March 15, 2019 | Volume XVI, Issue 21 the last time you reached out to someone Celebrating LGBT Health Awareness Week you haven’t seen in a while? Or picked up the phone for a chat versus a text? I may BY SAM MCClURE We each approach it differently, too. gym. So, I have arranged several of my be able to make someone think I’m doing LGBT Health Resource Center For example, after my physical last year, regular appointments and errands to be okay via text, but it’s not as easy to edit the of Chase Brexton Health Care I sent a text to my future wife saying my within walking distance of my apartment. sound of my voice on a phone call. There Our center is among those preparing to blood work came back normal. She asked This incentivizes me to move and walk is a small group of people for whom I will celebrate LGBT Health Awareness Week me several additional questions and I re- more often, and my exercise is more always pick up the phone. You from March 27th to 31st. In addition to alized that when she gets blood are in that small circle for some- thinking broadly about health equity for our work, she reads through one, and they might need to hear community, we should also be each individual lab from you. thinking about our own individu- March 27th report and under- While we’re working to care al health and well-being. stands each num- for ourselves and our loved Health and well-being are to 31st ber. She will teach ones, we must be cognizant of different to every person. For me, a big me this, I’m sure. For me, barriers to care and disparities. realization lately has been that “self-care” I was just so proud that I organic and incorporates into my I wrote about this in my last column and it is less an indulgence as it is a discipline. went to the doctor and prioritized getting life easily. bears repeating. A recent poll conducted It requires routines, checklists, time, and the tests done, that when someone told During LGBT Health Awareness Week, by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foun- attention. It also changes depending on me the results were normal, I didn’t give it we should also be thinking about how we dation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School one’s circumstances and will change over another thought. look out for each other. I’m learning so of Public Health determined that one in and over as we move through different I know exercise is important for my much lately about the health crises that five LGBTQ adults has avoided seeking stages of our lives. health and I don’t particularly enjoy the can arise out of social isolation. When is —continued on page 4 by GREgg SHAPIRO rightfully so. You’d never guess listening The breathtaking Historian (Matador) by to Historian that it is only Dacus’s second out singer / songwriter Lucy Dacus was album. In her early 20s, Dacus is one of present near the top of several “best al- those wise beyond her years bums of 2018” lists, and artists whose songs are sure The You’ll Love to strike a chord with listeners Baltimore from all walks of life. Her tal- No shrinking ents weren’t limited to her own Uprising violet – album, as she collaborated with y Lucy queer singer / songwriter Ju- in 2015 Luc Dacus lien Baker and Phoebe Bridg- inspired one Kaine in which he declared you You are not alone in that sentiment. ers, forming the trio Boygenius a “new favorite” of his? Not that Kaine’s endorsement should and releasing an acclaimed of rising Lucy Dacus: [Laughs] it wasn’t have an effect, but would you say that six-song eponymous EP in that surprising to me because he you were in any way political before or late 2018. I had the pleasure alt-rock star is a childhood figure in my life. He since that praise? of speaking with Lucy about Lucy Dacus’s just Tweeted at me an hour ago Yes. I feel like it’s impossible to not her music and being a queer because he came up in anoth- be political, whether you know you are Southerner. hit songs er interview and I was telling the or aren’t. I went to a government and in- Gregg Shapiro: You’ve story about how he used to make ternational studies focused high school. probably been asked about this us quiche after sleepovers because I was Everyone was very politically-minded, or question countless times before, but friends with his daughter. He affirmed that intentionally opting out, but always within would you mind saying something he is still a good quiche maker, at least a the context of awareness. I don’t think I about how you felt when you first quiche buyer. The public perception of who should be celebrated for my activism, just heard about the September 2016 he is is pretty accurate in my experience, because I think it’s par for the course as interview with VP-candidate Tim as well. I wish he was our vice president. —continued on page 18 Co-Publishers Jim Becker • Jim Williams [email protected] Executive Editor Jim Becker [email protected] [email protected] Associate Editor & Director of Marketing & Production Mary Taylor [email protected] Arts and Entertainment Editor Frankie Kujawa [email protected] Leather Editor Rodney Burger [email protected] Contributing Writers for Baltimore OUTloud Andre Shakti • Bill Redmond-Palmer Brynn Devereau • Charles Dudley, MPT Chuck Duncan • David Egan David Placher • Dr. Eva Hersh MD Elyse Buchbinder • Frankie Kujawa Gregg Shapiro • Jabari Lyles Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. • Jeffrey Clagett Josh Buchbinder • Lauren Lynch • Lee Carpenter Linda A. Dominguez, Esq. • Mark S. King Mark Segal • Michael Ritmiller Rabbi Jan Dodi • Richard Finger • Rodney Burger Sage Piper • Steve Charing • Woody Derrick Contributing Writers for OUT in the VALLEY Asher Kennedy • Brian George Hose Rev. Kelly Crenshaw • Rev. Robert Apgar-Taylor Zed Sykes Graphics Ramon Montiel Web Editor Adam Romanik Computer Solutions for Less Photographers Corey Brent Eric Randolph National Advertising Rep Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 Founders Jim Becker • Joe Berg • Mike Chase Lee Mooney (1959-2007) • Jim Williams Baltimore OUTloud PO Box 4887 Baltimore, MD 21211 410-802-1310 Baltimoreoutloud.com Additional Information Baltimore OUTloud is published every other Friday by Pride Media, Ltd. in Baltimore, Maryland. Readers comments and unsolicited materials are welcomed and may be sent to: [email protected]. All materials appearing in this newspaper are the property of Pride Media, Ltd. and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in Baltimore OUTloud are solely those of the writers unless otherwise indicated and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Media, Ltd., and the staff. © 2019 – All rights reserved Chair of the Board of Trustees – Jim Becker President – Jim Williams Secretary and Treasurer – Mike Chase 2 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD March 15, 2019 • BAltIMOREOUTLOUD.COM NEWS // local City Schools a heterosexual cisgender paradigm. Implementation of these policies would Consider be extremely helpful in the current environ- ment where the Trump administration has Groundbreaking actively worked to turn back protections for transgender students. Trans Policies A 2017 national survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) which works to support BY BIll REDMOND-PALMER LGBTQ issues in schools found that 42% Baltimore City Schools are considering a set of transgender and gender nonconforming of policies regarding transgender and gen- students had been prevented from using der nonconforming students according to their preferred name or pronoun. the Baltimore Sun, In addition, it which if enacted found that about would put them far 45% of LGBTQ ahead of most other students felt un- school systems in safe at school be- the state, by more cause of their gen- fully protecting the der expression, rights and dignity of and that more those students. Only Frederick County cur- than a third had missed at least one day of rently has a specific, progressive policy sup- school during the previous month because porting those students in a similar manner. they felt unsafe or uncomfortable. Nearly These policies, currently under con- a fifth of these students reported that they sideration by the city school board would felt they had to change schools because of allow transgender students to use the these negative experiences. names, pronouns and bathrooms that align The full school board is scheduled to with their gender identity. The policy also discuss the policy this month, with a vote outlines a specific grievance reporting and coming on a future date. t investigation process. Schools would be directed to use the name and pronoun that reflects their identi- ty, regardless of whether or not the child has changed their legal name. Students would also have access to facilities that correspond with their gender identity and those who are uncomfortable with using a gender-segregat- ed facility would be provided a “safe non-stig- matizing alternative,” however students could not be required to use a private restroom. The prospective policy does not specifi- cally address issues that may be unique to gender-specific schools. It also does not cov- er issues related to how LGBT students are treated in schools, or things such as health education, which is currently only taught from Law Office of David M. Lutz, P.A. •Auto Accidents •Workers’ Compensation •Personal Injury •DUI/DWI •Criminal Defense •Traffic Court Se Habla Español 1901 Fleet Street Baltimore, MD 21231 Phone: 410-558-3700 (English) • 410-299-2898 (Español) E-mail: [email protected] • lawlutz.com BALTIMORE OUTLOUD March 15, 2019 • BAltIMOREOUTLOUD.COM t 3 Select Chase Brexton Health Care patients deemed most in need may be eligible for digital breast cancer screenings through a mobile mammography van to be located at the Chase Brexton Mount Vernon Center on September 28th.