Team Dallas organizer Jere Becker

In Friday’s paper, we ran a news brief about two Gay Games representatives from Cologne, Germany, site of the 2010 event, coming to Dallas to talk about the games and make a presentation.

CEO Annette Watcher and Stephen Collette will be at Woody’s Sports and Video Bar on Cedar Springs on Monday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Nov. 10, they will be at Buli on Cedar Springs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to talk to anyone not able to attend on Monday evening.

Here’s more information about the games:

Team Dallas organizer Jere Becker said the games are “open to anyone. You just need to register.” Becker has been involved with Team Dallas since 1990 and has participated in a variety of sports including flag football, swimming, bodybuilding and softball.

He said, “Age doesn’t matter. Phil Johnson has won a ton of medals in swimming.” Johnson began competing in Gay Games when he was in his 70s.

Competition in some sports, such as tennis and swimming, are grouped by age. Others, such as volleyball, have classes of ability, similar to the way DIVA, the local league, arranges players.

Swimming, softball, soccer, bowling and ice hockey are other sports that have sent teams or players in the past. Running, cycling, physique, track and field, billiards, sailing, golf and chess are other areas open for competitors.

In addition to competitors, Team Dallas would like to bring a contingent of spectators to cheer the athletes. Gay Games is also looking for dancers, cheerleaders, bands and singers to perform during the week.

Becker said he expects about 100 athletes from Dallas to attend the Gay Games in Cologne. The last games, held in Chicago, attracted about 150 people from this area. Distance and cost of travel are expected to lower attendance from Dallas.

Anyone who has participated in past Gay Games is encouraged to wear team shirts and any medals won to the Woody’s presentation. Becker said the evening would be a reunion for past attendees.

This will be the eighth time the games will be held and take place every four years. The first, in 1982, was in San Francisco.

In 1997 Dallas bid to host the 2002 Gay Games but lost to Sydney. The 2014 games move back to North America and will be in Cleveland.

Becker said that holding the competitions in August presents a problem for Dallas because of the heat. The 1997 bid proposed Memorial Day weekend in May, but organizers felt that would be a problem for Europeans to attend. Although August is winter in Sydney, that city’s climate is temperate year round.

More than 1,700 people from 32 countries have already registered to participate in the Cologne games. Two sports, golf and sailing, will close registration soon because they are nearing capacity.

— David Taffet

Trish Hudson, taken in New York, the day before her death

This week we ran an obituary for Trish Hudson who died suddenly on a trip to New York. While the version in the paper was a traditional obit, I had gotten so many sweet comments from friends that I wanted to share.

“Her friends were her life,” said John Altier, who worked with Hudson at Dr. Pounders’ office. “We laughed all day long.”

Henry Rivas, another friend, said, “The joke with Trish always was, no matter who she was with, someone else would come by and they knew her too. Or you would invite her to a dinner to meet new friends and they knew each other already.”

Jason Harlow said, “She always called me her little brother. She was a pop culture genius. She knew music, artists, actors and movies. She would be my lifeline on a TV game show.”

Pam Timme said, “She cared more about making everyone around her happy that she often put herself last. She would do without so you could have. She never took the spotlight away from you, but made sure it was put directly on you. However, she might knock you over to get the microphone for karaoke as she loved to sing and dance. There were many nights after our weekly Survivor parties that turned into karaoke until 2 a.m.”

I met Trish when she came into the office to confirm that two men who were on a plane that crashed off the coast of Florida were a local gay couple. Jeff Byron and Greg Arceneaux were two of her closest friends and other friends said she has been grieving their deaths since the July accident.

Since then, she has been a great source for my health reporting. Has her office, which has a large number of patients with HIV, received any H1N1 vaccine? Who should I call about any number of other health related questions? She was always helpful, friendly, funny. I’ve only known her a short time and mostly as a phone contact but I’ll miss her too.

Still no word on autopsy results. The funeral is this afternoon.

— David Taffet

The three crispy taco combo at Taco Joint is simple but outstanding.

Taco Joint is nothing new to some of the DV staffers. We’ve been heading to the East Dallas spot for a few months now enjoying their tasty tacos and affordable daily specials.  Just a couple of us made it to T-Jo’s today for an early lunch. They’ve been a reliable go-to spot for midday noshing and once again they did not disappoint.

Admittedly, we weren’t overly flattered by the fried fish fritter taco special. It sounded good but with residual fried-foodery from the Fair in our hearts and minds, we weren’t in the mood. But it sounds like a great Lent option. Looking through the window on the way in, a guy was devouring his tortilla soup which sounded delish but a tad pricy we thought at $4. We could make it a meal by adding other items on the menu but even at $7 and some change for soup, it was a bit steep. Of course, it should be said that we both were in frugal mode.

We decided to go back to basics and opted for the three crispy taco special. It comes with a side of rice in beans (not rice and beans) and a drink for $5.99. We also ordered chips and salsa for a $1.99.  What we love about their tacos is the freshness and simplicity. Simple ground sirloin, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes fill out a grease-kissed taco shell. The tacos are plumped full with each ingredient, although we wouldn’t mind more cheese, please. Each bite may fall apart in your hands but it doesn’t matter because what made it in your mouth is so delicious.

For whatever reason, we cannot get enough of their tiny salsa bar. The regular salsa is mild but not another Pace Picante variation. It feels more like a tomato salsa puree with enough heat that satisfies but never distracting. But their jalapeno ranch is uh-maz-ing. It’s nothing more than what it’s called but pour it over everything on your plate and it’s worthwhile. We love it on chips but on tacos or their Big B burrito, it adds a whole other level to the already tasty bite. It’s not overly thick or heavy like ranch dressing and like the salsa, doesn’t go overboard with jalapeno spiciness.

There are two kinds of beef we like at T-Jo’s. The beef in the tacos and the beef standing in line. Apologies to the girl-watchers out there. We couldn’t give you the best assessment but the eye candy of the male persuasion is perhaps the best lunch dessert in town. But we’d be satisfied regardless because the cashier (and perhaps owner?) who takes our order each time is always charming and genuinely grateful for the patronage. Plus, when he repeats our names for the order, it becomes a total swoonfest. In which we then, of course, forget to ask his name.

It’s been a Kathy Griffin kinda week: We are preparing a review of her new “holiday” comedy CD (nothing “holiday” about it) and arranging for an interview to promote her upcoming appearance at the Meyerson on Jan. 2 and 3.

Then comes work this morning that the January dates have been moved … to April 18 and 19. Quite a bump. No word yet as to why, but I’m speculatin’ that she’s be co-hosting the ball drop in Times Square with Anderson Cooper on New Year’s Eve again and figured she’d be busy for the few days that following answering questions about “how could you say that?” and “why do you treat Anderson so badly?” questions.

I told him I could only answer that from my own perspective as a white gay woman, and that I cannot presume to speak for African-Americans of any sexual orientation. My personal belief is that the two are not just the same, because the battles we have had to fight, the perspective from which we have fought them is different. One example: African-Americans cannot hide the color of their skin. They cannot be “in the closet” about being black. I believe that my sexual orientation is just as innate a characteristic as the color of my skin, but it is possible for me to “hide” that orientation. I should not HAVE to hide who I am, but it is possible.

But saying that the two movements are not exactly the same does not mean I believe that the gay rights movement is less valid. Civil rights are civil rights, and everyone deserves to be treated equally.

That’s just my personal belief. Tell me what you think.

Ed Oakley, shown alongside Tom Leppert during a runoff debate in 2007, says Dallas voters should be outraged if Leppert steps down to run for Senate. (Associated Press)

Speculation that Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert plans to step down to run for U.S. Senate has, in turn, fueled rumors that openly gay former City Councilman Ed Oakley would be among those seeking Leppert’s job in an ensuing special election for mayor.

But Oakley, who lost a runoff for mayor to Leppert in 2007, largely dismissed those rumors this week, saying that unless he’s approached by representatives from the city’s business establishment, including the powerful Dallas Citizens Council, he won’t be a candidate.

“I would say there’s a 99.9 percent chance that I would not be [running],” Oakley told Dallas Voice. “The only way that would happen is if the Citizens Council decided to approach me to run. They usually have a huge say-so in it. Obviously they had a big hand in getting this mayor [Leppert] elected.”

Oakley added that the further he gets from his three terms as a councilman and the 2007 campaign for mayor, the more his name recognition declines, making it harder to raise money.

“You kind of lose your momentum,” he said. “It would take the business community saying we need somebody in there who understands City Hall. If they did that, I’d have to take a very hard look at it. If they approach me, it’s a game-changer.”

Others who’ve been rumored as possible candidates for mayor include City Councilwoman Angela Hunt, a strong LGBT ally, and City Councilman Ron Natinsky, who’s been relatively supportive of the gay community, especially given that he represents a conservative North Dallas district.

Leppert has neither confirmed nor denied that he intends to run for the seat expected to be vacated by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who plans to challenge Gov. Rick Perry in next year’s Republican primary.

Oakley, who’s been supportive of the mayor on major issues, indicated that he’ll be disappointed if Leppert steps down to run for Senate.

Oakley was on the council when Mayor Ron Kirk stepped down to run for Senate in 2002. He said Leppert’s resignation would cost the city $1 million to stage a special election and severely disrupt leadership at City Hall.

“My thoughts are he needs to stay right where he is,” Oakley said. “He should not be asking for another job until this one’s finished. The citizens of Dallas ought to be outraged if he resigns from being mayor in mid-term to run for another office.

“He asked for this job,” Oakley said. “He wanted this job. He went out and campaigned for this job. Every debate was, he wanted to give something back to the city, and when you ask for a job, you complete the job before you move on to the next one.”

Perhaps it’s not the most fun on a Friday morning to start with a religious guy talking down the gays but Houston’s Joel Osteen did just that this week on The View. Whoopi respectfully asks his thoughts on gay people and while Osteen responds in a calm fashion, it’s clear he’s not a fan. No surprise, really.

I just love how Joy Behar is ready to duke it out.

Jason P. Miller, aka Breathalyzer

Okay. This isn’t gay at all. But I thought the AP report was funny.

Police in Oxford, Ohio arrested James P. Miller on Halloween night and charged him with driving a vehicle while intoxicated after he was stopped and when tested, blew a 0.158 on a breathalyzer test. He was driving the wrong way on a one-way street when he was stopped.

Here’s the funny part: He was in costume at the time, dressed as a breathalyzer.

Annise Parker on election night (Dalton DeHart)

Annise Parker set a personal fundraising record on Wednesday. The Houston mayoral runoff candidate raised $79,170 online from 272 donors. They were responding to a single email sent earlier that day.

People who donated for the Nov. 3 race may donate to the runoff. Campaign finance law treats each race separately.

On Dec. 12, she faces Gene Locke.

More on the Parker campaign and runoff in Friday’s Dallas Voice.

— David Taffet

the straight Ted Haggard

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, mega-church minister and meth user Ted Haggard has started a new church in Colorado Springs. His career came to a sudden halt when the male prostitute he regularly visited identified him.

Three years ago today, he resigned his position at New Life Church with a 13-month severance package. According to the Gazette’s report, the conditions included not starting a new church anywhere nearby.

Mike Jones, the gay man who turned Haggard in, had this to say about Haggard on his blog:

“Ted Haggard certainly has the right to do what ever he wants and deserves to be happy in life.  But make no mistake: Ted does nothing by accident.  This will be in the press, two months before Gayle’s book is released and then his book to follow.  At this point, publicity is publicity.

“But to sum it up, if Ted and Gayle were at Disneyland, they would never leave Fantasyland.”

We’ll be praying for Ted.

— David Taffet