NEWS

A Lesbian, , Bisexual, Community Center Volume 2 Issue 9 LIKEME Lighthouse Annual Fundraiser All of us here in Kansas City can’t thank Margaret enough for stopping by Kansas City...

by Char Daniels

s we get nearer and nearer to Mar- is a comedy show with a garet Cho coming to town for the national renowned come- LIKEME® Lighthouse’s annual fund- dian. Come support the raiser,A all the LIKEME® Lighthouse volun- LIKEME® Lighthouse. teers are working like little Christmas Elves Buy a ticket online at www. to prepare for our annual event. We have follytheater.org great auction items at the event. Doors open at 5 p.m. and a great show starts at 7 p.m. TICKETS ARE

We’re excited that this first signature GOING FAST event for our community center is being headlined by such a well-known and gen- erous supporter of the LGBT community, . All of us here in Kansas City BE SURE TO CHECK can’t thank Margaret enough for stopping by Kansas City right in the middle of her tour OUT OUR CELEBRITY season. We are grateful that Margaret wants AUCTION ITEMS ON the LIKEME® Lighthouse to be financially sustained for another year. CHARITYBUZZ.COM NOV. 6 The event is just two weeks away, No- vember 13, at the historic Folly Theater, 400 E. 12th Street. Margaret Cho LIVE

Follow Us On Our Social Networks & Web Sites PLACES pg. 2 LIKEME® Lighthouse KCAVP pg. 2 LIKEME® Lighthouse 3909 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 A Night of Laughter...pg. 3 (816) 753-7770 Art Show pg. 3 [email protected] Movie Nights pg. 4 MAGLCC Member pg. 5 LIKEME® Organization Summer Hours Same-Sex Couples Immigration - presented Mon. - Sat.: 12 noon - 8 p.m. in Spanish pg. 7 Sunday: 12 noon - 6 p.m. LIKEME® Gear pg. 8

Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved Table of Contents by Jen Harris PLACES pg. 2 PLACES KCAVP pg. 2 A Night of Laughter for the LIKEME Lighthouse pg. 3 Raising the Vibration: Kansas City’s Vibe Art Show pg. 3 Movie Nights pg. 4 Tribe MAGLCC Member pg. 5 Same-Sex Couples Immigration - f you’ve been looking visionaries, and Sara is a remarkable ex- presented in Spanish pg. 7 for a home in which ample of the future of art and performance LIKEME® Gear pg. 8 to experiment with in Kansas City. Her extensive artistic resume Iany level of creative en- includes emceeing, hosting and performing The dates and times for meetings deavor, look no further. in open mic poetry events and circus arts are listed on the LIKEME® Light- Kansas City’s Vibe Tribe such as hula hooping and spinning fire. house Web site calendar at is an artist collective Her musical endeavors link her to sig- likemelighthouse.org with some 100 players nificant Kansas City talent such as the ac- caption regionally whose talents claimed band Dumptruck Butterlips. She Hours of Operation: span the artistic spectrum from seamstresses, refers to Nightlife Jones as her partner-in- Mon. - Sat.: Noon - 8 pm painters, writers, DJs and emcees to air- rhyme (if you haven’t seen him perform, put Sunday: Noon - 6 pm brush makeup artists, graphic designers, that on the list). It was Nightlife’s mantra fire spinners, belly dancers, hula-hoop and “One Vibe, One Tribe” (OVOT) that in- interpretive dancers … The list is endless. spired Sara and others to form The Vibe The Vibe Tribe, which is pursuing not- Tribe in 2011. for-profit status, recently found a home at Sara’s has been pursuing these dreams for 5504 Troost in a space bordering UMKC nearly a decade. Recently, The Vibe Tribe and Rockhurst University. Their mission merged with the KC Drum Tribe to create is to give art to the community while pro- further collaborative genius. This troupe viding artists a safe space for creating, re- continued on page 5 hearsing, collaborating and performing. “The space is primarily used for rehearsals and yoga,” said founder Sara “Miss Conception” Glass. “We also have workshops and are seeking individuals who Winter want to get more involved with the community. We do ask participants to donate if possible. We are all work- Wonder ing artists who contribute as much time and money as NEWS we can, but it helps keep the Ball utilities on. A FREE night of food, fun, “We adopted the principle entertainment and prizes for Editor in Chief: Charlene Daniels that, if you can’t afford to LGBTQ youth and their allies. Managing Editor: Felicia Kyle donate, you can help us in Copy Editor: Elizabeth Andersen a variety of ways including th Reporting: Elizabeth Andersen, Felicia Kyle promoting events, cleaning Friday December 13 Graphics: Howard Callahan the bathrooms, sweeping the 6-9pm Design: Howard Callahan floor before yoga, and espe- At LikeMe Lighthouse cially by bringing a friend or 3909 Main Street two. … We’re trying to bring Kansas City, MO 64111 art and creativity and make 816-753-7770 it accessible to everybody.” 816-561-0550 for help · www.kcavp.org [email protected] Kansas City has long Working to end violence in the lives of LGBTQ Youth and Adults been the home to artistic pg. 2 November 2013 Newsletter LIKEME® Lighthouse - Kansas City and hours around.

Absolutely. What have been some of the unex- pected challenges of the first year?

We’re … creatures of habit. For years and years and years, there was not a LIKEME Lighthouse. It’s just a matter of getting the Lighthouse to pop into people’s minds. Where can I get legal aid? Where can I get tested for HIV this month? [We”> Just want A Night of Laughter for the people to get in the habit. I think some people were reticent because they thought, LIKEME Lighthouse “they’re not going to make it.” But we’re here to stay. … by Schaeffer Nelson Article courtesy of Camp Magazine, Kansas City What was the biggest challenge in the first year?

It was that, winning the community’s trust. t’s officially been a hot minute since LIKEME® Lighthouse opened up shop. Something I really appreciate about the The LGBT community center at 39th Lighthouse is it’s a safe place. I walked in Iand Main Streets opened in March 2012, once and a group of older white women and and it has been serving queer Kansas Citians young African American teenagers were just ever since. To celebrate and raise money, gabbing away and cracking up in the back. Chely Wright — the Lighthouse’s founder I almost never, ever see that. Why do you and an out country music star — is bring- think that can be so rare in LGBT spaces, ing a big comedy show to town Nov. 13 for the kind of spaces where we should see racial one night only. diversity and gender diversity? How can we address that? Wright chatted with Camp about her reflec- tions on the LIKEME Lighthouse’s first year Aunt Char [Charlene Daniels, who is and the comedy show. Wright’s aunt and director of operations for the Lighthouse”>, once a week, she sends a Camp: So, it’s been just over a year since the cute email or text [about the Lighthouse”>. LIKEME Lighthouse opened. It was so cool there were 70-year-old grand- mothers visiting with young kids. You never Chely Wright: Yes. It’s been 18 months. see that. What can the LGBT community do to promote that? It is a problem with the What have been some of the biggest joys of the LGBT community. I asked young people, first year of the Lighthouse? “What are we doing wrong, what can we do better?” [They replied”> “Why are all the One of the most gratifying things is watch- galas in New York, why do they appear to be ing the dots become connected. KC has a all gay white men?” That’s not an unfair ob- very thriving and active LGBT commu- servation. … Men make more money; white nity. Knowing that most of those groups are, people make more money. It’s a symptom of number one, aware of the Lighthouse and, our socioeconomic standing on the national number two, connecting to another group at landscape. What can we do? I think we can the Lighthouse — personally for me, that’s talk about it. I think that’s the beginning. gratifying. There’s no way to measure the emotional and, I guess, the visceral feeling What are some ways you want to see the Light- of someone who has gone to the Lighthouse house mature or grow in the next year? and tells you how meaningful it has been in their life. One gal who was 17, her mother More of the same, just more intense. We had driven her an hour to the Lighthouse. have a very full schedule of events. … There’s a misunderstanding about the heartland that Wow. there aren’t healthy, happy LGBT people. People are living great lives. There’s not another LGBT center for hours continued on page 5 Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved pg. 3 Movie Nights

Every Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Contact Elizabeth Andersen at [email protected] with questions or movie suggestions.

Bring a cozy chair and a snack if you like!

Nov 5 Nov 12 Nov 19 Nov 26 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm UMKC Student Union

Title: Hedwig and the Angry Title: “Ian Harvie Superhero” Title: Cloudburst Title: Home for the Holidays Inch at UMKC Cast: Olympia Dukakis, Brenda Director: Jodie Foster Starring John Cameron Mitchell, Runtime: 75 minutes Fricker, Ryan Doucette Cast: Holly Hunter, Robert Downey who also adapted and directed the Genre: Documentary/Comedy Rutime: 93 minutes Jr., Anne Bancroft, Charles Durning, film. Transgender stand-up comedian Ian Genre: Adventure/comedy/Drama Dylan McDermott, Claire Danes Runtime: 95 minutes Harvie, takes a sex positive look at Synopsis: A lesbian couple escapes Runtime: 103 minutes Genre: Musical/Comedy/Drama his own transition. from their nursing home and heads Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance This 2001 movie is based on the up to Canada to get married. Along Synopsis: After losing her job, Clau- stage musical of the same name Join us at the third film in the “Best the way, they pick up a young, male dia Larson has to face spending the about a fictional rock band fronted of the Fest” Encore series showcas- hitchhiker. holiday with her family. She won- by an East German transgender ing some of the best films from Out ders if she can survive their crazy singer. It has a devoted cult follow- Here Now’s 2013 LGBT Film Fes- This film was such a hit at the 2012 antics. ing. tival. UMKC LGBTQIA Programs Out Here Now: Kansas City LGBT & Services is co-sponsoring in con- Film Festival that it was brought This is not a TV Hallmark Holi- “Mitchell gives this post-punk, neo- junction with the LikeME Light- back for the 2013 festival. This is day movie. For one thing, Robert glam rock extravaganza everything house’s Tuesday Nights at the Mov- your chance to see it with friends at Downey Jr. aka “Iron Man” is gay. in his loaded arsenal of talents. He ies. The screening at 7 p.m. at the the LikeMe Lighthouse! And for another, this dysfunctional gets the sound right, the look right, UMKC Student Union is free for family embodies Robert Frost’s the fun right and — this is crucial — students and the community; dona- quote: “Home is the place where, the pain right. His singing has the tions are accepted. Free Parking in when you have to go there, they pow and purity of rock. His acting Cherry Street garage levels 5 and 6. have to take you in.” Of course, for draws on a core of blunt honesty some that’s not always a good thing that allows him to move from hu- nor is it always true. mor to heartbreak.” – Rolling Stone

pg. 4 November 2013 Newsletter LIKEME® Lighthouse - Kansas City A Night of Laughter continued

We want to be a part of their vernacular. just come out on stage and present some awards. I’m not gonna tell any jokes unless Let’s talk about the fundraiser, the event on you’ve got a good one I can cop (laughs). Nov. 13. The lineup has some really acclaimed comedians. Have you worked with Margaret Any favorite spots you visit in KC when you or Judy or John or Jim before? come?

I had done a show, the Jeff Crooks show. You know I’ll go to Hamburger Mary’s. Go Margaret and I hadn’t met, but we were on by the Lighthouse. Maybe I’ll take an hour the show. I was on her radar as well. We or so and walk around the Plaza and see if had a brief, but nice, discussion backstage. I can find any good deals? I think I’ll do … And maybe five or six months ago, I was that. I bought my favorite pair of Armani thinking, what can we do for our event? Mu- jeans there. And they were half price. That’s Country Hill Motors sic shows are hard. I remember how much how I roll. by Andrea Martin fun the Jeff Crooks show was. How the audience just laughed their faces off. I just How are Lauren and the two babies, Everett “Don’t be afraid.” thought, who are my funny friends? Who and George? That’s the philosophy of Danny Zaslavsky, can I call? The minute after I asked Cho, director of operations at Country Hill Mo- she said, “Count me in. I’m in.” And John They’re doing great. They were born very tors. It isn’t just a motivational phrase to Fugelsang, a great straight ally, said, “I’m early. They were preemies. Spent a few weeks him— that fearlessness is genetic. His fam- in.” I’d been talking to Margaret. She said, in the NICU. They were really tiny. Now ily immigrated from Ukraine in 1979, and “Please, please whatever you do, don’t add a they’re getting fat little legs. soon after, his father and Josh Buterin built music act to a comedy show. If it’s a night the successful Country Hill Motors pre- of comedy, it’s a night of comedy. Trust me. How can the LGBT community be more sup- owned vehicle franchise. The LIKEME Lighthouse will have so much portive of LGBT parents? As a company, Country Hill Motors is pretty fun.” When Margaret Cho tells you what to fearless, too. The used-car industry isn’t do, you do it. It will be a night of laughing I’ve been involved with a lot of groups that known for encouraging modest purchases, your face off. do outreach to LGBT parents. I’ve never but Country Hill has always worked to make really understood the importance until now. sure people were purchasing cars they Will we get to hear any Chely Wright standup? Not every LGBT family has medical insur- could afford—they’re even endorsed by fi- ance as often as their straight counterparts. nancial guru Dave Ramsey. I don’t know that I’m naturally funny. I’ll continued on the next page Zaslavsky has faced challenges, such as proving to employees twice his age that he “didn’t just have a PHD — Papa Has a Deal- ership.” But eventually he worked his way PLACES... continued up through the chain of command. He says, “[Fearlessness] is what brought everything together. If we were afraid of the next step, intends to perform variety shows on a grand This space needs skilled hands to improve we never would have grown.” scale, including music, dance and cabaret. its cosmetic appeal. It needs teachers to The Vibe Tribe emphasizes “raising the encourage. It needs participants to engage The full article about Country Hill Motors can be vibration through gyration.” The idea is in activities that are foreign to them. This found online at campkc.com, or in the November that the world will be a significantly happier is how we grow vibrant and stronger as a print edition of Camp Kansas City magazine. place when we raise the energy vibrations community. – bring everyone up, lift everyone up with For more information, check out www. kindness, increase the amazement and won- facebook.com/TheVibeTribeKC or e-mail der at the world around them with simple [email protected]. Currently, the tools like LED hula-hoops rather than heavy space is open Tuesdays at 5 p.m. for yoga, doses of hallucinogens. Sundays at 3 p.m. for belly dancing, and If I’ve learned anything it’s that wherever 2nd Fridays, 6-10 p.m., for the Troost Art the artists go, everyone is bound to follow. Hop (from 43rd to 55th Street). Appoint- We often read about the little neighborhood ments are available to view the space and shops that need our support, and nothing host additional events. could be more relevant than the Vibe Tribe. Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved pg. 5 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: A Night of Laughter continued Same Sex And not all employers give same-sex benefits. 1. A tracksuit worn by Jane Lynch on the I’m looking at a medical bill right now. Our TV show Glee. bill would have been [enormous”>. We have Couples & great insurance. There are families out there 2. An Olivia Cruise for two. who just don’t have great insurance. There’s just a lot that a parent needs to know and 3. Two tickets to Wanda Sykes’ concert Immigration you really don’t know that you need to know (includes backstage Meet & Greet). it until you’re a parent. […”> We have every Special Kansas City situation that arises for a straight family, so 4. Two tickets to Cyndi Lauper’s Home for Community Forum we’ve got to be full-service. I think, again, the Holidays show, a benefit for homeless another myth about the community is that LGBT youth, at Beacon Theatre in New we’re going to a rave every night. We want York City (with Meet & Greet) and a SoHo to get home and watch Breaking Bad. Grand Weekend at a luxury hotel. Tickets DATE TO BE to Kinky Boots. Thanks a lot, Chely. Anything else you want DETERMINED to get out there? 5. Two audience tickets to attend the re- hearsal before Andy Cohen’s show, Watch Even if comedy’s not your thing, please don’t What Happens Live! Meet Andy Cohen, and Forum will be conducted in wait. Please come out. Buy a ticket. The be in the audience for a live taping of the tickets are really well-priced. Come out on show. Hotel included. Spanish at the a Wednesday, a school night. Be a part of LIKEME® Lighthouse your LIKEME Lighthouse. … Be a part 6. Three nights at the luxurious Corinthia for the Kansas City Hispanic of your community. Meet somebody you Hotel in London, with breakfast for two and haven’t met. one dinner for two in Northall Restaurant LGBT Community at the hotel (valued at $4,000). If You Go This important event is all 7. A chance to meet and get a photo with about the brave new, post- What: LIKEME Lighthouse presents Mar- Nancy Grace during a set visit and taping DOMA world for same sex, garet Cho Live! with guest stars Judy Gold, of her TV show. bi-national couples. What are John Fugelsang, Jim Short, and a special the options and obstacles ... appearance by Chely Wright. The evening 8. A Royal Caribbean cruise for two. and what assistance is avail- will also include a Silent Celebrity Auction, able? Get answers and learn a Live Auction (see sidebar on page 11), and 9. An hourlong cooking lesson via Skype more from local immigration a pre-show Celebrity Reception for VIP with chef Amanda Freitag. attorney Angela Williams at Ticket holders. this free, community gathering 10. A Kansas City Chiefs fan experience open to all. When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 package. § Please share this announce- Where: Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St., Kan- ment with anyone you know sas City, Mo. Editor’s note: The Charitybuzz.com Ce- who is looking to learn more ... lebrity Auction opens for online bidding couples, friends, social workers Tickets: To purchase tickets, which start November 6 and closes November 20. and other professional service at ($30), go to www.follytheater.org (un- providers. If you’d like to help der Upcoming Events). Proceeds will sup- spread the word or need more port the programs and operations of the information, contact Jamie LIKEME Lighthouse. Rich at jamierich@opencircleon- line.com. Watch for These Auction Items

The comedy night fundraiser for LIKEME Lighthouse will include both a Silent Auc- tion and a Charitybuzz.com Celebrity Items Auction. Here are some of the auction items. pg. 6 November 2013 Newsletter LIKEME® Lighthouse - Kansas City LIKEME® T-Shirts Online LIKEME® T-Shirt Men’s & Women’s

We have T-shirts with the logo LIKEME® in various colors for $20 each. The LIKEME® Lighthouse tee (the small LIKEME® Lighthouse logo over the pocket area) comes in black only and is $25. Our store at likemelighthouse.org also offers keychain bobbles and caps. All pro- ceeds benefit the LIKEME® Light- house. Price: $20.00 Price: $25.00 NOTE: These shirts are form fitting and Men’s (SM-2XL) Men’s (SM-2XL) wear tighter than a normal T-shirt. Women’s (SM-LG) Women’s (SM-LG)

Various T-Shirt Colors Comes in black only

SUPPORT LIKEME® Donate Online at:

e invite you to support The http://likemelighthouse.org/donate-now/ LIKEME® Organization’s work for LGBT individ- Donate by Mail: uals.W We are a 501(c)3 non-profit Make your personal check, money order, or cashier check payable to: organization, and we rely largely on the generosity of the public to The LIKE ME Organization provide the funding necessary for us P.O. Box 1605 to provide support, education and Belton, Missouri 64012 resources to the LGBT community. Monthly Recurring Donation: Our new donate page now has the option to make monthly recurring donations.

Supporting the Lighthouse

LIKEME® Lighthouse Gear is available at the community cen- ter and through our new online shopping cart.

Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved pg. 7