Pro-equality demonstrators overwhelmed the National Organization for Marriage at the Madison stop of its 23-city Summer for Marriage tour. – Photo: Lucky Tomaszek
Marriage equality foes outnumbered in Madison
Supporters for marriage equality outnumbered National Organization for Marriage protesters by a ratio of 8 - 1 during a July 27 duel of rallies on the streets of Madison.
NOM’s Madison stop was part of the group’s Summer for Marriage Tour, a 23-city trek to spread the group’s message of traditional, heterosexual-only unions. NOM also hopes to gather two million signatures from what executive director Brian Brown referred to as an “army for traditional marriage rights.”
But at most stops, local pro-equality supporters, alerted to the tour’s appearances via Facebook and Twitter, have overwhelmed NOM’s small cadre of marchers. In Madison about 500 counter-demonstrators faced off against the anti-equality visitors.
An hour before NOM began its presentation on the steps of the Capitol, the counter-protesters gathered at a rally orgnized by a large coalition of state and local groups, including Fair Wisconsin, the LGBT Campus Center of UW - Madison, PFLAG and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
Addressing the crowd before the march began, husbands Michael Knaapen and John Becker of Milwaukee told the story of their courtship and marriage.
National Organization for Marriage rally, Madison
Bar fundraiser aims to raise AIDS awareness
Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, gay bars have played a pivotal role in disseminating information about HIV disease and prevention. They’ve also contributed significantly to fundraising for local AIDS service organizations.
Raising the Bar, a statewide fundraiser for AIDS Walk Wisconsin, draws on the bars’ unique ability to raise both awareness of the disease and dollars to fight it. Begun in 2006, the fundraiser is open to all LGBT and LGBT-friendly bars in the state. This year’s event launched recently but is still adding participants. (See sidebar on page XX for a list of currently participating bars as well as contact information for joining the effort.)
In addition to money that participating bars raise through such activities as drink specials, auctions, bingo, live performances and the sale of $1 Raising the Bar tags, fundraising is augmented with a $5,000 challenge grant from the Johnson and Pabst LGBT Humanity Fund. The bar team that raises the most cash gets to add that amount to its total.
Organizers at the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, which benefits from AIDS Walk, aim to enlist participation from at least 10 bars this year and to raise a minimum of $25,000. To date, the bars have raised $179,041.
Raising the Bar, AIDS Walk Wisconsin fundraiserJudge: HIV claim can proceed to trial
A U.S. district judge ruled July 22 that a discrimination case concerning a woman who was denied surgery because she’s HIV-positive can proceed to trial.
In February 2009, Lambda Legal and the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin filed suit on behalf of Melody Rose, 36, after Dr. Steven Cahee of Fond du Lac refused to remove her gallbladder due to concerns about HIV transmission. Rose underwent the procedure at a different medical facility.
Lambda Legal and the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin filed suit on Rose’s behalf against Cahee, the Fond du Lac Regional Clinic and Agnesian Healthcare, which operates the clinic as well as St. Agnes Hospital.
The defendants had sought a summary judgment that would avoid a trial, but Judge J.P. Stadtmueller said the case could proceed to trial under four different anti-discrimination laws. “A reasonable jury could look at all of this evidence and conclude that Dr. Cahee discriminated against Rose in the provision of services by declining to perform surgery on her and that this decision was based on Rose’s disability,” he wrote.
Fond du Lac Dr. Steven Cahee, HIV trial‘Witches’ Night Off’ raises money for ARCW
In support of AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin and Broadway Cares, the Broadway touring cast and crew of “Wicked” is performing a one-night-only adult cabaret fundraiser at 7 p.m. on Mon., Aug. 2., in Cardinal Stritch University’s Nancy Kendall Theatre.
Tickets are $25 or $50 for VIP tickets, which include a dinner reception with the cast at Coa in Bayshore Town Center.
In addition to the show and dinner reception, the evening’s entertainment includes silent and live auctions. Bidders will vie for autographed items and show memorabilia as well as opportunities for a walk-on part in one performance of “Wicked” or a backstage chance to see Elphaba get “greenified.”
The performances, theater space and dinner for the event are all being donated, which means beneficiaries will receive 100 percent of the money raised, said ARCW development director Tad Gospodarek. ARCW and Broadway Cares, the philanthropic arm of the Actors’ Equity Association, will each receive half of the proceeds.
"Witches' Night Off" AIDS Resource Center Wisconsin fundraiserGOP challenges Baldwin’s nomination
Republicans have filed a challenge to U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s nomination papers.
The Young Republicans of Dane County allege Baldwin, a Madison Democrat, listed her campaign office as her address on the papers rather than her voting address.
A message left with Baldwin’s campaign wasn’t returned. However, state Government Accountability Board spokesmanReid Magney says state election officials have allowed Baldwin, who is openly lesbian, to use her campaign office as her address for years because she received threats after she was first elected in 1998.
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