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George H. W. Bush ‘Unsupportive’ on Gay Rights, HIV/AIDS Anti-LGBT Petitions Before Supreme Court Could Make for Dire Term Gay Trans and Disabled Margot Robbie Holds Queer Court PRIDESOURCE.COM DECEMBER 6, 2018 | VOL. 2649 | FREE 2 BTL | December 6, 2018 www.PrideSource.com Join The Conversation @ Pridesource.com WORSHIP THE INTERVIEW COVER: GAY, TRANS AND DISABLED 16 Get Off Social Media and Take to the Margot Robbie BTL Photo: Kate Gowman Streets Holds Queer Court NEWS 18 Worship Calendar 4 Gay, Trans and Disabled 19 Pope Francis Says He’s Worried 12 Anti-LGBT Petitions Before Supreme Court Could See Page 20 Make for Dire Term About Homosexuality in the Priesthood 14 George H. W. Bush ‘Unsupportive’ on Gay Rights, HIV/AIDS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS HAPPENINGS NATIONAL NEWS OPINION 8 Parting Glances 8 Pap Smears and Paint Parties: A Journey Toward Embracing My bisexuality 9 Creep of the Week LIFE 20 Margot Robbie Holds Queer Court 28 Deep Inside Hollywood 26 Happenings 29 Puzzle & Crossword COOL CITIES: ANN ARBOR 22 UMS PResents ‘Winterreise’ Dec. 16 22 Ann Arbor LezRead ‘The Spanish Pearl’ Dec. 8 ‘Prevalent’ Exhibit George H.W. Bush COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Explores Deep Issues ‘Unsupportive’ on Gay 30 ‘Prevalent’ Exhibit Explores Deep Issues in in America Rights, HIV/AIDS America See Page 30 See Page 26 See Page 12 VOL. 2649 • DECEMBER 6, 2018 EDITORIAL News & Feature Writers ADVERTISING & SALES ONLINE AT ISSUE 1089 Editor in Chief Emell Derra Adolphus, Michelle Brown, Director of Sales Susan Horowitz, 734.293.7200 x 102 Ellen Knoppow, Jason Michael, Drew Howard, Jan Stevenson, 734.293.7200 x 101 “Between The Lines Newspaper” PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP [email protected] Jonathan Thurston [email protected] 20222 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48152 CREATIVE Phone 734.293.7200 Entertainment Editor Sales Representatives Follow us @YourBTL Webmaster & MIS Director Chris Azzopardi, 734.293.7200 x 106 Ann Cox, 734.293.7200 x 103 Kevin Bryant, [email protected] PUBLISHERS [email protected] [email protected] Email your op–eds to Susan Horowitz & Jan Stevenson [email protected] Columnists Feature News Editor Donelle Kremke, 734.293.7200 x 104 MEMBER OF Charles Alexander, Michelle E. 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Andrew Potter, Alexander Godin, Andrew Cohen Copyright 2018 Pride Source Media Group www.PrideSource.com December 6, 2018 | BTL 3 COVER STORY Gay, Trans and Disabled Living With Disabilities in a ‘Ableist, Racist and Queerphobic’ World Because many of those conditions remain Because underemployment is all too common difficult to prove, even with documentation by for people with disabilities and low wages a physician or specialist, only about 40 percent prevent workers from gaining independence, of applicants make it through the application people like State Rep. Frank Liberati (D-Allen process and a backlogged appeals process Park) have tried to shift that reality. In February without being rejected. he introduced House Bill 5587 — now in “Some systems are made deliberately difficult committee — which prohibits employers from and bureaucratic to navigate — this is for abled paying an employee with a disability less than people,” said Zero. “For disabled people, the the minimum wage. confusing procedures are agonizing and can cause people to completely give up. I think they hope for that, to be honest.” Hidden Struggles Zero is a freelance content creator who When They Can’t Just ‘Get a survives by doing art commissions and writing articles. Ze, too, has tried working fulltime for Job’ employers, but limitations beyond zir control make that difficult. In 2017, 18.7 percent of people with a “I can only handle two to three hours of disability were employed, according to the work and then I have to sleep,” ze said. “People U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In contrast, don’t want to believe me when I say I can’t do the employment to population ratio for those something like stretch to press a button or bend without a disability was 65.7 percent. down to file something away. If I bend down Disability advocates point out that BTL photos: Kate Gowman keep people in inescapable poverty,” added for 30 seconds, I end up with a back cramp for Americans with disabilities face a host of Brumalis, who is also non-binary but uses she/ 30 minutes.” complex issues such as stigmas, typically lower her pronouns. “It’s a really dastardly scheme Additionally, being autistic makes Zero feel BY KATE OPALEWSKI education rates and higher rates of poverty. when you think about it.” “wrong” to people ze describes as “neurotypical,” Each of those issues can add to the difficulties And they’re not alone in their struggle. or unaffected by disorders like autism. inding a job is simple. That is, if one has of finding a job while disabled. For instance, a CBS News report showed that “At my last job I tried really hard to be socially a degree, experience, connections and an For instance, Brumalis wants to work, but despite advances like the implementation of acceptable and friendly, but they just perceived able body. Things start to get tricky when because she was perceived as a man while Fone of those elements is missing, and nearly the Americans with Disabilities Act, there have me as ‘off’ which happens a lot to autistic previously working in the retail sector, she been unintended consequences for those who people. That’s why I’m seeking jobs where I impossible when one suffers from physical was assigned a disproportionate amount of the have disabilities; like employers shying away don’t have to rely on other people very much, disabilities — that, at least, is the experience physical labor tasks. Additionally, Brumalis was from hiring disabled people because of the because people can’t be friendly with me and I of Jem Zero and Tora Brumalis. The Metro bussing from downtown Detroit to Roseville at potential to incur cost in accommodating take it very personally,” Zero said. “I know you Detroit-based lesbian couple suffers from 4 a.m. for four-hour shifts that paid minimum disabled employees. don’t always have to like your coworkers, but several disabilities and a variety of mental health wage, which made it even harder to afford issues that have made living a “normal” life a it’s very emotionally hard for me to deal with.” transportation costs and justify the demands One of the major problems with how disabled significant challenge. of her position. However, despite the struggles that both Understanding the Need people are treated ze said is that there isn’t a “That mentally and physically broke me,” physical impairment, a “sign,” or a “look” that Zero and Brumalis face, they make one thing Roughly 25.1 percent of adults in Michigan Brumalis said. “After that, I wasn’t capable of very clear: they are just as human as anyone report being disabled. Plagued by persistent indicates they are disabled. doing much of anything and couldn’t stand Beyond zir cane and rollator, Zero seems else — though they “don’t think it’s realistic” unemployment and poverty, Brumalis, like the thought of going back into that kind of that many will care to remember that. many others, applied for Social Security abled on the outside and said ze constantly has working environment — which is the most to educate people about zir disability. “That’s just what I hope,” Zero said. “There disability benefits, hoping to get back on her common environment because I don’t have will always be someone who dehumanizes you, feet. She was denied Supplemental Security “I’ve looked for writing jobs and despite a formal degree and most places don’t hire having an art degree, it’s very hard to get hired especially since we’re gay, trans and disabled.” Income, and, while initially granted food without some sort of degree or certificate and Zero, who is non-binary and uses ze/zir assistance, both those benefits and her health anywhere, especially somewhere that would some experience. Even with the experience, work with my needs,” said Zero, who is doing pronouns, said that ze’s heard all the usual insurance were compromised by a paperwork I wouldn’t get most of the jobs I would be a negative comments from people before. error from the Michigan Department of Health zir best to finish an accounting certificate. good fit for. It’s kind of a break yourself or bust Brumalis is also going to school, hoping to “Like, ‘Why don’t you do this?’ ‘That’s and Human Services. That error resulted in the situation.” not my problem,’ ‘You’re irresponsible,’ ‘You account being closed. earn a computer information systems certificate After her attempt to get SSI failed, Brumalis for web design. should just try harder,’ ‘You’re lazy,’ ‘You’re a An article in Bridge Magazine reports that has worked piecemeal gigs, such as sensitivity drain on society,’” ze said.