…And More in Our 2021 Wedding Guide

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…AND MORE IN OUR 2021 WEDDING GUIDE

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2 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com NEWS VOL. 2912 • MARCH 18, 2021 4 Who Inspires You? Women Leaders Honor Women Leaders. ISSUE 1170 6 ‘Sarahland’ Author On Her Queer Must-Reads By Women PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP

8 Michigan Trans Woman Forced to Bunk With Male Cellmate Says She Was www.pridesource.com Raped Phone 734-263-1476 PUBLISHERS 12 Queer Community Endures Onscreen Benjamin Jenkins [email protected] 13 Transgender Michigan to Host Viritual Day of Visibility Open Mic, Chat Events Publishers Emeritus: Jan Stevenson & Susan Horowitz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 16 Hazel Park City Council Introduces LGBTQ-Inclusive Human Rights Ordinance Tom Wesley 6 [email protected] EDITORIAL OPINION Entertainment Editor Chris Azzopardi 10 Parting Glances [email protected]

10 I Tried to Figure Out How to Date Men After Dating Women For So Long. My News & Feature Editor Audiobook Helped Me Get There. Eve Kucharski [email protected]

11 Creep Of The Week News & Feature Writers Michelle Brown, Ellen Knoppow, Jason A. Michael, WEDDING Drew Howard, Jonathan Thurston CREATIVE

Columnists 26 18 A Case for the Porch Wedding Charles Alexander, Michelle E. Brown, Mikey Rox, D’Anne Witkowski, 22 LGBTQ-Friendly Douglas Gourmet Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Dana Rudolph Expands Catering Options Cartoonists 24 5 Safety (and Style) Tips for Tying Paul Berg the Knot During the Pandemic Contributing Photographers Andrew Potter, Andrew Cohen, Roxanne Frith, Tih Penfil ENTERTAINMENT ADVERTISING & SALES Tom Wesley, 734-263-1476 [email protected] 32 A Trans Artist Wanted to See a Trans ‘Badass’ Onscreen. Now, in a Ann/Andy Cox, 248-613-2513 32 New HBO Film, She Can. 18 COVER STORY [email protected] National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 MEMBER OF Michigan Press Assoication National LGBT Media Association National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Q Syndicate

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Yes, It Is Transphobic to Declare Yourself Super Straight “Pride Source” By D’Anne Witkowski Follow us @pridesource Michigan LGBTQ+ Activist Michelle Brown Writes Chapter in @pridesourcemedia Women’s Leadership Book By Eve Kucharski Pride Source Email your op–eds to Indiana Man Charged With Murder, Targeting Michigan [email protected] LGBTQ+ Community Via Dating Apps Sign up online to receive our E–Digest By Jason A. Michael Our rate cards are available online. All material appearing in Between The Photo: Singer Elton John performs onstage at Minsk Arena Lines is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in on June 26, 2010 in Minsk. By Mazzzur whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Between The Lines Elton John Blasts Vatican’s Same-Sex Union Statement on is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for Twitter materials provided by advertisers or their agents. By Jason A. Michael Copyright 2021 www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 3 WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH Who Inspires You?

In honor of Women’s History Month LGBTQ+ women leaders. time and effort to advance LGBTQ+ these seven to share a fellow woman 2021, Between The Lines is featuring Though our state is full of powerful equality and raise awareness of issues leader who inspires them in their work. some of Michigan’s most prominent women leaders using their skills, specific to our community, we asked These were their answers:

MICHELLE BROWN “My mother! Being Puerto Michelle E. Brown is a longtime public Rican and Dominican Afro- speaker, activist and author who has Latina back [when I was advocated for LGBTQ+ rights across Michigan for decades. She has contrib- growing up], there wasn’t uted to BTL and her blog radio podcast Jennifer Lopez or Adrienne “Collections By Michelle Brown” airs Bailon, and there was no every Thursday at 7 p.m. Hispanic representation. She was the first image of beauty strength and JULISA ABAD perseverance I had ever Julisa Abad works as the director of trans- seen.” “Although she died in 2015, Grace Lee Boggs continues to inspire me. gender outreach and advocacy at Fair Mich- I can not tell you how many of the guests I have interviewed for my radio igan, an LGBTQ-specific legal advocacy organization. Her work focuses on working show who point back to Boggs’ role in their life. One even said meeting side-by-side with like-minded organizations to advance LGBTQ-affirming policy. her changed the ‘trajectory’ of their life. She did that for me as well.”

“Honorable Mary Brown (D-Kalamazoo) served ANGIE in the Michigan House of Representatives for PERONE 18 years (1976-1994). During her tenure, she Angie Perone is the director of secured significant gains for women from the SAGE Metro Detroit, an affiliate of the national Services & Advocacy creation of the school-age parents’ program and for GLBT Elders organization. In passage of the Married Women’s Property Act her role, she advocates for LGBTQ+ to the prohibition of probation in rape cases elders across the Metro Detroit region. and the development of testimony guidelines for child victims of criminal sexual conduct. She was the first legislator to hold hearings on key women’s issues such as pay equity and “My mom constantly inspires me. As a young child, I domestic violence. Upon retiring from the learned some of my earliest lessons in tenacity, diligence Legislature, Mary continued her public service and leadership as I watched her work full time as a social ERIN KNOTT worker during the day and canvas our neighborhood about Erin Knott works as the executive director and engagement in Kalamazoo and mentored of Equality Michigan, Michigan’s statewide many young women to become strong leaders.” a local ballot issue in the evenings. She hates the spotlight LGBTQ+ anti-violence advocacy organiza- but loves supporting people and has shown me how a tion. leader can embrace both and still effect change.”

4 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com AMY HUNTER Amy Hunter is the executive director of OutFront Kalamazoo, leading one of West Michigan’s largest hubs for LGBTQ+ resources, advocacy and acceptance.

“Kamala Harris: She’s smart, articulate and direct. She always gets right to the point when she speaks about policy and doesn’t cloak her meaning in politician speak. She’ll make a good president soon.”

NICOLE DENSON Nicole Denson has been a longtime LGBTQ+ activist. She is the founder of the Mosaic Collective, which advocates for marginalized BIPOC communities, and a board member for the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

“Tamika Mallory. I believe she is one of the best examples of a civil rights leader in our era. She has a powerful voice and leads intentionally. I had the pleasure of working under Tamika Mallory’s leadership through the Women’s March in 2018. I was amazed at her courage as well as her tenacity to not lose focus on our mission toward equity and justice.”

ALANNA MAGUIRE Alanna Maguire serves as the president of Fair Michi- gan, an organization that is dedicated to advocacy, ed- ucation and outreach regarding LGBTQ+ civil rights in the state of Michigan. She is also married to Attorney General Dana Nessel.

“I have two women in my life who inspire me: my mother, Mary Maguire, and my wife, Dana Nessel. My mother was my first and earliest role model for strong female leadership. I have watched her work tirelessly over the years in community organizing. My wife, Dana Nessel, is the other most important and inspirational woman in my life. Dana is brave, bold and earnestly dedicated to doing what’s right no matter what. Dana is and always has been a barrier-breaker.”

www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 5 WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Photo by Lluvia Higuera ‘Sarahland’ Author On Her Queer Must-Reads By Women

BY SAM COHEN queer sex, they are books that get slutty where she’s still a little fishy. The corporate “Zami: A New Spelling of My Name — A with genre. Without these books, my own dystopia makes part-carp girl clones as Biomythography,” Audre Lorde Queer books by women have saved my first book, the newly released linked story factory workers, and one of these clones An instance of needing to tell your queer story life. They’ve given me language with which collection “Sarahland,” would not be remotely tears out her tracking device and escapes to to yourself, but no suitable genre existing. This to articulate a self, and enabled me both to possible. the forest with our former mermaid. It’s part book is 20th-century New York dyke history; understand history in a way that makes sense sci dystopia, part fairy tale, part historical it’s the story of being raised by Black Caribbean to me and to find the queer community with fiction. And a completely incredible story “Salt Fish Girl,” by Larissa Lai immigrants, it’s the story of someone who whom I am always rearticulating the world. about the ways two girls together can find a needs to discover and name social structures They are books that reconfigure gender An 18th-century mermaid from China way out of capitalist horror. in order to grow into a self, and who needs with wit and camp and play, they are books transforms into a durian seed and is then to create a myth of a magical Caribbean that feature obsessive queer love and hot reborn in a futuristic corporate dystopia 6 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com homeland in order to be who she wants to be. “On Hell,” Johanna Hedva Also, Audre Lorde never gets enough credit, I When you want to break free of capitalism and think, for being funny. She’s sharp and detailed its violent structures so much you’re thinking and no-holds-barred in her observations, about hacking your body so that it can literally which makes her really fun to read. Oh, and fly away, read this book. Fabulist, anti-carceral, this one also has hot sex. voicey, extremely contemporary and takes seriously how social structures are made and can be unmade at the level of the body. “Passion of New Eve,” Angela Carter This novel from the ’80s features a many- breasted disabled goddess of color living in a “Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl,” desert compound who swallows up men during Andrea Lawlor sex and leads a feminist cult, a trans Hollywood Lawlor offers queer people what all of us starlet living stealth in a wax museum and actually want — a character who can change more. Gender and sex are reconfigured, time gender presentations and bodies at will, by speeds up and slips and loops. magic, and thereby fuck all kinds of people in all kinds of ways and also fit into all kinds of queer cultures from Michfest and lezzie “The Sophie Horowitz Story,” Sarah Provincetown to the gay leather bars of San Schulman Francisco. It’s the ‘90s from a contemporary I had only read Sarah Schulman’s incisive perspective, it’s infused with music criticism criticism (on gentrification, Palestine, the and fairy tale retellings, it lets us be “like mainstreaming of queer culture and more) everyone else only more so.” when I picked up her first novel and was delighted to find myself in an ’80s Lower East Side culture of experimental theater artists, “Borderlands,” Gloria Anzaldúa feminist magazines and pickled herring as a Anzaldúa was also an early maker of auto young dyke investigates a story about feminist theory and wild genre-mixer. This ’80s book bank robbers. Turns out Schulman writes is an incredible mix of poetry, autobiography, some of the best sex scenes, too, including one history, linguistics, spiritual writing, of both that takes place in the women’s balcony of an Spanish and English writing, and more. A Orthodox shul. Chicana lesbian insisting on the power of her voice, which has been shut down by white culture, by Latino culture, by straight people, “Vicious Red Relic, Love: A Fabulist Memoir,” Anna Joy Springer by the patriarchy and using every one of these modes in order to assert her ways of knowing, Stealing from Gina Abelkop’s review because it of being, of loving as valid. I’ve read this book is too intimidating to try to say anything about so many times and it always changes my life. this book in a few sentences: “Categorized as a fabulist memoir, the book unfolds by way of diary entries, scrawled school lecture notes, shit-smeared dollhouse worlds called ‘metaforests,’ cult literature, collaged drawings See Must-Reads, page 8 and a tiny tinfoil elephant named Blinky.” It’s also an obsessive dyke love story and a retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh. Just, like, read it.

www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 7 Michigan Trans Woman Forced to Bunk With Male Cellmate Says She Was Raped Her Attorney Sounds Off on Necessary Policy Change

BY JASON A. MICHAEL

n incarcerated trans woman has filed a lawsuit alleging the Michigan Our penal system has clearly not caught up to the Department of Corrections failed “ realities of what’s happening today. Whether or not Ato keep her safe and, in fact, put her in a position to be harmed by forcing her to one agrees or disagrees that transgender women bunk with a convicted rapist. The woman, who is being referred to in court filings should be housed in women’s prisons versus men’s as simply Jane Doe, claims she was raped prisons, the one thing that cannot be disagreed with within the first 24 hours of sharing a cell with the man and that prison officials is the duty of the prisons to keep the prisoners safe. ignored her requests for help and MDOC’s own policies. You have a duty to keep those prisoners safe and  Must-Reads “There are two fundamentals here,” here there was a fundamental failure. Continued from p. 7 attorney Nakisha Chaney, who is representing Doe, told Between The Lines. ” “The first is that rape is not a part of any “What an extraordinary thing that Equality Michigan, LGBT and Allies “Woman on the Edge of Time,” Marge prison sentence. I think because of the someone who is a woman is incarcerated Caucus, OutCenter of Southwest Michigan, Piercy movies and TV shows and in some way because of how people feel about prisoners, in a men’s prison,” Chaney said. “Our OutFront Kalamazoo, Ruth Ellis Center, I am constantly thinking about this 1976 book there’s almost like this implicit acceptance penal system has clearly not caught up Love Rising Lutheran Church in Detroit, about a future utopia where babies are grown that somehow if you’re in prison and you to the realities of what’s happening today. Stand with Trans and Trans Sistas of Color in external chambers and mothered by three get raped [it’s] too bad, so sad. You must Whether or not one agrees or disagrees Project. people including men who breastfeed, where have earned it. But that’s not so. that transgender women should be housed “I think people need to be reminded that the gender neutral pronoun “per” is the only “The second part,” Chaney continued, “is in women’s prisons versus men’s prisons, in places such as jail or prison there are one in use, and where formalwear comes from that prison officials have a constitutional the one thing that cannot be disagreed rights, so taking away what rights someone the library or is made of compostable algae. duty to protect inmates from sexual abuse. with is the duty of the prisons to keep the does have can be detrimental,” said Trans … One of the things that’s very striking prisoners safe. You have a duty to keep Sistas Executive Director Lilianna Reyes. “It those prisoners safe and here there was a can cause severe mental health issues. Trans “Our Lady of the Flowers,” Jean Genet about this situation is that it’s not as if they didn’t know there was a risk of harm. fundamental failure.” people are segregated so it feels like you’re The 1944 French precursor to John Waters, The flags were screaming at them. They’re A coalition of LGBTQ+ organizations in solitary confinement simply because of where shit first became floral, where depravity literally being told this is a risk. It’s well- from across the state met virtually last week who you are. I think we need to look at first became gorgeous and where the first known from some of the statistics we list in and released a statement on the case. how we can help trans people and non- drag queen murderer named Divine is at the our complaint … that a woman incarcerated “The allegations in this lawsuit are binary people navigate a system that is not center of the narrative. (I am pretty sure that in a men’s prison is going to be of higher unconscionable and sadly preventable. designed to uphold their rights.” John Waters gave Divine her name at least in risk of sexual abuse and then putting that However, neglect and poor training in What Chaney wants for her client is clear. part after “Our Lady of the Flowers” Divine). woman in a cell with a male rapist is going Michigan jails and prisons continues to “Any sexual abuse rape victim is going Deep queer colonial critique semi-masked to put the prisoner at greater risk of abuse. put trans people who are incarcerated at to need recovery and therapy, so we want in a campy stage set dripping with gorgeous And that’s exactly what happened here.” risk of repeated abuse and devastating to make sure she has available to her the imagery, a world of gay sex, white tulle tutus Trans inmates are 10 times more likely consequences. Not only is additional resources that she needs in order to fully and fake jewels meet ghosts and murder, to be sexually assaulted by a fellow inmate training needed, but anyone who was recover. We want assurances of her safety. pansies meet hearts dripping blood, and “the and, perhaps even more shocking, they complicit in incidents of sexual assault Safety, safety, safety. She was not asking to world is turned inside out like a glove.” are five times more likely to be sexually must be held accountable. The state must be treated in a special way. She was asking assaulted by a member of prison staff, immediately investigate this incident and that her constitutional rights be enforced. according to a study by the National Center others, implement training of MDOC So, we definitely want assurances of her Sam Cohen is a queer, Jewish femme who was for Transgender Equality. Five states across staff, and commit to enacting MDOC safety,” Chaney said. “Plus, we want the state born and raised in suburban Detroit. Her new the U.S. have enacted policies that allow policies that allow transgender people to department to take these issues of sexual story collection, “Sarahland,” is available now; inmates to be housed according to their be housed in correctional facilities that are abuse in general, but of specific populations her fiction is published in Fence, Bomb, Diagram, gender identity. Michigan is not one of in accordance with their gender identity.” that are of higher risk, seriously.” Gulf Coast and elsewhere. The recipient of a those states and forces inmates to be housed The coalition includes the American MacDowell fellowship and a PhD fellow at the according to the sex they were assigned Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, University of Southern California, Cohen lives at birth. Affirmations LGBTQ Community Center, in Los Angeles.

8 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 9 Parting Glances

BY CHARLES ALEXANDER A Reminder for April 17

tonewall! Stonewall! STONEWALL! Say it loud. Say it proud. It’s without doubt to our LGBTQ+ conviction and consensus — and that Sof the so-called heterosexual community — the single most important event leading to our contemporary Gay Liberation Movement. That historic weekend of revolt in June 1969, in front of the Stonewall Inn, in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, shook open closet doors with a vengence and fisticuffs spontaneous: “We’ve had it with you ‘badass’ straight dudes,” “This is it, you friggin’ cops,” “No more. You bigoted Bible braindeaders!” “Never again!” “We’re ready for a fight, no matter how long it takes!” Fifty years later, celebrating the Stonewall riots, the June Pride Celebration drew and estimated 150,000 participants and 5 million spectators attending June 2019 events in Greenwich Village and throughout Manhattan. There’s no question about it that Stonewall is our LGBTQ+ watchword historic happening. How we measure Viewpoint progress since then is another consideration. Judge that for yourself, militant or passive, PG reader. Yes! Stonewall is of fight-for-life LGBTQ+ importance, but five years before Stonewall, April 17, 1965, another I Tried to Figure Out How to Date Men glass-shattering, show-and-tell, in their political faces historic event occurred that few of us in the LGBTQ+ community remember, honor or even know about today: After Dating Women For So Long. My The first gay/lesbian picketing of the White House. Here’s what brought it all about. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared Audiobook Helped Me Get There. homosexuals a threat to national security as “sexual freshman dorm and decided to join a sorority instead. After perverts” who were vulnerable to blackmail by Communist BY KATE WILLETT spending so many years in the closet, what was a few more? spies. He ordered the immediate firing of every gay man Maybe it’s true — there’s a lid for every pot. A year later I and lesbian working for the U.S. government. n a basement classroom my freshman year of college, I was deeply in love with Molly, another lady from the same Five thousand government workers, including private heard a woman with purple hair say, “I came out to my suburb. We both wore sundresses. It was a proverbial us-against contractors and “fellow travelers,” were publicly exposed parents as queer when I was 13. And I came out to them the-world romance, and I didn’t care who knew I loved her. and sent packing. Over the decades following, these Ias kinky last year.” Despite my insecurities about being too basic, too femme and numbers climbed to 50,000. View 2012 film documentary I had so many questions. too bi, being in love with a woman allowed me to finally feel “Lavender Scare” to learn more. Should any mother have to hear that her daughter wants to I had the right to claim queer identity. One of those casualties was Frank Kameny — the be consensually beaten in a hot way? Why would someone say “I’m bisexual,” I announced at a monthly sorority meeting. “I “grandfather” of the modern gay rights movement and a “queer” instead of lesbian or bisexual — like, who did she want don’t care if anyone here has a problem with that!” My sorority prominent, Harvard-educated astronomer. to get kinky with anyway? Would I, a basic bisexual from the sisters, in retrospect, looked surprisingly unperturbed. “Kate,” During the Eisenhower witch hunt, he was working for suburbs, with no romantic experience with women outside of someone said to me, “no one minds that you’re bisexual. But the Army Map Service on classified missile projects in the a multi-year infatuation with a straight girl I wrote tortured we need you to stop using the house chores email list to invite hopes of being an astronaut when he was fired. poetry about, ever be able to fit in with the other women at people to Iraq War protests.” Four years before the Stonewall riots in New York City, this Queer Women’s Mixer? There was no neutral on a moving train! I quit the sorority Kameny courageously led the first picket of about a dozen I decided, no, I would not. and I was ready to live as a full-time queer. I came out to my brave — very brave, indeed — gays and lesbians at the It wasn’t cool to be bisexual in the conservative Christian parents. I moved into a queer co-op and spent the weekends White House in 1965 to protest these unprecedented suburb where I grew up, but it definitely wasn’t cool to be an at dance parties and dumpster diving, with people who, for the government firings. uninformed square in a sundress too terrified to make eye first time in my life, made me feel a sense of true community. contact with women I was attracted to either. “No one will ever See next page take me seriously as a queer person if I don’t date some women or at least get a better haircut,” I thought. I went back to my See Viewpoint, next page 10 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com Creep Of The Week The Pope Says Nope to Marriage Equality

‘Kate,’ someone said to me, ‘no one minds that BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI “ you’re bisexual. But we need you to stop using unions of persons of the same sex.” Interesting that the Catholic Church is the house chores email list to invite people to t’s been one hell of a week. declaring that, gosh darn it, they just don’t First, the good news. Vaccine have the power to do this thing they don’t Iraq War protests.’ distribution is going great! Hooray! Go want to do. As if everything the Church DOES Iget stabbed when it’s your turn! I can’t wait! have the power to do isn’t power that it just, ” So many exclamation marks!!! like, decided to take for itself. Then the bad news. More state Republicans And this kind of seems to have come out of are pushing forward with anti-trans athlete nowhere? I mean, it’s been over five years since bills and anti-voting rights bills. Republicans the Supreme Court’s pro-marriage decision are counting on Americans to find transgender allowed same-sex couples to get married. people far more threatening than the in- My guess is that this announcement is a broad-daylight racism and anti-Democracy response to a shift in the political climate in  Viewpoint bullshit Republicans are all about. And, sadly, the U.S. When Trump was “in charge” — as Continued from p. 10 in some cases they are right. if he ever did his job well or at all — there And then there’s the Catholic Church. On was no need to scream from the rooftops March 15 the church declared that they were about issues like marriage equality because This community helped me throw the so funny and so traumatic, I had to write not stans of same-sex marriages — the day the Trump Administration was hard at work DIY wedding where I married Molly. a whole audiobook to parse through it. after PI day! Like, can we not have some time chipping away those rights and denigrating Multiple former sorority sisters came out (On a side note: Please check out “Dirtbag for celebration? According to USA Today, LGBTQ+ people. of the closet in the years following — it Anthropology” on Audible!) “The two-page statement published in seven President Biden, however, is open about his turned out that there’s something kind of Right now, I’m say, a Kinsey 2. I guess languages was approved by Pope Francis.” acceptance of LGBTQ+ people and marriage gay about wanting to spend all of your time if you really press me on it, I’m bisexual, Yeah, that Pope Francis. The guy who equality. And he’s a Catholic. with attractive people of the same sex. As or pansexual and maybe even demisexual, was declared was a kinder, gentler pope and Last year, Crisis Magazine, which dubs Molly and I built a life together, I stopped because so much of sexual attraction for even a friend to the gays. In 2019 he said, itself “A Voice for the Faithful Catholic Laity,” identifying as bi, and just identified as me, at this moment, requires emotional “Homosexual people have the right to be in proclaimed that “Biden spent a good chunk of her wife. connection. a family. They are children of God. What we the last century promoting such anti-Catholic When we broke up a few years later, I felt It’s changed a thousand times. I expect it have to have is a civil union law. That way policies as systematic infanticide, government- like I was losing not only my relationship to change again. Maybe when I’m 80 years they are legally covered.” sanctioned sodomy and high taxes.” but my identity. I went on dates with a few old I will look back on the past 30 beautiful But it seems like the church thought that In other words, Biden supports reproductive women, but I pretty quickly ended up in a years I spent in a multi-gender polycule. it was a good time to clarify that whole “civil freedom, marriage equality, and, uh, the price rebound relationship with a guy that lasted I sometimes feel guilty, like I don’t have a union” thing by making clear that the “civil” we all pay to live in a civilized society? four years. I was so worried my friends right to claim queer identity if it’s been X part was as far as it went. The Church itself The Crisis article claims that Biden is “a from the co-op would reject me if I lost amount of days or years since I’ve done wasn’t going to bless these sinners, but it was squish who prioritizes the temporal and my queer cred. They didn’t. It turned out something gay. But who I’m with doesn’t OK if they had rights under the law. sentimental over the eternal and the sacred. they, to use a bisexual cliché, “were just erase my past, my politics and the lifelong “The blessing of homosexual unions cannot Sooner or later, we’ll have to reckon with that into the person.” process of reckoning with, and ultimately be considered licit,” the Catholic Church’s fact.” I mostly date men now. I genuinely don’t failing at, hetero-expectations. statement says. “There are absolutely no Perhaps this new anti-marriage equality know if that’s because I’m more attracted grounds for considering homosexual unions declaration is part of that reckoning? to men or because you can just trip and to be in any way similar or even remotely Very curious, though, how and if the fall onto a straight guy’s dick. The process Kate Willett’s Audible Original, “Dirtbag analogous to God’s plan for marriage and Church is reckoning with the fact that of trying to figure out how to date guys Anthropology,” is available now on Audible family.” members of their flock voted for Donald after so many years of not doing it was at audible.com/dirtbag. Gosh, thanks for that! I’m not a Catholic. Trump? A man who literally couldn’t name I don’t even believe in God. But I also know a single Bible verse during an interview in that the Pope has a lot of social significance which he professed to be a big fan of the because it matters to a lot of people, even book? A man who was accused of sexual people who are not Catholic, what he says. harassment, assault and rape by many women? But don’t worry. The statement clarifies that A man whose open racism inspired white  Parting Glances this is not “intended to be a form of unjust supremacist rallies and riots? A man who Continued from p. 10 discrimination.” divorced multiple times? A man who literally Oh, thank goodness. The declaration by worshipped himself? A man who ignored the one of the most powerful religious institutions death and suffering of hundreds of thousands He also petitioned the Supreme Court, that same year. in the world doesn’t INTEND for their of people during his last year in office? which refused to hear his case. Research and remember April 17, declaration that same-sex marriages are sinful If any Catholic voted for that one, let alone Only in 1995 was that order 1965. The memorable day the White to result in unjust discrimination. So, any twice, it really begs the question of that whole rescinded by President Bill Clinton, House was picketed in support of gay resulting discrimination must be just. Cool. prioritizing the eternal and the sacred thing. who also instituted the controversial rights — long, long before Trump took The statement continues, “The Church does Certainly a lot more than wanting to bless military policy, “don’t ask, don’t tell.” office, by the way! It’s just as important not have, and cannot have, the power to bless two people saying, “I do.” Congress voted to end State Department as Stonewall. Or, is it? You be the judge discrimination in 2011. Kameny died in once more, ever-thinking PG reader. www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 11 A still from “Tamou” by Tom Prezman and Tzor Edery. Queer Community Endures Onscreen ‘A Collective Will to Create Queer Spaces’ Is a Running Theme During the 20th Anniversary of AAFF’s Out Night

BY GEORGE ELKIND as programmer, the series continues to blend While privileging the best slate possible in submissions and selections are changing. That historical and political awareness with a programming, Donovan cited the relatively goes not just for filmmakers and subjects featured The Ann Arbor Film Festival is going online forward-looking air. This time it does so with “comfortable” and prominent position of queer but also for the tone of works submitted. March 23-28 for its 59th edition showcasing an inviting range of eight new queer-focused male filmmakers — many of whom, including “I used to work for an LGBTQ-specific film experimental works. But 2021 also marks shorts all curated from a place of open affection Gus Van Sant and Anger himself, have been festival back when I lived in Washington, D.C. the 20th anniversary of its LGBTQ-focused for experimental works, which have long offered featured during Out Night and AAFF over the called Reel Affirmations. And this is a long program “Out Night,” coming to you virtually a space, according to Donovan, for queer years — as an added driver in showcasing a time ago now,” recalls Donovan. “For whatever on March 25. artists to work in relative freedom outside the wide range of voices and styles in the program. reason, back in 2015, 2014, all the submissions A home for the festival’s queer programming American mainstream. “I’ve always been mindful of the idea of really were about pain and sadness and really since its inception (it began as “Girls Out Night” “The work of queer creatives is absolutely having a selection of Out Night films as diverse accepting negative emotions, and focusing in 2001, with Between The Lines as a co- foundational to experimental filmmaking in as the LGBTQ community, while at the same on those moments of violence and sadness. sponsor), the showcase has frequently centered an American context,” Donovan tells Between time paying attention to what the existing I definitely think now — and maybe it’s just experimental and nonfiction works by an The Lines. “I think the first experimental power structures in experimental filmmaking because these are experimental or avant-garde increasingly broad range of queer filmmakers. filmmaker whose work I really fell in love are,” he says. “So I can highlight stuff that seems filmmakers who are fanciful by nature — there In its first year, the program culminated with with was Kenneth Anger, and it’s because I genuinely new, genuinely pathbreaking in is a collective will to create queer spaces through a screening of Barbara Hammer’s “History was looking for examples of queer artistry in different ways.” the powers of filmmaking and cinema that Lessons,” which sought to recover and reframe history — before Stonewall, when people held He specifically points to the prevalence of feel safer, that feel more affirming, and that pre-Stonewall depictions of queer women. this myth of a completely closeted past.” Noting trans-focused shorts in this year’s Out Night slate, feel queerer.” (Hammer has remained a fixture at the festival Anger’s ability to shape avant-garde filmmaking as well as the inaugural edition of “Object Lesson,” While keenly aware of the hardships often both before and since). in the ’40s and ’50s, he described Anger’s work a new shorts program explicitly dedicated to Now in its third year with Sean Donovan as “decidedly and importantly queer.” works by trans filmmakers, as signs that both See AAFF, page 14 12 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com Transgender Michigan to Host Viritual Day of Visibility Open Mic, Chat Events

BY EVE KUCHARSKI the Park event will be able to happen On March 31, the 11th-annual in 2021, which was International Transgender Day of 300-strong just Visibility will be observed. While every two years before, year since its inception the event has Crandall-Crocker drawn celebrations around the world, said she’s eager to locally, Michiganders can commemorate use events like these the day with its founder, Transgender to raise visibility Michigan Executive Director Rachel of not only the Crandall-Crocker. This year, Crandall- community itself Crocker is preparing to host the event but the activism virtually on March 30, at 12 a.m. to March Transgender 31, at 11:45 p.m. — a second time since Michigan is doing. COVID-19 restrictions came into effect “I’m also doing around this time last year. some consulting “People have been real lonely. So many for the Michigan things are canceled, and I really want Department of people to have a chance to get things off Rachel Crandall-Crocker is the founder of the International Corrections,” she their chests,” she said. “I’m really excited Transgender Day of Visibility and Transgender Michigan. She is said. “They want me about that. We don’t cancel things at eager to host this year’s virtual event, and she hopes to be able to to help them change Transgender Michigan. We are having do in-person events again soon. some policies, and the chat and, hopefully, in a few months, I’m pushing for 28, from 2 to 3 p.m. They can use the we can have live events — we are a everyone who deals with trans people in online space to connect with fellow determined bunch.” prisons or in jails to have training.” members of the trans community to At the event, attendees are encouraged This work, Crandall-Crocker said, is talk and learn about issues they’ve been to “drop in any time,” and they can vital. Especially in light of recent events facing during this period of isolation. participate in an open mic that will allow like the Michigan’s Camp Boomerang That element of connection, even from guests to feature poetry, storytelling, rejecting the membership of trans men, miles away, is why Crandall-Crocker is music and more. the trans-exclusionary “super straight” eager to continue the virtual component “Call to poets, storytellers, musicans trend and the lawsuit against MDOC of TDOV long after COVID-19 and artists: Send us your video of your by a trans woman who was raped after restrictions are lifted. performance to show on our stage,” being forced to bunk with a cisgender “Even if we’re able to have it live this wrote event organizers. “See our Pride male. She’s eager that all attendees will year, I want to have an online component, stage [at transgendermichigan.org] for feel affirmed after attending. too, like a chat,” she said. “We want to examples of what we are looking for. Send “We want to celebrate being alive and have affirming events, and that’s what sets your YouTube link or video to susan@ being trans,” she said. it apart from the Day of Remembrance. transgendermichigan.org.” We want to have life-affirming events.” Crandall-Crocker added that Learn more about each event online at And while she isn’t sure that the attendees can also attend a Transgender transgendermichigan.org or by following annual August Transgender Pride in Visibility Day Chat on Sunday, March its Facebook page.

OPEN

www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 13 A still from “Mother Bunker.” Watching these films,  AAFF Continued from p. 12 “ for me, was a reminder of queer community embodied in queer experience, this year’s Out Night selections, which feature robots that does exist, even performing in drag revues, sunlit LA bike rides and hopeful visions of better futures, mark a if it’s abstract and decided contrast to the fest’s lone queer feature- nebulous and not length selection. “Instructions for Survival,” Yana something physically Ugrekhelidze’s politically sharp and narratively lean nonfiction film, features a trans man, here next to you. Alexandre, living under a kind of deep cover before fleeing his native Georgia (a distinctly physically here next to you.” ” queer-phobic environment) with his wife, who The selection of shorts, like experimental agrees to become a surrogate mother to raise filmmaking generally, offers what Donovan money for the move. Less dour than it sounds, frames as a welcome path from the kinds the film’s arc evokes shades of Maggie Nelson’s of conversations and ideas circulated (and perpetually musing “Argonauts,” drawing recirculated) surrounding more mainstream out shared transformative currents between films, and even in mainstream culture more pregancy and trans identity in terms of medical broadly. This road, he suggests, offers rich new and social experience. Even so, the aura of Out ways of understanding queer identity, aesthetics Night’s programming this year seems broadly and experience. optimistic by comparison, even utopian: “Experimental film’s incredibly vital as a “This particular collection is more fanciful, way out of tired and familiar debates about more devoted to a utopian imaginary of what what constitutes LGBTQ representation. That queer could look like — or what what kinds of kind of paradigm rarely applies very well queer intimacies people can find in their lives,” to these kind of experimental films, which says Donovan. “Watching all of these, it feels are finding entirely new filmic languages to almost like a reaction to the very grim year try and translate what the queer experience that we’ve had in this country and around the is,” says Donovan. “And I think that kind of world in a rather universal way, but certainly in imagination — and willingness — to work ways that touch on LGBTQ lives specifically.” outside of established forms is incredibly For Donovan, themes of “imagining what necessary to kind of revitalizing queer a queer recovery looks like” prevailed among culture, making things more exciting.” the often diaristically narrated and intimate selections, something he appreciated as both Passes for the 59th AAFF are now on sale and a programmer and a viewer. include access to all the festival’s programming “For me, I live alone; I’ve definitely had including over 100 films in competition, juror the strange kind of pandemic experience of programs, special programs, salons, expanded wondering what to do most days.” he says. cinema performances as well as Q&As with “In a year that has been so isolating, that has the filmmakers. Tickets for each event will be people sectioned off in their own homes and available as a sliding scale with a suggested price missing a lot of the larger sources of queer of $12 and a minimum of $2 per ticket (the $2 community that people might be used to, minimum covers platform fees). watching these films, for me, was a reminder of queer community that does exist, even if George Elkind is a writer and media critic based it’s abstract and nebulous and not something in Metro Detroit. 14 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 15 Hazel Park City Council Introduces LGBTQ-Inclusive Human Rights Ordinance

BY BTL STAFF consolidated with three others as Obergefell v. introducing this ordinance — and of the rest Additionally, Michigan Sen. Jeremy Moss — Hodges, which culminated in a decision by the of Council for their foresight in advancing it one of three openly-gay legislators and whose The Hazel Park City Council last week United States Supreme Court requiring all states forward.” district includes Hazel Park — introduced a bill, introduced Ordinance 01-21, a Human Rights to grant same-sex marriages and to recognize The introduction of the Human Rights SB208, in the Michigan Senate that would amend Ordinance that would prohibit discrimination in same-sex marriages performed in other states. Ordinance occurs amidst a renewed interest in the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include employment, housing, public accommodations Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act protections for sexual orientation and gender and public services on the basis of race, color, who represented the couple in DeBoer v. Snyder, to include provisions for sexual orientation and identity and expression. A similar bill, HB4297, religion, gender, age, height or weight, marital commended the Council’s action. gender identity and expression. A ballot question was introduced in the Michigan House by Rep. status, familial status, national origin, disability “The ongoing struggle for LGBTQ civil rights committee, Fair and Equal Michigan, is currently Laurie Pohutsky. and sexual orientation. requires bravery, and the fortitude of those in a awaiting certification of petitions for a legislative “Tonight’s action by the Hazel Park City The ordinance’s first reading passed position to inspire change to do so,” Nessel said. initiative by the Michigan Department of State. Council further demonstrates that LGBTQ unanimously, and it will be entered for a second “Just as two courageous residents did before them, Successful certification would place the proposed discrimination has no place in our cities or reading at the Council’s next regularly scheduled I applaud the Hazel Park City Council for standing initiative in front of the Michigan legislature, our state,” Moss said. “I am proud to represent meeting on March 23. It is expected to advance to up and doing the right thing.” which further defines “sex” within the Act as communities who understand the importance a third reading and be adopted in April. The Hazel Park Human Rights Ordinance encompassing gender identity and expression, of advancing LGBTQ equality, and implore my The Human Rights Ordinance was introduced includes the same protected classes within the as well as expanding the Act to include sexual colleagues to do the same.” by Councilmember Luke Londo, a recent Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and orientation. Hazel Park City Council has issued appointee to the Council. expands it to include disability status, sexual “There continues to be a need for statewide proclamations recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride “Hazel Park has consistently played an orientation, and gender identity and expression. protections for the LGBTQ community, and Month since 2018. Additionally, the City has oversized role in the pursuit of equality for the It mirrors ordinances adopted in nearby we will only get there with the ongoing support raised an LGBTQ Pride Flag outside City Hall LGBTQ community,” Londo said. “As a proud communities. of Michigan residents, businesses and other annually since 2018, and held its first “Pride in Hazel Park resident who is also bisexual, I am City Manager Ed Klobucher, who has served organizations,” said Fair and Equal Michigan the Park” event in 2019. honored to play a role in moving our community Hazel Park since 2003, recognized the City’s Chairman Trevor Thomas. “We are grateful for forward, and cementing our status as a leader in unique history in LGBTQ efforts. cities like Hazel Park who share our vision and The proposed ordinance was seconded by the fight for LGBTQ rights.” “Hazel Park voted against Michigan’s same- passion for the pursuit for LGBTQ civil rights.” Councilmember Alissa Sullivan and supported Two Hazel Park residents filed suit in 2012 sex marriage ban in 2004, two of its residents If the legislature fails to adopt Fair and Equal by Councilmember Mike McFall, Mayor Pro Tem challenging Michigan’s ban on adoption by same- helped achieve marriage equality nationwide, Michigan’s proposal within 40 days of certification, Andy LeCureaux and Mayor Mike Webb. sex couples. They subsequently amended their and now the City Council is seeking to eliminate the matter will go in front of voters in the complaint, additionally challenging Michigan’s discrimination against the LGBTQ community November 2022 general election. Councilmember constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. within our borders,” Klobucher said. “I am proud Londo sits on the honorary leadership committee The suit, DeBoer v. Snyder, was eventually of our newest councilmember, Luke Londo, for of Fair and Equal Michigan.

16 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 17 WEDDING

Julia Music (right) married her wife Jenna Parks on their front porch. The couple’s wedding was officiated by Oakland County Judge Jacob Cunningham. Courtesy photo. A Case for the Porch Wedding Ferndale Wedding Officiant Busier Than Ever During COVID-19

BY EVE KUCHARSKI day-of wedding ceremony soon after, and Due to pandemic-related safety restrictions, get married, we had a date set, COVID struck since getting a license in November 2018, the couples that Music has married have and we couldn’t do our wedding. So, we were erhaps as a side effect of her time as Music has regularly married couples across all had socially distant ceremonies. And, like, ‘Let’s just elope on our front porch.’ the Ferndale Pride event chair, Julia Michigan. Yet despite falling marriage rates while Music recovered from an accident We’ve now had at least four weddings on Music got used to a regular question: due to COVID-19-related postponements, that left her temporarily unable to walk, for our front porch.” P“Will you marry us?” Not qualified to do so, Music was busier than ever marrying couples a time, couples had to have their wedding Music believes that despite COVID’s she’d politely decline. But over the years, the in 2020. ceremonies performed on Music’s front porch challenges, the pandemic helped people to requests only kept coming. “When I got my license I thought, ‘Maybe — including her own. “reprioritize commitments” and relieve the “So, one night at midnight, I decided I was I’ll do one or two in my lifetime. I don’t think “My wife and I also got married on pressures of a large public ceremony. going to [become a wedding officiant],” she people will be that interested,’” she said. “Now, our porch. [Oakland County] Judge Jake “I think prior to COVID-19, at least the said. “Because why not?” I’m looking at my seventh [ceremony], and I Cunningham actually performed our As if on cue, a friend asked her to do a have two more lined up for later in [2021].” wedding,” she said. “We were planning to See Porch Weddings, page 20 18 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 19 WEDDING

 that’s kind of why I wanted to offer a free option Porch Weddings for people,” Music said, who didn’t charge couples Continued from p. 18 getting married during COVID-19. “I asked for donations to be sent to The Trans Sistas of Color couples that I worked with, it was about being Project in lieu of payment.” married and not the wedding,” Music said. “In Beyond providing political peace of mind, my personal case, I throw a big party every year Music said that these small ceremonies added — I’m good with parties — and I love my wife some scheduling stability for couples in an and partner and I just wanted to be with her. So, uncertain time as well. it was just about, ‘Let’s do this ceremony and get “With restaurants and wedding halls having this legal document signed so that we’re married all sorts of shut-downs, it’s just really hard to try and we have rights to whatever we need to so that and guess what to try and do,” she said. “People we can be together.’” are concerned about losing deposits and maybe For husbands Jason Misleh and Luiz Moreno, their [chosen wedding venue] not being a viable that was the aim as well. business by the time their wedding comes around.” “We were just ready and Julia had offered to Misleh agreed that, for him, a happy ceremony do it,” Misleh said. and a bit certainty in the time of COVID-19 was Misleh got to know Music after working with a huge plus. her for Ferndale Pride. A porch wedding didn’t “My sister is supposed to be getting married seem so unconventional to him once he learned of in May and their wedding date has been pushed a friend who married his Canadian partner over a million times,” he said. “Seeing how she’s being Zoom because of pandemic border restrictions. upset over and over and over, I almost would say Misleh and Moreno tied the knot officially in that if you’re doing a wedding for your friends September 2020. Jason Misleh (left) and his husband Luiz Moreno were married by Ferndale Pride Chair Julia Music. and family, wait until it’s certain.” “But we do plan to have another big pseudo But, for those couples looking to get married wedding with friends and family, which Julia will because of the uncertain political climate. For overturned. for themselves, a porch wedding might be just perform the same ceremony for I think,” he said. one, only months ago did the U.S. Supreme Court “All the couples that I performed a wedding the thing. While couples have many reasons to get gain a conservative majority and Justices Clarence for were planning to get married, but they were “If you’re doing it for yourself and your married, Music thinks that weddings among M. Thomas and Samuel A. Alito imply that the all worried that because of the political climate, if partner, does it really matter when or where LGBTQ+ people became more popular in 2020 2015 nation-wide marriage equality ruling be they didn’t do it now, they might lose rights. So, it is?”

20 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 21 WEDDING

Garnet Lewis (center) and her business partners stand in front of Isabel's Market & Eatery. LGBTQ-Friendly Douglas Gourmet Expands Catering Options BY ELLEN SHANNA KNOPPOW fish, bread and deli. Residents also wanted a shop that could benefit visitors from places hen Garnet Lewis and her business like Chicago, Indiana and St. Louis, Missouri. partners decided to name their Enter Isabel’s that not only offers the above gourmet food shop in Douglas but catering, cooking classes, baked goods and WIsabel’s Market & Eatery, they had a clear space for sitting and enjoying a meal ordered choice in mind. Their namesake was an area from a sit-down menu. school teacher and principal who had been very With the exception of the fresh fish, bread charitable to the west Michigan community and croissants, everything is made in-house. some 70 years ago. But after a little additional The deli salads are very popular, as are the research, they found LGBTQ+ ties. cinnamon rolls, which Isabel’s has become Isabel Graham was a lesbian. known for. Another unique feature of the This was more than a bit of useless trivia market is a desire to educate their patrons. to the four gay women owners of the market “The other thing that we’ve really had a and eatery. mission to educate and provide folks with the “She and her partner lived here in Douglas opportunity to learn,” Lewis said. “Whether down on Union St,” Lewis explained. “Basically, it’s the pairing of a wine with a cheese, a plant- in the various Census report documents they based meal, sheet pan cooking, helping them listed each other as ‘partner,’ and the next time, kind of learn and grow as they go, which is like in the ‘30s, they list each other as ‘spouse.’ really cool. It’s a comfortable environment for Can you imagine? Back in the ‘30s. Serious folks to go to come and learn, which I think to God.” many people appreciate. I know I always have.” Had they been alive in the present day, If Isabel’s sounds like an ideal wedding perhaps Graham and her partner would caterer, readers might wish to book their have had their wedding reception catered by engagements soon, as Lewis said more than Isabel’s, which at first had a slow start due to once that she expects the business to be COVID-related restrictions. Now, Lewis, her “slammed” due to high demand for catering partners and staff are gearing up for larger in the area. This need has been exacerbated by events they’ve yet been unable to accommodate the pandemic, which left potential customers since purchasing the building in 2019. with few options. She talked about some of the “If you build it, they will come” is a truism smaller-scale events Isabel’s has done and what when it comes to Isabel’s: a retail survey she envisions for the future. revealed a strong desire of residents in the “We were fully intending, of course, to open Saugatuck/Douglas area for an upscale grocery with a fully functioning catering and events where they could purchase items like fresh See Isabel’s, page 26 22 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 23 WEDDING 5 Safety (and Style) Tips for Tying the Knot During the Pandemic BY BTL STAFF 3. Cover sneezes and coughs with a bent elbow, attendees as well. Immediately after an event, missing and thinking about them on your big immediately disposing of any tissues used in getting another test is important, too. day. Plus, it’s sure to get some laughs!” There’s no doubt that keeping safe during the a closed container. COVID-19 pandemic is a must, and science 4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. points to being quarantined at home as the 4. Have fun with the photos. 5. Incorporate Safety into your 5. Wash hands frequently with soap and water wedding’s organization. safest way of doing so. However, now that That seems like a given at any wedding, but it’s or by using a hand sanitizer. Michiganders have been living in isolation possible that the social distancing requirements Beyond matching masks to the wedding for over a year, postponed plans like wedding at events held during COVID-19 can be theme, there’s also ways of making social dates are beginning to crop up on calendars 2. Keep up-to-date on the latest safety utilized as best as possible. On weddingpro. distancing requirements a potentially fun and once again. regulations. com, New Orleans wedding photographer tasteful experience. Dallas wedding planner Catherine Guidry shared ideas to capture the Jacqueline Hill of Jacqueline Events suggested For those who are faced with tying the knot Perhaps one of the most useful tools for event safely. translating the aesthetic wedding mask design during the pandemic, here are six tips to ensuring event planning or attendance on this list to markers around the event denoting social that the event is as safe as it can possibly be. is the Gathering Guide from Plannie, an “When it comes to photography, there are distancing. event management company: plannie.com/ a few ways to keep your images beautiful and memorable while staying safe! Because “A wedding during COVID-19 doesn’t have to be 1. Whatever you do, start with gathering-guide. This crowdsourced event design compromised to be safe. We incorporated professional advice. guideline table gives a thorough overview of your guests are going to be wearing masks, event and gathering restrictions by state and, consider passing out masks that match the our bride’s monogram and colors into vinyl The World Health Organization has advice for in some cases, county. wedding colors so that, in your photos, it markers instead of using bright yellow stickers,” small events during COVID-19 for attendees becomes a part of the aesthetic,” she said. she said. “This allowed guests to know where to and organizers. Check local safety regulations The site also recommends thinking outside stand at the guest book and bars but matched the before attending an event, stay at home if 3. Test, and test frequently. remainder of the decor so that they didn’t stick feeling unwell and comply with these safety the box when it comes to honoring family and Being aware of one’s COVID-19 status is always friends who cannot attend. out. Have fun with them or make them serious measures: — either way, you can make them pretty!” good practice. At least 72 hours before hosting “... Think about creating a life-size photo cutout 1. Maintain at least 1 meter (6 feet) of distance or attending an event, it’s important to get from other guests. of any important family members who cannot tested to ensure that one will not pass along attend! You can incorporate it into a portrait 2. Wear a mask. COVID-19. Wedding hosts should require it of with you to show them how much you are

24 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 25 WEDDING

Lewis insisted that it’s entirely up to the put together for you. So that’s the neat  Isabel’s customer: their chef will “cater” to their part of being flexible and able to do this.” Continued from p. 22 specific needs. Lewis added that if Isabel’s is fortunate “Sometimes folks come with a set enough to have as much catering business function, and COVID quickly shut that idea of what they want; other times as anticipated, the staff may have to down,” Lewis recalled. “We’ve done a few folks really have no idea and they want become more regimented when it comes catering events; we did one the other to sit down with us ... and see what they to menu choices. day ... a breakfast event off-site. But we can come up with,” she said. “We’ve got For now, Lewis can be found at Isabel’s have a full catering license with a liquor a general manager who has helped cater in-person, sometimes in what has come license that goes with it. So, now that and done weddings for many, many years. to be known as “the dish pit” in the back the occupancy issues are easing up a bit, She actually did Vicki [Cobb’s] and my of the house. That’s because she and it’s allowed us to start doing some more wedding. She really runs a good show, her business partners feel it’s important catering events.” and she’ll sit down with each customer to remain as hands-on in running the In-house events are an option, too: individually and help them set up their business as possible. Isabel’s has an atrium with a capacity of event specific to their needs.” While technically in retirement, those 79 people. However, one area of specialty Lewis who know Lewis’ history might not be “Right before we really shut down mentioned was Isabel’s pasta, because surprised to learn that she’s started a again and all, we had a number of really Isabel’s main chef has a strong background business as she had a stint as a candidate neat events here in the atrium,” Lewis in Italian cooking. Options abound for for the Michigan State Legislature and is a said. “We had a baby shower, which was one’s wedding cake as well. current Saugatuck City Council member. phenomenal, we had a birthday party, “I know it’s weird because folks are used She had a clear answer to the question, but have not yet had the ability to do any to going in and being told, ‘OK, this is “Is Garnet Lewis failing at retirement?” wedding receptions just ‘cause of size. We what we serve: one, two, three: that’s your “Good gravy,” she replied. “I’ve so failed had one booked for Labor Day, and, of options,” Lewis said. “What’s nice about at retirement. It’s not even funny.” course, that ended up being outside at having our own baker [is] she’s very, very their house, and we catered that event.” talented; she makes all of our cakes. So we Isabel’s is located at 310 Blue Star Highway However, a few weddings are already can give a customer the option. You can in Douglas. Learn more at isabelsmarket. planned for late spring/early summer. either contract with someone to do your com. When asked about the most popular cake, or we’ll have you do a taste-testing catering dishes on offer at Isabel’s, with our baker and we’ll see what we can

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Liberty St Ann Arbor 48104 Todd’s Menswear www.jdentertainment.com www.abragem.com 520 West 11 Mile Rd Royal Oak 734-994-4848 48067 Metro Cars 248-865-9963 24957 Brest Rd Taylor 48180 Jacob Matthews Jewelers www.metrocars.com 6673 N Canton Center Rd Canton 734-946-5700 48187 Venues & Catering 734-207-1906 Posterity Gallery www.jacobmatthewjewelers.com Christ Church Cranbrook 17005 Kercheval Grosse Pointe 470 Church Rd Bloomfield Hills 48230 Lewis Jewelers 48304 www.posteritygallery.com 2000 W Stadium Ann Arbor www.christchurchcranbrook.com 313-884-8105 48103 248-644-5210 www.lewisjewelers.com Do You Get a Rush Out of Hate? p. 35 734-994-5111 28 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 29 Shanty Creek Resort Destination Ann Arbor 5780 Shanty Creek Rd Bellaire 315 W Huron St #340 Ann Arbor 49615 www.visitannarbor.org www.shantycreek.com 734-995-7281 231-533-3092 Grand Haven Spring Lake Sycamore Hills Golf Club Waterfront Holiday Inn 48787 North Avenue Macomb 940 W. 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30 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 31 A Trans Artist Wanted to See a Trans ‘Badass’ Onscreen. Now, in a New HBO Film, She Can.

Celia Harrison. Photo: HBO

BY GEORGE ELKIND Latino, the creators are finally presenting of gender by forcing its character to navigate experience — the more I was informing myself a figure just as tough and fearless as they’d the spaces of boxing and sex work both: two about gender and femininity — the more I fter years of collaborating on shorts imagined. spheres often seen as male and female worlds. started questioning those things,” Albarrán films around the East coast, filmmakers Working with Harrison on the script “One of the most beautiful things in the film says. “So that exploration that the character André Phillips and Charles Vuolo (she also fills a key supporting role), they is that we’re constantly going from masculine does in the movie: I feel that came really close Ashared a gut feeling: they were both ready to created a character for whom strength is a to feminine, and we see that some people are to me because that was an exploration that I make a feature-length production. But they key component, embodied in the historically trapped in their masculinity and some people was doing myself.” weren’t sure what to make it about. male-gendered practice of boxing: someone are trapped in their femininity,” says Albarrán, For both directors, working with trans Then, they met trans artist Celia Harrison unafraid to traverse New York streets even in who identifies as non-binary and uses he/she/ collaborators and creating an atmosphere on the set of a music video in which she was the dark — and who, while flawed, could serve they pronouns. “At the end of the day all these that welcomed improvisation and exploration performing in 2014. Still weighing a subject as the hero of their own story. constructs are just traps. And it’s really beautiful proved key in building out the film’s emotional themselves, they asked her what kind of story Over the film’s trajectory, Lupe (Puerto for the character of Lupe to really empower world. The main goal, often, was to stay out of she’d most like to see onscreen. Rican actor Rafael Albarrán), a recent Cuban herself and look for what is authentic to her.” the way of the performances. “I’d love to see a film with a transgender immigrant, searches for their missing sister Preparing for the role — which involved “One thing we asked our crew, whoever we protagonist that’s a badass,” she told them at Isabel (Lucerys Medina) while navigating both whirlwind days rushing from Muay Thai would work with: this is a film about humanity, the time. Specifically, a trans character who the world of low-budget sex work in New York training to fitting sessions for women’s clothes this is about people,” says Vuolo. “As much as wasn’t framed as a victim. Or, at the very least, and their own gender identity in the process. before an initial two-week shoot — helped I love beautiful dolly shots or beautiful crane one that wasn’t sad all the time. Featuring frank, sometimes harsh discussions shape Albarrán’s own trajectory as much as shots of buildings, it’s about Rafael, Isabel… And now, in their new film “Lupe,” which is of transgender and immigrant life punctuated Lupe’s. It’s about these characters, so get in there and currently streaming on HBO Max and HBO with bursts of violence, the film presses on ideas “The more I was reading about the trans get close. Don’t worry about any of the typical

32 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com concerns. Just get close, get emotional, let them pushing back and going, ‘No no, it needs more breathe.” — we need to see this.’ Yes, it feels awkward Working with trans collaborators was key and uncomfortable,” says O’Brien, “but that’s for the directors. Harrison, who collaborated because it’s real. It’s that person’s truth for that on the film throughout, did more than just moment. So please linger on it more. Because fact-check. She took creative risks and often you know, unless you’ve been in that position provided ideas that drove entire scenes. where you’ve lost everything, everything’s just “She was interested in doing things that we falling away, you don’t know who you are, where would never have done or been bold enough you’re going; you don’t even know who your to do,” Vuolo remembers, citing a longer scene friends and stuff are or anything, unless you’ve in which she appears nude in the bathtub and lived that.” discusses intimate, personal details recalled from her own experience. ”You’re the one putting yourself out there, you’re the one lying there, you’re the one talking about this stuff. And we’ll film it,” Vuolo recalls The more I was reading telling her. “It sounds incredible and emotional “ about the trans and intense. But we would never have written a scene like that; we wouldn’t have known how.” experience — the more In editing, though, the production hit a snag. The loose 47-page shooting script (90-100 is I was informing myself customary for a short feature) that had created about gender and such a welcoming set environment left the team struggling to find a structure for the film. femininity — the more “We had looked at moments and scenes 200 times; we couldn’t make heads or tails of it,” says I started questioning Vuolo. “We ended up finding a phenomenal those things. editor in Shiran Amir who just brought this thing to life. Not only did she bring the — Rafael Albarrán” footage and all the wonderful performances that everyone gave us to life, she brought an entire post team.” That team included Kerry Michelle O’Brien, Letting things simply exist onscreen, suggests who was moved to tears by what she saw as a O’Brien, is often the key not just in getting rare, truly rounded trans character in one of to the core of a scene, but to the heart of an Amir’s early cuts — so much so that she came experience. on board as both transgender consultant and “Let it be there, because it speaks to me as executive producer. As an advisor and an editor a transgender individual,” she says. ”Yes, this herself, her main suggestion was often to let point in the film may be quite visceral and hard scenes play out more fully, even ones that might to watch. But you know why it’s visceral and feel uncomfortable to watch. hard to watch? Because it’s a truth.” “There’s a couple of pivotal scenes in the film where the boys were quite worried about sort George Elkind is a writer and media critic based of letting it breathe. And me and Shiran were in Metro Detroit.

Rafael Albarrán. Photo: HBO www.PrideSource.com BTL | March 18, 2021 33 34 BTL | March 18, 2021 www.PrideSource.com 32 Look for hotties in a gay bar 9 It can coldcock you 34 Stallion that’s spotted 10 React to static 35 WW II gun 11 Most like St, Mary 36 Hate-monger radio host 12 “I’m being straight with you!” 39 Last letter for Socrates 13 Doesn’t leave the closet 42 Geological span 21 Middle X or O 43 Pics that penetrate your clothes 23 Anais who went both ways 47 Bert, to Ernie 28 College social 48 Most able to bend over 29 “Have a ball!” 51 Urvashi has one 30 Emma of “Battle of the Sexes” 52 Like better 33 Worn-out horse 54 Mary Cassatt, for one 35 Abbr. of old in Tatu’s land 56 Hate-monger television host 37 Weapon pointed at James Bond’s 60 Tool for Mapplethorpe crotch 61 Assumption of the virgin? 38 Bit player 62 Coup target, to Cocteau 39 Antonym (abbr.) 64 Mireille of “The Killing” 40 Sultry Dietrich 65 Like “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down 41 Lover of Franklin and Lorena on Me”? 44 Amelia Earhart, for example 66 “The Lion King” sound 45 Affirmation to a drag queen 67 “___ interesting!” 46 Go down 68 Tickle pink 49 Shower with kind words Do You Get a Rush Q Puzzle 69 Humorist Bombeck 50 “No Exit” playwright Out of Hate? Down 53 Like Albert, in “The Birdcage” 18 Take steps 55 “___ Is Nothing Like a Dame” 1 Unresponsive body 19 Rick’s old flame 57 Ryan of porn 2 Negatively charged 1 Irene who played Coco in “Fame” 20 Hate-monger Ann 58 Vincent Lopez theme song 3 The Capitol dome is its top 5 S&M reminders 22 Hate-monger Sean 59 Responder to “Bite me!”? 4 “Hello” singer 10 XXX, in Greek porn? 24 Heat and then cool 60 “Little Miss Evil” writer Raphael 5 Dik-dik, for one 14 Give ___ to (approve) 25 Pussies with sharp teeth 63 Refrain syllable 6 Singer Vicki 15 Easily screwed 26 Caesar of comedy 7 Hurry, to Shakespeare 16 Trent of Mississippi 27 What the tide does 8 Porter’s “Well, Did You ___” 17 Circumcision, for one 31 ___ generis See p. 28 for answers

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