Baltimore Gay Life February 2014

February 2014

BaltimoreGayLife.com

THE SENIOR ISSUE

GAYLIFE Read it. Live it.

GEORGE TAKEI IS

Love it.

STILL TREKKING

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FEBRUARY 2014

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

IN THIS GAY LIFE

11

FEBRUARY

2014

In the Prime of Their Lives Baltimore group for older gay and bisexual men (and the men who love them) offers support and social events.

By Danielle Stern

12

Time Fries Gracefully Longtime Rehoboth Beach resident Fay Jacobs discusses retiring with grace and wisdom in her latest book, Time Fries.

By Jen Vance & Kelly Neel

The Graying of the Rainbow

By Steve Charing

LOCAL LIFE

7 8

GLCCB's New Home Vagina Monologues at MICA

By Kelly Neel

HIGH LIFE

9

By John Cullen with Marty Shayt

REAL LIFE

News

By Rachel Roth

OUR LIFE

18

When to Tell Your Partner

Kyle Suib

By Courtney Bedell

BETTER LIFE

19

By Frankie Kujawa

Lost City Diner

13

Still Trekking

10 Dining Out:

18

Financial Considerations for Older LGBT Couples

By Amanda Wooddell

Living Single: Senior Style

By Alicia Gabriel

SOCIAL LIFE

20 Datebook 23 BSCENE

Aging with HIV

By Justin B. Terry-Smith

Visit BaltimoreGayLife.com for additional features, including Louise Parker Kelley’s second installment of True Colors, the series that gives a behind-the-scenes look back at Baltimore’s LGBT movement over the past 35 years.

BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

FEBRUARY 2014

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FEBRUARY 2014

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

EDITOR’S LIFE

Hello February!

Hello once again, dear Gay Life readers! It’s only February, and things have been moving at lightning speed around the Gay Life offices.

The biggest news this month is that the GLCCB, the parent arm of Gay Life, has finally found a new place to call home—the Waxter Center (1000 Cathedral Street, in Mt. Vernon). As you may recall, the 241 West Chase Street building that the GLCCB has called home since 1980 was sold last June, and the Center’s executive staff and board of directors have spent the better part of the last six months tirelessly searching high and low for the perfect place to plant new roots.

Moving is a bittersweet moment for the organization. The 241 West Chase building has served as a safe space for Baltimore’s LGBT commu-

nity for almost four decades, and I will certainly miss roaming the halls where history was made and the good fight was fought. However, I know that everyone at the GLCCB and Gay Life is ready to continue the work started so many years ago in our new home and serve the community to the best of our abilities.

All of the particulars of our move are being finalized at press time, so please visit GLCCB.org and on our Facebook page for the latest updates and information about the move.

DAN MCEVILY Editor

ON THE COVER

Star Trek film and television star George Takei FACEBOOK.COM/GLCCB • TWITTER.COM/GLCCB • YOUTUBE.COM/THEGLCCB Dan McEvily, Editor editor@baltimoregaylife.com M. Cory Burgess, Art Director cory@metroscapemedia.com Sabre Chase, Advertising sales@baltimoregaylife.com

GAYLIFE Read it. Live it.

Love it.

241 W. Chase Street Baltimore, MD 21201 410.777.8145 Phone 410.777.8135 Fax sales@baltimoregaylife.com www.baltimoregaylife.com

National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media, 212.242.6863 Contributors Courtney Bedell, Steve Charing, John Cullen,

Alicia Gabriel, Frankie Kujawa, Kelly Neel, Rachel Roth, Marty Shayt, Justin B. Terry-Smith, Danielle Stern, Jen Vance, Amanda Wooddell

Photographers John Kardys, Samatra Johnson, Kelly Neel, Richelle Taylor, Jay W.

Magazine Committee Maggie Beetz, John Cullen, Doug Rose, Marty Shayt, Richelle Taylor, Matt Thorn

Gay Life is a publication of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB). Gay Life is published monthly in Baltimore, Md., with distribution throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved. Gay Life is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Gay Life or its publisher.

BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

FEBRUARY 2014

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GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland Serving the LGBT Community of Maryland for 35 years

241 W. Chase St. • Baltimore, MD 21201 • 410.777.8145 • GLCCB.org

Programs will remain at 241 W. Chase Street through Sunday, February 9th. Effective Monday, February 10th, programs will move to the 3rd floor of the Waxter Center building at 1000 Cathedral Street. For more information on meeting locations please contact our Program Manager at kneel@glccb.org.

Trans Programs

Women’s Programs

AKANNI

SILHOUETTE

BALTIMORE TRANSMASCULINE ALLIANCE

WOMEN OF COLOR

A safe, respectful, confidential environment where all transmen can share their story and their journey.

2nd Tuesdays 6pm • Rm 202 vmillhouse@blacktransmen.org BlackTransmen.org

A support group for trans*men (FTM).

3rd Thursdays 6:30pm • 1st Floor BTMA@glccb.org

TRAN*QUILITY

A support group for trans* women (MTF), but anyone who varies from traditional gender expression is welcome.

2nd & 4th Saturdays 8pm • Rm 201 Tranquility@glccb.org

Recovery ACCESS TO RECOVERY

Care-coordinators will offer recovery support services for LGBT individuals.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 2-7pm Please contact Latif Karim at outreach.latifkarim@gmail.com

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS LGBTQ centered AA recovery groups, welcoming to all.

Mondays 7:15pm • Thursdays 8:30pm Saturdays 6:30pm • Rm 201

AA—POSITIVELY SOBER

An open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, which provides a safe place for those with HIV or other health related issues.

All are welcome.

Sundays 6:15pm • Rm 201 jeffreysquibb@yahoo.com

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

Men’s Rap group for men in recovery.

Sundays, 11:30am • Rm 201

Health & Wellness BEGINNERS’ YOGA

Gentle beginners’ yoga with instructor Tim Hurley, RYT. $9 Sundays 3:30pm• Rm 201

FREE and confidential testing from the Baltimore City Health Dept.

Wednesdays 5-8pm

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A safe, confidential, and supportive space for LBTQ women of all colors.

2nd, 4th, & 5th Thursdays 7:30pm 1st Floor WOC@glccb.org Meetup.com/Baltimore-LesbiansOf-Color

Youth & Young Adult Programs RAINBOW YOUTH ALLIANCE BALTIMORE

A support, social, and discussion group for LGBTQ teens and allies ages 13-19, in partnership with PFLAG Baltimore.

Every Tuesday 7-9pm • Room 202 RYABaltimore@gmail.com Facebook.com/groups/RYABaltimore

MIXED COMPANY

(QUEER YOUNG ADULT GROUP)

A discussion, support, and social group for young adult LGBTidentified or questioning individuals and their allies.

Tuesdays at 5:30pm • Room 201

Community Programs POZitive PEOPLE

A free, weekly, peer-led support group for HIV-positive individuals in the LGBT community.

Wednesdays 7-8pm • Rm 201 POZpeople@glccb.org

BOOK CLUB

A welcoming book club for LGBTQ individuals to discuss a selected reading.

3rd Mondays 7pm • Rm 202 Facebook.com/ groups/139583666184199

The GLCCB is the publisher of Gay Life and the producer of Baltimore Pride

GAYLIFE Read it. Live it.

2013

HIV & SYPHILIS TESTING

SILhouette (Spiritually In-tuned Lesbians) is a spiritual community of women who love women desiring to discover, embrace and live as their spiritual-authentic self.

1st and 3rd Tuesdays 7pm • Rm 201

Love it.

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

LOCAL LIFE

GLCCB Announces Building Move

BY GAY LIFE In late January, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB) announced it was finalizing details to move its administrative offices and program meeting space to the third floor of the Waxter Center building (1000 Cathedral St.) in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood.

“We’re overjoyed to finally announce this exciting next step of the GLCCB,” said Matt Thorn, the GLCCB’s executive director. “The Waxter Center is a perfect fit for the needs of our organization and the communities we serve.”

Negotiations for space in the Waxter Center, which is owned by the city of Baltimore, began in the late summer of 2013.

The deal will be completed on Feb. 5 after the Baltimore City Board of Estimates meets for final approval.

“We look forward to a favorable report from the Board of Estimates and thank the Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s office, the Baltimore City Council and Baltimore City Comptroller Joan Pratt on diligently working on this partnership,” said Thorn.

The GLCCB’s regularly scheduled program meetings (see p. 6 for full listing) will remain at the 241 W. Chase building until Feb. 9. Beginning Feb. 10, meetings will take place at the Waxter Center. Updates on directions to the new location, access to the building, and meeting room numbers will be continuously updated on the GLCCB’s website (www.GLCCB.org) and Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/glccb).

The new Waxter Center space occupies approximately 4700 square feet of the third floor of building, and is accessible by elevator. Drop-in opportunities and access to the Center’s community computer lab will be made available Mondays-Fridays from 12pm – 6pm. Additionally, the organization will be hosting an open house in March to unveil the new space.

Please visit GLCCB.org for updates on the upcoming move. For additional programming questions relating to the Waxter Center move, please contact Kelly Neel at kneel@glccb.org.

BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

WAXTER CENTER

FEBRUARY 2014

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LOCAL LIFE

Celebrating VDAY

STUDENTS STAND UP AGAINST VIOLENCE IN THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

BY KELLY NEEL The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) will stage its fifth year of performances of The Vagina Monologues Feb. 13 – 15. The play will be performed in support of VDAY, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. The VDAY movement was established by Monologues playwright Eve Ensler in 1998, and garnered its inspiration from the buzz surrounding the original Off-Broadway performances of the show. Approached by many women with their own tales of survival, Ensler realized the potential benefit of using The Vagina Monologues as a catalyst for change; thus VDAY was born.

Every year VDAY encourages women from around the world to hold their own performances of the play in order to raise awareness on the topic of violence against women, and to help fundraise for local organizations that serve victims of violence, including rape, battery, incest,

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female genital mutilation, and sex slavery.

Performances of The Vagina Monologues and the celebration of the VDAY movement were originally brought to the MICA campus at the suggestion of a student programmer for the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Development.

Since their inception five years ago, MICA has helped raise funds for many local organizations such as TurnAround, Inc. and this year, Family and Children Services of Central Maryland.

The performances have also served to educate the community on the importance of women’s health and safety.

“When [the monologues] were first performed, it was anything but normal for women to be discussing their sexuality or vaginas in a public space. Even now it still shocks new audiences,” Christianna Clark, the student director of this year’s performance at MICA said. “The

monologues began conversations that really picked apart the gritty details of being a woman, removing a veil of silence. The monologues contain stories of exploration, finding one’s sexuality, sexual violation, birth, what it’s really like to have a vagina, and many other things women just weren’t allowed to talk about but are such a huge part of every girl and woman’s life.”

To get a taste of what to expect at the performances Clark noted, “The audience favorite is usually ‘My Angry Vagina’ because it really voices a lot of [things] vaginas are put through!”

Unlike other student-run shows on campus, The Vagina Monologues auditions are open to all members of the community making the composition even more interesting and diverse for the audience. “The cast ranges every year in its composition of students, faculty, and staff. We will have about 24 performers this year,” said Clark.

By involving the community and creating a dialogue about the raw and real issues that women face daily, The Vagina Monologues serves a critical role in the fight against violence and the freeing of women against judgment and discrimination. Be sure to catch this year’s performance and help the Baltimore community spread the word on the importance of antiviolence movements like VDAY!

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

Fri., Feb. 13 and Sat., Feb. 14 • 8pm Saturday, Feb.15 • Midnight The Gateway: BBOX Maryland Institute College of Art 1601 W. Mount Royal Ave. Tickets: $5 MICA students, faculty and staff; $10 general public

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

HIGH LIFE

ON STAGE

Still Trekking: George Takei Set to Land in Baltimore

BY FRANKIE KUJAWA This month, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents the Sci-Fi Spectacular hosted by none other than the incomparable George Takei. Known for his role as Mr. Sulu of Star Trek fame and his hilarious social media presence, Takei last performed for Baltimore audiences in 2008.

The Sci-Fi Spectacular will feature musical selections from science fiction’s best films and television programs. Gay Life recently phoned in for a chat with Takei to talk about his upcoming BSO performance, the Russian Winter Olympics and which USS Enterprise crew member would catch Mr. Sulu’s eye.

What can audiences expect from the Sci-Fi Spectacular at the BSO later this February?

It’s going to be more or less the same program that we’ve been doing all over the country. We just completed one in Ft. Worth last weekend. It’s Maestro Jack Everly and his gathering of music from Sci-Fi movies and television series.

Music plays such an important part in transporting people into the universe and across galaxies.

I [also] give a little talk about Star Trek and I do a recitation from The Day the Earth Stood Still. We also have an amazingly gifted soprano who will be performing with her amazing voice.

This specific performance marks your return to Baltimore, correct?

Yes, I’ve been there many times to do Star Trek conventions. Also, I was there a few years ago performing the Sci-Fi Spectacular, as well.

What did you enjoy about our city?

I love embracing that Harbor air!

You have been dubbed the unofficial ‘King of Facebook’ for your hilarious posts and deadpan

BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

wit. What do you attribute to your Facebook success?

First of all, the success is completely surprising to me. I had no idea the power and the speed of social media. Today, I have almost 5.7 million fans on Facebook.

That is totally inconceivable to me!

Why do you think so many fans follow you?

It all comes down to content. Through trial and error, I’ve found it is humor that is the social glue that binds all people.

They may be Republicans, Democrats, white-collared, blue-collared, seniors or millennials. Humor brings it all together.

That is the glue, the honey that attracts.

You have been quite outspoken regarding the relocation of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. What are your thoughts on the fact the games are still being held there?

Well, we warned people that there was going to be trouble. That’s why we suggested Vancouver. The Russians clearly breached the Olympic code of no discrimination. If the Olympic community had any backbone they would have removed the Games. It’s a very worrisome thing that the LGBT community in Russia will really be under the gun. Putin is the type of person who will take it out on them.

The hooligans are the ones who are the troublemakers, the ones who are beating up the LGBT community. And the police, the police, are looking the other way. It’s that type climate the LGBT Russians have to live with each day.

Will you be watching the Olympics this year, despite the location?

I’m tempted to watch it, but I was on the Larry O’Donnell show the middle of last year, and NBC was airing it. I said there are going to be problems and that if this

Winter Olympics goes on, I said I would not watch it and I will not go. So, no, I won’t be watching it. I will be following by the old fashioned newspaper.

[Pauses] You know — I have some breaking news for you.

That’s fabulous. My laptop and I are all ears!

My husband, Brad, and I have been followed by a documentarian for the last three years, documenting our lives. She is from San Francisco. About a month and a half ago we flew up to San Francisco because she said she almost had a final cut, and it looks terrific. She submitted it to the Sundance Film Festival, and out of the thousand plus documentaries that have been submitted, we are one of the 36.

We are going to have our premier the day after tomorrow [ January 17, 2014] of To Be Takei at the Sundance Film Festival and we are so ecstatic about it! However, we are going to To Be Takei in Utah, and you know what’s happening there right now?

Absolutely.

The ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional and over 1,300 LGBT couples got married. The Governor of Utah appealed to the appellate court, so they appealed to the Supreme Court and they placed a stay. But then, that Governor went one step further and said the 1,300 marriages that already happened won’t be recognized. Out of pure meanness, he stated that those marriages didn’t happen!

It’s a fact that these people love each other and went out of their way to show that. The fact that the Governor went out of his way to say that, I mean, he’s governed out of hysteria.

BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS SCI-FI SPECTACULAR

Our February issue will feature content on LGBT seniors. In your opinion, what are the most prevalent issues facing LGBT senior citizens today?

I think it’s no different from the issues confronting senior citizens across the board, with the overlay of homophobia.

Elderly LGBT people are now in need of assisted living or a warm and neighborly setting in which to live. And, also, there are people who have limited incomes and their savings haven’t been sufficient, so housing issues come up as well. Also, the comfort of being part of a neighborhood is important. In many big cities there are specialized housing being created and funds being raised. Also, governmental funds are being raised. We have one here in Hollywood, with a program that is appealing to an LGBT senior citizen community. The situation becomes more challenging for people in rural and suburban areas because there isn’t a community there to support projects like that.

I can’t thank you enough for your time today. But, before you go, I have one more burning question for you. Who would be Sulu’s most desired — Captain Kirk or Spock? Or would we be surprised that Scotty is in the running?

[Laughs] Well, Sulu is a fitness guy, and Kirk is not. And certainly the actor today, who played the original Kirk has turned into a heavyweight.

Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock, though, has quite the sexy mind. I think that Sulu could easily fall in love with a sexy mind as easily as he could a sexy body!

Hosted by George Takei Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22 • 8pm Sunday, Feb. 23 • 3pm $34-80 Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall 1212 Cathedral St. T BSOMusic.org

FEBRUARY 2014

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HIGH LIFE

DINING OUT

Lost City Diner

BY JOHN CULLEN WITH MARTY SHAYT The Lost City Diner, located across the street from The Charles Theater, is an eye-catching, retro urban diner/luncheonette. The interior is colorful and quirky— complete with large science fiction movie posters and a rocket ship hanging from the pressed tin ceiling—with an old-style counter and a dozen booths and tables throughout the space.

The menu is equally quirky and definitely takes time to read through. In addition to all-hours breakfast/brunch fare (most $7-10), there’s a mix of appetizers ($6-11), burgers (most $8-11, save for the $18 ‘Monster’ 1-lb. burger with copious amounts of cheese, smoked bacon and onion rings that certainly deserves mention), assorted deli-type sandwiches (most $9-14), and entrees (most $11-15).

Additionally, there’s a separate two-page menu dedicated to desserts ($4-9) and

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fountain service delicacies, including shakes, egg creams, and floats ($5-8). The Lost City Diner also has special soy-based, vegan friendly ice cream made just for them (starting at $2/scoop and available in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry).

On a cold winter evening, we decided to start with some of the Diner’s ‘made here’ soup ($5/cup). John’s vegan chili was awesomely spicy and topped with chopped raw onion. The soup reminded him of the vegan chili at dearly departed Zodiac—perhaps no surprise, since the Lost City owner also ran the Zodicac as well as Club Charles. Marty found his beef macaroni soup (with lots of veggies) hearty and satisfying. Our soups arrived less than piping hot—but our waiter Nico quickly resolved that issue for us. We gave “Thumbs Up!” to both soups!

For our main course, John ordered Viv-

ian’s Fried Chicken ($14)—this included two large breaded, pan fried boneless chicken breasts, as well as ‘made here’ mashed potatoes, gravy, a sizeable biscuit, and a side salad. The chicken was tasty, and the portion huge—John had to take one breast home! The mashed potatoes were clearly not instant. The iceberg lettuce salad had a retro feel to it, while the biscuit was as large, dense and had hockey puck potential to it.

Marty went with a chicken parmesan sub sandwich and chips ($9). The parm came with breaded chicken tenders, topped with a measly teaspoon of tomato sauce and a miniscule amount of melted cheese. It proved disappointing.

Fortunately, Marty found the attentive, friendly and cute waiter Nico a great distraction! From prior visits, we would recommend the meat loaf entrée ($12)

and the Jayne Mansfield breakfast ($10— featuring two eggs on English muffins in a suggestive pose ).

LOST CITY DINER

Station North • 1730 N. Charles St. W410.339.LOST (5678) T LostCityDiner.com Open Monday–Thursday 5pm-midnight Friday and Saturday 5pm–3am Sunday 11am–midnight No alcohol, but no "corkage" fee for BYOB Vegetarian and vegan options Breakfast options available all the time On-street parking only Email DiningOut@BaltimoreGayLife.com and find all prior reviews at BaltimoreGayLife-DiningOut.info.

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

PRIME TIMERS OF BALTIMORE

Photo by John Kardys

IN THE PRIME OF THEIR LIVES Baltimore Group Offers Support, Social Events for the Senior Set T

he Prime Timers of Baltimore is a group of gay and bisexual men—“and the men who admire them,” according to its website—that serves to provide programming, peer interaction, and support for those looking for a welcoming community. The Baltimore chapter is a subset of Prime Timers Worldwide, which boasts 73 chapters across North America, Europe, Asia and, Australia. The current chapter is relatively new, having only separated from the Washington, D.C. chapter in 1997, and is made up of about 80 members in their 40s–80s.

Prime Timers hosts a number of monthly events, which gather impressive attendance and serve a variety of different functions.

One of the landmark events, as described by Prime Timer Richard Spittel, is a monthly business meeting that includes a packed program and a potluck dinner. On the second Sunday of every month, members of the group gather to discuss upcoming events, bylaws, and treasury issues. Following the business discussion, a program is usually given on topics ranging from Russian history and culture to the mental and physical health issues of older men. On some occasions, people from different service groups may come in to provide other programming, and the event always includes a potluck dinner.

“Nobody ever goes away hungry,” Spittel joked, as many of the men who attend meetings love to cook for groups, but don’t often have the opportunity. Amongst other BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

BY DANIELLE STERN benefits, Prime Timers provides an outlet for mature gay and bisexual men to share in what brings them joy.

The group holds meetings at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, a haven for the LGBT community. Previously, Prime Timers held its meetings at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore (GLCCB) in Mt. Vernon, but some of the older members were unable to walk up the stairs to the gathering space. After considering a few other spaces, Prime Timers ultimately ended up at St. Mark’s, where the very welcoming pastor was happy to accommodate. The church, Spittel stressed, was the first Lutheran church to fully accept LGBT people when its pastor made a bold declaration about 20 years ago. As a result, it estimates a congregation that is approximately one-third LGBT-indentified, with another one-third of the congregation having a gay family member or friend. About a half dozen Prime Timers are also members of the church, which, as Spittel emphasized, has been a real gift to the group.

Spittel, the group’s Dining Out Coordinator, also mentioned other monthly staples, which include a regular dinner gathering at some of the groups favorite restaurants, a weekend brunch, a movie night, and a mixer night. The mixer nights, he pointed out, are a good opportunity for those who “don’t normally go to bars” to go out and see friends. The bars are told that the group

is coming, so that everyone feels comfortable in the environment. For older gay and bisexual men in Baltimore, this is a particularly welcome time to be themselves.

Prime Timers also hosts a book discussion group, which has been running for about three years. Spittel explained that this is a long time for a male book group to run, which makes the membership of approximately 12 particularly noteworthy.

There are a number of other special events, such as day trips to historical sights and excursion trains, well-attended holiday picnics, theater nights, and an annual visit to the Renaissance Festival on every Labor Day. All of these events provide opportunities for bonding between members, Spittel highlighted, as well as a variety of different forms of entertainment.

Going forward, the Baltimore chapter would love to see an increase in membership. Other chapters, Spittel explained, have membership in the several hundreds, and some, like the Palm Springs chapter in Florida, have well over 1000 members. Palm Springs is a popular retirement destination for older gay men, but other cities with high memberships are not as obvious. In cities such as Oklahoma City and Columbus, Ohio, where gay bars and other LGBT groups are not as prominent, Prime Timers provides a welcoming oasis where older gay and bisexual men can form lasting friendships and receive peer support.

Larger cities like D.C., on the other hand, are particularly transient and also invite a high membership, as people always want to meet people but may not stay in the area for very long. Baltimore, Spittel pointed out, is “sort of a hometown,” so some people may not want to get involved in a group like Prime Timers for fear of being publically “out” in the community.

Even though the group has room to grow, Spittel was adamant that the most important thing that the members provide is “support that you might not get otherwise.”

Spittel met his former partner through the group, and when he passed away three years ago, he found immeasurable support from good friends and allies. This level of emotional care is intangible, but Spittel expressed that he would like to see more support services provided from the national level. These could include stronger bereavement support, legal aid and estate planning.

While the Baltimore chapter does make sure to bring in speakers to give programs on these topics, a national resource base would be yet another asset.

Most importantly, Prime Timers is a “very friendly, supportive group,” Spittel stressed.

Baltimoreans can see them marching in the annual Pride parade, where they are always a crowd favorite, and browse event listings in local publications. Interested potential members can visit the group’s website at PTBalto.org.

FEBRUARY 2014

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THE GRAYING OF THE RAINBOW

BY STEVE CHARING

Most of us LGBT folks have learned over time that the sunset years in our community usually begin at age 30 or perhaps 40, depending on the person. In our youthobsessed culture that transcends sexual orientation, once you move out of the roaring 20s, you might as well pack it in. It is especially true in the gay male world where full heads of (non-gray) hair and sculpted abs are iconic.

This reality had been ingrained in our minds, and we live our lives accordingly— some better than others. Not everybody comes to terms with that fate lying down.

We fight it. We deny it. We work hard to disprove it. One thing you cannot do is change it. No one wants to be looked at as “that old man” or “that old woman.” It’s all about self-esteem.

There is another reality: time marches on and so should we. If we can benefit from good fortune and not perish in an unexpected non-health related fashion, the chances are that with improving medical advances and living a healthy lifestyle, we should be able make it through our 80s or even higher. It means that we leave our youthfulness in the rear view mirror as we continue on that journey, but we should accept ourselves at any age with grace, dignity and, of course, pride.

Nonetheless, many mature folks take to heart the marginalization exhibited by some LGBT youth. Rejection by the younger generation, however, is not universal as there are instances where young LGBT people find attraction to their elders and establish friendships.

Younger folks tend to look for role models, experience, and wisdom as they attempt to navigate through a high-speed, complex and challenging world.

But there are other issues confronting older LGBT folks that go beyond their acceptance by their younger brethren. The number of seniors in the LGBT population—a microcosm of the general population—is increasing faster than just about any other age group. This has been enhanced by the Baby Boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964. Currently, there are an estimated 1.4 to 3.8 million LGBT people in the U.S. over the age of 65 with that number expected to double by 2030.

A San Diego LGBT Senior Needs Assessment Survey polled some 500 LGBT seniors, ages 50 and up, on topics most

important to them as they grow older.

Social matters, support, and fear of social isolation were the top issues among those surveyed. That was followed by health and quality of life issues, financial unease, LGBT-affirmative housing and housing affordability, and health insurance/access to quality health care.

As identified in the survey, an important issue facing LGBT seniors is living alone.

That’s true for 50 percent of LGBT elders versus 33 percent of the general population, according to Dr. Judy Bradford of The Fenway Institute, a Boston-based researcher of LGBT health issues. She notes that LGBT seniors are more likely to be estranged from their families thereby contributing to loneliness and isolation.

This isolation is compounded by the fact there is a paucity of LGBT retirement communities in the U.S. While the number of such communities is increasing each year, there are still too few to house the burgeoning older LGBT population.

Nursing homes are also problem for LGBT seniors. Despite the progress in achieving marriage equality, most states still do not recognize the marriages of same-sex couples, and the existing cultural discrimination results in couples being split up in such facilities. We hear of too many instances whereby LGBT seniors are forced to return to the closet to remain safe in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

Yet with all these gray clouds forming above the heads of LGBT seniors, there are solid support networks to help allow the sunshine to peer in. The Prime Timers of Baltimore offers an outstanding array of social activities and interaction to help their members address some of these concerns, especially the major issue of social isolation. For lesbians, there is the social group Older and Wiser Lesbians (OWLs) of the Greater Capitol area. Other groups are forming as well.

And there are a number of excellent resources available for LGBT older adults to consult. Among them is The National Research Center of LGBT Aging (lgbtagingcenter.org), SAGE-Metro D.C. (thedccenter.org/programs_sagemetrodc. html) and SAGE (sageusa.org). Hopefully, our other local and national LGBT organizations will also recognize that the aging LGBT population is a stark reality and meeting the challenges associated with it should be a high priority.

No matter how young you are now, with good fortune, you will eventually join the ranks of the gray hue in the rainbow and will need these issues resolved. It’s time to start now.

Time Fries Gracefully in Rehoboth Beach

BY JEN VANCE AND KELLY NEEL

Looking for a good book to cozy up to?

Check out author and Letters from CAMP Rehoboth columnist Fay Jacobs’ newest publication Time Fries. The fun loving and humorous author has been writing for Letters since 1995 and has penned a series of books that recount her experiences living as an out lesbian in Rehoboth Beach.

In turn, the series delves into a nearly 20year history of LGBT rights and activism through the looking glass of Jacobs’ life in the popular Delaware seaside town.

Jacobs’ essays originally appeared periodically in local publications. It wasn’t until she was encouraged by friends, Anyda Marchant and Muriel Crawford of A&M Books, that she even considered compiling her essays into a series of books.

In her most recent tomb Time Fries, Jacobs discusses her retirement and making the most of what life has to offer. “It is a universal story about those of us in Rehoboth, which is [seemingly] becoming a retirement community for lesbians,” Jacobs joked. “We are having a blast; we may be collecting social security, but we are having a grand time.”

Though the book discusses the idea of aging, Jacobs believes that it is more about the retirement process. While retirement has presented the author new challenges and experiences, it hasn’t

altered the passions she has cultivated throughout her life. “I’m still a rabid activist and very involved in politics and GLBT rights, but I have the time to enjoy myself now,” Jacobs noted. “I am making sure I meet interesting people and have interesting experiences. I think the lesson from all of this is that you can have fun and you can have a great time [but] you have to get your priorities straight. People first, experiences second and ‘stuff ’ way down on the list.”

The author is quick to point out there’s something for everyone in Time Fries.

“The thing I love is that, gay or straight, we all have human experiences and we all can identify with a lot of things in this book,” Jacobs said. “Whether it has to do with waiting for the gavel to come down on the approval of gay marriage in Delaware, or whether it has to do with collecting your social security, we’re all in this together!”

As for anyone who might be dreading the idea of retiring, Jacobs offers some sage advice. “Look forward to [retiring] and take advantage of it. It’s not the end, it’s a beginning. It is a time to enrich yourself and those around you.”

Time Fries: Aging Gracelessly in Rehoboth Beach by Fay Jacobs is available for purchase at AandMBooks.com and Amazon.com.

Book cover courtesy of A&M Books

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FEBRUARY 2014

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

REAL LIFE

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS BY RACHEL ROTH

MARYLAND VIRGINIA

UTAH OKLAHOMA

NIGERIA CHILE

VA Dems announce push to expand gay rights VIRGINIA

Virginia Senate Democrats have promised to make the expansion of gay rights in the state a priority this term. Lawmakers announced a legislative agenda that includes codifying nondiscrimination laws protecting gays in the state workforce, and allowing public colleges, universities and localities to extend benefits to same-sex partners.

Additionally, Sen. Adam P. Ebbin, DAlexandria, announced SJ1, an amendment to the Virginia Constitution that would repeal the 2006 amendment barring same-sex marriages.

In related news, hours after his inauguration ceremony, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order prohibits workplace discrimination against LGBT state employees.

Marriage equality is okay in OK OKLAHOMA

A federal judge ruled that an Oklahoma law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples violates the U.S. Constitution.

However, U.S. District Court Judge Terence Kern, who wrote the decision, said that the court would not immediately enforce it. Kern did say that Part A—which BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

expressly prohibits same-sex marriage— is “an arbitrary, irrational exclusion of just one class of Oklahoma citizens from a government benefit.”

Gay marriage on hold in Utah UTAH

In late December, federal district judge Robert Shelby struck down Utah’s marriage-equality ban. The court’s decision caused uproar in the historically conservative state resulting in The Supreme Court stepping in. The nation’s highest court ordered a stop to same-sex marriages while the state appeals the ruling. In the two weeks gay marriage was allowed, nearly 1,400 couples were wed.

Immediately following The Supreme Court’s decision, Gov. Gary Herbert instructed state agencies not to recognize those unions. Attorney General Eric Holder shot back, promising the couples that they will be recognized as legally married by the federal government.

Protection of gay minors and trans rights front and center in MD MARYLAND

Maryland Delegate Jon Cardin introduced a bill that would prohibit LGBT “conversion therapy” on minors. Addi-

tionally, Senator Rich Madaleno, who is gay, introduced legislation that seeks to ban transgender discrimination statewide.

Similar bills were introduced but voted down in 2011 and 2013.

Civil-unions legislation clears key vote in Chile CHILE

In its first session of 2014, the Chilean Senate voted 28-6 to advance legislation that would legalize same-sex civil unions.

The Life Partner Agreement (AVP) would allow same-sex couples to receive most of the benefits afforded to heterosexual married couples.

The bill was first introduced to Congress in August 2011 by the administration of President Sebastián Piñera. It now will be sent to a constitutional committee before returning to Congress on Jan. 20.

Gay relationships banned in Nigeria NIGERIA

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill into law that criminalizes gay marriage, public displays of samesex relationships, and belonging to gay groups. According to Al Jazeera, the law penalizes anyone who enters into a samesex marriage or civil union with up to 14

years in prison while any such partnerships entered into abroad are deemed “void.” Anyone who registers operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations or who directly or indirectly makes a public show of a same-sex relationship will break the law face up to10 years in prison. Additionally, allies also face up to five years in prison for five for “failing to report LGBT behavior.”

More leaders join Olympic boycott WORLDWIDE

French President François Hollande and EU Commissioner Viviane Reding joined the growing list of political leaders boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Citing Russia’s anti-gay laws, Hollande and Reding join German President Joachim Gauck and President Obama, who will send openly gay athletes in his place.

Conversely, Bulgarian Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, has said he will attend the opening ceremony. He told local media that he decided to spurn calls for a boycott because Bulgaria was “not that influential a country.”

Find more LGBT news online at

BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

FEBRUARY 2014

PAGE 13

JUSTIN'S HIV JOURNAL

OUR LIFE

When to Tell Your Partner

BY COURTNEY BEDELL

February is the month for lovers, so it seems apropos to discuss a relationship question that TGs often deal with at some point in their love lives: When do you tell your sexual partner you’re TS? Since relationships are built on honesty, is it right or fair not to tell? We just want to be women (or men) as authentic as any other. I prefer not to be made to think about where I come from or be reminded that I’m TS. This is a bit of a conundrum because facts are facts and to be truly authentic it seems we must accept who we are as well as who were. So, do we tell our partner or not? And, if so when?

This is a very difficult question to answer which is why the TG blog sites are loaded with contradictory advice on this issue. There is no one correct answer as individual circumstances vary. Most advice skews to the side of disclosure, preferably at the outset of a budding relationship. The obvious fear about telling up front is that once they learn about our past, the relationship will be over before it begins. If you wait or never discuss it you face the possibility that disclosure will cause a loving relationship to end. There is also the possibility that they may learn about you inadvertently. The worst case is that learning about you and that you hid it may release the homophobe inside an otherwise sweet and decent seeming person who may act out physically.

The reason against up-front disclosure I hear most often (and have used myself ) is that we want them to get to know and love us for the people we are without the prejudice that we believe will inevitably come from knowing about our past. That is a valid point, but what about what the possibility that when you tell him after you’ve been intimate they freak out saying you are dishonest, a liar by omission. You

PAGE 18

FEBRUARY 2014

can explain that it’s a medical condition and not anyone else’s business, but that probably won’t be enough. You know your being TG is a big part of who you are and hiding it is omitting a big aspect of your life from the one person you are supposed to share everything with.

We are who we are and we must be up front or we will live our lives with anxiety in fear of discovery. Who wants to live with their guard up all the time? It’s just another kind of cage like the one I was stuck in prior to transitioning, and I refuse to live that way again. One time I slipped at a party and said I did the mile swim at Broadcreek which is a Boy Scout camp. I don’t know if anyone there knew what Broadcreek was, but I said it in front of a guy I liked so if we went out and I hid my past it could possibly cause a problem down the road. That is exactly the kind of thing I wish to avoid by being honest before a relationship becomes intimate. There is also self-esteem, the idea that we are up-front because we are not ashamed of who we are. Being honest may eliminate some potential partners right away and that is unfortunate. Being TG is no picnic and not what we would have chosen for ourselves had we been consulted in utero!

But it is our reality and I think we must deal with it honestly and with self-esteem and pride. Anyway, that’s my opinion at this moment. There may be a circumstance in the future in which I choose not to tell my partner. It’s my life and my choice to decide how I wish to navigate it.

There are still plenty of men who are not so insecure in their manhood that they would stay away from a woman they are care for and are attracted to. That’s the kind of man I would prefer anyway. I just hope you will all be careful dealing with this question. Learn who you are with, and don’t risk your heart or your physical safety for a relationship. We are authentic women and men and we don’t have to deny who we are or be dishonest for anyone.

If you have had any experiences in dealing with this topic please write in and share them with Baltimore Gay Life readers and I will address them in my next column. Write to me at advice@ baltimoregaylife.com.

Aging with HIV

BY JUSTIN B. TERRY-SMITH There is one thing that we as humans have to face, and that is getting older. There isn’t any Botox, moisturizer, or home remedy that will make you stop aging. I belong to the HAG: HIV Aging Group on Facebook, whose goal is to discuss all issues related to the senior HIV patient experience. The group was a mystery to me until someone suggested I join it. Now, I’m 34, but I’m considered young to some and old to others. As I was mulling over this month’s column, I thought about how I could get a good perspective on experiences from older people living with HIV. I posed to the group this question: “What are some of the biggest challenges that come alongside aging with HIV, particularly if you have reached ‘senior status’?”

Here are some of the group’s responses: “For me, the only downside is having problems falling in love again.

I can take all the fatigue of taking HIV drugs every day […] The real bad part is getting old, period. Very few guys want to get involved with someone with a long HIV story. I don’t blame them in a way, but I never thought that we would be rejected precisely for all the things we did for the gay community. And that hurts.”—Mack.

“I believe that because of the long term use of all these toxic medications my body has aged faster than an uninfected person. My skin is paper thin, just like a very old person.

Every time I bump my hand or arm against anything I bruise or break the skin. My body is that of a man much older than I. A lot of the psychological problems we encounter due to living long term with illness seem worse than normal. I don’t know, sometimes the list can go on and on.

The real surprise is that I have actually reached ‘senior’ status.”—Josh “The emotional conflict of dealing with the same aging issues as everyone else, and trying to remain grateful for being alive at all.”—Mark Many of the responses I received noted that older people living with HIV deal with the same amount of pain and pressure as any other aging

person—just three times as worse.

The longer one is on HIV meds, the more the body seems to react to them. Your body wasn’t meant to be medicated everyday and medications do take their toll, but they also save lives. One common effect of long term use of HIV medication is lipodystriophy (a disorder of fat metabolism involving loss of fat from or deposition of fat in tissue), which usually shows up with the loss of fat in the buttocks, face, arms and legs.

Lipodystrophy can also present itself as fat accumulation, which may cause a development of larger breasts, abnormal obesity and/or a “buffalo hump” in the upper back.

I could only imagine what it must be like to suffer from something like lipodystrophy. I know it must be hard to find love as Mack expressed above.

Josh (the second quote) brings up another good point that he feels the HIV meds have aged him faster, than if he were not on them at all.

Sometimes I am hyper critical of myself and I think, “Wow I could use some collagen to fill in my face more, because I’m starting to look older and it must be, because of the HIV”.

Then I also think, “Well Justin you are 34 and you are just getting older, you don’t need it”. Chances are that I don’t, in fact, need it.

Personally, a major concern of mine is what happens to more than just my face or body? Meaning, when I can barely walk outside to get the newspaper or need a cane—who will help me then? Will I need assisted living? As Mark mentioned above, I should be grateful to be alive and count my blessings.

Justin B. Terry-Smith is a noted HIV and gay civil rights activist and the creator of ‘Justin’s HIV Journal,” a popular blog in which he shares his trials and tribulations of living with HIV. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Justin resides in Laurel, Md. with his husband, Dr. Philip Terry-Smith and their son Londyn.

Photographer: Don Harris.

Don Harris Photographics, LLC, © 2011 All Rights Reserved.

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

BETTER LIFE

Financial Considerations and DOMA for Older Couples in the LGBT Community

BY AMANDA WOODDELL, SC&H FINANCIAL ADVISORS

The Supreme Court’s striking down of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) will have a significant impact on financial, tax and estate planning for older same-sex couples in Maryland. While many couples have been partners for many years, and may not have considered pursuing marriage, there are tangible financial benefits that should be considered.

In addition, as the older generations in the LGBT community are coming upon their retirement years, the right financial planning can help ensure stability in the latter stages of life.

Following are new planning tools available to support retirement and estate planning that are only available to married couples.

¡¡ Gifting and Gift Splitting—As

a result of the DOMA ruling, there are positive gift and estate tax implications. Married same-sex couples can now make unlimited gifts to each other

without any negative federal gift or estate tax consequences. The tool of “giftsplitting” is also available, which allows a married individual to use both their own and their spouse’s annual exclusion amount and gift tax exemption toward a gift—if the spouse consents. ¡¡ Federal and Maryland Estate Tax Savings—If one spouse dies, the surviving spouse can be left an unlimited estate free of any federal estate tax because of the marital deduction privilege. The deceased spouse’s unused unified federal gift and estate tax exemption can now be left to the surviving spouse.

As Maryland has decoupled from the Federal estate tax regime, the state’s lower exemption of $1 million affected many taxpayers, but this tax can also be avoided if an estate is left to a spouse. ¡¡ Maryland Inheritance Tax— Maryland imposes a 10 percent inheritance tax on any amounts left to beneficiaries who are not lineal descendants of

the deceased (i.e. child, spouse of child, spouse, parent, grandparent, stepchild or stepparent and siblings). Same sex couples in Maryland can now avoid this inheritance tax for amounts left to their spouses or to the children of their spouses, which includes stepchildren. ¡¡ Health Benefits—Same-sex married couples can now take full advantage of health benefits, health flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts and other benefits that are available to married couples. In addition, a qualified retirement plan must now treat legally married same-sex spouses as “being married” for purposes of applying federal tax laws that govern qualified plans. ¡¡ Social Security Benefits—According to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) new guidance, claims will be paid to married applicants residing in Maryland. In addition, survivor benefits, divorced spouse entitlement and death benefits are now all available

to married same-sex couples in the state.

¡¡ Exclusion of Gain On Sale of

Principal Residence—Many couples may be living in jointly purchased homes, which have built up equity over the years. As selling a home is a common retirement strategy, same sex married couples can now exclude up to $500,000 of capital gains on the sale of their personal residences.

As many older couples are moving into retirement, it is never too late to say, “I do.”

The financial benefits of being married are far-reaching and can lay the foundation for a stable retirement that will allow you to continue enjoying your lives for years to come.

Amanda Wooddell is a Manager at SC&H Financial Advisors, the Personal Financial Planning practice at SC&H Group, which is an audit, tax, and consulting firm based in Sparks, Md. To learn more about SC&H Group, visit www.scandh.com.

Living Single: Senior Style

BY ALICIA GABRIEL, CHASE BREXTON HEALTH CARE We all know the saying, ‘with age comes wisdom.” A less popular reality, however, is that age comes with isolation. For every generation, this has been true. For every population, this is true. But for our LGBT communities, age is especially isolating.

According to Services and Advocacy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders (SAGE), “LGBT older people are twice as likely to live alone, twice as likely to be single, and three to four times less likely to have children—and many are estranged from their biological families.”

Sound like you or anyone you know?

Here’s the deal—isolation is unhealthy.

Not simply because we could fall and no one would be there to help us. Rather, BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

isolation has been shown to increase our stress levels, reduce our immune functions, and disrupt our sleep.

Many of us don’t choose isolation—instead, we are thrown into it. Friends and family move or die. Relationships end.

We outlive our partners. We can grow accustomed to being alone and relationships become oddly difficult to manage. After all, if we’re used to talking just to ourselves, other people may not get our jokes.

For LGBT seniors, it may feel (and it can be quite true) like there aren’t many options to re-build the network of people we once had. But we have to try.

All of this begs to ask the question of what’s out there for LGBT seniors. As the culture-at-large begins to finally become

more aware of our existence (no, really, we’re here!) and our needs, resources have begun to grow: financial assistance, caregiver support, retirement communities with a special focus on creating LGBTwelcoming environments, and even LGBT dating websites and social groups for folks over 60, there are definitely ways to finding people and support. Here are just a few:

¡¡ The National Resource Center on

LGBT Aging (LGBTAgingCenter.org) lists several resources and services for Maryland seniors. ¡¡ The GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB.org) has groups and events for all ages.

¡¡ You may not be religious, but a church or

synagogue can be the welcoming space you’re looking for. Parents, Families, and Friends of LGBT Persons (PFLAG) has a list of LGBT welcoming religious institutions (PFLAGBaltimore.org).

Search “religious institutions” on the site.

It’s tough to find people at any age and you may feel uninspired to do the work.

Depression is a normal reaction to isolation. But people, as the song goes, need other people. And, really, to be freed from isolation, we don’t need a hundred people in our lives – one or two meaningful friendships might be all we need to beat the ills of loneliness. So don’t fight it— friendships will make you feel good.

FEBRUARY 2014

PAGE 19

SPOTLIGHT

SOCIAL LIFE

DATEBOOK BY RACHEL ROTH

Recurring & Ongoing Events

SUNDAYS Dog Hikes with the Doctor First Sunday of the month • 11am-Noon • $2 Baltimore Humane Society 1601 Nicodemus Rd. • Reisterstown BMoreHumane.org Metropolitan Community Church Services Every Sunday 9am and 11am MCC Baltimore • 401 W. Monument St MCCBaltimore.org League of Women Bowlers Every Sunday 4:30pm AMF Marlow Heights Lanes 4717 St. Barnabas Rd. • Temple Hill LeagueOfWomenBowlers2@verizon.net Rise Up, Honoring Women’s Spirituality Fourth Sundays 12:45-2:15pm First Unitarian Church of Baltimore 1 W. Hamilton St. FirstUnitarian.net Westminster PFLAG Monthly Mtg. Third Sundays 7pm St. Paul’s United Church of Christ 17 Bond St. • Westminster PFLAGWCC.org

The Book of Mormon Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” Entertainment Weekly says it’s “the funniest musical of all time.” From South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, it’s The Book of Mormon, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical. Jon Stewart of The Daily Show calls it “a crowning achievement. So good it makes me angry.”

THE BOOK OF MORMON

Feb. 25 thru March 9 Hippodrome 12 N. Eutaw St. T BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com /Baltimore Contains explicit language Photos from national tour

by Joan Marcus

PAGE 20

FEBRUARY 2014

Heterosexual Friendly Gay Brunch First Sunday Frederick’s on Fleet • 2112 Fleet St. FredericksOnFleet.com ASGRA Monthly Trail Ride First Sundays 10:30am • $25-30 Piscataway Stables 10775 Piscataway Road • Clinton ASGRA.org Charm City Volleyball: Competitive Play Every Sunday 10am-1pm • $7 Volleyball House 5635 Furnace Ave. • Elkridge VolleyBaltimore.org Service of Worship First Sundays 10:30am First & Franklin • 210 West Madison St. FirstFranklin.org

MONDAYS Interfaith Fairness Coalition Mtg. Second Mondays 3-4:30pm First Unitarian Church of Baltimore 1 W. Hamilton St. IFCMD.info PFLAG Howard County Parent Forum Third Mondays 7:30pm Owen Brown Interfaith Center 7246 Cradlerock Way • Columbia PFLAGMD.org Senior Pride: Discussion Group for Women 55+ Monday evenings Chase Brexton Health Services www.bit.ly/SeniorPride

TUESDAYS Howard County PFLAG Monthly Mtg. Second Tuesdays 7:30pm Owen Brown Interfaith Center 7246 Cradlerock Way • Columbia PFLAGMD.org Karate-Dō (LGBT-friendly classes) Every Tuesday 5:30-7:30pm Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus Bob Remington — MDShoto@aol.com Csskshotokan.com Meditation Group Every Tuesday 6:15-7:45pm First Unitarian Church of Baltimore 1 W. Hamilton St. FirstUnitarian.net PFLAG Baltimore Co. General Mtg. Fourth Tuesdays 7pm Towson Unitarian Universalist Church 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd. PFLAGBaltimore.org Parents of Transgender Kids Fourth Tuesdays 7:30-9pm Owen Brown Interfaith Center 7246 Cradlerock Way • Columbia cvhyde@gmail.com PFLAGBaltimore.org Rainbow Youth Alliance of Baltimore County 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 7-9pm Towson Unitarian Universalist Church 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd. RYABaltimoreCounty@gmail.com Rainbow Youth Alliance of Howard County 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 7:30pm Owen Brown Interfaith Center 7246 Cradlerock Way • Columbia 410.280.9047 rya_leaders@hotmail.com Rainbow Youth Alliance of Baltimore City 1st, 3rd & 5th Tuesdays 7-9pm The GLCCB • 241 W. Chase St. RYABaltimore@gmail.com Facebook.com/groups/RYABaltimore Teen Program at JCC Second Tuesdays 6pm Owings Mills JCC 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave. JoinTeens.org Trans Parents Forum, Baltimore Co. Third Tuesdays 7-9:30pm Towson Unitarian Universalist Church 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd. PFLAGBaltimore.org

Living Well with HIV Support Group Every Wednesday 10:30am Institute of Human Virology 725 W. Lombard St. Jacques.umaryland.edu/support.html Spiritual Development with Rev. Sam Offer Every Wednesday 7pm Unity Fellowship Church of Baltimore 4007 Old York Rd. UFCB.org GEM: Gender Empowerment MD Every other Wednesday 7pm Equality Maryland • 1201 S. Sharp St. Senior Pride: Discussion Group for Men 55+ Wednesday evenings.

Chase Brexton Health Services 410-837-2050 ext. 2428 www.bit.ly/SeniorPride

THURSDAYS HIV Support: Substance Abuse & HIV Every Thursdays 2-3pm Institute of Human Virology 725 W. Lombard St. IHV.org Karate-Dō (LGBT-friendly classes) Every Thursday 5:30-7:30pm Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus Bob Remington — MDShoto@aol.com Csskshotokan.com

FRIDAYS HIV Support: Just Between US Every Friday 11am-Noon Institute of Human Virology 725 W. Lombard St. IHV.org

SATURDAYS Baltimore Frontrunners Every Saturday 8:45am • Brunch 10am Panera Bread, 3600 Boston St. BaltimoreFrontrunners.org HOPE DC Monthly Brunch First Saturdays 11am Rosemary’s Thyme Bistro DC 1801 18th St. NW • Washington, D.C. HopeDCSocials-owner@yahoogroups.com In the Company of Women First Saturdays 10am-Noon First Unitarian Church of Baltimore 1 W Hamilton St. FirstUnitarian.net

WEDNESDAYS Charm City Volleyball: Social Play Every Wednesday 6:30-9:30pm • $3-30 Mt Royal Recreational Center 137 McMechen St.

YOU CAN FIND GLCCB EVENTS ON PAGE 6

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

Datebook

SATURDAY, FEB. 1 Comedy Night with Reno, Rain Pryor & Meshelle Find the funny • $25-29 • 8pm The Gordon Center for Performing Arts 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave. • Owings Mills CreativeAlliance.org Saint Harridan Pop-Up Shop Tour Tailored, men’s style suits.

11am-6pm • Thru Feb. 2 Embassy Suites • 222 St. Paul Place SaintHarridan.com Boeing Boeing A sexy ‘60s romp with a dash of farce. $15-20 • Thru Feb. 9 Fells Point Corner Theater • 251 S. Ann St. FPCT.org Bob Marley’s Birthday Soul Shakedown Party With Jah Works • $12-17 • 8pm The Patterson • 3134 Eastern Ave. CreativeAlliance.org Charlie Chaplin’s The Idle Class and The Kid Presented by the BSO • $29-94 • 8pm Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Ln. • Bethesda BSOMusic.org Harvey A heartwarming story. $10-18 • 8pm • Thru Feb. 9 Vagabond • 806 S. Broadway VagabondPlayers.org elektroschock First Saturday of every month. $6 cover • 21+ • 9pm Grand Central • 1001 N. Charles St. CentralStationPub.com

SUNDAY, FEB. 2 Dark Visions A rare performance of Infinito Nero $12-17 • 3 & 8pm Baltimore Theater Project 45 W. Preston St. TheaterProject.org

MONDAY, FEB. 3 Men’s Naked Yoga Every Monday 6:30–7:30pm • $18 Vitruvian Gallery, LLC 734 7th St. SE, 2nd fl. • Wash., D.C. VitruvianGallery.com

TUESDAY, FEB. 4 War Horse Opens Winner of five Tony Awards. $30-90 + fees • 8pm • Thru Feb. 9 Hippodrome • 12 N Eutaw St. France-MerrickPAC.com Showtune Video Madness Sing out Louise! • FREE • Tuesdays 7:45pm Club Hippo • 1 W. Eager St. ClubHippo.com

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5

SATURDAY, FEB. 8

Gay BINGO! Cash prizes and progressive jackpot.

Drink specials, appetizers, and raffles.

Every Wednesday 8:30pm Club Hippo • 1 W. Eager St. ClubHippo.com

Stones in His Pockets Hilarious two-man show. $10-59 • 8pm • Thru Feb. 23 CENTERSTAGE • 700 N. Calvert St. CenterStage.org

Art of Giving Fashion Show Benefits Baltimore School for the Arts. $150 • 11am-1pm Village of Cross Keys • 5100 Falls Road KennedyKrieger.org

SHE Productions Presents REHAB 2nd Saturday of Every Month 9pm • $5 • 21+ Grand Central Disco and Sapphos 1001 N. Charles St. Facebook.com/SheProductions

SUNDAY, FEB. 9

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. $20-110 • 7:30pm Sidney Harman Hall 610 F St. NW • Washington, D.C. DCShakespeareTheatre.org

Chick Chat 50+ Lesbian Singles Group • Free • 1pm The Walters Art Museum 600 North Charles St. woernerc@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, FEB. 6

TUESDAY, FEB. 11

La Señorita de Tacna / The Young Lady from Tacna Opens A tale of how tales are born. $20-42 • 8pm • Thru March 9 GALA Hispanic Theatre 14th St. NW • Washington, DC GalaTheater.org

Cracker w/ Camper Van Beethoven • $25 • 6pm 9:30 Club • 815 V St. NW, • Wash., DC 930.com

Hip Hop Night at Club Hippo Get your dance on every Thursday.

Reduced cover before 11pm Club Hippo • 1 W. Eager St. ClubHippo.com

FRIDAY, FEB. 7 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day BackAIDSDay.org Black History Month Celebration Feat. “Chesapeake Bay Dreaming.” $12 • 5pm National Aquarium • 501 E. Pratt St. Aqua.org Party at The Patterson Lipstick with Bosley • $7-15 • 8pm The Patterson • 3134 Eastern Ave. CreativeAlliance.org First Fridays First Friday of every month 6:30pm • Free Eastern & East Ave. CreativeAlliance.org Wine Tasting FREE • Fridays 5-8pm Spirits of Mt Vernon Wine Shop 900 N. Charles St. SpiritsOfMtVernon.com Chocolate Happy Hour Weekly chocolate-fest • 6:30pm Ma Petite Shoe • 832 W. 36th St. MaPetiteShoe.com Fridays After Five Every Friday 5pm • $12 National Aquarium • 501 E. Pratt St. Aqua.org

THURSDAY, FEB. 13 Galactic Ryan Montbleau • $30 • 7pm 9:30 Club • 815 V St. NW, • Wash., DC 930.com The Vagina Monologues Real women’s stories of intimacy. $5-10 • 8pm • Thru Feb. 14 The Gateway: BBOX 1601 W. Mount Royal Ave. MICA.edu

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14 Valentine’s Day Kanye West The Yeezus Tour • $46.50–126.50 Baltimore Arena • 201 W Baltimore St. BaltimoreArena.com Tassels & Champagne $15-100 • 7:30 & 10pm The Patterson • 3134 Eastern Ave. CreativeAlliance.org POZ DC Happy Hour Mixer For HIV+ men • 7pm Green Lantern 1335 Green Ct. NW • Washington, DC HopeDC.org

THURSDAY, FEB. 15 Sondheim for Singles Anti-Valentine’s cabaret • $12-17 • 8pm The Patterson • 3134 Eastern Ave. CreativeAlliance.org

Kodaline With LP • $18 • 6:30pm U Street Music Hall 1115 U St NW • Washington, DC UStreetMusicHall.com Delta Rae With The Falls & Angelica Garcia • $25 • 7pm 9:30 Club • 815 V St. NW, • Wash., DC 930.com

MONDAY, FEB. 17 Giant Monster Monday Movies & drink specials • 8pm-Midnight The Wind Up Space • 12 W North Ave. TheWindUpSpace.com

TUESDAY, FEB. 18 An Evening with Bob Weir & RatDog Two shows • $55 • 6:30pm Lincoln Theater • 1215 U St. NW • Wash., DC TheLincolnDC.com

THURSDAY, FEB. 20 George Takei Hosts Sci-Fi Spectacular!

The actor narrates and hosts. $29-94 • Thru Feb. 23 Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Ln. • North Bethesda BSOMusic.org

MONDAY, FEB. 24 Cowboy Mouth w/ Fifth on the Floor. $25. 6pm 9:30 Club • 815 V St. NW, • Wash., DC 930.com

TUESDAY, FEB. 25 WYPR Presents an Evening with Ira Flatow Talk and Q&A • $35-85 • 7:30pm The Maryland Science Center IMAX 601 Light St. WYPR.org DC Music Download’s Two Year Anniversary Show With Raise Your City • $16 • 8pm 9:30 Club • 815 V St. NW, • Wash., DC 930.com

THURSDAY, FEB. 27 Brandon Boyd and Sons of the Sea Former Incubus frontman • $25 • 7pm 9:30 Club • 815 V St. NW, • Wash., DC 930.com

FRIDAY, FEB. 28 Baltimore Bike Party The biggest party on two wheels!

FREE • 7pm St. Mary’s • Seton Hill BaltimoreBikeParty.com

Date Night at National Aquarium Love is in the water! • $69-99/couple • 7pm National Aquarium • 501 East Pratt St. Aqua.org

Have an event perfect for our readers? Send all the details to CALENDAR@BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

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FEBRUARY 2014

GAY LIFE MAGAZINE

SOCIAL LIFE

BSCENE

RuPaul's Drag Race Battle of the Seasons Tour PHOTOS BY KELLY NEEL

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