AN O INDEPENDENTU VOICE FOR THE TLESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES April 3, 2015 | Volume XII, Issue 24

Fatality in NSA Incident was Transgender Ricky Hall a.k.a. Mya credit: Baltimore By Steve Charing ing Hall and seriously injuring the passen- the Ford SUV involved in City Police The fatality in the March 30 incident at Na- ger, Kevin Fleming, age 20. Fleming had the incident was reported Department tional Security Agency (NSA) Headquar- been taken to a local hospital, and a NSA stolen from the Terrace ters at Ft. Meade, Maryland, was identified policeman was also injured but not seri- Motel in the 6200 block of as Ricky Shawatza Hall, 27, of Baltimore. ously. Washington Boulevard in A friend of the victim said Hall was trans- Both victims who were in the SUV were Elkridge earlier in the day gender and that she went by the name of wearing what the FBI described as wom- at 8:30 a.m. Mya. en’s clothing, and a wig from Hall was lying The initial driver of the An SUV that had been reported as beside the vehicle following the crash. The Ford Escape, a 60-year-old stolen proceeded without authorization FBI determined that the women’s attire man from Baltimore, told through a gate at the highly secured and worn by the intruders was not an attempt police that he had picked secretive spy agency shortly before 9 a.m. to disguise themselves, and they ruled up two men in Baltimore The driver of the SUV, Hall, refused to stop out that the unauthorized entry was an act who were dressed as wom- and crashed into a police vehicle that was of terrorism. Cocaine and a firearm were en and had driven them to blocking the road. found in the vehicle. the motel in Howard Coun- “The driver failed to obey an NSA Po- Authorities believe that Hall and Flem- ty, where he checked-in lice officer’s routine instructions for safely ing made a wrong turn into the NSA com- around 7:30 a.m. After an exiting the secure campus,” said a spokes- pound and did not want to stop because hour, the men left the room person for NSA police. “The vehicle failed Hall was driving a stolen vehicle, which and took the victim’s ve- to stop and barriers were deployed.” contained cocaine and a gun. hicle, which had allegedly NSA police fired shots into the SUV kill- According to Howard County Police, —continued on page 6 Progress on LGBT Issues Noted in General Assembly By Steve Charing Kagan (D-Montgomery County), would pre- law to reflect Maryland’s state on marriage Maryland State On the heels of recent state- vent health insurers from excluding benefits equality,” Hill told the Baltimore Sun. “It was House wide victories on marriage for outpatient expenses related to in-vitro about making sure all Marylanders are treat- equality and gender identity fertilization, in which the egg is fertilized ed in an equitable fashion.” non-discrimination, LGBT outside a woman’s body and the embryo is Equality Maryland (EQMD) considers advocates can claim two implanted in the uterus. the passage of these mea- more major successes in the Currently, insurers are Two significant sures a major priority of their 2015 Maryland General As- only required to provide the 2015 legislative agenda. sembly. benefit for someone using a measures passed EQMD executive director Artificial Insemination husband’s sperm. This policy overwhelmingly Carrie Evans on March 4 Bill – A bill that would allow has precluded female same- testified before the Maryland lesbian couples to receive sex couples from coverage. Senate Finance Committee in support of SB the same health care bene- “It’s all about equality. It’s all about up- 416. fits for artificial insemination dating our laws,” Kagan said. “This bill does not change current law as heterosexual couples do The Maryland House of Delegates on except to say that current law requiring passed on March 24 in the March 24 also passed a similar measure, certain insurance products to provide in- Maryland Senate by a 37-10 House Bill 838, sponsored by state Del. Terri vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage in specified vote margin. Hill (D-Baltimore and Howard Counties), by conditions cannot do so in a way that would Senate Bill 416, spon- a 94-44 margin. automatically exclude someone because of sored by state Sen. Cheryl “We’re concerned that we correct the —continued on page 3 HIV/AIDS IN BALTIMORE

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Progress on LGBT Issues Noted in General Assembly born in Maryland in an effort to update their tions based on gender identity is impor- Dana Beyer, executive director of Gen- – continued from page 1 birth certificates. tant, it is “issues like this that help ensure a der Rights Maryland, voiced concerns with The Maryland House of Delegates ap- person can live their authentic life without the bills. their sexual orientation or gender identity,” proved HB 862 by a 85-50 vote margin, and undue complications and difficulties.” “It’s very unfortunate that the floor de- said Evans. the state Senate easily passed SB 743 by a Evans states that the sponsors and bates degenerated into partisan rancor, “This bill does not ask for any more, or 31-16 margin. floor leaders of this bill – state Sens. Su- particularly just a year after Republicans any less, consideration than what is afford- A reconciled bill would require Gov. san Lee (D-Montgomery County) and Delo- helped in crafting the comprehensive gen- ed a heterosexual woman who is not able Larry Hogan’s signature to become law, but res Kelley (D-Baltimore County) and state der identity bill,” she told Baltimore OUT- to become pregnant. Current law requires SB 743 and HB 862 passed by veto-proof Dels. David Moon (D-Montgomery County) loud. “But it’s also unfortunate that the bill that a heterosexual woman demonstrate a margins. and Dan Morhaim (D-Baltimore County) – language is a step backward in that it ‘med- two year history of infertility or an underly- “Under the decades-old standard in cur- are all LGBT allies. icalizes’ the transition process and does ing medical condition before insurance pro- rent Maryland law, transgender individuals “For many years, we have relied heav- not reference last year’s Act and build on vides IVF coverage. This bill would apply the must provide evidence to a judge which indi- ily on the members of the General As- its definitions, the product of long years of same conditions for a lesbian before cover- cates that they have had surgery, and even sembly’s LGBT Caucus to be leaders on debate and trans community organizing.” then only providing an amended document,” LGBT-related bills and they have done a State Sen. Ed Reilly (R-Anne Arun- “It’s unfortunate that says Jer Welter, deputy director and man- incredible job and helped deliver some del County) was among those who voted aging attorney for FreeState Legal, which huge victories,” said Evans. “However, it is against the measure. the bill language is a championed the legislation. a measure of the Caucus’ hard work and “I think we are providing folks an extra “The modern, generally accepted our progress as a movement that allies are level of consideration at the detriment of step backward in that medical standard of care recognizes that now front and center on our issues.” others,” he said, referring to those who are it ‘medicalizes’ the for many transgender or intersex persons, “It is exciting that this bill and the in- adopted and can acquire amended birth surgery is not medically appropriate or vitro fertilization bill pushed by Equality certificates but not brand new ones iden- transition process and necessary,” added Welter. “This bill elimi- Maryland had such high vote counts,” said tifying their biological parents. “I just think nates the arbitrary surgical requirement state Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery) this bill goes a little bit too far.” does not reference last th under current law and leaves decisions who co-sponsored SB 743. “Despite the Maryland last year became the 18 year’s Act and build about what medical treatment someone other side spending so much time to op- state along with Puerto Rico and D.C. to should undergo where those decisions be- pose the bill, it held up. We had great floor enact broader antidiscrimination protec- on its definitions, the long: between patients and their doctors.” leaders. It’s great to see a growing number tions based on gender identity when then- product of long years According to the Human Rights Cam- of legislators supporting issues that are Gov. Martin O’Malley signed into law the paign, “Even among those for whom sur- most important to the LGBT community.” Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2014.t of debate and trans gery is appropriate, many cannot receive it because it is not covered by their insur- community organizing.” ance, there may be no appropriate pro- – Gender Rights MD viders, or they have a medical condition that prevents them from undergoing these medical procedures. Nationally, only 1 in age is provided. This bill attempts to ensure 5 transgender people (21 percent) have that all women, regardless of their sexual been able to update all their identification orientation, are provided with IVF coverage documents and records, including birth so long as they meet the conditions set forth certificates, to reflect their appropriate under the law.” name and gender.” Evans welcomes the measure’s pas- Welter adds, “This bill is critically impor- sage. “For many years same-sex couples tant to ensure that people born in Maryland contacted EQMD about being denied these who are transgender or have an intersex benefits because they were not using their condition can have birth certificates that spouse’s sperm for the procedures,” she are consistent with their gender identity and said. their other identification documents.” “We vowed to take on this issue when “Mismatched birth certificates are a re- the time was right, and thankfully the time current problem for transgender and inter- was now. The votes we saw in the House sex Marylanders,” he says. “For instance, at and Senate on these bills are the widest the start of every new job, a new employee margins and most bi-partisan we have ever has to present proof of employment eligibil- seen for a bill relating to LGBT equality in ity, typically a birth certificate, for the federal Maryland’s General Assembly.” I-9 form – if the gender marker on the per- Birth Certificate Bills –The challenges son’s birth certificate does not match their faced by transgender Marylanders in trying gender identity and their other identification to legally change their names and genders documents, they can face employment dis- on their birth certificates will be eliminated if crimination or even physical danger – and, state lawmakers have their way. at best, a very awkward conversation with a State lawmakers on March 25 approved brand-new employer.” two separate bills – Senate Bill 743 and Carrie Evans applauded the passage House Bill 862 – that would remove the ex- of the bills, noting that while last year’s “big pensive roadblocks facing trans individuals win” concerning non-discrimination protec-

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 3 Thomas Bonderenko credit: Steve Charing

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Learn American Sign cal level, combined with his understanding ers at the BMore Proud LGBTQ Intercol- The theme of the third annual retreat of the needs of low-income LGBTQ people legiate Leadership Summit held on March is – “Family” – and will include workshops and his track record of coalition-building 28 at UMBC. His speech centered on how and meetings focusing on the implications Language this Spring success, make him the ideal person to he had become involved with LGBT equal- of an LGBT family member’s “coming out” lead FreeState into a future of expanded ity beginning with his roots in conservative on siblings and extended family. The re- By Rodney Burger capacity and broader impact.” Texas. treat is designed to be helpful for all par- Dancing Hands and the GLCBB will pres- Paschall comes to FreeState Legal with Since 2008, FreeState has been ex- ents, whether or ent a free introduction to American Sign over a decade of experience in LGBTQ ac- panding the ways in which it promotes jus- not they are still Language (ASL) class at the GLCCB tivism. Most recently, tice for the low-income LGBTQ community struggling with or (1000 Cathedral Street, Baltimore) every Paschall was senior in Maryland. FreeState 1) provides direct accepting of their Tuesday from April 14 to May 19. Kevin S. policy counsel at legal services to low-income LGBTQ cli- children’s LGBT Lowery, who worked with the Leatherboys the National LGBTQ ents through its in-house counsel and pro identity. of Maryland on the Task Force where bono attorney network; 2) works towards There will be ASL Leather Family he led an aggres- systemic law and policy changes through opportunities to Brunch at the Club sive policy portfolio governmental advocacy; 3) conducts out- meet other par- Hippo back on Sep- focusing on federal reach activities designed to promote self- ents who really know and understand, dis- tember 20, would administrative policy advocacy within the LGBTQ community, cover new approaches and ideas, share like to welcome and state/local non- particularly among LGBTQ teens; and 4) and learn in a comfortable place, and give not just the leath- discrimination leg- provides educational training to Maryland and get mutual support. er community but islation, including a Patrick Paschall lawyers and judges about LGBTQ legal Based on parents’ 2014 experiences, any member of the deep focus in health needs. Tablet magazine reported on the prior re- LGBT community to care, housing, em- For more information about FreeState treat’s impact: “By and large, though, the join him from 6 to 8 ployment, criminal justice, anti-violence, Legal, visit Freestatelegal.org. t retreat’s attendees had an obvious comfort p.m. each Tuesday and religious exemption issues. level with one another, perhaps because to learn not just ASL Paschall earned his J.D. at Hofstra Eshel’s retreat is one of the only resources specifically aimed at Orthodox parents. Kevin S. Lowery but also learn about University School of Law, where he was deaf culture. Sir awarded a coveted LGBT Rights Fellow- Other organizations, such as PFLAG and Kevin and his hus- ship – the only law school fellowship in the Retreat for Orthodox the Jewish LGBT organization Keshet, are band boy joey, who is deaf, will also touch country dedicated to training the next gen- wonderful sources of support and infor- on the challenges they face as a LGBT eration of legal advocates on LGBT issues. Parents of LGBT mation, say parents – some of whom are couple. Kevin told Baltimore OUTloud that He has had a varied career in LGBTQ activ- involved with Keshet as well – but these the weekly classes will include basic ASL, ism, having worked for the National Center Children groups are not specifically tailored for the testimonials from other deaf LGBT persons for Transgender Equality, Lambda Legal, unique concerns of Orthodox families.” in the community, and a lesson on how to Family Equality Council, Pride at Work, By Steve Charing Caitlin Ryan, PhD, ACSW, will be a “talk dirty using sign language.” The class- and others. Paschall is also a local elected To whom can Orthodox Jewish parents turn guest speaker at this year’s retreat. Dr. es are free and a being paid for by a recent official, having served on the Hyattsville, when their child tells them they are LGBT? Ryan is a clinical social worker who has grant that the Center received from Brother Maryland, City Council since 2013. They can join parents and adult relatives worked on LGBT health and mental health t of LGBT children from around the U.S. for 40 years. She directs the Family Ac- Help Thyself (BHT). “I am deeply honored and incredibly rd excited to be selected for such an impor- who will gather for Eshel’s 3 annual re- ceptance Project at San Francisco State tant position at such a pivotal time in the treat. The April 17-19 weekend program University. Dr. Ryan and her team have LGBTQ rights movement both nationally at Capital Retreat Center in Waynesboro, developed a research-based family inter- FreeState Legal and in Maryland,” said Paschall. “We know Pennsylvania, is organized by Eshel, an vention model to help families to decrease all too well that low-income LGBTQ Mary- organization dedicated to create commu- rejection and prevent related health risks landers, and especially LGBTQ people of nity understanding and acceptance for for their LGBT children. Names New color, face significant economic and social LGBT Jews and their families in Orthodox The retreat will take place at Capital barriers to accessing health care, housing, Jewish communities. Registration must be Retreat Center (Capitalretreat.org), 12750 Executive Director employment, public accommodations, and completed by April 7. Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, Penn- basic things like identity documents. Lead- On March 18 FreeState Legal, Maryland’s ing such an effective, life-saving organiza- legal advocacy organization for the low- tion into a future of greater success and income LGBTQ community, named Patrick deeper impact will be the opportunity of Paschall as its next executive director. The a lifetime, and I couldn’t be more grateful position is effective March 30. Paschall will to the board for trusting my leadership at take the helm of a rapidly growing state- such a critical time in our state.” wide organization that serves low-income “Congratulations to Patrick and to LGBTQ Marylanders through direct legal FreeState Legal,” said Aaron Merki, services and systemic policy advocacy. FreeState Legal’s co-founder and most “We are so excited for Patrick’s vision recent executive director. “Patrick brings of growth and expansion of the services the perfect combination of leadership, ex- FreeState Legal provides to the low-income perience in LGBTQ activism and vision for LGBTQ community across Maryland,” said the future to lead FreeState to achieve the Judge Shannon Avery, chair of FreeState goals we all set out to accomplish when we Legal’s Board of Directors. “Patrick’s depth started the organization seven years ago.” of experience at the national, state, and lo- Paschall was one of the keynote speak- 4 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com news // local sylvania, a full-service hospitality campus “Foster care youth are also at a disad- near BWI and Philadelphia airports, and a vantage when aging out of the system,” one-hour drive from Baltimore and Wash- says McLeod. “These young people need ington, D.C. Dining is under strict Star-K a support system where they can find Kashrut supervision, with Glatt Kosher and utilize services to help them become meats and Cholov Yisroel dairy products. productive citizens as well. Our vision is to Eshel provides a safe haven for those see all foster care and LGBTQ youth be- it serves. The retreat respects its partici- come prosper- pants’ privacy needs both at the weekend ous, self-sufficient and afterwards. Attendees are asked to adults, resulting in sign a confidentiality agreement and are Scene from the film Pride increased gradua- expected to rigorously keep private any tion rates and de- decisions within political, economic, and personal details or identifying information an alliance between the two communities. creased rates of social systems and institutions. It will be an of the other retreat participants. The alliance was unlike any seen before homelessness and added voice of this demographic through “This retreat is unique in that it offers but was successful unemployment.” public relations as well,” McLeod points parents in this situation a safe space to be Following the screening, there will be To be sure, out. themselves, not having to hide in a clos- discussion of the role of the LGBT com- homelessness The report issued last August by the et, and to get support around the issues munity and other oppressed persons. “This among LGBTQ Youth Equality Alliance titled “Living in that affect them and their families,” Mindy film challenges us to not think of our is- youth is a critical the Margins” (Courts.state.md.us/fccip/ Michelle ‘Mickey’ Dickler, co-founder of JQ Baltimore and sues in isolation of the rights of the whole problem. Approxi- docs/lgtbq2014/summitplanningmateri- McLeod, committee member of the Eshel Retreat, of society,” says Ralph Welsh, president of mately one out ev- als/yeareport2014.pdf) regarding LGBTQ founder of HNN told Baltimore OUTloud. “It is also help- Prime Timers of Baltimore. ery four youth who youth delineates the issues LGBTQ youth ful for Orthodox parents who are comfort- Prime Timers of Baltimore is a chap- are homeless in the face within the educational, foster care, able with the issues related to having an ter of Prime Timers World Wide, a group larger urban areas is LGBTQ. With such and juvenile justice systems, and just how LGBTQ child and want to surround them- of older gay or bisexual men (and younger a high rate, HNN wants to help eradicate many of our LGBTQ youth are homeless. selves with others who are in a similar situ- men who admire mature men). Their mem- this issue. McLeod was a contributor to this report ation.” bers are men who have chosen to have “Through collaboration with other orga- through the Baltimore-based FreeState For more information on the parent re- their social lives enriched by the many di- nizations, HNN will seek to find resources Legal Project. treat got to Eshelonline.org. t verse activities in which the members en- for these youth. HNN also aims to influ- The foster care system presents other gage. ence public policy and resource allocation —continued on next page Pride ran at the Charles Theatre last fall. (See Bit.ly/1NBwKrg for a review that Prime Timers to appeared in Baltimore OUTloud.) For further information, call 410-252- 7239, or contact Prime Timers at info@ GET PREPPED ON PREP: Screen the British t Film Pride ptbalto.org. A TOWN HALL MEETING ON By Steve Charing PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS Prime Timers of Baltimore announced that they will be presenting the award-winning Extending LGBTQ Join us to learn more about PrEP and about the film Pride at their general meeting on April 12. It will take place at 6 p.m. at St. Youth a Hand newest, exciting data on PrEP for men who have Mark’s Lutheran Church (St. Paul and 20th sex with men and transgender people. Streets). By Steve Charing Pride, a BBC-produced film directed They say it takes one to know one, and by Matthew Warchus and written by Ste- activist Michelle “Mickey” McLeod fits that DATE phen Beresford, was screened as part of slogan. Having been in foster care when WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 the Directors’ Fortnight section of the 2014 she was a youth, McLeod, knows the per- Cannes Film Festival, at which it received ils of that system all too well and wants to TIME a standing ovation. ensure that other LGBTQ youth and foster PM TO PM Based on a true story, the film depicts care providers can benefit from her experi- 6:30 8:00 a group of lesbian and gay activists who ences… and heart. raised money to help families affected by A long time advocate for social justice LOCATION the British miners’ strike in 1984, at the issues with a special emphasis on home- outset of what would become the Lesbians less LGBTQ youth and those in foster care, CHASE BREXTON HEALTH CARE and Gays Support the Miners campaign. McLeod founded a non-profit called Honor- 1111 NORTH CHARLES STREET | BALTIMORE, MD 21201 The National Union of Mineworkers was ary Nieces and Nephews. (HNN). HNN is reluctant to accept the group’s support focused on the issues facing LGBTQ youth due to the union’s public relations’ worries who are homeless or in foster care and FOOD & REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED about being openly associated with a gay need opportunities to continue their educa- group, so the activists instead decided to tion, as well as provide for essentials such HOSTED BY take their donations directly to Onllwyn, a as food, clothes, rent, shelter, etc., to be- AIDS Action Baltimore & Chase Brexton Health Care small mining village in Wales, resulting in come self-sufficient adults.

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 5 SPONSORED BY: Center for Black Equity - Baltimore, FreeState Legal Project, GLCCB, Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research, Baltimore OUTloud, & STAR TRACK, University of Maryland School of Medicine news // local news // national

—continued from previous page will range anywhere from $250, $500, and Indiana Governor Signs Anti-Gay Law problems for LGBTQ youth that HNN tries to up to $2,500. An organizational contribution Indianapolis, Indiana – Indiana Governor a total boycott of the state of Indiana. Some address. In the U.S. there are over 400,000 / scholarship will go towards the direct needs Mike Pence signed the anti-gay “Religious corporations also reacted negatively. Sales- foster care children in the system at any of the clientele as well.” Freedom Restoration Act” into law on March force CEO Mark Benioff Tweeted “Today we giving time. Many of these young people HNN is made up of four boardmembers 26. The new law allows Indiana businesses are cancelling all programs that require our find themselves without a support system in including McLeod who is founder and presi- to discriminate against LGBT people in em- employees / customers to travel to Indiana place when they age out of the system. dent. Denise Fay-Guthrie is the vice presi- ployment and provision of services if they to face discrimination.” Gen Con, a computer According to the Maryland Department dent, Tabitha Simms the Treasurer, and claim a religious motivation for their anti-gay gaming convention, also threatened to pull of Human Resources as of January 2009, Jackie Frenning is secretary. actions. Pence was surrounded by clergy out of its annual event in Indianapolis. The there were over 9,000 children in foster Michelle McLeod has a master’s degree as he signed the care placements in Maryland. The foster in political management (with concentration legislation. Later he care program expenditures in 2008 were in advocacy politics) from George Washing- issued a statement $350 million dollars. ton University, and her BA in sociology from claiming he was not HNN would like to offer the resources Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Mi- motivated by big- through educational means and to recog- chelle lives with her wife of 13 years, Sarah, otry. nize individuals and organizations that are in Maryland. “Today I signed helping to better the lives of foster care McLeod had been named by the Univer- the Religious Free- youth. This will be possible through schol- sity of Baltimore School of Law LGBT advo- dom Restoration arships and direct donations/contributions. cacy group OutLaw to receive the Mark F. Act, because I sup- HNN will also be focused on policy through- Scurti Award for Outstanding Contributions port the freedom of out the State of Maryland for foster care to the LGBT Community on April 3. She is religion for every youth and LGBTQ foster care youth. being honored for her work with LGBTQ Hoosier of every “HNN will be awarding scholarships to youth and her advocacy for LGBTQ military faith,” Pence said individuals and organizations through nomi- issues. in a statement. “The nations,” says McLeod. “The purposes of the For more information about Honorary Constitution of the scholarships are to help with educational Nieces and Nephews and to donate, visit U.S. and the Indi- and/or extreme financial need with essen- Niecesandnephews.org/about/. You can ana Constitution At the Indiana statehouse tials. The amount of each scholarship award- follow HNN on Twitter at Twitter.com/MJM- both provide strong ed can only be determined by the amount of HonoraryKids or on Facebook at Facebook. recognition of the fundraising for the year. The scholarships com/HNN.INC?ref=br_rs&pnref=lhc. t freedom of religion but today, many people NCAA, the governing body of college sports, of faith feel their religious liberty is under at- also said it “would re-evaluate its relation- tack by government action. One need look ship” with Indiana. Although Indiana’s new no further than the recent litigation concern- law is billed as a “religious freedom” mea- FREE Estate Planning Seminar & ing the Affordable Care Act. A private busi- sure, one major Christian denomination said ness and our own University of Notre Dame it would cancel its 2017 convention, sched- Luncheon for the LGBT Community had to file lawsuits challenging provisions uled to be held in Indianapolis. The Christian that required them to offer insurance cover- Church (Disciples of Christ) said in a letter to age in violation of their religious views.” Pence that they would switch to a different Sunday, June 14, 2015 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm While Pence tried his best to portray the city if he signed the bill into law. The Repub- law as something other than anti-gay, his en- lican mayor of Indianapolis, Greg Ballard, is dorsement of the measure touched off a fire- also unhappy with the new law. t (Seattle Followed by a performance of Bernstein’s Candide storm of protest. Actor George Takei called for Gay News – Mike Andrew at Sgn.org)

Learn about the basics of estate planning and the Fata lity in NSA Incident was Transgender unique concerns of the LGBT community, – continued from page 1 ard, who had known Hall for eight months presented by Semmes attorney Lee Carpenter. been registered to the man’s wife. told WBAL-TV in an on-camera interview. Hall, who was homeless, had been “I’m sure that they didn’t leave their house convicted of robbery, assault, and prostitu- knowing that they wouldn’t come home tion and was scheduled for a court appear- that day or that that would be the end.” SPACE IS LIMITED! RSVP by June 10th ance in July on multiple charges. She had Leonard added, “In the last couple of lived in what transgender acquaintances days, I knew something was wrong. I didn’t 410.783.8074 or [email protected] called “The Bando,” an abandoned apart- know exactly what was going on but I could ment building in the 2200 block of North hear him talking out of his head. He would Charles Street. travel from this abandoned house to an- “It’s overwhelming to me. It’s an eye- other high-rise right down the street back For tickets to Candide, contact Tim Lidard opener, first of all, because that could have and forth, and back and forth. It’s terrible been anybody being in a situation like that, that she lost her life; it’s terrible that the at 410.783.8016 or [email protected] not to say that just anybody would steal a cops had to be involved. At the end of the car, but we could be in a bad situation and day, this doesn’t solve anything, it’s just not in a good head-space,” Jamia Leon- another tragedy and it’s unfortunate.” t 6 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com bye ond the beltway

compiled by Jim Becker gram showing him working out at the gym, the District’s often liberal stances on social fiti charges are a third degree felony. The his cover article in Men’s Health magazine issues.” hate crime enhancement could increase entitled “The Ripped Representative,” and Cruz, who was joined by Oklahoma the charge to second degree with a penalty his trips to India and England have seen Sen. Jim Lankford in sponsoring the reso- of 5 to 20 years in prison. him joined by male companions who were lutions, said “The D.C. Council is attempt- LGBT police liaison Officer Laura Mar- either on his staff at the time or after, de- ing to force religious institutions to provide tin was also at the press conference. She spite the questionable usefulness of their services, make employment decisions, or said, “[t]he LGBT community was signifi- presences. It is those trips, along with participate in activities that directly violate cantly alarmed and felt harassed,” Martin other financial reporting irregularities, that their faith.” Under the Home Rule Act, all said. “Police used every resource to make brought him to this juncture. legislation passed by the D.C. Council Mr. Sheridan accountable for his actions.” The public perception of him as being must first be transmitted to Congress for She said it took this long to make an arrest possibly gay but having an abysmally anti- a period of review. If both houses pass a because of an exhaustive investigation, gay voting record on things like the repeal resolution of disapproval that is signed by the length of time it took to find surveil- of the military’s ban, on same-sex mar- the President, the legislation in question lance video and then the delay in getting riage, expansion of hate crime legislation will not become law. Unless the 114th Con- the case before a grand jury. (Dallas Voice and antidiscrimination laws to include sex- gress acts, the tentative enactment date of – David Taffet at Dallasvoice.com) ual orientation and favoring a constitution- the bills is April 17. (Q-Notes Online with al amendment to ban same-sex marriage, LGBTQ Nation at Q-notes.com) however, earned him a zero rating from the Human Rights Campaign, and much glee from the LGBT community at his downfall. Groundbreaking (Gay People’s Chronicle – Anthony Glass- man at Gaypeopleschronicle.com) children’s book

Rep. Aaron Schock celebrates 25 Ted Cruz seeks years Ethics, not to end D.C. Northampton, Mass. – A 25th anniver- gay rumors, sary edition of Lesléa Newman’s children’s safeguards for book Heather Has Two Mommies, with end anti-gay brand-new illustrations and updated text, LGBT students has given the classic new life for families congressional today. And Newman is amazed that some Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted of the children who read Heather when it career Cruz (R-Texas), the first declared candi- Felonious graffiti? first came out could now be reading it to date for the Republican presidential nomi- their own children, she said in an interview Washington, D.C. – Rep. Aaron nation, has filed a resolution seeking to from her Northampton home. Schock, an Illinois Republican with an overturn the District of Columbia’s 2014 Dallas candidate The most obvious changes in the new anti-gay voting record, resigned on March Human Rights Amendment Act that pro- edition are the full-color, contemporary il- 17, finding himself at the intersection of tects LGBT students from discrimination for mayor lustrations by Laura Cornell that replace schadenfreude and poetic justice. Schock at D.C. based religious schools. A second the originals of Diana Souza. Newman was first elected to the House of Repre- resolution would upend D.C.’s Reproduc- arrested for said that she loves how the new pictures sentatives in 2008, when he was 27 years tive Health Non-Discrimination Amend- enhance the text, showing that “Heather’s old, entering office in January 2009. Since ment Act of 2014, which prevents employ- anti-gay graffiti mothers adore her.” For example, she then, the Peoria pretty boy found himself ers from taking action against workers said, its obvious Heather alone picked out the target of the media, ethics investiga- based on their decision to use birth con- Dallas, Texas – Dallas mayoral can- her mismatched first-day-of-school outfit, tions and the LGBT community. The Office trol or seek an abortion. Catholic Cardinal didate and well known anti-gay crusader and “That says to me her parents are re- of Congressional Ethics opened an inves- Donald Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washing- Rich Sheridan has been arrested in con- ally allowing her to be herself.” Heather tigation into his spending and reporting on ton, D.C., also urged Congress to repeal nection with a graffiti case from June 2014. also “looks really confident” going into her the last day of February. That investiga- the ordinance. He has been charged with marking ”666″ classroom on the first day of school, “and I tion will disappear with his resignation, al- The Washington Post reports: “The on the Legacy of Love monument and at think that reflects good parenting.” Heath- though law enforcement officials could still measures, known as disapproval reso- Cathedral of Hope. Police said they think er’s moms now also, subtly, sport matching take action against him if they believe he lutions, could in theory halt local laws Sheridan targeted the locations, which rings. violated the law. passed last year by the D.C. Council and also included City Hall, the Dallas Morning However, the easy-to-miss rings will Michelangelo Signorile, representing signed by the city’s mayor. But to do so, News, D Magazine, the Dallas Observer, have less impact on young readers than the Huffington Post’s Gay Voices section Cruz’s measures would require support and several Dallas Voice distribution box- the shift in Heather’s attitude. The origi- at the 2012 Republican National Conven- of both chambers of Congress and the es, because of their significance to the nal text had her start to cry when she tion, directly asked Schock if he were gay. signature of President Obama. Although LGBT communities. thinks about whether she is the only child The congressman, instead of saying either rarely successful at stopping D.C. laws, Dallas police Assistant Chief Randy at school without a daddy. Now Heather yes or no, told him that it was “ridiculous the resolutions are often more effective Blankenbaker said defacing a public mon- merely wonders if she’s the only one with- and inappropriate” and stormed off, ac- politically, giving members of Congress ument and a place of worship are state jail out a daddy – without crying. t (Bay Win- cording to Signorile. However, Schock was legislative records to build bona fides with offenses. In addition, police are filing hate dows – Mombian by Dana Rudolph at Bay- best known for his preening posts on Insta- constituent groups that feel strongly about crime charges against Sheridan. The graf- windows.com) BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 7 Thinking OUTloud

entations – as there is something who always knew he was different but for everyone in this explosively vowed to have his back, no matter. intense drama whose 60 minutes To be fair, when it comes to homopho- zip by in a flash. bia, African-Americans as a group do not OUT So popular is Empire that corner the market. But it is common among Spoken American Idol, the TV ratings lead- many church-going black folks and that Steve Charing erboard king year in and year out, characterization rightly or wrongly was has strategically hitched onto Em- brought to the surface during the battles for pire’s streaking horses. Empire, marriage equality. unless the script lapses into “crazy Homophobia as in the case of misogyny land” – the bane of many formerly is a powerful element in the hip-hop cul- Empire successful TV shows – should be ture. To that end, the fictional Empire world around for a long stretch. Empire co-creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong weaves that aspect of reality into the show’s Strikes That apparently was not the plot with skill and sensitivity. mindset of the producers and the net- sical performances are as riveting as they “Attacking homophobia was in my origi- work when they signed on for merely 12 are rhythmic. The show boasts the best ac- nal pitch to Lee,” says co-creator Danny Back Against episodes. Believing that Empire would be tress on television, in my opinion, with Taraji Strong in an interview with the Daily Beast. one and done, the powers that be had the P. Henson as the none-too-shy and compli- “Where I said the hip-hop mogul is going to Homophobia principal character, Lucious Lyon (played cated Cookie Lyon, the estranged ex-con have a gay son who is incredibly talented wonderfully by Terrence Howard) dying of wife of the powerhouse hip-hop record la- who should be the one who takes over the ALS. When the over-the-top ratings num- bel (Empire Entertainment) mogul Lucious empire, but he hates him because he’s gay. It’s been a few weeks now since the finale bers shocked the network bigwigs (the pre- Lyon, the family’s patriarch. And unflinchingly attack homophobia in this of Empire’s inaugural season, but I can’t get miere in January drew 9.9 million viewers, It has an openly gay co-creator in Lee mainstream piece of material.” it out of mind. The blockbuster Fox series, the finale just under 13 million),E mpire had Daniels, who had directed such films as Smollett who plays the gay character which shattered records for increased rat- miraculously found a cure for ALS to keep Shadowboxer, Precious, and The Paper- found out that his own personal life was ings as the show progressed, awaits a boat- the character going. Not really; it had been boy, and a gifted award-winning co-creator being examined and he had to answer the load of well-deserved Emmys. Arguably, a misdiagnosis all along. Danny Strong who won honors for political inevitable questions. He finally came out as Empire is the best non-cable show over the What’s not to like about the show? It has TV movies Recount and Game Change. past several years, and its surging popular- a solid, original sound track even if hip-hop There is a talented, almost exclusively “There is a talented, ity transcends race, gender, and sexual ori- is not your favorite musical genre. Most mu- African-American cast including a core en- semble of exceptional actors, a recurring almost exclusively cast, and guest stars who appear along the African-American way. It also showcases a gay character (Ja- cast including a core mal Lyon played by now openly gay Jussie Smollett) who is not merely an accessory ensemble of exceptional in the series that some shows do to check actors, a recurring off a box; instead, he is among the central characters whose tense, dramatic storyline cast, and guest stars helps attract those millions of viewers. The show unapologetically portrays the who appear along the gritty hard truths of the sometimes messy way.” world of hip-hop: money, greed, sex, infidel- ity, drugs, revenge, murder, and turf battles in an urban setting. And it deals with homo- Empire was in high gear, which added more sexuality from both ends in a bold and pro- texture to the show’s success. vocative way. “One thing I was hoping was that young What I like most about Empire besides people who think they’re gay or know Cookie (who doesn’t?) is how the script they’re gay at that age will watch Jamal deals with the gay Jamal character. As the and watch Empire and they’ll see Lucious middle son in the Lyon clan, and a favor- and they’ll see that Lucious is wrong and ite of Cookie’s, Jamal possesses an abun- Jamal is right, and it will make them com- dance of musical talent in both writing and fortable with themselves and who they are,” vocally that he inherited from his father Lu- says Strong. “Maybe they’ll not have to go cious. through the struggle that some people did But when Jamal as a small tyke donned who didn’t have role models like that.” his mother’s scarf and high heels and sa- Indeed, Smollett’s character Jamal shayed with her handbag inside their home, stands up to Lucious, challenges a homo- the intensely homophobic Lucious picked phobic rap artist on stage with an intense up the boy and threw him into a metal trash dueling duet, and emerges as the succes- can outside – a horrific scene repeated a sor to run Empire Entertainment at sea- few times as a flashback during the season. son’s end. The good guy has won – at least This violent act was abhorred by Cookie, for now. Stay tuned. t

8 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com thinking outloud

According to the scantily written piece 6 p.m. – Meet Lucy and me at Go Fish that the photo I mentioned accompanied, Restaurant at 24 Rehoboth Avenue (on the “They used to be tom-boy girls or sissy- corner of 1st Avenue) to grab a bite and boys but now they have to be transsexual, then we’ll find a great spot to catch what bi-gendered, shape shifting, body doubled, Lesbian hopefully will be a gorgeous sunset at 7:35 Bi- genitally confused, etc.” My response to p.m. – and perhaps other great views too! Lines Love Visit Gofishdelaware.com. this is simple: we now live in a time when Barb Elgin Nicole Bettis kids are afraid to embrace who they are Sunday, April 12th – 9 to 11 a.m. 5th because they don’t understand them- Annual Broadwalk on the Boardwalk – Fun- selves. They are being bullied, harassed, draiser for Delaware Breast Cancer Coali- even killed because of the basic lack of Meet Me tion. Meet at Camp Rehoboth Courtyard, 37 Raising Hope knowledge and understanding. I am by Baltimore Avenue. Show your support and no means suggesting that parents should at Camp wear your pink or lavender! Recently, as I browsed the web while wait- be asking their four-year-olds about being 2:30 p.m. – on Women’s Fest Closing ing for a bus, I stumbled across an inter- transsexual. However, I am saying that par- Party – Free event with cash bar – Dance it esting photograph (with an even more ents need to desensitize these adjectives Rehoboth’s out to the spin magic of DJ Nan. Rehoboth interesting caption), it read “Please don’t and their meanings, teach children about Ale House, 15 Wilmington Avenue. confuse me – I’m a girl. Don’t teach me to all kinds of people, so that if, one day they Women’s Fest My top tip: Even if you can only get question if I’m a boy, transsexual, trans- or someone that they love, identifies with away for a day, Rehoboth Beach is not that gendered, intersex, or two spirited”. Need- a group or type of person that is outside of In my last article, I had some serious fun far of a drive for most of us in the region. less to say, I was stricken with so much… society’s neat little box, the world doesn’t suggesting all midlife single lesbians in the Better yet, invite at least one other friend emotion that, I could barely contain myself spin off its axis. Clearly, someone failed Mid-Atlantic region come together to expect with you to ride and hotel share! Or, do you on the ride home. I couldn’t wait to get to the poor soul (in his developmental years) more for their love lives. In that article, I even know someone who owns property at the my laptop! who used words such as “shape-shifting” made the bold declaration that we stand up, beach? Many in our community do. Ask When has educating and/or enlighten- and “body doubled” when referencing LG- put our stake in the ground, and ensure we if you can stay with them. Just don’t for- ing our children (with actual facts) ever BTQIA people. Children deserve better… make 2015 the year we begin taking each of get to be a polite guest and do something been a source of confusion? Giving the It was also stated in the same piece that our love lives to the next level. facts is key to properly educating our chil- “The LGBT *add letters here* community And that we bond together in dren, as well as giving them the mental are using children for their political agenda.” friendship first to help each other tools necessary to be able to make rational Before we go any further let’s take a mo- manifest their vision. Cool, eh? and logical decisions. ment to address the fact that I still haven’t Well, you now have a great That’s what prevents confusion in the figured out what the homosexual agenda is opportunity, midlife lesbian gal, first place. Education leads to understand- exactly but, if I was forced to jump to my to get away for a fun weekend in ing, which leads to tolerance and accep- own conclusion, I’d say that it seems to be April and put your love flag in the tance. It can stop the ostracizing of LG- something along the lines of, peace, hope, sand at Rehoboth Beach, Dela- BTQIA family members and friends, and it tolerance, and equality for all people. ware with me! can heal our family structures, bruised and But I digress. My question is this: why That’s right – on Saturday, weakened by ignorance. are the people who openly teach and April 11th at sunset. Let’s meet preach hate, not accused of on the beach and share a gorgeous sunset! thoughtful for them while you’re in town. By using children for their political That’s because I plan to attend Camp Re- thoughtful I mean something they would like or religious or whatever type of hoboth’s Annual Women’s Fest. Specifically I that fits into your ability to follow through. agenda? It’s as if real facts, bi- intend to be there to meet and mingle on Sat- Bonus tip – The bottom line is this: I ology, and evidence (that could urday and Sunday, April 11th and 12th, 2015. know you are busy for a variety of reasons bring about peace and har- I’ll have my dog Lucy with me, in a sling but Camp Rehoboth puts on a great event mony) are being ignored and on my arm, or in her doggie stroller, so you and when you attend you are supporting tossed aside while out dated, can’t miss me! Those of you who know me their great works, as well as giving yourself barbaric opinions and notions well know that Lucy is ill and can no longer a sweet getaway weekend. that clearly breed hate and vio- walk. But she still likes and needs to get out For complete information on Women’s lence reign freely without juris- in the air and be around people. Fest, visit Camprehoboth.com/events/wom- diction. Below is our tentative itinerary for the ens-fest-2015. The caption on that pho- weekend: Hope to meet you at the beach! t tograph should have read Saturday, April 11th – 11a.m.-’ish The name Barb Elgin is synonymous “Please help me. I am a daugh- to 1:30 p.m. or so – Catch us at the Fest with lesbian health, happiness, and love. ter of some hypocritical, clue- Expo. The actual expo starts at 9 a.m. but For 15 years now, Barb has traveled all over less, conservative and I could I doubt we’ll be there that early. Artisans the U.S., Mexico, and all over the world vir- grow up and realize that I’m a selling their unique creations, live entertain- tually, meeting and connecting lesbians. part of the LGBTQIA commu- ment, free drawings for special gifts. It’s a Her web site is Lastinglesbianlove.com. nity; I could become another free event, open to the general public, at homeless, abandoned, abused the Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Av- statistic, or worse I could die. enue. Every second that my young, 2 to 3 p.m. Speed Dating – Free event impressionable mind is within with cash bar at Rehoboth Ale House, 15 their reach, my future becomes Wilmington Avenue. I hope to have some more in jeopardy.” t great dates. How about you? BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 9 Quality of Life

To consider a different viewpoint, take the trustee to make a distribution, the gov- a look at the April issue of Psychology To- ernment does not take the trust assets into day, at the article titled “Gay Love, Straight account when determining whether the ben- Ask Sense.” In a fascinating quote from psy- The Law eficiary qualifies for public assistance. In other chologist John Gottman, whose research words, a special-needs trust creates the illu- & You sion of poverty, which allows someone with Dr. J is cited, the author of the piece writes: “In Lee Carpenter Janan Broadbent, Ph.D. 200 years, heterosexual relationships will be special needs to receive an inheritance while where gay and lesbian relationships are to- leaving their government benefits intact. day.” When you put two people of the same Choosing the right trustee is essential. In sex together, you basically double the best How to Benefit addition to having the beneficiary’s needs at Present or the worst of each sex. For women, the heart, this person must understand special- author suggests “emotional openness” fa- Someone needs trusts and their rather arcane rules. Tense cilitates connecting and building up of inti- For example, the trustee may not pay for the macy. What may make things worse may With Special beneficiary’s food or shelter, unless they are No, I am not going to talk about language be “emotional enmeshment” in women and enjoyed while beneficiary is away from home usage as in present, past, or past perfect “dominance struggles” in men. All in all, – say, on a vacation. Sending the beneficiary tense, or about proper grammar, but on what Gottman’s words underscore how important Needs a gift card is also not allowed, unless it’s for an the recent Germanwings tragedy has made and complicated sexual preference is in de- establishment like a gas station that sells only us all keenly aware of: how unpredictable fining roles of each partner in strengthening Caring for someone with special needs is both things that are allowable expenses under the life can be and just how much we should the relationship. a burden and a privilege. Although the chal- trust rules. The trustee should consult with an cherish our relationships. Here are a few tips that may enhance lenges can be all-consuming, the rewards are attorney to avoid any missteps. Those who practice meditation to be the quality of your relationship with a part- often deeply gratifying. Few of us who don’t As a practical matter, a special-needs trust mindful define the process as “observing ner, within your family and in the circle of bear this burden can fully understand the level is typically set up through the caregiver’s will. your own mind in the here and now.” There friends: of commitment required. Called a “testamentary trust,” it can be funded is much research that supports the benefi- • If you often find yourself thinking of For many caregivers, this commitment ex- with the caregiver’s ordinary assets like bank cial effects of meditation in physiological and the past, look at it as being stuck, or be- tends to remembering the disabled person in accounts and real estate. In addition, the trust mental terms. I suggest we use this focus on ing chained to the past, which will naturally their wills. This is a commendable impulse, but can be named as the beneficiary of the care- the present to apply to our relationships as stop you from going forward. Let the old it is important to proceed cautiously. Without giver’s life insurance policy or retirement ac- well. When you are with a partner, hurts and resentments go. Car- proper planning, an inheritance left to some- count. how present are you? Or are rying all that around is like one on government assistance can lead to Another approach is to establish the trust you thinking of all the past two heavy suitcases in nothing short of disaster. in the caregiver’s lifetime. This type of trust, issues that you still car- each hand – wears The difficulty stems from the nature of pub- called an inter vivos trust, can be funded ry around and com- you out. lic assistance. Some benefits, such as Medic- with contributions from the caregiver directly plain about? Con- • Distinguish aid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or from friends and family of the beneficiary. versely, are you between what is are “means-tested.” This means they are avail- zeroing in on the your responsi- able only to disabled person whose assets Tailoring help to make future, thinking bility and what are below a certain level. Leaving any kind of it helpful of what you is not and inheritance to someone who receives means- want to say don’t take the tested assistance can cause these benefits to next? We all latter person- be taken away. fall into these ally. This is- And for a disabled person, government traps because sue comes benefits can be critical. good relation- up in therapy SSI is a federal program administered by ships take con- so frequently the Social Security Administration that pays stant work. We because our monthly stipends to people who are elderly can think of all human insecu- or disabled. Medicaid provides health care the past hurts that rities are baked benefits and many other programs that can have been inflicted in and learning enhance a disabled person’s quality of life. Im- on us, wallow in self- to separate what I portantly, Medicaid coverage is automatically These individuals can also name the trust as a pity, and not get to taking should deal with and granted to individuals receiving SSI in Mary- beneficiary of their wills and other assets. a good look at how we may what to let go takes a lot of land and many other states. Whether a testamentary or inter vivos trust have contributed to those hurts. “I practice. Under Social Security rules, a disabled is to be established, the assistance of an attor- did not text you back because you didn’t tell • By all means listen to your partner. person with more than $2,000 in assets cannot ney is essential. The tax implications of setting me you were going to be late.” After all, it Check out if you got what was meant by receive SSI, and therefore will not qualify for up a special-needs trust are numerous and takes two to make or break a relationship. repeating what you heard. Often this will Medicaid. As a result, leaving a bequest to a complex, and the laws affecting trusts in Mary- And it is really uncomfortable to look at one- short-circuit many misunderstandings and disabled person can do more harm than good. land have recently changed. Properly done, self as having a hand in creating problems. misinterpretations. This problem can be circumvented by set- however, the trust can be an essential legacy For the future-obsessed, it is all about them, • And back to where I started: Be pres- ting up a special-needs trust. This type of trust to help someone with special needs. yyy so instead of really listening to what a part- ent in the present. I wrote about the effects includes language that requires the trustee to Lee Carpenter is an attorney at Semmes, ner says, the need is to formulate how one of technology on our lives last time. Discon- pay only for items the government isn’t pay- Bowen & Semmes and can be reached at wants to respond. “You just fell and broke nect from the gizmo and savor the face-to- ing for. In this way the trust supplements the (10-576-4729 or [email protected]. your arm? Oh yes, I had a terrible ski acci- face connection. Don’t forget to tell each disabled person’s public benefits without jeop- Learn more about LGBT estate planning at dent last year and had a concussion!” One- other that you love them… It’s what we all ardizing them. Mdlgbtestateplanning.com. This article offerws upmanship, anyone? want to hear. t Because the beneficiary cannot compel general information, not specific legal advice. 10 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com Quality of Life

This training is going to generate hypertro- phy (making the muscles bigger) and power Probably the most effective preventive (making the muscles faster). We take two measure a person can take to avoid cancer similar movements, pair them together per- is avoiding smoking. People who have never Fit forming the first slow and the second fast. smoked have an 85% lower risk of lung can- for (See table.) Open Wide cer compared with smokers. However, 15% Life Some important things to remember ask Dr Eva of cases of lung cancer still occur in people Joshua H. Buchbinder while doing these: Exercises from Column A Dr Eva Hersh who have never smoked. should not be super heavy; they should be heavy enough that you can finish the first Dear Dr. Eva, The Best set fairly easily, but by sets four and five, it’s Can We What are the most effective cancer pre- hard work. Column B should be performed vention measures? with no more than 15% of your own body J.B. Posterior weight (i.e. a 200-pound man should swing Prevent a 30-pound kettlebell). Some might ask why Dear J.B., Workout so light? The answer isn’t complicated, Col- Cancer? There are two kinds of prevention: prima- umn A is completely individualized based on ry and secondary. Primary prevention meth- You’re Not Doing your ability and Column B is supposed to be Dear Dr. Eva, ods for cancer are interventions that prevent performed at high velocity while maintaining At the age of 58 my partner has been cancer from beginning. Secondary preven- perfect form. If you go too heavy, you won’t diagnosed with cancer. We are both stunned. tion methods are interventions that detect The weather is threatening to get nice out be explosive, you will fatigue quicker reduc- Because we both have a family history of cancer early, so treatment can be given be- again and soon it’ll be time to wear less and ing your ability to maintain perfect form and cancer, we have taken every possible precau- fore the cancer becomes life-threatening. show off either at the office or at the beach. increasing the risk of injury. tion. We have had colonoscopies on the rec- These are the primary prevention meth- And whether you’re a man or a woman ev- Additional food for thought with these ex- ommended schedule, exercise regularly, eat ods with the best proof of effectiveness. eryone can appreciate a nice posterior-chain! ercises: When performing the barbell back cruciferous vegetables at least three times a 1) HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vac- The posterior-chain is the series of mus- squat, focus on pushing with your gluts: your week, and take antioxidant vitamins daily. We cine: prevents genital cancers, including cer- cles on the back side of the body including legs will follow. When performing the dumb- don’t use alcohol or tobacco. I didn’t think this vical cancer and penis cancer, and nose and but not limited to the calves, hamstrings, bell deadlifts focus on keeping the knees could happen. Are all the precautions we took throat cancers. This vaccine is recommended gluts, erector spines, latissimus dorsi, and almost straight, bending at the waist / hips pointless? for all children age 9 to 11. Unfortunately, trapezius. You might ask, “Who cares? I can’t keeping your back flat, you should feel this Feeling Cheated many parents refuse to have their children see them in the mirror, so what difference do in your hamstrings. At the top of the motion vaccinated out of a mistaken belief that vac- they make?” Glad you asked! The muscles squeeze your gluts. During the kettlebell Dear Feeling, cination encourages early sexual activity. of the posterior-chain allow us to stand up swing the same rules apply as the deadlift – Your precautions were not pointless. They 2) Hepatitis B vaccine: prevents stom- straight, walk, climb stairs, hold our children, this is a hinge at the waist, not a squat, focus have reduced your cancer risk and you should ach cancer and liver cancer. Given to infants. pull heavy objects, reduce back pain, make on the hamstrings and keep your core tight. continue with the same precautions. However, 3) Not using tobacco: prevents lung our stomachs flatter and generally improve Upper body exercises are a harder to make as documented in an article by Tomasetti and cancer and mouth and throat cancers. our overall quality of life. Not to mention train- explosive which is why we use the rowing Vogelstein in the January 2015 issue of the 4) Avoiding sunburn and limiting sun ing them properly develops a strong, desir- machine and bands, it allows us to have an journal Science, only one out of three cases exposure: prevents several forms of skin able physique, creating V-shaped backs, explosive upper body pull without having to (33%) of cancer is caused cancer: melanoma, muscular shoulders, thick strong legs and throw weights around. On the rower set the by either modifi- able squamous cell cancer, tight round gluts. But who wants that? Last resistance to halfway, maintain an upright risk factors or hered- ity. and basal cell cancer. time I checked Instagram there were literally back position and squeeze the muscles of The other two out of 5) Avoiding alcohol thousands of gluts pics… the back, not just the arms. The explosive three cases (66%) are use or drinking very lit- Okay, so how do I make it better and band pull-apart is trickier than it looks so due to random muta- tle: prevents esophageal stronger? Here’s a posterior-chain workout make sure you do it right – keep the arms tions, which we cannot cancer. to help develop the back side of the body. parallel to the ground, don’t hike your neck/ control. These random These are the second- shoulders up and use a medium resistance mutations occur when ary prevention methods Column A Column B band. Remember to keep the arms straight DNA (genes) are copied with the best proof of effec- 1) Barbell Back 1) Squat using your back and shoulders. in the process of cell division. tiveness. These recommenda- Squats; five Sets Jumps These exercises build muscle and burn Therefore, tissues that frequent- tions are from the United States of ten repetitions five sets of ten fat even afterwards, the explosive nature of ly shed cells and make new cells by Public Health Service Task Force (Us- 2) Dumbbell repetitions* Column B utilizes free fatty acids with car- cell division, like the skin and the intesti- preventiveservicestaskforce.org). Deadlifts; five Sets 2) Kettlebell bohydrates – translation: it’s great for health nal lining, are at high risk for cancer. 1) Cervix Pap smears (women): start at of ten repetitions Swings; five Sets and appearance! This workout will make you So, 33% is the most that people can de- age 21, then every three years until age 30. 3) Standing of ten repetitions* sweat and burn, don’t do it every day and crease cancer risk by changing their behavior. From age 30 to 65, Pap with HPV (human Calf Raises; five 3) Jump Rope; remember to change your routine up every (This number varies for the specific type of papilloma virus) test every three years. Stop Sets of ten repeti- five sets of 20 few weeks. t cancer.) screening at age 65. tions repetitions Joshua H. Buchbinder, M.S., is Fitness For example: If a group of ten people don’t 2) Colonoscopy: Start at age 50, then 4) Pull-Ups/ 4) Rowing Ma- Manager at 24 Hour Fitness in Fairfax, Vir- take any precautions to prevent cancer, three every 10 years. Stop screening at age 75. Lat Pull Down; five chine; five sets of ginia. He has worked in fitness for 19 years people in the group will be diagnosed with 3) Mammogram (women): Start at age Sets of ten repeti- ten repetitions and is a Master Instructor for Kettlebell Con- cancer at some time in their lifetime. 50, then every two years. Stop screening at tions 5) Explosive cepts. His real passion is in improving fitness On the other hand, if a similar group of ten age 74. t 5) Rear Delt Band Pull-Apart; education for professionals and enthusiasts. people follow all known recommendations for Eva Hersh is a Baltimore family physician. Fly; five Sets of five sets of ten Contact him at [email protected] or preventing cancer, two people in the group Send your comments and questions to her by ten repetitions repetitions 703-828-3422. will still be diagnosed with cancer. email at [email protected].

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 11 faith

you are a sinner. Say this prayer, get your life right and you will go to Heaven.” This is what I call “Fire Insurance Theology” (Get saved so you don’t burn for all eternity). Spirit But wait a minute! What about the first two chapters? Don’t they have anything to Speaks say? They do and in fact, I think the story of Rev. Dr. Rob Apgar-Taylor Genesis 3 can only be properly read in light of chapters 1 and 2. These are the two stories of the creation (yes, there are two.) And here’s Where what they say: God made you. God intentionally and Christianity wonderfully created you in the image of Di- vine love. You were purposefully and lovingly Went Wrong designed, every part of you and there is noth- ing God can’t love about you. I remember MEDIA SPONSOR I am a Christian minister. I have dedicated what it was like to look into my daughter’s Frederick Pride: my life to serving God. But the longer I serve, eyes for the very first time. I fell in love with the more convinced I become that we in “The that little girl and I knew that I would give any- June 27, 2015 Church” have gotten it wrong. I don’t think thing to make her know that. I think that’s how it has been intentional, but we have done it is with God. If no one has ever told you this Noon - 6pm ourselves (and others) harm. A study of un- before, let me be the first: God fell in love with churched young adults ages 16 to 29 entitled you the moment He looked into your eyes. To Carroll Creek Linear Park “UnChristian: What a new generation really God, you are the most beautiful thing in the thinks about christianity... and why it matters,” world. Downtown Frederick MD asked the question “What do those outside That’s where our spirituality needs to be- of the Church think about Christians?” The gin. Is there such a thing as sin? Absolutely! results? Christians are judgmental, hypo- Do I say and do things that hurt my relation- www.thefrederickcenter.org/frederick-pride critical, too political, homophobic, and out of ship with God and others? More often than touch with real life. And honestly, I think they I’d like to admit. I am not perfect; none of us are right. We say one thing but do another. are. There are ways I need to change to be a We speak about a God of love and mercy yet better person, a more Christ-like person. And we use that very message to spiritually beat that’s the kind of growth God wants me to do. anyone who doesn’t live up to our standards. But nothing will ever break God’s image in me. Now hear me out: I love my faith and there Genesis chapter 3 can never negate chapters have been so many wonderful men and wom- 1 and 2. I was made in God’s image and that en of God who have taught me about how to image is stronger than my own mistakes. live and love like Christ. But if we are going You see, when we begin with the begin- to be relevant to a new generation, then we ning, we lift people up. We honor them as must change our message. And that means the image of God they were created to be. we have to start at the very beginning. There’s no bashing with Bibles, no judgments So many churches both on TV and in lo- or exclusion. You and I, all of us, we are God’s cal congregations seem to begin their view beloved. Isn’t that what Jesus was saying all of God with Genesis Chapter 3 (The Fall of along? t Adam and Eve in the Garden) and it sounds The author is pastor of Grace United something like this: “You are sinful. We all are. Church of Christ, Frederick¡ and Veritas Unit- You have a broken relationship with God and ed Church of Christ, Hagerstown.

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12 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 13 Lively Arts // qmusic Covers Story By Gregg Shapiro own songs in his distinctive vocal style. age to Smith on Home to Oblivion: An El- Fears’ “Head Over Heels.” There are also An album of lullabies is a risky proposition. Not known for his skills as an interpreter liott Smith Tribute. On the new Seth Avett plenty of standards, including “The Man I In order for a lullaby to be effective it has of the songs of others, Dylan defies the & Jessica Lea Mayfield Sing Elliott Smith Love,” “Almost Like Being In Love,” and to have the capacity to lull the listener into odds with the daring Shadows in the Night (Ramseur), Avett (of The Avett Brothers “Somewhere,” as well as clever originals a state of relaxation thus leading to sleep. (Columbia). What makes the disc so au- fame) and Mayfield team up to interpret a such as “Three States Away” and “What However, if you fall asleep while listening dacious is Dylan’s choice of dozen Smith songs. We Have Is Better.” to one or two songs and miss the rest, is tunes. Sinatra (“I’m a Fool Standout rendi- Choral group Voces8 (consisting of six that considered a success or a failure? to Want You”), Cy Coleman tions, best utilizing men and two women) finds a way to blend Luckily for Anika Larsen, currently seen (“Why Try to Change Me the pair’s ability to the modern – Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” on Broadway as songwriter Cynthia Weil Now”), Rodgers and Ham- harmonize, include and Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest” – with the in the Tony Award-winning musical Beauti- merstein (“Some Enchant- “Between the Bars,” ancient – “O nata lux,” “Ave Maria I,” “Bo- ful, her album Sing You to Sleep (Yellow ed Evening”), Irving Berlin “Fond Farewell,” goroditse Devo,” and “Corde natus ex pa- Sound) has enough energy and variety to (“What’ll I Do”), and Johnny “Somebody That rentis” on the luminous album Lux (Decca/ enjoy while you are still awake (even if it’s Mercer (“Autumn Leaves”), I Used to Know,” Universal Music Classics). It’s a stunning a struggle to do so). The material on the among others, all get the “Twilight,” “Pit- achievement, highlighting the vocal intrica- disc will speak to listeners of all ages, from Dylan treatment. Depend- seleh,” and “Memory cies of all the work featured. “Somewhere Out There” (from An Ameri- ing on where you stand on Lane,” while “Ro- Smooth jazz vocal daddy Steve Tyrell can Tail) and “Baby Mine” (from Dumbo) to Dylan’s skills as an inter- man Candle” burns turns his attention to the pop songbook of more adult fare such as Bob Dylan’s “To preter, as well as your loy- the brightest and the 1960s and 1970s on That Lovin’ Feel- Make You Feel My Love” (which makes an alty to the material, is sure most faithfully. ing (Concord). Tyrell performs songs by effective lullaby), Bruno Mars’ “Count On to determine your response On the mesmer- Cynthia Weil (mentioned above) and Barry Me,” and James Taylor’s “You Can Close to this album. One thing to keep in mind izing Valentina Lisitsa Plays Philip Glass Mann, Carole King, and Gerry Goffin, Neil Your Eyes,” performed as a duet with Tony is that Dylan sounds like he is taking this (Decca), Kiev-born pianist Lisitsa cel- Sedaka, Carole Bayer Sager, Jeff Berry, winner Jessie Mueller. project seriously, if that in any way influ- ebrates the work of 20th century genius and Ellie Greenwich, Lieber & Stoller, and Speaking of Bob Dylan, he is a song- ences your experience of the disc. composer Glass. The double-disc writer whose brilliant songs have been The late Elliott Smith may be gone (too set opens, fittingly, with “Opening” covered by a vast array of performers. He soon) but he’s not forgotten. In 2006, clas- from Glassworks. What follows are is also a singer known for performing his sical pianist Christopher O’Riley paid hom- mainly selections from Glass’ film score and soundtrack work from the movies The Hours, The Truman We’re Creepy & We're Kooky... Now - April 19! Show, and Mishima. Also included are 1988’s Metamorphosis I-IV and Wichita Vortex, as well as 1979’s Toby's is the proud recipient of 2015 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations! 18 Mad Rush, all rendered exquisitely in Lisitsa’s capable hands. Well-strung duo 2Cellos, hot Croatians Stepjan Hauser and Luka Sulic, return with their third album Celloverse (Portrait). As they’ve done on previous releases, 2Cel- Bob Dylan los focuses on transforming rock and pop tunes into crossover sen- sations. Michael Jackson, whom 2Cellos Burt Bacharach, to mention a few. What covered on their debut, makes an appear- makes these renditions distinctive is that ance via a cover of “They Don’t Care About Tyrell is joined on some of them by the art- Us.” Also bowing to 2Cellos’ bows are Ra- ists who originally sang the song. For in- diohead (“Street Spirit”), Wings (“Live and stance, he is joined on Bill Medley (of The Let Die”), Mumford & Sons (“I Will Wait”), Righteous Brothers) on “You’ve Lost That and Avicii (“Wake Me Up”), to name a few. Lovin’ Feelin’” and Neil Sedaka on “Laugh- The deluxe edition includes a DVD with ter In The Rain.” Gay sax man Dave Koz seven music videos. can be heard on Tyrell’s reading of Carole A March 2015 article on Thejazzline. King’s “Jazzman.” com declared that “jazz has become the Lyn Stanley goes for an earlier time on Photography by Jeri Tidwell least popular genre in the U.S.” Maybe Potions – From the ’50s (A.T. Music). Stan- jazz artists could take a hint from classi- ley has her say on fifties favorites ranging Based on availability. Due to the nature of theatre bookings, all shows, dates and times are subject to change. cal musicians who have taken to perform- from “Fly Me To The Moon, “ “You Don’t TOBY’S DINNER THEATRE OF COLUMBIA ing pop tunes (see 2Cellos above). Jazz Know Me,” “Teach Me Tonight,” “The Par- 5900 Symphony Woods Road • CALL 410-730-8311 vocalist Joelle Lurie understands. Her new ty’s Over,” “A Summer Place,” “Misty,” and, album Take Me There (Joellelurie.com) of course, “Love Potion #9” (by the above TobysDinnerTheatre.com D features Lurie’s jazzy readings of The mentioned songwriting team of Lieber & inn o w er & Sh RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY! Cars’ “Just What I Needed” and Tears For Stoller). t

14 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com Live ly Arts // out on screen Get Hard Pushes Bounds of Political Correctness b y Chuck Duncan prison imaginable. James sees car-wash a situation. For me, this is a non-issue. We can culture (as witnessed by his outfit above, Get Hard is the latest comedy from Will attendant Darnell (Hart) as his only option have too much political correctness these which he put together after watching a mu- Ferrell and Kevin Hart, and while Hart has for survival in the Big House. Because Dar- days, and that can be a dangerous thing sic video). Hart gets to show a few different seen his star ascend rather rapidly over the nell is black, of course, he statistically must when applied to comedy. facets to his comic persona, going from loud past year, Ferrell has hit kind of a plateau, have spent time in prison. Hilarity ensues as Outside of that, I still found much of the and over-the-top to a quiet family man. It’s teetering on the edge of a career flame-out Darnell pretends to be a hardened convict, movie to be very funny, and Ferrell’s charac- nice to see him not be so screechy for an thanks to an over-reliance on his patented, and the movie goes for laughs, managing to ter, while still a bit dim about things, is a fish- entire movie. Darnell puts James through his dim, over-grown man-child character that offend many. paces, transforming his mansion into a served him so well on SNL, and, when he The elephant in the room at the mo- replica of prison, complete with a cell, first broke into movies, with films like Old ment of this writing is the charges against a “yard,” and a riot – which is probably School, Anchorman, and Elf. That character the film of being extraordinarily homo- the funniest and most absurd scene in has grown tiresome (Anchorman 2 severe- phobic (no one seems to have a prob- the movie (where did that baboon come ly under-performed at the box office), and lem with the racist humor though). I say from?!). audiences haven’t taken to a more mature pshaw to that. Yes, there is one scene Director Etan Cohen keeps the plot Ferrell in films like Stranger Than Fiction in the film where James fears that he’s moving swiftly along, although cover- and Everything Must Go, so what’s the next not strong enough to defend himself in ing 30 days in a 100-minute film leaves step? prison (therefore rape is a probability), the viewer feeling that there was prob- Team up with America’s hottest “new” so Darnell takes him to a well-known gay ably a lot left on the cutting-room floor funnyman, Kevin Hart, that’s what! Ferrell establishment so that James can “prac- (particularly just exactly how Darnell and stars as James, a hedge-fund manager tice” servicing another man. I found the Out in the the gay man from the restaurant actually engaged to the boss’s daughter, who hits moment to be hilarious because of Fer- hood swapped numbers and become pals). a major home run with a financial deal that rell’s performance, and I’m pretty sure a But even if it does seem like a series of earns him a partnership with the company. straight guy would have the same reac- quick vignettes leading up to the conclu- But on the night of his engagement party, tion to doing something so foreign to him. out-of-water with more intelligence than most sion, revealing who exactly framed James the feds burst in and arrest him for insider The moment does not bash gay men (Darnell of his characters. James is definitely smart and why, the story still flows smoothly, the trading, an accusation he steadfastly de- even becomes friends with a guy who tried to when it comes to figures and statistics, but laughs come fast and furious, and Ferrell nies. The judge, however, sentences James pick him up!), but rather pokes fun at the gay he’s just so white that he has no clue about and Hart become a comedy team you just to the harshest term possible in the worst hysteria a straight man might have in such other cultures, particularly the African-Ameri- might like to see in another movie. t Specials 24 oz. Coors Lite $3.00 Happy Hour Two 18 oz. Bud Ice $4 after 4 2 for 1 4:00p.m.-9:00p.m.

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BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 15 Lively Arts // between the covers

ous and equally profane Go the F**k timate photos of Yoko with John, with son to Sleep, deals with the “other paren- Sean, in performance, at various events, Spring Reading List tal frustration” – getting finicky kids to and even posing with icons such as Bet- eat right. te Midler, Liza Minnelli, Patti Smith, and By Gregg Shapiro and illustrated (!) by Katie Gilmartin, in- Former club kid turned restaura- members of the B52’s, and much more for Flights of fiction – The end was inevitable volves “a murder, a mystery and a secret teur Blue, the main character of Robert a visual treat. and beloved gay author Armistead Maupin history,” as Josie O’Connor searches for Levy’s debut novel The Glittering World In her picture-filled memoir Girl in a brings his cherished Tales of the City saga her gay brother Jimmy, and encounters a (Gallery Books, 2015), ventures to Nova Band (Dey St. Books, 2015), vocalist / to a close on a touching and tear-jerking cornucopia of characters in assortment of Scotia from NYC for what begins as a lei- bassist / founding-member of the legend- note with a loving tribute to his most en- establishments. surely trip with friends and develops into ary and influential post-punk band Sonic dearing and enduring character, trans leg- If you’re a fan of Joe Keenan’s style of a shocking voyage of self-discovery as he Youth, Kim Gordon takes readers along end Anna Madrigal, in The Days of Anna queer farce then the fast-paced and funny uncovers a mysterious, and long buried, on her personal journey from suburban Madrigal (Harper Perennial, 2015). Now Stealing Arthur (Bear Bones Books, 2015) part of his past. Southern California in paperback, the novel takes us from San by Joel Perry, about the trophy theft of “55 Thanks for the memoirs – I to the art world/club Francisco to Winnemucca to the annual of Hollywood’s highest awards,” will be Left it on the Mountain (St. Mar- scene of New York in Burning Man celebration, and from the right up your proverbial alley. tin’s Press, 2015), Kevin Sessums’ the 1980s and 1990s present day to Anna’s secret past, answer- Originally published in “a slightly differ- follow-up to his acclaimed memoir to the present day and ing almost any question a reader of the se- ent version” in 2013, William Klaber’s de- Mississippi Sissy, follows the edi- the ending of her mar- ries might ever want to ask. but novel The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann tor in chief of Four Two Nine and riage to band-member Straight friend of the community Daniel Lobdell (St. Martin’s Press, 2015), about Dot429.com from “the high to the Thurston Moore. Handler, the author of the Lemony Snick- the titular character and how “dressed in low and back again,” as he writes George Hodgman That’s entertain- et series who has collaborated with gay a man’s clothing, she wins a girl’s love” in about his journey of spiritual re- ment – Arriving in time Magnetic Fields front-man Stephin Mer- the late 1800s, is now available in a newly demption. for the 50th anniversa- ritt, returns with his new adult novel We reissued edition. Bettyville: A Memoir (Viking, 2015), ry of the Oscar-winning movie musical The Are Pirates (Bloomsbury, 2015) about, you A 21st century bedtime story for the “the last place in America with shag car- Sound of Music, Tom Santopietro’s The guessed it, pirates, terrorizing 21st century ages (and all ages) if there ever was one, pet,” is where gay writer and book and Sound of Music Story (St. Martin’s Press, San Francisco. You Have to F**king Eat (Akashic Books, magazine editor George Hodgman has 2015), offers readers a detailed behind- Also set in San Francisco, albeit 1951, 2015) by Adam Mansbach with illustrations returned (from Manhattan) for his role as the-scenes look, including eight pages of Blackmail, My Love (Cleis, 2015), written by Owen Brozman, the sequel to the hilari- “care inflictor” for his 90-year-old mother, photos, at how the classic Rodgers and the Betty of the title, in this breathtaking Hammerstein stage musical went on to be- memoir about mother/son relationships, come one of the most popular and adored identity, and so much more. movie musicals of all time. Wishbone: A Memoir in Fractures Beautiful Chaos: A Life in the Theater (Bywater Books, 2014), the first book by (City Lights Books, 2015) by Carey Perl- lauded lesbian writer and poet Julie Marie off, artistic director of San Francisco’s Wade won the Colgate University Press renowned American Conservatory The- Nonfiction Book Award in 2009 and the ater, and the woman who helped bring Ar- 2011 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian mistead Maupin’s Tales of the City musical Memoir, is now available in paperback as to the stage, tells her story in this memoir. well as an ebook. Actor Keegan Allen, of ABC Family’s “Intoxicating” memoir Dangerous When Pretty Little Liars, has been taking pictures Wet (St. Martin’s Press, 2015), the first since he was nine years old. In life. love. book by gay writer Jamie Brickhouse, de- beauty. (St. Martin’s Press, 2015), Allen, tails his complex relationship with his one- a protégé of James Franco’s, shares his of-a-kind mother Mama Jean, as well as “photographic journey” including pix from his struggles with alcohol and coming out, his youth, his career and his travels, along all told in his distinctive voice. with text and poetry. t Subtitled “a supermodel’s journey to finding her truth,” Straight Walk (Post Hill Press, 2015) by Venezuelan model and Like Us On actress Patricia Velasquez, known as “the world’s first Latina supermodel,” writes about her upbringing, coming out and mak- Facebook! ing love “in three time zones, in three cit- ies, to three different women in one day,” among other subjects. Rock, paper, book – Stunning coffee- table book See Hear Yoko (Harper, 2015), “originally conceived expressly for Yoko Ono…on the occasion of her 80th birth- day” by “legendary rock and roll photog- rapher” Bob Greuen, featuring interview text by Jody Denberg, spans a 41-year pe- riod, from 1971 until 2015. Combining in-

16 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com Lively Arts // out on stage The Arts Collective at HCC Presents Eat the Runt By Steve Charing Eat the Runt, a play which pushed the play into the realm of im- Imagine having a voice in selecting the cast that’s recast every personation and lying. So it became meta- of a play. As an audience member of Eat night,” explains Cro- theatre, a play about acting.” the Runt, which will run for three consecu- zier. “Quite often, Eat the Runt runs three weekends: April tive weekends at the Arts Collective (AC) at playwrights write fas- 17 to May 3 in HCC’s Studio Theatre, with Howard Community College (HCC), you will cinating and specific performances on Fridays, and Saturdays have the opportunity to do just that. physical descriptions at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Members of the audience who show up of characters that The theater is located at HCC, Horowitz early are invited to vote on the cast for a make the play impos- Center Studio Theatre, 10901 Little Patux- t particular performance. Each actor, under sible to cast – espe- ent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland. the direction of veteran director and Arts cially if it is going to Seating is limited so that purchasing Collective producing artistic director Susan first be presented in a tickets early is encouraged. Individual tick- G. Kramer, will play multiple roles with no small theater. ets are $15 for general admission, $12 for regards to race, ethnicity, or gender. “So I’ve stopped seniors (60 or older) and military, and $10 The rules of the voting as well as the writing plays like that. for all students with identification. The play incentives to participate are shown on the In Eat the Runt, I de- is not recommended for those under age Arts Collective website at Howardcc.edu/ cided to create roles 14. Tickets may be purchased through the Visitors/artscollective/Season/eattherunt/ that any talented ac- Box Office at 443-518-1500 or online at index.html. tor could play, regard- Howardcc.edu/artscollective. According to Kramer, the play by Avery less of age, ethnic- Come early so you can play the part of Croszier includes a stellar cast of eight ac- ity, or gender. This is Eat the Runt: Play it your way an actual casting director. tors poised to take on the challenge each not a play in which credit: JilliAnne McCarty performance (in various roles) featuring appearance doesn’t HCC students, alumni, and guest artists, matter. It is, in fact, out my fantasy, and manifests increasingly as well as the work of the best professional almost entirely about appearance and strange and contradictory behavior with designers in the area. identity, but is designed to give the direc- each interview. My challenge was to figure Eat the Runt is billed as “an outra- tor flexibility to cast the best actors avail- out why Merritt would go to such extremes, geous, delicious comic satire that can go able without regard to physical type. Or to in countless, mind-blowing directions. A choose physical types that heighten the seemingly innocent job interview slowly excitement of the situations on stage.” spirals into chaos as jealousy, desire, and Crozier adds, “The play is set in an art deception collide. When the truth is re- museum, a wonderful arena for exploring vealed, only the strongest will survive.” ethnicity, gender, and cultural issues of Kramer noted, “The central relation- representation. It’s based on a series of in- ships among the cast of characters could terviews I had for a job at a large encyclo- include lesbian, gay, or heterosexual en- pedic museum, a job I was pretty certain I tanglements depending on the cast cho- did not want. sen... some combinations will make sense, “On the airplane I fantasized about while others may plunge the play into the sabotaging myself with each interviewer so absurd. To quote the playwright, Avery that they’d reject me before I was put in the Crozier, “But sometimes the greatest dis- embarrassing position of rejecting the job. coveries are accidents. This one’s waiting Ultimately, I opted to behave myself, but on to happen. Every night.” stage I could be much bolder than in real “Casting nightmares drove me to write life. In the play, the character Merritt lives PETER YARROW (of Peter, Paul & Mary) in Concert The Cellar Stage © at Faith Community United Methodist Church 5315 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21214 KKipyn Martin opens LGBTQ PROM Saturday, April 11, 2015 Tickets are $36.00 Show time is 8:00 P.M. MAY 15, 2015 7 - 11 PM PIER 5 HOTEL Tickets & information www.uptownconcerts.com high school aged youth & 410-521-9099 [email protected]

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 17 18 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com the intrepid traveler A Visit to the Amazon by Brad where the local Manauseans go daily to Manaus, Brazil – We are in the capital of shop for food and where out-of-town Bra- Amazonia, the state that is in the heart of zilians go to buy food for their shops. the Amazon, 1,000 miles upstream from Next stop Parintins, Brazil, half way to the mouth of the river, and a state as big the ocean. Parinitins is a sleepy little town as Texas. Herons, piranhas, anacondas? – except for the month-long festival (which Sure. It’s also the home of 1.8 million peo- rivals Rio’s) in June and the show which ple and boasts an opera house, opened is held in the Municipal House whenever in 1896. It was built by (and for) the Rub- tourist show up. (The festival is called Boi’ ber Barons who were the social elite of Bomba and is like Mardi Gras only more the time. The opera house is as splendid raucous). They must have recruited every as the Rubber Barons could make it – it youth in town to act as dancers, musicians, and handlers for the oversized dolphin, the Opera House, lizard, the bat, and the hummingbird which Manaus made their way (eventually) to the dancers’ level. Feathers galore, skin-tight leotards, and snake-like hair were some of the cos- tumes of the many dancers. Piranhas, ana- condas, macaws – are you there? Nope. Too noisy. Beware the pirhanas Santarem Brazil – Santarem is almost to the ocean and is on one of the rivers that doesn’t mix with the yellowish-brown wa- ter. During the rainy season, from October – if you let down a chicken into the water, ters of the Amazon for six miles. The Ama- through March, the river can rise almost you’d get bones in 2 minutes. A cow would zon has an eighth of the world’s fresh wa- eight feet prompting householders to build take a bit longer, but not much. (Humphry their houses on stilts (or take their cattle Bogart wouldn’t have had to worry about is made of Scotch and English steel, with Municipal Market, and other animals away by boat until the leeches while pulling around the African marble from Italy, a gilt from all the Indians Manaus water subsides). The harbor of Santarem Queen in these waters). in sight. All 36,000 tiles of which the dome is filled with two-decker water buses which To fish for them, you take a fishing line is made came from Alsace. Jenny Lind with a bit of bait on it, and let it drag on the opened the place in 1896. Caruso was also “They must have bottom. Got a toothy nibble? Pull the line supposed to sing there (however he chick- sharply upward and try to catch the hook at ened out and never left his boat because of recruited every youth the fish’s gills (they flop around a lot when a cholera scarce in Manaus). Fitzcarraldo they’re caught). Then ask the assistant eat your heart out – the real thing is better in town to act as boat operator if he wants it, and if not, he’ll than you ever imagined. dancers, musicians, unhook it for you and throw it back. Look The Municipal Market, built in the Art for the alligators and pink dolphins in the Nouveau style by the British in 1910, is and handlers for the water, and the iguanas and sloths in the trees. oversized dolphin, the Ah yes, the Amazon – a good place to lizard, the bat, and look out on. Brazil is rated as a “two” on the wel- the hummingbird come scale for alternative life styles (one being the least welcome to five being the which made their way most) because of the strict laws against all (eventually) to the alternative activities. t dancers’ level.”

go to the villages many days away (when they weren’t taking us along the river to see “life as it is lived.”) This is how I imag- ined the Amazon to be – with the shore within touching distance of the boat (so what if we’re going upstream in a ca- nal?) Piranhas? Alligators? Three-toed sloths? You bet! But first a little piranha fishing. Pira- nhas are small, very tasty fish with ex- ceedingly sharp teeth. They travel in packs

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD APRIL 3, 2015 • baltimoreoutloud.com t 19 Your money

the survivor may find that the life insur- The Many Uses of Insurance ance purchased doesn’t meet his/her actual needs. It may be prudent to factor in a little By Woody Derrick sary luxury of life insurance. This typically helps to provide some additional funds to extra coverage in the event that you need Most of us understand the need for life in- depends on the clients’ age, work situation, cover utilities, groceries, and possibly other to help pay for unexpected medical costs or surance. The primary idea being that we and marital status. The closer clients are expenses such as travel and dining out. The time away from work. don’t want to leave our spouse, partner, and/ to retirement, the more they seem to view idea isn’t to make the survivor wealthy. The Pension / Social Security – Some cou- or child(ren) in financial jeopardy because retirement as a shared goal that should be added insurance allows the survivor (espe- ples may find it advantageous to buy added we passed away. Traditionally, we look for funded if either were to pass away. The cially one making a lower income) to live life insurance to replace their pension. Typi- insurance to cover our debts, pay for future same is true if only one spouse/partner is comfortably. cally when someone retires with a pension, goals, and to help meet our monthly expens- working. Couples with children often provide he/she can elect to have a beneficiary ben- es/replace lost income. I have, however, seen that younger cli- some sort of expense offset until the chil- efit provided. This benefit, however, comes Debts – The most popular reason for ents and unmarried couples feel that their dren reach college with a cost. This my clients to seek life insurance is the pay- spouse/partner should be able to cover their age or graduate from “I have seen that cost reduces the ing off of their debts. These include auto own retirement expenses. This may be due college. younger clients and current pension ben- loans, student loans, credit cards, and the to the time horizon before retirement, the Income replace- efit amount and often mortgage. While some clients may pay off keeping of separate finances, or other be- ment provides for the unmarried couples provides a small ben- the debts immediately, others plan to use the liefs of the clients. replacement of the efit to the survivor. insurance proceeds to make their monthly Whether or not to fund goals through life lost income through feel that their spouse/ If the spouse/ payments. Depending on the type of debt, insurance proceeds is up to every client. So the time at which the partner should be able partner with a pen- interest rate, and need for cash reserves, ei- long as the two of you agree on your insur- two of you planned to sion plan is healthy, ther choice should work. ance objectives, it doesn’t matter which op- retire. Some people to cover their own he/she may be able Goals – We all have different goals tion you prefer. opt for this because to purchase a life and different opinions on how much of those Expense Offset / Income Replacement they feel that they retirement expenses.” insurance policy goals should be funded by life insurance. – Couples (especially those with children) want to fully cover the to provide his/her Many of my clients seem to agree that fund- often like to provide an expense offset or in- lost wages. Because this often results in a spouse/partner with a benefit matching what ing a cash reserve and paying for college come replacement vi