Called 'self loathing,' Log Cabin Republicans struggle for respect in the LGBT community

BY STEVE ROTHAUS, srothaus@MiamiHerald.com

Miami-Dade political activist Miriam “Mimi” Planas says it’s easier to tell her Republican friends she’s gay than to tell gay friends she’s a Republican.

“It’s got such a bad image and we’re trying to undo that,” said Planas, Miami chapter co-chair with Eddie Sierra of Log Cabin Republicans, a Washington, D.C.-based gay political group holding its national caucus Saturday in Miami.

The caucus comes at the same time that the nation’s attention is focused on Florida’s presidential primary. Voters go to the polls Tuesday.

Log Cabin Republicans claim 22,000 members nationwide. About two dozen from 42 chapters will participate in the Miami board meeting, said national Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper, an Army veteran from Tallahassee who later worked for U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami; Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; and his brother, President George W. Bush.

Cooper affirms the difficulties of being a gay member of the GOP: “I laugh about this with fellow Republican colleagues, that walking into the Republican National Committee, I feel much more comfortable than walking into other gay organizations.”

He says gay Democrats often mock the Republicans. “The thing that is quite disturbing — they say we’re not thinking, that we’ve been lobotomized. Or we’re self-hating or self-loathing.”

Michael Emanual Rajner, legislative director of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, puts it bluntly:

“If you want to identify as a gay constituency to a political party that doesn’t want you, that actually uses you as a ploy to mobilize ultra Christian conservative voters, to further marginalize us as Americans, you have to scratch your head and wonder,” Rajner said. “They’re continually outcasts and shunned in their system.”

Gay rights have been front and center this Republican presidential campaign. Front-runners Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have all enthusiastically spoken against gay marriage, adding fuel to the gay Democrats’ fire.

“That is nothing more than going after their base. I believe they are saying what needs to be said,” said Scott Herman, a gay Republican state House candidate in Broward County.

When gay Democrats attack Herman’s political affiliation, he reminds them “you have extremists on both sides in both parties.”

“We have heard of ultra conservative judges on the Democratic side and liberal judges on the Republican side,” Herman said.

Herman points out that Log Cabin Republicans sued the United States to end the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prevented gays and lesbians from openly serving. Bipartisan support in the U.S. House and Senate led to the policy being repealed in 2010.

“I believe the Republican Party is showing, even today, that its being more inclusive than excluding,” said Heman, a disabled Desert Storm and Desert Shield veteran who formerly held office in Cabarrus County, N.C.

“I was the first openly gay Republican elected in North Carolina history,” said Herman, who moved to Wilton Manors just over two years ago.

Broward has had an active Log Cabin club dating back to 1991, chapter member A. Jay “Andy” Eddy said.

Eddy, a Republican for more than 40 years, said he supports the party because “I like the whole fiscal approach of the platform, the whole concept of fiscal responsibility.”

“When I've dealt with Republicans in the past I felt more attuned to ethical responsibility and accountability,” he said. “I don’t support runaway taxes. I like that you don‘t make yourself subservient to entitlements. It robs you of the riches that America has to offer.”

The Miami club is 4 years old and floundering. Planas, a former Miami-Dade Commission candidate, said she and Sierra are working hard to revitalize it.

“We want to reach people and let them know they don’t have to be Democrats if they’re gay,” Planas said. “I believe in what we do. And I believe that there are a lot more gay Republicans out there who don’t want it to be known they are Republicans.”

Two years ago, Planas worked a Log Cabin booth at the Miami Beach Gay Pride festival.

“We had a little interest. Not much at all. We had a few people come to the booth and ask what it was about. When they heard we were Republicans, they ran off.”

Some Log Cabin members that day reported being abused by angry gay Democrats, Planas said.

“They got spit on. They got called names,” she said. “It’s really, really rough to be a Republican.”

IF YOU GO

Log Cabin Republicans’ national “cocktail caucus” will be 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at City Hall the Restaurant, 2004 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. For more information, call Miriam “Mimi” Planas at 786-443-9875.

Ecuador to crack down on clinics that 'cure' gays

BY GONZALO SOLANO, ASSOCIATED PRESS

QUITO, Ecuador -- Ecuador will investigate and act forcefully against any clinics found to be trying to force homosexuals to change their sexual orientation, a Health Ministry official said Thursday.

Gay rights activists in the South American country say four clinics that engaged in coercive practices, three in the capital, have been shut down in recent months but that others still to operate clandestinely.

"Sadly, authorities have not yet taken the corrective measures necessary to regulate the work of clinics that offer 'de-homosexualization' treatment,'" said Efrain Soria, director of Fundacion Equidad, an anti-discrimination group.

Click here to read the complete article.

Mayors, activists to speak at first Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber 'State of Our Community' luncheon

The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has announced its first "State of Our Community' luncheon to be held Feb. 9 at the Hilton Miami/Downtown hotel.

Four mayors will speak: Carlos Gimenez (Miami-Dade County); Tomás Regalado of Miami; Jim Cason of Coral Gables; and Matti Herrera Bower of Miami Beach. Also giving reports: C.J. Ortuño, executive director of SAVE Dade; and Stratton Pollitzer, deputy director of Equality Florida.

Here are details from the gay chamber:

Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce presents the 1^st Annual "STATE OF OUR COMMUNITY" Luncheon, featuring four area mayors, on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the Hilton Miami/Downtown, 1601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Luncheon Sponsor – Shutts & Bowen, LLP - Doors open at 11:30am, with a sit-down luncheon served at 12:00pm. Program begins at 12:15pm. $35.00 - MDGLCC members - $45.00 - potential members. $12.00 reduced Valet parking or self-parking. Space is limited! Make your reservations today!

The four mayors featured are: The Honorable Carlos A. Gimenez, Mayor, Miami-Dade County; The Honorable Tomás Regalado, Mayor, City of Miami; The Honorable Matti Herrera-Bower, Mayor, City of Miami Beach, and The Honorable Jim Cason, Mayor, City of Coral Gables. Stratton Pollitzer, Deputy Director, Equality Florida and CJ Ortuno, Executive Director, SAVE Dade will kick-off the luncheon with a summary of the local/state LGBT Legislative items.  A Q&A session will close the lunch. The focus of the “State Of Our Community” luncheon will be on the most important legislative issues, with particular attention to those issues which impact the LGBT Community.

“It is important for the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to help create a dialogue between our community’s advocacy goals with business leaders in south Florida,” said Steve Adkins, President and CEO of MDGLCC. “It is an honor to have 4 such distinguished mayors attending our inaugural event and, we plan to schedule this “State of Our Community” luncheon to be an annual part of our outreach platform.”

MDGLCC is the largest not-for-profit corporation in the county for gay and lesbian businesses. With membership on the rise, the Chamber's mission is to promote a unified and thriving, gay and gay-friendly, business and professional community throughout Miami-Dade County. Our goals are to promote networking within the existing gay and gay-friendly business and professional community, to promote business opportunities for Chamber members, to promote Miami as a year-round, gay and gay-friendly tourist destination, to provide resources for our members, and to provide outreach from our community to other organizations.

Reservations: mdglcc@bellsouth.net, 305-673-4440, 786-586-4286. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. ADVANCED PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD REQUIRED.

South Florida gay writer Paul Harris dies at age 53

South Florida Gay News reports sad news:

Paul Harris, a local gay freelance journalist who had written for more than one hundred publications worldwide, has passed away.

I met Paul years ago through NLGJA, the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association. In 1998, I wrote this:

Paul Harris, a freelance writer and playwright, hasn't been seen much in South Florida since becoming homeless in the recent Kings Point condominium fire in Wilton Manors.

"Dec. 18, " Harris says. "With the water and the smoke damage -- all my furniture, my carpeting, my books were totally damaged. Luckily, my computer survived. And some ceramics by my former lover, who died of AIDS, were saved."

Since the fire, Harris, 39, has been living temporarily in New York. He plans to come back this weekend for the South Florida premiere of his new play, To Have and to Hold, at the Edge Theater in South Beach.

The play, set in South Beach, is about "two gay men, HIV-positive and in their 30s . . . who meet through an ad and try to have a relationship, " Harris says. "It's about the greatest risk a human being makes -- getting to know someone else. It's about going for it, no matter what."

Harris knows of what he writes: He is HIV-positive, having been diagnosed 14 years ago.

"Aug. 30, " he says. "It's funny the dates you remember. The date your apartment burns down and the date you are diagnosed."

Click here to read Paul's obituary in South Florida Gay News.

Maine poised for 2nd public vote on gay marriage

BY GLENN ADAMS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Gay rights activists in Maine, the only New England state that doesn't allow gay marriage or civil unions, said Thursday that they are forging ahead with plans to put the marriage question up to a second statewide vote.

EqualityMaine, the Maine Civil Liberties Union and the Maine Women's Lobby have collected more than 100,000 signatures - far more than needed to seek the referendum - and made their announcement Thursday at the State House.

The Legislature previously approved gay marriage, but it was rejected by a 2009 statewide vote, 53 percent to 47 percent. If Mainers approve gay marriage, the state would be the first to do so by a popular vote.

Click here to read the complete article.

Rep. Barney Frank to marry longtime partner

BY ANDREW MIGA, ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Retiring Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank, a gay pioneer in Congress, plans to marry his longtime partner Jim Ready of Maine.

A spokesman for Frank confirmed Thursday that the congressman's wedding will be in Massachusetts, but said no date had been set.

The Democrat announced last fall that he was retiring at the end of his 16th term.

Black leaders: No vote on civil rights after New Jersey governor says poll voters on gay marriage

BY ANGELA DELLI SANTI, ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRENTON, N.J. -- Two of New Jersey's most influential black leaders blasted Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday for proposing gay marriage be put to a popular vote in November, but the Republican governor insisted he's offering a reasonable compromise amid his personal opposition to same-sex nuptials.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Newark Mayor Cory Booker said in separate forums that civil rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and don't belong on the ballot.

Booker said baseball great Jackie Robinson would not have had the opportunity to break the sport's color barrier had the matter been put to a vote, and the mayor himself would not have had the opportunity, years later, to be elected to lead New Jersey's largest city. Oliver said in a statement she was offended by Christie's comment Tuesday that bloodshed may have been avoided in the South, and people would have been happier, if the civil rights issues of the 1960s were settled by public referendum.

Click here to read the complete article.

Tim Gunn of 'Project Runway': I haven't had sex in 29 years

Tim Gunn, star of Project Runway, tells People.com that he hasn't had sex in 29 years:

Gunn said the reasons for his abstinence are rooted in psychological issues from an old relationship. "It's very personal," he said. "I was in a very intense relationship for a long time. And my partner ended it, saying that, quite frankly, he was impatient with my sexual performance."

Gunn, 58, says that when he stopped having sex, the AIDS epidemic was just beginning.

Click here to read the complete article.

Be sure to read the comments.

My favorite from Frank: "I'm so not shaking his hand."

Video | National Gay-Straight Alliance Day message from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan

From The White House blog:

Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have taken many steps to ensure that all students are safe and healthy and can learn in environments free from discrimination, bullying and harassment.

Bullying is an epidemic that has gone ignored for too long, and far too many of our young people are targeted and harassed based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  But across the country, Gay-Straight Alliances and other similar student groups are taking important steps to address these issues.

Last year, President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and others welcomed students, parents, and teachers in addition to non-profit leaders, advocates, and policymakers to the White House for a Conference on Bullying Prevention.  Also last year, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan wrote a “Dear Colleague” letter to school districts across the country in support of Gay-Straight Alliances.  And today, on the occasion of the first-ever National Gay-Straight Alliance Day, Secretary Duncan has taped a video message to students, teachers, and allies to re-emphasize the Obama Administration’s commitment to safe schools for all students.

Gallery | South Florida models strut in Papi underwear to raise money for lifeguard foundation

Five lifeguard/models donned Papi underwear for a fashion show Tuesday night at MOVA Lounge in South Beach. Drink proceeds from the show, sponsored by the South Florida Lifeguard Association, benefitted the United States Lifesaving Foundation, according to promoter Thomas Barker.

Click here to view a gallery from the event. Photos by STEVE ROTHAUS / Miami Herald Staff.

Cynthia Nixon's 'choice' remarks to New York Times land her in hot water with some gay activists

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon, who came out as a lesbian in 2004, has caused a controversy by telling The New York Times that for her, being a lesbian is a choice:

“I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line ‘I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.’ And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. And for me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me. A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if it’s a choice, then we could opt out. I say it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not.”

Some gay activists are upset with Nixon's "choice" comments could cause a political backlash.

"She needs to learn how to choose her words better, because she just fell into a right-wing trap, willingly.  When the religious right says it's a choice, they mean you quite literally choose your sexual orientation, you can change it at will, and that's bull," writes John Aravosis of AMERICAblog.

What do you think?

Click here to read the complete New York Times article.

University of Wisconsin athletic official resigns after male student reports he grabbed his crotch

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADISON, Wis. -- A University of Wisconsin student alleged that an athletic department official grabbed his crotch at an alcohol-fueled party during the football team's trip to the Rose Bowl, according to an independent report released by the school on Tuesday night.

The report says the student alleges former senior associate athletic director John Chadima put his hand down the student's pants at the end of a party in Chadima's suite at a Los Angeles hotel on Dec. 31.

The student - identified only as John Doe in the report - said he was "shocked and frightened" and slapped Chadima's hand away.

Chadima was put on administrative leave on Jan. 6 and resigned the same day. He previously had issued an apology for a "lapse in judgment," and issued another statement through his attorney Tuesday.

"I make no excuses and have come to the realization that over the past few months, alcohol had controlled and consumed my life," Chadima said. "I am taking steps to correct that problem in my life at this time. I will take full responsibility for my lack of judgment and actions that evening."

Click here to read the complete article.

Gallery | Elliott Gould at Miami Jewish Film Festival

Movie star Elliott Gould spoke to a packed audience Tuesday night following a screening of his new film, Dorfman, at the Miami Jewish Film Festival. Also with Gould: Dorfman producer Len Hill and director Wendy Kout; and Avital Epstein, director of the short film Peace at Home, also screened at the festival.

Gould will also speak after today's 3 p.m. screening at Regal South Beach Stadium 18, 1120 Lincoln Rd. Tickets: 888-585-FILM (3456).

Photos by STEVE ROTHAUS / Miami Herald Staff.