Burlesque Comes to Menjos in Detroit
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4 #MuteRKelly Campaigns Against Detroit Concert Report: Not Even Half of LGBT People Say Workplace Offers Family Leave Inside: New Perspectives on Love and Sex plus, Unique Valentine Gifts & Events Burlesque Comes to Menjos in Detroit WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM FEBRUARY 8, 2018 | VOL. 2606 | FREE VALENTINES SPECIAL ISSUE VALENTINE’S DAY: 16 Be Mine ... You, Too 20 Dancing Harder 21 10 Valentine’s Day Events for Anyone’s Schedule 22 Sugar & Spice: A Sassy V-Day Gift COVER 20 Chris Harder Guide for LGBTQ Friends and Lovers NEWS 23 Queer Non-Binary Artist Graces 4 #MuteRKelly Campaigns Against R. Kelly’s Feb. 21 Cover of WUSSY’s ‘The Sex Issue’ Detroit Concert 5 Community Members to Protest ‘Conversion Therapy’ Workshop Be Mine ... You, Too p. 16 9 SAGE Board of Directors Welcomes Jim Obergefell 12 Marriage Opponent Wins First Round of Costa Rica Presidential Election COMMUNITY CONNECTION ELECTION NEWS HAPPENINGS 12 Report: Not Even Half of LGBT People Say Workplace Offers FMLA 14 RNC Approves Resolution Backing Trump’s Transgender Military Ban 14 Sen. Gillibrand: Defeat Trump in 2020 to Pass Equality Act 15 Speaking with Candidate Robert Van Kirk OPINION 10 Parting Glances 24 Best of LGBT Events 10 Viewpoint VIEWPOINTS 11 Creep of the Week Sen. Gillibrand: Defeat Trump in 2020 to COOL CITIES: FERNDALE 26 Home Sweet Home: A Benefit for the 5 Affirmations and Samaritas Offer Foster Care Ozone House Pass Equality Act p. 14 Clinic 26 Rev. David A. Bullock to Give Black History 5 Ferndale SheHive Offers Women’s Empowerment Month Lecture at LGBT Detroit plus, Meet Candidate Circle 27 Tea and Coffee Week Combats ‘Corporate 24 Happenings Coffee Culture’ Robert Van Kirk p. 15 ‘The #HIVVDayShitList’ p. 10 28 Classifieds VOL. 2606 • FEBRUARY 8, 2018 EDITORIAL News & Feature Writers ADVERTISING & SALES ONLINE AT ISSUE 1053 Editor in Chief Emell Derra Adolphus, Michelle Brown, Todd Director of Sales A. 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Andrew Potter, Alexander Godin, Andrew Cohen Copyright 2018 Pride Source Media Group February 8, 2018 www.PrideSource.com | BTL 3 #MuteRKelly Campaigns Against R. Kelly’s Feb. 21 Detroit Concert PROTEST BY EVE KUCHARSKI Cult leader, rapist and sexual predator. You have to say, ‘I have to sacrifice that I can’t support Whether sensationalized or fully accurate, this person, because I’m putting money into the hands of a having accusations like these swirl around “ one’s career seem like they would destroy it. pedophile or a rapist.’ And, you have to separate that. However, in the case of 51-year-old Rhythm and Blues artist R. Kelly, they barely seem to have made a dent. Born Robert Kelly, in his – Nicole Denson – who is openly bisexual and a survivor of sexual assault and career, the singer has sold over 100 million ” violence herself – said that she aimed to form an proactive community that not albums, won multiple Grammy Awards and even created a well-received autobiography. only advocates for victims of sexual assault generally, but that is purposefully Kelly managed to balance all this success with inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, races and ethnicities. almost a dozen allegations – and one trial – since the 1990s, for illegal and inappropriate assault victims. “We’re very intentional about how we’re sexual conduct with both women and minors. Nicole Denson, an activist and director of going about this,” Denson said. “It’s taking According to Liliana Reyes, a program advocacy services at WC SAFE – a nonprofit time. Right now, we’re reaching out by writing director at the Ferndale-based LGBTQ dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault letters. This is business to them.” community center Affirmations, that R. Kelly – was one of the main drivers in this. However, as serious as Denson is about realized that R. Kelly was scheduled for a has experienced nearly uninterrupted success “The #MeToo movement is everywhere, this topic, she wants to make clear, she’s not sponsored performance by 105.9 Kiss-FM at is deeply linked to society’s perception of sexual harassment is really, really talked about, trying to judge his existing fans, she is trying to Little Caesar’s Arena, alongside singer Charlie celebrities and women. and has been in the forefront in the media. So, educate them on the seriousness of this topic. Wilson. The show is on Feb. 21 as part of the “Sometimes, people put public figures on a as a person who is in a marginalized community “His sexual assault against a minor was “Tale of Two Kings Tour”. The movement’s pedestal,” Reyes said. and serves marginalized communities, it really videotaped. You have to understand that some aim is to cancel this show, or at least hold a Reyes is also a supporter of the #MuteRKelly hit home for me that he is in our city,” Denson of these allegations were not just allegations. protest event alongside it. This is all in an Detroit movement. The movement officially said. “And so, I started on Facebook, a call to Not only were they videotaped, but they settled effort to make a statement supporting sexual formed in December 2017, when its founders action, and quite a few people responded. This out of court. So, you have to wonder, when he’s call to action was met by a lot of women of ‘stepping in the name of love,’ who’s love is he Michigan’s Definitive LGBTQ-Friendly color, and a lot of women of color who also talking about? When you see these songs about identify within the LGBT community - which sexual gratification, who is he talking about?” Wedding and Anniversary Guide I’m a part of.” Denson said. “A lot of people say, ‘Well, it’s Denson – who is openly bisexual and mostly black women who are supporting him,’ a survivor of sexual assault and violence and I have to say to them, ‘That may be true, herself – said that she aimed to form an but this one isn’t.’” MiLGBTWedding.com proactive community that not only advocates Denson said that R. Kelly’s accusations for victims of sexual assault generally, but have caused a rift with an impact similar to that is purposefully inclusive of all sexual Bill Cosby’s. orientations, gender identities, races and “It’s OK. That’s the thing we’re trying to ethnicities. get across to people. It’s OK to be upset. It’s “I think a lot of people are afraid to talk OK to say that R. Kelly made a good song. about this issue. I believe it’s really hard in our It’s OK to be mad that you sang ‘I Believe I 2018 EXPO communities because of the fact that, because Can Fly’ in grade school,” Denson said with of my intersections, it’s hard to understand a laugh. “It’s OK to be mad about that, or that what community speaks about my issues,” I watched ‘The Cosby Show’ and I’m mad March 11 Denson said. “When I stand behind Black because he was Cliff Huxtable.” Lives Matter, I sometimes feel as if they might However, Denson said that once the anger (See Back Cover) not talk about that trans women’s lives matter, subsides, it becomes time to choose a side. or when I talk about or stand behind the LGBT “You have to say, ‘I have to sacrifice that (community), sometimes I feel like they don’t I can’t support this person, because I’m talk about the marginalized.” putting money into the hands of a pedophile Shortly after putting out her call to action, or a rapist.’ And, you have to separate that,” she made contact with Kenyette Barnes, she said. the organizer of the national #MuteRKelly Representatives for Little Caesar’s Arena, A PROJECT OF movement, which had a hand in cancelling 105.9 Kiss-FM and R. Kelly did not respond several shows from the singer’s most recent in time for the publication of this story. tour. This contact helped to structure the The Mute R Kelly Detroit: Protest LCA Your Rape Detroit branch’s organization. On its Facebook page, it outlines an eight-step process to both Culture is Not Welcome Here event will be held on Wednesday, Feb.