From Russia to Southie – Our Identity to Uphold and What Part to Sup - Can’T Offer Any Credible Documentation Then Press

2 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Pro-life vs. Pro-choice, an ethical dilemma Does the Violence Against Women Act really pro - By: Nicole Lashomb*/ Editor-in-Chief tion. tect women or LGBT communities from violence? s the election year closes in on Many pro-life individuals believe that under By: Jason Lydon*/ TRT Columnist as she spoke at the founding conference of IN - us, it is no surprise that the no circumstance a woman should have an abor - S he majority of the LGBT press is cur - CITE! Women of Color Against Violence in GOP forerunners, former Mas - tion. No circumstance ... not in cases of rape, in - A cest, nor for a little girl who may have gotten rently heralding the Violence Against Santa Cruz. Speaking under the title of “The N sachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, and Color of Violence Against Women,” Davis ex - former PA Senator, Rick Santorum, have pregnant as a result of being sexually abused by TWomen Act as an essential piece of leg - her father, uncle, or family friend. No circum - plored the ways the domestic-violence move - O attempted to rile up their conservative islation for our community, and even patting I base by igniting social issues — one of stance. Pro-lifers impose their beliefs on virtu - U.S. Sen. Scott Brown on the back for his sup - ment made it into the mainstream and the reality those issues being abortion. ally every woman and girl in this country. To me, port, but I want us to look a bit more closely. of white feminist demonization of men of color N On both sides of the answer is simple, if you don't believe in abor - Firstly, it must be abundantly clear to all of us as perpetual perpetrators while simultaneously I the fence, women tion, then don't have an dismissing the concerns of women of color. abortion. But, do not tell that violence against women is a serious problem P and men are pas - Even though the mainstream domestic violence ... those very people that other women and girls that compromises our capacity to be truly sionate about the human. Gender-based violence, domestic vio - and sexual-assault movements were dismissive O moral obligation what they have to believe have spoken so exuber - to potentially, at their own lence, sexual assault, stalking and other systemic of many women of color, there have _always_ they feel regarding this been strong women of color speaking out about topic. Both sides have fer - antly about preserving detriment, fall victim to a patterns of control by one person over another vently defended their po - horrific circumstance be - are all issues that deeply affect our LGBTQ personal, institutional and cultural violence sition. Sometimes it is the life of a fetus could cause of your beliefs. The communities and they require our whole-hearted against women of color as well as honoring and solely based on religious same thing goes for gay celebrating survival strategies. precepts, while at other take the lives of others marriage. If you don't be - Victoria Law, author of “Resistance Behind times, it is based on in the process . It is im - lieve in it, then don't “Can a state that is thor - Bars: The Struggles of Incarcerated Women,” re - human rights and marry the same-sex. It re - cently did an interview on resisting gender vio - ally is that simple. oughly infused with racism , women's liberty. possible to defend life if lence without cops or prisons. In her interview I found myself ponder - Women’s choices, male dominance , class- whether to have an abor - she stated that “the threat of imprisonment does ing this topic, a topic that you end it , is it not? bias , and homophobia and not deter abuse; it simply drives it further under - divides so many of us, a tion or not, is only be - topic that fundamentalists tween them and their that constructs itself in and ground. Remember that there are many forms of have used to destroy abortion clinics while mur - creator, regardless of through violence act to abuse and violence, and not all are illegal. It also dering hundreds of doctors, nurses, and women which type of religious background you come sets up a false dichotomy in which the survivor who support their services. I've always found it from. And, that is the point of being prochoice. minimize violence in the has to choose between personal safety and crim - fascinating (and disturbing) that those very peo - It does not mean that you are out advocating in lives of women? Should we inalizing and/or imprisoning a loved one. Arrest ple that have spoken so exuberantly about pre - favor of reckless abortion. It means that you un - and imprisonment does not reduce, let alone ... serving the life of a fetus could take the lives of derstand that each woman has a right to make a rely on the state as the an - others in the process. It is impossible to defend choice for what is right in her life, in her unique swer to the problem of vio - See Violence on Page 22 life if you end it, is it not? circumstance and it is not up to you to make that Ok. So that is not the majority of pro-life peo - choice for her or to take away her free will that lence against women ?” ple. I get it. Just like the majority of opponents we were all God-given. attention and commitment to action. However, The Rainbow Times to same-sex marriage do not belong to the “Gods * Nicole Lashomb is the Editor-in-Chief of The The Freshest LGBT Newspaper Hates Fags” group. However, the one fact I can - is the Violence Against Women Act the way to Rainbow Times. She holds an MBA from Maryl - in New England not dismiss is that pro-lifers who seek to ban hurst University and a Bachelor’s Degree from solve these problems? abortion, certain political candidates come to SUNY Potsdam. To send a letter to the editor or According to the FY2011 budget for the Vio - www.therainbowtimesmass.com mind, are taking away women's rights to choose to reach Nicole, email her at editor@therain - lence Against Women Act, 70 percent of the what is right for their life, in their current situa - bowtimesnews.com. $649.36 million was put in the control of the De - [email protected] partment of Justice, distributed to law enforce - [email protected] ment, prosecutors and other arms of the penal Phone: 413.282.8881 or 617.444.9618 Supplier Diversity Road Show at Boston in May to bring system. Angela Davis reflected on this in 2000 Fax: 888-442-2421 together LGBT, Women & Disability-owned business By: Jenn Tracz Grace*/ CABO’s Exec. Director TD Bank, CABO’s most recent corporate Publisher Columnists Letters to the Editor Gricel M. Ocasio Lorelei Erisis ach year CABO, partner and also a sponsor of the Greater Dear Editor, Editor-In-Chief Deja N. Greenlaw CT’s LGBT Boston Business Council, is sponsoring this Nicole Lashom b Paul P. Jesep The story about Cabaret in P-Town was re - Chamber of event at the TD Garden (100 Legends Way, Assistant Editor Jason Lydon E ally informational. I’m aware of what’s tak - Brianna Snyder Tynan Power Boston, Mass.). The event will be held on Commerce and all of the ing place now and can have fun with my other chambers across the Wednesday, May 2, from 1-3 p.m. I highly en - Sales Associates Jenn Tracz courage you to attend. If you are interested in buddies, all our CT bunch going to our fave Chris Gilmore John Verlinden Northeast region (Boston, place to be, P-Town. Liz Johnson Reporters joining us, please send me an e-mail Connecticut, New York, — George Ramos, Hartford, CT Lead Photographer Chuck Colbert Philadelphia, Central [email protected] . Glenn Koetzner Clara Lefton Don’t forget: CABO is your resource to the Pennsylvania, Washing - Dear Editor, Webmaster Christine Nicco Connecticut LGBT business climate both in the Jarred Johnson Tynan Power ton, D.C., Hampton It’s good to hear more people getting in - Roads, Virginia and the National Gay & Les - corporate and small-business environment. We Design Casey Rocheteau are able to provide services to our members in volved in social issues. Your paper has some Prizm Designs Emily Scagel bian Chamber of Commerce) gather to share challenging and edgy stories and although I best practices and utilize joint resources to pro - large part because of the support of our corpo - don’t always agree, like Mr. Lydon’s pro- The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The vide the best value to members of each cham - rate partners, which include: Aetna, Foxwoods, Rainbow Times, LLC. TRT is affiliated with the Na - ber. This year this gathering is being hosted by Murtha Cullina LLP, MetLife, TD Bank, Com - choice stance, I can always welcome a good tional Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, CABO the Greater Boston Business Council, which cast Business Class, Bearingstar Insurance, challenge to my own older views. - The Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunity, Nutmeg State Federal Credit Union and strate - and QSyndicate. The articles written by the writers, serves the greater Boston area. —Jack Henricson, Springfield, MA columnists, and correspondents express their opinion, In conjunction with our annual gathering, the gic partners like The Rainbow Times. Each of and do not represent the endorsement or opinion of National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Com - these businesses has something great to offer Dear Editor, The Rainbow Times, LLC or its owners. To write let - and their commitment and support to the LGBT ters to the editor, please send your letters, with your merce (NGLCC) is hosting a Supplier Diversity Thanks for the story about Sir Elton John Road Show. This event is bringing together community is what separates them from the name, address and phone number to: The Rainbow rest. being at CityStage & Symphony Hall. I’m Times (address shown above), or e-mail any com - LGBT, Women and Disability-owned busi - not missing this one. Thanks for the info!! ment/s to the editor at: editor@therainbowtimes - nesses to learn how business certification can * In her role as Executive Director, Jenn is news.com. All submissions will be edited according —Kathy McIntire, Enfield, CT drive strategic growth opportunities for your responsible for maintaining and growing mem - to space constraints. The Rainbow Times, LLC re - business. Experts will teach local business own - bership, developing strategic business partner - serves the right not to print any or all content, or ad - vertisements for any reason at all. TRT is not ers how to take full advantage of certification ships and overseeing the day-to-day operations Dear Editor, of the organization. In addition to being responsible for advertising content. To receive The programs to access supply chains at the state What can I say about the cover? Loved it! Rainbow Times at your home via regular mail, or and federal level. We are encouraging LGBT, CABO’s executive director, she also owns Di - What did my gay friends said? Loved it too, through electronic delivery, please visit its website. women and people with disabilities to attend versity Works LLC, a strategic marketing and though some want to see gay guys too! The whole content and graphics (photos, etc.) are the communications agency specializing in diver - sole property of The Rainbow Times, LLC and they this wonderful event. —Justin Rivera, Boston MA sity issues. cannot be reproduced at all without TRT’s consent. www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 3 Martin’s Murder shows Rustin’s lesson are still relevant today By: Kara S. Suffredini*, Esq., and Corey books, and there is one even pending right here Yarbrough*/ Special for TRT in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This his year, LGBTQ activists cel - bill would allow Massachusetts residents to ebrate the life and legacy of enough to condemn him to death. use guns, knives, or deadly force to defend D TBayard Rustin. Rustin’s ac - Though the attention currently given to Mar - themselves in public. As we’ve seen in Florida, E complishments were so great that the tin’s murder is extremely necessary and worth - where “justifiable” homicides have doubled in - 100th anniversary of his birth should be while, we must not be fulfilled by seeking the past five years under their law, if passed,

P heralded on the front pages of the coun - justice in this one case alone. The need for so - this law could grant individuals like Zimmer - try’s most influential newspapers. cial and political activism didn’t begin with man a legal way to police public space based O However this Civil Rights powerhouse Martin and shouldn’t end if Zimmerman is on their subjective perceptions of safety. It also work to strengthen coalitions with other was erased from history because he was gay, prosecuted. Instead, it should fuel the fire for would also disproportionately impact commu - marginalized groups and apply greater pres - and being such, was seen as a threat to the sure to elected officials to vote against this bill credibility of the movement. The Civil Rights and protect all communities from aggressors movement’s refusal to acknowledge Rustin as The need for social and political activism didn’t begin motivated by misguided suspicion and hate. a leader and his subsequent exclusion from our Inevitably, #Justice4Trayvon will stop trend - history books speak to a debilitating pattern in with Martin and shouldn’t end if Zimmerman is prose - ing on Twitter, and we will all retire our hood - our society of devaluing the worth of individ - ies to the back of our closets. But let’s do our uals solely based on their identity. cuted . Instead, it should fuel the fire for dismantling collective work to ensure that America does In Rustin’s case, the motivating factor was all forms of systemic oppression that violate inno - not consciously erase the story of Trayvon sexual orientation; in another now infamous Martin from our history like it has with Bayard example, that of Trayvon Martin’s, it was race. cent bodies daily. Rustin. It isn’t until we challenge our own sus - Martin was fatally marked as unacceptable in picions of others, and then consistently advo - a public space by George Zimmerman, a man dismantling all forms of systemic oppression nities of color, immigrant communities and cate together, that we will build a true who was threatened by Martin’s Black, that violate innocent bodies daily. As Rustin LGBTQ people, groups who already experi - movement towards social justice void of sus - teenage male body. Without looking at the once taught, we will never experience true ence some of the highest rates of hate crimes picion, fear, and intimidation. physical images of the two males involved, freedom as a country until everyone is able to and violence. In fact, according to a 2010 re - Zimmerman’s criminal record would lead most live their lives free of violence generated by ig - port from the National Coalition of Anti-Vio - *Kara S. Suffredini is the Executive Director people to believe that he, as opposed to Martin, norance and hate. lence Programs, 70 percent of violence of MassEquality. presented a bigger threat to public safety. The law that may protect Zimmerman from perpetuated against the LGBTQ community However, due to the socially constructed fear prosecution is not unique to Florida. Twenty happens to people of color; half of those *Corey Yarbrough is the Executive Director of of the Black male created by a white domi - one other states across the country have similar crimes target transgender people of color. the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC). nated society, Martin’s simple presence was so-called “Stand Your Ground” laws on the Those who rally on behalf of Martin should 4 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 5 6 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 7 8 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Secret NOM Documents Show Agenda of of Anti-Gay Movement, Race-Wedging By: Christine Nicco/TRT Reporter and Latino base and aims to foster a negative re - ulation.” Church.” lationship between these groups and the LGBT According to the HRC, the key themes that Embracing marriage equality supposedly “af - In a move that clearly depicts the divi - community. It also, according to Buzzfeed, tar - emerge from the documents are: fects economic performance, expands the regu - sion, hatred and vitriol towards marriage

T gets President Obama’s re-election via utilizing • Racial Politics latory and taxing powers of government, and equality, the National Organization for the Latino “swing vote.” NOM’s admitted key goal is to “drive a wedge threatens the family businesses that generate Marriage (NOM) left behind documents H MassEquality Statement between gays and blacks.” economic growth and prosperity.” obtained by the Human Rights Cam - “It has been obvious for years that one of the key NOM aims to manipulate Hispanic commu - Despite every court to hear the issue finding G paign (HRC) that prove what its “lead - strategies employed by opponents of marriage nities by “making support for marriage a key no evidence of any harassment or intimidation, I ers” and secret donors are really after, equality is to weaken Americans’ collective fair - badge of Latino identity” and “to make opposi - NOM continues to claim “gay marriage advo - L according to HRC officials. NOM’s ness by pitting parents against children, neigh - tion to gay marriage an identity marker, a badge cates have focused relentlessly on harassing and campaign is aimed at defeating marriage

E bors against neighbors, and minority groups of youth rebellion to conformist assimilation to intimidating local donors.” equality, President Obama’s re-election, against minority groups,” said MassEquality Ex - the bad side of ‘Anglo’ culture.” • Ignoring Campaign Finance Rules and creating a wall against racial and eth - ecutive Director Kara Suffredini. “Nonetheless, • Facing a Losing Battle NOM brags that “one key advantage we now M nic groups. I such toxic cynicism never ceases to be shocking. They were 0 for 3 in their 2010 priority: “Roll have is the capacity to protect the identity of our NOM lies to Americans The casual tone with which NOM outlines how back gay marriage in New Hampshire, Iowa, and donors.” L The tactics that NOM has used to lie to it will turn fair-minded Americans against each D.C.” Marriage equality remains on the books Worried about disclosure laws, NOM encour -

millions of Americans seem to finally be other solely to hurt LGBT families speaks for it - in all three with the New Hampshire Republican ages donors to give to a slush fund for use E out in the open and they show the defin - self. This is the ugliest example of a ‘solution’ in legislature just last week rejecting a move to re - around the country saying, “It is critical that we itive signs of an obscure group filled with search of a problem.” peal their law. have a reserve fund to give to these efforts to en - H hatred trying to desperately impose and The HRC officials stated that the “Maine Ethics • Huge Coffers Fund Phony “Research” sure victory and protect donor identity.” spread a culture of fear, hatred and mali - T Commission launched a formal investigation NOM outlined a plan to spend $100,000 on a • Small Movement with a Big Voice ciousness against anything and anyone into NOM’s fundraising tactics in late 2009, “study of what schools are teaching in gay mar - Recognizing that they are a fringe movement, that does not fit the “NOM profile.” based on an initial complaint filed by Fred riage/civil union regimes.” they brag about having wide media exposure N BuffFeed (http://bit.ly/GTUSli) ran a I Karger of Californians Against Hate.” $150,000 is earmarked for videotaping stories writing: “there is an opportunity for a small story that reported that the documents are HRC Statement of those supposedly harmed by marriage equal - countercultural community to have a dispropor - “marked ‘confidential’ and detail the internal Said HRC President Joe Solmonese: “With the ity called “The Face of the Victims” project. tionate cultural impact.” strategy of the National Organization for Mar - veil lifted, Americans everywhere can now see $60,000 in salary earmarked for an “outreach • It’s Not Just About Marriage riage.” the ugly politics that the National Organization coordinator to identify children of gay parents NOM can no longer claim that they’re only Divisive Tactics: The Black & Latino Link for Marriage traffics in every day. While loving willing to speak on camera.” focused on marriage. Their “American Princi - According to the HRC, they received the “con - gay and lesbian couples seek to make lifelong $50,000 earmarked for “Expert Witness Proj - ples Project” seeks to “Expose Obama as a social fidential strategy documents as part of a contin - commitments, NOM plays racial politics, tries ect” that couldn’t cultivate a single credible wit - radical” by “develop[ing] side issues” like uing investigation by the state of Maine. The to hide donors and makes up lies about people ness to stand up in the Prop 8 trial for example. “pornography” and veering off into issues court-ordered disclosure shows NOM fighting a of faith. The contrast could not be any starker. • Painting Themselves as Victims around the Guantanamo Prison and opposing ad - losing battle with strategy and tactics that are The reason that Americans are steadily moving NOM pushes the false notion that Americans ministration appointments. racially and ethnically divisive, “filled with false in the direction of marriage equality is because are under attack: “Gay marriage is the tip of the Read the rest of this story online at TRT’s political calculations, and out of touch with the they identify with the loving and committed cou - spear, the weapon that will be and is being used majority of fair-minded Americans.” ples who want to enter into the institution, not to marginalize and repress Christianity and the website at: http://bit.ly/GUosfS The document words target the core of the Black NOM’s underhanded tactics of lies and manip -

www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 9

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Eileen Cleary (Kathleen Turner) and Monsignor Murphy (Richard Chamberlain) at church in a scene from The Perfect Family. Out! For Reel premieres new LGBT comedy starring Kathleen Turner NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — With plenty of recovering alcoholic. Her struggle with her ho - laughs, Hollywood star power, and a catered mophobia, her faith, and her love for her family after party, Out! For Reel LGBT Film Series is is portrayed honestly with compassion and celebrating its season finale on Saturday, May 5 humor. with the western Massachusetts premiere of the “The story I have chosen to tell is a messy slice new comedy/drama, The Perfect Family , starring of life comedy-drama about ordinary people Kathleen Turner and Emily Deschanel. The film struggling to connect. We have the opportunity screening will be held at the Northampton High to take a dive into their lives and to laugh and cry School Theater, 7 PM, and the After Party will with them,” said Renton. be held at Diva's Nightclub in Northampton, “The Perfect Family is the perfect film for our 8:30 p.m. - Midnight. Advance tickets, trailer, season finale,” said Jaime Michaels, executive and information are available at www.OutFor - director of Out! For Reel. “One minute you are Reel.org . laughing out loud and in the next minute you are The Perfect Family touts an all-star cast includ - navigating through the heartache that homopho - ing Kathleen Turner (Golden Globe winner), bia causes in families. Using comedy and drama, Emily Deschanel, (star of the hit FOX TV show this film examines universal family dynamics "Bones"), Sharon Lawrence ("Grey's that both LGBT and heterosexual folks will def - Anatomy"), Richard Chamberlain ("Thorn - initely be able to relate to. It's an upbeat yet ten - birds"), Jason Ritter ("Parenthood"), Michael der film with superb acting provided by the McGrady ("24"), and Angelique Cabral star-studded cast and plenty of one-liners that ("Friends With Benefits"). keep the humor flowing throughout.” “I wanted a film with strong emotions, solid Tickets are $10 Advance/$12 Door/$16 characters and a relatable story," said film direc - Combo Film & Party/$8 Student w/ID. After tor Anne Renton.”Kathleen Turner embraced the Party tickets are $6 with film/$7 Advance/$8 role of the protagonist, Eileen Cleary with great Door. The film trailer and more information is depth and an exquisite attention to detail. It was available at www.OutForReel.org . a dream to work with her." Out! For Reel LGBT Film Series screens the The Perfect Family is a funny, heartfelt story best in award-winning lesbian, gay, bisexual and about a devout woman (Turner) who wants to transgender films from around the world in a win the Catholic Woman of the Year award. Her nine month season. Now wrapping up its fourth problem is that she will need to lie about her en - season, Out! For Reel’s mission is to create and tire family to make them "perfect" in the eyes of strengthen our LGBT community through cul - the church. Her daughter is a pregnant, vegetar - tural events, build connections to our heterosex - ian lesbian (Emily Deschanel) who plans to ual allies, and work toward the eradication of marry her partner (Angelique Cabral), her son homophobia through the arts and entertainment. (Jason Ritter) wants a divorce and is having an Over 25,000 people have attended Out! For Reel affair, and her husband (Michael McGrady) is a events since its start in 2008. 10 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com S N O I T C U D O R P

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Spring Awakening behind the scenes NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Greene Room the difficulties of having to develop so many dif - Productions, a local 501c3 functioning out of ferent characters. the Monson/Palmer area is launching its spring “The character that I relate most to is Mel - production, a rock musical called, Spring Awak - chior’s mother,” she said. She is the most ordi - ening by Duncan Sheik and Steven Satar at the nary or true-to-life character that I have to play Academy of Music in Northampton MA May and the only one who is seen as an ally to the 4-5 & 11-12, 2012. Spring Awakening , based on kids in the show. After my experience with her, the German play by Frank Wedekind, is the and seeing her ‘betrayal,’ I had to take a good winner of 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musi - look at my own life to assess whether or not I cal. The story is about the journey from adoles - am really making myself accessible to my chil - cence to adulthood, and is told with poignancy dren and the other kids in my life.” and passion. It is a landmark musical that is an Besides the regular theatre seating, special on- electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and stage seating has been made available through rock & roll. the box office at the Academy of Music so that Behind the scenes, Spring Awakening has audience members and actors sit together during sparked many cast discussions about the moral - the show, Greene said. Through this limited ity of sex, the importance of communication, seating arrangement (only 20 seats per show) stresses in teens lives i.e. school, domestic is - audience members have the opportunity to get sues etc., and the importance of communication up-close and personal, gaining a new and in teen lives, according to the organization’s of - unique theatre experience. ficials. Although the show was written in the late “The cool thing about this show, besides the 1900’s the scenarios and stressors that the main show itself, is the orientation of the audience to characters are faced with are still very relevant the action on stage”, said Greene. “… the show and prevalent in today’s society. is going to be great! It is new and edgy, has “Spring Awakening is definitely a conversa - beautiful music, its educational-values are very tion starter,” said Erin Greene, director/producer accessible because of the humor used in the of the show. “I recommend that parents go with telling of the story, and we have one of the best their teens. It, without-a-doubt will open up sig - casts I’ve ever worked with!” nificant conversation between parents and their To get tickets and more information about kids.” Spring Awakening call the Academy of Music During a recent interview with the Palmer’s Theatre’s Box Office at (413) 584-9032, x105, Public Access station MPACT, Devon Bakum order tickets online at http://bit.ly/duW1lK , or (Wilbraham) who plays all of the adult female purchase them at the door. Advance sales in characters in “Spring Awakening” talked about groups of 10 or more are discounted.

TRUE COLORS XIX Storrs, CT Check out the Confer - ence’s photos at: http://on.fb.me/HeHBTv The True Colors Story: http://bit.ly/GEiezE www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 11 12 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Big Ben: From professional baseball to gay show In Between Men By: Randy Myers/ Special for TRT how most gay men live acting careers. I just moved to Los Angeles and A. I think shady is relative. It’s very competitive fter a brief stint as a profes - today. everything seems brand new. and a guy’s ability to network socially can be a sional baseball player, Ben Pamies says he identified Q. Is acting your priority now? powerful attribute. T Pamies jumped at an opportu - most with his character’s A. Acting was an interest even through my mod - Q. What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen a guy A refusal to be defined by eling days. My hopes were always to use mod - do to land the job?

N nity to model in New York. At 22, he was signed to the Ford his looks and sexuality. eling as a platform to create a name and branch A. I’m not sure. Truthfully, I always felt like E Agency and became one of the most rec - Like the Ben on In Be - out towards an acting career. anything shady that goes on around me is none ognized male models in Manhattan. His tween Men , Pamies is a Q. How have your looks helped or hurt your act - of my business. I focus on myself because stick -

M Adonis form sold underwear and family guy whose career ing career? ing my nose in other guys’ business only serves swimwear for 2xist, Polo Ralph Lauren ambitions outshine even his A. I’m a pretty easy going, laid back guy. It’s to distract me from my path toward my goals. N and Dolce & Gabbana. looks. been a struggle at times to own my look Q. You play Benjamin Reed who is the iconic I His agents encouraged Ben to take Q. Many of us live in a and meet the expectations that male figure; the guy gay men want to be and be perpetual state of income with a strong presence. with. Do you feel any pressure having to live up A acting classes to broaden his marketabil - between: in be - Q. Can you relate to the to the ideal?

T ity and make him eligible for commer - cials and soap operas. tween jobs, characters in In Between A. I do feel a certain pressure to having to live

R Acting class became an addiction. in between Men who are trying to up to an expectation that my looks invite. But relation - make it big? it’s a privilege to be able to embody that ideal

E Under the tutelage of famed drama coach Jennifer Gelfer, Ben found a ther - ships, and being able to test the limits within M T friends, a character like Benjamin has been a apeutic outlet for the anxiety he felt O C family, . blessing in helping me find my O

chasing his dreams in the big city. Class I N

and V strengths and comfort in my own skin.

became a place Ben could lose himself A T T E lovers Q. Benjamin Reed is oversexed and

and gain perspective on life by walking O

… D promiscuous ... are you? in another man’s shoes and embodying a char - L E what I A. (Laughs) You can’t ask for a better acter. N are you A playing field then the limitless variety D

He was a natural and when Gelfer began cast - . ing the hunk for her new gay drama series, In living W New York offers. I wouldn’t call my in be - W past promiscuity an escapade but my W

Between Men, she turned to Pamies. He embod - :

tween? S experiences have each shaped me in be - ied so many of the characteristics as the show’s O A. T coming the man I am today. But be - lead, Ben Reed. Both Bens are sexy and flirty O H but also intelligent and successful. With a P cause those days are behind me, and out At first glance, the show appears similar to somewhat of respect for my current relationship, Queer as Folk . However, where the characters recognizable A. I certainly can. Like I’m going to have to answer with a tasteful dis - in Queer as Folk lived in the gayborhood, In Be - face through them, I feel like I’m about cretionary silence and leave room for mystery tween Men depicts gay men living out and modeling, but yet to turn a corner for the better. and imagination. proud in the real world. Through wild adven - limited credit in acting, Q. Is there a shady side to tures and racy storylines set against the fabulous I’d say I’m living in be - Manhattan’s modeling in - backdrop of New York City, the show depicts tween my modeling and dustry? See In Between Men on page 22 www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 13 Federal Appeals Court Judges hear arguments against DOMA case By: Chuck Colbert/Keen News Service then the ground-breaking option of civil unions. During oral arguments, attorney Healey led a attorney general’s lawsuits have been consoli - When a panel of three judges on a federal ap - Civil unions afforded same-sex couples all the full-court press. In strong words, she told the dated. They are referred to as Gill v. Office of peals court hears arguments against the federal rights, benefits, and responsibilities of marriage, U.S. District Court judge that DOMA “forces Personnel Management. Defense of Marriage Act, three openly gay but not the word marriage. In 2009, Vermont Massachusetts to engage in a kind of invidious When the cases were first heard in U.S. Dis - lawyers will argue the law is unconstitutional. lawmakers made same-sex marriage legal. discrimination.” trict Court, the Obama Department of Justice Opposing them, one straight attorney. How? By denying same-sex married couples was still defending DOMA. But last year, DOJ Compared to the late U.S. Supreme Court of the same benefits received by opposite-sex said it would no longer argue the law is uncon - Attorney Mary Bonauto Justice Marshall couples—or risk losing federal aid. stitutional. Legal gay icon Mary Bonauto will once again A May 2004 New York Times Magazine pro - Even worse, DOMA is “animus-based na - make a case for equal marriage, arguing on be - file on Bonauto likened her to the late U.S. tional marriage law,” said Healey. She con - DOJ’s Acting Assistant Attorney General half of seven gay couples and three widowers, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, tended that the law infringes on Massachusetts Stuart Delery all married in Massachusetts after the 2003 who, before becoming a judge, argued before sovereign authority and “forces the state to dis - This time, the Department of Justice will be Goodridge v. Department of Public Health de - the high court in the historic case of Brown v. criminate against its own citizens.” arguing against DOMA. And it will do so in the cision. Board of Education, which ended racial segre - Like Bonauto, Healey is no stranger to high person of openly gay attorney Stuart Delery, gation in public education. profile gay litigation. Prior to joining the Attor - promoted recently to serve as DOJ’s Acting As - DOMA denies more than 1,000 benefits to A native of Newburgh, N.Y., Bonauto is a ney General’s Office, Healey was an attorney at sistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. same-sex couples graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., the Boston office of WilmerHale, a prestigious Like Bonauto and Healey, Delery has experi - While the state affords them all the rights, and holds a law degree from Northeastern Uni - law firm. There, she provided counsel to the ence with high profile gay litigation. While a benefits, protections, and responsibilities of versity, located in Boston. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network partner at WilmerHale in Washington, D.C., he legal wedlock, the federal government, under Bonauto and her wife Jennifer Wriggins re - (SLDN) in a 2006 case, Cook v. Rumsfeld, that was pro bono counsel of record for the Service - DOMA, denies them more than 1,000 federal side in Portland, Maine, where they are raising challenged the constitutionality of the armed members Legal Defense Network’s unsuccess - programs, benefits and legal protections af - twin daughters. forces’ ban on openly gay service, a federal law ful lawsuit in the First Circuit that challenged forded to opposite-sex couples. and military policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Perhaps best known for winning the 2003 Massachusetts and Assistant Attorney Gen - Tell.” A graduate of the University of Virginia, Del - Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in eral Maura T. Healey Before law school, Healey, a New Hampshire ery earned a law degree at Yale. He clerked for Goodridge, Bonauto is Gay & Lesbian Advo - Just as GLAD won a favorable same-sex mar - native, played women’s basketball for Harvard Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor cates & Defenders’ civil rights project director. riage ruling in the federal district court in College. There, as point guard, she captained the and Byron R. White. Goodridge was the first state Supreme Court Boston in July 2010, so did the Commonwealth school to an Ivy League championship. After - Delery and his longtime partner, Richard Ger - victory for advocates of the freedom to marry of Massachusetts. wards, Healey went on to play professional ball vase, are fathers of two sons, according to the for gay and lesbian couples. In a suit brought by the state’s attorney gen - in Europe. She is a 2006 inductee into the New gay newspaper Metro Weekly of Washington, eral, Maura T. Healey, chief of the Massachu - England Basketball Hall of Fame. She holds a D.C.. Both parents are active in Rainbow Fam - Former civil union historic option setts public protection and advocacy bureau, law degree from Northeastern. ilies DC, a non-profit organization for LGBT Before Goodridge, Bonauto and two other at - argued that DOMA infringed on Massachusetts parents and prospective parents in the Washing - torneys won an important 1999 decision in sovereignty, trespassing on the state’s ability to Game change: DOJ will argue against ton, D.C. metropolitan area. determine eligibility for issuing marriage li - DOMA Baker v. State of Vermont, a ruling that Read the rest of this story online at TRT’s censes. For the April 4 arguments, GLAD’s and the prompted lawmakers there to adopt what was website at: http://bit.ly/HnMUWE 14 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Clint after Beyoncé, The Carrie Diaries , and Go Fish

By: Romeo San Vicente*/ Special for TRT S Rose Troche, filmmaker behind the classic smash is already underway and its title is M

Clint wants Cruise E ’90s lesbian indie Go Fish , is currently wearing Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes , which will G her producer hat, hard at work helping her friend, see a very small yard-dwelling incarnation of the

for Beyoncé. Can N E

E writer-director Stacie Passon, get an unusual les - famous sleuth hot on the case of disappearing D

you blame him? R

C bian film to the big screen. It’s called Concussion garden gnomes. John is currently penning songs S

If you want to get : O

O and, yes, it’s about a head injury. Weirder, it’s for the film and all you have to do is wait for the strict about it, there’s T

O about a lesbian in a longterm relationship who, marketing onslaught to begin. You know a tie-in

nothing gay about A H O Star Is Born except P after the title’s accident, decides to become a breakfast cereal can’t be far behind. for, you know, prostitute for women (look, if women will pay * Romeo San Vicente has electric boots and a

W everything, espe - for sex in the fictional lands of Hung and Gigo - mohair suit. He can be reached care of this pub - cially when you consider its two most re - los , then they’ll do it in this movie, too, OK?). lication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndi - Y cent and famous versions starred Judy The film stars Robin Weigert, an actor who’s al - cate.com. L Garland and Barbra Streisand and the ready fueled butch lesbian crushes such as Calamity Jane on HBO’s Deadwood , but here L new one from director Clint Eastwood is Crimes Against Humanity going to star Beyoncé. And now Clint is she’ll be considerably less dust-covered. And

O after big game, chasing Tom Cruise to when that’s all said and done, Troche is consid - Case Against Scott Lively star as the career-in-decline counterpoint ered reteaming with Go Fish collaborator Guin - H to Beyoncé’s rising ingénue. This would evere Turner for the 20-years-later sequel. Who work perfectly: Cruise is already getting do we have to hit on the head to make that a re -

E decent buzz for his role in the upcoming ality? Rock of Ages , and Mission: Impossible – D Ghost Protocol was a gigantic hit. That Beyoncé Who’s excited for Gnomeo & Juliet 2 ? Elton I John, that’s who. means the megastar’s once-soft-as-an- minded kid dramas like Bridge to Terabithia ,

S It was inevitable. Rocket Pictures’ Gnomeo & easy-chair box office moment has firmed blockbusters like Charlie and the Chocolate up again and he could conceivably open Juliet raked in almost $200 million worldwide

N Factory and last year’s sleeper hit Soul Surfer , an event film like this is surely going to and that means its franchise time for Elton John, I so her presence can only elevate what hopefully who will not rest until previously inanimate gar -

be. Make them duet on “Evergreen,” won’t turn into just another flashy teen soap den decorations have 3D-danced-and-sung their Clint! opera. Robb will take on the role of Carrie in the P way into the consciousness of every moviegoer Photos: http://on.fb.me/HdLGLN - Tynan Power 1980s as she navigates school, sex and, of on the planet. The sequel to the kid-friendly E The Carrie Diaries finally finds a Car - course, the city, but no word yet on who’ll take Story: http://bit.ly/yXXf1w rie

E on the roles of Teen Charlotte or Teen Miranda. First they said it might be Blake Lively, We hear that Teen Samantha will be motion-cap - then it was Emma Roberts, but now it’s Thinking Out Loud: Reproductive importance & the LGBTs D tured by Andy Serkis but that might be just a official: The Carrie Diaries pilot will star very cool rumor. By: Abby Dees*/Special for TRT outrage that has always given them such good respected teen actor Anna Sophia Robb. Here’s f you’re like me, you political traction. There’s good reason for LGBT a young woman whose already-solid film career Go Fish director gives you a Concussion people to pay close attention to what’s happen - includes acclaimed performances in serious- don’t think a whole lot about birth control. You ing to reproductive rights: I Consider the new breed of abortion laws, such probably don’t have much heterosexual sex, though I as a Texas law that forces women seeking an shouldn’t assume, and you abortion to endure an internal ultrasound, a de - likely believed that we’d tailed description of the fetus, audio of its heart - come to a grudging truce beat and a 24-hour waiting period. This isn’t around a woman’s right to about any health concerns, just morality. In fact control her reproductive life. In the 80s and 90s, women report that the experience is degrading, of course, abortion was the battleground of the complicated, and, in essence, medical rape. culture wars; nowadays we all know that it’s They’re being put through the wringer for mak -

Today’s crusade against women’s sexual autonomy is only a redecorated version of the same moral outrage that has always given them such good political trac - tion. There’s good reason for LGBT people to pay close attention to what’s happening to reproductive rights ...

about the gays. ing personal choices about their bodies. Sound Which is why I have this queasy feeling that familiar? I’ve time traveled back about 30 years. Abortion Women can exempt themselves from part of is the hot topic and I notice that plastic jewelry the requirement by signing a sworn affidavit that and jumpsuits are back at Macy’s. No one’s they got pregnant through rape or incest. In talking about gay marriage, and women are on other words, they didn’t mean to have sex; TV explaining why having sex for pleasure someone made them. If the real issue here were doesn’t make them sluts. the sanctity of life, I don’t see why rape should Has the far right (and by that I also mean the let anyone off the hook. But proponents of these 2012 Republican presidential candidates) given laws say they exist to “protect women.” I’m up on the gays? Are fundamentalists going ware of this word, “protect,” when I see the retro? It would be nice to imagine they’ve gotten harm done to LGBT people in order to “protect” tired of us. Maybe we can worry about other the family. things now, like whether Martina Navratilova A bill recently passed the Arizona House that has had some work done. would force doctors to lie about the breast can - But don’t relax just yet. cer risks associated with abortion (there aren’t The far right still has its sites on us. Today’s any, by the way) to scare women out of termi - crusade against women’s sexual autonomy is nating their pregnancies. This protects women only a redecorated version of the same moral See Out Loud on page 16 www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 15 Making room for diverse trans identities at Kirk Cameron may be a bigot, let’s not dismiss him the May LGBT Muslim Retreat By: Paul P. Jesep*/ TRT Columnist you to engage with such folks, do it. Pray for pa - ctor Kirk Cameron upset many tience first. Lots of it. It’s better to keep them in By: Tynan Power*/ TRT Reporter & Columnist love that the team was sure to think of the needs the discussion than push them away. It ends an of transgender people. When I saw “men, D when he honestly answered a For the last few direct question during an inter - opportunity to change hearts and minds. R women and transgender,” though, I knew we had E

months, my life — O A My faith, theology and philosophy are based

N view about homosexuality via CNN Z or at least my e-mail some work to do. T on the empowerment of holy logic, holy reason N

E Piers Morgan’s Show. Without hesita -

I see this a lot. It’s always well-intentioned. G O — has been domi - and holy common sense gifted from the Creator K

tion, he condemned it. According to

A Unfortunately, to me, the effect is more alienat -

N nated by the up - N

E ing than welcoming. coming LGBT F L G

When I hear “men and women” set apart from : M Muslim Retreat. O

O Catholic bishops, with limited personal experi -

T Last year’s retreat “transgender,” I hear an invalidation of my iden - O

H was a wonderful op - tity as a man. “Transgender” is not my gender. P ence of falling in love or having physical relation - S

portunity for educa - “Transgender” refers to the relationship between E my self-identified gender and the gender I was ships, should be asked on national television what

N tion, support, connection and assigned at birth. It’s not my destination; it’s how community-building. This year promises M makes them qualified on matters of the heart . A to be even more rewarding, though we I got there. are still ironing out a few wrinkles. Viewing “transgender” as my gender identity A R The people involved with planning this is like looking at a happy family and seeing only N Cameron, homosexuality is “unnatural. through Holy Sophia (the Holy Spirit). She

T the fact that the children are adopted. How they event are some of the best of the LGBT guides, inspires and helps to create positive, pro - got to be a family may be an interesting story or ... I think that it's detrimental, and ulti - Muslim movement: scholars with deep found social change, clearing away fear, igno - different from the norm, but it doesn’t change E mately destructive to so many of the compassion, religious leaders unafraid to ac - rance and misinformation. She is a revelation knowledge where their expertise ends, volun - the simple reality that they are a family. They foundations of civilization.” H who shares the Creator’s unfolding mystery. view themselves as a family, and they want — Although everyone reading this col - teers who put their time and energy into doing It’s also important to remember that because a the work because it needs to be done. They are and deserve — to be treated as a family. T umn disagrees with Cameron’s opinion,

law provides for a certain protection doesn’t all genuinely committed to meaningful inclu - Many people, like me, fall under the “trans - he is entitled to it no matter how offen - gender” umbrella and identify as “men” or sive anyone finds it. But calling his opin - mean bigotry or prejudice ends. They may still sion. N ion “un-American” as one celebrity did undermine the law. As tiresome as it is the dia -

“women.” For us the process of changing gen - I On one team, they had a wonderful idea: as - logue must continue with those who misunder - signing “companions” to new people, because ders — socially, medically and/or legally — is is contrary to the free-speech values in undertaken with the aim of moving from one the Constitution. Let’s stay clear of labels. stand LGBT people. the retreat can be very emotional for those who Cameron’s comments are illogical, but don’t have never before experienced a welcoming gender box to another. When “transgender” is LGBT reactions to folks like Cameron include treated as a gender in and of itself, equated with anger, frustration and an “I’m not going to take personalize them. Society would be better served community of queer Muslims. These “compan - if the Camerons of the world are asked to define ions” would act as mentors, offering some infor - “man” and “woman,” it seems to say that our it anymore” attitude. Unfortunately, there is a transgender experience prevents us from being certain reality that has to be accepted. Take the “unnatural” and then discuss why it’s detrimen - mal counseling, while also being prepared to tal to civilization. Not one civilization in history refer people to physical and mental health pro - men and women. When groups are divided by world as you find it, not how you want it with gender into three categories — man, woman, the snap of your fingers. has ever collapsed because of homosexuality. fessionals, as needed. The team noted they Hence, I’d be interested in his evidence. If he should be sure to have “companions” who are and trans — it forces us to choose what part of The Kirk Camerons aren’t going away. Nor can they be simply ignored, marginalized, or dis - men, women and transgender. See Transman on page 16 See God on page 16 I love the idea of these “companions.” I also missed as unthinking kooks. Even if it’s beneath 16 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com TransMan from page 15 God from page 15 BP: From Russia to Southie – our identity to uphold and what part to sup - can’t offer any credible documentation then press. maybe seeds will be planted in him to re-think Of course, having “transgender” listed as a his positions. If you can’t change his thinking LGBT Discrimination Continues gender option isn’t a problem for everyone. you may change someone who is sitting on the There are plenty of trans people who don’t iden - By: Linda DeMarco/ President, Boston Pride rade , was organized directly following the St. fence listening to the discussion. tify as “man” or “woman.” That would be better Catholic bishops, with limited personal ex - ver the past month, there have been a Patrick’s Day Parade. Boston Pride marched in indicated, though, by a gender box that says the Peace Parade with others who take great “gender nonconforming,” or better yet “other perience of falling in love or having physical troubling series of events for the LGBT relationships, should be asked on national tel - community from as far away as Russia pride in the regional celebrations of St. Patrick’s (please specify).” O Day that celebrates the heritage and traditions of evision what makes them qualified on matters It seems to me that the key to creating a pool and as near as in our hometown of Boston. of the heart. I’d like to know why there’s so These events underscore the need for continuing people who spent years oppressed by others. By of spiritual “companions” that meet the needs of participating in the Peace Parade, Boston Pride the retreat is to figure out what it is we’re truly much focus on the physical act and why some the effort among all Pride organizations to pro - Catholic men want to discuss it with such de - vide visibility for our community and for the sought to highlight the many diverse voices trying to ask or address. In offering trans “com - Boston has, and especially to focus on the eco - panions,” are we trying to provide support for tail. Do they understand that being LGBT goes fight for equality and civil rights, from a grass - beyond physical intimacy? Do they realize roots, local level, to an international level. We nomic and social challenges that many across people who have transitioned, or are transition - our region still face every day. ing, from one gender to another? Are we offering that if a relationship is to last through the years must be vigilant in our actions to bring to light it, like heterosexual relationships, must be stories of human rights abuses and never forget One of our board members, Sylvan Bruni, experienced trans mentors for people newly out? marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Peace Parade Or are we trying to prevent forcing people into grounded in much more than sex? Can they that there are LGBT brothers and sisters who answer from experience? continue to live in fear and discrimination. and he shares his experience: two gender boxes? “At the Peace Parade, I felt the message, the In the end, our retreat will be able to say that The Kirk Camerons and Catholic bishops should not be chased away. Get them on pan - Russia: Life as an LGBT person why, the meaning of it all: we are being discrim - our spiritual “companions” include men, inated against, I am being discriminated against women, and gender nonconforming people, that els to discuss their positions with other com - In St. Petersburg, Russia, Governor Georgiy mitted people of faith who disagree. As soon Poltavchenko recently signed a law that would by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Even here, in they are cisgender and transgender — just like Boston, Massachusetts, some folks think that our beautiful spectrum of attendees, who vary as as they’re forced to defend their positions with censor people’s ability to communicate their ex - much in gender identity as in age, race, ethnicity, logic, reason and common sense, not with perience as a member of the LGBT community there are places where LGBT people should not be visible, should not exist, should not be al - religious practice and sexual orientation. I want celebrity status or the authority of a religious by criminalizing reading, writing, speaking or to know that our new attendees are supported in office, their arguments fail. This is the best reporting on anything related to gay individuals. lowed to express themselves. And these folks will fight to prevent LGBT people from being, liter - the ways that they need to be and the rest of us, way to bring about change. Don’t name-call Kristina Chemareva, one of our Boston Pride who have been around a while, are doing the (though it’s tempting at times). Talk to them. volunteers, is from the St. Petersburg area and ally, out to the world. Obviously, the emotional strain that results from this discrimination is not work of making sure there is room for them, no They can’t win. They don’t have the facts or she says it is a difficult place to live as an LGBT matter how they identify. science on their side. In my opinion, these dis - person: “There is an extremely harsh climate to - as grueling as being beaten up in other parts of the country, or being killed in other parts of the *Tynan Power is an FTM parent, writer, Mus - cussions also will show that those who support ward homosexuality in Russia. A lot of hype and lim and interfaith leader. He is the co-chair of LGBT rights are on God’s side. fear has been created around homosexuality, es - world. But still, you would think that, in 2012, in Boston, progress has been such that discrimina - the 2012 LGBT Muslim Retreat in Philadel - *Paul is an author, attorney, and a seminary pecially by politicians and media. And now with phia, May 25-28. For more information about trained, ordained priest in greater Albany, NY. this "propaganda" law I think it will get even tion against the LGBT community would have disappeared a long time ago. It’s all the more the retreat, visit www.lgbtmuslimretreat.com or Email questions to [email protected]. worse. It is impossible to be openly gay and to e-mail [email protected]. have a safe life there because that country offers surprising considering the amount of coverage, no protection for people like me. Basic fear – publicity and recognition this event gets. being killed, fined, arrested, assaulted, not being Along the parade route, our contingent, which able to have a family or lead normal social life.” included folks from Join The Impact Massachu - setts, Boston Pride and multiple LGBT-friendly TRT: Maiin Mediia Partner/Boston Priide 2012 Iraq and “emo killings” faith groups (such as Dignity Boston), was all In Iraq, there are reports of extreme violence but met with great cheers, thumbs up, lots of ap - plause, and even a few mini-standing ovations. Out Loud from page 14 victims – victims of religious persecution. This – including murder-directed towards gay Iraquis. is a continuing trope also used against LGBT These incidents, reported in The New York Times , We saw people of all ages, all ethnic back - from the truth, evidently. Hiding the facts has people for ostensibly forcing our lifestyles on are being called “emo killings,” and are focused grounds, all genders, and all walks of life in fact, on gay individuals and, as described by the rooting for us and hailing our participation and been a frequent anti-gay tactic too. For example, God-fearing folks, in violation of their 1st Times, “teenagers who style themselves in a our visibility on this day. We even saw a few gay the Prop 8 people successfully sued to perma - Amendment rights. It’s a clever trick. uniquely Iraqi collage of hipster, punk, emo and couples dare hold hands when they saw the nently seal the video record of the federal Prop All of this shows how quickly issues that we goth fashions.” LGBT contingent pass by. And to me, this is what 8 trial, a record that beautifully demonstrates the thought were settled ages ago suddenly become Boston Pride is about: providing visibility to our importance of LGBT rights. In Tennessee, leg - debatable again. History proves that progress Boston Pride stance & St. Patrick’s Day Pa - community so anyone, anyone, can be who they islators are trying to forbid any discussion about can turn on a dime, but I don’t really think that’s rade in South Boston are, everywhere, every day of the year, even on LGBT lives in school, as if ignorance were a happened yet. Still, we’re far from being able to Boston Pride condemns both the violence it - St. Patrick’s Day in South Boston.” moral virtue. sit back and chill, assured that anyone’s free - self and the climate of fear and ignorance that Almost all of this moral hypocrisy is wrapped doms are here to stay. produces it. Even in our country, where the Pride Boston Pride continues its commitment to in the mantle of religious freedom, as in, “Your *Abby is a civil rights attorney-turned-author movement is decades old, we still see incidents equality laws about equality and respect for people tram - who has been in the LGBT rights trenches for of hate and violence towards our community. This is why Boston Pride continues to provide ple on our religious rights.” The far right howled 25+ years. Whether examining our community’s During the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the visibility and platform for our community to when Obama pushed for contraception coverage latest legal battles or the delicate etiquette of South Boston, the shameful tradition continues advocate and fight for equality and why we have in business run by religious institutions. If you coming out to evangelicals, she always finds of shutting out the LGBT community. Parade or - created a Human Rights and Education Commit - heard any Rush Limbaugh last month, you humor and compassion in even the most chal - ganizers rejected requests by Join The Impact tee so watch for events this spring and during heard some of the story. What you might have lenging situations. She is a busy presenter on di - Massachusetts and by MassEquality to join the Pride Week . We will still have lots of fun at the missed amid all the outrage about Rush’s “slut” versity issues as well as the author of Queer roster of groups and individuals allowed to Pride Parade and parties, but we will not forget and “prostitute” language is how he reframed Questions Straight Talk. She can be reached di - march. To protest this discrimination, and for the that the battle is not over and has just begun for the debate so that people who are restricting rectly through her website found at: some of our LGBT brethren across the globe. second year, a protest parade, the Peace Day Pa - women’s freedoms were presented as the real www.queerquestionsstraighttalk.com

51 Village Hill Road #203 Northampton, MA 01060 413-552-8496 • Email: [email protected] www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 17 Goldman Sachs, the Human Rights Campaign & class politics within the community By: Casey Rocheteau/ TRT Reporter and the video’s release was also coupled with whose business practices perpetuates, even if cation, commented that “class divisions in the Goldman Sachs being presented with a corpo - unknowingly or unintentionally, some of the USA are very strong and working-class people PROVIDENCE, RI — Recently, ac - rate equality award. The groups who protested practices and beliefs the HRC is trying to fight of any denomination are downtrodden, ex - tivists from the Occupy L.A. Queer the event wore hazmat suits to represent Gold - seems rather backwards.” ploited, overworked and underpaid for very lit - D Affinity Group and GetEqual in Los man’s hazardous financial practices. Of course, even within the activist commu - tle respect. The HRC is a classic case of gay Angeles, protested a Human Rights

N Providence activist Brian Gay put the issue nity, the issue is not at all one-sided. people acting more straight than straight peo - Campaign, HRC, gala event because of into perspective, saying, “I think that by having “I think it is good to have someone from ple to show ‘we're just like you,’ to preserve a

A the HRC’s ties to Goldman Sachs and a corporate sponsor representing LGBT folks Corporate America be part of our representa - niche in the higher-paying ranks of society.” CEO Lloyd Blankfein. According to

L and their interests, the HRC is supporting a tion,” said Kevin Fletcher, a senior technologist When asked if he thought the HRC sup - most reports on the protest, the main system (capitalism) which reinforces and prof - at a company in Providence. He added that he ported working-class LGBTQ people, the

S issue was Blankfein being dubbed the its from oppression. I think that choosing to knows people “in Corporate America who group of six respondents were divided. A few I first corporate sponsor of the HRC’s work with the corporate model is supporting a have to be closeted. It is nice to have a corpo - saw the HRC as representing all people, while marriage-equality campaign. system that in the end does not help society’s ration show public support.” others, such as activist Josh Kilby, said, “Even

E The Rainbow Times spoke with most poor and oppressed, and that is unfortu - Fletcher’s sentiment was reflected in the [the HRC’s] ‘best places to work’ campaign Michael Cole-Schwartz, communica - nate since HRC aims to represent a part of that HRC’s goal for the campaign. While many cor - have an over-focus on the white-collar world. D tions director of the HRC, as well as a oppressed population.” porations have made progress in LGBT equal - If they really cared about improving workplace number of Rhode Islanders who were

O Cole-Schwartz, when asked what his re - ity, Goldman Sachs has had policies in place homophobia, they would be helping in the ef - involved in the Occupy movement to sponse was to anyone upset about Blankfein’s for years that make it exemplary in its field. In fort to organize LGBT caucuses in unions like investigate local views of such a fissure H connections with the HRC, said that “the ac - 2002, the company’s insurance policy was de - Pride at Work.” in LGBTQ organizing. tivists and other folks who are upset about the signed to cover gender-reassignment surgery, Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of peo - R Cole-Schwartz was very clear in stat - issue may be on the same page as the HRC and and under Blankfein’s leadership the company ple’s responses was that no one’s reaction was ing that Blankfein “is not an official just not know it.” He went on to say that the also now reimburses employees in domestic entirely negative. Even Kilby’s response was spokesperson by any means. He did a video for HRC “wants full equality for all LGBT people. partnerships to offset their taxes. Of the many hopeful. He was asked if he thought corporate the video campaign for marriage equality.” Having [Blankfein] speak out is something that faces in the HRC marriage-equality videos, endorsements were helpful in the struggle for Blankfein was one of many prominent individ - will get people to think about the issue in a in Blankfein was the only member of a financial full equality. “No,” he responded, “but I think uals to make such a video. Actors such as a different way. This is something that crosses organization to publicly support the campaign. it shows that the 1 percent is not united on Michael K. Williams, Aisha Tyler and John all boundaries — race, class, faith.” The current issue with Goldman Sachs is not queer oppression anymore, which is a good Leguizamo also lent their support to the proj - Another activist with the Rhode Island Anti- particularly new, as there have been some ac - thing.” ect, as did politicians such as Al Franken and Sexism League , Chris Gagnon, explained it this tivists who have objected to the organization’s To view the marriage equality video cam - public figures like Rev. Al Sharpton. Blank - way: “To me, asking for an endorsement from financial business practices for years. Len paign, visit: http://bit.ly/qmn2uN. fein’s video was the only one to raise such ire, a CEO of one of the very financial institutions Moorehead, a local activist who works in edu - Drag Brunch, open in new locations, appeals to gay, straight and even family people By: Casey Rocheteau/ TRT Reporter Project and the Harvey Milk Foundation. call the restaurants directly. Smartphone users

H They’ve also managed to get their venues to do - can also use the Open Table application to make PROVIDENCE, RI — Drag Brunch is a P A nate 25 percent of the proceeds they make from a reservation online. monthly Providence tradition. The Rainbow R

O food to these charities, making the event both

Times spoke with Anthony DeRose, or, as he is T

O entertaining and profitable for good causes. better known, Jacqueline DiMera, who is the H

P DiMera stressed the variety of the show, both TOP 10 BEST SELLER VIDEOS powerhouse behind Drag Brunch. N O in performers and crowd. She tries to book a “Years ago there were drag brunches that used N Courtesy:WolfeVideo.com

G to happen at Olive's and Intermezzo,” DiMera A balance of seasoned drag queens as well as

L those who are new to performing. The crowd is

explained, “but it faded away.” In June 2008, E

N also often a mix, with “a large group of straight LESBIAN TOP 10 when DiMera was crowned Ms. Gay Rhode Is - A

D people, the regulars from the gay community,

land, she hosted a drag brunch at Down City, as : 1. Pariah O and families,” she explained. “Yesterday, I did a post-Pride hangover event. Down City was so T O 2. And Then Came Lola H a number with the baby of a lesbian couple in

thrilled by the show that they asked if it could P be a monthly event. my arms! There was a straight guy with his girl - 3. Tomboy DiMera agreed, but assumed that it would friend who was really uneasy at first, and we 4. Albert Nobbs only be for a few months. “It really took off after kept picking on him, and by the end of it, he was half naked with three drag queens basically mo - 5. Hannah Free that,” she said. 6. The Topp Twins: Untouch Now that Down City is closed, Drag Brunch lesting him!” has moved to a different location, To make reservations for an upcoming Drag able Girls Murphy’s Deli and Pub downtown. While at Brunch, e-mail [email protected] , or 7. Leading Ladies Down City they would have two seatings, the Jaqueline DiMera who runs drag brunch. 8. The L Word: The Complete event at Murphy’s seats at 11 a.m., and it always Series sells out. The event has been so successful, in for kids who otherwise wouldn’t have much to 9. Circumstance fact, that they’ve added a second monthly show look forward to. Drag Brunch has also done at Hotel Providence’s restaurant, Aspire. “So events for breast cancer awareness, the Trevor 10. Elena Undone now, hopefully we’ll be able to serve anyone who wants to see the show,” said DiMera. “If you want a more relax - GAY TOP 10 ing, casual brunch, you can go to Murphy’s, or 1. Kawa if you’re looking for a 2. @SuicideRoom more upscale contem - 3. Private Romeo porary brunch, there’s Aspire.” 4. The Seminarian Occasionally, the 5. Eating Out: The Open brunches are themed, Weekend and there’s an annual 6. What Happens Next Christmas brunch. For 7. Jitters last year’s holiday event, all of the queens’ tips 8. The Green went to AIDS Care 9. Judas Kiss Ocean State’s family 10. Beginners program and they were able to fulfill a wish list 18 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com The story of a little boy, born in the ’50s, who wanted to be a girl By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/ TRT Columnist sort of. school. He was deemed a boy and was separated derful dream but that’s all it was: a dream. He et me tell This little boy grew up with lots of uncles from the girls. The little boy just went along knew that he couldn’t come to the table in a you a little playing with him and he was the darling to the with the arrangement. He kind of got used to it. dress. That would be a huge no-no and there S Lstory about female part of the family. He would sit on the The little boy had to wear a little sport jacket would probably be repercussions, most likely of a boy who was born floor with one of his uncles and he would roll and tie and long pants. Not the same. Not even the physical kind; after all, it was the 1950s. He

W in the early 1950s. up his pant legs to his knees and play “Yeggs!” close. The little boy was silently sad that he kept his thoughts to himself. He shoved them He was born into with his uncle. There was no game really. He couldn’t be pretty like his mom, his sisters, his way down, down deep into his soul where no E a family as the first just wanted to roll his pants up to expose his aunts, and his grandmothers. He had to sit with one would ever know of them. This made him

N male child in almost legs. the males in his family in the living room and sad but he knew that he had no other way. Wel -

20 years. This was When he was about 3, he was outside in the watch “the game.” He was bored. He would go come to the closet, little boy. cause for celebration! A male is finally yard and one of his sister’s friends came over out to the kitchen to get a soda and the females It was the late ’50s and early ’60s and not a S born in the family! He will be everything with a big smile. She just had her first Holy would be chatting and laughing and having fun. good time for a young gender rebel. Even the

N that we want him to be and he will carry Communion and she looked so pretty dressed He would get his soda and stand and watch the gays were suppressed and scorned back then. on the family name! Gotta feeling that up in her white dress, white veil and white females interact and he would smile and laugh They were called homosexuals and queers and A ’51 is gonna be a good year! shoes. Mom took pics of the smiling girl and along with them. Then he was told to go back they were considered to be very sick people and

R Yes, this little boy was hailed as a kind then suddenly the little 3-year-old boy started to the living room with the other males. There people to avoid. The little boy then had a bad of prince, if you will. He was special. crying. Mom asked him what’s wrong and he were no smiles and laughter there like the feeling that he was even worse than the homo - T Yes indeed he was special but in a dif - told her that he wanted to be pretty, too. He kitchen had. Yes, there was laughter and smiles sexuals. This better never come out that he ferent sort of way. He was a little transgender wanted to wear the white dress and veil and but usually only after a big play. Again, not the wanted to be a girl. It was at this point when the child except that that he didn’t know it. No one shoes. The young girl agreed to let the little boy same. little boy knew that he was in for a lifelong knew it. As a matter of fact, the word “transgen - wear the white veil and the little boy had his He would dream of sitting at the dinner table struggle. (To be continued next month.) der” wasn’t even coined yet. That would come own big smile. Then the little boy demanded with a dress on. In his dream his relatives would *Deja Nicole Greenlaw is a local transwoman in the early ’80s. It really didn’t matter anyway that Mom take a picture of him wearing the ask him “Is this what you want?” and he would who has three grown children and works at a when you are very young. Gender wasn’t an white veil. Mom did. The little boy was ecstatic! happily say “Yes!” Then he enjoyed the holiday local Fortune 500 company. She can be contacted issue to a preschooler and everything was fine, Time went on and the little boy had to go to feast with his family being a girl. It was a won - at [email protected]. Ask a Transwoman: Among women; my experience doing ‘The Vagina Monologues,’ even without a vagina By: Lorelei Erisis*/ TRT Columnist dition though, so I put on some makeup and ometimes these dressed nicely. Much to my surprise, Tammy columns get written and I and one other transwoman were the only Sin the strangest For all my nervousness about my transgen - ones who came for the audition. places. This one was actually The women thankfully were all very nice, but written on a Greyhound bus even so I had my gender very politely ques - from NYC to Springfield. I der identity , my transsexual history, I was tioned by a couple of parishioners who were at was in New York to perform the church for services. Answering people’s in a production of “The not the “other.” I was surrounded by questions about trans stuff is kind of what I do. Vagina Monologues” at 4th So I politely answered questions and then put U, a Unitarian Cathedral on the Upper West women who had no question that I was in - my all into the audition. Side once frequented by the Carnegies. It was a It went very well, I’m pleased to say. They benefit being produced as part of a nationwide deed one of them. I was a Vagina Warrior! were excited to have Tammy and me be part of event called “V-Day,” in which cities all over the the cast. But still some nervousness remained. I country put on “The Vagina Monologues” for talked Tammy’s ear off in the car on the way charity. back. They all seemed nice, but would they turn It was really an amazing production and I felt it becomes inconvenient or uncomfortable. was still nervous. on us if we said the wrong thing or looked the honored to be a part of it. Not to mention the There’s almost a wink and a nod. “Of course Not that being nervous often stops me. So my wrong way? And for me, what if they found out chance to perform for the first time in New York you’re a woman, absolutely! Wink, wink, friend Tammy and I drove down to NYC. I don’t yet have a vagina of my own? I mean it’s City! nudge, nudge.” As a transgender woman I’m always making called “The Vagina Monologues”! Would they It did get me thinking though, quite a lot re - It’s the kind of attitude transwomen encounter all these calculations and social estimates in my only accept me as sort of a woman? ally, about the experience of being trans and with the Michigan Womyn’s Festival. Often, the head. What kind of women were these going to It’s a wonder Tammy didn’t slap me. I was so being accepted by other women, as well as by women who have that attitude don’t even seem be? Would they judge me harshly if I dressed neurotic I felt like a female Woody Allen. society in general. It can be enormously nerve- to realize they are entirely negating our gender. too femininely? Was it OK to wear a skirt or None of these things happened, though. The wracking, especially for an “out” transsexual. My gender. Saying that we’re not really women. should I opt for jeans? And what if I didn’t look rehearsals went well and by the time we did the It often feels as if I am being held to a higher It happens most often when it comes to entry feminine enough? Makeup or no makeup? show, I had gotten over my initial trepidation. standard of “woman-ness” than cisgender into “women only” spaces. I usually don’t wear jeans and T-shirts out be - All the talk of vaginas and the power of women women. I constantly feel as if I have to prove I always want to scream and throw things cause I often end up getting called “sir” all day got to me in a very positive way. My fears myself, justify myself. Fortunately, I’m pretty when I encounter this attitude. And say that, yes, if I don’t push my look a little extra feminine. melted and by the time we got to doing the outgoing most of the time, but still it can be really, I am a woman! Not kind of, not sort of, Baggy clothes and winter layers are a night - flash-mob opening of the show on Friday night, enormously stressful. but actually a bona fide woman who happens to mare. I’ve even had people call me “sir” while a piece called, “Over It,” as the house lights Most of the time, women are pretty accepting also be transsexual! they were staring at my breasts! dimmed and I sat on stage with my fellow cast of me. But even then there are sometimes sur - So, it was with some trepidation that I decided “Listen, you get to stare at my breasts or call members, I knew that these were women I could prising limits. I am a woman up to the point that to audition for “The Vagina Monologues.” Even me sir, you don’t get to do both!” honestly call sisters. though the call I got was specifi - As a result, my look is often a little extra For all my nervousness about my transgender cally for transgender women, I femme. But groups of women, most especially identity, my transsexual history, I was not the feminist- “other.” I was surrounded by women who had minded no question that I was indeed one of them. I was women, some - a Vagina Warrior! times seem to So to answer a question I am asked far too judge this. often — the persistent “are you really?” ques - They ask why tion — I am now, have always been and always I don’t wear will be, A Woman. And if you don’t believe me, jeans. Why in ask one of my sisters! Slainte! Goddess’ name would I *Lorelei Erisis, former Miss Trans New England, wear skirts? can be contacted at her TRT email address: It was an au - [email protected]. www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 19 Chief Justice: Why make everyone pay for what only some need? By: Lisa Keen*/ Keen News Service Kennedy said that allowing the federal gov - participate in that market.” coverage once a person becomes ill. It prevents The March 27th landmark oral argument in a ernment to order citizens to purchase health cov - That has been an argument used by many in companies from excluding certain conditions for case testing the constitutionality of President erage “changes the relationship of the federal the gay community for years —that LGBT citi - coverage or refusing coverage to people for cer - Obama’s Affordable Care Act had some very in - government to the individual in the very funda - zens are required to pay local taxes to support tain conditions. teresting moments—such as when the chief jus - mental way.” schools even though many do not have children. What about health insurance? tice seemed to support the notion that if a person One question from Kennedy echoed com - The response offered by some in the past has The arguments in the high court this week in - doesn’t have kids he or she should not have to plaints by opponents of ACA: “Can you create been that gays benefit indirectly by ensuring that cluded whether federal law can require that all help pay for taking care of kids. It’s the kind of commerce in order to regulate it?” asked all children are well-educated and cared for. people buy health insurance coverage and argument some in the LGBT community have Kennedy at the start of Tuesday’s session. U.S. Verrilli responded that, “there is not a market whether states can be required to cover the ex - made in years past when complaining about pay - Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, arguing in de - in which you can say that there is a immutable panded number of people qualifying for Medi - ing local taxes to support schools even though fense of the ACA, said the law is not “creating class of healthy people who are being forced to caid under the ACA. They also included many gay people don’t have children. commerce” but rather regulating an already ex - subsidize the unhealthy.” questions about whether the whole law must be LGBT Angle isting commerce—that of financing the use of The HIV patients, organizations “brief in” struck down if the ACA’s requirement that all in - In this week’s landmark case before the U.S. the health care system by people who don’t pur - The legal issues before the Supreme Court in dividuals obtain coverage is declared unconsti - Supreme Court, all three of the nation’s major chase insurance. regards to the ACA are not explicitly, directly tutional. And they included an argument over LGBT legal groups signed onto a brief in sup - Free choice LGBT-related, but the law is of tremendous in - whether the penalty imposed upon those who port of the new federal health insurance law. “So you’re not — it’s not your free choice just terest to people with HIV specifically and of won’t buy coverage constitutes a “tax” and, if so, They did so along with two other LGBT groups to do something for yourself,” interjected Justice considerable benefit to LGBT people generally. whether a rather obscure federal law might re - and 11 groups helping people with HIV. And Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “What you do is going to The brief filed by Lambda Legal, Gay & Les - quire that constitutional challenges to that “tax” their point was not that gays shouldn’t have to affect others, affect them in a major way.” In bian Advocates & Defenders, the National Cen - wait until it kicks in, in 2014. On this latter point, pay for maternity or pediatric services that many other words, by choosing not to buy health in - ter for Lesbian Rights, the National Center for most media observers believe the court will rule LGBT people will never need. surance, a person is causing others to pay more Transgender Equality and others in support of on the law’s constitutionality. The 30-page brief was one of more than 130 for their health services so that health care outlets the ACA says the law ensures there is health cov - The focus of most media reports — and of the briefs filed in HHS v. Florida and several other can provide free services to the person who has erage for people with HIV and that that benefits Lambda brief — concerned the mandate that lawsuits seeking to strike down the Patient Pro - no insurance. society generally. By doing so, said the brief, the everyone purchase health coverage. The Lambda tection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed Still, said Kennedy, the ACA “requires the in - law helps stem the spread of the virus to others brief refers to this as the “minimum coverage re - into law two years ago by President Obama. dividual to do an affirmative act.” and to keep a lid on the enormous burden that quirement” or MCR, while most media reports Swing vote? If there is a market HIV infection puts on the health care system. dubbed it simply the “individual mandate.” With Initial reaction to oral arguments Tuesday sug - That’s when Chief Justice John Roberts added Before the ACA was enacted, notes the brief, some exceptions (including religious-based ob - gest the law is in peril of being struck down as the interesting argument in support of Kennedy’s 30 percent of people with HIV had no insurance jections and poverty), everyone must obtain constitutional. That’s because the presumed point: Roberts said the theory used to justify the —public or private. health coverage starting in 2014 or pay one per - “swing vote” on the nine-member bench—Jus - ACA “is that there is a market in which everyone Among other things, the ACA prohibits insur - cent of their income annually as a penalty. Over tice Anthony Kennedy— expressed strong skep - participates because everybody might need a ance companies from putting limits on how the years, the penalty rises, but there are limits ticism about the right of the federal government certain range of health care services, and yet much coverage a person—with HIV, breast can - to how high it can go. to mandate citizens to purchase insurance cov - you’re requiring people who are not — never cer, or any other disease— can have during his Read the rest of this story online at TRT’s going to need pediatric or maternity services to or her lifetime or from dropping him or her from erage. website at: http://bit.ly/GYrucP 20 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com ¡Apoyemos a los nuestros en recuperación! Por: Wilfred W. Labiosa*/ Columnista de TRT unir en casas, pero estos no son espacios públi - ay mu - cos para “jangear” y conocer a otros/as libre del S uso de alcohol y drogas y poder hablar abierta - S

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H alcoholismo y no lo P S sabemos … ¿por pero no hay muchos y están al borde de perder I que? Muchos/as no los fondos ya que no son tan usados por las per - sonas que lo necesitan, aunque el problema ex - V se sienten que pueden compartirlo ya que en nuestra iste. Cuando uno “sale del clóset” primordial -

N comunidad LGBT la mayoría de las mente uno aprende que los patrones de social - I veces la confraternización se basa en tomar alcohol o en fumar. Estos hóbitos ización entre la comunidad GLBT son en T se convierten en adicción cuando barras o saunas ya que en éstos uno puede A comienzan a influir en nuestras vidas de conocer a otros/as personas del “ambiente”. No estoy culpando solamente a estos sitios por el L una manera dañina, afectando nuestra problema grave que salud mental y salud hay hoy día con el al - física. Muchos/as en la coholismo o la dro - Pregúntale a Lambda Legal: Ley de Protección del comunidad GLBT tienen gadiccion, pero como este problema pero lo su - son uno de los recur - sos primordiales de Paciente y de Cuidado Médico Asequible y el VIH peran. Por: Scott Schoettes/ Director del Proyecto VIH Durante este tiempo socialización en nues - tra comunidad son, de Lambda Legal lleno de noticias sobre P: Recientemente me hice la corte de fondos para pro - por consiguiente, parte del problema.En prueba del VIH y salí positivo. gramas de servicios so - Un amigo me dijo que si cam - médico, las compañías de seguros pueden cobrar - ciales es importante el área de Massachu - setts uno percibe estos bio de trabajo puede que sea les primas carísimas, ya que en la mayoría de los abogar por espacios y difícil mantener el seguro estados no existe un límite máximo. programas libres de dro - lugares como los úni - cos lugares públicos médico. ¿Qué tipo de seguro Actualmente Medicaid provee seguro médico gas y alcoholismo ya que hay para mí? para los pobres y las personas con incapacidades, la comunidad Latina y (y seguros) donde conocer a otros/as pero en la mayoría de los estados, se requiere un GLBT son las dos comu - R: Hoy en día, un resultado diagnóstico de sida para cualificar como incapac - nidades mós afectadas personas de la comu - nidad latina GLBT. positivo de la prueba del VIH significa un nuevo itado. Esto crea un dilema: sólo si la infección del por el problema de alco - régimen de salud: citas médicas con regularidad, VIH se convierte en SIDA, uno cualifica para holismo y drogadicción. No hay muchas ac - tividades sociales que mejor nutrición y medicamentos a diario. Y con recibir los medicamentos que hubieran evitado el Trabajo para una orga - estas nuevas costumbres hay que hacer ajustes SIDA. El gobierno federal provee fondos para al - nización que ayuda a la no tengan de enfoque el alcohol o las dro - económicos. Para muchas personas que viven con gunos servicios relacionados al VIH a través del comunidad con este prob - el VIH, es un tema de gran preocupación el poder programa Ryan White, pero dicho programa está lema. A través de mi labor gas. Por supuesto que hay actividades y or - conseguir cuidado médico de buena calidad y que tan sobrecargado que apenas puede proveer el en esta organización he no cueste demasiado. cuidado necesario a personas que viven con el aprendido datos interesentes sobre esta enfer - ganizaciones educativas, de salud y/o reli - giosas, pero no hay tantos lugares donde uno En marzo de 2010, se promulgó la Ley de Pro - VIH. medad/problema que tenemos que reconocer y tección del Pa - El ACA fue confrontar, ya que es uno de gravedad entre la pueda ir que no tengan que ver con cuestiones de salud, como el VIH/SIDA o la religión. ciente y de diseñado para comunidad Latina GLBT. Tenemos que edu - Cuidado Médico Dicha reforma, entre el 2005 y el abordar este carnos, y aceptar dicho problema. ¿Sabía usted Necesitamos apoyar a estos espacio(s) que ex - isten pero que son “pre-históricos” en los ojos Asequible (ACA, problema, ya que en la comunidad GLBT hay una prevalen - por sus siglas en 2008, mostró que la tasa de infección que elimina las cia de 30 por ciento de abuso de drogas a difer - de los/as que hacen decisiones sobre fondos. Quizás al tener un espacio Latino GLBT o inglés). Es una de VIH bajó un 37 por ciento en Mas - exclusiones por encia del 10 por ciento en la comunidad reforma de la in - condiciones heterosexual que sufre de esta enfermedad (es - GLBT podamos comenzar a lidiar con este grave problema de drogadicción y alcoholismo dustria privada de sachusetts , mientras que en el resto médicas pre- tadística tomada de la División de Salud Men - seguros médicos existentes y tal, Droga Adicción y Servicios Forenses de y trabajar en nuestra recuperación, a cualquier del país, aumentó un 8 por ciento . nivel necesario. Quizás si tuviéramos más es - que extiende el exige que toda EU.)? ¿Sabía usted que las lesbianas son 3.2 acceso al seguro persona tenga más propensas al alcoholismo que las mujeres pacios seguros para congregarnos consistente - mente como comunidad latina GLBT nos médico para millones de norteamericanos. In - seguro médico. Ya hemos visto como este requi - heterosexuales (Cochran y Mays, 2000)? Estos cluye cobertura más amplia de Medicaid , elimina sito mínimo beneficia a las personas que viven son sólo unos ejemplos del grave problema que pudiéramos unir y fortalecer más como comu - nidad y movimiento. Aboguemos por espacios las exclusiones por condiciones médicas pre-ex - con el VIH. En el 2006, Massachusetts reformó existe hoy día. istentes, y exige cierto tipo de cobertura como su sistema de salud a través de leyes similares al No existen to - comunitarios Latinos GLBT. ¡Ya es hora! Y apoyemos a nuestros/as hermanos/as en recu - requisito mínimo. Estas reformas son esenciales ACA. Dicha reforma, entre el 2005 y el 2008, davía en nuestra para la prevención del VIH y el cuidado médico mostró que la tasa de infección de VIH bajó un Place Your comunidad latina peracion ya que necesitan de nuestro apoyo in - condicional y libres de tentacion! de personas con VIH/SIDA. 37 por ciento en Massachusetts, mientras que en 2012 Boston GLBT círculos de En junio se espera que la Corte Suprema de el resto del país, aumentó un 8 por ciento. socialización que Si usted sufre de alcoholismo o de drogadic - Pride Guide ción, hay recursos para usted en su comunidad. EE.UU. decida la constitucionalidad del ACA. A todos nos preocupa el acceso al cuidado Ad with no se reunan Lambda Legal reunió a varias organizaciones médico. Todos lo necesitamos, especialmente los alrededor de alco - Para más información llame o visite la pagina TRT! cibernética, de agencias como CASPAR Inc., para apoyar un escrito “amicus curiae” en el caso que tienen condiciones pre-existentes y que hol ni drogas. Me Dept. of HHS contra Florida . (Más información quedan al margen del sistema de salud actual, explico. En Mass - Tapestry Health, Spectrum, entre otras. Tam - bien visite una reunión de AA/NA (para cono - en inglés sobre este caso: http://bit.ly/HL6eaY). tales como las personas que viven con el VIH. Por achussets, hay Cuando se promulgó el ACA, sólo un 17 por eso hay tanta atención a la Corte Suprema mien - TRT Is the muy pocos centros cer la localidad de una reunion, www.aa.org o www.na.org ) en español o inglés en su comu - ciento de norteamericanos con el VIH contaban tras revisa esta ley histórica. Official de “drop-in” para con seguro médico privado. En el mercado de se - Si usted tiene el VIH y busca recursos en su es - la comunidad nidad. ¡Admite que tienes un problema y con - Mediof fróntalo! ¡Edúcate y háblale de esta enfermedad guro individual, a las personas con el VIH se les tado, por favor llame a nuestra Línea de Ayuda al Latina y/o GLBT 1-866-542-8336 o visite su portal cibernético en: Boston Pride, a otros/as! Esto es un problema de todos/as. considera "no asegurables". Si solicitan seguro donde uno pueda médico, a menudo los rechazan por tener una www.lambdalegal.org/es/linea-de-ayuda. again in ir a conocer a *Escrito por Wilfred Labiosa, Director Ejecu - condición pre-existente. Aún si consiguen seguro 2012. otros/as como tivo de CASPAR y organzidor comunitario en uno/a en recupera - la comunidad Latina GLBT. Visita cion. Por supuesto 617-444-9618 www.bphc.org, www.aa.org, www.na.org o nos podemos re - www.CASPARINC.org para más información. Read This Article in English at: http://bit.ly/H71Bbl www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 21 Out From Under: ‘Bully’ director & lesbian teen talk controversial documentary bonded over the experience of being bullied, Some footage was filmed in New York and Por: Chris Azzopardi*/ Special for TRT Lee Hirsch, Director, Lee Hirsch will never forget the bru - and that was really the same as it was with all Minneapolis, but none as powerful as what tality of his middle-school years, when the kids. I feel like our relationship began with Bully made the final cut, Hirsch says. “There was a real conversation about what I experienced, something about the landscape of small-town

. H he was the victim of what, in recent

what I wanted to set out to achieve with this C America, the quiet and incredible heroism of the years, has become a tragic epidemic – T

N film, why her story mattered and why what was I families that I was really drawn to. There are so bullying. The punches, taunts and name- E

happening wasn’t OK.” S few outlets there; in big cities, there’s more for

U calling were all wielded his way. And

the bullshit justification for all the above: They met via The Ellen De - E kids who don’t fit in or are different, so I think

O that it’s just part of being a kid. Generes Show , after Kelby’s E bullying in a small town can be more acute. It

mom, desperate to help her can be a harder world.”

But, as Hirsch’s controversial docu - : Y

daughter, reached out to the T Once he had his subjects, shooting was an -

mentary Bully argues, it shouldn’t be. I

“The driving force behind the film was to give outspoken talk-show host E other challenge. Kelby’s school, unlike that of

C a voice to that experience for myself and for oth - through a message board be - Alex, denied them access to film inside the

cause she was afraid her T premises. And the scenes involving bird’s-eye-

ers,” says the Long Island-raised writer/director, O

daughter would succumb to P views of bus rides and principal office sit-downs

who sensitively spotlights the national issue in

L the film. “I made it for all of us ex-bullied and the same fate of the many gay L were “incredibly difficult” to capture. once-bullied – the coalition.” teens who’ve killed them - A One scene, on the bus, involves coarse lan - And he did it by putting a face on the ever- selves in the last few years. Kelby Johnson “You’re just over - guage that the MPAA deemed too obscene for growing problem. Five faces, in fact. Harrowing Kelby not only didn’t, but she’s now helping whelmed by how anything less than a hard R rating. Disappointed and heartbreaking, the docu follows the teens – others get through those hard years. much tragedy there that the film’s message wouldn’t reach those it one of which is then-16-year-old lesbian Kelby “I know that being gay, you can feel very is. The suicides intended to, the studio fought the decision – Johnson, living in Tuttle, Okla. – as they’re vic - alone,” she says, “and I hope that when they were deeply mov - with Michigan teen Katy Butler leading a move - timized within their own schools, often brushing watch the movie, that goes away and they real - ing, and people ment that rallied nearly a half-million support - it off as just a part of growing up. ize there is someone standing with them who were writing in re - ers, including – no kidding – Meryl Streep and sponse to them – “I was looking for a way to change some - has gone through that. The world is going to Alex Libby Johnny Depp. Just days before its release date, thing,” Kelby says, “and Lee gave me that op - change and people are going to get more accus - and it seemed that Weinstein Co. decided to go the unrated route, portunity, and I was excited to take that and run tomed to (LGBT people), and they should be people everywhere were really struggling with snubbing the MPAA and leaving the decision to with it.” here to see it.” this issue.” screen the film up to individual theaters. To many gay teens, Kelby’s story of being os - Hirsch began filming in 2009, before the rush Youth selected for the film were all, coinci - “We were just shocked,” Hirsch says of the tracized is devastatingly familiar: She’s the re - of LGBT-related suicides was met with national dentally, from rural communities and not vast MPAA’s decision. “I guess I wasn’t as shocked ject of her small-town community, which attention: Rutgers University student Tyler urban cities. “It wasn’t intentional. It was the at the initial R, because technically we knew doesn’t accept that she’s a lesbian – or that she Clementi, who jumped off the George Washing - way it fell together, and the stories we found that that might happen, but the appeal was really has a girlfriend. Tuttle turns against not only ton Bridge; 13-year-old Seth Walsh, who were most compelling there. A lot of it had to devastating because we had such a strong, com - Kelby but also her family. hanged himself; and Asher Brown, who shot do with getting that access in Sioux City (the pelling argument and other films had been over - “Kelby and I didn’t bond over a conversation himself after being bullied for coming out. home of then-12-year-old lead, Alex Libby) turned and had much worse profanity. ... about sexuality,” says Hirsch, who didn’t want “They didn’t inspire the film, but it informed which kind of landed us in the Midwest to begin to discuss his own orientation with us. “We the early stages,” Hirsch says of the suicides. with.” See Bully on page 23 22 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com In Between Men from page 12 all the characters that are easy to identify with. Q. If you could play another character on In Be - Creep of the Week: Rush Limbaugh Q. To be fair, Benjamin Reed is also a loving tween Men , who would you choose to play? By: D’Anne Witkowski*/ Special for TRT als flying out of mostly male pie holes nation - friend and successful businessman. A. Jacob Ross. The bisexual twist with the pull oor Rush Limbaugh. Can’t a wide. A. I can relate to having a close council of fam - of past and present relationships offers a lot to Bills that would mandate forced vaginal ultra - ily and friends that have my unconditional love.

S guy even call a girl a slut on play. the radio these days without sounds, allow employers to fire women who use As far as ambition, I aspire to be as much in Q. Of all the guys on the show, who is the most P command of my looks in serving me in my ca - people getting all mad? It’s not like he birth control, mandating that a woman must dateable? W reer. called a private citizen a prostitute, and carry a dead fetus to term, exempting employers A. Dalton. It seems as though he’d be pretty Q. Quincy Morris, the show’s producer, said, E from having to cover birth control if it bothers drama free. then said she should post videos online “Benjamin Reed’s looks are perfect on the out - of all the sex she’s having in order to their delicate moral or religious beliefs, allowing Q. Who is the most toxic?

N side but, like all of us, he is on his own road to “pay” for her birth control pills. a doctor to with hold any negative results from A. My character is probably the most toxic be - prenatal tests that may tip the scales toward abor - completion.” What do you think he meant by cause you'd never know where you really stand. Oh, wait. That’s exactly what he did. that? P tion, refusing funding for women’s health if any Q. What advice would you give your character And it is apparently a very big deal. A. I think that although Benjamin maintains an Advertisers are fleeing from Lim - of it is to go toward birth control. The list goes Ben? E on. Margaret Sanger would be so pissed. appearance of having it all and being in control, A. Sometimes Superman needs to be saved. baugh’s show faster than you can say there is sadness in his loneliness. Perhaps he can E These are actual proposals being seriously Once in a while you have to let yourself off the “birth control pills are basically Skit - find a sense of completion if he found someone tles for w#^$@s.” suggested. In America. In 2012. Limbaugh’s hook and let your guard down. R merely providing the soundtrack. to be vulnerable with. Q. What was your favorite storyline in season And good for those companies for Q. How will you know when you have com - C speaking out against blatant misogyny So I have to say that I wasn’t surprised by one? Limbaugh’s “s&#t” comments. Nor am I sur - pleted your life’s ambition? A. I think the most compelling storyline is Dal - in the only speech that is actually free in Amer - A. My personal life ambition will be achieved prised by the assault on birth control and the ton struggle having a relationship with a clos - ica: money. when I’m supporting myself with what I love to Still, I can’t help but think, “What the hell took women who use it or want access to it. Is this eted man. do and in a position to really give back and raise Q. For those who haven’t tuned into the show so long?” Because the fact is, this guy has had a trend alarming? Sure. While these debates aren’t awareness in a variety of humanitarian philan - hate spout in his mouth for decades. His long new, it certainly is remarkable that today a Re - yet, why should they? thropies. A. It’s unique to anything else out there right history of misogyny, racism, homophobia and publican candidate for the presidential nomina - Q. We have to discuss your nude scene in the classism is well documented. tion can say on national TV that a woman should now. show. Q. What’s in store for the second season of the So what happened? Is it all some kind of Mus - look at a rape-induced pregnancy as a gift from A. That was my first time naked on camera. lim Femi-Nazi plot unleashed by the Obama Ad - God and then still go on to win primaries. show? Q. How did you prepare for it? A. I can’t spoil too much but there will be an ministration? Is it that he crossed a line by For years I have been inundated with creeps A. Besides some push-ups and sit-ups, I really important addition to the group. targeting a private citizen? Or could it be that by trying to take away and restrict access to rights just tried to focus on getting comfortable in my Q. What would you like fans to know about Ben assailing women’s access to birth control, Lim - for myself and for my family. I, along with all surroundings and make the bedroom my own. LGBT people, have been characterized as a sex- Pamies? baugh has finally pissed off enough straight Everyone on set was really professional so it A. As for me, there’s not much to tell. At the women that they’re actually paying attention and pervert undeserving of equal protection under was actually easy. the law. I’ve listened to countless elected officials moment, I’m grateful that life is busy and I look they don’t like what they’re hearing? Q. Of all the characters on the show, who are forward to what the future has in store. Rush is a megaphone for all of the rabid anti- debate the most intimate details of my life – love, you most like? sex, family – and declare that I don’t have a right For more information about the show visit its choice, anti-women politicians and voters in A. The beauty of the show is there are pieces in online site at: www.nBetweenMen.com . America. It’s no fluke that his anti-Fluke ranting to any of them because I’ve “chosen” the “gay coincides with the s%#t ton of bills and propos - lifestyle.” See Creep on this Page Violence from page 2 racism in the criminal-justice system, but the prevent, violence.” reality of who is getting stopped, harassed and The Violence Against Women Act is being arrested by the police shows us that any data celebrated by LGBT people because it includes collection done by the police will only exac - language that extends the legislation to people erbate the impact on communities of color. In in same-sex relationships. Yet we need to ask 2008 the Council for Responsible Genetics ourselves if prosecution is working to truly ad - called this practice “building Jim Crow's data - dress violence in our communities. Angela base.” Davis asked at the INCITE! conference, “Can My critique of the Violence Against Women a state that is thoroughly infused with racism, Act is not an attempt to undermine the reality male dominance, class-bias, and homophobia of women or LGBT people. Rather I am hop - and that constructs itself in and through vio - ing we can create a critical lens that analyzes lence act to minimize violence in the lives of our solutions to social problems. I believe the women? Should we rely on the state as the an - Violence Against Women Act leads to greater swer to the problem of violence against violence, an extension of state violence women?” We need to ask the same question through policing, prison construction, manda - about LGBTQ communities as well. tory prosecution, data collection, and more. It The Violence Against Women Act has also is key that we listen to the voices of those who been used to expand the power of the state in are consistently silenced in anti-violence data collection as well. In 2005 the Kyl movements. I encourage readers to approach Amendment was included. This amendment the Violence Against Women Act with suspi - made it legal to collect DNA from undocu - cion and engage the expertise of mented people held in detention as well as any organizers/scholars such as Victoria Law and individual who was arrested on a felony Angela Davis. charge. Before an individual sees a judge, be - fore an individual has a trial, they can be *Rev. Jason Lydon is a Unitarian Universalist forced to submit their DNA to the national minister in Boston. He is a long time anti- database. This extension of state surveillance prison organizer and founder of Black & Pink, was able to pass under the guise of protecting an LGBTQ-focused effort working toward the women, but rather it gives more power to the abolition of the prison industrial complex. government and whittles away at civil liber - Jason is also an avid lover of famous people ties. DNA-collecting has been supported as and blockbuster action flicks. You can reach part of the “colorblind” solution to address Jason [email protected]

Creep from this page folks who never really felt they had a stake in So all of this “slut shaming” that folks like this fight. Limbaugh are doing, all of this anti-woman leg - Welcome to the club. Better late than never. islation, it’s been coming down the pike all along. For years gay and lesbian activists, my - *D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since self included, have been saying to straight folks, 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe “Look out. These guys are coming after you it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the next.” And part of me, I have to say, feels a tinge world she reviews rock ‘n’ roll shows in Detroit of “I told you so” directed at all of the hetero with her twin sister. www.therainbowtimesnews.com • The Rainbow Times • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • 23 Film &Forum in Northampton: Gay Athletes in Schools Food insecurity in the land of plenty NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — A film that looks at the lives of openly gay high school athletes will Food and politics and the 2012 elections make its Western Massachusetts debut on Tues - By: John Verlinden/ Special for TRT will certainly be an election-year issue. What do day April 10 at 7 p.m. at Northampton High “Food insecurity.” you think government’s role should be? Some School, 380 Elm Street, in Northampton. people believe that as a society we’re obliged to ! Sounds like that anx - Out for the Long Run is an inspirational docu - provide, and that every individual in the U.S.

R ious moment you feel E mentary that demonstrates that even in the world O should have access to an adequate supply of

W when deciding what of high school athletics, there's a place for LGBT O food. Others feel that government is already P

T wine to order with youth. The film follows four athletes over their L E dinner. Unfortu - doing too much, needs to cut back and tighten H S senior year as they navigate the uncertain waters C up eligibility standards. Some believe that the

A nately, it’s much R of high school life, while still holding true to their government should continue food programs, but : more serious. “Food O U passion for sports and remaining honest about T should impose restrictions on what can and can -

O insecurity” is how the who they are as individuals. H not be purchased with public dollars (e.g. no P

G government defines a “Talking about gay athletes is still taboo in our condition where soda, no high-calorie snacks, no sugary cereals). world,” said Suzanne Seymour, Executive Direc - many Americans find themselves: not And still others believe that government should tor of the LGBT Coalition of Western MA. “It's O knowing where they’ll find their next get out of this business altogether and leave car - one of the places in our culture where people are meal. ing for the poor to churches and private chari - still uncomfortable, especially men, in coming H I wonder if we chose this squishy label ties. out. We hope the film helps people to understand Where do you stand on these and other hunger C because we just can’t bear the thought that LGBT people are no different, and we need that, in our rich country, people are hun - issues? And what do you want from the candi - the support of our allies to truly make a difference U gry. It is disturbing that hunger persists dates you will support? in how this subject is regarded.” side by side with a food supply so abun - Next month we’ll take a look at obesity and A panel discussion featuring LGBT high school M dant that we throw tons away every day actions we might take to reduce it. Share your athletes and advocates will follow the screening. ¡ just because we can’t eat it fast enough. thoughts, ask a question or suggest a topic for a The participants will include Pat Griffin, an edu - and a sponsor of the screening. “While anti- In 2010 the USDA reported that 48.8 million future article and/or contact me via email at: cator, coach, and former athlete, who is shown in LGBT school bullying and harassment have re - people lived in food-insecure households, or john@mu - the film; Liz Gallinaro, a four-year UConn ceived growing attention in the last couple years, about one in every six Americans. For children chogusto.com women’s scholarship hockey star and president of much more needs to be done so that the out indi - the rate is higher, at 22 percent of all kids. or visit my site: WMASS Suburban Softball League; Jon Sass, viduals profiled in the film are not the exceptions Historically, we’ve dealt with hunger issues www.mu - Gay-Straight Alliance advisor at Northampton in being successful.” reasonably effectively through a combination of chogusto.com High School; and openly gay students. Free and open to the public. This event is spon - government and nonprofit programs. The Sup - and join our “This is a very important film for what it can sored by the LGBT Coalition of Western MA, the plemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, food forum. teach us about the negative climate for LGB peo - UMass Stonewall Center, and Northampton High formerly food stamps), Women, Infants and Until next time ple in high schools and what LGB people them - School’s Gay-Straight Alliance. For more infor - Children (WIC), and School Lunch Programs – ¡Mucho selves are doing to rise above it,” said Genny mation: (413) 588-1018 or via the Coalition’s site: are the big public programs, while food pantries, Gusto!, Beemyn, Director of the UMass Stonewall Center www.lgbtcoalitionwma.org soup kitchens and shelters fill in gaps and shore ¡Muchas Gra - up weak spots in our food safety net. cias! y ¡Buen Bully from page 21 “There’s always going to be something, but But how to address hunger issues in the future Provecho! We really thought they’d understand and rec - (the bullying) has calmed down a little bit for ognize the value and the merit and the hope me after the film,” she says, “and there are a lot that this film offers to so many.” of things I can brush off now. The film has One of them being Kelby, who’s now 19, just helped me grow stronger and be more aware of got her GED and is living in Oklahoma City – others around me. It’s definitely been a positive somewhat less close-minded, she mentions – experience, and I will carry it with me for the with her girlfriend. Her plan now involves be - rest of my life.” coming a gay activist and working with LGBT * Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, groups, like Do Something, to continue blasting the international LGBT wire service. Reach him the bullying issue. at: www.chris-azzopardi.com.

GO, GO, GO ... TRT ON THE GO! 24 • April 5, 2012 - May 2, 2012 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com