BTL Publishers Horowitz, Stevenson to Retire

Michigan Attorney General Nessel to Appeal LGBTQ Discrimination Lawsuit

A Threesome Remedy for Our Times

Coulter’s Clear Vision Equity Is Front and Center for Oakland County’s First Openly Gay Executive

BTL Photo: Andrew Potter

PRIDESOURCE.COM JANUARY 14, 2021 | VOL. 2902 | FREE 16

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2 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com NEWS VOL. 2902 • JANUARY 14, 2021 4 Groundwork Laid, Dave Coulter Starts First Full Term in 2021 With Clear Vision ISSUE 1165 8 New Publisher Takes Over Between The Lines and Pridesource.com PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP

12 Michigan Attorney General Nessel to Appeal LGBTQ Discrimination Lawsui Phone 734-293-7200 PUBLISHERS 14 Mombian: Trump Supporters Storm US Capitol Benjamin Jenkins [email protected] Publishers Emeritus: Jan Stevenson & Susan Horowitz OPINION DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Tom Wesley, 734-263-1476 16 10 Parting Glances [email protected] 10 Viewpoint: Gwendolyn Ann Smith EDITORIAL Entertainment Editor Chris Azzopardi, 734-293-7200 11 Creep of the Week: Republican Party [email protected]

News & Feature Editor ENTERTAINMENT Eve Kucharski, 734-293-7200 [email protected] 16 A Threesome Remedy for Our Times News & Feature Writers Michelle Brown, Ellen Knoppow, Jason A. Michael, 20 Deep Inside Hollywood Drew Howard, Jonathan Thurston 21 Q Puzzle: Clear as a Bella CREATIVE Columnists 22 Michigan Community Resources Charles Alexander, Michelle E. Brown, 14 Mikey Rox, D’Anne Witkowski, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Dana Rudolph

Cartoonists Paul Berg

Contributing Photographers Andrew Potter, Andrew Cohen, Roxanne Frith, Tih Penfil ADVERTISING & SALES Director of Sales Diane Sheldon-Ku, 734-263-1474 [email protected]

Sales Representatives 12 Ann Cox, 248-613-2513 4 - 9 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 Here are some of our latest online-only pieces: LGBTQ Trump Supporters Tiptoe Away From President After US Capitol Attack By Chris Johnson “Between The Lines Newspaper”

Fair and Equal Michigan Keeps Pushing for LGBTQ Rights Initiative in 2021 Follow us @YourBTL By Eve Kucharski Email your op–eds to Washtenaw County Adopts Equity and Inclusion Statement, [email protected] Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy The Ann Arbor-based Jim Toy Community Sign up online to receive our E–Digest By BTL Staff Center has announced the closure of its Our rate cards are available online. All material appearing in Between The physical office space. It has begun a $30,000 Jim Toy Community Center Announces Closure of its Physical Office Space, Lines is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Between The Lines GoFundMe campaign to aid with ongoing Launches GoFundMe Campaign is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for financial struggles due to the COVID-19 By BTL Staff materials provided by advertisers or their agents. pandemic. Copyright 2021

www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 3 COVER STORY

Groundwork Laid, Dave Coulter Starts First Full Term in 2021 With Clear Vision BY EVE KUCHARSKI

hile most politicians running for their first full term in office can boast related experience and background, few can say they have firsthand experience. That’s the case with Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, who, long before he was elected Wby the people of Oakland County to serve as their executive, was thrust into the position when he was appointed to replace incumbent L. Brooks Patterson after his death in August of 2019. Coulter made history. Not only was he the first Democrat to hold the position since its creation in 1974, but he was the first openly gay official to do so as well. In fact, with its 1.2 million residents, Coulter effectively became the highest-ranking regional LGBTQ official in the state of Michigan outside of Attorney General Dana Nessel, whose position is statewide.

But as Coulter expressed in a Between The emphasized when he began his term was Lines interview during 2020’s election season, his focus on diversity and inclusion within he “never intended to just keep the seat warm” Oakland County. In December of 2020, he for another candidate. announced the creation of a 31-member “I didn’t know in the beginning if I wanted Equity Council that is made up of employees to run or not. But once I had my team together and officials across almost every county and we established a relationship with the department. The council will hold monthly board of commissioners [that] was really good meetings to assess the County’s efficacy in and I knew we could make a difference on its work, and its stated mission is to create these big things, then the ability to be part a culture that respects diversity, equity and of that, and help drive that kind of change in inclusion; promotes cultural sensitivity and Oakland County, was what really attracted me understanding among employees; encourages to want to stick around,” he said. and promotes workforce diversity; and ensures Since winning the election by a more that the public receives services in a culturally than 10-percentage-point margin against sensitive manner. It is led by Robin Carter- Republican opponent Mike Kowall, Coulter Cooper, the county’s first chief diversity, equity has had the advantage of needing no transition and inclusion officer. period between administrations and has Regarding his own LGBTQ identity, Coulter continued to progress the initiatives and said that it helped to inform him on the value programs he began since his appointment. of giving diverse people a “seat at the table.” Coulter joined Between The Lines for an “I think my being LGBTQ helps give me interview in December to assess current a heightened awareness for my own limited projects and his priorities going forward in perspective of the value of making sure 2021. that these historically underrepresented populations and issues actually get heard and addressed,” he said. “... And I’m happy to say Implementing Equity that several LGBT employees that are on that BTL Photo: Andrew Potter One of the first things that Coulter council makes sure that these kinds of issues 4 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com are front-of-mind and being discussed, [so that of mine,” he said. “I know that some are saying we implement] policy to address any inequities that this group should be ahead of that group, in those areas so they actually get resolved. I but ... we’ve all agreed that we’d follow, as long as think it’s a critical step that a council like that it’d make sense, a unified and uniform schedule is going to be laying out measures that actually of who gets the vaccines when.” operationalize it and make sure change actually Notably, Coulter’s administration has made happens. That’s what’s really important.” bars and restaurants a priority by providing Coulter’s taken steps to implement payment them $10 million in a second round of relief equity among Oakland County employees as funding via the Oakland Together Restaurant well. While the County has been taking steps to Relief Program before 2020’s end. Coulter update its more than 30-year-old compensation said that service industries, which have been plan since 2017, under Coulter a plan has been disproportionately damaged by COVID-19’s approved to increase County employee salaries stay-at-home regulations, were high on his across all departments by over $10.5 million list to help. with room to grow over the next five years. “Earlier this spring, we gave out a pretty “The previous administrations had decided substantial round of funding to restaurants that Oakland County needed a compensation and bars, but when the governor had to study. And, essentially, those are used to unfortunately tighten up the health regulations make sure that our salaries in the county are and close indoor dining and drinking, we competitive with market-rate salaries so that knew that that was going to be an area that we can retain and attract the best, most-skilled needed particular help,” Coulter said. “I’m very employees. ... But, frankly, compensation worried about us losing restaurants and bars studies are difficult to do. They’re broad, over the winter; they’re just not going to be they’re complex, they require a lot of work able to survive. So, we looked at the amount and that work had not been done, so I had the of remaining CARES Act dollars that we had decision when we took over to either continue and said, ‘OK, we’ve put an additional burden to implement a compensation study or not,” on those businesses, and we need to get them Coulter said. another round of relief.’” And ultimately, he felt it was the best way The CARES Act, or The Coronavirus Aid, of “instilling fairness in the [County’s] wage Relief, and Economic Security Act, gave a total brackets.” of $2.2 trillion of aid to businesses around the “Because if somebody’s not getting a decent U.S. back in March of 2020. While funds were wage, it means they were undervalued to the left over for Oakland County, Coulter said market and that needs to be corrected if we’re the tricky part of distributing them was the going to have a great workforce going forward. lengthy application and approval process that I have high expectations for our employees accompanies their allocation. And they were and we demand a lot of them so, at the same accessible to the County only until the end time, we need to compensate them like that of 2020. market would,” he said. “I was pleased that “So what we did is we took the almost 1,000 the board of commissioners approved that bars and restaurants that had received money earlier this month and that we’re going to start from us in the spring, and we simply gave them implementing that. It’s a critical part of talent another check. That allowed us to get the money retention and attraction.” out the door as soon as possible, without going through another application that we were afraid would take us past the end of the year,” he said. Dealing with COVID-19 Coulter said that while he’s pleased that As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues Congress’s Paycheck Protection Program to disrupt life around the world, Coulter said is slated to aid bars and restaurants again, he’s planning to adhere to regulations brought he realizes that that money likely won’t be down from the Centers for Disease Control and distributed until the spring of 2021. Prevention and the Michigan Department of “This was never meant to be enough money Health and Human Services to stop COVID-19’s to get them through next summer, but our spread. Regarding recently released COVID-19 hope was that it would be enough to keep them vaccines, Coulter is focused on getting as many going until the federal government got another vaccines “out as quickly and safely as possible” round of stimulus out the door. It looks like while still following regulations regarding their that’s going to happen, but even if that doesn’t distribution. happen right away, the hope is that that is really “We are prepared to distribute as many doses bridge funding to get them through to maybe of the vaccine as we acquire. A lot of my job has the spring when they will start to get this federal been making sure that once these vaccines come money that we hoped would come and now into our hands, we can get them out quickly and safely to the population. That’s a huge focus See Dave Coulter, page 9 www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 5 Photo by Charlie Simokaitis. 6 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 7 BTL Photo: Susan Horowitz and Jan Stevenson New Publisher Takes Over Between The Lines and Pridesource.com Jan Stevenson, Susan Horowitz to Retire As of Jan. 1, 2021, Between business. Both Stevenson and The Lines and all associated Horowitz will remain on as publishing media products have a consultants for several months new publisher. Benjamin Jenkins to help with the transition and as of Ann Arbor has assumed publishers emeritus. ownership of the 28-year old "As a queer person, I know the LGBTQ publishing network. importance of queer media in Jenkins is the former Production ensuring that LGBTQ+ voices are Manager at Pride Source Media heard and uplifted," Jenkins said. Group, which is the former "I look forward to continuing the publisher of Between The Lines, Benjamin Jenkins wonderful work of Jan and Susan, the annual Pride Source Magazine honoring their legacy and making and the website Pridesource.com. Six years ago he our own through our publications, finding formed Merithot Creative Marketing, an agency opportunities to bring more value to our readers based in Ann Arbor that specializes in branding, and business partners alike." websites, videography and digital marketing. Jenkins also acquired Stevenson and “We are thrilled that Benjamin will be the Horowitz’s interests in Q Syndicate LLC, the new publisher of BTL and all the other print nation’s largest provider of professionally and digital products developed by Pride Source produced content to LGBTQ publications and Media Group,” said Jan Stevenson, co-owner websites. Q Syndicate writers who hail from of Pride Source Media Group. “He knows the all over the U.S. create cartoons, puzzles and products inside out from having worked first celebrity interviews that are then distributed to on our staff for a number of years, and since dozens of other LGBTQ newspapers and other he’s gone out on his own we have continued media outlets. Chris Azzopardi will continue working together on many projects involving on in his role as both editor of Q Syndicate both our digital and print products.” and as renowned celebrity interviewer. His “Benjamin has the knowledge of our history work has been nationally syndicated, featured at BTL and shares our commitment to the in such publications as The New York Times LGBTQ community,” said Susan Horowitz, and GQ, and most recently on the Pride Source co-owner with Stevenson of Pride Source Media YouTube channel. Group. “He has the skills, the team and the Pride Source Media Group was formed in resources to take BTL to the next level in this 1994 as the publisher of Between The Lines, Pride digital age of publishing. We look forward Source Magazine, MiVoterGuide.com and the to seeing him develop these media products PrideSource.com website. It also produced the – especially as the economy starts opening LGBTQ Wedding Expo for 10 consecutive years up again in 2021 and as the media industry from 2010 to 2019, and, in 2005, created Encore continues to rapidly evolve.” Michigan to produce professional theater reviews Jenkins said he and the newly merged team and the annual Wilde Awards for excellence plan to continue publishing Between The Lines in live theater in Michigan. In 2015 Encore biweekly and to come out this summer with Michigan was transferred to a nonprofit entity. the 2021 edition of the Pride Source Magazine. Jenkins has created Pride Source Media LLC Founded in 2015, Merithot Creative Marketing that will serve as the new publishing entity. The partners work with their clients to help them current BTL news and entertainment editors face unique challenges with and give them the and writing staff are moving over to the new confidence to reach their target audience with company, as is the existing sales staff. They will messaging that builds real trust – and converts work together with existing Merithot staff who to sales. Learn more at merithot.com. will lend their expertise to the new publishing

8 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com I think my being LGBTQ helps give me a heightened “ awareness for my own limited perspective of ® Dave Coulter Continued from p. 5 the value of making sure that these historically underrepresented populations and issues actually get heard and addressed," he said. "... And I’m happy to say looks like it will,” he said. “It really was meant as an emergency lifeline.” that several LGBT employees that are on that council make sure that these kinds of issues are front-of-mind Long-Term Health and Transit and being discussed While COVID-19 has long been the topic of headlines, before the virus was a concern, -Dave Coulter ” Coulter’s platform prioritized inclusive and accessible health care, a comprehensive transit BTL Photo: Andrew Potter plan for Oakland County, and increasing sustainability with an ultimate goal of net-zero “If there’s one good thing about COVID, it’s “People are using transit differently, the As unpredictable as 2020 was, Coulter emissions. He said that none of those projects that emissions declined 7 percent in the last year voters’ appetite for a millage has maybe changed demonstrably put forth many new initiatives have fallen by the wayside, but many will require just because of less activity. There’s been less a little. But, having said that, I am just as and plans before constituents. He said that long-term planning before implementation. In driving, less businesses operating. So we might committed as ever to helping to craft a transit while COVID-19 threw many a curveball, he the case of the Oakland Health 360 initiative, it have bought ourselves one more year, but we plan that works for Southeast Michigan. I think can “imagine not announcing another major will take three years before residents will have didn’t buy ourselves a decade. This continues the reasons for transit are just as strong as they initiative” for the time being. increased access to holistic health services in to be an urgent quest,” he said. “Two of the ever were, but COVID has given us a bit of a “We have so much work to do on the major clinics around the county. things that have really struck me, just in terms pause in terms of figuring out how has COVID issues that have occurred this year.” “That’s the longer-term vision for us of of the ways that we’ve changed our operations and the way it’s changed our lives changed how making sure that everyone in the county, in Oakland County is that more people with we interact with transportation. And it’s still including people in vulnerable populations like flexible work shifts and working from home, my plan to achieve that within my first term of LGBT populations, have access to good quality, which requires less driving and the like, has office,” he said. “I have four years here, that we affordable health care, because we know that really become the norm... That could even put a transit plan before the voters.” in the LGBT community the percentages are result in the need for less office space and less higher of people who don’t have access,” he said. buildings that are using energy and so that’s a “It’s going to take us three years to transform potential positive right there.” our health clinics in Oakland County to be not He cited the lessened usage of paper due to just places where you can go to get a vaccine digital work practices as a boon, too. or that sort of thing but that you can go there In fact, only one of Coulter’s proposed plans for primary health care, mental health care and has been delayed: his regional transit plan. Meant other services like that.” to provide more effective transportation across Immediately, Coulter plans on implementing Oakland and between counties, Coulter said practices around sustainability. He said he that he’s still as committed as ever to bringing a will “aggressively” pursue a smaller carbon comprehensive transportation agreement before footprint as he begins his first full term voters, but he concedes that Oakland County and, ironically, COVID-19 has laid great residents will have to wait a tad longer due to foundations for that goal. the immediacy of COVID-19 concerns.

www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 9 Parting Glances

BY CHARLES ALEXANDER 700 PGs Later

I started writing my Parting Glances column in 1999. Its premise was simple enough: choose an important LGB — and occasionally T — historical event that actually changed things for us, or challenged us to speak out on behalf of LGBTQ human rights, during the 20th Century. The initial Parting Glances columns were 125 words in length. Many of these included my firsthand reminiscences of what it was like to be gay — but highly closeted — way back then. I came out during my senior year at Cass Technical High School in 1956. I was a commercial art major. I also wrote interviews for BTL and tongue-in-cheek — singular, not plural — humorous pieces. As for the interviews: when I was writing for Ten Percent, an earlier Detroit LGBTQ publication now called OutPost, I interviewed Jan Stevenson, then the first director of the Affirmations LGBTQ community enter. Jan apparently liked what I had to say about her and her insightful, innovative and strategic leadership — Jan, are you reading this? And when she partnered with BTL Co-Publisher Susan Horowitz, who purchased Between the Lines 27 years ago, Jan asked me to write for the paper. I of course said an enthusiastic yes! I have been with Transmissions Between the Lines and Pridesource.com since day one. I estimate that I have written about 750,000 words for the paper, and about 700 Parting Glances columns, increased since 2002 to 650 words each! Looking Ahead With Respair Footnote here: the previous owner of Between The Lines was a self-styled Radical Faerie who wanted BTL to be a militant, in-your-straight-face biweekly. Susan Horowitz saw the purpose of BTL to be more newsworthy and ecumenically BY GWENDOLYN ANN SMITH outreaching. An important reason why I agreed to participate. As for my art, I was recently mentioned by Detroit’s weekly We have reached the end of 2020, and I am sure my feelings This year has been so much than the pandemic. Racial Metro Times for my art pieces appearing almost daily on about the year easily match anyone who happens upon this tensions that were rekindled during the Obama presidency Facebook since 2010. I estimate that, during the allotment of column. Good riddance to such a difficult year, and don’t let with the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and Michael time, I have completed about 1,000 images. I average a new the door hit you on the way out. Brown Jr. exploding once again after the deaths of George piece about every two days. Storage is becoming a problem. Like so many others, I have spent this year carefully going Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others. White supremacists, I have lived a very fortunate life. I have, because of my about my business, staying carefully at home, aside from the emboldened by the President of the United States and others, artistic talent and being gay — yes, being gay — for more somewhat necessary trips to the market every week or two, have taken to the streets, often adding fuel to protests. than 65 years, met many creative and gifted gay and straight and worrying about my partner who is somehow an essential Misogyny, too, has been on the rise. As has homophobia men and women in my life: musicians, dancers, artists, poets, worker at the local garden center. Presumably potting soil and and transphobia. This year, over 40 people were killed in anti- impersonators, LGBTQ entertainers. bare-root roses are now a product that one simply cannot transgender violent murders. All the while, the right-wing, Fortunately, I had the guidance of wise mentors — one, my live without. hand-in-hand with other anti-trans bigots, have waged a first partner at 19 — who stressed the importance of choosing In May, I lost my first friend to COVID-19. I have had others war of words, claiming that transgender people were erasing and making a career and continuing my education at Wayne battle it as well, with varying levels of success. Meanwhile, I lesbian, gay and bisexual people, or continuing to press long- University. I started writing for the Wayne Collegian in 1959. have yet other friends with those own battles with deadly debunked “bathroom predator” conspiracies. My professional writing and ongoing creating of art might illnesses derailed due to the lack of medical staff due to this In a word, it has been a very challenging year to be not have happened if one life-saving event had not taken place pandemic. transgender or nonbinary. for me. Choosing sobriety. In 1981, I came face-to-face with I’ve been fortunate to work from home with an employer Still, 2020 has not been without some bright points, with the realization that my alcohol abuse and daily bingeing, had that has a long history with the virtual office, and who has the biggest of these being the Supreme Court’s decision in gotten out of control. I stood at the edge of a nightmare pit. pivoted to becoming an entire work-from-home employer — Bostock v. Clayton County and, in particular, R.G. & G.R. Hospitalization, rehab and group therapy extended over but I have seen many friends and family face furloughs, layoffs Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity the next year of concentrated recovery. While in recovery at and so on. I have seen the already precarious employment Commission, which was consolidated under Bostock with a and housing situations of my friends thrown into chaos as the result of the impact of COVID-19 and efforts to survive same. See next page See Viewpoint, next page 10 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com ® Transmissions Continued from p. 10 In the 1400s there was a Creep Of The Week word, long since forgotten, BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI third case, Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda. Republican Party In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled for the that should probably return democracy-deniers, along with the plaintiffs, declaring that discrimination based Hello! It’s 2021 and everything is fine Republicans across the country who on sexual orientation or gender identity falls to our vocabulary in 2021: now! Ha, ha, just kidding. The dumpster are claiming the election was a fraud, is under sex discrimination under Title VII of the fire rages on. respair. The meaning may proof positive that Trump is no outlier. Civil Rights Act of 1964. This has also come up Some things in 2021 are delightful, They want him to stay. They like how in Parents for Privacy v. Barr, in which the court like that guy who made the music video be obvious in context, as it things are going under him. Trump IS upheld a lower ruling that included transgender about the broccoli casserole heist — if the Republican Party, a party that has students under Title IX. This protects their rights refers to fresh hope after you don’t know what I’m talking about, long sought to dismantle this country’s to appropriately-gendered facilities in schools. Google it. That is a thing of beauty. But living through a period of public safety net in the name of “personal Likewise, the election has made for strides in 2021 is off to a rough start otherwise. responsibility” while completely transgender representation, with Sarah McBride We knew this would happen. Trump despair. It is the clouds disregarding the suffering of the people becoming a State senator for Delaware and the is still the president, after all, and he who fall through the net onto the cement highest-ranking trans politician in the U.S. parting after a lengthy storm, is determined to stay the president below. Of course, I would be remiss to not also note even if that means we don’t get to have and that is something we can This is the party that was gung-ho to the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, democracy any more. The kind of shit invade Iraq and lied to the country in defeating Donald Trump for the presidency. Biden take to heart that’s going on right now is what we order to get support. has made it clear that he will be an advocate expect in other places, like Venezuela This is the party that has only grown for trans rights during his presidency, and we . and Zimbabwe, largely because we’ve more intolerant of LGBTQ people are already seeing cabinet picks that echo this. bought into the lie that is American and rights and doubled down on Frankly, however, just getting Donald Trump and forgotten, that should probably return to our exceptionalism that goes hand-in-hand discriminatory laws and scapegoating, Mike Pence out of office is already a step forward vocabulary in 2021: respair. The meaning may with America’s racism. In America, it transgender people being a favorite for the trans community. be obvious in context, as it refers to fresh hope can’t be bad if a white guy is doing it. group to discriminate against under I want to note, however, that the end of a after living through a period of despair. It is the And boy, do we have too many white Trump. calendar year, itself, is a fairly arbitrary thing, clouds parting after a lengthy storm, and that is men in charge in the U.S. Trump’s phone This is the party that has made a blood and much of the above started long before 2020 something we can take to heart. call to Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s pact with the religious right to install as was at the top of the page. COVID-19 has the As I write this, we have a president who is doing secretary of state to pressure him to many right-wing judges as possible in clue right in the name, having been discovered his level best to sabotage the incoming leader, and overturn the election results is stunning. order to further erode the civil rights in 2019, and the failed leadership that has led to a senate that could — depending on a runoff in Or at least it should be stunning, but of people they don’t like. so much trauma around it were set into motion Georgia — swing to the Democratic Party. Now these past four years have really dulled This is the party that thinks Black by our Senate and presidential administration may well be a time where the worst may pass. the senses. Trump telling the secretary Lives Matter is a terrorist organization long before that. This isn’t to say that we get a break, as there is of state to “find 11,780 votes” is VERY while white supremacists get a wink and Likewise, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, anti- still so much to both undo. Likewise, there will BAD. Sadly, Trump is like a car alarm. a nod. Semitism, homo- and transphobia — and so many still be bigots to quell, and a whole lot we must When you hear one you don’t go running This is the party who has members more forms of hatred and prejudice — did not continue to press on. to get help or call the police. You tune it who are out-and-proud climate just come into existence in 2020. They may have We can’t let this be a time to sit back and relax, out. We’ve learned to live with Trump’s change-deniers because this is the been the fuel behind so much this year, but they but, just this time, we can feel a lot more hope insane shouting as background noise. party that thinks science is witchcraft. are hardly new. that we sensed in 2020. Raffensperger, by the way, is a This distrust of science, along with Nevertheless, it seems just as well to look at the Republican. So is Georgia’s governor. the sheer incompetence of the Trump end of this year, when so many horrible things And the fact that he told Trump, “Mr. administration, has led to over 350,000 bubbled up to the surface and so many of us Gwen Smith wishes you the best in 2021. You’ll President, the data you have is wrong,” deaths during this coronavirus pandemic. faced pain and desperation, as a time to recover find her at gwensmith.com. is considered hero-level stuff for the Let’s face it. The Republicans are from the anguish. Republican Party right now. And it the party of Trump. They like to call In the 1400s there was a word, long since shouldn’t be. themselves a “big tent” party, but what For a long time the supposedly sane they are is a bigoted tent party. They abhor Republicans have said that Trump is government because they don’t care about an aberration, that he doesn’t represent people. They care about power. ® I have since then been creating art and the party. Oh, but he does. And the Parting Glances Even the Log Cabin Republicans BTL articles to share. One creation at a time. Republicans, a party that has always had Continued from p. 10 backed Trump. The gay Republicans Sometimes two. One blessed — and happily a crush on totalitarianism, paved the Endorsed Trump in 2020! Because sober — day at a time. road to Trump. This is no freak accident. Trump’s presidency, a disaster for the And now Ted Cruz, a man Trump Cottage Hospital, an unexpected, ultimately country, is the GOP’s crowning glory. wouldn’t piss on if he were on fire, is rewarding door of opportunity happened. In And one of the things his supporters Charles Alexander is prolific both as a BTL leading the charge of 11 oh-so-brave initial therapy, we were told to go through love about him is that he’s mean to columnist, having contributed 700-plus columns, senators and senators-elect to step in and magazines and cut out pictures indicative of people. He’s a bully. Republicans love as a well-known LGBT community artist having hold Biden’s presidency hostage unless a our feelings. to be the bully. Party over country. Fuck shared over 1,000 pieces of art via Facebook. 10-day audit of the election. There is no In my alcoholic haze, I misunderstood. Your Feelings: Trump 2020. Cruelty is He is a Spirit of Detroit Award recipient and proof, zero, of widespread voter fraud. I created several collages. A nurse actually the point. Cruelty feels powerful, but an Affirmations LGBTQ center Jan Stevenson The Republicans’ fit over the election is wanted to buy one. A year or so later I had my it’s the mark of the weak and decrepit. awardee. Connect with him at charles@ baseless. This call for an audit is political collages matted and framed. An artist friend And in the end, Republicans are a party pridesource.com. theater. And we all know that Cruz is a suggested I enter them in competition for the of people who use their power to hurt great actor. Detroit Artist Market exhibition jurying. I did. the people they don’t like, helping only But this 11-strong brigade of Three pieces were accepted in a 1983 showing. themselves. www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 11 Michigan Attorney General Nessel to Appeal LGBTQ Discrimination Lawsuit

BY EVE KUCHARSKI Jay Kaplan is the staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan’s LGBT Project. He said that while he doesn’t Earlier this month Michigan Court of Claims know if the Michigan Court of Appeals can Judge Christopher M. Murray heard two overrule its past decision, he wouldn’t be cases regarding the surprised if the case made it up to the Michigan denial of services Supreme Court, “which can overrule the to LGBTQ patrons Barbour case to make that decision [in favor in light of held of LGBTQ protections].” religious beliefs. “I think now that we have a progressive They involved majority on the state Supreme Court, if Rouch World, a it ultimately goes to the Supreme Court, Sturgis park and hopefully, they will do just that. We want to wedding venue get some good case law that says that LGBTQ that refused to host people are covered under our civil rights law,” the ceremony of a Kaplan said. “That doesn’t mean that we still Attorney General Dana same-sex couple; don’t want to amend our Michigan Civil Rights Nessel. Courtesy photo. and that of Uprooted laws to explicitly include sexual orientation Electrolysis, a and gender identity, because then we don’t Marquette hair have to leave it up to court interpretation, but removal service that refused to serve a we definitely want our state courts to apply transgender client. He ruled that the U.S. the Bostock decision not only to employment Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton situations but to these cases that involve public County clearly finds that the electrolysis accommodation.” business discriminated against its client on One thing that Kaplan said is certain is that the basis of sex, which is included in Michigan’s cases of this kind are not going away any time Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Law. But in the case soon. In fact, the Supreme Court is currently of the wedding venue, the state’s precedent in the process of making a decision in just holds that gay people are not protected from such a case. discrimination in that category. “I could definitely see the defendants trying to “With respect to whether sexual orientation argue that their religious beliefs take precedent falls within the meaning of ‘sex’ under the over enforcing civil rights laws. That’s a very ELCRA, the Court of Appeals has already dangerous thing, and, hopefully, our courts will concluded that it does not. Barbour v. Dep’t not buy into that argument,” Kaplan said. “Right of Social Services. … Being a decision published now, the Supreme Court heard the case Fulton after Nov. 1, 1990, Barbour is binding on this v. City of Philadelphia, where the faith-based Court under MCR 7.215(A) and must be [foster agency] argument is that we have a right followed. And, whether Barbour’s reasoning to a government contract, but we don’t have to is no longer valid in light of Bostock v. Clayton adhere to the nondiscrimination provisions of Co … and cases containing similar reasoning, the contract because of our religious beliefs. And is a matter for the Court of Appeals, not this if the U.S. Supreme Court decides, ‘Yes, that is Court,” read Murray’s decision. a kind of exception when you cite for religious That decision has since been appealed by beliefs,’ I think that could be very damaging.” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. She In the meantime, however, Kaplan said he said she “respectfully disagrees” with Murray’s hopes there will be more cases decided in decision to rely on the 1993 Barbour case as Michigan’s state courts in favor of LGBTQ precedent, citing that Bostock should have rights. This seems more possible than ever impacted the outcome in Rouch World, too. because of Michigan’s progressive majority on “Michigan courts have held that federal the Supreme Court. precedent is highly persuasive when “It doesn’t mean that things are guaranteed determining the contours of the Elliott-Larsen but we might have a more hospitable Civil Rights Act, and federal courts across the environment in our state court. The other country – including the U.S. Supreme Court reason we have to rely on our state court is in Bostock v. Clayton Co – have held that that President Trump, during his term, has discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation appointed a substantial number of federal is a form of sex discrimination,” Nessel said in judges to the federal district court and 6th an MLive report. Circuit Court of Appeals and 100% of these She went on to say that her office intends to judges are conservative and many of them have submit that “all Michigan residents are entitled been part of anti-LGBT decisions in the past,” to protection under the law – regardless of their Kaplan said. “So we have to look to our state gender identity or sexual orientation – in our courts, and we are going to be seeing more appeal to this decision.” activity happening in the state.”

12 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 13 Trump Supporters Storm US Capitol

BY MICHAEL LAVERS

Thousands of President Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on last week as lawmakers were beginning to certify the Electoral College results. The siege began shortly after President Trump spoke to his supporters who gathered on the Ellipse for the “Save America Rally.” Participants then marched to the Capitol. The Washington Post reported the U.S. Capitol Police locked down the Capitol and evacuated lawmakers after Trump supporters breached it. Other media reports indicate at least one person was shot during the siege.

The violence and “ destruction taking place at the U.S. Capitol must stop and it must stop now,” tweeted Vice President Pence, who was in the Capitol when the siege began. “Anyone involved must respect law enforcement officers and immediately leave the building.

The Washington” Blade was on the east side Supporters of President Trump stand in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers) of the Capitol when police used tear gas in an attempt to stop the protesters from entering the Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia. building. This reporter saw at least three people “The violence and destruction taking place with pro-Trump signs standing in the window. at the U.S. Capitol must stop and it must stop A curfew will went into effect in D.C. at 6 now,” tweeted Vice President Pence, who was p.m. in the Capitol when the siege began. “Anyone Mayor Muriel Bowser and House Speaker involved must respect law enforcement officers Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) requested the and immediately leave the building.” National Guard to help clear the Capitol. “Peaceful protest is the right of every The Metropolitan Police Department, the American but this attack on our Capitol will Montgomery County Police Department and not be tolerated and those involved and will the U.S. Secret Service are among the other be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” law enforcement agencies that responded to he added. The “Save America Rally” on the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) the scene. Trump in a video he released on Twitter The siege began shortly after lawmakers falsely asserted the election “was stolen from attack on our Capitol,” Hogan said. “This is a he tweeted. “I never thought we would live to began to certify the Electoral College results u s .” that confirmed President-elect Biden had heinous and violent assault on the heart of our see the day that violent mobs seized control “You have to go home now,” he said. “We have democracy. I will not stand for this, and neither of the Capitol.” defeated Trump, despite unfounded claims to have peace. We have to have law and order.” the presidential election results were rigged. should any American.” “America is so much better than what we’re U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in a Kaela Roeder contributed to this article. This Dozens of Republican lawmakers previously seeing today,” tweeted Biden. announced they would object to the count. tweet said, “I cry for our country.” article originally appeared in the Washington Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, “Hard to take seriously the political arsonists, Blade and is made available in partnership with Democrats last Wednesday also regained is among those who condemned the siege. control of the U.S. Senate with the victories of starting with Trump, when they say they want the National LGBT Media Association. “All Americans should be outraged by this to put out the flames after they lit the match,” 14 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com Amid Coup Chaos, Trump Quietly Erases LGBTQ Protections in Adoption, Health Services

BY CHRIS JOHNSON

Under the cover of chaos the day after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the Trump administration has officially nixed regulations barring federal grantees in the Department of Health & Human Services from discriminating against LGBTQ people, including in adoption services. HHS went public on Thursday with the final rule, which rescinds regulations implemented in the Obama administration barring discrimination among HHS grantees with respect to sex, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. The change also rescinds the Obama-era regulations requiring HHS grantees to “treat as valid the marriages of same-sex couples.” Although Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which governs federal President Donald Trump‘s HHS has erased LGBTQ non-discrimination requirements for federal programs, prohibits discrimination based grantees. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key) on race, color, or national origin, it doesn’t best interests of children and families, the programs and grants, Congress has prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination, Trump administration’s new rule invites specified the protected categories with so the regulation allows considerable taxpayer-funded foster care agencies to respect to which discrimination is discrimination in federal programs discriminate against them.” prohibited,” the rule says. “Congress has against LGBTQ people. But the proposed regulation will not expressly included discrimination on “Given the careful balancing of rights, have far-reaching implications in the basis of sexual orientation, gender obligations and goals in the public-private health services, allowing anti-LGBTQ identity, or same-sex marriage status, in partnerships in federal grant programs, discrimination in HIV and STI prevention any statute applicable to departmental the department believes it appropriate programs, opioid programs, youth grants.” to impose only those nondiscrimination homelessness services, health professional HHS had already granted an exemption requirements required by the Constitution training and substance-use recovery from the Obama-era rule to South and federal statutes applicable to the programs. Carolina, which sought to get out of the department’s grantees,” the federal rule The finalization of the rule, first regulation on behalf of the Miracle Hill says. proposed in November 2019, was Ministries adoption agency. Most prominently, the new regulation expected. The Office of Management Laser cited the exemption granted to would allow taxpayer-funded child & Budget, which coordinates the rule- South Carolina and Americans United’s welfare services to refuse placement into making process among federal agencies lawsuit against it in her criticism of the LGBTQ families or discriminate against indicated on its website it had received final rule. LGBTQ youth. Religiously affiliated the proposed rule and it was scheduled “Discrimination should never be adoption and foster care centers have been to be made final in the lame-duck session funded or supported by our government, pushing for this change in regulation, before Trump’s exit. but that’s exactly what this rule does,” including Catholic Social Services in But the Trump administration Laser said. “Families, senior citizens Philadelphia, which currently has a case had already ceased enforcing the and children could lose protections pending before the U.S. Supreme Court nondiscrimination components of the against discrimination and suddenly seeking a First Amendment right to reject Obama-era rule when it proposed the be turned away from taxpayer-funded same-sex couples on religious grounds. regulation in 2019, arguing the previous programs they need. That includes Rachel Laser, CEO of Americans administration didn’t go through the people like Americans United client United for Separation of Church & State, correct rule-making process when it was Aimee Maddonna, who was turned away criticized the regulation in a statement made final in the eleventh-hour of the from helping children in foster care by a for allowing discrimination in the child Obama administration in December 2016. government-funded agency solely because welfare system. The Trump-era rule seeks to justify Aimee is Catholic – the ‘wrong’ religion “The federal government should itself by saying the Obama-era regulations according to an evangelical Protestant protect our country’s most vulnerable aren’t based on statutes and religious- agency in South Carolina.” people instead of issuing rules that license affiliated groups have complained discrimination,” Laser said. “People and filed lawsuits over meeting those This article originally appeared in the should never be turned away from the requirements. These groups, HHS noted, Washington Blade and is made available services they need. That is especially true assert the policy is unlawful under the in partnership with the National LGBT for children in foster care and the families Religious Freedom Restoration Act and Media Association. Read the full article who want to provide them with loving, Clear as a Bella p. 21 the First Amendment. online at pridesource.com. safe homes. Rather than prioritizing the “In the statutes establishing certain www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 15 AA ThreesomeThreesome RemedyRemedy FORFOR OUROUR TIMESTIMES

(Left to right) Brian Jordan Alvarez, Max Jenkins and Peter Vack in a scene from the Netflix series “Social Distance.” Photo: Netflix ‘Social Distance’ Stars Talk COVID-Era Series and Pandemic Dating

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI Did you guys know each other beforehand? Had and, in fact, sought out friends to do this or hit on something beautiful. I thought it was you crossed paths? people that had these deep, decades-long “zhuzh my taint.” ile this under the “Content We’re Living” Brian Jordan Alvarez: Very much so. connections. Alvarez: That might’ve been a different take. category: “Social Distance,” Netflix’s Peter Vack: Max and I’s friendship goes back Jenkins: Yeah. The director’s cut has “zhuzh anthology series completely conceived, Was the script set? to childhood. We went to performing arts my taint,” I believe. (Everyone laughs.) Fcast and shot in quarantine. Tucked into the summer camp together, and then Brian and Alvarez: It was set, we had nothing to do with show’s eight episodes is “Zero Feet Away,” which Did you actually shoot on April 17, the day the I met and became basically best friends our it. It was a totally wonderfully written piece follows a gay couple suffering from cabin fever episode says it took place? freshman year of college. that was just given to us. They were great who give a threesome a shot after they’ve had Alvarez: When he met me he told me, “You about – sorry, am I bulldozing? Alvarez: No, no. I was gonna say it was funny enough of each other. should meet my friend Max, you would like Max Jenkins: Shut up. Just talk. I love hearing that Peter called it summer camp because we “Zero Feet Away” stars Max Jenkins, who has him,” and it turned out to be true. We’ve all you talk. were calling it that when we were doing it, but a part on “Dead to Me” as Christina Applegate’s become friends now. Alvarez: They were really generous, which I don’t think we realized that it was also the gay real-estate partner; Brian Jordan Alvarez, Vack: I just want to underscore that these always helps me in letting us improv. We dead middle of summer. who portrays Jack’s husband, Estefan, on “Will two are two of the people I love most in the also had a lot of freedom to just say the line Jenkins: The solstice. & Grace,” and “Mozart in the Jungle” star Peter world as friends. So often the job with acting slightly differently or improv. It was just cool Alvarez: (Laughs.) It was like literally, what, Vack. is to become very close and intimate with to have that freedom. mid July? In October, they talked about their longtime people immediately; with this, it really felt Vack: I now have some handle on it because friendship, filming during a pandemic and Max, did you improv the line “zhuzh my crack”? like a party from moment one. It really was I’m back in New York and it gets cold, but Funfetti. like a summer camp vibe. I think that is in Jenkins: I can’t believe they used that! You in L.A. with the coronavirus it was all one part due to the fact that they allowed friends know, that was the moment that we really month. 16 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com Jenkins: That’s why this experience was like, Jenkins: Yeah. I’m already traumatized that I “before this and after this”; that was my only have to share my space with…. him. (He pans milestone. the camera to his dog, Rock.) Alvarez: Right, that’s true! Jenkins: And we’re so lucky that we had Since you had a rapport, I imagine the this gift of breaking out of our quarantine, threesome, when you actually get down to it, you know? And also, I’m working now was very giggle-worthy. I was in stitches watching and everybody is so scared on “Special”; you guys. Was it even more hysterical actually everyone’s freaked out and it’s like, girl, I doing it? ripped the Band-Aid off in July. We already Jenkins: It was so normal, so oddly second did this, and it was a blast, and everybody is nature. kind of more focused, so I feel very at ease Vack: Yeah. working with all these stipulations and with Alvarez: It felt a lot like doing a play in the all the PPE. best ways. Because it’s very physical comedy, Peter, when you come over with a mask on in almost farcical. the episode, that’s now the reality for dating and Jenkins: It’s true. Typically the crew is not hooking up. Did that speak to you on a personal laughing at you, so you have this kind of unresponsive audience. But in our case we level as much as it spoke to me? were making ourselves laugh, so we didn’t Vack: Oh, totally. I have been both single give a fuck about anything but what each and partnered in this experience and, yeah, it other was saying about it. totally felt like… it’s hard to even articulate. Vack: It just felt like effortless fun. And I There’s new rules now, I guess. And I am agree: The fact that it was just us there, it was something of a hypochondriac, so that was giddy. It was just pure pleasure, top to bottom. very easy to tap into. Jenkins: For me, I tend to be single. (Laughs.) How long did it take to shoot? I haven’t really attacked it consciously, like Jenkins: A week. We had a week of isolating this new challenge of dating. It’s been more in the hotel prior to shooting. (like) if I’m truly obsessed with the idea of this person, I {ITAL might} hang out with Did you use that time in the hotel to rehearse, them. There are so many more gates for my or just screw around? psyche to go through (laughs), and my psyche Jenkins: We weren’t allowed to see each other. does not tend to clear those gates; therefore, Vack: We’d be, like, on the balcony, far apart. there are few prospects. Jenkins: With our masks. So no virtual pandemic dating for you? I thought that they would’ve made you a pod Jenkins: Well, I have been doing quite a bit and put you all in a hotel room together. of that, but it tends to be boring. There’s not Jenkins: We agreed that the pod thing so much going on in people’s lives, there’s not could’ve worked, but they were determined so much to catch each other up on. I find it to divide and conquer us any possible way. It just not… it’s a facsimile of getting to know was like every precaution you could think of. someone. It’s like we’re all doing performances There was no precaution too silly-seeming. of being chill and being our normal selves. (Laughs.) We had to gargle mouthwash That’s just my experience. before every kiss. Alvarez: Yeah, I was doing a lot more FaceTiming than ever. Is there anything about the episode you’d like Jenkins: I can’t get down. I just (don’t) feel to spotlight that happened behind the scenes? like I’m really getting to know someone. Alvarez: We had like 30 jars of Funfetti. Alvarez: I guess I haven’t done any real (Everyone laughs.) Because in filmmaking if formal dates, but I have FaceTimed with you’re going to do a lot of takes, you also have people, you know, in maybe a more romantic to have options. way. (Laughs.) And yeah, it’s definitely not as Jenkins: And on the first take I was just good as the real thing. (Laughs.) But yeah, eating heaping spoonfuls and my body I think after the lonesomeness set in after a started to shut down pretty quickly. I mean, while, FaceTime was really able to quell that talk about coronavirus. in a way that just staring at my wall could not. Jenkins: At first I felt so sorry for myself. And I This interview has been condensed and edited was like, “My friends who are partnered don’t for clarity. understand and they need to be checking in on me more!” Then I started to feel even As editor of Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire worse for them than for myself, which I guess service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a is what our episode is sort of about, a little bit: multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl the challenge of that. Because I started to see Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has them jumping out of their skins. (Laughs.) I also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity started to see my partnered friends freaking Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter the fuck out. @chrisazzopardi. Alvarez: I prefer the solitude to being bottled up with one other person. www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 17 ‘The Show Must Go On’: Finding a Way to Perform During COVID BY JASON A. MICHAEL

The novel coronavirus pandemic might have wreaked havoc on actor and singer Cory Shorter’s theatrical career this year, but with shows canceled left and right, the time off actually allowed the Royal Oak- based performer to work on music. He just independently released a single, “Before You Go,” and already has a video for it in the can. “With the pandemic, I wasn’t able to work like I was supposed to,” Shorter said. “Theater is my full-time job and I had five shows lined up starting in March and going through September and they all were canceled. That gave me enough time to complete my album and work on my videos. I was also able to spend some much-needed time with my fiancé after being apart for so many months.” To craft “Before You Go,” Shorter called on Swedish producer VinAce. “I told him I wanted something new, an EDM/dance-type beat,” Shorter said. “He mainly does R&B and rap, but we worked closely together and it’s what I wanted it to sound like. And he delivered a beat that is now (one) of my favorite songs I’ve recorded so far.” As much production help as he got, Shorter developed the concept of the song and wrote the lyrics himself. Cory Shorter. Courtesy Photo “You know when you’re ending a bad relationship but before you break you his career in entertainment as a child actor. He before traveling to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. we are not used to,” Shorter continued. “But the want one more kiss? That’s the inspiration earned a degree in theater from the University “Prather Productions is the company putting show must go on.” behind ‘Before You Go.’ Being over all of the of Michigan. By night, and using the stage the show on and they are taking COVID-19 Shorter wants the music to go on as well games and finding happiness in yourself,” name Izaya Cole, Shorter became Michigan’s very seriously,” he said. “They have added and will focus on it in 2021 — as much as time Shorter said. “I write based off of personal most-awarded showboy. He won 25 pageants air purifiers to their theaters and installed allows. experiences. As an actor as well, I find and was the first showboy from the state to machines that kill viruses in the air. Our patrons “I would love to just keep making records experiences from different characters I’ve win a national title. Before he was done, he’d are required to wear masks. Even us, the actors, and have people listen … to just keep growing played and their circumstances.” pick up three of them: Mr. Gay Unlimited, Mr. are wearing face shields on stage during the a support base. And I definitely would love to Shorter’s anguish and disappointment can Black National and Mr. Sapphire. show. The theaters are operating at half capacity. tour with my music eventually when I’m able clearly be heard in the song, and its style is Eventually, Shorter put being a showboy on So they have taken every precaution possible to and start planning that,” he said. “Plus, I still reminiscent of vintage ’90s house and artists like the back burner and focused on his acting. On to ensure a great theater experience for patrons have the goal of being on Broadway one day. CeCe Peniston and Crystal Waters. Altogether, New Year’s Eve, Shorter returned to the stage in and actors. My goal is to just get better each year.” the song could be described as a virtual three- a production of “Happy Days – The Musical” “The only thing that is a little challenging is minute mood swing that takes listeners from at the Broadway Palm Theater in Fort Myers, performing a full musical singing and dancing “Before You Go” by Cory Shorter is available on heartbreak to get the hell on with it. Florida. The show plays there through Feb. 14 with a face shield on just because it’s something all streaming platforms. Long before pursuing music, Shorter began

18 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 19 Deep Inside Hollywood BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE Zachary Quinto and the ‘Together Together’ hits ‘Secret Court’ Sundance with Patti Podcasts are everywhere, and now Zachary Quinto’s got one. No, he’s not sitting at his Harrison and Tig Notaro dining room table talking about “Star Trek”. He’s producing and starring in a scripted “Together Together,” a new comedy making podcast series, called “Secret its debut at the 2021 very online Court,” based on a 100-year- Sundance Film Festival, is old tragedy that took place another push forward for at Harvard University. It was trans actors. The movie’s co- then that a young Harvard star, comedian Patti Harrison sophomore named Cyril (“Shrill”), is a transgender Wilcox, a member of the class comedian who’s already got of 1920, killed himself. He had a reputation for turning been part of a small group of perceptions about comedy gay male friends on campus, upside down. In “TT,” she plays and his suicide led the school opposite Ed Helms as a young to secretly purge the other loner who goes to work for him, students from the university. and their growing relationship Nobody had done anything forms the basis of the story. No wrong except be homosexual, Zachary Quinto. word on whether her character but they found themselves is trans or what the on-screen relationship branded as offenders and removed from school, entails, but what’s exciting here is that a trans their official records – as well as the record of actor is co-headlining a feature. With the the purge – erased. “Secret Court” will feature exception of Laverne Cox in the remake of Quinto in a voice role (no other is known at this “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” that’s still a point) and is being written by Abdi Nazemian rare enough occurrence to be exciting news. (“The Artist’s Wife”), produced in partnership Nikole Beckwith (“Stockholm, Pennsylvania”) with Quinto’s production company. We’re also wrote and directed the film, which co-stars guessing that its potential success might lead Nora Dunn, Tig Notaro and “Los Espookys” to a film or TV version of the story, one that creator Julio Torres. Now all it has to be is funny. deserves to be brought to light. Little Richard really was A Samantha-less ‘Sex and ‘Everything’ the City’ When Little Richard died in early 2020 at You heard that correctly. HBO has confirmed age 87, the world lost the great queer inventor that Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon of rock and roll. In the 1950s he brazenly took and Kristin Davis will return for a “Sex and on musical norms, white racism and anti-queer the City” reboot. Kim Cattrall is not part of cultural norms, defiantly making music that that conversation. We all know why. And it terrified parents and turned on young people. doesn’t matter if you’re Team Cattrall or Team And though his religious beliefs led him to a Everybody Else in this fractured friend-scape. lifetime of conflict with his own queerness, he What matters is the fact that a “Sex and the maintained his position as a voice for liberation City” reboot is a great idea that we all need. until his death. Now a documentary is in the This is a dire historical moment of people not works, one that will try to capture a small having frivolous sex with total strangers and part of the musician’s world-changing legacy. not being able to afford very large Manhattan “Little Richard: I Am Everything” – produced apartments or Manolo Blahnik shoes or even a by queer filmmaker Dee Rees (“Mudbound”) fancy brunch. Solution: A new character who in collaboration with “Rolling Stone,” and is extremely horny, young and queer, one who directed by Lisa Cortes (“All In: The Fight runs circles around the other three women and for Democracy”) – will focus on the man’s treats them like the scolding aunties they’ve all influence and musical innovation, as well as turned into, a chaotic Gen Z sex demon who’ll his fearless (and often contradictory) public shake things up and make Parker’s outfits look discussions about sexuality. Expect lots of tame. Maybe Zendaya. The script can figure famous musicians, queer and otherwise, to out why she’d be hanging out with the rest of lend their testimonies to this one. And a 2022 them. Maybe she’s someone’s niece. It doesn’t release is also a safe bet. matter. It could work.

Romeo San Vicente would very much like a brunch left at his front door and would tip big for it.

20 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com 31 “You’ll ___ Walk Alone” 6 Son of Eric the Red 32 Penetrating character for Bela 7 “___ Hai” Lugosi? 8 “Legally Blonde” character 34 Beatty flick 9 Islamic leaders 35 Bella Abzug portrayer in “The 10 Sparkled like a Liberace outfit Glorias” 11 Split end, for example 37 Lit ___ 12 Never broadcast 39 Enjoyed Aspen, perhaps 13 Rainbow pennants at a pride 40 Like Bernstein’s paper parade, e.g. 42 What you can give it 21 Bring to bear 43 South Beach lotion letters 22 California map word 46 Wearer of wax wings 27 “Screwed again!” 48 Bellybutton type 28 Train that comes quickly 50 Bella Abzug portrayer in “Mrs. 29 Region of Babylonia America” 30 Skip a syllable 55 Soft cheese 32 All, for one 56 From the top 33 Gets the bottom line 57 Slightly 35 Gender stereotypes 58 “East of ___” 36 Spill the beans 59 Artist Arlene 37 Took on “Ev’ry Mountain” 60 Guitar of Shakespeare’s day 38 Sitcom family name 61 “Methinks thou ___ protest too 41 Sonny and Cher, once Q Puzzle much” Clear as a Bella 43 Michelangelo’s David, e.g. 62 Hank of hair 17 Rednour, who wrote a femme’s 44 “Jesus Christ Superstar” role 63 Look at a hottie in a bar Across guide 45 Word after bottom 1 Moist mounds 18 One thousandth 47 “Designing Women” costar Jean 5 “A Delicate Balance” author 19 “___ do anything better than you” Down 49 Mo of Arizona politics 10 Cowhand’s chow 20 Bella Abzug portrayer in “Bella 1 Sprints at the Gay Games 51 Mold medium 14 James of “The African Queen” Bella” 2 In shock 52 Great review on Broadway fame 23 Flynn role opposite Davis 3 Amanda of “Married ... With 53 Practices B&D, e.g. 15 A queen rules it, perhaps 24 It may bite Children” 54 Lands End, and more 16 Sultry Horne 25 Sault ___ Marie 4 Hit first, to Mauresmo 26 Employ a rubber 5 Navy rival See p. 15 for answers

www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 21 Community Connections Find over 300 Non-Profit Listings Serving Michigan’s LGBTQ Online @ pridesource.com AIDS/HIV Campus Legal Get Listed, Promote There are dozens of AIDS/HIV Currently there are 19 American Civil Liberties organizations and resources listed organizations listed as active Union of Michigan Your Events at www.PrideSource.com. Here are online at www.pridesource.com/ Jay Kaplan, Staff Attorney, LGBT You can add or update just some of them: yellow pages. The following are Project any listing by going to some in the southeast Michigan 2966 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI www.PrideSource.com Metro Care Coordination area: www.aclumich.org and clicking on Yellow Network U-M Ann Arbor 313-578-6800 Pages. Once you submit Free, comprehensive services for Spectrum Center your listing, our staff will those living with HIV/AIDS. 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Elliott St. 248-370-4336 Know Your RIghts Project clicking on Calendar, Detroit MI 48207-1841 Eastern Michigan Outlaws U-M student group then “Add Event.” Send 313-446-9800 University [email protected] any press releases www.miunified.org LGBT Resource Center 734-995-9867 and announcements to Michigan HIV/STED Hotline emich.edu/lgbtrc [email protected] 800-872-2437 734-487-4149 Older Adults The Lawrence Tech LGBT Matrix MAC Health SAGE Metro Detroit 429 Livernois St. Resource Center Find a digital version of PrideSource Magazine ltu.edu/student_affairs/lgbt.asp 290 W. Nine Mile Rd. Ferndale, MI Ferndale, MI 48220 313-578-6812 online under Our LGBT Yellow Pages 888-226-6366 Wayne State JIGSAW Facebook.com/groups/ sagemetrodetroit.org 248-545-1435 Facebook: SAGE Metro Detroit FtM A2 Ypsi http://www.matrixhumanservices. WayneStateJIGSAW Find these resources online [email protected] [email protected] Adoption Services org/programs/matrix-mac-health/ https://www.facebook.com/ AIDS/HIV Hotlines Community Centers Political ftma2ypsi/ Macomb County STD Clinic AIDS/HIV Organizations Michigan has eleven active The LGBT and Allies 27690 Van Dyke Caucus of the Michigan Alzheimer’s Association Warren, MI 48093 LGBTQ community centers, with Animal Shelter a tenth planned in Lansing. Here Democratic Party Transgender Michigan 586-465-8440 Anti-Violence are three of them. Facebook.com/TheLGBTA- 23211 Woodward Ave. http://health.macombgov. Ferndale, MI Archives/Collections org/Health-Programs-HPDC- CaucusoftheMDP Jim Toy Community Center Stonewall for Revolution [email protected] Campus; Student and Alumni Groups HIVAIDSCounselingTesting www.transgendermichigan.org Ann Arbor www.facebook.com/ Cancer Support Groups 800-842-2954 Oakland Livingston Human www.jimtoycenter.org. stonewall4reolution Choruses Service Agency (OLSHA) www.facebook.com/jimtoycenter Community Centers or follow them on Twitter @ Trans Sistas of Color 196 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Professional Groups Project Employee Resource Groups Pontiac, MI 48343 JimToyCenter. Families and Parents 319 Braun Court Detroit Regional LGBT 19641 W. 7 Mile Rd. in Detroit 248-209-2647 313-537-7000 Ext 107 Foster Care www.olhsa.org Ann Arbor, MI Chamber of Commerce 734-995-9867 P.O. Box 32446 [email protected] Foundations and Funders www.facebook.com/TSCOPD/ Hotlines & Switchboards Arab Community Center Detroit, MI 48232 for Economic and Social LGBT Detroit detroitlgbtchamber.com Labor Union Service (ACCESS) Detroit 1-800-DET-LGBT Youth Legal Organizations www.lgbtdetroit.org. Museums Sterling Heights Center Ruth Ellis Center 4301 East 14 Mile Rd. www.facebook.com/lgbtdetroit Ties Like Me Music Groups 77 Victor Street, Highland Park, MI Sterling Hts., MI 48310 @LGBTDetroit. Professional networking events National Organizations 20025 Greenfield Road 48203 586-722-6036 third Weds. 5:30 - 8 p.m. Political Organizations Detroit, MI TiesLikeMe.org [email protected] www.accesscommunity.org Professional Organizations Phone: 313-397-2127 Suits And The City Facebook: Ruth Ellis Center Lansing, MI 313-252-1950 Religious & Spiritual Advocacy Affirmations [email protected] Senior Living www.suitsandthecity.org Ozone House Seniors Equality Michigan Ferndale http://goaffirmations.org 102 N. Hamilton Street Social/Community Organizations 19641 W. 7 Mile, Detroit, MI www.facebook.com/Affirmations/ Ypsilanti, MI 313-537-7000 Sports or follow them on Twitter @ Transgender 734-662-2265 equalitymi.org Substance Abuse GoAffirmations. 734-662-2222 Facebook.com/equalitymichigan FtM Detroit Transgender Groups/Services 290 W. Nine Mile Road https://www.facebook.com/ Women’s Health Ferndale, MI FtMDetroit/ Stand With Trans Youth Services 248-398-7105 [email protected]. Farmington, MI www.standwithtrans.org 248-739-9254 22 BTL | January 14, 2021 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com BTL | January 14, 2021 23