The Empty Closet F ollow us on Facebook at Empty Closet News Follow us at www.twitter.com/EmptyClosetNews LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS, NEWSMAKER INTERVIEWS, OPINION, ENTERTAINMENT, COLUMNISTS, EVENT CALENDARS, COMICS, AND HEALTH RESOURCES NUMBER 470 A PUBLICATION OF THE GAY ALLIANCE OF THE GENESEE VALLEY AUGUST 2013 er Y erm The Rundel Memorial Library Building of the Central Library of V O Rochester & Monroe County was illuminated with rainbow lights E V during Pride Weekend. Inset: The Democrats’ rainbow flag at the O : Monroe County Office Building. Photos: Ove Overmyer O PH TO Central Library not be permitted to fly from the County Office Building because honored Pride, “we have never, for any group or O ver the Rainbow: County Office organization agreed to fly a flag that represents an issue; an advo- Building didn’t cacy flag, as we call it.” Rochester celebrates Pride as – or did it? Brooks had also ignored a July 10 letter from Gay Alli- thousands take to the streets By Susan Jordan ance Acting Executive Director Monroe County Executive Scott Fearing, delivered person- By Susan Jordan July 20 Parade and Festival. recent changes in City Hall poli- Maggie Brooks did not respond ally after Brooks’ office told a to a June 3 letter from Mon- Rochester celebrated Pride Rochester Mayor Thomas S. cies as they relate to the LGBT caller who had asked her to fly 2013 and the Gay Alliance’s 40th Richards celebrated Pride Week- community and additional steps roe County Legislature Minority the flag that the County Execu- Leader Carrie Andrews, asking anniversary on the weekend of end by participating in the Pride the City is taking to promote tive would need a “written appli- July 19-21, with a spectacular Flag raising ceremony on July continuous dialogue between the that the County Office Build- cation” from the event sponsor. ing fly the Rainbow Flag on Rainbow Flag Raising ceremo- 19 and marching in the Pride community and City Hall. Prior to this, Fearing had been ny at Manhattan Square Park, Parade, as did Rochester Chief Mayor Richards said, “Forty July 19-21 in honor of Pride and told that the request had to come Rochester’s LGBT community. a Pride Parade that turned Park of Police James Sheppard and years is something to be proud from the Legislature, not the Ave. into the Yellow Brick Road, NYS Assembly member Harry of.” He announced that City Hall On July 16, after her office had event sponsor. received dozens of phone calls, a Festival featuring Pandora Bronson. City Council members has a new LGBT liaison, Molly Fearing commented, “The Boxx and other stars, a display Matt Haag, Elaine Spaull and Clifford, and also recognized the she appeared on Channel 8 to county policy seems to be very say that the County never recog- of LGBT history, an ice hockey Dana Miller attended the flag RPD liaison, Investigator Kim unclear, possibly non-existent. tournament, roller derby bouts raising and the Parade, which was Rasbeck. Rochester will add gen- nizes “issue-based” community Maybe this discussion will groups. and a serene picnic at Genesee also attended by Council mem- der identity and expression to encourage clarification.” Valley Park. ber Carolee Conklin. its non-discrimination policy and The County routinely honors He went on to say, “It is sad many other community groups The Rochester Police Depart- At the Flag Raising, Mayor investigate expanding health ben- that a community leader like the ment estimated that 7,000 Richards and Matt Haag updat- efits for the transgender commu- with such recognition on their Central special occasions. On July 16, ( continues page 12) marched in and/or attended the ed the LGBT community on nity. The city is also discussing Brooks told Channel 8 News adding protections for LGBT that the Rainbow Flag repre- businesses in relation to city con- senting Monroe County’s thou- tracts. sands of LGBT taxpayers could just some people,” said Reed. Matt Haag praised Mayor She added, “I don’t know why Richards’ leadership and con- some people have problems with trasted Richards’ commitment equality. Everyone should be to equality with Maggie Brooks’ G AY ALLIANCE treated equally under the law, refusal to fly the Rainbow Flag. PARTNERSHIPS but we still have a way to go for He stated that the city will con- that to happen.” tinue to look at improving its (R ochester continues page 12) policies. If the city can add health T he Gay Alliance coverage for hormone therapy appreciates the continuing partnership of businesses and other needs of the trans com- within our community munity, Haag said, “We would who support be among the most progressive our mission and vision. communities in the country.” NYS Assembly member P latinum Level (R ainbow continues page 3) Emily Reed and Mary Giancursio. Photo: Ove Overmyer R ochester Pride revelers take time E xcellus Contents to reflect and celebrate Editorials ...................................... 2 By Ove Overmyer goers were dressed at the Pride Local/State News ....................... 3 After the Pride Parade on National/International News..... 4 Parade. Interview: Dr. Chris Barry .............. 6 July 20, Mary Giancursio and “The parade was really great Pride 2013 .................................... 7 AC Medical Emily Reed sat patiently waiting this year, and I loved all the cos- Opinion ......................................15 for friends on the Manhattan tumes and floats,” said Giancur- Shoulders To Stand On ...........21 Square Park concrete steps over- sio. “I always look forward to Columnists ...............................22 looking the cavernous Rochester Pride events, especially the Community ...............................25 Pride Main Stage as the giant parade. It’s a great time for all to Entertainment: Give to Live ......27 Gay Alliance: RPD meeting .......30 30x50 foot Pride Flag waved celebrate and I’m here to support Rainbow SAGE News ...............31 swales Logical Operations high overhead. everyone.” Y Calendar ....................................34 They were laughing and gig- Reed confessed that she also Classifieds .................................34 Kasha does tamm gling, impressed by the size of came to Pride this year to sup- : Proud Publisher of New York the crowd and reflecting on how port her LGBT friends. “I think Broadway, page 27 O State’s Oldest LGBT Newspaper audaciously some of the festival- everyone deserves rights, not PH TO 2 the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 470 • AUGUST 2013 G AY ALLIANCE OF THE GENESEE VALLEY Gay Alliance Board of Trustees W. Bruce Gorman, Co-President and Secretary Emily Jones, Co-President, David Zona, Treasurer, Perspectives John Altieri, Chris Hilderbrant, Jeff Markarian, Peter Mohr, Jessica Muratore, Steve Santacroce, William Schaefer T he Empty Closet Editor G ay Alliance Executive Director G AY ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIPS SUSAN JORDAN SCOTT FEARING T he Gay Alliance stop trashing American democ- rights that some of us have won appreciates the continuing racy, Albany Democrats need to -- while we keep working for the partnership of businesses remember that they were elected rights of others. within our community to protect the civil rights of all For forty years the Gay Alli- who support our mission New Yorkers -- and not just ance has been a constant in and vision. when it is convenient and profit- Rochester. We were there to able for them. advocate for change in schools, G old Level Trans, intersex and gender- police departments, City Hall, queer people still have a long churches and every other insti- way to go to educate the cis- tution in the region when all gendered population about the they knew were ugly myths and oppression that they experience, stereotypes. We have been here ranging from legally being fired to help community members or evicted just because they are who have faced discrimination, trans to being murdered on the or needed help coming out. We street. Why all the hate and the have provided our communi- City of Rochester fear? For one thing, the Right ties with a newspaper that has dismisses medical research in reported pertinent information Absolut/Malibu GENDA, DOMA & favor of politically correct con- P ride isn’t just a that other sources would not VRA servative stereotypes that limit party print. human gender options to the Our presence has been S ilver Level Not all the news from the As I write this, I am battling binary. And many heterosexuals important, and that will not 3 Olives Roberts Supreme Court was seem determined to project their exhaustion, nursing blisters, and change. However, as the needs good in June. As LGBT Ameri- own neurotic anxiety and guilt facing a pile of stuff that needs of our communities evolve so Baccardi cans of all backgrounds celebrat- about sexuality onto the sexual to be sorted, folded and stored. must we. Coming out as LGBT ed the downfall of DOMA and and gender “outlaws” identified Yet, I am feeling energized and or ally has required each of us Prop 8, many were also outraged as The Other. elated. to embrace change in order to by the gutting of the Voting Ignorance is also a problem. Rochester Pride Weekend is become authentic, and the same Rights Act. the cause of my current condi- Recently on Facebook an ill- is true for the Gay Alliance. Barefoot Wine Racism is over in America, informed person claimed that tion. When I came out, I had to Republicans said… even though trans people have equal civil The Gay Alliance and the create a new vision of who I was. Hedonist Artisan Chocolate in 2012 they tried every possible Pride Committee began our rights already and don’t need I had to find a new way to be John’s Tex Mex ploy to keep people of color from GENDA.