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Top queerNEWS on the Qt!
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queerVOICE
Marriage Equality vs Chris Christie
copyright 2012
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This past weekend I enjoyed being in Atlantic City to celebrate "OUT in AC" Weekend presented by Harrah's, with the an afternoon Pool Party, an After-Party at The Loft (the pool turns into a night club, with live guest DJs, celebrities appearances and sightings, dancing) Hangover Brunch, and Gay Bingo and Miss'd America Pageant. While there, I had the pleasure of staying at Harrah's where I truly indulged myself at some their first-class restaurants, the tropical pool and a very spacious and comfortable room.
But despite the genuine efforts of the hotel casinos and city to create and develop Atlantic City as a gay-friendly destination, that's not why New Jersey is on my mind this week. Ironically and not surprisingly, I've got more pressing issues at hand in the Garden State.
Two weeks ago the Democrats in the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly once again announced a significant push for marriage equality with the promise to introduce the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act in their respective chambers as their first bills of the legislative session for 2012. (It's an encouraging, daring, empowering act on these legislators' part.)
The Senate has already introduced the Act, called SB1, which this past Tuesday advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee after an 8-4 vote along party lines.
Of course, Republican Governor Chris Christie has officially announced to all parties, the state legislators, the citizens of the Garden State and the national media, that he will veto any such legislation.
But Democratic lawmakers claim that they will have enough votes to override his veto.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, (January 19, 1012):
"New Jersey Democrats believe they are within spitting distance of securing enough support to override a veto of same-sex marriage legislation if Gov. Chris Christie chooses not support it."
"State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, one of the bill's sponsors, estimated the chamber had between 24 and 27 supporters for legislation to allow for same-sex marriage in New Jersey. It takes 27 votes in the 40-member state senate to override a governor's veto."
"I'm wishing and hoping," said Lesniak, who also acknowledged that some potential supporters still needed "shoring up."
"Lesniak, a Democrat representing Union County, counted up to 23 Democrats and four Republicans as supporting a gay marriage, but wouldn't disclose specific names of those he believes would vote to override a veto."
"Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver, a Democrat, has said that she has majority support for same-sex marriage legislation, and that she would work to garner the 54 votes necessary for a veto override in the 80-member Assembly." (Such a result would seriously compromise Christie's political aspirations for being any kind of elected official and might even end his career altogether.)
To this, Christie called on the Legislature to instead put the issue before state voters in the fall. Such a referendum, if successful, would amend the state Constitution and trump the current civil union law.
"This issue that our state is exploring--whether or not to redefine hundreds of years of societal and religious traditions--should not be decided by 121 people in the State House in Trenton," Christie said on Tuesday. "Let's let the people of New Jersey decide what is right for the state."
But as The Wall Street Journal pointed out, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released last week, it found that "52% of New Jersey voters favor gay marriage."
According to the recent poll, support varies by party affiliation: majorities of Democrats (62%) and independent voters (54%) are in favor, while only 35% of Republicans approve, according to the poll.
However, one needs to ask if it is proper to put the question of equality up for popular vote, even when that popular vote seems to favor equality?
I think not.
These rights can not flow from popular vote but rather from the truth of our personhood. These rights are fundamental to who I am as a person-they're my and your civil rights.
I deserve to pursue my happiness in the same manner as my heterosexual counterparts in all matters of law, including marriage equality, in these United States of America.
While it is the role of the legislature to recognize and embrace these fundamental civil rights and to ensure that the law complies with these same rights, and it is the role of the courts to safeguard these civil rights for the people, it is the role of the people to demand from their elected officials that the law reflects not the popular opinion but rather the fundamental right of personhood, equality for all, and civil rights.
Believing that the right to marry flows from personhood and not from a people QUEERtimes calls on the NJ Legislature to moving forward with the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act and to push for an override of Christie's promised veto so that in New Jersey our equality is fully recognized in law. Comments:james@QUEERtimes.net
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What It Looks Like From Here
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2012
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"Grandson of a Preacher Man," the expose by journalist Jonathan Miles in Details (February, 2012) of queer Randy Roberts Potts, grandson of the late Oral Roberts, not only reveals some startling revelations but some endearing moments, too.
 As Miles points out: "Randy Roberts Potts likes to say he grew up 50 feet and a million miles away from firebrand televangelist Oral Roberts, now openly gay and a pariah to his family. The 37-year-old is on a mission of his own, to undo his grandfather's legacy by preaching in churches and touring the Bible belt with his new performance piece, 'The Gay Agenda.'"
Next month, Potts will premiere what he describes as "the willfully unentertaining show on the road in his native state in Oklahoma City. His itinerary includes midsize red-state cities, like Jackson, Mississippi, Omaha, Nebraska, and Birmingham, Alabama with the intention of reaching populations to "show a neutral, domestic side of gay couple hood . . . that's identical to straight life."
Part of Potts' campaign is to break down the stereotyping of gay male life centered on sex and pride parade and circuit parties.
His performance piece, according to Potts, of a gay couple sharing their lives together is a "visual that people haven't ever really seen in conservatives towns."
Personally rejecting his upbringing on "the compound" where his family lived with his celebrity evangelist who wielded power, influence and a massive fortune that allowed Oral Roberts to reside in a 6,328 square-foot mansion, with two homes, further down the grassy hill, where his son Richard and his daughter Roberts (Potts' mother) had their own homes, annexed to the campus of Oral Robert University.
Potts realized his sexuality identity at the early age of seven. "I was talking to my mom and made some comment to the effect that Strawberry Shortcake (the cartoon character) was really gay. She immediately took it as a teaching moment. Gay, she said, is when two men have sex with one another, and god hates it so much that he burned whole cities to the ground because of it." Growing up being more attracted to Bo and Luke than Daisy on "The Dukes of Hazard" simply reconfirmed that Potts knew that he was attracted to men. But having the fear of God instilled in him by his mother's warning led him to suppress his homosexuality through adolescence, youth and as an adult, marrying a woman and having three children. His life was a sham, living as a closeted married gay man.
But he wasn't the only queer in his family. His uncle Ronnie, Oral's first born son, and heir apparent to the worldwide ministry, was also living a lie. Though well-educated, "brilliant" by all accounts, and married with two children, his inner conflict accepting who he really was, ended in tragedy, when, in 1982, after some bizarre behavioral incidents that led to his arrest and his private coming out to a sympathetic minister, he drove 15 miles outside Tulsa and shot himself in the heart.
Husband, father of three children and "member of one of the most lionized families of American Christianity, it took Potts until the age of 27 to admit that he was gay. That lead to a bitter divorce, and a harsh separation from his parents and other family members. "I felt ostracized in a way I'd never felt," he admits.
Then his brother, Stephen, was outed by their own father, a licensed minister, while he was serving in the Air Force.
The family schism has been long, hard and unforgiving. When the brothers' grandmother who they were both close to growing up died, they were "denied entrance to the graveside funeral by an armed security guard," being informed that they were not on the list."
In November, 2011, their mother, Roberta, and daughter of Oral Roberts, published her memoir, "My Dad, Oral Roberts," with one mention of Randy's school report card and no mention of Stephen at all.
Potts philosophic and understanding about the rejection that the brothers have by their mother for being gay. "She's convinced that I've chosen a path to hell. It's an ideology that's consumed her, and you can get past those things. But, you know, I'm not giving much either."
[Editor's Note: Part One of this special two-part feature appeared in the January 20, 2012, edition of Qt.] comments@QUEERtimes.net Coming Soon "OUT for Business" QUEERtimes means business when it comes to our LGBT/Queer community. That's why we are bringing you a new monthly column, "OUT for Business," appearing exclusively on the Qt, written by our own Editor-at-Large Thom Cardwell and other guest writers. "OUT for Business" will be dedicate to comings and goings at out businesses and will feature highlights of out business people. Inquires for submissions should be emailed to OUT@QUEERtimes.net
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Thom Cardwell
copyright 2012
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It's still winter though compared to last year Mother Nature has been kinder, gentler, and milder, as far as the snow and the cold. With temperatures being unseasonably warm as your favorite meteorologist likes to say, still fashion designers can't anticipate climate changes even if they do read their Farmer's Almanac religiously (my guess would be Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, two of the leading "American" designers who love to define and redefine the myths of this nation through everything from clothing to home décor).  Anyway, what should we be wearing this winter (it possibly could get colder in February and March) and the designers know that so, not surprisingly, this season it's all about the oversized, big sweater.
Instinct (December 2011/January 2012) offered up one of the sexiest fashion spreads of the year, with a trio of handsome, chiseled bodies, models Anthony of Major Model Management, Fabio of Request Models and Zeb of Soul Artist are wrapped in gray, steel, concrete, white, black sweaters-from cable knit to cardigan, some with large shawl collars, hoods, zipper fronts, button fronts, high collar, all with fabulously textured design, only a few multi-colored, by some of the high-end male contemporary designers-John Varvatos, Carlos Campos, Burberry Brit, Burberry London, Etro, Kenneth Cole, Diesel, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. Hollywood hottie Channing Tatum, gracing the cover of Details (February 2012), was warped in an oversized winter white cable knit pullover with open v-neck collar by Etro. Throughout the lengthy feature on Tatum, he's lensed by photographer Norman Jean Roy, wearing a multi-colored electric blue, black and red pullover by Jill Sander, a grey open v-neck collar pullover by Bally, and a chocolate brown pullover by Hermes.  For Spring suiting, it's all about the grays. from steel to charcoal, featured in Details (February 2012). All the leading menswear designers have gotten in the act, from BOSS Selection, Calvin Klein Collection, Patrik Ervell, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Loden Dager, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry London, Prada, Kenneth Cole, Versace, and Express. What's the look? Everything goes from the businessman's classic suit and tie with shirts by the diverse likes of Paul Smith (fanciful designs), Dolce & Gabbana (banded collar free form design ) and Yves Saint Laurent (pink, dark blue and baby blue checked) to the everyday casual with even an expensive designer tee shirt by Gucci or a more moderately-priced one by Calvin Klein Collection.
What about footwear with dressing up or dressing down the suit? Quality dress shows by Z Zegna to sneakers by Reebok. Are you ready for Spring? It's all about the retro look and a nostalgic return to the teenage delinquent, bad boy look, a direct rebellion against the conservatism and repression of, you guessed it, the 1950's. That's what we'll look at fairly comprehensively at how menswear designers are reinterpreting the classic looks in the embodiment of Hollywood idol James Dean. Until next time, look fabulous whatever and whoever you're wearing. Remember, it's all about establishing your personal style.
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What They Said and Did!
Copyrighted 2012
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Channing Tatum. It's an unusual name for a rising star on the big screen. He's about to join the ranks of the Hollywood leading man lineage. So you'll remember his name, trust me, and his handsome,  rugged, masculine good looks, too. He's slanted to appear in five feature films in the first six month of 2012, one inspired on his own experiences as a male exotic dancer (before he landed any acting jobs) and stars in the leading role. The director, no less, is Hollywood renegade Stephen Soderbergh who said that Tatum "almost bears all" of his finely chiseled physique, not to mention that killer smile with that square jaw of his in "Magic Mike," written by Reid Carolin, a "fictionalized account about Tatum's real life stint as a male stripper in Tampa" and the seedier side of his exploits and exploitation by club owner, played by hottie Matthew McConaughey. Serving as the cover boy for Details (February 2012), Tatum can't help but exude his sexual energy, wearing a heavy, white cable-knit sweater and white jeans. He's such a "looker" that he doesn't have to take off his clothes to satisfy the most demanding of worshippers of male eye-candy. Soderbergh cautions "Magic Mike" isn't "Boogie Nights." The 31-year-old, Mississippi Bayou raised Tatum clarifies: "It's not really my story. It's really about that world; the people and the decisions you have to make. It's not as dark as you might think. Soderbergh really has a clear vision as far as not making it overly sexual, overly dark." ___________________________________________ Queer director, artist, designer, songwriter, meditation specialist David Lynch discusses "the joys of being promiscuous, the pleasures of earthly enlightenment and why he has no trouble  keeping it surreal" in Interview (February 2012). Known for the weird, bizarre, the strange, Lynch's filmography includes "Eraserhead" (1977), "The Elephant Man" (1980), "Blue Velvet" ((1986) and "Wild at Heart" (1990) and "Lost Highway" (1997). Though he hasn't made a feature film in more than half a decade, he's returned to painting, compiled his output in a monogram, "Works of Paper" (Steidl, 2011), released "Crazy Clown," his first solo album as musician and singer, at the end of 2011, and his recently-opened nightclub, Silencio, in Paris, "inspired by the fictional nightclub in his own film, 'Mulhulland Drive' (2001)." The 60-year-old Lynch enthusiastically boast his interior design talents, too. "I designed the walls, floor and ceilings. In this one particular room, the walls curve into the ceiling. My whole idea was to make a place that you felt good being in. I designed many different things-the stage and the movie theater, which is spectacular. You can go from hearing the loudest music into this very beautiful, comfortable theater to watch a film. I also designed what they [the French] call a 'yellow forest;' it's a smoking room in the club, with these steel yellow trees that go from floor to ceiling with these little lights coming off them, with pods that you can sit on. It was very important to me that everything feel very warm." ___________________________________________ Queer military veteran Richard Caswell has a more than a few things to say about what it was like to live and love under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" before its repeal in 2011 as the cover story in  Instinct (December 2011/January 2012). Once he came out to his chaplain, his Navy career was abruptly ended at the age of 24. He recalls that it was actually the first time that he ever articulated, out loud, to anyone, "I'm gay." The New Jersey native was a third-generation Navy recruit, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Caswell recounts: "I met with the chaplain and told him. Of course, he was concerned. He brought up me being under stress and going away to a war zone on a ship for a year-and being in close quarters with others. The next day they told me they were discharging me. They didn't state that it was for being gay. My discharge papers say 'adjustment disorder' which they give to everybody." Though he admits that he's still single, because he gets too emotionally involved with men he becomes attracted, he maintains a healthy attitude about the history, struggles and accomplishments of the LGBTQ community. He respects pioneers like Frank Kameny. "To be a 26-year old gay man living in New York and able to do the things I do now is a direct result of all the work done by the generations who came before. I feel very lucky to be part of this community."
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Photos on the Qt!
Copyrighted 2012
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Recording artist Erika Schiff as special guest performer at this years Miss'd America Pageant hosted by Carson Kressley and directed by Mark Dahl. Costumes by Gunner for the House de Medici.
Photo Courtesy of Donald B. Kravitz
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