Quest Magazine Volume 17 Issue 6
April22 - May 12, 2010

SOME OF THE LINKS TO OLDER STORIES AND FEATURES
Please check out Vol 17- 1 Cover Feature on Quest Journalist Mike Fitzpatrick
Interview with Bruce Vilanch by Michael Johnston in Vol. 17-2
Paul Masterson Takes Us on a Tour of LGBT Sports in Wisconsin in Vol. 17-3
Our PrideFest Feature: PrideFest Milwaukee Goes for the Funny Bone in Vol 17-3
United We Stand: An Intimate Interview Between Partners on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in Vol. 17-4
PrideFest Set For Major Summer Dance Experience in Vol. 17-5
Pride Alive's Spring Fling: Just the Start of Something Big! in Vol. 17-5

PRESIDENT OBAMA ORDERS NEW MEDICAL RIGHTS FOR GAY PARTNERS

Washington DC - While last minute tax filers rushed to the Post Office, equality for LGBT people in the US took and important step forward on Thursday, April 15, 2010 as President Obama ordered his health secretary to issue new rules aimed at granting hospital visiting rights to same-sex partners. The White House announced the rule changes in a memorandum, which will also make it easier for gay men and lesbians to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners.

Obama instructed his Health and Human Services secretary to draft new rules that requiried hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments to grant patients the right to designate the person(s) who can visit and consult with them at crucial moments.

The rules would treat designated visitors, including those legally designated (such as durable powers of attorney and health care proxies) privileges the same as those immediate family members enjoy.

“There are few moments in our lives that call for greater compassion and companionship than when a loved one is admitted to the hospital.” writes President Obama in the memorandum. “Yet every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides -- whether in a sudden medical emergency or a prolonged hospital stay. Also uniquely affected are gay and lesbian Americans who are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives -- unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated.” said Mr Obama.

“Richard Socarides, who advised President Bill Clinton on gay rights issues, said that while the memorandum on its own did not grant any new rights, it did “draw attention to the very real and tragic situations many gays and lesbians face when a partner is hospitalized.” wrote Sheryl Stolberg in the New York Times.

Ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to find a better way, was a hope of many of us in the LGBT community when Mr. Obama was inaugurated. Although Mr. Obama’s order has no immediate effect, gay rights groups called it a major advance for the families of LGBT individuals.

“It’s a huge deal,” said David Smith, vice president of policy for the Human Rights Campaign, which worked with the White House to develop the memorandum.” quoted the New York Times.
“Nearly every hospital in the country will now be required to provide hospital visitation rights to LGBT families.” continues Mr Smith.

“President Obama’s decision to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take steps to ensure that hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid respect the rights of patients to receive visitors and designate others to make decisions about medical care in the case of an emergency is the right one.  It follows the lead of many states and makes a strong statement about who we are as a nation and what we value.” writes Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin in a prepared statement. “President Obama’s action tonight puts us another step closer toward our goal of equal rights for all Americans and I applaud his decision.” says Baldwin.

NATIONAL DAY OF SILENCE 2010 IN MADSION

Madison, WI - Students in Madison and other cities in Wisconsin joined the thousands of students nationwide in participating in a Day of Silence Friday, April 16 to bring attention to name-calling, bullying and harassment that many youth encounter daily based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression/identity.

Founded in 1996, the Day of Silence has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. From the first-ever Day of Silence at the University of Virginia in 1996, to the organizing efforts in over 8,000 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities across the country today, its textured history reflects its diversity in both numbers and reach.

Students organized the first Day of Silence, its original name, at the University of Virginia. With over 150 students participating, those involved felt it was a great success.

Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force sent in a prepared statement, “The Task Force salutes each and every student keeping silent today to advocate for schools that are free of bullying and harassment. We know that young people risk their safety every day in order to attend schools that provide cover to and ignore the bullies who can make their lives living hell while adults look the other way. Adults must act to stop the epidemic of school harassment that diminishes the safety of all, but particularly leaves young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people isolated, afraid and desperate.

The recent suicide of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince in South Hadley, Mass., underscores in the most stark way the need for adults to intervene when they witness bullying of students. We've also heard the recent stories of two students who survived bullying at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Miss. Constance McMillen was the victim of a mean trick by her fellow students and their parents when she was invited to a sparsely attended 'prom' while most of her other classmates partied at a different event. Meanwhile, Juin Baize was driven out of Fulton for wearing clothing the principal deemed 'a distraction.' He sought refuge and a better high school environment in Florida.”

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) both urged participation in the event.

Rep, Engel introduced H.Con.Res 92 in 2009, with 40 co-sponsors, to support the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence.  Rep. Baldwin is one of the original co-sponsors.  According to GLSEN’s 2007 National School Climate Survey, nearly nine out of ten LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30 percent report missing at least one day of school for fear of their personal safety.

“Sadly, violence and discrimination against LGBT youth is all-too-common in American schools.  It is a national disgrace that students feel threatened in school simply because of their sexual orientation,” said Rep. Engel.

“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students continue to face pervasive harassment and victimization in schools.  As students use their silence to demand safe schools, we in Congress must use our voices to support them,” said Congresswoman Baldwin, co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.
GLSEN provieds these statistics:
· More than 85 percent of LGBT students have been verbally harassed;
· Nearly 20 percent of LGBT students were physically assaulted by their peers at school;
· Almost 40 percent of LGBT students reported that faculty and staff never intervene when homophobic language is used in their presence.

GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said, “These students are coming together to raise awareness about the pervasive problem of anti-LGBT bullying in schools. That so many young people care about making their schools safer makes us hopeful that we can work together to make our schools welcome environments for everyone.”

“The National Day of Silence brings an important focus to the bullying and name-calling that many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students have to endure while trying to attend school” said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “All students, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, should be able to receive an education in a safe and supportive environment.

Quest contributing photographer Steve Vargus provided the photography of Madison’s Day of Silence presented on our gallery pages by clicking here: http://web.me.com/markmariucci/Site/Day_of_Silence.html

GLADD & DIGNITY USA URGE MEDIA TO USE CAUTION IN
REPORTING VATICAN STATEMENTS

New York - GLAAD joined with DignityUSA in expressing concern about how media are covering recent comments about the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal by two Vatican officials: Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Rev. Federico Lombardi.

While traveling in Chile this week, the Vatican’s second highest-ranking authority told reporters: "Many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relation between celibacy and pedophilia. But many others have demonstrated, I have been told recently, that there is a relation between homosexuality and pedophilia. That is true," said Bertone. "That is the problem."

Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi elaborated on Bertone’s comments, telling reporters: “Church authorities do not have the competency to make general statements about medical or psychological issues, which we, of course, refer to specialists. [Cardinal Bertone] was evidently speaking about abuse on the part of priests and not in the general population.”

"These are just the latest, desperate attempts from the Vatican to change the subject, said Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director of Dignity USA. “It's time for our church leaders to stop looking for someone else to blame, and to confront the abuse of power and the cover-ups that are the real root of this scandal."

GLAAD urged the media to carefully examine the timing and apparent motives behind the comments.

“There’s a clear pattern here,” said Rashad Robinson, Senior Director of Media Programs at GLAAD. “Every day we seem to be seeing a new attempt by some church leaders to distract people from the real issues at the heart of the abuse crisis. And as the desperation increases, the ugliness of the attacks seems to be worsening.”

GLAAD is encouraging journalists to talk with groups like the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), Call to Action, Voice of the Faithful, and other organizations that are giving voice to the victims of clergy abuse and calling for accountability by the church.

The most recent scandal concerning Priest sexual abuse stems from European investigations into alleged misconduct in Italy and included information relating to the current Pope, then Cardinal Ratzinger, and other top Vatican officials who had decided not to defrock a Milwaukee Priest, Father Lawrence Murphy who molested as many as 200 deaf boys despite pleas from Wisconsin clergy to remove him. The case in Italy is similar where 67 deaf men and women accused two dozen priests of raping and molesting children for years.

POSTER BOY FOR WORD OF FAITH MOVEMENT TO SPEAK
IN MARSHFIELD AND JANESVILLE SPARKING CONTROVERSY

Marshfiled, WI- Michael Williams, once the ‘poster boy’ for the Word of Faith movement in America is the guest speaker of a three day conference April 29 through May 1. The 2010 Upper Midwest Gospel Revolution Conference at the Senior Center next to the Marshfield Public Library begins at 7 pm Thursday April 29. A 6:00 pm meeting on Friday April 30 and Saturday morning May 1 at 9:30am follow. Finally Mr. Williams will appear as the guest speaker at the Red Door Ministry that meets at the Willowdale Saloon in Janesville on Sunday, May 2. Those services are 10:30 am and 2 pm.

In a press release sent to Quest, Jeff Robertson says Mike Williams, a gay preacher and the guest speaker of the three-day conference, has shared the same platform with popular evangelical Christians such as Joel Osteen of Lakeland Church in Houston, TX and Pat Robertson of the 700 Club television broadcast, but you won’t find his message in much agreement with either Osteen or Robertson. Williams sums up evangelical Christianity to be based on a requirement to believe in Jesus Christ or suffer punishment in hell, “which is absolutely counter to the Gospel of peace and grace,” says Williams. According to Williams, Christianity preaches grace on the one hand and then binds it with a moral code and a future threat of judgment and punishment. “To know yourself truly and to set your own moral compass, it must be in the absence of the threat of punishment. Setting boundaries to God's grace does not control the morality of man” says Williams.

Williams gained notoriety being one of the first high profile ‘Ex- gays’ to openly acknowledge years later that he was in fact still gay. Williams decided to keep teaching spirituality despite those calling him no longer qualified.

The controversy of Williams’ teachings have some in the Christian community upset calling Williams’ message “unscriptural” and “sick” James Washburn, the organizer of the conference, says “Williams strictly teaches from the Bible putting verses in the context of chapters and chapters in the context of entire books of the Bible.” According to Williams, people like to base an entire doctrine or belief on a verse or two, to which he replies, “I see your verse and raise you a chapter.”

Persons interested in attending may go to Williams website www.gospelrevolution.com or Mr. Washburn at (715)389-2155 in Marshfield or Kathy Price (608)728-3284 in Janesville.

United States Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez
to Speak at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center

Milwaukee, WI- Mr. Thomas E. Perez, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice will speak in the community room of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center on Friday, April 23, 2010 at 10:45am. The event is hosted by the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center.

The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is the institution within the federal government responsible for enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, and national origin. The Division was established on December 9, 1957.

“The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is delighted to have the esteemed honor and pleasure of hosting Assistant Attorney General Perez as he visits Milwaukee.  I am confident that we will gain invaluable knowledge and insight regarding hate crimes and other civil rights issues affecting our community from Attorney General Perez as a result of his highly anticipated visit,” said, Dr. Maggi Cage, Executive Director of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center.

Mr. Perez has spent his entire career in public service. From 2002 until 2006, he was a member of the Montgomery County Council. He was the first Latino ever elected to the Council, and served as Council President in 2005. Earlier in his career, he spent 12 years in federal public service, most of them as a career attorney with the Civil Rights Division. As a federal prosecutor for the Division, he prosecuted and supervised the prosecution of some of the Department's most high profile civil rights cases, including a hate crimes case in Texas involving a group of white supremacists who went on a deadly, racially motivated crime spree. Mr. Perez later served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights under Attorney General Janet Reno. Among other responsibilities, he chaired the interagency Worker Exploitation Task Force, which oversaw a variety of initiatives designed to protect vulnerable workers. He also served as Special Counsel to the late Senator Edward Kennedy, and was Senator Kennedy's principal adviser on civil rights, criminal justice and constitutional issues. For the final two years of the Clinton administration, Mr. Perez served as the Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Perez was a law professor for six years at University of Maryland School of Law and was a part-time professor at the George Washington School of Public Health.

MADKINGS PRESENT KINGSTOCK IV

Madison, WI - Madison's premiere drag king troupe, The MadKings, will present Kingstock IV at the Barrymore Theatre on April 24.  Billed as the Midwest's biggest night of drag and gender performance, it began four years ago by the Miltown Kings in Milwaukee.

“Kingstock is coming to Madison for the first time ever this spring to knock your socks, and maybe a few preconceived notions, right off.” states Danielle Semtry, PR for the MadKings.

The show features an impressive array of artists from the Midwest and all across the country, including individuals and troupes from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, Georgia, New Mexico, and Maryland.

Hosted by Emily Mills (of Mad Huge), Sexual Chocolate (of the MadKings), and Kitty LaRue (of Foxy Veronica's Peach Pies), doors open 8:00 pm at the Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Ave, in Madison. Showtime is 9:00 pm. Tickets are $12 in advance ($15 day of show) for a mature audience only however there is no age restriction.

FMI at www.themadkings.com tickets available at www.barrymorelive.com or (608)214-8633.

QUEER SHORTS 5 AUDITIONS ANNOUNCED

Madison, WI - StageQ announces auditions for QUEER SHORTS 5, thier fifth annual shorts playfest, running June 11 - 19 at the Bartell Theater in Madison. Auditions are at 7:00 pm on Monday and Tuesday, April 12 and 13 at 148 E Wilson Street, 1st floor, in Madison.

This playfest is a unique opportunity, bringing together experienced directors, actors and stage hands with folks who haven't been on stage (ever or in years) to learn the ropes, have fun and create a couple of weekends of great theater.” states Tara Ayres, StageQ Artistic Director.
           
What you need to know:
We have 12 short plays running from 2 to 10 minutes long. Auditions will be on April 12 and 13 at 7 pm. Rehearsals will run from April 24 through June 10. Queer Shorts performances are June 11 through June 19 at the Bartell Theatre. Auditions will consist of reading from the scripts. We have a lot of parts, for men and women of all ages. Some actors may be cast in more than one short..