Opinion: NYC Pride… page 15 LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS, INTERVIEWS, OPINION, ENTERTAINMENT, COLUMNISTS, EVENT CALENDARS, COMICS, & HEALTH RESOURCES FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT EMPTY CLOSET NEWS • FOLLOW US AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/EMPTYCLOSETNEWS NUMBER 492 A PUBLICATION OF THE ALLIANCE AUG 2015

E. Main St. Auditorium Theater Gay Alliance College Ave.

Village Goodman St. Gate Memorial Prince St. Art Gallery

Gay Alliance ED Scott Fearing with Scott Pellino, Ray Saucke and Jeff Myers at the sneak preview of the new office space and Mayor Lovely Warren (center) joined in the on July 18. Photo: Jeanne Gainsburg resource center on July 14. Photos: Bruce Gorman The Pride is with us: thousands fill the 60 attend Gay Alliance streets for Rochester Pride 2015 preview of new office; By Susan Jordan The streets were full of col- City issues proclamation orfully costumed intergalac- By Susan Jordan lamation of July 14 as Gay Alli- tic Pride marchers on July 18, The Gay Alliance held a sneak ance Appreciation Day. The and the sidewalks were crowded preview of the new office and proclamation called the Gay with LGBTQ people and allies LGBTQ Resource Center on July Alliance and its programs “an of all ages and backgrounds, as 14. Over 60 people attended the invaluable community resource” Sci Fi Pride made its way down event at 100 College St., across and stated that the City urges Park Avenue and on to Martin Goodman St. from Village Gate. “all its citizens to be champions Luther King Jr. Park for the The space is currently being for LGBTQ life and culture.” Pride Festival. renovated and the Alliance Executive Director Scott The recent Supreme Court hopes to move from the current Fearing talked about the organi- ruling in favor of marriage office in the Auditorium Center zation’s future goals and the need equality drew a high number sometime during the fall. It will for all local LGBTQ groups to of parade-watchers to congratu- include a large meeting room/ work together, including using late and cheer on the marchers. classroom, a gallery/program common space. Observers estimated there were Photo: Ove Overmyer CSEA space, and the David Bohnett The following day Brighton approximately 6,000 people on Cyber Center, as well as the Gay Town Supervisor Bill Moehle the streets. A record of 92 units (candidate for Monroe County Slipper Award for The most Alliance Library & Archive and said on Facebook, “Congratula- took part. Executive) and James Sheppard imaginative depiction of Parade staff offices. tions to the Gay Alliance of the Marching were many wel- and Molly Clifford (candidates theme by a Walking unit (with Speakers included City Genesee Valley on their upcom- coming and affirming churches, for Monroe County Legislature). or without a vehicle): United Councilmember Elaine Spaull, ing move to their new home Rochester Atheists, the Rochester A large contingent marched with Church of Christ. The judges Brighton Town Supervisor Bill in NOTA. GAGV is a great Fire Department, Empire State signs for presidential candidate were Tasha Brooks (Miss Gay Moehle, and Ray Saucke, the community resource and I am Pride Agenda, East Coast Two Bernie Sanders. Rochester), Judge Karen Morris, Alliance’s landlord at the Audi- proud to be an ally and friend Spirit Society, unions includ- On Friday, July 17, Rain- KaeLyn Rich, Sean Thody, Ser- torium Center and now at 100 as GAGV works for equality. ing CSEA, NYSUT, the AFL- bow Riders brought the Pride ena Thody and Zackary Waffle. College St. How appropriate to hold a recep- CIO and Pride at Work (with a colors through city neighbor- Both the Festival and the James Smith, communica- tion and sign a lease for this gigantic tractor-trailer), Trillium hoods to the flag ceremony site free Picnic on July 19 in Gene- tions director for Mayor Lovely new space during Pride Week in Health, the University of Roch- in MLK Jr. Park, where the Gay see Valley Park went on success- Warren, read the mayor’s proc- Rochester. See you at the Parade ester, Colgate Crozer Divinity Alliance’s 30 x 50’ rainbow flag fully, under clear if humid skies. on Saturday!” ■ School, the VA LGBT Support flew from the superstructure, The Roc Pride 5 K run on July Group, social agencies including and Mayor Warren, Harry Bron- 19 was a special success. Photos the Center for Disability Rights, son and others spoke. Evelyn pages 8-11. ■ LGBTQ groups and businesses Bailey presented the Shoulders including ImageOut, the Trans To Stand On Lifetime Achieve- Rochester marriage celebration… page 7 Alliance of Greater Rochester ment Award to Sue Cowell. (TAGR), Genesee Valley Gen- Winners of the Parade der Variants, the Rainbow Pride awards were: Muther’s Favor- Inside Band, the Rochester ’s ite for Best Float unit overall to Editorials...... 2 Chorus, SAGE, Outlandish, Tilt incorporate the Parade theme: Interview: John White...... 6 and the Bachelor Forum, and Tilt (runner up: Center for Dis- Marriage Celebration...... 7 ally businesses and organizations ability Rights); Stonewall Award Pride 2015...... 8-11 including Roc City , for the most imaginative depic- Health: Bill Belecz...... 16 RAPA and the Rochester Broad- tion of the Parade theme by a Shoulders To Stand On ...... 21 way Theatre League. not-for-profit Float unit: Roch- Columnists ...... 22 Congresswoman Louise Community ...... 25 ester SAGE; Rainbow Award for Entertainment: Kasha & Melissa....27 Slaughter, Mayor Lovely Warren, the best for-profit business Float Gay Alliance: Meet the Board...30 City Council President Loretta unit portraying Pride: WNY Calendar...... 34 Scott, City Council members cast of Rocky Horror of Hoopla; Classifieds...... 34 Matt Haag, Elaine Spaull and Community Award for the not- Comics...... 34, 35 Dana Miller and NYS Assembly for-profit Walking unit (with The Gay Alliance is publisher member Harry Bronson all took or without a vehicle) which best of The Empty Closet, part. Candidates for office in the exhibits community Pride: Gen- State’s oldest LGBTQ newspaper.

PHOTO: SUSAN JORDAN SUSAN PHOTO: Parade included Sandy Frankel esee Valley Trans Groups; Ruby 2 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015 Gay Alliance Board of Trustees David Zona, President, W. Bruce Gorman, Secretary, Jason Barnecut-Kearns, Paul Birkby, Kim Braithwaite, Emily Jones, Jeff Lambert, Perspectives Jennifer Matthews, Shira May, Colleen Raimond, William Schaefer

The Empty Closet Editor Gay Alliance Executive Director THANK YOU SUSAN JORDAN SCOTT FEARING THE GAY ALLIANCE Thanks also to Rochester’s Albany hoping to help, they have APPRECIATES THE dedicated marriage equality given countless hours to cajole CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP activists, including Anne Tisch- politicians in Albany to do the OF BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY er and Bess Watts, who married right thing. For what? WHO SUPPORT symbolically in 2004. “Wait until next year.” Times OUR MISSION AND VISION. When the Court’s decision nine. was announced on June 26, Rochester Trans community GOLD several national organizations activist JoAnne Metzler sent an Bachelor Forum reminded us that the struggle email following the SCOTUS City of Rochester isn’t over. While it might have marriage ruling with a subject been nice to have just one day line that says it best: “Great SWS Charitable Foundation, Inc to feel only joy, they did have a News! Bad news! AND I’m Trillium Health point. LGBTQ Americans, like happy AND I’m angry.” all Americans, must still con- Every New York gay, SILVER front issues of “religious free- and bi person who celebrated Constellation Brands dom” (next: the the SCOTUS decision should Empire Merchants national LGBTQ rights bill), feel JoAnne’s anger. Her anger Lake Beverage racism, sexism, poverty and the should be their anger. Politicians This moment in control of our democracy by Marriage joy in Albany have done us ALL Nixon Peabody, LLP history the “entitled” elite. Anti-gay overshadowed by an injustice when they allowed Southern Wine & Spirits states must comply with feder- the legislature to go on sum- Victory Alliance Pride 2015 was very special New York shame al law regarding our marriages mer vacation, while our fellow Waddell & Reed – maybe the most important and families. We must challenge As supporters of marriage LGBTQ community members Pride in history. Many LGBTQ the extremist Right’s hate rheto- equality were celebrating in the were left without basic human communities celebrated joyful- BRONZE ric that incites terrorist violence streets in Rochester and through rights protections. 140 Alex Bar & Grill ly on June 28, two days after against us. out the nation, those who pay In 2003 when NYS passed the Supreme Court decision that And then there’s the fact that attention to the crazy world of SONDA ( Advantage Federal Credit changed everything. the “T” in “LGBTQ” repre- New York politics should have Non-Discrimination Act), which Union Here in Rochester, we sents a huge number of citizens been equally upset. provided basic human rights Anderson Windows observed Pride last month, and who still do not have basic civil The New York legislative ses- protections for gays and , Avenue Pub our Pride was also special and rights. In New York State, the sion again ended without the Trans people were, for the sake Bank of America, Merrill Lynch joyful (photos pages 8-11). Of Republican-dominated Senate passage of the Gender Non- of the win, left out -- “tossed course we celebrated on June 26 CSEA refused for the eighth year to Discrimination Act (GENDA). under the bus.” We should be Empire North as well, among the sculptures allow GENDA onto the floor for Every year since 2007, the NY embarrassed that cisgendered in front of the Bachelor Forum a vote. So much for democracy! State Assembly has voted to pass gays benefited from this dis- Excellus (photos page 7), where tears, The struggle for equal rights for GENDA, but Republican mem- missal of the Trans community. First Niagara smiles and champagne flowed trans, gender variant and inter- bers of the New York State Sen- Beyond a massive mea culpa, we Fred L. Emerson Foundation freely (thanks, Peter!). sex Americans continues. ate have refused to even allow need to make Trans equality a Our families, marriages and Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP Conservatives depict all trans the bill to come to the floor for focus of our conversations. HCR Home Care love are real. They always were, women as heterosexual male a vote; it dies in committee year It is time that LGB and allied but now society affirms that. Frankenstein monsters in skirts, after year. people get over their own trans- Hedonist Chocolates The bigots and conservative eager to rape little girls in bath- Passing GENDA is a no- phobia. We need to acknowledge Jim Beam extremists are, as usual, full of rooms. This is as valid as Nazi brainer. The legislation would what we have in common. Let John’s Tex Mex anger and hate. But their preju- propaganda against Jews, or ensure basic human rights pro- us create community, something Joseph & Irene Skalny dices are now relegated to the KKK propaganda against Afri- tections for members of the that often evades us. No matter Charitable Trust trash bin of history. In June can Americans. Sadly, transpho- Trans communities. Simply, if our identity, we still face chal- 2015, the rainbow flag went up Logical Operations bia also exists within the LGB GENDA was enacted, you could lenges living out, honest, authen- New York Life and the Confederate flag, long- community, although trans peo- no longer be fired for being tic lives. Why are we so quick time symbol of racism and intol- NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti ple have always been there, often Trans in New York State. Fur- to turn on each other, instead Violence Project erance, came down. taking the lead, as at the Stone- ther, you could not be denied of offering understanding, com- LGBTQ Americans owe a wall Rebellion. This reporter has dinner in a restaurant or refused fort, support and assistance? NYSUT debt of gratitude to the activ- met several lesbian feminists in a hotel room. I am heartbro- Most Trans New Yorkers Pride at Work ists of the past 40 years, who their 60s or 70s who would ken that my fam- were pleased to see marriage Prudential weren’t afraid to stand up for have also claimed a gender vari- ily members, friends, neighbors equality, but, when the celebra- Rochester Area Community equal rights, even when that put ant identity 40 years ago, if that and even Trans celebrities do tion is over and they go back to Foundation them in danger. Huge thank- option had existed. not have these basic protections work, they can be legally fired. Rochester Broadway Theatre yous go to Jim Obergefell and As we learn more about both and are at risk of heinous mis- The Gay Alliance was created the other SCOTUS plaintiffs, to League sexual orientation and gender treatment. in 1973 in an attempt to build an Rochester Institute of Mary Bonauto and all the attor- identity, all of us – LGBTQ and 2015 and GENDA has still alliance between our LGBTQ neys, to groups like Freedom to Technology straight – need to keep growing, not passed. communities. Our identities can Three Olives Marry and Marriage Equality and working together to gain People from Rochester have still divide or unify us. To be USA, and to our straight allies. and guard our civil rights. ■ poured money into efforts in strong and effective, we need Waldron Rise Foundation each other. ■ Wegman’s School of Pharmacy Woods, Oviatt, & Gilman, LLP

08/15 Name CHAMPION Address Bohnett Foundation Brighton Dental City/State/Zip Canandaigua National Bank Phone Centerlink E-mail Jimmy C. Entertainment Group Marshall St. Bar & Grill Gay Alliance Membership Levels: Out & Equal ❏ $30-99 Advocate ❏ $100 Champion Park Ave Merchants ❏ $1,000-4,999 Triangle Club ❏ $5,000+ Stonewall Association ❏ Check enclosed in the amount of ______(check #______) RIT Student Association Please charge my credit card in the amount of ______RIT Women & To: ❏ American Express, ❏ Discover, ❏ MasterCard, ❏ Visa Department Credit card # ______Exp. Date: ______Rochester Kink Society ❏ I would be proud to have my donation publicly acknowledged. Rochester Labor Council A F L- C I O Benefits: Subscription to The Empty Closet mailed to home or work, plus privileges at each level. Phone: 585 244-8640 or mail to: Rochester Rams MC Gay Alliance, 875 E. Main St., Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14605. Third Presbyterian Church Home delivery of The Empty Closet is free with your annual membership. AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 3

on actual or perceived gender, including and . Unfortunate- NewsFronts ly, until today the State Edu- cation Department failed to provide schools with guidance on how to apply the law to trans- LOCAL AND STATE gender youth. As a result, com- munities large and small across the state have created their own ad-hoc policies – most of which are insufficient, illegal and deep- ly damaging to transgender and gender nonconforming youth. The report shows that inci- dents of harassment involving gender stereotypes (i.e., harass- ment related to a student’s sex, gender or sexual orienta- tion) were the most commonly reported incidents of harassment At the forum: L-R: Scott Fearing, Cody Gardner, Pamela Barres, Bess Watts, Matt Haag. Photo: Thomas J. Morrissey in public schools. During the 2012-13 school year, New York Young Democrats He added, “Then there’s Square Committee, and renova- NYS Education schools reported 24,478 inci- forum looks at HIV -- the battle to end the epi- tions are beginning this month. Dept. addresses dents of harassment under the demic is another major issue in It is anticipated that the build- Dignity Act, 19 percent of which what’s next for New York. There’s the Cuomo ing will begin to provide hous- harassment of were related to gender stereo- LGBTQ community 2020 goal – whether that’s real- ing by the end of 2016. trans students types. istic is another thing, but the The brilliant actress and Schools’ failure to follow the By Susan Jordan struggle includes getting rid of “Golden Girl” Bea Arthur gave The New York State Edu- law does unthinkable damage to Aaron Gallant is Legisla- using condoms as evidence of one of her final public perfor- cation Department on July 20 transgender students, who are tive Analyst for NYS Assembly prostitution and other antiquat- mances as a benefit for the Ali released official guidance for among the most vulnerable of member Harry Bronson. He is ed laws. We need to bring the Forney Center in 2005. She was school districts across the state, a New York’s youth. One national also a member of the Young HIV discussion into 2015. very upset to learn that hun- major step toward ensuring that study found that a staggering 41 Democrats board and organized “At the federal level, there’s dreds of thousands of LGBT transgender and gender noncon- percent of transgender people the July 2 forum, which dis- ENDA and other anti discrimi- teens were rejected by their fam- forming youth can access their have attempted suicide at least cussed what’s coming next for nation legislation where we’ve ilies, and driven to homeless- right to an education. once. Virtually all transgender the LGBTQ community, after made progress, but we need ness. She said that she would do The announcement is the students featured in the NYC- the marriage equality victory. a national anti-discrimination anything in her power to help result of years of advocacy by LU’s report have asked to leave Gallant told The Empty protection law (EC: Now under these teens. transgender advocates and sup- school or have otherwise dis- Closet, “I was president of the way). Some legal analysts I’ve When she died in 2009 the porters across the state, most engaged from the school com- Young Democrats last year and heard say we can’t even be com- Ali Forney Center learned that recently a New York Civil Lib- munity. now I’m the treasurer. Every- placent about marriage equal- she had bequeathed $300,000 erties Union report that docu- One day after the report body on the board takes differ- ity. We can’t underestimate our to them in her will. At that mented the pervasive harassment was released, Governor Cuomo ent roles at different times. Our opponents or their cleverness in time, Carl Siciliano, the Execu- faced by transgender students wrote a letter to the State Educa- education committee chair Jus- poking as many holes as they tive Director of the Ali Forney and prompted Governor Cuomo tion Department expressing his tin Kwasa approached me about can in that decision.” Center, pledged that the first to demand the Education “outrage” and calling the per- doing a community discussion Some felt that the forum building they owned would be Department take immediate vasive discrimination faced by and I thought it was a great idea. was another instance of preach- named in her memory. action to address the concern. transgender students in public “I listened to the Supreme ing to the choir. Aaron Gallant The groundbreaking was “We applaud the State Edu- schools “completely unaccept- Court oral arguments and decid- responded, “That’s legitimate attended by state and city politi- cation Department for provid- able, dangerous . . . and in com- ed to schedule the forum for and I intended that, really. cal leaders and by the staff and ing guidance so every school in plete contradiction to the values after the ruling was announced. We’ve talked to people who clients of the Ali Forney Center. the state knows how to follow of our great state.” He demand- I sensed some complacency were on the fence and would -JoeMyGod.com the law and protect the rights of ed it produce a plan of action among a lot of us in the commu- agree with most liberal issues transgender and gender noncon- within seven business days, and nity, which is natural after such but aren’t informed about gen- RIT symposium forming youth,” said NYCLU conduct a review of schools’ full a long, hard fight. So I wanted der identity or sexual orienta- Executive Director Donna compliance with the Dignity Act to focus on what comes next.” tion. I wanted this discussion to features Rochester Lieberman. “Too many New within three weeks. Some audience members be within the LGBTQ commu- trans community York youth have faced relentless The NYCLU and advo- said they would have preferred nity and our allies who haven’t research on Aug. 7 harassment and discrimination cates across the state have been a panel made up entirely of been involved in the struggle in the schools that should have working closely with the State people in their 20s; only Cody but want to be going forward. Ben Eshleman will be pre- nurtured them just for being Education Department to final- Gardner of the Victory Alliance The point was to talk within the senting his research on the his- who they are. We look forward ize this guidance, urging it to was of that generation. Gal- family and really discuss where tory of Rochester’s transgender to working with the state to adopt a model policy developed lant commented, “I thought a we are and how we go forward. community at RIT’s Under- ensure that transgender students by the Empire Justice Center, lot about who I wanted to have I think we need to continue graduate Research Symposium have the same rights to an edu- Empire State Pride Agenda and on the panel. Important as it pressure on the political system on Aug. 7. cation that all kids are entitled to the NYCLU, with contributions was to have young panelists, I and support candidates who will His presentation is titled in New York.” and support from organizations thought it was also important support our community.” “Rochester Trans Oral History The new policy clearly across the state. to have activists who have been He summed up, “Just don’t Project: Examining the suppres- explains the law for school dis- The guidance issued July 20 around and who know how to be complacent. This is a multi- sion and resurgence of Roch- tricts and directs them on how to by the Education Department win – and important also to generational struggle. America ester’s transgender community create a supportive school envi- mirrors the recommendations have people of different back- takes a big leap forward and through the 1980s to present.” ronment. The guidance tells all put forth in the model policy, grounds. Bess Watts of Pride then a small step back. Let’s cel- Continuing a project started in New York public school districts including telling all schools to: at Work, for instance, spoke ebrate – but keep in mind the 2014, this research seeks to doc- they must respect the names and Respect the preferred names and about the connections between importance of never giving up.” ument and preserve the history gender pronouns of transgen- gender pronouns of students; economic equality and gender of Rochester’s transgender com- der youth, protect their privacy Respect students’ right to privacy identity/sexual orientation dis- NYC homeless munity by collecting oral his- with regard to student records, and confidentiality in regards to crimination. Pam Barres has tories from activists, advocates, provide all students with access maintenance of student records; been a trans movement leader youth shelter to and allies. to restrooms and locker rooms Provide all students with access for many years.” open Bea Arthur Though visible and thriving that correspond with their gen- to restrooms and locker rooms So what is next? Gallant Residence during the 1970s, the transgen- der identity, promote training that correspond with their gen- said, “The biggest conclusion I der community seems to disap- and education about gender der identity, and provide pri- drew, at the state level, was that Via press release: pear from spaces in the identity issues, and allow trans- vate bathrooms and changing what comes next is GENDA. It’s On July 20, a groundbreak- 1980s, only to resurge by the gender and gender nonconform- spaces to all students who desire not the only issue but it needs to ing ceremony took place for start of the new millennium. ing students the opportunity to additional privacy (although pri- be at the center. As important the Bea Arthur Residence, an Eshleman’s research explores participate in gender-segregated vate facilities should never be as the marriage equality move- 18-bed residence for homeless factors that may have caused activities that correspond with forced upon any student), and ment was, it wasn’t the end of LGBT youth operated by the the community’s suppression their gender identity. provide transgender students the the line. There are gender vari- Ali Forney Center. and examines its redevelopment In June, the NYCLU released same opportunities to partici- ant brothers and sisters across In 2012 the and evolution into the modern a report documenting the devas- pate in gender-segregated activi- the state who have no civil Council and the Manhattan transgender community. tating anti-transgender discrimi- ties as other students; Encourage rights.” Borough President awarded The symposium will be held nation that has persisted since the regular training of all adults The Young Democrats, for $3,300,000 for the renovation on RIT’s main campus in Hen- the passage of the Dignity for working in schools to ensure ages 16-35 and with a mem- of a long vacant building owned rietta, and Eshleman’s presen- All Students Act five years ago, they understand the range of bership of around 100, will be by the New York City Depart- tation will be included in the state civil rights legislation that gender identities and expressions active in 2016. Gallant said, ment of Housing and Pres- Social Sciences and Humanities was supposed to protect all pub- and know what they must do to “Elections have consequences, ervation Development. The session. Additional information lic school students from bullying create a supportive environment and we at Young Democrats building has now been turned on the symposium and schedule and harassment and explicitly for all students and finally, pro- are ready to take that fight all over to the Ali Forney Cen- of presentations can be found at prohibits discrimination based vide resources for school faculty the way.” ter in partnership with Cooper rit.edu/research/symposium. (Education continues page 6) 4 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

Attorney General obsolete by subsequent case law – and claimed, “Recent affirmances of same- announces full marriage gender marriage seem to suffer from a NewsFronts benefits nationwide peculiar inability to recall the principles embodied in existing marriage law.” “Following the Supreme Court’s his- Same-sex weddings were expected to toric decision in Obergefell that every begin in Puerto Rico on July 15. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL couple has the same right to participate in -pinknews.uk the institution of marriage, whether the partners are of the same-sex or opposite sexes, I directed Justice Department staff US Episcopal Church to work with the agencies to ensure that votes on July 1 for same the ruling be given full effect across the federal government. sex weddings “Thanks to their leadership and the The US Episcopal Church voted over- quick work of the Social Security Admin- whelmingly on July 1 to allow religious istration and the Department of Veterans weddings for same-sex couples, just days Affairs, today I am proud to announce after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized that the critical programs for veterans and gay marriage nationwide. elderly and disabled Americans, which The Episcopal News Service reported previously could not give effect to the that the House of Deputies concurred marriages of couples living in states that with the House of Bishops’ approval the did not recognize those marriages, will day before of a canonical change and now provide federal recognition for all authorizing two new marriage rites with marriages nationwide. The agencies are language allowing them to be used by currently working towards providing same-sex or opposite-sex couples. guidance to implement this change in law. On June 30, the House of Bishops “Just over a year ago, Attorney General approved the resolution to eliminate lan- Holder announced that agencies across guage defining marriage as between a the federal government had implemented man and a woman, by a vote of 129-26 the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision with five abstaining. by treating married same-sex couples the The House of Deputies, the main vot- same as married opposite-sex couples to ing body of clergy and laypersons at the the greatest extent possible under the convention, on July 1 voted 173-27, with law as it then stood. With the Supreme 12 abstaining. Court’s new ruling that the Constitution Clergy can however decline to per- requires marriage equality, we have now form the ceremonies. 1.5 million attend Poll: Nearly 70 percent taken the further step of ensuring that all The 78th Episcopal General Conven- Pride of Americans support federal benefits will be available equally to tion was held in Salt Lake City. married couples in all 50 states, the Dis- The US Episcopal Church, which is Last Month an estimated 1.5M gay rights legislation trict of Columbia and the US Territories. part of the worldwide Anglican Com- attended , which fell on the By Lydia Wheeler on The Advocate The department will continue to work munion, has about two million members. across the administration to fulfill our tenth anniversary of same-sex marriage Nearly 70 percent of Americans favor It became in 2012 the largest US reli- in . commitment to equal treatment for all gious denomination to approve a liturgy laws that protect gay, lesbian, bisexual Americans, including equal access to the The country’s parliament and senate and transgender people from discrimina- for clergy to use in blessing same-sex passed the law on June 30, 2005, with it benefits of marriage that the Obergefell unions, including gay marriages in states tion in workplaces, housing and public decision guarantees.” coming into force three days later on July accommodations, a number that includes where they were already legal. 3. Two weeks later, on July 11, Spain’s - Attorney General Loretta Lynch, via In 2003, the church elected its first nearly a quarter of Americans who oppose White House press release on July 8 first ever same-sex wedding took place same-sex marriage, according to a poll the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson, who when couple Emilio Menéndez and Car- Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) has since retired. los Baturín, who had been together for 30 released July 1. Marriage equality comes -gaystarnews.com years, married in Madrid. The PRRI said 75 percent of Ameri- to Puerto Rico The law made Spain only the third cans incorrectly believe workplace nondis- Nevada is 10th state country in the world to legalize same- crimination laws are already on the books. The US Supreme Court in June ruled to ban discrimination sex marriage, after the Netherlands and The poll found 47 percent of Ameri- that same-sex marriage is a constitutional Belgium and 17 days ahead of Canada. cans favor both same-sex marriage and right in all 50 states – but the ruling did in state trans health Despite Spain’s reputation as a tradition- nondiscrimination laws. Further, eight not immediately apply in Puerto Rico, insurance plans alist and religious country, 66 percent percent of Americans are in favor only of which has a population of 3.5 million. of Spaniards supported the law at the same-sex marriage but not nondiscrimi- Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Gar- Nevada has became the 10th state, time, even amid protests from the Roman nation laws, and 23 percent of Ameri- cia Padilla had indicated that the territory in addition to the District of Columbia, Catholic Church that it would “devalue cans support nondiscrimination laws but will follow suit on same-sex marriage – to prohibit discriminatory transgender marriage”. oppose gay marriage. and on July 9 the First Circuit Court of exclusions in state-regulated health insur- The law was strongly opposed by the According the poll, 24 percent of Appeals struck down its marriage ban. ance plans. opposition Popular Party. When con- white evangelical Protestants support A panel of three judges overturned a Nevada joins a national trend of state servative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy both same-sex marriage and nondiscrimi- previous ruling upholding the ban, find- agencies getting rid of health exclusions took office in 2011, he professed his oppo- nation laws, with 36 percent supporting ing that following the US-wide ruling for transgender people. States include sition to same-sex marriage, but said he just nondiscrimination laws. in Obergefell v Hodges, Puerto Rico must California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illi- would wait and see what the country’s At 71 percent support, religiously- also adopt same-sex marriage. nois, , New York, Oregon, Constitutional Court would rule on the unaffiliated Americans are more likely District Judge Juan Perez-Gimenez Vermont, Washington State, and DC issue. The law was upheld by the court, than Americans overall, to favor both was just one of two district judges to as well as the federal Medicare pro- with eight supporting votes and three same-sex marriage and nondiscrimina- uphold a same-sex marriage ban in 2014. gram. This announcement follows the against. The conservative government tion laws — nearly three-times as likely as In his ruling, Judge Perez-Gimenez announcement by the Office of Person- said it would abide by the ruling and the white evangelical Protestants. cited a ruling from 1972 against same-sex nel Management that health insurance law would not be repealed. marriage – which almost all other judges plans for federal employees may no longer Madrid will host World Pride 2017. in the country agreed had been rendered maintain blanket exclusions for transi- -JoeMyGod.com AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 5 tion-related care. “They’re getting bullied, they’re get- The bulletin, which went to all health ting beaten up, they’re getting murdered insurance carriers, prohibits the “denial, and they’re committing suicide.” exclusion, or limitation of benefits relat- She then paid tribute to transgender ing to coverage of medically necessary teenagers Mercedes Williamson, who was health care services on the basis of sex murdered in Alabama in June, and Sam as it related to gender identity or expres- Taub, who died by suicide in Michigan sion. Accordingly, a carrier may not deny, in April. exclude or limit benefits for medically Jenner said her transition had “been necessary health care services if the med- harder on me than anything I could ever ically necessary health care would be imagine. provided at current standards of care to “For that reason alone, trans people another covered person without regard to deserve something vital,” she said. their gender identity or expression”. “They deserve your respect. And from The Nevada Department of Business that respect, come a more compassionate and Industry Division of Insurance uti- community, a more empathetic society lized the state statute that prohibits dis- and a better world for all of us.” crimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in public accommoda- Boy Scouts lift ban on tions to prohibit transition related health- care exclusions. gay, bi adult leaders “NCTE applauds Nevada Health for By Trudy Ring on The Advocate taking this necessary step in making sure The Boy Scouts of America has moved that medically necessary transition relat- one step closer to ending the group’s ban ed healthcare is accessible to transgender on gay adults serving as employees or vol- people,” NCTE said. “We urge people in unteers, with the national executive com- Nevada to contact their insurance plan to mittee approving a resolution to lift the ask about changes in coverage in light of ban. this clarification of the law, and to con- The resolution, OK’d unanimously tact trans-friendly legal organizations if July 10, required ratification from the they are denied transition-related care national executive board, the BSA’s gov- recommended by their provider. We will erning body, which considered it July 27 continue working with advocates across and ratified it. It went into effect immedi- stood as a towering example of explic- Partner Association, the nation’s largest the country to make sure that no health ately, reports Scouts for Equality, an orga- it, institutional in one of organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and insurance plan can have arbitrary exclu- nization that has advocated for an end to America’s most important and recogniz- transgender (LGBT) military families, sions against transition related care.” the ban. able civic organizations,” said Wahls, an praised the news. -National Center for Trans Equality At the BSA’s national meeting in May, Eagle Scout and the son of two mothers. “We are thrilled the Department of (NCTE) its president, former Defense Secretary “While this policy change is not perfect Defense will finally be taking the neces- Robert Gates, had said the ban must end — BSA’s religious chartering partners will sary steps to allow our transgender service Caitlyn Jenner gets “sooner rather than later.” The group be allowed to continue to discriminate members to serve openly and honestly,” Arthur Ashe Courage lifted its ban on gay and bisexual youth against gay adults — it is difficult to over- said AMPA President Ashley Broadway- members at the beginning of 2014, but state the importance of today’s announce- Mack. “We look forward in anticipation Award, speaks up for the prohibition on gay and bi adults ment.” to the announcement this week and being trans youth remained. The Human Rights Campaign able to review the process and implemen- A statement released by the BSA men- also saw the resolution as progress but tation.” By Darren Wee on gaystarnews.com tions “the rapid changes in society and denounced the religious exemption. “The According to the AP report, the ser- Caitlyn Jenner delivered a powerful increasing legal challenges at the federal, vote by the executive committee to recom- vices “would have six months to assess the 10-minute speech at ESPY Awards on 15 state, and local levels.” The group could mend that gay, lesbian and bisexual adults impact of the change and work out the July in Los Angeles that brought the for- face lawsuits in states with gay-inclusive be allowed to work and volunteer for the details.” mer Olympian to tears. nondiscrimination laws if the policy con- Boy Scouts is a welcome step toward eras- In March of this year, AMPA launched Jenner, 65, was given a standing ova- tinues, and Gates has acknowledged that ing a stain on one of our nation’s most sto- an unprecedented joint report with the tion as she walked on stage to accept the the policy has become increasingly diffi- ried organizations,” HRC President Chad Transgender American Veterans Associa- Arthur Ashe Courage Award (presented cult to defend in court, given advances in Griffin said in a prepared statement. “But tion (TAVA) highlighting the tremendous by ) in what was her first gay rights laws. writing in an exemption for troops orga- harm the outdated regulations inflict on major public appearance as a transgender While lifting the across-the-board ban nized by religious organizations under- military families. The report notes, “No woman. on gay and bisexual adults in scouting, mines the potentially historic nature of one should be forced to choose between After pleading with the fashion police the resolution does “allow each individual today’s vote. As we have said countless defending the country they love and being to go easy on her and giving a shout out troop or unit to determine its own policy times, half measures are unacceptable true to their authentic self. The outdated to the US women’s soccer team (“Ladies, regarding the eligibility of openly gay or and discriminatory exemptions have no regulations serve no purpose and only you clean up very well”), Jenner assumed bisexual scoutmasters or other adult lead- place in the Boy Scouts. It’s long overdue dehumanize and prevent qualified and a more serious tone. ers,” according to Scouts for Equality’s that BSA leaders demonstrate true leader- capable individuals from enlisting and The reality TV star said until a few summary. This means that church-spon- ship and embrace a full national policy serving. The ban perpetuates trauma to months ago, she had never met another sored troops, for instance, would not have of inclusion that does not discriminate all those involved, both the service mem- transgender person. to allow gay leaders. against anyone because of who they are.” ber and their family.” “I dealt with my situation on my own It also bars regional governing coun- National Coalition for Transgender in private and that turned this journey cils or nontroop institutions, such as Boy Pentagon to end ban on Equality into an already incredible education,” she Scout camps, from discriminating against Executive Director of the NCTE Mara said. employees and volunteers based on sex- transgender service Keisling released the following state- “It’s been eye-opening, inspiring, but ual orientation, and allows previously ment: “Today’s Department of Defense also frightening.” removed leaders to reapply for their posi- On July 13, senior U.S. officials at the Pentagon told the Associated Press (AP) announcement is a positive sign that they But Jenner said that journey is even tions. understand that open trans military ser- more frightening for youths. Zach Wahls, executive director of they are finalizing plans to lift the ban on transgender military service, “with vice is desirable and inevitable. The Pen- “All across this country, right now, all Scouts for Equality, issued a statement tagon’s rickety system of discrimination across the world, at this very moment, praising the move. “For decades, the Boy the goal of formally ending one of the last gender or sexually-based barriers to against us is falling apart. It is in every- there are young people coming to terms Scouts of America’s ban on gay adults has Pentagon with being transgender,” she said. military service.” The American Military ( continues page 6) 6 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

that found that allowing transgender per- LOCAL sonnel to serve in the military “is admin- AND STATE istratively feasible and neither excessively complex nor burdensome.” The authors (Education continued from page 3) of that study, who included three retired Interview to use to educate themselves and their General Officers as well as leading schol- students. ars and experts, provided a detailed road- “The steps taken today by the State map for the policy change and concluded 2015 Pride Grand that implementation could proceed imme- I wasn’t especially proud of,” White said. Education Department are a victory for Marshal John White the transgender and gender nonconform- diately and will be successful in its execu- White was asked to be Pride Grand ing students who braved speaking out tion. John White was unable to attend the Marshal after taking a coffee order in about the discrimination and harassment SPARTA Pride celebrations because he had to be out his shop. Although initially hesitant, he that has pushed many of them out of SPARTA, one of the leading advocates of state, with a family member who had been called back later that same day and said he school,” saaid NYCLU Lead Organizer for transgender military service, hailed the taken seriously ill. Earlier in July he spoke would be honored to fill the role. White Lauren Frederico, an author of the report. Associated Press report that the Secretary with Empty Closet reporter Adam Young… noted the stature of past Pride Grand “New York schools should be a haven for of Defense will commission a Working Marshals and feels humble about taking all students. Now that schools are clearly Group to revise policies so that trans- By Adam Young on the job. “I’ll try and behave myself and on notice on how to follow the law, we are gender service members may serve open- Stepping up to the counter at be worthy of the honor,” he joked. hopeful that today’s announcement will ly rather than in silence. The Working Equal=Grounds usually involves more When White first began attending be a turning point for transgender stu- Group is scheduled to complete its task in than just reciting your order. There is Pride years ago, he thought it was mainly dents in New York.” six months. usually friendly banter with the barista about finally being able to be out in pub- “Empire Justice Center is proud to “This is a tribute to the honorable that accompanies the coffee and pastries. lic and freely “on display” as a gay man. have worked closely with NYSED and our military service of thousands of transgen- John White opened Equal=Grounds Now, he thinks the event is more integrat- partner advocates to develop New York’s der Americans. There is much more to Coffee House on South Avenue with his ed into society as an increasingly famil- gender-inclusive guidance document, a do, but the Secretary’s clear intent to treat business partner, NYS Assemblymember iar summer event. He notes Pride now crucial new resource that will help reduce transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Harry B. Bronson, nine years ago. Prior feels like a celebration of the progress the gender-based discrimination and harass- Marines with the same dignity and on to establishing Equal Grounds, the two LGBT community has made, particularly ment in our state’s schools,” said Julia equal footing with other service members owned the Pride Connection store. How- on the heels of the Supreme Court’s June Sáenz, the Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice aligns with the core values of our Armed ever, White always wanted to establish a 26 decision that LGBT couples have the Fellow at Empire Justice Center’s LGBT Forces,” said Allyson Robinson, Army coffee shop where couples and friends in right to marry in all 50 states. Rights Project in Rochester. “This guid- veteran and SPARTA Director of Policy. the LGBT community could hang out If a closeted person is feeling unsure ance will be particularly important for “We stand ready to provide resources to and feel comfortable showing affection about going to Pride, White recom- transgender and gender nonconforming the Working Group for the regulations for each other, without fear of backlash. mends attending the festivities as an students in Upstate New York where we changes required to take care of all the “I think generally that the attitude ideal “test run” to meet other LGBT peo- provide services, especially the most rural troops. here from both the customers and the ple, who may have families and therefore counties, where there are very few sup- “Six months is more than enough time employees is one that’s like a second not appear so isolated from the main- portive services for this population.” to hammer out the details. This isn’t new home,” White said. “You can feel like stream. “It’s a great springboard to get to “Empire State Pride Agenda is proud ground,” continued Robinson. “A number you’re in a very family-oriented, comfort- where you’re comfortable being yourself,” to have worked in collaboration with of our military allies deploy transgender able, safe place.” White said. other advocates and the New York State troops alongside American forces down- The atmosphere, complete with snarky As a self-described “sci-fi nerd,” Department of Education to create these range, as do DOD contractors. Police and bumper stickers scolding texting drivers White loves this year’s theme: “May the new guidelines, which will offer our fire departments have managed transgen- and a shelf lined with board games, isn’t Pride Be With You!” He’s especially fond schools a much-needed map pointing der inclusion. I’m confident that our mili- the only source of pride White feels in the of Star Trek, Star Wars, and The Chron- the way toward a safe and supportive tary leaders can handle this as smoothly business. As a farmer himself, he makes icles of Riddick (though mostly for Vin educational environment for transgender as the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” sure the ingredients used are all fresh Diesel). Being a bit of a social butterfly in students, and will help schools provide Transgender service members who and local. The smoothies are made from his coffee house, White enjoys returning those students with the same educational belong to SPARTA had these reactions. 100 percent fruit. The desserts are locally home to the tranquility of his farm and opportunities as every other child,” said “I’ve always put the Air Force and made. The locally roasted coffee beans playing with his dogs. “It’s my time to my job first, and my commanders have are brewed and prepared using a guarded re-energize and get ready for tomorrow,” Eòghann Renfroe, Empire State Pride ■ Agenda manager of transgender educa- treated me with dignity and respect,” said process. “I wouldn’t serve anything that White said. tion and advocacy. “At a time in which Sr. Airman Logan Ireland. “I am grateful an epidemic of transgender teen suicide that there will be one clear policy so that is sweeping the nation, a safe education- others like me will be able to continue to al environment doesn’t only ensure kids serve with pride.” a chance to learn – it absolutely saves Airman Ireland recently attended the lives. As coordinator of the LGBT Health White House Pride Reception with his and Human Services Network, the Pride fiancée, Army Corporal Laila Villanue- Agenda has extensive firsthand knowl- va, also transgender. He was allowed to edge of the struggle students and schools attend in male uniform, a departure from alike have had in trying to address the current Air Force policy. needs of transgender students without a “My leaders have operated on the clear, statewide policy, because Network basis that how I do my job is what mat- organizations have been absolutely over- ters,” echoed Army Staff Sergeant Patricia whelmed with requests for help, training King, an infantry soldier stationed in Col- and guidance. We look forward to work- orado Springs. “But until now, the poli- ing with our partners and stakeholders to cies haven’t been in place to provide me take the next steps to ensure that every or my unit the support we need, so we’ve child in New York has access to a safe, improvised. This action would put the quality education.” ■ right process in motion, to give us clear guidance so I can keep doing my job, and taking care of my soldiers.” NATIONAL “While some people don’t under- stand, many of my fellow soldiers have AND INTERNATIONAL been supportive,” said Army Captain Jen- NOW OFFERING nifer Peace, a transgender woman serving SPECIALIZED CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY (Pentagon from page 5) in a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. “This AND HEALTHCARE TREATMENT TO THE one’s interest that the 15,000 or so cur- change allows me to continue to do my GAY LESBIAN BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY rently serving trans people be allowed to job without the additional burden of pre- serve openly and honorably. The Pentagon tending I’m someone I’m not. And that SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT knows, as we do, how this review is going makes me a better officer and leader.” to end. The National Center for Trans- ACLU EXCLUSIVE LGBT TREATMENT GROUP gender Equality urges the Department of Joshua Block, senior staff attorney Defense to quickly end the discrimina- in the ACLU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexu- SENSITIVE TO LGBT ISSUES tory policy and allow trans people to serve al, Transgender and HIV Project stated, “Trans people are willing and able to serve openly and with dignity.” LGBT EXPERIENCED CLINICIAN Palm Center their country, and should be able to do Palm Center director Aaron Belkin so while remaining true to who they are. offered the following statement: “The AP The Pentagon announcement confirms 585-325-5100 report is certainly welcome news, but we what we have known for a long time: out- need to know full details, based on an dated military regulations, which auto- official announcement by the Depart- matically label trans service members as ment of Defense, before reaching conclu- medically unfit for duty, have no basis sions. I hope that any review process is in reality. Over the past year, service informed by the social science research branches have allowed some individuals that addresses how to implement inclusive to serve openly without risking immedi- ate separation, but the regulations on the Administrative Offices Huther Hall Huther Health Clinic policy, as well as lessons of 18 foreign mili- 360 East Ave. 801-803 West Ave. 360 East Ave. taries that have lifted their bans on trans- books keep those service members and Rochester NY 14604 Rochester NY 14611 Rochester NY 14604 gender personnel.” their commanders in a constant state of administrative limbo. Everyone has been Last year, the Palm Center released a WWW.HUTHERDOYLE.COM study, “Report of the Planning Commis- waiting for senior officials to provide clear sion on Transgender Military Service,” (Pentagon continues page 12) AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 7 Rochester celebrates marriage equality ruling on June 26

By Susan Jordan It was a historic moment. All over the coun- try on June 26, hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ Americans celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling that our marriages and families must be recognized. In Rochester, around 200 people of all ages, identities and backgrounds celebrated among the symbolic sculptures in front of the Bachelor Forum. The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus sang “America the Beautiful” and “Going to the Chapel” and the crowd sang along and then made the pledge of allegiance. Speakers included marriage equality activ- ists Todd Plank and Anne Tischer, KaeLyn Rich of the NYCLU, NYS Assembly member Harry Bronson, Bruce Smail of The MOCHA Project, Emily Henninger of TAGR and attor- ney Jennifer Gravitz. Harry Bronson talked about the joyfulness of the day and noted that “religious liberty” is the Right’s new excuse for homophobic discrimination. Gay Alliance Executive Director Scott Fearing reminded everyone, “Our work isn’t over.”

The community rallied at the Bachelor Forum on June 26. All photos this page: Susan Jordan Judy Cranston and Sue Cowell.

The Rochester Gay Men’s Joey G. Di Puma and Chorus. Sherlea Dony. Harry Bronson (with interpreter Cat Hardesty).

Anne Tischer and Bruce Smail.

Alan Davidson. 8 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015 Rochester Pride 2015

Sue Cowell receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the flag ceremony on July 17. Above, Sue, center, with (L-R) RPD Chief Michael Ciminelli, Fire Chief John Schreiver, City Council members Elaine Spaull and Matt Haag, and Mayor Lovely Warren. Photo: Jill Frier

Thomas Warfield in the Pride Parade. Photo: Ove Overmyer CSEA Rainbow Riders arrive at the Festival. Photos: Manuel Pena

“Dangerous Situations” performed at the flag ceremony. Photo: Jill Frier

Mrs. Kasha Davis with Paraders. Photo: Melora Miller

Miss Alicia Michaels and Mr. Gay Pride Alex Russ. Photo: Melora Miller

Photo: Jill Frier The ImageOut float. Photo: Melora Miller The award-winning Tilt float. Photo: Jill Frier AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 9 Rochester Pride 2015

Thousands applauded as the Parade went by. Above: On Park Avenue. Photo: Jill Frier The Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester and Genesee Valley Gender Variants won the Community Award. Photo: Jill Frier

Photo: Jill Frier

A member of the Center for Disability Services unit. The Gay Alliance moving van float. Photo: Jill Frier Photo: Jill Frier

Rochester Pedal Tours. Photo: Jill Frier

Rep. Louise Slaughter. Photo: Jill Frier

Award-winning SAGE moon rock float. Photo: Jill Frier Gay Alliance Pride volunteers. Photo: Melora Miller

Sanders for President supporters. Photo: Jill Frier

Photo: Jill Frier

Rochester Kink Society. Photo: Jill Frier RAPA. Photo: Jill Frier Mrs. Kasha Davis sashays down Park Ave. Photo: Jill Frier 10 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

The Pride Festival followed the Parade on July 18. Several thousand people filled Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square. Photo: Ove Overmyer CSEA

The Festival crowd. Photo: Thomas Ophardt The Tilt float won the Muther’s Favorite award. Photo: Ove Overmyer CSEA PHOTO: JILL FRIER JILL PHOTO:

A new Pride event: The Roc Pride 5 K Run took place in on Cazwell and Kasha at the Festival. Photo: Steve Levins July 19 before the Picnic. Photo: Jeanne Gainsburg AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 11

At the Flag Ceremony, L-R: Andreas Rau, LGBT Liai- son to the Mayor’s Office; NYS Rep. Harry Bronson; Dr. Bill Valenti and Timothy Cosgriff at the flag cere- Mayor Lovely Warren. Photo: Susan Jordan mony. Photo: Susan Jordan Photo: Jill Frier

Alan Davidson in another of his amazing T-shirts. What’s a parade without a marching band? Photo: Jill Frier Photo: Susan Jordan 12 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

tion to use the military as a tool of “Islam is a religion of peace,” one said. Court ruling. NATIONAL social re-engineering will only undermine “It is not a command to murder.” Southern states had the most opponents: AND INTERNATIONAL morale, unit cohesion, and readiness. It’s At Pride in Istanbul this year, the Although these three states still had more time that we allow the military to focus parade was suddenly banned without any supporters than detractors, Alabama (50 (Pentagon continued from page 11) on its only job — defending our country prior warning. When marchers attempted percent disapproval), North Carolina against its enemies.” to gather, police fired water cannons, tear (35.1 percent disapproval), and Virginia leadership on this issue. It sounds like that - Family Research Council vice pres- gas and rubber bullets. (31.5 percnt disapproval) had the most leadership is coming – and not a moment ent Jerry Boykin Though is not illegal naysayers. too soon.” in Turkey, the country is conservative and Overall sentiment was positive in all American Military Partners Turkish group demands, homophobia is widespread. states: “We are thrilled with Secretary Cart- -gaystarnews.com For all states with a significant volume er’s announcement that the Department kill gays on sight of tweets, the majority of sentiment was of Defense is finally taking steps to lift the LGBTI people must be “killed on Study of Twitter shows positive. ban on transgender military service,” said For more details about the study meth- American Military Partners Association sight” – that is the message displayed on 80 percent approve of new posters across the Turkish cities of odology and results — including how President Ashley Broadway-Mack. “All CrowdFlower enables real-time sentiment qualified Americans should be able to Ankara and Istanbul. marriage equality The campaign, created by a group analysis by cleaning and enriching big data serve our great nation, regardless of their According to a new study by Crowd- sets — please see the official blog post: gender identity. Lifting the ban will dra- that calls itself Young Islamic Defense, Flower [www.crowdflower.com] — a data demands the deaths of any gay, bisexual, http://www.crowdflower.com/blog/same- matically improve the lives of our trans- enrichment platform that collects, cleans, sex-marriage gender service members and their families transgender or person. The chill- and labels big data — 52 percent of the by allowing them to serve authentically.” ing message is accompanied by a picture 25,000 tweets posted to Twitter following In March of this year, AMPA launched of proud people holding rainbow flags. the Supreme Court announcement cited European Human Rights an unprecedented joint report with the As translated by a GSN reader, the “religious beliefs” as a primary cause of Court ruling on Italy sets poster says: “May you see the doers of the Transgender American Veterans Associa- opposition. precedent for 23 other tion (TAVA) highlighting the tremendous dirty works of Lot, kill the perpetrator Additionally, 19 percent of those harm the outdated regulations inflict on and the receiver on sight.” tweeting cited “American values” and 15 countries military families. The report notes, “No According to Islamic tradition, Lot percent cited “general disgust” as reasons one should be forced to choose between was the prophet of Sodom and Gomorrah By Andrew Potts on gaystarnews.com for opposing. The European Court of Human defending the country they love and being who was commanded to stop the spread Other notable findings in the “Crowd- true to their authentic self. The outdated of “lustful and violent” acts. His messag- Rights appears to have set a legal prece- Flower ‘Same Sex Marriage’ Social Media dent in ruling that Italy had violated fun- regulations serve no purpose and only es were ignored by the people that lived Study” include: dehumanize and prevent qualified and there, the cities were destroyed and Lot’s damental human rights by not providing Support outweighed criticism 4 to 1: legal recognition to gay and lesbian rela- capable individuals from enlisting and wife was transformed into a pillar of salt Although overall Twitter sentiment was serving. The ban perpetuates trauma to as punishment. tionships that could now be used across 55 percent positive, 32 percent neutral, the continent to force governments to pro- all those involved, both the service mem- Among some Muslim groups, this and 13 percent negative, with neutral ber and their family.” is seen as the Qur’an’s condemnation of vide some form of recognition to same-sex tweets excluded, positive opinions out- couples. The haters also chimed in: homosexuality. When it was suggested weighed negative opinions 80 percent to “The Pentagon must answer whether that Turkey introduce same-sex marriage, The court has jurisdiction over the 47 20 percent. countries that have signed the European this proposed policy makes our military former Interior Minister Efkar Ala said: Women were more supportive than more capable of performing its mission. “This is Lot’s people, the destruction of Convention on Human Rights and 23 of men: those still fail to provide any kind of legal The answer is a very clear and resound- humanity.” While 86 percent of women and 72 per- ing no. This has everything to do with On the Young Islamic Defense’s web- status for same-sex relationships. cent of men were in favor of the Supreme Those 23 countries include Eastern President Obama’s social agenda for the site, they claim they organized the cam- Court ruling, 14 percent of women and military, but it has nothing to do with paign as this year Pride coincided with the European anti-gay bastions such as Rus- 28 percnt of men opposed it. sia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey and enhancing military readiness. No new sci- holy festival of Ramadan. The east coast had the most supporters: ence has led to the Pentagon’s transgender Muslim groups have opposed the post- they could now find themselves taken Massachusetts (96 percent approval), New before the court and ordered to allow study — only the politics of the Obama ers, with local media quoting one as call- Jersey (87.3 percent approval), and New administration and the transgender move- ing people to ignore the call to massacre same-sex couples vehicles for registering York (86.8 percent approval) were most their relationships. ment. Allowing the Obama administra- a community. vocal in their support of the Supreme AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 13

In its Italy ruling the court did not ing threatened,” said Freedom Oklahoma find that same-sex marriage was a human Executive Director Troy Stevenson. The right in Europe – only that legal recog- picture shows two men with rifles stand- nition of same-sex relationships was so ing beside a rainbow flag and the cap- it would be up to those 23 countries to tion reads “new high visibility targets on choose what form any legal recognition the 500 yard range.” “People took it as a took. threat, people felt very threatened,” said Those countries could decide on any Stevenson. mix of civil unions or registered partner- Race organizers say the photo was ships short of marriage – or some form of meant to be “funny” and was posted ‘de facto’ relationship recognition where because of complaints that less brightly- a couple are automatically deemed to be colored targets were difficult to see. Uh in a legal relationship after a period of huh. The group has since taken down the cohabitation. image, saying that they are a “guns and The verdict has been welcomed by fitness” organization, not a hate group. international LGBTI rights group Human -JoeMyGod.com Rights Campaign (HRC) Global who said it was indicative of a growing momentum Ruling could bring towards reform around the world. “This ruling makes clear that same- national protection for sex partnerships deserve to be recognized, LGBT workers protected, and celebrated, and we urge all signatories to do so,” HRC Global deputy Pastor Asher O’Callaghan (right) with Pastor Meaghan Rohrer. By Kyler Geoffroy on Towleroad.com director Jean Freedberg said yesterday in A groundbreaking ruling by the Equal reaction to the court’s verdict. Employment Opportunity Commis- Evangelical Lutheran gants, says Evangelical Lutheran Min - sion regarding federal employees’ claims “From the victorious national refer- istries executive director Amalia Vagts. endum in Ireland in May to the his- Church ordains out trans and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of “Asher is exactly the kind of person that 1964 could provide nationwide protec- toric ruling in the US Supreme Court pastor in Denver our church needs. His gifts for ministry last month, the momentum for equality tions for gay, lesbian, and bisexual workers By Mitch Kellaway on The Advocate and his witness as a transgender person across the country. reaches around the globe. continue to proclaim a message that God “By calling same-sex partnership rec- Colorado pastor Asher O’Callaghan, Buzzfeed reports: the first out trans person ordained in the welcomes, loves, and calls all people,” she The independent commission ognition a right, the court has made clear explained. to LGBT people across Europe that their Evangelical Lutheran Church of Amer- addressed the question of whether the ban ica’s standard ordination process, says O’Callaghan himself has shared on sex discrimination in Title VII of the unions matter and that their love is equal touching stories of being accepted by the and should be treated as such.” members of the church have been living Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars anti-LGB examples of Christ-like love and accep- ELCA as a , including having discrimination in a complaint brought by The verdict was also welcomed by the his gender transition “formally blessed” in International Lesbian and Gay Associa- tance. a Florida-based air traffic control special- Though a liberal-leaning Protes- a 2012 church naming ceremony, in stark ist against Transportation Sec. Anthony tion (ILGA) Europe Executive Board. contrast to the “other” fundamentalist Paulo Corte-Real, Co-Chair of ILGA- tant sect, the ELCA had previously only Foxx. church he says he grew up in. The ruling — issued without objec- Europe Executive Board, said: ordained openly trans ministers outside - of the regular process, according to the O’Callaghan’s ordination was per tion from any members of the five-person “While the [court’s] judgment is only formed July 5 at the House of All Saints legally binding on Italy, it signals a signifi- Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Web commission — applies to federal employ- site. and Sinners in Denver, an actively LGBT- ees’ claims directly, but it also applies cant evolution in the [court’s] approach welcoming church helmed by Rev. Nadia which now affirms the right of same-sex O’Callaghan, 28, who has been named to the entire EEOC, which includes its pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Idaho Bolz-Weber. While O’Callaghan is the offices across the nation that take and unions to be officially recognized,” ILGA first out trans pastor to be ordained Europe board member Paulo Corte-Real Springs, Colo., told the site that he was investigate claims of discrimination in “thrilled to be getting ordained to be a through the ECLA’s standard process, he private employment. And, while only the said. was welcomed into the fold by other pas- “The Court pointed out that 24 of pastor and leader within the church I Supreme Court could issue a definitive love.” tors who came before him, including Rev. ruling on the interpretation, EEOC deci- the 47 Council of Europe member states Megan Rohrer, the faith’s first ordained provide same-sex couples with protection “The Church is changing,” sions are given significant deference by O’Callaghan added. “There’s no need to trans pastor, who is also an author and federal courts. and recognition; this is a trend that simply award-winning filmmaker. cannot be ignored. It will provide LGBTI choose between living life as your full- The ruling states that “sexual orien- advocates in the remaining Council of est self and belonging to a community of tation is inherently a ‘sex-based consid- Europe states who do not recognize same- faith. For transgender people, this means Okla. gun group eration.’” In 2012, the EEOC ruled that sex couples with compelling arguments that there are congregations who will promotes event with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for protection.” affirm, respect, and celebrate our faith rainbow flag target protects transgender individuals from dis- “Joyce Hamilton, Co-Chair of and our gender identities.” crimination. ILGA-Europe’ Executive Board, added: O’Callaghan’s new congregation, Zion Via Oklahoma City’s NBC affiliate: “Discrimination has no place in Amer- ‘We really hope this judgment will speed Lutheran, is representative of some of Organizers of an Oklahoma race are ica, plain and simple,” said HRC Presi- up the process of legal recognition of the “revitalization” the ELCA has been coming under fire for a picture they dent Chad Griffin in a statement. “This same-sex unions not only in Italy, but going through, and has been an inten- posted on their Facebook page. It appears historic ruling by the EEOC makes clear also in other … countries of the Council tionally LGBT-friendly “Reconciling in they’re using the LGBT rainbow flag as a they agree workplace discrimination on of Europe which currently do not legal- Christ” congregation for several years, shooting target. The post angered many the basis of sexual orientation, much ly acknowledge same-sex unions,’ board notes Extraodinary Lutheran Ministries. people who took it as a direct threat to the like gender identity, is illegal. While an member Joyce Hamilton said. The Evangelical Lutheran Church, LGBT community. important step, it also highlights the need “We encourage politicians and law like many other denominations, has faced Event organizers say they did not for a comprehensive federal law perma- makers in those countries to reflect on shrinking membership rolls for over a expect the response they got and that it nently and clearly banning LGBT dis- the judgment and the realities of same-sex decade, and has tried more recently to was all meant as a joke. The Oklahoma crimination beyond employment to all unions and to side with equality, respect cast a wider net to draw in younger con- Run ‘n Gun is a biathlon combining run- areas of American life. Such a law would and dignity for all couples. gregants, single people, and families. In ning and shooting. They promoted their send a clear and permanent signal that The 47 countries under the court’s 2009, the ELCA voted to allow ordina- race in Pawnee on July 18 on their Face- discrimination against LGBT people will jurisdiction have a combined population tion of pastors in same-sex relationships, book page, but some are saying one post not be tolerated under any circumstances of over 800 million people and the only and in 2013 the church named its first went too far. in this country, and we remain fully com- European country that is outside its juris- openly gay bishop, Guy Erwin. “People got really offended and real - mitted to making that happen.” diction is Belarus. ELCA churches have benefited from ly upset and people were really feel- “We applaud the EEOC’s historic practicing love for all of their congre- (Ruling continued on page 14) 14 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

The federal lawsuit, which alleges NATIONAL Davis’ refusal is unconstitutional, seeks AND INTERNATIONAL an injunction ordering Davis to begin issuing licenses. Kentucky couple David Vincent (Ruling continued from page 13) Moore and his fiancé wanted to get mar- determination that sexual orientation is ried last week Davis stood in their way. inherently a sex-based consideration, and The couple’s encounter with Davis, we encourage all gay men, lesbians and who is opposed to same-sex marriage (EC: bisexual Americans who face harassment but has been married four times herself), or discrimination on the job to consult an was captured on video and quickly went attorney and file Title VII sex discrimina- viral with more than 1.7 million views. tion claims with the EEOC,” Tico Almei- -JoeMyGod.com ■ da, president of Freedom to Work said. “It’s time for LGBT advocates to retire the incorrect talking point that gay Ameri- cans can get married at noon and fired at 2 p.m. without legal recourse. That kind of unlawful firing falls clearly under Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination, and it is already illegal.” HRC notes that EEOC rulings are “not binding on federal courts, however they are persuasive.” The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the issue. Gay couple sues Texas Chile issues county clerk, gets licenses; weddings start marriage license in October Bloomberg reports: Pink News reports: A gay couple that sued a rural Texas Gay couples flocked to civil registry county clerk over a delay in the issuing of offices in Chile to schedule the first same- a marriage license received the certificate sex civil unions since they were approved just hours after filing the complaint. in the country earlier this year. Jim Cato and Joe Stapleton say they July 9 was the first day that cou- won’t drop their lawsuit, though, until ples could apply for the license, after a the clerk’s office agrees to issue marriage bill approving same-sex civil unions was licenses to “all couples, gay and straight, signed by the country’s President Michelle without delay.” Bachelet back in April. The first same-sex They also want their legal fees paid civil ceremonies will take place in Octo- by the county. Cato and Stapleton were ber, and while the LGBT community in repeatedly turned away by the clerk’s Chile still fights for the right to marry, office in Hood County, about a half- many see this as the first step on the way hour southwest of the Fort Worth federal to gaining full equal rights for same-sex courthouse where they sued July 6. They couples. Many couples took to Twitter to said they were told it would take “at least share their joy and excitement, as well as three weeks,” because the county needed to announce the date on which their cer- emonies will take place. to have paperwork reprinted in a gender- ■ neutral fashion. -JoeMyGod.com The men said they have been “waiting over 27 years to marry” and were “humili- ated” by county employees’ refusal. Katie Lang, the county clerk, had said she won’t personally issue marriage licenses to same- sex couples because it violates her religious Fall SpeakOUT Training beliefs. She said someone else in her office would do so as soon as proper forms are supplied, according to a statement on the Do you strive to be more confident, more articulate and more county clerk’s website. The couple’s law- informed about LGBTQ issues? Do you need to brush up on yer said he provided the clerk with copies of corrected state marriage-license appli- successful teaching methods? Would you like to become a cations from the state’s website. They member of the Gay Alliance Speakers Bureau? were told a different form was still needed, according to the complaint. The couple’s Then join us for our Fall SpeakOUT Training: Successful LGBTQ Education – a workshop July 7 license was handwritten. focused on becoming more confident and articulate while talking with others about LGBTQ issues. Professional development for your life! Perfect for counselors, teachers, student leaders, Hearings start in lawsuit Dignity Act Coordinators, social workers… This workshop is also the beginning part of our against anti-gay Ky. training for Gay Alliance Speakers Bureau volunteers. county clerk Friday October 2 (6-9pm) and Saturday October 3 (8:30am-5pm). Light evening No decision was made on 13 July in a snacks, breakfast and lunch included. ASL interpretation can be made available if requested federal lawsuit filed against a county clerk in Kentucky who refuses to issue marriage before Sept 14th. To find out more and to register, go to: www.gayalliance.org and click on the licenses to same-sex couples. SpeakOUT slide. US District Court Judge David Bun- ning heard testimony in the American Feedback from our Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky’s law- March SpeakOUT Training suit against Rowan County and its Clerk “Incredible, valuable, enriching and an experience Kim Davis. But the case was continued to an undetermined future date because that will translate into my professional and personal Davis must sign paperwork acknowledg- life. Excellent!” ing she has received the complaint. “We look forward to completing these “Rarely can I have an open discussion about hot proceedings at a time and date Judge Bun- topic issues with such generous and intelligent ning sets, so that our clients may receive feedback.” the relief they are entitled to,” William Sharp, legal director of the ACLU of Ken- “Awesome, enriching, inspiring. I can’t think of tucky said. anything to improve. I am so glad I took this class.” Rowan County is one of three coun- ties in Kentucky that is attempting to “Thank you for a weekend I will always consider as keep same-gender couples from obtaining one of time well spent, and one I will look upon as a licenses. The US Supreme Court ruled special memory maker.” last month that same-sex marriage is now legal nationwide. 100% of the participants from our March 2015 The ACLU filed a class action law- SpeakOUT Training rated the workshop and the suit against Davis on behalf of four cou- presenters “very good to excellent!” ples who her office denied licenses – two heterosexual couples and two same-sex couples. AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 15

at exponentially higher risk for abuse: mendations for changing the criminal jus- incarcerated transwomen are 13 times tice system: improved access to medical more likely to be assaulted than care, enhanced grievance and account- prisoners. Opinion My good friend and penpal Samantha, a transgender woman at a men’s maxi- FREQUENTLY ISOLATED IN mum security facility in upstate NY, has PROTECTIVE CUSTODY OR described to me some of the experiences SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, she’s had, including harassment, intimida- TRANSGENDER INMATES FACE tion, and assault. At one point, fearing for A GREATER RISK OF VIOLENCE her safety Samantha refused to be double FROM STAFF. A REPORT BY bunked with another inmate. SOLITARY WATCH FOUND THAT, Her fear was met with punishment: 30 ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU days in solitary confinement. Upon exit- OF JUSTICE STATISTICS, OF ALL ing solitary, she again refused to double cell and was punished with 60 days in SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST solitary, in addition to the loss of packag- TRANSWOMEN IN PRISONS es, commissary, and phone privileges. She AND JAILS, NEARLY HALF IS was then moved to a new facility where an COMMITTED BY FACILITY STAFF. inmate demanded sexual favors from her. She refused, and a week later found her cell burnt out, most of her belongings lost ability procedures, and changes to policy to the flames. to improve the safety of transgender pris- The abuse Samantha and other trans- oners like my friend Samantha. gender inmates experience comes from Most importantly for the LGBTQ both prisoners and corrections officers. movement, however, the report under- Frequently isolated in protective custo- scores the importance of reducing the dy or solitary confinement, transgender criminalization of transgender people. This inmates face a greater risk of violence from means that the next step in the LGBTQ staff. A report by Solitary Watch found movement is far greater than bathrooms that, according to the Bureau of Justice or the DMV. It means that as we work Statistics, of all sexual violence against to improve the lives of those currently transwomen in prisons and jails, nearly behind bars, we must also be addressing half is committed by facility staff. the systemic inequalities that lead so many In a 2007 report on transgender peo- transgender people – especially transgender A Trip To Be Proud Of: ple in New York State prisons, the Sylvia people of color – into the criminal justice fair, with lines and lines of stands pro- Rivera Law project makes several recom- system to begin with. ■ NYC Pride moting many services courting the LGBT community. Goodies were handed out By Lawrence Lamb free or we had to spin a wheel to get a A few of us from the Rochester area t-shirt or fill out a disclosure form to get decided to make a special trip to New some free samples. There were the usual York City this past June for the Pride drag queens with perfect makeup and parade. The parade was held on June 28 high heels, and there were the hunks from but two days before that, on June 26, a bank all dressed in Roman attire. The the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. sky cleared up and more people flooded Constitution provides same-sex couples the streets of PrideFest. the right to marry, which means by law An hour or two into the parade, the states cannot ban same-sex marriages the sun came out and the crowd thick- and gay marriage becomes legal in all 50 ened. The parade moved slowly through states. It was a landmark decision by the the streets of the village and the sidewalks Supreme Court and a historic triumph to were packed to the limit with a cheer- the gay rights movement. ful crowd. It was literally boobs to boobs When we arrived in New York City and buns to buns! Celebrated UK actors on June 26, there were people all over Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ian Mckellen the Village area celebrating well into the (stars of the BBC series Vicious) were night. The crowd outside the Stonewall among the 2015 NYC Pride Grand Mar- Inn on Christopher Street was particu- shals. Marriage, equal rights and fami- larly wild with excitement and the bar was lies were the obvious themes of the proud packed from wall to wall. Many took self- marchers, and children marched in record number. The whole parade was a celebra- tion of the historic moment resulting from MARRIAGE, EQUAL RIGHTS AND years of active fighting and silent cultiva- FAMILIES WERE THE OBVIOUS tion. It was amazing to see so many gay THEMES OF THE PROUD and lesbian and transgender people form- MARCHERS, AND CHILDREN ing a forceful impact that no society can MARCHED IN RECORDED ignore. NUMBER. THE WHOLE One thing though: in the old days PARADE WAS A CELEBRATION when we saw a nun walking the parade OF THE HISTORIC MOMENT in high heels, we knew that was a drag RESULTING FROM YEARS OF queen. Nowadays, we need to think twice! ACTIVE FIGHTING AND SILENT CULTIVATION. IT WAS AMAZING Trans in Prison TO SEE SO MANY GAY AND By Tristan Wright LESBIAN AND TRANSGENDER Over the past few weeks, countless PEOPLE FORMING A FORCEFUL leaders have posed the question “What’s IMPACT THAT NO SOCIETY CAN next for the LGBTQ movement?”. IGNORE. Transgender people have often topped the list, citing issues like bathroom access or drivers licenses as the next battles under ies at that historic site on that historic day. the pride flag. But for many transgender We out-of-towners were emotionally over- people, especially trans people of color, whelmed by the presence of such a large there are much more pressing issues at and friendly LGBT community. hand. Often overlooked in such con- The forecast for the weekend wasn’t versations are the realities of transgen- favorable and rain poured that Saturday der people behind bars and the systemic night. TV news showed that the LGBT inequalities that led them there. community continued to celebrate in the Pervasive discrimination in housing, rain drenched streets. Some small groups healthcare, and employment leads trans- were seen holding up signs that said “God gender people into survival crimes like Hates Sodomites” claiming that the rain sex work, increasing the likelihood that was a sign from God; God is crying! God they’ll encounter the criminal justice sys- is against gay marriage! tem. The National Center for Transgen- We returned to the hotel early to have der Equality has found that one in six a good night’s sleep as the next day was trans Americans, and half of all trans peo- to be a long and tiring day at the parade. ple of color, are incarcerated at some point With our umbrellas and windbreakers, in their lives. In most cases transgender we headed to the PrideFest on Hudson people are housed based on their geni- Street. The sky was grey and it drizzled tals, with transwomen typically placed in a bit but nothing could affect the color- men’s facilities, and transmen placed in ful and festive atmosphere of the street women’s. This puts transgender inmates 16 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

experience in strategic planning, busi- have higher rates of a variety of factors and heterosexual adults.” ness development, operations, program that can lead to poor health — things “Some research has suggested that oversight and management, facilities and like poverty or involvement with lifestyle bisexuals may be ‘minorities within the organizational development. In addition, activities that can lead to poor health, ” minority’ because they experience even Health Bill also brings an already established con- lead author Bridget Gorman tells The greater levels of and discrimi- nection with our organization through Advocate. “A big thing was emotional nation than gays or lesbians,” the study his oversight of the Meals on Wheels support. When you compare relative to reports. “The resulting stressors and stig- Program, working with both our lega- other groups, bisexuals reported lower ma experienced by bisexuals may contrib- cy AIDS Rochester organization as well rates of getting the emotional support that ute to greater health problems.” as Trillium Health’s current Congregate they felt they needed.” Meal Program.” Bisexual respondents also reported a Study: straight doctors Andrea DeMeo, CEO, stated, “Bill higher propensity for smoking and using brings a skill set vitally important to our alcohol than straight or gay counterparts may be be biased future. His experience in a community — health risks that can be amplified by against LGBT people based organization and the leadership the higher rates of poverty among the that he provided to VNS over the years is compared with other By Raffy Ermac on The Advocate immediately transferable and I am excited peers. Among gay, lesbian, and straight There may be a justifiable reason why about him joining our team.” counterparts, researchers found members LGBT patients don’t always feel comfort- able when they visit their straight doctor’s William E. Belecz joins of the bisexual community were the least New app MyTransHealth likely to be educated at a university level. office. Trillium Health Gorman and her team spent years New findings from research conduct- offers doctor reviews, aggregating data from the Centers for ed by the University of Washington show Trillium Health has announced that that health care providers may in fact har- William E. Belecz will become its new more information Disease Control and Prevention’s Behav- ioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a bor biases against patients of opposing Chief Operating Officer and Sr. Vice Pres- According to Gay Times magazine, sexual orientations. ident of Programs and Services on Aug. 17. health-related phone survey conducted the app is a crowd-sourced program which annually across the U.S. Comprised of co- According to the abstract of the study In this vital new role, Bill will be over- will allow for users to read reviews on doc- published online by the American Journal seeing Trillium Health’s expansion as the authors Justin T. Denney, Hilary Dowdy, tors and gauge how much support they and Rose Anne Medeiros, Gorman’s team of Public Health, “implicit preferences for organization provides new services and may be able to provide specifically for heterosexual people versus lesbian and gay barrier-free access to medical care and sup- reviewed data collected in seven states trans-related issues. between 2005 and 2010 to suss out the people are pervasive among heterosexual portive services, and earns its designation Seeking to make waves in the subject health care providers.” as a Federally Qualified Health Center health disparities among bisexual Ameri- of trans health, MyTransHealth will hope- cans. All told, the study aggregates results Straight women in the field were found (FQHC). fully be able to help tackle issues like the to have weaker implicit preference than Bill joins Trillium from Visiting Nurse from “10,128 sexual minority (gay, lesbi- high suicide rate amongst trans people. an, and bisexual) and 405,145 heterosex- straight men, and among all of the sur- Service (VNS), an affiliate of the Univer- veyed health care professionals, straight sity of Rochester Medical Center, where he ual adults,” according to its abstract. This Study says bisexuals first set of findings were published in the nurses “held the strongest implicit prefer- has served for more than 24 years. As the ence for heterosexual men over gay men.” Chief Information Officer and Vice Presi- face higher health July issue of the Journal of Demography, under the title “A New Piece of the Puzzle: The researchers looked at results from dent of Operations & Business Analysis disparities the Implicit Association Test taken among at VNS, Bill has successfully headed the Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Physical Health Status.” a sample of more than 200,000 medi- overall operations of a licensed home care By Eliel Cruz on The Advocate cal doctors, nurses, mental health pro- agency, Visiting Nurse Signature Care, Professors of Sociology at Rice Uni- The CDC’s standard reporting system generally does not distinguish between viders, and other treatment providers as as well as the Meals on Wheels Pro- versity have found that bisexual Ameri- well as nonproviders from May 2006 to gram, all while continuing his oversight cans face higher health disparities than gay or lesbian and bisexual respondents, but the Rice researchers want to see more December 2012, according to the AJPH’s of the Information Systems and Technol- their gay, lesbian, and straight counter- abstract. The medical news website Psy- ogy functions. He also served as Project parts. A variety of these health issues stem states become more proactive in asking residents how they identify. Gorman says chCentral reported that users of the test Director for URMC School of Medicine from systemic socioeconomic vulnerabil- were asked to respond to statements such & Dentistry. ity in the bisexual community, according it’s important to count bisexuals separate- ly than gays and lesbians, as “recent stud- as “I strongly prefer straight people to gay Trillium says, “Bill brings to Trillium to the new study. people” and “I strongly prefer gay people Health a rich history of service and strong “As a group, bisexual men and women ies have found worse self-reported health for bisexuals compared with gay/lesbian to straight people.” ■

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By the mid ‘90s and into the next Carolyn Zook and patrons greet you with decade, AIDS had become a treatable a “Cheers” welcome when you come into chronic illness. Gary and the Avenue Pub the Avenue Pub. Carolyn has been a part Shoulders to Stand On with its friendly, welcoming, inclusive of the Pub for 30 years, loves bartending atmosphere came back stronger than ever. and thinks the world of Gary Sweet. The bar culture has gone through many Carolyn said many of the people who transformations and Gary and the Ave- came to the 40th Anniversary celebration nue Pub adapted to the changes. Today in June, had met at the Pub, married and in 2015 the kitchen is open Wednesday were still together 20 – 30 years later. She – Sunday, there is a year-round patio with said the Tea Dance on Sunday, June 14 heaters, full bar, free parking, ATM and brought back memories of the Tea Dan- internet jukebox. Gary’s daughter, Tanya ces in the ‘70s. Knope, continues to help with marketing Gary Sweet, a loving father and gran- and bar oversight. dfather, a US Air Force veteran, a for- Over the years Gary, through the mer postman with the US Postal Service, Avenue Pub, supported a variety of local enjoyed spending time with his family, sports teams, including a champion loved to travel, and was the hard-working woman’s softball team, volleyball teams, and proud owner of the Avenue Pub for a number of walks and bike rides for 40 years. Over his lifetime, Gary rece- AIDS and cancer. In the early days, ived 17 awards and recognitions for his Gary allowed organizers of the Miss Gay support and service to various groups and Rochester Pageant to hold the Pageant in community organizations. the building behind the Pub. Gary, as well Shoulders To Stand On is proud as other bars, supported the community to recognize Gary Sweet and his com- Picnic in July. Gary, along with other bar mitment to his family, his service to his owners, supported the efforts of the Gay country and his support of the Rochester Alliance Youth Program to increase the community. Our deepest sympathy to his interest of gay youth in higher education family, and those he touched. NO, the by buying a graduation cap to support Avenue will never be the same, but the tours to area colleges. Gary through The Shoulders of a man who created family, Pub has always been supportive of the and a welcoming inclusive warm home at Rochester Rams motorcycle club annual HIS Avenue Pub, will not be forgotten. fundraising activities, as well as fundra- ising efforts for the Gay Alliance, HPA, A Community’s and most recently Trillium Health. Gary attributed his and the bar’s Response To AIDS – success to his customers and staff: “They AIDS Rochester, Inc. are wonderful!” Gary consistently showed his appreciation for his customers and By Evelyn Bailey bartenders by celebrating birthdays, anni- This month Shoulders To Stand On Gary Sweet, second from left, with family at the Avenue Pub. versaries, and The Pub’s milestones. looks at one of the earliest grass roots What Gus Hall wrote on a card in responses to the AIDS crisis in New York Gary Sweet - A man who ready or not the Avenue Pub was open for celebration of the 35th anniversary of the state and in fact the country. AIDS Roch- brought the Rochester business. Avenue Pub summarizes Gary’s relation- ester began with a handful of people. It was originally a straight biker bar ships with his customers. Gus Hall wrote, A little history about the legacy left to “Cheers” to Monroe and the bikers tried to force Gary out of “Twenty years ago I sat in the parking lot the Rochester community by a handful Avenue business. He was told that he would never of the Avenue Pub scared to death of what of people, our early pioneers in the ‘70s. make it on Monroe Avenue because it was waited for me behind the door. I’m so glad Once you begin moving out and being By Evelyn Bailey in the “suburbs”. All the gay bars were I found the courage to come inside -- I visible, you can not stop. All we need to The weekend of June 12–14, Gary downtown. The first few years, Gary said found my family.” do is look at the “voices” of Rochester Sweet and The Avenue Pub celebrated 40 in an interview a few weeks before he Family is the right word. Bartender (Shoulders continued on page 22) years of being THE oldest original owner died, were tough – rocks were thrown at operated bar in the same location at 522 the windows. Gary said he had trouble Monroe Avenue. getting insurance because the window Little did anyone know that this would always needed to be replaced. be Gary’s last Pub anniversary celebration. Roy Lawrence (founder of the Roches- Shoulders to Stand on invites you to take a ter Rams) tended bar at the Pub, until he walk down memory lane celebrating a life opened the OK Corral on Charlotte St. lived in service to his family, customers Monroe Avenue was not gay friendly in and the community whom he loved. the ‘70s. Gary made it a point to always In the spring of 1975, Gary Sweet welcome his customers and to get to know bought the Avenue Pub. In many ways them. In 1977 Friar’s opened and in 1979 from that day on, Gary Sweet and The Rosies opened on Monroe Avenue and the Pub were synonymous. Up until June of gay strip was born. this year, The Pub was the oldest owner Relations with the police turned arou- operated in the same location in nd in the late ‘70s when Midge Costanza Rochester -- 40 years. appointed Gordon Urlacher as the Police Before Gary bought the Avenue Pub, Liaison to the Gay Community. All the Craig Heslor remembers that Gary was bar owners in the late ‘70s and ‘80s met a night “auditor” (front-desk clerk) at the once a month to support each other and Downtown Motor Inn. Gary also wor- to talk about any issues they were having ked for the US Postal Service as a mail- and to schedule events. Gordon Urlacher man in Rochester, and may have delivered made the rounds of all the bars to assess your mail. In an interview this June with for himself what was happening. He made this reporter, Gary said he worked more himself available to the bar owners. Gary than one job because he had a family to said Gordon Urlacher really changed the support. attitude of the police toward the gay bars However, bar life was in Gary’s blood. (there were 14 gay bars in Rochester at He bartended while in the military, and one time). Gordon made it clear to his in 1971 tended bar for tips at Jim’s on fellow officers that they “could not treat Court St. next door to Speedy’s Laundry those people” that way. Gary said, “Today for Jim Van Allen, with whom he went the police are a part of our Gay Pride to high school. Before Gary bought the Parade.” bar and named it the Avenue Pub, it had In the July 2010 issue of the EC, in been Neil’s Cocktail Lounge. Gary pulled an article on Jim’s by Susan Jordan, Gary the money together to buy the bar. Years Sweet remembered what it was like in the later Gary had the opportunity to buy the ‘70s and early ‘80s. “Back then people building. He did not but his partner Bob were just partying and partying. It was did. Gary and his partner Bob also had the era between the end of the police an opportunity to buy Anthony’s 522, but raids and the beginning of HIV. It really did not. Gary says he had no intention of slowed down in the early ‘80s when HIV making the Avenue Pub a “gay” bar when was identified.” he bought it, but it became the “Che- Gus Hall, a neighborhood resident, ers” of Rochester, a welcoming inclusive one-time employee and regular patron neighborhood bar. of the Pub, said at the 35th Anniversary On June 5, 1975 at 10 a.m., about two celebration of the Pub, “The Avenue Pub weeks before Gary was ready to have a really took off around 1977. Lines would Grand Opening at the Avenue Pub, one be outside waiting to get in. Everybody of his very good customers said, “We’re knew your name. You could guess who not waiting anymore, you are opening would be sitting on which barstools at now!” With that he threw open the front cocktail time. Gays and straights came in door, set up the bar, set up the chairs and together.” 22 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

(Shoulders continued from page 23) Brook New York to pursue the important who have stood before the “gates of hell” work of AIDS research. to see that the seeds of truth and justice In June there were several meetings are deeply rooted in the Rochester com- and discussions about the future direction of AIDS Rochester. AIDS Rochester had Columnists munity. Before the Town and then the City of defined several areas continuing to need Rochester was founded, the area belonged work to preserve the health and well-being to the Iroquois Nation (Haudenosaunee). of the community. It had grown from a This matrilineal society, with the Great few people to a more diverse group of peo- The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers Law of Peace, ended a civil war and cre- ple -- gay activists, health care workers, are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay ated a confederation of tribes whereby all and local business people – with a struc- Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. had a voice, all had a vote, and all abided tured board of directors. The need for a by the rules that governed them. This more organized effort resulted in AIDS Rochester becoming incorporated as a example of integrating diverse peoples I knew nothing about my family. No into a unified whole has influenced the not-for-profit organization and a search Growing Up for a part-time or possibly a full time exec- one spoke about anything German, the U.S. Constitution. OMA war or the aftermath. Now, of course, I Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, utive director. In the meantime information about By Eric Bellmann realize Oma had lived through not one Emma Goldman, Walter Rauschenbush but two world wars. She and her family and more embraced this legacy of inclu- AIDS and related issues was provided by As life evolves, trained peer counselors that staffed the one looks around, lived through the fire bombing that dev- sion, equality and justice, and brought astated Dresden, then through Russian about a diverse community that thrived Gay Alliance office. Written information perhaps back in was available at the Gay Alliance. A small time, in search occupation. I know she was permitted because of it. Onto this 20th century to continue living in her partially ruined “stage” walks “a giant” in our midst – Sue information card was printed with local for that most pre- resource information and made available cious commod- home, but only in the kitchen, which was Cowell. Her belief in equality and justice large enough to serve as a cramped apart- for ALL has always been a driving force at local gay businesses and the Gay Alli- ity: unconditional ance. The fundraising efforts resulted in love. Only now do ment. in her life. Oma was not the only refugee to arrive When AIDS began to affect the Roch- donations to the Infectious Disease Unit I appreciate and at Strong, Gay Men’s Health Crisis in value beyond words the deep bond that in America. Friends, the Staubs, had ester community, Sue Cowell proposed their grandmother as well, she was called a committee be formed called AIDS/ New York, and local AIDS patients. can exist between grandparent and grand- In September 1983 the CDC issued child. That it exists when there is no com- Mutti, German for mother. Oma and Rochester, that would be a committee Mutti became friends. Oma learned the of the Board of the Gay Alliance of the precautions for healthcare workers and mon language seems astonishing, yet it allied health professionals regarding expo- happened to me. bus route to Mutti’s house. Survivors of Genesee Valley. In an interview with The the unspeakable, they no doubt consoled Empty Closet in May 1983, by Steve Pic- sure to AIDS. The cause of AIDS was still Oma. That is all I ever called her, the unknown, but it seemed more and more German word for grandmother. I thought one another, considered their life now in a chi, Sue said the committee should con- foreign country. sist of health professionals and lay people likely that transmission occurred through that was her name. She was Anna Sara intimate sexual contact, contaminated Lehmann. She came to America to live One vivid memory I have of child- in the community who were interested hood is standing in our living room at in addressing different areas around the needles, or percutaneous inoculation of with us when I was in elementary school. infectious blood or blood products. Oma was born in Dresden, Germany the window, watching the bus stop at the issue of AIDS. At the time Sue saw several corner, waiting for Oma, fearing she was needs: education for the general popula- In 1983, Jackie Nudd was elected pres- in 1880. She died at 81, in 1961, having ident of the Gay Alliance Board. It would returned to Dresden, which was then East never coming back. The tears rolled down tion, and the health care professionals; my face until, finally, I saw her. I recall research to find out about AIDS; political not be long before Jackie would be hired Germany and under communist rule. as the first Executive Director of AID- Oma had four children: Charlotte, those moments as one of the most terrify- action to mobilize governmental agencies ing I have ever known. to respond to the legal and social issues; SRochester. Sue Cowell, Alan Davidson, known as Lotte, Joanna, Max (called Tom Rush, Roy Steigbigel, Tim Sally and Heinz) and Gertrude, the youngest, my Oma and her daughter, my mother, fundraising to support these efforts. did not get along. There was a problem She said that you need the health pro- Jackie Nudd are only a few of the coura- mother. geous Shoulders upon which our commu- In 1950, as best as I can recall, my that no one ever explained. Years later I fessionals to handle the education part. learned that my mother came to live in You need the grassroots people to do the nity response today stands. Shoulders To mother and I took the train to New York Stand On is awed, humbled, grateful and City to meet the boat that brought my the States after she had been involved in a fundraising, and you need everybody to scandal that her family regarded as unfor- grease the wheels of the political machine. proud of the grass roots efforts of so many grandmother to the . She caring individuals to fight AIDS and care lived with us for five years before she givable. The only recourse was for her to You need the cooperation of everybody leave, to emigrate, to begin again far away. for the research because you need the for its victims here in Rochester. The story returned to her homeland. Years later I of AIDS Rochester and the history of the understood she had not been happy here. Eventually she created a new life here, involvement of the gay community. Sue with a man she married and ultimately made it clear that researchers could not AIDS epidemic will continue in the next My grandmother did not learn to issue of The Empty Closet. speak English. I spoke no German. In with the daughter who had been born out do it without the community’s help. Peo- of wedlock, the genesis of the scandal. ple were needed to act as liaisons for gay memory I understand that she was my History Corner caretaker, waiting for me when I came That is how I, the second child, born 15 closeted health professionals to come out years later, came to be an American. and get involved. The spectre of AIDS home from school, keeping me company A Monthly Newspaper of The Gay until my mother came home from work. I was a quiet child, an unhappy ado- was terrifying! Sue said people can deny Brotherhood of Rochester, NY, 713 Mon- lescent. I kept to myself. Each section of all they want, but it was going to be a big I have inherited a sheaf of documents roe Avenue, Room 4, Rochester, NY that catalog my family history: birth cer- life, as I passed through it, was sealed off, challenge in the eighties to come up with l4607, (716) 244-8640. hopefully forgotten. Time has been kind. I answers. tificates, baptisms, school records, wed- August, 1975 No. 52 ding announcements, the stack is thick. think reading helped. I understood things In response to Picci’s inquiry regard- FOCUS through literature that I could not fathom ing AIDS being neglected by the Federal I did not ask for nor want all these Page 1 focuses on failure of the sod- papers. Germans, history has revealed, through human relationships. Ultimately government because it was gay related, omy repeal bill in this year’s NY Assem- I wanted to know more, to understand, to Sue said AIDS was not being neglected place value on documentation; they’re bly, and the beginning of the organized known for meticulous record keeping. find acceptance. No one really wants to be 100 percent, but the effort was not there effort against gay rights. An editorial (p 4) alone. That is a false security. to the degree needed. Near the end of her life, my mother discusses on Assemblyman who promised became obsessed, or so it seemed to me, I wish I had known more about my On May 1, 1983 the Rochester LGBT support at election time, butvoted “No” Grandmother, had been able to ask ques- community rose to the occasion again. with gathering all these papers which in anyway. On the bright side, 3 area Assem- some sad way formed a link with a happier tions. What were their lives like? And, oh Alan Davidson, Don Scalea (who was blymen supported sodomy repeal more yes, what did they know? affiliated with Strong), Sue Cowell and past, her early life. Then they came to me, than ever before. Five people in four cases the last of our family line. Weirdly enough, as I began to consid- Tim Sally planned one of the first fund- are challenging the anti-gay policies of er my differentness, that thing that then raisers in Rochester, held at Friar’s on May I did not like being German. I grew up the military and the D&C lends editorial in an American culture after World War had no name, which became my essence, 1 to raise money to create awareness and support for gays in the military (p4). On my queerness, I found in the local branch educate the community about AIDS. Dr. II, where being German was not a good the social side, there’s a picnic (back cover) thing. Germans were the villains in mov- library the early memoirs of Jewish chil- Tom Rush, and Sue Cowell were available and a harpsichord concert. pg 9. David dren and I, in childlike fashion, identified at the event for people to talk to. Every- ies, comic books, in playground games. Klaus reports on Shirley 9 Company and In grade school, when confronted by my with those who were different, those who thing was donated, and $2100 was raised. various parties. Lamont Downs writes his were persecuted, Jews. Ramon Santiago created the poster for peers, I claimed to be Spanish. eye-witness account of June’s Gay Pride But every day I returned home to Were there Nazis in my family? Maybe. the event. March in NYC (p9). No one asked, no one told. A.I.D.S. ROCHESTER began as Oma. I don’t know what she thought Do you want to read this issue of the or what she did while I was at school. I As time passed I became more of who an ad hoc committee of several local gay Empty Closet? I am today. Educated, blasé, with accom- activists including Alan Davidson, Tim believe she was very lonely. Once home Here is the link: http://www.library. we sat mostly in silence in the kitchen. plishments and aches to occupy my mind. Sally, Tim Tompkins, Sue Cowell and rochester.edu/rbscp/EmptyCloset Once, visiting my sister, fifteen years my others, who were concerned about AIDS My grandmother liked to sew. She made On that page click on: Browse the many of her own clothes not with a elder, I thought I would treat her and take and the effects on the gay community. Empty Closet issues, Go to 1975 – August her to see the current, wonderful film, The major catalyst for uniting people was machine, but by hand. GAY BROTHERHOOD MEET- What I remember and treasure is that “Cabaret”, so stylish, so well done. When the development of the AIDS Screen- INGS the kids in the country began to sing, the ing Clinic at Strong Memorial Hospital she sewed marvelous clothes for my doll, SUN. 3 AUGUST: GAY HEALTH the very doll that marked me as different. kids in the brown shirts, the kids who in September of 1982. Dr. Tom Rush SUN. 10 AUGUST: PSYCHO-DRA- were part of the youth group that would of the Infectious Disease Unit at Strong I treasured that doll as much as I loved MA/IMPROVISATIONS our three cats. To my everlasting regret, become Nazis, my sister, who had spent approached Sue Cowell, nurse practitioner SUN. 17 AUGUST: GAY BUSI- the first ten years of her life living with and member of the Gay Alliance, about in ninth grade, entering the more adult NESSES world of high school, and as my shame Oma in an idyllic Germany – the 1930s developing the clinic with the input of the SUN. 24 AUGUST: COFFEE -- became so agitated, so distraught, that local gay community. The purpose of the deepened for playing with a doll, I placed HOUSE, informal evening her along with all her clothing, those gor- she fled the theater. clinic was to screen gay males for signs of SUN. 31 AUGUST: BUSINESS I was dumbfounded. It was one of AIDS and provide information about the geous hand-stitched coats and dresses, MEETING, open to all ■ into the blazing furnace in an attempt the cruelest things I’d ever done, unwit- symptoms. The clinic was discontinued tingly, without any sense of her awareness in April 1983 when Dr. Tom Rush and to purge my guilt over being who I was. I would give anything to have those doll of history. Confounded by the silence of Dr. Roy Steigbigel decided to take new my grief stricken, shame-ridden family, positions in Infectious Diseases at Stony clothes back again. AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 23

I’ve spent a significant portion of my life ing poking without peeking. dren about the joys of self-pleasuring. (Go looking for causes and considering their Celebrating our Clitoris Liberation inside and play with your Self.) effects, how it came to be the way it was. and spreading the word to the masses, we We all can start to talk: I have been plagued with loneliness and will wear Sophia Wallace’s clit-friendly Let’s fill the airwaves with information isolation, no sense of trust and a fear that t-shirts to bed, beach, and beyond. about the clitoris, demanding equal time I will be abandoned. They say there is Also once upon a 19th century time, with Erectile Dysfunction. no cure for this. Then I recall my grand- ecclesiastically and medically endorsed Let our voices shout the truth… mother Oma, who loved me uncondition- sexism ruled: orgasmic masturbation by Genital Mutilation is a crime, not ally, and I know better. It is possible to girls was a “medical problem”. (Boys never “female circumcision”. stop believing in lies. experienced Masturbation Intervention.) “You made me realize that, if the Email: [email protected] Correction/treatment: a girl’s clitoris was Dutch word for the labia is translated lit- amputated or cauterized; her vaginal lips erally into English, it would be ‘shame were sewed closed; her ovaries were surgi- lips.’ !!!” Cleaning My Closet toris’ to view the original meaning (and cally removal (castration). Non-invasive Originally a Greek word, Kleitoris, LET’S TALK preferred pronunciation — tho’ I cannot option: a girl was forced to wear a minia- meant “divine, famous, Goddess like.” think of a single instance arising where ture chastity belt. [Probably pink.] START TODAY! Join our Clitoris By Meredith I would actually need to pronounce the Well, phew, that was over There, in Liberation Club. Buy a membership ring. Elizabeth word) and discovered that it is derived Their Old Days, surely. But wait. 1948, Send in one box top from granola bars Reiniger from the Greek word for hill. So, there USA: a clitoridectomy was performed and real money and you can own a gold Tinkle-ring- you have it: more clitoracy!” on a five-year-old girl to stop her from or sterling silver Clitoring, an anatomi- ring. Summers The end. Or so I thought. Honestly, exploring her genital region. OK, phew, cally correct finger sculpture (penelopii- of yester-years. I had intended, for my August column, that was in The Old, Old Days, surely. jones.com). Whether fantasy or to examine the trend of contemporary But wait. 1976: The Catholic Church Flash that ring. Your Clitoring will fact, I remember stealth mosquitoes who do not buzz like defined female masturbation as “a grave absolutely start a clitoris conversation. that My Kidhood the marauding maniacs of My Old Days. moral disorder.” Male masturbation was [email protected] Days were calmer, But I rejected that topic… for what rea- not labeled. safer, more sweetly fun than childhoods son? I can’t put my finger on it, but my Time has passed. Today many of Faith Matters during this twenty-first century. clitoris has won my full attention. us can easily find the gift of realities In my good-old-days, our Skippy ice Actually, my curiosity was aroused about our own clitorises. But we can also THE WELCOME CHALLENGES cream provider (always a male) peddled when one of my faithful readers queried: become increasingly aware of current hor- OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY his wonderful white refrigerator slowly “What will the follow-up column tell rors. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) down our streets. His manual bell Peter us???” Good question. is a worldwide problem. Solutions are By Rev. Irene Piper-ed across grassy lawns, onto front This is a call for Clitoris Liberation: we being offered at a not-for profit hospital Monroe porches, into backyards. Magically, jin- will share True Facts with our sisters; give in Burkina Faso (where 72.5 percent of For some time gled coins, clutched in sweaty little hands, our self and other friends the empower- are FGM victims), staffed by vol- now, my spouse and swarmed down hot sidewalks. After Mr. ing book . . . O WOW: Discovering Your unteer doctors who perform restorative I have been bicker- Marvelous stretched down to cold depths Ultimate Orgasm. Then we will initiate surgery to relieve the constant pain and ing over where we of delight, ice vapors twirled around our an O WOW book talk. to return pleasure options for victims of should live in our cherry popsicles. We will expose Realities and FGM (Clitoraid.com). Perhaps, through retirement years. Speaking of c-l-i-t-o-r-i-s, do you pre- Lies. Here are more Historical Horrif- donations, we might ‘adopt a clitoris’… She, being a child fer to say “cli-tor-is” or “clit-or-is”? Have ics. (I consulted a bountiful web source “Give someone you’ve never met a gift she from the South, you uttered that Clitoris Word aloud kindly shared by a cis male friend, senior will never forget.” and me, being from the North, well, we since you read July’s Ilcliteracy? Googled citizen, Advocate.) And we can educate those closer to have our tensions. I have jokingly dubbed “clitoris”? Have you thrashed out details Once upon a 19th century time, The home. Clitoris Liberation actions: One them our “Mason-Dixon line feud.” of Clitoris Conspiracies while swallowing Church convinced conventional/male of us will write a children’s book, Fin- We are not stretching our imagina- CockTales? doctors that no virtuous woman would gers in Wonderland. One clitoris bearer tions much to feel some of the same con- In a merry sort of way, (two months even have a clitoris. Thus double-teamed, will design coloring books (age-specific, cerns our enslaved ancestors must have ago, prior to Ilcliteracy’s publication) I never-to-be-naked wives consented to for toddler to teeter-er.) People joining encountered as they considered the free had contacted my Column Share group: wear bulky nightgowns with a handy Friends of Clitoris Liberation will edu- states up North. “I would appreciate it if you would sketch hole, cut out at the genital area, facilitat- cate their girl children and their boy chil- My spouse is tied to the weather of the a picture of a clitoris and send it to South — a moist, subtropical climate with me. You may sign the drawing or not; sultry summers. I like the four seasons of label or not your gender, age, profession, the North, but could live in autumn all , questions, statements.” I year round. call that Crowd Finding, a bold request During particularly heated battles, I for column ideas. have questioned if her desire to live in A 78-year-old Advocate (cis female) Georgia was worth living in a state that responded: “Easy would not be sketching didn’t recognize our marriage. Our mar- a picture of the clitoris. I did find a web riage would be de facto dissolved. site with a picture of the clitoris which Our ongoing exhaustive argument may or may not be a good drawing. How- gained a new complication (in my mind, ever, you have already proved your point at least) with last month’s historic Supreme to me: who knows what the clitoris looks Court ruling — Obergefell v. Hodge — like and who knows much information that legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 about that part of our body?” states. From a middle-ish-aged, now single, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy was once lesbian: “Hell, it’s been so long since I’ve again the swing vote on this tough rul- seen one I can barely remember :)” ing. Kennedy wrote all recent decisions “I must say, you’ve given me some protecting LGBTQ rights, including the interesting research =)… .I was thinking 2003 Lawrence v. Texas — which struck I would be one of your few friends that down sodomy laws that targeted gay men; would have it so-called-right, being an and the 2013 US v. Windsor — recog- anatomy and physiology prof and all….” nizing and providing federal benefits to So the good professor began her same-sex married couple in states where search. “At first I thought WHAT?! Does their marriages were legal. His argument my anatomy book not show this cor- last week was Loving v. Virginia (1967) rectly?” She explained her findings to me, redux, showing how these two historic offering many polysyllabic specifics. Then struggles for marriage equality are inter- she noted, “There appears to be some con- connected. troversy.” Apparently science, like society, Of course, I applaud the Supreme has ideas that are not universally agreed Court’s decision. It would have been both upon. wrong-hearted and wrong-headed to rule Well, not a single picture was sub- otherwise. mitted, but after that clitoris column hit But with victory comes backlash. This the newsstands, conversations around our change in law will not come easy. A move- crayon table were powerful. And readers’ ment is already afoot with a 50-state plan responses were interesting: to pass “Religious Freedom Restoration” “And isn’t it strange that women know acts to roll back progress. less about their clitoris than any other As the country battles this issue on a part of their anatomy? Well, maybe there new front, we should hold on to Thomas are many of us who know little about Jefferson’s words about how change is what the heart looks like, the kidneys required for progress: etc. etc., but we have no trouble finding “I am not an advocate for frequent pics of those two body parts. Further, we changes in laws and constitutions. But... undoubtedly would not be embarrassed laws and institutions must go hand in to admit we went looking online for a pic- hand with the progress of the human ture of our adrenal glands.” mind. As that becomes more developed, “Oh my… At this moment, I (and more enlightened, as new discoveries are probably my clitoris) am speechless, but made, new truths disclosed, and manners certainly enlightened with clitorial details and opinions change with the change of and history. Ever the wonderer about ety- circumstances, institutions must advance mology, I opened my Webster’s… to ‘cli- 24 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015 also, and keep pace with the times.” Patterson, Stephen King, Janet Evanov- Onward to new beginnings, fresh per- mouth, but it took long enough. Same-sex marriage is of our times. ich and Clive Cussler. Their only press- spectives, and expanded scope of vision! With that being said, and ignoring the And it’s democracy at its best. ing daily appointment seems to be to get fact that we LGBT individuals have many I understand democracy to be an back to their apartment every evening by Being Well more battles to wage other than marriage ongoing process, where people are part 7 p.m. to see Wheel of Fortune. equality, I would like to address a grow- of a participatory government working I stopped by to visit one afternoon. My COUNSELING 102 ing concern I have. My concern is what to dismantle all existing discriminatory mother informed me that I’m giving her a By John Aceto, will now happen to all the gay people who laws truncating their full participation in ride to her dentist appointment next week. LMHC do not want to get married, or the LGBT society. “Shouldn’t you ask, rather than tell,” Now that I’ve youth entering adolescence in an environ- But democracy can only begin to work I reminded her. “I’m busy too. There’s a written about what ment that accepts same-sex marriage. when those relegated to the fringes of soci- whole world going on outside of this cen- therapy is about Will marriage, as it seems to be for ety can sample what those in society take ter, you know.” and how it can straight individuals, become the expected for granted as their inalienable rights. The “Oh, don’t remind me.” She held up help, I’ll turn to and proscribed trajectory for all gay peo- right to marry regardless of a couple’s sex- her hands in defense. “People are shoot- the different kinds ple? Will we now suspiciously regard our ual orientation or gender identity is now ing each other, the ocean is being filled of therapy used by single LGBT brothers and sisters as poten- one of them. How wonderful to know with poison, the Civil War has been over practitioners. And tial threats to our own happiness, or even that a same-sex couple in Mississippi has for 150 years, but they’re still arguing there are several different professions who worse, will we greet them with pity? the same right to marry as someone here about the confederate flag and now Don- practice therapy: mental health coun- I would not be truly honest with my in Massachusetts. ald Trump is trying to be President. No selors, social workers, psychiatrists, psy- readers if I said that I have memories of Back to the challenge in my home: My thanks. I want nothing to do with the chologists, nurse practitioners to name the planning my wedding as a child. If any- spouse is all smiles now with this new rul- world outside.” most common. thing, I had fantasies about raising chil- ing. She has been doing what I call “nicey Okay, so I still say my mother is crazy, Practitioners of talk therapy utilize dif- dren and having a well-to-do family, but nicey,” which is her way of using charm but maybe, just maybe I can see a little ferent means and philosophical approach- not necessarily any fantasies about mar- to wear down my recalcitrant stance on more sense to her over-involvement with es, so when choosing a therapist it is wise riage or an actual wedding ceremony. I issues. ceramics classes and sing-a-longs and wine to ask what type of therapeutic model is don’t think this was because I believed in In celebration of Obergefell v. Hodge tastings. The outside world that’s suppos- used. There are way too many therapeutic some way that I would not be able to get we went out for drinks at Legal Sea Foods edly passing her by ain’t so perfect either. models to explore in full in this column, married due to being gay – I just don’t in Harvard Square. While enjoying the I don’t know if I’ll be one of the elders so I’ll break them down into categories. think I’m the marrying kind. evening summer breeze, my spouse said who is respected and revered; I’ll prob- The most well known is probably psy- At least for now. we could have this experience all year if ably be more annoying and aggravating choanalysis, since it has been around the But I do wonder, if I had grown up we moved to a milder climate. like my mother, but I do have to admit, longest (I think!). Originally developed by in an environment where the idea of I snapped back and said, “I ain’t mov- those Wednesday wine tastings do look Sigmund Freud, this approach is based on same-sex marriage was, in a way, old hat ing to Georgia!” kind of fun! an individual’s unconscious thoughts and – would I have planned and fantasized And that’s what marriage equality Contact David at [email protected] perceptions that have developed through- differently? Would I be desperately seek- looks like. out their life, and how they affect current ing a partner, now that I am in my late Queerspace behaviors. There are also a lot of theories twenties, or would I have ended up in the same exact place I am today? If the pos- A Few Bricks Short CHANGES on psychosexual stages of development SENIOR CARE here. Psychodynamic and Jungian thera- sibility of happiness with someone else By Laine DeLaney pies sprang from this well. The process seemed more attainable to me, would I By David Hull So this month’s is often long and can take several years work harder? In some cultures column is going to to accomplish. Though it seems that not I was recently privy to the planning of of the world they be a bit short. There many therapists practice it en masse any a dear friend’s wedding and, although I revere and respect are some chang- longer, it forms the basis for most talk could clearly see how happy both parties the elderly. Senior es going on in my therapies. felt, I wondered if this planning would citizens are tender- life and there will Cognitive and Behavioral therapies have the same effect on me. Sure, making ly cared for by the be some changes were originated in the 1950s-60s by pio- a commitment to someone until the end family and honored in this column to neers Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis respec- of time in front of all of my loved ones for sharing their reflect that. tively. These focus on the way you think sounds great, but will this truly be the knowledge and wis- First, on a personal note, many of you (cognition) and the way you behave. There “happiest moment of my life” as it is so dom with younger generations. know that I’ve moved back from Roches- is recognition that people can change their commonly portrayed? While in other cultures, people aban- ter to Buffalo. What a lot of folks may not thoughts or behaviors to overcome spe- My concern is especially strong for doned the elderly and infirm; leaving know is that I’m planning on moving out cific problems. Today dialectical behav- those young LGBT kids who may be told them alone to meet their demise – accept- to San Diego next. I have a plane ticket for ioral therapy is all the rage, used to treat both directly and indirectly to “marry or ing death as a natural and customary part September 15. Fear not, I’ll keep writing emotional dysregulation, chronic suicidal be alone forever”, now that same-sex mar- of life. for The Empty Closet as long as I can; this thoughts, and self-mutilation, complete riage has been legalized across the coun- In my family, the elderly – my parents, publication is still dear to my heart. with homework assignments. try. So many times have I witnessed the I mean, not me, not yet anyway – are I’ve come to realize recently that there The Humanistic approaches encom- winces and quick polite smiles of those residing at a climate-controlled, security are a lot more facets of experience that I pass, Gestalt, Reality and Existential and asked by their relatives, “Have you found monitored assisted living center with a want to write about. The recent Supreme Person-centered and Solution focused that special someone, yet?” I was glad that cable TV and internet accessibility and a Court ruling is a constant reminder of my therapies, among others. These thera- at least being gay gave my extended family private bus service. No “being abandoned sexuality, especially when people speak of pies focus on self-development, personal members reason to steer clear of the topic to their own demise” for them! “gay” marriage, and talk about how gay growth and responsibilities. They help of marriage – they never asked me why I Honestly, I never really cared about couples are getting married all the time people to recognize their strengths and was essentially alone, or whether or not it how other cultures cared for their elderly; now. This is worthy of celebration, but focus on the “here and now”, kind of the was my choice. since I was young and healthy, it didn’t reminded me that bisexual and pansexual opposite of psychoanalysis. Gestalt thera- I am, of course, forever grateful to interest me. But things are changing and people now also have the right to marry py’s mantra, coined by Fritz Perls, is “the now have the right and legal recognition thanks to carpal tunnel and arthritic their same-sex partners – and discussing past is gone, the future is not yet, all we to marry whomever I like, however the knees, I’m frequently reminded I am not and being public about that is something have is the now”. subsequent expectation to marry is not so young anymore. What does the future that has reminded me that there’s a lot of So that’s the dollar store tour of thera- appreciated. I wonder how many of us look like for me? bi/pan erasure and phobia going on still pies, which by no means is complete. have gotten married only to regret it later Sometimes my mother gives me a little too. There are many therapists that subscribe – how many of us have married because glimpse into what may be the future. I’m also polyamorous, and consider to a specific mode of treatment. Oth- it was what we thought we ought to do? She calls me to refill the hummingbird being poly or mono as a genuine and ers are more eclectic, taking from several I believe in traditional marriage – that feeder outside their apartment window. important part of a person’s sexuality. I’d models to complement their own personal two people marry when they love, respect My mother calls when they run low on like to explore and discuss that as well as style. I tend to use a blend of cognitive/ and honor each other, regardless of gen- diet Coke in their refrigerator. She calls a social issue and component of sexuality. behavioral and humanistic approaches, as der. With the strikingly high and ever- me when they need more Werther’s Orig- The concept of “queer space” has been I see them as more innovative and helpful growing number of marriages that end inal Caramels in their candy dish. One one that’s been very valuable to me on my developing the therapeutic relationship in divorce, I’d venture to guess that these time she called to complain that I brought journey. Finding spaces – especially Gene- between counselor and consumer. people may have bought into that notion her vanilla ice cream, but no chocolate see Valley Gender Variants – that resonate As always, if you have any questions con- that “we marry because we ought to” and sauce. “What am I supposed to do with with that feel of queer space, of a place tact me at [email protected] not “we marry because we want to.” vanilla ice cream and no chocolate sauce?” where people of incredibly diverse expres- But who am I to say that? After all I When my mother was younger, she sions of sexuality and gender can com- What’s Bothering am sitting here writing, alone. used to say that when she became old and fortably ignore or delight in each other’s It took Kate Middleton over three elderly, she just wanted to be left alone in identities but in any case simply treat each Brandon? minutes to walk down the aisle to Prince the woods to die so she wouldn’t become other as people. SOMETHING BORROWED, William. I wonder how long it will take LGBT individuals to follow suit, or rath- a burden to her children. So, in keeping with my desire to SOMETHING BLUE “Hey, Mom,” I ask when she calls expand the breadth of the column to not- er, morning dress. me with another request. “How would just-trans issues of identity, I’ve decided By Brandon W. Questions, comments or critique? Feel you like to go for a long nice walk in the free to e-mail the author at: to change the title to Queerspace. I know Brooks ■ woods?” there are those for whom the word Queer As I sit here writ- [email protected] My mother, as oblivious as always, has very negative connotations, and my ing this month’s responded: “Oh, I can’t today, dear, your apologies to those that it may upset. article in my non- father and I are going to the piano sing- There is a vibrancy, open-mindedness and brownstone apart- a-long in the activities room at 2 o’clock.” enthusiasm in modern Queer culture that ment that is not Their busy days are filled with Bingo I identify strongly with and that’s some- located in Manhat- games, ceramic classes and Wednesday thing that I’d like to try and express in my tan, I contemplate wine tastings. Their meals are served in writings and column. my own romantic a dining hall with tablecloths, an aide So I’ve thrown some words around future in an America that now allows and makes their beds every morning and there here, and next month I’ll provide defini- recognizes same-sex marriage nationwide. is a library stocked with authors like James tions and experiences to go with them. I don’t mean to look a gift horse in the AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 25 Community Find the friends, fun, and common interests you’re looking for through the various groups listed here.

DIGNITY-INTEGRITY merville Grill on St. Paul; Aug. 19, Carra- to support Dwayne’s House, which pro- free parking in front and to the side of bba’s on W. Hen; Aug. 26, Winfield Grill vides clothing and monetary assistance to our building. For updated information on Since March 1975, Dignity-Integri- on N. Winton; Sept. 2, Tap and Mallot homeless LGBTQ youth in Jamaica. We coming events and to view our facilities, ty Rochester has been welcoming all on Gregory. help fund the work of our pastor emeri- check our website: openarmsmcc.org. Our who come through our doors, worshiping Jones Pond and Hillside both have lots tus, Jim Mulcahy, who ministers to our lay pastoral leader, Brae Adams, has office every week at 5 p.m. at St. Luke’s and St. of great weekends coming up in August LGBTQ siblings in Eastern Europe. We hours by appointment. You can also reach Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St., at the and September. Members are regulars at also collect the change from our pockets us by phone at (585) 271-8478. corner of Broad St. We have the follow- both campgrounds, and can help you have during our services for the DUO fund ing services and activities for the month a great weekend. Aggy Dune and Dari- (Do Unto Others). We use this fund to of August 2015. enne Lake perform frequently at Jones assist people in our neighborhood with ROMANS 1st Sunday: Episcopal Mass, quiet Pond. It’s a great show. The pool is heated; urgent housing, medical, food or trans- Members of the Rochester Male 2nd Sunday: Roman Catholic Liturgy the café serves great meals, and the dances portation needs. Naturists (ROMANS) are excited about of the Word, with music are great. Come on down! Our emergency food shelf is stocked the upcoming gay nude camp happen- 3rd Sunday: Episcopal Mass/Healing with items for neighbors who stop in look- ing towards the end of August and tak- Service, with music OPEN ARMS MCC ing for emergency supplies. This includes ing place at a beautiful campsite in the 4th Sunday: Roman Catholic Prayers toiletries, paper goods and non-perishable Pocono mountains. to start the week, followed by pot luck Open Arms MCC is Beyond Open foods. We also some clothing available -- Members can stay up to 10 days at the 5th Sunday: Prayers to start the week and Affirming…Beyond Welcoming. We socks, shoes, sneakers and shirts. campground living au naturel 24 hours a The theme for the August potluck is are a church for ALL. We host numerous community groups day with a few hundred naked men. We “Farm Fresh Foods”. Support your favor- Our 10:30 Sunday morning service in our Community Center: AFTY (Adult eat, exercise, sleep, swim, dance and watch ite farmers market and bring your favor- is a celebration that blends traditional Families with Trans Youth) meets the shows in our birthday suits, requiring ite dish based on the foods of the season! and contemporary worship styles. Brae first Tuesday of each month from 5:30- only a towel or sarong to sit on and plen- No opportunity to cook or shop? Don’t Adams, our lay pastoral leader, delivers an 6:30 p.m.; SAGE Rochester (ages 50+) ty of suntan lotion. There are also vari- worry, there is always enough to share. In inspirational message that connects the meets at 11:30 on Tuesdays and Thurs- ous workshops, yoga classes and practical fact, tradition has it that when we aren’t scriptures with everyday life. days; PFLAG (Parents, Friends and demonstrations to fulfill everyone’s taste cooking up a potluck supper on the Children are invited to participate in Family of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, and and interest. fourth Sunday, we’re gathering for fellow- our Children’s Moment. During the sum- Questioning) meets on the third Sun- This is one of the biggest events for ship around a tasty coffee hour and going mer when Sunday school is not in session, day of each month at 1 p.m.; and TAGR male nudists in the nation and hap- out to a local restaurant for dinner each they may then play quietly in an area (Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester) pening so close to home for us living in Sunday. Join us anytime! of the sanctuary that is equipped with meets at 3 on the second and fourth Sat- the northeast. It’s a life changing experi- DON’T MISS THIS EVENT… appropriate activities, allowing parents urdays of the month. Our facilities are ence for many first timers and an annual AUGUST 15! The FABULOUS 40th to participate in the rest of the service. available for rental by any community ritual or pilgrimage for other gay and gay- REUNION PICNIC is going to be great Following the service, all are welcome to groups needing a safe and flexible meet- friendly nudists. To find out more about and you won’t want to miss it! If you sent have coffee, snacks and conversation in ing space. this gay nude camp, please contact the us a way to contact you, we’ve already sent the Community Center. Our Adult Sun- Open Arms MCC is committed to ROMANS via email at wnyromans@ out the invitations. Didn’t get an invita- day School is off for the summer and will Building Bridges and Changing Lives. yahoo.com or call us at our message line tion? There’s a bit of time (RSVP due resume in September. You are welcome, regardless of your sex- 585-281-4964. Aug. 8) so hurry if you want to be a part We have now reached a point where ual orientation, gender identity or gen- ROMANS is a social club for gay and of the celebration! Send us your current our community garden is giving back to der expression, or religious beliefs. We gay-friendly male nudists over 21. More contact information via our email, info@ us. This is a “salad garden” and we have are located at 707 East Main St., across information about the club can be found di-rochester.org, or write to us directly at lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, from the Delta Sonic. There is plenty of at our website at www.wnyromans.com. ■ 17 S. Fitzhugh St., Rochester 14614 so we etc. Congregants are encouraged to pick can be sure to send you an invitation! whatever is ready. Bring a bag and help Looking ahead to September, be sure yourself eat healthier! to mark Sunday, Sept. 6 so you can join Our garage sale was a big success! us for our annual Labor Day Picnic and Many thanks to everyone who donated Eucharist at our friends’ home in Lima. items, set up the tent, hauled tables, came This will replace the service at church. “bright and early” Friday and Saturday We’ll also celebrate our 40th anniver- to set up, worked the sale, and helped sary with an Episcopal Mass on Sunday, with clean-up: you are a blessing to Open Sept. 27. Arms. Special kudos to BJ and Donna You can call the Hotline at 585-234- Dehmler, who hosted the sale and worked 5092 or check our website at www.di- tirelessly setting up, organizing, providing rochester.org/ for updates on services and food and wrapping up loose ends when activities. the sale was done. We have begun several recycling proj- EMPIRE BEARS ects. We have a bin in the Community Center for collecting electronics recycla- It has been a great summer. The bles such as: empty ink cartridges, empty BEARS have been to Gay Pride in Buf- toner cartridges, and cell phones, chargers, falo and Rochester. Members have been batteries, or cords. We are also recycling at Bear Week in P-Town. And of course, scrap metal through Metallico Rochester. we’ve done Bear Weekends at Jones Pond Congregants, neighbors and friends can and Hillside. drop off recyclable metal, mention that it In town, we meet for supper every is for the Open Arms MCC account and Wednesday night at 6. Aug. 5, South the proceeds will come to us. Wedge Diner on Clinton; Aug. 12, Sum- Our Social Justice Team continues

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up lounge – will be back as well, complete with fire pit, eclectic furniture, art and lighting, bar and food trucks. Free enter- tainment will include the return of Pedes- Arts & Entertainment trian Drive-In (free, outdoor movies using Silent Disco headphones). Ticketed, site- specific shows will include the return of Dashboard Dramas (taking place in four Fringe Festival parked cars) and Bushwacked (happening in a pup tent), as well as a new addition: announces next month’s Hot Tub: The Musical. “unordinary” lineup Luke Kempner’s award-winning The fourth First Niagara Rochester impressions comedy, Upside Downton, Fringe Festival (Thursday, Sept. 17 – Sat- comes to Rochester direct from London’s urday, Sept. 26) announced its complete West End. In this hilarious parody, he lineup on July 14 at The Little Theatre. The recreates more than 30 Downton Abbey 2015 Fringe will include more than 500 per- and celebrity characters. The London formances and events (up from 2014’s 380) Daily Telegraph called it a “remarkable featuring all genres of art in 25+ venues in tour de force.” Performances are Friday , with more than 120 and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. of them offered free of charge. in Kilbourn Hall. The full schedule is available and all Free entertainment – bands, show tickets are on sale at rochesterfringe.com. highlights, Chalk Art, food and bever- This year’s Fringe is calling itself age vendors, street entertainers, etc. – will “unordinary,” and in that spirit, has com- take place on Gibbs Street for two week- missioned ’s Rimini Protokoll – ends this year for the first time: Saturday a ground-breaking, award-winning, (3-11 p.m.) and Sunday (1-7 p.m.), Sept. site-specific theatre company – to pro- 19 and 20 and Friday (5-11 p.m.) and Sat- duce its international hit, Remote X, for urday (3-11 p.m.), Sept. 25 & 26. Rochester – only the second U.S. city to While the Fringe curates the above host the show. The first took place in New headliners as well as all free outdoor enter- York City this past March – although tainment, the vast majority of its 500+ it has been produced in 17 major cities performances and events are productions around the world, including Paris, Milan, that were submitted by artists to ven- Lisbon and St. Petersburg. This “pedes- ues by April 22, 2015, and then chosen trian-based, live art experience” takes to be presented at Fringe by those ven- 50 people (or “horde,” as the show calls ues. Rochester’s “bifurcated” Fringe adds them) wearing headphones along a care- four new venues this year: Abilene, The fully planned urban route. Remote Roch- Strong, the new Lyric Theatre, and RAPA ester will have 20 performances during at School of the Arts. the 10 days of Fringe. Ticket prices for the venue-curated “A synthetic voice in the headphones shows range from $3-$25 ($10 average), directs the movements of the horde, while set by the venues themselves. A very lim- music turns the cityscape into a per- ited number of Fringe Fanatic Passes are sonal film, composing a soundtrack to available for $190. They include all Spie- streets, parking garages, churches and geltent shows this year as well as Remote backyards,” explained Fringe Producer Rochester – only Upside Downton is not Erica Fee. “The whole idea of this unique included. BUY EARLY AND SAVE! tour is for audiences to discover new per- Spiegeltent single tickets range from $7 Kasha stars in one-woman show at JCC Aug. 1 spectives about their city, themselves, and (Brown Bag Disco) to $182 (VIP booth), increasing in price on 9/14; Remote Roch- Mrs. Kasha Davis will appear in her one-woman show, “There’s Always Time for a reality itself.” This year’s big, free headliner show at ester tickets are $25 ($28 on 9/14); Upside Cocktail,” at JCC Hart Theatre after a hit run in NYC at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Downton: $31($34 on 9/14). One night only... Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. Friday on the Fringe (Sept. 18, the sec- ond night of Fringe) in Martin Luther Tickets are also available by phone Tickets are on sale at http://www.jcccenterstage.org. at (585) 957-9837 (additional phone fees JCC says, “This is not a drag show, it is a real play. The life story of little Eddie Popil’s King, Jr. Park at Manhattan Square fea- tures NYC’s Grounded Aerial. With more apply). Tickets will be available in person transformation from a young boy in Scranton, Pa., to ‘International Celebrity Housewife, at the Spiegeltent Box Office (One Fringe Mrs. Kasha Davis,’ and a star of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Join the ultimate hostess for an eve- than 30 years of combined experience in choreographing, performing, and rig- Place, corner of Gibbs & Main Sts.) ning of music, stories and party games with a heartfelt story of love, acceptance and find- beginning Sunday, Sept. 13; and at ven- ing your own path.” ■ ging extraordinary aerial events, Ground- ed Aerial has appeared all over the world. ues (if available) starting one hour prior to performance. U.S. highlights include performances at ■ the Spiderman II release party, Lincoln More in the Sept. EC. Center, and on NBC’s America’s Got Tal- Bread & Water Theatre tury American playwrights, and Tennes- ent as well as its recent I Can Do That. see Williams’ private persona is shown to They will perform on the side of the presents five plays for have been just as fascinating as his plays in 21-story HSBC Plaza as well as on the 2015-16 season this delightful, moving, and incisive nine- park’s metal sculpture (Tribute to Man) ty-minute drama. Confessions of a Night- across the street. Artists are a peculiar lot formed in the ingale is structured as an interview with a The popular Spiegeltent returns to crucible of their time to both reflect and reporter, to whose unheard questions Wil- One Fringe Place (the festival “hub” at challenge the times they live in. Bread & liams responds directly to the audience as corner of East Main and Gibbs Streets), Water’s 2015/2016 season is dedicated to if they are doing the asking. We learn of but this year’s magical “mirror tent” is the lives of artists who have shaped the the struggles of his early years, his first The Aurora from The Netherlands. The 20th century with their daring, challeng- successes, the price of his fame and his historic treasure will leave Europe for the ing and loveable works. later years of dissolution and decline, all first time to make its US debut here, as Over the next year, Bread & Water in Williams’ delightfully witty style. (Per- well as providing more audience capac- Theatre will produce five plays as part formance dates: Nov. 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, ity than the previous Magic Crystal. of their season of shows. These shows 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 15 and 22 at 2 p.m.) Inside, two world-premiere shows will run include The Pornographer by Kirt Shine- Dog sees God: Confessions of a Teen- throughout Fringe. Both have been creat- man, The Dark Light by Mercedes de age Blockhead may remind some of the ed and will be hosted by Matt and Heidi Acosta, Confessions of a Nightingale by wonderfully loveable characters created Morgan, hosts of the world-renowned Charlotte Chandler and Ray Stricklyn, by Charles Schultz. (Performance dates: Las Vegas Spiegelworld show, Absinthe. Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage February 26, 27, March 4, 5, 11, and 12 Cabinet of Wonders celebrates the eccen- Blockhead by Bert Royal, and The Seagull at 7:30 p.m.; March 6 and 13 at 2 p.m.) tricities of life with comedy, contortion, by Anton Chekov. A daring new play is performed on the aerial, feats of strength, juggling, and a Written during a time when stories of shore of a lake. Its idealistic young author one-legged tap dancer; Princess Wendy’s Sapphic love could not be expressed on is devastated when his work is mocked by Late Nite Tease Room features a down- The cover of Melissa Etheridge’s 2015 the stage, Mercedes de Acosta crafted a family and friends. With comic brio and and-out birthday princess in a comedy album “thisisme”. taut drama of unrequited love, passion keen understanding, The Seagull explores and burlesque romp for adults. and vengeance mirroring her own love our insatiable human desire to live an Also in the Spiegeltent, comedian (and Melissa Etheridge to affairs with some of the foremost women extraordinary life. (Performance dates: former Brother Wease sidekick) Jamie perform at NY State Fair of her time. The Dark Light is set in Nor- March 17, 18, 25, 26, April 1 and 2 at 7:30 Lissow returns to the Fringe – previously on Pride Day, Aug. 28 way at the turn of the last century. Svan- p.m.; March 27 and April 3 at 2 p.m.) opening for both Patton Oswalt and Jay hild will stop at nothing to destroy her The 2015/2016 Season will be pre- Pharoah – for one show only on Saturday, Melissa Etheridge will perform on brother’s chances of success, but under- sented at 172 West Main St. running September 19 at 9:30 p.m. Silent Disco Aug. 28 in Syracuse at the New York State neath this veneer of animosity is a dark through April 3, 2016. Subscription tick- – a total sellout each year – returns at 11 Fair’s first Pride Day, Aug. 28. secret and a passionate love affair that ets range from $25-$35 and may be p.m. on both Fridays and Saturdays, as The Pride Day will include a ceremo- could destroy them both. (Performance purchased at BreadandWaterTheatre. well as its lunchtime version that debuted ny and rainbow flag raising. The concert dates: Oct.16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 at org. No patron will be turned away for last year, Brown Bag Disco, at noon on will take place in the Chevy Court. 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.) an inability to pay. For more informa- Friday, Sept. 25. Advance tickets are 40 percent off, and He was one of the great twentieth cen- tion, call (585) 271-5523. ■ The Spiegelgarden – that urban, pop- can be purchased at www.nysfair.org. ■ 28 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

Movies at a Theater “Freeheld,” directed by Peter Sol- lett, tells the true story of Laurel Hester Near You (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page). Laurel, By Merle Exit a police detective, finds out she has ter- BOULEVARD, directed by Dito minal lung cancer and seeks to leave her Montiel, was first presented at the 2014 benefits to Stacie, her partner. Tribeca Film Festival. The movie, starring Page came out shortly before filming Robin Williams, is high drama and the and spoke of her experience to Entertain- last movie that Williams made. ment Weekly earlier this year. He portrays Nolan Mack who has “To be shooting the movie so soon worked at the same bank for almost 26 after coming out was some of the most joy years in a life of monotony. He and his I’ve ever felt on a film set, which is a tricky wife Joy (Kathy Baker) have embraced thing to say because we’re telling a story their marriage as a convenient distrac- that’s incredibly tragic,” she said. tion from facing reality, each sleeping in “But the feeling of being out and play- separate rooms at this point. Then, one ing someone who’s gay, and someone day, what starts as an aimless drive down whose courage has allowed me to live my an unfamiliar boulevard turns into a life- life, that feels amazing.” altering decision for Nolan. The film will have a limited release on When he meets a troubled young male 2 October, expanding into more theaters prostitute named Leo (Roberto Aguire) Julianne Moore and Ellen Page in “Freeheld”. on 16 October. ■ on his drive home, Nolan finds himself breaking from the confines of his old bor- ing life and coming to terms with his clos- eted sexuality and determination to help the young man’s life as well. Don’t expect any humor in the film and at times it may be dragged out and boring. Do expect some fine acting from Williams and Baker and praise from the LGBT community. Boulevard will be in theatres this month. Should you be look- ing for sexual scenes? It may surprise you. STILL ALICE stars Julianne Moore. In the film, written and directed by Rich- ard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Moore portrays a renowned linguistic pro- fessor at Columbia University, Dr. Alice Howland, who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. At first Alice does not think much is wrong after having a “senior moment” and not being able to remember the right word in a conversation. Things quickly get worse, however, when during her daily jog through the campus Alice suddenly realizes she has no idea where she is. But when she has an accident at home because she cannot remember which door leads to the bathroom, she agrees to be tested for Alzheimer’s. The film focuses not only on how Alice copes with the loss of herself, but also how her family, played by Alec Bald- win, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish, deal with the realization that Alice’s memories of them will soon be gone forever. A must see movie. FRANK THE BASTARD centers around Clair Defina (Rachel Miner), a 33-year old New Yorker who returns to the childhood home she and her father fled after her mother’s tragic and myste- rious death. Arriving in the seemingly quaint town in Maine, Clair encounters and undercurrent of secrecy and hostil- ity, most of it linked to the local bigwig, Cyrus Gast (William Sadler), whose lat- est land development scheme promises to revitalize the community but is not what it appears to be. Most of the town is intimidated by Cyrus, and when Clair starts delving into events, both present and past, she finds herself in jeopardy. As she comes face to face with a dark legacy that has been bur- ied, literally and figuratively, for decades, she also has a series of strange encounters with the enigmatic Frank Byron (Andy Comeau), Cyrus’ bastard son. In Frank, Clair ultimately finds her only ally in a battle to redeem the crimes of the past. I found that it took a great deal for me to figure out who is who and who did what to whom. Gripping, mysterious, and full of action. OMG…Clair is run- ning through the woods and guess what? I went hysterical! The movie is written and directed by Brad Coley. Good ending. Trailer is out for new lesbian film “Freeheld” By Joe Morgan on gaystarnews.com The new trailer is out for Julianne Moore and Ellen Page’s lesbian drama “Freeheld”. Following the historic Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality, this film about a same-sex couple that helped pave the way is perfect timing. AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 29

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with us he has truly taken the job to heart. Jason became involved with the Gay Since he began working as an office Alliance in 2011 when John Altieri asked volunteer in August 2014, Raymond has him to join the board. He took on the role worked more than 200 hours in our of chair of the Finance and Audit Com- office. He’s always ready to cover a shift mittee. He said, “Having been involved when someone can’t make theirs. When- with GALAXe, I was aware of the Gay ever he’s in the office, Raymond has Alliance, but wanted to become more everyone laughing with his light spirit and involved and understand how the GAGV great sense of humor. He almost always supported the Rochester LGBT commu- arrives early for his shifts, and can consis- nity. Given the size of the agency, I want- tently be relied on to complete any office ed to be able to use my finance expertise tasks we ask him to do- and often he asks to help improve the financial position of for more work! When visitors come to the the agency and enable the agency to grow office, Raymond is always warm and wel- for the future. “ coming, creating a comfortable space for As a Board member, Jason feels it is everyone involved. important that he actively support the Raymond is a Rochester native who agency, through raising funds, bringing likes the color red and tacos. He’s a life- contacts and acting as an ambassador long lover of everything Beyonce- he was to the community. He added, “In addi- even president of the Beyonce fan club in tion to supporting the agency as a board high school. He started working with the member, my key goal is to undertake a Gay Alliance to learn more about his iden- governance role, providing guidance and tity, his lifestyle, and that of others in the support to the Executive Director, staff community. When Raymond’s not in the and fellow board members. Volunteer of the Month: office, his hobbies include church, danc- Meet the Board: Jason “Given that the GAGV only has a Raymond Swails ing, and spending time with family. Barnecut-Kearns small number of staff, it is important We are deeply grateful to Raymond to have a board that has a diverse back- At the Gay Alliance, we are blessed for the energy and dedication he brings to By Susan Jordan ground of experience and is able to repre- with a steady crew of people who help the Gay Alliance. Our organization sim- Jason Barnecut-Kearns currently sent the community that it serves. We all keep our office functioning. The Volun- ply wouldn’t be the same without passion- works at as VP Finance for the lead busy lives (personal and working), teer of the Month for August is one of ate advocates like him. It is because of his U.S. Channel Group. He has worked but I believe it is important that we take those energetic and dedicated people: Ray- drive and dedication that we have chosen for Xerox for 21 years in various finance some time out and focus on giving back mond Swails. Raymond is one of our ten to honor Raymond Swails as Volunteer of leadership positions and is treasurer for to our community. Joining a non–profit office volunteers and in his year working the Month for August. ■ Xerox’s LGBT employee resource group, board has given me an opportunity to GALAXe. become more involved in a local agency Originally from England, Jason moved and really understand the local issues to the U.S. 12 years ago on an expat we face. Through the combination of Gay Alliance Library to close until after move assignment for Xerox. He married Bill staff, a strong board and many volunteers Barnecut-Kearns in August 2014; they and allies, I have really seen the GAGV The Library & Archives of the GAGV will close to the public until the live in Penfield with their two Yorkies, advance forward during the time I have Alliance move to its new location at 100 College St. Ethan and Sally. been on the board.” ■ At this time the Library is unable to accept any new donations of books, but may be able to take primary source or significant rare collections. Vol- unteers will attempt to honor any special requests for materials, but much of the library will be packed up for the duration of the move. Please contact the Library with questions at [email protected] or at 585-244-8640. GAY ALLIANCE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES Hours: Every Monday & Wednesday: 6-8 pm • 875 E. Main St. (1st floor off Prince St. lobby) • Rochester 14605 • 585 244-8640 • GayAlliance.org

GARDON The Gay Alliance on-line Resource Directory The online community tool – providing local, state and national resources... twenty-four, seven! www.gayalliance.org

The Gay Alliance is a non-profit agency, dedicated to cultivating a healthy, inclusive environment where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) people are safe, thriving, and enjoying equal rights. We are a coalition of individuals and groups working to empower LGBTQ people to affirm their identities and create an atmosphere where the diversity can thrive both collectively and separately. We educate and advocate for civil rights for all and for the eradication of homophobia. The Gay Alliance, 875 East Main Street, Rochester, New York 14605 • Phone: (585) 244-8640 Fax: (585) 244-8246 Website: www.gayalliance.org E-mail: [email protected] Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm • Board President: David Zona Executive Director: Scott Fearing Education Director: Jeanne Gainsburg Education Coordinator: Rowan Collins Database: Kat Wiggall Bookkeeper: Christopher Hennelly Office Administrator: Tristan Wright The Empty Closet: Editor: Susan Jordan E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (585) 244-9030 Designer: Jim Anderson Fax: (585) 244-8246 Advertising: (585) 244-9030; [email protected]; [email protected] AUG 2015 • NUMBERGAY 492 • ALLIANCETHE GAY ALLIANCE • THE NEWSEMPTY CLOSET FOR AUGUST 2015 31

LEFT: SAGE members make Pride masks and decorations. RIGHT: Scott Fearing shares details about the new Gay Alliance LGBTQ Resource Center with SAGE members Reba Silterra, Pete Fedele, Jessie YOUTH Gibson, (Scott Fearing), Brian Hurlbut, David Hutchinson. Our Program empowers today’s teens to meet today’s challenges! It provides a safe space to explore their identity, make friends, build community, gain life skills, become a SAGE AUGUST leader and have fun! Fabulous Fridays: 7-9pm. (Ages 13-20) CALENDAR Gender Identity Support Group: Tuesdays: 5:30-6:30pm. (Ages 13-18) Tuesday, August 4 More info: [email protected] 10:30-11:30 Yoga with Tom; 11:30 am-2 pm brown bag lunch, games & con- The Gay Alliance versation; 5 pm-7 pm SAGE HAPPY HOUR at 140 Alex Bar and Grill (140 Alex- 875 E. Main Street, (5th Floor) ander Street, 14607). Heard any good jokes? Auditorium Center, Rochester, NY 14605 Thursday, August 6 585-244-8640 • www.gayalliance.org 10:30am-11:30am Yoga with Tom. No afternoon program Saturday, August 8 5pm-8pm Saturday Night Bingo Bash - a community potluck and BINGO, Bring your friends, neighbors and family to this fun, friendly event. $3 with token Where Has the Education prizes. All potluck dishes welcome - salads, dessert, main dishes and appetizers! Program Been in June 2015 Tuesday, August 11 10:30am-11:30am Yoga with Tom; 11:30-12:30pm brown bag lunch; 12:45pm • Straight Talk at Exelis Inc. Geospatial Systems Tour of the new Gay Alliance and LGBTQI Resource Center. Join the gang as we • Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ Older Adults at the explore the new center, which will soon be home for SAGE Rochester events and Alzheimer’s Association Rochester & gatherings. Bring a friend! Region Thursday, August 13 • Shoulder To Stand On Film and Discussion at SUNY Fredonia No Yoga. 10:30am-noon, Breakfast Club at Dennys (911 Jefferson Rd, Henri- • LGBTQ Outreach and Archival Process at SUNY etta). RSVP to Audet at (585) 287-2958 no later than Aug 10. Fredonia Tuesday, August 18 • Creating Safe and Inclusive Schools at French Road 10:30 am-11:30 Yoga with Tom, 11:30-12:30pm brown bag lunch; 12:30pm Elementary Health and wellness series with Reba Silterra RDN CDE: “Small Steps. Big • Shoulder To Stand On Film and Discussion at the Rewards. Your GAME PLAN for Preventing type 2 Diabetes - Part 1: Who is at Brighton Memorial Library Risk?” Free class, open to public. • LGBTQ 101 at Pittsford Mendon High School (for 5 health classes) Thursday, August 20 • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at 10:30 am-11:30am Yoga with Tom, no afternoon program. Norfolk State University in Virginia Tuesday, August 25 • Shoulder To Stand On Film and Discussion at the 10:30-11:30 Yoga with Tom, 11:30-12:30pm brown bag lunch; 12:30pm OUT Pittsford Library for Health - walk in the Neighborhood of the Arts with the SAGE “Strollers”. Lets • Creating Safe and Inclusive Schools at Holley check out Village Gate and the gardens of the . Perhaps we Elementary School will stop at the local coffeehouse. We are walking for wellness and fun! • Tabling at the Deaf Fest • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at Thursday, August 27 Monmouth University in New Jersey 10:30 am-11:30am Yoga with Tom, No afternoon program. • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at Saturday, August 30 Southern Illinois University in Illinois Sage Summer Picnic Bash 2015, 4pm - 9pm, Tay House Lodge in Cobb’s Hill • Shoulder To Stand On Film and Discussion at the Park (85 Hillside Ave) $10 donation includes catered picnic food, dance music, Henrietta Library games, fun, friends and bonfire. Bring a chair & a dessert to share if you want. We • The Future of the LGBTQ Community the Bread and Water Theater will have yard games galore and are hunting up a karaoke machine… SAVE THE DATE: Halloween Party, Saturday October 31 at Lake Riley Lodge. Quotes from June Evaluations • “Best workshop ever! I’m ready to take over the NOTE: The “Corning Excursion” is being postponed to a date in the fall when world!” more people are available to go… • “Incredibly detailed and informational! This was hands down the most important presentation we’ve had all year.” SAGE Rochester is a program of the Gay Alliance designed for LGBTQI people • “Informative and eye-opening. Best one ever. over 50. The August meetings will take place at Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main Wonderful presentation and information. The day was St. All programs are open to the public and all are welcome. Yoga is $5 per per- more than I had expected! Wonderful opportunity for son and is offered every Tuesday and Thursday unless specified in calendar. All our staff.” programs are subject to change and all members are responsible for their own • “Quality experience. Very conversational and welcoming. Best presentation team in my 10 years as transportation and meals. Become a SAGE member or get information at 585- a professional.” 244-8640. We are also on Facebook. ■ 32 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

Check our monthly and ongoing calendar as well as the community section for more groups and events. For further information, call the Gay Alliance at 244-8640 or visit: www.gayalliance.org. More SAGE Resources and Gay Alliance Youth Group info: pages 30-31. Trillium Health Anthony L. Jordan Health Center, Prevention Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Trillium Health is the leading provider of HIV/ and Primary Care. Support Group RESOURCES AIDS services in Rochester and the Finger Lakes. HIV walk-in testing Tues. & Fri.; Hep C walk-inn Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 Gay Alliance office, 5th floor. AMBI Los Angeles; American Institute of Bisexu- On-site services include HIV testing and limited treating Weds. & Fri; Meet clinician by appoint- 875 E. Main St., Ages 13-18. 244-8640 ality (Journal of Bisexuality); Bay Area Bisexual STD screenings, Primary and HIV Specialty Medi- ment. 82 Holland St., Rochester 14605. 585-423- Genesee Valley Gender Variants Network; ; BiNet USA; Bisexual Organizing Proj- cal Care, Pharmacy, and many more. Satellite 2879; fax 585-423-2876. www,jordanhealth.org Thurs. 7-9pm, Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. ect (BOP); Biversity ; Boston Bisexual offices in Geneva and Bath. Trillium Health is also CDC National STD and AIDS Hotline [email protected] Women’s Network; ComBIne - Columbus, Ohio; a leader in providing services and education to 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) 24 hours Fenway Health’s Bi Health Program; Los Angeles members of the LGBT community. Contact Infor- Guys’ Night Out a day. TTY service: 1-888-232-6348. E-mail Trans* group, 1pm second Saturdays at Bi Task Force; New York Area Bisexual Network; mation: Website: www.trilliumhealthny.org. Main address: [email protected]. Robyn Ochs’s site; The Bi Writers Association; Office: 259 Monroe Ave., Rochester, NY 14607; Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. Transmen and The Bisexual Resource Center (email brc@bire- Main Phone: 585-545-7200, Health Services Fair Housing Enforcement Project those identifying with trans-masculine experience source.net) After Hours: 585-258-3363; Case Management of Monroe County (including questioning individuals) welcome. Con- After Hours (Lifeline): 585-275-5151; Fax: 585- 585-325-2500; 1-800-669-9777. Deals with versations range from topics regarding family life, CULTURAL 244-6456. Finger Lakes Office: 605 W. Wash- housing discrimination on basis of race, orienta- personal experiences with regard to medically/ ington St., Geneva, NY 14456, 315-781-6303. tion, HIV status, etc. socially transitioning and how life is going in gen- Rochester Women’s Community Chorus eral. Contact Adrian at [email protected]. 234-4441. (See Ongoing calendar). Southern Tier Office: 122 Liberty St. Box 624, Public Interest Law Office of Rochester Bath, NY 14810 607-776-9166. The Health Out- 1 W. Main St., Suites 200 & 300. Free legal ser- Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus reach Project: 416 Central Ave., Rochester, NY vices to HIV positive persons, families. Span- WOMEN www.thergmc.org 14605; 585-454-5556. ish bilingual advocates available. All civil cases L.O.R.A Late Bloomers Group Open Arms Community Center Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley except divorce; no criminal cases. Ask to speak to Address: Rochester, NY; E-mail info@loragroup. Available for parties, events, meetings. 707 E. Referrals to physicians and service agencies. someone in PILOR. 454-4060. org Website: www.loragroup.org; L.O.R.A Late Bloomers Group is a support group offered Main St. Parking. Accepting and welcoming of all. (585) 244-8640; www.gayalliance.org. Westside Health Services 271-8478. through L.O.R.A. (Lesbians of Rochester & Allies). Victory Alliance Brown Square Health Center, 175 Lyell Ave. (254- It is a coming out group for women of all ages DEAF SERVICES Medical Center. One of 6480); Woodward health Center, 480 Genesee St. and backgrounds! The group meets once a month several research sites worldwide that comprise (436-3040). HIV/AIDS services, support, more. in a safe private location! Come share your story Deaf Rainbow Network of Rochester the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Rochester site McCree McCuller Wellness Center at Unity and listen to others share. We will have a variety See Facebook. conducts research vaccine studies sponsored Health’s Connection Clinic of topics to discuss about coming out and special Spectrum LGBTIQ & Straight Alliance by National Institutes of Health (NIH). 585-756- (585) 368-3506, 89 Genesee St., Bishop Kearney guest speakers from time to time. Group Facilita- RIT/NTID student group.

SAGE Rochester 50+ Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually 10:30am at venues including Open Arms Community Center, ROCHESTER AA/NA 707 E. Main St. 244-8640. (See page 31) MEETINGS Ongoing Calendar Every week there are four regularly FRIDAYS Gay Men’s AA meeting scheduled GLBTI AA and two inclusive DAILY WEDNESDAYS Fridays, 7:30-8:30pm, Closed meeting. Emmanu- NA meetings in Rochester. Free confidential walk-in HIV testing Identity Group el Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. M/W 9am-5pm, T/Th 9am-7pm, F 9am-12:30pm The Identity Group is for LGBT identified individ- Gay Alliance Youth Trillium Health 259 Monroe Ave. 585-545-7200 uals who have a developmental disability diag- Fridays, 7-9pm, Gay Alliance, 5th floor, 875 E. TUESDAYS David Bohnett Cyber Center nosis. The group meets Wednesdays 3-4 pm at Main St., 244-8640; Ages 13-20. youth@gayal- Gay Alliance 5th floor lounge, Mon.-Thurs. 11am- ARC Health Services (2060 Brighton-Henrietta liance.org Narcotics Anonymous Townline Rd. 14623). The goal of the group is to 6-7:30pm. AIDS and Recovery 1124 Culver Road 3pm, Fri. 11am-1pm, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640; GLBTQI Motorcycle Group www.gayalliance.org provide a safe space to discuss identity issues, (Covenant United Methodist Church) This is an share personal experiences and increase self- Second Fridays, 5:30pm, Various locations. NA meeting that is open to all addicts who have MONDAYS esteem. The group is facilitated by Delaina Fico. [email protected]; 467-6456; a desire to stop using. Although it is not specifi- LMSW. For more information, please contact [email protected]. cally a gay-oriented meeting, it is welcoming to L.O.R.A. Coffee Social Delaina Fico at [email protected] or 585- people of all sexual orientations and gender iden- Weekly on Monday Nights, 7 pm. Equal=Grounds, LORA GaYmes Night 271-0661 ext. 1552. Meets 4th Friday of the Month, 7-10pm, Equal tities, as well as to anyone who is affected by HIV 750 South Ave. Rochester. Family, Friends & Allies and AIDS. Welcome! Contact Person: Cathie Timian. More LORA Knitting Group Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. Roch- info: www.loragroup.org. Events: https://www. 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month, Equal ester. Contact Person: Christine O’Reilly. Email: WEDNESDAYS Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave., Roches- [email protected]. Phone: facebook.com/groups/L.O.R.A.14464/. Email: New Freedom/New Happiness Group [email protected] ter. 6 – 8pm. Contact Person: Kerry Cater. Email: 585.943.1320. More Info: www.loragroup.org. [email protected] Events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 7pm. First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd. Rochester Historical Bowling Society L.O.R.A.14464/ Bus riders: Take the last #18 University bus to 7pm. Clover Lanes Gay Alliance Board of Directors 12 Corners. Use the stop just past the top of the Meets Third Wednesdays, 6pm, Monthly LBTQ Womyns Bingo Night hill at Hillside Ave. and before Highland Ave. Or Gay Alliance Library & Archives, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640 Third Fridays, 7 pm, at Empire Bingo. Contact: take the #1 Park Ave. to the corner of East and Every Mon./Wed. 6-8pm. David Bohnett Cyber Christine, [email protected]; New Freedom New Happiness Winton, then walk five minutes south (uphill) on Center, 5:30-7:30pm, First floor, 875 E. Main St. 585-943-1320 text/talk. Winton. This is an open discussion meeting. All 244-8640. Reopens after move. AA Gay meeting, 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd. Men and women. Open. issues – as they relate to our alcoholism/addic- Born That Way SATURDAYS tion and recovery – are fair game. Formerly 3rd Presbyterian LGBT Support Group. Support Group for Parents who have lost Rochester Rams Bar Night First, 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm, 34 Meigs St. Children Third Saturdays, 8pm-2am, Bachelor Forum, 670 FRIDAYS Carol, 482-3832 or Kaara, 654-7516. First, 3rd Wednesdays, 11am-12:30pm, University Ave. 271-6930 Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs St. Genesee Gay Men’s Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Region Home Care. Free. 325-1880 Sapphic Singles – Professional Women’s 7:30pm. Immanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. Mondays, 6pm, George Eastman House parking Group • Closed meeting, restricted to alcoholics and lot. www.rochesterfrontrunners.org. COAP Come Out and Play http://www.meetup.com/Sapphic-Singles-Roch- addicts Wednesday game nights. 7-10pm. • Men’s meeting Steps Beyond Stems ester/. Contact: Patty: Email: pattyrdn11@gmail. Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. coap.rochester@ com. Phone: 585.223.6743. 3rd Saturday of each • Handicapped accessible Crack Support Group, Mondays, 7-8pm, gmail.com month. Monthly Dinner Socials for single profes- This is a round-robin discussion meeting. If you 289 Monroe Ave. Rochester Rams General Meeting sional women at various locations in and around are shy about meeting people or speaking up in a TUESDAYS 2nd Wednesdays, 7:30pm, Bachelor Forum, 670 Rochester NY area! Join us! group, you will find this meeting particularly warm University Ave. www.rochesterrams.com and inviting because everyone gets their turn to The Social Grind Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester speak (or pass). As a result, this meeting often 10am-12noon and again 7:30-9pm at Equal Positive Warriors Support/educational group for gender-variant runs long, so plan on more than the usual hour. Grounds, 750 South Ave. Email: DHutch457@aol. Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm. Trillium Health, people, allies. Last Saturdays, 3-5:30pm, Open com for information 259 Monroe Ave. Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. SATURDAYS Adult Families of Trans Youth (AFTY) Positive Divas Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Saturday Night Special First Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30, Open Arms MCC Com- Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm. Trillium Health, 9am, George Eastman House parking lot.www. 7pm. First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd. munity Center, 707 E. Main St. 259 Monroe Ave. rochesterfrontrunners.org. Bus riders: The #18 University Ave. bus does not go by the church on weekend evenings. Take the Families and Friends of TransAdults (F2TA) Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Guys Night Out GNO, social group for transmen, now meets on #1 Park Ave. bus to the corner of East and Win- Support group for non-transgender people who 6pm, Eastman House parking lot. ton, then walk five minutes south (uphill) on Win- are struggling with the transition of a transgender www.rochesterfrontrunners.org. the second Saturday of the month, @ 1pm @ Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. ton. friend or loved one. Meets on second and fourth Gay Alliance Library & Archives, • Open meeting, all are welcome, “straight- Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, at Equal=Grounds, Every Mon./Wed. 6-8pm. David Bohnett Cyber Saturday Night Special Gay AA friendly” 750 South Ave. 244-8640; www.gayalliance.org; Center, 5:30-7:30pm, First floor, 875 E. Main St. 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd., S. Men • Mixed men and women [email protected] 244-8640. Reopens after move. and women. Open meeting. • Handicapped accessible, take elevator to basement LGBT Healthy Living Empire Bears Sophia’s Supper Club Veterans support. Second, fourth Tuesdays, First, third Saturdays, 25 Bernie Lane, 6:30 pm. Meeting begins with a speaker, followed by open Every Wednesday. 6pm dinner at various venues. discussion. 10-11am Canandaigua VA, bldg. 9, room 8, www.empirebears.com Library conference room. 585 463-2731, 585 Men’s Cooking Group 205-3360. Third, fourth Saturdays. 585-355-7664; mcgo- SUNDAYS THURSDAYS [email protected]. Testing Tuesdays at Trillium Health Step in the Right Direction Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns 7:30-9pm. 1275 Spencerport Road (Trinity Alli- FREE HIV Testing for everyone, STI/STD testing 6:30pm, first Thursday. Ralph, 271-7649 SUNDAYS FREE for women and MSM. Trillium Health, 259 ance Church) This is an NA meeting that is open Monroe Ave, 5-8 pm. 585-545-7200 Pride at Work & AFL CIO PFLAG (Parents Families & Friends of Lesbians to all addicts who have a desire to stop using. First Thursdays, 5:30pm. 1354 Buffalo Road, And Gays) Although it is not specifically a gay-oriented Women’s Community Chorus Rochester 14624, 426-0862. 585 993-3297; [email protected]. meeting, it is welcoming to people of all sexual Rehearsals each Tuesday, 6:30-9pm, Downtown orientations and gender identities. Each week United Pres. Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street. 234- GLOB&L (Gays & Lesbians of Bausch & Lomb) Dignity-Integrity features a reading from NA literature, followed by 4441, www.therwcc.org Meets every third Thursday in Area 67 conference 1st Sunday: 5pm Episcopal Eucharist with music; discussion. room at the Optic Center. Voice mail: 338-8977 2nd Sunday: 5pm Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Gay Alliance Trans* Youth Support Group Word with music; 3rd Sunday: 5pm Episcopal Rochester Gay Men 5:30-6:30 pm, GAGV office, 5th floor, 875 E. Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus Eucharist (quiet); 4th Sunday: 5pm Prayers to 8pm. St. Luke/St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, Main St. Ages 13-20. 244-8640. Gay Alliance Downtown United Presbyterian Church, start the week, followed by potluck supper. 17 S. Fitzhugh Street. Bus riders use the Fitzhugh 121 N. Fitzhugh St. 6:30-9pm, 423-0650 Street stop on Main Street at the County Office SAGE Rochester Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church Building and walk south one block. 50+ Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually 10:30am at Out & Equal Second Thursdays 707 E. Main St. Rochester, Services at: 10:30 am Social/business networking, 5:30-7:30pm. • Closed meeting, restricted to alcoholics and venues including Open Arms Community Center, and 5:30 pm. 271-8478. addicts 707 E. Main St. 244-8640. (See page 31) Changing venues. E-mail: fingerlakes@outand- equal.org Gay Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous • Men’s meeting COAP Come Out and Play St. Luke’s/St. Simon Cyrene Church, • NOT handicapped accessible Volleyball 5pm-dark. Indian Landing School, 702 Genesee Valley Gender Variants 17 S. Fitzhugh St. 8pm, 232-6720, Weekly. Meeting begins with a speaker, followed by open N. Landing Rd. May 5-Autumn. coap.rochester@ 7-9pm, Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. GV Closed meeting ■ discussion. ■ gmail.com [email protected] 34 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

FRIDAY 14 FRIDAY 21 SATURDAY 30 Empty Closet deadline for Septem- Jones Pond Vegas Weekend. Jone- SAGE Summer Picnic. 4-9pm, Tay ber. 244-9030; [email protected]. sPond.com; 585-567-8100. House Lodge, Cobbs Hill Park, 85 Hill- Jones Pond Olympics Weekend. SUNDAY 23 side Ave. $10 ($8 in advance); children Miss Conception live on Saturday. Jone- Dignity Integrity. Roman Catholic under 12 $5. Catered picnic food, music, August sPond.com; 585-567-8100. Prayers to start the week, followed by pot games, bonfire, dance. Advance tickets SATURDAY 15 luck. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s online at www.gayalliance.org or from Dignity Integrity 40th Reunion Pic- Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. SAGE members. SATURDAY 1 nic. RSVP due Aug. 8: send current THURSDAY 28 SUNDAY 31 Lughnasad, Lammas. Ancient Celtic contact information via email, info@di- Pride Day at NY State Fair. Syra- Dignity Integrity. Prayers to start the fire feast of harvest. Sacred tree: hazel, rochester.org, or write to DI at 17 S. cuse. Melissa Etheridge concert at Chevy week. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s tree of wisdom. Fitzhugh St., Rochester 14614. Court. Pride Day starts with ceremony, Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. Mrs. Kasha Davis in her one-woman SUNDAY 16 flag raising at main entrance. Advance SEPTEMBER show, “There’s Always Time for A Cock- Dignity Integrity. Episcopal Mass/ tickets 40% off at www.nysfair.org. FRIDAY 5 tail”, 8 pm, JCC Hart Theatre. Tickets at Healing Service, with music. 5 pm at FRIDAY 29 http://www.jcccenterstage.org Jones Pond Labor Day Weekend St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Jones Pond Cowboy Weekend. Jone- 25th Anniversary Celebration. JonesPond. SUNDAY 2 Fitzhugh St. sPond.com; 585-567-8100. com; 585-567-8100. ■ Dignity Integrity. Episcopal Mass, quiet. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. WEDNESDAY 5 Empire Bears at South Wedge Diner, Clinton Ave., 6 pm. More on P 25. FRIDAY 7 Rochester Trans Oral History Proj- ect. Ben Eshleman presents research at RIT symposium. rit.edu/research/sympo- sium. Jones Pond Mardi Gras Weekend. JonesPond.com; 585-567-8100. Fight With Love. Blackfriars Theatre revue benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Aug. 7, 7pm, Aug. 8, 2 and 7pm, Aug. 9, 2pm. $10. 454-1260. 795 E. Main St. SUNDAY 9 Dignity Integrity. Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word, with music. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. Classified Ads

Classified ads are $5 for the first 30 words; each additional 10 words is another $1. We do not bill for classifieds, so please send or bring ad and pay- ment to: The Empty Closet, 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500, Rochester, New York 14605. Paying by check: checks must be made out to Gay Alliance. The deadline is the 15th of the month, for the following month’s issue. We cannot accept ads over the phone. Pay when you place your ad. We will accept only ads accompa- nied by name and phone number. Neither will be published, but we must be able to confirm placement. The Empty Closet is not responsible for financial loss or physical injury that may result from any contact with an advertiser. Advertisers must use their own box number, voice mail, e-mail or phone number. No personal home addresses or names allowed. Classified ads are not published on The Empty Closet page of our website. However, each issue of the paper is reproduced online in its entirety.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Handyman: Simple repairs or full Children’s Ministry thriving at Open renovations, no job is too large or small. Arms Metropolitan Community Church Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Inte- for toddlers to ‘tweens. Join us for vibrant, rior & Exterior. 35 years experience. Call inclusive, progressive worship on Sun- Alan & Bill 585-204-0632 or cell 304- days at 10:30 am, 707 E. Main St. info@ 517-6832. openarmsmcc.org; (585) 271-8478. Martin Ippolito master electrician. Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus - did Electrical work, telephone jacks, cable you (or a friend) ever sing with the Cho- TV, burglar alarm systems, paddle fans. rus? RGMC is launching an Alumni 585-266-6337. Organization! Are you interested in help- Wedding Space and clergy servic- ing keep the RGMC vibrant for the next es available. Celebrate your special day 33 years? Help us keep “Empowering at Open Arms Metropolitan Commu- Social Change through Choral Excel- nity Church, 707 E. Main St. info@ lence”. Please email Past President John openarmsmcc.org (585) 271-8478. Owen - [email protected] or call at (585) 402 0112. FOR RENT Three room apartment on Park SERVICES Ave. Newly redecorated. No pets, no Sec- Rochester’s Best Man to Man tion 8 or any government-assisted rent- Rubdown. Unwind with this degreed, ers will be considered. Rent is $595 per employed, fit, friendly, healthy, Italian month. Available for immediate occupan- GWM. Middle aged, 5’8”, 165 lbs., 32” cy. Call (585) 266-1281. waist, nonsmoker, d & d free, HIV nega- Culver-Empire. $400/month plus 1/3 tive. My 10-plus years experience guar- utilities. Room available, share three- antees your relaxation and satisfaction. bedroom house with two mature women, Hotel visit, in call in my home or out call pet-friendly, female preferred. Quiet res- in your residence. Reasonable rates. Dis- idential street. Share LR, DR, kitch- cretion appreciated and practiced. Don’t en, washer/dryer. Must be clean, sane, delay, call me today at 585-773-2410 (cell) responsible, employed. Sorry, no DSS, or 585-235-6688 (home). Section 8. Mitch, 585-360-5151. ■ AUG 2015 • NUMBER 492 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET 35

The Empty Closet is published Bed & Breakfast by the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500 Rochester, New York 14605 © 2015, All rights reserved. Editor-in-Chief: Susan Jordan Graphic Design: Jim Anderson Ad Sales: Jennie Bowker ([email protected]) Chris DelConte ([email protected]) Advertising policy: The Empty Closet does not print advertisements that contain nude drawings or photographs, nor does it print advertising that states that the person pictured in the ad is for sale, or that you will “get” that particular person if you patronize the establishment advertised. Advertisements that are explicitly racist, sexist, ageist, ableist or homophobic will be refused; advertisements from organizations that are sexist, racist, ageist, ableist or anti-gay will also be refused. All political advertisements must contain information about who placed them and a method of contact. Additionally, The Empty Closet does not print negative or “attack” advertise- ments, whether they relate to a product or politics and no matter in whose interest the ad is being produced. A nega- tive advertisement is defined as one that focuses upon a rival product, or in the political area, a rival election candi- date or party, in order to point out supposed flaws and to persuade the public not to buy it (or vote for him or her). The Empty Closet maintains, within legal boundaries, neutrality regarding products, political candidates and parties. How- ever, “attack” ads that fail to provide undisputable evidence that the information in the ad is true do not further in any way the objectives and policies of the Gay Alliance or The Empty Closet, including the primary tenet that The Empty Closet’s purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community and to provide an impartial forum for ideas. Submissions: For publication, submit news items, ads, photos, letters, stories, poetry, ads, photographs or art by mail or in person to The Empty Closet office by the 15th of the month. Design services for non-camera ready ads are available for a fee. 244-9030, [email protected] Publication Information: The Empty Closet is published 11 times a year (December and January combined) by The Empty Closet Press for the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc. Approximately 5000 copies of each issue are distributed during the first week of the month, some by mail in a plain sealed envelope. The publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles is not an indication of the sexual or affectional orientation of that person or the members of that organization. For further information, please write to The Empty Closet, 875 E. Main St., Rochester NY. 14605, call (585) 244-9030 or e-mail [email protected]. The Empty Closet is the official publication of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc., as stated in the bylaws of that organization. Its purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community about local and national gay-related news and events; to provide a forum for ideas and creative work from the local gay community; to help promote leadership within the community, and to be a part of a national network of lesbian and gay publications that exchange ideas and seek to educate. Part of our purpose is to maintain a middle position with respect to the entire community. We must be careful to present all viewpoints in a way that takes into consideration the views of all – women, men, people of color, young and old, and those from various walks of life. The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Gen- esee Valley or The Empty Closet. The Empty Closet shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the publi- cation (whether correctly or incorrectly) or omission of an ad. In the event of non-payment, your account may be assigned to a collection agency or an attorney, and will be liable for the charges paid by us to such collection agency or attorney. Letters to the editor: The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other con- tributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. We will print letters at the edi- tor’s discretion and on a space available basis. Only one let- ter by the same writer in a six-month period is allowed. We will not print personal attacks on individuals, nor will we be a forum for ongoing disputes between individuals. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. We will print anony- mous letters if the name and phone number are provided to the Editor; confidentiality will be respected. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month at: The Empty Closet, 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14605; e-mail: [email protected]. The online edition of EC is available at www.gayalliance.org.

PFLAG MEETS 3RD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH Meetings are at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church 707 E. Main Street, Rochester, New York 14605 from 1 to 3pm. Questions? Call: 585-993-3297 or Email: [email protected] Join us! 36 THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 492 • AUG 2015

SENIOR ORGANIZERS Michael Lill, Co-Chair • Christopher Hennelly, Co-Chair David Desiato Pride Picnic Chair • Samuel Brett Entertainment Chair DeeDee Dubois Entertainment Committee • Lora Thody Pride Parade • Kate Sweeney Stage Manager DJ Hector • Tristan Wright • Jenna Vannas • Jessica Gibson • Eric Zukauskis • Gregg Cooper • Leonides Ortiz Lucas Baron • JT Hogan • Gregg Soucie • Jillian Wilton • Peter Mohr • Athena Lill • Joe Murphy • Jo Meleca Voigt Jen Posey • Shagun Kaul Volunteer Coordinator PERFORMERS Mrs Kasha Davis • Megan Carter • DeeDee Dubois • Samantha Vega • Futur Pointe Dance • Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus • Rochester Women Community Chorus • RAPA and Cast of Avenue Q and Le Cage Aux Folles • Dianne Davidson • Alicia Michaels • Justin Styles Ft. • Tayler Mayde • V’ta St. James • Jahnell Meezon • Tasha Brooks Mercedes Sulay • Jenna Vixen • Ortensia DeLoren • Vanity Faire • Deelicious • DJ Mighty Mic • Vivian Darling Ginger KaiKai • Lady Dee • Boyz Night Out Crew • DJ Blake • DJ Hector • DJ Flex • DJ Bougie PRIDE VOLUNTEERS Heather Abrams, Aaron Ajegba, Anthony Alexander, Daniele Anderson,, Lexy Arce, Margaret Aubel, Tatyana Austin, Juliette Aycock, Stefan Baer, Jackie Ball, Jason Barnecut Kearns, Bill Barnecut Kearns, Amber Barnwell, David Bergmann, Michael Bernola, Maverick Bethlendy, T Bird, Paul Birkby, Philipp Birklbauer, AJ Blythe, Nadina Bolton Heaton, Kayla Bonanza, Larissa Borglum, Kim Braithwaite, Barbara Broderick, Catherine Buskey, Kaitlin Buskey, Mahalea Cabrera, Emily Call, Jeff Christensen, Margaret Cleary, Sherry Coriddi, Pamela Cornish, MariaD’Acquisto, Caryn Davis, Justice Decrose, Gina DeMeo, Cris Diaz, Sam Dien, Breanna D’Hondt, Eric Disbro, Elizabeth Doyle, Jennifer Doyle, Emmalee Fortunato, Ruth Fortunato, Ed Freedman, Alana Friedman, Jill Frier, David Frier, Curtis Gainey, Chris Gauthier, Jessica Gibson, Emmerson Gibson, Judy Glaubinger, Brandy Golembeski, Bruce Gorman, David Grome, Cille Haley, Sally Harrison, Dustin Hayes, Denise Herrera, Kerri Hicks, Alyssa Holbrook, Gina Holloway, Peter Horrocks, Karson Hosimer, Emily Jones, Amanda Jordain, Darrell Killingsworth, Rebecca Klein, Matt Krueger, Katie Lambe, Jeff Lambert, Mitch Lambrecht, Stephanie Laniewski, Lauren LaRoche, Josh Layfield, Carol LeRoy, Neisa Lipton, Mindy Lull, Nicole Lupinetti, Kayla Mays, Dennis Mazur, Liz McPhee, Christine Meleca Voigt, Beth Melendez, Jeffrey Meyers, Ryan Nguyen, Claire Nichols, Charlie Norvell, Aisha Parker, Tim Parnell, Kim Persky, Anastasia Polashenski, Ronald Pratt, Audet Price, Ron R, Selena Ragland, Colleen Raimond, Corey Rainboth, Myrna Ramirez, Todd Ranous, Grace Ravinas, Brandon Reed, Devon Richardson, Ashley Riley, Kayla Rizzo, Kellie Ronald, Craig Ronald, Janine Rowe, Zainab Salah, Luke Sanna, Pietra Santacroce, Ramil Sapinoro, Matt Staples, Megan Steron, Alex Stilson, Emma Stujo, Tierney Sullivan, Ryan Thomas, Chris Thompson, Margaret Thurston, Angela Torres, Cadence Trapini, Kelsy Trutt, Sarah Vogel, Anne Wakeman, Matt Wakeman, Dana Wakeman, Zakiyyah Wearen, Jonathan Wetherbee, Samantha Wiggall, Alicia Willie, Steven Winkelman, Kat Womack, Bruce Woolley, Adam Young, Maya Zarski PARADE JUDGES Tasha Brooks (Miss Gay Rochester) • Judge Karen Morris • KaeLyn Rich • Sean Thody Serena Thody • Zackary Waffle PARADE TEAM Kristy Angevine-Funderburk • Dustin Hilton • Lora Thody SPONSORS Advantage Credit Union • Alpco Recycling • Anderson Windows • Avenue Pub • Absolute Vodka (Southern Wine & Spirits) • Bob Johnson Chevrolet/Websmart Auto • Civil Service Employees Union • Canandaigua Bank Bachelor Forum • State Farm • City of Rochester • First Niagara • Genesee Co-op • Harry G’s NY Style Deli Hedonist Artisan Ice Cream • Highland Contractors • Interpretek • James Moran • Jenna Vannas • John’s Tex Mex La Casa Restaurant • Lake Beverage • Jim Beam • NY Life Insurance • Nothnagle/The Sarkis Team NYS Teachers Union NYSUT • Out and Equal • Permed • Absolute Vodka • Malibu Rum • Park Avenue Merchants Pride at Work • Print Roc • Phish Michael • Prudential Life Insurance • Reverend Rachel McGuire Phd Rochester Labor Federation with AFL-CIO • Rochester Victory Alliance • Sky Vodka • State Farm Insurance Strathallan Hotel • Double Tree • Three Olives Vodka • Thompson • Reuters • Trillium Health Care University of Rochester • • School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher • Rona Wyner • RIT Alumni Relations Dennis & Wendy Moss • 98PXY/Entercom Marketing