August-September 2020 Volume 31 Issue 4 www.TransCentralPA.org [email protected] c/o MCC of the Spirit 2973 Jefferson Street Serving the Transgender Community of Central Pennsylvania since 1989 Harrisburg, PA 17110

September Announcements The Harrisburg Meeting will be in- person on Saturday, Sep 12th at 8:00 pm at the MCC of the Spirit, our nor- mal meeting location. A maximum of 25 people will be permitted. Ad- vanced registration is required! No drop-ins will be permitted. No ex- ceptions. Please email us at in- [email protected] to reserve your spot. We will reply to you via an email with your confirmation to at- tend. The deadline to register is noon on Saturday, September 12th. There will not be a hosted dinner pre- ceding the meeting. All attendees must comply with the following proto- The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 on last month that Gavin Grimm, a biological cols: female who identifies as transgender and has been at the center of a lengthy legal battle 1. Face masks must be worn while starting several years ago, had been discriminated against and that maintaining sex- in the MCC. specific bathrooms was a violation of Title IX, the civil rights statute pertaining to the educational arena. See page 3. 2. Maintain 6-feet of spacing be- tween individuals. information, please email us Testing for COVID-19, this interac- 3. You may not attend if you have at [email protected]. tive map provides locations of testing sites near you. Most sites requires any of symptoms listed on Penn- Parents of Transgender Individuals, you to call ahead and schedule an sylvania Coronavirus Symptoms please email us at fami- & Testing website. [email protected] for information appointment for testing. Click here for CDC guidance on managing your and support. 4. Out-of-state visitors must comply symptoms at home, and click here for with the Pennsylvania COVID-19 York Virtual Support Group Meeting PA Department of Health guidance on Information for Travelers re- on Saturday, Sep 26th. Join the Rain- self-isolation while awaiting results. strictions. bow Rose Center and TransCentralPA Individuals not following these proto- as we hold the York Transgender Sup- The LGBT Center of Central PA in- cols will be directed to leave. We port Group Online. Join us from 8:30- vites you to join them in focusing on thank you for complying with these 10:00 pm on Saturday, September 26th our vision for collective liberation at directives for the safety of all. Please on Zoom! Zoom is a free, online video FAB 2020: On Saturday, October email us with questions at conferencing program that is easy to 17th we will gather virtually from 6:30 [email protected]. use. If you would like to take part in this PM - 8:30 PM to highlight the LGBT virtual meeting, please send us an Center's work towards collective liber- Family Virtual Support Group email and we can provide additional ation, honor leaders in our communi- Meeting on Monday, Sep 21st at information on how to join the meeting. ties who are fighting for our freedom, 7:00 pm. This group brings together TCPA Annual Membership Dues are and invite you to be engaged in this parents and other adult family mem- critical work at a critical time. bers seeking to better understand $20. Dues are used to pay for meeting and support their children of all ages space, program literature, our website Send Us Your Input! Got a Question dealing with issues of gender identity. and our affiliation with and support of or Announcements? Maybe you’ve The group operates under a policy of community groups and activities such seen a great article or have an event confidentiality in order to create a as Common Roads, the Community to share? Photo’s are always appre- safe atmosphere for open discussion. Center, Central Pennsylvania Pride, ciated and if you would like them pub- Please come and join us for informal etc. Please continue to support our or- lished in the next TCPA Newsletter. E sharing and mutual support! The ganization and efforts by joining or re- -mail us at [email protected]. newing your membership—we are group meets online via Zoom on the third Monday of the month. For more making a difference!

From the President

those whose acceptance and trust friends is just as personal for them. we have spent our entire lives culti- They too need time to understand vating knowing that their acceptance and comprehend what we have spent may now be lost coupled with the years dealing with. Affording those question of how those around us, closest to us the time they need is so society in whole, will accept us. important to maintaining their love and support. This love and support I have been fortunate, those most are so very important as we begin to important to me, in my life, have let me know that they love me and ac- express ourselves more openly. If your family is not so supportive or cept me for who I am. However, for accepting, it is important to then find many transgender individuals this is not the case. This lack of ac- a few close friends or that support group to be there with you and help ceptance by family, friends, cowork- you along your way. ers and society in general coupled with the internal struggles with gen- Acceptance by society is more about Holly Evans der identity fosters feelings of depres- education and exposure. The simple sion, loneliness, and failure. The loss act of being visible and active within Acceptance is something that every of this love and acceptance of those the community will in time lead to individual seeks. Whether from your closest to us at a time of need can acceptance. family, friends, coworkers or society lead to a feeling of loneliness and Coming to accept yourself is such a in general. As children we seek ac- can be devastating. freeing and powerful feeling. No ceptance by our parents or class- If you are reading this and experienc- longer worrying about what others mates in school. As adults we seek ing these very emotions, if you are say or think. Learning how not to acceptance from coworkers, family, struggling with how best to discuss waste emotional energy on the nega- friends, and society as a whole. For your very personal battle, don’t be tive energy of those whose ac- most people this is stressful enough. afraid to seek help. Start with finding ceptance is unimportant allows us to For Transgender individuals this is a support group and speak with focus on the more important and pos- even more difficult. We deal with the someone who has experienced the itive aspects of our lives. For once added layer of accepting ourselves. very emotions you are struggling we come to accept ourselves, it is so Figuring out why we feel different with, who has navigated the journey much easier to express our self- from that which society expects. At for which you are about to embark confidence and focus on positive pro- first, we address this in silence, alone upon. I know, this was so very help- ductive aspects of our lives. This self thinking that we are the only person ful to me. What is important is that -confidence in turn projects ones per- experiencing such feelings, and for you speak to someone who has suc- sonal acceptance and the positive most we experience this as a young cessfully navigated their individual snowball effect builds upon itself. child or teen. While outwardly we journey. Speak with as many such seek acceptance by society as the individuals as possible as there is no - Holly individual for which we have been one way to best navigate this process labeled, or identified as at birth, or as and everyone’s journey is different. the person we are expected to be, we You will need to tailor your journey to are silently dealing with acceptance your personal circumstances. Seek with ourselves, with the fact that we the support of a qualified therapist, are not the person that we project. one who specializes in gender identi- For most, this struggle is done with ty disorders. Please understand that the added fear that those whose ac- speaking to a therapist who is not ceptance we have garnished through familiar with this field of practice can life will now reject us should they ev- be more harmful. It is so important er learn of what we are dealing with that we understand that there is noth- inside. ing wrong with us and that we, as As we get older, we continue this transgender individuals, are part of struggle. For all, this is a very per- society adding a little color to what sonal battle on how best to address would otherwise be an oh so boring this inner conflict. Many simply black and white world. www.AlderHealth.org choose to live their lives dealing with We as transgender individuals must this alone, in silence. Others like my- Improving the Health also understand that part of ac- self come to a point in our lives ceptance is allowing those closest to where we can no longer live in si- of All us, the time they require to process lence. We come to a point where we the news once they learn. Ac- must share our internal struggles with ceptance by family members or close

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Court Rules in Favor of Transgender Student Barred from Using Boys’ Bathroom By Emily Davis, Washington Post

A federal appeals court Wednesday be called by his new name and to use handed a victory to a transgender male pronouns. student once prohibited from using Corrigan declined to comment on the boys’ bathroom, signaling the Wednesday’s ruling, saying they are continued changing legal landscape “reviewing the decision.” over contentious restroom policies. Judge Paul V. Niemeyer agreed with In a 2-to-1 decision, the U.S. Court of the school board, writing in a dissent Appeals for the 4th Circuit said the that because the law prohibits discrim- Gloucester County School Board in ination only between people who are Virginia had practiced sex-based dis- “similarly situated,” Grimm does not crimination and violated the 14th require the same treatment as those Amendment by prohibiting Gavin who are born biologically male when it Grimm, a transgender student, from comes to using the boys’ bathroom. using the bathroom that aligned with his gender identity. His high school The ruling follows five years of litiga- offered a single-stall restroom as an tion in a high-profile legal battle sur- alternative. rounding Grimm, who sued Glouces- ter High as a sophomore in 2015 for “At the heart of this appeal is whether denying him access to the boys’ bath- equal protection and Title IX can pro- Gavin Grimm (photo by Kristen Zeis) room. Grimm, now 21, graduated from tect transgender students from high school three years ago. But the school bathroom policies that prohibit case remained at the forefront of the them from affirming their gender,” fight for transgender students’ rights wrote Judge Henry F. Floyd in the cited the Bostock opinion — is the as it dragged through the courts. majority opinion joined by Judge latest example of its reach. James A. Wynn. “We join a growing The argument reached the Supreme The decision also upheld a lower Court in 2017 but was canceled when consensus of courts in holding that court’s ruling that discrimination the answer is resoundingly yes.” President Trump reversed an Obama against transgender people is subject administration rule that directed Grimm, who was designated female to heightened judicial scrutiny, an schools to allow students to use re- at birth but identifies as male, said important precedential holding for the strooms that correspond with their the decision should give hope to 4th Circuit. gender identity. After years of litigation transgender people nationwide. “Transgender students belong in our in lower courts, the federal appeals “All transgender students should schools,” Joshua Block, an attorney court Wednesday offered a decisive have what I was denied: the oppor- with the American Civil Liberties Un- ruling Grimm’s attorney hopes will tunity to be seen for who we are by ion who represents Grimm in court, provide relief after years of dispute. our schools and our government,” he said in a statement. “The court once “This case has reaffirmed what we said in a statement. “Today’s deci- again ruled that school’s obligation to have been saying for years and sion is an incredible affirmation for create an environment that is safe years,” Block said. “When you are not just me, but for trans youth and welcoming for all students in- discriminating against someone be- around the country.” cludes transgender students.” cause they are transgender, you are The Wednesday ruling shows the Grimm uses men’s restrooms in pub- inherently discriminating against them ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s lic places and is recognized as male in part based on their sex.” landmark victory for gay and by his family and medical providers. PFLAG, an organization for LGTBQ transgender workers in June, which School board attorneys previously people and their families, issued a said a federal law forbidding discrimi- defended their restroom policy by statement celebrating Wednesday’s nation protects people of all gender saying it effectively accommodates ruling. and sexual identities. Grimm’s discomfort with using the “Together with his legal team at the At the time of the decision, Justice women’s bathroom while looking out ACLU, he demonstrated that a Neil M. Gorsuch went to great for the privacy interests of students transgender person is a person, that lengths to assert that the scope of the and parents who should not have to their gender is real, and that anti-trans ruling was narrow, specifically writing “share a restroom with someone from discrimination unconstitutionally pre- in the majority opinion in Bostock v. the opposite physiological sex.” vents a transgender student from par- Clayton County that it should not in- “School personnel always treated ticipating fully in their education,” it fluence long-debated bathroom poli- Grimm with respect,” attorney David said. cies. But the reasoning in the deci- P. Corrigan told the court in May, also sion has already been applied by arguing that Grimm’s claims should lower courts affirming transgender be nullified because he has graduat- students’ access to restrooms that ed from Gloucester High School. match their gender identity. The rul- “They accommodated his request to ing in Grimm’s case — which liberally Page 3

Lingua Franca Tells Star Trek to Welcome Modern Trans Story With First Transgender Character Mid-Century Style BBC News Trudy Ring, Advocate Reporter Sci-fi franchise Star Trek is set to introduce its first With Lingua Franca, which is having transgender and non-binary characters. The charac- virtual theatrical screenings Wednes- ters are to appear in the third series of Star Trek: Discovery, producers said. day and Thursday and comes to Netflix The trans character, Gray, will be played by trans actor Ian Alexander, and next week, groundbreaking likewise non-binary Adira will be portrayed by Blu del Barrio. transgender Filipina filmmaker Isabel "Star Trek has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresent- Sandoval promises an experience that ed communities," said a producer. will upend audience expectations. The show's co-runner and executive producer Michelle Paradise added: "It Lingua Franca tells the story of an un- believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, documented trans Filipina, Olivia, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation is entirely within our reach." working as a caregiver for Olga, an elderly woman of Russian descent, in The program, which will begin again next month on US TV network CBS, Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighbor- previously featured the first married gay characters in the franchise's history; hood. Olivia hopes to obtain a green while Sonequa Martin-Green also became the first Black woman to lead a card to stay in the U.S. legally. Matters Star Trek TV series. are complicated when she becomes In an interview with GLAAD del Barrio said: "When I got the call that I'd been romantically involved with Olga’s adult cast as Adira, I hadn't yet told the majority of my friends and family that I was grandson, Alex, and issues arise non-binary. around her identity, immigration status, and civil rights. Sandoval, the writer "So when this happened, it felt like the universe saying 'go ahead'." and director, stars as Olivia, while Lynn Anthony Rapp, one of the show's stars, tweeted: "I cannot wait for you all to Cohen (The Hunger Games, Master of meet these beautiful souls and wonderful artists. I am so so so proud of None) plays Olga, and Eamon Farren them and happy that they are a part of our show". (Twin Peaks: The Return, The Witcher) appears as Alex. Ivory Aquino (When We Rise) costars. Lingua Franca differs from most dra- mas about social issues, most art- house films from the Philippines, and typical New York-set films in its mid- century aesthetic, reminiscent of the 1950s melodramas of director Douglas Sirk but more subtle, according to the film’s press materials. And while Sand- oval came up with the idea for the film during her transition, it is not autobio- graphical. It is her third feature. Sandoval’s next planned film, Tropical Gothic, was influenced by a mid- century classic from a different director — Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. It has been selected for the 2020 Locarno Blu del Barrio Ian Alexander Film Festival’s Open Doors develop- ment lab and has a French producer attached. Suicide Resources Lingua Franca has screened at several People dealing with gender identity issues are not immune from other film festivals around the world, includ- sources of depression and mental illness. There is help available to you with ing the 2019 Venice International Film bearing the unbearable. IN A CRISIS, CALL the local and national re- Festival. Sandoval became the first sources first. It is best to make contact via phone or in person; emailing of- trans woman of color to write, direct, ten does not provide the immediate response needed in an emergency. and headline a film in that event. Also, These are the professionals and organizations trained to help you during a it was the first film in competition by a crisis. You are not alone. Filipino director in BFI London’s 63- National Suicide year history. It is being released by Ava National Hopeline The Trevor Project Prevention Lifeline DuVernay’s company, Array Releasing. Network 24/7 Support 24/7 Support 1-800-SUICIDE Watch the trailer 800-273-TALK 800-784-2433 1-866-488-7386

Page 4

Out in Central Pennsylvania: The History of an LGBTQ Community The Central Voice

The History of an LGBTQ Community, PA Rural Gay Caucus, which led to a new book by William Burton with the first gay lobby days, the first Barry Loveland is being published by statewide gay conferences and the Penn State University Press, chroni- first gay protest marches in the state cles the history of the lesbian, gay, outside of Philadelphia. The book bisexual, transgender and queer com- covers the local response to the HIV/ munities in central Pennsylvania AIDS crisis, the work for passing lo- cal non-discrimination ordinances, Outside of major metropolitan areas, the fight for LGBTQ+ rights has had the lesbian movement, the rise of Pride celebrations, providing safe its own unique and rich history – one space for LGBTQ+ youth, the that is quite different from the national narrative set in New York and Califor- transgender movement, election of local LGBTQ+ politicians, the devel- nia. Out in Central Pennsylvania opment of the LGBT Center and highlights one facet of this lesser- known but equally important story, many other topics. immersing readers in the LGBTQ+ The narrative includes profiles of community building and social net- some of the leaders and heroes of working that has taken place in the the local movement with much of the small cities and towns in the heart of content in their own words based on Pennsylvania from the 1960s to the their oral history interviews. The text present day. Drawing from oral histo- is supported by 86 historical photos opment of the first gay and lesbian ries and the archives of the LGBT and other images of historical docu- organizations and first activists and Center of Central PA History Project, ments and artifacts. leaders in several small cities in PA, this book recounts the innovative and the beginning of campus organiz- The book includes a Foreword by Dr. ways that LGBTQ+ central Pennsyl- ing at Penn State. It chronicles Brent D. Glass, former director of the vanians organized to demand civil groundbreaking efforts by Governor Smithsonian National Museum of rights and to improve our quality of life Milton Shapp to prohibit discrimina- American History. Previous to that in a region that often rejected us. tion based on sexual orientation and position, he served as executive di- The book explores the early years of gender identity for state employees rector of the Pennsylvania Historical gay life in central Pennsylvania in the and in the policies and programs of all and Museum Commission. 1950’s and 1960’s with the appear- state agencies. It is through this effort ance of the first gay and mixed gay/ that many of the early leaders and straight bars. It discusses the devel- activists came together to form the

Anti-Racism Book Bundles Are Available at the Central Pennsylvania LGBT Center

tunity. They have organized the anyone interested in dismantling the books into 5 bundles. Racism 101 is remaining racism in the USA. As the first bundle of books and includes Kendi puts it in his introduction, it's these three books: about "the basic struggle we're all in, “Me and White Supremacy" by the struggle to be fully human and to Layla F Saad is an answer to anyone see that others are fully human." who has wondered, "What can I per- Click Here to view the Center's order sonally to do help dismantle racism?" form. When ordering, please consid- Just as we can see otherwise invisi- er making an additional donation at ble layers of how gender affects eve- checkout. The entirety of that dona- rything, this book will help you see tion will go toward GLO Harrisburg's Inspired by the Black Lives Move- how invisible layers of race affect Emergency Housing Fund, which ment, the LGBT Center of Central everything. supports the immediate housing Pennsylvania has plans to begin book "So You Want to Talk About Race" needs of Black and brown LGBTQ+ club meetings concerning not only youth and young adults in Harrisburg. racism but also issues facing queer/ by Ijeoma Oluo is a straight-forward, Please share this with you networks! trans people of color. Specific dates humorous, and comprehensive book and times are to be announced. They about all the major issues about race. Please take advantage of this oppor- have created a great list of books by Reading this will not only help you be tunity to hear and understand the minority authors and are working with more informed but will give you tools marginalized voices which are calling minority book stores to order these to talk about race with others. out to be heard. If you have any books. This is an important, much "How To Be an Anti-Racist" by Ib- questions, please email the Center at needed and wonderful learning oppor- ram X. Kendi is the perfect book for [email protected].

Page 5

How 'Dominatrix' Drag Queens Whipped To Wong Foo's Stars Into Shape Daniel Reynolds, Advocate Reporter

For Patrick Swayze, portraying Vida about her. So what started out to be Boheme in To Wong Foo, Thanks for a fun lark, you know, where I was Everything! Julie Newmar was "the going to just have a kick and be out- most emotional experience I've ever rageous, it turned out to be the most had." emotional experience I've ever had." In celebration of the groundbreaking Snipes discussed how he drew upon BSLGBT Center’s LGBTQ+ film's 25th anniversary, Maya Angelou, Bette Midler, his NBC's Today re-released its 1995 in- grandmother, and groundbreaking Easy-to-Use Voter terviews with Swayze and costars Black actor Roscoe Lee Browne to fill Outreach Website Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo. Noxeema's heels. In the clip, they revealed how they pre- “My grandmother is the humor and Bradsbury-Sullivan LGBT Community pared for their now-iconic roles as Center is engaging in nonpartisan drag performers whose car breaks Bette Midler is the walk. You know, voter outreach this fall to help mem- down in small-town America. her whole type of jiggle type of walk," Snipes said. "And Maya and Roscoe, bers of our community register to “The challenge I think it was, could I they have a command and control vote, apply for mail-in ballots, and really pull this lady off? Because Miss over the English language and sign up for election reminders. While Vida, she, in many ways, propels the words. They make words sound like emotional through-line and she had to it's a food dish, you know, so I they aren't telling folks how they be filled with love and compassion and thought that it was a good thing for should vote, they are reminding them a nurturing spirit," Swayze told Bryant Noxeema, who was very arts- why it is important to vote. Gumbel. educated and cultural, to be able to use words in a very romantic type of Our votes are our voices, "I found in rehearsal every time I start- fashion." and it’s essential that we are all ed playing her like 'Miss Thing,' and going out there and being outra- Leguizamo revealed to Gumbel that it heard as we elect leaders geous ... I realized that I'll blow this took "hours and hours in front of the to represent us at the character. She had to be real. If you're mirror, walking back and forth" to local, state, and national levels. going to put this big drag queen in master the physicality of the charac- scenes with a serious actress like ters — with some help from drag Bradsbury-Sullivan LGBT Center has Stockard Channing or Blythe Danner queen created an easy-to-use voter out- or whoever — she had to be real," he Watch more interview reach site at pa-votes.org/bslgbt to added. "You had to get sucked into get ready to vote. As a reminder, her emotional life and really care October 19 is the deadline to register to vote in the general election; October 27 is the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot; and November 3 is Election Day, when polls will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm for in-person voting.

Page 6 HRO - Filing A Complaint SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 - 10:00am - 12:00pm (EST) - Zoom

Join us as we will be discussing who PHRC is and what we do. We will inform participants on how to file a complaint if they believe they are the victim of discrimination.

Heather Roth Michael Goldstein Regional Director of Supervisor of Harrisburg Regional Office Harrisburg Regional Office

ZOOM LINK https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85353106860?pwd=WDlYZUNEZ1k5SHJTdG9vKzJrRXpqZz09#success

Meeting ID: 891 5388 8397 | Password: 846726

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