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NEWS OPINION VOL. 2842/43 • OCTOBER 15, 2020 6 First We Grieve, Then We Vote: 14 Parting Glances ISSUE 1159 Jay Kaplan Reflects on the Legacy of 14 Viewpoint: Jay Kaplan PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 15 Creep of the Week Phone 734.293.7200 8 LGBTQ Activists Alarmed at Thomas- PUBLISHERS Alito Anti-Equal Marriage Statement ENTERTAINMENT Susan Horowitz & Jan Stevenson EDITORIAL 8 Activists Believe Ginsburg 18 Meet MOT’s New Artistic Director Editor in Chief Replacement Barrett Could Hinder Yuval Sharon Susan Horowitz, 734.293.7200 LGBTQ Rights [email protected] 22 Fall Auto Issue 11 Fair Michigan Launches LGBTQ Entertainment Editor Voter Participation Initiative 24 ‘Boys in the Band’ For a New Chris Azzopardi, 734.293.7200 16 [email protected] Generation 11 Michigan Secretary of State News & Feature Editor Announces 16- and 17-Year-Olds Can 28 Deep Inside Hollywood Eve Kucharski, 734.293.7200 Be Poll Workers [email protected] 29 Q Puzzle 12 FBI Reports Michigan Militia had News & Feature Writers Plot to Kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michelle Brown, Ellen Knoppow, Jason A. Michael, Drew Howard, Jonathan Thurston AG Nessel Hosts Press Conference on Charges CREATIVE Webmaster & MIS Director 16 Michigan Physicians Support Kevin Bryant, [email protected] 22 Governor’s Response to COVID-19, Columnists Urge Legislature to Support Her Charles Alexander, Michelle E. Brown, Measures Mikey Rox, D’Anne Witkowski, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Dana Rudolph 16 ACLU Partners With 1xRun to Create Pro-Voting Murals Cartoonists Paul Berg

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Email your op–eds to Monica Roberts, Trailblazing Black Transgender Activist, [email protected] Dies at 58 Sign up online to receive our E–Digest Michael Lavers Monica Roberts speaks at a rally against trans- phobic violence at the National LGBTQ Task Our rate cards are available online. All material appearing in Between The Lines is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in It’s Time for Congress to Protect all Americans whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Between The Lines Force’s Creating Change conference in Dallas on is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility Special to BTL for claims made by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for Jan. 16, 2020. (Photo courtesy of the National materials provided by advertisers or their agents. LGBTQ Task Force) Check our LGBTQ Voter Guide at mivoterguide.com and Copyright 2020 continuing COVID-19 coverage. www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 3 IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace (bik-TAR-vee) talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

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Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com. First We Grieve, Then We Vote: Jay Kaplan Reflects on the Legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg BY ELLEN SHANNA KNOPPOW Vote, Vote, Vote Editor’s note: This interview was conducted Kaplan doesn’t believe the Senate before the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett Democrats have the power to reject a Supreme Court nominee hostile to civil rights, as the s staff attorney for the American Civil current president and Senate Republicans Liberties Union of Michigan’s LGBT seem bent on doing. But there is recourse. AProject, Jay Kaplan often unpacks “The only thing that we can do, if we legal decisions in a way that helps readers — want to change this whole trajectory, is to and writers — understand. With the recent participate in this election at a rate and at a passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader percentage like never before,” Kaplan stressed. Ginsburg, we also asked that Kaplan share his “That’s what makes this election so important.” own reflections of her tenure on the Court and Residents of Michigan may soon have what it meant to him personally. to look more to the state courts for relief, according to Kaplan. With Republicans holding a 4-3 majority on the Michigan “Devastating” Supreme Court, Democrats have a real chance On Sept. 18, Kaplan had just returned home as heterosexual marriages. to see that not only do people certainly admire for the first time in two decades to secure from Rosh Hashanah dinner with his mother Ginsburg sided with the majority in the her but also they really cared about her well- a progressive majority by electing Elizabeth to celebrate the Jewish New Year. He was out marriage equality case and the Masterpiece being and her welfare and wanted her to be Welch and reelecting Chief Justice Bridget Mary for a walk when a friend texted him with the Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission on this Court and really felt that she was such McCormack, the two candidates nominated by news that Justice Ginsburg had died. case as well. Kaplan pointed out that although an incredible asset in her contributions to the the Michigan Democratic Party. “It was devastating,” Kaplan said. “Just an most people focus on the issue with the baker — Court,” he said. “Once again, all paths lead to this election incredible loss to the Court, to our country the civil rights judgments against the baker were Kaplan called Ginsburg “a living hero,” along and the importance of everybody participating,” and, of course, what immediately also came up reversed — what the majority also ruled was with Congressman John Lewis, who the country Kaplan said. And that includes the LGBTQ was the fear — what’s going to happen next? that a business open to the public must serve lost this year. community, now more than ever. Because I had read before that Senate Leader the entire public. Further, the government has “There’s part of our community that’s Mitch McConnell had told donors at several a compelling interest in enforcing civil rights complacent and not very well-informed,” fundraisers that, ‘Should Justice Ginsburg drop laws that prohibit discrimination. ACLU Legend Kaplan said. “And the fact that we have a fifth dead before the election, even if it’s a week Finally, most recently, was the Bostock v. Before she was appointed to the federal court, of the [LGBTQ community] who aren’t even before the election, we’ll get somebody else on Clayton County case. That decision ruled that Ginsburg worked for the ACLU, and it was there registered to vote, that’s of concern. There’s that court, I promise you.’” discrimination against employees because of that she established the Women’s Law Project. so much at stake right now and certainly, the Kaplan said that although her support of their sexual orientation or transgender status Kaplan described the Zoom videoconference courts are among them.” LGBTQ rights might have been less obvious amounts to sex discrimination. call that occurred the Monday after her death, because she did not author any of the attended by the full staff of the civil rights Putting It in Perspective movement’s seminal decisions, “she always Remembering ‘Bostock’ organization: 1,000 employees strong from was with the majority from the very beginning.” across the nation. He said there were many Despite Ginsburg’s final wish, in all He briefly enumerated those contributions. And it was during oral arguments for the tributes. likelihood, she will be replaced before the In 1996, Justice Ginsburg sided with the Bostock case that Kaplan witnessed Ginsburg “One of the things that I was struck by, [and] election, and by a conservative justice. majority in Romer v. Evans, the first case in in action, as he accompanied Aimee Stephens, I believe they might have been quoting her, “I’m always one that’s been kind of able to which the Court declared that discrimination the Michigan funeral director who was fired they were saying something to the effect that put things a little bit in perspective and focus based on sexual orientation violated for being transgender. even when you know you might not be able to on the work, but it’s been difficult,” Kaplan said. constitutionally protected rights. Next, when “It’s very dramatic how the justices come out win, you have to still lead,” Kaplan said. “And “It’s been very difficult…when you care so much the Court reversed a state’s sodomy law in there,” Kaplan explained. “They each have like you have to do this work to give hope to other [about] what’s happening in this world and you 2003’s Lawrence v. Texas case, by extension, a little entrance area right where they go up to people. So inspiring. Her life was so inspiring. see so much that goes against your ethics and that invalidated all the remaining sodomy laws their bench and everybody rises and you see And her commitment to justice and fairness.” values about what you think is right and what on the books in 13 other states. Ginsburg sided them sitting there — and there she was. She Among other things, Kaplan is concerned you think is fair. with the majority in that decision, too, which looked very frail; this was less than a year ago. about a case that will be heard this fall, Fulton “But I find comfort in the fact that a lot of finally made same-sex sexual activity legal in But when she spoke — and she did speak a lot, v. City of Philadelphia. That case will decide other people do share those same values,” he every U.S. state and territory. she had a lot of questions to ask — her voice whether faith-based foster agencies have the continued. “And just like Justice Ginsburg “And then, of course, the next decision was was very strong, and she was sharp as a tack. right to receive a government contract if they said, even when you know you might not be striking down part of the Defense of Marriage And she really made it clear that she knew all discriminate against LGBTQ people, citing able to win, on everything you might want to Act, that said that the federal government would about Title VII law and how this works and their religious beliefs. accomplish, you still have to lead. You still have not recognize legal marriages between same-sex what this means in regards to discrimination “There’s potential for a lot of cases and to do things that give hope to other people.” couples that were granted in the various states ‘because of sex.’” progress that we’ve made on many issues but Finally, Kaplan summed up the sentiments that were permitting couples to get married,” He said that it was very “telling” that after also including many LGBT issues that look of many people who have felt Ginsburg’s Kaplan said. He recalled her famous criticism the argument he got calls from friends about pretty precarious right now,” Kaplan said. “comforting and reassuring presence” on of the federal government for treating same-sex family asking how it went and, immediately the Court over the past four years under this unions as “skim milk marriages” — somehow after, people asked about Ginsburg. president. inferior or weakened because they weren’t “‘How was Justice Ginsburg?’ ‘How’d she “Everybody feels a little untethered as a result granted the same recognition or protections look?’ ‘Is she doing OK?’ It was just wonderful of her death.”

6 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com

LGBTQ Activists Alarmed at Thomas-Alito Anti-Equal Marriage Statement

BY LISA KEEN have ruinous consequences for majority is already here,” said Lambda Legal religious liberty,” the statement Chief Executive Officer Kevin Jennings. “The hile there was cause for alarm read. confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney for LGBTQ people watching the Davis needed at least four Barrett haven’t even started yet and Justices Wopening day of the U.S. Supreme justices to say yes in order for Thomas and Alito are already creating a Court’s 2020-21 session on Monday, there was the high court to take her appeal. laundry list of cases they want to overturn. also at least a tiny bit of reassurance, too. She got only two, even though And unsurprisingly, marriage equality is first on The alarm came with an unusual, unsolicited the court currently has five the chopping block. Confirming Judge Barrett statement from two of the court’s most conservative justices. would be the final puzzle piece they need in conservative justices, indicating they are still Her appeal did not win the order to make it happen.” opposed to the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision support of Chief Justice John “Overturning our right to legally marry the in Obergefell v. Hodges, which struck down Roberts Jr., who also dissented person we love and to protect our families state bans on marriage for same-sex couples. in the Obergefell decision. And would only be the beginning,” said Jennings, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito it did not get the support of adding that “none of the hard-fought rights made the declaration alongside the court’s President Trump’s two appointees that we have won in the courts are safe. That announcement that it would not hear the appeal of this Court’s cavalier treatment of religion in – Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. includes the right to marry, to work, or to be of a Kentucky county clerk, Kim Davis, who its Obergefell decision, but she will not be the What troubles LGBTQ legal activists, recognized as the legal parents of our children.” refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex last,” warned the statement penned by Justice however, is that the Obergefell decision in 2015 The Human Rights Campaign issued a couples in defiance of Obergefell. Thomas. “… Obergefell enables courts and was a close one: 5-4, with now-retired Justice statement saying that, while it is good news Thomas and Alito’s statement complained governments to brand religious adherents who Anthony Kennedy joining four liberal justices that there were not four justices to grant Kim that the Obergefell decision had forced Davis believe that marriage is between one man and in the majority. Now, not only is Kennedy gone Davis’ appeal, Thomas and Alito “took it as to choose between her religious beliefs and one woman as bigots, making their religious but so is another member of the Obergefell an opportunity to renew their war on LGBTQ her job. liberty concerns that much easier to dismiss.” majority: Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg, 87, rights and the historic marriage equality They did not mention that Davis lost her Thomas and Alito agreed that the case Davis died Sept. 18 following a long struggle against decision.” appeal at the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals brought before the Supreme Court did not cancer. And, to replace her, President Trump “They are paving the way for an anti-equality before a panel of three Republican appointees, “cleanly” present an issue through which the has nominated a judge with a documented court, just as Senate Republicans rush to including Judge John Bush, an appointee of court could revisit Obergefell and address “a hostility to same-sex marriages: Amy Coney confirm Amy Coney Barrett, who herself is President Trump. problem that only it can fix.” Barrett. an anti-equality extremist,” HRC said. “Davis may have been one of the first victims “Until then, Obergefell will continue to “The nightmare of a hostile Supreme Court Activists Believe Ginsburg Replacement Barrett Could Hinder LGBTQ Rights BY LISA KEEN “I do not think it lawful for a judge to impose legal organization in the United States,” the Neil Gorsuch, who authored it, are still there. personal opinions, from whatever source Alliance Defending Freedom. And “because Justice Gorsuch’s opinion resident Trump announced Saturday, they derive, upon the law,” Barrett said. “If In reaction to the news that Trump would for the Court was so relentlessly textual,” Sept. 26, that his nominee to replace confirmed, I will apply the law faithfully and nominate Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court, said Stanford University Professor Pamela PU.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader impartially in accordance with the judicial Lambda Legal issued a statement, saying, Karlan, who successfully argued the case for Ginsburg is, as expected, a jurist that LGBTQ o at h .” “Barrett will unleash a Supreme Court majority the gay employee in Bostock, “I don’t see the groups are expected to vehemently oppose. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.Is.) asked that is hostile to all of our basic civil rights, and Court coming out the other way on Title IX’s President Trump said his nominee, federal of Barrett in a questionnaire, “Do you agree the impact will be felt for decades.” coverage.” appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett, would that the church’s view regarding marriage as a In the coming U.S. Supreme Court session, Jon Davidson, former legal director for receive a “very quick” confirmation. union between a man and a woman is irrelevant the court is set to hear Fulton v. Philadelphia, Lambda Legal and current chief counsel for LGBTQ legal experts are both deeply to the legal question of the right of same-sex a case in which a Catholic adoption service Freedom for All Americans, agrees. concerned and somewhat confident that couples to marry?” wants the court to declare that it has a First “That majority [in Bostock] also should this nomination could spell doom for legal Barrett responded with one word: “Yes.” Amendment right to violate a Philadelphia law agree that other federal laws prohibiting sex protections of LGBTQ people and close doors She then repeatedly stated that several against sexual orientation discrimination. And discrimination (including laws barring sex for future LGBTQ plaintiffs seeking their rights important LGBTQ decisions at the Supreme a Virginia school district is expected to appeal discrimination in education, housing, and to be upheld under the Constitution. Court were “binding precedent that I will its loss in a case that tests whether Title IX of the credit) encompass discrimination based on Barrett comes to the nomination after serving faithfully follow if confirmed.” federal Education Amendments Act — which sexual orientation and gender identity because just two years the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of They included Obergefell v. Hodges, U.S. v. prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the Supreme Court’s decision [in Bostock) Appeals where she did not weigh in on any Windsor and Lawrence v. Texas. education — prevents discrimination on the did not rest on anything unique to the federal LGBTQ-related cases. However, in her years LGBTQ groups opposed Barrett’s nomination basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. employment nondiscrimination, but rather prior to that, as a professor at the University then. They said her views on civil rights issues There is some optimism still around the on the correct conclusion that, as a general of Notre Dame School of Law, she signed onto were “fundamentally at odds with the notion Title IX case. That’s because, just last June, a matter, one cannot discriminate based on a letter from Catholic Women supporting the that LGBT people are entitled to equality, 6-3 majority of the Supreme Court ruled that sexual orientation or gender identity without church’s views on various issues, including liberty, justice and dignity under the law.” Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act, which discriminating based on sex,” Davidson said. that “marriage and family [are] founded on In a letter to then-Senate Judiciary prohibits job discrimination on the basis of But Both Karlan and Davidson expressed the indissoluble commitment of a man and Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, 27 sex, also prohibits discrimination on the basis concern for what the Supreme Court didn’t a woman.” national and state LGBTQ groups said in of sexual orientation and gender identity. That rule on last session: accommodating religious During her 2017 confirmation process, one 2017 that they were concerned that Barrett’s ruling, Bostock v. Clayton County, is expected employers, such as the one in the Philadelphia senator asked Barrett, via written questionnaire, “religiously-infused moral beliefs would inform to serve as a precedent for the Title IX litigation, case, set for oral argument on Nov. 4. how she could assure members of the LGBTQ her judicial decision-making” on issues of too. “The outcome could have broad implications community that she is committed to rendering specific interest to LGBTQ people. And they While Ginsburg is gone now from that 6-3 decisions impartially and without bias or expressed alarm that Barrett had delivered a Bostock majority, Chief Justice John Roberts, See Barrett, continued on p. 10 prejudice? paid speech to the “most extreme anti-LGBT who joined the majority opinion, and Justice

8 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com See page 7 of this issue to learn more on how registerd voters can turn in your ballot early. Let’s Make Michigan Progressive Again.

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Go to www.mivoterguide.com to learn more. ® Barrett Continued from p. 8

for the application of nondiscrimination laws and government policies around the country,” said Davidson. Davidson said he doesn’t think existing marriages of same-sex couples are at risk. “Those who married same-sex partners after the Obergefell decision did so in compliance with the law at the time and have strong due process rights in not having those lawful marriages dissolved against their will,” Davidson said. “Whether a new justice will respect the precedent of Obergefell going forward, however, is of course of concern.” But Jenny Pizer, senior counsel at Lambda won that election, the Republican president was Legal, notes that, even with the marriage ruling given the opportunity to appoint the seat left in favor of same-sex couples, “we still have had open by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in to continue fighting for family equality for February 2016. LGBTQ people and their children.” Kavanaugh’s confirmation was controversial “For example, we are in court now fighting as well following the accusations that emerged for two married same-sex couples whose after his nomination that he had sexually daughters are being denied citizenship by the assaulted women. He denied those accusations, Trump administration even though the law is and the Republican-controlled Senate approved explicit that their American citizen parents’ his nomination. being married entitles them to citizenship,” The Senate approved Gorsuch’s nomination Pizer said. by a vote of 54-45, and it approved Kavanaugh And Barrett, says Pizer, “has been outspoken by 50-48. in her belief that same-sex couples do not have Barrett’s nomination also begins in the same fundamental Constitutional right controversy: While McConnell claimed he to marry that different-sex couples have and couldn’t advance President Obama’s nominee that the marriages of same-sex couples do not because it was a presidential election year, he has deserve legal respect.” promised to rush through Barrett’s nomination Barrett also wrote a law review article arguing even though this, too, is a presidential election that, while all Supreme Court decisions serve year. as a precedent for lower court decisions McConnell has made clear he has to votes and subsequent Supreme Court decisions, to confirm the nominee and that he intends to some are “super precedents” and others are rush through that confirmation process ahead more susceptible to change. Barrett’s super- of the Nov. 3 presidential election. precedent theory, said Pizer, “seems designed President Trump said Saturday that Barrett to create room for reconsidering and reversing “will defend the sacred principle of equal justice precedents that justices do not consider ‘super.’” for citizens of every race, color, religion and Barrett is Trump’s third opportunity to creed.” select a Supreme Court justice. He previously Barrett professed “love” for the U.S. nominated, and the Senate confirmed, two Constitution and said she is “mindful” of the other federal appeals court judges to the legacy of Justice Ginsburg, whose seat she has Supreme Court: Neil Gorsuch and Brett been nominated to fill. Ginsburg died at age Kavanaugh. Gorsuch’s nomination was marred 87 on Sept. 18, following a long struggle with by the controversy that ensued when Senate cancer. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to Barrett noted that Ginsburg was good friends give consideration to then-President Obama’s with Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom Barrett nominee, Merrick Garland, even though Obama clerked, despite the fact that Ginsburg was one still had 11 months to go in his second term. of the court’s most liberal jurists and Scalia one McConnell left the seat open until after the of its most conservative. 2016 presidential election and, because Trump

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10 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com Fair Michigan Launches LGBTQ Voter Participation Initiative

BY EVE KUCHARSKI

air Michigan is a nonprofit LGBTQ advocacy organization that works to Fsecure equal rights protections under the law based on sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and gender. Now, the group is focusing its efforts on a voter participation effort intended to engage and empower LGBTQ people in Detroit, with a special emphasis on people of color. Victim Advocate and Director of Transgender Outreach and Advocacy for Fair Michigan Julisa Abad is working spearhead this movement by providing accurate information to LGBTQ people across the city about how to vote. “We know the climate that we’re in and the importance of voting. A lot of my community, Fair Michigan Victim Advocate and Director of Transgender Advocacy and Outreach Julisa Abad. specifically the LGBTQ community and trans women of color, are really misinformed about different things when it comes to voting,” that can go to Michigan.gov/vote. On there, Abad said. “For example, if you are on parole, you can see where you’re registered to vote people are under the assumption that you can’t and if you’re registered to vote. If people are vote, if you’re on probation they think that you registered to vote, great. They can walk in on can’t vote. People also don’t know that if they election day where it tells them to vote on the are in or out of jail awaiting to be sentenced website. If they’re not, I want to also let them they can still vote.” know that they can go into their clerk’s office, For LGBTQ people, particularly those who [register to vote], request a ballot and vote right identify as transgender or nonbinary, getting to then and there and they don’t have to wait.” the polls can be difficult. In fact, the Williams Ultimately, Abad said, dispelling myths about Institute — an LGBTQ research center and voting is vital to getting everyone’s voice heard UCLA think tank —reports that 21 percent in this and future elections. of LGBTQ Americans are not registered to “I don’t care who you believe in or what you vote. Abad says many factors contribute to vote for, but I want everyone in my community this reality. to get out there and have their voices heard,” “A lot of people that don’t have Abad said. documentation that matches [with their gender identity] might feel scared to go to a place to To find out more about how this initiative works vote and be discriminated against or might not visit fairmichigan.org. To get a pro-equality even know where to vote or where to register,” candidate guide for the upcoming election visit Abad said. “I’m trying to get the word out there mivoterguide.com. Michigan Secretary of State Announces 16- and 17-Year-Olds Can Be Poll Workers BY JASON A. MICHAEL Rhonda Saxton, area director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. ichigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Poll workers are trained and paid for their Benson and The Michigan Voting work. According to Michigan law, those with MCoalition, as part of its 40 Days of felony records are allowed to vote, but they Early Voting campaign focused on historically are not permitted to serve as poll workers. disenfranchised communities, is trying to sign The critical need for poll workers was a key up poll workers for the Nov. 3 general election. message reinforced by the diverse members of Any registered voter can be a poll worker, and, the Michigan Voting Coalition and Secretary of for the first time, it has been announced that State Benson at a press conference kicking off 16- and 17-year-olds can participate as poll the 40 Days of Early Voting campaign. workers as well. Many communities struggle to recruit “Poll workers are first responders for enough poll workers to make Election Day democracy, and they serve to ensure our run smoothly. Without enough poll workers, election runs smoothly before the polls open at 7 a.m. and well past closing time at 8 p.m.,” said See Poll Workers, continued on p. 12 www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 11 After Thwarted FBI Reports Michigan Militia had Plot to Kidnap Gov. Gretchen Kidnapping Plans, Whitmer Calls for Unity Whitmer, AG Nessel Hosts Press Conference on Charges

BY EVE KUCHARSKI BY EVE KUCHARSKI of a Michigan highway bridge for places to seat an explosive.” ov. Gretchen Whitmer ix people have been charged by the Birge’s office, the US Attorney’s office for the addressed the State of federal government with conspiring Western District of Michigan, is prosecuting Michigan after a plan to Sto kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen this federal case with assistance from the US G Whitmer and other government and law Attorney’s offices in the Eastern District of kidnap her and other Michigan government officials was thwarted enforcement officials. Seven others have Michigan and Delaware. by state and federal law enforcement been charged by the state of Michigan Nessel’s office filed state charges against agencies. for conspiring to commit terrorist acts seven people in addition to the charges already She started by saying thank you brought by Michigan Attorney General announced by the US Attorney’s Office in the to law enforcement and FBI agents Dana Nessel. Law enforcement reports that Western District. who participated in stopping this all 13 are in custody at this time. kidnapping attempt as well as Attorney Nessel held a press conference today - Paul Beller, age 21 of Milford, is charged General Dana Nessel who held a press “regarding significant law enforcement with three felony counts: providing material conference earlier today announcing operation and criminal charges” of those support for terrorist acts, gang membership the charges against those who have involved with the kidnapping plot. and carrying or possessing a firearm during been taken into custody. Whitmer “The interagency effort represented here the commission of a felony. went on to say that 2020 has been a in tandem with my office culminated in - Shaun Fix, age 38, of Belleville is charged hard year, but that Michiganders can the execution of several search warrants with two felony counts: providing material move past it. and arrests across the state including support for terrorist acts and carrying or “We’re Michiganders. We have grit. in the communities of Grand Rapids, possessing a firearm during the commission We have heart. And we are tough as Hartland, Luther, Canton, Orion Township, of a felony. hell. We made it through the great Waterford, Belleville, Milford, Cadillac, - Eric Molitor, age 36 of Cadillac is charged recession, we made it through auto Shelbyville, Plainwell, Zeeland, Munith, with two felony counts: providing material bankruptcies, we made it through Ovid, Kalamazoo, Charlotte, Clarkston, support for terrorist acts and carrying or floods and polar vortexes, but none Sterling Heights and Shelby Township,” possessing a firearm during the commission she said. of a felony. of us has faced a challenge like investigation of these individuals earlier in the Nessel was joined by Andrew Birge, US - Michael Null, age 38 of Plainwell, is charged COVID-19. Not in our lifetimes,” year after becoming aware of their presence on a attorney for the western district of Michigan; with two felony counts: providing material Whitmer said. “I’ve said it many times. social media group where they were “discussing Matthew Schneider, US attorney for the eastern support for terrorist acts and carrying or We are not one another’s enemy. This the violent overthrow of certain government and district of Michigan; Josh Hauxhurst, FBI possessing a firearm during the commission virus is our enemy and this enemy is law enforcement components.” assistant special agent-in-charge; and Michigan of a felony. relentless.” “Through confidential sources, undercover State Police Col. Joseph Gasper. - William Null, of Shelbyville, is charged with She went on to call for unity. agents and clandestine reportings, law “Last night, the FBI and Michigan State Police two felony counts: providing material support for “It doesn’t care if you’re a Republican enforcement learned particular individuals were arrested six individuals charged in a federal terrorist acts and carrying or possessing a firearm or a Democrat, young or old, rich or planning to kidnap the governor and acting in complaint with conspiring to kidnap the governor during the commission of a felony. poor. It doesn’t care if we’re tired of furtherance of that plan. The alleged conspirators of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. According to - Pete Muscio, age 42, of Munith is charged it. It threatens us all. Our lives, our used operational security measures including the complaint unsealed this morning, Adam Fox, with four felony counts: threat of terrorism, families, our jobs, our businesses, our by communicating by encrypted messaging Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel gang membership, one count each of providing economy, it preys on our elderly and platforms and used code words and phrases in an Harris and Brandon Caserta conspired to kidnap material support for terrorist acts and one count medically vulnerable residents, and attempt to avoid detection by law enforcement,” the governor from her vacation home in the each of carrying or possessing a firearm during it has exposed deep inequities in our Birge said. “Among other activities, members western district of Michigan before the November the commission of a felony. society,” Whitmer said. “This should be of this conspiracy conducted on two occasions election,” Birge said. “Under federal law, each of - Joseph Morrison, age 42, of Munith is charged a moment for national unity where we coordinated surveillance on the governor’s these individuals faces a term of any number of with four felony counts: threat of terrorism, all pull together to meet this challenge vacation home.” years up to life in prison if convicted.” gang membership, one count each of providing head-on with the same might and Birge went on to say that, according to the Fox, Garbin, Franks, Harris and Caserta are material support for terrorist acts and one count muscle that put a man on the moon.” complaint, Fox and Croft discussed “detonating residents of Michigan, while Croft is a resident each of carrying or possessing a firearm during explosive devices to divert police from the area of of Delaware. Birge said that the FBI began an the commission of a felony. the home and Fox even inspected the underside

® Poll Workers LGBT Detroit has already signed up to assist 40 Days of Early Voting campaign: person at your city or township clerk’s office Continued from p. 11 with the effort to recruit more poll workers. and provide proof of residency. Once you are “LGBT Detroit is a proud partner - Now: Voters can print and submit a paper registered, you can vote, all in one trip. If you voters may have to wait in long lines, an organization, and happy to be among this application for an absentee ballot for the Nov. plan to vote by mailing in your absentee ballot, inconvenience that has disproportionately hugely diverse statewide coalition,” said Curtis 3 general election. You can also request an please put it in the mail by this date to make impacted Michiganders from communities Lipscomb, executive director of LGBT Detroit. absentee ballot online at mvic.sos.state.mi.us/ sure it arrives on time. with significant numbers of voters of color “We need poll workers. Poll workers are an avapplication. Already registered voters can - Nov. 3 is Election Day. Polls are open from and young voters. In addition to the right to essential part of the democratic system. Almost vote early at their city or township’s clerk’s office. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. vote by mail and vote early, Michigan voters any registered Michigan voter can become a - The last day to register online or through have the right to vote at their assigned polling poll worker, [as well as] 16- and 17-year-old the mail for the Nov. 3 election is Monday, To learn more or sign up today, visit location on election day. Having enough trained teenagers.” Oct. 19. michiganvoting.org/be-a-poll-worker or email poll workers is critical to ensuring full and fair - Starting on Oct. 20 through 8 p.m. on [email protected]. access to the ballot for all Michigan voters. Some important dates to note as part of the Election Day, you must register to vote in 12 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 13 Parting Glances BY CHARLES ALEXANDER White House Shenanigans artin Luther King, Jr.’s 1965 historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, for equal voter Mrights changed the South forever. Or, did it? Few know that another King – William Rufus DeVane King – gave Selma its name 145 years earlier. It means “high seat” or “throne,” and comes from an epic Ossianic poem, “The Song of Selma”. Billy DeVane was the live-in companion – partner, spouse, lover – of James Buchanan, the 15th president of the U.S. Buchanan met Billy in 1834 while they were both serving in the Senate. They became inseparable for almost 20 years. Gay historians say there’s a strong possibility that Buchanan may have broken his engagement to his fiancee Ann Coleman for the handsome, slightly older Billy. Poor Ann. She died brokenhearted shortly thereafter. Buchanan referred to Billy’s friendship as a “communion”. Washington gossips called Billy Jamie Buchanan’s “better half,” and the two of them “the Siamese Twins”. Former President Andrew Jackson dubbed Billy “Miss Nancy”. Jackson’s own wife – a zesty, buxom tart of a thing – was also the subject of much amorous gossip. Democrat Aaron Brown confided in letters to his friends Viewpoint that Billy was “Aunt Fancy trigged in her best clothes”. He called Billy “she” and referenced to “her” telltale behavior and conversations. There’s hinting that Billy may have been a crossdresser. But Billy was also a highly respected politician, with 38 years of dedicated service in the House of Representatives, Senate and as Minister With Portfolio — perhaps beaded — to A Tribute to RBG’s Pro-LGBTQ Legacy France and to St. Petersburg, Russia. It’s rumored at the time that Billy took the post in France to quash gossip about himself and Jamie. Whether true or not, he did a splendid job of keeping the French from interfering BY JAY KAPLAN in this country’s plans to annex Texas from Mexico. Things might have been better for all parties concerned today if eople who have been in my home will note that most of LGBTQ rights. France had succeeded. the wall space in my 840-square-foot abode is adorned During RBG’s 27-year tenure on the Supreme Court she In 1853, Billy became vice president to our 14th president, by theatrical posters of plays and musicals, most of had the opportunity to weigh in on each and every seminal Franklin Pierce. Billy, who owned slaves, was chosen as a P which would be regarded as “obscure.” In addition to all those LGBTQ rights case. Although she was not the author of the compromise candidate on a pro-slavery ticket. But before colorful and varied posters, there is wall space reserved for a majority opinions in each of these decisions, she sided with the taking office he showed signs of tuberculosis, hastening to wonderful piece of artwork by our community’s much-beloved majority each and every time, affirming the dignity of LGBTQ a friend’s plantation near Havana, Cuba, to recuperate and Charles Alexander, who so kindly and generously gifted it to people and challenging policies and practices that treated our mint julep it up in the sun. me. Also hanging on limited wall space in my kitchen is a community unfairly. The following are those decisions: For the only time in our history, a special act of Congress framed poster, featuring the silhouette of Justice Ruth Bader was passed to allow King to take the Oath of Office outside Ginsburg, with a quote from her: “Fight for the things you Romer v. Evans (1996): Here, the Supreme Court struck of the U.S. But excessive drinking further weakened Billy’s care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” down a Colorado voter initiative that prevented state and local constitution, and within six weeks of being sworn in he was Like so many others, I’m still mourning the loss of RBG and governments from passing laws protecting LGBTQ people from dead. Jamie Buchanan was devastated. her contributions to the world of jurisprudence, particularly in discrimination. The Court majority held that laws targeting In 1850, Buchanan without his beloved Billy, became our the area of civil rights and social justice — now even more so LGBTQ people for discriminatory treatment and motivated only bachelor president. His indecisiveness in office brought the because of the rush by the Trump Administration and Mitch by animus against them violate the Equal Protection Clause Civil War closer. Lincoln inherited the conflict. Gay historians McConnell to fill her seat with a judge whose legal viewpoint to of the Constitution. This decision helped provide a template think Lincoln a possible sleep-over bisexual. civil rights is so vastly different from that of Justice Ginsburg. for challenging anti-LGBTQ laws, policies, and practices at Billy DeVane King is buried in a shady cemetery just outside If the Republican Senate majority is successful in confirming both the state and federal levels of government. Selma, a city remembered today for two Kings. And a queen. Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court before the Perhaps America’s first — J. Edgar Hoover, drag would-be, Nov. 3 election, there is so much at stake for those who care notwithstanding. about access to health care, a woman’s right to choose and See next page 14 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com ® Viewpoint Continued from p. 12 Creep Of The Week

BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI Lawrence v. Texas (2003): This decision this decision because she did not believe Mitch McConnell overturned the previous 1986 Bowers v. that the facts presented showed hostility Hardwick decision upholding laws that or animus towards the baker’s religion to criminalized private same-sex sodomy result in this reversal. Justice Ginsburg’s he Senate Confirmation Hearing for (Trump) is a danger to the country between consenting adults. In addition dissent demonstrated her concern that Amy Coney Barrett was happening today to criminal penalties, these laws often religion not be used as a basis to justify Tand I watched exactly zero minutes of it and even to the Republican party. were used to justify discrimination discrimination against LGBTQ people in because I was practicing self care. against LGBTQ people by defining them non-religious settings. Another reason I have no doubt that she will be confirmed But McConnell is more than happy solely by presumed sexual behaviors. In her voice will be very much missed is and the Supreme Court will lurch to the right for to aid and abet this president if it striking down Texas’ criminalization of that on Nov. 4, the Supreme Court will decades. I know that there are a lot of pundits same-sex sodomy as unconstitutional, the hear arguments in the case of Fulton who are hypothesizing how it might be stopped, means that he can pack the courts Court majority recognized that LGBTQ v. City of Philadelphia, a case that will and that’s a fun exercise, but that’s all it is. If a people are to be afforded the same privacy determine whether faith-based foster care miracle happens I will be the first one to say with judges who will rule against interest in their intimate relationships as agencies that have government contracts I was wrong. But I’m not going to waste time things like reproductive rights, LGBTQ heterosexuals. can discriminate against LGBTQ families prepping a correction speech. who wish to become foster parents, citing It’s interesting, no, hypocritical, that all equality, environmental regulations Windsor v. United States (2013): the agencies’ religious beliefs. Republicans want to do right now is shout about and racial justice. For decades. The Court struck down a provision of court-packing as if they haven’t been packing the federal Defense of Marriage Act Bostock v. Clayton County (2020): In the court with right-wing extremists during every second of Trump’s term. And no, President that prohibited federal recognition of June 2020 the 6-3 Supreme Court decision Christian nation. It isn’t. It never has been. We Obama didn’t leave seats open because he was legal same-sex marriages. During oral held that employment discrimination literally stole it from people who were neither too lazy to fill them, as Glenn Beck recently said. arguments, Justice Ginsburg asked against employees because they are white nor Christian. Hence the whole, “America Those seats weren’t filled because the Senate particularly pointed questions, including LGBT constitutes sex discrimination is a nation of immigrants” thing. Trump would under Mitch McConnell refused to consider whether the law imposed “two kinds of in violation of Title VII, the federal like you to believe that immigrants are violent them. marriage — the full marriage and then civil rights law that prohibits such brown people trying to sneak into the country McConnell even said it himself during a 2019 this sort of skim-milk marriage” for discrimination in employment. This to do you harm. The majority if immigrants interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News about same-sex couples. The legal rationale for landmark decision provides a remedy to are seeking a better life — which is something the number of vacancies: “I’ll tell you why. I was overruling DOMA paved the way for the LGBTQ people, particularly those who Republicans are all about when white people do in charge of what we did in the last two years of Court majority two years later to strike live in states, like Michigan, that do not it. They call it “personal responsibility.” the Obama administration.” Hannity then tells down state laws, including Michigan’s, provide explicit protections on the basis Unfortunately, Republicans have no sense of McConnell he should “take a bow.” that prohibited same-sex couples from of sexual orientation and gender identity collective responsibility. No sense of history. You’ll remember that McConnell refused to marrying. in their civil rights laws. I attended the No sense of decency. Also no sense of humor hold confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland, Supreme Court hearings in the three if we’re getting right down to it. Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court. His Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): This cases — one of those cases involved And there’s Mitch McConnell at the helm reasoning? It was an election year. The next was the landmark marriage equality our plaintiff Aimee Stephens — and of it all. president should choose the next Supreme decision where the Court majority held observed Justice Ginsburg demonstrate Wait, you might be thinking, I thought Trump Court member. Now, of course, we’re not just that the right to marry is a fundamental her mastery regarding Title VII law and was at the helm of it all. in an election year, we’re in the middle of an constitutional right that cannot be denied sex employment discrimination cases, As if. Trump is a moron who spends most of actual election and for some reason McConnell’s to same-sex couples and that the right through her sharp questioning during his day watching Fox News. He is a danger to reasoning no longer holds. to marry includes the legal benefits of oral arguments. Although looking frail, the country and even to the Republican party. Once Trump was elected he could nominate marriage. her voice was strong and her comments But McConnell is more than happy to aid and a T-shirt with a Confederate flag airbrushed were highly focused on the issue what is abet this president if it means that he can pack on the front and McConnell would rush the Masterpiece Cake Ltd v. Colorado discrimination because of sex. the courts with judges who will rule against nomination through. Civil Rights Commission (2018): This things like reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, Ugh. Mitch McConnell. How I hate him. Hate decision involved a Colorado baker During her almost three-decade tenure environmental regulations and racial justice. him, too? Donate to his opponent, Democrat who refused to bake a cake for a same- on the Court, RBG was a friend and ally For decades. Amy McGrath here: amymcgrath.com. sex couple who were planning to marry, to the LGBTQ community and on the You’ve got to hand it to McConnell he DGAF. As I write this it is Indigenous People’s Day. citing his religious beliefs. Here the Court right side of every historic LGBTQ civil Like, at all. No morals, no ethics, no chin. And he I am listening to a compilation of Indigenous majority reversed the Colorado courts’ rights case. In a year where we have lost will stop at nothing to get Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s metal bands in order to observe this day. Donald discrimination charges against the baker, two civil rights giants, John Lewis and now Supreme Court seat filled with a woman who Trump, however, chose to observe this day by citing animus towards the baker’s religious Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we must commit will eagerly undo RBG’s legacy. issuing a proclamation declaring it Columbus beliefs on the part of the Colorado Civil ourselves to help carry on their work. We And he’ll do it with a smile. Just kidding. Day that begins like a middle school book report Rights Commission. The Court majority, need to ensure that RBG’s legacy continues He is not capable of smiling. He’s capable of and ends like “Mein Kampf.” however, did not say that discrimination through our courts. The fight for LGBTQ moving his lips in a way that imitates a smile The proclamation can be summarized thusly: against LGBTQ people in public rights and equality is a fight that we all and doing this weird thing with his mouth. Just Italian gentleman Christopher Columbus sailed accommodations — such as a bakery need to care about and we have to lead Google “Mitch McConnell smiling” and you’ll the ocean blue and discovered America and did — based on religious beliefs is OK. The others to join us. see. You’ll see. absolutely nothing wrong in fact America has Court reaffirmed the government’s Not surprisingly, Newsweek just reported that never done anything wrong in all of its history interest in enforcing civil rights laws Jay Kaplan is the Nancy Katz and Margo he elicits ”very cold” feelings from, 57 percent and the Native Americans should be thanking — including those that protect LGBTQ Dichtemiller LGBT Rights Project Staff Americans. us for murdering them they deserved it. people — and that when a business is Attorney of the Michigan ACLU. He can It’s because his heart is made of ice. open to the public, it has to serve the be reached at [email protected]. It’s sick stuff. But it is also what a lot of people public. Justice Ginsburg dissented from believe. The idea that America is a white, www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 15 Michigan Physicians Support Governor’s Response to COVID-19, Urge Legislature to Support Her Measures BY JASON A. MICHAEL Committee to Protect Markle of Kalamazoo called on the legislature to and six continents show that common, simple Medicare and a family immediately pass measures that would require interventions such as mask-wearing and ollowing last week’s Michigan physician in Lansing. masks to be worn in all indoor locations, social distancing lower the risk of COVID-19 Supreme Court ruling that “Unfortunately, with no exceptions; enable the Michigan infections, the doctors said. In communities Feffectively ended Gov. Gretchen Republican politicians Department of Health and Human Services without mask requirements, positive Whitmer’s emergency powers in response are rejecting science, to call for stay-at-home orders in counties that case growth was three times higher than to the novel coronavirus crisis, a group turning down federal are experiencing outbreaks or where outbreaks communities that implemented universal mask of Michigan physicians spoke to the aid and many are are imminent; expand rapid-response tests for requirements over the long term. Studies show media via Zoom Wednesday, Sept. 7, even attending public schools, businesses and anyone who has been that maximum social distancing measures such to applaud Whitmer for what they events without wearing exposed; support community health efforts as stay-at-home orders could save thousands called her “science-based COVID-19 masks — putting more to hire and train enough contact tracers; and of lives. One analysis credited Whitmer’s stay- response.” They then simultaneously Michigan lives at risk provide support to individuals who must at-home order, which began March 24, with urged leaders in the Republican- when they should be quarantine, including financial and educational reducing the number of people each COVID- controlled Michigan legislature, whom doing the hard work of support. 19-positive person infects in Michigan from they called “obstructionists,” to fall keeping people safe and “We join physicians across Michigan and 3.5 to 1. in line and support Whitmer’s efforts Dr. Farhan Bhatti, Michigan state demanding the Trump the country in hoping that President Trump’s “Scientific and medical evidence tells us that lead for the Committee to Protect while chastising them for dismissing Medicare and a family physician Administration provide COVID-19 diagnosis and the outbreaks linked we have ways to keep people safer during the evidence-based safety measures such as in Lansing. Courtesy photo. relief for Michigan to events he attended will serve as a wake- COVID-19 pandemic, and refusing to take wearing masks and limiting crowds. The families. up call to every American that COVID-19 basic, simple precautions that we know can physicians were speaking in their capacity “From a medical can strike anywhere, anytime and anyone, save lives is negligent behavior that endangers as members of the Committee to Protect perspective, we ask especially when basic safety measures such as people,” Markle said. “We have an opportunity Medicare, an advocacy organization made up of Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, House masks and social distancing are ignored,” Opara to come together and show a unified front frontline doctors engaging in direct advocacy Speaker Lee Chatfield and their fellow said. “The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us against an indiscriminate disease that has killed and communications in support of a stronger legislators to stop dragging their feet and help and continues to kill around 1,000 Americans more than 209,000 Americans, including 7,100 health care system in America. get health workers the resources we need to turn every day. Instead of waving the white flag of Michiganders. The most irresponsible thing “As physicians, we greatly appreciate Gov. the corner on this pandemic,” Bhatti continued. surrender, as some politicians who don’t want we could do right now is refuse to act on the Gretchen Whitmer and her public health “By reining in COVID-19 the right way, using to put in the work suggest we do, we can gain science and give up, which will only lead to team’s approach throughout this pandemic science to guide us, we can make businesses, the upper hand against COVID-19 if we follow more pain and suffering. Every Michigan for the past eight months, and strongly urge schools and public life safer so people can enjoy the science and implement safe and effective family deserves better than what Republican the Michigan Legislature and its leaders to their freedom without putting their lives or the measures that public health experts agree work, politicians in Lansing are offering, which is work with her and pass legislation that can lives of others at risk.” such as wearing masks and maximizing social defeat and surrender.” reduce COVID-19 transmissions,” said Dr. Bhatti and fellow physicians Dr. Ijeoma distancing.” Farhan Bhatti, Michigan state lead for the Nnodim Opara of Westland and Dr. Stephanie More than 170 studies across 16 nations ACLU Partners With 1xRun to Create Pro-Voting Murals BY JASON A. MICHAEL who will be working in Highland Park; Jesse Kassel, who will be working in Benton Harbor; he ACLU has partnered with local artists Rick Williams, who will be working in Pontiac; to create public murals across Michigan and Ann Lewis, who will be working in Grand Tto increase voter participation in the Rapids. upcoming general election on Nov. 3. Eight “In the work we’ve been doing as organizers murals have been commissioned and they will with artists over the years, we’ve seen the appear in six different Michigan cities to engage transformative power that public murals have voters about new voting rights, including the to activate new conversations and build a sense opportunity for all to vote early, by mail or at of community, to get people invested and their poll on election day. involved,” said Roula David, vice president of The first three of these murals were unveiled 1xRUN and the founder and executive director late last month in Detroit and Flint. The public of the annual Murals in the Market’festival in art campaign is a partnership between the Detroit. “It’s a natural extension of our work to ACLU and a coalition of over 100 partners focus the drive and creativity of artists to push across the state. The murals are being created forward the ACLU’s mission to make sure that in collaboration with 1xRun, a Detroit-based Artist Ndubisi Okoye with his mural in Detroit. It was created on the exterior wall of the ACLU’s office at 2966 voters across Michigan are able to make their Woodward Ave. Photo by Bre’Ann White. gallery and arts publisher. voices heard in this election.” “Partnering with such talented muralists to do it.” Highland Park, Grand Rapids and Pontiac. is one of the many creative ways we hope to The ACLU is also recruiting poll workers, and While each mural is based on the central The locations were chosen for maximum engage all eligible voters about their new voting training volunteers for voter outreach and voting theme of the ACLU’s mission to increase voter engagement with potential voters and to drive rights,” said Sharon Dolente, ACLU of Michigan rights education, and operating an election turnout by educating all eligible voters about increased participation among millennials and voting rights strategist. “Voting in Michigan has protection hotline for voters with questions mail-in and in-person early voting options, communities of color. never been easier, but many may not know they or concerns. The election protection hotline – the artists were encouraged to create unique Artists creating murals include Sheefy McFly, have the right to vote in-person starting Sept. 866-OUR-VOTE – is staffed by trained legal works in their respective cities to inspire public who will be working in Flint; Ndubisi Okoye, 24 at their city or township clerk’s office, the professionals from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday conversation and increase community and civic who created a Detroit mural on the ACLU right to vote by mail and to register to vote up through Friday. Weekend hours will be added awareness that will last beyond one election. office; Phil Simpson, who will be working in to and on election day. Our goal is to increase as the election grows nearer. In addition to Detroit and Flint, murals are Detroit on Livernois; Freddy Diaz, who will be the voices being heard at the ballot box, and in the process of going up in Benton Harbor, working in Detroit on Joy Road; Tony WHLGN, the mural project is a powerful and fun way

16 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 17 Pledges to Make it Meet MOT’s New ‘Most Progressive Opera Artistic Director Company’ in US BY EVE KUCHARSKI Yuval Sharon hile the operatic stage has been responsible for sharing some of the world’s most famous Wstories, it’s still regarded by many to be an artistic medium that is inaccessible to the general public. For years now, there has been a push by artistic directors from around the world to both rebrand the art form and bring it back to its community-focused roots. In the case of Yuval Sharon, Michigan Opera Theatre’s new openly gay artistic director, he is no stranger to taking a modern, more accessible approach to operatic performance. Besides being a 2017 MacArthur Fellow, recipient of the 2014 Götz Friedrich Prize in Germany for his production of “Doctor Atomic” and the first American ever invited to direct at Bayreuth, Sharon is the founder of The Industry, a Los Angeles-based opera company. Under Sharon’s direction, it earned a name for itself by expanding the public’s perception of what opera can be through its experimental works. Perhaps most notably, The Industry debuted performances like “Invisible Cities,” which took place in Los Angeles’ bustling Union Station, and “Hopscotch,” which was showcased via 24 moving vehicles around downtown LA. Now, Sharon is bringing his passion for the craft and artistic ingenuity to Detroit through a never-before-seen interpretation of Wagner’s “Twilight Gods” on Oct. 17, 18 and 20. In light of social distancing requirements as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, guests will view the opera as they drive their vehicles through the Detroit Opera House parking structure. In the middle of “frantically trying to increase ticket capacity” after the show sold out in 32 hours, Sharon made time to chat with Between The Lines about his inspiration for the unique performance of “Twilight Gods,” why he’s eager to feature LGBTQ storylines in upcoming shows, queer thinking in opera and his plans to make Michigan Opera Theatre the “most progressive opera company in the country.”

Due to the immense interest, are you looking to expand how long “Twilight Gods” will run? It’s going to be difficult to do that, and yet, we are exploring it. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as easy a Broadway show or anything like that where we can say, “OK, we’ll keep it going.” Also, the thing that I’m very excited about is trying to figure out how we can add a free component to this, and what we’re exploring now is that the last rotation of certain performances might be projected onto the wall of the opera house and we might invite people to watch it for free from the street level. And I would really love that because that feels really in line with something that I’m very passionate about and definitely want to bring with me to MOT, which is this notion that opera can really be an art form that’s really close to the life of the street. I think we tend to think that Opera is this elevated art form that’s in an ivory tower (laughs) and only speaks BTL Photo: Andrew Cohen to a certain elite, highly educated and Euro-centric type of audience, but I actually think that there’s a lot more 18 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com possibility in opera that’s much closer to our What drew you to opera initially? Was your own community and closer to our own time. perception always that opera is a space that is more equal than people might imagine? How will the socially distanced performance (Laughs) No, I think my first encounter with work? opera was probably one that a lot of people Even though it’s live and really close to them, could sympathize with. I remember seeing people will still hear the piece transmitted my first opera and I remembered feeling like on their FM radios so that they can stay in it seemed to be a kind of alien landscape. their cars and stay socially distanced. And I And it was in another landscape. It’s people think it’s actually going to contribute to part from another time behaving in such strange of what’s going to be a fascinating experience. ways and I didn’t really quite understand It’ll be eight cars at a time that move through it and I didn’t really feel comfortable being this parking structure and they each see there. And yet, the more that I started to several different scenes of the opera playing investigate it and thinking about the potential out on different levels of the structure. So as of opera and maybe also the difference eight cars go in and they move to the next between the art form and the way that it’s level, eight additional cars will move into the usually performed or usually presented at parking garage and the scene will start again. least, I did start imagining what opera looks So, the singers and instrumentalists repeat like when it’s closer to our time and closer to the same scene over and over and over again, our communities. And when I got to know but the audience experiences one narrative opera better, I started to see that there really that takes them through. Brunhilde is only was this impulse toward an almost carnival- on the top level, but we’ll see her in a couple like approach to the way it connected with of ways before to prepare for her and they’re audiences. And in Venice in the 17th century, pretty specific to individual characters. The there were really these competing opera connecting tissue for all of this will be new houses that were probably closer to what poetry written by Marsha Music, who is a true Broadway musicals feel like, this feeling closer Detroit legend. She’s a really great writer who to a popular entertainment rather than how is retelling the story for us and connecting all we experience it now. So, there is in its history of the various scenes through this experience this past where opera really is of the people, so that people can understand the context and I think that that is a really powerful way through which they are seeing this. forward for opera in America, which needs to You’ve had to be creative during the pandemic claim its own identity differently than how it’s presented in Europe. in how you present this upcoming show. Do you think that COVID-19 will change how people Your works in Los Angeles were described approach presenting opera because they’ll be as “radically collaborative bulwarks against forced to adapt? historical revisionism.” I really hope so! (Laughs) Let me put it this Such a great phrase! (Laughs) I’m impressed way. I love the Detroit Opera House. I think by that! it is a beautiful building and it is clearly the chief asset of Michigan Opera Theatre, Was that description used in reference to not this wonderful hall. But I don’t think that putting new storylines within classic works or precludes us from exploring other avenues something else? of what opera can be. I think that we can I think that’s been in reference to my sometimes think of opera so monolithically work with my company in Los Angeles, like it’s always 19th-century Italian pieces that The Industry, and really creating brand- take place in a theater (laughs), but actually, new pieces and doing it in a way that truly the wonderful thing about opera — and the embraces the collaborative nature of opera reason that I believe in it as an art form so that is not such a — we tend to think of opera much — is because it can be so many things. as surrounding one person of genius where It can really be a connection to the past and everything emanates from that person and it can be a vision of the future. It can be they are the dominant voice of what happens something that’s completely in English written on stage. by an American composer and it can be in an And I think that that really has had a African language. There’s so many kinds of negative effect on opera overall because opera, and I would love an opera company it’s reduced us to thinking about a kind like MOT to embrace all of that, you know? of monolithic or certainly myopic view of Inside the theater, outside the theater, in a artistic creation. In the case of opera, where parking structure or in one of those beautiful there is somebody writing music, there is a gilded 1920s skyscrapers in Detroit with these composer, a poet, a choreographer, a designer, incredibly beautiful lobbies. It can and should both a costume designer and a set designer happen everywhere, and that’s something I’d and then the architecture of the performances very much like to explore. It doesn’t mean happening, there are so many different points we’re not going to be doing “La Bohème” or of view. And that’s not even to say anything some of the classics, it’s just that we’re going about the people playing in the orchestra or to look at it in a fresh way and we’re going to singing on stage. allow these classic works to have some really exciting contemporary dialogue partners. See MOT, continued on p. 20 www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 19 ® MOT that have suggested that characters like Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Continued from p. 19 Onegin” is obsessed with his friend Lenski (laughs), and that’s why he had no interest in Tatiana. And, funny enough, that’s hardly a contemporary suggestion. All the way back And all of these points of view find this convergence in one in Pushkin’s time, the original poem, before it was an opera, point in time when this performance happens. And that is the people already kind of understood that that might be what is thing that is so thrilling about opera: all of these people from happening. So, there is this feeling that this is not necessarily a many, many walks of life can come together and agree to do new imposition. And it is, I think, certainly the responsibility something together that is perfectly coordinated and that can of the stage director to offer a strong interpretation of the be so magical when it works out. And that is something that work. And that does mean making some choices and that feels like it points away toward a kind of future that we’re all does mean you are shaping the experience, but it does not hungry for, which is much more participatory, much more mean it is the only way that this piece can happen. It would representative of the city that we live in and a place where be great to see “Eugene Onegin” in another time when maybe everyone has a voice. That’s something that I think opera can that’s not mentioned at all and maybe Tatiana’s the one who’s model. And I think that’s a power that is quite unique to opera in love with some other character (laughs). But I think opera and one that I would like opera to claim. being a living art form is embracing this notion that you can absolutely, with love for the music and text, draw new ideas I spoke to tenor Michael Fabiano last year and he spoke of being out of it and present new ideas with that. open to portraying LGBTQ roles in opera but not altering “the intention of the libretto” by not changing stories for “new social Do you have any LGBTQ-specific performances in the works? implications.” However, he gave an example of giving the character Yeah! It’s funny, opera has such a great history with queer of Rodrigo a kiss when he played Don Carlo because of existing culture in so many ways. Whether it is these kinds of operatic interpretations of what the relationship between the two men idols and divas that have become obsessive fixations (laughs), could be. What are your thoughts on potentially reimagining or whether it is that so many stories represent cross-dressing classics? in such wonderfully normal ways, or male characters being played by female singers or increasingly vice versa. So, there I would only say that I’m not terribly afraid of — I wouldn’t call is a lot of queer thinking that underpins opera, and I think it adding a storyline, I would call it interpreting the piece. And that I would love to keep embracing that. But, you know, I that happens anyway. We interpret the piece whether or not it think that there will certainly be, as new pieces are written, is strictly written in the story or whether it’s something that more and more exploration of stories that do explore LGBTQ our sense of story leads us to believe these two characters are narratives. And I would love to support that with my general having sort of a love affair — even if it’s not spelled out. And attitude of wanting MOT to be the most progressive opera there are ways that actually drawing them out in a production company in the country. Find Puzzle on p.29 can be something that is very exciting because it asks us to look at these pieces in brand-new ways. I’ve seen many productions Then I assume it’s no mistake that “Twilight Gods” is about dismantling an old order and system. It is! Very much. That’s why I chose this piece, because it is fundamentally a piece that is about the tearing down of something, and it’s a strong woman that does it. Basically, she sets fire to her father’s palace because it is no longer serving humanity. And she sacrifices herself for that revolutionary act. And this is not an idea that I was sitting on for years, this is absolutely a response to the time. It’s a piece I’ve loved for a long time, but it’s a piece that I don’t know I ever really understood until living through this period with our twin pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism flaring up. So, with both of those things calling us to think differently about everything, opera is part of that conversation, I would like opera to lead that conversation and not just respond to it but actually offer a way forward.

20 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 21 Lambda LGBTQ Car Club Brings a Little Pride to Auto Hobbyists

Courtesy Photo

BY EVE KUCHARSKI club.’ I had never heard of it before.” I’m looking at this, what should I look for?’” 2021, but plans to host it are still in motion. Soon after, Bernard joined up himself and by He said that this collaborative approach Bernard joined the group himself with a 1972 ometimes it takes a person years to find 2010 he had become president of the group’s extends not only from a car shopping Aston Mini in 2000, but he said that owning a their passion, but for Adam Bernard, he Detroit region. Since joining, he said that the perspective but a maintenance one, too. classic car is not a requirement for membership. Swas only 3 years old when he first took a club has been a great place for car aficionados “You have a wealth of information out there,” “You may have just a daily driver and an old shine to toy cars, and that interest eventually from all walks of life to chat about all things he said. “I’m not personally super mechanically American sedan of some sort or a Corvette of developed into a career at General Motors. automotive while being their authentic LGBTQ inclined, but there are people out there who some sort. Whatever your passion is, you’ll When he’s not working, cars make up a big selves. are. So, if your car has a weird warning light or probably find someone who shares that portion of his free time, too, because Bernard “For people who are out, it’s great. For people it’s making a funny noise, you can actually ask passion,” Bernard said. “We do lean toward a acts as the president of the Detroit region of the who are not out, it’s great, too,” he said, adding people for some informal advice. And people preference for large American cars, but that’s Lambda Car Club International — an LGBTQ- that he himself was not openly gay at the time will recommend storage places and mechanics not all we have. We have some Italian sports specific car enthusiast group. He said that while that he joined. “We’ve had people who have met and things like that, so it’s an opportunity to cars, we have Mercedes, we have some trucks. he was working for GM Design in 2000, it was and formed relationships through the club.” get involved with the hobby and meet people So, people ask us, ‘What kind of cars?’ And I a “true coincidence” that brought him and his And beyond being an online community who have different experiences and share their say, ‘We have just about everything you could hobby together. of people who like classic vehicles, he said it’s experiences.” imagine.’” “One of our executives said, ‘We’re sending a great resource for those in the market for a And Lambda is far from an online-only a concept car to this dinner this weekend and new car. club. Bernard said that members regularly host we’d like someone to go and accompany it in “Say you find a car in Houston on eBay, you themed events and fundraisers that draw people To learn more about the Lambda Car Club case there are any questions.’ I’m like, ‘Sure, can go to the national directory and find people from around the region and the U.S. The most International, visit lccimembers.com or the I’ll do that,’” Bernard said. “Thursday rolled who are in Houston who can go and look at notable of these is the the Grand Invitational group’s Facebook page. around and I saw this executive in the hall. I the car in person for you,” Bernard said. “And event, which in 2020 was scheduled to be held in said, ‘Where am I going on Saturday?’ And he you can also, from the directory, find people the Detroit area. Due to coronavirus pandemic says, ‘It’s the Lambda Car Club. It’s a gay car who own the same kind of car and ask, ‘Hey, concerns, the event has been rescheduled to

22 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 23 ‘Boys in the Band’ For a New Generation Actor Jim Parsons on Reviving the Gay Classic, His Personal Takeaway and Playing Bitchy Queens

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI with you: Both of these men are complicated character Henry, that was a longer process way and he’s cracked. characters, and the two roles this year in than the film because it was episodes and it What’s interesting about both characters lot has happened this year, and that’s “Hollywood” and in “Boys in the Band” were went on for about six months. We were about is that Henry in “Hollywood” was based aside from Jim Parsons dancing around very different in many ways, but they had a midway through the process when I actually on a real man, Henry Wilson, the man Ain a bra. That bit, of course, graced similar feeling to me. Going into the projects, wrote Ryan Murphy an email just telling him who invented Rock Hudson, and so I had screens across the world thanks to Netflix’s there was a mystery and an unknown quality how appreciative I was of the experience, and this beautiful book by Robert Hofler that is “Hollywood,” the “Big Bang Theory” actor about the challenge that lied ahead. I felt it was because I had crossed some bridge Henry’s biography. Robert had done so much shedding his well-established onscreen TV confident that I would be able to get there about working on that character. It had really research about who he was and when he was persona to play a sleazy Hollywood agent in with both of them, but it was exciting to know clicked in me what a special opportunity this young and when he got old, and we focus on the flashy revisionist drama. The Ryan Murphy it wasn’t a done deal. I was going to work to was, this character, that I just hadn’t seen as one specific part of Henry – and invented so series garnered him an Emmy nomination, but get there, and I was going to have to, most clearly when I first started. much around it too; it wasn’t all pure truth best of all: It wouldn’t be the only time – so to have all that information in 2020 that Parsons would be taking gave me a humane quality to on the role of a bitchy queen. Henry that I understood. In Netflix’s “The Boys in the Band,” Michael was a little different. again produced by Murphy, Parsons Even though I consciously knew is a standout among standouts in the that he was a rough stand-in remake of the pioneering 1970 gay- for the writer, Mart Crowley, centric drama, directed by William I didn’t want to presume how Friedkin. Initially staged as an Off- much, nor did I want to put that Broadway play in 1968, the film is responsibility on myself. At the based on Mart Crowley’s screenplay, time, both for the play and the written about a group of gay friends movie, Mart was alive and I just and frenemies living in New York City. thought, “Don’t even think about An awkward birthday party for their it.” But it kind of couldn’t help friend Harold, a self-proclaimed “ugly, creeping in, and the more chances pockmarked Jew fairy,” becomes the I had to be around Mart and talk breeding ground for savage takedowns, to Mart and exchange emails with as they tear into each other, exposing Mart, one thing after another the kind of self-hatred familiar to gay began to click and I was like, men trying to survive the oppressive “The character of Michael is a state of pre-Stonewall America. writer just like Mart is.” From this Parsons plays seething party host distance, now that we’ve had this Michael, a semi-lapsed Catholic whose put to bed for so long, although aggressively nasty observations about it’s just now being released, I see his friends reveal more about him than a version of it where this is partly it does about them. Photo: Netflix the story of Mart before he was In the remake, Parsons reprises able to write “Boys in the Band.” his role alongside the original – and For me, the main magical thing entirely openly gay – cast of the 2018 Broadway importantly, get on set and start doing these about “Boys in the Band” comes from the fact revival: Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew scenes for both these characters and see what that Mart was finally able to reveal himself Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian happened, and that was exciting. With Michael, the reasons for his ruthless and his situation and the people that he knew Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington and disdain really reveal themselves at the end and loved with so much brutal honesty. I Tuc Watkins. Parsons’s out “Hollywood” co- Your role in “Hollywood” earned you an Emmy of the film. When you’re playing characters think that’s why it connected with so many star Joe Mantello, who directed the Broadway nomination, which must have felt validating as vicious as Michael and Henry, what’s your people. I think that’s why it stood the test of revival, once again directs. after being uncertain about playing that role. process for exposing the layers of humanity time. I think that’s why, as a piece of literature, On Zoom recently, Parsons talked about the That was a great feeling. beneath the surface of these characters’ rough it has stayed bubbling in our consciousness revealing conversations he shared with Crowley edges? this long, and lo and behold has expanded about “The Boys in the Band” before his death Playing more challenging characters such as to become something that’s not just about In the case of Michael, I think that’s a big part in March and how working on the project led these, when do you know, “OK, I think I’ve got gay men. It’s become something that’s about of what you carry with you going into the to a deeper understanding and questioning of it”? all people suffering under oppression and beginning of the rehearsal process, knowing his own self-worth. shame. And that’s the way the world went, but I feel like that specific feeling comes in little that you’re dealing with a character who is I don’t think, unless you’re willing to open a spots through the process, where you just compensating as much as he can. I always Being the bitchy queen doesn’t seem like vein the way that Mart was, that, going back feel good about something. But in general, had this phrase in my head every time I was something that comes naturally to you. to Michael, I believe that you can’t create everything I do, by the time it’s all done and working with the character: He’s just dancing Apparently I have an affinity with it, or an something that impactful and be that honest the months go by until it’s released, suddenly as fast as he can in order to keep things afloat. interest in it. Or Ryan Murphy has an interest until you accept yourself for everything that I start having trouble remembering any of the But it’s so superficial because there’s this in forcing me to do it! I’m not sure which. Ha! good moments and I’m like, “Oh god, oh god. elemental part of himself that he is completely It’s coming.” What has that experience been like for you? unhappy with and so, as happens in this, just See Boys, continued on p. 26 When I worked on “Hollywood” on the the right amount of things break the wrong It’s been heaven. As an actor, I’ll be honest 24 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 25 ® Boys Continued from p. 24

you are. That’s where we leave Michael, with Harold telling him, “You will always be a homosexual. There’s nothing you can do to change it.” And we don’t see Michael transition into a healthier, self-loving person, but the more I think about it, the more I think that if he’s truly a stand-in for Mart, then that’s where Michael goes. Maybe he goes off to write his “Boys in the Band.” It’s interesting to me to think that the film, when it was released in 1970, before the lexicon of LGBTQ identities expanded, resonated with an especially niche group of people. And that was, specifically, gay men. Now, that specific demographic seems almost antiquated because identity is far less restrictive. One of the things I’m realizing – and please understand that so many things that I’m realizing I’m realizing them in the moment as we are now able to talk about the release of this film and the evolution that this story that Mart created Jim Parsons (left), with Andrew Rannells, in “The Boys in the Band.” has gone through – that no writer or anybody could predict Photo: Netflix because you don’t know what’s going to happen in the world. language spoken. I don’t know if it’s all gay men all over the Stonewall happened shortly after “Boys in the Band.” It was a planet. All gay people. I don’t know if it’s strictly specific to moment that created a real backlash from the gay community a gay American male. I will say it’s the only time I’ve gone against “Boys in the Band,” and for all the complaints, the to curtain call and repeatedly – and I don’t even know why main one was, “We don’t want to be represented like this, as because I hate saying this, but I’m like, “Hey heney!” I mean, unhappy, self-hating, have-to-hide at-home (people).” And I I never talk like that. Ha! But every once in a while, I would totally understand that. Especially in that infantile time, that grab Zach Quinto’s hand on stage before the bow and I’d go, embryo of this independence starting to form, you need all “Hi heney!” the nutrition you can get, ha! But because of the efforts of so many, we have come far Ryan Murphy has said we need more stories about the history of enough that we are more than OK to look at an honest LGBTQ people. Aside from starring in “Boys in the Band” this year, portrayal of a real side of what it was to be gay. And even you are producing the LGBTQ docudrama “Equal” for HBO Max. though it’s not as intense in this way, there’s residual (issues). What are some other LGBTQ stories you would like to see revived One of the things I discovered going through this and for new generations of LGBTQ people to experience? having the luxury to spend so much time with this part, both in the play and in the movie, was how much of those feelings That’s hard to say. You know what’s funny to me, and I don’t that I thought I didn’t really have because of my age and the know what this says about me, exactly – well, it says that I’m a acceptance in the world. Bullshit. I do. I do. It’s not as intense. child of privilege, that I’m a gay man of privilege living in the It’s a different world. But it’s not gone completely. And there world that I’ve grown up in. But I’ve been so fortunate that is still a part of me that, as a gay person, I see more clearly the people that I’ve worked with have called on me to be a having played Michael for so long. (I’m) still dealing with – part of these things, whether it was “Normal Heart” or “Boys and it’s truly OK, consciously I know this – but there’s that in the Band.” Even “Equal” was something that was being little voice inside sometimes that still goes, “Am I enough? created and thought of and they included me in on it. So I Am I OK?” have been blessed with this story lesson since I was, again, just too privileged and going about my own daily business in I recognize that, with my very good friends especially, there’s a order to go research on my own. language that we speak with each other that’s tart-tongued and But I guess my answer is twofold: I don’t know what the lovingly bitchy. I’m wondering if the way these gay men talk to next story is that should be revived, and the second thing is each other on-screen translated off-screen since you worked with that I do realize the importance because of the impact that it’s a cast of all gay men. had on me being exposed to these stories, and a strength and a well-roundness that I feel as a gay man by understanding (Smiles.) You know what? I don’t know if it was because of more specifically the historical context within which I walk as who we are or because of the time we’re living – ha! – or a gay man in 2020 now. It’s crucial for making me the person because we were actually working together: It was certainly I am. not as biting; it’s a lot kinder, although Charlie, sweet thing, And I get sweaty palms at the thought of, were it not for the may disagree. He takes a beating from us! But you know sliding-door moments of these people asking me to do this, I what? That’s youth, and that’s what you get. Ha! might miss it, or not understand it, or feel it the way that I do But no, definitely, it was one of the most profound things now. So I hope that these projects go out to people and give a about going through this process, and I’m not even speaking similar level of that. I don’t want to say education because it’s about whether or not this is reflected in the final product on entertainment and I want people to watch it, for Christ’s sake. film. I’m really talking about my own personal experience of Ha! But I hope that we’ve portrayed it in a way that is realistic working on this: I feel we have the luxury now of not needing and humanizing enough that you can’t help but get the point. for safety and for personal comfort to be surrounded by your tribe of gay men. Many people have plenty of gay friends, and As editor of Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi so many people solely, but it’s not for the same reasons in my has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl opinion that it would’ve been in the late ’60s, early ’70s where Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared it was like, “Truly, we have to stick together.” That’s wonderful. in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach But what I realized working with these guys is there’s a him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi. 26 BTL | October 15, 2020 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | October 15, 2020 27 Deep Inside Hollywood BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE Tessa Thompson finds Jazz ‘Boys In The Band’ star Robin Age romance in ‘Sylvie’s de Jesús goes ‘Boom’ Love’ What we love most in this life is a real queen, Cue up our enthusiasm for “Sylvie’s Love.” someone whose flashing discoball personality Written and directed by Eugene Ashe (director you can feel from miles away. And if you of the 2012 indie feature “Homecoming”), it watched the recent Netflix update of “The Boys stars queer fave Tessa Thompson and former In The Band,” you saw “Camp” star Robin de NFL All-Pro player-turned-actor Nnamdi Jesus, then you witnessed Asomugha as lovers in 1957 a queenly performance of New York. She dreams of extravagant proportions. working in TV and he’s a Rooting for this three- struggling jazz saxophonist. time Tony nominated When circumstances separate actor is one of our hobbies them and pull them in different and we’re thrilled to see directions, they become mutual him included in the cast of “One(s) That Got Away.” Fast the upcoming directorial forward many years later to a debut from Lin-Manuel reunion and one more chance Miranda, “Tick, Tick… for romance. The film co- Boom!” Based on the semi- stars Eva Longoria, Wendi autobiographical stage McLendon-Covey (“The musical from “Rent” creator Goldbergs”), Aja Naomi King Jonathan Larson, the story (“How To Get Away with concerns an aspiring theater Murder”), and Jemima Kirke (“Girls”). Amazon drops this composer approaching 30 Tessa Thompson. Photo: KathClick and despairing that he might one on Christmas Day, and with not realize his dreams (no the period setting and the promise spoilers intended, but we’re going to assume of that kind of only-in-the-movies romance, it it has a happy ending). The cast for this one sounds like the perfect gift. is impressive: de Jesús is joined by Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Vanessa Hudgens, Meet Sam Jay, Late Night Bradley Whitford and Judith Light. It’s all just getting underway right now, so maybe by the Host time it’s ready to hit a big screen… well, you It’s very possible you aren’t aware of Sam Jay. know. The Black lesbian stand-up comic has appeared on Netflix’s “The Comedy Lineup” and starred Kaley Cuoco takes off in ‘The in her own Comedy Central special, before getting her own Netflix standup special in 2020, Flight Attendant’ “Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning.” But in a world Like so many experiences with air travel, of too many TV choices, you might still have “The Flight Attendant” hit some pretty major missed her. It’s more likely that you know her turbulence. The new Kaley Cuoco-starring work as a writer on “Saturday Night Live” as limited series based on the novel of the same the co-creator of the recurring sketch, “Black name by Chris Bohjalian and executive Jeopardy.” Well, you’ll soon be able to see her produced by Greg Berlanti (“Love, Simon”), work on HBO as the host of an as-yet-untitled was in the middle of shooting its first season for late night series – one executive produced HBO Max when the COVID shutdown began. by “Insecure” showrunner Prentice Penny – Then in late August production resumed on where she’ll dissect culture and politics from the remaining episodes for a future air date. her unique perspective. Currently, Peacock The story involves Cuoco’s flight attendant is streaming another late night format show waking up in Dubai on a layover, with a hosted by a Black woman, “The Amber Ruffin hangover and a dead body lying next to her. Show,” which means all we need now is for Unable to remember the night before, she another platform to do the same thing for begins to think she might be the killer. We this to become the trend it always should have love a murder mystery and we also love it when been. For now at least it’s a welcome future a sitcom powerhouse changes up her career disruption in the late night world of seemingly with something unsavory. The supporting endless white dudes. Jay’s HBO bow takes place cast includes Rosie Perez, Bebe Neuwirth, sometime in 2021. our favorite “Girls” “girl” Zosia Mamet and the return of “Grey’s Anatomy”’s T.R. Knight. Romeo San Vicente demands lesbian domination So we’ll be streaming along when this one in all areas of entertainment. finally arrives, later than expected, sometime in November.

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