'Vent and Chester'
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August 16, 2019 | Volume XVII, Issue 7 household need to pass a background are eligible for a $50 tax deduction per Exchange Students: Opening check, and the program requests three ref- student per month (15 days or more) that erences on the family prior to acceptance. an exchange student lives with the family. The organization But the rewards in terms of Your Home, Your Heart uses the term appreciation, respect, and “family” loosely: love are immeasurable! The ASSE International Student Exchange creative girl! as you do not Simply by sharing your Program is looking for LGBTQ and straight She is hard- LGBTQ students need to have home for as little as three ally families or individuals to help host working, and from afar seek children at home, months, a semester, or a their exchange students. (The group was once she sets nor do you need school year, you’ll be giv- originally established as the American a goal in her welcoming short- to be married, to ing an exceptional young Scandinavian Student Exchange in 1976, head nothing host an exchange person from another but now serves students the world over.) can stop her! term homes ... student. You do country the opportunity Esther-Marie Emslie, the group’s area rep- Her interests maybe yours! need to have a of a lifetime – to live with resentative for Frederick and Washington include gym- stable house- your family and experi- counties, recently told Baltimore OUTloud nastics, singing, writing, reading, calligra- hold and meet ence the language, cus- about the first transgender student coming phy, and playing the ukulele.” the minimum re- toms, and culture of this to Maryland this year. “We’re very excited Hosting an exchange student is an quirements laid country. In return, your about this,” Emslie adding that there’s also unforgettable experience, and the require- out above. Hosting exchange student will another student looking for a host family. ments are simple: a host family needs to a student is on a bring to your family a bit “Julia is a 16-year-old young lady from be able to provide a bed for the student volunteer basis, of his or her homeland. Spain. She speaks Spanish, English, and and three meals a day. All adults in the but host families —continued on page 3 French and is a wonderful student urgently seeking a host family,” said Emslie. “She is one of the winners of a very competi- tive scholarship to come to America this BY FRANKIE KUJAWA Peter Bisuito, creator Hilarious year. Additionally, she is an advocate for Legendary sitcom creator Norman Lear once of “Vent and Chester” the LGBTQ community in her town, as well said, “We gravitate to shows and issues and – the hilarious new ‘Vent and as for feminism. Julia is a very active and causes that make people care.” For comic modern gay sitcom New alongside iconic drag queen Varla Jean Mer- Sitcom Chester’ man (Jeff Roberson), humor has a new meaning. Bisuito spoke ex- able light to audiences around the world.” clusively with Baltimore OUTloud regarding Since uploading the sitcom pilot to Face- the sitcom’s pilot. book a month ago, the episode has already “It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to star garnered 30,000 views – almost 1,000 views a in a sitcom,” began show creator Bisuito. “In day. “We’re getting messages from people all this youth-driven society, I have creat- over the world that they can’t ed a product that not only celebrates Don’t gay men believe how refreshing this gay men, but middle-aged gay men. show is because it’s about It’s long overdue.” Bisuito continued, of a certain age two middle-aged men.” “‘Vent and Chester’ is the first sitcom deserve to be The old-school style sit- in history to revolve around two mid- com, filmed in front of a life dle-aged gay men in this youth-driv- laughed at? studio audience, centers en society. There are a lot of us out around two middle-aged gay ‘Sitcom’ there,” Bisuito added, “This is roommates living in Fort Lauderdale. Chester doesn’t mean also the very first sitcom to Bateman (played by Jeff Roberson sans drag), always taking take place in Fort Lauderdale. a newly out and recently divorced professor it sitting It’s a great destination and we of psychology was just dumped, defrauded down! – from ‘Vent and will show the city in a desir- —continued on page 17 Chester’ Co-Publishers Jim Becker • Jim Williams [email protected] Executive Editor Jim Becker [email protected] [email protected] Associate Editor & Director of Marketing & Production Mary Taylor [email protected] Arts and Entertainment Editor Frankie Kujawa [email protected] Leather Editor Rodney Burger [email protected] Contributing Writers for Baltimore OUTloud Andre Shakti • Bill Redmond-Palmer Brynn Devereau • Charles Dudley, MPT Chuck Duncan • David Egan David Placher • Dr. Eva Hersh MD Elyse Buchbinder • Frankie Kujawa Gregg Shapiro • Jabari Lyles Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. • Jeffrey Clagett Josh Buchbinder • Lauren Lynch • Lee Carpenter Linda A. Dominguez, Esq. • Mark S. King Mark Segal • Michael Ritmiller Rabbi Jan Dodi • Richard Finger • Rodney Burger Sage Piper • Steve Charing • Woody Derrick Contributing Writers for OUT in the VALLEY Asher Kennedy • Brian George Hose Rev. Kelly Crenshaw • Rev. Robert Apgar-Taylor Zed Sykes Graphics Ramon Montiel Web Editor Adam Romanik Computer Solutions for Less Photographers Corey Brent Eric Randolph National Advertising Rep Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 Founders Jim Becker • Joe Berg • Mike Chase Lee Mooney (1959-2007) • Jim Williams Baltimore OUTloud PO Box 4887 Baltimore, MD 21211 410-802-1310 Baltimoreoutloud.com Additional Information Baltimore OUTloud is published every other Friday by Pride Media, Ltd. in Baltimore, Maryland. Readers comments and unsolicited materials are welcomed and may be sent to: [email protected]. All materials appearing in this newspaper are the property of Pride Media, Ltd. and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in Baltimore OUTloud are solely those of the writers unless otherwise indicated and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Media, Ltd., and the staff. © 2019 – All rights reserved Chair of the Board of Trustees – Jim Becker President – Jim Williams Secretary and Treasurer – Mike Chase 2 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD august 16, 2019 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM NEWS // LOcal Results Published: National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health A new report published during June’s Dr. Peters states the importance of Pride Month by the Trevor Project, a non- recognizing the warning signs for youth profit that seeks to prevent suicide among demonstrating suicidal tendencies, in- LGBTQ youth, found significant rates of cluding an obsession with death and mental health issues or self-harm. Hopelessness and discrimination and depression are also red among LGBTQ youth. flags. “Young people who have According to the Trevor stopped doing activities they Project, this is the “larg- used to enjoy, and who with- est survey of LGBTQ draw from friends and family, youth mental health are at risk. Further, they often ever conducted,” with feel intense sadness about more than 34,000 re- something or about themselves Make a difference ... spondents from across and are often convinced that the US. nothing can fix or take away We are seeking Maryland residents who Among the survey’s those feelings.” are interested in becoming a therapeutic most troubling statis- The Trevor Project’s oth- foster parent. tics was the finding that er findings point to the lack of 39% of LGBTQ youth support for LGBTQ youth. Less If you have room in your heart and – and more than half than half of the participants in of respondents who the Trevor Project’s survey room in your home, call us today at identified as transgen- LGBT youth: greater were out to an adult at school. 301-804-6109. der or non-binary – had suicide risk, says Two-thirds said someone had foundationscommunity.com seriously considered at- Dr. Todd Peters tried to “convince them to Model representations of real patients are shown. Actual patients cannot be divulged due to HIPAA regulations. For tempting suicide in the change their sexual orientation language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 191229-1119 3/19 past year. And 71% of respondents said or gender identity.” More than half of trans- that they felt “sad or hopeless for at least gender and non-binary individuals report- two weeks in the past year.” ed that they had been “discouraged from “LGBTQ youth are at a much greater risk using a bathroom that corresponds to their for suicide than their heterosexual peers,” gender identity.” said Dr. Todd Peters of Sheppard Pratt Bullying also continues to be a trou- bling trend for LGBTQ youth. 71% percent Bullying also continues to be of the Trevor Project’s respondents report- T3 ed experiencing discrimination as a result a troubling trend of sexual orientation or gender identity. for LGBTQ youth. “As a society, we need to continue AT CEDARCROFT embracing and celebrating LGBTQ indi- Health System. “At Sheppard Pratt, it is our viduals,” says Dr. Peters. “Unfortunately, A BENEFIT PARTY FOR AIDS ACTION BALTIMORE desire to reach young people with the sup- attitudes of fear and intolerance can have ANOTHER GREAT PARTY AT NATE AND NEAL'S port and resources they need to help them a tragic impact on our LGBTQ youth and deal with negative emotions in healthy ways, their mental health.” t We have the distinct pleasure of celebrating our rather than by harming themselves.” Fall Tea Dance at Cedarcroft again this year! Please join us at the original 1846 homestead of historic Cedarcroft Farm.