QUEER MONTCLAIR / OUT IN ESSEX:

A GAY & LESBIAN VIRTUAL COMMUNITY IN THE MONTCLAIR AREA

Crosswicks House

Post Office Box 1974

Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003-1974

Telephone:  973-776-3901, Ext. 8686

E-Mail:     [email protected]

WWW:        www.geocities.com/QueerMontclair/index.html

September 4, 2001

Dear Friends and List Members,

Summer has really been a season full of Pride this first year (officially)

of the New Millenium; it seems one could hardly turn around without finding

oneself in the midst of an LGBT parade or festival and enmeshed in the

colors of rainbow flags! I hope that all of you enjoyed a summer-full of

happy, healthy times!  Because of the plethora of events to attend and the

pressures of running my (new!) business, I’ve had to consolidate July and

August newsletters into this, September’s newsletter – but – I think and I

hope – I’d given everyone a pretty good rundown of what to expect in the way

of events this summer in our last newsletter (June).

Work on our new website (which is for the moment located at

http://www.geocities.com/QueerMontclair/index.html proceeds apace, as does

work on my own new online bookstrore, Queer Spirit Rising! But more about

those as they near their completion.

Fall is in the air now: I think we’ve seen our last 100-degree days (watch

me be wrong!) and my favorite season brings with it a beefy roster of news,

chat and upcoming events!

Also, we here in New Jersey are facing an election in November that – more

than in any recent state elections – affords New Jerseyans a choice amongst

profoundly, even starkly, differing candidates, political philosophies and

social visions.  More than in any gubernatorial race since the 1970’s New

Jersey’s LGBT citizenry is faced with an election in which not only are both

candidates not actively contending for the gay & lesbian voter, but one

candidate (and I’m sure we all already know who is who) has announced

himself as a partisan of the “sick and sinful” theory of homosexuality who,

given his ‘druthers, would ‘druther strip us of our civil rights.  But more

on this as November approaches.

Have a great September: enjoy, and of course if I’ve missed anyone or

anything, do please let me know!

Warm regards to all!

In solidarity,

Bill Courson

I. WOMENVISION MONTCLAIR SPONSORS THIRD ANNUAL EVENING

WomenVision's 3rd Annual  Evening at the Waterview Pavilion in Belmar, New

Jersey (across from the marina) will take place on Saturday, September 29th

7-11pm and featuring a Cocktail Hour, Cash Bar, Hot & Cold Buffet, DJ,

Dancing, and Door Prizes...an evening to remember ! Tickets are still

available, and are $40.00 per person ($36 with coupon ); Please purchase

yours’ before September 20th ! Call 201-572-9519 (anytime) or 973-709-0455

(evenings) or send your check to WomenVision, PO Box 3017  Memorial Station,

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 or write to WomenVision at [email protected]

Proceeds from this event help support WomenVision’s

continuing effort to assist children in need and their families in the NJ

area

II. GAY BINGO COMES TO N.B. PRIDE CENTER

Gay Bingo is coming to New Jersey! The Pride Center and Jersey Pride are

working together to bring this amazingly fun event to NJ complete with drag

queen hostesses!

The first game will be a trial game at the Pride Center on Saturday

September 15th. The first big game will take place at National Coming Out

Day in Holmdel, NJ on Sunday October 7th under the tent!  The Pride Center

and Jersey Pride are still finalizing the permanent location for games

starting in November. If anyone has information on a site, please contact us

at [email protected]. New committee members are still welcome to join!

III. NORTH JERSEY LESBIAN & GAY BOWLERS

We are the North Jersey Gay & Lesbian Bowler league. We were at the Pride

Festival in Asbury Park where you filled out a form showing interest in

bowling for the 2001-2002 season. At this time we are contacting those

people who might like to join us for this coming season. We bowl on Tuesday

nights at 9:00pm at the Belle-Aire Lane on Passaic Ave in West Caldwell. We

bowl for 36 weeks from September to May at Belle-Aire Lanes. Anyone

interested in the League can contact their Vice President, Dora Davenport,

by e-mail at at [email protected].

IV. GLSEN of NORTHERN NEW JERSEY OFFERS “COMMON THREADS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

PROJECT: 10/26-10/28/2001

GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network) and CANDLE (Community

Awareness Network for a Drug-free Life and Environment) co-sponsor an annual

weekend for straight and gay youth, and their adult advisors, who wish to

build respect for all in their schools and communities.  Common Threads

takes place at Camp Hidden Valley in Fishkill, NY, 65 miles north of New

York City.  Two hundred youth entering grades 9-12 are sought, and should

apply in groups of 3 or more, including at least one adult supervisor.  Peer

leaders, student government members, GSA members and other interested youth

are encouraged to attend.  Individuals unable to form a team should contact

the organizers. There is a per person fee of $80, which includes all

expenses except transportation.  Scholarships will be awarded on a needs

basis.  For more information contact Alan Horowitz at (651) 603-4942 or

[email protected] or Eileen Browning at (845) 634-6677.  Checks should

be made payable to CANDLE and

sent to:  Common Threads, c/o Out for Equity, 1930 Como Ave, Saint Paul MN

55108.  Upon receipt you will be sent a complete registration packet, with

forms to be completed by each participant.

The work done by GLSEN in the Montclair and Northern New Jersey areas – as

well as nationwide – is of critical importance to our youth. If you have yet

to join or renew your membership in GLSEN, it's cheap and easy.   Basic

annual membership in GLSEN costs $35 per year, $50 per household, and $15

for students, seniors and anyone with limited income.  Send your check,

payable to GLSEN Northern New Jersey. Contact: GLSEN-NNJ, PO Box 43171,

Upper Montclair NJ 07043  Their email address is [email protected].

V. WOMENVISION'S FALL 2001 MONTCLAIRLESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL

WomenVision's Fall 2001 MontclairLesbian & Gay Film Festival begins

Saturday, October 27th   8pm at theFirst Lutheran Church Auditorium 153 Park

Street, in Montclair. Their first presentation will be "The Children's Hour"

(starring Shirley McLain and Audrey Hepburn). Other features announced

include “Finding North: A Romantic Comedy.” This event is sponsored in part

by  Our Quarterly, Inc. For further info call WomenVision at 973-785-8006 or

8047  Tickets are now on sale.

VI. YES! COMMUNITIES OF FAITH at PHILADELPHIA “OUTFEST 2001”

In conjunction with the timing of Philadelphia’s OutFest 2001, the Yes!

Coalition is planning a regional one-day conference on October 6, 200l.  The

conference will gather gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied

persons from the tri-state area faith communities and from those who do not

have a faith home but consider themselves spiritual people.  In the process,

they are

establishing working relationships among a broadening base of people in the

area  which may lead to further envisioning and partnering in the future.

Their mission statement states: “GLBTA people are of many faith groups. The

common bond of being GLBT and being rejected by most faith groups  binds us

together in unique experience that can be a bridge across religious

differences. We will gather in our human diversity to celebrate God¹s love

for people of all sexual orientations and gender variations.  We will gather

to experience the presence of the holy and participate in the spirit's work

to transform faith communities and society.

For detailed information, contact Kathy Stayton, the Outreach Chair for the

Yes! Conference at 610-647-9616.

VII. GAAMC HARVEST FESTIVAL

Join GAAMC (the Gay Activists Alliance of Morris County) on Sunday October

21st at their annual Harvest Festival at the Westin Morristown. The

evening's proceeds go to Gay & Lesbian Youth in NJ, The Anti-Violence

Hotline, and the Gay Helpline of NJ. Bob Smith, formerly of Funny Gay Males,

is the featured performer. If you have items for the silent auction, or for

other information, please contact Pat at 973-334-5382 ASAP.

VIII. GAY & LESBIAN YOUTH – SOUTH ORANGE

The South Orange Chapter of GALY-NJ (Gay & Lesbian Youth of New Jersey) meet

at the First Presbyterian & Trinity Church, at 111 Irvington Ave in South

Orange, NJ every Saturday from 1:30 - 4:30pm.

1st and 3rd Saturdays:  14-17 year olds only;

2nd and 4th Saturdays are for 18-21 year olds only;

5th Saturdays, if applicable, a Speaker or Film (for all 14-21 year olds)

will be featured.

IX. 8th ANNUAL LGBT CULTURAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL

The Eighth Annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexed

Cultural Heritage Festival will take place on Sunday, October 7, 2001 at The

PNC Bank Arts Center, in Holmdel, NJEvents at the festival will include a

marketplace, food court, entertainment stage, games, children's activities,

the largest outside display of the Names Quilt in NJ, and much more.

Attendance is expected to top 10,000 people. The festival runs from 11 am to

6 pm. Admission is free, with donations accepted.

X. ILGA BANNED FROM UN RACISM CONFERENCE

The International Lesbian and Gay Association has been denied observer

status at the United Nations' World Conference Against Racism which began on

August. 31st in

Durban, South Africa.  A vote on the matter at a July 30 organizing session

in Geneva resulted in a 43-43 tie with 27 abstentions. Muslim nations led

the anti-ILGA charge. Sweden's representative was not present for the vote,

which would have tipped the result in ILGA's favor.

The countries that supported ILGA's involvement are  Australia, Austria,

Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, the Czech

Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,

Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein,

Lithuania, Luxembourg,  Macedonia, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand,

Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,

Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Those that opposed ILGA are Algeria, Angola, Bahrain,  Bangladesh, Botswana,

Brunei, China, North Korea, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran,

Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar,

Malaysia, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan,

Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania,

Tunisia, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Vatican City (the 'Holy See') and

Vietnam.

The nations that declined to cast a vote are  Argentina, Armenia, Barbados,

Bhutan, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

(formerly Zaire), Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Mauritius, Mexico,

Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, South

Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago,  Uruguay, Venezuela and

Yugoslavia.

Eighty other nations were not present for the vote.

Notable among those most actively agitating for ILGA’s exclusion was the

Vatican City State (also known as the Holy See) which is a non-member UN

Observer State, and which enjoys bvoting rights at such UN-sponsored

conferences.  In the past, the Holy See has opposed a variety of measures

promoting sex education, women’s rights, and religious equality.

XI. BRET SCHUNDLER: IT COULDN'T GET MUCH WORSE THAN THIS

About a month ago, a mailing I received from the well-known nation-wide

"Queer Politics" mailing list was captioned "Republicans Running Caveman For

Governor of New Jersey" and informed me that:

"... Bret Schundler, the "right wing bigot who won the GOP nomination to run

for Governor of New Jersey, has been stung by one of the state's leading

Republicans

-- Christie Todd Whitman. The former Governor who is now environmental

secretary in the Bush Cabinet says Schundler is too extremist for most

Republicans in the

Garden State. Give Whitman a Boy Scout courage badge to voice a conviction

like that. Schundler has attracted most fire for his desire to make all

abortions illegal

-- even if a woman is raped. He also wants to make it OK to carry a

concealed weapon. As for gay rights, Mr. Schundler assured the Christian

Coalition that he

stood to the right of Jesus himself, as reported in the New York Times

August 15: "Mr. Schundler said he was opposed to the public schools

"teaching that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle," to making sexual

preference a protected category under civil

rights laws, to allowing adoption of children by gay parents, to state

recognition of gay marriages, and to extending marital benefits to domestic

partners. "He said he opposed allowing school-based clinics to dispense

birth-control devices without parental consent,

supported curriculums that "stress abstinence rather than `safe sex,'..... "

Mr. Schundler is the Mayor of Jersey City, a city with a rich tradition of

corruption that is mostly a run down hole. It does attract a large queer

spill-over from high-rent Manhattan thanks to easy access, and this

community is observing Gay Pride for the first time next month. Vote early

and often."

Now, nearly a month has passed. Bret is no longer the mayor of Jersey City.

Jersey City's voters turned out the Republican regime in their intervening

municipal election and voted in Mayor Cunningham with a team of Democrats.

That - alone - ought to tell us something about Mr. Schundler's popularity

in his 'jurisdiction of

origin.'

Also in the interval (last week, actually) Jersey City and Hudson County

celebrated in the grand style their First Gay Pride Festival. It was

wonderful: the weather was perfect, the sky and the river were perfect, and

the rainbow flags and balloons surrounding the monument to the World War II

Nazi massacre at Katyn, Ukraine, were a sight to behold. Enough to put a

lump in one's throat. Street food were plentiful, and I was happy.  New

Jersey Stonewall Democrats' President and fellow Montclair resident LaQuetta

Nelson gave a stunning speech.

But ... back to the subject at hand, viz., Mr. Schundler.

Back on August 5th, Star Ledger political columnist and resident homophobe

and honorary 'Doctor of Humane Letters' (from Seton Hall University – where

else?) John McLaughlin interviewed Bret Schundler. Here are a couple of

choice quotes, in case anyone missed it:

JML: "You say you have a call from God to fight for social justice?""

BS: "I think that all of the world's religions suggest that all of us have a

moral obligation to try to fight for social justice."

JML: "Would you march in a gay parade?"

BS: "If the issue is, should a homosexual have civil rights, the answer is

yes. If the issue is, should government get involved in your bedroom, the

answer is no. If the question is, is a gay lifestyle going to lead to

happiness for most people, the answer however

is also no. There are some people who believe that homosexuality is simply a

lifestyle choice. There are a lot of people who believe that homosexuality

is more of a genetic predisposition. If what the culture goes out and says

is that everybody should just make their own choice, explore different

things and what have you, then I think we're going to end up with a lot of

unhappiness. I think it would make more sense for more people to actually

not be so sexually active at all. I am a believer in the more traditional

Christian idea of not getting sexually active unless you are married and

ready to raise a child."

JML: "Which way do you see it? Is homosexuality a choice or is it genetic?"

BS: "I don't know. It may be one explanation for some and the second

explanation for others. I don't think anyone knows for sure."

JML: "So you would not march in a parade?"

BS: "It's not a question I've dealt with. It might depend on what the parade

was about. If it was about to try to raise money for AIDS, that is a

different question. If the message of the parade is that homosexuality is

simply another lifestyle choice that others might explore or consider, I

would say, no. I don't think that it is."

JML: "You are regarded as one of the new breed of mayors - the mayor of Los

Angeles, Rudolph Giuliani in New York - who are more interested in getting

results

than they are in politics. Those two are big tent Republicans. How big is

your tent? Does it include gays?"

BS: "I think so. I think if you look at supporters of mine in Jersey City,

you will find everybody. You will find for instance that most teachers that

live in Jersey City voted for me. The Union never endorsed me. The teachers

did. If you look within the gay population in Jersey City, which is

concentrated around my neighborhood, I think you will find I got the

majority of the vote."

Well, now: I don't know how to say this politely: but if Mr. Schundler

thinks he has some basis in reality for believing he garnered the teachers'

- much less the gay(!) - vote in the last election, he is profoundly

delusional, and oughtn't to be operating a vehicle. Somebody, restrain this

man.  But then again, don't restrain Bret: let him continue to alienate the

remainder of his prospective electorate.

As I sit here writing this, I'm being told by a friend, a retired public

health official, what Mr. Schundler (a man whose religion purportedly calls

him to work for social justice) did to Jersey City's Health Department. To

put it breifly, there is no Health department left in Jersey City. What he

did was, he gutted it. Cut off its funding, to the point that one (one!)

safety inspector was on staff to address all of the food safety concerns for

Jersey City, a city not without a considerable array of restaurants.

Not only did he gut the Jersey City Health Department's professional staff,

he appointed as its head a political crony whose only expertise in the realm

of public health was to have been a restaurant owner. No friend of public

health inspectors, this individual (known to his staff respectfully as "the

restaurateur" and as "changeman" because of the pocketful of change he liked

to 'jingle' to let everyone know he was around) ground whatever purposeful

activity could have been carried on by his eviscerated department down to

nothing.

It would, I think, be an interesting exercise to inquire into the incidence

of food poisoning during Mayor Schundler's watch.