20
GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE Pride Guide 2011
•
www.GayPeoples Chronicle.com
obituaries
Larry and Scotty, together in life and death
Lawrence Rudolf Boldin, 89, passed away at the Cleveland Veterans Administration Hospital on April 29, 2011.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 12, 1921 to Anton and Mary Boldin, he is survived by two sisters, Josephine King and Antonia Wise.
In World War II he attained the rank of sergeant and was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic service to his country.
Less than a week later, his partner Stuart Richard Scott, 86, passed away in Canton, Ohio on May 4, 2011.
Born in Morgantown, West Virginia on February 7, 1925 to Lee and Maggie Scott, he was proceeded in death by two sisters, Louise and Julia.
Larry and Scotty were partners in business and also in life for more than 60 years. They had many friends and were role models to many within the GLBT commu-
nity. They loved the arts and theater and were season ticket holders at the Carousel Dinner Theater for many years.
They began their careers with a dry cleaning business in Shaker Heights. After selling it, they moved to Stark County to buy and operate the Horseshoe bar. After a fire put them out of business, Larry became a bartender at Bender's Tavern in downtown Canton, where he worked until he retired.
Scotty worked as a bartender and manager for several bars in downtown Canton and eventually finished his career working for Waco Scaffolding and Equipment in Wadsworth, Ohio.
They were devoted to God, each other, and also to their church. A memorial and celebration of life service was held Saturday May, 28 at Cascade Community Church in Akron.
newsbriefs
Continued from page 3
However, the three men who filed suit had their team's second-place 2008 tournament finish disqualified because they are not gay but bisexual. Coughenour said that questions about their private lives at a hearing on the disqualification may have been too invasive, so the trial can go ahead.
In the hearing, one man identified as gay but said he was married to a woman, while another claimed to be both gay and straight, but said he was more attracted to women.
The trio were in addition to their team's two allowed heterosexual players, leading other teams to complain that it was stacking its roster with ringers.
The three men are being represented by an attorney from the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Gates could sign DADT's end in weeks
Washington, D.C.-Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is stepping down at the end of the month, told the Associated Press that he has no problem signing off on the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" before he leaves his post.
If the heads of each of the branches of the military recommend going forward, he will put his imprimatur on it. According to the repeal legislation passed late last year, the Defense Secretary, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the president all have to certify that removing the anti-gay policy will not negatively affect combat readiness. Training has been ongoing to teach military personnel about the upcoming change.
The chiefs of the military branches are reporting to Gates biweekly on the progress
♡
of their training efforts. If he does certify the repeal, "don't ask, don't tell" could be gone in September.
Bill would end tax on partner benefits
Washington, D.C.—Two Republicans and two Democrats in the House of Representatives introduced a bill on June 2 that would remove the tax liability for domestic partner insurance benefits.
The bill, introduced by Jim McDermott of Washington, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, and New York's Richard Hanna and Nan Hayworth, would stop insurance benefits from being considered income. As it stands now, insurance benefits for the legally wed opposite-sex spouses of employees are not considered income, and the bill would put domestic partner benefits in that category.
A 2007 study indicated that an employee whose partner is on his or her health insurance pays an extra $1,700 in taxes on the benefits at the federal level alone.
McDermott came armed with a letter from a coalition of 77 major corporations and trade groups supporting the legislation, including Microsoft, AT&T and Citigroup.
In addition to ending the taxation of domestic partner insurance benefits, it would also free health benefits for other dependents, like adult children, grandchildren and others, from being taxed.
Gender therapy included in VA benefits
Washington, D.C.-The Veterans Administration has issued instructions to its hospitals that hormones, mental health counseling and gender reassignment care are
Lawrence Rudolf Boldin and Stuart Richard Scott
covered under veterans' benefits.
The June 9 edict leaves breast and genital surgery not covered by VA benefits, but gender treatments including hormones and non-surgical care are to be provided.
The missive also orders medical personnel to refer to patients, both in person and in their records, using their preferred gender pronoun.
"It's going to be a huge boon to veterans who are not getting any care at all or are not getting appropriate care," Autumn Sandeen, a Navy veteran, told the Associated Press. "You have to be able to treat the whole person, and now the VA is telling them, you can't separate out the transgender component and you can't only give care that is not trans-specific."
Sandeen, who lives in San Diego, said she has never had a problem with her care at the local VA hospital, but she knows other transgender veterans who were refused hormone treatments and psychological services.
Feds tell schools they must allow GSAs
Washington, D.C.-The Department of Education sent a letter on June 14 to the nation's school districts informing them that, under the Equal Access Act, students have the legal right to form gay-straight alliances.
Federal courts in Utah, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia and Florida have all upheld students' rights to form GSAS. Under the equal access act, if a school allows extracurricular clubs at all, they must be treated equally, so if there are any such clubs, GSAs must also be allowed.
The American Civil Liberties Union has sent letters to districts in New Mexico and Texas this year, backing up students trying to form gay-straight alliances. In both instances, the district school boards ultimately ruled in favor of the students.
"Today's guidance from the Department of Education is a welcome and much-needed reminder to our nation's school districts that all students have the right to be free from exclusion," said ACLU Washington Legislative Office Director Laura W. Murphy. "Anti-gay discrimination, including harassment, hurts all students. Those attempting to create a safe haven where all students LGBT and otherwise can come together to discuss acceptance and provide each other with mutual support should not be stymied by their schools."
Federal Reserve bank flies Pride flag
Richmond, Va.-The Federal Reserve Bank is getting in the spirit of Pride Month, raising a rainbow flag on Junel.
Unfortunately, Republican lawmakers and religious right activists are taking the quasi-governmental organization to task for it, asking if they will raise an equivalent flag for Christian Heritage Month.
"We hope there would be an even hand played when a Christian requests the Christian flag in September during Christian Heritage Month," Family Foundation president Victoria Cobb told the New York Times. Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond spokesman Jim Strader, however, pointed out that the Federal Reserve banks are not
Continued on facing page
Bodi
Look fo
216-251038 www.B
Serving the LGB 1984
Community Sin
Bring in this ad for 20% off your purchase of $20 or more through July 15th. Cannot be combined with other sales or discounts.
Cash Bar
!!Come Celebrate PRIDE!! Cleveland Black Pride, Inc and Movement in Black
Cleveland Pride Day 2011 Saturday, June 25, 2011 4925 State Road
(a State Road & I-480) Cleveland, Ohio 44134
Hot DJ playing the latest in Hip Hop, House, R&B and more.
Music, Dancing and PRIDE!!!
Advance $12 Door $15
call 216.233.1411 for tickets & info
Heavy Hors D'oeuvres