Volume 3, Issue 15
July 19 - August 1, 2001

THE VOICES IN OUR HEADS

I recently read on page 11 (letters to the editor) of the Westword, July 5, about a local band here in Denver. It grabbed my attention. I have seen the name around, written in the music listings for a couple of years and never thought of the meaning or intent until now.

Vox Demonna-- Voice of the Demon-- how much more direct could they be? When I hear the name Marilyn Manson, it makes me think of two people: Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. I just thought it a twisted play on beauty and the beast and never gave it a second thought. Other people have their own interpretation of what it means. But Vox Demonna has no other implications that could be associated with it. The name is pretty cut and dry.

On the 24th of July, this band will be playing at the Bluebird to an all-ages group. I would not be concerned about this if it was a 21-and-over show because I think adults can make their own decision. But when it comes to children-- it is our responsibility to make decisions for them. We hear a lot of information that we, as parents, as a community, should be aware of what our children are listening to. I know this is a free country, constitutional rights and all, but I don't think people should be able to do whatever they feel like doing-- especially if it influences our youth. It is my right to say, "I believe this is wrong."

Obviously, the protest against Marilyn Manson was not strong enough. There is strength in numbers-- where were the numbers? I read about only 30 people? [Ed: actually, 300] I was shocked, with all the controversy I thought it would be more. If I had known that, I would have been there myself. But I looked at Marilyn Manson as a one-time thing. As Robert Every Jr. says, "our own back yard." Now this can affect me and my family. I could be overreacting, but it seems I am not the only one.

Sincerely, --Sylvia Rosenburg zioncrossing@yahoo.com

Holy shit! She's absolutely right! Now, I'm a good Catholic-- know a bit of Latin and all that jazz-- yet still it escaped my attention that Vox Demonna means Voice of the Demon. Once I deciphered the name, I had an immediate crisis of faith, and became a damned soul worshipping the glory of Satan, The Prince of Darkness, forever and ever, Amen.

This could have been avoided if Vox Demonna had simply chosen to name itself something responsible and community- friendly, like Puppy Dogs On Stage, or Love Jesus Christ Because If You Don't Your Mom Will Ground You.

It got me thinking. There's a serious crisis waiting to happen because Denver's local bands haven't been careful enough to name themselves innocuously. Look at Opie Gone Bad! Why, the sheer implication that wee little Ronnie Howard could ever get into mischief ... it boggles the mind. How dare they impugn a noted role model for fly fishing lads across the country! Is nothing sacred?

Or take Rocket Ajax. Don't tell your 12- year-old boy there's a band named Rocket Ajax. If you do, I guarantee within 24 hours he'll end up splitting time between the burn unit and poison control.

I hope Sylvia takes her energy and immediately applies it to a pro-censorship rally. I hope Governor Owens passes a resolution that all rock band names must be cleared by the City Council for the safety of the children. After all, our kids are so damned impressionable, we'd better make sure they grow up on nothing but PBS and Robert Every Jr. quotes until the magic Maturity Fairy visits them at age 21 and grants them the wisdom to tell everyone else what to think and believe. Actually, better scratch that. We can't have Fairies talking to the kids ... they might run out and have anal sex with something.

By the way, the only written record we have of the Voice of the Demon is in the Bible. Better keep that locked away from prying eyes, too. After all, what if they decide the snake was right about that apple after all? We all know the end of civilization will come when children can make decisions for themselves without strict adult supervision, guidance, and repression.

BEER SUGGESTIONS

Who chose those beers [www.gogomagazine.com/0313/]? It's a pity you couldn't locate a Belhaven, the best Scottish beer, and in my opinion the best in the world. A true Scottish ale is only lightly hoppy (historically, they only added hops in the 18th century after England forced its style of brewing on the public, weaning off the malt and heather style), and dark amber. I have yet to find a decent imitation in this country. And where was the Hoegarden? I guess Old Chicago does have some restrictions, I suggest you reward yourselves with a trip to a city where you can find a pub with all the major beers. Decent mag, keep it up. --Graeme

PS: If you can find it, try Fraoch. It's made from an ancient Celtic recipe and contains no hops. I found it in Boulder; it's on the web also I think.

MARIS GETS AN APOLOGY

In this space, last issue, we printed a complaint from infamous gay zombie Maris the Great. He was puzzled and hurt that he was asked not to march in the Pridefest parade this year by some policemen.

Mike Smith, the executive director of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered Center of Colorado, recently apologized and explained the situation to everyone's relief. It seems the matter was a simple miscommunication, and that future parades should be better. Here's an excerpt from the letter.

I am horrified that the situation played out the way it did, and I do feel the Center owes you an apology. I don't know if there is any way to track back what went wrong. I think a really bad game of telephone played itself out with horrible consequences.

First off, none of the vets said anything to me disparaging of you or attributing acts to you that you didn't do. I think they were just a little wierded out that you would be tagging along with them as the official color guard. (They take their color guard duties pretty seriously and are always a little sensitive.) They were scheduled to walk with the official banner of the parade, which I was carrying. One of them asked me to make sure you didn't march with them.

I by this time was about 100 yards away, dealing with the grand marshal group and the rally speaker. I grabbed a parade volunteer and sent him over to "get him out of the there" or "move him out of there" or something. In hindsight, I should have been A LOT more clear, or sent a staff person or senior parade volunteer or taken the time to go over myself. It just seemed like a small thing, so I sent someone else to do an errand. BIG MISTAKE.

I may have been the one who started the rumor that a volunteer asked you to move to a different location, because I thought that was what happened. It was certainly what I thought I asked.

Clearly the volunteer chose to get the police involved. Maybe he thought he couldn't handle the situation or thought I really wanted you removed from the parade. I'm not sure which. And beleive me, in the chaos that goes on behind the scenes in the few minutes before the parade goes off, I couldn't pick that volunteer out of a line up right now if my life depended on it.

I am very sorry about how you were treated. And I do apologize on behalf of the Center.

This points out a few things we need to change next year. We have about 200 parade volunteers (not all of whom come to a training, unfortunately). We need a way to reinforce to them that everyone is welcome, and not to exclude anyone with out a staff decision. (I can see a case where religious right groups would march within our permit to make a point, and we do have the right to exclude anyone within our permitted space. We just need better procedures for it.)

The police have been wonderful over the last few years, and we tend to hire the same cops each year. But we assume they know the ropes, and with no incident to point to, we haven't had an orientation for them. Because of this incident, I think we need to write up some guidelines, so in cases like yours it is clear that the directive came from one of the three senior staff organizers, and not just the result of concern on the part of a volunteer.

Again, my deepest apologies. --Mike Smith, executive director, GLBT Center of Colorado

--Chris J. Magyar