SNN THIS MONTH SPOKANE – Nathan Lane demonstrated John Wayne’s walk in The Birdcage. Now we get to see The Duke act – in the same manner – at Gay Movie Night at CenterStage. Page 17. SPOKANE – Like a young Jim Carrey, Damon Mentzer’s rubbery features light up Inspecting Carol at Interplayers. Page 14. SPOKANE – In
Damon Mentzer
its search for new strategies effective in halting the spread of HIV and AIDS, Spokane AIDS Network is shelving a program it pioneered a decade ago. Page 7. SPOKANE – New monarchs for the Imperial Sovereign Court of Spokane for 2004-2005 include an empress and two emperors. Page 5. COEUR D’ALENE – Five years ago, Keith Wolter won the coveted Rainbow Award for his activism in the gay community. This month, he’s stepping down from his post at North Idaho AIDS Coalition. Page 8.
Vol. XIII, No. 12
Serving the Gay and Lesbian Community of the Inland Northwest
Cincy loses $25 million in tourism revenue due to discrimination of gays CINCINNATI – Tourism officials here are targeting organizations and groups that previously had taken their convention business elsewhere because of a charter provision banning laws protecting gay people from discrimination, according to the Associated Press. Cincinnatians voted to repeal the 11-year-old Article XII in November
after city and business leaders warned that it was harming the city’s economy, said the AP. Earlier, the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau sent letters to 200 groups that cited gay rights issues as a reason for not hosting meetings in Cincinnati. Bureau representatives also are considering meeting with eight groups that canceled scheduled
Remembering
SEATTLE – Peter Boal, a principal with New York City Ballet since 1989, will succeed Kent Stowell and Francia Russell as artistic director of Pacific Northwest Peter Boal Ballet at the end of the current season. SEATTLE – The Seattle Men’s Chorus and the Seattle Women’s Chorus will present holiday concerts this month. Calendar, page 9. photo by Christopher Lawrence
PORTLAND – Travelers to the
Rose City in mid-December are invited to enjoy the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus in concert. For tickets and information, phone (503) 226-2588. TRENTON – The former governor of New Jersey is touted as the next “powerful voice” for the gay community. Page 10. ATLANTA – A close shave on cer-
tain parts of the body may be hazardous to one’s health. Page 11. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court says it will not hear a challenge to the legality of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. Page 21. JAMAICA – Human rights advo-
cates here see anti-gay violence and homophobia as deterrents to HIV and AIDS education. Page 12. NORTH POLE – Santa’s coming
and Stonewall’s got some gift ideas, whether you’re shopping for others or for yourself. Pages 16 and 24.
A mother and her daughter joined upwards of 100 people at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture to commemorate World AIDS Day Dec. 1. The somber, yet inspirational program was presented by Spokane AIDS Network, Unity Church of Truth, Spokane Regional Health District and the museum (MAC).
Saskatchewan 7th in Canada to legalize marriage for gays SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – A
Saskatchewan court ruling Nov. 5 made this Canadian prairie province the country’s seventh jurisdiction to allow gay couples to wed. According to the Associated Press, Justice Donna Wilson agreed with courts in five other provinces and one territory, saying existing marriage laws discriminate against gay couples and were unconstitutional. The Saskatchewan ruling came after five gay couples went to court seeking the right to marry. High courts in Quebec, British Columbia, Ontario, the Yukon, Manitoba
and Nova Scotia have already ruled in the same way. Elsewhere in the country, gay couples are challenging the law in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Supreme Court of Canada currently is evaluating a draft federal law from Prime Minister Paul Martin’s government that could make gay weddings legal from coast to coast. The high court is expected to rule next year. The decision in Saskatchewan came three days after American voters in 11 states indicated their disapproval of legalizing marriage benefits for gay couples.
December 2004
events in Cincinnati after voters approved the amendment in 1993. Those conventions had been expected to bring $25 million to the area. “We’ll follow up with every group that canceled,” said Alan Welch, interim bureau president. Some groups say repealing the amendment could be the first step toward bringing their business back.
Only state to allow gay marriage has lowest divorce rate BOSTON – In an irony on the radar of both conservatives and liberals, researchers have noted that the areas of the country where divorce rates are highest also are the same areas where many conservative Christians live, according to the New York Times. Voters in states like Kentucky, Mississippi and Arkansas, for example, overwhelmingly approved state constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage. But those three states also had the highest divorce rates in 2003, according to figures from the Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics, the Times reported. The state with the lowest divorce rate – Massachusetts – is the only state that currently allows same-sex marriage. “Some people are saying, ‘The Bible Belt is so pro-marriage, but gee, they have the highest divorce rates in the country,’” Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, co-director of the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, told the Times.
INSIDE Arts & Entertainment .......... 14 Business Directory ............. 13 Classifieds ........................... 25 Garden Clippings ................ 22 International News .............. 12 Ken Lovering ....................... 23 National News ..................... 10 Political News ...................... 20 Regional News ...................... 8 Resource Directory ............. 26 Reviews & Previews ........... 18 Spokane News ...................... 4 Tell Trinity ............................ 17 Voices ..................................... 2