Dick Cheney first expressed his public support for same-sex marriage in October, 2000, during a Vice Presidential debate held in Danville, Kentucky. 

"Should a male who loves a male and a female who loves a female have all--all the constitutional rights enjoyed by every American citizen" was posed to the Vice President.

Chaney responded: "The fact of the matter is we live in a free society, and freedom means freedom for everybody. We shouldn't be able to choose and say you get to live free and you don't. That means people should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to enter into."

Again in 2004, Cheney continued his support for same-sex marriage while during a campaign rally in Davenport, Iowa, when asked about his stand on same-sex marriage, Cheney stated again that "freedom means freedom for everyone."

Most recently, at an appearance at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Cheney again reiterated his support of same-sex marriage.  

However, with each expression of support, Cheney asserts his political philosophy that such rights can and should only be regulated by the states; "historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis."

I disagree with Dick Cheney on perhaps every political issue . . .  including his state by state argument for the determination of our right to marry. Same-sex marriage is not a right to be granted in one state yet denied in another; civil rights can never be denied by a government because of the will a people or their representatives.

Cheney's fundamental support for same-sex marriage is now cannon fodder in our fight for equality.  His continued endorsement of our right to marry changes forever the political landscape on what we either accept or expect from those elected officials who claim to support our right to equality.

Cheney has set a new benchmark for what we should require from our elected officials, and the first test for this new standard of support will be in Pennsylvania where State Senator Daylin Leach (D) is introducing a bill supporting same-sex marriage and Senator John H. Eichelberger, Jr. (R),announced a new effort to place a gay marriage ban in the Pennsylvania constitution.  Neither has a snowballs chance in hell of passing. 

According to reports, Leach claims that he is under no illusions that his bill would become law anytime soon; he thinks that there is a timeframe of 15 years for marriage equality to reach all 50 states. This is not hard to believe from a state where we can't even generate enough support to secure our inclusion in the state's anti-discrimination law.

Another major stumbling block preventing us from marriage equality in Pennsylvania is the governor, Ed Rendell (D), who would most likely veto any same-sex marriage bill that reaches his desk. 

To be clear, Rendell does not support our right to full marriage equality but rather is satisfied with relegating us to second class status under the distinction of civil-unions.  With this position, Rendell and every other elected official who supports civil-unions over marriage, stands to the right of Dick Cheney on this issue. This is definitely unacceptable.

The two opposing bills currently being introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate will give us a new opportunity to see who our true "friends" are and whether they stand to the right or left of Dick Cheney.  Rendell and all elected officials need to clearly understand that to not support same-sex marriage is to not support us.

Our rights to civil equality flow not by the permission of a either a government or a people but by the fundamental right of our birth and citizenship. 

From now and in the future, we must all pay close and careful attention to who supports these bills and who doesn't. Then we all must act accordingly.

Comments: james@QUEERtimes.net

 

 

 

Jose Garces seems to be unstoppable. The highly celebrated chef and owner of such popular restaurants--Amada, Tinto, Distrito and Chifa--is opening yet another property later this month. His latest creation will be Village Whiskey, 118 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, a cozy 30-seat neighborhood bar, serving a wealth of whiskies, inventive cocktails and simple, inexpensive bar food a la Garces.

"I've always been a whiskey lover. It can be enjoyed in so many ways, whether as a cocktail or just sipped on the rocks. Village Whiskey is the kind of place I would want to go to unwind after a long day at work," Garces said.

In fact, his personal passion will be realized in having Village Whiskey feature "a veritable library of 80 to 100 varieties of whiskey, bourbon, rye and scotch from Scotland, Canada, Ireland, United States and even a few Japanese options."

Jun Aizaki of Crème Design Collective was hired by Garces for the freewheeling spirit of a speakeasy or saloon with dim lighting, posters for various alcohols, a tin ceiling and antique mirrors. Black and white tiled floors, white tiled walls, sumptuous russet leather banquettes, marble topped tables and wooden drink rails add to the traditional bar decor. Behind the pewter bar with comfortable dark walnut stools, whiskies will be proudly displayed like leather-bound books, the whiskey library.

Bar manager Paul Rodriguez has created an exciting array of 16 House Cocktails, and divided into two categories, Prohibition, or classic cocktails, and Repeal, more contemporary, modern takes, to complement the speakeasy theme in the menu and the ambiance. Some highlights of the drink selections include: Classic Old Fashioned, Sazerac, Philadelphia Fish House Punch on the Prohibition list and Village Idiot, The Latin Quarter Club and Sansom Street Flip.

Dave Conn will serve as Chef de Cuisine at Village Whiskey. The food menu will feature Raw Bar selections of seasonal oysters and clams; Charcuterie and Cheese Plate options; American Bar Snacks, such as house-made cheese puffs, spicy cheddar popcorn and honey-roasted Smokey Mountain peanuts; and a selection of House-Cured Pickles, served with a cocktail fork in a miniature mason jar, including Baby Carrots and Kumquats with cider vinegar and thyme and Herb Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes with Ricotta, a ground-to-order Angus Beef Burger, a Veggie Burger, a Bison Burger or a Vienna All-Beef Hot Dog with all the trimmings are each served alongside duck fat French fries and Sly Fox cheddar sauce. The menu, which will be served all day, will range in price from $4 to $20.

(I can't wait and I'm not like Garces himself a "Whiskey lover" but his concept theme restaurants are amazingly awesome places that we all want to be. I'll see you there soon!)

For more information, call 215.662.1088

The Terrace at Thirteen, 1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, at the Marriott Downtown, is fast becoming one of the city's be-and-be-seen places to be for happy hour during the summer months, for residents and visitors alike with outdoor drinking, networking and al fresco snacking and dining features three special evenings weekly.

On Wednesdays,  it's Center City Sips-the Center City District's annual summer night happy hour events, goes alfresco at the Marriott with $4 cocktails, $3 wine, $2 beer and ½ priced appetizers from 4:30-7:30 pm at the Terrace.

On Thursdays, it's The Before The Shore Party, 5-8 p.m., with live reggae and beach music by Hal Aaron, $5 mojitos and margaritas, $3 Coronas.

On Fridays, it's Free & Breezy Fridays, 4:30-7:30 pm, featuring a free appetizer and $3 Coronas, $4 wines and $5 Sea Breezes at the Terrace.

The Terrace also offers $3 sangria and $12 sangria pitchers during all happy hours and the special menu features jerk chicken skewers with pineapple salsa, pork sliders, garlic chili shrimp and mango mojito sorbet, priced from $2.50 to $7.

Regular happy hours at the Terrace are: Wednesday-Saturday, 4 -7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

For more information, call 215.625.2900; or visit philadelphiamarriott.com

It's a fond farewell and we'll already be missing you to Susanna Foo Chinese Cuisine, 1512 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, when the award-winning chef/owner finally closes her property along Philadelphia Restaurant Row after 22 years in operation on June 13.

Though she is closing down operations in Center City, Foo will continue to own and operate Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen, 555 East Lancaster Avenue in Radnor, PA

Always the business woman, Foo is offering a 20% off dinner vouchers to the Radnor property as a heartfelt "thank you" to diners who visit her before June 13 at her critically acclaimed restaurant in the area.

"Philadelphia feels like home to me. I am so proud to be a Philadelphian," said Foo, who has been serving award-winning Chinese cuisine in the city for 30 years. "I have made so many friends here and look forward to making many more, as I spend time closer to home at Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor."

Her list of awards is impressive and should be shared one last time. Foo is the first chef in Philadelphia to receive all of the following awards: 1988 Esquire Magazine, Best New Restaurant, 1989 Food and Wine Magazine, Best New Chef, 1996 James Beard Foundation, International Cookbook Award, 1997 Nation's Restaurant News, Fine Dining Hall of Fame, 1997 James Beard Award, Best Chef-Mid Atlantic Region, 1999 Robert Mondavi Award, Culinary Award of excellence, 2006 Food Arts Magazine, Silver Spoon Award, and 1998 2001, 2006 Philadelphia Inquirer's Craig LaBan, Awarded Four Bells

Best of luck and thanks for so much wonderful food and memorable dining experiences, Susanna Foo!

For more information, call 215.545.2666; or visit susannafoo.com

June 6, 2009 (Saturday)

Building Bash 2009 @

William Way Community Center