Andre Shakti • Bill Redmond-Palmer • Brynn Devereau Charles Dudley, MPT • Chuck Duncan • David Egan David Placher • Dr

February 1, 2019 | Volume XVI, Issue 18 es to proceed through the lower courts as High Court Lifts Trump’s Military usual. The Supreme Court rarely grants such requests. There are multiple cases that have BY BILL REDMOND-PALMER Trans Ban Injunction been filed against the ban in the feder- On January 22nd, the Supreme al courts. This particular injunction came Court’s five conservative justices voted to “in their biological sex.” Those who seek from the case filed in Washington state in lift an injunction that had been placed by to transition or serve openly after that risk August 2017. Karnoski v. Trump, was filed lower courts on the Trump administration’s discharge. by OutServe-SLDN (Servicemembers Le- policy banning many transgender people It is important to note that this decision gal Defense Network) and Lambda Legal, from military service. This grants the ad- made no ruling on the legality of the ban on behalf of nine individual plaintiffs and ministration a temporary win and allows itself. In fact, the mil- three organizational plaintiffs – the Human the military to proceed with the ban’s A further step itary is not technical- Rights Campaign (HRC), Seattle-based implementation. ly obligated to imme- Gender Justice League, and the American The policy reverses a 2016 policy toward undoing diately enforce the Military Partner Association (AMPA). The of the Obama administration, which al- an Obama ban. The lifting of the state of Washington later joined the law- Sgt. First lowed all transgender service members ban only allows them suit as well. Class Kendra to serve openly. The new policy is com- achievement to proceed with do- In December 2017, the district court Holmes, a plex, and generally prohibits transgen- ing so if they choose. granted a motion by the plaintiffs to im- trans veteran, der people from military service, but does On a positive note, the court refused pose a preliminary injunction which would now in the make exceptions for those already serving the government’s request to take up the prevent implementation of the ban. The US Veteran openly, or those who are willing to serve case immediately and will allow the cas- —continued on page 3 Reserve Corps BY FRANKIE KUJAWA on Stage Released earlier this ‘Out ’ with month on Dekkoo (a gay focused subscrip- tion-based streaming Brendan Scannell service), the outrageous- ly hilarious, diversely all see about a dozen comics from all different sketch comedy. Basically, what I felt was queer, stand-up comedy walks of life with this series,” Scannell be- that I needed to be a little better on stage. series “Out on Stage: gan. “These comics are telling their stories I needed to be writing more, and a great The Series” has audi- and their jokes in a hilarious and enjoyable way for me to do that was to go to these ences in hysterics. It’s way. You’ll see three comics per episode open mic nights – as many as I could. I fell a rarity that a grouping, and it’s a riot. It’s just so cool to watch in love with making people laugh, bombing let alone a series, of all queer people just slay and crush it at this and failing, and then tweaking jokes be- queer stand-up comics art form that hasn’t always been the most fore ultimately finding success with them. even exists. Baltimore respective to queer people.” It’s such a craft, and I just fell in love with OUTloud recently Scannell, whose background is in the process of it. I’ve been doing it for four chatted with actor and stand-up comedy, is more recently known or five years now. Eventually, it was sup- comedian Brendan for his lead role as Heather Duke in the posed to be this other thing in addition to Scannell, who was reboot of the 1988 cult classic Heathers. acting and writing, but now in 2019 it’s sort Brendan part of the eclectic Born in Valparaiso, Indiana, Scannell at- of becoming the primary thing I do. That’s Scannell – From lineup of renowned tended Northwestern University before both exciting and terrifying.” Heathers star to LGBTQ stand-up comic mining his moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career “I think, originally, I was drawing my in- small-town past comics. in comedy. “When I moved to Los Ange- spiration from things happening in my dai- “Audiences will les from Chicago, I did a lot of improv and —continued on page 17 Co-Publishers Jim Becker • Jim Williams [email protected] Executive Editor Jim Becker [email protected] [email protected] Associate Editor & Director of Marketing & Production Mary Taylor [email protected] Arts and Entertainment Editor Frankie Kujawa [email protected] Leather Editor Rodney Burger [email protected] Contributing Writers for Baltimore OUTloud Andre Shakti • Bill Redmond-Palmer • Brynn Devereau Charles Dudley, MPT • Chuck Duncan • David Egan David Placher • Dr. Eva Hersh MD • Elyse Buchbinder Frankie Kujawa • Gregg Shapiro • Jabari Lyles Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. • Jeffrey Clagett • Josh Buchbinder Lauren Lynch • Lee Carpenter • Linda A. Dominguez, Esq. Mark S. King • Mark Segal • Michael Ritmiller Rabbi Jan Dodi • Richard Finger • Rodney Burger Sage Piper • Steve Charing Andre Shakti Bill Redmond-Palmer • Brynn Devereaux • Chuck Duncan Charles Dudley, MPT • David Egan • David Placher Dr. Eva Hersh MD • Elyse Buchbinder • Frankie Kujawa Gregg Shapiro • Jabari Lyles • Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. Jeffrey Clagett • Josh Buchbinder Lauren Lynch Lee Carpenter • Linda A. Dominguez, Esq. Mark S. King • Mark Segal • Michael Ritmiller Rabbi Jan Dodi • Richard Finger • Rodney Burger Sage Piper • Steve Charing • Woody Derrick Contributing Writers for OUT in the VALLEY Brian George Hose • Rev. Kelly Crenshaw Rev. Robert Apgar-Taylor • Zed Sykes Contributing Writers OUT in Asbury Park, NJ Rai Guerra-Nelson • Christy Girlington Graphics Ramon Montiel Web Editor Adam Romanic Computer Solutions for Less Photographers Corey Brent Eric Randolph National Advertising Rep Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 Founders Jim Becker • Joe Berg • Mike Chase • Lee Mooney (1959-2007) • Jim Williams Baltimore OUTloud PO Box 4887 Baltimore, MD 21211 410-802-1310 Baltimoreoutloud.com Additional Information Baltimore OUTloud is published every other Friday by Pride Media, Ltd. in Baltimore, Maryland. Readers comments and unsolicited materials are welcomed and may be sent to: [email protected]. All materials appearing in this newspaper are the property of Pride Media, Ltd. and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in Baltimore OUTloud are solely those of the writers unless otherwise indicated and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Media, Ltd., and the staff. © 2018 – All rights reserved Chair of the Board of Trustees – Jim Becker President – Jim Williams Secretary and Treasurer – Mike Chase 2 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD FEBRUaRy 1, 2019 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM NEWS // local High Court Lifts Trump’s Military Trans Ban Injunction —continued from page 1 work, and former college Army ROTC ca- det. “It is remarkable that they believe that US Department of Justice chose not to ini- our armed forces are unable to accomplish tially appeal that injunction, and the court what 21 other nations, mostly US allies, maintained the injunction after the Trump have already done with great success. All administration released a plan for imple- those who wish to serve must be allowed menting the ban. The Trump administra- to do so. Being trans is in no way a dis- tion later appealed the ruling to the Ninth qualifier for military service.” Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the Following the court’s action, Lt. Col. injunction, allowing transgender people to Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswom- continue serving. The government then an, told CNN that “as always, we treat appealed the injunction to the Supreme all transgender persons with respect and Court, resulting in the recent action. dignity. (The Department of Defense’s) In a brief filed in opposition to the proposed policy is not a ban on service Supreme Court’s decision, lawyers chal- by transgender persons. It is critical that lenged the need to lift the injunction, while DoD be permitted to implement personnel cases are still making their way through policies that it determines are necessary to the lower courts. “Transgender people ensure the most lethal and combat effec- have been serving openly in all branches tive fighting force in the world.” of the US military since June 2016, includ- Generally, soldiers don’t tend to worry about their buddies’ race, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. What they “We remain hopeful that care most about is whether their buddy open and authentic service will have their back in battle. Sergeant First Class Kendra Holmes, a trans veter- will become a reality for all an who serves currently as a member of US Veteran Reserve Corps, sums up that qualified individuals.” sentiment. “As soldiers join together,” she said, “we are brothers and sisters united ing on active duty in combat zones,” their together in one band to serve the country brief said. “Transgender individuals have we love.” been permitted to enlist in the military While the LGBTQ community has won since January 2018. The government has many battles for equality, this action by the presented no evidence that their doing so Supreme Court is a reminder that this is harms military readiness, effectiveness, or not a time for the community to rest on its lethality.” collective laurels, as unceasing attacks on “Our transgender service members the community continue. “Our trans com- remain steadfast in their commitment to munity demonstrates courage and brav- honorably serving this country,” said Andy ery constantly in daily life, civil service, Blevins, US Navy veteran and executive and in the defense of our civil rights and Boosting empowerment and breaking the bonds director of OutServe-SLDN.

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