Three Strikes, But You’re Not Out
Out baseball player Billy Bean–keynote speaker at the HRC Black Tie gala–talks about the repressive world of major league sports teams

The Human Rights Campaign’s annual black tie gala will be Sat., March 3, at the Westin Galleria. This year’s keynote speaker is Billy Bean, a former major league baseball player who is one of the very few openly gay male athletes from professional team sports. Bean’s story is a compelling one, for he tells of a realm where coming out is still not an option.

"To know that you can’t tell the truth under any circumstance is terrible," Bean said in a December 1999 interview with The Advocate. "You always feel you are doing something wrong or bad or criminal. In the locker room everyone was always talking about girlfriends or wives and what they did last night. My teammates would say, ‘Let’s go, Beaner. Let’s go pick up some girls tonight.’ They wanted me along because I am confident and outgoing. To them it was fun, but to me it was constant cold water splashed on you....

"Every minute I was on the field I knew I was different. I could never figure out why I felt so out of place. I wasn’t sure I was gay at first, but I knew I was this close to being outta there with my shirt ripped off my back. I knew I was one step away from someone yelling, ‘Get the f--- out, you don’t belong here!’ That’s not a warm feeling to work under."

Unlike solo sports like tennis or golf, in team sports an athlete knows they are much more indispensable, and that the homophobia of their teammates will make or break their careers. Because of this, no professional baseball, football, or basketball player has yet come out until after they retired.

By popular demand, the incredibly funny Georgia Ragsdale is returning as MC to the HRC Black Tie Gala. The family of James Byrd Jr. will also be honored.

Individual tickets can be purchased by calling 800-494-TIXS. For additional information, contact this year’s co-chairs: Bret Baccus at 713/807-7408 or Dalia Stokes at 713/522-2224.

Georgia on My Web: HRC Black Tie weblinks

• OutSmart’s interview with James Byrd’s sister Louvon Harris: http://www.outsmartmagazine.com/issue/i09-00/byrd.html.

• OutSmart’s interview with Georgia Ragsdale before the 2000 gala: http://www.outsmartmagazine.com/issue/i03-00/georgia.html.

• The Advocate’s amazing cover story interview with Billy Bean: http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/801/801_cvr_stry_bean.html.

GLBT Lesson Plan

The next superintendent of HISD needs to do a better job than Dr. Rod Paige for gay students and staff

A letter from Andrea Washington, the co-chair of GLSEN:

Now that President-elect Bush has nominated Dr. Rod Paige as Secretary of Education, where does that leave Houston ISD? More specifically, what does the future hold for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students and staff of HISD? During Dr. Paige’s six-year tenure as superintendent of one of the largest school districts in the nation, very little consideration was ever given to the issues of GLBT students and staff. No policy was ever suggested or made that would protect these students and staff from discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation. No training was ever given, or even available, to teachers and administrators on GLBT issues. Nor were there any curriculum that was inclusive of GLBT historical figures or current issues. There was, and still is, a pervasive atmosphere of fear for GLBT students and staff of being harmed or fired. For the nation, my greatest hope is that Dr. Paige will broaden his mind and his approach to GLBT issues and support the passage of policy and legislation that will protect GLBT students and staff from sexual orientation-based discrimination and harassment.

Now our eyes turn toward home and the appointment of a new superintendent. Will Dr. Kaye Stripling, as interim superintendent, perpetuate the legacy of Dr. Paige and continue to ignore the needs and issues of GLBT students and staff? Or will she commit herself to helping the board of trustees select a future superintendent who will ensure that all schools are safe for all students and that the emotional well-being of all students is a top priority? But more important, how fair-minded will Stripling’s successor be?

We, the GLBT community of Houston, have an opportunity to start fresh and make our voices heard with the school board trustees as they search for and select a new superintendent for HISD. Parents of GLBT youth, GLBT teachers, staff and administrators can call, write, e-mail, or even phone your school board trustee and let her/him know you are concerned about GLBT issues and the safety of GLBT youth in HISD schools. You can also attend the meetings of the local Houston chapter of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN). It is important that our future superintendent know that silence in the face of GLBT issues will no longer be acceptable nor tolerated. It is imperative that the school board trustees know that the parents of GLBT youth, their constituents, want their children to be treated with dignity and respect, and for them to be able to attend school without fear. To find out your school board trustee, call HISD Board Services Office 713/892-6121, or visit http://www.houstonisd.org/board/trusteemap.htm. For location/time of GLSEN meetings, e-mail www.glsenhouston@yahoo.com.

Lastly, some very important legislation is going before the state legislature concerning this very issue: legislation to protect GLBT students, teachers, and state workers from sexual orientation-based discrimination and harassment, and a state hate crimes bill. Now is the time to contact your state representatives and senators demanding the passage of these bills. Our voices must be heard, and we must demand that our civil rights no longer be ignored and denied. Our children should not fear being harmed while at school because they are GLBT. We should not be afraid of losing our jobs, our homes, or even our lives because we are GLBT. If we do not stand up for our rights and the rights of our children, who will?

Andrea Washington is a former teacher with HISD, and is co-chair of Houston’s chapter of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Contact at glsenhouston@yahoo.com.

Progress in the Lege

Two long-overdue bills for basic gay and transgender rights were introduced into the Texas Legislature on January 16, the first day the legislature met after Martin Luther King Day.

First, Representative Debra Danburg filed HB687, a bill that would simply remove from the books the Texas sodomy law, Section 21.06 of the Texas Penal Code. On June 8, 2000, a three-judge panel ruled in the case of Lawrence and Garner v. Texas that the Texas sodomy law violates the Equal Rights Amendment of the Texas Constitution.

"This law has already been ruled unconstitutional. The Texas sodomy law is not enforceable and it’s quite simply archaic," said Rep. Danburg, who has long worked on repealing the sodomy law. "Keeping this type of law on the books and in the courts will only continue to cost Texas money in appeals and other challenges. For the benefit of all Texans, we should remove this law now."

Next, Representative Glen Maxey (a Democrat from Austin) filed HB 668, a bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill would protect employees from discrimination in hiring, firing, promotion, and treatment. Currently, federal law provides basic legal protection against employment discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, or disability, but not sexual orientation or gender identity. Those who experience this type of discrimination have no recourse.

"Qualified, hardworking Texans should never be denied job opportunities, fired, or discriminated against at work for reasons that are unrelated to job performance," Rep. Maxey said. "The ability to get and hold a job should be a fundamental right for all Texans."

The bill would not allow preferential treatment or quotas, nor would it pertain to small businesses or religious organizations.

The Texas Non-Discrimination in Employment Act (TXENDA), like the proposed federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), has nationwide support from corporations and nonprofit organizations.

We’re TG and We Vote!

The annual Texas Transgender Lobby Day will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the State Capitol in Austin, with a training session in Austin the evening before.

We hear TG Lobby Day can be a wonderfully empowering and positive experience, giving participants a sense of truly being active citizens. You do not need any experience in lobbying, although you do need to make an appointment with your representative in advance. (If you don’t know who your house or senate rep is, search by zip code at Texas Legislature Online, www.capitol.state.tx.us/.)

In the lobby training session, instructions will be given on what to do and say, including all the pending legislation and the educational packet you’ll be leaving with your representative. Everyone will be matched with a partner, so no one will be facing a legislator alone.

Anyone can attend. "Quite simply, this is a gathering of the clan (transgender/gender variant/intersexed/spouses, significant others/family members/friends)," writes Sarah DePalma of the Texas Gender Advocacy Information Network. "Anyone who wants to attend Transgender Lobby Day and wants to work on behalf of our civil rights is welcome. Please don’t send us e-mails saying that you are ‘just a cross dresser’ or ‘I’d have to come in drab.’ We aren’t the Human Rights Campaign. TGAIN is a totally inclusive organization.

"Wear business clothes for the gender you are presenting. Legislators are our employees. There is absolutely no reason to feel intimidated. (You will be surprised at how well you remember the training and how well you will be received.)"

For more information, call 713/779-4662, or e-mail sarahdepalma@ev1.net. Lobby Training 101 will be held Mon., Feb. 21, 7 p.m. at The Cheshire Cat, 612 W. 34th St., Austin, 512/452-1145. (If you can’t make the training, there will be a crash course on the actual day.)

Bold & Bright Pride

The Pride Committee of Houston unveiled the logo for this year’s Gay & Lesbian Pride 2001 celebration and its theme "Embrace Diversity." Designed by Houston graphic artist Diane Jolley, the logo was presented at a Pride party on Jan. 18 at the Art League of Houston. For more information or if you want to get in on the Pride excitement and join the Pride Committee of Houston, you can call
the PrideLine at 713/529-6979 or e-mail info@pridehouston.org.

AIDS Walk Houston

The 13th annual AIDS Walk Houston will be held Sunday, March 4, to raise funds for AIDS Foundation Houston and 10 partnering Houston HIV/AIDS service organizations. Starting in Sam Houston Park, the AIDS Walk is one of the most pleasant ways to spend a day helping fight AIDS. Working with Chase Bank as the Title Sponsor, last year’s AIDS Walk raised $325,000 with 4,000 participants. For information, call 713/623-6796 or e-mail walk@aidshelp.org or see their website at www.aidshelp.com.

Forum on Bisexuality

There will be a panel discussion on bisexuality at First Unitarian Church, 5200 Fannin, on Feb. 18, 1:30—3:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend what should prove a lively and intriguing discussion. Call First UU at 713/526-5200 for more information.

PFLAG for Spanish Speakers

PFLAG has added a Spanish-language small support group to its regular support groups at Christ Church Cathedral. The meetings start with a one-hour general program, then a 10 to 15-minute break, then small support groups of 8-10 people with a PFLAG facilitator. (These are strictly support groups and the facilitators are not therapists.) In addition to the regular small groups for parents, gays, transgendered, and friends, PFLAG will now have two special small groups: One is the Spanish group and the other is a "spouses" group for those who have concerns with a gay spouse.

PFLAG meetings are held the first Sunday of every month at 2 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral downtown, 1117 Texas Avenue. For information about the downtown meeting, or to find a PFLAG meeting near you, call 713/807-7878.

MTV Takes a Stand

Television history was made Wednesday, January 14, when MTV aired Anatomy of a Hate Crime, the story of Matthew Shepard. Immediately following the groundbreaking show, the network held a live discussion group made up of high school students and members of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) and GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). While the discussion proved enlightening, the events that took place afterward sent a powerful wakeup call to millions of viewers. In an unprecedented move, MTV dedicated the next 18 hours of commercial-free airtime to the reading of truthful accounts of hate crimes in the U.S. The historic programming, aimed at youth, kicked off a yearlong anti-discrimination campaign by the network entitled "Fight for Your Right: Take a Stand Against Discrimination." Viewers are encouraged to join the campaign and make their voices heard. MTV offers links on its website to President-elect George. W. Bush and Congress for supporters to contact with their opinions on hate crimes issues.

Cathy Renna, GLAAD’s news media director, was present for the post-show discussion group and recalls the mood in the network’s control room when the reading of stories by various celebrities began. "There were zillions of people running around and we all just stopped when it started. We were shocked to silence when we heard these voices reading these stories. It was stunning." Renna says that MTV should be applauded for its bold efforts and commitment to the subject matter. "That’s a huge commitment for 17 hours, and losing millions of dollars in ad revenues. I think it sends a very strong message from MTV. It was one of the most powerful things I’ve seen a media outlet do."

MTV will continue its hate crimes campaign throughout 2001. Five more special programs are planned. Renna adds that the network’s priority is about more than sending a message. "It’s not just about getting a message out there for them, it’s about actually having people get engaged, which doesn’t happen often enough." –Chris Sill

Soulforce: Tithe Not to Oppression!

The standard-bearing religious activist group Soulforce has announced a new stage in their campaign of nonviolent protest against churches’ exclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people through antigay policies and teachings. After high-visibility protests and arrests at the national and international gatherings of most of the major religious groups, Soulforce announced its intention to mobilize thousands of people of faith to withhold tithes and offerings from churches that oppress GLBT people.

Soulforce bases its "Stop Spiritual Violence" project on the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: "It is as much our obligation NOT to cooperate with evil as it is to cooperate with good."

"These deeply moving vigils and symbolic arrests are just the beginning of our efforts to confront the teachings and actions of the Protestant and Catholic churches against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals," explains Jimmy Creech, Soulforce board chair. "Stage II is the next step to empower people to stand up against oppression and spiritual abuse."

According to the Soulforce website (www.soulforce.org), gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and those who support them, are being encouraged to withhold their tithes and offerings to antigay churches and to place cards in offering plates stating that they will no longer take part in their own oppression. The campaign further encourages people to donate their time and talent to organizations that seek justice and work against oppression.

"The antigay teachings and actions of the Protestant and Catholic churches lead directly and indirectly to discrimination, suffering, and even death," says Dr. Mel White, executive director of Soulforce. "And yet year after year we continue to support our own oppression with our tithes, offerings, and special gifts. We are hoping that thousands of people of faith will join us by withholding their financial support from the churches that oppress us until that oppression ends."

Meat’s a Drag!

We love cooking. We love vegetarians. We love PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). And we love Lypsinka. So, of course, we love PETA’s latest funny right-on ad.

Drag icon Lypsinka is the latest of PETA’s wonderful public service announcements in the cause of saving our souls (and reducing our guts) by going green in the kitchen.

The PETA website at GoVeg.com shows that vegging out can be a lot more zippy than an endless endurance race of steamed cauliflower. We especially like the "Cosmic Zings" from Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider of The B-52’s (funky little corn cups with mango, lime juice, corn tortillas, brown rice syrup, and jalepenos).

Lypsinka took time out from her critically acclaimed Boxed Set show in Manhattan to shoot the ad free of charge.