I hope that you will join me on Friday evening as the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied (GLBTA) communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) celebrate the fifth anniversary of opening of the 12 Penny Saloon.

During the past five years, the 12 Penny Saloon has sponsored and supported nearly every venture and program of the NEPA Rainbow Alliance including our newsletter, website, e-news, special events, etc. in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas.

The 12 Penny Management and Staff have invited the community to celebrate its fifth anniversary with a special party starting at 10 p.m on Friday, January 23, 2009.

Enjoy no cover charge, a complimentary buffet, and anniversary drink specials.

Warm regards,

John Dawe
Executive Director
GayNEPA.com

This union of intolerance is determined to take the state constitution, a document that grants rights and privileges, and add to it discrimination, prejudice, intolerance and second-class citizenship to this majestic document. Why is it that these groups never come together for the purpose of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked or housing the homeless?

Those who claim to be Christians act in a way that shows them to be anything but Christians. Christ left us with one simple commandment that rose above all others: to love God and one another.

I am waiting for someone from the far right to answer a basic question: How does preventing two members of the gay community from uniting as a family protect their own marriage, which has a 50 percent chance of ending in divorce? What possible threat is there to them other than touching upon inner insecurity?

Marriage is not a religious institution; it is a civil matter between two parties. The church does not “marry” couples; it witnesses the exchange of vows. Without a civil license issued by the government, no marriage is possible. No church will be compelled under any legislation anywhere to perform a ceremony for a gay couple if it is not already part of the norm for that church. Any suggestion to the contrary is nothing more than a scare tactic, which is a favorite tool of the right.

So what is really at issue here is whether gay people have access to the same government processes that others have access to. The taxes paid by gay people go to the same government that everyone else’s taxes go to.

They support the same public agencies and pay the salaries of the same employees as everyone else does. Shouldn’t gay people have access to the same benefits of their taxes? The only fair alternative would be to cut taxes for all gay people. Shall we amend the constitution to allow for this while equal access to a marriage license is denied? It is either that or equal access for all.

But this conservative drive goes even further. They wish to see the ability of two people to enter into a contract restricted based on their sexual orientation. This is a fundamental constitutional right that is at stake here.

The most disgusting part of their renewed drive for hatred is their desire to remove partner benefits such as health care. Most of the large corporations in America provide the same benefits to their gay employees as they do their straight employees. It costs the company no more than if they had an all-heterosexual work force.

This petty, hate-filled group wants to tell corporations who they can extend benefits to and who they can’t. If one of the partners in a same-sex relationship gets sick, has no health insurance and was prevented by some archaic law from getting his partner’s benefits, then who pays for that health care? The taxpayer, that’s who. So what is worse, a partner’s health insurance benefit or the taxpayer paying for that care?

One of the biggest arguments the right likes to tout as justification for denying equal rights to the gay community is that it might influence their kids. Utter ignorance is the only answer regarding why the right believes that a child will become gay if he or she sees a gay marriage. They just don’t get it.

A person is born gay; he or she does not choose to be gay. One cannot “change” a straight kid into a gay one if it isn’t already in the genes of that child. The only thing this kind of law does is potentially deny their kids or grandkids equal access and rights under the law. There have always been gay people and there will continue to be gay people, and nothing the right does can change that.

I urge all fair-minded people to contact their state senator and urge him or her to vote against any constitutional amendment that restricts the equal rights of the citizenry of this state. It is time to diverge from the ultra-conservative path in this country, for we have seen what that path has done to the honor, freedom, and moral standing of the United States. It has brought us to the near edge of destruction.

Guest Post By Rev. Bruce J. Simpson

The Sermon
I’m Peter D’Angio and I’m priest in charge at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Scranton. My partner and I arrived in Northeastern Pennsylvania seven months ago; it’s a joy to connect with the Rainbow Alliance and to be part of this day.

After you leave here you’ll be going to watch “The Saint of 9/11″ which tells the story of Father Mychal Judge, the New York City fire department chaplain who died at Ground Zero on September 11th. As you’ll see in the film, queer people like Father Judge struggle in the church, just like they struggle in life. But that does not mean that the church does not have a place for sexual minorities, as Jesus makes clear in the story of the wedding banquet that we hear today from Luke’s gospel.

How can imagine the story in modern day terms? Well, I’m a big fan of the Style Channel (who would have guessed?) and I sometimes watch “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” which tells stories of wedding planners and brides locking horns. So here’s Jesus’ story as told on “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?”

The father of the bride has hired the best venue for the wedding reception, and we see the camera lovingly hovering over the beautiful table settings, the gorgeous flowers, and all the rest of the details. The father barges into the scene and demands that the wedding planner do something about the fact that none of the guests have shown up for the wedding.

Ever resourceful the (gay) wedding planner goes the immigration office and gets all the people waiting in line there. He hires a bus to go to a local nursing home to get all the residents, some of whom are in wheelchairs, some on walkers. He goes to some place like the 12 Penny which just happens to be having drag night and brings all the drag kings and queens, as well as all the other patrons. Finally, when all these people have assembled and sit down at the lovely tables the father of the bride says, “Now the party can begin!” Of course, it is a fabulous party as only queer folk can pull off!

More…
What Jesus tells us in this story this morning is that we have a place at that party with him. He reverses the societal expectation that we are outcasts and he tells us, and all the rest of the marginalized, that we are honored guests to him, contrary to what the church often says in word and deed.

We find Jesus’ attitude reflected in the letter of John which says: “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth…” (1 John 3:18-19a). What I hear in this is that as queer folk, we have to speak the truth in love about our own lives. We have to come out and in coming out we will know ourselves as both truthful and whole. In this call to come out, and I would add to come out in the church, we start from the belief that God created and continues to create us as who we are: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intersexed and yes even straight, and that that is GOOD. God did not create LGBTI folk as second class citizens, any more than God did women or people of color, despite what some denominations have outwardly taught at times or at least implied. When we tell the truth of our lives we can integrate the social, erotic, and spiritual; we speak the truth to power, which empowers not only us but those around us. And the place to do this is not only in our families and in the workplace but in the church as well because the church needs to hear our voices as the beloved people of God.

I get the question “Why bother with the church?” all the time, and not just from queer folk. The argument goes something like this: God is everywhere not just in the church and I have my own spirituality even though I’m not really religious. So why should I come to the church which is so messed up about human sexuality anyway? But there’s a flaw in this stance: being spiritual alone is kind of like being queer alone; it’s possible, but not very rewarding. Spirituality practiced in the closet tends to produce a similar thing to sexuality practiced in the closet: the elements of being a spiritual person are all there just like the elements of being a member of a sexual minority. But they just haven’t been allowed to grow or to see the light of day. We all know what happens when someone comes out as queer; they undergo a process of growth and transformation, but it takes a community to help make that happen, and that’s why we’re here today to help to continue to make a community which we and others like us can be a part of.

The same thing happens when we come out to Jesus; our spiritual lives grow and blossom. But we need the love and support of other people on the same journey and that’s what the church is all about, just like what the queer community is all about. There are churches out there like Saint Stephen’s and like Saint Luke’s that welcome you and where you will hear the truth of our lives proclaimed from the pulpit. One young man said he was electrified the first time he heard me use the word “gay” in a sermon, and he began a journey with us at Saint Luke’s. Just after his twenty-first birthday he stood in the pulpit at Saint Luke’s and preached a sermon about diversity, acceptance, and the truth of his life. People’s attention was riveted on him throughout the sermon and in the line at the back of church after the service people commented glowingly on his message.

Often hidden inside stone walls like these are places of warmth, acceptance and community. But churches Saint Stephen’s and Saint Luke’s have to struggle to come out in a queer culture that equates Christianity with homophobia, judgmentalism, and narrow-minded prudishness. All the parties involved: queer folk, our straight allies, and the church are engaged in the process of coming out, not only to each other but also to God. And with all us all stands Jesus who says to one and all alike, “Come and join my party.”

The Readings

First reading: 1 John 3:16-23
We know love by this, that Jesus laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment –  that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

Second reading: Luke 14:15b-24
While attending a banquet with the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”

Preached at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 30 September 2007.
All Bible quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), unless noted otherwise.

Thanks again to those of you who came out this weekend for the film festival.  We estimate that we saw around 125 unique participants over the three-day event.  Expect an recap and update from us soon!

Now, we have a number of events going on in October that I want to make you aware of immediately.

GLBT History Month
Starting today, we are participating in GLBT History Month.   Each day during October we’ll present a short profile of a GLBT leader.  Look for these profiles on http://gaynepa.com, http://blog.gaynepa.com, and http://myspace.com/gaynepa. Also, if you’re on Comcast cable, look for occasional commercials.

Transformation Tuesdays
We’ll be hosting nights out at local supportive businesses starting on Tuesday the 9th and every Tuesday afterwards in October.  Visit http://rainbow.dcssites.com/tuesdays/ for the schedule of events and printable coupons.   Each event starts at 5:30 p.m. and goes through 8 p.m.

The schedule is as follows:
Oct. 9th: Ground Round, Wilkes-Barre
Oct. 16th: Barnes & Noble at Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre*
Oct. 23rd: The Banshee Pub, Scranton*
Oct. 30th: The FireGrill @ Inn at Nichols Village, Clarks Summit
* – also business networking events

“Remembering Keith” – Benefits for the Diversity Partnership
Keith Haring’s bold, cartoon-like images have made him an icon in modern art and GLBT civil rights.  Keith’s sister Kay will join the Diversity Partnership of The Luzerne Foundation on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at two events in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Funds raised from this event will be tripled due to a matching grant.
EVENTS:
1:00 p.m. at Keystone College (donations will be accepted)
3:00 p.m. at Wyoming Valley Red Cross ($25 donation per person)
For more information call 570-371-6555 or e-mail diversity@luzfdn.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about any of these events, e-mail john@gaynepa.com or call 570-606-4410.

In 1999, I was issued a company service award on a Thursday and fired on the spot on a Monday morning without reason. I later found out that my ex-husband made a phone call to my fundamentalist Christian supervisor indicating that I was a lesbian and leaving him for a woman. That organization falsified documentation to support my termination. I became embattled in a he said she said with unemployment and although I could verify my status and claims, they took the word of the employer as valid (not unlike experiences you have when trying to dispute issues on your credit report).

Several years later, I went through a period of harassment, bullying, intimidation and psychological torture at another local mental health agency where my supervisor encouraged me to apply for medical benefits to cover my partner, stressing “we don’t discriminate.” In my naivity, I applied. At the same time, I became aware that this same supervisor lead a double life: heterosexual marriage with a lesbian lover on the side. We would go to conferences with our partners, etc. The lead supervisor became “jealous” at the relationship as she was also “questioning” her orientation aside from being a raging alcoholic. I had to tell each of them that I wanted to keep work and home/private matters separate as each tried to interfere with my relationship. The bullying and harassment ensued from both ends. I couldn’t tell which nonsense was coming from which individual to defend my work, paperwork, requests for time off earned with comp, requests for vacation time, etc.

Additionally, I was passed over for a promotion by both supervisors. The position was awarded to an individual whom I trained. At that point, this individual was made to be my direct supervisor and it was apparent that he answered to both of them. The micromanaging conversations would be “so and so said you can’t take comp time…” or “so and so said you have to have me sign off on your treatment plans…” I took another position and gave my notice. On the morning after I gave my notice, I was confronted with a dilemma of the immediate supervisor being not available to sign off on my plans. One of the other supervisors indicated that I was to sign off with his name and initial with my initials. I did that in fear of being reprimanded for not having my paperwork signed off. On the Monday morning, I was presented with the documents and a denial of the directive from the supervisor and fired on the spot.

I contacted the place of new employment and scheduled to begin two weeks earlier than planned. I was working there for approximately three weeks when I was ushered out of my office by the principal agents and fired on the spot without explanation. It came to my attention that one of these supervisors called this agency and outed me, creating a condition called “cautious interference with contract.”

I initiated a suit attempting to clear my name and wanted an apology. I negotiated with HR and got neither. This became all consuming as I worked on my Doctorate Degree. After approximately three to four months of struggling with this issue, I started sending out resumes and was hired by another agency. I openly discussed what had happened to me and received validation, support and was able to learn to work this issue through. Subsequently, the issue of privacy and orientation came up in this agency as well with questions by colleagues “are you married?” “Do you have kids?” etc. Triggering my fears to keep my life private and to hide behind pronouns and to avoid being set up on blind dates. At one point there was an article written about me in a local paper supporting a creative endeavor I was involved in and the principal of the agency approached me after the paper was put on his desk indicating “I would hate to have to fire you for this.” We discussed this issue. It was never brought up again. I left that agency of my own volition with the need to grow professionally. However, this placement helped me to rebuild my confidence, belief in myself and heal from the post traumatic stress resulting from the workplace bullying, hateful and outright discrimination and use of my orientation against me when it suited someone in power.

Anonymous
Dallas, Pa

Guest Commentary by Randy P. Orso – (randyporso@yahoo.com)

Family Pride has been responsible for an effort in recent years to have gay and lesbian parented families take part in the annual Easter Egg Roll festivities at the White House. The weather this year made for an icy reception line waiting for tickets to the event scheduled to happen Monday. Only 25 families of the 100 Family Pride families signed up showed up for the event according to 365Gay.com.

Quickly deflecting weather related turn-out problems to more positive developments Cathy Renna, a spokesperson for Family Pride was quick to announce the encouraging news that Disney Corporation is expanding its “Fairy Tale Wedding” program to include same-sex commitment ceremonies. 365Gay.com’s sister site AfterElton.com had run an article a month prior suggesting that the theme park’s denial of wedding services might be in violation of California’s non-discrimination laws.

White House video of last years Easter Egg Roll event shows no signs of families with the rainbow leis that made them so visible to an administration so quick often to leave gay and lesbian parents and their children behind in terms of basic civil rights. In fact when it was time for pictures a press maneuver of only taking picture with children of White House staff, carefully discriminated against having to have sons and daughters of gays and lesbians included. Like the Disney theme parks people were dressed as characters beloved by children like Barbar the Elephant, a bipartisan one, although crowned somewhat imperially. But the White House still seems less welcoming to gay and lesbian parents and their children than this nation’s Disney theme parks. I try to think of a wonderful thought and a wonderful place for all families and instead in our republic I find a second-rate citizenship for some bars me from that vision in regard to the place of same-sex parents and their children outside the Magic of Disney. Like so much in Gay society acceptance seems to come with a ticket price for admission.

While brave gay and lesbians American soldiers fight in wars under an unfair and hypocritical “don’t ask/don’t tell” policy founded upon ignorance, their marital rights are denied them. States argue about gay and lesbian foster parents and adoption rights. Even in Massachusetts, ballot measures more closely to referendum voting on same-sex marriage rights already affirmed by the state Supreme Court. What price will gay and lesbian parents and their children have to pay for their civil rights?

It seems this Easter, a mouse triumphs over a man; Mickey Mouse shows that all people deserve their love to be celebrated (albeit for a fee), while George W. Bush remains unchanging in his stance on Gay Rights. Last Easter, Laura Bush read a book called, “Will You Be My Friend?”, we need not ask that question of the Bush Administration tomorrow. Their actions have proven they will not. Why? Because they don’t love you. That is the Easter spirit! On the day for Christians that Jesus triumphed over sin and death, showing love and sacrifice are the way to redemption, the White House seems to be a bit hard boiled on the details.