AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES OUT October 18, 2013 | Volume XI, Issue 11 Danish gay LGBT History Month pioneer Axel Axgil With so many things going on in October – Past, present gay rights organiza- Breast Cancer Awareness, Hispanic Heri- tion. After Denmark tage Month, National Coming Out Day – it and future became the first only seems feting that it should also be nation to legalize LGBT History Month. same-sex domestic partnerships, he and As far back as man or woman can re- his partner, Eigil Eskildsen, were the first member there has been an LGBT person couple to register. Born Axel Lundahl-Mad- making strides for the community. Doc- sen, he came out in the 1940s after meet- tors, lawyers, activists, and the list goes ing Eigil. The two men would later adopt on. Very proud people, some not as well the surname “Axgil” – a combination of known as others because of the times they Eigil and Axel – to acknowledge their com- lived in, but it seems that in the present mitment to one another. Inspired in 1948 day we are finding out more and more by the United Nations’ adoption of the about the history of the LGBT community. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Let’s take a walk back in time and see Axgil cofounded Forbundet af 48 (F-48), just who some of these people are: Europe’s first gay rights organization. Axel Axgil was a Danish gay activist The couple also founded Vennen (“The and cofounder of Europe’s first postwar —continued on page 5 Sitcom is a Welcome Change for Justina Machado BY GRE GG S HA PIRO to portray her? mom so that she could go to work. I waited Even if you don’t know Justina Machado Justina Machado : I didn’t read the until my stepdad came home from work and by name, you probably recognize her as script, I read the sides (condensed script) he would take over. I loved it. I’ve always Vanessa from Six Feet Under or Stephanie first. I thought it was amazing. She was loved taking care of little babies. I don’t from Private Practice . Maybe you recent- funny. It also had to do with her being a have so much patience now that I’m older ly say her on the The Fosters , the series well-written character. I like that. It just fit [laughs]. But I loved it when I was younger . about the lesbian foster moms or as Pedro well. I read it and I automatically got it, I GS: Do you think Lisette would feel Zamora’s sister Milly in the biopic Pedro. understood it. This is the person I want to differently about the situation if it was The minute you see her or hear her voice, play. It was just that simple her daughter who was pregnant as op- she will be familiar to you. With her new GS: Lisette isnt just a mother, shes posed to her son being the father? NBC sitcom Welcome to The Family, in also about to become a grandmother, JM : Wow, that’s a really good question. which she plays Lisette, the mother of col- and a young one at that. How are your I would hope that it wouldn’t be any differ- lege bound father-to-be Junior, Machado maternal instincts? ent because, male or female, they’re still 18 steps fully into the limelight. The series al- JM : I don’t have maternal instincts. I years old. You still worry about the rest of lows her to be funny and show off her funny don’t have any kids [laughs]. I am the old- their life ahead of them. I’m trying not to put side for a change, something she enjoys. est of five children. There’s quite an age myself in it (the answer) and think of what Justina spoke with me about Welcome to gap. With one of my brothers there is only Lisette would do. I know how Justina would The Family in advance of Hispanic Heri- a year. But with my sister there is 14 years. feel but I’m thinking that Lisette would be tage Month. I also have twin brothers and there are 17 for it and would feel the same way, the way Gregg Shapiro: Justina, you are years between us. I went to Lane Tech High she is with Junior. This is what the situation playing Lisette in the new NBC sitcom School (in Chicago). When I was a senior is, this is what you’ve chosen to do, I can’t Welcome to The Family . What was it my mother gave birth to the twins. I used do anything about that, you’re 18 years old, Justina Machado about that character that made you want to come home after school and relieve my —continued on page 4 NEWS // LOCAL it’s a rehouse, use your imagination. I Dousing the Flames don’t want people to think they say deroga- tory things – not at all – but terms people BY S TEVE C HA RI NG “I’m up there two Gay firefighter might use that might be politically incor- Brian Cox, an openly gay man in the Lau- to three days a rect were avoided and they would rephrase Co-Publishers rel Volunteer Fire Department, was quick to week and sleep earns respect things when I’m around to make it politically Jim Becker • Jim Williams point out he chose this profession not be- in for an overnight correct. I didn’t want them to change how [email protected] cause he wanted to slide down poles or play almost every Fri- from colleagues, they speak or how they talked just because Executive Editor with big hoses, as he put it. It wasn’t because day. I nd myself I was there.” Jim Becker [email protected] he knew life members of the re department being there for 24 and it’s mutual Brian cites an example. “So one night on Managing Editor and they pushed him into it. The Laurel resi- to 36 hours at a duty crew, I noticed it was happening again. [email protected] dent bluntly admitted that he had a lot of free time some days Someone said something and immediately Director of Marketing & Production time with no real hobby that he enjoyed, so and it’s like it was nothing.” addressed me making sure I didn’t take of- Mary Taylor he gured it couldn’t hurt to check it out and When they aren’t running calls they train, fense to it. I responded by telling them to [email protected] see what it was about. wash the apparatus, and train again, and ‘Grow a pair and get over it.’ People are go- Leather Columnist It took a while to be processed given the then eat, and then train more. “It’s hard work; ing to say what they are going to say and talk Rodney Burger required paperwork and a physical exam, it’s not just a hang-out and we take it seri- they way they are going to talk. I’m not going Contributing Writers Joey Amato • Sharon Brackett • Rodney Burger • but on March 4 of this year Brian nally was ously. It’s really made me have more respect to be offended by rehouse talk. As soon as Joshua Buchbinder • Steve Charing • Jeffrey Claggett • voted in. It wasn’t long before he received for our rst responders, EMTs, and reght - I said that I think about half the jaws dropped Jeffrey Clouser • Wayne Curtis • Woody Derricks • his Baptism by re, so to speak. “I came up ers. You don’t realize all Denise R. Duarte • Chuck Duncan • Michael Farley • to the oor and a few start - Jon Fairbanks • Gerry Fisher • Bruce Garrett • Jeff Hammerberg • [on duty] the Wednesday after I got voted they do until you are one.” ed cracking up. I think I got Dr. Eva Hersh • Shirli Hughes • Michelle Lanchester, Esq. • in and we had a big re in the 100 block As a gay man in an through to them with that Dana LaRocca • Jessica Lemmo • Jay Loane • Rev. Meredith Moise • Bill Palmer • Gregg Shapiro of Main Street in Laurel. It ended up being environment such as a and since, it’s been like I’m an impressive two-alarm re,” Brian said. rehouse, one would Graphics just another guy. Amy Ray • Joe Velasquez “Normally people that were as new as I was think there would be some “I think I’ve also dis- Cartoonist are expected to sit on the sidelines and just sparks and concerns pelled some rumors and Bruce Garrett (Brucegarrett.com) watch. I decided I couldn’t and ended up about tting in. “That has misconceptions about the Photographers pulling and racking hose, helping clean up been the most surpris- gay community along the Aaron Antonio • Bruce Garrett • Daniel McGarrity • Jay W Photos and a few other things. I think that gained me ing part for me and I think way. The atmosphere is ba- Web Editor a lot of respect starting out.” for the other members as sically this: when you have Anja Saine [email protected] He was not about to be idle. If he was go- well,” Brian points out. to put your life on the line Managed Web Services ing to get into this, he wanted to make sure “It’s been an educational and you have to rely on the The Fusio Group he did it all the way.