December 8, 2017 | Volume XV, Issue 16 Help Out AIDS Action Baltimore Dear Friends: The amount of work of people living with HIV AIDS Action Baltimore (AAB) has been we accomplish and the A letter from in Maryland were undiag- providing essential services to people with effect we have had on AIDS Action nosed. HIV/AIDS since 1987. Thanks to your gen- the war against HIV AAB has been instru- erosity, we’re still standing after a long hard with only four full-time Baltimore to our mental again this year in financial battle. We know only too well that and one part-time em- the effort to reduce HIV times are still tough, but as we commem- ployees is truly amaz- community infections in Baltimore. orate our 30th year of service, we hope we ing! We are currently admin- can count on your continued support which Although HIV disease is becoming a istering three HIV prevention will help us maintain our many HIV/AIDS pro- chronic manageable disease, here is why we programs, one for transgender grams. We still desperately need your help to still need your help now more than ever: women and two for gay men. keep our doors open and continue to provide In the latest Centers for Disease Control AAB’s Project TEA Time is an our many essential services to the Baltimore (CDC) data reported in 2016, Maryland was HIV prevention program for HIV/AIDS community. We hope you will re- ranked fifth among US states in adult/ado- transgender women that pro- member us and continue your loyal support. lescent HIV diagnosis rates and third in AIDS motes HIV testing and helps Please help us in any way you can. Your do- diagnosis rates in 2015. The Baltimore-Co- people get linked to care and nations will enable us to continue our marvel- lumbia-Towson area had the tenth highest treatment. All our prevention ous record of benevolence and compassion estimated HIV diagnosis rate of any metro- programs provide HIV preven- with only a rate of 2.8% overhead in 2016. politan area. The CDC estimated that 15.3% —continued on page 3 clearly going to nail it, because I get up and do comedy on stage without it always Lisa Lampanelli Takes CenterStage by Storm being planned. I’m not going to call anyone a cunt unless it’s written in the script! BY FRANKIE KUJAWA ciously pointed, this “theater entertain- Queen of Mean,” Lampan- FK: Have you been to Balti- White Rabbit / Red Rabbit has been called ment meets social experiment” is unlike elli chatted with Baltimore ‘The first group more before? a play, but it’s a lively, global sensation anything, and will make you question ev- OUTloud to discuss her that really got LL: Yes, many times. I’ve played that no-one is allowed to talk about. Slyly erything. Running from De- upcoming performance the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall be- humorous and auda- cember 12th to 23rd, the and what Baltimore can my comedy fore. That’s a very classy place, and performance has cast an expect her not do while as you know, I’m very classy myself. array of local and nation- she’s in town. were gay men. Baltimore is in for Lisa Lampanelli al talent and celebrities Frankie Kujawa: The lesbians, doing my impression of a classy to perform the curiosity What can audiences ex- bitch. I’m coming down and expect live for the first time each pect from your perfor- they took a that theatre to take me out to dinner night. mance of White Rabbit / little longer, but and a fabulous breakfast. I’m not Lisa Lampanelli, the Red Rabbit? just some Off-Broadway cheapie. I well-known comedian / Lisa Lampanelli: eventually came expect them to take me out for a few actress / playwright, will Well, I’m not only a come- around’ fabulous meals! perform for audiences dian, but I also love acting FK: You know, Baltimore on Tuesday, Decem- and playwriting. Now, I’ll has been known to have some ber 19th. Heralded as tell you that I know nothing about this play. good-looking guys around town. “Comedy’s Loveable Other than I’ve heard about the legendari- LL: Well, you might not know this, but ness of it, and that you can’t read it I’ve been celibate for almost the last five Lisa Lampanelli – Performs at years. I enjoy not having sex because what CenterStage December 19th in beforehand. You just read it and go! White Rabbit / Red Rabbit Why would I be worried, at all? I’m —continued on page 19 Chase Brexton & Co-Publishers Jim Becker • Jim Williams [email protected] The LGBT Health Resource Center Believe Executive Editor Jim Becker gender-diverse children & their families [email protected] [email protected] should have a strong network & specialized care. Associate Editor & Director of Marketing & Production Mary Taylor [email protected] Arts and Entertainment Editor Frankie Kujawa [email protected] IN 2015 WE LAUNCHED Leather Editor Rodney Burger [email protected] Contributing Writers for Baltimore OUTloud GENDER JOURNEYS OF YOUTH Ava Barron-Shasho • Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. Josh Buchbinder • Anthony Calo • Lee Carpenter AN INTEGRATED CARE PROGRAM FOR Jeffrey Clagett • Wayne Curtis • Woody Derricks Chuck Duncan • John Redmond-Palmer • Dr. Eva Hersh Mark S. King • Brother Merrick Moses Frankie Kujawa • Sage Piper • David Placher Mark Segal • Gregg Shapiro • Bill Redmond-Palmer GENDER-DIVERSE YOUTH David Egan • Elyse Buchbinder • Dr. Loren Olson Alex “Bear” Conley • Brynn Deveraux LED BY NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED Contributing Writers for OUT in the VALLEY Laura Anderson • Rev. Kelly Crenshaw Rev. Dr. Robert Apgar-Taylor • Brian George Hose PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST Elizabeth Thompson Contributing Writers OUT in Asbury Park, NJ Rai Guerra-Nelson • Christy Girlington Graphics Ramon Montiel DR. ELYSE D. PINE Web Editor Anja Saine [email protected] 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 Honoring diversity. 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 Inspiring wellness. 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 Improving our communities. those of the writers unless otherwise indicated and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Media, Ltd., and the staff. © 2017 – All rights reserved Chair of the Board of Trustees – Jim Becker President – Jim Williams Secretary and Treasurer – Mike Chase chasebrexton.org/WeAreChaseBrexton Pediatrics2 t BALTIMORE OU TLOforUD DECEmb her.Er 8, 2017 Primary • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.C careOM for you. All in one location. NEWS // LOCAL to include the HIV affected community in all selves. Thanks to the many of you who at- Help Out AIDS Action Baltimore aspects of research and development. AAB tended our fabulous Tea at Cedarcroft event is also a leading member of the national Fair at the home of Neal Naff and Nate Hubler —continued from page 1 we can continue the fight to save our com- Pricing Coalition (FPC), pressuring“big phar- which raised over $35,000. For more infor- tion education. Our PrEP UP program pro- munity from the devastation of HIV disease. ma”to price HIV and HCV drugs reasonably, mation on our events and the latest in HIV motes PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) use AAB has worked again this year to advocate limit price increases, cap ongoing drug pric- treatment and research as well as PrEP for in gay men and transgender women. PrEP is for federal budget increases to NIH research es for government programs like AIDS Drug HIV prevention or financial assistance and a one pill once a day prevention regimen that funding and continued funding for the Ryan Assistance Programs and to initiate co-pay prescription drug access program informa- has proven to be 90% effective in reducing White Care Act for the care and support of programs for patients with private insurance. tion, please check out our web site at Aidsac- HIV transmission risk. So far, our PrEP out- people with HIV. We are also still working with We have convinced every HIV and Hepatitis tionbaltimore.org. reach, education, and testing efforts have national advocates to ensure that all classes C (HCV) drug company to create programs Please help us to continue our emergen- been extremely successful. We also recent- of antiviral HIV drugs will be included on new that will cover all the outrageously expensive cy financial assistance programs and our vi- ly initiated a new HIV prevention program Obama Care Act drug formularies. HIV policy co-pays and other out of pocket (OOP) costs tal local and national research and treatment for black gay men called New Horizons. The gets more complicated all the time, and it is for people with private insurance. Every HIV advocacy. We greatly appreciate your contin- CDC tells us that black gay men have a one- much harder every year for us to obtain the and HCV drug company now covers all OOP ued support in these tough economic times. in-two chance of be- money we need to prescription costs like deductibles, co-pays Thank you in advance for your contribution coming HIV infected “The CDC tells us that fight the epidemic. and co-insurance expenses. Our work direct- and for your past generosity. We know you in their lifetimes.