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Clinton Seeks Broad Coalition in Historic Acceptance Speech Sarah McBride Takes Convention Stage as ‘Proud American’ Austin, Ahmed Partner to Rebuild Michigan Public Education System

MThe IconARIAH Saved Writer Chris Azzopardi's Life... THE Now,INTERVIEW Their Conversation

WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM AUGUST 4, 2016 | VOL. 2431 | FREE 2 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com

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COVER 20 Mariah The Interview: The Icon Saved Writer Chris Azzopardi’s Life... Now, Their Conversation NEWS 4 OUTfest Marks National Day While it’s not the Moulin Rouge, 4 Trans Activist Creates ‘Clothing Swap’ Program for the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor will open Trans Community its doors to the nationally touring Clinton Looks to Build Broad Coalition Luxotica Lounge Cabaret. 6 Austin, Ahmed Partner to Rebuild Michigan Public Education System See page 8 See page 26 8 Clinton Seeks Broad Coalition in Acceptance Speech 9 Sarah McBride Takes Convention Stage as ‘Proud EVENTS MICHIGAN ELECTION 2016 Transgender American’ 9 Dem Convention Wrap Up 10 Mayors Against Discrimination Formed in Response to Anti-LGBT Laws 11 Detroit Discusses LGBT Workplace Equality at Out and Equal Event 16 Keeping the Closet Door Closed 20 Years Later 18 LGBT Vietnam Vet Advocates for Gun Control 19 Early Pastor of MCC Detroit, Dies at 82 OPINION 14 Parting Glances 14 Viewpoint: Gwendolyn Ann Smith Detroit: Out and Equal Tackles 15 Creep of the Week: Scott Lively Workplace Issues LIFE See page 22 26 Happenings Partnering to Rebuild Michigan’s Public Education System 28 Classifieds 29 Deep Inside Hollywood See page 11 See page 6 30 Puzzle and comic

VOL. 2431 • AUGUST 4, 2016 EDITORIAL CREATIVE ADVERTISING & SALES ONLINE AT ISSUE 975 Editor in Chief Webmaster & MIS Director Director of Sales Susan Horowitz, 734.293.7200 x 12 Kevin Bryant, [email protected] Jan Stevenson, 734.293.7200 x 22 “Between The Lines Newspaper” PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP [email protected] [email protected] 20222 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48152 Contributing Writers Entertainment Editor Sales Representatives Phone 734.293.7200 Charles Alexander, Michelle E. Brown, Follow us @YourBTL Chris Azzopardi, 734.293.7200 x 24 Emell Derra Adolphus, Todd Heywood, Ann Cox, 734.293.7200 x 13 PUBLISHERS [email protected] Jason Michael, Kate Opalewski, [email protected] Email your op–eds to Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Amy Lynn Smith, Susan Horowitz & Jan Stevenson Assistant Editor Donelle Kremke, 734.293.7200 x 16 [email protected] Christopher J. Treacy MEMBER OF Shelby Clark Petkus, [email protected] [email protected] Cartoonists Sign up online to receive our E–Digest Michigan Press Assoication Calendar Editor National Advertising Representative Paul Berg, Dave Brousseau National Gay Media Association Kate Opalewski, [email protected] Rivendell Media, 212.242.6863 National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Contributing Photographers Staff Writer Q Syndicate Andrew Potter Our rate cards are available online. All material appearing in Between The Lines is protected by federal copyright law and may not AJ Trager, [email protected] be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Between The Lines is supported by many fine advertisers, Alexander Godin but we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials provided by advertisers or their agents. Copyright 2016 Pride Source Media Group www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 3 NEWS OUTfest Marks National Coming Out Day BY BTL STAFF During one of the most important elections of our time, representatives of political The Jim Toy Community Center will campaigns, including U.S. Rep. Debbie host OUTfest, their 22nd annual pride Dingell and her husband, former U.S. Rep. celebration of the LGBTQ community and its John Dingell, State Reps. Adam Zemke accomplishments, Aug. 5-7 in Ann Arbor’s (D-Ann Arbor) and Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), Kerrytown District and Braun Court. will be in attendance in support of the LGBT This three-day event honors National community. Attorney Eli Savit from the Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 when people Citizen Education Law Clinic will speak literally come out into a community that about Civil Rights and Equal Protection with already supports and affirms who they are. a nonexclusive focus on LGBTQ identities on Coming out still matters. Every person who Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. at The Bar on 327 Court St. speaks up changes more hearts and minds, and All OUTFest proceeds benefit the JTCC, a creates new advocates for equality, according nonprofit, to provide information, education, to the . social events and advocacy for and by the JTCC will offer an array of activities LGBTQ and allied residents of Ann Arbor, spread out over Friday, Saturday and Sunday Ypsilanti and greater Washtenaw County. for the LGBTQ and allied communities. JTCC envisions an inclusive community The celebration includes music, dancing, where people of diverse sexual orientation and entertainers, food (vendors and Braun Court are visible and live together restaurants), a beer tent, the Grassroots stage in equality, respect and happiness. JTCC is with local musicians, speakers, a children’s located at 319 Braun Court in Ann Arbor. play area, raffles and a NECTO-sponsored Contact the Center at 734-995-9867 or visit Dance Pavilion with DJ’s Jace and Mark. them online at www.jimtoycenter.org. The weekend will conclude with the annual Washtenaw County Pride Picnic at Wheeler For information about the weekend events visit Park from 12-4 p.m. www.a2outfest.com. Trans Activist Creates ‘Clothing Swap’ Program for Trans Community BY JASON A. MICHAEL venture. Instead, all of the proceeds go into a pool. At the end of the calendar year, Wilson When Jaimie Wilson first began transitioning will choose a transitioning applicant and give from female to male, shopping for clothes was them the money to help toward their transition an uncomfortable experience. expenses. “It was really intimidating for me to go “We are currently accepting applications shopping for clothes that I felt comfortable from individuals interested in being our very in,” Wilson said. “Sometimes you go shopping first sponsored party,” Wilson said. “All in the men’s or women’s section, and if you the money accumulated from 2016 will go don’t look the part people from the store towards the winner’s transition expenses, make you feel awkward or bad about it. So including surgery, hormones/doctor visits, I definitely wanted to create a safe space for name/gender change costs, etc.” So the monies people to go where it was welcoming instead made off of everything the Trans Exchange of intimidating.” sells – including clothes, sunglasses, wallets, That “space” is actually an online store packers, binders, bras, Pride flags, etc. – will called Trans Exchange. go to a trans individual in need. “What we have put together is a website For now, the store is online only, but Wilson where we sell new and gently used clothing,” said the day may come when they actually said Wilson. “Almost all the clothes/ move into a physical retail space. “I think it accessories are donated from brothers and would be cool if it grows that much to be able sisters who no longer have a need for their to do a retail space,” he said. “I live in Ann pre-transition clothes/accessories or just extra Arbor and I know it’s a very LGBT-friendly clothes that they don’t want anymore. We sell space, so that would be good. Right now online the clothes at super affordable prices. This way is definitely the easiest because it can reach FTM, MTF, and non-binary people can buy the most people.” body positive clothing and accessories for a To shop the Trans Exchange, visit www. great price in a safe way.” transxcompany.com. Information can also be Trans Exchange is not for profit, however, found there on how to donate clothes and how and Wilson makes no money off of the to apply to be the program’s first awardee.

4 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 5 ELECTION 16 Austin, Ahmed Partner to Rebuild Michigan Public Education System

hearing a lot about this election year,” Austin Judge Thomas Schroeder did not immediately “John is probably the most powerful Campaign Platform said. rule after Monday’s hearing for an injunction candidate that there is going to be. He doesn’t This is important, he said, during a time as more time is needed to collect and consider need to run in tandem with me, but he chose when state governments are trying to limit the the facts. A decision is therefore not likely to do that because we believe in the same Embraces and rights of their LGBT citizens and spew hatred until next week. things,” Ahmed said. “I came to him and said of minority groups. Austin told The Michigan Daily in June I’m an Arab Muslim. That won’t help you. He Celebrates On the right side of history, Austin is that the bill could violate federal civil rights said that’s exactly what I want on the ticket.” actively supporting a proposal to adopt and further isolate transgender students who guidelines for dealing with LGBT students’ are already at risk for suicide, depression and Diversity in Schools issues in public schools to include professional bullying. Ahmed training on how to handle LGBT students’ “He is courageous. His stance on LGBTQ Ahmed is the co-founder of the Arab BY KATE OPALEWSKI needs to bathroom and locker room etiquette. issues have been something to admire. To see Community Center for Economic and Social A list of proposed recommendations for him out there that strongly - and sometimes Services (ACCESS), Arab American National Education and inclusion are the most Michigan school districts was up for debate in alone - people respect that and him for Museum and former director of Michigan important challenges facing Michigan today, Lansing in May. The state reported that it will it,” Sugar Law Center board member and Department of Health under Gov. Jennifer according to State Board of Education consider all comments – more than 13,000, by Michigan State Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) Granholm. When Ahmed left government in President John Austin (D-Ann Arbor) and his some estimates – before deciding what to do said. 2011, he joined the University of Michigan- running mate Ismael “Ish” Ahmed. about the proposal in September at the earliest, Austin was elected in 2000 and re-elected Dearborn as an associate provost for integrated “Nothing is more important to our people as they need additional time to discuss privacy in 2008 to continue leading the charge to put learning and community partnerships. That’s and our state’s economic future than getting issues among students and educational staff. Michigan back among the top 10 performing where he persuaded the university before his everybody a great, and a higher education, Meanwhile, conservatives, such as Sen. states. He and Ahmed can do so by fighting retirement in 2015, to help sponsor Public which they must have, all of our people, Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), would like against discriminatory policy, a lack of Allies, a young leadership program, he said, today,” Austin said about where they want to bathrooms to be reserved for students of their funding and politics-driven decisions that that will triple in size this year. take this state. biological sex at Michigan schools under Austin said chases people away and turns “If there’s a gentleman who knows people That’s the message they delivered during a legislation he introduced in May. A bill, which Michigan into a “backwater” state in the 21st from grassroots organizations to the top, it’s July 27 joint diversity forum to outline their Austin said made North Carolina “a laughing century economy. Ish,” ACCESS Emeritus Board of Director 2016 education agenda and formally announce stock and national pariah,” when House Bill 2 Together, they want to make this election Gerald Smith said. Ahmed’s candidacy for the state board. passed in March. The lengthy battle over HB2 a referendum on what kind of state we want “He is the embodiment of what a social “We chose to make this announcement began earlier this week. U.S. District Court to be. justice advocate is all about. Ish has done among friends and family, among people many great things with respect involving who are actively working for change in this young people and families,” Smith said. “He society, who are the guardians of our culture, gets it from an economic standpoint, he gets it our community and our forward movement,” from a people standpoint, and he gets it from Ahmed said. a family standpoint.” The discussion brought together a diverse Married to his wife, Margaret King, for group of community leaders at the Charles H. more than 30 years with five children and six Wright Museum of African American History grandchildren, it’s no surprise Ahmed gets it. in Detroit for a roundtable discussion. “Family comes first. It’s a big thing, not a Some of the attendees were Wayne County little thing,” he said. It’s “tough to be a parent,” Community College Diversity Officer Furquan he said, and launching more system-wide Ahmed, University of Michigan Regent Mark parenting programs will be a part of their Bernstein, Equality Michigan’s Deputy agenda. In addition, Ahmed and Austin will Director Michael Gipson, Detroit Police work together to provide early education for Commissioner Willie Burton, Detroit Attorney everyone in a system that honors and supports Linda Bernard and Director of the National its teachers, push back against the unfettered Network for Arab American Communities expansion of poor quality charter and virtual Nadia Tonova. schools for-profit companies, and knock down The focus was how to make education in barriers to lift LGBT youth and minorities. Michigan work for all students; whatever zip Ahmed is blunt. This is a dark time, he said, code they live in, whatever their race, color, about those who would like to take us back creed, country of origin, gender identity or The July 27 discussion brought together a diverse group of community leaders at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit for a roundtable discussion. Some of the attendees were Wayne County or isolate us or leave us with no opportunity. sexual orientation. Community College Diversity Officer Furquan Ahmed, University of Michigan Regent Mark Bernstein, Equality “There are people today saying that there’s “Rather than send messages of fear, hate Michigan’s Deputy Director Michael Gipson, Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton, Detroit Attorney Linda no place in this country for immigrants and it’s and division that repels people, which we’re Bernard and Director of the National Network for Arab American Communities Nadia Tonova. a country built on immigrants. We think that’s

6 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com Ismael “Ish” Ahmed and his running mate State Board of Education President John Austin (D-Ann Arbor).

There are people today saying that there’s no place in this country for“ immigrants and it’s a country built on immigrants. We think that’s wrong. They want to tell people who they can and cannot love, who they can and cannot work with, who can use a bathroom and who can’t. Oh my God, that’s just wrong and we need to stand up against that.

- Ismael “Ish” Ahmed, candidate for State” Board of Education. wrong. They want to tell people who they can LGBT. and cannot love, who they can and cannot work Two seats are on the ballot that two with, who can use a bathroom and who can’t. Democrats, two Republicans and other third- Oh my God, that’s just wrong and we need to party candidates will run for in November’s stand up against that,” he said. “They use these election. things to disrupt us, to break us apart and make “If Republicans win both seats then the sure we do not work together because when board is split...can’t make decisions,” Austin we work together, things change.” said. “The stakes of this campaign could Arab American Civil Rights League Board not be higher. Michigan’s public and higher Chairman Nassar Beydoun has been in the education systems are under assault from trenches with Ahmed for 17 years. “I’ve seen destructive Legislative leaders and their right- what he can do. He is loyal to his friends and wing backers.” the people who know him. He instills loyalty In addition to voting for two Democrats, in others,” Beydoun said. Ahmed suggests how to solve this problem. Many people recognize Ahmed for his “There are too many entities, at the state and courageous leadership, which CEO of New federal level, who know almost nothing about Detroit, Inc. Shirley Stancato, said we don’t education telling us how to run our schools. have enough of. Parents, communities and their elected officials “The big issue is making sure all voices are are being locked out of the decision making, at the table, listening to what folks have to say. boards of education are being thrown out by You two do and I commend you for that. I’m policy makers. This has got to stop,” he said. excited to be in the presence of the example “We have to control our schools. These are that you are setting,” she declared. our children. We need to be involved in the If elected, Ahmed would be the only Arab decisions that are made. Our view is that we American on the state board. The current board must put the public back into public schools.” is 6-2 Democratic with one African-American To connect with and support the campaign woman, one Latina woman, four white women, visit www.ishmaelforboard.com or www. and two white men, none of which are openly austinformichigan.com. www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 7 ELECTION 16 Clinton Seeks Broad Coalition in Acceptance Speech 2016 Hopeful Accepts Distinction as First Woman Presidential Nominee of Major Party

BY CHRIS JOHNSON in this country to dream incredible things,” Woods said. PHILADELPHIA - On the final night In terms of policy, Clinton proposed building of the Democratic National Convention, a path to citizenship for undocumented in her acceptance speech for immigrants, raising the minimum wage, Democratic presidential nomination late July reaching a consensus to pass gun safety 28 sought a broad coalition to take on Donald legislation, expanding the Affordable Care Trump. Act and Social Security and alleviating student “We have to heal the divides in our country,” debt. Clinton said. “Not just on guns, but on race, “In America, if you can dream it, you should immigration and more. That starts with be able to build it,” Clinton said. “We’re going listening to each other, hearing each other, to help you balance family and work. And you trying, as best we can, to walk in each other’s know what, if fighting for affordable child care shoes.” and paid family leave is playing the ‘woman The speech marked the first time a woman card,’ then deal me in.” took the stage at a major U.S. party convention Clinton also laid into Trump directly for to accept a presidential nomination, which seeking to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico Clinton recognized during her remarks as a border as well as derogatory comments “milestone.” he expressed against Latinos, immigrants, “Standing here as my mother’s daughter, Muslims and just about every minority group. and my daughter’s mother, I’m so happy “It was just too hard to fathom -- that this day has come,” Clinton said. “Happy for someone who wants to lead our nation could grandmothers and little girls and everyone say those things, could be like that,” Clinton in between. Happy for boys and men, too -- said. “But here’s the sad truth: There is no because when any barrier falls in America, for other Donald Trump. This is it. And in the anyone, it clears the way for everyone. When end, it comes down to what Donald Trump there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit.” doesn’t get, that America is great because Calling for a unified America, Clinton America is good.” delivered a speech characterized by outreach Clinton landed a well-received hit on Trump to just about every segment of society. when she said, “Imagine him in the Oval “In this campaign, I’ve met so many people Office facing a real crisis. A man you can bait who motivate me to keep fighting for change,” with a tweet is not a man we can trust with Clinton said. “And, with your help, I will nuclear weapons.” carry all of your voices and stories with me Sarah McBride, a transgender advocate to the White House. I will be a president for and spokesperson for the Human Rights Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, Campaign, hailed Clinton for the speech, for the struggling, the striving and the which took place hours after McBride’s successful, for those who vote for me and own address before the Democratic National those who don’t.” Convention, and similarly criticized Trump. For supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I- “I think it was a comprehensive, inclusive Vt.), Clinton said “our economy isn’t working vision for this country,” McBride said. the way it should because our democracy “I think it stood in contrast to Donald isn’t working the way it should,” and called Trump’s messages of negativity, division and for overturning the U.S. Supreme Court The DNC was electric July 28 as Hillary Clinton accepted the nomination for president. Photo: Michael Keys, discrimination. As she said, she offered plans decision of Citizens United. For national . for move our country forward while Donald security hawks, Clinton laid out her strategy Trump just talked about all the problems he for defeating the Islamic State, declaring, here in the , from my first day in said. “And we will stand up against mean and sees and offered absolutely no path forward “Make no mistake -- we will prevail.” For office to my last, especially in places that for divisive rhetoric wherever it comes from.” for our country.” disaffected Americans allured by Trump, too long have been left out and left behind.” Anthony Woods, a gay Bowie, Md.-area McBride predicted during the general Clinton acknowledged “an awful lot of people At one point during her speech in which delegate pledged to Clinton and former service election in November voters will choose “an feel there is less and less respect for the work she listed various groups she would protect, member discharged under “don’t ask, don’t optimistic, forward-thinking vision, not a they do, and less respect for them, period.” Clinton also briefly enumerated her support tell,” said the candidate’s speech was “really, message of hate and fear.” “So I want to tell you tonight how we for the LGBT community. really inspiring.” Those attending Clinton’s speech within the will empower Americans to live better “We will defend all our rights -- civil rights, “I’m just incredibly excited about an overly Walls Fargo Arena carried tall, narrow signs lives,” Clinton said. “My primary mission as human rights and voting rights, women’s qualified person who can do this and really inscribed with “Hillary” and several waived president will be to create more opportunity rights and workers’ rights, LGBT rights and excited about the fact that we’ve got a woman large American flags to express support for the and more good jobs with rising wages right the rights of people with disabilities,” Clinton who can inspire women around the world See next page

8 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com Day 1: Rocky Start for Democratic Sarah McBride Takes Convention Stage convention Tensions ran high as ‘Proud Transgender American’ during the first day of the Democratic National Convention as Bernie In first, openly Sanders supporters booed Hillary Clinton transgender person at an event designed to at major U.S. party promote her candidacy. The rocky start to the convention convention followed controversy in which BY CHRIS JOHNSON Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation as a result of an email PHILADELPHIA - History was dump on WikiLeaks revealing the organization favored made July 28 when an openly transgender Clinton in the primary as opposed to staying neutral. person spoke for the first time ever Wasserman Schultz announced she would have a limited at a major U.S. party convention and role at the convention and gavel in the event, but even that was declared she was a “proud transgender eliminated as the day progressed. Her role at the convention American.” was completely cut and the convention gaveled in without her. Sarah McBride, a transgender Speaking at an event earlier in the day, Sanders himself activist now affiliated with the Human was booed when he told supporters to vote for Clinton, even Rights Campaign, enjoyed the historic though he admonished them with the message, “This is the distinction on the final day of the Sarah McBride speaking to the DNC July 28. Photo: Michael Keys, Washington Blade. real world that we live in.” Democratic National Convention. “My name is Sarah McBride, and I am a proud transgender American,” she identity were mutually exclusive. Since we be a nation where there’s only one Day 2: Bill Praises Hillary as Dems Anoint said, eliciting an eruption of applause then though, I have seen that change is way to love, one way to look, one way Her with Nomination from attendees within the Wells Fargo possible.” to live? Or will we be a nation where Arena. At age 25, McBride has had a hand everyone has the freedom to live openly The second night of the Democratic National Convention Within the audience, attendees held in moving forward with transgender and equally? A nation that’s stronger was a high-point in terms of both speakers and historic up at least two large banners resembling rights across the country, including the together? That is the question in this nature after delegates made Hillary Clinton the first woman the rainbow Pride flag and another two enactment of a law in her home state election.” presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party. bearing the Human Rights Campaign of Delaware prohibiting discrimination McBride invoked the memory of Former President Bill Clinton delivered the keynote icon. One woman wearing a Clinton against transgender people. Since her late spouse and fellow transgender address on day two of the convention. Essentially auditioning campaign shirt and wearing a rainbow that time, she has taken on roles as a activist Andrew Cray, who died in 2014 for the role of first gentleman, he recalled meeting Hillary scarf waved it in celebration. White House intern as well as work at age 28 after a battle with cancer. Clinton and the early years of their marriage, followed by “Four years ago, I came out as on LGBT rights at the Center for Among Cray’s accomplishments were her work seeking to improve the U.S. as a lawyer, first lady, transgender while serving as student American Progress and the Human LGBT outreach for the Affordable a U.S. senator and secretary of state. body president in college,” McBride Rights Campaign. Care Act and working to ensure states On the same day, delegates at the convention anointed continued. “At the time, I was scared. “But despite our progress, so much Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee I worried that my dreams and my work remains,” McBride said. “Will See Sarah McBride, page 10 following a roll-call vote among the delegations from all the states and jurisdictions at the convention.

daughter, Chelsea Clinton who talked point she made is that she will sweat the ® Clinton Coalition about raising her two children Mark and details and always has. Diplomacy is not Day 3: Obama Leads Heavy Hitters in Continued from p. 8 Aiden and the candidate as a mother and about sarcasm, or about empty words, grandmother. or rash words. She thinks hard and is Speeches Praising Clinton candidate. On the other hand, numerous “My earliest memory is my mom enormously intelligent, and I think she On the third night of the Democratic National Convention, times during the address protesters in the picking me up after I had fallen down, brought that to the speech.” President Obama led a series of heavy hitters who delivered arena sought to interrupt her, but they giving me a big hug, and reading me Rallying attendees toward the end speeches praising Hillary Clinton as the right candidate to were drowned out by overwhelming ‘Goodnight Moon,’” Chelsea Clinton of her speech, Clinton invoked the hit lead the country. chants of “Hil-lar-y! Hil-lar-y!” said. “From that moment to this one -- musical “Hamilton,” which has a song “Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did Kimberly Saylor, a lesbian delegate every single memory I have of my mom that includes the line “we may not live for me,” Obama said. “I ask you to carry her the same way from Indiana pledged to Sanders who is that regardless of what was happening to see the glory, let us gladly join the you carried me. Because you’re who I was talking about turned 40 years old on the day of speech, in her life, she was always there for me.” fight,” as well as the memory of the twelve years ago, when I talked about hope - it’s been you said Clinton hit the right notes. Elizabeth Birch, a lesbian Clinton Founders in 1776 signing the Declaration who’ve fueled my dogged faith in our future, even when the “I appreciated the fact that she and supporter in attendance for the speech of Independence just miles from the odds are great; even when the road is long. Hope in the face President Obama acknowledged all and former head of the Human Rights convention site. of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty; the audacity the hard work we have done, and I Campaign, said Clinton’s speech was “They were drawn together by love of hope.” appreciated the fact that she said that our “deep and detailed” in contrast to of country, and the selfless passion As for Trump, Obama contrasted the Republican candidate issues are now her issues,” Saylor said Trump’s proposals. to build something better for all who and proposed policies to Clinton. In one standout line Despite her support for Sanders in the “She covered every part of her vision follow,” Clinton said. “That is the story referencing Trump’s plan to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico primary, Saylor said she plans to vote from local and community action, and of America. And we begin a new chapter border, Obama said, “The American Dream is something no for Clinton in the general election and what we have to do door-to-door-to-door tonight. Yes, the world is watching what wall will ever contain.” “would never, ever vote for Trump.” up to the state level, federal and global,” we do. Yes, America’s destiny is ours to Introducing Clinton on stage was her Birch said. “And I think the primary choose. So let’s be stronger together.” Find extensive coverage of the DNC online >> www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 9 NEWS Mayors Against Discrimination Formed in Response to Anti-LGBT Laws

BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS “I remain very concerned about violence in INFO meeting in Indianapolis last month. Greg our community,” said Bowser. Ballard, the city’s Republican mayor, was PHILADELPHIA – D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser did not mention her gay brother among those who led the opposition to the Bowser on July 27 promoted the nation’s during the forum. Call Your Local religious freedom law that Pence signed. capital as an “open city” during a forum Officials “It was mayors that were leading the that coincided with the Democratic National opposition,” said Cabaldon. Charlotte mayor seeks federal The Mayors Against Discrimination coalition group Convention urges members of the LGBT community and its Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and gay “We are very proud of our level of action against HB 2 allies to contact your local mayor and urge them Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline, inclusiveness,” she said during the event at to take concrete action in protest of states with who introduced the Equality Act that would Philadelphia City Hall that featured pro-LGBT Mayors Against Discrimination formed discriminatory laws. For more information, visit. amend federal civil rights law to include sexual mayors from across the country. earlier this year after North Carolina Gov. Pat www.mayorsagainstdiscrimination.org orientation and gender identity, also sat on Bowser pointed out the D.C. Human McCrory signed House Bill 2, which prohibits the panel. Charlotte (N.C.) Mayor Jennifer Rights Act bans discrimination against LGBT trans people from using public bathrooms “With that action, we were able to turn that Roberts was among those who attended the Washingtonians. She also noted that same-sex that are consistent with their gender identity state around,” said Lee, referring to the Indiana forum that took place less than a week after the couples have been able to legally marry in the and bans local municipalities from enacting law. “Now our focus is on states like North National Basketball Association announced nation’s capital since 2010. LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination measures. Carolina and Mississippi.” its 2017 All-Star Game would no longer take “We wanted to be sure that that wasn’t The coalition also criticized House Bill 1523, Chirlane McCray, wife of New York City place in her city. the end of discussion for making sure the controversial religious freedom law that Mayor Bill de Blasio, discussed the executive McCrory signed HB 2 into law after the that everybody was treated fairly and not Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed in April. order her husband issued in May that says trans Charlotte City Council approved a measure discriminated against,” said Bowser. The statute was to have taken effect on July New Yorkers can use bathrooms and other that added sexual orientation and gender Bowser acknowledged that a “good portion 1, but a federal judge issued a last-minute sex-segregated facilities that correspond with identity to the city’s nondiscrimination of homeless youth” in D.C. are lesbian, gay, injunction against it. Bryant appealed the their gender identity. ordinance. bisexual or transgender. She also conceded ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “Access to bathrooms and other single-sex “We need federal action,” said Roberts at that economic disparities persist among LGBT in New Orleans after Mississippi Attorney facilities is a fundamental human right that the end of the forum. “Our state has made it Washingtonians. General Jim Hood declined to do so. should not be restricted or denied to anyone,” very clear they will not budge until forced to Bowser noted that trans people continue San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee noted during said McCray. by the courts.” to “face outrageous discrimination and have the forum that he banned city-funded travel Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said that The Justice Department in May sued significant levels of unemployment in our to Indiana and other states that had enacted pro-LGBT laws and policies are “good for North Carolina over HB 2. A federal judge is city.” Her comments come two weeks after anti-LGBT laws. Bowser rescinded a similar business.” scheduled to consider lawsuits for and against Deeniquia Dodds, a of color who prohibition after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Gay West Sacramento (Calif.) Mayor the law on Nov. 14. was shot in the neck on July 4 in Northeast who is Donald Trump’s running mate, Christopher Cabaldon noted the U.S. Washington, died. modified his state’s religious freedom law. Conference of Mayors held their annual

country that Hillary Clinton as president will between himself and Peter Thiel, the openly rights are human rights and human rights are ® Sarah McBride be for fairness and equality for all people -- all gay speaker at the Republican National gay rights,” Griffin said. Continued from p. 9 LGBT people -- but all people,” Stachelberg Convention last week, criticizing him for Griffin drew attention to Trump selecting said. apparently being dismissive of LGBT rights running mate notoriously anti-LGBT Indiana prohibit anti-trans discrimination in health Recalling McBride’s time at the Center for efforts. Gov. Mike Pence, whom Griffin said “tried care. American Progress, Stachelberg said McBride “Last week, a speaker at the Republican to divert HIV funding in order to finance the “Knowing Andy left me profoundly “spoke from heart,” and is an “incredible National Convention called equality, quote, abusive practice of ‘conversion therapy.’” changed,” McBride said. “More than anything, advocate.” a ‘distraction,’” Maloney said. “’Who cares?’ “Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is his passing taught me that every day matters “The significance, I think, can’t be he asked. Well, I care. My husband Randy and committed to stopping the spread of HIV, when it comes to building a world where every overstated, but is also, I think, a signal of our three children care. These LGBT leaders banning conversion therapy for minors, and person can live their life to the fullest.” the kind of the progress that the LGBTQ standing with me and throughout this whole of ending the hate and violence our community The work in transgender advocacy to which movement has achieved,” Stachelberg said. the country care. The authors of our nation’s still faces,” Griffin said. both she and her late spouse were committed Sharing the stage with McBride was Declaration of Independence, signed right Invoking Clinton’s campaign theme is the reason, McBride said, she’s committed Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), a gay here in Philadelphia, they care. Americans at “Stronger Together,” McBride concluded to seeing Hillary Clinton elected as president. lawmaker in the U.S. House representing at Seneca Falls, Selma and Stonewall, they care. her remarks by saying the election of Hillary “Hillary Clinton understands the urgency of convention the LGBT Equality Caucus and And Hillary Clinton cares, too.” Clinton would help advance the lives of LGBT our fight,” McBride said. “She will work with referenced the U.S. Supreme Court decision Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights people and all Americans. us to pass the Equality Act, to combat violence in favor of same-sex marriage. Campaign, also spoke Thursday during an “Today in America, LGBTQ people are against transgender women of color, and to end “It’s a beautiful thing when your country earlier time slot at the Democratic convention, targeted by hate that lives in both laws and the HIV and AIDS epidemic once and for all.” catches up to you, and when your basic rights rebuking Trump for anti-LGBT positions the hearts,” McBride said. “Many still struggle Winnie Stachelberg, vice president of and your very family are on the line, it matters candidate has taken in contrast with Clinton’s just to get by. But I believe tomorrow can be external affairs at the Center for American what happens what happens in those beautiful views. different. Tomorrow, we can be respected and Progress, was in attendance at the convention buildings with marble columns, it matters “Long before Donald Trump struggled to protected. Especially if Hillary Clinton is our and said McBride’s remarks were “historic.” who’s leading the country and it matters if read the letters ‘LGBTQ’ off a teleprompter president. And that’s why I’m proud to stand “As the first transgender [person] to speak they care,” Maloney said. last week, Hillary Clinton stood before the here and say that I’m with her.” at a convention, I think it sends a signal to this Maloney sought to draw a distinction United Nations and boldly declared that gay

10 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com Detroit Discusses LGBT Workplace Equality at Out and Equal Event

BY AJ TRAGER

DETROIT – Five Detroit professionals discussed workplace diversity to an audience of roughly 100 online and in-house viewers July 27 in the premiere discussion in the Detroit Out and Equal Midwest Learning Series, co-presented by the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Panelists were asked an array of questions about workplace inequality and what it takes to build an inclusive workplace where LGBT and ally professionals can grow and succeed at a time in American history where LGBT lives are a hot topic for businesses and politics. Marriage equality is just over a year old. For many LGBT men and women Bill Huffaker, Amanda Shelton, Kevin Heard, Marlin Page, Nikki Pardo and Amy Hunter presenting at the opening presentation for the Out and Equal Midwest Learning Series. BTL Photo: AJ Trager that means navigating the ups and downs of married life. However, marriage equality was just one step in the path there’s kind of a reason for that. So, a orientation and gender identity and toward LGBT equality. Some policies company would be really, really wise to expression. and practices still prevent the state from go into actively recruiting trans people,” As an ally she believes it is important true LGBT inclusion. For instance, here Hunter said. for allies to be visible in the workplace in Michigan, an LGBT couple can be More and more companies are hiring so that their LGBT coworkers can married on Sunday but fired from their trans men and women in conjunction know who to come to for help or an jobs on Monday if a business is against with the rise of trans visibility; understanding ear. their LGBT status. however, trans employees remain the Huffaker agreed. He said that allies The five-part learning series class of individuals with the highest within the workplace hold extreme brings together hundreds of LGBT rates of employment discrimination power at the corporate level and can play professionals, business leaders and allies and unemployment under the LGBT a big part in international and national to share best practices and strategies to umbrella. change. enhance workplace inclusion, visibility “There is a talent pool of folks that Witeck Communications, a and diversity. major corporations and small businesses communications firm that has been Panelists Bill Huffaker, Ph.D, global can tap that I think would really benefit monitoring the spending power of director of talent acquisition for General everybody as well as solve one of the the LGBT community, estimates that Motors; Marlin Page, chief diversity and most pressing problems for the trans the LGBT community in 2014 had inclusion officer at FCA-US; Amanda community,” Hunter explained. an estimated $884 billion in spending Shelton, attorney; Amy Hunter, project Employees exist at the intersections of power. coordinator for the ACLU of Michigan’s race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, “Companies need to be careful Transgender Advocacy Project and trans-ness, sexuality and privilege. LGBT of their brands. I think it would be Nikki Pardo, owner of Global Alliance people may be protected under Title IX advantageous to create a very LGBT Solutions, LLC, represented Michigan’s of the Employment Discrimination Act friendly environment, especially with inclusive and diversity efforts. and Title VII the Civil Rights Act of the ripple effect and with social media. Americans and employers are 1964; however, lawmakers in Michigan One tweet, blog or post could devastate increasing their knowledge about who have yet to pass any legislation granting a company’s brand. I think it comes trans people are, listening to their stories the same protections. from both sides. The internal and the and they’re realizing that the trans Pardo worked for the Michigan external,” Pardo said. community holds the same types of Department of Civil Rights and described The Human Rights Campaign has jobs, Hunter explained. Trans workers filing LGBT discrimination cases under been publishing its Corporate Equality are coders, construction workers, first “sex” instead of sexuality or gender due Index since 2002. The report is a tool responders, salespeople or designers, to this legislative setback. Such hurdles used to rate businesses on their treatment for example. harm not just statistical data but lives of LGBT employees as well as health “The transgender community is an of everyday LGBT men and women. care opportunities for LGBT employees untapped resource. Some of the smartest Pardo called for a change in Michigan and their spouses. and thoughtful people that I know on the policy to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Huffaker was critical of the index face of the planet are transgender, and Rights Act, adding protections for sexual See Out and Equal, page 13 www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 11 NEWS Candlelight Vigil Opens 21st Annual Detroit Black Gay Pride Celebration BY JASON A. MICHAEL that when we come out here we can see that was planted.” we’re still here. Twenty-five years of [living The service also included prayers, a DETROIT – The 21st installment of with HIV] and I didn’t think that I would still drumming session and two songs by local Hotter Than July, Detroit’s Black Gay Pride be here. But I am.” singer/songwriter Charlie B. Keyz, including celebration, began July 26 with the annual Rev. Jeffrey Seals of One Church Detroit led an original called “Breathe.” Also speaking candlelight vigil in Palmer Park. Nearly 75 the traditional pouring of libations following was Rev. Dr. Selma Massey, founder and people attended the service, which took place Doe’s speech. Seals and those gathered called senior minister of Whosoever Ministry. near the blue spruce memorial tree. The tree out the names of friends and loved ones gone “Someone asked me today, they said there’s was planted in 1999 to commemorate those in on and followed each with the word Ashe. the Zika virus, there’s this threat of war in the community lost to HIV/AIDS and other “Ashe means ‘be with us,’” Seals explained. the political arena, what should we do?” said illnesses. “How many have people who have passed on Massey. “My answer is still the same. We have Longtime community activist Ron Doe and your ancestors that you want to be with to pray. And some people wonder, ‘well how was the featured speaker for the ceremony. to the late Maryann Mahaffey. us? How many have people you remember and do you pray? I’m not so sure how to pray.’ Just He recalled leading a support group for Men “She was city council president,” Doe every time you walk this park you think about talk to God like you would talk to me. Like I of Color Motivational Group when the idea to remembered. “She said, ‘that’s a good idea’ t hem? Or every time you go to the Woodward would talk to you. ... Sometimes I tell people plant the tree came about. and she paved the way. We got a permit to you think about them? Or every time you wake just pray behind other people’s back. They’ll “One day my support group, as a group, plant the tree.” up in the morning you think about them? look up and they’ll be changed and they won’t said, ‘let’s do something special,’” said Doe. Doe was clearly touched that the tree is still “People may die here on Earth but they know what hit them.” “We’d had so many of our brothers die of standing brave and tall. live on forever in the spirit,” Seals continued. HIV ... so we wanted to do something. So we “Look how it has grown,” he said. “All “They never die. That’s why I like this tree. decided we were going to plant that tree, right of those branches are all of our brothers and It was a seed that was planted that continues here in Palmer Park.” sisters. But not only the fallen. Don’t ever to grow. See, you’re a long way from where The group got MOC Executive Director think that when you see that tree it’s only you used to be because there was a seed that Cornelius Wilson on board and he reached out about the dying. That tree is for the living so Spirits at HTJ picnic dampened The staff from Horizons Project manning their table by by rain the pond. Attendance for the 21st annual Hotter Than July Palmer Park Picnic was extremely low this year. This is likely the result of the scattered showers that sprinkled rain upon the small crowd from time to time throughout the day. Despite the weather, the day was still filled with the sounds of DJ Romeo as well as live performances, a drag show and a mini-ball. BTL photos: Jason A. Michael

Mike and Phil have been together for 45 years and legally wed last year.

HTJ Conference Talks Black Lives Matter

DETROIT - Rev. Roland Stringfellow, senior minister and teacher at Metropolitan Community Church - Detroit, spoke at the annual Hotter Than July Gathering on LGBT issues. The title of his talk was Black Lives Matter at the Intersection of LGBT Issues. About 40 people were in attendance for the talk, which was followed by breakout workshops later in the day. BTL photo: Jason A. Michael

12 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com ® Out and Equal Continued from p. 11 score. He believes that while the score is a good indicator of initial workplace inclusion the entire company culture needs to be reflective of inclusion at every level. “At General Motors and I think across the world, corporations, public policy, corporate communications, global human resources, we’re all sort of struggling with [answering] what is the role of a corporation in driving social change and is it appropriate or not. The tides are turning very rapidly,” Huffaker said. Michigan, like many states without LGBT-inclusive legislation is experiencing an LGBT brain drain where potential employees are leaving post graduation for more progressive states. Similarly, some may not take a job in the state due to the same factors. Huffaker was not sure if, had he known before taking the job at GM that Michigan wasn’t inclusive to LGBT, that he would have moved him and his partner from a Shop The life in San Francisco. “Folks aren’t going to come to Michigan if they’re not sure if Rainbow their second parent adoption is going to hold up here, if they’re There are hundreds worried that their spouse won’t be treated well, worry about benefits or worry about any of the other things that could come of businesses that along living in a state that has a reputation for not being open advertise in BTL and and welcoming. It really comes down to dollars and cents,” welcome everyone. Shelton explained. When asked if it was difficult to find diverse graduates in Invest in equality and the STEM fields, (science, technology, engineering and math) work with businesses both Huffaker and Page said no. If those seeking to employ that support graduates are only pooling from top-tier universities it may be more difficult to fit the diversity positions that many companies Michigan’s LGBTQ are tasked with filling. community! So how do you find the talent? “My thing is, I’m the talent, I’m here and I am not alone on an island by myself. It’s about how you go to find that talent. It’s about your unconscious bias, your stereotypes. A lot of this is about access and exposure. There’s a huge racial and gender gap in technology but I believe that it stems from the lack of exposure and understanding of what this whole thing really is,” Page explained. Through her work at the Trans Advocacy Project, Hunter works with companies on cultural competency to get them to a place where the workplace environment is to a place where a trans man or woman would feel comfortable working there but she is concerned about tokenization. She said that an employer cannot can’t expect trans people to populate trans people. Everyone has biases and opinions that they bring to work. They also have life experiences that cannot be severed from their daily experience. To move beyond marginalization, discrimination and exclusion the workplace has to become a more open and honest environment. Huffaker says that in order to do that the workplace must get beyond division and pitting the sexes against one another. The change in the world needs to start from within, he explained, “we are all wired to have biases. But we need to do the work ourselves.” Pardo believes the change is going to manifest most strongly from the executive management level down the chain of command. “Diversity without inclusion means nothing,” she stated. “Inclusion needs to be a part of everyday work.”

Learn more at www.outandequal.org/events/midwestseries.

www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 13 Remembering Jeff (2 of 3) Parting Glances OPINION BY CHARLES ALEXANDER

waited ‘til the last Christmas carol was sung, the last bit of New year’s confetti was thrown, and the last champagne cork was popped before I seeing “The Return of the King,” part three of the 1949 J.R.R.Tolkein literary masterpiece. The complete Middle Earth odyssey was four years in the making and filmed for $97 million, with a myriad of mind-boggling special effects. To date “The Return” has grossed $312 million, of which sum I dutifully contributed my pittance – $6.50 to be exact, senior discount rate. I saw the 220-minute saga (plus 15 minutes of PG previews, and 10 minutes of screen credits that included a roster of over 800 names) with part-time hobbits Jeff Montgomery, Triangle Foundation CEO, and Rick Robinson, anthropologist and political bon vivant. We broke bread beforehand at Bob Evan’s. And not wanting to be interrupted in my marathon viewing by an untoward call of nature, I drank one diet Coke, nibbled a tuna salad, and ate no fudge-embossed desert. Just to be safe I went to the men’s room twice as we stood in line at John R Star. (Or, was it three times?) Jeff’s an authority on orcs, elves, changelings, and – no big surprise – fairies, and Rick knows a thing or two about princes, princesses, kings and, to a limited extent, queens (of all political persuasions.) My own interest – other than giving my nates a triathlon workout – was keeping a wary eye out for “my precious, my precious” Gollum. (I can’t get it out of my mind that this poor creature looks like one of our perennial neighborhood family values pests, whom Christian charity prevents me from button holing by name.) I’ve been to movies enough times with Jeff to notice a marked transformation as he sits illuminated in the surround-sound twilight. He gets mesmerized by the action and edges closer to the screen, ready, I’m sure, at any moment to jump in and take charge. Transmissions You’d swear you were sitting next to your 13-year-old (gay) nephew. It happened again during “The Return of the King.” Jeff was indeed transformed. When Jeff’s hero Legolas acrobatically leapt onto a trumpeting, three- story woolly mammal Mumak – bow and arrows in his forthright hand, Breaking Conventions sculptured muscles a-flex, and not a braid of his golden locks out of place – Jeff uttered an audible sigh. (It went well beyond the decorous BY GWENDOLYN ANN SMITH limits of cinematic in-house good taste.) When Legolas felled that poor, shaggy beast, Jeff became quite, quite animated with joy, and actually cheered. Startled, I spilled my t was one of those rare moments of kismet. I had I first discovered that there were other transgender popcorn on Rick. just come downstairs and turned on the television. people in the world when I was a pre-teen, but it wasn’t On the ride home it occurred to me that the special effects of epics On it was an attractive young woman with brown until the late 1990s at college that I discovered there like “The Return of the King” are so flawlessly executed and realistic I hair curled away from her face, and a sleeveless, purple was a transgender community. Well, the beginnings of a that fancy magically becomes fact, and make believe transposes into dress. She smiled and spoke. community, at best. I learned about a meeting being held gospel truth. “My name is Sarah McBride, and I am a proud monthly out of the back of a Holiday Inn about an hour The John R Stars, Royal Oak Mains, the neighborhood Cineplexes transgender American.” or so from home. In-between those monthly meetings, across America become cathedrals of pagan myth, gnostic theology, With that, she became a part of history as the first out sometimes we’d visit each other’s homes, or go to a and occult mystery. Movie attendance goes up. Church attendance goes transgender person to speak at a presidential convention. “friendly” bar or eatery and sit somewhere in the back. down. Movie stars become our saints du jour. Her brief speech was a powerful one, centering on the The conventions of the time, however, suggested it Unfortunately, movies are getting too expansive for my comfort loss of her husband, Andy, who succumbed to cancer just was best we did not meet at all. The notion was that the zone. Three hours of viewer yoga is a bit much. After six hours of the days after their marriage. She spoke about her coming more of us in any one given place, the more likely we’d “Cremaster” series at the Detroit Film Theater last season, I said that’s out, her time interning at the White House, and her hand all be outed and face danger. At the time, too, being it. I’ve had it. No more marathons. I spoke too soon. in getting Delaware to pass transgender protections. a transgender person was still very much a shameful My Reel Pride Director’s Pass, courtesy of Jeff, entitles me to see 40 She also spoke about upcoming struggles, including secret to have for many, and this notion of living in safe LGBT films this week, attend 20 film-related events, and sit reasonably the need to pass the Equality Act, which would amend isolation only fed into out guilt. spellbound (and proud) for 2,031 minutes. the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sex, sexual For many who were aiming for surgical intervention, If you sit by Jeff, take copious notes. (By the way: my cremaster’s orientation, and gender identity. McBride also spoke too, it was considered part of the process to divorce from fine. Thanks for asking.) about the need to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic and one’s past life entirely, creating a new identity and “go halting the overwhelming violence against transwomen stealth.” Some therapists at the time also pushed their [email protected] of color. transgender patients to also not develop friendships

14 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com We now live in a time when an out transwoman can take the stage Creep of the Week

at a national convention – and be broadcast around the country BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI – and discover that she is not jeered off stage. Sarah McBride, as Scott Lively

groundbreaking as her speech was, may end up a footnote from ull disclosure: I did not watch the anti-gayness laid the groundwork for decades a convention that brought a lot of firepower to the microphone. Republican National Convention. I of an anti-LGBT GOP. And that things are Fjust don’t hate myself enough. But I changing and that change is BAD. For that matter, it was another speaker that night, Khizr Khan, who have watched clips online. And my belief “Ronald Reagan would never have allowed that Donald Trump is a brainless sociopath Peter Thiel to use the GOP stage to legitimize will likely end up noted even more for his speech and the fallout has only been strengthened. homosexuality,” Lively writes, “nor would in the wake of it. This is an okay thing. As important as McBride’s The RNC this year was a clusterfuck battle the populist conservatives of the Reagan over who could come across as the most Revolution have ever applauded it.” speech, let it too serve as a point along a much longer path. paranoid and If only Lively could reanimate Reagan’s hateful. But corpse so that they could link arms and shout, one speaker “Down with the gays!” stood out for “Reagan knew that true conservatism a different is absolutely incompatible with the ‘gay’ reason: Peter agenda. The two are as contradictory in As important as McBride’s speech, Thiel, the principle and practice as marital fidelity and ® Breaking Conventions let it too serve as a point along a much first openly adultery,” Lively writes. Continued from p. 14 longer path. gay man to In other words, you can’t be gay and At the Democratic National with other transgender people, and would Scott Lively address the conservative. You have to pick. Never mind Convention, in addition to McBride, RNC. Oh, threaten the loss of their care to ensure it. were a total of 27 out transgender delegates. Once the Internet came along, all this he’s also the billionaire cofounder of PayPal. This is, as you could imagine, the highest So, totally average American gay. The “cancer of sexual degeneracy,” changed. Transgender people could, at last, number of trans delegates ever at a political meet and share with each other, and even He claimed that the economy and the convention. government were broken and that Donald huh? If that sounds extreme, associate with non-transgender people Among those delegates, Marisa within what we then called “cyberspace.” Trump could fix those things. Never mind remember that this is coming Richmond was the official timekeeper that the income inequality he cited and the Nevertheless, this remained a pursuit for the convention. Richmond is the first largely behind one’s closed doors. The gridlock in our government can largely be from the same man who claims transgender woman to be appointed to a attributed to Republican-supported policies nascent transgender community was local government board in her home state small in visible number and in spirit, and and Republican obstructionism. that Nazis were gays and that’s of Tennessee. He also said he didn’t agree with every the notion of being out and visible was Next time the Democratic National why they were so vicious. He’s also extremely uncommon. plank in his party’s platform – which makes Convention rolls around, we may see more sense since the platform literally says that The cost of being out in any sort of transgender delegates. We may see another praised the horrific anti-gay laws in public sense was simply too high for most. he shouldn’t exist and if he insists on being transgender woman filling Richmond’s a homo he shouldn’t have any rights. The notion of being out and in politics shoes. We may even see more speakers Russia and had a hand in creating then was something largely in the realm And after dismissing the “bathroom wars” like McBride. as a distraction he said, “I am proud to be gay. of pure fantasy. Yet, at some point, we’re going to Uganda’s “kill the gays” bill. A lot has changed in twenty years. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of go beyond being merely delegates, all I am proud to be an American.” Now, I can turn on my television and see timekeepers, and speakers. Eventually we And guess what? He got a standing that there are some gay people who are a transwoman proudly speaking at the will be there because of the political offices ovation! From so many white people! voting for Trump and consider themselves Democratic National Convention. I can be we have gained in our home districts, And Scott Lively, professional homophobe, conservatives. Mind you, I don’t agree with proud for her, I can be proud for me, and I serving in local and state positions. Yes, is SO PISSED! them and think that Trump is a very bad can be proud for my community. we may eventually see us in congress, or “It was with disappointment but not choice, but I don’t deny that they exist. It has been an amazing ride getting vying for the Presidency itself. surprise that I read the news about the “Like the truth of the Bible, true to this point. From those early days There were transgender people for standing ovation that openly homosexual conservatism doesn’t ‘change with the of backroom meetings, to the work of centuries before me. We began to flourish Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel received times.’ If it abandons its ... resolve to protect radical groups like TS Menace and more in the first half of the 20th century, at the Republican national convention,” civilization from the cancer of sexual politically cautious groups like NCTE, to leading to Christine Jorgensen pushing he wrote in a July 28 blog post. “There’s a degeneracy, then it loses all moral authority,” the time we live in now, past the so-called the A-Bomb off the front of newspapers serious problem of moral compromise on the he writes. “tipping point” of transgender people in nationwide. We continued to grow, taking homosexual issue in the GOP and we need to Woah. The “cancer of sexual degeneracy,” popular culture. We now live in a time a mere twenty years to go from that nascent face it for what it is.” huh? If that sounds extreme, remember that when an out transwoman can take the stage community hidden in bars and hotels to First of all I’d like to point out that he says this is coming from the same man who claims at a national convention – and be broadcast addressing one of the biggest political he “read the news,” which means even he that Nazis were gays and that’s why they were around the country – and discover that she events in the country. didn’t watch the convention. It was a terrible so vicious. He’s also praised the horrific anti- is not jeered off stage. What can we accomplish in the next shit show for all! gay laws in Russia and had a hand in creating McBride, as groundbreaking as her twenty? What might the rest of this century He then writes, and I am not making this Uganda’s “kill the gays” bill. In other words: speech was, may end up a footnote from a hold for the transgender community? up, “Ronald Reagan was not a perfect man.” he’s the total package when it comes to moral convention that brought a lot of firepower We’ve not only grown, but we shall WHAT? Isn’t that considered blasphemy authority. to the microphone. For that matter, it was continue to grow. another speaker that night, Khizr Khan, in conservative circles? But don’t worry, he Something tells me that despite the RNC who will likely end up noted even more goes on to praise the shit out of Reagan for recognizing Thiel’s existence, Lively will for his speech and the fallout in the wake Gwen Smith hopes to see the day. You’ll find being the godfather of conservatism. still find it in his oh-so-moral heart to vote of it. This is an okay thing. her at www.gwensmith.com. Lively claims that the force of Reagan’s for Trump. www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 15 NEWS Leader in Adolescent Sexual Health Keeping the Closet Door Closed 20 Years Later Honored for Helping Build GSAs Sports reporter’s murder brought the Lansing LGBTQ community together BY BTL STAFF and helped push through a comprehensive human rights ordinance The Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health, the statewide leaders on adolescent sexual health, was honored at the 2016 Lake Effect Pride event for their work BY TODD HEYWOOD the bio provided by the organization. in Old Town in Lansing. in building Gay Straight Alliances. “Bob Gross - Longtime sportswriter She and others fought hard to get On July 29 MOASH received the Communities That Care The name Bob Gross has meaning for the Lansing State Journal.” That’s the LSJ to report the facts about Gross’ Award by the OutCenter of Benton Harbor for the work with in the greater Lansing community. For all the group writes about Gross on its murder. We both recall a meeting with the federally-funded Building a Movement for Michigan some it was his stellar career as a high website announcing the biographies of top brass from the LSJ with the LGBTQ Gay Straight Alliances program in the region. school sports reporter for the Lansing the 2016 inductees. community and their explanations as to GSAs are youth organizations that provide safe space State Journal. For the LGBT community Bob Every, chairman of the group, why they had not yet reported the facts for LGBTQ young people and improve school climate for it is his violent death that calls us to said he didn’t want to “tarnish [Gross’] surrounding the motive of his murder. all students. remember his name. reputation,” by acknowledging how he Gross had been mostly closeted, they “MOASH is so pleased our work to make schools safer Gross was the victim of a brutal anti- died. He said the group was honoring argued, and they wanted to respect their for LGBTQ youth is making a difference. We thank the gay murder in June of 1996. He met Gross’ sports writing contributions colleague’s privacy. OutCenter and Lake Effect Pride for recognizing our Robert Durfee at a local bar in Lansing. and support for prep sports. A career The second reason they gave activists efforts and for the significant work they are doing in the The two went back to Gross’ downtown tragically cut short by a homophobe in and community members that day over Benton Harbor area,” said Shelly Hoffman, MOASH apartment, where Durfee strangled a barbaric act of violence. lunch, was a concern about the impact Executive Director. Alex Cicalese, the west side GSA and repeatedly stabbed Gross. He then Don’t tell Every that, though. of potentially prejudiced reactions from Organizational Development Specialist who collaborates doused Gross’ body with gasoline and “I know this,” he said when asked parents that a gay man had been in with the OutCenter’s Teen Pride group said, “I have been set it on fire. about the concerns that Gross’s tragic their children’s locker rooms. During consistently impressed with the zeal and passion displayed Durfee would claim he witnessed murder was being glossed over. “I am that period, gay men – as transgender by the dedicated OutCenter staff and the teen executive the murder, but did not participate – going to honor Bob Gross for what he people are today – were painted as child board. They are truly a group focused on education, despite detectives finding blood on his did. I have no idea, nor can I wrap my sex predators. development, youth leadership and improving the climate clothing. He claimed, according to a mind around how he died. I could care It became a balancing act, she told for LGBTQ youth beyond the safe spaces in their building 1997 Associated Press story, that two less.” me. and into the schools and communities where these youth men he had arranged to have sex with LSJ’s failure to note this factual “I honestly felt that they were trying spend a majority of their time.” Gross had committed the murder. information is also a violation of basic their best to be fair to the story, the According to the OutCenter’s website, the organization Prosecutors charged Durfee with first journalistic obligations. But don’t take LGBT community and the memory of “sets aside a night like most LGBT+ communities do across degree murder and argued that he had my word for it. Bob Gross,” she told me by Facebook the country to honor the spark that lit the fire for LGBT+ killed the sports writer because he was “They certainly have an obligation this morning. “The extreme prejudice equality.” The Lake Effect Pride celebration “...calls the gay. Durfee was convicted. to report the context, otherwise the of the time introduced considerations LGBT+ community and our allies together every year to The anti-gay motive was revealed reader fills it in with whatever they that shouldn’t have had to come into remember and to rekindle the move forward.” The purpose during a preliminary hearing in think fits,” Kelly McBride, an ethicist play and that unnecessarily caused those of the event is to honor, educate, and celebrate. Lansing’s 54-A District Court only with the Poynter Institute in Florida told interests to be at odds with one another.” Through the BAMM GSAs project, MOASH has days after the murder. But the LSJ, then me Thursday morning. Poynter is one But I also know that I sat in the connected with more than 30 GSAs in Michigan - with over as now, didn’t report that fact. In truth of the nation’s top education programs sweltering heat of the 54-A District a third of those on the west side of the state - including those the anti-gay bias of his murder was not for journalists. Court in Lansing all those years ago in the Benton Harbor area. fully reported by the LSJ until months LSJ officials did not respond to a and I was next to the reporter assigned According to GLSEN’s 2013 Climate Report, Michigan later, the day the trial was slated to start request for comment for this editorial. to the case. When he was asked if he LGBTQ youth report being victimized, excluded, as well as in Ingham County Circuit Court. Sure I could chalk this up to was going to report on the anti-gay sexually, verbally, and physically harassed at dramatically Gross’ murder brought the Lansing institutional issues at the LSJ specifically bias motive, he said he had been told higher rates than youth who do not identify as LGBTQ. LGBTQ community together and and Gannett more generally. The writer, by editors not to. “Experts in the field know that the presence of a GSA in a helped push through a comprehensive Brian Calloway, was not at the LSJ But it’s 20 years later. That extreme school can reduce incidences of bullying and improve health human rights ordinance. in 1996 and 1997 when this story prejudice, while still with us in outcomes for all students,” MOASH’s Board President, But if you, like many of LSJ’s readers was headlines. And the LSJ staff has relation to members of the lesbian, SooJi Min said. “Our work, building the number and did this morning, read about Gross’ complained – as have many of us who gay and bisexual communities, has capacity of GSAs across the state, will have a significant induction into the Greater Lansing rely on their previous reporting – about been dampened. That vitriol is mostly impact.” Area Sports Hall of Fame scheduled for the lack of online archival resources. reserved for the transgender community BAMM GSAs is funded by the Mobilization for Health: Thursday night, you wouldn’t know any Maybe this glaring error would not now. There is no excuse not to talk about National Prevention Partnership Awards from the U.S. of this history. be such a gaping wound if it didn’t Bob as the full, complex man he was. A Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Let’s be clear – Gross absolutely continue a pattern that has spanned brilliant sports writer, an amiable spirit, Assistant Secretary for Health. deserves the induction – the reason the 20 years. a closeted gay man brutally murdered The award is an important acknowledgment of the LSJ wrote about him in the first place; Cheryl VanDeKerkhove is a longtime because he was gay – all are true, and all collaborative work being done to support the social, mental, but the deliberate glossing over the activist in the Lansing area. When Gross informed the man who is to be honored physical, and emotional health of LGBTQ youth, and all facts surrounding his murder and the was murdered, she was head of the this evening. youth, statewide. continued closeting of his existence Lansing Association for Human Rights By not acknowledging these realities, does a disservice to both his memory and owner of the LGBTQ bookstore the his memory is being tarnished. And his and to the legacy he left in Lansing. You Real World Emporium. The bookstore brutalized, burnt corpse is being shoved also wouldn’t know this history from served as a de facto community center into the closet of history.

16 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 17 NEWS LGBT Vietnam Vet Advocates for Gun Control Mike Felker Makes It His Life’s Mission to Organize for Peace

BY KATE OPALEWSKI Gays Against Guns, a direct action group formed post-Orlando, has already attracted uring Mike Felker’s appearance on the hundreds of supporters in the fight for stronger PBS series, Veterans Coming Home, gun control. The group plans to reach out to Dhe made it clear it’s “not easy being a other gun control groups in an effort to form crazed, queer, pacifist, Vietnam vet.” coalitions. And that, he said, sums up what it’s been The Pink Pistols, which under the slogan, for the past 66 years. “Pick on Someone Your Own Caliber,” urges Felker opposed the war, but he enlisted in gay people in the 31 states that allow concealed the Navy in 1968 to avoid being drafted into carry permits to arm themselves and learn the Marine infantry. As a hospital corpsman, to use firearms safely. Some opponents of he followed platoons out in the field on patrols this group caution against calling on LGBT and night ambushes. people to arm themselves stressing that adding All the while hiding his true self, as more guns into the mix cannot be part of the many other gay men in the military did, to solution. avoid ridicule and perhaps an “undesirable” Veering from its normal set of priorities, discharge from service. the Human Rights Campaign announced that Felker said he returned home from the war at it would begin pushing for tighter control of the age of 20 “overwhelmed” by his memories. guns. The nation’s largest LGBT advocacy The antiwar sentiment was so intense in group agreed to support limiting access to 1970s San Francisco that revealing he was gay assault weapons, expanding background was easier than revealing he was a veteran. But checks and limiting the ability of those on keeping details of his duty in the closet for fear Mike Felker marches in Philly Pride Parade. Inset of terror watch lists or with a history of domestic Felker during his military service in Vietnam. His story of discrimination was not an option. is part of a PBS series airing this summer, Veterans violence to obtain guns. Deeply affected by the patients he treated Coming Home. and the casualties he witnessed Felker said, “I felt like I had to take what I had been through Public Media Supporting are moving forward. On a very basic level, I and do something positive with it.” hope we could have more sensible gun laws.” Veterans Felker got a job at San Francisco State In response, Felker drafted an email letter, University coordinating veteran’s tuition As roughly 2.5 million service members “A Vietnam Veteran’s Plea for Sensible Gun benefits through the GI bill. He met other transition out of the military, readjusting to His life’s mission is to do all that he can to Legislation,” to members of Congress. veterans interested in peace through a civilian life can present significant stress. end the epidemic of gun violence in the U.S. The original letter stated, “This is what newsletter called “Stars and Gripes,” and in The Kindling Group and Wisconsin Public despite criticism by more traditional folks happened to victims of the shootings at 1979 they started organizing for peace. Television, in partnership with PBS Stories and some members of the military. “I am Newtown, Ft. Hood, Charleston, Roseburg, The first time he called the gay pride parade of Service, created Veterans Coming Home, vulnerable no matter how accepting things and now Orlando.” In July, Felker said he to find out if any veteran groups would be a ten-part Digital-First series that aims to are. I was asked to do this, so I’m doing it. I’m had to update it to “This is what happened marching, he was told “no and that half the help veterans and communities understand putting myself out there,” he said. to victims of the shootings at Newtown, Ft. pride committee thinks veterans should be the opportunities and challenges faced during Hood, Charleston, Roseburg, Orlando, and tried as war criminals.” the transition to civilian life and bridge the now Dallas.” So Felker said he marched with a group of military-civilian divide. Orlando “How many more ‘updates’ will I have to lesbian mothers instead. For many veterans, the transition is filled This was the sixth year Veterans for Peace make before I finish?” he said. “Despite the Today, Veterans for Peace is an international with complicated and confusing challenges. has marched in the Philly Pride Parade. vigils, demonstrations, Democrat’s action, organization made up of military veterans, Some feel isolated and alone. Some struggle “It’s to let the gay community know and Congress seems so in awe of the National Rifle military family members and allies. They to find or hold a job. Many say they feel like the veteran’s community know that there is Association that any progress is impossible. I accept veteran members from all branches they just don’t fit in. Finding and connecting support on both sides,” he said, adding that feel very much at a loss.” of service. The organization is dedicated to with the right support and services can be the concept of a veteran working for peace building a culture of peace, exposing the true overwhelming. is not something many Americans can wrap costs of war, and healing the wounds of war. Throughout the spring of 2016, a team of their head around. LGBT Efforts Emerge to Take Their networks are made up of more than 120 photographers, writers and filmmakers – both The Veterans Coming Home episode chapters across the U.S. and abroad. On Gun Control veteran and civilian – provided inspiration and captures Felker and his comrades hearing the Felker said he is still overwhelmed 45 years support to veterans, such as Felker, who have news about recent events in Orlando. A new political action committee, PRIDE after returning home from the war. The LGBT a story to tell. They crisscrossed the country, “It’s hard to comprehend. I can’t fathom Fund to End Gun Violence was organized for veteran activist lives in Philadelphia with creating digital shorts, videos, and other how we can go on like we’re doing,” he said. the purpose of raising and spending money his partner, Steve, since 1990. He works as compelling content exploring issues of service, When asked how we can recover from the to elect and defeat political candidates at a Graduate Coordinator at the University of citizenship, and veteran’s lives. damage done by multiple mass shootings the national level who support sensible gun Pennsylvania. Felker said, “I don’t know. I don’t feel like we reforms and LGBT equality.

18 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com Owners Say They’ll Reopen Tony Clemente, Early Pastor of MCC Detroit, Dies at 82 Pulse Nightclub as Memorial ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -} The owners of Pulse nightclub in Florida say it will reopen as BY TIM RETZLOFF time, Kavanaugh was a lay leader with MCC job as a substance abuse educator and crisis a memorial to the 49 people who died there. Detroit, which had been granted the status of center counselor for the suburb of Garden City The announcement was posted Sunday nthony Clemente, the first formally Mission Church after its earlier beginnings when town officials learned that he was gay. on One Pulse Foundation’s social media installed minister for the Metropolitan as the Christian Caucus of the Detroit Gay Because MCC Detroit was a small church, accounts. The foundation was set up by the ACommunity Church of Detroit and a Liberation Front. Clemente needed outside employment in nightclub’s owners to “provide financial longtime substance abuse counselor in the Kavanaugh invited Clemente to join him order to make ends meet. Financial constraints assistance to the victims” and to “contribute metro area, died July 19, 2016 at his home for an MCC Detroit service. The small eventually forced him to leave the helm of to the creation of a permanent memorial.” in Ventura, Calif. His husband Allen Gary congregation was then meeting in the MCC Detroit in late 1975. Details about when the site will reopen as Jeroy, his life partner of more than 43 years, basement of the home of Joe Aubit, a local When the Rev. Nancy Wilson and the Rev. a memorial haven’t been released. announced the passing in a Facebook post. postal worker. The Rev. Robert Cullinan, a Heather Anderson were hired to replace him, Gunman Omar Mateen opened fire at the Clemente had been battling leukemia for Lutheran minister, led the weekly worship. Clemente chose to step away from the church gay nightclub in Orlando on June 12, killing several years. Clemente began to attend regularly. Soon to allow the new co-pastors to lead without 49 patrons and injuring 53 others. He was Clemente thereafter, the congregation moved to Trinity a former pastor in the midst. Four decades killed in a shootout with police. was born in United Methodist Church in Highland Park. later, MCC Detroit continues to hold weekly Dearborn Given Clemente’s religious training, services in Ferndale. August 31, 1933 Cullinan asked him to represent the young Clemente and Jeroy met at the Town Pump, Navy Ship Named for Late Gay and attended St. congregation at a world assembly of the then a popular gay go-go bar, in late 1972 and Rights Leader Harvey Milk Alphonsus High fellowship in September 1972 at the Mother began dating just as Clemente’s ministry with School. At age Church in Los Angeles. There, MCC founder MCC Detroit was getting underway. The two SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The late gay 17, he joined Troy Perry informed him that the members built a life together in the years that followed. rights leader Harvey Milk already has schools, the Brothers of of MCC Detroit had asked that Clemente be After leaving MCC Detroit, Clemente was streets and parks named in his honor. Soon, a the Holy Cross. named as their minister. Before he left LA, he employed as a social worker for the City U.S. Navy ship will join the list. He graduated was credentialed as MCC clergy. “I went there of Detroit. He later opened his own clinic, A Navy official said July 29 that Navy with a B.A. in as a parishioner and came back as a pastor,” offering a methadone program that served Secretary Ray Mabus notified Congress July 1956 from the remembered Clemente in an oral history the Oakland and Macomb area and providing 14 that a new fleet of replenishment oilers University of interview in 2010. therapy to the local gay community. being built in San Diego will be named for Tony Clemente Notre Dame. By Affectionately known to congregants as Clemente and Jeroy moved to Ventura Milk and five other civil and human rights that time, he had Pastor Tony, Clemente headed MCC Detroit in 2009. They became the first same-sex icons. realized he was gay, but hoped that a life of from 1972 to 1975. While pastor of MCC couple to be legally married in their county The official spoke on the condition of religious devotion would subsume his sexual Detroit, he officiated in more than two dozen in 2013 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling anonymity because a public announcement feelings. commitment ceremonies and led a special overturning California’s ban, known as Prop is expected in the near future. He subsequently taught high school and in memorial service in Detroit to raise funds to 8, made marriage equality legal in the state. More than two decades before he became the early 1960s landed a job back in Michigan help bury victims of a devastating arson attack The Saturday before Clemente’s passing, one of the first openly gay candidates elected at Cranbrook preparatory school in Bloomfield on a New Orleans gay bar in 1973 that took he and Jeroy were married again by their to public office, Milk spent four years in the Hills. In a 2004 Detroit Free Press article about the lives of thirty-two people. friend, Father Manny Edgar-Beltran, who Navy, first as an enlisted man and then as an his long relationship with Jeroy, Clemente told Pastor Tony became a public voice for came to their home to conduct the ceremony. officer in San Diego. a reporter that he left the order in 1967 after the Detroit gay community in local media, “He wanted to get married in front of the eyes He was serving on the San Francisco 16 years when he could no longer reconcile although he did not use his last name. He of God,” Jeroy told the Ventura County Star. Board of Supervisors when a former political his sexual orientation with a faith that rejected appeared on the WDET radio show “Gayly In addition to Jeroy, Clemente is survived colleague assassinated him and Mayor George him. Speaking” in early 1974 to discuss gays and by his niece Carol DiDidia and nephews Moscone at City Hall in 1978. In the early 1970s, while participating religion. He was also featured in the Detroit Robert DiDidia and Joseph DiDidia. Plans The GLBT Historic Task Force of San in a workshop on “Homosexuality and the News, along with Brian McNaught, shortly for services in Michigan are pending. Those Diego County and former U.S. Rep. Bob Church” held in Birmingham, Clemente after McNaught helped found Dignity/Detroit. wishing to do so may make a donations in Filner wrote Mabus in 2012 to suggest Milk encountered John Kavanaugh, a friend he As a consequence of his visible leadership memory of Anthony Clemente to an animal as a fitting subject for a ship name tribute. knew from his years with the Brothers. At the role with MCC Detroit, Clemente lost his day rescue mission of their choice. The news that Mabus had granted the request first was reported July 28 by U.S. Naval Institute News.

www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 19 Visions of Love, Bravery and Bad Hair Through the Lens of a Longtime ‘Lamb’

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI our connection, so I do. We also, of course, talk about Vegas, where she’s headlining told my mom I interviewed Mariah The Colosseum at Caesars Palace with her Carey and she cried. “I know how hits show, “Mariah #1 to Infinity,” now I much this means to you,” she said, armed with more “confidence,” she says, verklempt. to go on vocal “tangents.” Naturally, her She knows Mariah saved my life. I lingerie collection comes up. Furthermore, was 10 and confused and gay when I Mariah elaborates on the “unconditional first heard her voice. It was one of those love” she’s experienced from the LGBT meant-to-be moments: A friend eagerly, community, which she emphasized when and thankfully, played me the cassette GLAAD recently recognized her with an single of “Emotions.” That voice, all seven Ally Award for all the lives she’s changed. octaves, captivated me, changed me. Years An honor she received, in part, and most later, when I heard the curly-haired, hand- admirably, by changing her own. wavey songstress singing pick-me-ups like “Hero,” “Make It Happen” and “Can’t You can’t see me right now but I’m bowing Take That Away (Mariah’s Theme),” I was down. lifted beyond those signature high notes. Awww! I’m bowing down right back. In 1997, I was 15 and still confused, on the brink of self-discovery, without a role I’m going to start with the GLAAD Media model. The parallel wasn’t lost on me – Awards because what a big moment for me, Mariah was coming into her authentic self, too, as a gay man to finally see you honored channeling the artist she never could be on for being an ally. You acknowledged the the triumphant confessional “Butterfly,” a metaphorical nod to the newfound “unconditional love” from the LGBTQ freedom she was feeling after years of community, and it’s true: I’ve never had professional and personal captivity. The anything less than that for you. To be album, which turns 20 next year, ended completely honest, you and your music on a deeply intimate note with “Outside,” were why I followed my dream of being a where she referenced the inferior feelings writer who one day wanted to interview you. she harbored as a biracial child. And here we are. Anyway, Lamb 4 Life right As a gay adolescent internalizing the here; not even kidding. “feeling there’s no one completely the Oh, wow; that’s amazing! L4L! Seriously same,” as the song goes, my already- – that’s such a great thing to hear; thank strong bond to the chart-topper, the diva, you for telling me that. the survivor – my musical salvation, my “it gets better” – was strengthened. It was What did you mean when you said you more than music. It is and has always been haven’t experienced much unconditional a palpable affinity to Mariah’s courageous love outside of the gay community? And and encouraging life story. why do you think the gay community in The story of an emancipated 27-year- old woman asserting independence. The particular has stuck by you through thick story of a broken-winged 31-year-old and thin? woman who, a decade into her illustrious What I was trying to express – and it career, hit rock bottom, entered rehab was all so fast and it wasn’t the world’s for “exhaustion” and more than made it greatest speech ’cause I just wanted to try through the rain – four years later, in 2005, and speak from my heart and, you know, “We Belong Together,” the second single sometimes there’s so much going on and off “The Emancipation of Mimi,” held it’s not the best representation of what the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 I really wanted to say, which would’ve for 14 weeks. For Mariah’s ever-faithful been simpler. Which is basically: Some “lambs” who, too, have experienced or of the songs that I have written, like I are still experiencing the outside, it’s her have a song called “Outside” that a lot inspirational narrative they’ve clung to of people from the gay community have with undying devotion. always said they grew up listening to and Nearly 25 years after first hearing her were like, “That helped me come out to voice on cassette, my phone rings. It’s my family.” Different things. Mariah Carey, the sales-crushing icon And so, as a songwriter, I wrote that with a whopping 18 No. 1 singles, the song about me feeling like an outsider, five-time Grammy winner, my childhood about being biracial and a lot of other lifeline, our ally. As we speak, I’d be things in my life. I like to leave it open so remiss not to acknowledge the roots of people can relate it to their own lives, and Photo: Denise Truscello

20 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com a lot of my fans tell me, “This song helped me her. I was just like, “OK, fine.” get through having to talk about being gay with my family and with my friends,” and stuff like You’ve been a lifeline for many of your LGBT fans, that. There are other songs, too, because I kind including myself, because you’ve showed us that of come from that place of feeling different or even an outsider can find his or her place. When not accepted, and so that’s what I meant. was the first time in your life you were exactly the person you wanted to be? For me, as a teenager, “Outside” really resonated. Those lyrics – “ambiguous, without a sense Wow. The first time I can think of, and this is a great thing that actually incorporated work of belonging to touch” – are ingrained in my and fun and being free and music, was when head, and they had a big influence on my own I made the video for “Honey” (in 1997), and life. “Looking In” as well. When were you first I went swimming in the shoes. It was just… aware that you were kindred spirits with the gay I always wanted to have the freedom to be community? myself and I wasn’t in a situation where that The whole thing in terms of me feeling really was OK; I wasn’t allowed to because of that, comfortable around all different types of uhh, first relationship (to ex-husband and then- people, including different races, religions, Sony Music head Tommy Mottola). I had to gay, straight, whatever, started as a kid. Most overcome a lot to get through that, but that kids that I grew up around had never even met video – prior to that, I always had to settle for anyone gay, but my mom was always very less than I wanted to be, and I wasn’t allowed theatrical and she had a lot of gay friends, so to be who I was. And it really took a lot of I grew up with her two best friends who were courage. It wasn’t just like, “I’m gonna make guncles before people knew what that was. a video.” It was, “I am moving on with my

Writer Chris Azzopardi and his mother, Lori, in 2003, with his “Fanbracelet,” a collection of letters from MC fans that he collected and gave to Mariah after her Cleveland show during the “Charmbracelet World Tour.”

And yeah, they were great to me. They really life, and I have to for my own self because I’m treated me well as a little girl. Obviously gay trapped in a situation.” marriage wasn’t, you know, like it is now – it I know what you’re saying – I’ve been there. I mean, wasn’t legal – so they weren’t married. But they lived together and they were my example I’ve not made a music video... of a really great couple. They stayed together (Laughs) Treat the music video as “I had a for as long as I knew them, and so to me, that great time somewhere!” But it included me was just normal. I wasn’t like, “Oh, wow, this doing work and making a video, which for me, is weird; my mom’s friend is gay.” that’s not really work if it’s fun. And then also I guess I was just always comfortable just all the elements that I love: the beach, the because they were kind to me, and cool. And so water, the freedom, the whole narrative of the then when I grew up I would always naturally thing. But yeah, it took a while to get there. gravitate toward the fun gay guy in school, you know what I mean? You know! It’s just like You’re doing some of your earliest songs during different moments. Even a friend of mine when your Vegas residency. How has your voice and your I was growing up, her mom was in a relationship approach to singing these songs, some of which with another woman and they lived together are over 20 years old, changed? and the whole thing, but she didn’t know – she You know what, certain days I’m like, “Oh, didn’t understand it. But because I had such an this is a really good day for me; I had a lot of open-minded mother who explained that kind of stuff to me, I wasn’t gonna out her mother to See Mariah Carey, page 24 www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 21 6 12 20 2 13 24 25 B 4 14 16 18 9 22 21 8 23 5 7 25 1 3 19 11

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22 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 23 ® Mariah Carey think of 2016 Mariah? to know him, but before I knew him out thing about, but a lot of different Ahhh, I think that it’s different now. Continued from p. 21 (Ponders; tongue sputters) Ah, I I was listening to his music as an projects. Some movie things. I’m It’s just different. ... I don’t want that don’t knoooow! I was such a kid, just adolescent, as a kid, so his passing getting ready to go back in the studio to be misinterpreted; I don’t want you really soon, and obviously to misinterpret that. I just mean like, vocal rest today and blah, blah, blah,” in over my head, but I knew I’m doing this residency in in a lot of ways there are other things and some days for me I have to be that I was gonna do this for Vegas. It’s really fun, but that are the “weight of the world” to a little bit more experimental and my life and soooo: I probably I’m not trapped there. I can me. Like my life now, I have other play around on stage because maybe would’ve been like, “Who do other things. We just got responsibilities. I was really writing it’s not as strong for that minute. does your hair and makeup?” back from the European that about the child version of me; Really, I just think I’ve become more (Laughs) ’Cause they had me tour, which was amazing I really did have the weight of the confident and more experimental with some people who didn’t audiences, and then we went world on my shoulders as a kid, in a good way, if you know what I know what they were doing to Africa, so it’s like, all that that’s how deep it felt for me. mean, in using different parts of my and I knew it wasn’t really stuff is great. voice and things. I always did it, good and I’d just be like, But what do I think my Thanks for clarifying so nobody takes but I was more “stick to the script” “Who does your lighting, legacy will be? It’s really that out of context. and “don’t go off on a tangent.” You hair and makeup?” is what hard for me to answer that. know, I think that people kind of like I’d ask her. (Groans dramatically) I knooooow. I just hope the fans who’ve the tangents that I have! (Laughs) They liked to put you in a lot been so supportive of me Mariah, I so deeply appreciate this Singing tangents. Breaking a high of black. throughout my whole career moment and it means more than you’ll heel on stage tangents; whatever the will have my music and it’ll ever know. I hope our paths will cross case may be. They diiiiid. It was just like, ahhh, such a long story. You make a difference in people’s again at some point soon. You in your lingerie making pizza don’t even wanna know. lives as you told me it did I really thank you so much. I thank Mariah says gay fans relate to songs from her “Butterfly” album. tangents – all of it. for you, which is amazing, you for talking about the music. We’ve seen a lot of greats pass because not everyone knows (Laughs uproariously) It was real! Really – I appreciate that. I adore away in the last several years: Prince, was very… I really felt like he was songs like “Outside” or “Looking In” That’s what I walk around in! I barely you, daaahhhling! one of those people who would be or “Close My Eyes.” own any clothes! All I have is friggin’ Whitney and David Bowie. In what ways do their untimely deaths have you around for a really long time because lingerie. “I was a wayward child”… trust me, I Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q reflecting on your own legacy and what he just was kind of ageless in a lot know those words by heart. Syndicate, the international LGBT How have you made yourself feel at you want that to be? of ways. But in terms of me reflecting on Trust me, I do too. “...with the weight wire service. Reach him via his website home in Vegas? It’s really interesting: I loved Prince my legacy? I’m not at that place of the world that I held deep inside.” at www.chris-azzopardi.com and on I just bought a lot of lingerie! and I still do. I love his music, and right now. I’m still very much doing Twitter (@chrisazzopardi). (Laughs) I’ll always have it, and I grew up fun, creative things that, you know, I Is the weight lifted? listening to Prince, ya know what don’t want to go into a long, drawn You know what – is the weight lifted? What do you think 1990 Mariah would I mean? I was lucky enough to get

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24 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com Cool Cities Royal Oak

www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 25 OUTINGS Thursday, Aug. 4 Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? Mix & Mingle 5:30 p.m. Socialize and While it’s not the Moulin Rouge, the Blind Pig in Ann relax with iHeartMedia’s Boji at this weekly downtown happy hour featuring Arbor will open its doors to the nationally touring delicious food and drink specialities Luxotica Lounge Cabaret, a lush burlesque show from The Fountain Detroit. Channel 955, 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit. www. featuring stunning striptease talent... with a twist. campusmartiuspark.org/events Enjoy a little circus and a lot of seduction, set to exotic Healthy Moves: Strength & Cardio original tunes performed live, that turns classic cabaret Boot Camp 6:30 p.m. Join the Bedrock on its head and features the internationally touring Wellness Center to work up a sweat and build muscle. Quicken Loans, Whirlwind with the Crimson Grin, Vivacious Miss 662 Woodward Ave. , Detroit. www. Audacious, bump and grind bombshell Gurl Haggard of campusmartiuspark.org/events the Rocket Doll Revue, along with local guest star Gala Men’s Film Group 6:30 p.m. Men’s Film Group, for men ages 18 and up, Delicious. The swinging four-piece band is led by knife features a variety of films followed juggling, saxophone wunderkind Dr. Rocktagon. by discussion. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398- As vibrant as your favorite technicolor tiki cocktail, 7105. [email protected] www. Luxotica treats you to an evening of gals, games and goaffirmations.org high-energy hip swinging replete with tassel twirling, An Evening with the Artist: Bruce Harkness 7 p.m. Cass Corridor hoop dance, fire eating, acrobatics and just enough Revisited, 1976-1984. Affirmations, 290 audience participation to get you hooked. W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398- 7105. www.goaffirmations.org The sassy show starts at 10 p.m. on Aug. 13. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. at 208 S. 1st St. Tickets are $10. Peek-a-boo at www.luxoticaloungecabaret.com. Friday, Aug. 5 Red Hot Fridays 9 p.m. Top 40 and current dance music mixed by DJ Beau Derek and Prime Minister. Enjoy $3 mixed drinks until midnight and $1 “we play euchre. This is for beginners (must Tuesday, Aug. 9 Saturday, Aug. 13 know the basics of the game) to the call it” shot specials. No cover charge Every 12 p.m. experienced. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Show Your Support for MIC Transgender Pride in the Park before midnight. Use the password Tuesday, Juliano’s will donate 15 of All Trans-people and Allies Welcome. Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. “Red Hot.” Red Door Night Club, 22901 the bill to MIC, just tell them you’re Free food, free fun, great friends. [email protected] www.goaffirmations. Woodward Ave., Ferndale. 248-541- “here for MIC.” Motown Invitational Transgender Michigan, Pinecrest Ave org 1600. [email protected] www. Classic, 27380 VanDyke, Warren. www. & Earl Blvd., Ferndale. 855-345-TGMI. reddoornightclub.com julianosrestaurant.net [email protected] www. Sunday, Aug. 7 Transgendermichigan.org/events/pride. Saturday, Aug. 6 OUTFest Jim Toy Community Quicken Loans Sports Zone 9 a.m. html Features four outdoor basketball East Lansing Roller Derby vs. Black Center, Ann Arbor. www. Jimtoycommunitycenter.org courts and a sand volleyball area open Retro Fevre Saturdays 9 p.m. The and Blue Grass Roller Girls 6 a.m. to the public daily. Quicken Loans, best dance music from the 80s, 90s, Get in on the action as the East Lansing Washtenaw Pride Picnic 1 a.m. Jim 662 Woodward Ave. , Detroit. www. and today mixed by DJ Beau Derek Roller Derby takes on Black and Toy Community Center, Pauline and campusmartiuspark.org/events and Prime Minister. Red Door Night Bluegrass Roller Girls from Kentucky. Fifth, Ann Arbor. www.Jimtoycenter.org Club, 22901 Woodward Ave, Ferndale. Tickets: $12-$15. East Lansing Roller Naked Men’s Yoga 6:30 p.m. Naked 2485411600. events@reddoornightclub. Derby , 7868 Old M-78, East Lansing. Pride Parade 11 a.m. This year’s Men’s Yoga, Ann Arbor. massage4@ com http://www.reddoornightclub.com/ [email protected] festival focuses on bringing all different aol.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ events/ mittenmavens.net segments and groups together to michigan_mens_clothing_optional_yoga celebrate the accomplishments we Bowling For Peace Benefit 11 a.m. have made in the Windsor-Essex region Care to dance? 7 p.m. Learn to urban Sunday, Aug. 14 Event Chairman and Author of “Writing and Canada as a whole. Windsor- ballroom every Tuesday night. Bring a Paddle Group 1 a.m. Bring a kayak, My Wrongs,” Shaka Senghor. Tickets: Essex Pride Fest, 1 Riverfront Festival partner, or not. There is no cover charge, canoe or whatever floats. The paddle $10 to include two hours of bowling and Plaza, Windsor. 226-348-3378. info@ but they do ask that you patronize the group hits the watersheds known as shoes. Mothers of Murdered Children, wepridefest.com www.Wepridefest.com establishment by purchasing a beverage Brighton, Huron-Clinton, Irish Hills, 4120-4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit. or a meal from their kitchen. Sisterhood Jackson, Pinckney and Waterloo 313-833-9700. www.majesticdetroit. Blossoms: Midtown Store Opening Social Excursions, 8670 Grand River Recreation Areas. They paddle for two to com 1 p.m. Check out this secret garden of Ave., Detroit. www.meetup.com three hours most Sundays. Life jackets fresh flowers and plants, and luxurious Outdoor Games 12 p.m. Games offered are required. Yak season is April through fragrances. The new midtown store in Wednesday, Aug. 10 October. Yak Womyn, Ann Arbor. in the park include table tennis, chess, Detroit is where they company started [email protected] checkers, beanbag toss, and more. their event business, Silk and Morgan, Healthy Moves: Workout Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. Join the First Responders Quicken Loans, 662 Woodward Ave. , in 1977, nearly 40 years ago. Blossoms Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo 1 p.m. 4 Fitness, Metro Detroit’s emergency Detroit. www.campusmartiuspark.org/ Full-Service Florist, 4152 Third St., Say I Do! Wedding Expo celebrates six response professionals, who volunteer events Detroit. www.blossombirmingham.com years. Tickets: $15-$45. Use the code their services to deliver a variety of free SAYIDO16 for $5 off your ticket price. Monthly Game Night 4 p.m. Details to Beginner Yoga for Baby Boomers 7 fitness classes and wellness workshops. be announced. Gay Geeks Social Group, Pink Dot Concepts & Eclectic Fete, 2015 p.m. Taught by Charles Baber, R.Y.T. Quicken Loans, 662 Woodward Ave. , Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington. 4636 15 Mile Rd., Apt. 106, Sterling Classes are drop-in for $5 per person. Detroit. www.campusmartiuspark.org/ Heights. www.meetup.com 2025056026. [email protected] Bring a yoga mat and towel. Class events www.sayidoexpo.com Cash-O-Rama 6 p.m. Michigan’s oldest sizes are limited. RSVP is required. and largest LGBT bowling tournament. Universalist Unitarian Church, 25301 Thursday, Aug. 11 BITE: A Pucking Queer Cabaret 5 p.m. Halsted Road, Farmington Hills. 248- Tickets: $25 for Monday and Thursday Tickets: $20 per person to include a Rehearsals for Metro Detroit LGBT free slice of pizza. Motown Invitational 345-4867. [email protected] performances; $30 for Friday, Saturday, Chorus 7 p.m. New members welcomed and Sunday performances. Purchase Classic, 33200 Schoenherr , Sterling year round. One Voice Chorus uses Heights. www.mictournament.org Monday, Aug. 8 tickets at www.pridefilmsandplays. singing to promote understanding com. Pride Films and Plays, 5400 N. Lesbian Euchre 6 p.m. Please arrive Middlepath Meditation 6 p.m. Guided outside of the LGBT community, and Clark, Chicago. 800-737-0984. www. early to register. $5 donation to meditation covering various topics and unity within it. One Voice Chorus, hamburgermarys.com/chicago/attic/ Affirmations. Do not need to bring a methods followed by silent meditations. 1589 W. Maple Road, Birmingham. partner to play. Affirmations is a smoke $5 suggested donation. No registration [email protected] http:// Miss Michigan Gay Pride Pageant and alcohol free environment. You needed. This is a drop-in event. onevoicechorus.net 8 p.m. Kyle Alen Clark and Delicious are welcome to bring snacks and a Michigan Pagans, 224 W. Nine Mile Jackson are bringing back Miss beverage. There is a local cafe. This is a Road, Ferndale. 248-548-1415. www. Michigan Gay Pride after six years. fun, social group of women who like to bostontearoom.com Join us as we crown a new Miss Michigan Gay Pride. The reigning title

26 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com holder, Jamie Ashby, will join host Karma 313-961-4668. www.facebook.com/ , Royal Oak. Through Aug. 7. www. Vuitton. 18 and over welcome. Cover is events/1031176843642665/ shakespeareroyaloak.com $5. Dan Henry Distributing, 1247 Center St., Lansing. 517-371-3221. info@ Summer Carillon Concert Series Summer Retreat by Annie Martin spiraldancebarcom www.spiraldancebar. “Mathieu Daniel Polak” Concert is free Tickets: $23-$25. Williamston Theatre, com to the public. Elliott Tower at Oakland 122 S. Putnam Road, Williamston. University, 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Through Aug. 21. 517-655-SHOW. www. Rochester. 6 p.m. Aug. 5. www.oakland. williamstontheatre.org MUSIC & MORE edu/elliott-tower The Ark “John Berry” Tickets: $25. The Professional Comedy Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Ernie - The Play Tickets: $20-$25. AEG Live “Comedian Jim Breuer” Tickets: Aug. 6. 734-761-1800. www.theark.org Olympia Entertainment, City Theatre, 2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Through $25. 18 and over welcome. Royal Oak The Ark “Elizabeth Cook with Derek Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Aug. 14. 313-471-6611. www. Hoke” Tickets: $20. The Ark, 316 S. Main olympiaentertainment.com Oak. 8 p.m. Aug. 6. 248-399-2980. www. St., Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Aug. 5. 734-761- royaloakmusictheatre.com 1800. www.theark.org Michigan Shakespeare Festival The Season of Rebellion includes “As You Like Go Comedy! Improv Theater “Plot Twist” The Ark “The Paperboys” Tickets: $20. Features Sheevani Desai, Chris Fortin, It,” “Richard II,” and “The Killer Angels.”. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Michigan Shakespeare Festival, The Brad Hicks, Erik Heilner, Doug Kolbicz, Aug. 4. 734-761-1800. www.theark.org Jessica Loria, and Janelle Souilliere. Village Theatre, 50400 Cherry Hill Road, Tickets: $15. Go Comedy! Improv Theater, The Ark with Ann Arbor’s 107one Canton. Through Aug. 14. 734-394-5300. 261 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. June 30 “Owen Danoff with Ken Yates” Tickets: www.MichiganShakespeareFestival.com - Aug. 5. www.gocomedy.net $15. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7. 734-761-1800. www. The Detroit Improv Festival “The Detroit theark.org ART ‘N’ AROUND Improv Festival” Headlined by Paul F. Tompkins, the 313, Mama’s Boy, and more The Carr Center “Evenings in Paradise” Ann Arbor Art Center “Basics of Colored than 50 improve troupes from across the Showcase of musical performances Pencils” The four-day workshop is an U.S. and Canada. Tickets: $5-$25. Visit the and entertainment by local and national introduction to using colored pencils. festival website for a complete workshop jazz and R&B favorites. Paradise Valley Learn a variety of techniques such as schedule also. Go Comedy! Improv Beatrice Buck Park, See website for layering, hatching and cross-hatching, Theater, 261 E. 9 Mile Rd., Ferndale. Aug. location details, Detroit. June 7 - Aug. 25. burnishing and embossing techniques. 10 - Aug. 13. www.detroitimprovfestival. www.downtowndetroitparks.com No experience is necessary. Ages 18 and org up are welcome. The fee for this class is $140. Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty The Detroit Improv Festival “The Detroit Dance St., Ann Arbor. Aug. 8 - Aug. 11. 734-994- Improv Festival” Headlined by Paul F. Motor City Tap Festival “Motor City 8004. https://apm.activecommunities. Tompkins, the 313, Mama’s Boy, and more Tap Festival” Four days of masterclasses com/annarborartcenter/Activity_ than 50 improve troupes from across the with leading tap artists in the industry, Search/881 U.S. and Canada. Tickets: $5-$25. Visit the the Motor City Soles all-star faculty show, festival website for a complete workshop young choreographers competition and Cranbrook Academy of Art “John Glick: schedule also. The Boll Family YMCA, tap jam. Wayne State University, Old Main A Legacy in Clay” More than 200 pieces 1401 Broadway St., Detroit. Aug. 10 - Aug. Building, Detroit. Aug. 10 - Aug. 13. 917- representing all phases of Glick’s work, 10. www.detroitimprovfestival.org 687-4811. www.motorcitytapfest.com from the early vessels and tableware dating to Glick’s time as a student at Cranbrook, to his conceptual ceramic Concerts Film & Video sculptures from the last decades will AEG Live “Todrick Hall Presents: Straight Detroit Institute of Arts “NUTS!” be on display. Cranbrook Art Museum, Outta Oz” Tickets: $25-$100. Royal Oak Recounts the unbelievable but “sort-of- 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills. Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal true” story of John Romulus Brinkley, a June 18 - Nov. 30. 877-462-7262. www. Oak. 7 p.m. Aug. 10. 248-399-2980. Kansas doctor who in 1917 claimed that cranbrook.edu www.royaloakmusictheatre.com he discovered a cure for impotence by using one of the most surprising surgical Detroit Institute of Arts “Guest of Honor: Blind Pig “The Powerful Pills” Special procedures of all time. Detroit Film Gallery of the Louvre” Part of a national guest Dead Ahead Ohio performs. Tickets: Theatre, 2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit. tour organized by the Terra Foundation for $8-$10. 18 and over welcome. Blind Pig, July 29 - Aug. 7. 313-833-7900. www. American Art. The exhibition is free with 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 9 p.m. Aug. 6. dia.org museum admission and free for residents 734-996-8555. www.blindpigmusic.com of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county. Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Live Nation “Rickey Smiley and Friends” Other Ave., Detroit. July 8 - Sep. 18. 313-833- Tickets: $44.50-$79.50. The Fillmore Blind Pig “Brutally Honest Storytelling 7900. www.dia.org Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 7 Open Mic” Shannon Cason, The Moth, p.m. Aug. 6. www.thefillmoredetroit.com RISK!, Snap Judgement, Homemade Detroit Institute of Arts “The Open Stories. Tickets: $7-$10. Blind Pig, 208 S. Road: Photography and the American Majestic Cafe “Broncho with Billy Road Trip” Tickets: $12.50 for adults, Changer” Double Vanity Tour 2016. First St., Ann Arbor. 7 p.m. Aug. 8. 734- 996-8555. www.blindpigmusic.com $8 for seniors, and $6 for youth. Catch Tickets: $12. Majestic Cafe, 4120-4140 the conversation about the exhibition’s Woodward Ave., Detroit. 8 p.m. Aug. 10. themes with photographer Justine 313-833-9700. www.majesticdetroit.com THEATER Kurland, DIA curator of photography Nancy Olympia Entertainment “Shawn Barr, and exhibition curator Denise Wolff Mendes” Tickets: $40. Fox Theatre, Civic/Community Theater on Thursday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. Detroit 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 7:30 Institute of Arts, 2100 Woodward Ave., Ann Arbor p.m. Aug. 10. 313-471-6611. www. A2CT auditions for Othello Detroit. June 17 - Sep. 11. 313-833-7900. Civic Theatre announces auditions for olympiaentertainment.com www.dia.org Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, Othello, Olympia Entertainment “Bryan directed by David Widmayer. Ann Arbor Integrity Shows “Belle Isle Art Fair” First Ferry” Tickets: $30-$125. Fox Theatre, Civic Theatre, A2CT Studio Theatre, 322 W. annual event features 100 juried artists 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 7:30 Ann St., Ann Arbor. Aug. 7 - Aug. 8. 734- near the James Scott Fountain. Belle Isle p.m. Aug. 4. 313-471-6611. www. 971-2228. www.a2ct.org/audition Park, Casino Way near the intersection of olympiaentertainment.com Grand Blvd. and Jefferson, Detroit. Aug. LUBE: An Unauthorized Grease’d-Up 6 - Aug. 7. 313-821-9844. Olympia Entertainment “Louis C.K.” Parody Tickets: $10-$20. The Ringwald Tickets: $25-$65. Joe Louis Arena, Theatre, 22742 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Lawrence Street Gallery “Shel Markel’s 19 Steve Yzerman Drive, Detroit. 8 Through Aug. 8. 248-545-5545. www. Solo Show” Shel Markel’s artworks are p.m. Aug. 5. 313-396-7000. www. theringwald.com representational but not necessarily olympiaentertainment.com realistic. His subjects range from still P.Y.G. Play inspired by George Bernard life, horses, horse racing, and figurative. Royal Oak Commission for the Arts Shaw’s “Pygmalion.” Tickets: $12. Line and shape are the principal formal “2016 Summer Concert Series” Pre-Show Slipstream Theatre Initiative, Slipstream elements and the mediums are one or with The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Theatre, 460 Hilton Road, Ferndale. more of acrylics, gouache, charcoal, Music followed by the Killer Flamingos. Through Aug. 14. 3139869156. www. inks, and graphite on canvas or paper. Center Street between Third and Fourth slipstreamti.com Lawrence Street Gallery, 22620 Streets, Center Street, Royal Oak. 6 p.m. Woodward Ave, Ferndale. Aug. 3 - Aug. 27. Aug. 4. 2482463201. http://romi.gov/arts Shakespeare Royal Oak Outdoor Summer Theatre Festival Tickets: 2485440394. www.lawrencestreetgallery. Static Network “The Detroit All-Star $12-$22. The festival features “Richard com Garage Rock Punk Revue” Tickets: III,” “12th Night,” and “Tempest.” . $10. PJs Lager House, 1254 Michigan Water Works Theatre Company, Starr Avenue, Detroit. 9 p.m. Aug. 6. Jaycee Park, 1301 West 13 Mile Rd.

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28 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com Deep Inside Hollywood

BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE ‘Southwest of Salem’ will make you really angry Latifah is taking a ‘Girls Trip’ You’ve probably heard of the West Memphis If we have one complaint about Queen Three, the young men convicted of murdering Latifah’s career, it’s that everything she does children in Arkansas in the mid ’90s. Their isn’t “Set It Off.” Not only is it our favorite agonizing tale of injustice, one that included film featuring her, it’s our favorite her: a butch, bizarre accusations of devil worship, was badass, bank-robbing lesbian. the subject of more than It was a cinematic middle one documentary film and, finger to the media construction ultimately, it brought them of ’90s “lesbian chic,” and if the exoneration they sought she had chosen never to act for so long. Well, now meet again after that movie, we’d the San Antonio Four, four revere her swagger for all lesbians of color accused of of film history. And for the raping two young girls, the Queen’s upcoming comedy, case against them based on “Girls Trip,” director Malcolm unreliable testimony, elements D. Lee (“Barbershop: The Next of hetero male revenge, racism, Cut,” and cousin to Spike) will “Satanic panic,” and the usual reunite her with “Set It Off” co- homophobia and misogyny. star Jada Pinkett Smith, as well Filmmaker Deborah S. as the hilarious Regina Hall Queen Latifah Esquenazi has been following (“Think Like a Man Too”). The the story and produced the plot is a big secret at the moment, and it’s not documentary “Southwest of due to hit theaters until summer of 2017, but Salem: The Story of The San Antonio Four,” we’re ready for this team-up right now. Note and it’s been on the film festival circuit for a to filmmakers: If the ladies rob a bank or two while, with a theatrical release due in New along the way, we will not complain one bit. York and Los Angeles in September. With enough exposure, it could turn into the next “Making a Murderer,” and possibly result in ‘Rebel In The Rye’ catches the justice they’ve been denied. Salinger’s life Actor Danny Strong might not be a person You’re already invited to ‘The you know by name unless you’re an obsessive Office Christmas Party’ “Gilmore Girls” or “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” fan (and come on, aren’t you?). In Dear Christmas Movie Season, any case, you might know his name from his We know you’re on the way, even sooner other career as a successful screenwriter (“The than we think. The year is already more than Butler”) and for having co-created “Empire” half over, after all. But we’ve already decided with Lee Daniels. And he has a new project which holiday-themed film we plan to see in the works: “Rebel in The Rye” a biopic when the November onslaught hits: “The about the life of reclusive author of “Catcher Office Christmas Party.” It’s not because of in The Rye,” J.D. Salinger. Strong will direct the premise, which involves a big office party from his own adaptation of the book, “J.D. to woo a big client, a client that will save the Salinger: A Life,” by Kenneth Slawenski. The company from ruin. And it’s not because of period film will focus on Salinger’s rise to the filmmakers, Josh Gordon and Will Speck, fame and subsequent withdrawal from public who were responsible for the very funny life, and will star Nicholas Hoult as the author. “Blades of Glory,” but also the not quite funny Supporting cast includes out actors Sarah “The Switch.” We are there, we are so there, Paulson and Victor Garber, alongside Kevin because of Kate McKinnon. She’s been our Spacey, Zoey Deutch and Hope Davis, and favorite funny person for a while now, thanks it’s all due to hit movie theaters sometime in to “SNL,” but now the moviegoing population 2017. If we had to guess we’d say the autumn, knows that, as the MVP of “Ghostbusters,” she which is sweater weather, and therefore the can work wonders on the big screen. There are most appropriately preppy time of year to see other people in “Office Christmas Party,” of a film about Salinger. course: Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Munn, Jason Bateman, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Randall Park and Rob Corddry, and we like them, too. But all we want for Christmas is Kate, so thank you in advance for this answered wish list item. www.PrideSource.com August 4, 2016 | BTL 29 Q Puzzle 43 Greek fabulist 18 Made a “clang, clang, clang” 45 Cinder suffix sound 46 News columnist Lisa 22 Word with Mary 47 Gene, who created the 24 Angry in., for example character of 17-Across 25 Emulated Paul Cadmus 50 Bewitch 27 “Do What U Want” Lady 54 Cole Porter’s “Let’s ___” 28 Land of Emma Donoghue 55 3-D Disney movie of 2000 29 They’re straight on the 58 Cicely of _Fried Green Kinsey Scale Tomatoes_ 30 “I’m ___ Cowhand” 62 With 63-Across, movie with 31 Passed out, with “over” 17-Across as a gay character 35 “Happy Talk,” perhaps 63 See 62-Across 36 Glenn Burke, formerly 66 Toledo’s lake 37 Bambi, e.g. 67 James Baldwin work 38 Start of a counting rhyme 68 Movie dog 41 Paul of “Little Miss Sunshine” 69 “L,” in box scores 44 Sheryl Swoopes and Michael 70 Debussy contemporary Erik Sam 71 Someone who’s kind of queer 48 Uses a gifted tongue 49 Word before “my shorts” 50 Ford lemon that was not Down fruitful 19 Cho, who plays 17-Across as 1 Slangy refusals 51 Big bang cause, briefly Is Being Gay in a gay character 2 “Dancing With the Stars” 52 Lover of Henry and June cohost Andrews 20 Screw-up 53 Social customs 3 “Diana” singer 21 Really sucked 56 Bear that may be a minor 4 “No, No, Nanette” song Your Genes 23 Invitation to a top? 57 Silence for Saint-Saens 5 SEC powerhouse 26 Cake parts 59 “I’ve had better...” 6 Understanding comments Across 27 Portrayer of 17-Across on TV 60 “I’m ___ your tricks!” and in movies 7 Dwelling, to the von Trapps 1 Straight, to mixologists 61 Minn. neighbor 32 Melissa Etheridge’s “___ It 8 Weight loss product 5 Lindsay of “Liz & Dick” 64 Word after “Cobra” in “The Heavy” 10 Cut 9 Set with an unknown number Karate Kid” 33 Complexion affliction of members 14 Composer Thomas 65 Tournament exemption for 15 Commandment word about 34 Paul of “Hollywood Squares” 10 “Have a ball!” Mauresmo coveting thy neighbor’s ass 39 Fruits did this in the orchard 11 Lorna of literature 16 Whom Lincoln showed malice 40 What the smithy did to a 12 “ ___ Shoes” (Toni Collette toward, in a speech stallion movie) Find solution to this puzzle at 17 Enterprise helmsman 42 On the calm side 13 Sees to www.pridesource.com

30 BTL | August 4, 2016 www.PrideSource.com