European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 b the stars and stripes faces a no places 1 wednesday november 4,1992furor Over wedding ties lesbian from wire reports when Sara Strandtman and Karen Umminger planned their marriage in Austin Texas they went the traditional route. They booked a Church and invited family and friends. At the weddin they wore White and carried bouquets had a Flower girl and attendants and shared the first dance. They also bought a wedding announcement in the Austin american statesman topped by their picture. That lifted their july ceremony out of the realm of per Sonal Celebration and into the Public spotlight. The announcement was met with letters and Telephone Calls to the newspaper from people on both sides. The Flap also resulted in an appearance on Phil Donahue s television talk show. A it just Felt surrealistic a said Strandtman who got word of the controversy from a Friend. A the said t just wanted to Tell you that your wedding was Beautiful a i am so glad that i participated in it. Thank you it was a great experience. And did you know that you were the Lead Story on the 6 of clock news a a she recalled. A so we watched and there was our announcement picture As big As the whole television screen and i went this Isnit  a the and was the first wedding announcement in the american statesman by a same sex couple said publisher Roger Kintzel. The newspaper previously had run homosexual oriented personal ads and memorial notices As Well As an engagement notice by Strandtman and Umminger. A i think we did the right thing a Kintzel said. A we did no to do it to gain any notoriety. We did it because we thought and still do think we re honouring a part of the diversity of the  newspapers elsewhere around the country have run similar announcements. Umminger 41, said she and Strandtman 37, wanted their picture in the paper to contradict a whatever it is people think lesbians look  Umminger attends the University of Texas where she is pursuing a masters degree in social work. Strandtman who has an anthropology degree is a University administrator. A we wanted to make a statement about a Celebration of life. To really support our rite of passage our ceremony a Strandtman said. A this is a big Deal. And this is the Way that our society provides to say hey this is a big Deal. So we used  among critics of the announcement was Dick Mallory a Republican running against democratic state rep. Glen Maxcy of Austin Texas first openly Gay legislator. Mallory took Issue with the announcements statement that the women were married. Texas does not legally recognize same sex marriages. A people might say a i must be wrong in my thinking. It must be of. Because the paper said so a a Mallory said. Quot what in a trying to do is Nold the line to what Good standards  a Karen Umminger left and Sara Strandtman leak aver their wedding album at their heme in Austin Texas. Officials Check sex Book two years after the City of Cincinnati raised a juror Over an exhibit of explicit Robert Mapplethorpe photos authorities have bought a copy of Madonna a sex Book to determine whether it violates obscenity Laws. No one had complained to the Hamilton county sheriffs department about the Book by the end of last week said spokesman Frank we incl. But about a dozen people most of whom Hadnot seen the Book had called with questions to said. A if there is a feeling that the statute is being violated we will prosecute a we incl said. Cincinnati gained a reputation As conservative in 1990, when the county prosecutor Art nay took a gallery to court Over the Mapplethorpe exhibit which included photos of homosexual and sadomasochistic sex acts. A jury acquitted the contemporary arts Center and its director on obscenity  in knots Folksy Point of Light Arlo Guthrie has an unexpected admirer a the Bush administration. The 45-year-old Folk Singer last month received one of president Bush a Point of Light awards for his humanitarian work through the Guthrie Center in great Barrington mass. A a it a a Nice Little letter a Guthrie said monday. A i was actually quite pleased a not so much for us but for the people we try to help. It Means their needs become  the Center established in the former Church that once housed the restaurant made famous in Guthrie a anti War Ballad Alice s restaurant helps people with aids and other terminal illnesses abused children and a just about anyone else who needs help a he  denied . Visa organizers of an election night rally in san Francisco on monday denounced a state department decision to deny a visa to controversial Irish Singer stated of Connor who had planned to attend the event. John Ledlow an organizer with the and hoc election night Celebration committee condemned the move As an act of censorship intended to silence the musician. A there s no doubt this is an act of censorship a Ledlow said. A it seems pretty inappropriate especially on the eve of an  Ledlow suggested of Connor had been denied the visa because she planned to tear up a photograph of president Bush at the rally. The Irish Singer has been denounced by Catholic officials for tearing up a photograph of the Pope during an appearance on televisions saturday night live last month. However state department spokesman Peter Mur phey said of Connor had been denied a visa because she failed to file her application in time. A we did no to have time to process the papers a he  John Lennon were 65 May Pang who was once John Lennon a mistress says he envisioned himself As a potbellied 65-year-old with a lots of  Pang displayed a Lennon self portrait and other sketches on mondays broadcast of the to show a current affair. A a Friend of ours said a you think you re really going to have that much hair at 65?�?T i mean John got insulted by that a she said. Pang was the former beatles mistress at the time he was married to Yoko Ono. Lennon was shot to death in december 1980 at age 40. In his self portrait Lennon was a sitting on a raft smoking a cigarette very Content a Pang said. A you could even see the smile on his face. Just Nappy finally finding you know that peaceful moment in  it s going to be a Long Winter Stock up on some big books $9.95 one thousand one Hundred and fourteen pages of Oscar Wilde. 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