Volume 33, Number 21 by Baltimore Gay Life

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MARYLAND’S LGBT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 10, 2011 VOLUME XXXIII, NUMBER 21 WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

A VARIETY OF LGBT

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TRANSPARENT DAY NOV. 6 FSLP’S WILL-POWER PARTY BEARS OF MARYLAND GROUP

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PAGE 2 • OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 10, 2011

BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER

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VOLUME 33, NUMBER 21 • PAGE 3

letter editor’s

by Roger Dimick

Prizes and Progressive Jackpot

Proceeds Benefit

The Baltimore city general election takes place on Tuesday, November 8, but for many Baltimoreans election outcomes seemed decided by the primaries. Before the primaries, we asked every last candidate where they stood on major issues concerning the LGBT community (www. BaltimoreGayLife.com/ElectionSurvey). Our goal was not only to inform voters and inspire change, but also to hold candidates accountable — even after they gave the answers we wanted to hear. In the coming months, we will revisit these topics — from LGBT homelessness to transgender protections, bullying in schools to HIV/AIDS funding. We will check on our elected officials and make sure words are followed by action. Thanks to one Baltimore citizen, that effort begins today (p. 12). This issue includes several other important community topics—TransParent Day (opposite page), Free State Legal’s “Will-Power Party” (p. 6) and the new Black White and Gay radio show (p. 7). But no issue is complete without a thorough exploration of upcoming LGBT fun—from Pianist Jeremy Denk (p. 7) and Iron Crow’s latest production (p. 14) to ongoing social activities for everyone (p. 10). Enjoy!

CONTENTS outfront

outgoing

PAGE 5 COMMUNITY

PAGE 14 SPOTLIGHT

TransParent Day Celebrates 3rd Year. By Sharon Brackett

“I Want to Be a Gay Icon” with Iron Crow Theatre.

PAGE 6 COMMUNITY

By Rachel Roth

Free State Legal Helps Community, Throws “Will-Power Party.”

DATEBOOK

By Anthony Moll

PAGE 7 RADIO

Black, White & Gay Radio Tackles Relationships and Race. By Rose D’Longcroi

Calendar of Events.

By Rachel Roth

afterhours PAGE 15 BEARS

New Bears of Maryland Group.

MUSIC

Out Pianist Jeremy Denk and the Maniac Who Sold Insurance.

By Colin J. Nowicki

By Samantha Buker

headlinenews

PAGE 8 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS

By Rachel Roth

firstperson PAGE 12 LETTERS

Maggie Beetz Editor

ON THE COVER

Classical pianist Jeremy Denk. Photo by Dennis Callahan.

PAGE 4 • OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 10, 2011

LGBT Baltimoreans Need Clarification from Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

FEATURE

PAGE 13 THANKS

Gay Social Clubs of Maryland. By Terri Solomon

By G. R. Cook

Baltimore Black Pride Thank You to Our Sponsors and Community Stakeholders.

PAGE 10

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Sharon Brackett, Samantha Buker, Rose D’Longcroi, G. R. Cook, Anthony Moll, Colin J. Nowicki, Rachel Roth, Terri Solomon

Gay Life is a publication of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB). Gay Life is published every other Friday in Baltimore, Md., with distribution throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Copyright 2011. 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.

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outfront COMMUNITY

TransParent Day Celebrates 3rd Year of Existence in Maryland Sharon Brackett, a co-founder of TransParent Day, now in its third year, shares some of her thoughts on the genesis of the celebration and answers questions like, “Can a transwoman be a mother?” This selection is excerpted with permission from several longer pieces by Brackett found at TransParentDay.org, the official website of TransParent Day, “a day that celebrates life and the love between transgender parents and their children, and transgender children and their parents.”

GENESIS

In the summer of 2009, my good friend Erica Fields talked to me about a concern that her daughter had about celebrating Father’s Day that year, a first for Erica and her daughter. Her daughter indicated that it just did not feel right and proposed that they pick another Sunday in the year to celebrate their relationship. It would be a day for Erica and her family to recognize Erica’s new status as a trans parent, and they would call it TransParent Day. When Erica relayed this story to me, I told her the idea was way too good to keep to herself. I immediately registered TransParentDay.org and the two of us formed a mission to spread the word about TransParent Day throughout the world. Our first stop was the Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta, Ga. with a little more than a month away from our first TransParent Day in 2009. We pounced on the conference with our pink, white, and blue wristbands (worn to show pride in being or having a transgender parent). People got it instantly! Several hundred wristbands later, we had achieved our goal for those days—get the word out enough so that somebody else knew. We had made an impression. To date we have distributed over 2,500

MARYLAND TRANSPARENT DAY 2011 Second Annual Potluck Gathering

Come celebrate TransParent Day in Maryland. Families with trans members of all ages, as well as friends and allies, are encouraged to attend. Bring a dish to share. We will supply beverages, plates, cups, and cutlery. Even if you cannot manage a dish, come anyway. There will be enough food for all. We hope to see you there.

Sunday, November 6 • 2-6 pm. GLCCB • 241 W. Chase St.

WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

Sharon Brackett of those colorful wristbands and they are worn in most every state in the U.S. and the reach has made it to Asia and Europe. Our hope is to see the day recognized globally.

TRANSGENDER MOTHERS AND FATHERS

I have had a lot of questions posed with respect to TransParent Day. “Can a transwoman be a mother?” “Is a transman, who has birthed a child, a mother?” I would consider the answer to both questions to be a qualified “yes.” If we take the biological into the question, any human that gives live birth to another should be considered a mother. But from there it gets cloudy. Adoption, marriage, divorce, surrogacy, foster parenting, and a whole host of other conditions make unusual mothering and fathering situations very possible, and even common. Add being trans to the question, and it just adds an additional set of outcomes. So who decides you are Mom or Dad or something else? My contention is that we, the transitioners, do not get to decide this. The kids do. Meaning, if they think you are Mother, or Father, or Maddy, or whatever, they get to decide if your gender has significance on a day of recognition. You do not get to pick. If your kids think of you as Mom, then you are. ‘Nuff said. ■

TRANSPARENT DAY

Sunday, Nov. 6 • TransParentDay.org VOLUME 33, NUMBER 21 • PAGE 5

outfront COMMUNITY

Free State Legal Helps Community, Throws “WillPower Party” BY ANTHONY MOLL

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PAGE 6 • OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 10, 2011

Since opening its doors just five months ago, Free State Legal Project (FSLP) has already celebrated early victories, such as successfully advocating for a couple that was denied health benefits due to transgender and same-sex discrimination. Yet LGBT Marylanders can expect to see a lot more from the organization in the coming months. The project, which was created in response to the need for access to legal services among low-income LGBT people, has already exceeded expectations since opening its doors in May of this year. According to Executive Director Lee Ann Hopkins, Esq., the organization has referred over 60 individuals in need of assistance to appropriate agencies and offered direct support to 18 people with legal issues stemming from their sexual orientation or gender identity status. In addition to these services, the non-profit organization seeks to educate both the broader legal community on LGBT issues, and LGBT people on their individual legal rights. “We are thrilled to be open and available to the community. We have exceeded even our wildest expectations,” said Hopkins. “The challenge now is that the need is tremendous for our community.” This need may be a factor behind the organization’s growth. Hopkins, the only full-time employee coordinating the body of volunteers, hopes to expand FSLP to a full staff someday. Already the team of attorneys has increased to 35 volunteers from the 18 participating when the project opened its doors. In the coming months, the organization will hold events for both attorneys and the state’s LGBT community. On November 17, FSLP will host “Will-Power Party: Estate Planning for the Rest of Us,” a community workshop and pro bono assistance event at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB). During the event,

FSLP Exec. Dir.

Lee Ann Hopkins members of the community in need of simple wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives will be matched with attorneys and receive assistance in drafting their estate documents. The occasion is intended to be much more than a dry workshop. Hopkins plans for it to be a bit of a celebration: an opportunity to socialize with friends, family, and members of the community while attendees get their affairs in order. In addition to the November workshop, the FSLP will be holding training events for attorneys including “Small Estate Planning for the LGBT Community” on November 10 and “Transgender Law: What the Legal Practitioner Needs to Know” in December. Interested attorneys and paralegals should contact FSLP for more information. Members of the LGBT community face a number of unique challenges, including discrimination in employment, housing and credit, a benefits disparity in the absence of federal marriage recognition, and increased rates of poverty and homelessness among some segments of the community. A 2009 report conducted for the project estimates approximately 6,200 impoverished LGBT individuals living in Baltimore City and 23,000 statewide. Those interested in connecting with the project’s legal services can call 410.625. LGBT (5428) during client intake hours: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 5–7 p.m. on Wednesdays. To donate, volunteer or for more information visit FreeStateLegal.org. ■

WILL-POWER PARTY: ESTATE PLANNING FOR THE REST OF US

Thursday, Nov. 17 • 6-8pm • FREE GLCCB • 241 W. Chase St. 410.625.LGBT (5428) • FreeStateLegal.org

BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER

RADIO

MUSIC

Bob Hollander, WOLB’s Wilesha Clay, Lori Hollander and Pastor Larry L. Brumfield

Black, White & Gay Radio Tackles Relationships and Race NEXT PROGRAM CONFRONTS INTERSECTION OF SEXUALITY, THE BIBLE, AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY BY ROSE D’LONGCROI

It was during the 2010 hearings of the Maryland Civil Marriage Act that the Hollanders, practicing relationship/marriage counselors, met Pastor Larry Brumfield. Lori and Bob Hollander have been advising couples for 23 years. When they heard about last year’s marriage bill hearings, they did not hesitate to take the 40 minute ride from their practice and home to lend their voices to the testimonies. Enter Pastor Larry Brumfield, whose moving testimony left a lasting impression on the Hollanders. They left the hearing with Pastor Brumfield’s words resounding in their ears and his contact information tucked safely away in their pocket. It was a year later when, frustrated by the defeat of the marriage act, the Hollanders felt that the heterosexual community needed a wakeup call. They decided that a talk show, one that focused on reaching an African American audience, would be ideal in achieving their goals. But being heterosexual Jews of European decent, they knew that they would need a partnership with a reputable individual to navigate such dynamic waters. Glad for the excuse, Bob Hollander sought out Pastor Brumfield and asked him if he would be willing to lend his voice to their grassroots campaign to scale the social divide between the straight and LGBT communities nestled within both races. When questioned, Bob Hollander said it was serendipitous that they stumbled across the opportunity to launch their radio program—aptly entitled “Black White and Gay: the HuWWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

man Side”—on WOLB, a noted African American talk radio station. This dynamic trio hit the ground running, utilizing their contact with Equality Maryland to promote their program and asking within their own social circles to obtain a growing list of individuals within the movement to enlighten WOLB listeners with their experiences identifying as LGBT African Americans. Previous guests on the show have included writer and theologian Rev. Irene Monroe, rapper/author/activist Tim’m West, and Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington and his partner Sam Offer. Next up, on November 7, is Kelly Brown Douglas, professor and chair of Philosophy and Religion at Goucher College where she holds the Elizabeth Conolly Todd Distinguished Professorship. This scholar has examined sexuality as it appears in the Bible and how the African American community has interpreted this dynamic of the human psyche over the centuries. One of her works, the recently edited “Sexuality and the Sacred: Sources for Theological Reflection” with Marvin M. Ellison, explores why the African American community retains certain aspects of sexual laws for purity’s sake and discovering when cultural practices become religious doctrine. ■

PROF. KELLY BROWN DOUGLAS ON “BLACK WHITE & GAY IN AMERICA— THE HUMAN SIDE.” Monday, Nov. 7 • 4pm • WOLB 1010 AM BlackWhiteAndGay.com • RelationshipsWork.com

Meet Pianist Jeremy Denk and the Maniac Who Sold Insurance BY SAMANTHA BUKER

harismatic classical pianist Jeremy Denk has sold out Carnegie Hall. Now he’s off to Strathmore Hall to join the Post-Classical Ensemble for a festival of Charles Ives (Nov. 3-5). Ives, a most American composer, who sold insurance by day and composed by night, will take many by surprise. Denk juxtaposes his sublime interpretation of Ives’ “Concord Sonata” with the great “Hammerklavier” of Beethoven. Denk is the dream spokesman for classical music today. He’s as adept at the keys of a Mac as he is at the ivories of a Steinway. His irreverent blog (JeremyDenk.net/blog) follows the not-so-glamorous yet glorious life of a concert pianist. He’s as likely to talk junk food as he is to diagram a measure of music. This correspondent interviewed him by phone to get the scoop on what’s so astounding about Charles Ives and why you can’t miss this festival. Gay Life: On your blog, you write that a good muffin can be equivalent to sex. If Charles Ives were a muffin, what flavor would he be? Jeremy Denk: A good, solid corn muffin. Ives was obsessed with integrity. But it would have to be a little naughty too, to capture the dissonance. What makes Ives distinct and American? The way he’s able to travel from the ridiculous to the profound. His quoting is not pastiche. It’s collage. Multiple streams of consciousness with layering. Everything must end up in the pot—so much that has receded into American memory. He’s a very lovable old coot, but maybe I’m nostalgic. His sonorities are gritty and uncompromising. You’ve paired “Concord” and “Hammerklavier” since at least 2007. Why? They’re desperately entwined sister pieces. Bonkers. Outlandish and marvelous things. In Beethoven there’s the heroic first movement, the ridiculous second, the third sublime, tragic.

Finale, most preposterous: [laughs] “an alien fugue from another dimension.” The key for him that joins the two is the zany that transforms and transcends. The “Concord Sonata” gives tonal portraits of New England Americans in each of its movements: Emerson, Hawthorne, the Alcotts, and Thoreau. One of your “deadly sins of program notes” is historicization. The whole idea of saying “oh, it was so revolutionary back then.” You say that what is revolutionary will sound so always. What’s revolutionary about the “Concord Sonata”? The universal themes never get old. Thoreau matters more and more today. And Emerson, I went nuts for Emerson, his ecstatic quality. They’re the embodiment of the romantic revolution. Like bloggers. Hawthorne though, he’s the novelist, the writer’s-writer and Ives makes him a comic character sketch. Thoreau and Emerson are statements. One author speculates that Ives’ disposition for dissonance comes from an exaggerated masculinity? Do you buy that? Ives did have issues… Leads one to be suspicious. His time was music for polite high society, ladies clubs and tea gatherings. He said NO to all that. He was all power. Michael Tilson Thomas has this great quote: “Ives tolerated lots of people except for Jewish homosexuals. But those are the ones that got him the most!” ■ Read the full interview at BaltimoreGayLife.com.

IVES PROJECT: BEETHOVEN & IVES FEAT. PIANIST JEREMY DENK Friday, Nov. 4 • 8pm • $15-45 Music Center at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Ln. • Bethesda 301.581.5100 • Strathmore.org VOLUME 33, NUMBER 21 • PAGE 7

headlinenews

NATIONAL

H F

Father of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement Dead at 86

Frank Kameny, widely known as the Father of the LBGT Civil Rights movement was found dead in his Washington, DC home on Oct. 11. He was 86. According to a press release from the Equality Forum, Kameny spearheaded the first organized gay and lesbian demonstrations of activists at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell each July 4th from 1965 to 1969. Known as “The Annual Reminders,” it was the first time that demonstrators selfidentified as gay and lesbian and openly and proudly demanded equality and laid the groundwork for the Stonewall Riots. Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum worked with Kameny on the documentary “Gay Pioneers” — a film about Annual Reminders and the start of the LGBT civil rights movement — and he had this to say about his friend and colleague: “I traveled across the nation with Frank Kameny at screenings of Gay Pioneers and at other events. Frank had a Ph.D. from Harvard, a computer-like mind and even into his 80’s was a feisty, lovable and committed activist for human rights. American history will remember Frank Kameny as an iconic civil rights leader.”

Union Backs B Influential Marriage Equality in Washington State Washington State’s largest private-sector union, UFCW 21, has voted to endorse marriage equality. Keeping with the unions tradition of supporting equality—UFCW 21 was a major coalition member in the Approve Referendum 71, saving Washington’s domestic partnership law from repeal—UFCW 21 has fought for and won same-sex partner rights for members in collective bargaining agreements with regard to issues such as eligibility for health care coverage that are of-

ten only provided for a spouse. Marriage equality legislation is expected to be introduced in the 2012 legislative session on Jan. 9. A statement on UFCW 21‘s website argues that, “Domestic partnerships were a giant step forward and provided working families with important protections. However, only marriage can provide gay and lesbian couples and their children legal rights that provide essential protections such as social security, spousal and survivor benefits.”

Activist Janice Langbehn C LGBT Given Presidential Citizens Medal President Barack Obama honored gay rights advocate Janice Langbehn with the Presidential Citizens Medal. Langbehn is credited with convincing the president to sign a directive ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to establish new rules that would prevent hospitals from denying visitation rights to the partners of gay men and lesbians. In 2007, Langbehn was barred from seeing her partner, Lisa Pond, at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fl. The couple’s four adopted children were also forbidden from seeing Pond, who eventually died due to complications from a brain aneurism. Langbehn is among the 13 recipients this year to receive the nation’s second-highest civilian honor.

First LGBT Senior Center D Nation’s to Open in 2012 In January 2012, the first full-time LGBT senior center will open in New York. The Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders Center (SAGE Center) will be based in Chelsea. It will offer a “comprehensive array of services and support” to LGBT elders throughout all five boroughs, according to Catherine Thurston, SAGE senior director of programming. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Thurston said, “Many PAGE 8 • OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 10, 2011

LGBT elderly say they feel they’ve encountered discrimination, anything from simply feeling excluded to something more overt. ...If you cannot authentically be who you are at this stage of your life, it’s really tragic.” Authorities also say the center will service an estimated 300 people a day throughout the city, and its Manhattan-based headquarters will provide an anticipated 130 hot meals each day.

A C E G

Senate Candidate Blasts Gays E Virginia at LGBT Voter Forum Tim McGhee, a Republican running for Senate in Virginia, has an odd way of lobbying for votes from the LGBT community. According to GayPolitics.com, McGhee told attendees at an Arlington, Va. Gay & Lesbian Alliance event that God may have made them gay and then declared homosexuality sinful simply to “fully demonstrate who he is.” He then proceeded to sermonize to the crowd, quoting several passages from the Bible. McGhee is running against Democrat Adam Ebbin, who, if he wins, would become the first open LGBT State Senator in Virginia history. To read the full-text version of the speech, visit NotLarrySabato.com.

F Michigan Pastor Arrested for Gay Rights Protest Reverend Bill Freeman of Holland, Mich. was arrested on Oct. 19 for protesting the city’s lack of a gay rights anti-discrimination ordinance. The Grand Rapids Press reports Rev. Freeman was protesting the City Council’s 5-4 June decision against expanding the ordinance, covering discrimination

in employment and housing. He was arrested after refusing to leave City Hall. Later that evening, he posted a $100 bond and was released. In a statement to the media regarding his actions, he said that, “I think sometimes the only thing you can do is civic disobedience.”

GOP Presidential Candidate G “All Over the Map” on LGBT Issues Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and current GOP presidential candidate, is making waves among LGBT advocates. In an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Cain stated that while he wouldn’t seek a ban on same-sex marriage he was “pro-traditional marriage.” He is also one of the only GOP candidates who doesn’t support a Federal Marriage Amendment, also known as the Marriage Protection Amendment, or the reinstatement of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. However, according to the Washington Blade, Cain stated in a January radio interview with anti-gay conservative Bryan Fischer that he would veto the Employment Non-Discrimination Act if it reached his desk. He also said this month that he believes homosexuality to be a choice, and that science hasn’t been able to prove otherwise. Michael Cole-Schwartz, spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, told the Washington Blade that he questioned the authenticity of Cain’s remarks on Meet the Press. “It’s not entirely clear where he stands on this,” Cole-Schwartz said. “Certainly his positions have not been consistent.” He also said that, regardless of his recent comments, he believes a Cain presidency would be problematic for the LGBT community. “[Saying] that being gay is a choice and suggesting that the science proves his point just shows that these are not issues that he has spent time thinking about in a positive way.” BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER

BY RACHEL ROTH

LGBT Service Members Gather H Out, for Historical Summit For the first time in history, out LGBT U.S. Troops gathered at the Armed Forces Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, NV. According to Stars and Stripes (Stripes.com), more than 200 gay and straight troops took part in the conference, which was sponsored by OutServe, a pro-repeal group. Doug Wilson, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs and the highest-ranking openly gay civilian in the Pentagon, delivered the keynote address, and First Lady Michelle Obama sent a congratulatory

message. The event featured discussions on when to come out to co-workers, how to avoid conflict with religious conservatives, and the problems that still lie ahead for gay troops. The summit also focused on military resources and discussions that are run-of-the-mill for most troops but until now have been unavailable to closeted service members, like a workshop on deployment stress that offered advice on how to stay connected with partners at home, gay or straight.

INTERNATIONAL

A Recent Elections in Poland Make History Robert Beedron has become Poland’s first openly gay Member of Parliament (MP). According to THENews.PL, the co-founder of the organization, Campaign Against Homophobia, will take up one of the seats for the city of Gdynia, Northern Poland. Beedron will join recently elected Anna Gzodzka—the first transgender MP—in representing the liberal, anti-clerical Palikot Movement. Beedron told a reporter from THENews.PL that the historic elections are “a sign that we are a different society now, open and tolerant.”

Brazil Shows Pride, Fights for Law Against Homophobia

Hundreds of thousands of LGBTA Brazilians took to the streets Oct. 10 to celebrate Pride, while simultaneously calling on authorities to enact legislation to outlaw homophobia. Marching along the Copacabana beach promenade, people cheered the success

of the year’s legislative campaign to allow same-sex marriages in Latin America. According to the AFP, the revelers also voiced support for laws that would ban homophobia in the wake of a spate of violent attacks targeting the gay community.

LGBT Organization Receives Funding C UK for Community Center Councilors from all parties in Reading, England have unanimously backed a motion to provide a local charity, Support U, with a £10,000 grant. According to Lesbilicious.co.uk, the funds will enable the organization to build an LGBT support center in Reading. According to the organization’s website, SupportU.net, the center will “become the hub for the LGBT community, providing various services to you at no cost. The focus of the centre will be to offer advice, support and guidance on LGBT issues to those that need it.”

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VOLUME 33, NUMBER 21 • PAGE 9

Social Clubs Cater to Special Interests in a Diverse Community

By Terri Solomon

For members of the LGBT community living in a large city, such as Baltimore, the best chances for socializing in gay-friendly environments have traditionally centered on bars and nightclubs. In this aspect, gays, lesbians, transgender men and women, and bisexuals are not much different from their straight counterparts. But for those who find the bar scene a little less than appetizing, Gay Life is highlighting four area social clubs where a welcoming atmosphere often shares center stage with friends, fun, and a variety of passions—from antique cars to bowling.

Chesapeake Squares are “not all fiddles and banjos” Square dancing gets a bad rap. Crinoline skirts and formal long-sleeved shirts aren’t exactly the attire of the super-cool, and Top-40 playlists don’t include traditional American folk tunes. But what most might envision as square dancing isn’t, well, so square anymore. “It’s not all fiddles and banjos,” explains Barry Harris, president of Chesapeake Squares, which bills itself as “Baltimore’s premier square dance club for gays, straights, couples, and singles.” “The music is a lot more modern than people think. We dance to Lady Gaga, Broadway show tunes, the B-52s, and

PAGE 10 • OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 10, 2011

disco,” said Harris. Since square dancing requires music with a certain count to accommodate the calls, or specific dance steps, songs like Gaga’s “Paparazzi” and the B-52s “Love Shack” can be heard at the Waxter Center in Mt. Vernon every Tuesday night. And there’s no dress code. Harris was introduced to square dancing in 1989, when a neighbor dragged him to a dance session, insisting he’d have fun. “I had a blast the first night, and have stayed ever since. I enjoy socializing with an eclectic group, and it’s a good way to unwind and let your hair down. Square dancing is like play,” he said. This “eclectic group” has about 35 members, mostly gay men over 40, although there are several straight members who Harris describes as being attracted to the high energy of their club. And the group is always looking for more women dancers to balance them out, according to Harris. “We prefer a mix of dancers, instead of all or mostly guys,” he said.

Chesapeake Squares members enjoy a square dancing event

Men and women, both gay and straight, have come to the Chesapeake Squares to dance and socialize and many have forged strong friendships within the group. Some lucky souls have even found love. “Members have met their partners here, and had long-term relationships develop. We had a straight man and a straight woman who danced with us, and they eventually got married,” Harris said. The Chesapeake Squares host a weekend square dance in Rehoboth every May, a “Fly-in” (where dancers fly in to a city for square dancing); there are numerous fly-ins across the country held annually. There is also a national convention in July, which will be held in Vancouver, Canada next year. ■ Visit ChesapeakeSquares.org to find upcoming open houses. Club square dancing is every Tuesday, 8-10pm at the Waxter Center, 1000 Cathedral St.

Baltimore FrontRunners run in rain and shine The Baltimore FrontRunners—a running and walking club for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender individuals, and their friends—are a dedicated bunch. Some diehard members have been running with the local chapter for all 15 years of its existence, one Saturday at a time. “We’ve run in single digit temperatures and we’ve run when it’s been slick and we’ve run through some heavy rains,” said Mike Chovonec, board member. “The only time we haven’t run is blizzard conditions.” On Saturday mornings, runners meet at Panera Bread in Canton (where “the staff is very welcoming”), run

BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER

about an hour, and then meet back at the restaurant for coffee, breakfast, and socializing. Chovonec touts the benefits of involvement as both fitness and the camaraderie found in the gay running community. An active runner for many years, he learned that there was a FrontRunner group in the city in 1998, and has been a member ever since. And while Chovonec considers himself “a pretty serious runner,” you don’t have to post a 7-minute mile to be accepted by this crowd. All levels of runners and walkers are encouraged to join. “We have some recreational runners, and some who run ultra-races, which are those beyond a marathon length,” said Chovonec. “We welcome runners of all abilities, and the less competitive runners aren’t made to feel inferior. We go out of our way to nurture them.” Gene Rutherford, who started running with the Baltimore FrontRunners about three years ago, characterizes himself as “a casual runner who joined to meet like-minded gay people and to exercise.” Although he currently does not participate in regular Saturday runs, Rutherford still feels welcome when he does show up. “It’s a healthy alternative to the bars and a great way to make connections in the community,” said Rutherford, who did his part to help out with the recent Baltimore Marathon by volunteering at the water table. “It takes volunteers to keep this group together, and I give kudos to the president, who keeps sending emails about upcoming runs and events,” he said. Many members have made friends in the group, and some have traveled out of the country together for races. In 2006, Chovonec and two other Baltimore members ran the Great Wall of China Marathon (Chovonec ran the half). Many local FrontRunners have also become fast friends with members of the Pittsburgh FrontRunners, a somewhat surprising alliance given Charm City’s beef with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “We get out there for the Pittsburgh marathon, and they come to our Baltimore Running Festival each year,” Chovonec said. “We were friends long before the football rivalry got really hot.” ■ Visit BaltimoreFrontRunners.org for more information. You can also reach the FrontRunners through email, baltimorefrs@yahoo.com, or call David Stuiber, president of the local chapter, at 414.534.1655.

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Straight Eights for Gay Car Buffs Straight-8. If you’re a car aficionado, you’re familiar with the term, applied to engines with all eight cylinders in a single row, seen in many popular pre1950s automobiles. But you may not be aware that the Straight Eights are also the “Baltimore-Washington, D.C. chapter of America’s largest organization for gay and lesbian car enthusiasts—Lambda Car Club International (LCCI).” Milton Stern, member since 2006 and current president, is a self-described “car nut.” He’s been hooked on Straight Eights since a friend told him about the LGBT social club for fellow car lovers. The chapter has 179 local members, who participate in invitationals and car shows all over the country, from nearby Rockville to Austin, TX and St. Petersburg, Fla. “Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show (which just occurred on October 15) is one of the largest car shows on the East Coast,” Stern said. “There are vendors and kiosks off to the side, and ten rows of cars across, more than 500, all makes and models from 1984 on back. We meet and talk to people and Straight Eights has a picnic. It’s a whole day affair.” There is no requirement for members to own a car, although most do, according to Stern. He drives a 1982 AMC Spirit and a 1983 AMC Eagle (and owns a 1959 Rambler American that is being restored by Contemporary Automotive in Beltsville), but his dream car is a 1950 Nash Ambassador Brougham. Why? “It’s very rare, and the whole car becomes a bedroom, with the front seats folding down and the back seats facing inward with a card table armrest,” said Stern. Straight Eights will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2012 by hosting the LCCI Grand Invitational in Rehoboth, Del. with a “We Love the ‘80s” theme. Invitationals, which Stern describes as events that include a car show, as well as other festivities such as the Grand Invitational’s Dynasty/Dallas Costume Party and Dance, are open to anyone who wishes to register for the entire invitational. ■ Visit Straight8s.net for more information.

Straight Eights members’ vehicles on display at a recent event

Out & About Bowling League strikes again David Ensor, secretary and treasurer for the Out & About Bowling League, has been bowling since the age of 3. As a teenager and young adult, he worked at a bowling alley in Perry Hall. By 1991, Ensor was a member of the Baltimore Sports Association, a gay-friendly group whose members met once a month to try a different sport, including bowling. When bowling was by far the most popular sport with the club, Ensor and some other members decided to form a gay bowling league. It seemed only fitting that they approach Ensor’s employer at Brunswick Perry Hall Lanes to find a home for the group, which they called the Out & About Bowling League. Twenty years later, one league has expanded to four, including one summer league, with about 110 members in the three main leagues, according to Ensor. “Back in 1991, there was nothing to do but go to the bar or a party. This was a weekly thing we could do. It was about

100 people getting together at 9:30 p.m. on Monday nights to bowl,” said Ensor. An ambidextrous bowler who belongs to more than one league, he has received more from Out & About than a weekly honing of his skills. “I met my current partner through the league, and we’ve been together 8 years,” Ensor said. “Many people have met and gotten together through the league.” Currently, the group is receiving an influx of younger people who want to give the sport a try in a welcoming setting. Interested bowlers can still join for this year, when the season begins its second half in January. Each year, the league picks two charities to receive money from fundraisers such as the Strike Pot (when a bowler’s name is picked from a pot and he or she has to bowl a strike to win). This year’s charities will most likely be the Johns Hopkins Pediatric AIDS Unit and Moveable Feast, two favorites with league members, according to Ensor. “Since we started in 1991, we’ve raised close to $80,000 from a combination of the leagues,” said Ensor. ■ Visit OutAndAboutBowling.com or call David Ensor at 410.426.0491 for more information.

VOLUME 33, NUMBER 21 • PAGE 11

firstperson LETTERS

LGBT Baltimoreans Need Clarification from Stephanie Rawlings-Blake BY G.R. COOK

Beginner Yoga With Yoga Therapist Tim Hurley

Sundays at 3:30pm (please arrive a few minutes early) Room 201 at The GLCCB 241 W. Chase St. Cost is $9 www.glccb.org 410-837-5447 A portion of the cost is donated back to The GLCCB PAGE 12 • OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 10, 2011

As a gay resident of Baltimore City for more than 10 years, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s response to the Gay Life candidate survey (Sept. 2) caught my attention and left me scratching my head. In the survey, Gay Life asked the candidates 10 questions to gauge their support of some pressing issues directly concerning the Baltimore’s LGBT community. Regarding question #10, support for appointing a full-time LGBT liaison, Blake replied “no.” However in her written comment accompanying the survey, she wrote “…the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods already has such a position that outreaches to the LGBT community and to city offices and agencies.” I was puzzled by that comment, wondering who holds this important LGBT position, as I had never heard of such a person. Who does the Mayor think is the person in Baltimore City government assigned to do outreach to and serve the LGBT? And just as importantly, what is the work and accomplishments of this person? So, being an inquisitive kind of gal, I tried to track down this LGBT position. First, I checked the Mayoral Office website and resources page on Baltimore. org. I found a Jewish Liaison, a Hispanic Liaison, and an Eastern European Liaison, but nothing to indicate any association with the LGBT community. I do not in any way question the importance of these liaisons for these other city populations, but I do wonder how they received this type of specific support, while the LGBT community seems to be completely overlooked by Mayor RawlingsBlake who professes to be, “…a longtime advocate for the LGBT community….” Interestingly, the 2010 census measures the Hispanic population of Baltimore City at 4.2 percent yet they have a staff member assigned as their liaison to the Mayor. Certainly, the LGBT city population is larger than 4.2 percent, isn’t it, and yet the LGBT community has no such assigned support. Always intrigued by a mystery, I called the Mayor’s Office seeking the name of the person in the LGBT “position.” Kevin Cleary was readily given as the

LGBT contact person. However, in his position as Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods, Cleary oversees along with the director, nine staff members. So if in fact, Cleary is the person in the LGBT “position,” then it begs the question, how can a person with multiple constituencies and many responsibilities, devote enough time to address the needs of the LGBT community and do as the Mayor suggests, “…outreaches to the LGBT community and to city offices and agencies.” Additionally, with my interest further peeked, I spoke with several nice people

“Certainly, the LGBT city population is larger than [the Hispanic population of] 4.2 percent, isn’t it, and yet the LGBT community has no such assigned support.” at City Government, asking about the formal LGBT outreach efforts. I wondered how interested LGBT people and allies could be part of this process; where and when does the LGBT outreach occur? Are there formal meetings or a forum of some kind? Although I talked to several people in City Hall, no one had answers to these questions as it seems that “outreach” only occurs when someone calls for support. There are no regularly scheduled LGBT meetings or forums, nor any regular anything on the City Government Calendar it seems in regard to LGBT issues, or outreach. So, Madam Mayor, please tell me and all the LGBT people of Baltimore City, how you, a “long time friend” of the LGBT community, plan to address the lack of thoughtful, scheduled and regular outreach to our community. And frankly, Madam Mayor, the sooner you reply and act, the better. ■ READ THE SURVEY RESULTS ONLINE www.BaltimoreGayLife.com/ElectionSurvey BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER

THANKS

Baltimore Black Pride, Inc. Thank You To Our Sponsors and Community Stakeholders Photos by Jay W.

Thank you, community, for supporting Baltimore Black Pride. By doing so you have created the change we see in the world. Carlton R. Smith & Kevin T. Clemons Pride Coordinators & Baltimore Black Pride Board of Directors SILVER SPONSORSHIP MEDIA Baltimore Out Loud Gay Life

SILVER CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP The Club Hippo The Baltimore City Health Department Infectious Disease Health and Environmental Administration (IDEHA) Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore (GLCCB)

RAINBOW SPONSORSHIP

Unity Fellowship Church of Baltimore Taylor-Wilks Group International Federation of Black Prides The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Creating Change 2012

COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS

Sisters of Alpha Eta Omega Sorority, Inc. Sisters Together and Reaching (STAR) WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM

Women Accepting Responsibility Anthony W. McCarthy Kevin Brown Cynde Kimbrough Visions for Tomorrow, Inc. Churches United Against AIDS Black Educational AIDS Project/CUAA Metropolitan Community Church of Baltimore United Fellowship Church Movement Interfaith Fairness Coalition of Maryland Donna Payne Sultan Shakir Dr. Vali Meeks Jean-Michel Brevelle Lorice T. Rodgers Rev. Sam Offer Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington Renee Martin Elder Harris Thomas Debbie Rock Bernice Tucker Duane Taylor, Esq.

Angela A. Alexander, Esq. DJ Lord Byron Phillip J. Lovett Baltimore Heritage William J. Palmer Gregory Merle Satorie-Robinson Ms. Baltimore Black Gay Pride Rev. Mother Meredith Moise Troy Burton Kim Walker and Her Band Rapture Visit Baltimore LGBT Tourism Committee The Greibo Company Earl D. Fowkles, Jr. Michael Warren Charles Ham III Elizabeth “Artby Liz” Wilson Gary Wolnitzek Karen Sebold Kevin Clash Tiffany Jackson Brandyn Taylor Kevin T. Clemons

Carlton R. Smith Louis Hughes Kenneth Morrison Anthony Leverette Baltimore Heritage Leroy Burgess Paradox Workprinting Graphic Carry Hier Mary Taylor Maggie Beetz Lea Gilmore Helena Hologram David Winder Unity Fellowship Church Movement Kimpton Hotels

SPECIAL THANKS TO THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENTS OF THE ICONS WE LOVE AWARDS Delegate Mary L. Washington of Baltimore’s 43rd District and Archbishop Carl Bean, native Baltimorean and founder of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement. VOLUME 33, NUMBER 21 • PAGE 13

outgoing

GLCCB Youth Art Program: Workshops designed for LGBTQ youth, 24 years and younger. Weekly art activities, field trips and more! No experience required. All skill levels welcome. FREE. 3:30-5:30pm. Saturdays (except holidays). GLCCB, 241 W. Chase St. GLCCB.org The Great BIG Halloween Parade of Light & Luminaria: Watch as the spirits of the Park’s critters are brought to life with lanterns of repurposed plastic bottles. FREE. 6:30pm. Patterson Park at The Pulaski Monument CreativeAlliance.org

E M A I L YOUR E V E NT INFO TO C ALENDAR @B ALT I MO R EGAY LI F E.CO M

SPOTLIGHT

New Image Narcotics Anonymous: A support group for recovering addicts. FREE. 6pm. LGBT Community Hall, New Light Community Church 40 W. Church St. Hagerstown, 301.797.5698 NewLightMCC.com

BY RACHEL ROTH

“I Want to Be a Gay Icon” Iron Crow Productions presents “I Want To Be a Gay Icon,” an original piece by Sarah Lynn Taylor that takes the audience on a musical journey throughout the history of the Gay Rights Movement. For Taylor, a Master of Liberal Arts student at Johns Hopkins University, the play “became an opportunity to combine my passions for theatre, singing, and activism into a piece that, I think, really has the potential to reach a broad audience.” Using iconic gay entertainers to honor history, Taylor promises you will be “educated a little and entertained a lot.” The production is also a call-to-action of sorts for Director Joseph Ritsch. “It’s very important to me as a queer artist that this history be told,” he said. “It has gotten ‘better’ for most of us, but gay, lesbian and trans youth are still taking their own lives or getting beat up in the streets. If for anyone, for them this history needs to be retold in a modern context with feeling and personal connection, which Sarah Lynn has done beautifully. This show honors our past, celebrates the present and challenges us to keep moving forward as a community.”

Event Info

“I Want to Be a Gay Icon” Nov. 10-12 • 8pm FREE (donations accepted) Baltimore Theater Project 45 W. Preston St. IronCrowTheater.com

HOMOWEEN 2011: Annual Saints & Sinners Masquerade with costume contest, spooktacular drink specials, and music by the notorious DJ Image. $5-10. Doors 9pm. Grand Central & Sapphos, 1001 Charles St. CentralStationPub.com

Sunday, October 30 Print By Print: Exhibition of 350 prints by American and European artists working in series from the late 15th through the 21st centuries, including Canaletto, Duchamp, Picasso, and Ruscha. FREE. Thru May 2012 Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. ArtBMA.org Celebration of Scottish Beginnings: In honor of its 250th anniversary, First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church celebrates their Scottish beginnings. First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church, 210 W. Madison St. information@firstfranklin.org

Monday, October 31

HALLOWEEN

Black White & Gay in America: New weekly radio show features Darian Aaron, author/ journalist and editor of Living Out Loud with Darian, a 2008 Black Weblog Award winner for Best LGBT Blog focused on African-American LGBT community. 4pm. WOLB TalkRadio 1010am, BlackWhiteandGay.com TAX LO Halloween Dance Party: Dance your mask off. Featuring Chris Devlin, Publicist, Emily Rabbit, The Chain Gang of 1974 and others. 25-cent Boh & PBR. $6. All ages. 10pm. Golden West Cafe, 1105 W. 36th St. 410.889.8891 GoldenWestCafe.com

DATEBOOK Friday, October 28 All Hallows’ Eve Masque: Maryland Shakespeare Festival hosts its annual gala fundraising event. Enjoy drinks, music, hors d’oeuvres, a silent action and more. Costumes a must. $50. 7:30pm. Delaplaine Visual Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St, Frederick 301.668.4090 MDShakes.org Murder Ballads: On All Hallows’ Eve Eve, Bob Friedman gathers a “who’s who” of alt-country, blues, and folk music players to croon songs of murder and mayhem. $11-16. 8pm. Creative Alliance at The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. CreativeAlliance.org Girls & Ghouls Halloween Show: Hosted by the fabulous Josie Foster and featuring Trixie Santanz, Faye D’Waye, Nexxis Lexxis, and more! $7. 10pm. Club Hippo, One West Eager St. 410.274.7118 ClubHippo.com

Saturday, October 29 Baltimore Frontrunners: Running/walking club for LGBT individuals and friends. Assemble 8:45am, run 9am. Reassemble for brunch 10am. Panera Bread, 3600 Boston St. BaltimoreFrontrunners.org RISE: Rewriting Inner Scripts: A retreat for men who love men. Explore and overcome the effects of homophobia and negative messaging. Thru Nov. 5. FREE. Preregistration required. 8am-6pm. 410.837.2437 AIDS Action Baltimore, 10 E. Eager St. AIDSActionBaltimore.org PAGE 14 • OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 10, 2011

Friday, November 4 Ives Project: Beethoven & Ives feat. Pianist Jeremy Denk. (See article p. 7) 8pm. $15-45. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln. Bethesda. 301.581.5100 Strathmore.org La Traviata: Based on the novel La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas and an opera-lover’s dream full of passion, sacrifice, love, death and redemption. $45-150. 7:30 pm. Lyric Opera House, 140 W. Mt. Royal Ave. LyricOperaHouse.com Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Open Studio Day: Visual artists showcase their talents with original art, theatrical scripts, mix media, paintings, photography and sculptures. Plus a performance from Unexpected Theater. FREE. 1-5pm. Opening night reception 6:30-9:30pm. Also 12/3 Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, 21 S. Eutaw St. BromoSeltzerArtsTower.com

Saturday, November 5 GLCCB Youth Art Program: Workshops designed for LGBTQ youth, 24 years and younger. Weekly art activities, field trips and more! No experience required. All skill levels welcome. FREE. 3:30-5:30pm. Saturdays (except holidays). GLCCB, 241 W. Chase St. GLCCB.org Harvest Dance: Like disco dancing? They’ve got it. More of a line dancer? Got that too! What’s that you say? You’re more of a Rock’n’Roller? It’s there! Whatever your pleasure, the event sponsored by the MCC of Baltimore, and co-sponsored by the GLCCB has it. $20 per person, $30 per couple. 8pm-midnight. GLCCB, 241 W. Chase St. 410.837.5445 GLCCB.org Rickey Smiley & Friends: One of the few “clean” comics to have major success on the stand-up circuit performs for one night in Baltimore. $65-80. 8pm. Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave. LyricOperaHouse.com

Sunday, November 6

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS

Tuesday, November 1

TRANSPARENT DAY: (See article p. 5) TransParentDay.org

Chesapeake Squares Club Square Dance: Gays, straights and everyone in between can do-se-do at Baltimore’s premier square dancing club. $8. 8-10pm. Tuesdays. The Waxter Center, 1000 Cathedral St. ChesapeakeSquares.org

Monday, November 7

La Cage Aux Folles: Meet glitzy nightclub owner Georges and his partner Albin, who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges’ son brings his fiancée’s conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair, the bonds of family are put to the test and feather boas fly. $25-87. 8pm. Thru 11/6. Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St. 410.837.7400 France-MerrickPAC.com Photo by Sofia Silva.

Baltimore’s Only Gay Male Review: Upscale nightclub/lounge with a full menu, drink specials and giveaways. Thursdays at 8pm. The Backdoor Lounge, 5801 Pulaski Hwy. 410.483.3356 BackdoorLoungeBaltimore.com

Wednesday, November 2 Living the Full Rainbow Flag: Connect LGBT members and allies in the UU community who face oppression for supporting full LGBT equality. FREE. 7:15-9pm. First Wednesday of the month. Cedar Lane UU Church, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda CedarLane.org Transgender Issues Working Group: Support group for those who identify as transgender. Meets every other Wednesday. Registration required. FREE. 7pm. Equality Maryland, 1201 S. Sharp St. Contact OwenSmith@EqualityMaryland.org BINGO! Hosted by Roger Dimick. Enjoy drink specials, appetizers and raffles all night. Come for happy hour, stay for Bingo and receive $5 off your Bingo package! Cash prizes and progressive jackpot. Proceeds benefit GLCCB. 8:30pm. Club Hippo, 1 W. Eager St. ClubHippo.com

Thursday, November 3 Art to Dine For: Collector’s Home: Hailed by ARTnews as one of the world’s top 200 collectors for her superb assembling of contemporary and modern art, Connie Caplan worked for four years with her son, architect Jonathan Caplan, to plan and construct a house that combines her interest in contemporary art and architecture. She opens her home for one night so art-lovers can share her collection. Limited to 35 people. $100. 5:30-7pm. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. creativealliance.org Opening Reception: Juried Undergrad Exhibition: Opening night reception for the annual exhibition of featuring a selection of the best submissions from all four years of undergraduate students. From hundreds of entries, approximately 100 will be chosen as winners in a variety of disciplines based on artistic merit, creativity and vision. FREE. 5-7pm. Exhibit runs thru 11/20. MICA, Fox Building: Decker and Meyerhoff Galleries, 1303 W. Mount Royal Ave. MICA.edu

Black White & Gay in America: New weekly radio show features Kelly Douglas professor and chair of Philosophy and Religion and Goucher University. 4pm. WOLB TalkRadio 1010am, BlackWhiteandGay.com

Tuesday, November 8 PFLAG Howard County Monthly Meeting: Support group Q&A for parents of LGBT children. FREE. 7:30pm. Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia PFLAGmd.org Rainbow Youth Alliance of Howard County: A support group for LGBTQ youth and allies. 7:30pm. To confirm location, contact: rya_leaders@hotmail.com

Wednesday, November 9 BINGO! Hosted by Roger Dimick. Enjoy drink specials, appetizers and raffles all night. Come for happy hour, stay for Bingo and receive $5 off your Bingo package! Cash prizes and progressive jackpot. Proceeds benefit GLCCB. 8:30pm. Club Hippo, 1 W. Eager St. ClubHippo.com

Thursday, November 10 Womyn’s Wellness Night: Thursday means massage, reiki, and feeling good at the SDWC. No appointment necessary. FREE for members, but practitioners graciously accept tips. 6-8pm. Spiral Dance Womyn’s Center, 2505 E. Oliver St. “I Want to Be a Gay Icon”: (See Spotlight)

Friday, November 11 emma’s revolution CD Release Party: The DC area’s favorite activist duo, emma’s revolution, brings it home to celebrate the release of their new CD, “Revolutions Per Minute,” with guest musicians Gary Johnson & Ken Quam. Plus a presentation by First Peoples Worldwide. $15-18. 7-10pm. Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville BusBoysAndPoets.com The Little Dog Laughed: Gossip and entanglements snare a rising Hollywood hunk and his ruthless agent in this satiric look at celebrity and sexual hypocrisy. $10-17. Thru 12/11. Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 S. Ann St. FPCT.org BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER

afterhours BEARS

New Bears of Maryland Group When I first moved to Baltimore, Maryland I was immediately welcomed amongst the Bear Community and treated as if I’d been part of it for years. I quickly began to grow comfortable in my own skin and that made me feel even more accepted. I realized that there was something missing though. I wanted to do more and be involved in the community that had made me feel welcomed. So I went out and I met other bears, making friends with them and getting to know who they were. Something was still missing though. It was two years later that I decided to form the Bears of Maryland Facebook group. I wanted to bring the bear community closer and the only way I knew how was to do so using Facebook’s “Group” function. At first there were no responses. Slowly but surely, people showed an interest and I began adding people that I knew in the Bear Community to the group. I sought out a Mama Bear, for every bear needs a mama bear. There was only one person that could think of: Shawnna Alexander. Shawnna is no stranger to the gay community and she has already proven herself to live up to the title of Mama Bear, securing our first event at Quest Bar in Baltimore February 24, 2012. At that event we will meet the members as well as anyone else who has an interest in bears or cubs and wants to be part of the family. That’s what it’s really all about for me, being a family. All factions in the gay community are family-oriented and this holds true to the bears. I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin and with myself as I do amongst bears. There’s nothing more thrilling than walking into a bar on a Friday or Saturday night and not having to worry about whether the shirt I chose to wear makes my belly look too big. I don’t feel that way around the bears because having a belly is one of the things that make a bear a bear — things like being masculine and rugged, and having facial and body hair. But the most important thing in the bear community is acceptance and

Colin J. Nowicki

Photo by DH Photography

BY COLIN J. NOWICKI

NEW

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REWARDS

Shawnna Alexander feeling like you fit in. By forming the Bears of Maryland I hope to continue with that closeness and acceptance. I hope to bring bears from not just Maryland but other states such as Virginia and Pennsylvania together. I want them to know that I may have started the group but I’m not just one person, but rather part of the whole, part of the community and just trying to do my part — things like Bear of the Month, where members use a voting system after looking at member’s submitted photos, to be featured each month. Our blog, BearoftheMonth.Blogspot. com is another way that members can feel like they are involved and keep up with what’s going on in the group. So look us up and keep an eye out because Bears of Maryland are here to stay! ■

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VOLUME 33, NUMBER 21 • PAGE 15