By Ramy Eletreby

Kuehl's Controversial Education Bill Passes Senate

On May 11, SB 1437, which would require California school's curricula to include contributions made by the LGBT community to the development of the state and nation, passed the state Senate. The bill, written by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) and sponsored by Equality California (EQCA), was approved 22-15 and now heads to the Assembly for consideration.

“Studies show that a bias-free and LGBT-inclusive curriculum fosters tolerance, resulting in greater feelings of student safety and less bullying of students who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender,” Kuehl said. “Today's vote brings us one step closer to our goal of safe schools for all children, and I am very grateful that so many of my colleagues in the California Senate saw the pressing need for this bill.”

“All students deserve to learn history from a fair and balanced perspective,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoffrey Kors.

Editorials appeared in the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times criticizing the bill after it passed the Senate Education Committee. “History is history. It isn't necessarily gay or straight,” said the Bee on May 8. “It's a twisting of what history textbooks are supposed to do,” said the Times.

Crystal Meth Forum: the Good, the Sad, and the Ugly

On May 8, AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) held a community forum in the West Hollywood Park Auditorium titled, Crystal Meth: The Good, the Sad, and the Ugly. Three experts on crystal methamphetamine education and awareness led the two-hour session discussing the complexities of the party drug as: what makes crystal meth so popular (the good); the extended behavioral and psychological effects (the sad); and the long-term damage to the brain (the ugly).

Tony Valenzuela, an HIV-positive ex-crystal meth user, said that a true change in behavior cannot come unless people can feel free to admit the extent of the initial exhilaration and sexual gratification. APLA's mental health expert Lydia Szamraj highlighted the effects of habitual use such as the crash, stages of withdrawal, severe emotional states, and mental disorders. Peter S. Theodore looked at the long-term dangerous effects crystal has on the brain, illustrating the dramatic shift of dopamine levels and the radical loss of function in the cortical system.

This was the first in a series of community forums on crystal meth. For more information, see www.apla.org.

Federal Judges Dismiss California Marriage Lawsuit

On May 5, three federal judges on the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sidestepped ruling on the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In 2004, Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer from Mission Viejo filed a lawsuit (Smelt v. Orange County) claiming that DOMA, which reserves federal marriage benefits to opposite-sex couples, violates their constitutional rights of equal protection, privacy and freedom of association. The judges dismissed the case citing that they can only rule on the constitutionality of a law if someone is being harmed by the law, and since Smelt and Hammer are not recognized as being married, then they are not being denied any rights.

Some gay-rights advocates were relieved by the dismissal. “For now, it is essential that marriage equality cases be brought and litigated in those carefully selected state courts where they can build on years of successful legal work to protect lesbian and gay couples and their families in narrower ways,” Lambda Legal's Jenny Pizer told IN. “That is how we have the greatest likelihood of succeeding because we have more legal building blocks to work with.”

Gay Man Shot In WeHo

Robert Yaffe was walking northbound on Larabee Street in West Hollywood at approximately 1:15 a.m. on May 2 when three Latino men allegedly got out of a dark blue four-door sedan and asked him if he had any money, Yaffe told IN Los Angeles. Yaffe told them he didn't have any cash, and then started backing away. When he got about 30 feet away, Yaffe says one of the men pulled out a 9 mm Glock and shot him in the left arm. “[The bullet] went right through the lower end of the bicep and out my elbow,” says Yaffe. “I lost all feeling in my left arm in the upper epidermis. It severed a nerve.”

Yaffe immediately filed a report with the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station, which apparently got another call about a woman being mugged on Hancock Street, one block away from Larabee. Yaffe believes the men came to West Hollywood because they believed that gay men were easy targets who would put up little resistance.

The suspects have not been apprehended yet, though an investigation is underway. The investigating officer, Det. Rezulli, did not return a phone call for comment by press time.

Courtney Love Crashes Women's Benefit for Gay & Lesbian Center

On April 29, an unexpected appearance by singer Courtney Love at the annual Women's Night benefit for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center sent the crowd in Hollywood's Music Box Theatre into an uproar. Love reportedly walked on stage unannounced to perform a short set with singer-guitarist Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins and songwriter-producer Linda Perry. “Billy and me have never been onstage before, and it was intense,” Love told NME.com. “His guitar parts are haunting and beautiful. It [was] me, him, Linda, and 2,000 lesbians, and the songs are dramatically different from the demos.”

Aside from the unexpected appearance, Love reportedly was not wearing any underwear and gave her audience frequent glimpses of what was under her dress, according to Yahoo! News.

The event raised more than $150,000 for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

HIV Scare at San Diego Hospital

Nearly 300 obese patients who underwent stomach-reduction surgery at the San Diego-area Scripps Memorial Hospital may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis, AP reported May 4. According to hospital officials, a registered nurse who worked at the hospital from September 2004 to last month knowingly failed to fully clean a surgical instrument. "We have been assured by both local and national experts the risk of infection is very low" because the instrument, a gastroscope, underwent several preliminary washes, said Scripps spokesperson Don Stanziano. "HIV is a fragile virus so it is unlikely to have survived the process."

LGBT Rights Discussed at Black Caucus Conference

Thanks to California Legislative Black Caucus Chair Mervyn Dymally, this year's Caucus conference in Los Angeles included an April 29 panel discussion about whether the traditional civil rights movement should embrace the LGBT movement for equality.

Sponsored by the National Black Justice Coalition and moderated by Dymally staffer and NBLC member Jasmyne Cannick, the panel featured comments from Assemblymember Dymally, state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, Palm Springs Mayor and Assembly candidate Ron Oden, Berkeley City Councilman Darryl Moore, Long Beach City Councilwoman and Assembly candidate Laura Richardson, and civil rights leader Rev. James Lawson.

There were several moving moments, including Dymally's recollection of how he was in Colorado in the early 1970s when, as lieutenant governor, he received urgent calls to fly home to cast the tie-breaking vote on a bill that would decriminalize same-sex relationships. “I walked in very dramatically, pressed the button that said 'aye' and broke the log-jam,” Dymally said. “It was my first experience with the question of equality for gay rights. I look at it as civil rights.” -- Karen Ocamb

APLA Joins in Big Sunday

Over 200 AIDS Project Los Angeles clients and their children were among the 30,000 volunteers who participated on May 7 in Big Sunday-L.A.'s Annual Day of Service. Last year over 8,000 volunteers worked at over 200 projects, including cleaning up streets and beaches and feeding the homeless, and rehabilitating dilapidated homes. This year L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa participated, as did West Hollywood City Councilmember Abbe Land. APLA's 40 volunteers organized events that featured free food, entertainment, and a shoe and clothing drive. Children also got to enjoy a carousel, an inflated moon tent, and a drumming-dancing circle.

Equality California Endorses Westly for Governor

On May 6, the board of Equality California's Political Action Committee (EQCA PAC) unanimously endorsed state Controller Steve Westly for governor in the June 6 primary election.

“Steve Westly is the only gubernatorial candidate who has unequivocally supported equality for our community from the very start of his political career,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoffrey Kors. “Only one candidate for governor had a perfect score on our questionnaire and that candidate is Steve Westly.”

One reason the EQCA PAC endorsed Westly over state Treasurer Phil Angelides, PAC Chair Diane Abbitt told IN, was because EQCA required not only support for marriage equality but that the gubernatorial candidates also support other candidates who support marriage for same-sex couples. The EQCA PAC is working to help re-elect legislators who voted for the marriage equality bill, often at risk to their political careers. In an interview prior to making their endorsement, Angelides confirmed to the PAC that he had endorsed Jerome Horton for Board of Equalization (Horton refused to vote in favor of marriage equality) and anti-gay Assemblymember Joe Baca over pro-marriage equality Assemblymember Gloria Negrete McLeod in the race for Senate District 32.

EQCA also endorsed L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo over Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown in the race for attorney general. “Jerry Brown refused to return the questionnaire” Abbitt told IN, “and people must turn in the questionnaire in order to be interviewed. Based on Rocky's answers on the questionnaire and in the interview, we believe he is the better candidate to serve the legal interests of our community.”

EQCA did not endorse in the race for lieutenant governor because, Abbitt said, the three candidates—Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, and state Sens. Jackie Speier and Liz Figueroa—all scored 100 percent on the questionnaire and “all three have been very supportive of our community.” However, Abbitt said, EQCA PAC may revisit this race as well as other races where candidates were not endorsed and “take a second look” before the June 6 primary.

For a complete list of endorsements, go to www.eqca.org/pac/2006. --Karen Ocamb

Long Beach Voters, Special Election

Eleven candidates will compete in a special election to fill the Long Beach City Council 2nd District seat on June 2. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes will represent an area that includes the section of town deemed "the gay ghetto," completing the unexpired term of openly gay Councilman Dan Baker. Baker resigned suddenly on Feb. 7.

Concerned about filling the void, and with only a few weeks to make a choice, the LGBT community sponsored a forum in late April, facilitated by Whitney Engeran, C.J. Derby, Kim Woods, and Heidi Hoffman.

The field of candidates reflects the diversity of the area. There are two openly gay men: talk show host Sonny Bozeman, who has run against Baker for this office and is endorsed by the L.A. County Republican Party and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association; and environmental scientist Thomas Herzog, vice-chair of the city's Homeless Services Advisory Committee who has two sons with his partner.

There are two Green Party candidates: community volunteer Gabrielle Weeks and James "Hank" Conn, a social worker who works in downtown Los Angeles in the skid row district.

Another candidate is a creative young architect, Brian Ulaszewski, who is an independent (DTS) and emphasizes "neighborhood empowerment." Candidate Lyle Sardie owns a Mexican restaurant, and candidate Anthony Kim provides a presence from the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. Candidate Richard Green is on the board of the Long Beach Housing and Development Company and has run for school board.

But the three frontrunners are all women: Long Beach School Board President Suja Lowenthal, community activist Bry Myown, and commercial realtor Becky Blair.

Blair, a successful businesswoman, raised nearly $50,000 in four weeks and is endorsed by preservationist John Thomas, and other community leaders.

Myown leads the fight against building an LNG terminal in the port and her endorsements include Bob Hattoy, former co-chair of the Presidential Commission on HIV & AIDS and White House Department of Interior liaison in the Clinton administration.

Suja Lowenthal won the endorsement of The Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club at their May meeting. As the daughter-in-law of state Sen. Alan Lowenthal and 1st District Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal, she has earned recognition in the Long Beach LGBT community in her own right. Most recently, as school board president she fought for domestic partnership benefits for all LBUSD employees. -- Denise Penn

Race for 42nd Assembly District Seat Heats Up

The race for the 42nd Assembly District seat being vacated by termed-out Paul Koretz looks like a late-night nail-biter since the winner of the June 6 primary effectively wins the election in the safe Democratic district. Either West Hollywood City Councilmember Abbe Land, often described as an "honorary lesbian" because of her long pro-LGBT history, or former L.A. City Councilmember Mike Feuer, who has two gay brothers, would be an important progressive voice, LGBT politicos say.

"I have done a dual endorsement," Lorri Jean, CEO of the LA Gay & Lesbian Center told IN. "Mike and Abbe have been champions when it comes to issues of concern to the GLBT community. We would be well represented by either of them. It's unfortunate that they couldn't be running in different districts so that we could work to get both of them elected."

Other LGBT leaders have chosen sides. "I have endorsed Mike Feuer who is also being endorsed by Paul Koretz," Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation told IN. Additionally, "Mike asked for my endorsement, Abbe did not."

"Both candidates are fine, highly qualified individuals with a lot to offer," West Hollywood City Councilmember Jeff Prang told IN. "However, as a councilmember from a small city, you have to work harder to make an impact, and Abbe has. She authored the first hand gun ban that was later duplicated by cities and states throughout the nation; she helped create the first domestic partnership program in the nation and was a trailblazer on GLBT issues; she is a respected national leader on women's issues."

At the packed Stonewall Democratic Club meeting last month, Land won the club's endorsement with 116 votes to Feuer's 63 votes.

For more on both candidates go to www.abbeland.com and www.mikefeuerforassembly.com. -- Karen Ocamb