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THECENTRALVOICE.COM | SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 | FREE Not gay anymore What's really behind conversion therapy By Melinda Eash are somewhat older. Why would anyone seek reparative therapy? Who he LGBT community and its allies have wants to change their sexual orientation? There are several reasons. Historically there has Tbeen hearing about reparation therapy, been considerable negativity associated with being also known as conversion therapy, for years. any sexual orientation but straight. Homosexual or Just recently, Milton S. Hershey students bisexual individuals have frequently felt pressured made headlines alleging that they were ex- by their families and communities, especially certain religious communities to seek reparative therapy. If posed to reparative therapy techniques. those around you are homophobic and you believe you The premise of conversion therapy is that you can change someone’s sexual orientation or as the name Please see NOT GAY, page 17 suggests repair someone’s sexual orientation as if it were broken. There are those who would have you believe that this is a legitimate form of therapy and that it works. Is this really true? The first thing to understand about reparation therapy is that it suggests that there is something GAY wrong with homosexuality. Since 1975 the American Psychological Association up has affirmed that homosexuality is not a mental dis- POP order. The consensus of the health and mental health professionals is that homosexuality is a normal varia- tion of sexual orientation. This is not to say that some people may be confused about their feelings and/or sexual orientation and seek therapy to work through ART their feelings. It is also true that members of the YARN BOMBING ALONG LGBT community seek therapy for the same NOT THE BANKS OF THE reasons that straight people seek therapy. GAY SUSQUEHANNA RIVER Another myth not supported by scien- tific evidence is that people consciously Voice's camera was on the choose their sexual orientation. lookout for art and found In reality sexual orientation is it in the most unlikely more complex than some people places. assume. Not everyone is purely See WRAPPED UP, page 19 straight or gay. Some people’s sex- THE FIRST THING ual orientation has changed over their life time and others are truly TO UNDERSTAND bisexual. There is some scientific research to suggest differences ABOUT CONVERSION in the brain between those who identify as homosexual and those THERAPY IS THAT IT who identify as heterosexual which suggests that sexual SUGGESTS THAT THERE orientation is innate. Young IS SOMETHING WRONG children can know that their sexual orienta- WITH HOMOSEXUALITY. tion is different but not know how to label until they Proudly Serving HARRISBURG, LANCASTER & YORK!

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enthusiastically in post-World War II West Germany. a legal battle in 2007 and became the first official “It is good that, for many homosexuals, the stigma of female gondolier to row tourists around the lagoon INTERNATIONAL being criminal is finally being removed,” said Volker city. He wrote on Facebook: “It is inaccurate to refer Beck, a lawmaker with the opposition Greens and to me as ‘she’ or ‘Alexandra’ for any reason.” In the UNITED KINGDOM longtime campaigner for gay rights. “It is less good online post, Hai said he had mastered rowing “while MUST INCLUDE GAY BAR, DEVELOPERS TOLD that this won’t reach many, because they have died in in the body of a woman.” But he said he was not the meantime.” The legislation criminalizing homo- a woman “and the struggle of feminism is not my The Queen speaks: Gay bars in London are closing sexuality was introduced in the 19th century, tough- personal struggle. I simply want to do the work I’m down at such an “alarming” rate that the redevelop- ened under Nazi rule and retained in that form even passionate about.” ment of the Joiners Arms, an east London pub that by democratic West Germany, which convicted some counted Alexander McQueen, Rufus Wainwright and 50,000 men between 1949 and 1969. Homosexuality Wolfgang Tillmans among its regulars, will only get SOUTH KOREA was decriminalized in 1969 but the legislation wasn’t the go-ahead if it includes an LGBT club venue – and taken off the books entirely until 1994. DOZENS ARRESTED IN HOMOPHOBIC WITCH-HUNT the mayor’s office will send an inspector to make Speaking to CNN “Ser- sure it is gay enough. It is believed to be the first time geant A” didn’t want that the sexual orientation of a venue’s customers NETHERLANDS to give his real name, has been included as a condition of planning ap- TRUMP APPOINTS ANTI-GAY AMBASSADOR his exact rank or show proval. Trump appointed gay rights opponent Pete Hoeks- his face. He said he tra, one of the Tea Party’s founders, ambassador to was afraid the South CHURCH DEMANDS CONVERSION THERAPY BAN Netherlands, first country to legalize gay marriage. Korean military would The Church of Eng- Hoekstra once appeared in a campaign ad that was find out he was talking land Synod calls for accused of being racist. He has claimed that refugees to the media. He faces government to ban pose a threat to Europe. The Dutch newspaper De charges for having practice aiming to Volkskrant observed that Trump had “put a Dutch- sexual relations with change sexual orienta- man in the Netherlands – but it is a Dutchman from another man, a crime tion after hearing ex- the Netherlands of the 50s”. Hoekstra, who repre- within the South Korean military punishable by up periences of ‘spiritual sented Michigan’s 2nd congressional district in the to two years in prison. Sergeant A is part of a wider abuse’ in emotional House of Representatives from 1993 to 2011, was born investigation which human rights groups are calling debate, reports Reli- in the Netherlands but left when he was three years a homophobic witch-hunt, an accusation the military gion correspondent old. His nomination will need to be approved by the rejects. Homosexuality is not illegal for civilians Harriet Sherwood. The church’s governing body Dutch government and confirmed by the US Senate in South Korea but human rights groups say the overwhelmingly backed a motion saying conversion in order for him to take up the post. rights of sexual minorities are not always protected. therapy had ‘no place in the modern world’. The Investigators visited Sergeant A in March -- telling church has called on the government to ban conver- ISRAEL him they knew he was gay and his ex-partner had sion therapy and has condemned the practice, which already admitted their “crimes.” The military penal aims to change sexual orientation, as unethical and GAY COUPLES NOT ALLOWED TO ADOPT code bans homosexual activity under Article 92-6 “to potentially harmful. In response to a High keep the military community sound.” Conversion therapy is usually described as an at- Court petition, the tempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gen- Israeli state said that it TURKEY der identity. Some churches in the C of E and other was opposed to allow- denominations have encouraged LGBT members to ing same-sex couples to TEAR GAS PREVENTS INSTANBUL'S PRIDE take part in prayer sessions and other activities to adopt because it would While the US enjoyed rid them of their “sin”. One survey of the LGBT com- place an “additional uneventful Pride events munity indicates just under 40% of 553 respondents burden” on the child. all summer long, re- said they had undergone some form of conversion “The professional ports were that Turk- therapy. opinion of the Child ish police prevented Welfare Services supports preserving the existing people from gathering GERMANY situation” that the adopting couple be a man and in large numbers for a woman, the government wrote to the court. This Istanbul’s LGBT Pride MARRIAGE EQUALITY MEASURE PASSED “takes into account the reality of Israeli society evert. Even so, small The vote in the Bund- and the difficulty it may entail with regard to the groups held ad hoc estag to pass Marriage child being adopted.” Meretz’s Michal Rozin, who demonstrations despite Equality that took heads the Knesset’s LGBT lobby, Yael German of a ban issued by the governor. For several years, place around 3 a.m. Yesh Atid, Merav Michaeli of the Zionist Union and Pride Week in Istanbul attracted tens of thousands New York time June Kulanu’s Merav Ben Ari said in a statement that the of participants, making it one of largest gatherings 30 was 393 to 226 with decision was homophobic and showed the govern- celebrating LGBT rights and diversity in the Muslim 4 abstentions and 7 ment’s cynical use of the homosexual community. world. That changed suddenly in 2015, when authori- absences, reports Rex “This is a foolish and discriminatory decision that ties, citing security concerns, banned gay and trans- Wockner. Chancellor is accompanied by unprecedented homophobia,” gender pride events chasing away shocked partici- Angela Merkel voted ‘No’. The measure goes now they said. “In English they boast about [being a gay- pants trying to converge on central Taksim Square to the Bundesrat for a quick OK - a formality. Then friendly country], but in Hebrew they deny basic with tear gas and water cannons. to the President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for his rights.” signature. Germany will be the 23rd nation where same-sex couples can marry. ITALY NATIONAL CONVICTIONS TO BE ANNULED FOR GAY MEN GONDOLIER ANNOUNCES HE IS TRANSGENDER A gondolier, Alex Hai, Called “a late act of ARKANSAS’S UNEQUAL TREATMDENT THWARTED who made headlines justice,” German law- Declaring “Obergefell is crystal clear: marriage is a decade ago for be- makers have approved marriage, and equal is equal.” The US Supreme ing the first woman a plan to annul the con- court has overturned a decision of the Arkansas to enter the male- victions of thousands Supreme Court, in Pavan v. Smith, saying loud and dominated cadre of of gay men under a law clear that states may not treat same-sex married Venice’s canal rowers criminalizing homosex- couples differently than other married couples, has announced he is uality that was enforced transgender. Hai won Please see POLITICAL UPDATES, page 6 TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 3 Back to activist school? "We’re fond of calling Psychologist Melinda Eash, well- situations teachable known, longtime ally, unpacks the Publisher's controversy surrounding Conversion Voice moments. What about Therapy in "Not gay anymore: What's learnable moments?" really behind conversion therapy." The topic recently made local headlines for how emotions simmer when expressing being both banned and, some claim, used First Amendment rights. in the hope of changing sexuality. In "What’s happening in Chechnya?" "Getting to know a Muslim" looks at By Frank Louie Marven takes a second, closer the chaffed relationship between Muslim look at the dismal situation there for gay and gay communities. A local conference PUBLISHER & EDITOR Pizzoli people, where there are no Pride Parades I attended helped me to better under- Frank Pizzoli come Summer. [email protected] Under the Law and Justice Party at- stand that not all Muslims think we’re tacks against LGBT Polish citizens are evil. “What goes on in your bedroom ith Fall here and schools ART DIRECTOR on the rise. A. Chaber, executive director is between you and your god,” said one Louise Sukle Wopening doors again, is it of the Campaign Against Homophobia, Muslim fellow. Now if we can only get explains how LGBT activists are trying GRAPHIC DESIGNER the American Taliban to understand time for us to go back to activist to adapt. Julianna Sukle school? Or advocate or ally school Religion, an important aspect of life for that notion. many LGBT individuals, gets some time Finally, in our annual Pride Round- CARTOONIST or whatever activity sharpens center stage with a profile of Rev. Angela up Section, full of photographs of the Brad Gebhart your social justice pencil? T. Jones-Ramirez in "A rebel busts loose region’s three events plus photos from and finds her way to the pulpit." She CONTRIBUTING WRITERS other Pennsylvania, New York, and We’re fond of calling situations “teach- begins her tenure as Senior Pastor of Yvonne Carmichael able moments”. What about “learnable Vision of Hope Metropolitan Community international events, we are soberly re- Louie Marven moments”. Our never static world may Church (MCC) about seven miles east of minded that our Brothers and Sisters in Trum Simmons Terry Drew Karanen occasionally require us to regroup. Lancaster City. other parts of the world face violence and Laurie T. Baulig With a retooling in mind (following our In "Ministering to the wholeness and death. Police with tear gas and rubber publication and web site redesign), this holiness of LGBT Catholics" The Most bullets greeted many LGBT folks who SALES MANAGER issue covers a number of phenomena in Rev. Michael J. Scalzi, explains what wanted to be visible in the light of day. Dave Brown 717-944-4628 the world of “The Gay”. the Parish of Saint Joseph has to offer [email protected] "Anatomy of a demonstration," about a Catholics and non-Catholics alike. It’s not They need us. We need them to remain local protest rally and march, examines your parents’ Catholic Church. humble. ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Chris Thomas 717-919-1394 [email protected]

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4 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com Community Voices

End horse racing’s HUGELY HELPFUL Thank you so much for your support of the LGBT Community Center of Central Pennsylvania. The service you provide has been hugely helpful to the center. $2.7 billion taxpayer- Voice Megan E. Peterson, MS, FAB FULFILLING Box I just completed a 40 foot mural in Harrisburg under the auspices of Jump Street. My having been contacted for this funded windfall Notes from was partially due to the story Central Voice published about my our readers artistic work (March-April 20127, page 1). And for that I offer an Cutting wasteful subsidies tion. “Before considering any sort of tax endless ‘thank you’ because being involved in this project was increase, lawmakers should make sure one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. E-mail your thoughts must be part of budget existing revenue is spent on legitimate Artist Katie Trainer to [email protected] balancing discussion priorities.” Under current law, the state will send THE CENTRAL VOICE DIGITAL $250 million from assessments on slot Submitted by New website looks great! machines to the Race Horse Develop- The Commonwealth Foundation Adrian Shanker, Founder & Executive Director ment Fund this year—nearly one-third Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center of the state’s $800 million in corporate State government spends $800 mil- welfare spending. A Tribune-Review lion on taxpayer-funding giveaways to EASIER analysis found the bulk of the fund’s politically connected businesses each The new web site is cleaner and it’s easier to see what is in the prize money went to out-of-state horse year, according to The Commonwealth issue. owners, including at least $1 million to Foundation. As lawmakers and Gov. Anthony, a reader from Brooklyn the multi-billionaire vice president of Wolf debate ways to pay for the $32 bil- the United Arab Emirates. lion spending plan passed last week, EXACTLY Despite billions in subsidies, a Penn- Great job again on emphasizing exactly what I wanted to say! ending these wasteful subsidies must be sylvania Gaming Control Board report at the top of their solutions list—and the http://www.thecentralvoice.com/stories/trumps-trans- shows the horse racing industry in military-ban,522? horse racing industry’s massive windfall decline Kai N. Kelly, President should be first to go, the Foundation says. “State government has no business TheSpectrumAlliance.org Since 2006, state government has propping up the horse racing industry transferred an astonishing $2.7 billion on the backs of taxpayers,” continued of public money to the Race Horse De- Benefield. “Lawmakers and Gov. Wolf velopment Fund, which primarily funds must reduce unfair corporate welfare prizes at race tracks. spending before asking Pennsylvanians “Ending these outrageous subsidies for for one dollar more.” horse racing should be the first step to- Food for thought... ward balancing the budget,” commented The Commonwealth Foundation trans- Nathan Benefield, vice president and forms free-market ideas into public poli- CAN’T HAPPEN HERE COO for the Commonwealth Founda- cies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish. In 2004, Philip Roth, author of Portnoy’s Complaint, published The Plot Against America. He has said about his book that he never intended the story as a roman a clef on American politics. The book takes place in FDR’s time. Recently he was asked if he still thought a ‘plot’ and takeover wasn’t possible in the US. He replied in an email: “It is easier to comprehend the election of an imaginary President like Charles Lindbergh than an actual President like Donald Trump.” Despite his Nazi leanings and racist proclivities, Lindbergh had “character and substance”. “Trump is just a con artist,” Roth said. TIME WILL TELL Steve Phillips, a Democratic civil rights lawyer and political activist, is author of Brown Is the New White. He firmly believes that the future of the Democratic Party lies in America’s changing demographics - meaning the increasing numbers of African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans who are thought to form a progressive block of voters. Time will tell. INDIVISIBLE BUT INVISIBLE? Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, the resistance guide to President Donald Trumps election, says “Progressives don’t have agenda-setting power…but we have the power to respond to any bad thing Congress or the administration” does. Locally, Rachel Marks told The Central Voice “Climate change will impact here and around the world.” Along with about 450 other people, Mark is a member of Indivisible Hershey. Indivisible now has at least two groups in every congressional district in the US. NO ANSWER IS AN ANSWER? Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recently was back in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she made herself available for questions from local students and the press. During a visit to Grand Rapids Community College, De- Vos was asked if she would intervene if states offered vouchers to private schools that discriminated against LGBT students. She declined to answer or provide reassurance that taxpayer dollars would not be used to discriminate.

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 5 BRIEFS Former Voice columnist, Sweet goodbye About 70 people passed through a June 30 open running for Colorado senate house at Harrisburg’s LGBT Community Center bid- “Some of my earliest memories ding farewell to Louie Marven. He served as executive are of my mom pushing me in a director for nearly half the nine years he worked at the stroller at marches and rallies sup- center. Known throughout the region as a thoughtful, porting gay rights, women’s rights, level-headed leader, he was often the silent magician workers’ rights, good schools, and a behind the magic that took place in the community. safe planet,” Alan Kennedy-Shaffer Marven will be staying local and bringing his talents to says. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center, based Now enrolled as a Ph.D. student in Harrisburg under the auspices of the PA Coalition at University of Colorado, Denver, Against Rape. Kennedy-Shaffer is running as a Democrat in Senate District 34. He is the first to file to succeed Sen. Lucia Guzman, who is term limited in 2018. “We need progressive leaders who will fight for our Getting to know a Muslim rights,” he says. “That is why I sued Trump and why I “The clear message of ‘Love for all. Hatred for none.’ am running for the state senate. We are still fighting for came across loud and clear,” says The Central Voice justice for all, education for all, and healthcare for all.” editor and publisher Frank Pizzoli, (right) July 15 at Kennedy-Shaffer recently sued President Trump on an annual Muslim gathering with former Harrisburg behalf of Libyan student Zakaria Hagig to repeal the resident Salaam Bhatti (left). On the day after the Pulse travel ban. He won. His co-counsel, Morgan Carroll, shooting, Bhatti flew to Orlando at his own expense to is chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. The vic- donate blood. tory made the Denver Post, Washington Post, and New 6,000 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community York Times. USA assembled in Harrisburg to celeb rate the 69th Jalsa Kennedy-Shaffer is known locally as founder of Salana USA. The gathering also included an Interfaith Harrisburg Hope, a viable public venue through which Dinner to which Central Voice was an invited guest. public and elected officials addressed issues facing a This year’s theme was Justice, Kindness and Kinship: financially challenged City of Harrisburg. An Islamic and American Imperative. The Jalsa Salana He is graduated from Yale University and William & is an annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mary Law School. Community worldwide. These conventions focus on Kennedy-Shaffer also wrote columns on Harrisburg establishing peace in the community. Also present Hope for The Central Voice. for the evening was Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse. Take me out to the ballgame From page 3 The York Revolution hosted the York area’s first Political Updates LGBTQ Pride Night on Wednesday, June 14. The night featured a pre-game ceremony honoring local LGBTQ community leaders and advocates and LGBTQ mem- including when it comes to issuing two-parent birth incumbent is undermining our access to health- bers of the armed forces, a parade around the field certificates to children born to same-sex spouses. care and failing to support local solutions, the race featuring rainbow flags presented by Equality Fest, a Lambda Legal filed a friend-of-the-court brief in isn’t about him. It’s about honoring the sacrifices proclamation presented by York Mayor Kim Bracey, support of the same-sex families and praised the Oregonians make for their families and our coun- performances by the Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus Court’s action. “This decisive ruling is strong medi- try, she says.” She is dedicated to discussing those and UCC Open and Affirming Singers, and more. cine for states and others that think they can resist concerns with as many voters as possible in person. Equality Fest Founder and President Carla Christo- the full equality due to same-sex couples and their From Grant’s Pass to Pendleton, McLeod-Skinner is pher said LGBTQ Pride Night welcomes York County children, mandated as the law of the land in the Su- traveling the district every day and urging people to LGBTQ community members “to be exactly who they preme Court’s landmark Obergefell decision issued visit her along the way. were born to be” as they take in the fun of a Revolu- exactly two years ago today,” said Susan Sommer, tion game. Associate Legal Director and Director of Constitu- tional Litigation for Lambda Legal. PENNSYLVANIA MCCLEOD-SKINNER RUNS FOR CONGRESS Jamie McLeod-Skin- BILL IMPROVES VETERAN SERVICES ner announced a run State Reps. Jared Solomon, D-Phila., and Matt for the Democratic Gabler, R-Clearfield/Elk, are promoting H.B. 1231, Party nomination in legislation that would improve and support services Oregon’s expansive for veterans across Pennsylvania. The bill awaits Congressional Dis- consideration by the House following unanimous trict 2. A lesbian, she adoption by the House Veterans Affairs and Emer- is a former city man- gency Preparedness Committee. “The Department ager, city planner, city of Military and Veterans Affairs is already manag- councilor, wartime ing a registry that does a great job of engaging our program manager in servicemen and women by coordinating informa- Kosovo, and Ashland tion on federal, state and local government benefits, High track alumna. Says McLeod-Skinner: “Govern- programs and services that are available for them,” ment needs to know when to help, and when to get Solomon said. “Unfortunately, the registry current- out of the way. Our region needs an active champion ly reaches less than 1 percent of our servicemen and for rural communities and progressive solutions.” women. House Bill 1231 would expand the registry’s McLeod-Skinner will focus on jobs, economic reach by bringing other agencies into the process of growth, and healthcare. She is the latest in a grow- identifying veterans who stand to benefit.” Current- ing field of challengers competing for the Demo- ly, the DMVA’s online registry lists roughly 7,000 of cratic Party nomination to challenge longtime the over 894,000 veterans in Pennsylvania. incumbent Congressman Greg Walden. “While the

6 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com Health & Wellness

he LGBT Community Center in Manhattan’s of The New York Times,” Freedman said, explaining Greenwich Village was filled with stories, that the so-called paper of record failed to cover the Bringing the T epidemic as it unfolded, in part because of the stigma laughs and a few tears on June 23 as current and prejudice against the people who were getting sick. journalists honored editors and reporters who Freedman said one of the first New York Times stories about the AIDS crisis was called “Rare Cancer Seen in committed their careers to chronicling the AIDS AIDS epidemic 41 Homosexuals” and ran months late. What’s worse, it epidemic, with some of them losing their battle to wasn’t until three years after the epidemic was widely the disease. The Bodies on the Line memorial also known that an HIV story made it to the front page of out of the closet the Times. marked the launch of the HIV Reporting Scholar- The subject was easier to overlook, Freedman said, Journalists remembered for barrier- ship, to be known as The Kiki. because in the early ’80s many gay people, including breaking coverage during a time when Anne-christine d’Adesky, an investigative journalist journalists, were still closeted. Those who were gay or and documentary filmmaker who reported on the AIDS had personal experiences with AIDS would not bring gays lived in fear of being ostrasized or epidemic for various New York publications (including up the topic at work for fear of being ostracized or fired for being HIV positive POZ), cohosted the event, which coincides with the fired. Schmalz was outed as gay when he collapsed in 30th anniversary of ACT UP and AIDS activism. She the Times newsroom from an HIV-related seizure on December 21, 1990, and was later diagnosed with AIDS. By Jillian Holness also penned a memoir, published earlier this year and titled The Pox Lover: An Activist’s Decade in New York After months of treatment, Freedman said, Schmalz and Paris. came back not only as the same talented and ambitious “Many of these journalists were extraordinary be- but also as someone with a righteous mission, who asked cause they pioneered what they were going to write to cover the AIDS beat. about,” d’Adesky said at the Center. “They pioneered “No one had ever written the full human pageant of how they were going to cover it, and often they them- this epidemic,” Freedman said. “Jeff caught that story selves were struggling with or dying of AIDS.” at a moment where it was clear that [AIDS wasn’t going After welcoming the audience, d’Adesky gave a brief to be] just a story of marginal people. It was beginning lineup of the afternoon’s program and introduced key- to invade the whole society.” note speaker Samuel G. Freedman, a New York Times Freedman said Schmalz’s 35 AIDS articles seemed columnist and professor at Columbia University who like a thousand because of the way he was able to bear paid tribute to his mentor and friend Jeff Schmalz, a witness for a diverse group of people living with the writer and editor at The New York Times who died in 1993. disease. “It became clear that every mainstream news “Jeff was part of a really terrible period in the history Please see REMEMBERING, page 9 T:10.25” T:6.25”

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By Louie Marven trouble spots. “We don’t have those kinds of people here. Human Rights Watch believes that Editor’s Note: In our July-August issue, “though no such thing has been admitted Louie Marven looked into reports of vio- If there are any, take them to Canada." by either Russian or Chechen officials in lence and death directed against LGBT the public domain, it’s clear that as a re- individuals in the Russian territory of Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic sult of the unprecedented international Chechnya. We wanted readers to have outcry, the Kremlin instructed Chech- a handle on how to evaluate fact-based sian gay men were also in the audience besides the hotline is assistance with im- nya’s leadership to call off the purge.” versus ‘fake’ news. In a second article, but for security purposes remained out migration; Chechnya is a very specific While the round up appears to have Marven digs deeper into the advocacy of of view of cameras or recording devices. region and it would be impossible to go stopped, Chechen officials have some the Russia LGBT Network. As an affinity organization Russia there and provide legal help. In Chech- disturbing things to say about the situ- LGBT Network by April 1 had started nya, there are no LGBT activists and it’s ation. In a July 20 interview with ABC In Chechnya, what we know about receiving letters from around 80 people impossible to be an open LGBT person. News Nightline, Head of the Chechen LGBT lives only scratches the surface. in Chechnya. The people contacting the As of May 2017, the Network helped Republic Ramzan Kadyrov denied the According to the Russia LGBT Net- Network gave differing accounts: some emigrate about 60 people from Chechnya. existence of gay people in Chechnya: work, at the end of March 2017, advo- reported having been tortured and some For those who have left Chechnya, it “We don’t have those kinds of people cates started seeing messages on social reporting witnessed others being tor- is not safe for them to stay in Russia. here,” Kadyrov said. “If there are any, networking sites. People were writing tured, beaten, and even killed. The Network has been in conversations take them to Canada. Praise be to God. about mass detention of gay and bi men According to Human Rights Watch, in some other countries, but there are Take them far from us so we don’t have in Chechnya, and the Network wasn’t “local security officials rounded up doz- very few who are willing to take those them at home. To purify our blood, if sure if it was true or not. As a precau- ens of men on suspicion of being gay, refugees. Many who have fled are hid- there are any here, take them. tionary measure, they followed up with held them in secret detention for days, ing under precarious circumstances in “They are devils,” he continued. “They an investigation with other human rights humiliated, starved, and tortured them. central Russia. are for sale. They are not people.” organizations in the region and created Most returned home barely alive from The Network says that homosexuality He even suggested that if Chechen a hotline. beatings and electrocutions.” is hugely stigmatized in Chechnya. There families took matters into their own Eventually, many sources confirmed The people who have been contacting is such a thing as honor killings. Rela- hands, authorities would look the other the reports to be true. the Network don’t know if they can trust tives have hunted down family members way. By June 24 as part of NYC Pride, activ- it or if it’s a front by the government believed to be gay or bisexual. And when “If we have such people here, then I’m ist Masha Gesson had convened a panel to locate and persecute gay men. Even it comes to the legal authorities, Russian telling you officially, their relatives won’t of Russian advocates from the Moscow though they don’t know who is really government and law enforcement agen- let them be because our faith, our men- Community Center who discussed their answering the hotline, their situation is cies would speak about what’s happening tality, customs and traditions,” Kadyrov efforts to assist Chechen LGBT individu- so desperate that they don’t have other in Chechnya if it wasn’t for the interna- said. “Even if it’s punishable under law, als. They spoke to an overflow crowd. A options. tional community’s solidarity with the small delegation of Chechnyian and Rus- The only thing the Network can provide LGBT communities there and in other Please see CHECHNYA, page 24

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8 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com REMEMBERING: Journalists honored for AIDS coverage From page 7 organization had to have their own AIDS reporter,” Freedman said. “Everyone had to have their own Jeff Schmalz.” Other writers and artists shared similar tributes to, among others, a cartoonist, an essayist, an editor of novels and a woman who produced what is believed to be the first newsletter for women living with HIV. After the tributes, journalist Frank Pizzoli, who has written for POZ, announced the launch of the Kiki scholarship for HIV reporting. The scholarship is nicknamed after Curtis “Kiki” Mason, a columnist for POZ magazine who helped pioneer HIV cancer trials and died of AIDS-related complications in 1996. The scholarship will be awarded to a reporter focused on HIV coverage and will IMPROVING be administered and sponsored annually by NLGJA—The Association of LGBTQ Journalists. YOUR HEALTH The journalists honored at Bodies on KIYOSHI KUROMIYA, of the free the Line and those who paid tribute internet access program the Criti- to them: cal Path Project, was honored by JD Davids. WELCOMING ALL Alder Health Services improves the health and well-being of individuals living with HIV/AIDS and members of the JEFF SCHMALZ, of The New York COOKIE MUELLER, of Details and LGBTQ community by providing a culturally competent and affirming Times, was honored by Samuel G. East Village Eye, was honored by Ann Freedman. Rower. environment that empowers the people we serve.

JOSEPH BEAM, editor of the Black/ ASSOTTO SAINT, poet and editor of Out journal and the In the Life anthol- the anthology The Road Before Us and OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: ogy, was honored by Charles Rice- author of the autobiographical an- González. thology Spells of a Voodoo Doll, was • Case Management • Primary Care honored by Anne-christine d’Adesky. • Health Education • HIV/STD Screening CRAIG HARRIS, editor of the In the • Mental Health and Treatment Life anthology, was honored by Linda DANNY SOTOMAYOR, of the Windy Villarosa. City Times, was honored by Anthony For more information or to volunteer, please call Viti. 717-233-7190 or visit www.alderhealth.org. MICHAEL CALLEN, of PWA Coalition Newsline, was honored by Bob Lederer MICHELLE WILSON, of the Positive and John Riley. Woman newsletter, was honored by Liz Highleyman. PAUL RYKOFF COLEMAN, of Out- week, was honored by Mark Burdett. MAX ROBINSON, of ABC World News, was honored by A. Toni Young. IRIS DE LA CRUZ, of PWA Coali- tion Newsline, was honored by Sarah CURTIS “KIKI” MASON, of POZ mag- Schulman. azine, was honored by Frank Pizzoli.

MIKE HIPPLER, of Bay Area Reporter, The Bodies on the Line event was was honored by Mark Schoofs. cosponsored by the NLGJA, HIVand- Hepatitis.com, Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, PrideLife and TheBody.com, with support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF).

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• Hormone therapy (HRT) and other transition care • Therapeutic counseling services • Chest/breast and lower/pelvic exams • STI and HIV screenings • Routine gynecological care • Abortion care to 23 weeks • Birth control and permanent sterilization Anne-christine d’Adesky, an The Central Voice publisher and editor investigative journalist and Frank Pizzoli addressed the AIDS • Novasure uterine ablation for heavy periods documentary filmmaker who reported Journalists Memorial Event honoring • Laser hair removal on the AIDS epidemic for various pioneering journalists who dies of AIDS publications, cohosted the Bodies on and others reporting on the epidemic. the Line: AIDS Journalists Memorial Pizzoli announced an HIV Scholarship 31 S. Commerce Way, Suite 100 Event, which coincides with the Fund for HIV reporters, named after Bethlehem, PA 18017 30th anniversary of ACT UP and Curtis “Kiki” Mason (from Pittsburgh) to (484) 821- 0821 or (877) DIAL- AWC AIDS activism. She also penned a be administered by the National Gay & www.allentownwomenscenter.com memoir, published earlier this year Lesbian Journalist Association and co- and titled The Pox Lover: An Activist’s sponsored by The Knight Foundation and Decade in New York and Paris. Elton John AIDS Fund.

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 9 OUT & ABOUT Voted COMMUNITY EVENTS HELD AROUND THE MIDSTATE No rhinestones on these cowboys Simply The Keystone State Gay Rodeo rode into Harrrisburg in June. Both men and women, members of the LGBTQ community and their straight allies, competed equally in rodeo events including bull riding, barrel racing, the Best chute dogging, steer decorating and goat dressing. A portion of the rodeo proceeds will go directly to charity. 7 Years Gov. invites LGBT community to his house

BEDFORD STREET ANTIQUES LLC 44 N. Bedford St., Carlisle, PA 17013 717-241-5309 Mon. - Sat. 10-7; Sun. 10-5 Gov. Tom Wolf invited members of the state’s LGBT community to a reception bedfordstreetantiques.com at the Governor’s Residence on Front Street in Harrisburg on July 31. Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus and the Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus entertained. Assembled at the affair where nearly 100 individuals who have or currently play vital roles in the life of the gay community.

Stepping up to march for equality

On June 11, 90 cities including Harrisburg, held Equality marches and/or rallies reaffirming gains made in recent years with LGBT civil rights. Harrisburg’s rally and march was organized under the auspices of the region’s LGBT Community Center. Harrisburg’s event drew about 100 people – gay people, allies, and others.

Movie screening about gay life in the 70s

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10 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com Grass roots battles Trump- American politics, dark glamour Pence agenda Salman Rushdie calls his new novel "social realist" he hopes will be his career-making film. SR: Yes, I was trying to make a portrait In an new offensive against the Nero Golden lives with his three adult of a particular moment in American Trump-Spence agenda, including sons: agoraphobic, alcoholic Petya, a life, the last eight years or so. The story brilliant recluse with a tortured mind; takes place in New York City and I try Pennsylvania, The Human Rights Apu, the flamboyant artist, sexually and to smell what’s in the air. That was one Campaign (HRC) has announced a spiritually omnivorous; D, the youngest part. The other part is a story about this bold, proactive grassroots expansion son, who harbors an explosive secret crazy family which I probably had in my even from himself; and a Russian beauty head for a while before I even had the with the launch of HRC Rising. named Vasilisa, who comes along and family come to New York. I just brought HRC Rising is a campaign to accelerate seduces Nero with high aspirations of the two together. progress in states from coast-to-coast, her own. René is quickly drawn into their resist the politics of hate, fight anti- inner circle, becoming privy to their CV: Is Nero Golden a composite? LGBTQ legislation, and fuel pro-equality tortured secrets, infidelities and crimes. SR: He comes from the particular candidates and initiatives. Outside “the Gardens,” America is background of the Indian Super Rich. I “It’s not enough to resist the hateful facing radical political change—the know some of those people. Nero is not policies and attacks coming from the rise of the Tea Party, identity politics, based on someone in particular but he is Trump-Pence regime -- we’ve got to and backlash against political cor- also not a composite. I think he’s pretty accelerate the pace of progress toward rectness. While on the brink of a new much himself. full equality and secure protections for presidency, an insane, narcissistic LGBTQ people in states and communities presidential candidate known as only CV: All great cultures have their mad across the country” said HRC President The Joker grows stronger and stronger, men. Rome, Germany, now the US? Chad Griffin. and the country is turned upside-down. Is this our post-Cold War dark age? “Our grassroots army of over 3 mil- Salman Rushdie is the author of lion has proven that, even in the face of twelve previous novels - including SR: It’s certainly darkened pretty unprecedented challenges, we can make the controversial The Satanic Verses, fast in the last six months. I’d actually incredible progress and defeat the hateful Haroun and The Sea of Stories, The thought the last eight years, for a lot of politicians who’ve been emboldened by By Frank Pizzoli Moor’s Last Sigh, The Ground Beneath reasons, were a time of considerable optimism. And the changing of that Donald Trump when we organize and Her Feet, Fury, Shalimar the Clown, The optimism of 2008 to its antithesis in the mobilize. The power and determination Enchantress of Florence, Luka and the mesmerizing new novel, The present is wat I was trying to capture. of the 10 million LGBTQ voters and our Fire of Life, and Two Years Eight Months allies across America will only continue Golden House, from New York and Twenty-Eight Nights - and one col- A CV: Regarding Muslims and the GLBT to grow stronger in the face of discrimina- Times bestselling author Salman lection of short stories: East, West. He tory attacks on our rights and freedoms.” has also published four works of nonfic- communities in Muslim nations, are Rushdie, is set in New York City The launch of HRC Rising comes tion - Joseph Anton, The Jaguar Smile, there divisions below the surface? For a after a year in which HRC significantly against the backdrop of modern Imaginary Homelands, and Step Across few, some, many are same-sex relations are okay? Do queers represent the expanded its grassroots engagement American politics and culture with This Line - and co-edited two antholo- and proved that the ten million LGBTQ gies, Mirrorwork and Best American Decadent West? So they must be thrown voters in America -- five percent of all dark glamour and intrigue reminis- Short Stories 2008. He is a member of from buildings, stoned, honor killed by voters -- are one of the most important cent of The Great Gatsby. the American Academy of Arts and family? and effective voting blocs in the nation. Letters and a Distinguished Writer in SR: I think there’s a lot of prejudice In Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wis- and people in the transgender commu- On the day of Residence at New York University. A consin, Arizona, and Nevada, HRC will nity face obstacles. Barack Obama’s former president of PEN American make an especially strong, early push I grew up in Bombay and where inauguration, an Center, Rushdie was knighted in 2007 to organize against the Trump-Pence for services to literature. there’s always been quite a substantial enigmatic, power- agenda and support pro-equality candi- Check online at www.thecentralvoice. transgender community. I’ve spent time ful billionaire from dates in coming elections. com for full interview after Sept. 11. in that community listening to their foreign shores Mobilizing “equality voters” will be stories and hearing the convictions of takes up residence their lives. That was for me one of the crucial to making future gains because Central Voice: What did you hope to of their reliable support and consistently in “the Gardens,” starting points to start writing about an achieve with The Golden House? high turnout. Despite Clinton’s loss in a sheltered, gated increasingly sexual subject of gender last year’s presidential election, the community in New Salman Rushdie: I wanted to tell a good identity. Here in New York, I’ve had a results reinforced the importance of the York’s Greenwich story. My previous novel was kind of a couple of friends who have transitioned. LGBTQ vote for delivering key states. Village. The neighborhood is a bubble fairy tale deal and I thought I would try One in each direction, male to female The launch of HRC Rising repre- within a bubble, and the residents are to write an opposite novel with a large, and female to male. That’s been another sents the opening of another front in immediately intrigued by the eccentric panoramic view, a social realist novel. starting point for me. HRC’s fight against the Trump-Pence Golden family. One of these said neigh- So that was my starting point. agenda, and draws on one of the great- bors and our guide is René, an ambitious Salman Rushdie appears Sept. 29, 7-9 est strengths of the organization: its young filmmaker, who befriends the CV: So that was your use of realism p.m. at Harrisburg’s Midtown Scholar more than 3 million highly-engaged mysterious family in an artistic oppor- with references to film, the arts and Bookstore to discuss his new novel The members, supporters, volunteers and tunity to make them the subject of what literature? Golden House. activists in virtually every community coast-to-coast. One of the models for the HRC Rising U.S. INDIAN TRIBES There are 566 U.S. Indian • Coquille Indian Tribe in • Pokagon Band of Potawa- • Oneida Tribe in Wisconsin initiative has been HRC’s successful tribes and they are not Oregon (2009) tomi Indians in Michigan (2015) • Mashantucket (Western) (2013) • Keweenaw Bay Indian Com- Project One America program, which covered by the U.S. Su- Pequot Tribal Nation in Con- • Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel munity in Michigan (2015) launched in 2014 with the goal of dramati- Where is preme Court ruling that necticut (2010) in California (2013) • Confederated Tribes of Si- cally expanding LGBTQ equality in the • Suquamish Tribe in Wash- • Cheyenne and Arapaho letz Indians in Oregon (2015) legalized same-sex mar- ington (2011) Tribes in Oklahoma (2013) • Confederated Tribes of South through permanent campaigns same-sex riage nationwide. At least • Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe • Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Grand Ronde in Oregon in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. 20 tribes, listed here, have in Washington (2012) in Minnesota (2013) (2015) Since the program’s launch, several cities • Little Traverse Bay Bands • Puyallup Tribe of Indians in • Oglala Sioux Tribe in South marriage legalized same-sex mar- of Odawa Indians in Michigan Washington (2014) Dakota (2016) and towns have passed comprehensive, riage to date. A number of (2013) • Eastern Shoshone Tribe and • Cherokee Nation in Okla- trans-inclusive non-discrimination others follow the marriage • Confederated Tribes of Northern Arapaho Tribe in homa (2016) legal? the Colville Reservation in Wyoming (2014) • Osage Nation in Oklahoma protections -- including in Jackson and law of the state in which Magnolia, Mississippi. Washington (2013) • Tlingit and Haida Indian (2017) by Rex Wockner they are located. Tribes in Alaska (2015)

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 11 Anatomy of a civil rights confrontation How far should one go to negate the other's message?

By Frank Pizzoli I don’t care who you love.” Several people held up a banner from If all US citizens have the right to free the Harrisburg Socialist Party. speech, then what are their responsibili- Passersby in cars tooted horns and ties when expressing themselves? waved in support of the rally. Answers to this question are at the Also attending the event was a man crossroads of understanding what took with a protest sign boasting a message place in June on the steps of the State that was not in sync with the rally’s mis- Capitol in Harrisburg. sion. His sign was anti-immigrant, called What are our responsibilities when expressing ourselves? Tempers flared at a June LGBT civil rights rally held on the steps of the state Capitol. An anti-gay, anti-Muslim protester On June 11, 90 cities including Har- for gay “Moslems” to “get” more Pulse clashed with rally-goers leading to an incident where a young woman was hurt. Anthony risburg held Equality marches and/or shootings. Muslim individuals addressed (on right) tried to intervene, telling the protestor, “This is not a safe spot for you.” rallies reaffirming gains made in recent the event in solidarity with gay issues. years with LGBT civil rights. Rally day crowd chatter indicated some In promoting the events, organizers attendees “thought” he had participated backs on LGBT civil rights, a suicide, invitation was to go into the street. “We nationwide felt renewed efforts were in Harrisburg anti-Muslim protest one and a mixed crowd with no credible way clarified that we meant discussion over necessary. They cited advances made day prior to the Equality rally. to determine who was there or why, it’s coffee,” Tony explained. under former President Barack Obama’s fair to say emotions were at peak levels. At one point, Anthony, a rally attendee administration, mostly through Execu- Anatomy of the crowd from Lebanon, said he intervened by tive Order, that are being reversed under Attendees do not “register” at public Then came this – telling the protestor “This is not a safe President Donald Trump. events like this rally and march, so it is After rescuing his sign, the ‘Pulse’ spot for you. You are outnumbered.” He Harrisburg’s rally and march was difficult to determine with any specificity protestor entered into the rally’s ‘permit- says, “I respect everyone’s opinion but organized under the auspices of the re- who’s actually there and for what reason. ted’ area. There he mingled with ralliers he [the protester] was not safe. That was gion’s LGBT Community Center. Attendees and speakers also reflected and eventually tussled with Cassidy, my concern.” The center’s event permit issued by the what is called “Intersectional” repre- a rally-goer. There are three videos of “When so many people I know cannot Capitol Police included the Capitol steps sentation, a popular word to describe, their interaction: A YouTube video, a be themselves, and I’m a gay man myself, and immediately adjacent areas like the for example, when LGBT and Muslim Facebook video and a third video from we’ve all been through so much bullying sidewalk leading up to the steps at Third or other groups come together at the the Capitol Police security tape. and harassment, myself included, well, and State streets. “intersections” of their lives. The word (Go to TheCentralVoice.com for links I wasn’t going to let the protestor harass Harrisburg’s event drew about 100 also means that speakers address issues to videos.} anyone or be harassed,” Anthony said. people – gay people, allies, and others. as they effect real people. They recognize Two online videos show Cassidy taking that some lesbians are also immigrants. the anti-gay protestor’s sign from him. Accounts of the incident differ Observing the rally Or that some gay men are also people of “We wanted to negate his message,” Social media chatter about the inci- Across the street from the Capitol steps color, often abbreviated as POC in blogs Cassidy said. “Then he put his sign in dent referred to ‘punches’ – allegedly were two young men who had attended and social media postings. front of me. I tried to take it from him, delivered from the sign carrier to Cas- a Catholic Mass at nearby St. Patrick’s In other words, in a world of identity and he knocked me to the ground, I was sidy – that are ei- Cathedral. One held a Bible in his hand politics an individual often has multiple bleeding from my ear, I’m still nervous,” ther not captured, open to a page which referred to homo- identities. These multiple identities meet Cassidy told The Central Voice shortly not visible or did sexuality as an abomination. The other at the “intersections” of social justice after the incident. not occur since young man said, “I wish the government and public policy making. Cassidy tells The Central Voice that punches cannot would stay out of everyone’s private life. they (Cassidy chooses to be identified be seen on the two Mood of the crowd by the pronouns they and them) and publicly available At one point during the rally, while the Cassidy's friend Tony thought the pro- videos. protester with the ‘Pulse massacre’ sign testor’s sign “was promoting violence,” The ‘punches’ stood near the corner of State and Third Cassidy said. are also not vis- streets, an area not included in the rally “We went to stand with the other people ible on the official permit, his sign was grabbed away from who were around him [the protestor],” Capitol Police tape, him by an unidentified attendee who Tony said. according to LGBT “We’re working dropped it in a nearby ally. Eventually, Asked what Cassidy would have done if Community Cen- with Silent the protestor recovered his sign. the protestor tried to take Cassidy’s flag, ter Vice President Added to the mood of the rally-goers Cassidy said, "If he had tried to take my Heidi Notario, who Witness to that day: One week before the June 11 flag I would have tried to take it back. I following the in- hold trainings Equality March a local student known would not have pushed him." The push cident, organized to some rally attendees had committed “was uncalled for” Tony added, “We a meeting with on how to suicide. Some attendees were grieving. were all trying to negate his message the Capitol Police. peacefully.” Louie Marven, peacefully “We were all trying to negate Got all that? Tony explained that the group sur- who at the time demonstrate.” Now readers have all the actors on the rounding the protestor offered to discuss was the center's his message peacefully.” public stage of free speech in Harrisburg differences over coffee at a nearby coffee executive director Heidi Notario Tony (pictured with his friend Cassidy, June 11, all on or near the State Capitol house. “He refused,” Tony said, who who was injured at a Harrisburg rally) steps. Given the backstory - fears of turn- surmised that the protestor thought they Please see CONFRONTATION, page 25

12 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com Will Harrisburg’s Dec. 2 anti-white supremacy rally occur without violence? On Nov. 5, 2016, the Sunday before Donald Trump was elected president, the National Socialist Movement protested against diversity at the State Capitol. That same day, the organization for- mally announced that they and 11 other “white power” organizations were now a coalition. Since then, the flames of division within the US have burned hotter. In hindsight, if the 300 anti-fascist – or antifa for short - protestors hadn't shown up, the white power organizers would have had a failed event. Few sup- porters showed up to cheer on the white supremacists. Only a few of the expected 11 supremacist groups sent members. Here’s how the 2016 event played out by the numbers: • Nazis 50, Counter-protestors 200, Police 100 • Nazis obtained a permit. Counter- protestors did not. • Most notable Nazi moment: Repeated Where Our History Becomes Yours. shouts of “White Power” delivered with Adolph Hitler’s Nazi salute. Historic Acres of Hershey is Central Pennsylvania’s premiere wedding and • Most notable Unity moment: When event venue o ering a wide variety of aesthetic choices, as well as speakers talked about what disparate economic and racial groups have in multiple indoor and outdoor options, for your event or wedding. common. Looks like those days are over. Susan Bro, mother of Heather Hayer, the woman who was killed during pro- tests in Charlottesville, said within min- utes of her daughter’s death: "I'd rather have my child, but if I have to give her up, by golly we're going to make it count..." And it looks like a number of local groups from Lancaster, Carlisle, Allen- town, York and Philadelphia which gen- erally represent what are called "rise and resist" groups, are rising and resisting against what occurred in Charlottesville VA and its aftermath.

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TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 13 Religion & Spirituality A rebel busts loose and finds her way to the pulpit By Christopher Thomas ficer Friendly,” she recalled. “If you got The Central Voice lost or if you needed a couple of quarters or something to get home – he would even The trip from get you a ride home. The neighborhoods Baltimore, MD to were a little (friendlier), there was a vil- Mountville, PA isn’t lage mentality back then. It didn’t seem too long (about an to be so much survival of the fittest as hour along I-83). Baltimore is becoming today.” For Rev. Angela Things were not as safe back home. T. Jones-Ramirez, Her father was a “functioning alco- though, it took holic” who subjected her, her mother, and about five decades her siblings to emotional and psychologi- of soul searching, cal abuse. As an adolescent, she turned Rev. Jones-Ramirez perseverance, and to weight training and sports – playing self-realization. softball, football, and rugby – as an outlet Rev. Jones-Ramirez is starting her and to help defend her mother from her tenure as Senior Pastor of Vision of Hope father’s scorn. Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) “I learned how to lift weights and then about seven miles east of Lancaster City. growing up…I started picking fights so I “It is a bit of a culture shock,” she said, could learn how to learn those skills that the differences between Lancaster and I had learned…to protect myself.” Baltimore. “But I love leaving the city. Her interest in athletics went against There’s a transformation that happens the grain for young ladies growing up in MSPC_Voice_2017.qxp_Layout 1 7/21/17 9:31 AM Page 1 as you drive up I83 and pass over the the Baptist tradition, as she was. Stirrups Susquehanna River. It’s amazing. There’s and barbells had to be exchanged for peace and tranquility. I absolutely love petticoats and hymnbooks on Sunday the drive. mornings. While she conformed to social Rev. Jones-Ramirez – who goes by norms, it went against her sensibilities. “Pastor Angie” – grew up just north of There was little indication then that later Charm City during a time of tremendous she’d wear a white collar around her change. Not long after her birth in 1968, neck and become a health professor at riots rocked the sister cities of Baltimore Baltimore City College. and Washington, DC following the death “I became a rebel,” she said. “I got of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. tired of pretending to be something that But she still remembers times being I wasn’t.” simpler and safer out on the streets for Pastor Angie said she always had a way her and her three siblings. of standing out and being different from “Back then ‘Officer Friendly’ was Of- Please see REBEL, page 16 You can’t make this up... Guy who says God sends that natural disasters are God’s way of punishing an increasingly gay-friendly natural disasters to punish world. Calling into his own radio show, Per- gays has his home destroyed kins described the flood as being of “bibli- in a natural disaster cal proportions,” adding that he and his family will have to live in a camper for DeadState. 6 months until the damage is repaired. org reports Tony But Perkins was careful to point out Perkins, president that this particular flood wasn’t because of the anti-gay re- of the gays, but rather an “incredible, ligious lobbying encouraging spiritual exercise to take group the Family you to the next level in your walk with Research Coun- an almighty and gracious God who does cil, had his home all things well.” destroyed by the The floods in Louisiana have so far www.marketsquarechurch.org massive flooding killed 11 people and destroyed over 40,000 ravaging South- homes. We know that many of you have been hurt by church in the past, but we’re ern Louisiana previously. Last year, Perkins had as a guest on his different. You’re welcome here. God loves you just as you are, and so do we. Although no one wants to celebrate a radio show Christian “prophet” Jona- person losing their home, the destruction than Cahn, who claimed that Hurricane Market Square Church pays for parking for worshipers in the Market Square Garage. Childcare is provided for infants and toddlers in our modern nursery. of Perkins’ house isn’t without irony, Joaquin was a sign of God’s wrath for the considering that he’s claimed in the past legalization of gay marriage.

14 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com COLOR

Religion & An open and affi rming Catholic church, Spirituality serving the modern world.

Ministering to the The Parish of St. Joseph wholeness and holiness of the Old Catholic Church 4620 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg www.TheParishofStJoseph.org of LGBT Catholics [email protected] | 717.439.4769 If an LGBT former or currently them to tell me their story: who are Mass: Saturdays at 5:00 pm practicing Catholic wanted to wor- they, what are their backgrounds, what brought them here. I would then ask Ecumenically sharing St. Andrew’s in the Valley Episcopal Church ship in a welcoming environment, them if they would like to hear my story. I the region is home to The Old Catho- would tell them everything about me (I lic Church. have no secrets). And then I would ask them what they think The Old catholic Locally, the Most Rev. Michael J. Scalzi Church can do for them, and what, if any- shepards the Parish of Saint Joseph, thing, I could personally do for them. I domiciled at Saint Andrew’s in the Val- would do what I could to develop a rela- ley Episcopal Church, 4620 Linglestown tionship with them and go from there. Road, Harrisburg. CV: Add anything you think is impor- Bishop Scalzi shares with readers why tant. his congregation may be a resource for BS: So many people have walked away them: from their churches because they have Central Voice: If an individual or cou- felt unloved and unwanted. Church ple wanted to return to The Old Catholic membership and attendance across all Church, are the traditions they may have We are glad you are here. denominations is down dramatically. We, grown up practiced there? Sacraments? as “Church,” have helped to make people Holiday traditions? We are a Christ-centered church that is feel that they can be “spiritual without Bishop Scalzi: If by “returning” you being religious.” People feel that they do open to everyone – no exceptions. are referring to “lapsed” Catholics re- not need to belong to a faith community; turning to their Catholic faith tradition (but who are not interested in “return- they can walk in the woods and be with ing” to the Roman Catholic Church), God. Of course, that’s true. But it is the Radical Inclusivity & they would find themselves in a very fa- sense of “belonging” and being with Transformational Love miliar and comfortable place. The seven others who accept and love you for who Sacraments are the same (although the you are without judgement or prejudice. Whoever you are and requirements for the reception of them We all face some much hatred and fear wherever you come from in our world today: Are we helping to pro- may be quite different). The Sacraments on your life’s journey, are offered freely to all without any ar- mote that intolerance? So many mainline tificial barriers. denominations preach one message but there is a place for you. CV: Is The Old Catholic Church an behave differently. Sadly, those who were Our congregation is LGBT church or an LGBT accepting raised Catholic may have found that they church? are no longer welcome in a church with alive and relevant in BS: The Old Catholic Church is not an their spouses, partners, etc. Oh, yes, they the community. LGBT church as we are not a straight can come and sit in the pew, but they are Rev. Angela T. Jones-Ramirez church. Are we an LGBT accepting told that their lifestyle is “disordered” church? I sure hope so! We perform and sinful. The Old Catholic Church same-sex marriages and a number of our has gone back to the way the church Vision of Hope Metropolitan Community Church clergy are gay/lesbian. One of our priests began many centuries ago. We are not is transgendered. Doesn’t get much more a hierarchical church: clergy and laity 130 EAST MAIN STREET (717) 285-9070 accepting than that, wouldn’t you say? sit side-by-side and worship together MOUNTVILLE, PA [email protected] CV: If an individual or couple were be- and build up the Body of Christ together. fore your right now, what would you say? BS: The first thing I would do is ask INFO: www.TheParishofStJoseph.org

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 15 Religion & SM Spirituality REBEL: We offer FREE pickup and delivery Pastor Angie's journey of (almost) a hundred miles in most neighborhoods throughout the From page 14 Greater Harrisburg area! her peers in not-so-subtle ways. She lived local LGBT population and sympathetic in a primarily white section of Baltimore clergy, members of the Council on Reli- County and was often the only black gion and the Homosexual. person among her peers, though she said “Each church is run by the congrega- most people didn’t make a big deal of it. tion,” Pastor Angie said, describing the Why choose us? “But I knew that I was different,” she church’s structure. “The pastor is an  said. employee of the congregation…they’re Hassle-free As she reached puberty, she began to pretty much like the boss and we’re the  Save TWO trips ... save gas and time! discover she stood out from her peers in hired staff…and the congregation holds a major, though less obvious way. That the power. We serve the congregation.”  No need to be home realization came by way of her middle Though some mainline, Christian de- school gym teacher. nominations have at least softened their  No order too small “I had a huge crush on my physical stances on openly LGBT laity and clergy;  Twice a week service education teacher who was also my soft- they were still universally persona non ball coach,” she remembered. “I would do grata in the late 1960s.  Locally owned, operated and trusted any and everything to outdo everybody Pastor Angie said MCC is a place of so I could get her attention.” healing for those who have been hurt by for over 45 years How she felt inside was a Pastor Angie’s churches in the past. secret for years. She mentioned trying to “MCC was a MASH unit for me,” she kiss a boy once but “it was like kissing said. my brother” She described herself as a Now, she’s taking on a leadership role Sign up online or call 920-5500. bull in a china shop who didn’t want to at a congregation with 50 people on the stay in the closet anymore. roll and about 25-30 regulars at weekly The times in which she lived, her services. As is the case at many mainline classicdrycleaner.com religious upbringing, and her sexuality denominations, Pastor Angie is hoping clashed and ruthlessly and sent Pastor to see a boost in attendance. Angie perilously close to committing The church has become an accepted suicide, which she confided to a high part of the community, she said, but school softball teammate. not until after dealing with some initial Thankfully, her coach was listening pushback when it was established in 1993. as well. “Several of the churches in and around “I didn’t know she was same-gender the area did not want MCC Vision of Hope loving and she kept saying ‘I want you to in Mountville,” Pastor Angie said. “when come to my church’ and that was MCC they thought ‘same gender loving people’ Baltimore.” Pastor Angie said. they thought ‘parties’ and a lot of lewd Though she didn’t take her coach’s behavior. The township council tried to offer up immediately, Pastor Angie block it. But it was such that we came, eventually found her way to that church we were here, and we were accepted.” after coming out, “busting the doors of And like a lot of mainline congrega- the hinges” in college and meeting her tions, especially those that are affirming, coach at Baltimore Pride under happier she’s hoping to diversify the church’s role circumstances. in the community. Though the church has “And I was walking around and some- and continues to have a special ministry one ran up behind me and hugged me toward LGBT community, she also wants from behind and I turned around and it Vision of Hope and other MCC congre- was my high school softball coach,” she gations to take strong, uncompromising remembered. “And she goes ‘I knew! I roles in other social justice causes like knew! It was just a matter of time.’ And Black Lives Matters. so she took me to her church group at “The whole denomination/movement the pride festival.” goes so much beyond the LGBT thing,” Pastor Angie was in a similar place Rev. she said. “Because at the end of the day, executive level limited Troy Perry (founder of the Metropolitan we’re all people and we all want that custom crafted luxury for your body and your home Community Church) was in and 3,000 engagement.” miles west in the Los Angeles suburbs But even has she hopes to expand the ustom crafted luxury for outstanding quality, exceptional in the late 1960s. Perry – who had been church within its walls and in its commu- C your body and Hiltl luxury price. a Pentecostal minister – was defrocked nity; she’s trying to remember important slacks are in stock for immediate Stop in to our beautifully after he came out. It was also around that lessons she’s learned throughout her life. delivery. A new world of modern appointed full line store in time his long-time lover had left him and One of the most important is remember- Perry nearly bled to death in his bathtub ing she is only human. luxury is waiting to come directly Williamsport or call and make an after opening the veins in his wrists. “My therapist and my spiritual direc- to your o ce or home, and best appointment to have the store But Perry lived and started the MCC in tor, both of them, independently of one of all it is all o price! Perfect  t, come to you. 1968, a Congregationalist denomination another, have said ‘hey, you’re not the with a special ministry geared toward the Savior, that’s not your job,” she said. “ TEL: (570) 560-7261 LGBT community. It was groundbreak- 1950 Green Avenue, Williamsport, PA ing for its time, preceding the Stonewall Rev. Angela T. Jones-Ramirez is the WWW.eXECUTIVElEVELlIMITED.COM Riots and occurring only three years Senior Pastor at Vision of Hope Metro- after to clashes between the San Fran- politan Community Church in Mount- cisco Police and members of both the ville, PA.

16 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com I cast these foul demons OUT! I read banned books anned Books Week this year is BSept. 24-30, a good time to check Ally on the latest book challenges across the country. The American Library in the Association (ALA) has been orga- Academy nizing these weeks since 1981, the year Ronald Reagan took office and Jerry Falwell was making head- By Trum lines with his Moral Majority. In 2017 we now have a president who Simmons doesn’t read books, and has no idea how closely his administration thus far mir- rors George Orwell’s classic novel 1984, one of the all-time most-challenged a group called books in the United States and around The Florida Citizens’ Alliance helped the world. push through a law that says parents Our president hammers away at what he calls “fake news” in the main- or any residents may challenge a book stream media while spewing all sorts or other instructional materials in an NOT GAY: of Orwellian rhetoric and presenting independent hearing. outright lies as truth. Keith Flaugh, a founder of the alli- One of the slogans of the Party in 1984 ance, said his study of some 60 textbooks Exploring the conversion therapy controversy was "Ignorance is Strength." were “full of political indoctrination, From page 1 If ignorance is strength, the Trump religious indoctrination, revisionist leadership approach must be strong history and distorting our founding will lose your family, be ostracized from tive self-esteem in the person and other indeed, for he makes the Know-Nothing values and principles.” Flaugh said the church in which you grew up or your harmful effects. Party of the 1840s and 1850s look like these books contain a lot of “garbage.” community in general, there can be a It is also not unheard of for parents or amateurs. For decades the Texas Board of Edu- I created a strong pull to seek change. When the other individuals, often based on their cation has been hearing objections to negativity becomes too great, individu- religious beliefs, to use strategies on course at HACC "Back in textbooks along the same line as the als can internalize the homophobia and their own try to change a person’s, often in the early 1980s think that changing their sexual orienta- a youth’s, sexual orientation. This might called Banned the 1980s a Florida folks. The difference here is tion is the answer. include cutting off the youth’s access to Books; this that a commission of 15 people hear What about youth who enter repara- the internet and all social media, only meant that my Texas parent objections and then rule on the materi- tive therapy? allowing the youth to associate with students and I challenged als presented. Most often they are there because peers at organized religious activities, got to read and The objections in Texas are the their parents sent them to therapy, not and not allowing the youth to associate study some truly the dictionary same as those in Florida, so textbooks because they want to change their sexual with anyone they perceive as gay or les- wonderful books. being that feature information on the LGBT orientation. They are there because their bian. In the situations I am aware of, the I’m talking about spectrum will have a hard time in the parents and/or family are uncomfort- young person usually became depressed The Adventures considered commission’s hearings. able with their child identifying with a and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. of Huckleberry Back in the 1980s a Texas parent sexual orientation that is not straight. Another example would be the house- Finn, The Color because of all challenged the dictionary being con- What we have learned is that the family parents’ at The Milton Hershey School Purple, Brave the bad words sidered because of all the bad words it goes through a “coming out” process who allegedly asked students to view a New World and and sometimes the family members can video of an antigay sermon. This was not The Catcher in it contained. " contained. The earnest man read aloud benefit from therapy to cope with their therapy provided by or sanctioned by the the Rye, among a list of the words, after asking for God’s feelings and the negative messages from psychologists at the school. However, it others. forgiveness. Some of the commission society. contributed to making the home environ- Students read and gave class pre- members blanched as he read “fuck … What we know is that trying to change ment of those young men stressful and sentations on many other challenged shit … dildo,” and some 10 others. someone’s sexual orientation does not emotionally unsafe and should not be books, including Margaret Atwood’s Where are we today in the Trump era? work and can be harmful. What we also permitted in any school or residences The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) which The Reagan era is considered by many know is that youth who have families that serve youth. achieved renewed acclaim last spring as the start of today’s culture wars, that are supportive and allow the youth Instead of trying to change someone’s after a TV adaptation watched by mil- which not too long ago were thought to identify their sexual orientation for sexual orientation we would do better to lions. Heather Has Two Mommies (1989) to be on the wane. But the culture wars themselves, have better mental health, understand the experiences of people was another. have their origins deep in American and cope better with negative messages whose sexual orientation is not hetero- Five of the top 10 books challenged history and probably will never die. It from the world around them. sexual. We should help families who are in 2016 were from people who didn’t ap- My personal experience working struggling to understand their family preciate LGBTQ characters, especially is scary to see the latest breakout of with LGBT youth for over 20 years has member’s sexual orientation by provid- transgender characters. hostilities, especially given this time been consistent with this finding. As ing them with accurate information and The top five list of 2016 compiled by of “alternative facts” and “fake news.” a result mental health professional empathy for their experience. If someone the Office of Intellectual Freedom of I don’t think we are going to regress organizations, such as the American is truly confused or struggling with their the ALA included Two Boys Kissing by all that much. In any case, there’s no Psychological Association, consider it sexual orientation a reputable therapist David Levithan (the cover alone gave question we need to fight these efforts unethical to try to change someone’s will help them explore and work through some people hives because it included to halt the advance of inclusion and sexual orientation. their feelings, letting the person discover an image of two boys kissing) and I equality in our country. There are also ex-gay ministries that what is true for them. Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz At Pride Festival of Central PA on view homosexuality as a sin, attempt It is not ethical to try to promote any Jennings, which has a transgender to change sexual orientation, and even one sexual orientation and it is not in the July 29 I was uplifted by the turnout child in it. of so many folks. It was a beautiful day claim they are successful even when person’s best interest. We should be striv- The office recorded 323 documented celebrating beautiful people--people there is evidence to the contrary. Studies ing to create environments and supports requests in 2016, and we know from who represent the best of America. have also shown that those who claim to help people, whether gay or straight, surveys that most requests are not they changed their orientation, in the be the best version of themselves. reported and don’t get media coverage. We have earned our place in American long term they go back to homosexual In 1981 Jerry Falwell told his follow- culture including our art, literature relationships. Not only are these minis- ers to check their school libraries and and school textbooks. Ignorance is tries unsuccessful in changing someone’s Melinda Eash, M.S., is a practicing textbooks for “immoral, anti-family not strength, regardless of what any sexual orientation they also create nega- psychologist. and anti-American content.” In 2017, president thinks or says.

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 17 Arts & Entertainment Oh what a (FAB) night! Live performances One FAB Night, the LGBT Community eral admission and $150/person for a VIP Center of Central Pennsylvania’s annual level that includes champagne toast with event to honor those who have made a honorees and one drink ticket. significant impact in the life of the com- Free parking is available in the Capitol coming to the midstate munity will be held Sat., Sept. 30. Complex. For a second year, FAB will be held at Central Voice is a longtime sponsor DOUBT the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 of FAB. Founding publisher and editor September 7 – 16 N Street, Harrisburg. Frank Pizzoli is a past FAB award re- Ephrata Performing Arts Center - The event celebrates the past year cipient. Sharadin Bigler Theatre of LGBT life in Central Pennsylvania. The LGBT Community Center of Doubt is one of the most renowned plays of our Individuals and organizations that have Central Pennsylvania is a volunteer-led time. EPAC is thrilled to present this topical, a special impact will also be honored. effort that strives to create a regionally relevant, and controversial play to you, our representative community center that is loyal audience. The play is set in the fictional both a location and a unifying point for St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx during central Pennsylvania’s large, diverse, and the fall of 1964. The play was turned into an multi-county LGBT population. Academy Award-nominated film starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Flynn and Meryl The mission of the center is to cre- Streep as Sister Aloysius. The inspiration for ate a common ground for the LGBT the 2008 Academy Award-winning movie of the community and allies in the region by same name, Doubt deals with the uncomfortable providing services through educational, and controversial issues of child abuse within cultural, and community activities that the Catholic Church and forms a parable of The awards program is followed by a foster wholeness. The center seeks to incrimination and humanity. Tickets can be at reception with entertainment, dancing, create a safe, welcoming and inclusive 717-733-7966 x 1. silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, and cash environment; provide and support bar. Dress code is Queer Cocktail Attire. comprehensive programs throughout LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS FAB is a key source of funding for the the community, and embrace diversity, Sept.19 - Oct.15 Fulton Theatre LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania. health and wellness. A psychedelic comedy thriller just in time for Online registration is required. Register: www.fallachievementbenefit. Halloween! Feed your need for musical hilarity Reservations are $80/person for gen- org with this delicious gem, but whatever you do, DO NOT FEED THE PLANT! Tickets: Purchased at Theatre, by calling 717-397-7425, or online.

RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS Enjoy art, live music Sept. 26, 7:30 PM Majestic Theatre, Gettysburg College during Gallery Walk It’s bagpipes. It’s rock. It’s bagrock! A blazing rock band and show so hot, it carries its Now in its 29th year, Harrisburg Gallery Walk own health warning! Info: 717-337-8200; showcases new sites and innovations. On Sun., Sept. [email protected] 10, from 11 AM to 6 PM, 25 galleries and studios welcome visitors with original art, live music and HARRISBURG STORY SLAM refreshments. Details - www.artassocofhbg.com At Harrisburg Hilton’s Hill Society Oct. 5, 7:30 PM Whitaker Center If you like telling stories, hearing stories, or just fun in general, you will definitely want to check Piano man Khaldun out Whitaker Center’s Story Slam at the Hilton’s Piano player extraordinaire Khaldun recently shared his talent on 2nd Street in center city Hill Society! A Story Slam is a great excuse for Harrisburg. “I’ve been playing piano since the age of 12. Then I turned to bass. After 14 anyone 21+ to get on stage and tell the crowd years I’m back to piano,” he tells The Central Voice. one of their favorites. Each month has its own theme and own winner. In November, the top two winners from the Story Slams in July-October will descend upon the Hilton for the ultimate throw down- the Grand Slam! Think of it like Celebrity Deathmatch but with real people and zero violence. This is a friendly competition and we invite storytellers of all caliber to show their stuff! Winners will receive a prize courtesy of the Hilton. Tickets: 717-214-ARTS (2787)

LEWIS BLACK: The Rant, White & Blue tour Oct. 28, 8 PM Hershey Theatre Lewis Black, GRAMMY Award-winning, stand-up comedian, is one of the most prolific and popular performers working today. He executes a brilliant trifecta as a stand-up comedian, actor and author. Receiving critical acclaim, he performs more than 200 nights annually, to sold-out audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Tickets: 1-800- 745-3000, HersheyTheatre.com

18 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com ArT AsSoCiAtIoN Of HaRrIsBuRg’S 29Th AnNuAl

All wrapped up SuNdAy, SePt. 10Th 11 Am TO 6 Pm • FrEe AdMiSsIoN From yarn bombing to branch weaving, art installations are popping up all along the banks of the Susquehanna River From page 1 Street art or grafitti? Yarn bombing is a form of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk. Yarn bombs 25 tend to be less destructive other forms of Enjoy the No Last Call Band, graffiti and convey a softer, gentler form of Galleries& expression. The yarn-wrapped trees on Front the group that will be Steet in Harrisburg may have been meant to performing throughout highlight a cause, create a buzz or simply to the Gallery Walk route! brighten up the city. Venues

ASSOCIATION OF HARRISBURG ArTaSsOcOfHbG.CoM

Dreamweaver The Central Voice Eye spied local artist Shawn Maykovich (right) weaving a limbs- and-root installation along Harrisburg’s Susquehanna CUSTOM JEWELRY HANDMADE WITH PRIDE River. “I’m working on it as time permits,” he says. A few weeks later, The Eye found (717) 295-9661 | JASHARP.COM what looks like a multiplier effect (above.) 322 NORTH QUEEN STREET, LANCASTER, PA 17603

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 19 20 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com For more photos visit www.thecentralvoice.com York Equality Fest next page >

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 21 The Art Center School and Galleries is dedicated to promoting growth and appreciation of the arts for artists, students and patrons of all ages and abilities. Since 1954, our diverse programs, classes and exhibits continue to provide our community art education and enrichment.

We offer classes, workshops and more for Kids and Adults in mediums such as: Drawing Painting Mixed Media Pottery

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22 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com Back-to-school reading for parents, teachers and students n time for the new school year, here are Ia list of titles you’ll find in the library Dauphin PRIDE ACROSS covering parenting and family relation- ships, children and teens, and of course County THE NATION school. Fall programs at The Library are Library being scheduled now and are sure to be Book Reviews of interest to all ages. In September, our Fall 2017 Blueprint Program guide will be published which gives more details. Pick one up at any of our locations or by going By Yvonne online at www.dcls.org. And remember, Carmichael with a library card, a world of reading, listening and watching opens up for you.

Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is by Abigail Garner “A nationally recognized family rights activist offers a much-needed book of first- person accounts, guidance, and consciousness-raising for gay parents and their families.” (publication summary)

Family Outing by Chaz Bono “The daughter of Sonny and Cher presents a comprehensive guide to the coming- out process, interweaving her personal story with those of other gays and lesbians of various backgrounds to detail the stages, difficulties, and rewards of coming out.” (publication summary)

Family Pride: What LGBT Families Should Know About Navigating Home, School, and Safety In Their Neighborhoods by Michael Shelton “Despite the progress made in gay rights, LGBT people are still at high risk of being victimized. While the national focus remains on the mistreatment of gay people Dyke march, NYC, NY in schools, the reality is that LGBT families also face hostility in various settings-- professional, recreational, and social. Family Pride is the first book for queer parents, families, and allies that emphasizes community safety. Michael Shelton offers concrete strategies that LGBT families can use to intervene in and resolve difficult community issues, teach their children resiliency skills, and find safe and respectful programs for their children.” (from publisher)

GLBTQ: The Survival Guide For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel “Describes the challenges faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered teens and offers practical advice, real-life experiences, and accessible resources and support groups.” (publication summary)

Life At School And In The Community by Richard Worth Rainbow crosswalks, Houston, TX “Discusses problems that GLBT students may face in school and offers stories of inspirational teens who have won court cases and started organizations to make their school safer and more accepting.” (publication summary)

Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising A Fabulous Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron Pride parade, Erie, PA “This is Lori Duron’s account of her and her family’s adventures raising a gender- creative son. Whereas her older son, Chase, is a Lego-loving, sports-playing boy›s boy, her younger son, C.J., would much rather twirl around in a pink sparkly tutu. TURKEY - Turkish police reportedly used tear gas and fired C.J. is gender variant or gender nonconforming, whichever you prefer. Whatever rubber bullets to disperse civilians trying to stage a gay Pride the term, Lori has a boy who likes girl stuff, really likes girl stuff. He floats on the march in Istanbul in defiance of a ban. PRIDE AROUND gender-variation spectrum from super-macho-masculine on the left all the way to POLAND - 50,000 people took part in Warsaw Pride June 29 super-girly-feminine on the right.” (publication summary) THE WORLD compared to some 20,000 in previous years. Last year, when anti-gay protestors smashed the windows of a Polish gay- Transgender Children And Youth: Cultivating Pride And Joy With rights NGO Families In Transition In the US, we openly celebrate by Elijah C. Nealy Pride events even though IRELAND - Organizers of Dublin LGBTQ Pride Parade said “Elijah C. Nealy, a therapist and former deputy executive director of New York others disagree. First 30,000 people took part in this year’s event. City’s LGBT Community Center, and himself a trans man, has written the first-ever amendment rights protect comprehensive guide to understanding, supporting, and welcoming trans kids. our community and those who SERBIA - About 100 Serbian LGBT marchers and their supporters held a World Pride event June 24 in the Serbian Covering everything from family life to school and mental health issues, as well as disagree with our progress. the physical, social, and emotional aspects of transition, this book is full of best Here’s a sample of what’s going capital, Belgrade, under heavy police protection. on in Turkey, Tanzania, Poland, practices to support trans kids.” (publication summary) AFRICA - Tanzania has threatened to arrest and expel activists, Ireland, and Serbia. as well as deregister all non-governmental organizations that campaign for gay rights. Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Yvonne Carmichael is Collection Management Administrator for the the East African nation. Dauphin County Library System. Find out more at dcls.org.

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 23 Expunging your criminal records in PA or more. ...expungement is more than is also sent to the D.A.’s office, PSP, the Additionally, convictions for lesser Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other crimes, known as “summary offenses” a path: it is a legal right criminal justice agencies involved in the The Law may be expunged if the individual has that should be accessible to arrest and prosecution of the petitioner. been arrest and conviction free for a period While the process for expungement is and You of at least five years. Summary offenses every qualified citizen in the fairly straightforward, most individuals are neither misdemeanors nor felonies Commonwealth. would benefit from assistance of counsel and include, for example, shoplifiting, in reviewing their criminal history in- disorderly conduct, underage drinking, formation and preparing the petition for the charges were filed. Forms for the and public drunkenness. expungement, which is essentially a legal petition, as well as sample court orders, The first step in the expungement document. Fortunately, there are several are available on the UJS Webportal (click process is therefore to determine which organizations in Central Pennsylvania By on “Forms for the Public”). The petition records are expungeable and which are that can provide these services, in some must also include a criminal records his- not. An individual’s criminal records are cases, pro bono. These include: Mid-Penn Laurie tory from the Pennsylvania State Police available on the Unified Judicial System Legal Services; the Dauphin County Bar (“PSP”), available at https://epatch.state. , Esq. of Pennsylvania Web Portal, https:// Association; and the York County Bar T. Baulig pa.us. There is an $8 fee for ordering the ujsportal.pacourts.us. From the home Association. report on-line; the fee is $10 if the request page, click on “Docket Sheets.” From Another non-profit that has assisted is made by mail. The petition for expunge- According to the U.S. Department of Jus- the dropdown menu, click on the level of both individuals and attorneys in the ment must be filed within 60 days of re- tice, nearly one in three adult Americans court you wish to search, typically either expungement process is the Philadelphia ceiving the PSP report. A filing fee must has a criminal record. In Pennsylvania, the magisterial district courts or courts Lawyers for Social Equity (plsephilly.org), accompany the petition. That fee varies those records are publicly available and of common pleas. Searching both are headed by attorney Michael Lee. PLSE by county: in Lancaster County, the fee is can result in the denial of employment, recommended. Under “Search Type,” conducts expungement clinics around the $137; in York County the fee is over $200. housing, education and credit. Certain enter “Participant Name” and enter the state to assist individuals and local bar The fees may be waived if the individual records in Pennsylvania may, however, individual’s first and last name. Then associations in navigating the expunge- has income below a certain threshhold; be permanently removed from public enter the county where the arrest was ment process. PLSE is also an advocacy typically, if the individual would qualify view through a legal process known as made. The results are for that county only. organization that is working to expand the for legal aid, the waiver will be granted. “expungement.” Separate searches are required for each types of offenses that may be expunged. The legal standard for granting an In determining which criminal records county where the individual was arrested It is estimated that 3.8 million Penn- expungement petition is that no compel- may be expunged, it is important to and prosecuted. The results of the Docket sylvanians have criminal records. For ling state interest is served by having distinguish between conviction and non- search will appear on the left-hand side individuals who have been arrested but not the charges remain on the petitioner’s conviction data. Conviction data consists at the bottom of the screen. Click on the convicted of a crime, or those convicted criminal history record. The District of charges resulting in guilty verdicts, icon on the far left and click on “Docket of summary offenses, the expungement Attorney’s Office must receive a copy guilty pleas, and pleas of nolo conten- Sheet” (this is the so-called “rap” sheet). process offers a path to removing harmful of the petition and must sign-off on the dere (“no contest”). Non-conviction data The Docket Sheet has a section called information from public view. Indeed, expungement before the court can grant consists of charges that were dismissed, “Charges.” It will list the offenses the expungement is more than a path: it is the request. While there is no deadline withdrawn, or “nolle prossed,” meaning defendant was charged with, their grade a legal right that should be accessible to for the D.A.’s Office to act on the petition, the district attorney declined to prosecute (for example, “F1” means felony in the first every qualified citizen in the Common- it generally takes at least 30 days for the the alleged offense. In Pennsylvania, degree; “M2” means misdemeanor in the wealth. Fortunately, there are resources Office to review the petition and report to all non-conviction data is eligible for ex- second degree) and the “disposition” of the in central Pennsylvania to assist in reach- the court. The court may take up to an pungement. Convictions are eligible for charges. As mentioned above, only non- ing this goal. additional 30 days to act on the petition. expungements if: conviction data and summary offenses Once the petition is granted, an order is The individual received a pardon from are eligible for expungement. the Governor for that conviction. issued requiring the arresting agency to Expunging criminal records in Pennsyl- Laurie Baulig founded Baulig Law, 312 The individual is over 70 and has been destroy all criminal records, fingerprints, vania requires the filing of a petition for E. Walnut Street, Lancaster, PA, (717) arrest-free for last 10 years. photographic plates and photographs expungement in the county court where 305-8926, [email protected], www. The individual has been dead for 3 years that resulted from the arrest. The order

CHECHYNA: Impossible to be an openly LGBT person From page 8 we would still condone it.” report details accounts of women being In some cases, gay men and lesbians able to help people flee. And when men One gay Chechen man who was inter- assaulted with paintballs for not suf- have married to stay hidden. In other in this circumstance do flee, their wives viewed for the same story talked about ficiently covering up to satisfy the local cases, men who may or may not identify have in some cases faced repercussions how he escaped Chechnya, afraid for his dress codes. It seems that Kadyrov’s as gay but are having sex with men, while as a way to punish the man. life. Despite conducting the interview guards were the ones attacking the being married to women and having One gay man who spoke with a Net- after escaping, he didn’t use his real women who were interviewed. children. This is not uncommon in the name and did not want to show his face Of course, at least some Chechen world, but its prevalence in Chechnya, work representative said, as repeated on television. The man shared that he women are lesbian, bisexual, and trans- and the connections it creates for gay by that representative: Talking to you has a wife and children back in Chechnya. gender, and it stands to reason that, with men in the community, is a challenge in will cost me my life. Keep on telling this He left without telling his wife what was the reports of violence against gay and terms of the Russia LGBT Network being story so my life is not wasted in vain. happening; as far as he knows, she still bisexual men, one could safely assume thinks he’s on a work trip elsewhere in that other LGBT folks in Chechnya also Russia. fear violence and experience it. The man emphasized the point that A spokesperson from the Russia LGBT even though the conditions are so bad Network addressed the topic of these in Chechnya, it is still difficult for per- populations recently: secuted gay and bi men to leave because “Of course there are lesbians and that means making the painful choice to transgender people in Chechnya like in never see one’s family again. This point all parts of the world. Gay men who are about a family begs the question of what taken to prisons, it was a kind of massive women are experiencing in Chechnya. attack against those homosexual people. A 2011 report from Human Rights Homosexual women are treated differ- Watch called “You Dress According to ently. So it’s considered that families Masha Gessen, far left, leading a discussion of Russian LGBT advocates June 24 during NYC Pride Weekend. Panelists are from the Moscow Community Center. They Their Rules” – Enforcement of an Islamic should take responsibility for them, so are communicating to an overflow audience through an interpreter, far right. A small Dress Code for Women in Chechnya gives there is a lot of domestic violence and delegation of Chechen and Russian gay men were also in the audience but for security some insight into the harsh government we’ve heard there are a lot of honor kill- purposes remained out of view of cameras or recording devices. control over women’s bodies there. This ings of those lesbian women.” CENTRAL VOICE PHOTO

24 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com ATTENDEES HESITANT TO SPEAK OUT Memorials and monuments re we destroying history? Pride & prejudice AMonuments and statues sym- bolizing the Confederacy are being Making Pride events are held amidst freedom. removed from public view in the Administration officials called the tim- Sense mounting challenges from the ing of the three actions “coincidental” United States at an increasing rate. of Life At first attendees were reluctant to put Doesn’t this deprive our citizens of Trump administration their reactions on record. Not until the ninth person – or organization – asked the memory of people who deserve By Frank Pizzoli by The Central Voice to comment on the to be remembered? week’s events did someone, literally, step By Dr. As the region ramped up for the July No. up to the microphone. 29 Pride Festival of PA, two days ear- Those protesting the removal of these “I think it is certainly challenging. All of Terry Drew lier President Donald Trump announced monuments and statues have confused our fears seem to be coming to light. We’ve three actions thwarting recent advances a monument with a memorial. Karanen fought really hard to be where we’re at but made by the LGBT community. Slavery and racism is not something unfortunately we’re starting to see some At the event, held along the banks of to be celebrated. The monuments and it unravel which is certainly a challenge,” agree with the organization promoting the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, statues in question glorify the murders, Harry Young, president, Central PA Gay & this, publicly taunted another colleague attendees said about his actions, “Thank Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, told CV. persecution and racism committed about recent white supremacist actions. you President Trump for bringing the “For us as a community, we’ve just got upon blacks and other non-white, non- “This is what you get in ‘A World That LGBT community together.” to stick together. To continue to fight for Christian, non-heterosexual groups. Works For Everyone,’” he wrote. July 27 began with Trump tweeting that advances we’ve already made and some They are monuments to racism, hatred No. It is not. transgender individuals could not serve in of which we’ve lost already. We need to and, ironically so, un-Christian acts by the US Armed Forces “in any capacity”. It is what you get when groups and remain united,” Young said. those who would claim to be followers Also announced July 27 was that the day individuals promote a testosterone- Later, one local person who had initially of Jesus. before the US Justice Department inter- driven, “I have to be right (literally) declined comment said, “It’s tiring. Trump There is no glory is their acts. There vened in a private employment lawsuit, and you have to be wrong,” attitude. A doesn’t stop. Whether it’s gay issues or is no reason to celebrate they they did. arguing that the ban on sex discrimina- world that works for everyone means other things, he makes worn out out,” As Rashid Robinson from Col- tion in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does that everyone in the world would never she said. or of Change wrote on August 13, not protect workers on the basis of their do anything that would harm others. It “It’s been an utter disaster. I think it 2017, “White sexual orientation. would mean that we would be willing to shows how Trump has no interest in supremacists "Hatred, racism, Finally, on July 27 Trump announced accept the truth and the facts, not con- serving the LGBT community at all,” Har- killed someone his nomination of Sam Brownback, the prejudice and tinue to harbor prejudice, bigotry and risburg City Councilman Ben Allatt said. in Charlottes- governor of Kansas and a vocal opponent hatred because it suits our own beliefs. “What’s happening across the coun- ville yesterday. bigotry are not We are not there yet, but we are of gay rights, to be the nation’s ambas- Friday night sador at large for international religious Please see PRIDE, page 26 inherent. They moving closer every day! This is NOT they marched the time to be cowering in the shad- through Char- are taught, ows. People throughout the world are lottesville and usually by bombarded with bad news from both the University reputable and non-reputable media of Virginia religions or sources. But, there are also thousands CONFRONTATION: Peaceful to provocative grounds, car- of great stories out there of hope, love, rying torches governments..." From page 12 compassion and cooperation. Promote that evoked a these. Post these! history of violent racial terrorism Hatred, racism, prejudice and bigotry and Lindsey Lughes, the center’s Youth preserve everyone’s First Amendment intended to intimidate a community Programs Director also attended the rights. For example, the center group are not inherent. They are taught, usu- that had recently renamed Robert E. ally by religions or governments, or in meeting. learned : Lee Park to Emancipation Park. It is Social media descriptions of the inci- • That since the center was the organi- so many cases, a collusion of the two. past time that we nationally stop the Muslims and Hindus lived together in dent used words like ‘unconscious’ to de- zation holding the event permit they veneration of people who committed scribe Cassidy. While Notario confirmed could have requested the ‘Pulse’ sign peace in many places in India, until the treason in the name of slavery!” British Empire created modern-day that an EMT was called to the scene by man leave the officially designated White supremacists want to (literal- the Capitol Police to examine Cassidy, rally area. He could have been asked India and Pakistan. The “Dark Ages” ly) “white-wash” our history. Educators were produced by a union of State and there was no ambulance called. to convene across the street. from this camp wish to rename slaves as Within hours of the incident, blog • It is not an infringement of free speech Church – the land barons provided “servants,” pretending the horrors of safety in this life; the Church in the next RagingChickenPress.com referred to to ask an unaffiliated individual or the slave trade never existed. The same ‘charges pending’ against the ‘Pulse’ group who has entered a ‘permitted’ life – which produced a very rich State has been done to the Native American and Church, and poverty for all others. sign carrier. “That could not have been area of an event to leave the permit- indigenous populations for the past known at the time it was posted,” ex- ted area. Capitol Police, according to These are exciting and amazing times two hundred years, venerating whites in which we live. Never before have we plained Notario. Notario, had no idea on the day of the while vilifying the conquered peoples If there’s a sequence of events frothing event who was who, except that the as a species been faced globally by a who resided here before the European life-threatening situation that we can over with drama, this is it. center held the permit. invasion. Recent immigrants and citi- Notario wanted to dial down emotions, do something about. This is the time to zens of the United States, particularly stand up for peace, for cooperation, for thus her arranging a meeting with Capi- Moving foward in Hispanic or Muslim communities, tol Police. “It was a very positive meeting, “We’re working with Silent Witness love, and for understanding. It is the continue to be objects of hatred by this time to support leaders who can move Notario tells The Central Voice. to hold trainings on how to peacefully same type of people. One significant outcome was a real- demonstrate,” Notario explained. Silent us forward into a better world. American could well look to Germa- It is NOT time to sit around bitching, ization by both parties that as many Witness is a local group that has histori- ny as an example of how to remember times as the LGBT Community Center cally provided safe barrier protections moaning, and complaining about what history. Yes, there are Neo-Nazi groups “they” should or shouldn’t be doing. or other LGBT groups have received between LGBT and anti-gay groups. in that country who continue to protest And, there is one leader we need to permits to gather on the Capitol steps, They are a regular presence at regional the remembrance of the Holocaust. support without fail in this effort for neither side really ‘knew’ each other. Pride and other events where disparate But the country uses their memorials world peace. Who is that? “We realized that we were going to be opinions may be expressed. The ‘rainbow as a teaching tool to education the new Look in the mirror. It’s up to you. back in the future. We needed to have umbrella’ people try to insure all parties generations of their past, vowing to a dialogue with the Capitol Police,” present have safe space to express their never again engage as a nation in such Terry Drew Karanen is an author, speaker, Notario said. views without putting each other in any deplorable actions. licensed social worker and flight atten- physical danger. Americans should do the same. dant. Read his weekly blog at Central Understanding the rights and rules Notario concluded that as a result of the I belong to an organization with a Voice online or on his website at: blog. Understanding each other and how a incident and the meeting, Capitol Police desire to help foster “A World That terrydrewkaranen.com. He is also the permit and its rights and responsibilities “didn’t see us before and, after the meet- Works For Everyone.” Sadly, one of my director of Spirit, Mind and Body Foun- work is paramount to safe events which ing, I feel like they know who we are.” own colleagues, who apparently doesn’t dation (spiritmindbodyfoundation.org).

TheCentralVoice.com SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 25 HOME IMPROVEMENT PRIDE: Speaking out about the Trump White House Serving our The Customers for From page 25 Pole Building 35 Years PA Lisc. #129608 specialists 24’ x 36’ x 10’ try is despicable and we need to elect folks who better had his home destroyed by the massive flooding ravaging 2 - 9’ x 7’ Garage Doors represent us,” said Andrew Guth, representing Stonewall Southern Louisiana. 1 - 3’ Entry Door Democrats, a local political organization. $ Regarding the Justice Department challenge to employ- 23,995 “President Trump said he would be the best friend the ment protections, the Equal Employment & Opportunity $ ,995 9 40’ x 60’ x 16’ LGBT community ever had. His actions from Inaugura- Council, under the Obama Administration, sometimes 1 - 12’ x 16’ Sliding Door 1 - 3’ Entry Door tion Day until this moment said Civil Rights Act’s ban on sex discrimination should have indicated anything be interpreted as including protections based on sexual (800) 275-8245 www.FettervilleSales.com but that,” Joanne Carroll, orientation. Disagreeing, the Justice Department sub- president, TransCentralPA mitting a legal brief into a private court case declaring told CV. Carroll is a 20-year that courts should not extend that protection to gays CREMATION & BEREAVEMENT Air Force veteran. and lesbians. “Yesterday was this ad- Sam Brownback, now the nation’s ambassador-at- ministration’s anti-LGBT large for international religious freedom, is a longtime day,” James D. Esseks, direc- opponent of gay marriage. As a senator, he pushed for Struggling with Loss of a tor of the American Civil a federal ban on same-sex marriage, and in 2015, as Liberties Union’s Lesbian “President Trump Loved One? governor, he signed a broad executive order in Kansas Gay Bisexual Transgender prohibiting the state government from acting against Journaling Can Help! & HIV Project, told the New said he would be religious groups that refuse to provide services to gay York Times. “Whether co- The Mourning Journal aids the healing the best friend the people. ordinated or not, to have it process by letting you write down memories, “Yesterday, he went after everyone with a direct as- all happen on the same day LGBT community thoughts and feelings. certainly brings into focus ever had. His sault. He truly declared war on our community,” said www.HolmanMarketing.com the profoundly anti-LGBT Chad Griffin, the president of Human Rights Campaign. made in Pennsylvania agenda of this administra- actions from “I promise you, this is a battle we are going to win.” tion.” Inaguration Day In a new political offensive, including Pennsylvania, Tony Perkins, president Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recently announced a of the Family Research until this moment proactive grassroots expansion called HRC Rising. “We C R E M A T I O N: Council, a socially conserva- have indicated will accelerate progress in states from coast-to-coast, re- The simple alternative tive and Christian group, ap- sist the politics of hate, fight anti-LGBTQ legislation, and If you want a funeral with an Expensive Casket and plauded Trump’s decision anything but that.” fuel pro-equality candidates and initiatives,” Griffin said. embalming, go to a Funeral Home! to bar transgender people “Our progress can easily be reversed. We cannot Interested in affordable CREMATION SERVICES? from the military. Perkins, Joanne Carroll, take anything for granted,” Brad Martin told CV. He is President of We specialize in cremation only. who has blamed extreme president of Pride Festival of PA. “Even so, we must be a weather on the advance- TransCentralPA and a community that gathers to celebrate what we have accom- Statewide - No Transportation Fees 20-year Air Force veteran NO EMBALMING – NO CASKETS ment of gay rights, recently plished. We must celebrate and appreciate each other.”

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26 SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2017 TheCentralVoice.com One

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Fall Achievement Benefi t (FAB) is a key source of funding for The LGBT Center of Central PA. For information on The LGBT Center or to become a sponsor or advertiser of FAB 2017, please email [email protected] or call 717-920-9534.

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