News Briefs

letters
01 September 2006

TG firefighter’s harasser punished

Master Firefighter Mike Brown has received a three-day suspension from Knoxville Fire Chief Robert Key. The suspension stems from false statements allegedly made by Brown regarding remarks purportedly made by Assistant Chief Mark Foulks. Brown gave statements to investigators indicating that Foulks expressed a desire to keep Knoxville firefighter Jamie Faucon “out of the public eye.” Foulks denies making those statements.

The investigation stems from complaints made by Faucon, who transitioned from male to female during the course of her employment with the Knoxville Fire Department.

Brown and his attorney intend to appeal the decision.

Local lesbian activist succumbs to heart disease

Knox area residents continue to mourn the loss of Dianne Draper, 63, of Fountain City. Draper passed away on Tuesday, July 18, at Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee in Knoxville.

Draper was an active member of the Whosoever Fellowship Church and served as the advertising director for Gyrlgroove Productions. She also recently assisted Julia Tucker’s bid for a Knoxville City Council seat. Her history in the Knoxville community goes back several decades.

Draper had open-heart surgery last year to repair a heart valve as well as a bout with pneumonia last winter, which weakened her already fragile health. She is survived by her aunt, Helen Douglas. Services were held at Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel.

Writer’s Block Live moves to KMA

The popular concert series Writer’s Block (WB) LIVE has moved from its previous venue at Knoxville Visitor’s Center downtown. Beginning in September, the series will be presented at Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) at World’s Fair Park.

With seven years of successful production of independent performing songwriters, WB has broadcast weekly on the Knoxville Americana station WDVX. Previous featured artists have included Grammy winners Lloyd Maines and Terri Hendrix; NewSong Recording artist Diana Jones; Internationally known Caroline Herring; Canada’s Martha’s Trouble; as well as Knoxville’s finest and favorites, Maggie Longmire, Cruz Contreras, The Lonetones, Jay Clark, Todd Steed and many more.

WB host, creator and program director, Karen E. Reynolds, is excited about the move to KMA.

“We’ve sincerely appreciated the support of the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corp in providing the space at the visitor’s center, but needed to spread our wings a bit… Songwriting is art in one of its truest forms and goes hand in hand with the mission of KMA: to bring great art to the people of Knoxville,” states Reynolds.

Joyce Jacopelle, KMA Operations Manager, looks forward to the association.

“We’re excited to bring this program to the museum. It’s a great fit, and we want to support any of the arts here in Knoxville,” says Jacopelle.

The kickoff KMA concert will be on September 6, featuring acclaimed singer songwriter, Malcolm Holcombe. Concerts will be presented on Wednesdays instead of Fridays, and will begin at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $7, and doors open at 6 pm. A cash bar will be available, and the new WB national sponsor, Panera Bread, will offer free snacks and treats.

For interviews, ticket or concert information, call 865-688-8521 or visit the WB Web site at www.WritersBlockOnline.com.

K-Town Softball revving up for fall season

K-Town Softball League will begin their fall season on Sept. 10, 2006. The season will run from Sept. 12 through Oct. 29. There will be no games played on Sept. 17, to allow teams to travel to the Music City Invitational Nashville Tournament.

Games will be played at Mayor Bob Leonard Park on Watt Road, and are tentatively scheduled to run from noon to 7 p.m. The official game schedule will be posted on the K-Town Softball Web site.

This season’s play will have three divisions: Men’s C, Men’s D, and Women’s Open division.

“We are very proud to announce our women’s division,” says Keith McDaniel, K-Town Softball league commissioner. “We have twelve teams for fall. A team from Nashville has also said they may be interested in joining the league.”

Current plans for the upcoming season include concessions during the day such as hot dogs, Gatorade, water, and more. The proceeds from the concession stand will go to the league.

For further information, visit their Web site at www.ktownsoftball.com.

Kentucky Fairness Alliance board member receives honor

Kentucky Fairness Alliance Board member Jim Dickinson has received the 2006 Wasson Award. The annual award began in 1993 and is presented to an individual who has contributed in a significant manner to improving the lives of gay Kentuckians. Begun by Terry Mullins in 1993, the award is named for Jeffrey Wasson, the defendant in the case that overturned Kentucky's same-sex only sodomy law (Commonwealth v. Wasson). As a result of the case, Wasson lost two jobs and received death threats. He was the first recipient of this award.

Dickinson has been a member of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance Bluegrass Chapter since 1998 and served as Co-Chair for Bluegrass from 2001 through 2003. He joined the Kentucky Fairness Alliance statewide Board of Directors in January 2000, and has served as Secretary and Co-Chair.

He has been active with the Rainbow Bowling League since the early 1990s, serving as Secretary of the Tournament Committee from 1995 to1997.

Dickinson works as an Administrative Law Judge with the Environmental and

Public Protection Cabinet, a position he has held since 1993.

GLBTWorld.net founder passes

L. Gray Morrison, founder of GLBTWorld.net, has succumbed to a heart attack according to information sent to “O&AN” East Bureau by his business associates.

Morrison participated in the “Meet the Family” event sponsored by the Greater Knoxville LGBTQ Leadership Council in March 2006.

Changes to Knox County Schools anti-bullying policy

In response to complaints from the community, the Knox County School Board has updated its harassment policy to allow for better implementation by educators. In addition to language specifically protecting GLBT students from bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, the Board has further ramped up the policy to include effective ongoing professional development, best practices approaches, and a stereotype-free curriculum. These additions are intended to further refine a policy aimed at providing safer and less violent schools for students, teachers, and administrators.

For further information, check with the Knox County School Board at (865) 594-1800 or visit them online at www.kcs.k12tn.net.

Carousel II owner passes away

Co-owner of the Carousel II, Coy Belew, passed away on Tuesday, July 18. He is survived by his wife, Hazel. Services were held at Rose Mortuary Broadway Chapel.

The Carousel II, the oldest gay bar in Knoxville, lays claims to the honor of being the longest running show bar in the Southeastern United States. The club has also served as the career launching pad for many well-known entertainers, such Charlie Brown of Atlanta, Ga.

New family definitions reflect changing demographics

The Metropolitan Planning Commission’s (MPC) Task Force charged with redefining the definition of family for zoning purposes has finished their work.

Despite early moves toward the Belle Terra model allowing only two “unrelated” persons to reside in a single-family unit, the Task Force forged an inclusive and workable definition for future use by both Knoxville and Knox County.

Before the completion of the updated code, “family”meant the heads of household plus persons who are related to the heads of the household, and any domestic employees thereof. These relationships were allowed to be of the whole or half blood, by adoption, guardianship, including foster children, or through a marriage to a person with such a relationship with the heads of household.

The updated version reflects a more current demographic. “Family” now means one or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, or a group of persons not to exceed five persons not all related by blood or marriage, occupying the premises and living as a single non-profit housekeeping unit as distinguished from a group occupying a boarding or lodging house, hotel, club, or similar dwelling for group use.

Representing the GLBT community on the MPC Task Force were Greater Knoxville LGBTQ Leadership Council’s Public Policy Committee members Robbie Arrington, Donna Hankins, and Andy Rodgers.