LRemembering Jim Norwood
Jim Norwood was well loved by many in the DFW GLBT community. Yet unknown to many, located in Fort Worth stands a testament to his pioneer vision for the Fort Worth GLBT Christian community.

With only a handful of friends and fellow worshipers he was able to secure a vacant church building and establish AGAPE MCC for the then- growing and future GLBT Christian community in Fort Worth. His expertise in the real estate world was the catalyst that enabled that faithful group to find a worship home.

In those early years no established Christian group would sell their vacant sanctuary buildings to any GLBT group. Jim Norwood did what was impossible in l983, and Agape MCC purchased a vacant Church of Christ building. He later became ordained as a reverend and for several years led the Agape MCC congregation as its senior pastor.

Jim Norwood’s contribution to the GLBT community helped blaze the trail on the west side of the Trinity River for communities of faith. Another GLBT hero has now been laid to rest. My deepest sympathy to Lory Masters and the Master Realtors family.


‘Gay-centric’
There was a recent dust-up between the Stonewall Democrats and the Log Cabin Republicans over the LCR’s outreach to Texas state Rep. Dan Branch.

Mr. Branch has not generally been considered as a friend to the LGBT community. He publicly supported the state statute banning gay marriage in Texas in 2003. He sponsored the state constitutional amendment in 2005 to ban gay marriage. He voted against gay and lesbians in the role of foster parents in 2005.

His upcoming speech to the Log Cabin Republicans is apparently on the other political issues of the day. One doubts he will be reciting the facts of his anti-gay record to the LCR group that evening.

Log Cabin Republican President Rob Schlein’s response to criticism of the invitation to Rep. Branch was that the other issues were as important or more to him than the gay issue. He stated that he is not “gay-centric.”

“Gay-centric.” There is more to all of us than being gay, of course. We have friends, family, work, health, perhaps faith. We have political concerns that span the full range of debate in our democracy.

The war in Iraq and the current economic conditions can spark a conversation perhaps as fast or faster than the current ability to marry in California. The cost of gas? A dinner topic sure to spark the conversation. But am I “gay-centric?” Is being gay central to my being in all aspects of my life? Duh!

As it happens, I know both Stonewall Democrats President Jesse Garcia and Log Cabin’s Rob Schlein. I have known Rob for a number of years, longer, actually, than I have had the privilege of knowing Jesse.

I hear Rob’s insistence that we cannot change anyone’s mind without conversation and I have to confess that I agree. Dancing with the devil is a longstanding tradition in politics and in other avenues as well. It does occur to me, as perhaps it did to Jesse, that Dan Branch is willing to “dance with the devil” himself. He may well be willing to speak to any group that offers him votes and perhaps money. The red state of Texas is once again in a state of political transition. “Politics and strange bedfellows” could not be more apropos.

The support that LCR is offering seemingly requires nothing of Branch other than letting them buy his dinner and listen to him ignore the gay issues. It does not, apparently, require to him change his politics towards the gay community in any way. LCR’s issues are not led by concern for the gay community, per its president.

As with Mr. Schlein, there are other issues of concern to me in the upcoming election. But am I “gay-centric?” Well, if not me, then who? Who will fight for the equality of our community if not gay people? One’s allies will never be a substitute for personal involvement.

I am a manager, a Christian, a son, brother, friend and activist. There are many issues that concern me. I pick up the local newspaper and read of financial scandal in the Dallas school district and I shake my head. I hear of the impact that gas prices are having on jobs, the stock market, charitable institutions and other groups, and I wonder how this will be solved.

The issues that will “get me in the street,” however, are the gay issues.

Our country is blessed with a great many private organizations that impact politics. Many of their missions are among the positions that I would take on issues of the day. I am going to give my money, my time and my heart to those that impact the gay community in some way. My non-gay friends can support the other causes in my stead. My primary goal is to change life for the gay community in whatever small way that I can do so.

If Log Cabin should weaken Mr. Branch’s resolve to give us no quarter, then perhaps dinner and his speech is a small price to pay. One would hope that is at least the goal.

But if LCR has issues greater than the community that gave them birth, then they are abandoning any hope for improvement for you and I and our LGBT brothers and sisters. If LCR can forget the demographic that unites them, then there is no justification.

There is ample room for both Democrats and Republicans in our world; I am blessed with friends of all colors of the rainbow.

But there should be little room for discussion that our own interests can be neglected for the sake of others. I would hope that my friends on both sides of the aisle would join hands when it comes to gay issues. The response of LCR to Dan Branch after his July 28 visit will be telling.



LCR should talk to Branch
A lot of people are upset about Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas inviting Texas State Rep. Dan Branch to speak at their July meeting.

Branch doesn’t have a voting record that would make many gay people want to talk to him. He has voted for laws that would ban gays and lesbians from becoming foster parents or adoptive parents and against same-sex marriage.

Thinking a little more about politicians with a bad record when it comes to gay issues, the first one to pop up in my mind is Bill Clinton. After all, wasn’t it during his administration that both “Don’t ask, don’t tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act were passed?

Yes, DADT came about in 1993, and then DOMA was signed into law in September 1996. Hhmm. September 1996.

That would have been about two months before Clinton was re-elected to office — and many gay and lesbian Americans voted for him. I think blind loyalty to any political party will lead to being taken for granted. Many in our community continue to support the Democratic Party, but for all their rhetoric, what have Democrats actually given us? Don’t we have rights just because we are Americans? When I go to the polls, I may vote for a Democrat, or a Republican or a Libertarian. But no matter what party they belong to, they have to earn my vote first.

Let Log Cabin talk to Dan Branch. Someone has to talk to him. He needs to see the faces of the people whose lives are affected by the decisions he makes.

If we ignore the politicians who vote against us, we have no one to blame but ourselves for failing to remind them that we are here, we are Americans and our lives are affected by the decisions they make.



We don’t all vote the same way
I am a longtime friend of Rob Schlein. I am also very proud of the work of Log Cabin Republicans within the GOP and the Dallas Community.

It is erroneous to assume that all GLBT people will vote the same way on every issue and candidate. We have Repuplicans, Democrats and Independents within the GLBT community.

Dan Branch is the elected official of a heavily Republican district. Furthermore, Mr. Branch has an excellent chance of being re-elected from his district. I applaud Rob Schlein for reaching out to Mr. Branch. While Mr. Branch may not be with us on every issue, I do applaud him for his willingness to speak with members of his district. At last month’s meeting, a member of Branch’s senior staff expressed his commitment and interest in the upcoming meeting.

Just because someone is a Republican does not mean they are not willing to reach across the aisle to find common ground, interests, support and understanding. Calling names, stretching the truth and spreading negativity will do nothing to change the heart and minds of people.

The Log Cabin Republicans are seriously working to bring the GOP back to the big tent party. Whether you are talking about Patrick Sammon on the national level, Rob Schlein in Texas or Jeff Cook on the East Coast, the organization is working for full inclusion and education within the GOP and the greater community.

LCR has several goals: to reach out to members of the GLBT community, the straight community and the greater community about Republican ideals. I am proud of my membership in, support for and friendship with Log Cabin Republicans.

Stop personal attacks and unite
In response to Jesse Garcia’s recent comments saying that Rob Schlein is just looking out for his personal financial interests instead of the overall good of the LGBT community, I think it’s inappropriate when a board member of a credible gay organization like Stonewall Democrats of Dallas uses his title and his organization to make personal attacks against a leader of another credible gay organization like the Dallas Log Cabin Republicans.

Both Rob Schlein and Jesse Garcia are friends of mine, and I’ve known them long enough to know they both care about our LGBT community. I am a member of the Dallas Log Cabin Republicans, and I live in District 108.

I know that the presence of state Rep. Dan Branch at the next LCR meeting has created a media stir. That’s to be expected, of course, given his record on LGBT issues.

However, I also believe that change can take place in the right direction, especially when our opponents are fully educated about our issues.

A famous quote by President John F. Kennedy says, “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.” It’s a quote you will hear a lot in this year’s elections.

As far as Dan Branch’s invitation to speak before members of LCR, a gay organization that does seek gay equality, I’d like to rephrase JFK’s famous quote by changing the word “negotiate” to “dialogue.”

Let Rep. Branch have the floor! Before we pass more judgement onto him, let us wait and listen what he has to say. Who knows, he may surprise us.

Until then, let’s refrain from personal attacks, especially within the LGBT community. Rob Schlein and LCR have, and will continue to work very hard in educating our Republican leaders about our community. Accepting an invitation to speak before us is the first step. United we stand, divided we fall!



Blood drive coordinators are lifesavers
In a recent letter from a Dallas Voice reader (“It’s time to overturn ban on gay blood donors,” Dallas Voice, July 4), a teacher expressed his deep disappointment over not being able to give blood due to a deferral guideline.

Carter BloodCare appreciates the enthusiasm and leadership this individual demonstrated by stepping forward to help a friend by organizing a blood drive; the blood center also understands his disappointment over not personally being able to give blood.

The Food and Drug Administration’s blood donor deferral for men who have had sex with men even once since 1977 brings out strong opinions and emotions.

All blood centers in the U.S. are regulated by safety guidelines issued by FDA. These are not laws but, in order to maintain licensing necessary to operate, blood center compliance with all FDA guidelines is mandatory and strictly enforced.

The FDA mandates that behaviors that would put individuals at high risk for an infectious disease makes them ineligible to give blood. The FDA passed a regulation in 1983 that identifies men having sex with men as high-risk behavior, warranting deferral.

Much more is known now about HIV and AIDS than when the FDA issued its original deferral. Carter BloodCare, along with other community blood centers, believes that there are medical and scientific reasons to shorten the deferral period, but we must abide by FDA regulations.

To voice your opinions and to receive additional information about this important issue, the public is encouraged to contact the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at 800-835-4709 or go to www.fda.gov/cber. The Dallas teacher did help in a big way; he may not have been able to give blood personally, but he organized a blood drive that brought lifesaving blood to the community and that is something to be proud of.

Thanks for supporting local patient’s blood needs. Everyone is encouraged to call 1-800-DONATE-4 for additional information about volunteering for Carter BloodCare.
I just read the article “Owner fears smoking ban would leave no Illusions” (Dallas Voice, July 4). The club owner’s fears are real.

My husband and I own a resort with a bar and small grill in outstate Minnesota. The smoking ban took effect here in October 2007. It didn’t take long for our profits to dwindle.

After reviewing our financials for December (down 21 percent) and January (25 percent), we knew we couldn’t go on like this for long and we had to do something.

You don’t just invest your life and soul into a place and let it go so easy.

So on Feb. 9 with a temperature of minus-45, we took advantage of a loophole in the smoking ban law that allows for actors to smoke in theatrical productions. Our bar started having theatrical performances; our customers participated in the performances as actors, and everyone was happy — including our bottom line. Our financials for February were down only 2 percent.

So, it wasn’t the economy, as many will have you believe. We are losing bars left and right here in Minnesota, and my heart goes out to all the bar owners, patrons, vendors and entertainers that will suffer from a smoking ban, for I know firsthand what they will experience.

Businesses that serve mainly food have not been hurt as much as businesses that serve mainly liquor.

A fellow bar owner that I know had to make a choice between her family’s health care policy and a mortgage payment. She chose the mortgage payment and just hopes and prays that no one gets sick. Her restaurant and bar have been in the family for 30 years.

This is what smoking bans do; they turn people’s lives upside down and inside out and leave you with nothing. Do not fall for “the level playing field” tactic. There is never a level playing field because there is always a border, a casino or an establishment that doesn’t have room to install a patio.

The only level playing field is to let the owners decide whether to be smoke free or not. Please accept my condolences if your smoking ban passes.





This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition July 11, 2008.