21 year old University of Arizona political science student Daniel Hernandez Jr. is a gay “reluctant hero”, pictured on the February 2011 issue of ‘n touch, a LGBT news magazine published in Phoenix. This is their 79th issue covering current events and issues affecting the gay lesbian bi-sexual transgendered communities in Arizona.
Topic areas in the magazine cover Local News, Politics, Business, Feature Articles, Ethics, Pets, and Focus Tucson.

There’s an article on page 6 about Daniel, the brave intern of Congressmember Giffords’ office who courageously ran towards the shots on January 8, to assist Gabby. Apparently he cradled her head in his arms as he stopped the bleeding from her head wound, caused by gunfire from suspect Jared Lee Loughner. Daniel has been called a hero by many, and attended President Obama’s State of the Union address on January 25 in Washington, D.C. He also spoke at the Memorial service at the University of Arizona’s McKale Center on January 12. Daniel serves on the City of Tucson’s GLBT Commission and is LD 28 House Rep. Steve Farley‘s campaign manager.

Click here to read the online version of this issue.

Also in this issue is an update on Wingspan (on page 48) by Linda Thomas, program director. Wingspan LGBT advocacy center is mostly volunteer run now, and is located at 430 E. 7th Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues), phone 520-624-1779, www.wingspan.org. They recently held a senior forum hosted by Pima Council on Aging, to provide information specific to LBGT seniors & their partners.

Wingspan provides an array of social and community services including

* Information and Referral Services provides information about local community resources, groups, activities and events.
* Anti-Violence Project offers crisis intervention and support services to victims of violence and education to the community about these issues.
* Eon Youth Program provides emotional support, social and educational activities, substance abuse prevention, homeless services, and leadership training to youth ages 13-23.
* Health and Wellness provides outreach and information to community members on health disparities while training health providers on LGBT cultural competency issues.
* Senior Pride offers peer-support and social and recreational opportunities for LGBT seniors while also educating service providers about the specific needs of this population.
* Southern Arizona Gender Alliance offers information, support services and social opportunities for transgender people while educating businesses and health and human services providers about transgender issues.
* Advocacy and Public Policy engages the LGBT and allied community in grassroots, community-based social action while strengthening community coalitions and collaborations.
* Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors) provides social and outreach programming that promotes positive awareness for Latino LGBT people.
* Wingspan FilmFest shows high-quality LGBT-themed films representing the diversity of our community that otherwise would not be screened in Southern Arizona.
* Community Space including a free lending library, computer center, and meeting rooms.

Also on page 47 of this February issue are photos of Tucsonans at the Wingspan Night Thing Party on New Year’s Eve, 2010. I recognized Mayor Bob Walkup and his wife Beth, LD 29 Rep. Matt Heinz, Pima County deputy attorney Brad Holland, Southern Arizona Aids Foundation Executive Director Wendell Hicks, and lots of other revelers.

This magazine advertises itself as “Your LGBT News Authority”, and is complimentary on newstands in Tucson and across Arizona. For more information contact Editor/publisher Gina Read at info@ntouchaz.com.

“In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex”

Nathaniel Philbrick wrote a gripping account in 2000 of what happened to the Nantucket whaleship Essex on November 20, 1820 out in the Pacific Ocean, more than 1500 nautical miles from the Galapagos Islands.

Essex sketch by cabin boy Thomas Nickerson, from wikipedia

The Essex was whaling for sperm whales (for oil), when an 85 foot male attacked the whaling ship by striking it head-on twice, which caused the Essex to sink in 10 minutes. The Captain and 20 crew members survived on 3 smaller whale boats, and after that harrowing experience, chose to head back south/east towards South America, instead of going west to the Marquesas or Society (Tahitian) Isles. They made this decision based on stories of alleged cannibalism on these islands.

Remember that this is 1820, before radar and telephones, so these men were adrift for months.

After a month at sea on the whaleboats they all reach uninhabited Henderson Island, where they were able to revive themselves with birds/eggs/plants/fresh water, and regroup. After a week on Henderson, 3 sailors chose to stay, 17 to get back on the whale boats to sail for South America.

The story at this point gets grimmer, as the reader knows by then that starvation, dehydration, hallucinations, other medical conditions (diarrhea, boils, etc.) will set in for these survivors at sea. Unfortunately several crew men start to die one by one, and are eaten by the remaining men. So the very thing they tried to avoid (cannibalism) confronts them on the high seas.

On February 6, 1821 on Captain George Pollard Jr.’s whaleboat the four men on board choose to draw lots and execute the one who draws the shortest lot. Thus one of the men shoots & kills the unfortunate first cousin of the Captain, whom he had promised his Aunt to look after. By the time they are rescued in that boat, only 2 men survive, the Captain and a sailor.

In the other boat led by First Mate Owen Chase, only 2 others survive. The 3rd boat is lost at sea with 4 men aboard (but skeletons in a whaleboat matching these men are later found on Dulcie island near Henderson, so they didn’t get very far in the Pacific Ocean).

After the two boats reach South America after almost 3 months at sea, a rescue whaling ship is sent to Henderson Island and finds the 3 sailors on that island, barely alive in April, 1821. All 8 survivors of the Essex eventually return to Nantucket, Massachusetts to forge new lives, most still as whalers.

The ethical dilemma in this book is whether it had been necessary to shoot one of the sailors (for food). Not being there in such a stressful survival situation, it would be difficult to judge that now, almost 200 years later. But my husband wondered why the sailors didn’t use the gun to shoot the sharks or porpoises that swam by, or had used the corpses as bait for sharks, instead of eating them outright.

Read the book for yourself, as it is a fantastic historical recap of the Whaling Industry in the 1800’s and also a riveting survival story, which influenced Herman Melville to write Moby Dick in 1851.

Phillbrick writes this as a summary and in support (page 236):

“Captain Pollard and his crew were simply attempting to make a living when disaster struck in the form of an 85 foot whale. After that, they did the best they could. Mistakes were inevitably made. While Captain Pollard’s instincts were sound, he did not have the strength of character to impose his will on his two younger officers. Instead of heading to Tahiti and safety, they set out on an impossible voyage, wandering the watery desert of the Pacific until most of them were dead.”

Further the author calls this “a tragedy that happens to be one of the greatest true stories ever told.”

Jonathan Rothschild, J.D.

Jonathan Rothschild, a Democratic attorney born & raised in Tucson who has never held public office before, filed his official papers for Mayor of the City of Tucson today at the City Clerk’s Office. A statement of organization for his Exploratory Committee for Mayor was filed back in July, 2010.

He held a fundraiser on December 7 at Etherton Gallery (click here) after I first reported about his exploratory committee back in September (click here).

He said today in a press release:

“Tucson needs a mayor who will get the job done,” Rothschild said. “All the things we’ve talked about for years, from economic development to downtown revitalization, need to get done and done responsibly. We’re coming through tough economic times.Tucsonans don’t expect things to come easy. They know it will be hard, but they expect results.”

In Tucson, competing interests have often clashed, with the unfortunate result of nothing being done and everyone being frustrated. Rothschild has spent a 30-year career in law at the head of a negotiating table, bringing people together, finding the shared interests of all involved and coming up with workable solutions. “We need leadership willing to tackle challenges head-on and make the city of Tucson what Tucsonans deserve,” Rothschild said. “We must put our differences aside and come together. That’s how we build a better Tucson.”

Former Ward 5 Council candidate Republican Shaun McClusky has already announced his intention to seek this Mayoral seat (click here).

No word yet from 3 term Republican Mayor Bob Walkup whether he will seek re-election. Read my previous blog about “Will Mayor Walkup run again?

Democratic Councilwoman Shirley Scott has indicated that she will NOT be running for Mayor, but seeking re-election to her 5th term in Ward 4. I refer to her conversation with Bill Buckmaster on KJLL radio on January 12 (click here). She will be facing opposition from Republican Mike Jenkins, who had challenged her in November 2003, and announced his formal candidacy today as well, in front of the Ward 4 council office.

And reports indicate that Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich is not interested in running for Mayor either.

Rothschild’s campaign website: www.jonathanformayor.com.

To keep up to date on candidate listings with the City Clerk of Tucson (click here), and the link on the left is “2011 Candidate listing”).

Jonathan speaks tonight at 7 p.m. at the Saguaro Eastside Democrats meeting, at the New Spirit Lutheran Church, 8701 Old Spanish Trail (northeast corner at Camino Seco). Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. Website: http://saguaroeastsidedemocrats.org/

He will be also be speaking at high noon on Jan. 31 at the Democrats of Greater Tucson lunch meeting at Dragon View restaurant, 400 N. Bonita Ave. Pima County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rogers will also be speaking. Cost of lunch is $8.50 which includes tax and tip for the Chinese buffet. Website: www.tucsondemocrats.org.