Congratulations, SQPNTK and Back2Stonewall!!!

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation has announced its list of the best 100 LGBT blogs in the world, and two Cincinnati blogs made the list! Congratulations to Stuff Queer People Need to Know and Back2Stonewall.com for their success!

Pride Week!

I know this is totally and completely nerdy...

And I know I've been kind of critic of the whole process...

And I know Cincinnati's isn't the coolest in the region...

And I kind know what I'm going to expect in terms of stuff happening...

And my siblings will probably be here and staying with me...

...but I have to say, I'm kind of excited Pride is here :-).

In fact, I'm really excited Pride is here.

I mean, aren't you?

Check out the CityBeat article featuring me and Jamie from Stuff Queer People Need to Know and Cameron from IMPACTCincinnati and... etc. etc. etc. And don't forget Wolfie from Back2Stonewall.com's article -- Reason to Rally.

Very, Very Wrong Enquirer Story

This is thanks to Stuff Queer People Need to Know's fierce and regular checking of local queer news. From the Enquirer comes a story entitled thus: Cross-dresser on trial for hospital incident. Seriously, folks. Jere Keys emailed both me and Jamie and said, "Can we get GLAAD on this one" for the sheer amount of wrongness and poor reporting in this single story. I would say, yea, definitely. The story in toto:

When University Hospital nurses walked into the patient’s intensive care room Feb. 17, they saw the wounded man was visibly shaken – and wearing lip gloss.

He became even more shaken when he learned the female phlebotomist who had just kissed and groped his exposed penis was really a man.

That phlebotomist, Chad Thrasher, also known as Chadea Thrasher, is on trial, charged with sexually touching the patient.

Thrasher, 24, lives as a female and appeared in court wearing women’s clothes, jewelry and hairstyle.

But it was Thrasher’s alleged conduct in the alleged victim’s hospital room – as he was recovering from the four surgeries he needed after being shot during a crime – that could send Thrasher to prison for up to 18 months.

Thrasher had drawn the man’s blood before but this incident was different. The man wasn’t scheduled to have his blood drawn. Thrasher had developed an attraction to the man and began talking to and acting toward the patient in an inappropriate way, Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor David Hickenlooper told jurors Thursday.

Thrasher started talking about to the man about body parts, about exotic dancing in clubs and that Thrasher had a stalker, Hickenlooper said.

Then, Thrasher said the man’s lips looked chapped, so, Hickenlooper said, Thrasher forcibly put lip gloss on the weak patient before forcibly kissing him, grabbed the man’s penis and asked how long it had been since he “had been with a woman.”

“This is not the usual interaction between a health care provider and a patient,” Hickenlooper said.

Nurses, summoned by the panicked patient who faked a medical emergency to get Thrasher to leave, called police.

Thrasher initially denied the incident but later told police any physical interaction with the man was consensual.

Thrasher’s attorney, Ed Keller, suggested in his opening that the allegations aren’t what they appear to be but he didn’t expound on that. He also referred to his client as both “he” and “she.”

The trial, before Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Ruehlman, is expected to go into next week.

Aside from the clear lack of understanding when it comes to gender appropriateness in reporting, I wanted to add my thoughts to this story:

In no way, shape, or form was this incident appropriate for a healthcare worker. I don't care if the person is L, G, B, T, or Q... sexual relations with a patient (and a patient in the ICU, no less!) is not appropriate anytime, anywhere, for any reason, even if it is consensual. Aside from the poor reporting, it is completely appropriate to fire and charge Ms. Thrasher with whatever they are going for (so long as it is not false inflated to reflect her gender identity). Ms. Thrasher, your behavior was wrong and reflects more on your personal ethical standard than anything else. It's true. We have professional ethics for this sort of thing; they were clearly broken in this situation.

Meanwhile, the University Hospital has an excellent protections policy, and, in my two years of working there, I have never seen discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. There may have been jokes occasionally, but the people who made them were willing to correct their behavior and apologize when confronted.

Queer Bar -- Front Page of Cincinnati.com

Well, well, well, look who made the front page of Cincinnati.com (click to embiggen) -- our very own Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar-istas. From the story itself:

As 30-year-old Danae Riggs of Anderson Township stood on the deck of the Pavilion, taking in the view of the Ohio River and the twinkling lights of downtown, she and her partner were struck by the difference between the area’s straight and gay bars, many of which are hidden away in less affluent neighborhoods.

Riggs – the mother of a 7-year-old who describes herself as looking like a “suburban housewife” – hopes Guerrilla Queer Bar will help raise awareness of the privileges that straight people enjoy and help give other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people the courage to live more openly.

“I hope it spreads like wildfire,” Riggs says. “And if at the end of the day, if folks are just having a conversation, and people like me are building strength and momentum to be who they are, that’s great.”

Well done, guys/gals/etc... and bully to Jamie Royce who got a shot out as well!

Thanks to Montgomery Maxton for the heads up!

How Activism is DONE

And this is how activism is done. Check out Jamie Royce's experience at Tabby's after the assault of a gay man over at Stuff Queer People Need to Know. She had not realized the event was canceled due to particularly nasty weather until she arrived at the bar and had, instead, the opportunity to speak to quite a few people there about what had happened:

The family is very grateful for the community’s support and response to the attack. The victim’s mother gave out hugs and spoke very highly of us queers. (We really are making a difference, so keep up the good work.)

The owner of Tabby’s explained to us that this attack does not reflect his establishment and apologized to the victim’s mother; he was wearing white in solidarity with the planned sit-in. Signs like this one were posted throughout the bar.

Hell to the yea, Jamie! Thank you so much for going out there in the middle of the tornadic weather on Saturday night to show your solidarity! The follow-up "sit-in" is still on, and the organizers are fiercely advertising the event on Facebook. I think, though, the focus has significantly changed... from one of "we are so angry" to "let us stand with everyone -- including the bar -- in solidarity against hate." In other words, let's go party with our supporters who seem to be equally as appalled by the assault as we are. For my part, I want to hug mom and shake the owner's hand.

Congratulations, Tabby's, you done good. Congratulations, local activists, you did right.

The follow-up will still occur this Tuesday at 9pm at Tabby's American Grill. 

Soapbox Article and Ten on Tuesday

It's been a great day for the blogosphere, IMHO, despite the awful news out of California. I wanted to highlight a few things that popped up.

Ryan McLendon of Slouching Towards Manhattan posted his newest in a series of articles over at Soapbox Media about the state of queer-ness in Cincinnati. This time around, he writes about one of my favorite events: Guerrilla Queer Bar. From the article:

Reactions to the first Friday events have been mixed but very positive from both the straight and gay communities. Bar owners welcome the addition of 150-200 thirsty patrons they normally would not have through their doors and many straight patrons are even unaware that anything is different. More than an "invasion," the events more than anything else become a "blending" of both straight and gay.

[CGQB Organizer, Ethan] Philbrick recalls a particularly valuable discussion on queer identity in the ladies’ room of the Lodge. According to Philbrick, by the end of the conversation the women he was speaking to him felt comfortable enough to ask a few questions proving that exposure to different ideas and people can breed understanding. This accomplished all while wearing a sequined cocktail dress, no less...

Movements such as the Guerilla Queer Bar help to bring the idea of "other" into the familiar. This exposure to the outside world - straight, gay and everything in between—provides the tools needed to erase the stigmas and bigotry that holds progress back.

Also, QueerCincinnati.com's first weekly TEN ON TUESDAY had a great response today, appearing twice on this blog -- once from me and once from Cody -- and on three other blogs as well! Thanks to the following blogs for their participation and some amazing responses:

Girlfriendology:

1. Girlfriends - Shocking, I know. But I really do find happiness in the female friendships that bless my life. They make life more memorable and fun. And girlfriends make us healthier, less stressed, live longer, feel more beautiful and … drum roll please … HAPPIER. Thanks to all the great women who have inspired, encouraged and supported me in my dream of making the world a better place one friendship at a time.

Stuff Queer People Need to Know:

4.) Vegetable skewers straight off the grill

Big Lug Land:

7) Getting flirted with. It's immensely validating as I still carry around all the insecurities that were cemented into place over 20 years ago. Being found cute or charming goes right to my head like bubbles in champagne. What others take in stride can have me feeling like the most valued man on earth. That keeps my heart open and, much as it hurts, I'm not sure I'd ever want to change it.

Great posts everyone -- thanks so much! I loved reading over your responses; I couldn't help but smile for each and every one!!! Watch for next week's TEN ON TUESDAY!

Equal Housing and Employment Act

StuffQueerPeopleNeedtoKnow by local fabulous Jamie Royce is reporting that the testimony in the House Committee on State Government will be hearing testimony from the two sponsors -- Rep. McGregor (R) and Rep. Stewart (D) -- on Wednesday. From SQPNtK:

Hearings on the Equal Housing and Employment Act in the Ohio House will begin on Wednesday, May 27. Representatives Stewart and McGregor will be the only people testifying on this day. Proponent testimony will begin on Wednesday, June 3 and will likely last for two weeks. As of now there are 40 secured yes votes and 22 possible yes votes, but the bill needs 50 to pass.

As of yet, the information is not confirmed on the website of the bill, and I have not received an email with this information (so I can't confirm it). I'm putting an email into Equality Ohio for the 411. For more information on the current members of the State Government Committee, click here.

A Lot Coming Out of UC These Days

I have to say that I'm so glad StuffQueerPeopleNeedtoKnow is around -- she's keeping me on my toes!!!

Anyways, I said yesterday that I likely left something off the Community Pride's events. A whole lot somethings -- you know, like UC Pride/Visibility Week events. Silly homo. :-)

All the events have been added, but check out the SQPNTK posting on them for descriptions.

Light a Candle for Angie

This is making the rounds in the Twitterverse -- for good reason, I think!!! -- as well as the blogosphere -- also for good reason!!!

From AngieZapata.com:

Angie Zapata was brutally murdered in Greeley, Colorado in July 2008. Angie was a transgender woman and she was murdered because of anti-transgender bias.

On April 14, 2009, her alleged killer will go on trial in Greeley, Colorado. The trial marks the first time that Colorado’s gender identity-inclusive hate crimes statute—and in fact any state’s hate crimes law—has been applied in the investigation and prosecution of an anti-transgender murder case.

The tragic circumstances of Angie’s death gives Coloradans an opportunity to better understand Angie’s life and the lives of transgender people. It offers a chance to talk about the importance of Colorado’s hate crime law. And it highlights the need to stop excluding people from the protections of a federal hate crimes law simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

If you check out my Facebook profile, you'll note that I have lit a candle for Angie on my profile. I think you should, too, and become a fan of the movement on Facebook.

Is this the first time a trans or queer person has been murdered because of who they were? No. Is it going to be the last? No. But, aren't we tired of the violence? I am never sure the value of activism by teh interwebs -- we'll call it "keyboard activism" -- but I'll say this: over the last 6 months, I have heard more about us in the mainstream media than I ever have before. And I think that even something as simple as changing your profile picture on Facebook can yield amazing results, sometimes.

Oh, and Jamie at Stuff Queer People Need to Know reminds us that victims of violence are not always just the people who are physically attacked.

UC GAY STUFF: Follow UC's Queer Center on Twitter!

Shameless plug of the day!

The UC LGBTQ Center now has its own Twitter thanks to me, Jack Theurling and my friend Mary Beth!

Stalk the crap outta us!!!

www.twitter.com/queercenter

Me:
www.twitter.com/QCseeker

Mary Beth:
www.twitter.com/pharmkid26

And on a side note: The UC Rally for a Full-Time Staff Person was a decent success. Considering it was as-cold-as-a-corpse's-balls outside we had a good turnout! And front page in the NewsRecord (I'm on the front page again... geeeezus!) but without an article (just a big-ass photo of JAC Stringer and a small blurb... And most of the focus was on JAC's p!nk hair...)

Later lovelies!!!

-Cody
The Seeker

Barry's note: Sorry, Cody, wanted to throw this out there! Make sure you check out the media round up at Stuff Queer People Need to Know for a lot of great follow up to yesterday's UC Rally!

Charged Dropped Down

Thanks to Stuff Queer People Need to Know...

Matthew Kafagolis and Ethan Kirkwood, the alleged perpetrators in the anti-gay hate crime that took place on or near University of Cincinnati’s campus, are now being charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault each, according to the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts’ Web site. The charges were refiled as misdemeanors against the alleged perpetrators on March 19, and March 20, respectively. The original charges these individuals faced were felonious assault. The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor charge is less than a year in jail.

Both have been charged with two counts of: "ASSLT-KNOWINGLY,VICTIM HRMD M1 2903-13A ORCN." I don't know what that means. I think it's just describing where in the legal code the court is charging them under.

Hate Crime Update and PROTEST

For background, here's our most recent post, and here's our first post.

So, so, so much has happened and I have exactly 12 minutes before my shift to get all the information I can possible get together on one post.

I'll start with the most pressing.

The founders of Guerilla Queer Bar, all UC students, have called a protest tomorrow (3/19) at 5:30pm. I'll let them tell you the full story:

Dear Members of the Cincinnati LGBTQ and Allied Community,

As you may or may not know, there was a serious hate crime on UC's campus the night of March 6th. If you have not yet read the message that was sent to the UC community, it's at the bottom of this email. We need to take a stand for our community and show the beauty and validity of our identities and sexualities!

In response to this incident, we will hold a demonstration TOMORROW (Thursday, the 19th) starting at 5:30 pm at the corner of CLIFTON and CALHOUN. We will congregate on the UC Law School side of the street and then walk as a group down to the corner of MLK and CLIFTON.

Bring a hand made sign that states your identity-- "I am Gay" or "I am a Lesbian" or "I am Queer" or "I am Bisexual" or "I am Trans" or "I am an Ally". Be proud! There will also be a big communal sign that states the reason for the demonstration.

Cancel whatever you had planned, make a sign, get all your friends to come, and get your butt to CLIFTON and CALHOUN at 5:30 tomorrow evening! This is important. Stand up for our community and make our voices heard!

With love,
Ethan Philbrick, Jane Meek, and many more - Please Forward!!!!!!!

That came over the Facebook and is now making the rounds in your email inboxes. This is in response to the note to the UC Community from the UC Police Captain, Karen Patterson:

To: UC Community
From: Karen Patterson, Captain UC Police Department

Cincinnati Police have reported two felonious assaults that occurred on March 6, 2009 at 4:20am in the 2500 block of Clifton Avenue.
The victims were walking home when one of the victims stopped to talk to the suspects, who were friends from high school. Upon hearing that the other victim was a homosexual, the suspects became aggressive and attacked both individuals.
The victims were able to provide the police with the names of several of the suspects in the case. All three suspects were white males with two being described as 18 to 20 years old, 5'10", between 150 and 160 lbs, with brown hair and green eyes.

Karen K. Patterson MEd
Office phone: (513)-556-4906
Email address: karen.patterson@uc.edu

But I really wanted to call attention to the very excellent and extensive information provided to us by Stuff Queer People Need to Know, who did a lot of great research on the hate crime statutes and is intimately involved with the UC LGBT community... and therefore she speaks from a very personal position. God knows, when shit happened at Miami, we were all affected. Much love to the UC LGBTQ community. I know how you're all feeling.

JereKeys said it best:

Barry is hoping to draw attention to a little reported crime at the University of Cincinnati which may have been a hate crime had Ohio passed a law to recognize felony assault as a hate crime (or if the Cincinnati bias crime penalty for misdemeanor assault were applicable) or something. The news organizations who are claiming “neither have been charged with a hate crime, and, therefore, reporting it as such would be illegal” are full of shit. No one had a problem reporting on Matthew Shepard’s murder as a hate crime even though Wyoming had no such provisions in state law. It’s very simple, “Police are investigating an assault on two local college students, an assault that some say should qualify as a hate crime… [begin discussion of the incident, follow-up with information about how Ohio state law (not to mention federal law) doesn't recognize hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity].” It’s a time-honored formula for the media and an opportunity for them to create more false balance by placing a random board member from Equality Cincinnati on the air next to a raving lunatic from CCV for a “debate.” It’s controversial and ratings gold!

IMPACT Cincinnati has put the information out there, and I believe individual members are offering logistical help as best they can.

The grand jury report of the alleged attacker -- Ethan Kirkland -- is on Friday.

I have more stuff, but it will have to wait, for now.

Hate Crime Follow Up

Follow up to previous post on the UC attack against a gay student.

Thanks to Donald over at Cincinnati Blog for the heads up on this one:

From the filings with the Clerk of Courts, it looks like there's two defendants, Ethan Kirkwood, 19, and Matthew Kafagolis, 20. Also looks like there's two alleged victims--let's call them V1 and V2.

V1 says that Kirkwood and Kafagolis "cause[d] or attempt[ed] to cause serious physical harm" to V1 "by kicking and punching him and using slurs against homosexuals." Further, "Victim states that above began assaulting him when it was discovered he was a homosexual by knocking him to the ground and punching and kicking him while calling him a faggot and gay." V2 says that the two defendants assaulted him when he attempted to defend his friend "who was being assaulted for being a homosexual."

Both defendants are charged with felonious assault. That's a second-degree felony; each count carries 2 to 8 years in prison. Both are released on bond (5000 straight for Kirkwood, 10000 at 10% for the other). It looks like neither was arrested at the time of the incident, but were arrested separately a few days later (and not on the same day as each other).

The grand jury report date (the date by which the prosecutor should present the case to a grand jury) is March 20 for Ethan.

And also Jamie over at Stuff Queer People Need to Know, give us this heads up after she went and did some digging:

Amid a swell of rumors here in Cincinnati, there has been word of an alleged hate crime against a young gay man that took place on or near the University of Cincinnati’s campus sometime in the March. Queer Cincinnati reported that in an e-mail promoting the Human Rights Campaign, it was stated that Channel 5 News reported that the alleged assailant’s name is Ethan Kirkwood. Nothing about this story could be found on Channel 5’s Web site. Upon searching the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts records for that name, two charges of felonious assault were filed on March 8, against Kirkwood, a 19-year-old white male. Kirkwood was charged in 2008 with DC - Intoxication, which was dismissed, and underage person liquor offense, which was paid out.

Upon searching for Kirkwood, another entry popped up on the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Web site for Matthew Kafagolis, a 20-year-old white male, that had no mention of Kirkwood. (In the search, Kirkwood’s name comes up next to Kafagolis’ case number, but upon clicking on it, Kirkwood is not mentioned in the case itself.) Kafagolis was also charged with two counts of felonious assault on March 8. Kirkwood’s and Kafagolis’ case numbers are /09/CRA/7109 and /09/CRA/7111 respectively, which leads me to believe they were filed one right after the other. It is not clear if these two individuals knew each other or if their charges are related to each other. It is also unclear if these charges are related to the alleged hate crime incident.

In brief: the two stories tell us the same story, essentially. There were two alleged attacked -- this Kirkwood and this Kafagolis, we believe. Again, this is all alleged. Let me stress that again: all alleged. The arraignments have all ready happened for both of them, and Kirkwood will hear from the Grand Jury tomorrow (3/20) and Kafagolis on the 23rd. I have Sister Cody, aka the Seeker, on the case to find the victims and make sure they are OK.

A snoop inside of one of the news offices gave us this heads up on why it has not been covered: neither have been charged with a hate crime, and, therefore, reporting it as such would be illegal. I'm pretty sure there's no hate crime statute for LGBT folks in this city/state, but I could be very wrong, but the point is that there would be no statute to charge them under. Hence, it's "just another assault." I'll see about putting a little bit of pressure on the news stations tomorrow morning to cover the grand jury report.

As for the news report, I think I can get my hands on the actual report itself that was mentioned in the email, but I'll update you later. There are legal issues, there.

UPDATE: Heard from Sister Cody, aka "The Seeker," who attends UC. He is (indirectly) in contact with one of the victims, who does not want his name published (or, rather, is not letting the word out about who he is). However, he is doing fine. If it's OK with everyone, I sent along the community's love.

Any other information you may have, or if you spot it somewhere, please email me at queercincinnati@gmail.com . THX!

UPDATE, TAKE 2: This is the information given to one of the local news desks about the arraignment that day. It gives little new information, but interesting none the less:

ETHAN KIRKWOOD, 19, OU STUDENT, WAS IN ROOM A.
KIRKWOOD IS OF CINCINNATI. HE IS CHARGED WITH 2 CTS OF FEL ASSAULT.
ON OR ABOUT 3/6/09, ON CLIFTON AVE, KIRKWOOD ATTACKED A MAN FOR BEING A HOMOSEXUAL. KIRKWOOD THEN PUNCHED AND KICKED A FRIEND OF THE VICTIM WHO TRYING TO DEFEND HIM.
HIS BOND IS $5000.

"Room A," btw, is a term for a holding cell before the arraignment. Gives us a little more detail.

Butler County Children's Services Director Resigns!!!

Thanks to Stuff Queer People Need to Know for the heads up on this...

Michael Fox, the Director of Butler County Children's Services, who passed a rule in the agency to give preference to married straight couples (over unmarried and gay couples) in December. The Cincinnati Enquirer posted his entire letter which has absolutely nothing juicy and nothing of import to say about the issue, but it's fun to laugh in consideration:

During my tenure I did my best to improve the child welfare system in our county and I know that we were able to make many important improvements. To those of you who were so helpful and committed to the changes I worked to bring to our agency I thank you so much. To those of you who resisted the reforms I championed I can only say that all theories and philosophies must stand the test of reality and time. I believe “reality and time” will eventually clearly demonstrate the value of the ideas I have aggressively promoted.

As I leave I know with certainty that I made a positive difference for our children and families. I could not have done any of these things without the hard work of our dedicated staff. I have tremendous respect for those who work in child welfare. Your jobs are among the most difficult of any in public service.

Together, we made many positive changes that are important to children and families we serve. I hope that you will resist efforts to go back to the "old" ways of doing business. The temptation to do so will begin immediately. I encourage you to continue to move down the path we have begun to travel--- having an agency that is more open, accountable, and effective in meeting the needs of children.

I was going to do this whole thing where I made fun of him the whole time, except, if you do some research, Mr. Fox did a pretty decent job, even if he embedded discrimination into the rules of the organization (and he is the target of an FBI investigation).

It is unclear why he is resigning; I like to think that the growing media issue over the rule had a part of it. But we can never be sure.

Anyways, so I think the path is clear now: we need to put some pressure on the Butler County Commissioners to appoint someone who will repeal the awful, awful rule and bring greater equality, yes? Let's get something moving on this, yes?

Sick

So I left school early because I am very sick -- have the flu for the second time this month. Not good. Going to bed. Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes on Twitter.

If you need something to read, check out either Stuff Queer People Need to Know's response to the February blog carnival -- Why Northside? Is Northside our 'gay ghetto?' Darren did a second follow up to his first one.

Thought I'd give you something to check out for the afternoon whilst I sleep.

Also, welcome home to Worley who is now out of the hospital and very much plans to publish in March.

Trans Survey

There's a great survey being sponsored by the NGLTF (that I was alerted to by the SQPNtK blog, a local Cincy queer blogger). The stated purpose is:

You are invited to participate in a research project regarding transgender and gender non-conforming people in the United States. Your responses will be part of an important report on transgender people’s experiences of discrimination in housing, employment, health care and education.

If you fit any of these categories, please take a moment (or, 20 minutes, rather) to take this very important survey.

If SQPNtK were a Scrabble word, it would be worth, base without any modifiers or bonuses, 21 points. That's a really long blog title, but I'm really enjoying them over there.