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Year 1, Vol. 15 • Sept. 6 - Oct. 3, 2007 www.therainbowtimesmass.com The FREE! Grand Slam Champion Prom celebrates new teen RainbowTimes performs at Smith College trans novel p. p. Your LGBTQ News Source in Western MA, Southern VT, and Northern CT 11 13 CONNECTICUT ’S NEWS Love Makes a Family p. 17 LLGGBBTT domestic VVIIOOLLEENNCCEE p. 3 HOLYOKE HEALTH CENTER : SERVICES FOR “TRANS” p. 4 MCENTIRE , H OUSTON Reviewing the Stars! p. 12 UUMMAASSSS FFIINNEE AARRTTSS CCEENNTTEERR’’SS ANNOUNCES 07-08 SEASON Photo: Cherish the Ladies, UMass FAC p.10 December Concert. 2 • Sept. 6 - October 3, 2007 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesmass.com Opinions A shout out to my peeps in NoHo, Thank you! By: Jane Hamel scary as my first time “out.” enlightened couple who told me that they TRT Columnist I did wear my best country style dress, thought I was courageous for being That’s about as close to “Hollywood- but even that and the fact that there were “myself”—something that I’ve heard speak” as I care to get, but the sentiment five good-looking young men standing many times and I am still appreciative is very heart-felt. There’s nothing more next to me couldn’t stop me from think- when I hear it. Of course it’s not so much validating or uplifting for a transgen- ing: “They’re all staring at me and asking about courage as it is about survival. dered person like myself than to be ‘Is she really a ... or .. what IS that hold- Transitioning, for me, was “rather than accepted for who you are. And on August ing that banjo?’” suicide.” I suppose that requires a bit of 28th that meant being accepted as one of Yes, butter my buns and call me a bis- courage in itself, and to a non-trans per- the many musicians who participated in cuit, I play the banjo. If I have to explain son changing one’s gender is quite Northampton’s seventeenth annual to you what that is, you probably won’t unfathomable as well. “Transperformance.” like it. It’s very not disco. But wait! There’s more! The very next “No, dahling,” it wasn’t a drag revue! Back to the concert, butterflies or not, day there we were on the front page of It’s a music festival where local bands of the fiddle kicked off and I let it rip! The The Daily Hampshire Gazette! Holy the Pioneer Valley “transform” them- crowd loved us! The tunes were high- Cow! (Yes, I could stand to lose some selves into other famous bands based on energy, the harmonies were heavenly and weight). There I was, one of the band JANE HAMEL a different theme each year. This year’s our short set flew by without a hitch. being hailed as musicians and nothing you members of the LGBT community, theme was “Color by the Numbers” and Afterwards, we hung out in the musi- else. To most people that’s a “yeah, so?” Bluegrass music is .. well, not disco. the lineup included Al Green, Pink Floyd, cians’ area and we got a whole lot of However, to me it was a whole town say- So, there I was, and to my knowledge I Jackson Browne, The Moody Blues and “hey, great playing!” and to my relief and ing “We Accept You!” was the only real “trans”-performer many, many more. surprise there were no awkward stares or Thank you, thank you, thank you! there, about to step out in front of Yours truly was privileged to guest per- under-the-breath comments directed at “Mainstream America”—Moms, Dads, form with Amity Front as Bill Monroe my obvious transsexualness. lots of kids—and after all the years of and the Bluegrass Boys. Oh, for all of Walking out into the crowd, I did get Editor’s Note: suffering through transition, this felt as some stares and a snicker from a young To Jane, Love, Rights…and the Rest of It man (who was probably questioning his We wish that we lived in a society were own identity or orientation), but also everyone could see you for the musician, By: JM Sorrell* China— more genuine smiles and a few “Hey, the woman, the amazing human being TRT Columnist where the great playing!” comments. To top it off, I and the friend that you are to many of us. he legal recognition of same- bravery of had a later conversation with a very Thank YOU, Jane, for enlightening our sex relationships throughout the civil rights lives with your stories, and for being a Tworld are mirrors that reflect activists can- Letters to the Editor part of The Rainbow Times! the places where social norms include not be under- Dear Editor, Nicole Lashomb an acceptance of lesbians and gay men estimated. How come you’re not publishing Street as part of the stream of such societies. Li Yinhe is Editor Sense anymore? I really liked that section This varies by degrees, and it may or a professor at and now it’s gone. may not include a grower understanding J.M. the JP The Rainbow Times the Institute of —Janet Rodriguez, Springfield and acceptance of unconventional gen- Sociology at the Chinese Academy of 13 Old South St. • Suite 2C der identities. Northampton, MA 01060 Social Sciences in Beijing. She is a tire- Editor’s Response: Today, same-sex marriage is legal in less advocate for same-sex marriage in www.therainbowtimesmass.com Janet, [email protected] Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, China, and she thinks the country is We are currently looking for people inter- South Africa, Spain, and Massachusetts. [email protected] undergoing a de facto sexual revolution: ested in covering The Street Sense Phone: 413-204-8959 • Fax: 866-310-8512 Civil unions and domestic partnerships “It is a legislative trend across the Section for us. Please call TRT or e-mail are recognized in Connecticut, Vermont, world. China will definitely catch up us if you are interested in being a part of Publisher Viviana Valiente New Jersey and California. Entire with this trend in spite of obstacles we that section or any other one. Gricel M. Ocasio Jane Hamel Jack/ie Kennedy countries such as Andorra, the Czech are confronted with now.” Editor-In-Chief Republic, Tasmania, and Slovenia allow Dear Editor, Nicole Lashomb Writers: Professor Yinhe also speaks publicly Lindsay Wilson Sales & Dist. for same-sex civil unions. Most readers about other issues of social justice, I did not like the Jack/ie Kennedy col- (Street Sense) Ben Peterson know that Denmark, France, Iceland, including the growing urban-rural umn. Is he or she gone? If not, why do J.M. Sorrell you let him or her write such negative Columnists: New Zealand, and the United Kingdom divide. She spoke out after two (hetero- Webmaster: are amongst those countries that recog- comments for the Rainbow Times? Dr. Renee Lang sexual) students where expelled for Atty. Jennifer Jarred Johnson nize same-sex partnerships through civil kissing at their university. “Every inti- Dexter union protections. mate action should be allowed except The Rainbow Times is published by The Rainbow Editor’s Response: South Africa, in particular, did not making love in public.” Times, LLC. The articles written by the writers, colum- Jack/ie Kennedy is still working for us. nists, and correspondents express their opinion, and do wait for everyone to be on board prior to And the beat goes on. Readers, stay not represent the endorsement or opinion of The It’s vacation time, but soon you’ll hear creating the law for same-sex marriage. Rainbow Times, LLC or its owners. To write letters to tuned. A surprise awaits you in the more from him or her. We are sorry to The familiarity of extreme forms of the editor, please send your letters, with your name, October issue of TRT. disappoint you in that sense. We believe address and phone number to: The Rainbow Times oppression and discrimination propelled (address shown above), or e-mail any comment/s to the * J. Mary (JM) Sorrell is a Justice of that he/she makes good choices of topics, the government to do what is fair for all editor at: [email protected]. All sub- the Peace. She believes the global however, we do not endorse any of our missions will be edited according to space constraints. of its citizens. Let the mainstream catch struggles for social and economic jus- columnists opinions, for they are solely The Rainbow Times, LLC reserves the right not to print up with it. any or all content, or advertisements for any reason at tice are connected and imperative to theirs. all. To receive The Rainbow Times at your home via Proposals for same-sex marriage legis- heal the very large wounds that we all regular mail, or through electronic delivery, please visit lation are in the works in places such as Please write your Letters to the Editor to: our website. The content and graphics (photos, etc.) are bear. the sole property of The Rainbow Times and it cannot be Estonia, Lithuania, Taiwan, and [email protected] reproduced at all without TRT’s consent. www.therainbowtimesmass.com • The Rainbow Times • Sept. 6 - October 3, 2007 • 3 Cover & Local News Domestic Violence: A means to an end By: Nicole Lashomb, TRT Editor-in-Chief working a lot with trans folk as volun- Fact: One in four adults is a victim of teers and in trans programs too.” domestic violence. Fact: The proportion The cycle of abuse can be broken down of domestic violence between same-sex into four distinguishable steps, according and/or gender queer couples is compara- to the GMDVP website.