News Briefs - August 2006

letters
01 August 2006

GLBT meeting space needed

Public meeting space continues to be a problem for the Knoxville area GLBT community. Despite the generous use of space offered to the community by the Metropolitan Community Church of Knoxville, Tenn., Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, and other like-minded congregations, room availability for political purposes remains a dilemma. Recent efforts to find suitable meeting space in Northeast and East Knoxville for canvassing effort to assist in the Vote No on 1 campaign were relatively unsuccessful. If you and/or your organization have meeting space suitable for groups of up to 40 people available to political activists engaged in securing and maintaining GLBT civil rights, contact Beth at beth@outandaboutnewspaper.com or call (865) 522-5776.

Jonesborough author racking up accolades and awards

“No Sister of Mine” has brought yet another award to author Jeanne G’Fellers. Her entry won a Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) award for excellence in Science Fiction on June 9 at their annual convention held in Atlanta, Georgia.

GCLS annually honors lesbian authors for excellence in entertaining and topical fiction. Their goal is to bring recognition to small press, independent, and popular-genre published lesbian novels. This year marks their second annual GCLS Convention.

G’Fellers heads next to Toronto in hopes of capturing a Gaylactic Spectrum (GS) award. Since 1998, the GS awards have offered tributes to authors portraying GLBT “characters, themes, or issues” in works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

Learn more about Jeanne at her Web site at www.jeannegfellers.com. Visit GCLS online at www.gclscon.com, and GS at www.spectrumawards.org.

Scarborough’s legal woes continue with DUI charges

Former Oak Ridge labor leader, Carl “Bubba” Scarborough’s legal troubles made news again in early July as the embattled ex-politician added drunken driving to the list of charges pending against him. Scarborough was previously arrested on charges relating to an alleged statutory rape of a 13-year-old boy that occurred in a June 2005 incident in a steam room at the Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center in West Knoxville.

Greg Isaacs, well-known Knoxville criminal defense attorney, recently filed a motion for change of venue to move the trial out of Knox County citing concerns regarding media coverage of Scarbrough’s legal problems.

Scarbrough previously served as an Anderson County Commissioner and former Anderson County Commissioner and President of the Atomic Trades and Labor Council.

New Ways Ministries offers gay Catholics reconciliation

A workshop for area gay Catholics will be conducted by New Ways Ministry, a national Catholic educational ministry of justice and reconciliation. The all-day event “Building Bridges: Gay and Lesbian Catholics and the Church” will offer opportunities to discuss such topics as pastoral outreach, church statements, GLBT reality and spirituality, as well as social justice. New Ways Ministry executive director Francis DeBernardo will lead the seminar.

“The workshop should help people of faith to become more familiar with the positive approaches that many Church leaders have taken towards lesbian/gay people,” said DeBernardo. “Despite negative messages about homosexuality from Church leaders surrounding the same-sex marriage debate, bridge-building must continue through education, dialogue, story-telling and prayer,” he added.

In an email originating from the Knoxville Diocese, Fr. Van Johnston warns local churches away from advertising the workshop. “New Ways has not contacted the Diocese of Knoxville about this conference, nor do they have the bishop’s endorsement for this event,” notes Fr. Johnston’s message.

The workshop is scheduled for Monday, August 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration can be completed by sending $45 payable to New Ways Ministry to 4012 29th Street, Mt. Rainier, MD, 20712, before August 18. Registration at the door is $55.

Military Equality Alliance – state and local movement

The Military Equality Alliance offers a venue for grassroots activists who want to work at the state and local level to garner support for an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and lifting the ban on open GLBT military service through the passage of legislation in Congress.

Look for an in-depth article with Lara Ballard, formerly of Johnson City in the September issue of “O&AN.” In the meantime, visit them online at www.militaryequality.org.

Town and Country Adult Book Den reopens

Town and Country Adult Book Den on Clinton Highway reopened for business on Monday, July 3.

“We are newly remodeled and have all new merchandise,” notes store manager Timothy Douglas.

The bookstore, located at 7011 Clinton Hwy., was destroyed by a fire on January 31 when Benjamin Daniel Warren, 20, of Powell, admittedly set fire to the business believing that he was instructed by God to burn down the adult bookstore. At that time, Warren was a student at Crown College, an independent Baptist institution offering only Bible-related degrees. He later turned himself in after an automobile accident convinced him that he had not acted in God’s will.

Line dancing on tap at Chuck’s in Chattanooga

Chattanoogans are scootin’ their boots on the second Friday of each month as they line up to dance at Chuck’s of Chattanooga, located at 27 West Main St. downtown. Dancing begins at 8:00 pm with instructors on hand to offer help to newbies.

Southern Country Chattanooga, member of the International Association of Gay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs, is the oldest such club in existence. Organized in the late ’80s, the club promotes GLBT community through donations to Chattanooga Cares and needy individuals. The international organization was formed in Chattanooga in 1992. Chattanooga resident Jerry Gilbert was part of the original organizational group.

Chuck’s also hosts Southern Country’s monthly board meetings.
Annual Cut Up for Life slated for September 9

The 10th annual Cut Up for Life event, scheduled for Saturday, July 9, will see some changes. Normally held on the Walnut Street Bridge, the organizers and participants will spread the event out over all of Chattanooga as area salons host the event from their own stations.

Vouchers are $20 and can be purchased at participating salons or by calling (423) 265-2273. You can also show your support by purchasing a Red Ribbon for $1.00 at participating salons or at Chattanooga Cares. A complete listing of participating salons and services will be listed on the Web site in the coming weeks.

Volunteers are needed as well as event-goers. All proceeds go to Chattanooga CARES. Check their Web site for details at www.chattanoogacares.com.

Mike Irwin, MCC-K deacon, passes away

The Knoxville community and Metropolitan Community Church of Knoxville (MCC-K) mourn the passing of Mike Irwin, deacon and church member since 1986. Mike was 43 years old and an employee of Lambert’s Health Care, a local medical equipment and supply provider. Funeral and receiving of friends were held at Rose Mortuary – Mann’s Chapel in Bearden. The MCC-K Choir, Kirk Talley, and others provided music. The funeral service was lead by Rev. Bob Galloway, Senior Pastor of MCC-K.

Maples-Bays receives NLGJA scholarship
East Bureau Chief Miami-bound

Beth Maples-Bays, East Tennessee bureau chief for “O&AN,” will be the recipient of a National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) scholarship for the 2006 national convention to be held Sept. 7 - 10. She will attend “Out in the Sunshine” in Miami where she will be staying at the oceanfront Loews – Miami Beach along with Jerry Jones, our publisher, and Brent Meredith, our editor and creative director along with Chris Sanders, TEP president and public relations chair (all members of NLGJA).

In addition to miles of beautiful sandy beaches, the South Florida convention will offer workshops and refresher courses, networking with journalists from around the country, speakers, and special events including the Women’s Cocktail Reception and Networking Dinner on Friday, September 8. Informational session will be geared to both mainstream and LGBT journalists. Add to that a speaker’s roster that includes such notables as “Saint of 9/11” Father Mychal Judge, Chaplain, FDNY; Elizabeth Birch, former executive director of the Human Rights Campaign; and a host of speaker from industry giants such as CNN, the Miami Herald, PlanetOut, Sirius OutQ Radio, Curve, Bay Windows, CBS News on Logo, and many more.

Find out more about NLGJA and the Out in the Sunshine National Convention online at www.nlgja.org.