May 10, 2019 | Volume XVII, Issue 1 now, formerly in the Waxter Center, and The planned wrap-around services in- GLCCB Renamed ‘Pride Center of now at 2530 North Charles Street, its cur- clude case management, housing naviga- rent location. tion, linkage to health care, employment MD’ – Plans Building Purchase The plans for the new building envision assistance, professional development a mixed-use space including two floors that programs, assistance obtaining insurance, BY BILL REDMOND-PALMER ry building in the Charles North and Old house wrap-around community services. as well as access to education programs, At the cusp of major changes, the Gay, Goucher neighborhoods. The first floor will include retail space, as legal aid, and other services to ensure the Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Com- Following the passage of the bond bill, well as common ar- community’s good health and welfare. munity Center of Baltimore and center Executive Direc- Other programs will include family Central Maryland – widely known Center aims tor Mimi Demissew stat- services, addiction related services, for decades as the GLCCB – is ed that “having an actual after-school programs for youth, as changing its name to Pride Cen- to occupy space that belongs to the well as a variety of evening programs ter of Maryland and has taken new home Pride Center of Maryland for older adults. the first step toward purchasing is imperative to ensuring In addition, an anonymous bene- a building which will serve as its next year Maryland’s sexual and factor and business partners with the new home. gender minority will always center have donated initial capital in- With the support of State Senator Mary have a space to call our own.” vestments toward the project. Washington and State Delegate Maggie Since the sale of the building pre- Additional funds will be raised through Macintosh, the center secured at $500,000 viously owned by the organization eas open for use by the community. The other fund-raising initiatives. The new bond from the Maryland General Assem- located on Chase Street, the center has other floors will house one-bedroom effi- space is projected to open in the summer bly which will allow for the purchase been renting space ciency apartments as well as office space of 2020. t of a five-sto- for several years for business owners to rent. BY FRANKIE KUJAWA around the globe perform with six young The Next Ice Age recent- male skaters in a program in which they ly celebrated over 30 will skate to Aaron Copland’s “Hoe-Down,” years of excellence as from the larger work Rodeo. Baltimore one of only three dance OUTloud recently chatted with program di- companies on ice in rector Nathan Birch. America. On Thurs- A great show “This program will fea- day, May 16th, the ture professional skaters Mount Pleasant on May mentoring the Ice Men, Ice Arena will host 16th – and who are an amateur young MEN ON the Next Ice Age, men’s skating group. These which will join with mentoring six young kids get to work the Ice Men, a with the best profession- group of amateur the next als from around the world. young male skat- generation We’re offering this to these ers, in the revival six young men as a way to of choreographer of men’s get this program out there John Curry’s ad- and elevate it.” Birch contin- aptation for skat- skaters ued, “What the Ice Men will ers of Aaron Co- be skating to is a one-min- plained Birch.ICE “They’ll see skater Jordan pland’s score for the ute version called ‘Hoe-Down.’” Cowan filming it.” Cowan is a former Team ballet Rodeo. During “The special thing is that this program USA Ice Dancer and ballroom dancer spe- this performance, is being professionally videotaped by a cializing in videography on and off the ice. A bevy of Ice Men – ten of the best male company called On Ice Perspectives, and “[Cowan] gets out on the ice and skates performing figure skaters from that’s what the audience will see,” ex- —continued on page 18 May 16th Co-Publishers Jim Becker • Jim Williams [email protected] Executive Editor Jim Becker [email protected] [email protected] Associate Editor & Director of Marketing & Production Mary Taylor [email protected] Arts and Entertainment Editor Frankie Kujawa [email protected] Leather Editor Rodney Burger [email protected] Contributing Writers for Baltimore OUTloud Andre Shakti • Bill Redmond-Palmer Brynn Devereau • Charles Dudley, MPT Chuck Duncan • David Egan David Placher • Dr. Eva Hersh MD Elyse Buchbinder • Frankie Kujawa Gregg Shapiro • Jabari Lyles Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. • Jeffrey Clagett Josh Buchbinder • Lauren Lynch • Lee Carpenter Linda A. Dominguez, Esq. • Mark S. King Mark Segal • Michael Ritmiller Rabbi Jan Dodi • Richard Finger • Rodney Burger Sage Piper • Steve Charing • Woody Derrick Contributing Writers for OUT in the VALLEY Asher Kennedy • Brian George Hose Rev. Kelly Crenshaw • Rev. Robert Apgar-Taylor Zed Sykes Graphics Ramon Montiel Web Editor Adam Romanik Computer Solutions for Less Photographers Corey Brent Eric Randolph National Advertising Rep Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 Founders Jim Becker • Joe Berg • Mike Chase Lee Mooney (1959-2007) • Jim Williams Baltimore OUTloud PO Box 4887 Baltimore, MD 21211 410-802-1310 Baltimoreoutloud.com Additional Information Baltimore OUTloud is published every other Friday by Pride Media, Ltd. in Baltimore, Maryland. Readers comments and unsolicited materials are welcomed and may be sent to: [email protected]. All materials appearing in this newspaper are the property of Pride Media, Ltd. and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in Baltimore OUTloud are solely those of the writers unless otherwise indicated and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Media, Ltd., and the staff. © 2019 – All rights reserved Chair of the Board of Trustees – Jim Becker President – Jim Williams Secretary and Treasurer – Mike Chase 2 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD MAY 10, 2019 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM NEWS // local Getting to Know LaKesha Davis, Pride Coordinator BY RICHARD FINGER I like to work behind LaKesha Davis, a native the scenes. I have to Baltimorian, is a student expose myself to many Upcoming 2020 Baltimore Pride at the University of Mary- criticisms to be in this land Eastern Shore pursu- position. I have accepted Fundraising events ing a PhD in organization- that challenge because I Details can be found on the Pride Center of Baltimore Facebook page and web- al leadership. She holds a would like to see a more site (Pridecentermd.org): master’s degree in human cohesive community. • DDL Lounge – Saturday, May 18th services administration and While I know that I will • Pride Paint & Sip R House – Sunday, May 19th associate’s and bachelor’s not be able to please • LGBT Pride Night at Camden Yards – Wednesday, June 12th degrees in criminal justice. everyone, I would like • Bar Vasquez – Thursday, June 13th In addition to being a life- to know that I did the • Twilight on the Terrace – Friday, June 14th long learner, LaKesha is a best that I could to be full-time mother, employee, a part of the solution. and part-time radio person- I would also like to in- ality and entrepreneur. She crease the outreach In addition to the following events, ly spaces to partner on LGBT events. The gives back to her community efforts. We have to find we are planning a bowling party, a Spirit funds from these events will allow us to by serving underprivileged a way to reach people Cruise, the Ultimate Pride2k Experience, make Pride bigger and better! I believe the youth, providing training and outside of social me- and a Winter Gala. I feel that our com- goal is attainable and will have lots of fun mentorship. Checkout her dia. Although we are munity and Pride should be celebrated all in attempts to achieve it. Keep an eye out many ventures by going to living in the land of year long. I know the goal seems crazy for the flyers and social media postings. her website Wonanddonepro- technology, I feel like and far-fetched, however, to accomplish it, We have to increase the attendance in or- grams.org. we are missing a large I am being introduced to and reaching out der for the fundraisers to be successful. I Richard Finger: How group of people. I am to managers and owners of queer-friend- am always open for suggestions. t long have you been the looking into a mar- Pride coordinator? keting strategy to in- LaKesha Davis: This is crease the reach. my second year as the coor- What are some dinator. In 2017, I was chair of of the lessons the Entertainment Committee. learned from last I was able to secure all of the LaKesha Davis, year’s Pride? entertainment within 60 days. That Baltimore Pride The biggest lesson for me year, I was able to secure Big Free- coordinator is to worry about those things dia and Jessica Sutta. It was super that are in my control. I put a NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY! exciting. It was the first time that I suggestion box on the Balti- had ever participated in a large-scale more Pride website. People New outdoor resort opening this summer located north of event such as Pride. In fact, before that thought I was crazy and a glutton for pun- Romney, Hampshire Co. West Virginia. time, I’d never patronized the Pride festi- ishment. It is important for me to know the We need the following positions filled within the next four val. I selected the GLCCB as an internship concerns of the community so that we can for my master’s program, because I want- strategize on finding the best path.