ANO INDEPENDENTU VOICE FOR THE TLESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES June 13, 2014 | Volume XII, Issue 3 Celebrating Pride 2014: June 14 -15 By Steve Charing tion of two beverage gardens with easy-to- Changes and surprises are in store for this access check-in points near the Pride per- What year’s installment of Baltimore Pride June formance spaces. Note that the consumption 14 to 15. The biggest change and perhaps of alcohol will be confined to the beverage the most talked about one is the move for gardens. Does Gay the first time to the Mt. Royal area, where The parade route also shifts as it starts ArtScape takes place. The previous venues at Charles and Eager and moves north to Mt. – Charles and Eager Streets for the block Royal Avenue then to Oliver Street. It begins party and Druid Hill Park for the festival – had at 1 p.m., three hours earlier than in the past. Pride been the home for the annual celebration for Despite the change in location, the Mt. over a decade. Vernon Area bars – Club Hippo, Grand Cen- This year, Pride, whose theme is “We Are tral, the Drinkery, and Leon’s – have sched- Family,” will combine the block party and fes- uled events and Pride celebrations for both Mean to tival over both days as opposed to separate days. Please see their ads inside this news- events. The festivals on Saturday and Sun- paper for details. starts on day will all take place at Mount Royal Avenue Pride has been a program of the GLBT page 12 and Cathedral Street (two blocks from Penn Community Center of Baltimore and Central Me? Station). Also new this year is the introduc- —continued on page 2 G rand Marshal Tom Patrick

H eather Mizeur ENDORSEMENT: Heather Mizeur for Governor When the campaign to replace Governor ment, and public safety reveal a candidate closing a corporate tax loophole that only Martin O’Malley began last year, we as- with a deep understanding of the problems favors very large corporations. sumed that we would be choosing between that face our state. A unifying theme of her Closing the corporate tax loophole is a Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Attorney platform is the critical need to address eco- matter of fairness for Maryland small and General Douglas Gansler. Both are main- nomic inequality and expand opportunities mid-size businesses but Mizeur’s revenue stream Democrats with solid records of for poor and working families. She has pro- neutral proposal to tweak the tax brackets support for LGBT communities. We were posed universal pre-k, marijuana legaliza- of Maryland’s somewhat regressive income aware of another announced candidate tion, student loan reform, higher taxes on tax will positively impact poor and middle in- in the Democratic primary, twice-elected the top incomes, and closing corporate tax come families in a very direct way by putting member of the House of Delegates from loopholes. At the same time she wants to more money in their pockets. Coupling her Montgomery County Heather Mizeur, a pro- reduce the tax burden on working families tax policy with her plans to require all em- gressive who also happens to be a lesbian. and small businesses. These are all sen- ployers to offer some paid sick leave, and We considered her run quixotic, and worthy sible positions that we support, but what to link the state’s minimum wage to a living of little attention. But what a difference a makes us so enthusiastic about her candi- wage of $16.70 an hour by 2022, will have a campaign can make! Delegate Mizeur and dacy is not this laundry list of progressive huge impact on average people and shows her running mate, Delmun Coates, have run positions. Rather, it is the thoroughly con- —continued on page 3 a positive, thoughtful campaign, articulated sidered way that she would implement and a strong, progressive future for the State pay for them. For instance, universal pre-k and earned our enthusiastic endorsement will be paid for with taxes earned though for Governor and Lt. Governor. marijuana legalization. Tax breaks for aver- Mizeur’s positions on jobs, the econ- age families and small businesses will be fi- omy, education, health care, the environ- nanced with a tax on top wage earners and

—continued on page 10 PRIDE 2014

Celebrating Pride 2014 signed into law. band Yellow North. – continued from page 1 “Sharon’s tire- On Sunday, less effort[s] in get- male entertainer ting SB212 passed A’quarius Noir Du- Maryland (GLCCB) for several decades. is only the latest ex- pree will perform. GLCCB officials concluded that the block ample of the activ- In addition, the en- party had become too crowded for the area ism she leads every tertainment will in- and decided to move the locale. Last year, day,” the GLCCB clude: drag perform- there was controversy concerning the block board of directors ers Ariel Rios, Franz party and the drinking and sanitary issues said in a state- Fiddler, and Byan- that stemmed from the event. ment. “Her leader- caRaye LoveStorm- ship is an asset to Prime; singers B. Tom Patrick – Grand Marshal our community. In- Jack, Septimius the Longtime employee at Moveable Feast, stead of lamenting Great, Queen, and Tom Patrick, was named the parade’s Grand the state of things Shadina; Brinjal Marshal. At the early stages of the AIDS and wishing other and the Aubergine epidemic in Baltimore, Patrick engaged ev- people would figure Dancers doing belly ery person he met, but especially the LGBT out how to make it dancing; the band community, to get involved and to make a dif- better, she articu- CooLots; DJs Corn- ference in the lives of people who were sick. lates the best path Sharon Brackett – flake, Rosie, and Moveable Feast was founded 25 years ago forward and leads Activist of the Year Jeff Taylor; and the in response to the AIDS epidemic. Their mis- the way to making it dance troupe Sil- sion was – and still is – to deliver nutritious happen.” ver Phoenix Dance foods to people living with HIV/AIDS and In addition to Company. other people suffering from life threatening heading Gender Rights Maryland, Brackett diseases. is a serial entrepreneur who serves as the Other events According to Tom Boderenko, executive president of Tiresias Technologies and was The annual High Heel Race will occur director of Moveable Feast, “Patrick engaged selected as one of Washington’s Smart Mag- up Charles Street for the honor of being thousands of individuals, corporations, azine’s 100 CEOs for 2010 and then again, crowned the 2014 High Heel Race win- churches, and schools to volunteer at Move- after transition, in 2011. She is a founder of ner. The race is Saturday and begins at able Feast, but he has challenged them to TransParent Day, a former board member of Charles and Eager Streets and will end think about their fears and stereotypes of the the GLCCB, and a current board member of at Charles Street and Chase Street. This LGBT community, and especially people liv- the Point Foundation. In her spare time she year’s winner will receive a $100 gift cer- ing with HIV/AIDS. He has been an untiring works with youth groups with technical inter- tificate. Participants must be at least 21 to advocate in the LGBT community, a voice ests such as rocketry and robotics. enter and no wedges or heels less than for those living with HIV/AIDS, crying out for Brackett is a Baltimore OUTloud contrib- two inches will be allowed. Please bring nothing more than compassion for the sick.” utor whose column “Rational T-hought” is a your own shoes (some will be provided). Patrick, who had been the organization’s regular feature, and she expressed her plea- Sign-up begins at noon the day of the race volunteer manager and will be retiring in sure. “I am honored and humbled to receive and will end at 12:30 p.m. December, was surprised by the honor. “By this recognition,” she said. “I have to feel that The Baltimore Frontrunners Pride Fun honoring me, I believe that the LGBT com- it is being offered not only for my recent ef- Run & Walk will take place on Saturday, munity is also recognizing the 25 years of forts but efforts I have made on behalf of the June 14. The free event will start and fin- service that Moveable Feast has provided LGBTQ community over recent years. Of ish at the parking lot at 3600 Boston Street to the LGBT community here in Maryland,” course, no one person can accomplish prog- (in front of Panera Bread, across from he told Baltimore OUTloud. “I would like ress alone so I would be remiss not to recog- The Shoppes at Canton Crossing). You to give a special thanks to the thousands nize the many legislators, friends, allies, and can choose to run along the Inner Harbor of volunteers from the community, for their supporters who have helped us move the ball Promenade for anywhere from three to six long hours of support and care in helping for trans persons in Maryland.” miles. Brunch will take place at Panera af- Moveable Feast with its mission to the com- terwards. Sign-up at 8:30 a.m. and the run munity. Please, everyone have a wonderful Entertainment starts at 9 a.m. and safe Baltimore Pride weekend, and ev- It wouldn’t be Pride in B-more if there The Interfaith Fairness Coalition of eryone stop by our booth and sign our 25th wasn’t a full slate of entertainers. On Sat- Maryland and the Faith Communities of year banner.” urday Baltimore-born DJ Blaqstarr will be Baltimore with Pride will be holding an spinning tracks. Also on tap are: drag per- interfaith Pride service on June 19. The Sharon Brackett – former Danielle Revlon; male entertainers theme for the service is “We are Family.” Activist of the Year Dalonte France and Trenton Alexander; It will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at The 2014 Activist of the Year honor goes poetry / spoken-word artist Edgar Allen the Metropolitan Community Church, 401 to Sharon Brackett. She is the founder and Josh; 2013/2014 Queen of Pride Gani- West Monument Street, Baltimore. Board Chair of Gender Rights Maryland, vah Cache Sephora; 2013/2014 King of There will also be another mass an organization advocating for transgender Pride Inferno Lee Sephora; singer Jerel; same-sex wedding at Pride as was the rights and had been instrumental in the pas- DJs Lady Mysterious, Lemz, and Vodka- case last year. For more information sage of the Fairness for All Marylanders Act, trina; poet Nova Gray; drag entertainers about this and all of the events, visit Bal- also known as SB212, which was recently Sabrina Blue and Skyy Sensation; and the timorepride.org. t

2 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com Crisean is Using Music to Inspire Others – continued from page 1

news // LOCAL

Heather Mizeur for disappointing. But overall, both have taken Governor positions that make sense – expanded pre- – continued from page 1 k education, solid support for Obamacare, recognition that the criminal justice system needs to be reformed to stop the revolving that a Governor Mizeur will be a champion door of incarceration, for instance. And the for poor and working families. lt. governor’s positions reflect the cautious Mizeur’s jobs policy reflects her aware- approach of a man who knows what is pos- ness that economic opportunity for average sible in Annapolis. However, when looking citizens requires a plan that supports small at the candidates’ entire platforms, neither businesses, encourages innovation, and the lt. governor nor the attorney general reforms regulations so that all businesses, has presented a vision for the next four big and small, have an opportu- years that matches Del- nity to succeed. She proposes egate Mizeur’s laser focus streamlining regulations and on helping working families. eliminating those that are no We would never en- longer needed. To accomplish dorse a candidate solely this, she will establish a cabinet because of the person’s level position of Business Advo- sexual orientation and cate to investigate complaints our support for Mizeur is and receive suggestions from the business grounded firmly in her cohesive economic, community and the public. In addition, she education, and social justice positions that will promote economic growth and oppor- envisions a more just and fairer Maryland. tunities by expanding support for business However, because Mizeur is a lesbian, she generated job-training programs, encour- brings an added understanding of our com- aging Maryland’s research universities to munities that should bode well for LGBT focus on economically viable job-creating people. We know that she is the underdog research, and making the State a leader in but she has run such an impressive cam- renewable energy and cyber security. paign and articulated such a positive vision We have no doubt that the lt. gover- for the future that we whole heartedly rec- nor and the attorney general would be fine ommend her to be the next Governor of the governors. True, the attorney general has State of Maryland. t proposed a dubious corporate tax cut and Editor’s Note: We won’t be endorsing the lt. governor took the lead in Maryland’s any of the Republican candidates running disastrous rollout of health care reform. for statewide office. We see Republican vic- Both men have stooped to negative cam- tories as defeats for a more equitable and paigning, a common tactic that we find very just society and contrary to our core values)

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 3 news // LOCAL Murdered Transgender Woman Found in Baltimore By Steve Charing With the investigation underway, it ap- Equality Maryland and a member of the While there was still euphoria following pears this will be a challenging case to advisory board, introduced Kowalczyk ex- the passage of a statewide law to ban dis- solve. Police do not know how the homi- plaining, “We don’t know the motive. But crimination based on gender identity and cide occurred; they are awaiting the medi- we must stand together to make our city the failed effort to overturn it, a stark reality cal examiner to perform an autopsy. safer.” set in as the body of a transgender woman Some transgender activists were angry Kowalczyk provided a status of the case was discovered in a field near a post office that the initial police reporting of the mur- but indicated there were few, if any, leads in the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello der identified the victim as a male. But af- at this point. Detectives have not deter- neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore. ter several hours were needed to conduct mined a motive. He emphasized repeated- According to Acting Captain J. Eric a family identification, the police, accord- ly that no assumptions should be made as Kowalczyk, a spokes- ing to Kowalczyk, identified to motive unless and until the investigation man for the Baltimore Kandy Hall as a transgen- has uncovered one. Kowalczyk stressed, City Police Department ‘This case will not der woman. “This case will not be solved without com- and director of the media be solved without A community meet- munity help.” He made sure the attendees relations section, “Offi- ing organized by Equality had the phone numbers shown above and cers were called at about community help.’ Maryland and FreeState urged them to spread the word. 6:30 a.m. on June 3 to the Legal was held on June 6 Some of the attendees felt a lack of 1400 block of Fillmore Street for a report at the Chase Brexton Community Meeting confidence that the police would be active- of a body. It took some time but officers Room, where Kowalczyk, accompanied by ly working on the case. Monica Yorkman, were able to identify the body as that of a member of his staff, Sgt. Jarron Jackson, a transgender woman, cited past negative Kandy Hall (a.k.a. Ricky Carlos Hall, born was the principal speaker. Over 30 people experiences with the police that she be- A cting Capt. Eric Kowalczyk addresses March 27, 1974). Detectives are looking attended with several representing vari- lieved stemmed from her being transgen- community credit: Steve Charing into the facts and circumstances around ous advocacy groups as well as members der. She also stated that there is little trust the incident and are asking anyone with of the Baltimore Police Commissioner’s towards the police on the part of transgen- perienced by transgender individuals from information to call Homicide at 410-396- LGBT Advisory Council. Also on hand was der individuals, especially people of color. the police is not okay.” 2100 or they can call Metro Crime Stop- Derrick Smith of Annapolis, who said he Kowalczyk replied, “As an organiza- As to solving the murder of Kandy Hall, pers at 1-866-7LOCK-UP and remain grew up with Hall. tion, the culture is changing, though the Rev. Meredith Moise suggested that there anonymous.” Carrie Evans, executive director of process of change is slow.” He pointed should be “outreach to where the popula- to the fact the department produced the tion is,” such as churches, to get the infor- first ever LGBT recruitment video and that mation out. She also believed that handing “LGBT101” is a course given at the Police out cards or similar materials at the upcom- Academy for new recruits beginning this ing Pride celebration may lead to informa- year, and in-service training will begin next tion about the case. Though the police will year. This instruction is provided by Sgt. staff a booth at Pride, Kowalczyk believes Sarah Avery, a member of the advisory too many people come from beyond Bal- board and the police liaison to the LGBT timore City to do much good handing out community. information about the murder. However, one deficiency noted is that Rev. Moise later told Baltimore OUTloud, the reporting structure does not include “We have so much work to do. We need a “transgender” as part of the identification much better way of getting information out to of victims. The department’s reporting sys- our communities, especially the most mar- tems have existed since 1982 and is in ginalized and income distressed. We cannot need of an upgrade. afford to bottle-neck and gate-keep informa- As the highest ranking openly LGBT tion that can ultimately save lives.” person in the Department, Kowalczyk re- The nearly two-hour meeting ended lated his own personal experiences as he with a goal to have further discussions on began his career. He said he understands particular grievances on the part of margin- fully how the attitudes of many citizens – alized members of the population. Monica not just LGBT – have been negative re- Yorkman agreed to be the point of contact garding the police. Kowalczyk pointed to to set up such meetings. surveys that Commissioner Anthony Batts In the meantime, the police need help discusses routinely at a multitude of com- in solving the murder of Kandy Hall. “It munity meetings that support that attitude. is always heartbreaking when we lose a He stressed, however, because there is a member of the LGBT community,” Evans new commissioner and a new understand- said. “I hope that attendees witnessed the ing of the communities, a concerted effort efforts the BPD are making to solve Kan- is underway to remedy the mistrust. Such dy’s murder and will come forward with any efforts have been incorporated into the de- information.” partment’s strategic plan. Again, anyone with information should Kowalczyk takes any harassment to- call Homicide at 410-396-2100 or call Met- wards members of the LGBT community ro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCK-UP personally and stated, “Harassment ex- and remain anonymous. t

4 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com

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BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 5 news // LOCAL Referendum Effort Flops By Steve Charing rott (R-Washington County), who leads the hale.... While it was The push to gather 18,579 valid signatures group MDPetitions.com, promised to overturn gratifying to see this to overturn the Fairness For All Marylanders the law by obtaining the required number of law pass the Gen- Act (FAMA) failed as proponents of the ref- signatures to place the matter before voters eral Assembly and to erendum were unable to secure the requisite in November. Opponents of the law dubbed it watch the governor amount by the May 31 deadline. They were “the bathroom bill” by claiming the law would sign it, we all knew 1,000 short of the goal. The Maryland Con- allow sexual predators to invade the private that it was not a done stitution allows for most newly passed laws to spaces of women, such as restrooms and deal until we saw be petitioned to referendum. locker rooms, by putting on dresses. How- whether opponents FAMA updates Maryland’s anti-discrim- ever, that effort failed and the law stands as could muster up sig- ination law to include transgender people. signed. natures. I am grate- Carrie Evans, 2nd row, center, and others celebrate the expiration This measure provides protections in em- Activists who pushed for enactment of ful for the work that of the deadline credit: courtesy of Equality Maryland ployment, housing, credit, and public accom- FAMA conducted a vigil outside the Secretary Equality Maryland modations on the basis of gender identity. of State’s offices the night of May 31 awaiting and others did to help stop people from sign- succeeded in meeting the initial deadline, it was Baltimore City and Baltimore, Howard and Parrott and his petitions. Neither Parrott nor ing the petition. The time for attacking prin- unlikely they would be able to achieve the over Montgomery counties, as well as the city of the petitions arrived by the midnight deadline. ciples of basic fairness for Marylanders has 55,000 signatures needed by June 30 much Hyattsville have such legislation already in The group included Carrie Evans, executive passed.” less gain a majority of support on Election Day. place. On October 1, when FAMA takes ef- director of Equality Maryland; Senator Rich Clippinger also noted tremendous relief. People were not buying into the “bathroom bill” fect, Maryland will join 17 other states and Madaleno (D-Montgomery), who introduced “We worked hard during the legislative ses- charges, and by revealing their hand so early in Puerto Rico that have added gender identity the bill SB212 in the Senate; Luke Clippinger sion to secure the necessary votes to pass the process, it enabled the proponents of FAMA and expression to their anti-discrimination (D-Baltimore City), who introduced the bill in this law and I am happy that enough Mary- time to organize a counterattack. laws. the House of Delegates, as well as other ac- land voters did not deem it necessary to sign Moreover, it did not seem as though Re- Once the bill escaped the Senate Judicial tivists. a petition trying to take away protections for publicans were going to spend significant Proceedings Committee by an 8-3 vote – a “We finally get to really celebrate this mo- transgender Marylanders.” time and money on this effort when they pre- graveyard in prior years’ attempts to secure mentous achievement! Thank you to all of the “Trans persons become equal citizens fer to use their resources to elect a Republi- passage – it sailed through both chambers of amazing volunteers who worked diligently in Maryland on Oct. 1, after two decades of can governor. The only poll conducted on the the General Assembly and signed by Gover- over the last six weeks to educate voters on fighting for acceptance,” said Gender Rights matter came from Goucher College in March nor O’Malley last month. this law,” said Evans in a statement. Maryland executive director Dana Beyer. whereby 71 percent of Marylanders support Shortly after passage, Delegate Neil Par- Madaleno said he was “finally able to ex- Analysts believe that even if the petitioners equality for transgender individuals. t Diverse Faith Communities of Baltimore March with Pride

By Fr. Joe Muth had experienced something very special. tarian, and several independent churches. a special prayer service. Our congregations 2013 was the first year for St. Matthew to Eight different congregations and 115 church We’ll be walking behind the same banner as have joined with the Interfaith Fairness Co- participate in the Baltimore Pride Parade. members came together and celebrated our last year and wearing rainbow shirts with the alition of Maryland. Together we will hold the This decision came from our growing LGBT love and support for the LGBT com- words: Faith Communities of Balti- first annual “Pride Interfaith Service – We are ministry and the support of our parish fam- munity. Several of the pastors more with Pride. Family” on Thursday, June 19th, at 7:30pm ily. The St Matthew Ministry is called LEAD said that we must continue Our faith communities at the Metropolitan Community Church of (LGBT Educating and Affirming Diversity). this ecumenical spirit, and will also have two booths Baltimore. Our prayer service theme will call We asked Faith Presbyterian Church to join a follow-up meeting was along Mt. Royal Ave- us together to “celebrate the many beauti- us in preparing for the Pride Parade and to- scheduled. nue. We will staff the ful families of God” that we find in the LGBT gether we reached out and asked our “wel- Over the past 12 booths on Saturday community. Everyone is welcome to join us. coming congregations” to join us. months, four meet- and Sunday. Our Many of the congregations have shared We entered the Gay Pride Parade with ings were held and intent is to meet the hope that our ecumenical group can con- eight “welcoming congregations” and 115 the number of con- with people looking tinue to meet and add new members. We church members wearing rainbow colored t- gregations has con- for a “welcoming, will hold a post-Pride parade meeting and shirts and walking behind the banner: Faith tinued to grow. The gay friendly faith evaluation, and see where the spirit takes communities of Baltimore with pride. supporting and wel- community.” us. t Our presence in the Pride Parade was coming congregations At a recent plan- The author is affliated with St. Matthew certainly noticed by the thousands who lined now total 25. Walk- ning meeting, it was Church. the streets and thanked us for being there. ing in this year’s Pride suggested that we The emcee of the Pride Parade specifically Parade are 250 members consider holding as Ecu- recognized St. Matthew as he stated, “Today from 20 congregations. The menical Pride Prayer Ser- we are making history. St Matthew Roman faith communities include Catho- vice. As people of faith, believ- catholic Church is walking in the Baltimore lic Churches, Jewish Synagogues, ing we are all children of the same Gay Pride Parade!” Presbyterian, United Methodist, Lutheran, great God, it seemed appropriate that we At the end of the parade, we knew we Episcopalian, United Church of Christ, Uni- come together and celebrate who we are in

6 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com news // LOCAL Estates & Trusts Lawyer Launches LGBT Practice estates & trust practice. With a history dat- By Mary Taylor for couples who own property in another were complex and contentious,” he said. ing back to the 1800s, Semmes is one of Lee Carpenter, an attorney at the Baltimore state or live outside of Maryland. “They dragged on for years, and our attor- Maryland’s oldest law firms and focuses on law firm of Semmes, Bowen & Semmes, “When most couples think about mar- ney couldn’t have been more professional traditional legal work such as business liti- has launched an estate-planning practice riage, the legal benefits are a secondary or reassuring. He was a sharp lawyer who gation, worker’s compensation, and mari- with a special focus on the needs of the consideration,” Carpenter said. “Couples knew how to negotiate difficult situations time law. Still, the firm has given the new LGBT community. He talked to Baltimore marry because they are in love and want tactfully.” LGBT practice its full support. Outloud about the needs he sees emerg- to start a life together.” Carpenter says the experience made “We are committed to diversity,” said ing. But many of Carpenter’s clients had al- him want to provide his own clients with a Semmes’s chairman Richard W. Scheiner, “Gay and lesbian clients often prefer ready been together for decades when gay similar sense of reassurance. “and this new undertaking is simply a natu- going to a lawyer who is part of the com- marriage came to Maryland. After graduating from the University ral extension of that commitment.” munity – someone who understands their “The question I get most often these of Maryland School of Law in 2006, Car- To market the new practice, Carpenter concerns on a personal level,” Carpenter days is whether a couple should get mar- penter set up his own estates and trusts is reaching out to the community through a said. “They also have legal concerns that ried,” Carpenter explained. “They may al- practice in Baltimore as a solo practitioner. new website, social media, seminars, and not every lawyer will be familiar with.” ready be enjoying the social and familial Eventually, he joined the law firm of Sum- a regular column he writes for Baltimore In his position at Semmes, Carpenter benefits of marriage, so the legal benefits merfield, Willen, Silverberg & Limsky, in OUTloud. has made these concerns his primary fo- are the primary concern.” Baltimore County. There, he continued to Asked how things are going so far, Car- cus. For couples who don’t yet have a mar- help fellow members of the LGBT commu- penter smiled. “Business has been brisk,” Under the Civil Marriage Protection riage license – or simply aren’t ready to get nity with their unique legal needs. he said. “Clients have more questions than Act, which took effect January 1, 2013, one – taking full advantage of existing laws As a member of the community him- ever, and they seem to like the downtown Maryland’s same-sex couples gained the generally requires professional help. self, he has testified before the Maryland location.” right to marry. Federal recognition of their “When one unmarried partner dies General Assembly regarding LGBT es- He notes that many of his clients come unions came some six months later with without a will, the survivor is effectively dis- tates and trusts issues, and he volunteers to him from well outside the Baltimore area. inherited,” Car- for Free State Legal, an organization that “In my experience, people will often penter explained. provides free legal services to low-income travel some distance just to meet with a “He or she has no individuals. gay lawyer,” Carpenter said. “My hope is right to settle the To those who know the firm, Semmes that after coming to Semmes, they will feel estate or take a might seem like an unlikely home for a gay like it was worth the trip.” t share of the as- sets. It can be a devastating out- come.” Even if there is a will, any be- quest to an un- married partner is taxed at the hefty rate of ten per- cent. “Having a marriage license makes this tax go away,” Carpenter E state-planning attorney Lee Carpenter said. meets with clients Jayson Williams and He went on to Matthew Newcomer explain that with or without a mar- the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. riage license, anyone is better off having v. Windsor. And in this year’s legislative an estate plan in place. session, the Maryland General Assem- “A will, financial power of attorney, and bly passed a law banning discrimination advance medical directive will help you against transgendered persons. provide for the people you care about,” he “With Maryland’s new laws in place and said. “They are essential documents.” the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision, FOOD GAMES people are eager to make sure their affairs A Maryland native are in order,” Carpenter said. Carpenter grew up in Montgomery County but now lives in Baltimore with his HIV & HEALTH SCREENINGS The benefits of marriage partner of more than 14 years, and “we In some ways, his job as a lawyer to wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he MORE INFO ONLINE AT: the LGBT community has gotten easier, said. JUNE 28 JACQUES.UMARYLAND.EDU Carpenter explains. Being married can He says it was the death of his grand- simplify a couple’s estate plan, but it can parents that inspired him to do estates and also lead to greater complexity, especially trusts works. “My grandparents’ estates

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 7 8 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 9 beyond the beltway compiled by Jim Becker something that comes along that’s better was reasonable, that coverage exclusion than condoms, I’m all for it, but Truvada is no longer reasonable,” reads the ruling. is not that,” AIDS Healthcare Foundation “This record includes expert medical tes- CDC urges daily president Michael Weinstein told the Asso- timony and studies published in the years ciated Press. “Let’s be honest: It’s a party after publication of the [policy]..... ‘Deny- anti-viral for drug.” Others argue that Weinstein and ing Medicare coverage of all transsexual other Truvada skeptics are guilty of sham- surgery as a treatment for transsexualism people at risk ing other gay men for using PrEP, spawn- is not valid under the ‘reasonableness ing the term “Truvada whore.” Tyler Ter- standard’ the board applies,” the DAB rul- for HIV Meer, director of the Ohio AIDS Coalition ing continues. and head of public policy and government Under the new policy, Medicare will Washington, D.C. -The federal gov- relations for AIDS Resource Center Ohio, R obina Asti not automatically cover sex-reassignment ernment has issued guidelines recom- supports the CDC guidelines. “Science surgery and related care, but will no lon- mending maintenance doses of the anti- demonstrates that PrEP is over 90% ef- ger be prevented from doing so when HIV pill Truvada for hundreds of thousands fective if taken properly,” he said, “and the a World War II veteran and pilot, married claims are made, as HHS spokesperson of people at risk for HIV infection. The Cen- clinical studies highlight that the use of this her longtime sweetheart, Norwood Patton. Aaron Albright explained in a statement. ters for Disease Control and Prevention prevention strategy did not increase risky In June 2012, Norwood passed away at “The national policy barring Medicare from advised doctors to consider prescribing behavior.” (Gay People’s Chronicle – An- age 97. On July 27, 2012, Robina applied covering gender transition surgery has pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, for gay thony Glassman at gaypeopleschronicle. in person for survivor benefits through the been invalidated by HHS’s Departmental men who have bareback sex, heterosexu- com) SSA. Though Robina already receives Appeals Board,” he said. In the 33 years als with part- Social Security benefits, being able to since Medicare was barred from covering ners who are claim survivor benefits would increase her sex-reassignment surgery, medical opin- at high risk, monthly check by close to $600. (Bay Win- ion has changed decisively. Such treat- and injec- Social Security dows & Golden Rainbow Times – at Bay- ment is no longer labeled “experimental,” tion drug us- windows.com) but is now considered “medically neces- ers. Truvada awards benefits sary.” (Seattle Gay News – Mike Andrew combines at Sgn.org) tenofovir and to transgender emtricitabine, Medicare two other widow drugs used to must cover treat HIV, making it easier to keep up with Boston, Mass. – After months of advo- a regimen than it would be with multiple cacy, Lambda Legal announced the Social reassignment drugs in separate pills. In a clinical study Security Administration (SSA) paid Robina of gay men given Truvada as pre-exposure Asti, a 92-year-old transgender woman, the surgery prophylaxis, men who took the pill every survivor benefits she was denied after her day showed a 99% protection from HIV husband’s death. The agency erroneously Washington, D.C. – The Obama ad- transmission. denied her benefits after it determined that ministration ended a 33-year ban on Medi- 1960s efforts The CDC still urges the use of con- she was “legally male” at the time of their care funding sex reassignment surgery on doms even with PrEP, noting that the risk marriage despite all the legal documents May 31, when the Department of Health to purge gays of contracting other sexually transmitted to the contrary. “We are relieved that Ro- and Human Services (HHS) Departmental infections is still there with bareback sex. bina’s wait is finally over. The SSA acts in Appeals Board (DAB) ruled that excluding revealed in However, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chla- mysterious ways and has not issued a writ- such surgery from coverage is “no longer mydia are curable, and herpes is not fatal. ten decision in her case, but we are glad reasonable.” Previously, Medicare consid- federal papers Not everyone in the HIV-prevention that Robina has finally received the ben- ered sex-reassignment surgery “experi- and service community is as thrilled about efits that she was owed. mental” and refused to cover it for fear of Washington, D.C. – The Mattachine Truvada, in part because of the belief that Asti filed her claim with SSA in 2012, “serious complications” under the terms of Society of Washington has been brought it may give people the perception that they Lambda Legal has been advocating on her policy guidelines formulated in 1981. DAB back to life, now focusing on “archive ac- can engage in unsafe sex with impunity. “If behalf for months. The organization creat- found that the old concerns were unfound- tivism” – working for LGBT rights through ed a video that was viewed by almost 175, ed, however. examining the past. One of its first proj- 000 people, and then, Asti found that SSA “Even assuming the [National Cover- ects is looking through government docu- These news notes have been compiled, had deposited the money she was owed age Determination]’s exclusion of cover- ments released through Freedom of Infor- with permission, from the online version into her account according to Dru Levas- age at the time the [policy] was adopted mation Act requests, seeking information of various newspapers and other web seur, Transgender Rights Project Direc- on efforts in the 1950s and ’60s to purge sites. We thank these publications for tor. “This is great news, but Lambda Legal gay men and lesbians from government allowing us to bring you their news sto- has received calls from other transgender employment. ries. Usually the reports have been sig- spouses trapped in SSA limbo, as Robina “Gay and lesbian history is often ig- nificantly edited and you can read the was. We await changes to SSA policy that nored or deleted,” Charles Francis of the full story by going to the web site men- would clarify its position on transgender Mattachine Society told the New York tioned following the item. Comments spouses to ensure this does not happen to Times. “It didn’t happen.” He pointed to are strictly the opinions of Jim Becker others, which we are hopeful will soon be FBI director J. Edgar Hoover’s hypocritical and not of Baltimore OUTloud or Pride released.” witch hunt against gay men. Media. In a 2004 ceremony in an airplane han- “There were two obsessions at the gar in Orange County, New York, Robina, FBI. One was communism. The other was

10 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com beyond the beltway gays,” Douglas M. Charles, a Penn State that claimed that “homosexuality tears at attention which issued a statement that it Longview, Tyler, Shreveport, and Dallas University professor said. The FBI used the fabric of society.” That move had been would consider LGBT representation in fu- will have booths and there will be music its Sex Deviate program to collect infor- opposed by delegates that wanted to pre- ture games. and food. (Dallas Voice – Dallasvoice.com) mation on people that were suspected of serve it and replace “homosexuality” with Marini said that although he has gotten being gay, and passed it on to other gov- “sexual sins.” (Independent UK at Inde- some negative feedback on social media, ernment agencies, sometimes leaking it to pendent.co.uk/news world/ americas/texas the support for the campaign has been the media. According to Charles, the FBI -republicans-back-gay-conversion-thera- overwhelmingly positive. The campaign’s Houston mayor destroyed hundreds of thousands of docu- py-in-new-vote-9508088.html) Facebook page has gotten more than 800 ments about the program in 1977, so ef- followers, and around 30,000 people have offers up trans forts to gather the remaining ones are vital. viewed Marini’s video. Games by Western (Gay People’s Chronicle – Anthony Glass- companies, including versions of Sims and people to pass man at Gaypeopleschronicle.com) Arizona man Fable, allow characters to form same-sex relationships, but Marini believes Japan’s jobs bill wants gay more conservative culture has had an in- fluence on Nintendo games. (Echo Maga- Houston, Texas – We have a long- characters in zine – Laura Latzko at Echomag.com) running problem in the march toward LGBT equality. Often in the course of our work Nintendo games to enshrine equality in legislation from the municipal to the federal level, the first thing Mesa, Arizona – With a social me- Mayor in offered up as a compromise at the negoti- dia campaign, a Mesa man has gotten ating table is equal protection for the trans- the attention of a major gaming company Texas refuses gender community. We absolutely have to about the inclusion of LGBT characters stop doing that. and themes. Tye Marini brought attention to issue Pride Houston Mayor Annise Parker, only to the issue through his “Miiquality cam- the second woman and the first lesbian to T exas GOP conventioneers paign,” in which he urged the Japanese Proclamation be mayor of Houston, pushed an expan- company Nintendo to include same-sex re- sive non-discrimination ordinance in her lationships in its handheld game Tomoda- Longview, Texas – Members of the city. Expectedly, it has received significant Texas GOP gay community in Longview plan to attend pushback. One major point of contention that city’s next city council meeting to tell for Republicans and church leaders was endorses the mayor and council why a proclamation a paragraph explicitly protecting the right should be issued for the city’s first Pride of transgender individuals to use the re- making gays celebration. stroom consistent with their gender iden- Organizers requested the proclamation tity. In a move toward compromise, Mayor straight for its June 21 event, but Mayor Jay Dean Parker and her supporters announced an has refused. Longview is a city of 80,000 agreement to remove this explicit protec- Fort Worth, Texas – The Texas Re- located in East Texas. tion in an attempt to mollify their outrage. publican Party has endorsed “reparative The Longview City Council meets at In response to LGBT objection, they point- therapy” for gay people, as other states Longview City Hall on June 12 at 5:30 p.m. ed out that transgender people would still ban the practice and professional organi- Organizers suggested arriving by 5 p.m. be able to file a discrimination complaint zations decry it. Around 7,000 delegates at to get a seat. if they were denied access. Those protec- the Texas Republican Party’s convention “This is a great tions simply won’t be spelled out. ratified a new platform that also included T ye Marini opportunity for Mayor Parker has faced incredible moves to the right on other policies includ- folks to express challenges in crafting the ordinance in the ing immigration. The move is a response chi Life, which is focused on relationships why the procla- face of staunch right-wing opposition. Until to a move by New Jersey and California between characters. mation should last week, Houston was the largest city in to ban licensed therapists from conducting Marini started the campaign because take place,” or- the country without a city-wide nondiscrimi- conversion therapy on young people. Re- he thought the game didn’t offer the same ganizers wrote nation law. The amount of deal-making re- publicans supporting the policy have said experience for members of the LGBT com- on their Face- quired to reach even this point is clear when that it is intended to give potential patients munity, who can’t form relationships or book page. “If considering the odious inclusion of a “good the freedom to choose. The policy won a marry their real-life partners in the game. you don’t wish faith belief” clause that would essentially al- vote on Thursday and was confirmed in an- “It takes the immersion and fun out of it to speak, please low a business owner to deny a transgender other vote on Saturday. for people who aren’t heterosexual. They come to the person access if they didn’t believe them. The counselling has been condemned can’t represent themselves in the game,” meeting to ob- But at some point – and really it should have by health organizations including the Marini said. Marini said gamers started serve and show been a very long time ago – it has to stop American Psychological Association. De- discussing same-sex relationships in To- your support.” being acceptable to even consider giving up fining homosexuality as an illness is an modachi Life after a glitch, which Nintendo Longview’s transgender equality protections in order to attempt to discredit growing social accep- later patched, allowed male characters to Pride event Mayor Jay Dean succeed in creating new laws. If that is the tance, the association has said, and can form relationships in the Japanese ver- will take place price of success, it is not a success. It is an harm those that undergo it. sion. Marini said the campaign started an even without the proclamation. P-FLAG abject failure. The transgender community The move also received criticism from international conversation about LGBT in- Longview is sponsoring the June 21 event have been with us, and stood with us, all gay conservative groups within Texas. But clusion in the gaming industry. Marini said that takes place at Heritage Plaza in down- the way back to Sylvia Rivera at Stonewall gay conservative groups received one suc- although Nintendo wasn’t able to change town Longview from 5 p.m.–9 p.m. 45 years ago. t (Dallas Voice – Emerson cess, removing an old part of the platform the game, the campaign got Nintendo’s Organizations and businesses from Collins at Dallasvoice.com)

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 11 12 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 13 news // The Panhandle

metropolitan areas anymore, they have moved on to the smaller towns in America,” said Scott 3rd Annual Frederick Pride Set Gould who lives in D.C. “Frederick Pride has all of the spirit and ties to the history of gay By Steve Charing lets good for discounts at area businesses; Methodist pastor that was defrocked after pre- rights that the larger celebrations in D.C. and The Frederick LGBTQ Community Center will and parking will be available in five downtown siding at the same-sex wedding ceremony of Baltimore have, but it has the hometown feel host its 3rd annual Frederick Pride on June 28 garages. his gay son. It will take place at Grace UCC, 25 and friendly vibe you get in a smaller town.” from 12 to 6 p.m. at Carroll Creek Park, Fred- Visitors are urged to patronize food and East 2nd Street, just a few blocks from Pride... For more information, visit Facebook.com/ erick, Maryland, near the downtown area. This beverage vendors or bring a picnic meal as “Pride celebrations are not only for large events/582720451817732. t is a new venue for the event, which will be held well as a folding chair or blanket. No canopies rain or shine. It is free, handicap accessible or anything staked into the ground are permit- and kid friendly. ted. “We’ve listened to the com- To make a monetary or munity by moving to the product donation, to heart of downtown rent a booth space Frederick, increased to or to promote the variety and qual- a non-profit see ity of food, added the forms on beer and wine, plus Thefrederickcen- expanded the number ter.org/frederick-pride of live LGBTQ musical perfor- under the Frederick Pride mances, and this year anticipate over 1,000 tab. No sales of food except by food ven- attendees,” Brian Walker, one of Pride’s orga- dors, no solicitation of cash donations. All nizers, told Baltimore OUTloud. booths increase $50 after June 1 and are sub- Frederick Pride will include: ASL interpret- ject to availability. ing through a donation from Dancinghandsasl. New this year at 11 a.m., just prior to com; fenced beer and wine tent (no BYOB per the festival, will be a Pride Interfaith Worship city law); booths offering information, prod- Service. Many area religious leaders will par- ucts, and services; music, speakers, and en- ticipate. The guest speaker will be Rev. Frank tertainment on stage; free “Buy Pride” brace- Schaefer, the former Pennsylvania United

14 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com journeys

ner would be on our actual anniversary, but Mattrick Are Getting Married! we needed to incorporate Central Station / Grand Central into the plan. Maybe a late By Patrick Field our current homes in New York City and the night party after the rehearsal dinner? & Matthew Rupcich Poconos, after stints in Adelphi, Maryland, We are getting married at Matt’s alma First, let us explain who Mattrick is/are: Mat- and Montclair/Bloomfield, New Jersey. I am mater, Peabody Conservatory in Griswold trick is a term of endearment composed of an anatomy professor at a New Jersey state Hall, and our service will be composed of the our first names that has been used for the university and Matt is employed at a very well musical talents of friends and family, as well purposes of invitation and inquiry for most of respected independent school in Manhattan as, the words of a brilliant officiant and read- our relationship. “What are Mattrick doing this as the Dean of Student Life and as a choral ings that encapsulate the running themes weekend? Are Mattrick coming?” And as stat- music teacher. As for marriage, we said that if of our relationship, on dimensions spiritual, ed, Mattrick are getting married in Baltimore and when DOMA was overturned by the Su- artistic, and humorous. Matt and I have cho- exactly 19 years after they met in Central Sta- preme Court, then we would have that con- sen women as our people of honor, not only Meet tion (Grand Central) on August 1, 1995. versation. When that happened last June, we eschewing the traditional choice of best men Mattrick! I (Patrick) was living in Bolton Hill, pursu- mutually proposed to each other the next day because we can, but because women have ing my Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, on our way back from a family vacation. We always been an important part of our relation- Baltimore, when I met Matt, a graduate of the also decided to get married in Baltimore, the ship. Both of us have/had strong relationships Peabody Conservatory, in Central Station on place where we started our journey and the with our mothers. Matt’s mother passed awayY a Tuesday night (an “off night,” my explana- city we consider our “hometown.” before we met, and she will be honored at our so that our out-of-town guests can experience tion as to why our meeting was different from Although we always considered the date ceremony along with our surviving parents. the historic harbor of Charm City, and a picnic a typical bar hook-up) while Matt was playing that we met as our anniversary, celebrating The saddest part of our relationship, to me, at the Harford County farm of one of our per- pool. Matt asked me if I wanted to play, and it privately, we never had anything like an is that I never got to meet the beautiful per- sons of honor. It may have taken 19 years to I said no. When Matt asked me why, I simply anniversary party. Once we decided to get son that Matt’s family talks about during gath- get to this place in our lives (you could insert stated “Because I suck at it.” Matt was very married, we knew that this event was not erings. I feel blessed that I am now able to a lot of clichés here about the journey and amused by my “crude but honest” response, only going to be a wedding but a celebration share these remembrances with Matt’s father, not the destination, and how the finest wine and after more chit-chat, we decided to get of our life together these many years. An ex- which was not always the case. It will indeed takes time…), which would all be true, but I’d coffee at the Paper Moon Cafe, talking into travaganza, if you will! We originally wanted be a very special day for us and our family, rather use an expression to end this story that the wee hours. We knew that we had made to get married on our actual anniversary date friends, and friends who have become family. we have coined to describe the many adven- a special connection, but was this love at but it fell on a Friday this year, so we moved it Other local venues in our weekend cel- tures and experiences that we have had with first sight? That fateful night was the begin- to Saturday (so that family/friends would not ebration include a reception in Mount Vernon, friends, family and each other: “I love us!” ning of a 19 year journey that has taken us to have to miss a work day). The rehearsal din- a crab feast cruise on a paddle-wheel boat, Patrick and Matt, “Mattrick” t

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 15 Thinking OUTloud REAL TRANS TALK: Pride St. & Rainbow Ave. By Vann Michael Pride St. and Rainbow Ave. is the earliest “nonconforming” African- American teenag- Persevering, Revolutionary, Independent, highway reduced to a cuttaway, struggling ers in April of 1965 in Philadelphia, and those Daring and Everlasting! Let the festivities for a placard to preserve the battle grounds moved into action in August of 1966 at Gene’s begin! Same-gender loving people from graced as markers in history, and historical Cafeteria in Compton, and again in June of all over converge upon cities, small towns, landmarks. Real 1969 when wom- and still hidden safe spaces to celebrate Trans Talk finds en of color, Sylvia A nd just their truth. It is a time when our youth, itself sweeping the Rivera and Marsh up the road... some for the first time, openly express trash, repairing P. Johnson mount- their whole selves. A time when those in the cracks in what ed barricades at their full glory link with buds and com- is left of the brick Stonewall Inn in As a black gay man of trans experience rades to share in nostalgic war stories, first structures and New York. meets and greets a cisgender man, will he crushes, coming-out adventures, and com- potholes of Trans- Persevering be pressured or coerced into intimate acts memorate those who have gone before them. gender Lane. the forced sup- because of his biological make-up? Will he This time also brings smiles to the elders As Pride St. pression of self, feel empowered to say, “Let’s be safe.” Is who once only dreamed of such a time when elongates into their Revolution- he aware and supported enough to know lesbian, bisexual, and gay people could show the annals of his- ary revolts spoke that he can report such an incident and public displays of affection or run for office. tory with equal- to the masses that his new orientation places him at high- They watch the younger generations frolic in ity and Rainbow about recognizing er risk to contract HIV? Will he choose to laughter smitten with optimism of finding “the Ave. houses the the intrinsic design recycle himself because he wants to avoid one” as they share intimate moments with increased level of Marsha P. Johnson of the inner self questions like, “If you wanted to be with their tight-knit circles what is on the horizon acceptance and and its mandate to men what was the use of transitioning? Af- of those aging in the community. Discussions visibility, Transgender Lane quietly sits at a be unboxed and unashamed. Independent in ter all, he rationalizes, ‘I’m a real man and go on about health-care options, retirement peculiar axis, or in new code, intersection- their experiences, yet Daring enough to grind I have to suck it up.’” concerns, and even the benefits of getting ality of race, gender, and class as it always together, these actions led by those who have How many lesbians will look pass that married at this stage of their lives. has. There on the lane remain the stools at recently been labeled transgender made an beautiful woman of trans experience who However, between the intersection of Dewey’s counter once occupied by the fed-up Everlasting mark upon history and humankind. is also a lesbian because they do not view The message was not about who they her as a “real woman” or politely say “Not loved outwardly but loving the inner self my preference.” Hopes of meeting some- enough to no longer accept discrimination and one of like attraction slowly fade as the mistreatment. Accepting dim streetlights press their truth during a time “African-American her to retreat home on when same-gender loving the bus. Traveling alone people were viewed as in- students and women up Rainbow Ave, mak- sane, those who rebuked of color birthed ing a left onto Pride their assigned gender was St. to be dropped off unprecedented. The self- the beginnings of on Transgender Lane. aware students set the The multi-ethnic trans stage for Ms. Rivera and a global tradition. masculine of center in- Ms. Johnson to continue to Yet, at the end of tersex person present- answer the call and stand ing androgynous who on Christopher Street at the 1992 New York is contemplating carry- the Stonewall Inn. ing their child looks for The irony of this truth City Pride, Marsha community but finds is that as trans people P. Johnson was themselves off the Pride walk under the festive grid because it’s a bina- rainbow they may feel found drowned in ry-orientation event. pseudo-connected, mar- In 1965, 1966, and ginalized. If coupled, the Hudson River, again in 1969 those some trans people may “suicide,” so they transient people stood be read as allies when in their truth – ’tis the in reality she identifies said. reason for the season. as a lesbian and her African-American stu- partner as queer. A disconnect occurs. As dents and women of color birthed the be- the night falls and every flyer to the social ginnings of a global tradition. Yet, at the events display a rainbow symbol and the end of the 1992 New York City Pride, Mar- venues do not have gender-neutral rest- sha P. Johnson was found drowned in the rooms, does the LGBTQ acronym become Hudson River, “suicide,” so they said. Will just a cliche? the landscape of these annual events ever Yet things did not start out that way. proudly parade the baby blue, white, and How so? pink in conjunction with the rainbow? t 16 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com Thinking OUTloud

has been it is indeed a party or celebration but also in some way an event that demands my yellow light starts to glow. Here, hon- others to “look at me,” and “don’t I make you esty kicks in and the masks come off. Ev- uncomfortable.” In the newspapers and on TV erything is put on the table – the past, fam- Rational following Pride you will see the most outra- Lesbian ily issue, dreams, fears, regrets, and the T-hought geous drag queens displayed for their “shock Taboo yellow simply highlights it all. Most people Sharon Brackett value” and some of the public will say, “Oh Nicole Bettis back out at this stage, either unwilling to yeah those are the trans women.” Nothing disclose certain information about them- could be further from the truth! That is not selves or unable to accept information dis- who I am. And when I state so I would hope Rainbow closed to them about their partner. Proud vs. the rest of the “Pride” community would take If we both decide that the truth isn’t too note and respect that, both in language and Romance much to bear and that we want to continue Pride deed. Often this is not the case. on our journey of love, we do so until, the I believe that too often trans issues and red starts to flicker – periodically at first and As some of you may know I have been se- concerns have taken a back seat to those of Unlike some people, I don’t see things in then constantly. As much as I like to think lected by Baltimore Pride as the “Activist our LGB peers. I have seen some LGB folks simple black-and-white; I see color: bright, of those red flashes of light as spontane- of the Year” for 2014. I want to thank the comment with respect to the recent passing vibrant, luminous color! My emotions whirl ous eruptions of passion between the two hundreds –– yes that many –– who have of this legislation in Maryland that they felt (and sometimes even explode) in it – of us, they’re not. It’s the warning color, contacted me providing well wishes and the relief of a “burden” and that trans folks orangish-red, and my thoughts often bathe which in most instances means to proceed positive affirmations of this recognition. should be “grateful” to the LGB community in pools of it – midnight blue. It’s almost as with extreme caution or stop! Remember, in As always no one person accomplishes for “getting them their rights.” By all means if, depending on what the circumstances the beginning when you thought that, call- much in this world without the help of oth- I am not speaking of all LGB folk, just some. are, I can actually see much of myself in ing you every moment away from you was ers and I am no exception. Newsflash for you folks who colors or vice versa, I’m not really sure. At so cute? Well she’s still doing it and leaving A heartfelt thank you to so are thinking this way: We are any rate, the same rings true for romance, tons of angry, outrageous voicemails when many that I could not name not children who need your in my opinion. We meet; we fall in love and you don’t pick up. She complains that you them here for fear of omit- parental guidance or super- begin relationships, all the while, dancing two don’t spend enough time together, but ting any one of you. As vision. Please stop it. We it seems like you don’t even have any other a relative outsider to the worked for your rights too “Unlike some people, friends. She monitors your calls, demands LGBTQ movement prior to and so the notion that you your pass-codes, and constantly mentions my own transition I can of- “gave” us something here is I don’t see things in how she’d die if you left her or worse, kill fer that it has been a rapid pretty offensive. So please simple black-and-white; you. It’s time to go, even if you love her, and bumpy ride along the stop that too. even if she cries – leave. Things don’t get way but I am very excited Here is the deal, as I see color: bright, better, they get worse. Who knows after to see that one of the per- Time magazine has shown she gets some counseling and becomes a sonal goals I set for myself, by sporting trans actress vibrant, luminous color! little more stable, you two could try it again. and achieved with the support and energy of Laverne Cox on the cover, we have indeed My emotions whirl On the other hand, even though it’s many, will become law on October 1, 2014. reached a tipping point. Trans folk are ready rare, sometimes I do feel that yellow light Trans persons in Maryland will be afforded for prime time and for all of you to finally rec- (and sometimes even turn into a cool shade of blue. If reflects the same legal status and protections that our ognize us as peers. The general public is calmness like, an ocean underneath the LGB peers have enjoyed since 2001. That, is starting to get it. The U.S. military is starting explode) in it” waves, balance. In this place, I feel like her huge. to get it. The state of Maryland will get it. The dreams become my dreams too and her So I am indeed “proud” of this accomplish- EEOC already gets it. It would be great now in, crying in, running from, and sometimes happiness only adds to my own. I see the ment, which had the foundations laid for it in if the rest of our alphabet soup community even tripping over colors. beauty that resides past her face, inside 2002 in Baltimore City, in 2007 in Montgom- would do the same. We have come of age as When I’m first getting to know a per- her mind. I realize that our intimacy in fact ery County, in 2011 in Howard County, and a movement and as people who have mean- son that I’m extremely interested in and ends in the bedroom, while beginning in our in 2012 in Baltimore County (the latter two ingful lives to contribute to society. It is time attracted to, and we begin spending time casual conversation – beautiful, reassur- which I directly participated in). The success- you stopped thinking of us as anything else. together, I see green. It’s like a fresh, new, ing, honest, and alluring word-exchanges ful efforts in those jurisdictions have proved So yes, we are going to run for public of- spring morning every day – innocent. Ev- throughout the day. In this blue there are no that insuring the rights of trans persons in fice and seek political appointments. We will erything about her seems just so cute: the expectations, only appreciation of what is no way jeopardizes any other persons or in- lead organizations and corporations. We way she smiles, the way she snorts just a given. Sometimes I even find myself sitting fringes on their rights. Because of those suc- will have and create jobs and opportunities little when she laughs too hard, even things alone thinking… how can I make her smile cesses it became increasing difficult for oppo- and in some cases compete against our that would annoy me under normal circum- today? My heart forgives her even when, nents to claim otherwise. So it is my heartfelt LGB friends for all of those positions. That stances like, calling me every moment we my mind can’t forget what she’s done. In belief that this honor is not simply recognition is what equality is, and should be. Who I am, are away from each other, I like. During this this place I attempt to understand why, in- of what has happened in 2014 but the culmi- where I come from, who I love, should pale time the conversations seem longer and stead of seeking revenge. In this place I nation of years of work not only on legislation in comparison to what I know and can do. more pleasant because we are screening truly fall in love. t but on a number of issues related to LGBTQ The “Time” has come for us to take our place each other in a way, each putting on our and in particular “T” concerns including the in the greater community. So while I may not best face for the other. Unfortunately, it is regular authorship of this very column. feel 100% in sync with “Pride” I am indeed also that in this stage, many of the warning That this recognition is linked to Baltimore “Proud” and hope to demonstrate that visibly signs are missed or overlooked due to the Pride is another matter for me personally. by marching in the parade with my son at my “newness” of it all. Historically I have not felt a strong connec- side and good and dear friends and allies at After we’ve decided that we want to tion to the Pride event in Baltimore. My sense my back. t take the next step into relationship status,

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 17 Thinking OUTloud

more understood by the masses. who was also in the closet. So every year at this time I reflect on We attended Pride events the meaning of Pride. Am I proud that I’m each year, but were cau- gay? Of course not. It’s not an accomplish- tious not to be caught in OUT ment. It’s nothing I worked for where I the lens of the TV news Spoken succeeded in becoming gay. I’m no more cameras during the time proud of being gay than my being left- such events were consid- Steve Charing handed or that I have brown eyes. As in ered newsworthy by the the case of these other traits, it’s who I am mainstream media. – for better or worse. Gradually, I summoned When the notion of “gay pride” was up the courage to liberate A Personal formulated, it followed the Stonewall upris- myself. I became much ing (45th anniversary this month) whereby more comfortable with people who have been oppressed by the who I am, and having Bob Pride police, by the Mafia bar owners, by society at my side during this jour- LGBTQ Pride for many in today’s genera- in general took a stand and fought back. ney has been key. I made tion means an opportunity to party and cel- It wasn’t so much that people were proud sure my family knew the ebrate. Sadly, many don’t even know what they were LGBT but that instead they were truth, and they accepted they are celebrating. No joke; they don’t. fed up at being shamed for being who they Bob and I uncondition- They are ignorant of the past and what are. I was too, but it took me much longer ally. My newspaper bylines their elders had to overcome to reach a to summon up the courage to find my path. Proud at Pride contained my full name as point today when there is actually some- In fact, way too long. did the many letters to the thing to celebrate. Like many in my generation, I felt I could never think of disclosing my sex- editors of a number of publications. I was a Not that things are perfect, but life is shamed by society because I was gay. As uality to my family. I never shared this as- little more out at work but still pretty private a whole lot easier today for those who are I was compelled to hide in the closet, I was pect of me with my friends, even my close to most people even though they suspect- gay, bi and lesbian. Not so much yet for not aided by support groups to assure me friends. I always felt pressure to do the ed or assumed I was gay. transgender folks though improvements that I am not alone. There were no such “straight” stuff socially, especially during The single most dramatic turn occurred have begun and should continue, albeit at things like the Internet to keep me informed. my college years, and it was like trying to on July 23, 2009 when I married Bob in a slower pace. Progress won’t fully occur A paucity of books on the subject. No social write with your opposite hand. Provincetown, Mass. After 29 years to- until what it means to be transgender is media to establish connections. Nothing. While I had a nice job, I could never gether, I think it was time – especially be- come out; there were no employment pro- cause I loved him so much (and still do), tections. When I was drafted into the Army, it was legal in that state, and there were I obviously couldn’t reveal the fact that I rumblings at the time Maryland was going was gay, yet ironically it was during that to recognize it. experience I came out. By coming out I When we returned I posted a notice on don’t mean broadcasting publicly my sex- Facebook, and my neighbors, former co- ual orientation. Rather, it was the self-real- workers, and other friends applauded us ization that this is who I am; I’m no longer and wished us well. Not that they were sur- deceiving myself thinking and hoping that prised but they like us and were sincerely it was a “phase” and soon I will be like ev- happy for us. It was the turning point with a eryone else. lifetime of weight lifted off of my shoulders I patronized gay bars after being told and for Bob as well. where they were in NYC by the soldier Coming out is what we should be proud with whom I had my first gay sexual ex- of. That’s where the pride is – the removal perience. Even then I was cautious and of any shame for being who you are. Yes, peeked around before I went in to ensure Pride is equated with drinking and revel- that no one I knew witnessed my entering ing. But coming out and seeing the ad- a gay establishment. vances myself and other LGBT folks have When I moved to the Baltimore area in experienced is what really defines Pride. late 1977, still closeted, I was a little more And I’llLike drink to that.Us t On open especially at work but not much. That is mainly due to the fact my section Facebook! contained other gays and lesbians. I still could have been fired and could have been evicted from my apartment. Lord knows my neighbors had to suspect! I began writing for the then Gay Pa- per in 1980 but declined to spell out my last name in the bylines for a while. Then I grew a pair and reasoned that if anyone happened to see my name in the publica- tion, the question begs, what made you pick up something called The Gay Paper? I already had met Bob Ford by then 18 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com quality of life

as possible. Preferences about grooming, veterinary care, and even burial wishes for the pet can also be included. The Law For many of us, setting up a pet trust may seem like a bit much. In fact, the $12 & You million Leona Helmsley left to Trouble was Lee Carpenter eventually whittled down to a scant $2 mil- lion by a judge who saw the bequest as excessive. Allowances were also made for Trouble’s advancing age, which called for Pet Trusts: A weaning her off her gourmet rations and onto a more conventional canine diet of Legacy of Love Alpo. The best way for most household pet When Leona Helmsley breathed her last, owners to provide for their animals is usu- no one had greater reason to rejoice than ally much less complicated. Through your her dog, Trouble. Upon the death of the will, you can leave your pet to someone New York billionaire, Trouble became the who knows the animal and will be glad to beneficiary of a $12 million trust for her look after it. You may also want to include lifetime care. a monetary gift to this person to help offset Although bereft of her owner’s com- the costs involved. panionship, Trouble would enjoy a life of When someone dies, however, be- enviable comfort. The fluffy white Maltese ing asked to take care of the person’s pet traveled to her new home in Florida by pri- may well be considered an honor. The cat, vate jet. A 24-hour security detail ensured dog, or other animal is often seen the late her safety. And a steady diet of crab cakes, owner’s living legacy, making the cost of cream cheese, chicken, its care seem incon- and steamed vegetables sequential. With this was fed to her by hand. in mind, the monetary These excesses gift may simply be a were made possible by nominal amount, but a unique estate-planning for pets with health tool – the pet trust. Like problems or other a trust for a minor child, special needs, the be- a pet trust is a way to set quest can be scaled money aside to provide up to save the care- ongoing care, in this case giver from any unnec- for a beloved animal. essary financial hard- Pet trusts, which have ship. been allowed in Maryland since 2009, are Another sensible precaution is to in- generally set up through the pet owner’s clude a “pet clause” in your power of attor- will. In addition to saying how much money ney. This document allows you to appoint should go into the trust, the will appoints someone, called your “attorney in fact,” to the trustee, who manages the trust assets, manage your finances and other legal mat- and a caregiver, who looks after the pet. ters in case you become unable to. By in- A “trust protector” can also be named to cluding a pet clause among its provisions, enforce the trust’s provisions. your power of attorney can authorize the As the caregiver incurs expenses for use of your assets to cover your pet’s ex- the pet’s food, grooming, vet bills, and the penses as well as your own. like, invoices are submitted to the trustee, Many of us in the LGBT community who pays them out of the trust assets. As consider our pets to be no less than mem- a convenience, the caregiver can charge bers of the family. Making provisions for the expenses to a designated credit card their care after we are gone is a natural with the monthly statements sent directly extension of our love for them. Whether to the trustee. you opt for a well-funded pet trust or a Instructions should also be given, ei- simple bequest, you can then take comfort ther in the will itself or under a separate in knowing that you – and your pet – are document, explaining how the pet is to be ready for whatever lies ahead. t cared for. What does the pet like to eat? Lee Carpenter is an associate at the law What’s his exercise routine? Where does firm of Semmes, Bowen & Semmes and can he prefer to sleep? Providing answers to be reached at 410-576-4729 or lcarpenter@ questions like these can help make the semmes.com. This article is should not be transition from owner to caregiver as easy construed as legal advice.

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 19 quality of life

like eating more vegetables or exercising one or two times per week. What were once chal- deaf in the U.S. After doing so, mom and lenging choices became easier and easier and son came in for an appointment. As son Fit are now daily habits. One good choice led to Moving smiled, mom spoke. “Ava, now I get why for another turning into a way of life. People ask you wanted us to go to Gallaudet. From me, “How do you find time to exercise with ev- Forward the moment we drove onto campus, every- Life erything in your life, a child, career, wife, etc.?” Joshua H. Buchbinder Ava Barron-Shasho thing was accessible to John. He could see I don’t have to find time anymore because it’s what everyone was saying and his hearing not about that, it’s not a choice anymore it’s aides weren’t something weird to stare at. just something I do, like breathing. A Pride People wanted to interact with him. There Love I want to clear a few things up about this was a true sense of coming home.” whole mirror thing before we get too many Analogy As a freshman, John attended Gallaudet. Your Body misconceptions. When I train, I don’t use the He stopped wearing his hearing aid, learned mirrors, I find them to be a distraction – I can’t Several years ago I had a hearing mom to sign fluently and immersed himself in the It’s fitting that this article is in the Pride issue. possibly focus on my training if I’m focusing on bring her deaf son for coaching. Her son deaf community. Later, his partner was deaf; Although not a member of the LGBT commu- how I look! The type of training I do isn’t about did not sign and associated with the hear- he networked with the deaf and started work- nity I am a proud supporter of those who are, looking better for the beach or the mirror. My ing community. The ing for a deaf organiza- especially my friends and family. I want my training is about getting stronger, faster, and son was full of shame, tion. In time, shame, loved ones to know how proud I am of them healthier – the aesthetic stuff is a bonus. doubt, and depression. doubt and depression for their strength, character and persever- In the mornings when my wife thinks I’m While trying to fit-in to no longer plagued him. ance in the face of adversity. I love you. “checking myself out,” I am just realizing how the hearing world, son He found his home, the Let’s talk about fitness, strength, and lov- far I’ve come while in full admission of how was different and this place where he could ing your body regardless of your shape or far I still have to go. I am proud of the work took a toll on an emo- be himself. size. Everyday my wife laughs at me when I’ve put in and am proud I made a choice long tional level. I asked the Pride = Com- I look at myself in our full-length mirror with ago to be on this journey of health and fitness. mom to take her son fort. Support. Ac- little to no clothes on. She thinks I’m super I believe every person should be proud of to visit Gallaudet Uni- ceptance. Freedom. vain, like Narcis- their body, regard- versity, the only liberal Networking. Family. sus falling in love less of its appear- arts university for the Friends. t with myself. This ance. The body is is not entirely true, amazing in what but also not en- it does and can tirely false. I’m not do. Thousands checking myself of microscopic out, that’s for sure. processes hap- I’m not the leanest pen every second or most muscular – some are so person in the world small you might by any stretch of say they couldn’t the imagination. have happened, However, I am but they did. Be proud of the body the proud owner that I have, flaws of something that and all! has the capacity When I was younger I had many health to change, improve, and transform. issues and couldn’t do much physical activity. Every day is a starting point, a baseline, As a result of my health concerns and medi- from here we can measure success and prog- cations I gained quite a bit of weight and was ress. Some days will be hard, we will fail, but pleasantly plump. As my teen years came it this is progress. Every day is a chance to be became imperative to be healthier and fitter. I better than the day before with our fitness and wanted to play sports more competitively and as a person. be strong. I started lifting weights, doing car- Exercise is more than a hobby now, it’s diovascular exercise, and most importantly my career, my passion, who I am, and it’s not eating healthy. vanity when I look mirror. I feel a sense of Twenty years later and this fitness thing gratitude and hope, I know how far I’ve come hasn’t been an easy road. Over the years and the things I had to overcome to get here. there were all sorts of temptations with food, Even if fitness isn’t your passion it should be alcohol, and other things – at many times a part of your life, join me on the journey to those were my coping mechanisms for stress, self-improvement and be proud of your body, not good. Exercise has also been a coping mind, and soul! t mechanism and always a better choice, and Joshua Buchbinder M.S. is the group train- like most things in life the right choice is sel- ing coordinator at Life Time Athletic in Colum- dom easy. bia, Maryland. Reach him at jbuchbinder@life- I take pride in making the right choices timefitness.com and follow him at Facebook. daily, in the beginning I made little changes com/primitivestrength, or call 410-967-9699.

20 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 21 22 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 23 What is STRIBILD? • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. What should I tell my healthcare STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used as If you also have HBV and stop taking provider before taking STRIBILD? a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 in STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used STRIBILD, your hepatitis may suddenly get adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never worse. Do not stop taking STRIBILD without • All your health problems. Be sure to tell before. STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. taken HIV-1 medicines before. It combines fi rst talking to your healthcare provider, as they your healthcare provider if you have or had 4 medicines into 1 pill to be taken once a day will need to monitor your health. STRIBILD is any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including with food. STRIBILD is a complete single- not approved for the treatment of HBV. hepatitis virus infection. tablet regimen and should not be used with Who should not take STRIBILD? • All the medicines you take, including other HIV-1 medicines. prescription and nonprescription medicines, STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 infection Do not take STRIBILD if you: vitamins, and herbal supplements. STRIBILD or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and may affect the way other medicines work, and decrease HIV-related illnesses you must • Take a medicine that contains: other medicines may affect how STRIBILD I started my keep taking STRIBILD. Ask your healthcare alfuzosin, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, works. Keep a list of all your medicines and provider if you have questions about how to methylergonovine, cisapride, lovastatin, show it to your healthcare provider and personal revolution reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. simvastatin, pimozide, sildenafi l when used pharmacist. Do not start any new medicines ® Always practice safer sex and use condoms for lung problems (Revatio ), triazolam, oral while taking STRIBILD without fi rst talking to lower the chance of sexual contact with midazolam, rifampin or the herb St. John’s wort. with your healthcare provider. body fl uids. Never reuse or share needles or • For a list of brand names for these • If you take hormone-based birth control Talk to your healthcare provider other items that have body fl uids on them. medicines, please see the Brief Summary (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc). on the following pages. about starting treatment. • If you take antacids. Take antacids at least IMPORTANT SAFETY • Take any other medicines to treat HIV-1 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD. infection, or the medicine adefovir (Hepsera®). INFORMATION • If you are pregnant or plan to become STRIBILD is a complete HIV-1 What is the most important information What are the other possible side pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can treatment in 1 pill, once a day. I should know about STRIBILD? effects of STRIBILD? harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while STRIBILD can cause serious side effects: Serious side effects of STRIBILD may taking STRIBILD. Ask if it’s right for you. • Build-up of an acid in your blood also include: • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical • New or worse kidney problems, including plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis kidney failure. Your healthcare provider HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in include feeling very weak or tired, unusual should do regular blood and urine tests to breast milk. Also, some medicines (not normal) muscle pain, trouble breathing, check your kidneys before and during in STRIBILD can pass into breast stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, treatment with STRIBILD. If you develop milk, and it is not known if this can feeling cold especially in your arms and legs, kidney problems, your healthcare provider harm the baby. feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD. irregular heartbeat. You are encouraged to report • Bone problems, including bone pain or negative side effects of • Serious liver problems. The liver may bones getting soft or thin, which may lead prescription drugs to the FDA. become large (hepatomegaly) and fatty to fractures. Your healthcare provider may Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, (steatosis). Symptoms of liver problems do tests to check your bones. or call 1-800-FDA-1088. include your skin or the white part of your eyes • Changes in body fat can happen in people turns yellow (jaundice), dark “tea-colored” taking HIV-1 medicines. urine, light-colored bowel movements (stools), Please see Brief Summary of full loss of appetite for several days or longer, • Changes in your immune system. Your Prescribing Information with important nausea, and/or stomach pain. immune system may get stronger and begin warnings on the following pages. to fi ght infections. Tell your healthcare provider You may be more likely to get lactic • if you have any new symptoms after you start acidosis or serious liver problems if you are taking STRIBILD. female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking STRIBILD for a long time. In some The most common side effects of STRIBILD cases, these serious conditions have led to include nausea and diarrhea. Tell your healthcare death. Call your healthcare provider right away provider if you have any side effects that bother if you have any symptoms of these conditions. you or don’t go away.

24 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 25 16 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD march 21, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com PALIO Date: 3.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 16873_pgiqdp_E_Winston_BaltOutLoud_ .indd Winston PALIO Date: 3.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 16873_pgiqdp_E_Winston_BaltOutLoud_ .indd BALTIMORE OUTLOUDWinston march 21, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 17 Ad Page 1 Ad Page 2 Trim: 9.875” x 9.6” Baltimore OUT Loud Trim: 9.875” x 9.6” Baltimore OUT Loud Patient Information • Do not run out of STRIBILD. Re ll your prescription or talk to your The most common side effects of STRIBILD include: - estazolam healthcare provider before your STRIBILD is all gone ® STRIBILD® (STRY-bild) • Nausea - ethosuximide (Zarontin ) (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir • Do not stop taking STRIBILD without  rst talking to your healthcare provider • Diarrhea - ecainide (Tambocor®) disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) tablets • If you stop taking STRIBILD, your healthcare provider will need to check Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers - urazepam Brief summary of full Prescribing Information. For more information, please your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check you or that does not go away. - uticasone (Flovent®, Flonase®, Flovent® Diskus®, your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual see the full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information. • These are not all the possible side effects of STRIBILD. For more Flovent® HFA, Veramyst®) symptoms you may have after you stop taking STRIBILD information, ask your healthcare provider. - itraconazole (Sporanox®) What is STRIBILD? Who should not take STRIBILD? • Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You - ketoconazole (Nizoral®) may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. ® • STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults - lidocaine (Xylocaine ) Do not take STRIBILD if you also take a medicine that contains: who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. STRIBILD is a complete What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? - mexiletine ® regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. • adefovir (Hepsera ) - oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) ® Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including: • STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. You must stay on continuous • alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral ) - perphenazine ® ® • If you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis B HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. • cisapride (Propulsid , Propulsid Quicksolv ) - phenobarbital (Luminal®) infection • Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to • ergot-containing medicines, including: dihydroergotamine mesylate - phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) others. Do not share or reuse needles, injection equipment, or personal (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot®, Migergot®, • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become - propafenone (Rythmol®) items that can have blood or body uids on them. Do not have sex without Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), and pregnant while taking STRIBILD. ® protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane methylergonovine maleate (Ergotrate®, Methergine®) - quinidine (Neudexta ) - There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines ® condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal • lovastatin (Advicor®, Altoprev®, Mevacor®) - rifabutin (Mycobutin ) secretions, or blood. during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information ® • oral midazolam about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider - rifapentine (Priftin ) about how you can take part in this registry. - risperidone (Risperdal®, Risperdal Consta®) What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? • pimozide (Orap®) ® ® ® ® ® • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed - salmeterol (Serevent ) or salmeterol when taken in combination with • rifampin (Rifadin , Rifamate , Rifater , Rimactane ) if you take STRIBILD. uticasone (Advair Diskus®, Advair HFA®) STRIBILD can cause serious side effects, including: ® • sildena l (Revatio ), when used for treating lung problems ® ® ® ® 1. Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis - You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of - sildena l (Viagra ), tadala l (Cialis ) or vardena l (Levitra , Staxyn ), can happen in some people who take STRIBILD or similar (nucleoside • simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®) passing HIV-1 to your baby. for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). If you get dizzy or faint (low blood pressure), have vision changes or have an erection that last analogs) medicines. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that ® - Two of the medicines in STRIBILD can pass to your baby in your breast • triazolam (Halcion ) longer than 4 hours, call your healthcare provider or get medical help can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because milk. It is not known if the other medicines in STRIBILD can pass into • the herb St. John’s wort right away. the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. your breast milk. - tadala l (Adcirca®), for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the Do not take STRIBILD if you also take any other HIV-1 medicines, - Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. including: - telithromycin (Ketek®) following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including ® ® ® • feel very weak or tired • Other medicines that contain tenofovir (Atripla , Complera , Viread , prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal - thioridazine ® Truvada ) supplements: ® • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain - voriconazole (Vfend ) • Other medicines that contain emtricitabine, lamivudine, or ritonavir • STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines - warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) • have trouble breathing (Atripla®, Combivir®, Complera®, Emtriva®, Epivir® or Epivir-HBV®, may affect how STRIBILD works. ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® - zolpidem (Ambien , Edlular , Intermezzo , Zolpimist ) • have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting Epzicom , Kaletra , Norvir , Trizivir , Truvada ) • Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following STRIBILD is not for use in people who are less than 18 years old. medicines: Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of all your medicines and show • feel cold, especially in your arms and legs it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. • feel dizzy or lightheaded - Hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc) Do not start any new medicines while you are taking STRIBILD without  rst What are the possible side effects of STRIBILD? talking with your healthcare provider. • have a fast or irregular heartbeat - Antacid medicines that contain aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you Keep STRIBILD and all medicines out of reach of children. 2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who STRIBILD may cause the following serious side effects: take STRIBILD take STRIBILD. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your • See “What is the most important information I should know about - Medicines to treat depression, organ transplant rejection, or high This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your STRIBILD?” blood pressure STRIBILD. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get provider. You can also ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare - amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®) information about STRIBILD that is written for health professionals, or any of the following symptoms of liver problems: provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you - atorvastatin (Lipitor®, Caduet®) call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.STRIBILD.com. • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) start and while you are taking STRIBILD. Your healthcare provider may tell - bepridil hydrochloride (Vascor®, Bepadin®) Issued: October 2013 • dark “tea-colored” urine you to stop taking STRIBILD if you develop new or worse kidney problems. - bosentan (Tracleer®) • light-colored bowel movements (stools) • Bone problems can happen in some people who take STRIBILD. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to - buspirone • loss of appetite for several days or longer fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones. - carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®) • nausea • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. - clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Prevpac®) • stomach pain These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and - clonazepam (Klonopin®) neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause - clorazepate (Gen-xene®, Tranxene®) if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known. - colchicine (Colcrys®) STRIBILD for a long time. • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can - medicines that contain dexamethasone COMPLERA, EMTRIVA, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, HEPSERA, STRIBILD, the STRIBILD Logo, 3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you have hepatitis B virus (HBV) TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. ATRIPLA happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may - diazepam (Valium®) is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other marks referenced herein infection and take STRIBILD, your HBV may get worse ( are-up) if you stop get stronger and begin to  ght infections that have been hidden in your are the property of their respective owners. ® taking STRIBILD. A “ are-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start - digoxin (Lanoxin ) in a worse way than before. having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. - disopyramide (Norpace®) © 2014 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. STBC0078 03/14

26 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com 18 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD march 21, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com PALIO Date: 3.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 16873_pgiqdp_E_Winston_BaltOutLoud_ .indd Winston PALIO Date: 3.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 16873_pgiqdp_E_Winston_BaltOutLoud_ .indd BALTIMORE OUTLOUDWinston march 21, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 19 BS Page 1 BS Page 2 Trim: 9.875” x 9.6” Baltimore OUT Loud Trim: 9.875” x 9.6” Baltimore OUT Loud Patient Information • Do not run out of STRIBILD. Re ll your prescription or talk to your The most common side effects of STRIBILD include: - estazolam healthcare provider before your STRIBILD is all gone ® STRIBILD® (STRY-bild) • Nausea - ethosuximide (Zarontin ) (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir • Do not stop taking STRIBILD without  rst talking to your healthcare provider • Diarrhea - ecainide (Tambocor®) disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) tablets • If you stop taking STRIBILD, your healthcare provider will need to check Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers - urazepam Brief summary of full Prescribing Information. For more information, please your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check you or that does not go away. - uticasone (Flovent®, Flonase®, Flovent® Diskus®, your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual see the full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information. • These are not all the possible side effects of STRIBILD. For more Flovent® HFA, Veramyst®) symptoms you may have after you stop taking STRIBILD information, ask your healthcare provider. - itraconazole (Sporanox®) What is STRIBILD? Who should not take STRIBILD? • Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You - ketoconazole (Nizoral®) may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. ® • STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults - lidocaine (Xylocaine ) Do not take STRIBILD if you also take a medicine that contains: who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. STRIBILD is a complete What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? - mexiletine ® regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. • adefovir (Hepsera ) - oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) ® Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including: • STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. You must stay on continuous • alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral ) - perphenazine ® ® • If you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis B HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. • cisapride (Propulsid , Propulsid Quicksolv ) - phenobarbital (Luminal®) infection • Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to • ergot-containing medicines, including: dihydroergotamine mesylate - phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) others. Do not share or reuse needles, injection equipment, or personal (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot®, Migergot®, • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become - propafenone (Rythmol®) items that can have blood or body uids on them. Do not have sex without Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), and pregnant while taking STRIBILD. ® protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane methylergonovine maleate (Ergotrate®, Methergine®) - quinidine (Neudexta ) - There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines ® condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal • lovastatin (Advicor®, Altoprev®, Mevacor®) - rifabutin (Mycobutin ) secretions, or blood. during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information ® • oral midazolam about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider - rifapentine (Priftin ) about how you can take part in this registry. - risperidone (Risperdal®, Risperdal Consta®) What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? • pimozide (Orap®) ® ® ® ® ® • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed - salmeterol (Serevent ) or salmeterol when taken in combination with • rifampin (Rifadin , Rifamate , Rifater , Rimactane ) if you take STRIBILD. uticasone (Advair Diskus®, Advair HFA®) STRIBILD can cause serious side effects, including: ® • sildena l (Revatio ), when used for treating lung problems ® ® ® ® 1. Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis - You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of - sildena l (Viagra ), tadala l (Cialis ) or vardena l (Levitra , Staxyn ), can happen in some people who take STRIBILD or similar (nucleoside • simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®) passing HIV-1 to your baby. for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). If you get dizzy or faint (low blood pressure), have vision changes or have an erection that last analogs) medicines. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that ® - Two of the medicines in STRIBILD can pass to your baby in your breast • triazolam (Halcion ) longer than 4 hours, call your healthcare provider or get medical help can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because milk. It is not known if the other medicines in STRIBILD can pass into • the herb St. John’s wort right away. the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. your breast milk. - tadala l (Adcirca®), for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the Do not take STRIBILD if you also take any other HIV-1 medicines, - Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. including: - telithromycin (Ketek®) following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including ® ® ® • feel very weak or tired • Other medicines that contain tenofovir (Atripla , Complera , Viread , prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal - thioridazine ® Truvada ) supplements: ® • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain - voriconazole (Vfend ) • Other medicines that contain emtricitabine, lamivudine, or ritonavir • STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines - warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) • have trouble breathing (Atripla®, Combivir®, Complera®, Emtriva®, Epivir® or Epivir-HBV®, may affect how STRIBILD works. ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® - zolpidem (Ambien , Edlular , Intermezzo , Zolpimist ) • have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting Epzicom , Kaletra , Norvir , Trizivir , Truvada ) • Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following STRIBILD is not for use in people who are less than 18 years old. medicines: Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of all your medicines and show • feel cold, especially in your arms and legs it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. • feel dizzy or lightheaded - Hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc) Do not start any new medicines while you are taking STRIBILD without  rst What are the possible side effects of STRIBILD? talking with your healthcare provider. • have a fast or irregular heartbeat - Antacid medicines that contain aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you Keep STRIBILD and all medicines out of reach of children. 2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who STRIBILD may cause the following serious side effects: take STRIBILD take STRIBILD. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your • See “What is the most important information I should know about - Medicines to treat depression, organ transplant rejection, or high This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your STRIBILD?” blood pressure STRIBILD. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get provider. You can also ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare - amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®) information about STRIBILD that is written for health professionals, or any of the following symptoms of liver problems: provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you - atorvastatin (Lipitor®, Caduet®) call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.STRIBILD.com. • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) start and while you are taking STRIBILD. Your healthcare provider may tell - bepridil hydrochloride (Vascor®, Bepadin®) Issued: October 2013 • dark “tea-colored” urine you to stop taking STRIBILD if you develop new or worse kidney problems. - bosentan (Tracleer®) • light-colored bowel movements (stools) • Bone problems can happen in some people who take STRIBILD. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to - buspirone • loss of appetite for several days or longer fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones. - carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®) • nausea • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. - clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Prevpac®) • stomach pain These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and - clonazepam (Klonopin®) neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause - clorazepate (Gen-xene®, Tranxene®) if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known. - colchicine (Colcrys®) STRIBILD for a long time. • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can - medicines that contain dexamethasone COMPLERA, EMTRIVA, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, HEPSERA, STRIBILD, the STRIBILD Logo, 3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you have hepatitis B virus (HBV) TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. ATRIPLA happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may - diazepam (Valium®) is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other marks referenced herein infection and take STRIBILD, your HBV may get worse ( are-up) if you stop get stronger and begin to  ght infections that have been hidden in your are the property of their respective owners. ® taking STRIBILD. A “ are-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start - digoxin (Lanoxin ) in a worse way than before. having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. - disopyramide (Norpace®) © 2014 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. STBC0078 03/14

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 27 18 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD march 21, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com PALIO Date: 3.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 16873_pgiqdp_E_Winston_BaltOutLoud_ .indd Winston PALIO Date: 3.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 16873_pgiqdp_E_Winston_BaltOutLoud_ .indd BALTIMORE OUTLOUDWinston march 21, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 19 BS Page 1 BS Page 2 Trim: 9.875” x 9.6” Baltimore OUT Loud Trim: 9.875” x 9.6” Baltimore OUT Loud Lively Arts // out on stage Top 10 LGBT Broadway Shows By Steve Charing Angry Inch, fronted by an East German struggling to survive and create in New gay composer Jerry Herman and the book June is LGBT Pride month, which com- transgender singer, Hedwig. The text is by York City’s Lower East Side in Alphabet written by Harvey Fierstein, who is also gay, memorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising, John Cameron Mitchell, and the music and City, with HIV/AIDS as a significant back- there is no question La Cage deserves the regarded by most historians as the begin- lyrics are by Stephen Trask. The character drop to the storyline. The song “Seasons top spot. Moreover, La Cage gives us the ning of the modern day gay rights move- of Hedwig was originally inspired by a Ger- of Love” is a classic. Larsen died suddenly song “I Am What I Am,” which took on a life ment. To salute LGBT Pride month, I am man divorced U.S. Army wife who the night before its off-Broad- of its own and became an unofficial gay an- offering my Top 10 all-time LGBT-oriented was a Mitchell family babysitter and way premiere. them. This show also demonstrated before Broadway plays and musicals. moonlighted as a prostitute at her 4) Kiss of the Spider it became widely accepted that children The criteria chosen for these shows trailer-park home. It opened off- Woman, based on the Man- of gay parents turn out well – a powerful include: Broadway in 1998 and played for uel Puig novel El Beso de la message amidst a ton of laughter and great • a successful run on Broadway (or off- over 850 performances. Mujer Araña, captured seven music. Broadway) 7) The 1979 play Bent, written Tony Awards in 1993, includ- Honorable Mentions with musicals • significant LGBT characters by Martin Sherman, is a powerful ing Best Musical. With music shown in bold (in no particular order): • an LGBT theme or storyline; and drama that describes the persecu- by John Kander and Fred Falsettos, The Ritz, The Normal Heart, • groundbreaking for its time. tion of homosexuals in Nazi Ger- Ebb and the book by Ter- A Chorus Line, Love! Valour! Compas- I have selected five musicals and five many and how they must wear the rence McNally, it tells the sto- sion!, Stop Kiss, Victor/Victoria, The Chil- plays to comprise the list. pink triangle as a means of identifi- ry of a gay man, Molina, in a dren’s Hour, The Color Purple, I Am My There are so many worthy choices that cation. Bent takes place during and Latin American prison and his Own Wife, Avenue Q, Breaking the Code, the others that do not make the Top 10 are after the Night of the Long Knives relationship with a straight Spring Awakening, Last Summer at Blue- included in the Honorable Mentions sec- – an event that occurred from June cellmate, Valetin. Molina’s fantasies about fish Cove, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, tion. 30 to July 2, 1934, when the Nazi regime the actress Aurora are their only ostensible Deathtrap, The Rocky Horror Show, The 10) Kinky Boots, with music and lyr- carried out a series of political murders. escape. The show ran for over 900 perfor- Laramie Project, M. Butterfly, The Nance, ics by Cindi Lauper and book by Harvey The play helped raise awareness regard- mances on Broadway. Next Fall, Cabaret, Fifth of July, Six De- Fierstein, received six Tony Awards includ- ing the Nazi persecution of gays during 3) The 1983 Tony and Drama Desk grees of Separation. t ing Best Musical among 13 nominations that period. Award winner for Best in 2013. Based on the 6) The Boys in the Play, Torch Song Trilogy, 2005 film Kinky Boots, Band, by Mart Crow- penned by Harvey Fierstein, which was inspired by a ley, made the list for is presented in three acts: true story, the musical being a groundbreak- “International Stud,” “Fugue tells of a struggling Brit- ing gay-themed play in a Nursery,” and “Widows ish shoe factory’s owner, that opened in 1968 and Children First!” The sto- Charlie, who forms an and played off-Broad- ry concerns Arnold Beckoff, unlikely partnership with way for over 1,000 a torch-song singing Jewish a drag queen named performances. The drag queen living in New Lola, to save the busi- varied gay characters’ York City in the late 1970s ness. Charlie develops a backgrounds are re- and 1980s, with each act fo- plan to produce custom vealed as they became cusing on a different phase footwear for drag queens increasingly inebriated of Arnold’s life. and kings, rather than the during an Upper East 2) Angels in America men’s dress shoes that Side Manhattan birth- (Parts I and II) is a 1993 his firm is known for, and day party. Some be- Pulitzer Prize masterpiece in the process, he and lieved that after seeing by gay playwright Tony Lola discover that they the play whereby the Kushner. Presented sepa- are not that different. gay characters brought rately, Part I, Millennium Ap- 9) The 2003 Tony their feelings out of the proaches (four Tony Awards Award-winner for Best closet, it set a tone that in 1993) and Part II, Per- Play Take Me Out, by gays should no longer estroika (three Tony Awards Richard Greenberg, settle for considering in 1994) center on the AIDS touches on social issues themselves as pathet- crisis in New York City in that are in the headlines today. Largely set ic, which could have been an inspiration 1985 and how it affects a in the locker room of a professional base- for the Stonewall uprising in 1969. group of dissimilar but con- ball team, the all-male cast deals with such 5) Popular in the LGBT community, nected individuals. issues as homophobia, racism, class, and Rent initially played off-Broadway and 1) Without question La masculinity in sports. With a current push eventually moved to Broadway where it Cage Aux Folles, a record- for gay athletes in professional sports to won four Tony Awards in 1996, including breaking Tony Awards win- come out, this timeless play resonates like Best Musical. With music and lyrics by ner, ranks as the all-time no other. Jonathan Larson and based on Puccini’s leader of LGBT productions. A nd the 8) A new revival on Broadway, Hed- opera La bohème, Rent tells the story of Given that there were gay winner is... wig and the Angry Inch is a rock musical a group of broke young artists and musi- main characters, the music about a fictional rock-and-roll band, The cians including gay and lesbian characters and lyrics were penned by a

28 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com Lively Arts // out on screen

for Everything, Julie Newmar, which was Celebrate Pride With a Movie! seen as an inferior imitation but still has its charms. By Chuck Duncan rected by William Friedkin who went on to drag balls serve as an examination of sex- The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Happy Pride Month! As we celebrate Balti- more notoriety as the director of the hugely uality, race, and gender issues of the time. The cult film to end all cult films, Rocky more Pride (and Pride celebrations around controversial Cruising. The film really brought drag culture to the Horror was embraced at first by the fringe the country), you may be looking for ways C.R.A.Z.Y. – This charming French Ca- masses for the first time, and without it we elements at midnight screenings (after to enjoy the month beyond the parade and nadian import takes place in the 70s and may not have The Adventures of Priscilla, it flopped badly during its 1975 theatri- festival, which encompass just two days of centers on Zac Beaulieu, a teen struggling Queen of the Desert, or even RuPaul’s cal release) which then became a gath- the 30 in June. So what better way to show with his sexuality in a family of five broth- Drag Race today. ering place for audiences gay, straight, your Pride all month than Female Trouble – John Waters’ mov- and everything in-between, who reveled by looking back at some ies have always had a gay sensibility, in the music and Tim Curry’s bravura per- of the most popular and of course, but this was the one that cel- formance as everyone’s favorite Sweet influential LGBT movies ebrated the normalcy of being gay – Edith Transvestite from Transexual, Transylva- available on home video. Massey’s Aunt Ida is always trying to fix nia. Everyone has their own up her nephew Gater with another man – Beautiful Thing – Another coming-of- opinion on what consti- while being straight is considered “sick.” age import, this one British, focuses on a tutes a good movie, so Then there’s Divine playing both a woman suburban geek who finds himself falling for I offer my highly subjec- and a man, and the utter madness of it all a neighbor boy who isn’t quite prepared to tive take on LGBT mov- resulting in one of Waters’ best, funniest accept such affections. The film features ies to consider watching, and most-quoted movies. the ups and downs of coming to terms with or re-watching, during The Celluloid Closet – In today’s oneself in a pretty realistic manner, but Pride Month. world of cinema, pretty much nothing is ends on an uplifting note. Dallas Buyers Club Paris is Burning taboo, but pre-1980 any film that featured Milk – Sean Penn won an Oscar for – If you’ve seen it, you a gay character usually made that charac- playing gay rights activist Harvey Milk in probably don’t want to ter a joke or a tragedy (punished for their this eye-opening film (for those too young sit through it again because it is a seri- ers (he’s the Z of the title) and a strict, lifestyle), and often obscured the charac- to have lived through that era) that shows ously tough watch. If you haven’t seen it, conservative father. The film has a nice ter’s sexuality but audiences “in the know” how far we’ve come thanks to Milk’s ef- then you need to see the film to see how mixture of warmth, sadness, and comedy, could almost feel the vibe (like the strong forts (recently honored with his own post- one man fought the system to bring new nails the era perfectly, and is thoroughly homosexual undertones of Hitchcock’s age stamp) and how far we have yet to HIV/AIDS medications to patients in the entertaining by feeling totally authentic. Stranger on a Train). The Celluloid Closet go. Watching the film and seeing what U.S., and even more so for Jared Leto’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch – John looks back at the history of gay and lesbian Harvey Milk accomplished makes us won- amazing, heart-breaking, Oscar-winning Cameron Mitchell wrote, directed, and characters in film from the earliest days to der where the Harvey Milk of today is as performance as Rayon, the trans woman starred in the film adaptation of his Off- the present (of 1995) and features celebri- religious and political fanatics fiercely try Broadway musical hit about ties like Quentin Crisp, Whoopi Goldberg, to deny the LGBT community their basic a transgender woman trying Susan Sarandon, and Tony Curtis. This is human rights. to find love after a botched essential viewing to understand the history Brokeback Mountain – The heart- operation left her with the tit- of LGBT cinema. breaking tale of forbidden love between ular “angry inch.” The story is TransAmerica – With all the talk re- two cowboys in 1963, the film broke bar- poignant, the music is rock- cently about “trans-phobia” and the use of riers and became more than just an LGBT ingly awesome, and Mitch- a certain word that has been considered film thanks to its sensitive portrayals by ell’s performance is riveting. derogatory, it may be a good time to take big-name stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyl- Desert Hearts – Pre- a look (or revisit) this film that thoughtfully lenhaal, Anne Hathaway, and Michelle Wil- 1980s, movies that featured tackled the issues of being a transgender liams. Many still consider it a crime that the lesbians often had to jump person. Desperate Housewives star Felicity movie lost the Best Picture Oscar to the through hoops to conceal Huffman turned in a sensitive, human, and overly melodramatic (and over-praised) that fact but managed to find convincing portrait of a transgender woman Crash. Certainly not the feel-good LGBT a way to imply there was opening up to her son. The film earned Os- film of the year, but one worth savoring for The Boys in the Band something more going on car nominations for Huffman’s performance the performances alone. t than just a friendship (The and Dolly Parton’s song “Travelin’ Haunting, for example, with Thru.” who helped homophobic AIDS patient Claire Bloom’s Theo subtly stalking Ju- The Adventures of Priscil- Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey) lie Harris’s Nell). Said friendship almost la, Queen of the Desert – The become more human. The film has its de- always ended tragically. In 1985, Desert first fictional film to present drag tractors, but Leto’s performance makes it Hearts broke that mold by following the re- queens as humans with real emo- worth watching. lationship of two women (played by Helen tions and not just campy carica- The Boys in the Band – Definitely a Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau) – one a tures. It also introduced U.S. au- cinematic milestone, this is the first film divorcee – in 1950s Nevada, played out to diences to Hugo Weaving (The (1970) to revolve solely around gay char- a backdrop of country-western music and Matrix) and Guy Pierce (L.A. acters. The plot focuses on a birthday par- a happy ending! Confidential), and gave us Su- ty and what happens when a presumably Paris is Burning – The amazing 1990 perman’s supervillain General straight friend of one of the party-goers documentary peels back the curtain on Zod, Terence Stamp, in drag. It unexpectedly shows up. The film was di- New York’s 1980s drag scene where the also begat To Wong Foo, Thanks Brokeback Mountain

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 29 Lively Arts // out on stage

Steve Satta, Iron Bareback Ink at Iron Crow Crow’s artistic direc- T anner Medding as tor, has either di- Canvas (left) gets By Steve Charing estus. The all-powerful Zeus abducted the rected or appeared inked by Steve beautiful and youthful Trojan Ganymede in virtually all of the Satta as Artist There are three groups of theatergoers credit: Daniel Ettinger who will particularly enjoy the Iron Crow to be his lover, controlling and raping the company’s plays over Theatre Company’s production of Bare- lad. Hephaestus, the god of fire, especially the past few years. In back Ink: aficionados of Greek mythol- the blacksmith’s fire, was the patron of all this installment, Satta ogy, gay men, and folks who appreciate a craftsmen. plays the tattoo artist well-directed production with stellar acting Converting this premise to a modern who is the object of – or any combination of these. However, scenario, Bartlett writes about a mysteri- the boy’s real affec- if you are not in the first group, you may ous powerful man who is never named nor tion. Throughout the not comprehend the symbolism contained appears on stage (the Zeus character), play, he contends with in the play, which could mitigate to some sending a beautiful 17 year-old boy (Gany- the boy’s restlessness extent any enjoyment derived from being mede character) to a tattoo artist (Hepha- and sexual desires in the other two groups. estus character) to get a large work of ink while administering In true Iron Crow form, the production on his back to be a sort of rite of passage to the “ink” on the boy’s takes an unconventional script with edgy manhood as he approaches his 18th birth- back. Satta turns in themes and sexuality infused throughout. day. What ensues is a perplexing blend of a solid, competent Being the only queer theatre company symbolism, intensity and erotica, and often performance as the in Baltimore, Iron Crow has consistently how one gets from Point A to Point B in the mostly low-keyed art- produced plays featuring a gay angle, plot is not always clear. ist contrasting with with some containing a good dose of ho- Despite the play’s lack of clarity in plac- and ably compliment- moeroticism. This production follows that es, the performances by the two-man cast ing the boy’s hyper model. and the precision of the technical team un- personality. Bareback Ink, a play written by Bob der the direction of Ryan Clark make for an However, this play Bartlett that appeared at the Capitol Fringe entertaining experience. Clark, who directed is the perfect vehicle and the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012, is “Trick,” one of the better segments in Iron to showcase the ris- loosely based on the Greek mythological Crow’s recent The Homo Poe Show, does a ing acting talents of characters Zeus, Ganymede, and Hepha- superb job of helming the production. Tanner Medding as the teen (or as the program lists him, Canvas). Medding, who had a breakout performance in Iron Crow’s Slipping last year, shined throughout, Veteran set designer Heather Mork cre- and if nothing else, is a reason for seeing ated a bleak venue for the action, with plain Bareback Ink. walls containing tattoo designs, a bed, foot- Playing the beautiful Ganymede-equiva- locker, a door for the occasional entrances lent is not a stretch for Medding. Handsome, and exits by Canvas, a table with tattoo blond with a lithe torso, Medding is shirtless equipment, a chair, stool and basement win- during most of the play making for an appeal- dows that allow the lightning to flash through. ing visual, especially for those who appreci- The presence of Zeus throughout the ate such images. His Ganymede character play is evident by the frequent thunder and is quite aware that he is the most beautiful lightning. Alec Lawson’s lighting design am- male on earth with his swagger and words. plifies the play’s myriad emotional turns. Medding displays a full range of emo- Jessye Black effectively makes the thunder tions evolving into a sympathetic character boom. who has been taken advantage of and raped Bareback Ink is an interesting and cre- throughout his youth and failing to fulfill his ative take on mythology, but its strength lies lust for the older, rather detached Artist. He in the tight direction, performances by two adeptly and energetically moves about the excellent actors and a proficient technical stage, providing most of the play’s action, crew. It is recommended, but bone up on force, and passion. Greek mythology first. t Both Satta and Medding exhibit vari- The play runs 90 minutes with no inter- ous moments of mellowness and intensity mission and contains sexual situations and and carry it out competently. Their on-stage adult language. Bareback Ink runs through chemistry is quite palpable in their perfor- June 14 and is performed at the Swirnow mances and drives the play. Theater, Mattin Center for the Arts, Johns The sole setting for Bareback Ink is Hopkins University, Charles Street & 33rd a basement tattoo parlor where a “club” Street, Baltimore. For more information and (Mount Olympus in the mythology) symboli- ticket reservations visit IronCrowTheatre. cally exists above. It becomes a prison, in com or call the Iron Crow box office at 443- effect, for both characters. 637-CROW (2769).

30 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com Lively Arts // between the covers quality of life Pride Reading List By Gregg Shapiro facsimile images, “A Note on the Text” by Award-winning lesbian poet and essayist Seth Perlow, and Juliana Spahr’s afterword. Domestic Julie Marie Wade, who teaches creative writing at Florida International University, On the fiction front Dandy is the author of the chapbook When I Was When it comes to fitting Pride reads, few Jeffrey Clouser Straight (A Midsummer Night’s Press, books can compare to The Days of Anna 2014), in which she addresses the com- Madrigal (Harper, 2014), the ninth install- ing-out process, before and after, with wit, ment in Armistead Maupin’s beloved Tales A Summer woe, wisdom, and wonder. of the City saga. After taking a break from Choices, choices... Maryland-based Lambda Literary the series and the characters, Maupin re- Made Easy Award nominee Hailey Leithauser is also sumed writing about the inhabitants of 28 out a word or monogram. For our pillows the recipient of the Emily Dickinson First Barbary Lane again in 2007, with the lat- As Brian and I prepare for our summer I chose the letter W and the letter E for Book Award from the Poetry Foundation est book focusing on everyone’s favorite guests, we want them to feel welcome and WatersEdge. for her debut book of poems Swoop (Gray- “transgender landlady,” Anna Madrigal. comfortable. One way to succeed in this Another great Etsy find were these wolf Press, 2013). It seems like almost everyone wants to goal is to make sure our guestrooms are hand-painted directional signs by Sweet- Poet and Pennsylvania State Universi- have a June wedding and when it comes to bright, cheery, and relaxing. NCCollective. Usually used ty professor Robin Becker won a Lambda same-sex marriage, June weddings take on That’s where Etsy.com for weddings and recep- Literary Award for her 1996 collection All- even more meaning since it is also Pride has come in handy. As I tions, I decided to buy two American Girl. Her latest collection, Tiger month. Prolific novelist Rick R. Reed adds was putting the finishing signs to give our guests an Heron (University of Pittsburgh Press, his own distinctive twist to the gay marriage touches on our guestroom, idea of where to go during 2014) has been praised by Alison Bechdel, spectrum with his romance novel Legally I discovered these hand the day. Thankfully, the op- Ellen Bass, and Maxine Kumin. Wed (Dreamspinner Press, 2014). painted nautical flag pil- tions are simple... either Separated into three distinct sections Swiss-born, Sweden-based writer (and lows from Simply Nautical. head to the beach or to the – “My First Ten Plague Years,” “Portrait of gay dad) Hans M. Hirschi’s epic Living The Based in Annapolis, artist house for some cocktails! the Artist as a Young Sodomite,” and “This Rainbow: A gay family triptych (Yaree, 2014) Jessica Moran creates her I worked with Meg Lane to Life Now,” Michael Broder’s debut poetry combines three novels – Family Ties, Jona- hand-painted pillows us- create my whimsical signs collection This Life Now (A Midsummer than’s Hope, and The Opera House – under ing acrylic paint on canvas. and when I received them, I Night’s Press, 2014), marks the arrival of one cover. Each pillowcase is natural coated them with sealant to an important gay poet. Queer novelist and filmmaker Dia Fe- in color and 14 inches by Nautical-flag pillows make them more weather- Described as “one of the most impor- lix’s debut novel Nochita (City Lights / Sister 14 inches in size. All pillows resistant. tant and challenging texts of 20th century Spit, 2014), recipient of praise from Mary have an envelope closure in the back so As you get ready to host your guests literary modernism” and a “touchstone Gaitskill and C.A. Conrad, follows the titular you can place or change the pillow insert this summer, take a fresh look at your work of radical modernist poetry,” Gertrude character from her unstable home life to the easily. You can purchase a pillow based on guestrooms and see what you can do to Stein’s 1914 book Tender Buttons (City streets where she becomes “a runaway with the design you like, or use them to spell make their stay relaxing and refreshing. t Lights, 2014/1914) has been reissued in nothing to run from.” a “corrected centennial edition,” including In Mr. Loverman (Akashic, 2014), Ber- nadine Evaristo, employing regional dialect, introduces us to Antigua-born Bar- of her gay twin brother Felix and the end of an appearance in his illuminating new rington, now living in Lon- her relationship with boyfriend Nathan, tak- book Hold Tight Gently: Michael Cal- don, balancing relationships ing her from 1985 to 1918 and 1941 and len, Essex Hemphill and the Battefield with Carmel, his wife of 50 back again. of AIDS (New Press, 2014), making it years, and Morris, his child- Best known as the author of the Lamb- the perfect literary accompaniment to hood buddy and male lover da Literary Award-winning crime novel the recent showing of HBO’s acclaimed for 60 years. As one rela- series featuring gay criminal defense at- production of Larry Kramer’s The Normal tionship fizzles, the other torney Henry Rios, Michael Nava sets his Heart. flourishes, and Barrington new novel The City of Palaces (Terrace Described as “a delightful mix of horror must obey his instincts to Books, 2014) during the period just prior to road stories… and commentary,” lesbian make the most of his golden the Mexican Revolution, populating it with a singer/songwriter Jamie Anderson, re- years. fascinating array of characters. nowned for her (often humorous) storytell- Now available in pa- Arts-and-entertainment journalist Ste- ing abilities in songs, puts pen to page for perback, The Impossible phen Greco writes what he knows in his her revealing memoir Drive All Night (Bella Lives of Greta Wells (Ecco, new novel Now and Yesterday (Kensing- Books, 2014). 2013/2014) by Andrew Sean ton, 2014), a cross-generational love story The title of lesbian sportswriter and Greer, which was named one between Peter, 59, and Will, 28, set in the ESPN columnist Kate Fagan’s memoir The of the 100 notable books of whirlwind realm of advertising and media in Reappearing Act: Coming Out As Gay on 2013 by the New York Times New York. a College Basketball Team Led by Born- Book Review, tells of the Again Christians (Skyhorse, 2014) gives time-traveling journey (via Memoirs to remember readers and sports fans alike a good idea hypnosis) in which Greta Celebrated LGBT historian and biog- of what can be found between the covers t Kate Fagan partakes following the death rapher Martin Duberman himself makes of her first book.

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 31 32 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com Healing For The Whole Self Pain Relief Stress Reduction Tanisia Smith Energy Medicine BA, LMT, NCBTMB, MBLEX Massage Therapist Couples’ Massage Instruction Reiki Master Intuitive www.GoddessWithinHealing.com 8700 Old Harford Road, Suite L5B Mention This Ad To Receive Parkville, MD 21234 A FREE 15-Minute Upgrade! 443-803-4876

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BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 33 34 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 35 36 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 37 38 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 39 dining out

The loft was sparsely decorated, one overheard a couple next to us wall bare, one wall with exposed wood talking about Hess Shoes, and planks, and another decked with items Nick and the couple began to such as empty flour sacks and shelves of reminisce about the old days. It Finger’s flour jars. What is impressive is the view dawned on me that this is exact- Food downstairs into the bar area and outside. It ly the type of atmosphere Shoo- was a gorgeous early evening, the sun still Fly Diner is aiming to create – a bright enough to illuminate the restaurant. relaxing and casual evening out An ornate feature of the loft is the wooden in the neighborhood. While they Shoo-Fly Diner log lamps hanging from the ceiling. While do offer snacks, sandwiches, 510 East Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore we were taking in the ambiance, Lydia, our soups, salads, side items, and 410-464-9222 server, took our drink order. The bar menu main entrees, there are not too Shooflydiner.com features all kinds of interesting drinks with many selections to choose from a Southern twist. Various sweet, bitter, in each category, thus the menu by Richard Finger punch, sour, spring, and ice cream mixed is all contained to fit onto a The Shoo-Fly Diner is located in the old drinks are available, ranging from $8-12, as placemat. I should highlight the Hess Shoes store in Belvedere Square. well as beer and wine selections. I decided plastic tablecloths sitting under Food fit for more than genus Drosophila Upon walking up to it, you cannot help to try the Peach Tree ($8), which is made the placemats, just another fea- to notice the inviting outside seating and with WP sweet peach, mint, black tea, and ture to bring in that old-school large windows, with a wonderful view of Kentucky straight bourbon, while Nick had feeling. I selected the meatloaf ($18), are slightly higher than they need to be for the bar. the 4 o’clock Manhattan ($8), made with served with roasted vegetables, mashed the portion size. However, the meatloaf Shoo-Fly had been highly recommend- Maryland-style rye whiskey, sweet and dry potatoes, and BBQ sauce. Nick selected was indeed full of BBQ flavor, and quite ed to us by some friends for the fantastic vermouths, and house bitters. Both were the pan- seared catfish ($21), served with tasty. I just wish there was a little more of food, and we were anxious to taste it for served in short glass mugs. While my drink pickles and baked grits, along with a side it. ourselves. Luckily for us, we had a reser- was sweet, it was quite strong, so I chose of collard greens ($6). Other selections in- I was slightly disappointed with the vation, as it was a busy Thursday night. to sip it throughout dinner rather than clude Kentucky hot john ($13), spaghetti roasted vegetables, as the turnips and We were quickly seated at a table upstairs chug-a-lug. Nick’s drink was much darker Bolognese ($16), chili mac ($15), pork trio mushrooms were overdone and bland. The in the loft area. Walking in, my boyfriend in color, and a bit too bitter for my taste, but ($22), and shoofly sausage ($15) mashed potatoes were exactly the way I noticed the original slide off to the right, he seemed to really enjoy it. As with the Woodberry Kitchen, owned like them, whipped just enough, not at all kept from the days of Hess Shoes. As we were drinking our cocktails, we by the same people as Shoo-Fly, the prices lumpy, and not over-salted. Nick enjoyed

40 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com the catfish, and had the same observation dining out about the portion size, given the price of the meal. Shoo-Fly offers some incredible des- sert choices, of course, at the top of the list is shoo-fly pie ($6). We decided to share the Mast Brothers chocolate pudding ($6), which was so delicious, I almost licked the bowl it was served in! More dessert op- tions include chocolate chiffon pie ($7), ice-cream sandwich ($7), tollhouse cook- ies ($4), paw-paw brownie split ($8), and strawberry shortcakes with basil whipped cream ($8). In conclusion, I will concur with our friends’ opinions that the food was deli- cious – well, at least the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I’d like to sample lunch there sometime as some of the sandwich- es and soups look quite appetizing. If you are looking for a laid-back dinner without fuss, then Shoo-Fly will not disappoint. Shoo-Fly prides itself for featuring in- gredients sourced directly from the Chesa- peake Region. The Diner is open Monday- Sunday from 4 p.m. through 1 a.m. for dining, and open Saturday and Sunday for breakfast from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. The bar features a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. every day with $4 and $6 specials. t

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BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 41 your money real estate How to Hire the Right participate. As of the print date of this arti- cle, there are over 40 employees that have The More you applied for membership, which represents Home Inspector Know About 4/5 of those that attended our information b y Wayne Curtis and the State of Maryland recently put re- meeting. What a pleasant surprise! Once a property has gone “under contract” quirements and a regulatory regime in place Business Toastmasters is the best way for any- (which means both buyer and seller have fully to license home inspectors. Here are some Richard Finger one -- whether a working professional, agreed to the terms of a sale and signed a points to keep in mind as you go through the student, or in any other category -- to written agreement that contains all of those process of interviewing and hiring a home in- improve his or her communication and terms), there are two things that need to spector: Toastmasters: leadership skills. Members overcome the happen as soon as possible. First, the buy- • Make sure the home inspectors you fear of public speaking and learn skills er needs to finalize their loan application. interview are licensed by the state and a I’ll Drink to That that aid them in becoming more success- Second, the buyer needs to hire a qualified member of one of the professional orga- ful. Toastmasters creates better listeners home inspector and schedule the inspection. nizations. The two national home inspection When searching for an effective, yet cost- and stronger team members and leaders There’s normally a specified time period dur- associations are ASHI (American Society efficient learning and development op- who can comfortably give and receive ing which the buyer is required to have the of Home Inspectors, established 1976) and portunity for the organization for which constructive evaluations. Members learn home inspection completed, routinely about NAHI (National Association of Home Inspec- I work, it was an easy decision to select by speaking to groups and working with two weeks from the date the contract was tors, established 1987). Check the state web- Toastmasters International. Toastmasters others in a supportive environment. A typi- signed. site online to make sure their state license is is a nonprofit educational organization cal Toastmasters club is made up of 20-30 The home-inspection profession, and still valid. that teaches public speaking and leader- members. Each meeting gives members the home-inspection process itself, is a fairly • Ask for a sample of their inspection ship skills through a worldwide network several opportunities to conduct meetings, new addition to the home-buying process. reports. Is it a computer printout with pho- of clubs. Headquartered in Rancho Santa give impromptu speeches, present pre- The idea of a certified professional working tos so that you can refer back to it easily, or Margarita, California, the organization has pared speeches, and to offer constructive for the buyer to evaluate the operating condi- is it a compilation of carbonless copies of a evaluations. tion of the home’s various systems has really handwritten scrawl that no one can read? Toastmasters is a From a company perspective, its suc- evolved substantially in the last 20 years or Since this document forms the basis of repair cess depends on communication. Employ- so, as part of the entire “buyer agency” move- requests, and evaluating those repairs, the nonprofit educational ees interact with their colleagues and cus- ment around the country. The home-inspec- whole transaction depends upon everyone organization that tomers to exchange ideas, messages, and tion field now has professional organizations being able to read and understand what the information. How well they communicate to set best practices and a code of conduct, inspector found. teaches public speaking and share their ideas can determine wheth- er a company grows into an industry leader and leadership skills or is mired in mediocrity. At a very reason- through a worldwide able cost, Toastmasters teaches employee to become better presenters and leaders. network of clubs. I am very blessed to have a group of people I work with that are genuinely in- terested in their own development and the more than 292,000 members who belong development of others, along with a sup- to over 14,350 clubs in over 100 countries. portive leadership team that has supported Since 1924, Toastmasters International the decision to invest in our people and this has helped people of all backgrounds build program. The minimum requirement to be- confidence as speakers and leaders. gin a club is 20 members. We are fortunate I had been approached by an em- to have surpassed this number. I look for- ployee that has been actively involved in ward to participating in our new club and Toastmasters about beginning an on-site watching our member’s blossom. chapter of our own. With collabo- Joining a Toastmasters club is ration between us, and other easy. A listing of clubs by geo- Toastmaster members, we graphic area can be located scheduled a one-hour in- on the Toastmasters web- troduction session that site at Toastmasters. was attended by over org/find. Visitors to the 50 employees, which website can select the more than exceeded most convenient club, our expectations. I attend a meeting, and believe the meeting apply for membership. was very successful due (Applicants must be 18 to the enthusiasm of our vis- or older.) New clubs can be iting Toastmaster guests, and started with permission and there was a high degree of partici- assistance from Toastmasters In- pation from our interested employees, ternational. t including myself. After the initial meet- Some content here is taken directly ing, we concluded that Toastmasters is a from Toastmasters’ own marketing mate- wonderful program that will benefit all that rial.

42 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com real estate

• Find out if they have other profes- contract. A home inspection requested sional qualifications that might make sec- repair should not be an item of a routine tions of their report more accurate than maintenance or cosmetic nature. Mixing others. Ideally, a home inspector is meant repair requests for significant defects or to be a generalist. He or she is not there to malfunctions in mechanical systems with a give definitive evaluations of whether or not request to clean the gutters will only make a particular item is faulty, the negotiation process dangerous and needs to more difficult, and could be replaced. Rather, the result in a seller’s refus- home inspection report al to take your requests should always flag what seriously. items the home inspector The time it takes to believes should be evalu- resolve home-inspection ated more thoroughly by issues is the most dif- the licensed professional ficult period in the life in that trade. For instance, of any contract to buy an electrical panel that and sell a property. If has some irregular items you make sure that you should show up in the in- and the professionals spection report as recommending a licensed you hire have reasonable expectations electrician to evaluate and certify that the cir- and real professionalism as you enter that cuitry is in good order. However, if the inspec- danger zone, before you know it you’ll be tor has experience (and a valid state license) at the table, closing the deal, and walking as a roofer, plumber, electrician, or structural away with the keys! t engineer, that adds extra weight and profes- Wayne Curtis has been a licensed sional integrity to those sections of the home- real estate agent since 1998. In Novem- inspection report. That can skip a step and ber, 2012, he was named a Realtor Hero save time in the evaluation and repair of the by the National Association of Realtors for item. his work promoting homeownership in Bal- Finally, a word of caution to you as the timore. Send questions to him at wayne@ buyer: heed the wording of the real estate charmcityrealestate.com. TYRE’S REPAIR AUTO Quality Workmanship 410.252.8001 24/7 Towing 410-583-8888 Voted Baltimore’s Best Auto Repair – City Paper 2000 Next to Timonium Business Park Lightrail Stop 1955 GreeNSPriNG Drive

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 43 the time was the publisher of the popular middle. It was suggested that the red heart bought yourself leather magazine Drummer) presented would bleed into the red stripe. He took the a harness and a the first Leather Pride Flag at Chicago’s suggestion and changed the center stripe pair of chaps you annual International Mr. Leather Contest. to white. Although there have been many are not automati- Leather This flag is currently interpretations re- cally involved Line on display at the “The flag received garding what each in the leather Rodney Burger Leather Archives & color and the heart community. You Museum in Chicago. mixed reviews. symbolizes, Tony are involved in The flag had nine never provided an the fashion in- horizontal stripes of Some in the leather explanation. He felt dustry. It takes I Pledge equal width and al- community were that it was best to a little more to ternated black and leave any interpreta- be involved in Allegiance to royal blue. The flag’s offended that they had tion of the meaning the leather com- center stripe was of his flag to the in- munity. We are very fortunate in the Mid- This Flag! white and the upper no input into the flag’s dividual. Like many Atlantic region to have a large and very left-hand corner of design. Tony felt that works of art, the active leather community. We have a great In 1978 Gilbert Baker, a San Francisco- the flag contained a colors and symbols number of leather clubs and organizations. based artist, developed the Rainbow Flag large red heart. calling a committee can mean differ- Many of these groups have been around to represent the gay and lesbian commu- The flag received ent things to differ- long before the introduction of the Leather nity, and the flag appeared that year in San mixed reviews. Some together to design a ent people. When Pride Flag. We not only dress in leather, Francisco’s Gay and Lesbian Freedom in the leather com- flag for the leather International Ms. but we work hard in the LGBT community Day Parade. The colorful banner quickly munity were offend- Leather 1989 Susie to raise money for charity. We join leather became a symbol for gay pride. Although ed that they had no community would be Shepherd saw the clubs and support leather events. We sell leather folks participated in the same pa- input into the flag’s flag, she asked Tony our Jell-O shots, select our leather title- rades and started to become more and design. Tony felt that counterproductive.” if she could make holders, and support each other in good more visible in the LGBT community, they calling a committee a copy of it for the times and bad. We wear our leather proud- did not have their own rallying symbol. together to design a Portland, Oregon, ly in public and also in private. Our leather When the 20th anniversary of Stonewall flag for the leather community would be Gay Pride Parade. Tony not only gave her is not something that we put on because rolled around, it was decided that it was counterproductive. He did consult with permission to copy his flag, but he even we are going to a leather bar or have en- about time that the leather community the staff at Drummer magazine and used sent her a pattern. As a result, a week be- tered a contest. It is part of who we are. had a flag of its own. On May 28, 1989 some of their suggestions. For example his fore similar celebrations were held in the We also have more kinks than a cheap Tony DeBlase (a.k.a. Fledermaus, who at original design showed a red stripe in the big cities of New York and San Francisco, garden hose! the Leather Pride Flag appeared in Port- The other day one of my friends com- land. mented on all the many Facebook posts Man Place Bed & Breakfast The Leather Pride Flag caught on from the recent contestants at the Interna- quickly. Leather titleholders started using tional Mr. Leather 2014 contest in Chicago. Discover Wild Wonderful West Virginia the flag on their business cards. It started All the post spoke of what a life changing appearing on pins, patches, and exhilarating experience Marshall Roberts and stationery. Variations also it was to represent one’s lo- started to appear. In 1990 cal leather community at the Laurie Lane of Leather World world’s largest leather contest. in Melbourne, Australia, took The writers spoke of friend- Tony’s design and added the ships made and the bond Southern Cross constellation formed between the many that is found on the Australian contestants. My friend, who

Click here to add photo Click here to add photo Click here to add photo Click here to add photo flag and created a flag to rep- has never even been to IML, or or or or Drag photo here Drag photo here Drag photo here Drag photo here resent the Australian leather questioned the sincerity of Serving the Leather & LGBT Community community. In Canada the red heart was these post. (To me it is like someone who replaced with a red maple leaf to represent has never been to the North Pole stating Canadian leather pride. In May, 1991 Tony that it couldn’t possibly be that cold there!) DeBlase was both surprised and thrilled This person is missing the most important

Click here to add photo Click here to add photo Click here to add photo Click here to add photo to see that the sash for International Mr. element of the leather community – broth- or or or or Drag photo here Drag photo here Drag photo here Drag photo here Leather 1991 has been designed to reflect erhood! his flag. The leather community is a family. We So now that we have a Leather Pride share a common bond and kinship. We Flag, what is leather pride? It is obvious party together, we laugh together, and every time I write this column that I take sometimes we even cry together. I’ve inter- great pride in our local leather community. viewed many leather titleholders and when Click here to add photo Click here to add photo Click here to add photo Click here to add photo or or or or It always makes me think when I go to a I ask them how they became involved in Drag photo here Drag photo here Drag photo here Drag photo here local leather contest and hear the introduc- the leather community, the answer is of- tion of a contestant that includes: “Fred has ten the same. When they finally found the been involved in the leather community for courage to walk into their first leather bar, 65 Private Acres in the Potomac Highlands ten years.” What does that mean? Buy- they found so much more. They found ac- ing yourself a harness and a pair of chaps ceptance, friendship, and brotherhood. does not qualify someone as “involved in They found pride within themselves. They manplacegbb.com 304-289-5491 the leather community.” If you have just found leather pride! t 44 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 13, 2014 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 45 EDDIE WITH FLOWERS BAR GUIDE Amos Badertscher (born 1936) is a self-taught had his girlfriend drive him every day to Wash- photographer whose primary subjects are the ington and later in the morning back to Balti- drag queens, performers, bar friends, and more. If you’ve ever spent some time in a male the young hustlers living on the fringes of the dance bar you know that dancing is a lot of BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE, MARTINSBURG, Baltimore streets. Bal- hard relentless work. MARYLAND MARYLAND WEST VIRGINIA timore retained the Eddie was this It’s noisy, smoky, and working-class, mostly amazingly friendly hot and you’re deal- Club 1722 Triple LLL The Club heterosexual hustling ing with a whole lot 1722 North Charles Street 227 W. Chase Street 5268 Williamsport Pike subculture of the pre- up-beat kid on the of hands having to 410-727-7431 410-539-4806 Martinsburg, WV 25404 Stonewall era long be entertained and www.club1722.com 304-274-6080 streets of the West Side PW's Sports Bar & Grill after most American encouraged, a lot of www.theclubwv.com cities – a vanished in Baltimore close to hours. Between all the Club Bunns 9855 Washington Blvd. N. scene, today mostly travel, the work, the 608 W. Lexington St. Suite N REHOBREHOBOTH tied to various forms Wilkins Avenue... girlfriend and the her- 410-234-2866 Laurel, MD 20723 of drug addiction. His oin and any extra side 301-498-4840 Drinkery BEACH, stark images are made even more so by the jobs, Eddie seemed to be doing pretty well. www.pwsplace.com 203-207 W Read St. incisive biographical narratives of his subjects Then, much later in the year, I learned that one DELAWARE 410-225-3100 that he often pens onto the photographs them- night he had been beaten so viciously on a HARRISBURG, Big Sissies Bar & Grill selves. The subject of a landmark exhibition at West Side street that he died shortly afterward The Gallery 37385 Rehoboth Ave the Duke University Museum of Art, his work PENNSYLVANIA at age 28 in 2002. It was possibly drug-related 1735 Maryland Ave. Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 has been published in two books and various although I don’t know that but anyway a very 410-539-69654 SStallions 302-226-7600 anthologies. Badertscher has donated his life’s sweet boy was gone. t 706 N 3rd St work to the Leslie-Lohm- HIPPO FroggF Pond Harrisburg, Pennsylvania an Museum of Gay and 1 West Eager St. 3 S. 1st St (717)232-3060 Lesbian Art in New York 410-576-0018 Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 www.stallionsclub.com City. These very short www.clubhippo.com 302-227-2234 stories are sometimes Bar 704 meant to go with spe- Grand Central Blue Moon 704 N 3rd St cific photographs. 1001-1003 N. Charles St 35 Baltimore Ave HarrisbuHarrisburg, Pennsylvania 410-752-71334 Rehoboth Beach, DE (717)234-4228 www.centralstationpub.com 302-227-6515302-22 by Amos Badertscher Jays on Read Liquid 891 Inc www.bluemoonrehoboth.com 891 Eisenhower Blvd Eddie was this amaz- 225 W. Read Street Cloud9 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ingly friendly up-beat 410-225-0188 234 Rehoboth Avenue (717)939-3590 kid on the streets of the Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Leon’s www.liquid891.com West Side in Baltimore 302-226-1999 close to Wilkins Avenue. 870 Park Ave The BBrownstone Lounge His fine personality was 410-539-49934 The Purple Parrot 412 Forester Street surprising considering 2472 Rehoboth Ave Mixer’s Harrisburg, PA 17102-1714 the fact that he lived Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 6037 Belair Rd 717-234-7009 in the worst part of the 302-226-1139 West Side neighbor- 410-599-1952 hoods and was com- Station North Arts Cafe Gallery SPRING GROVE, Rigby’s Bar & Grill pletely raised by his 1816 North Charles Street PENNSYLVANIA 404 Rehoboth Avenue grandmother which is 410-625-6440 Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 a whole lot better than www.stationnortharts.comww Altland's Ranch 302-227-6080302-22 nothing but you won- 8505 OrchardO Rd www.rigbysbarandgrill.com dered what happened The Lodge Lounge & Spring Grove, PA 17362 Iguana Grill to his parents. For years Dance Club 717-225-4479 Eddie always lived in 21614 National Pike 52 Baltimore Ave the neighborhood do- Boonsboro, MD 21713 YORK, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 ing all the neighborhood 301-591-4434 302-227-0948 things, one of them be- PENNSYLVANIA www.iguanagrill.com ing getting addicted to The Quest heroin. Sometime in 3607 FleetFle St. LUX Night Lounge his later 20s I knew he 410-563-2617 1327 N. Duke St had landed a job danc- YYork, PA 17404 ing nude in a D.C. strip The Rowan Tree 717-793-3770 club and I went over 1633 S. Charles Street www.luxnightlounge.com once to see him and he 410-468-0550 had become much big- www.therowantree.net ger and pumped up and

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