2 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Simplifying racism, blaming the marginalized is not OK How adults can involve themselves in the thriving By: Gricel M. Ocasio*/TRT Publisher casian counterparts do. If that is not true, then o one said the world affairs and check the high school and college dropout rates youth LGBTQ movement in New England the people that surround us are of these two communities and therein lies the By: Jason Lydon*/ TRT Columnist nect statewide student homophile organizing. It's S remotely aware of differences answer. exciting to think of the parallel role LGBT youth N Trayvon Martin and the racial divide aturday, May 19, marks the 17th Annual that should not separate us, but unite us. N Youth Pride March and rally in Boston. organizations, AGLYs (Alliances for Gay and I am not merely speaking of LGBT I hope Naff’s position stems from fear of the unknown and a lack of exposure to what mar - Lesbian Youth), play today. O rights and the people who shed hatred S ginalized groups really go through in life. I be - I will never forget my first youth pride event. Knowing our history and the role young peo - I from the right. That is to be expected and ple have played in the organizing of the LGBTQ I think we are all aware of it. lieve there is bad reporting, as I believe that It was May 18, 1996 and I was in seventh grade. N LGBT self-hatred people make mistakes. Seeing the side of an un - A good friend of mine from church told me movement gives us greater power as a move - I But unfortunately, there is hatred armed African American teenager carrying a about it and I convinced my mom to take us up ment. The responsibility that adult allies then bag of Skittles who ended up dead is not only have is to recognize what our responsibilities are.

P among us too. Even if we try to ignore to the statehouse. It was the first time I met other it, or give it another name, hatred rears serious, but a grave situation that should not out queer youth and saw them hanging out with I know how fun it is to talk with young people have happened. Had Trayvon Martin been a O its ugly face in business rivalry, in un - each other, holding hands, sneaking away to about the days when I was a teenager and the ethical tactics by white unarmed kid, walking alone when a Black knowledge I gained over the past decade. For neighborhood watch pa - make out, while also cheering for the speakers other LGBT media and or - on the statehouse steps. It was my inspiration to those of you who are older than me, I imagine ganizations, and even in troller (who was specif - ically told by the 911 do queer organizing in my school, and remains it's even more fun and you have even better sto - the way we treat one an - We have a Caucasian ries to tell. Yet, that's not always what young peo - other — differently, as we operator not to follow a pivotal space for young queers today. My role claim the right wingers do columnist , Rev. Jason him) pulled the trigger ple are looking for from us. We have the great to us. This is hypocritical. that killed him; it would opportunity to listen to the leadership of young There is that struggle Lydon, who very often have created such may - On May 19, though, you people and learn what it means for organizing that we, LGBT folks, tend hem in each corner of efforts to be youth-led, adult-supported. to think that everyone in writes about white and the U.S. The actions and can travel across the If you are thinking, as Youth Pride is coming the community holds reactions would have up, about what you can do, the first piece is to male privilege and how been very different too. and/or understands. It is state , or even in from show up. I know that many of us have felt that the notion that we are all at damaging they are for Let’s just say that the Black patroller would another state, to sinking stomach feeling when we hear about bul - the same molecular level, lying in school or young people who have been as all cells of our body are. everyone. I am in accord have probably been in Boston to cheer on and But, we are not. jail and would have been forced into homelessness. I know that I can feel Race within the LGBT with him . charged for the murder support young people so powerless in those moments. On May 19, community; the Wash - faster than Zimmerman though, you can travel across the state, or even ington Blade was. It’s almost just as [at Youth Pride 2012 ] in from another state, to Boston to cheer on ... Recently, Think Progress ran a story titled The clear as FEMA’s response was when Katrina hit Consequences of Pitting Race Against Sexual the Louisiana coast—in the eyes of the margin - who will be marching See Youth on Page 19 Orientation And Gender Identity. The author alized groups. in the streets . discussed the gay v. race debate used by the Na - Naff “criticized 29 national LGBT groups for tional Organization for Marriage’s (NOM) anti- speaking out against Trayvon’s killing” The Rainbow Times gay hatred-filled actions and compared those to But, it does take more than a White man to as a young person was to lead in those spaces; understand this. Naff speaks from an egotistical the new lesson for me now is to think about what The Freshest LGBT Newspaper the words of Washington Blade’s editor Kevin in New England Naff in his “All Aboard the Trayvon Band - position of power and utilizes his voice to min - it means to be an authentic adult ally. wagon“ editorial. Think Progress ran another ar - imize Martin’s tragic death and how it resonates According to The History Project, Massachu - www.therainbowtimesmass.com ticle in which the author denounced Naff’s with the marginalized and allied communities. setts queer student organizing began to be rec - editorial as ignoring the “reality of racial op - Think Progress stated “Naff instead criticized ognized in 1969, first with the Boston University [email protected] pression.” I must concur, not only on the basis 29 national LGBT groups for speaking out [email protected] against Trayvon’s killing. From our perspective, Homophile Committee. Organizing expanded of mere knowledge, but based on my own ex - beyond BU and these combined efforts led to the periences as a Hispanic lesbian of color. Naff’s is a misplaced screed that, more than Phone: 413.282.8881 or 617.444.9618 Needs of LGBT mainstream and LGBT peo - anything, highlights the tone-deaf nature with Student Homophile League that worked to con - Fax: 888-442-2421 ple of color are different which some LGBT leaders approach and under - Naff’s editorial sounds utterly defensive when stand issues of race.” Again, I concur. Publisher Columnists it pertains to race, ethnicity and the diverse To understand race divide, unfairness, unwor - Letters to the Editor Gricel M. Ocasio Lorelei Erisis LGBT community that he, as the Blade’s editor, thiness, neglect, bigotry, and the constant strug - Dear Editor, Editor-In-Chief Deja N. Greenlaw should be fully representing and remembering. gle not to become a self-fulfilling prophecy, etc., I’m proud to be a Bostonian and have Nicole Lashom b Paul P. Jesep someone has to be well informed, or has had to Assistant Editor Jason Lydon His words are damaging to such a community Boston Pride as now a Human Rights organ - Brianna Snyder Tynan Power and to the rest of the people of color in the na - experience bigotry and racism him/herself or from a dear one. We have a Caucasian colum - ization too. Ohh thanks for supporting Sales Associates Jenn Tracz tion. To draw comparisons between LGBT Chris Gilmore John Verlinden mainstream communities and LGBT color com - nist, Rev. Jason Lydon, who very often writes Boston Pride Rainbow Times! Anyway, the about white and male privilege and how dam - Liz Johnson Reporters munities is naïve. In his tirade, Naff arrogantly story about LGBT discrimination by Linda Lead Photographer Chuck Colbert writes about others (members of the media, aging they are for everyone. I am in accord with DeMarco and how she spoke about Russia, Glenn Koetzner Clara Lefton celebrities and well-known leaders of the com - him. Unfortunately, we need more Lydon’s out Webmaster Christine Nicco there and less Naff’s. Naff’s eyes are blind— Iraq and then the F$^#&d up St. Patrick’s munities of color) exercising “self-restraint” Parade in South Boston should make anyone Jarred Johnson Tynan Power when it came to drawing conclusions about the blind to racial profiling, to ethnic discrimina - Design Casey Rocheteau Trayvon Martin case. Not fully understanding tion, to unfair pay, treatment and lack of from this country proud of Boston Pride and Prizm Designs Emily Scagel that self-restraint is something that is hard to at - opportunities, and to the struggle of LGBT peo - the stance they are taking. As an Irish-Scot - tain when you are in a marginalized position is ple of color here in the United States, amongst tish gay man, I’ll never go to that Parade, The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The perhaps something that Naff’s assertions did not others. Rainbow Times, LLC. TRT is affiliated with the Na - Abruptly, Naff brings up Zimmerman’s (al - nor will talk to any friend or family who tional Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, CABO take into consideration. In his privileged posi - does. To do so is to deny and disrespect my - - The Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunity, tion personally and professionally, Naff should leged) Hispanic ancestry. Is his quest to some - how ameliorate the effects of the tragedy he so self. and QSyndicate. The articles written by the writers, exercise more restraint. Not doing so left the columnists, and correspondents express their opinion, non-majority readers of his piece wondering the poorly refers to in his column? It seems better —Jerry Johaneson, Boston, MA and do not represent the endorsement or opinion of purpose of his column. Simply stated, he for Naff to excuse the situation if he thinks of The Rainbow Times, LLC or its owners. To write let - Zimmerman’s alleged Hispanic ancestry. Many doesn’t get it. How can he? He can’t relate to Dear Editor, ters to the editor, please send your letters, with your people in this country, knowingly or not, have a name, address and phone number to: The Rainbow the struggles of people of color, for he does not Rev. Lydon’s columns are timely with na - have the experience to speak about something Hispanic or mixed ancestry. Look at Mitt Rom - Times (address shown above), or e-mail any com - ney, for instance, he has a Mexican ancestry. I tional issues and touch on topics that pertain ment/s to the editor at: editor@therainbowtimes - that he has never lived. That is exactly why he news.com. All submissions will be edited according should not have written about it the way he did. have a Spanish European (more than half), to so many underserved groups. I don’t Puerto Rican and minute French ancestry. Why to space constraints. The Rainbow Times, LLC re - The reality is that the world is not as White as know this man, but I’m proud of him. I al - serves the right not to print any or all content, or ad - it used to be. The Hispanic and African Ameri - is this important to bring up someone’s ancestry vertisements for any reason at all. TRT is not during such a horrible act? Those are insensitive ways pick up The Times and I look for his can populations continue to grow, although their columns because what he says is truly filled responsible for advertising content. To receive The misrepresentation in powerful positions contin - words aimed at creating more damage than uni - Rainbow Times at your home via regular mail, or ues to exist, just as it happens with women. fication in such times of duress. ... with all human rights. Thank you Rev. through electronic delivery, please visit its website. The whole content and graphics (photos, etc.) are the These groups are underrepresented because they To read the rest of this story visit: Lydon! have less access to the privileges that their Cau - sole property of The Rainbow Times, LLC and they http://bit.ly/HWaQvf —Will Guzman, Hartford, CT cannot be reproduced at all without TRT’s consent. www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 3 Senate vote keeps LGBT protections in domestic abuse bill By: Lisa Keen*/ Keen News Service couched the reauthoriza - any other population determined to be under - A casual listener to U.S. Senate debate Republican tion bill, ap - served by the Attorney General or by the Secre - substitute as proved only tary of Health and Human Services, as

T Thursday (April 26) would not have heard the skirmish over protections for one that kept by Democ - appropriate.” the “most im - rats on the And it provides that certain grants under the H LGBT victims of domestic abuse. De - spite reports that Republicans were portant” parts Judiciary Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act

G upset over new language in the Violence of the original Committee can be used for “developing, enlarging, or I Against Women Act that would protect legislation and passed strengthening programs and projects to provide while by the Sen - services and responses targeting male and fe - L LGBT people, Republicans never said so on the floor of the Senate. strengthening ate Thurs - male victims of domestic violence, dating vio - E But Republicans led an effort to re - protections day, lence, sexual assault, or stalking, whose ability place the original VAWA reauthorization for children includes to access traditional services and responses is

M bill with a substitute bill that would have against sexual language affected by their sexual orientation or gender I eliminated all protections for LGBT vic - predators. specifying identity.” The Hutchi - that VAWA- The Hutchison-Grassley substitute bill’s pro - L tims of domestic abuse.

That Republican substitute bill was son-Grassley funded pro - vision concerning non-discrimination included defeated Thursday on a vote of 37 yes to substitute grams not all categories of the original bill except for sex - E 63 no. form of the discrimi - ual orientation and gender identity. It defined Violence nate based “underserved populations” the same as the orig - H The Senate then went on to approve the original VAWA reauthorization bill Against on the sex - inal bill except that it eliminated those who face T by a vote of 68 yes to 31 no. Women Act ual orienta - barriers due to religion, sexual orientation, and HRC said the VAWA passed by the (VAWA) re - tion or gender identity. And it gutted a section concern - moved the gender ing grants by deleting language concerning N Senate is "a comprehensive, cost-effec -

I tive strategy for combatting domestic vi - terms “sexual identity of a “male and female victims…whose ability to ac - olence" but that version introduced by orientation” victim. cess traditional services and responses is af - Republicans in the House on Friday "ignores the and “gender It also in - fected by their sexual orientation or gender priorities of more than 2,000 law enforcement, identity” from cludes fund - identity.” court, prosecution, legal services, and victim throughout ing for Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of services professionals from across the country." the original “under - the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the The votes seemed to usher in a new era of VAWA reau - served” Republican substitute as undermining the “core Democratic support for including protections thorization populations principles” of the original bill. He said it “strips and benefits for LGBT in legislation, as well as bill. Hutchi - “who face out key provisions to protect all victims…in - a quieter yet more menacing tactic by Republi - son argued that the substitute still protected barriers in accessing and using victim services cluding victims in same-sex relationships.” cans to stop such protections by pitting them same-sex couples by “neutralizing” language because of geographic location, religion, sexual Leahy was one of only a few Democratic sen - against children. referring to victims. She referred to “men who orientation, gender identity, underserved racial ators to talk about specifically about LGBT vic - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), have been gang raped” as an example of such and ethnic populations, populations underserved tims of domestic violence. Many others — in- who introduced and co-authored the substitute violence. because of special needs (such as language bar - bill with Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), The original version of this year’s VAWA riers, disabilities, alienage status, or age), and See Senate Page 30 4 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 5 6 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 7 8 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com First Argument Against DOMA at U.S. Court of Appeals First Circuit

By: By: Lisa Keen & Chuck Colbert/ Keen News T glasses. Jane F. Collins was employing her pastels and R

Service E Bonauto sat next to Paul Smith, the tall, red- paper in a remarkably accurate rendering of the B L headed openly gay attorney who argued and won three justices and the backs of Clement and BOSTON, Mass—The seventh-floor O C the landmark 2003 U.S. Supreme Court deci - Healey for the New England Cable News chan - K

T courtroom of the U. S. Court of Appeals C

U sion, Lawrence v. Texas. Smith had served as co - nel.

for the First Circuit in Boston was H C

operating counsel with GLAD for the plaintiffs Massachusetts Attorney General Martha H packed to capacity. An overflow room : O equipped with closed circuit TV was pro - T in the case. Smith is also working on a similar Coakley was in the front row of the public sec - O G H lawsuit with GLAD in the federal district court tion, behind Clement and in an animated discus -

vided for those not arriving early enough P I — shortly after 8 a.m. — for seating in of Connecticut. sion with people nearby. She was much in the

L the En Banc Hearing Room at the John To Smith’s right sat Maura Healey, an assistant news that day and the day before for indicting Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse on the attorney general for the Commonwealth of Mas - the former state treasurer on misuse of state re - E Boston waterfront. sachusetts. Healey, like Bonauto, had argued sources. She would be back in front of micro - The audience, most dressed in the dark against DOMA at the district court level, in the phones after this argument, explaining the state’s M business suits one normally associates same courthouse on different days just 11 opposition to DOMA to the public. Also in the I with attorneys, was there to witness a his - months earlier. And Healey had just been pro - public section was former state Supreme Judicial L toric event: The first argument against the moted, from chief of the Massachusetts Attorney Court Justice Judith Cowin. Cowin, generally Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a General’s Civil Rights Division to chief of the seen as a conservative, voted with the majority

E federal appeals court. It was the case AG’s Bureau of Public Protection and Advocacy, in 2003, saying the state constitution guarantee everybody knows is heading to the U.S. which oversees Civil Rights, Health Care, An - same-sex couples the right to marry. H Supreme Court and, perhaps, for the his - titrust, Environmental Protection, Consumer The one-hour argument was divided up: Protection, and Insurance and Financial Serv - Clement and Delery would each get 20 minutes T tory books, along with the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas which struck down GLAD attorney Mary Bonauto ices. and Bonauto and Healey would each get 10. To Healey’s right was her successor as chief A few minutes into Clement’s 20 minutes, a laws against same-sex sexual relations. suit, sat on the far left side of the attorneys’ table, N of the state civil rights division, Jonathan Miller, court staffer walked from the back of the court -

I Three of the four attorneys to argue with one or two other associates. that day were openly gay; and all three whose wife gave birth to their first child just a room up to the bench and spoke quietly with To Clement’s right was openly gay attorney few months ago. Chief Judge Lynch while Clement continued re - were arguing that DOMA should be struck Stuart Delery, recently promoted at the U.S. De - down. The lone straight attorney before the On the bench were the First Circuit’s three sponding to a question from Torruella. Boudin partment of Justice to Acting Assistant Attorney most senior judges: 66-year-old Chief Judge leaned in and listened, too. It is quite rare for bench would Paul Clement, a Republican legal General for the Civil Division—a step up after celebrity, fresh off his high-profile challenge of Lynch in the center, 78-year-old Judge Juan Tor - court staff to interrupt a judge hearing oral argu - two years as senior counselor to Attorney Gen - ruella, to the left, and 72-year-old Michael ments. Lynch made no comment about the inter - President Obama’s Affordable Care Act before eral Eric Holder. the U.S. Supreme Court the week before. Boudin, to the right. ruption during the rest of the proceeding, but it Legal gay icon Mary Bonauto of Gay & Les - Reporters were not permitted to bring tape was apparently news that the court’s audio The gathering had to sit, first, through a one- bian Advocates & Defenders, the group which hour argument in an unrelated case, and when it recorders, laptops, cell phones, or any other elec - equipment was malfunctioning. The first 18 championed the historic case that led to same- tronic devices inside the courtroom, and many minutes of the one-hour argument were not reco- was done, at 10 a.m., Chief Judge Sandra Lynch sex marriages in the United States being legally announced a brief recess to allow attorneys for were kvetching with mock horror that they recognized for the first-time ever, in Massachu - would have to be relying on pen and paper to Read the rest of this story online at TRT’s the next case to move into place. setts, sat near the center, in a dark navy business take notes for the historic event. Courtroom artist website at: http://bit.ly/HidF9D Clement, bespectacled and dressed in a gray pantsuit. Bonauto sported fashionable reading www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 9 Newly remodeled Red Roof ® is a “proud” supporter of Boston Pride COLUMBUS, Ohio— Red Roof® , a leader in RediCard members receive 48 hours advance the economy lodging segment is proud to an - notice of promotions and exclusive offers nounce their partnership with The Rainbow available at Red Roof. Times (TRT) in welcoming the Lesbian, Gay, For more information or to reserve a room Bi, and Transgendered (LGBT) Community at this Red Roof property, please contact and Association members to Boston Pride 781.941.1400 or visit www.redroof.com . (You Week 2012, June 1-10. As a TAG Approved® can also take a look at the hotel amenities, property location, the Boston-Logan property photos and more via the ad on this page). in Saugus, MA General Manager Mike Ciulla “hopes LGBT travelers take advantage of this About Red Roof® opportunity to stay at Red Roof for their Pride Red Roof® is a leader in the economy hotel week needs.” segment with both franchised and corporate- owned properties, serving millions of guests Brand new renovation & redesign each year. The company and hotels are known Boston Pride Week 2012 comes on the heels for a warm and welcoming spirit, along with of the property’s completion of their their Smart-by-Design®, value-added ameni - NextGen® renovation. The Saugus property ties that are simple, yet economical, and meet renovations are part of the brand-wide $90 the needs of every guest. With coast-to-coast million NextGen redesigned interior and ex - locations, Red Roof has nearly 350 properties terior prototype, which debuted in December in the U.S. The primary goal at Red Roof is to 2011 at the Miami International Airport. The provide customers a savings without sacrific - new NextGen rooms satisfy travelers’ desires, ing comfort, most recently the brand has an - mimicking many traditional comforts of nounced a multi-million dollar investment to home, including enhanced technology and renovate and upgrade hotels nationwide with electronic amenities. sleek and modern NextGen® redesign ele - ments. Red Roof’s new NextGen hotels will Superior rest beds, contemporary look feature updated stylish and home-like interior This overarching look of the 117-room and exterior designs that demonstrate Red NextGen property is stylish, contemporary, Roof’s dedication to providing customers with residential and welcoming. The new interiors, an affordable stay in a clean, comfortable, and including public spaces and rooms, convey a now, modern room. Red Roof guests consis - warm, home-like feel to travelers through the tently see the brand excelling in expectation use of neutral tones and materials. New fea - and quality in both product and price. Nice tures include updated wood-like flooring, new Place. Nice Price.® is what every consumer area carpeting, window treatments, and paint, can expect when they stay at any one of our including a signature red accent wall, as well hotel locations; and because our company has as updated duvet and bed skirts. The design a single brand in our portfolio, Red Roof also also features new bathroom vessels and sinks, offers franchisees One Brand. One Focus.™ seating, artwork, 32-inch flat screen Pana - Most recently, Red Roof launched its Nicest sonic® televisions in standard rooms and 37- Price® advance purchase option, which re - inch flat screen Panasonic® televisions in wards guests who reserve and pay for their Superior King rooms, as well as Superior Rest room in advance. The Columbus, Ohio-based Suite Beds by Serta®. company has more than 4,500 employees. For more information or reservations, call Centrally located 800.RED.ROOF (800.733.7663) or visit re - The hotel is located at 920 Broadway, droof.com. Saugus, MA 01906. Located 10 miles North - east of Downtown Boston and 2.5 miles About TRT Northwest of Downtown Saugus, Red Roof The Rainbow Times is a minority owned-half Inn Boston-Logan is filled with delightful women and half Hispanic, 100% gay-publica - happenings every day. Surrounded by excel - tion. As a New England LGBT newspaper lent restaurants and attractions, the Red Roof found in 2006 – first based out of Northamp - Inn Boston-Logan is close to Fuddruckers, ton, soon moving to Boston – The Rainbow Starbucks and Friendly’s, among others. Times is a liaison that increases awareness of This hotel participates in RediCard®, Red LGBT issues and serves as a vehicle to unify Roof's loyalty program. RediCard members and strengthen the communities throughout are the first to hear about Red Roof's best the New England region while providing qual - deals, travelers may visit www.redroof.com ity news to its diverse readers. and sign up to become a member. Red Roof's 10 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Boston Pride Celebrates Youth Pride By: Linda DeMarco/ Boston Pride President Boston Pride, now more than ever, encom - passes the entire spectrum of the LGBT com - munity from A to Z, from cradle to grave, from young to young-at-heart. This year, Boston Pride is thrilled to bring Youth Pride under our wing as the event has transitioned from “The Friends of GLBT Youth.” As an older member Youth. of the Pride community, I believe it is our re - Boston Pride now has full oversight and re - sponsibility to help our LGBT youth as they sponsibility of producing Youth Pride. Youth struggle with some of the same issues that we Pride will continue to be dedicated to eradicat - had in coming out, and finding a safe and nur - ing homophobia and transphobia in order to turing community with which to share our ex - allow all young gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans - periences. gender people the opportunity to reach their full If the recent news is any indication, there has potential. Youth Pride works with youth and been a significant uptick in violence and dis - teens to provide them with knowledge and crimination against LGBT people in general, courage to be who they are in today’s society. and in par - There will ticular, be an event against Youth Pride is on Saturday, May 19th from 11 to celebrate youth. Youth Pride From the a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Boston Common . There on Saturday, tragic sui - May 19th cide last will be a parade and festival for all to enjoy. from 11 month of a.m. to 4 Iowa teen Kenneth Weishuhn to the recent edict p.m. on the Boston Common. There will be a by Saudia Arabia’s government to banish gays parade and festival for all to enjoy. So if you are and “tom boys” from schools and universities to in the neighborhood, whether you’re an LGBT laws in Russia that would limit information youth or an adult ally, please stop by and sup - about LGBT issues, we daily see why Pride or - port Youth Pride. We are pleased to be working ganizations need to have a special focus on with LGBT youth in the community, who con - youth. tinue to be the driving force behind the parade Retracing the history of the state’s Youth Pride and festival and in helping us understand the takes us back to 1992 when then- Governor needs of young people in our community. William F. Weld created the first-in-the-nation Now, for more on Boston Pride 2012 Festival Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian and Parade … We have a great lineup of enter - Youth in response to appalling statistics from a tainers for the Festival on June 9 featuring Center for Disease Control Prevention study Alexis Jordan, Rye Rye and Kerli. We are that showed LGBT youth were much more thrilled to be bringing these great musical acts likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual to City Hall Plaza after the Parade. On Friday, peers. At the time, the Governor termed the find - June 1st, the week kicks off with a Flag Raising ings “shocking.” After Weld left office, Gover - ceremony at City Hall Plaza, followed by the nor A. Paul Cellucci continued the family-friendly Pride Day @ Faneuil Hall on Commonwealth’s commitment by issuing an Saturday, June 2. Throughout the week, we’ll Executive Order in 1998 to renew the Commis - have events that will appeal to everyone from sion, expand its powers and enhance the execu - the Pride Pageant to Pride Idol, Boston Youth tive office's commitment to combat suicide and Pride Dance and to end the week, the famous violence affecting gay and lesbian youth. Dur - Block Parties on Sunday, June 10th. This year, ing the administration of Governor Mitt Rom - the Back Bay block party has been moved to St. ney, funding was cut dramatically and the James Avenue from Stuart Street, but it will still Commission was ultimately abolished. But the have the same great vibe. And our JP Block effort continued when a core group of individu - party, being co-produced with Dyke Night this als created the “Friends of GLBT Youth,” a non - year, is going to be better than ever! profit organization that has been providing For the latest updates on Boston Pride 2012 funding for Youth Pride since 2005. Then, in events and programs. Please visit our website: 2006, the state legislature created a new Massa - www.bostonpride.org. See you in Boston! chusetts Commission on Gay and Lesbian www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 11 12 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com LGBT Coalition of WMA wins voters “Best Of Local Activist Organization” award from local paper Pride in Your Gayborhood By: Christine Nicco/ TRT Reporter ganization” went to National Priorities Project, from Northampton, a financial organization. NOHO PRIDE RHODE ISLAND PRIDE NORTHAMPTON, Mass.—For seventeen years the Valley Advocate has worked on that Third place went to Citizens for the Revitaliza - May 12, 2012 June 15-17 special section, now widely recognized in tion and Urban Success of Holyoke www.site.nohopride.org www.prideri.com/ western Massachusetts – the “Best Of (C.R.U.S.H.). Awards.” A select number of area businesses Although Seymour did not know the organ - and organizations are inducted into this izations vying for the award, she was aware of BOSTON YOUTH PRIDE SOUTH MAINE PRIDE “recognition” for the process of “cast - ing votes” of the pre - June 16 their work. This May 19 year, a very young ferred organizations. www.bostonpride.org/youth - www.southernmainepride.org/ organization re - Since the Coalition won third place in pride/ ceived the “Best Local Activist the 2011 Best of the NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIDE Honor” for a local Valley poll, Seymour June 16 activist organization. was hoping that they CAPITAL PRIDE (NY) would move up this http://bit.ly/HyZh0V Such an organiza - May 30-June 10 tion is the LGBT Coalition of Western Massa - year. “First place is such an absolute joy to www.capitalpride.org/ chusetts. have received.” The LGBT Coalition’s work in 2011 and NYC P RIDE “We are honored and humbled to have been bestowed such a great recognition from our 2012 seem to be what the voters saw when BOSTON PRIDE June 16-24 community. It’s great that our hard work and they selected them as the winners for this award. The organization’s commitment to ad - www.nycpride.org/ dedication has been recognized!” said Suzanne June 1-10 Seymour, Executive Director. “The more peo - vocacy work for the LGBT community is ap - www.bostonpride.org ple know we exist, the greater the possibilities parent especially in youth areas and others are of what we can accomplish, so with that with special needs. TORONTO PRIDE “Last year we surveyed Western Mass Gay- June 22-July 1 said, we are very happy!” CT P RIDE Holding LGBT youth and adult events in Straight Alliances to determine what their www.pridetoronto.com/ needs were. We asked, they spoke, we lis - TBA, Northampton, Florence, Springfield and Holyoke, the LGBT Coalition has had what tened!” explained Seymour. “We started off the www.connecticutpride.org/ appears to be a very busy schedule since the year celebrating the first-ever National GSA VERMONT PRIDE organization came to fruition. Such work Day in Springfield, with over 100 young peo - Sept. 22 seems to have paid off, as the “Best Of” ple present, from six different Springfield area high schools and two colleges. We are part of LONG ISLAND PRIDE www.pridevt.com/ demonstrates. “The Coalition has been working very hard, the Stop the Hate and Homophobia group June 9 which has actively brought attention to local http://lipride.org/ since our establishment in 2009, to bring change to our community, and apparently, anti-gay minister, Scott Lively. We were also a ATINO RIDE (S EPT .) L P someone has noticed,” said Seymour. part of the vigil and march through Springfield Second place for the Best “Local Activist Or - See The Best Of on page 21 www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 13 14 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Jane Fonda, Brittany S. Pierce, Harmony Korine, Steel Magnolias By: Romeo San Vicente*/ Special for TRT Indie film- Korine is coming to corrupt you. he really hates gays. Just Google some of the N maker Har - I things he’s said about us. It’s Santorum-level

The Butler ’s con - D E

mony Korine R Steel Magnolias : the TV movie stuff. He actively fights civil rights laws. He’s

servative icon: N A D Jane Fonda is no stranger If you never saw the original 1989 film version on the board of the anti-gay group, the Na - V

to the weird. : of Steel Magnolias with Dolly Parton and Julia tional Organization for Marriage. And that’s

Jane Fonda has O T O

spent her entire life He’s built an O Roberts then you’ve got a little catching up to why it’s more than a little disconcerting to re - H working for liberal outsider-cool P do on the subjects of Southern idiosyncrasy, port that his most famous novel, Ender’s O causes when she reputation female bonding, the trouble with men, the Game , a modern sci-fi classic, is about to get wasn’t busy build - thanks to his fragility of life and the importance of a good the big-budget, big screen treatment from X- W ing a career as one early script for hairstyle (it’s all centered around a beauty Men Origins: Wolverine director Gavin Hood. the ’90s drama salon). A huge hit and an enduring touchstone It will star Hugo ’s Asa Butterfield as Ender, Y of our most acclaimed actresses. And if Kids and his of gay culture, it was, therefore, a no-brainer Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Abigail Breslin,

L you’re old enough to remember the era when she was disparagingly referred to later increas - that Lifetime would want to get behind a Hailee Steinfeld and Sir Ben Kingsley. Expect L as “Hanoi Jane,” you’ll know that she ingly bizarre small-screen remake. Even smarter? Executive hardcore sci-fi fans to geek out and look the films Gummo producer Queen Latifah (still not an official other way, gay sci-fi fans to feel conflicted,

O wasn’t afraid to court controversy and right-wing scorn in the process. Now, (about trailer lesbian, for the record) has assembled an all- Card apologists to lecture you on how to sep -

H in her eighth decade, she’s going to park Ameri - Dolly Parton black cast filled with beloved names like Phyli - arate the art from the artist and Hollywood to court a little more by playing Nancy cana), Mister cia Rashad, Jill Scott, Latifah herself and pretend like they haven’t just bankrolled Mag -

E Reagan in gay director Lee Daniels’ Lonely (about a commune populated by newcomers like lesbian indie film Pariah ’s gie Gallagher a little more. Coming soon to a (Precious ) new film The Butler . A celebrity impersonators who live each day as breakout star Adepero Oduye. Talk about multiplex near you. D biopic of White House butler Eugene their chosen alter ego) and Trash Humpers crossing demographic boundaries. This is I Allen, who worked for a string of Pres - (about… well, the title explains it). So what’s probably going to call for a girls night in when *Romeo San Vicente likes science fiction best

S idents from 1952 to 1986, Daniels is next for the daring director? How about a it finally hits the airwaves. when its creators respect science. He can be currently in talks with Forest Whitaker spring break action-comedy featuring Amer - reached care of this publication or at DeepIn - N to take on the title role. And with an ica’s favorite teenage lesbian cheerleader? Let’s start the boycott of Ender’s Game now [email protected]. I

African-American filmmaker in charge Glee ’s Heather Morris has joined the cast of Sci-fi author Orson Scott Card hates gays. of a production about a black man in a Korine’s Spring Breakers , a head-scratching That’s the first thing you should know. Like, P domestic service position, here’s hop - detour about four college girls who rob a

E ing the finished product can avoid the restaurant to fund their spring break vacation, kind of negative press that followed last only to fall in with a gang of drug and arms Thinking Out Loud: Why we have to have political E year’s The Help . Of course, no matter dealers who want them to work full time on the

D how the movie turns out, Fox News is opposite side of the law. And Morris isn’t the power to prove that we don’t have political power only stunt-casting move here. Rounding out going to get a lot of mileage out of it. By: Abby Dees*/Special for TRT The campaign against Prop 8 generated mil - the cast is James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens, Se - lions of dollars and we had people like George ’ve often thought I Glee ’s Brittany S. Pierce meets Kids ’ Har - lena Gomez and Pretty Little Liars regular Clooney and Brad Pitt on our side. On either should write a column mony Korine Ashley Benson. Get ready, tweens, Harmony side, it was perhaps the largest ballot initiative called, “Weird Things I campaign in any state ever. So it makes me Lawyers Do,” to explain to cringe a little that we have to act all victim-y in normal people why attor - court to fight for our civil rights. And yet we do. neys, like me, spend so much I struggled watching this play out, knowing as time arguing about meaning - an attorney that there were good reasons to claim less points. If you read any of this powerlessness, but still feeling like some the Prop 8 federal trial tran - important fact was missing. It didn’t make sense scripts you may have noticed that a lot of that to me that as we got closer to equality as a com - trial was spent arguing about whether LGBT munity, the courts would be less inclined to sup - people had political power. It was a classic case port our equality. of lawyers bringing everything to a standstill to I finally figured it out this month at a confer - fight like feral cats about something totally off ence of LGBT law and policy wonks who came topic. together just to look at this issue. First of all, if But that question does, in fact, matter a lot. you haven’t already noticed, the other side really The reason why the issue of LGBT political likes to turn the oppression narrative around on power is so important in any LGBT discrimina - us. As I discussed in my last column, they are tion case is this: Discrimination lawsuits are usu - spending big money to disseminate the idea that ally the remedy of last resort, so the courts want we are bullying them into silence. Poor homo - to make sure that there’s a very good reason for phobes are suffering no less than full PTSD them to step in. One of the ways they look at this from retaliation by very mean and powerful gay is by asking how much political power the tar - people. A panelist at the conference I attended geted group has to fight for its rights on its own. read examples of this harassment from witness When you have a majority of people voting declarations: Gay people gave Prop 8 supporters for something like Prop 8 based on their firmly dirty looks at the local country club, sons wrote held (if completely delusional) beliefs, the court disapproving letters to parents expressing sad - doesn’t want to up-end the voter’s will without ness at their support for the measure. Hair-curl - first finding out if that’s really the only way for ing stuff. the targeted group to adequately defend itself. I’d like to call bulls*&t on this silly rhetoric Think back to high school civics and all that and remind people, again, what kind of damage stuff about checks and balances. The court is homophobia still does to our community, espe - supposed to check the overreach of legislators cially or young members, despite any political or even voters, but they can’t go overboard and gains we’ve made. thereby undermine the democratic process. Second, as law professor Kenji Yashino ex - Therefore, to challenge the tyranny of the ma - plained, this whole “political power” thing is a jority in court, we have to prove we’re politically catch-22. Courts won’t give you the time of day powerless first. if you’re truly politically powerless. Of the top We’re in an odd situation now. We’ve made so of my head, I would guess that homeless people much progress that we have HRC schmoozing haven’t exactly hit pay dirt in court, for example. with the president, gay marriage in maybe 8 In other words, to win, you have to have enough states by next year, a gay cable channel and political power to hire the people and the con - “girlfriend” jeans for men. Can we really say sultants to demonstrate that you don’t have that we have no political power? Isn’t that the enough political power to do that. Yep, lawyers point of all this awareness work, to increase our are weird. clout as a community? 16 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times’ Northampton Pide Week Map • www.therainbowtimesnews.com www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times ‘ Northampton Pride Week Map 2012 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 17 18 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times’ Northampton Pide Week Map • www.therainbowtimesnews.com www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times ‘ Northampton Pride Week Map 2012 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 15

• NORTHAMPTON PRIDE WEEK MAP PULL-OUT www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 19 Creep of the Week: CT’s James Loomer By: D’Anne Witkowski*/ Special for TRT Loomer said, “If the board decides they don’t ave you heard the one about want to take any corrective actions we’re al - ready making plans to call the city families to -

S the National Day of Si - Hlence? Here’s the set up: gether and just apprise them of the situation. A teen walks into her high school. And I think the parents will be so appalled at W A few of her friends are all, “What’s what the Day of Silence could lead their chil - dren into that they’re going to want to stand up E up, girl?” And she’s all, “…” and say, ‘let’s get rid of this.’ There are alterna - N And they’re like, “What’s your tive programs that focus on disrupting the bul - problem?” lying that goes on in schools but this is one that’s got a serious kickback to it.” P And she hands them a card that reads, “Please understand my reasons Just what could Day of Silence lead children E for not speaking today. I am partici - into? How about an open mind? The ability to

E pating in the Day of Silence , a national respect people who are different than them? youth movement bringing attention to Compassion and understanding? Oh, the hor - R the silence faced by LGBT people and ror. Also, I think Loomer means “drawbacks,” not C their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused “kickback.” Unless he’s claiming that GLSEN by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and ha - (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Net - rassment. I believe that ending the silence is the work) is getting rich off of this. Then again, first step toward building awareness and making considering how far off his info is, I wouldn’t a commitment to address these injustices.” be surprised if he thought such a thing. And her friends say, “OMG! Getting bullied The promotion of homosexuality? for being gay? Sign us up!” And they start dyk - Perkins had nothing but praise for Loomer. ing it out in the hallway. Then some boys pass - “Look, bullying should not be taking place in ing by are also handed a card and, after reading our schools, every child in America should be it, become gay-homo forever and ever, Amen. able to go to school … without the fear of threat Teachers and administrators who support the or being intimidated, regardless of what the Day of Silence nod in approval. Gay at last, gay cause is, whether they’re overweight, whether at last. Thank God almighty, the school is gay their religious viewpoints, no child should be at last! All students who refuse to turn gay and bullied because they are effeminate or because claim religious objection are rounded up and of their sexual orientation or whatever, it sent to gay reform school. shouldn’t happen,” Perkins said, “but we cannot Loomer wants the Day of Silence gone allow these programs like the Day of Silence to This is apparently how James Loomer, a come into our schools as a cover for the promo - Christian pastor in Connecticut, envisions how tion of homosexuality. That’s what is happening the Day of Silence goes down (no pun intended) with this so we appreciate Pastor Loomer and across America and why he, and many others, others who are drawing attention to this in com - wants it banned. “Shut it down!” he told his munities across the country.” local school board. If only we could compel the loudmouth big - But they said no. Because they hate God, ob - ots to shut up for one day a year. viously. *D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay That hasn’t stopped Loomer from railing since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet against Day of Silence and right-wing ilk giving (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the him a platform to do so. In a radio interview creeps of the world she reviews rock ‘n’ roll with Focus On the Family’s Tony Perkins, shows in Detroit with her twin sister.

Youth from page 2 of oppressions.” and support young people who will be marching Allies have a role of support here too! Listen - in the streets. There is also a consistent need for ing to young queers of color will shape a mass chaperones at the BAGLY prom. You can learn movement in a way quite different from one di - more about chaperone needs at www.bagly.org . rected by middle-class white adults. It is not Youth programming also needs funding sup - about feeling shame or guilt about being a mid - port. So many of us are bombarded with funding dle-class white adult, but to take time to listen to requests from the HRC, GLAAD and other the leadership of others and strive to be allies adult-focused LGBTQ organizations, but young knowing that we'll fail sometimes, but we just folks need to be included. Do you know about need to get back up and keep trying. Our greatest OUT NOW in Springfield, Mass.? You might see potential for growth and greater change in our their bumper stickers around that read, “Don't communities is when we work outside of our Hate: Liberate!” They bring a large multi-issue comfort zones. So, show up, listen, and act. This focus to LGBTQ liberation, they provide incred - May is a great time to reignite your own com - ible support to young people, and they constantly mitment to LGBTQ young people. Start with show up, provide leadership development oppor - showing up at Youth Pride if you haven't before. tunities, while transforming the lives of young It was 1999 when my mom joined me at the people. Host a fundraiser with your friends; podium to speak our truth as a family. She every bit helps. showed what it meant to be an adult ally. We can If you are in Providence, have you ever gone all follow in her footsteps, supporting the lead - to events put on by the Providence Youth Student ership of young people. Movement? They do organizing work with *Rev. Jason Lydon is a Unitarian Universalist Southeast Asian youth, including a program, minister in Boston. He is a long time anti-prison seaQuel, described as a project that, “empowers organizer and founder of Black & Pink, an LGBTQ and heterosexual Southeast Asian youth LGBTQ-focused effort working toward the abo - allies with leadership development and mentor - lition of the prison industrial complex. Jason is ship so that they can organize community events also an avid lover of famous people and block - that bring diverse communities together, foster buster action flicks. You can reach Jason at coalition building, and address the intersections [email protected] 20 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Melissa Etheridge Opens Up: Talks Ex, getting remarried and upcoming album

By: Chris Azzopardi*/ Special for TRT PHOTO: UNIVERSAL of view as if it were my own. They’re memo - ome to her window, but ries, like, “What if I was still there, what would Melissa Etheridge won’t be this be like?” I’ve written a couple of those. T around. Why? Because she’s Q: It’s been a couple of years since you and C Tammy Lynn Michaels split, though it’s still

N everywhere else – on tour through the summer and in the studio laying down making headlines. What’s been the hardest part E tracks for her first album since 2010’s about going through a public breakup? Fearless Love . A: That it was public. (Laughs) Some private

M And, in the midst of a heated custody pains and anger and heartache gets out there battle with her ex, she dished on both and no one understands, nobody except who is N during our recent interview: what to ex - in the relationship knows what’s going on, and I pect from the new music (songs about there’s always two sides to everything. I don’t ever like to do anything public; whereas she A her split, of course), tentatively due in might take things public, I keep very quiet

T September; how, despite her breakup, “it’s not as heartbroken” as past al - about it, so that’s hard. You can’t win that, ever.

R bums; and, of course, getting under - Q: People naturally make assumptions and wear-bombed onstage. start rumors. Is it better not to say anything or E Chris Azzopardi: How’s life treating clear the air? T you these days? A: You know, I wish it was possible to just go Melissa Etheridge: It’s pretty incredi - on and say, “Hey, this is my truth, this is it,” N ble. Very full and very fun. There’s al - but it never stops. When you engage in that

E ways a new adventure around the then you’re in it and it gets all mucky and you corner. I have four kids and I’m very can’t win. You can’t change what people think. happy. Some people are just out there assuming away Q: What’s it like raising teens? and I can’t change that. So I accept it. It’ll all A: My kids are 13 and 15, and I have two 5- be in the past soon. year-olds; surprisingly, it’s very similar. Q: Except you’ll be reliving it on this album. (Laughs) They require all of your attention and A: (Laughs) Yes, that’s the thing. And that I they don’t remember anything you’ve told can control. I can control my art, and I can con - them. A: (Laughs) That’s funny, but no actually. Bet - Q: But some fans miss sad Melissa. trol what I say and how I say it. Q: What’s inspiring this upcoming album? ter than that. I was pretty down and out during A: I know! Some people say Skin is their fa - Q: Do songs that you’re performing from A: Life has always inspired whatever I’m Skin — that was hard! I’m in a much better vorite and I’m like, “Aww, I’m sorry.” (Laughs) decades ago bring you back in time? Like, how singing about, so events in my life in the last place and I feel much better, so I think it’s Q: On your last album, Fearless Love , you do you feel when you’re performing “Bring couple of years: new love, saying goodbye to more up. It’s hard for me to tell when I’m just started writing from other people’s perspective. Me Some Water” now? an old love, and my kids and my hopes and my starting, when I’m just making it, but I feel like Will there be more of that on the upcoming To read the rest of this Q&A, her take on dealings of life are all there. it’s not as heartbroken as Skin was. We’re never album? life after cancer, her opinion on marriage Q: So Lucky meets Skin ? going back there. A: I found that I’m writing from another point equality, & more, visit: http://bit.ly/ICQcRB www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 21 The Real Mike Ruiz: Opens up without fears By: Chris Azzopardi*/ Special for TRT

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Guillermo del Toro. That world, or at least a R version of it, is very familiar to Mike Ruiz. C As a kid, growing up as one of few ethnic people in Quebec, he envisioned an alternate reality that transcended his drab real life. Little did he know that years later he’d be implement - ing it into real life: he’s famous for his celebrity photographs, capturing the who’s-who of Hol - lywood in another light. He’s also part of another reality – reality TV. Aside from Logo’s The A-List: New York , which he left last year after two seasons of the tawdry show, he’s also been seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race and America’s Next Top Model . With Pretty Masculine , the first in a series of books released late last year, he’s focusing on photography, which includes an upcoming shoot with Martha Wash – and a storm of beef - cakes – to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “It’s Raining Men.” A: I did A-List for very specific reasons, and it Ruiz phoned us recently to talk about his was not to hang my dirty laundry out. I did it break from reality TV (and to defend A-List ), because I wanted to be more visible in the com - his new series of books, and how childhood munity so I could do positive things in the com - transcendence inspired his photography career. munity. You never know — those guys on Q: How are you able to balance a partner, pho - Jersey Shore probably never thought they’d be tography, TV and charity work – all the while making $7, $8 million a year; there’s always the maintaining the muscles? hope that it’s going to become this pop culture A: I think it’s just my perception. I chose to per - phenomenon and you’re going to ride the wave ceive things differently, so my life just seems and it’ll be great, but fundamentally, I just so much more manageable and calmer so far wanted to do something responsible. this year than it was in 2011. If my goal was to become a Jersey Shore kind Q: Not doing reality TV probably helps? of character, I would’ve been way more reck - A: That’s probably the main reason. (Laughs) less on TV. I feel like I conducted myself in a It’s not so much that it occupied a lot of time; very responsible way. That was my goal, and I it occupied a lot of my mental energy. do it in life, as well. It’s important for me to put Q: Wait. Reality TV? my best foot forward to set a good example, so A: (Laughs) Imagine that! I’m certainly not going to go on TV and get Q: What about it? wasted and puke all over my other cast mem - A: I don’t know. Honestly, I can’t put my finger bers. (Laughs) on it. It’s just a lot of effort and a lot of work. Q: In general, do you think the show gives gay You have all these hopes and expectations for people a bad name? the outcome, and you’re kind of white knuck - A: It shouldn’t give anybody a bad name. It’s ling it because you have no control over any - not meant to be a representation of anybody. thing, so you just do your best and hope for the It’s five or six people that they cast very ... best. It’s just too taxing for too little pay off. Q: Why did you do The A-List: New York in the Read the rest of this story at: first place? http://bit.ly/IPywTC

Best Of from page 12 tion also prepares for its biggest annual fundraiser. to speak out against the false and misleading “We are gearing up for our annual fall statements made by Lively regarding LGBT fundraiser, the Rainbow Riverfest, at the people. As religious belief is often one of the Holyoke Canoe Club on September 22, which primary reasons cited to justify discrimination offers people of all backgrounds an opportunity against LGBT people, we strongly support and to see and learn from one another in a safe and advocate opportunities in which we are able to welcoming space,” explained Seymour. “All heal and reclaim our spiritual connection by this is taking place and we are not even halfway speaking out against anti-gay rhetoric and ad - through the year, so keep an eye on our website dressing discrimination from non-welcoming for upcoming programs and to discover how churches.” you can become involved and get ACTIVE!” The Coalition continues their advocacy work In winning, Seymour states that there is much by facing the primary culprit that leads the gratitude to the people, companies and organi - LGBT youth to run away from home or even zations that have believed in them, supported commit suicide—ignorance. With a focus on and collaborated with them because they be - diverse LGBT populations, the organization is lieve in their mission to help LGBT youth in partnering with other well-known institutions the Valley. to understand the needs of the broader commu - “We’d also like to take a moment to thank nity. Baystate Health , UMASS Stonewall Center , “On May 21, we will be hosting a workshop The Rainbow Times , as well as our community for parents who may be struggling with accept - partners, for helping us along the way,” Sey - ing their LGBT teenagers,” said Seymour. “We mour added. “We couldn’t have achieved these are also currently partnering with the UMass early successes without their support!” Amherst Stonewall Center to bring forth LGBT For more information about the LGBT Coali - diversity training for local businesses, as well tion, to make a donation or to get involved: as offering an ongoing film and forum series www.lgbtcoalitionwma.org via the Rainbow that tackles unique and thought-provoking sub - Riverfest website at: www.rainbowriverfest.org jects.” or call (413) 588-1018 In the middle of its busiest season, the Coali - 22 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Boston Pride Announces Headline Entertainers for 2012 Festival: Alexis Jordan, Rye Rye, and Kerli Three musical artists to perform at June 9th Festival on Boston’s City Hall Plaza BOSTON, Mass.—Boston Pride last week an - Pop! Bang! which is set for release on May 1-10. This year’s theme is “30 Years of World - nounced that musical artists, Alexis Jordan, 15th. Rye Rye likes to think of her music as a wide Pride Movement” and Boston Pride will Rye Rye, and Kerli will be the featured musi - variety of things, but most importantly it is celebrate by hosting special events, parties and cal entertainment at this year’s Pride Festival about fun for everyone and she is thrilled to Boston’s biggest and most popular Parade and to be held on Saturday, June 9th from noon to share it at Boston Pride. Festival. Starting with the annual Flag Raising 6 p.m. at Boston’s City Hall Plaza. Ceremony on June 1st at City Hall Plaza, the The Festival is the last stop on the Boston About Kerli week also includes Pride Day at Faneuil Hall, Pride Parade route and will host entertainment, At the age of 18, Estonian recording artist Pride Idol, the Royal Pageant, Human Rights the Family Zone, the Main Stage Lounge, Ar - Kerli moved from Elva, Estonia to the United Events, block parties and much more. tisan Avenue and over 100 vendors for people States and just one year later in 2006, she was More information and details for Boston of all ages. signed to Island Def Jam Music Group by LA Pride’s 2012 Pride Week can be found at “We are thrilled to have Alexis Jordan, Rye Reid. By 2008, she released her debut album www.bostonpride.org . Rye, and Kerli headline our festival this year,” Love is Dead which charted at 125 on the Bill - • Follow Alexis Jordan on Twitter! said Linda DeMarco, president of Boston board 200 that July. Kerli is currently working • Follow Rye Rye on Twitter! Pride. “These young women are all breaking on her second album set to release later this • Follow Kerli on Twitter! through on the music scene as we speak, and year. Kerli also was a DJ on the program New we know that they will put on a great show Now Next show on the LOGOTV network. here in Boston.” Jordan has released her first album, self titled Kerli believes that “All humans need to have Alexis Jordan, and has recently announced that equal rights, straight or gay,” and she is excited About Alexis Jordan her second album will be released this year. to celebrate pride by performing for Boston After a highly praised appearance on the first Jordan promises to inspire and entertain every - during the festival. season of America’s Got Talent, Alexis Jor - one at Boston Pride with her music. “The Boston Pride Festival is Boston’s Boston Pride produces events and activities to dan’s YouTube videos started accumulating largest and most popular festival,” said De - achieve inclusivity, equality, respect, and millions of hits. Once Sony Music-affiliated About Rye Rye Marco. “We are proud to share pride with these awareness in Greater Boston and beyond. Fos - label, StarRoc/Roc Nation – a joint venture be - Rye Rye, was the first artist to sign with talented and unique musicians and are excited tering diversity, unity, visibility and dignity, we tween Stargate and Jay-Z's Roc Nation caught M.I.A.'s record label N.E.E.T., an imprint of to have them perform live for Boston at our educate, communicate and advocate by build - wind the viral sensation, they signed Jordan to Interscope Records. At just 21 years old she is momentous event.” ing and strengthening community connections. their label at barely 18 years old. Since then, currently working on her debut album Go! Boston Pride Week 2012 will be held June Follow Boston Pride on Twitter!

Soon To Be Boston Based, NE Read: The Rainbow Times www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 23 Cloudburst opens 25th Connecticut Gay How exactly did we get so fat so fast? 5th in a Series: Food & Politics and the 2012 Elections & Lesbian Film Festival, June 1-9 By: John Verlinden/ Special for TRT nearly $150 billion in medical expenses annu - HARTFORD, Conn. — A vivid rainbow of val is the longest-running cinema festival in the ally. But what’s even more troubling is that, genres, topics, voices and viewpoints will be state. It has helped Hartford to become a re - We’re in the midst

! unless we find a way to reverse this trend, our shared in the 25th season of the Connecticut gional movie-lover’s destination while it has of an epidemic in

R America. Two-thirds children may be the first generation since the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, taking place galvanized and knit together the LGBT com - E O W of us, 190 million Civil War to have a shortened life expectancy. June 1-9 during LGBT Pride Month. Cinestu - munity since 1988. O P

T What will you ask of the politicians seeking dio at Trinity College is the site for this mile - Unlike many festivals organized by hired cu - L people, are over - E

H weight. More than a your vote when it comes to this national emer - S stone season, except for dual closing night rators, this event is programmed by a group of C

A gency? Just as we don’t want government in

R third of adults are screenings at the Connecticut Science Center 15 or so devoted volunteers, who have spent : O U obese, and one in six our bedrooms, no one wants the “food police” and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. over 150 hours viewing 200 short and feature- T O in their kitchen or dining room. “The selec - length submis - H children is obese. P G Should the government get involved?

tion committee sions since It’s a growing con - is pleased by CREDIT: OUT FILM CONNECTICUT August 2011 until cern. But is there an appropriate role for govern - the variety and early April of this O Obesity ment when it comes to maintaining our na - number of year. Since 1980, adult obesity has more tion’s physical health, especially when it high-quality Film screenings H than doubled, while obesity among comes to children? We’ve relied on “personal feature films to are at Cinestudio C children and adolescents has tripled. On responsibility” alone for many years and that be presented,” on the campus of average, we now consume over 500 simply hasn’t worked. Should government says Shane En - Trinity College, U more calories per day than we did just reevaluate its farm policies and subsidies? gstrom, Direc - 300 Summit 25 years ago. Where will we be 25 Should government increase nutrition educa - tor of Out Film Street, Hartford, M years from now? tion efforts? Should it step up food product la - CT, the not- with the exception This¡ is a complex problem with many con - beling requirements? Should it tax junk foods for-profit pro - of closing night. tributing factors, including what and how and sugary drinks, and then spend the money ducer of the Movies are shown much we eat, how much we exercise and our on research and treatment? Or is less govern - Connecticut at 7:30 p.m. every socioeconomic status and our genes, so finding ment with fewer market controls more likely Gay & Lesbian evening during successful interventions isn’t going to be easy. to bring positive change? Film Festival. the festival, with But this is a problem we need to control; the Next month we’ll take a look at food-product “While the Cloudburst kicks of OutFilm CT on June 1. The Film Festival additional matinee labeling issues. Share your thoughts, ask a will take place from June 1-9th. costs are high. films are se - screenings slated Obesity results in diseases and death question or suggest a topic for a future article lected for their for Saturdays and We know that as weight increases, the risks – contact me: [email protected] or visit interest to the LGBT community, they depict a Sundays at 3:00 p.m. for coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, www.muchogusto.com and join our food vast array of human experience and concerns Tickets to each of the opening and closing forum. that are universal to all audiences. gala screenings are $18, $15 for students and cancers, stroke and other chronic illnesses also increase. The financial impact alone is stagger - Until next time – ¡Mucho Gusto!, ¡Muchas “These films are celebrations and affirma - seniors. Single tickets for other films are $10, Gracias! y ¡Buen Provecho! tions of artistry, self-discovery and individual - $7 for students and seniors. ing – obesity-related diseases already cost us ity, commonality and community. They offer Three-show passes (excluding opening and opportunities learn about and question history closing nights) are $24. Admission to the entire and contemporary social issues. Most of all, Festival is $75. Single tickets and festival the Festival is an entertaining forum that pro - passes are available online at www.Out - vides interaction with filmmakers and actors. FilmCT.org and may be purchased at the door. Stay tuned, for early in May we’ll announce For more information about the festival of very special appearances,” Engstrom con - Cloudburst , visit OutFilmCT.org or check out cluded. the organization’s advertisement on page 28 of The Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festi - this issue The Rainbow Times .

GO, GO, GO ... TRT ON THE GO! 24 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com The RI Anti-Sexism League fights for women’s rights and against rape culture By: Casey Rocheteau/ TRT Reporter LGBT for rape last month or so have we decided upon a reg - commu - culture to ularly scheduled day, time, and location to PROVIDENCE, RI—Last autumn saw nity, and exist. In meet. I think not having that consistency be - the beginnings of a newly emerging homeless RI AntI-SExISm LEAg addition I fore was hurting us. It would be like, ‘this D uE movement against the rape-culture epi - persons wanted to week we're meeting on Monday at 5 in so and demic in our society. Many of the Have N were You Been? • Raped • Ridiculed provide so's living room.’ It didn't make us all that ac - events around the country were tied to - barely • Assaulted • Called a Slut • Left Out solutions cessible.” A gether through the name Slut Walk, touched on for people So far, Quenon says, the group has which is a controversial and provoca - of Important Legislation • Paid Less for L if even and offer “protested the R.I. Right to Life Committee at tive epithet meant to reclaim power mentioned Equal Work • Discriminated Against ... more than the statehouse, organized two clinic defenses, S from those who would demean sexual- at all.” what the and now done Occupy Sexism. We have so I assault victims, particularly women.

Quenon one-off many ideas for more actions, panels, discus - In Rhode Island, what grew from the said it day event sions, and outreach. And we're very open to or - E event was a group called Rhode Island seemed could pro - ganizing around things that people in the Anti-Sexism League (RIASL), which that Slut vide. I community want to see us address.” D held an event including a rally, march, Walk had wanted to The group hopes to serve as a well-known speak-out, potluck and workshops last O opened up create a community group that people can turn to at a month. The group dubbed the event Oc - a geo - space for time they say is dominated by a rollback on

H cupy Sexism. Bolstered by the strength graphically people to women’s rights, prevalence of sexism, and behind the occupy movement, RIASL far-reaching dialogue that was narrow in its stay and fight in.” longstanding issues dealing with sexual assault R set out to address many of the issues content. When asked if she felt that RIASL ade - both legally and culturally. Quenon said that around sexism that hadn’t been adequately She went on to say that she “was also upset quately represented the community of Provi - anyone who wanted to attend meetings or dealt with during the Slut Walk. by the lack of discussion and workshops after - dence, she said, “If you are asking if RIASL is events could attend meetings held every Sun - The Rainbow Times spoke with Sarah ward, as well as the absence of a speak-out as diverse as the population of the city … then day at 6 p.m. at Libertalia, unless otherwise Quenon, one of the group’s lead organizers (that) so many attendees seemed hungry for. I unfortunately no. We have some male mem - noted. There’s also another clinic defense com - about the event and RIASL. She explained that wanted to recreate a similar event based on ad - bers, persons of color, and LGBT members, ing up on May 19 at the Women's Medical the idea developed after last fall’s Slut Walk. dressing rape culture, and at the same time ex - some parents, teachers, older and younger Center of Rhode Island. She said that she was personally “really frus - pand it to address the multiple, far-reaching, members, but we are still somewhat lacking in RIASL’S meetings and events can also be trated with a lot of aspects of rape culture that pervasive and systemic sexist and gender- diversity. Though I will say we have only ex - found at: http://bit.ly/IjdL3J weren't confronted. Sexual assault and domes - based types of oppression that make it possible isted as a group since last fall, and only in the tic violence against men, immigrants, the Variety of events planned for Rhode Island Pride and Gallery Q in Providence By: Casey Rocheteau/ TRT Reporter party with Gallery Q tian and Kate Monteiro, to talk about rights and what next steps are in PROVIDENCE, RI—Pride is coming up, and (stands for Queer). who work together on R.I., a night devoted to LGBT-equality political while that is already cause for celebration, Since 2008, Gallery Q the event, along with candidates, a comedy night and one night Pride R.I. is bringing culture and history to the has run in conjunction Laura’s partner Tibo. specifically devoted to the transgender commu - “They handle the art as - nity, which, Monteiro said, will be back this with pride as a space for pects of it, and I’m more year, though the specifics are still in the works. TOP 10 BEST SELLER VIDEOS LGBTQ artists to show Courtesy: WolfeVideo.com about the history,” Mon - The idea of the pop-up history gallery has even their work during the teiro explained. spread, she said. “Now there's a national group month of June. There R.I. Pride had an art doing pop-up queer history installations, but we LESBIAN TOP 10 will be a grand gallery show at Pride for many had the idea first!” This year, there are also years, but as Sebastian plans for an LGBTQ historical-documentary 1. Tomboy opening at the beginning of the month on the first explained, “I was Ms. screening and an open mic. 2. The Dreya Weber Set Gay R.I. in 2008, and Gallery Q is seeking submissions until May floor of 480 Harris Ave. 3. Pariah I’ve been a lifelong 22, and will highlight 20 to 25 artists for the ju - in Providence. The artist, and so I started ried show. Sebastian said that they look for “all 4. And Then Came Lola building is home to the doing Gallery Q in 2008. types of media. There’s usually a good amount 5. Albert Nobbs Truth Box Architects, Pride has always had an of photography. Painting, sculpture, multi- 6. Hannah Free and will be familiar to art show, but I wanted it media work, everything. We ask that they stick 7. The L Word: The Com- residents as the building made up of multicol - to be more culture and history. They hadn't with Pride-themed, but it’s not strict. It’s about done a gallery for a few years when I started, being able to showcase the work of LGBTQ plete Series ored storage containers that can be seen from the highway. While details are still being and I've been doing it ever since. I wanted to artists, so whatever your specialty is, it's all 8. Circumstance keep the spirit alive, and I think there's not welcome. It is juried, but there's about four or 9. Elena Undone squared away, this year attendees can look for - enough queer art around in general.” Monteiro five of us that pick the pieces. We look for qual - ward to events around LGBTQ history and cul - 10. Joe + Belle added that the event “had been a one-week in - ity work, obviously, but uniqueness and origi - ture. stallation and it was spread into a space beyond nality count.” The Rainbow Times spoke with Laura Sebas - the art show and some cultural activities as well When asked how the gallery is able to oper - as LGBT national and ate, Sebastian explained that they “get funding local history. It's like the same way Pride does. We do a Kickstarter, Brigadoon: it always which helps, and fundraisers throughout the GAY TOP 10 comes back, but it only year. Events are pay what you can, and we get 1. Kawa exists for a short amount a portion of sales from the art.” The funds are 2. Private Romeo of time, and in a differ - enough to keep the gallery coming back year ent physical location.” after year. “It's really about raising awareness,” 3. Surf and Turf Double Fea- Past events have had a Sebastian explained, “and about educating peo - ture wonderful turnout. ple and all that good stuff. People think that 4. The Seminarian “Michael Brodsky Pride is just a big party, which is great, I love a 5. @SuicideRoom came down last year and good party, but there’s a lot more to the history. 6. Eating Out: The Open did an evening about People forget about Stonewall, and why Pride LGBT history,” Mon - is always held in June. We did a Stonewall Weekend teiro said. There was event one year and we like to tell people about 7. What Happens Next also an exhibit of R.I. what Pride does all year long.“ 8. The Green LGBT history from Artists who are looking to submit their work 9. eCupid 1640s to present, read - and anyone looking to attend events can go to 10. Judas Kiss ings from local writers ripride.com for applications and more informa - and poets, GLAD repre - tion. sentatives from Boston www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 25 The story of a little boy, born in the ’50s, who wanted to be a girl, part II By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/ TRT Columnist boy uneasy. dren: one, two, three. He now had to be a father too much for her, way too much. A year later he little The boy never dated girls. He was afraid and of three as well as a husband. He loved being he moved out and in less than another year he boy knew confused. He felt like he didn’t fit in, he felt both but he wished that he could do both as a was divorced. It was a very sad time for him as S Tthat he had like he wasn’t normal. There was no way he female. That seemed out of the question back he felt like he had lost his family and his life to keep his mouth could let someone get close to him. then. He did not stop thinking about it. He just partner of almost 30 years. At the same time W shut about wanting High school eventually ended and college kept his thoughts to himself. he was also ecstatic that he could be a female — except for work and except for when he saw E to be a girl. He went into his closet anyone in his family.

N and stayed there for It was a crazy time with very high highs and a long time. The experience was too much not to take very low lows. There was lots of extreme hap - piness of finding peace and at the same time S The little boy, who was fast becom - ing a big boy, all of a sudden began to seriously . He told his wife , and it was too lots of crying and terrible feelings of loss.

N grow hair everywhere. He did not like He learned that there were some people who this new hair thing at all but what could much for her , way too much. shared his newfound joy of being female. He A he do? Shave his body? If the other also learned that there were some people who wanted nothing to do with him now. Not only R boys found out that he shaved his body, especially his legs, he would be a prime was in the future. Either college or take the Time passed. The children grew and he did he change his gender, he also had to change T target for bullying. Shaving was not an chance that he might get drafted into the U.S. stayed in the closet. Then came Sept. 11, 2001. all of the people in his life. option. Army and at the time the Vietnam War was still It suddenly became a world where no one He eventually officially became a she and Then came the high-school years and the boy going on. The boy attended school for two was safe and at any time you could be killed she is now living happily at peace with herself, grew hairier and his voice deepened. He was years and then stopped. As expected, he was by a religious extremist. Now the painful but she still has regrets about her family not becoming a man and he did not feel comfort - drafted into serving his country. The boy did thought of going to his grave never even ex - fully accepting her. Sometimes she still cries. able about it. His friends welcomed their new not want to go. The boy learned that if a male ploring his feminine side seemed like a real It seems so unfair not to be who you really changes to manhood but he wished they would wears women’s clothing, then he wouldn’t be possibility. It was that point he knew he had to are and instead have to be who everyone else stop. accepted into military service. This was before do something soon. wants you to be. I’m so sorry, little boy. The boy’s friends began talking about girls “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the boy told. He He dressed as a woman for Halloween at *Deja Nicole Greenlaw is a local and some even went on dates with girls. When was excused from service. work and it was wonderful! He never felt so transwoman who has 3 grown children and the boy’s friends talked about girls they usually A girl then came into the boy’s life and free in his life and everyone at work loved him works at a local Fortune 500 company. She talked about girls’ body parts. This made the things changed. There was an immediate con - as a woman. The experience was too much not can be contacted at [email protected] nection and they married. Then came the chil - to take seriously. He told his wife, and it was Ask a Transwoman: When it's time to change, then it’s time to change; accept it and move forward with it By: Lorelei Erisis*/ TRT Columnist with your "beard blue” problem (black beard ple, and use less.” However, “less” means the eyes, lips, etc., as I see fit. It sounds like a lot, Dear Miss Erisis, shows as blue through skin). I hate, hate, hate beard blue still often shows. What I do is use a but it's a pretty light base that avoids a heavy I am stuck between two con - that I still have to shave every day. It's painful combination of colored powders and conceal - foundation and it looks pretty natural. Basi - flicting approaches, schools and it reminds me that I have spent part of my ers to counteract it. Inexpensive, easy-to-find cally, the green neutralizes red and red neutral - of thought, with regard to izes blue. Yay for color theory! the idea of "passing." Also, if I have a long day, I find that the I know that I am currently I try to accept myself as I am and strive to slightly waxy concealer tends to keep the beard not happy with the way I am from growing through or at least hides any perceived based on the way stubble pretty effectively until I get home. It I look. Even more basically, make myself better . I work with what I have lets me worry a little less about turning into a I am unhappy just looking at my Homer Simp - pumpkin at midnight! son dark ring around mouth (no matter how and work toward correcting the things that And regarding your voice, as someone who hard I shave) and other parts of my body. If the speaks professionally, I would say to think of voice counts, then count that in: it makes me bother me personally . My experience also it as an instrument. Practice using it and chang - really uneasy to hear the low croaking of me. ing it. There are all sorts of options out there, One part of me, the iron feminist, says: "Screw is that change in itself is inevitable . from videos on YouTube to professional voice it. We don't shave our legs because we don't coaches. need to pass to anyone else. We don't go by Try not to worry so much about how deep their standards; we go by our own." life being perceived as the wrong gender. I stuff, I might add. your voice is. Concentrate on learning how it The other part of me is telling me that "In hope one day, rather sooner than later, to be Typically, I use a light layer from a green works, on how to play with it. Listen to women order to be really you, and happy with you, able to afford electrolysis or laser clearance. concealer stick of the sort used to cover blem - speak. Concentrate on their inflection and tone there are some changes that could help." Until then, though, I cope. Some days, I just ishes, to cover any red razor rash on my face. rather than their pitch. You will find that many So it's basically "be yourself as you are now, say, "Screw it, this is me, and stubble or not, I Blend. Then I use a skin-tone concealer stick women actually have fairly deep voices. screw what other people think" versus "be know I am a woman." And I do the best I can. (find one that matches your complexion; I'm Practice singing. It will help you understand yourself and change," as paradoxical as it I'm happy to share a simple makeup trick I've very Irish with fairly pinkish tones) to cover how to fine-tune your instrument. sounds. — Sincerely, Conflicted T learned. Most days I don't wear the stuff, if I'm the whole beard lightly. Blend again. Follow Basically, all any of us can do is try to deal h, dear Connie T. I don't think it's that being honest it's probably more to do with lazi - with some red blush powder over the still- with the present and strive toward the future. paradoxical at all really! I have these ness and a busy life than any moral stance. My showing bluish parts of the beard. And some Slainte! Asame conflicts. The way I resolve friend Sky likes to remind me often of my green powder to blend out the still-red parts, them, as far as that's even possible, is to simply teenage tirades about the importance of wear - including non-beard reddish parts like my nose *Lorelei Erisis, former Miss Trans New Eng - try to be the best woman I can be. And really, ing makeup. But some days, I do find it useful, and, in summer, my forehead. land, can be contacted at: loreleierisis@ that's all any woman, trans or cis can do any - like if I'm doing a public appearance or attend - I cover all this with a neutral skin-tone loose therainbowtimesmass.com. way. ing something for which I'm also dressing up mineral powder. Then I do my I try to accept myself as I am and strive to a bit more, or make myself better. I work with what I have if I'm just and work toward correcting the things that going out and bother me personally. My experience also is want to feel that change in itself is inevitable. We all pretty. change. And I would sort of join together the Even then, I statements you made above to be instead: “Be don't like to yourself as you want to be, as you are happy wear too being, screw what other people think.” Be - much. My cause ultimately it’s your life and your journey. constant So if you’re changing anyway, do it for you. makeup That said; allow me to address one of your mantra is, more specific difficulties. I fully sympathize “keep it sim - 26 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Good theology must not slide into superstition & persecution By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist anity offers. Rev. Dr. Patrick S. Cheng LGBTQ Christian theology is needed be - (PatrickCheng.net), lawyer, theologian, cause it gives gravitas to why God loves un - D and seminary professor has a powerful conditionally children created differently. It is intellectual acumen that brings a new one thing to say, “God loves you,” but it’s quite O revelation to faith. He is a passionate another to use scripture and theology to show it, especially when religious messages can be G scholar of LGBTQ Christian theology. There are many types and categories negative. It is one thing to say that Christian conser -

F of theology, both Christian and non- Christian. Although Rev. Cheng writes vatives are wrong about Sodom and Gomorrah,

O from a Christian perspective, his ap - but quite another to critique their scriptural in - proach to theology may be of interest terpretation and offer an alternative. Rev. Cheng brings a Western Christian-oriented E to readers of other faiths. Theology in the broadest sense mysticism along with logic and common sense to faith. M means the study of religion. Of course, religion means different things to dif - Although law increasingly provides a guar - A ferent people. Religion is based on cul - antee of certain rights, LGBTQ religious schol - ture, tradition, and sometimes ethnicity arship is essential to change hearts and minds. N This is why the work of Rev. Cheng is very im - in a quest to be closer to God, whether Hindu or Christian. It is often linked to portant. He is not just a fighter for LGBTQ E finding meaning in a cold, complicated civil and human rights. He is not just a teacher of LGBTQ spirituality. He is a religious

H world. Religion is a human tool that at - tempts to take sacred teachings and prophet showing that the LGBTQ community T is a necessary part of the wider Christian ex -

apply them in life or in ritual through a communal or individual manner. Reli - perience. In general, no faith experience can be whole without LGBTQ persons of faith (Jew, N gion can contain bigotry and prejudice. I God and religion are not interchange - Muslim, Wiccan, Buddhist, Christian, etc.). able. Good theology, no matter the faith tradition, Recently a priest-colleague-friend, Fr. Jim, must keep religion from sliding into supersti - underscored to me this man’s talents and his tion and persecution. increasing contributions to LGBTQ religious There are times that many people of faith in and theological scholarship. Rev. Cheng’s im - the LGBTQ community need to look deeper portant work parallels and contrasts to Catholic into scripture and scholarly literature to be fur - and Evangelical theology. Although he is not ther affirmed that God loves them. Rev. Cheng necessarily responding to anyone, his LGBTQ offers the scholarship to say “believe in God theology is pure, genuine, and developed out of the empowerment that he believes Christi - See God on page 28 www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 27

Acceptance Workshop for Parents and Allies of LGBTQ Youth in Northampton NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – On Monday, May they wanted an event specifically aimed at 21, the LGBT Coalition of Western Massachu - speaking to their parents about the unique issues setts will be holding a special workshop for those that they face. parents and families who may be struggling to The program for the evening will focus on pro - accept their LGBTQ youth. This event, entitled viding a safe and supportive area for parents to “Loving Your Gay Teen,” is provided free of voice their concerns, as well as to provide help - charge, and will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ful information regarding the health, safety, and at the OutNow Center, 32 Hampden Street in physical well-being of LGBT youth. LGBT Springfield. Pizza and childcare, as well as a Coalition, OutNow, and PFLAG (Parents, Spanish language interpreter, will be provided Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays) courtesy of Baystate Health. members will share personal stories to show par - “For many teens, the most difficult process is ents that they are not alone—and their children coming out to their family,” said LGBT Coali - are not either. There will also be a question and tion Executive Director Suzanne Seymour. answer segment, in which attendees have an op - “While they may be ‘out’ at school, it becomes portunity to ask any questions that may be spe - much harder to make that transition at home. cific to their situation. Take-home resources will Their family may not accept them, and many also be provided by PFLAG, available in both teens risk losing their home during this time.” English and Spanish. According to the National Gay and Lesbian “As this is a personal and sensitive issue, we Task Force, 50 percent of LGBT teens experi - recognize that initially not all parents may be enced a negative reaction from their parents able to accept their LGBTQ teenager with open when they came out. Twenty-six percent of these and loving arms. However, our workshop is de - teens were also kicked out of their homes. signed to show parents that their teen is still the “By providing this workshop, we hope to en - same person, and that it is imperative to love and able a dialogue between children and their par - support them,” said Emily Scagel, LGBT Coali - ents, even if it means simply leaving the event’s tion Board Member. flyer on the table,” said Seymour. This event is sponsored by Baystate Health , As part of the LGBT Coalition’s youth initia - OutNow , PFLAG , AIDS Foundation of Western tive program, events are held around what the Mass , and The Rainbow Times . For more infor - youth has expressed as needing and desiring to mation, please visit www.lgbtcoalitionwma.org see. Springfield area high schools reported that or call (413) 588-1018. 28 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com 8th annual Chocolate & Cheesecake for A Cause raises money to support LGBTQ youth

By: Emily Scagel/ TRT Reporter R

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True Colors successfully held their N

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T ognized and met. According to Executive Director

C Robin McHaelen, “our three primary values at True Colors are respect, safety and inclusion. One of the ways in which we ‘live’ the value of inclusion is to create fund- raising events at various price points so that everybody can participate.” McHaelen went on to say, “we make less than other fundraiser events do in the community, but we reach a di - verse audience that might not otherwise be able to participate.” The evening began with a welcome from host and comedienne Christine O’Leary, also a Board Member and longtime volunteer of True Colors, who sold rolls of raffle tickets while bantering with audience members, play - ing on their generosity while still being silly. “Giving money to True Colors is absolutely the most important thing; it’s more important than a jello shot or a Starbucks coffee,” said O’Leary. Board President Marlo McGriff said a few Robin McHaelen, Executive Director of True words of thanks to those in attendance (around Colors. 250), as well as to the many volunteers that contribute their time and energy in supporting you are supporting an organization that sticks True Colors. Last year alone, volunteers do - around for the kid you don’t know, when no nated 13,650 hours of their time, McHaelen one else did.” announced. Money raised from these fundraising dollars, O’Leary concluded the speeches for the including the night’s auctions and raffles, sup - evening by thanking everyone for supporting ports activities that are not funded by grants or an organization that sticks around for every - fee-based services, said McHaelen, “programs one. O’Leary equated this with a story about a like our new transgender youth support group; child who had said to her, “thank you for say - the production of our annual resource guide; ing hello 32 times, because the 33rd time, I training for schools and agencies who do not knew I was a human being.” True Colors fo - have the budget to pay for it, as well as our cuses on inclusion, and O’Leary promotes this clearing house resource center that answers with her comedic skills. “Coming out is so more than 3,000 calls a year from folks looking high risk, you could lose anything and every - for support.” Auctions included a $550 bid for thing. If I can make that easier for anybody, a five course meal prepared and served for six that is what’s most important.” people, complete with cheesecakes by Gour - McHaelen spoke about these inclusive pro - met Goddess, who also supplied the event’s grams that True Colors holds throughout the cheesecakes and truffles. year that are so important to LGBTQ youth. Entertainment was provided by members of She stated that even if money raised is to fund the Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecti - something as small as pizza for a youth support cut, which donates proceeds of fundraising group, there are instances when that pizza is events directly to True Colors. The gala con - the only meal someone will eat that day. In cluded with dancing and music provided by other words, money raised from one raffle item Colin “DJ DEEM” Smith. not only provides pizza, but a dinner with peo - The evening was sponsored by Yale Univer - ple who love and care, something that these sity and Bank of America. children may be missing. O’Leary put it best For more information about True Colors, when she said, “if you support True Colors, please visit www.ourtruecolors.org

God from page 26 tional credentials are sterling. and know that all will be well and here’s If you yearn to look deeper, probe into the why.” scholarship of LGBTQ theology and study, Rev. Cheng’s linguistic abilities include not just read scripture, then Rev. Cheng is an Greek, Latin, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and excellent resource. Several of his sermons Mandarin Chinese. His knowledge of Latin, and speeches are posted online. His books, if Greek, and Hebrew especially enables him to they aren’t already being used, will no doubt study original source material. He earned a be required reading at seminaries offering Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary in classes in LGBTQ Christian theology. NYC; a M.Phil from Union Theological; M.A. from Union Theological; J.D. from * Paul is an author, attorney, and a seminary Harvard Law School (magna cum laude) and trained, ordained priest in greater Albany, a B.A. from Yale College. Hence, his educa - NY. Email questions to Dilovod@aol.com. www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 29 Hay que celebrar, la Jornada contra la Homofobia en Cuba, ¡celebra los 5! Por: Wilfred W. Labiosa*/ Columnista de TRT PHOTO: MARTA M. RAMIREZ or quinto S S

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I ual e identidad de género y no entien - Paquito (Izquierda) hablando con Mariela den la necesidad del reconocimiento T Castro (derecha). pleno de todos los derechos humanos hemos hecho aprendizajes, hemos organizado A de LGBT. Mariela Castro Espín, facili - mejor nuestros trabajos, se han ido enrique - L tadora de la Jornada y directora del ciendo las propuestas de actividades. Así, em - Centro nacional de Educación Sexual (CENE - pezó siendo un día, luego pasó a ser una Pregúntale a Lambda Legal – Día de Silencio SEX) quien organiza la Jornada, a bordo del semana y ahora prácticamente el mes de mayo Por: Hayley Gorenberg/ Subdirectora jurídica significado de este acontecimiento, lo hecho y lo estamos dedicando a la Jornada. El hecho de legal para Lambda Legal lo que falta de hacer. Aquí expongo algunas de ir involucrando cada año a una provincia ha P: Soy un estudiante en la sus respuestas. sido muy significativo para fortalecer la labor escuela secundaria Cuando empezamos no soñábamos que es - de nuestras redes sociales en esos territorios, y (preparatoria), y quiero par - ". taríamos en esta etapa, pues ya es un lustro de de alguna manera sensibilizar más directa - ticipar en el Día Nacional de El año pasado, el llevó la camiseta para partic - un trabajo estable, sostenido, que se ha ido per - mente a la Silencio. Mis amigos saben ipar en el Día de Silencio y el director de la es - feccionando de población, in - que soy gay pero no estoy se - cuela le instruyó que se la quitara; Maverick año en año. volucrar a sus guro que mis maestros es - obedeció. Durante el verano, Maverick inves - Comenzamos No podemos creer que por eliminar la autoridades tarían de acuerdo – ¿puedo tigó sus derechos, y cuando la escuela resumió con una cele - en esta tarea, entrar en problemas? en el otoño de 2011, le pidió permiso de nuevo bración de un homofobia estaremos resolviendo el también a la al director de la escuela para llevar la camiseta. solo día, en el prensa que se El director le dijo que lo suspendería si llevaba 2007, el 17 de problema de la discriminación en la R: Primero, te felicito por ‘salir del closet’ con va preparando tus amigos – ¡es maravilloso que te aceptes y la camiseta. Mayo, y a partir para abordar del 2008 inici - sociedad cubana. Hay que erradicar también encuentres a personas que te apoyen! Lambda Legal envió una carta a la escuela mejor el Participar en el Día Nacional de Silencio es de Maverick explicando sus derechos a llevar amos estas Jor - esa tendencia , ese modelo arcaico tema. Tam - nadas con apoyo una manera enérgica de enfocar la atención de la camisa, pero desafortunadamente, los fun - bién se ha asuntos LGBT en las escuelas, y de ayudar a cionarios no fueron convencidos. Ellos con - de algunas insti - de sociedad explotadora que crea fortalecido tuciones en combatir el acoso. Este año el Día de Silencio tendieron que la camisa de Maverick contenia parámetros para establecer diferen - mucho el fue el 20 de abril y los estudiantes a través del "temática sexual" e "indecente". El 3 de abril Cuba y de la so - componente ciedad civil. Así, país se comprometieron a guardar alguna de 2012, Lambda Legal presentó una demanda cias y desigualdades , y nosotros no artístico. forma de silencio durante el día escolar. La federal contra el distrito de la escuela. El día comenzamos a Desde el año esbozar una es - Red Educativa siguiente, en podemos seguir reproduciéndolas . pasado la Gay, Lésbico y una conferen - trategia, defini - Gala contra la mos objetivos y Heterosexual La camiseta de Maverick con - cia con el juez, Homofobia (GLSEN, por la escuela un plan de actividades donde dimos importan - ha tomado una organización y un estilo muy cia al programa académico, por ejemplo, a tra - sus siglas en in - tiene un mensaje de inclusión y cambió su peculiar. Ya podemos considerar que estos es - glés) propor - postura y es - bajar en el ámbito de las universidades. Ya este pectáculos integran al transformismo como un cionó materiales tuvo dispuesta año hemos logrado un acuerdo con el Ministe - hecho artístico. aceptación y no es de ninguna a estudiantes a permitir a rio de Educación Superior para trabajar en Esto es el resultado de un trabajo de muchos Maverick a todas las universidades del país, no sólo en años, no solamente en estas galas, sino de los que desearon manera “ sexual ” o “ indecente ”. llavar la relación con las Jornadas contra la Homofobia, grupos y centros nocturnos que realizan activi - participar en el sino en todo lo que es educación integral de la dades de transformismo, los cuales han podido Día de Silencio, camiseta sólo sexualidad, promoción de salud sexual. Era un recibir formación en el CENESEX para lograr así como materiales para las escuelas que en el Día de Silencio. Mientras esa concesión viejo sueño y es la primera vez que tenemos que el transformismo sea un hecho artístico, y quisieron apoyar el día de acción. es un paso adelante, obviamente no es sufi - esta reunión tan que además desde sus espectáculos se pueda Cada año, la Línea de Ayuda de Lambda ciente. La camiseta de Maverick contiene un precisa con el trabajar la prevención y la promoción de salud Legal experimenta un aumento de llamadas y mensaje de inclusión y aceptación y no es de Pon Tu Ministro de Edu - sexual. Y no solo reciben capacitación los artis - correos electrónicos de estudiantes acerca del ninguna manera "sexual" o "indecente". Y los Anuncio en cación Superior. tas, también los directores artísticos y de estas Día Nacional de Silencio – algunos preguntan Derechos de Libertad de Expresión de la O sea, que en Primera Enmienda no aplican sólo un día del el Orgullo de instalaciones, de modo que eso amplía la si pueden participar, y a otros se les ha dicho esta 5ta Jornada fuente de personas que pueden participar en que no pueden participar en su escuela. El año año; aplican cada día, a cada estudiante de las Boston 2012 estaremos cele - estas actividades. pasado, Lambda Legal trabajó en más de 100 escuelas públicas en todo el país. con TRT! brando no sola - El año pasado tuvimos la experiencia en San - escuelas en el país para apoyar a estudiantes “Out, Safe and Respected” es una publicación mente el Día tiago de Cuba, en el parque Dolores. Se orga - cuya participación en el Día de Silencio había diseñada para ayudarte a saber cuales son tus Internacional nizaron paneles de discusión en distintos sido negada. La mayoría de las escuelas re - derechos en la escuela y para asegurar de que contra la Homo - Patrocinador puntos del parque y la población asistió a los spondieron favorablemente a nuestra abogacía sean respetados. Puedes ordenar una copia fobia y la Trans - debates e intercambió opiniones con especial - y le permitieron proceder a los estudiantes. Un gratis o bajarlo en www.lambdalegal.org/out- Oficial del fobia, sino todo istas, funcionarios y activistas ya formados en estudiante de tercer año en Ohio, Maverick safe-respected lo que se ha lo - Orgullo de los grupos LGBT de las redes sociales. Fue Couch, llamó nuestra Línea de Ayuda después Si tienes cualquiera pregunta, o sientes que grado en el Pro - muy interesante, incluso participó un oficial de de pedir repetidamente permiso para usar una has sido discriminado/a debido a tu ori - Boston grama Nacional la Policía Nacional Revolucionaria y respondió entación sexual, llama nuestra línea de ayuda (Boston de Educación camiseta a la escuela con un ichthus de arco preguntas del público, por primera vez se logró al 1-866-542-8336, o visita http://lambdale - Pride ), otra Sexual. iris, o sea “el símbolo del pescado,” y las pal - … Nos pareció muy enriquecedor y lo vamos abras en inglés "Jesús No es Un Homofóbico gal.org/help vez en 2012. A cinco años a repetir en La Habana y en Cienfuegos, de iniciar esta porque consideramos que fue útil. celebración 617-444-9618 hemos adquirido Read This Article in English at: http://bit.ly/Jjuow6 experiencia, See Latin Vision Page 30 30 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Latin Vision from Page 29 porque había discriminación, y había que hacer Senate from Page 3 cludes critical services for these populations. No other bill or amendment addresses these neces - Yo no concibo al socialismo conviviendo con este tipo de conga para llamar la atención con - -cluding those with large LGBT constituencies— tra la homofobia!”… did not. sary changes to provide services for all victims.” formas de discriminación, y esta es una de Democrats see the bill as a means of increasing ellas, en la que para trabajar, hay que hacer una A las actividades vienen personas que han Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) complained sufrido de la homofobia y que su vida ha cam - about the Republican substitute bill for taking out protections for victims of domestic abuse; Re - intervención de cambio cultural profundo, el publicans see it as an excuse to funnel federal cual se logra a través de la incidencia educa - biado con estas actividades, que su familia ha the word “women” and using the word “victim.” cambiado; resaltan, incluso, que la policía ha Doing so, he noted, amounts to abolishing VAWA funds to progressive groups, such as LGBT tiva, de la política que avala esa estrategia, de health clinics. They also claim the new provisions los medios de comunicación, de las leyes. Hay cambiado, la población ha cambiado … Tam - and starting a whole new program. bién se me acercan personas que han sido ho - “No one here would argue that all violent this year were added to make it hard for Repub - varias instituciones en la estructura social que licans to support. Grassley said the tactic was tienen que estar participando en todos estos mofóbicas, para decirme qué importante es crimes, all domestic crimes are tragic and serious, esto, que si hubiesen sabido el daño que but this so-called substitute negates centuries of pure politics and meant to deflect attention away procesos. No basta con la Jornada, no basta from “health care reform, unemployment or high con la labor del CENESEX, no basta con el tra - hacían, no lo hubiesen hecho; agradecen que women’s experience that proves that violence les demos todos estos elementos para ellos against women—especially from spouses, part - gas prices.” bajo del Ministerio de Salud … y el hecho de A study by the National Coalition indicated también cambiar como seres humanos y no ners and family members—is a uniquely perni - que el Partido dé luz verde y conscientemente that, in 2010, programs serving LGBT people discriminar a otros. Quisiera grabar todas las cious and entrenched practice.” acoja este objetivo, es fundamental. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) mentioned who were abused by their domestic partners or No podemos creer que por eliminar la homo - cosas lindísimas que la gente me dice en todas other intimate partners recorded 5,052 reports of estas actividades, es lo que me da energía y sat - “sexual orientation” but only in the context of fobia estaremos resolviendo el problema de la noting that all people can be victims of high-tech such abuse. Almost 45 percent of these victims discriminación en la sociedad cubana. Hay que isfacción en esos días de tanto agotamiento y reported being turned away by other groups help - tensión. Han venido muchas personas Cubanas stalking, such as placing hidden cameras in hotel erradicar esa tendencia, ese modelo arcaico de rooms. ing domestic violence victims. sociedad explotadora que crea parámetros para que viven en los Estados Unidos o que radican The National Coalition includes a large number en otros países, también han participado ex - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid de - establecer diferencias y desigualdades, y scribed two roadblocks to reauthorization of the of groups working to prevent domestic violence nosotros no podemos seguir reproduciéndolas. tranjeros, me han dicho cosas preciosas, and help its victims, including the Community porque además ¡se sorprenden! Vamos a Cele - VAWA as “non-discrimination protection for all Por eso el trabajo educativo que hacemos se victims, regardless of what they look like or United Against Violence (San Francisco), the propone una transformación de la conciencia, brar este 5to aniversario y seguir educando Center on Halstead (Chicago), the Resource Cen - contra la homofobia! where they’re from.” de nuestra cultura. Aspiro en algún momento And Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) criti - ter Dallas, the Broward (Florida) LGBT Domes - a crear una tradición con esa conga contra la *Entrevista por Francisco “Paquito” Ro - cized Republicans for wanting to “exclude peo - tic Violence Coalition, the San Diego LGBT homofobia por nuestras principales avenidas. dríguez y editada por Wilfred W. Labiosa. Para ple” from protection, but her three examples of Center, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, the Fen - way Community Health Violence Recovery Pro - Tal vez fragüe como una tradición histórica, y más detalles de la jornada y para la completa victims did not include an LGBT person. entrevista hecha a Mariela Castro-Espín, But Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) gram (Boston), Wingspan (Arizona), que cuando ya no haya homofobia, alguien United4Safety (Atlanta), and GLOV (D.C.). diga “¡se acuerdan cuando en Cuba hacían esto www.cenesexualidad.sld.cu did speak out strongly in support of language in - cluding LGBT victims of domestic abuse. Human Rights Campaign official David Stacy “Clearly, there’s a real need to improve access said the Hutchison-Grassley substitute was “not Theater Offensive To Honor Gunner Scott, Don’t Miss It! and availability of services for this vulnerable a serious attempt” to find a resolution and would population,” said Blumenthal Thursday, “and I jeopardize important funding to groups that do Who: Transgender activist Gunner Scott serve LGBT victims. What: The Theater Offensive honors Scott with Out on the Edge award support measures in this act that ensure victims of domestic and sexual violence, regardless of Supporters of VAWA had 61 senators going When: Thursday, May 17 @ 6:30 pm their sexual orientation or gender identity, can ac - into the debate this week, including both senators Where: Hibernian Hall (184 Dudley St, Roxbury) cess those services they need.” from Illinois, California, and Massachusetts, as Open to the Public: Yes (with ticket purchase) Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he doesn’t well as Bill Nelson of Florida, Carl Levin of believe any of the “points of controversy” on the Michigan, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. Nei - bill were important enough to vote against reau - ther of Texas’ Republican senators co-sponsored thorization of the law. He specifically mentioned the legislation. protection should be available to all victims “re - A spokeswoman for Republican presidential gardless of gender.” nominee-apparent Mitt Romney said last week The Violence Against Women Act (S. 1925) that Romney supports the bill but did not clarify has been a popular piece of legislation since whether he objects to the new language prohibit - 1994, when it was first passed. But this year, it ing discrimination based on sexual orientation or has become a battleground for the votes of gender identity. women in the 2012 presidential campaign and a The VAWA in the House (HR 4271) has 52 co- battle over protections for LGBT people, Native sponsors, including openly gay Reps. Barney Americans, and immigrant women without doc - Frank (D-Mass) and. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) umentation to be in this country. but not openly gay Reps. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) Rita Smith, executive director of the National and David Cicciline (D-RIs.). Debate in the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the House is also expected to be contentious, with Coalition “cannot support any bill that does not House Majority Leader Eric Cantor reportedly include language to protect vulnerable and under pushing for a Republican version of the reautho - resources populations of victims of domestic vi - rization measure there. olence, sexual assault, and stalking.” R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of Log “It is imperative that Native women, immigrant Cabin Republicans, issued a statement Tuesday, women, and the LGBTQ communities all have saying, “Nobody should be able to get away with access to resources and support and S. 1925 in - domestic abuse just because their victim is gay, transgender, an immigrant or Native American, and nobody should be denied help in recovering from abuse. Standing in the way of passing this legislation is uncon - scionable. Log Cabin Repub - licans are proud of our allies in the Senate who have cospon - sored this bill, including Mike Crapo (R-ID), who introduced the bill, and Senators Ayotte (R-NH), Brown (R-MA), Collins (R-ME), Heller (R- NV), Kirk (R-IL), Murkowski (R-AK) and Snowe (R-ME). Passage of S. 1925 should move forward swiftly, and any effort to water down the Vio - lence Against Women Act should be roundly con - demned." © 2012 by Keen News Service. All rights reserved. www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • 31 The OutField: Texas A&M tackles diversity, inclusiveness & even transgender issues By: Dan Woog*/ Special for TRT Much work remains to be done. In her open - Cyd Ziegler said that a tipping point has been school on ing remarks, a school administrator admitted reached: The media now treats homophobic ath - the list of there is “not much tolerance” for sexuality dif - letes and coaches much harsher than gay ones. S America’s ferences on campus. But speaking words like Athletes and fans, he said, are nowhere near as

T A 10 least inclusive that out loud — to an audience of students, homophobic as stereotypes would have us be - colleges for LGBT some of whom attended solely to gain extra lieve. In fact, journalists’ perception that gay is - R students would credit in class — is an important step toward sues are no longer “a story” may be the biggest achieving that tolerance. obstacle to more coverage. O seem an unlikely host for a confer - Keynote speaker Pat Griffin — a former The final session examined inclusiveness. Sue P ence called “Sexual coach, emeritus professor of social justice at the Rankin, an associate professor of education and Orientation and Gender Identity in University of Massachusetts and director of the former softball coach at Penn State University, S

Sport.” But that’s exactly what took “Changing the Game” sports project — de - said that a campus climate – institutional, and place over two days earlier this month. scribed her own self-loathing as a lesbian athlete within the athletic department and individual Q Some of the leading academic re - at the University of Maryland. She noted the teams – goes a long way toward determining the searchers and activists in the gay sports field gains that have been made since then — includ - success of each team and every athlete. Climate traveled to Texas A&M University for panel dis - ing the embrace of straight male allies — but is determined by many factors, but straight allies cussions and meetings. Topics included the ex - worried about the absence of straight female al - play a powerful role, she said. periences of LGBT athletes and coaches; the lies. “You don’t need to be a lesbian to feel what The last speaker, former NFL player Wade intersection of LGBT athletes and the media; it’s like to be called one,” she said, tying the Keynote speaker Pat Griffin – a former coach, Davis surveyed the room, which had emptied strategies for inclusiveness, and even transgen - denigration of one group to that of all others. emeritus professor of social justice at the out of students as the day wore on. He cited the der issues in sport. The transgender panel offered glimmers of University of Massachusetts and director of reason: Most straight people don’t care about I was one of the panelists. But even though hope. Karen Morrison, who works on diversity the “Changing the Game” sports project – de - LGBT issues — especially hearing about them I’ve spent my professional life in and around issues for the National Collegiate Athletic As - scribed her own self-loathing as a lesbian from people they really don’t relate to, like those gay athletes, I learned plenty. So, I’m sure, did sociation (NCAA), noted that the powerful gov - athlete at the University of Maryland. of us on the panel. The way to get straight peo - the 13 other invitees, and the students and pro - erning organization is doggedly addressing ple involved, he said, is to reach them through fessors who packed the meeting room. questions like banned substance (testosterone) playing sports they would love to pursue. people they know and care about: their gay I learned that Texas A&M is a paradoxical use. At younger age levels, trans policies are al - Our panel also featured a controversial pres - teammates and gay coaches. place. It hosted this conference on an important ready in place. The Washington State high entation. Eric Anderson, a former California It was a sobering message, but it was one that type of diversity, but it is a fairly non-diverse school federation is very inclusive, and the US high school track coach now conducting gay needed to be delivered. And that it was delivered place. I saw very few blacks, Hispanics or Soccer Federation quickly moved to adopt sports research at the University of Winchester, in College Station, at Texas A&M University, Asians. The LGBT presence on campus ap - trans-positive policies as soon as the issue was presented findings on the changing attitudes of was most impressive of all. peared to be quite small. raised. teenage males in England. He called the increas - *Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer Yet our group spent a wonderful afternoon at My own panel — on the experiences of ing prevalence of cuddling, bed-sharing, even coach, gay activist, and author of the "Jocks" the ranch of the A&M provost. She and her part - LGBT athletes and coaches – discussed the kissing among straight friends a harbinger of series of books on gay male athletes. Visit his ner seem to be a well-accepted, much-loved part many ways in which homophobia affects, de - things to come in the U.S., adding that young website at www.danwoog.com. He can be of the university community. They are proud of fines and limits everyone in sports, including athletes are driving this paradigm shift. reached care of this publication or at Out - their work there. straight people. For example, the fear of being The panel addressing LGBT sports and the [email protected] . called a lesbian prevents some women from media offered further hope. Outsports.com’s 32 • May 3 - May 30, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com