Milwaukee Common Council Campaign Draws Supporter Letters
Dear Editor,
Voters on Milwaukee’s East Side and in Riverwest, have a rare opportunity in the primary election for Common Council to choose among a variety of progressive candidates, including TWO from our LGBT community.   That’s great!   But something’s troubling me, and that’s why I’m writing.
  Although there is a wide field, I’m just going to comment on the two LGBT candidates, Sura Faraj and Patrick Flaherty.  They both bring a lot to the table in terms of their experience, but their approach to this election is very different and I think that speaks volumes about their integrity and what we could expect once elected.  
  I’ve seen Sura speak and know of her work as chair of the Riverwest Neighborhood Association.  When I checked out her website, I see she has really broad experience as an entrepreneur and activist, and there is a lot of information about her positions.  She’s been actively involved in efforts to protect the Milwaukee River and on a number of social justice issues, and was a founding member of the LGBT Community Center. 
  On the other hand, I’ve always thought of Patrick as one of the gay community’s organizers, and it is deeply disturbing to me that he seems to be hiding this in his campaign.  I’ve checked out his campaign materials – website, brochures and press releases – and he doesn’t mention LGBT anything, anywhere.  His partner, Kurt, isn’t even in his family photo!   And Patrick’s materials don’t offer any particulars about his positions or his experience outside the gay community.
  I know some Quest readers might think they should support Patrick Flaherty because they know him or have worked with him.  If you are one of those folks, be sure to check out Sura Faraj (and the other candidates) before election day.  You’ll see that Sura has worked on gay issues, and so much more -- and she doesn’t think she needs to be in the closet to win.  She’s got experience AND integrity.  We could use both at City Hall!
T.J. Smiley
Milwaukee, WI 

To the Editor:
I am writing to alert your readers to the opportunity we have to elect one of our own for the first time to the Milwaukee City Council. Patrick Flaherty, an out-gay leader who has tremendous experience as a non-profit manager and LGBT community organizer, has gained tremendous momentum with the largest number of volunteers and the most endorsements of any candidate, gay or otherwise, for the open aldermanic seat, which represents Milwaukee’s East Side and Riverwest neighborhoods.
  In 2005, Patrick convinced Richard and me to come out publicly and to speak at PideFest. That launched us as LGBT advocates and gave us the most exciting time of our 50 years together, and has inspired me to continue the struggle.
  I have gained so much inspiration from watching Patrick’s campaign get out of the gate. Many LGBT activists who go back with Patrick to his college days at UWM when he organized Take Back The Night marches, did clinic defense, performed civil disobedience for LGBT rights, have come out of the woodwork to help out. Not to mention all of us who know Patrick from his more recent work co-founding Fair Wisconsin, and at the LGBT Community Center, not to mention his years of experience at ARCW. 
  To be sure, we will need the combined skills and resources of everyone in our community to support Patrick. His leading opponent has the insider track and has galvanized support from the many powerful interests who have tried to stamp out the diverse character of the District. Patrick’s years of commitment to LGBT civil rights organizing make him the ideal candidate to land inside City Hall. To contribute or volunteer, go to www.patricknewleadership.com or call Patrick’s campaign at 414-372-4631. Let’s provide as much support to Patrick as he has provided to us over so many years.
Ray Vahey
Milwaukee, WI

World & National News:

Episcopal Church Bans Breakaway Bishop
Fresno - The Episcopal Church banned a California bishop January 11 from practicing his religious duties until March after he led his congregants to secede from the national church.
  Bishop John-David Schofield drew sharp criticism from the U.S.-based denomination when he urged his conservative diocese to sever its ties to the church last month in a fight over the Bible and homosexuality.
Clergy and lay members of the Diocese of San Joaquin became the first full diocese to break from the U.S. wing of the 77 million-member worldwide Anglican family when they voted to secede December 6..
  According to  Rev. Canon Charles Robertson, an assistant to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Schofield cannot give sermons, do confirmations or perform any religious rites until the national denomination’s leaders meet to determine a final judgment by March 13.  “He was aware of the consequences of his action, warned repeatedly, and there comes a time when it is important for the church to hold its own leadership accountable,” Robertson said. “This allows him time to recant and to steer off this course.”
  Despite the secession vote, the national church considers the diocese and its property to be still a part of the U.S. denomination, a claim Fresno leaders reject. “The holdings of the diocese are still holdings of the diocese unless the court rules something differently,” diocesan spokesman told the Associated Press. “There isn’t any law to deal with this because nobody foresaw that such a thing would happen.”
  The Fresno-based congregation had explored breaking ties with the American church since 2003, the year Episcopalians consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. The diocese serves about 8,500 parishioners in 47 congregations in central California.

PlanetOut Shares Fall to Record Low
New York - Shares of PlanetOut Inc. sank to an all-time low January 15  after the LGBT  media conglomerate reported that it was considering a possible sale of the company.
PlanetOut shares fell 23.1%, to $4.77. Earlier, the stock traded as low as $4.60 - its lowest since a reverse stock split last October.
  On January 14 the San Francisco-based company announced that it had hired Allen & Co. to “help review strategic options, including a possible sale.” PlanetOut also advised it will stop providing earnings guidance or hold quarterly earnings calls.
  PlanetOut operates the website gay.com and publishes The Advocate and Out magazines. Shares had plunged in 2007 after PlanetOut said last May its first-quarter loss widened on decreased sales and higher operating costs. Shares sank again in July when the company wrote off another $24.9 million on its goodwill value and other intangible assets. However, shares rebounded, however, when Microsoft’s Bill Gates reported he owned 12.8% of the company’s common stock in a regulatory filing that month. Last October, PlanetOut enacted a 1-for-10 reverse stock split to improve share prices.
  After closing several intrnational offices PlanetOut also said it would sell its RSVP Vacations unit to Atlantis Events Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Both RSVP and Atlantis specialize in gay and lesbian cruises and vacations. PlanetOut has attempted since then to simplify its business model and focus on improving its advertising revenue.

Quest Health Beat:
Gay Staph, Finger Size, Herpes Knowledge Deficit, Happy Homo Couples & New HIV Med
By Mike Fitzpatrick
Is there new “gay plague”? Do fingers point to both same sex orientation and brittle bones? Are gay men herpes oblivious? Are gay couples happier than their straight counterparts? And will a new HIV drug give hope? These are some recent news items on Quest’s health news beat. Daily updates are available on the ONU: Quest News Update page online at www.quest-online.com.
Virulent Staph Infection Hitting Gay Men: A new, highly drug-resistant strain of the so-called “flesh-eating” MRSA bacteria is being spread among gay men in San Francisco and Boston, researchers reported January 14.  According to the study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the bacteria seemed to be spreading primarily via anal intercourse but also through casual skin-to-skin contact and touching contaminated surfaces.
  Additional gay communities seeing similar outbreaks of the staph infection include New York City and Boston. Study authors warned the infection could soon spread among other groups and become a wider threat if not properly identified and treated. The new strain seems to have “spread rapidly,” the researchers wrote, and “has the potential for rapid, nationwide dissemination” among gay men.
  According to the University of California - San Francisco, the city’s Castro district has the highest number of gay residents in the country. One in 588 residents is infected with the new multidrug-resistant MRSA strain, the study found. That compares with 1 in 3,800 people in San Francisco, according to statistical analyses based on postal zipcodes.  A separate part of the study found that gay men in San Francisco were about thirteen times more likely to be infected than other people in the city.
  MRSA, the acronym for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, was once spread chiefly in hospitals. But in recent years, a number of healthy people have acquired it outside hospitals. Nearly 19,000 people died in the United States from MRSA infections in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  The infection can cause unusually severe problems, including abscesses and skin ulcers. Among gay men in the study, MRSA was spread by skin contact, causing abscesses and infection in the buttocks and genital area. The bacteria can invade through the skin to produce a condition known clinically as necrotizing fasciitis, known in popular  culture as flesh-eating bacteria. They can also cause pneumonia, damage the heart and produce widespread infection through the blood.
  Anti-gay “Christian” political groups such as Concerned Women for America and the Family Council issued press releases claiming a new AIDS-like “gay plague” was threatening the United States. The right-wing driven media hysteria prompted the CDC to issue a press release on January 17 noting that new staph strain was being seen in multiple communities and was not specifically sexually-transmitted.
  San Francisco researchers in their study suggested that scrubbing with soap and water might be the most effective way to stop skin-to-skin transmission, particularly after sexual activities.
Finger Ratio Points To Sexual Orientation, Bad Knees: Your fingers can point to many things - and not just physically.  Scientists recently have discovered that people whose index finger is shorter than their ring finger run an elevated risk of getting osteoarthritis. The finding strengthens the curious biological importance that the index finger/ring finger ratio - known as 2D:4D - has on people’s lives. It also has been associated with hormone levels, athletic prowess and sexual orientation.
  Lesbians are more likely to sport a “male” ratio than straight women, which supports the idea that sexual orientation is shaped by hormonal exposure in the womb. A 2006 paper in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggested that gifted sportswomen show a “male” 2D:4D. Generally, a longer ring finger is thought to indicate higher exposure to prenatal testosterone. In women, the index finger is either similar in length or slightly longer than the ring finger.
  Nottingham University researchers compared finger lengths of 2,000 osteoarthritis sufferers with those of 1,100 healthy individuals. Those with relatively long ring fingers - the pattern usually seen in men - were twice as likely to be in the osteoarthritis group. Women with this “male” finger ratio were particularly likely to have bad knees.
Gay Men Don’t Know Herpes: Results of a new survey released at “Out And Healthy,” the first-ever national LGBT health conference reveal gay men know little about the HSV-1, the virus that causes cold sores.  Of self-identified gay U. S. adult , only about one third of those who suffer from cold sores are aware that HSV-1 can be transmitted from the lips to the genital area which may result in HSV-1 genital herpes.
  A GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare survey of gay men found a low awareness of HSV-1 among gay men. 30% percent of respondents who experienced cold sore outbreaks (outside the mouth) got them once in the past 12 months while another 33% of gay men cold sore sufferers experienced them two times or more per year. Cold sores often are painful and typically last between eight and ten days if left untreated.
  Cold sores are triggered by fatigue, stress, cold weather, hormones, illnesses such as colds or flu, physical trauma and the sun. Prolonged or excessive exposure to UV rays, whether natural or artificial as in tanning salons, can irritate the area around the mouth and cause a cold sore outbreak.
 The Sexually Transmitted Infections Journal reported in May, 2007  that in the past decade investigations document an increase in frequency of genital HSV-1 herpes compared with what most people know as genital herpes that stem from the HSV-2 infection. Explanations about the increased frequency of HSV-1 genital infections include a rise in the reporting rates of oral-genital contact among men who have sex with men.
Research Says Happiest Couples Are Homos: Gay and lesbian couples are more likely to have satisfying marital and family relations than straight couples, according to a leading researcher in both family issues and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) relationships.
  Robert-Jay Green, executive director of the Rockway Institute which is affiliated with the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, reports that new research show that gay and lesbian couples appear to be better than straight couples in respect of two key factors that promote healthier relationships - flexibility about gender roles and equal division of parenting and household tasks.  “It all comes down to greater equality in the relationship. Research shows that lesbian and gay couples - by virtue of being composed of two partners of the same gender - have a head start in escaping the traditional gender role divisions that make for power imbalances and dissatisfaction in many heterosexual relationships,” Green said.
  In a series of studies that Green conducted with Michael Bettinger and Ellis Zacks, lesbian couples were found to be emotionally closer than gay male couples, who in turn were found to be emotionally closer than heterosexual married couples.
  The research also showed that lesbian and gay couples tended to be dramatically more flexible in the way they handled rules and roles in the relationship, for they avoided the traditional division of labor and division of expressive versus instrumental roles toward which heterosexual couple typically evolve over time despite their best intentions, especially after the birth of children.
  Other research on parenting also found significant advantages for same-sex couples. In three separate studies, it was found that lesbian partners tended to share parenting and household responsibilities more equally, besides being more satisfied with this division of labor.
  In heterosexual dual-career families, on the other hand, mothers often did much more childcare and housework compared to fathers, regardless of equal hours spent at work, an imbalance that often leads to resentment over time.
  All of these family researchers concluded that the freedom to defy traditional gender-linked parenting roles helped gay men and lesbians take good just as good care of their children yet preserve greater feelings of fairness in their couple relationships compared to heterosexuals.
  “Our research found that the most successful couples demonstrate closeness and flexibility. We found high levels of both characteristics in 79 percent of lesbian couples, 56 percent of gay male couples, but in only 8 percent of heterosexual married couples,” Green said. “Clearly, the more egalitarian approach taken by same-sex couples is an advantage that could benefit straight couples too.”
FDA Approves New HIV Drug: The Food and Drug Administration has approved etravirine for the treatment of HIV infection in adults who have failed treatment with other antiretrovirals.
  Etravirine, which will be sold under the brand name Intelence, is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or NNRTI, that helps to block an enzyme that the human immunodeficiency virus needs to multiply, the FDA said. It was approved for use in combination with other anti-HIV medications.
  Etravirine is the first of second generation NNRTIs, known also as DAPY drugs, because of their fluid crystalline structure, which makes it harder for HIV to create a mutation that can resist the drug. NNRTIs reduce the amount of HIV in the blood and increase white blood cells that help fight off other infections and may reduce the risk of death or infections that can occur with a weakened immune system.
  The government gave etravirine a priority review, a status granted to medications aimed at treating serious or life-threatening conditions. The drug is distributed by Tibotec Therapeutics, a division of Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., a Johnson & Johnson company based in Bridgewater, N.J.

State News:

StageQ Offers Dark Nights and Big Laughs this February
Madison - StageQ, the local not-for-profit LGBT Theater Company announces the launch of “Dark Night Shorts,” a collection of short plays by Linda Suzuki and Carol Mullen and directed by Katy Conley.
  Tara Ayres, Artistic Director for StageQ explains: “Dark night” is a theater expression for the nights a play is not running in a theater. Since the rent is still being paid for these off-times, we decided to allow a couple of new (to us) writers a chance to feature their talents.” StageQ is offering the play “Looking for Normal” as it’s main feature this month and “Dark Night Shorts” will play during the week and on an open Sunday afternoon.
  “Dark Night Shorts” is a collection of one-act plays; five comedies and one poignant story. Authors Linda Suzuki (“I Never Told Anyone This”) and Carol Mullen (“One More Chance”) each had plays in last season’s sold-out run of “Queer Shorts 2.” The success of “Queer Shorts” 1 and 2 is what prompted StageQ to look for other venue opportunities for some of our favorite new writers.
  StageQ veteran Katy Conley is directing the series. The cast includes Pam Adams, Kevyn Radcliffe, Ana Gundlach, Leonie Dolch, Emily Hickey, Yvette Mikhail and Amanda Bell.
  “Looking for Normal,” the main feature this month is the story of a husband and father coming to grips with her own transgender. The play runs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
  “Dark Night Shorts” runs February 12 – February 27, 2008 at the Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin Street in Madison, WI. Performances are Mondays-Wednesdays at 7:30pm and Sunday, February 17 at 2pm. All tickets are $10. Tickets and reservations are available at www.StageQ.com or by calling 608-661-9696, x3.

Same-Sex Dance Classes Begin February 4
Milwaukee - The Milwaukee Gay Arts Center (MGAC) will host beginning ballroom dance lessons for LGBT same-sex couples starting Monday, February 4. MGAC has a beautiful hardwood floor that was made for  dancing. Classes will betaught by Laura Sutherland, who is an experienced dancer and teacher affiliated with Shoreline-Milwaukee, the community's LGBT country  dance club. Laura will offer lessons in east coast swing (jitterbug), two-step, waltz, and west coast swing. Couples will dance to big band, blues, rock, country and pop.   The lessons ae being offered at a very reasonable rate and incorporate practice time. Laura also may offer a line dance from time to time. No dance partner is required to paticipate but smooth soled shoes are recommended. For more information, call Laura at 414-747-0388.

Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And At Off The Wall
Milwaukee - Off the Wall Theatre is proud to be starting out the New Year with one of the most beloved musical revues ever created. “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” is an intimate, thrilling musical journey through the songs of one of the world’s greatest musical poets. Jacques Brel was actually Belgian, but spent most of his career writing and performing in Paris. His cabaret performances are legendary, achieving in Europe the same status as Judy Garland’s Carnegie Hall concert.
  Off the Wall Theatre is delighted to be presenting a brand new version of this popular revue, featuring a number of songs never before performed on the American stage. Director Dale Gutzman has done the show twice before, first for the Skylight Theatre, and then again for his own company.
  This time, Gutzman is taking the songs back to Brel himself. He has found new translations for some of them that are closer to the French originals, and the entire show will be presented as a French cabaret performance. Rare film clips of Brel himself performing will pepper the evening, and the singers will be backed by a musical combo that will include an accordion.
  Popular as they are, so many of Brel’s songs in America are very different from the originals. The entire message of many of the songs has been changed. Some of the songs in the show that seem sad, are in reality quite funny in a very dark humor sort of way. Brel had a very good sense of ironic comedy, which doesn’t usually come across in the show. His observations on life are wry, and this is an element often missing from American productions.
  Gutzman has also put into the show several Brel hits that were not in the original production. Then, the order of the show has been altered to suit what Brel himself did with the songs when he sang them. The warm and fuzzy hippie feeling the show had when it first appeared, has been replaced with a night club excitement and an edge that Brel himself brought to his work.
  For those who love the show, they will be delighted to see it in a new perspective. For those seeing it for the first time, Off The Wall promises that it will be thrilling. Some of the adjectives and phrases used over the years to describe the show have been “searing,” “unforgettable,” “heartbreaking,” “insanely comic and yet oh too true,” and “thrilling.”
  When Gutzman last did the show, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel critic Jay Joslyn, said the production was “like fine wine.”
   This time around, Gutzman has assembled a dream cast, some of whom have done the show several times. David Flores, and Marilyn White were both in previous Gutzman versions of the show. Robert Hirschi and Sharon Rise, are accomplished musical performers with Off the Wall Theatre. Mary De Battista while doing her first show with Off the Wall, is a well known Milwaukee talent, especially gifted at lyric interpretation.
  Joining them will be a recent addition to the Off the Wall Family, Ben George, who has spent the past few years living in Brussels, and will be doing some of the songs in the original French. George recently played Claudius in Gutzman’s production of “Hamlet.”
   Music Director Chris Wszalek has put together a combo which is going back to Brel’s original orchestrations in some cases and lifting them off of CDs to recreate a true French cabaret feeling.
   All in all, this promises to be a very special evening of Milwaukee Theatre. Old and young alike will be moved to laughter and tears by the musical magic of Jacques Brel.
“Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” will be presented at the At Off the Wall Theatre. February 21-24,27- 29,and March 1 and 2. Tickets range from $22 to $26 and limited cabaret seating is available. For tickets call 414-327-3552 or visit the theatre’s website at: www.offthewalltheatre.com.