August 3, 2018 | Volume XVI, Issue 7 By BILL REdmOND-PALMER In this past June’s primary election, ‘I Don’t Think They Really What are some of your goals and priori- LGBTQ people achieved several firsts. ties for your term of office? This included two transgender people be- My principle reason for running was ing elected for the first time to official office Appreciated Grassroots Activism’ the real lack of activism on the part of the in the state of Maryland. One of those two members of our former Democratic Central is Laura Hart, who was elected to a seat on ated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees as a judge and as deputy attorney Committee. I don’t think they the Democratic Central Committee for St. in electrical engineering from Villanova general for maritime law in the really appreciated grass- Mary’s County in southern Maryland. University. I went to work for the Navy in Truman and Eisenhower ad- roots activism, in fact Hart retired from her job Bucks County, Pennsylvania, ministrations. Her youngest some members were as a civilian computer engi- A chat with after college. My job moved brother, her twin, was the even hostile to the neer and engineering man- newly elected from the Philadelphia area to youngest person elected to idea. I also believe ager for Naval Aviation after Patuxent River Naval Air Station the New York City Council that they may have 34 years in September 2006. Democratic trans in 1996. At the time, it seemed at the time of his election. been intimidated by She currently serves as the committeewoman like a disaster, but ended up It was during his campaign all the energy com- chair of the St Mary’s Dem- being fortuitous for my career, that I, as a seven-year-old, ing out of the disas- ocratic Club’s voter outreach Laura Hart as well as my post retirement first got canvassing experi- trous 2016 election. committee, which is creat- interests. ence going door to door with I learned a lot of ing a precinct captain program in all of St. How did you get interested in poli- my Aunt Mabel. lessons about grass- Mary’s County’s 36 precincts, specifically tics? You were recently elected root activism focused on canvassing. I grew up in a political family. My moth- to the Democratic Central Commit- Rising star in St. Mary’s volunteering with Bill Redmond-Palmer: Tell me a little er’s oldest brother held appointed offices tee for District 29 for St. Mary’s County. County – Laura Hart —continued on page 4 about your life growing up. Laura Hart: I grew up in Upper Darby, a close in suburb of Philadelphia. I gradu- Fun on FIRE ISLAND BY DAVID PLACHER isolated from the other parts of the island, Famous Fire Island is a place to visit in they became and continue to be safe ha- the summer for a mini “gaycation.” It’s vens for the LGBT community. There are located off the southern rainbow flags and same-sex shore of Long Island. The Storied gay couples holding hands every- island is 31 miles long and where. varies between 520 and summertime Cherry Grove (often referred 1,300 feet wide. The drive to as The Grove) is a small com- from Baltimore to the Say- resort on coastal munity with a year-round popu- ville Ferry Service is about Long Island lation of only 2,000. It is credited four-and-a-half hours and as being one of the first areas the ferry ride is about 15 in the US where the LGBT com- minutes. The two car-free communities munity could live without facing discrimina- that receive a lot of attention from the tion and oppression. In the 1940s, it was a LGBT community are Cherry Grove and well-known place where LGBT actors and Fire Island Pines. Transportation is only writers could escape to. The Cherry Grove by foot on neatly constructed boardwalks. Community House and Theater opened in To haul things around, you either need 1948 and was recently added to the Na- luggage with wheels or toy wagons. By tional Register of Historic Places for being the nature of the oldest continuously operating gay and Party people under these two com- lesbian theatre in the US. flaming sky – It’s Fire munities being “Downtown” Cherry Grove is so small Island in the summer! geographically —continued on page 18 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 Ava Barron-Shasho • Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. Josh Buchbinder • Anthony Calo • Lee Carpenter Jeffrey Clagett • Wayne Curtis • Woody Derricks Chuck Duncan • John Redmond-Palmer • Dr. Eva Hersh Mark S. King • Brother Merrick Moses Frankie Kujawa • Sage Piper • David Placher Mark Segal • Gregg Shapiro • Bill Redmond-Palmer David Egan • Elyse Buchbinder • Dr. Loren Olson Alex “Bear” Conley • Brynn Deveraux Contributing Writers for OUT in the VALLEY Laura Anderson • Rev. Kelly Crenshaw Rev. Dr. Robert Apgar-Taylor • Brian George Hose Elizabeth Thompson 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 AUGUST 3, 2018 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM NEWS // local Out Networking • Anthony Estreet, coordinator, Accel- erate Baltimore Harbor Spirit • Lee Martin, director, Weinberg Hous- ing Resource Center Dinner Cruise • Cory Holland (aka Sabrina Blue) en- tertainer Think business! Think pleasure! The Out • Chris Jay, Baltimore King of Pride Netwtorking Baltimore Harbor Spirit Din- 2017 ner Cruise, hosted by the Maryland LGBT • Clara Angel Freeman, founder and Chamber of Commerce, is set for August head, Clara’s Angels Boosting empowerment and breaking the bonds 8th from 7 to 9:30 pm. Spirit Cruises has • Mazie Chapman and Terry McNair, El- of homophobia, racism, and stigma in same an arrangement with Royal Sonesta Hotel ement Fleet Management (30 East Lee Street), and • Stacy Williams, manager, Club Bunns gender-loving (SGL) men in Baltimore City will provide a cou- • Raheim Briggs, founder and head, • NETWORKING pon that provides Project Briggs Every 1st Wednesday parking for up to • Delores Velez, volunteer extraordi- ten hours at $8. naire • HIV EDUCATION Tickets are • Nathaniel Fields, Mayor’s Office Hu- Every Last Wednesday $55 for mem- man Services • SOCIAL EVENTS bers of the • Juan Webster, of Hotel Monaco and LGBT Cham- founder of LACC Foundation Monthly ber of Com- • Osiris Sesenaya, founder, 333 • ART CREATION PROJECT merce, and $65 for • Roderick Johnson, kindergarten non-members. The teacher [email protected] • 410-837-5573 ticket price includes a buffet din- • James Gray III of Zeta Alpha Delta FB: New Horizons Baltimore • aidsactionbaltimore.org ner, a glass of wine or champagne, and un- limited coffee, tea, and iced tea. There will HIV Prevention Advocacy for SGL Men's Health supported by be a cash bar for soda, juice, and alcohol. ViiV Healthcare's ACCELERATE! Program Tickets are available at Bit.ly/2LCi4Rw. There will be DJ entertainment on the Sky Lounge Deck along with games such as shuffleboard, foosball, and oversized Jenga, chess board, and Connect 4. For more information, visit their Face- NEW GROWTH ON t book event page at Bit.ly/2ArYe6q. WEST 40TH STREET. Joy Baltimore Hails • Tamrula Davis, founder, Gifted Girls • Michelle Smalls, case manager at ‘Unsung Heroes’ WHRC Shelter • Adam Jackson, founder and head, August 10th Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle • Rashard Corey, founder and head, I Joy Baltimore serves homeless youth. Survive Movement Join the group Friday, August 10th from • Jamar Barnes, Morgan State Social 8 pm to midnight for the “Unsung Heroes Work alumni Awards” at the Eubie Blake National Jazz • Burgundi Janae, former head of Yo Institute and Cultural Center (847 North Baltimore East Side Roland Park Place – Baltimore City’s only certifi ed Continuing Howard Street, Baltimore). The awards • Andrea Jones, head of Live To Inspire honor 30 individuals and groups excelling • Tiana Bell, youth advocate Care Retirement Community – will soon be transformed, in such areas as mentoring, leadership, • Ellis Lee, youth advocate adding 8 new stories and 58 spacious new residences, advocacy, entertainment, and community • Larry Wilson, Jr., writer, dancer, spo- outreach. ken-word artist, and HIV activist to create the perfect setting for your Baltimore story. Awardees are: • Janet Arce, Fundacion Organization • Derrick Chase, founder and head of • Carolyn Leach of Family League of Stand Up Baltimore Baltimore. • Kenneth Morrison, founder, DewMore Tickets are $35 and are available at READY FOR MOVEIN 443.338.6212 Bmore Bit.ly/2Kc8NKk. For more info, it’s Bit.