SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1979
WIN
FRONT ROW
TICKETS
TO SEE JOAN! Details on page 8
MARYLAND’S LGBT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012 VOLUME XXXIV, NUMBER 5 WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
Joan DISHES ON GAY MARRIAGE, HER GAY ICON STATUS, AND HER LOVE OF BALTIMORE
TOP TEN TIMELY TAX TIPS “OUTLIERS” PHOTO EXHIBIT EXPLORES SPACES BETWEEN GENDERS DUSTIN LANCE BLACK’S PROP 8 PLAY OPENS LOCALLY YOUTH OF THE RAINBOW HELP CREATE CHANGE THROUGH ART
PAGE 2 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 3
letter editor’s
QUIZ! Correctly answer for a chance to win Madonna’s new single,
GIVE ME ALL YOUR LUVIN’ SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS ON
BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM What day will the High Heel Race take place during Pride weekend 2012? a. Friday, June 15 b. Saturday, June 16 c. Sunday, June 17
Who was NOT a “Shero” profiled in Gay Life’s 3/2 feature story? a. Rev. Mother Meredith Moise,
Just a few weeks ago I met with a tax preparer for the first time in my life. Once we realized we’re about to be hit with a high tax bill, we decided it was time to enlist the help of a professional. Regardless of how bright I fancy myself, this is one area I cannot begin to handle on my own. No one denies taxes are complicated; they can be even more complicated for same-sex couples. Thankfully, we have professional information here to help. While many of us think about taxes this time of year, many others are working year-round to help ease our financial burdens. Check out the tips offered by Glass Jacobson and PNC in our feature story (p. 14). Once you’re well informed about these important matters, browse even more entertaining items (Yup—more entertaining than taxes!). Explore the photographic results of a gender-questioning pilgrimage (p. 7); discover your next favorite Fell’s Point tavern (p. 10.); plus, you told us what you wanted to know: see if we asked your question when we interviewed Joan Rivers (p. 8). Don’t forget to check out the Gay Life quiz (look left) for a chance to win Madonna’s latest single!
Black Pride Vice Chair, OUTLoud Contributor
CONTENTS
7 outfront
firstperson
PAGE 5 YOUTH
LGBT Youth of the Rainbow express themselves through art, create works for Creating Change, Pride 2012. By Cece Crawford
Dustin Lance Black’s acclaimed play “8” at Theatre Project, Towson University. By Frankie Kaye
Maggie Beetz
c. Mary Washington
Editor
d. Paulette Young
GLCCB’s First President
outgoing
By Britany Chong
Adapting Cinderella: A young man struggles with his cultural identity and sexuality.
“The Outliers” questions the notion of gender through photographs and interviews.
Joan Rivers tells GL about her show, her views on gay marriage, and reveals her true feelings about Betty White. By Charlie Mumford
Answers to the March 2 quiz: 1. c 2. b. 3. b PAGE 4 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
DATEBOOK
Calendar of Events
By Rachel Roth
PAGE 10 DINING OUT
afterhours
By John Cullen with Marty Shayt
Gov. Martin O’Malley signs Marriage Equality Bill.
Alexander’s Tavern is Fell’s Point’s hidden delight. PAGE 11 BINGO TALK
Q&A at the Hippo with Frank & Beans.
PAGE 22 BSCENE
Photos by Charlie Mumford
“Testing Makes Us Stronger” Launch Event.
headlinenews FEATURE PAGE 14
PAGE 12 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Top 10 Tax Return Tips. By Brett Newberger and Odelle Heimiler
ON THE COVER
Comedienne Joan Rivers
c. 1980
STUMPED? SEARCH FOR ANSWERS ON GLCCB.ORG AND BALTIMOREPRIDE.ORG
PAGE 21 SPOTLIGHT
By Rachel Roth
PAGE 8 COMEDY
By Rachel Roth
b. 1975
By Rev. Irene Monroe
Photos by Erik Liam Sanchez
2nd-term Maryland Delegate
a. 1932
The most dangerous black gay man.
PAGE 7 PHOTOGRAPHY
Theologian, Gay Life Contributor
The origins of Baltimore Pride date back to 19__.
By Gwendolyn Ann Smith
PAGE 18 SPEAKING OUT
PAGE 6 THEATER
By Charlie Mumford
b. Rev. Irene Monroe
PAGE 16 TRANSMISSIONS
Meanwhile, in Sweden: gender reassignment and sterilization.
241 W. Chase Street • Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone 410.837.7748 • Fax 410.837.8889 Email sales@baltimoregaylife.com
Maggie Beetz, Editor
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.
Sabre Chase, Advertising
editor@baltimoregaylife.com
M. Cory Burgess, Art Director cory@metroscapemedia.com sales@baltimoregaylife.com 410.837.7748
National Advertising Rep.
Rivendell Media, 212.242.6863
Marty Shayt
Senior Volunteer
Contributors
Bryan Andriano, Jason Boone, Britany Chong, Cece Crawford, John Cullen, Odelle Heimiler, Frankie Kaye, Rev. Irene Monroe, Charlie Mumford, Brett Newberger, Rachel Roth, Marty Shayt, Gwendolyn Ann Smith
Photographers
The GLCCB, Erik Liam Sanchez
Newspaper Committee
Trevor Ankeny, Kelly D. McClain, Charlie Mumford, Terri Solomon
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
outfront YOUTH
Photos by Denise Duarte and Youth of the Rainbow
Artistic Youth Create for Pride, Creating Change BY CECE CRAWFORD The GLCCB has partnered through its Express Yourself! project with Youth of the Rainbow, to provide their members a voice through workshops, field trips, and art projects. Youth of the Rainbow (Y-O-R) was formed in July 2011 to be a transitional group for LGBTQ youth 24 years and younger. Y-O-R believes that LGBTQ youth should be encouraged to recognize that their sexual orientation and gender identity are only one aspect of their identity. Melissa Thomas, co-founder, states that the main issues impacting LGBTQ youth are “homelessness, unemployment, trust, abandonment, lack of self worth... just to name a few. We want to be a resource for families who don’t quite know how to deal with the woes of the LGBTQ teen and their wants, thoughts, needs, and issues.” Josiah Richardson, a Y-O-R member, says that “Youth of the Rainbow is an organization that allows and promotes not only passion, but freedom.” This belief in their youthful members’ potential provides the basis for initiating multiple programs that encourage social development, workforce preparation, and community integration. Community support for Y-OR has been realized by Baltimore Freedom Academy’s generous gift of use of their facility as a home base for the organization. Baltimore Freedom Academy’s curriculum and culture are focused on social justice and activism. Thomas states that “unfortunately, one of the biggest challenges for our young people is acceptance from family. Most often their families associate being LGBTQ with something ugly and perverted. That’s why many times they hide who they truly are for fear of rejection, abuse, and other WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
hurt-filled traumatizing events.” Sharr’on S. Robinson, Y-O-R co-founder, emphasizes that the LGBTQ youth’s challenges and needs include “...isolation by families, [and] help with assessing government programs for which they may qualify, such as health insurance.” Another Y-O-R member substantiates the value of the organization: “I’m in love with Youth of the Rainbow because the organization provides various outlets for LGBTQ teens who aren’t able to express and defend themselves verbally from society’s harsh restrictions and from experience. I would say it has changed my life and has helped me find myself.” The GLCCB and Y-O-R partnership began this year to create a temporary artwork to display at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual Creating Change Conference, held in Baltimore in January 2012. The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Student Affairs Community Service Fund financially assisted Denise R. Duarte, the GLCCB Artist in Residence, to purchase the art materials for the Y-O-R members to create the Creating Change mural. Duarte facilitates the Express Yourself! art project at GLCCB in conjunction with the MFA program in Community Arts at MICA. The Creating Change mural was exhibited in the conference’s Community Art room and allowed Baltimore’s youth to visually express the LGBTQ issues that were important to them to the 3,000 attendees. The mural was well received and now will travel to the MCC church in Washington D.C. in the near future for exhibition. They have plans to exhibit it again during Baltimore Pride. Express Yourself! and Y-O-R are still collaborating on a weekly basis creating smaller art projects that range from altered
books to another yet to be designed large artwork reflective of Maryland LGBTQ history for Baltimore Pride. Thomas is enthusiastic and appreciative about the community’s support of this new organization. She says that “our youth has a unique opportunity to be a driving force behind a new movement of acceptance for all...not just tolerance for
some. We have an opportunity to show the people that we are more than just what you think you see.” Terrance Coleman, a Y-O-R member, sums it up: “Rainbow is Awesome.” To learn more about the program, LGBTQ youth and allies 24-years-old and younger are encouraged to call Denise Duarte at 410.837.5445 ext 15.
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 5
outfront THEATER
Courtroom Drama Teaches Prop 8 Events BY FRANKIE KAYE
At a time in Maryland when the issue of marriage equality is in the forefront of the media, the Iron Crow Theatre is performing Dustin Lance Black’s acclaimed play “8” one night only, Monday, March 19. “8” is the unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by American Foundation for Equal Rights to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental right to marry. “I was surprised how many people, even in the gay community, did not know the details of the Proposition 8 events in California,” explained Joseph Ritsch, director of Iron Crow’s “8.” “I think for this reason alone it’s important that it is seen.” Ritsch, an active member of the Iron Crow Theatre, believes that this is a play that doesn’t warrant a strong need for interpretation. “As a director I was focused on assembling a cast of high caliber performers who commit to telling the story. As a company we were also dedicated to making this a Baltimore Theatre Community event, so I have cast company members from Everyman, Glass Mind, Single Carrot, as well as members of the Towson University Theatre and Baltimore School for the Arts staffs. And of course almost the entire company of Iron Crow is in the cast as well.” The Iron Crow Theatre has produced queer-oriented theater in Baltimore since 2009. Founding member and Ar-
THE IRON CROW THEATRE PRESENTS “8”
March 19 • 8pm Baltimore Theatre Project • 45 W. Preston St. IronCrowTheatre.com
TOWSON UNIVERSITY PRESENTS “8” April 5 • 7pm Towson University University Union, Chesapeake 1 & 2 8ThePlay.com/readings/towson-university PAGE 6 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
Daniel Ettinger, Steven J. Satta-Fleming, Sarah Gorman and Katie Ellen Simmons-Barth tistic Director Steven Satta explained, “For Iron Crow, it was an honor to be chosen by Broadway Impact to perform ‘8.’ We are a very new company and to be recognized in this way was an important validation of our work and our mission.” Satta further described the importance of this specific production. “Being an agent of social change is very important to the Company, and so we are very pleased to activate that part of our mission so forcefully, so early in our existence. It is exciting and humbling.” Written by Academy-Award winning writer Black, whose work includes boxoffice successes Milk and J.Edgar, “8” is based on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama, as well as interviews with plaintiffs and their families. Premiering in 2011, “8” garnered the respect of many in the film industry, which led to multi-city performances and a filmed performance in Los Angeles on March 3. Actors including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, White Collar’s Matthew Bomer, Glee’s Chris Colfer and Jane Lynch, comprised an all-star cast to promote awareness of the issue of Proposition 8. “As I continued to hear about the star-studded LA cast, I knew that Iron Crow Theatre was a part of something very special that had support from very CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Outliers: Exhibit Explores Spaces between Genders BY BRITANY CHONG
The Outliers, an exhibition on genderqueer identities by Baltimore-based photographer Elle Perez, will be on display at MICA beginning March 21. Perez, the recipient of the 2011 Meyer Photography Traveling Fellowship, is exploring the boundaries of gender identity and expression through a pilgrimage across the United States. This photographic journey documents those who prefer to occupy the spaces between genders.
The Outliers is part personal, and part political. Artist Elle Perez draws upon personal experience, as well as social and political observation, to record the stories of genderqueer individuals. Our society is dominated by mainstream images that enforce the notion of a gender binary. The Outliers gives a unique and powerful glimpse into what it means to identify outside of the bounds of gender. According to Perez,
“Genderqueer is largely self-defined, but generally it’s an identity taken on by those who feel that they are neither male [nor] female. This group includes a pretty wide variety of people, including non-gender conforming transgender people, some people who are intersex, and for some, it’s more of a rebellion against the idea of gender itself.” Through photographs and interviews, Perez is creating an ever-evolving collection of gender expression. Much of Perez’s motivation for the exhibition comes from life experience. While assisting another artist on a personal project at the queer radical fairy communes of Short Mountain, Tenn., Perez met many people who identified as trans, but chose not to alter their physical bodies. This experience inspired Perez’s college thesis, Conversations, but it also motivated a search for ways to identify a personal gender. Perez explains, “To be clear, it wasn’t that the contemplation was new—I had, in some way, always been asking myself whether or not I was female.” “Growing up Hispanic in the Bronx, there is no question about gender rules. They are learned early on, watching telenovelas and Sabado Gigante (a variety show featuring Don Francisco, a stocky 70-year-old host, and plenty of scantily clad dancing ladies).” In a world of manly men and feminine women, it was difficult to find the words to articulate an identity outside of the gender norm. After some amount of research, Perez found one term that seemed to fit: “genderqueer.” Though personal, the exhibition also seeks to enlighten visitors in hopes of transforming public discourse. By documenting various gender identities that do not fit the norm, The Outliers challenges the idea of fixed gender. Our gender-obsessed culture needs to recognize the effects of stereotypes on future generations. Perez says, “The promotion of rigid gender roles often proves to be limiting and damaging to young children struggling with gender identity.” By challenging the idea of rigid gender roles, The Outliers creates a socially relevant dialogue about gender. ■
THE OUTLIERS: OCCUPYING THE SPACES BETWEEN GENDERS
Reception: Monday, March 26 • 5–7pm Exhibit: Wednesday, March 21–April 4 Main Building: Main Gallery 1300 W. Mount Royal Ave. • MICA.edu WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 7
outfront COMEDY
My Date with Joan
JOAN RIVERS
Friday, March 23 • 8pm • $42-62 Hippodrome Theatre • 12 N. Eutaw St. 410.547.SEAT • Ticketmaster.com France-MerrickPAC.com
GAY LIFE SITS DOWN WITH JOAN RIVERS BY CHARLIE MUMFORD WITH JASON BOONE AND BRYAN ANDRIANO
E
veryone—yes, everyone—has heard of Joan Rivers. And positive or negative, most have some kind of opinion about her. (Don’t worry—she’d have an opinion about you too.) But there’s plenty that people don’t know about this fabulous icon: For instance Joan has supported a variety of charities including HIV/AIDS organizations, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Wounded Warriors. Who does Joan want as the next president? Since “both sides are morons” she suggests Rosie O’Donnell “because she calls a spade a spade.” Vice President? “Donald Trump. And Secretary of State Barbara Walters. Nicki Minaj can sing at the inauguration.” Fans can hear more insights and quips at her upcoming show, or read on to learn more about the woman who always has something to say, and can still surprise you:
So you’re coming to the Hippodrome. What can you tell us about your show? It’s on the 23rd. My show is my show. It’s what I always do. It’s my concert. I think it’s the funniest show in America.
Who is your favorite gay celebrity? Ricky Gervais! No, I don’t like to think in those terms. I don’t classify gay, straight. But if I had to choose, it’d be Tom Cruise.
Where do you get all of your energy? I always say my grandmother was raped by a Cossack. I love my work, so that shoots me forward. No one goes home at five o’clock.
And what about your clothes— where do you get them? I would love to say they’re loaned to me or sent to me by Valentino. But I pay for all my clothes. It’s awful. Sad.
PAGE 8 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
What was your childhood like? Happy or sad? Were you ever bullied or were you a mean girl? Who did you eat with at lunch? Happy. I had a very happy childhood. My father was a doctor. I should have been [a doctor]. I wasn’t bullied even though I was a fat kid. I sat at the good table because I always made everyone laugh.
Photo by Charles William Bush
When you were on the Johnny Carson show, you were seen by some as a stereotypical Stepford Wife. Was that image a fabrication, or was that really you? I only wish I were a Stepford Wife: gorgeous, big breasted, big house. I hope I come back as a one in my next life. Have you ever seen a Stepford wife that didn’t have cash?
What do you think about gay marriage? My advice to every gay is don’t get married until you’re older; because it’s all about who’s gonna get the house when you drop dead anyway. You know, who gets the Marilyn Monroe memorabilia?
WIN FRONT ROW TICKETS TO SEE JOAN!
I’m sure you’ve heard about Maryland’s governor signing the marriage equality bill, and perhaps you also heard about New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie taking the opposite stance. What is your opinion on marriage equality in the United States? Get the fuck out of New Jersey! You can go up to New York or down to Maryland. Leave New Jersey to Snooki. If they don’t want you, then move. You can open a beauty shop tomorrow in Nome, Alaska. They need you.
How many gay weddings have you been to? What’s different or special about gay weddings vs. hetero weddings? I’ve been to a lot of gay weddings. My assistant is getting married. They’re go-
Visit us online at BaltimoreGayLife.com for a chance to win
ing to have a priest under the chuppa. All weddings annoy me. It means, ‘Oh shit I have to get another gift!’ The happiest couple I know happens to be a gay couple. [But] I have rules when I go to a wedding: The grooms can’t be wearing more makeup than I am!
It’s Women’s History Month, so I have to ask: What’s this about vaginal rejuvenation?
I haven’t done it because no one would appreciate it! It’s just coming out more. It’s becoming more noticeable now. More people are talking about it.
So why have you not hosted SNL? Betty White’s done it, why haven’t you? I haven’t been asked! Oh that slut tramp CONTINUED ON PAGE 23 BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 9
outfront DINING OUT
Alexander’s Tavern BY JOHN CULLEN WITH MARTY SHAYT Strolling along Broadway in Fell’s Point, you could easily pass by Alexander’s Tavern without realizing the opportunities to try some tasty food in the pleasant space adjacent to the bar. The large dining room is light and airy with large French doors along the sidewalk, with 18 tables and some great 100-year-old photographs of Baltimore on the walls. A warm and friendly waitress greeted us as soon as we walked in and made us feel immediately welcome. The menu covers the gamut of casual bar fare with 12+ starters (most $7-11) and some award winning variations of potato tots, soups ($6), and entrée salads (mostly $10). There’s also 6+ tavern fare entrees ($9-18), unusual tacos ($8-11), 6+ personal size gourmet pizzas (most $10), and a couple dozen sandwiches, wraps, and paninis ($8-13, with choice of salad,
PAGE 10 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
tots, fries, or coleslaw). Bargain specials which vary nightly got our attention: on a Monday evening, these include “build your own tots” ($5), burgers ($5) and fish & chips ($10). We love bargains so we shared an order of the custom tots as a starter. Marty couldn’t resist the lure of a veggie pizza ($9) while John tried to balance the tots with a southwest salad ($10). A couple of our friends opted for bargain burgers and fish & chips. Our tots were hot and good with requested mushrooms, onions, and peppers (but left John wishing we had tried the BBQ sweet potato tots with pulled pork and melted cheese). Marty enjoyed his pizza which had plenty of veggie toppings and cheese. John’s salad included shredded chicken, corn salsa, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese over romaine in a tortilla shell; he liked his salad but wished
there was more lettuce and that the chicken was a tad spicier. The large thick and juicy burger proved to be a “thumbs-up” bargain which included melted cheddar and sautéed onions on top, plus tasty fries and pickle. The fish & chips was another winner that included two big pieces of nicely fried cod, some homemade coleslaw and a large mound of delicious fries. (Yes, Marty boldly reached across the table to steal some fries more than once!) While portions were generous and we were full, our attentive waitress tempted us beyond our ability to resist with her description of Alexander’s single dessert option: Grandma’s Apple Pie Nachos ($7). This “thumbs-up” dessert included a large platter of cinnamon dusted tortilla chips topped by slices of baked apples, caramel sauce and chocolate sauce and lots of whipped cream. Jeez Louize! We all
agreed that it was surprisingly yummy (and was easily shared by four people!). Alexander’s Tavern’s combination of friendly, attentive service, good food at reasonable prices, and pleasant dining room earned our “thumbs-up,” and we’re looking forward to returning. It’s definitely a place to consider trying when you’re visiting Fell’s Point! ■ ALEXANDER’S TAVERN 710 S. Broadway • 410.522.0000 AlexandersTavern.com Open 7 days for lunch and dinner 10am weekend brunch Full bar • Vegetarian options Weeknight bargain specials Email DiningOut@BaltimoreGayLife.com and find past reviews at BaltimoreGayLife-DiningOut.info
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
BINGO TALK WITH FRANK & BEANS BY CHARLIE MUMFORD
If you had the power to take a magic wand and make anyone in Hollywood or politics turn into a flaming homosexual, who would it be and why? RANDY
I wouldn’t turn anyone gay (permanently). Everyone is created in their own being… but I would give any (straight person) a chance to see what life would be like if they were gay.
CATHY
George W. Bush ‘cause he needs to see the other side of things.
HOPE
If I did not love Barack and Michelle so much, I’d wish Barack is gay and when he gets re-elected in 2012, he would be the first gay African-American president.
JEN
Two answers. 1st thought: The people who are gay already but want to feel more comfortable being gay. 2nd thought: Jennifer Aniston, because she appeals to everyone.
Bingo Talk takes place Wednesdays 8:30pm at Club Hippo’s Gay Bingo hosted by Roger Dimick. Why Frank & Beans? With Roger around you’re not likely to escape without a nickname either. WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 11
headlinenews NATIONAL
B
D
A
C
Senate Democrats Back A 22 Marriage Equality in Party Platform The call for U.S. senators to embrace marriage equality as an official part of the Democratic Party platform is gaining steam. As of March 6, The Washington Blade reported receiving written statements from the offices of 22 Democratic senators all expressing support for including a marriage equality plank in the Democratic Party platform. For a complete list of all of senators in support of a “marriage equality inclusive” platform, visit WashingtonBlade.com.
B Minnesota Bullying Lawsuits Settled A legal battle involving Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota has finally come to an end, with the promise of improving the treatment of LGBT students. The basis of the suit, filed last summer on behalf of six current and former students, was the contention that the district had violated the students’ constitutional right to equal protection under the law. The school board voted 5-1 to settle the case out of court. Under the terms of the settlement, the Anoka-Hennepin School District is required to: • Take proactive measures to address the hostile environment. • Develop procedures for parental notification while maintaining sensitivity to a student’s right of privacy relating to real or perceived orientation or gender identity. • Hire a district-level, harassment-prevention official who will help lead the district’s efforts to “eliminate and prevent future instances of harassment in its education programs and activities.” • Retain the Great Lakes Equity Center to provide a comprehensive, systemic review and recommend revisions to district policies and practices related to sex and sexual-orientation related harassment. • Fully investigate reports of harassment; escalate remedial efforts through additional measures when students are harassed on a repeated basis; and mitigate the effects of harassment that occurs.
Judge Won’t Perform Marriages C Texas Until She Can Marry An openly gay Texas judge has refused to perform “opposite-sex” marriages until she is allowed to be married. In a video posted to OpposingViews.com, Judge Tonya Parker explained at a recent Stonewall Democrats of Dallas meeting that it was “oxymoronic” to perform ceremonies that she is legally barred from taking part in. “I don’t perform marriage ceremonies because we are in a state that does not have marriage equality, and until it does, I am not going to partially apply the law to one group of people that doesn’t apply to another group of people,” Parker said. Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2005 that defined marriage as a union solely between one man and one woman.
D Coalition Challenges Ohio’s Gay Marriage Ban Efforts to repeal the 2004 gay marriage ban in Ohio are underway, according to WLWT-TV in Cincinnati. The Freedom To Marry Coalition formally started a campaign to put the issue back on the ballot by submitting 1,700 signatures to the state Legislator, but will need a total of 400,000 to get the initiative on the ballot. Chris Seelbach, the first openly gay City Council member, thinks the timing is right to repeal the ban: “For young people as myself and the other young members of Council, it’s like this is a non-issue, like, of course this is something that should happen.” Not everyone, however, is on board. Phil Burress, of Citizens for Community Values, is staunchly opposed to same-sex marriage and said that young people who support marriage equality people will change their minds once they “mature.” Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and about a dozen other Ohio mayors support marriage equality. PAGE 12 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
BY RACHEL ROTH INTERNATIONAL
C
B
A
A Moms Awarded Custody of Son An Israeli court ruled in favor of a lesbian couple, recognizing both women as legal parents. According to an YNetNews.com article, the couple received permission from the Health Ministry in 2006 to undergo a medical procedure, where one of the women’s egg was extracted and fertilized with donated sperm, then implanted in the second woman’s womb. When their son was born, however, only the woman who gave birth was allowed to register as the child’s mother. The Ramat Gan Family Court set a legal precedent when it agreed that the parent who didn’t give birth, did not have to go through the adoption process in order to have parental rights.
Cardinal: Same-Sex Marriage B Scottish is as Immoral as Slavery Cardinal Keith O’Brien called same-sex marriage a “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right.” The Independent reports that this year, the Scotland Government has plans to amend marriage laws to include members of the same gender—a move the Cardinal calls “madness.” He went on to liken the marriage equality law to the legalization of slavery. “Imagine for a moment that the Government had decided to legalize slavery but assured us that ‘no one will be forced to keep a slave’. Would such worthless assurances calm our fury? Would they justify dismantling a fundamental human right? Or would they simply amount to weasel words masking a great wrong?” According to the article, Margot James—the first openly lesbian Conservative Member of Parliament (MP)—is outraged. “It is a completely unacceptable way for a prelate to talk,” said James. “The Government is not trying to force Catholic churches to perform gay marriages at all. It is a purely civil matter.” The Government will launch its public consultation on gay marriage later in the month.
C “Don’t Say Gay” Law Passes in Russia The St. Petersburg’s Legislative Assembly in Russia passed a law penalizing the dissemination of material promoting homosexuality and pedophilia among minors. According to Ria Novosti, the new legislation imposes fines of up to $16,000 on individuals and $160,000 on legal entities for the promotion of LGBT practices among minors, effectively prohibiting LGBT pride events. The article reports that 29 of 50 legislators voted for the law with five against and one abstention. Following the passage of the law, AllOut.org organized demonstrations at Russian embassies across the globe. A press release from AllOut.org reports that, in solidarity with a coalition of Russian human rights organizations opposing the law, 300,000 signatures were collected worldwide and delivered by flash-mobs to the embassies, demonstrating the level of global opposition to the proposed law. The goal was to send a message to the Governor of Saint Petersburg, who has the power to veto the law.
Historic UN Panel Focuses on Ending LGBT Discrimination On March 7, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) joined human rights advocates from around the world for the first-ever official inter-governmental panel at the United Nations focused on ending violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Jessica Stern, director of programs at IGLHRC called the panel a demonstration of the world-wide commitment to the “true universality of human rights.” “Today’s panel, ‘Ending Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity,’ is a tribute to all of the activists who have fought for recognition of homophobic violence and transphobic discrimination over decades, often in the face of extreme hostility,” Stern said in a press release from the IGLHRC.
SEE MORE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM/NEWS WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 13
2
Top 10 Things to Consider When Filing Your Individual Tax Return BY BRETT NEWBERGER, CPA, PRINCIPAL AND ODELLE HEIMILER, CPA, TAX MANAGER OF GLASS JACOBSON
As we close in on the 2011 filing deadline for individual tax returns, make sure you aren’t missing out on key credits and opportunities that could reduce your tax burden. For some of these, it may be too late to take advantage in 2011, but keep them in mind for 2012!
FAMILY PLANNING
1
Tax Tips for Married Couples and Same-Sex Couples
Since DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) is still on the books, same-sex married couples are considered unmarried for federal tax purposes, regardless of state laws. Until this law is repealed, the federal tax advantages of filing jointly as a married couple are unavailable to same-sex married couples.
PAGE 14 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
For example, when one (federally recognized) spouse earns all or most of the income, the higher-earning spouse’s income is typically taxed at a lower rate, resulting in a lower tax bill. Also, because of the “marital deduction privilege,” when one spouse dies, the surviving spouse can be left an unlimited amount free of estate taxes. While same sex couples cannot yet enjoy these tax benefits, they also don’t have to… Watch out for the “Marriage Penalty!” When both spouses earn healthy incomes, the married couple can end up with a bigger combined federal income tax bill than if they were still single. In this scenario, a married couple could benefit from filing separately. A same-sex couple that is considered married under state law could actually benefit tax wise from DOMA by being considered unmarried for federal tax purposes in this instance.
Kids? Tax Tips for Adoption and Childcare
If you went through the process of adopting in 2011 (or are planning to in 2012) the IRS is allowing a refundable tax credit. You may also be eligible to claim an exemption for amounts paid to you, or for you by your employer, for adoption expenses under a qualified adoption assistance program. Some qualified expenses include adoption fees; lawyer fees; travel, lodging, and meal expenses; and any other expense related to the process of adopting your child. The adoption credit is worth $12,650 in 2012, down from $13,360 in 2011. Watch out for duplicating your claim. You cannot claim the tax credit and an exemption for the same expense. If you have a young child in need of care while you, or you and your spouse, are looking for work or working, you may be entitled to a child care tax credit. The credit is calculated as a percentage of the expenses you paid to the person or business that took care of your child. The percentage is chosen based on your adjusted gross income.
3
Tax Credits for Caring for Aging Parents
As the baby boomer generation ages, many of us will be caring for our aging parents in some capacity. There is help from the IRS in the form of tax exemptions. You or your significant other can claim an elderly parent or step-parent as a dependent as long as that person lived with you for the duration of the last year and was considered a member of your household. In 2011, the exemption is worth $3,700. Watch out for your dependent’s income. The gross income must be less than the amount of the exemption you are claiming. This includes social security and pension benefits.
CREDITS & POSITIVE KARMA
Giving back to the community, the less fortunate, or the environment goes a long way to evoke that “warm fuzzy feeling.” Here are some good ways to help those around you and save money on your taxes.
4
Charitable Donations
Donations of clothing, household items, or money to qualifying organizations can help lower the amount of your taxable income. Generally, as long as you itemize, you can deduct cash contributions and the fair market value of most property you donate. Watch out because not all charitable organizations qualify. Visit IRS.gov for a list of qualifying organizations. Also, only contributions made during the tax year are deductible. For example, if you pledged an amount to a charity in 2011, but didn’t contribute the full amount in that year, you can only deduct the amount you actually donated. Contributions of over $250 require a written acknowledgement from the organization. Furthermore, for the donation of items valued at more than $500, you must complete IRS Form 8283. For contributions of noncash property valued at more than $5,000, you generally must obtain an appraisal.
5
Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Credits
6
Credits for Energy Efficient Property
If you made improvements to your home’s energy efficiency in 2011, you can potentially claim a federal income tax credit for qualified improvements, such as new windows, doors, insulations, roofs, and central air-conditioners. The credit is up to $500. If you claimed this credit in previous years, it will be subtracted from the $500 limit. Watch out if you put off these improvements until this year (2012). At this point, there are no available credits for 2012 onward.
However, if you are thinking about taking a bigger step at your residence than new windows or insulation, and installing qualified alternative energy equipment, such as solar hot water heaters, geothermal pumps, or wind turbines, there are federal tax credits available to you for 2012. The credit actually runs through 2016 and is worth 30 percent of the cost of the qualified property. Watch out if you have multiple properties. The credit only applies to your principal residence.
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
7
Energy Efficient Vehicle Credits
Thinking of purchasing an electric vehicle? The IRS is offering the Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicle Credit which qualifies all electric drive vehicles purchased in or after 2010. This credit, which runs through 2014, is currently worth between $2,500 and $7,500 depending on the battery capacity of your electric vehicle. Watch out; this credit is not for hybrid vehicles. Also, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) begins phasing out the credit for individual manufacturers after they sell 200,000 of a vehicle model. Learn more about the credit values currently available at FuelEconomy.gov.
PROTECTING YOUR NEST EGG
There have been some messy trends in the economy in the last couple of years, and what better to motivate you to ensure a secure financial future? Here are a few tax tips to help you with your financial planning.
8
Capital Gains Taxes
The stock market is doing some good things for us recently, and when you sell investments, you pay capital gains taxes. Long-term capital gains continue to be taxed at favorable rates through 2012, so now may be the time to make some moves in your portfolio. In 2012, middle- and higher-income investors are taxed at a maximum rate of 15 percent. Watch out for Congress! It remains to be seen what Congress will do about the capital-gains increase in 2013 and, absent of any action, tax rates will go up.
9
Qualified Retirement Plans
One quick strategy to reduce tax liability is to make a contribution to a traditional retirement account (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE IRA or SEP plan) and take advantage of the deductions. The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit is designed to help low-tomoderate income workers save for retirement. You may qualify if your income is below a certain limit and you contribute
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
to an IRA or workplace retirement plan, such as a 401(k) plan. The Saver’s Credit is available in addition to any other tax savings that apply. For more information on Individual Retirement Arrangements visit IRS.gov. Watch out for early withdrawal penalties! If you try to use the contributed money before the government considers you eligible, the tax penalty for an early withdrawal from your IRA is 10 percent, and you must also report your distribution to the IRS.
2012 AND BEYOND
Somehow, every year tax time manages to sneak up on us. While you’re scrambling to pull together all of your records and documents for filing this year, why not make things easier on yourself going forward.
10
Record Keeping
Here’s a list of what documents to keep and for how long. If you are ever audited, you’ll be grateful for this list! Income Tax Returns and Related Items—Keep all federal and state income tax returns and supporting documents (i.e., those items confirming your income and/or deductions) for a minimum of three years after the return’s filing date. Mailing Receipts—Keep with your file copy of each tax return the U.S. Postal Service receipt—i.e., the registered mail receipt—showing the date the return was mailed. If your return is filed electronically, keep a copy of the electronic filing confirmation with a printed copy of the return. Residential Property Records— Keep settlement records from all of your home purchases and sales in a safe place. In addition, keep records of the amounts that you spend for home improvements with this file. Stock and Bond Records—Keep records of your investment (e.g., stock, mutual funds, and bonds) purchases. Depreciation
rental real estate or depreciable business property that you own, keep records of the property’s cost, the purchase date, the method used to calculate depreciation, and a schedule of all depreciation claimed on the property in previous years. Maintain these records until you sell or dispose of the property. Once you sell the property, keep these records with the tax return on which you report the sale. Personal Records—Keep a permanent file of personal records—such as
divorce agreements, copies of estate and gift tax returns under which you received property, etc. ■
Glass Jacobson is an accounting and wealth management firm with offices in Owings Mills and Rockville, Md. Glass Jacobson has redefined the accounting firm model by combining tax, accounting, and sophisticated wealth management services under one roof. This approach better coordinates all personal and business financial activities to optimize the financial success of clients.
FIND MORE HELPFUL TIPS ON PAGE 22!
DOMA & Your Taxes
Despite the good news coming out of Annapolis this month, samesex couples will remain separate and unequal compared to oppositesex couples, at least in the eyes of the federal government. “In most states that grant same sex marriage rights, those same sex couples are offered virtually the same rights, obligations and responsibilities as their peers who are opposite sex couples,” explained PNC Senior Wealth Planner Jennifer Immel. It’s the federal laws that present the greatest challenges for same-sex couples as a result of DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. “Opposite sex couples are treated as a single person: they can transfer money back and forth, they collect inheritance upon the other’s death, and as a tax unit they can file income as a single unit, including share deductions,” said Immel. But same-sex couples are denied all of these benefits—and about 1,100 other statutory provisions—regardless of whether or not they live in a marriage equality state. There are ways for you and your partner to protect yourselves and your assets:
1
Regardless of your wealth, make sure all of your, and your partner’s, documents are in order (e.g., will, receivable trust, power of attorney, health care directive).
2
It’s very important to keep your financial advisors informed of your relationship; they cannot protect your interests if they don’t know them.
3
Inform your financial advisor about plans to move out of state; your status can change once you cross state lines (e.g., marriage benefits, custody, inheritance, ability to dissolve marriage).
“Things are happening very quickly, and happening quickly across the board,” said Immel. “It’s exciting, but like walking through a desert of shifting sands, you need to keep a compass.” Questions? Talk to a professional. Call Clay Henry, PNC Managing Director of Asset Management, at 410.237.5536.
Records—For any
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 15
firstperson TRANSMISSIONS
Meanwhile, in Sweden BY GWENDOLYN ANN SMITH
In 1972, back in the days of Earth Shoes and the Watergate scandal, a law passed in Sweden. The law, in the works since 1966, covered the legal standards for sex reassignment in the country. With this law, Sweden became the first country in the world to officially recognize gender reassignment. In many ways, this law appears very similar to those in many other places over the ensuing years, and will be familiar to many transsexuals who have sought to have their birth certificate changed in the last decade or so: in order to get your personal identification updated, you needed to have genital reassignment and an official authorization of the change in gender. One key part of that genital reassignment, by the way, involves sterilization. The world has changed a lot since 1972. The United States saw the downfall of president Nixon two years later, followed by the short presidencies of Ford and Carter, followed by Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr., and Obama. In 1972, there were no personal computers, no DVDs, not even a fax machine. We’ve gone from 8-track tapes to cassettes, then to compact discs and finally MP3s. Then, the LGBT movement was still fresh from Stonewall, and still had a couple years before the backlash of Anita Bryant and the Briggs Initiative. It would be a bit more than a decade until the scourge of AIDS, and more years still until we see the fights over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and marriage equality. Oh, and it wasn’t called the LGBT community then: it was the gay rights movement. Transgender people—mainly transsexuals—were gaining some visibility then. Harry Benjamin’s book The Transsexual Phenomenon came out in 1966: the year Sweden first set up the committee that led to their 1972 ruling. That year, Wendy Carlos would undergo surgery, but not come out about it for some seven years. In 1974, Jan Morris’ autobiography Conundrum would hit bookshelves. In 1975, Renne Richards would
PAGE 16 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
have her genital reassignment surgery and be denied a spot in 1976 US Open the next year. It was right, then, for Sweden to explore the first of transgender people. The laws they came up with, then, were presumably in step with the times. As I said, though, the world has changed a lot since then, and our society—as well as our laws—has had to be updated to keep pace. Sweden reviewed their 1972 law recently and decided to keep the provision requiring sterilization in order to have one’s gender recognized legally. But we live in very different times. Transgender people do not always seek sexual reassignment nowadays, for many different reasons. This is particularly common amongst transgender men, given the high cost and relative lack of functionality from a female to male surgical result. Many are opting to look beyond genitals, and not seeing change in same to be as important as it may have been all those decades ago. Perhaps more to the point, we’ve begun to see a few examples of transgender men carrying children, such as Matt Rice in 1999, Thomas Beatie in 2008, Yuval Topper in 2011, and an undisclosed man in the UK this year. Yet Sweden chose the conservative path, siding with their conservative Christian Democrat party government and the nationalist Sweden Democrat party, deciding to retain the sterilization requirement. Many cried foul, given that Swedish law is only reviewed every 40 years— meaning it would take that much more time until it could be reconsidered. Who knows, by 2052, we may again see the rise of Earth Shoes and 8-track tapes. A petition was distributed, eventually delivering 77,000 signatures to the Swedish prime minister. Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, noted that
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
forcing people to undergo unwanted medical interventions to change their legal status was a breach of human rights. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe said much the same. In response to all this, Sweden—so far ahead of the curve in 1972 and so far behind the curve in 2012—blinked. Christian Democratic party leadership reversed course, calling instead for the removal of the sterilization requirement. Yet things are not perfect. While this is a good move, the rest of the law remains as is. Other requirements remain in place, including the rule that in order to be legally recognized, you must be unmarried. This in a country that already allows same sex marriage. More than this, Sweden is not alone in having a sterilization requirement. Though it is not entirely clear how many do require it, Transgender Europe reports that Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Spain require some genital reassignment and/or sterilization in order to legally
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
recognize a transperson’s gender. There are still places in our country, too, that require such—heck, there are places that won’t change your birth certificate regardless of surgical procedures. The world is continuing to change, and with it, the very mature of gender. What was progressive 40 years ago is regressive today. It will be quaint, at best, tomorrow. In 40 years, will Sweden finally change their laws? Will it even matter then, or will this law and its requirements read like an outdated San Francisco law against piling horse manure more than six feet high on a street corner? Something so far out of step with the times as to be instantly ignored, a relic from a long bygone age. Let’s make for that tomorrow, and see laws like that in Sweden—and closer to home—reflect our needs now and in the future. ■ Gwen Smith only vaguely remembers 1972. You can find her online at GwenSmith.com
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 17
firstperson TRANSMISSIONS
Perhaps the Most Dangerous Black Gay Man BY REV. IRENE MONROE
Cleo Manago is despised by some in the LGBTQ community. Descriptors like “homo demagogue,” contrarian, separatist, and anti-white are just a few that can be expressed in polite company. But to a nationwide community of same-gender loving (SGL), bisexual, transgender, and progressive heterosexual African American men, Manago is the MAN!, seen as a visionary, game changer, and “social architect” focusing on advocating for and healing a group of men that continue to be maligned and marginalized—brothers. “Without an understanding of the deep hurt that Black men have around issues of masculinity and their role as a man, you can’t hope to eliminate anti-homosexual sentiment in Black men. There has been no national project to address the psychic damage that White supremacy has done to Black men. But there is always some predominantly White institution waiting, ready to pounce on a Black man for behaving badly,” Manago wrote in his recent article, “Getting at the Root of Black ‘Homophobic’ Speech” in which he castigates GLAAD for demanding that CNN fire Roland Martin for misconstrued homophobic tweets. Unapologetically Afrocentric in his approach in addressing social, mental, and health issues plaguing communities of Black men, Manago has created a national study on Black men, Critical Thinking and Cultural Affirmation study (CTCA); he has also built two organizations that for more than two decades earned national recognition and successfully secured millions of dollars in funding: AmASSI Centers for Wellness and Culture, and Black Men’s Xchange. Manago’s study is a culturally informed preventive health strategy that addresses positive mental, sexual, and community health, encouraging self-actualization, cultural empowerment, and responsibility. CTCA has been in practice since 2002. As the founder and CEO of AmASSI Health and Cultural Center, Manago
PAGE 18 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
was one of the first innovators in the AIDS movement to provide HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention services utilizing a psychosocial, mental health model that was culturally specific to the African American identity. AmASSI has been in practice since 1989. Manago is the national organizer and founder of Black Men’s Xchange (BMX), the oldest and largest communitybased movement devoted to promoting healthy self-concept and behavior, cultural affirmation, and critical consciousness among SGL, bisexual, transgender males, and allies, with chapters in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Orange County, Detroit, Denver, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Black Men’s Xchange has been funded by the Center for Disease Control’s Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative program. And the CDC positions BMX alongside other legacy community black organizations such as the NAACP, the Urban League, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and American Urban Radio Networks. BMX has been in practice since 1989. A native of South Central Los Angeles, Manago began a vocation in social services at the age of 16. While many would call him a social activist, he does not like the term “activist” applied to him. He considers black LGBTQ activism tethered to mainstream white privilege, ideology, and single-focused gay organizations that are too culturally dissonant and limited in scope to be meaningful and beneficial to both the African American LGBTQ communities and the larger black community. To many in Manago’s community and beyond, he’s an unsung hero greatly misunderstood and intentionally marginalized by LGBTQ powerbrokers. One factor, Manago would contest, contributing to his marginalization was the debacle between him and Keith Boykin during the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March. In commemorating the 10th anniver-
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
sary of the Million Man March, the Nation of Islam decidedly chose one LGBTQ organization over another. And
“Without an understanding of the deep hurt that Black men have around issues of masculinity and their role as a man, you can’t hope to eliminate anti-homosexual sentiment in Black men. There has been no national project to address the psychic damage that White supremacy has done to Black men. But there is always some predominantly White institution waiting, ready to pounce on a Black man for behaving badly.” —Cleo Manago that decision highlights much of the political, class, and ideological differences in the African-American LGBTQ com-
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
munity at large. Keith Boykin—the founder and then president of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), an African-American LGBTQ civil rights organization of which I was then a board member—was dropped from the event. But Cleo Manago was not. Both men had much to bring to the 2005 Million Man March, but Manago mirrored the fundamental sentiment of Farrakhan’s theology—a conscious separation from the dominant white heterosexual and queer cultures—and he spoke at the historic 1995 Million Man March. In his open letter, Manago wrote in 2005: “BMX knows the Nation of Islam (NOI). It’s an independent black organization not funded by the HRC or any white folks. The NOI does not, nor does it have to succumb to White gay press laden, black homosexual coercives who want to ram a white constructed gay-identity political agenda—that even most Black homosexuals reject—down their throats. Over the years, several members of the Nation of Islam have
been to BMX. As some of you may know, almost 10 years ago BMX co-sponsored a very successful transformative debate on Homosexuality in the Black community with the Nation in L.A.” As a queer separatist organization, many LGBTQ African-Americans applaud BMX for being unabashedly queer and unapologetically black. But the terms “queer” and “gay” are not descriptors Manago and his organization would use to depict themselves. That would be “same-gender-loving” because terms like “gay” and “queer” uphold a white queer hegemony that Manago and many in the African-American LGBTQ community denounce. As a matter-of-fact, he is credited with coining the terms “men who have sex with men” (MSM) and “same-gender-loving” (SGL). To some in the LGBTQ community Manago is a dangerous demagogue. But to tens of thousands African American brothers and generous funders he’s seen as a brother driven with a dream. And he’s perhaps dangerous because he’s effecting change. ■
WANT MORE GREAT CONTENT?
Visit us online for web exclusives! BaltimoreGayLife.com
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 19
PAGE 20 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
outgoing 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
A Tribute To Studio 54: A fabulous retro disco over-the-top drag show benefit for The Imperial Court of Washington DC & The GLCCB (The Gay Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore). Come dressed in your disco best and you could win a fabulous prize! 50/50, raffles, and more. 10:30pm. No Cover. PW Sports Bar, 9855 Washington Blvd. Laurel, 301.498.4840, PWSSportsBar.com Taffety Punk Riot Grrrls: Anna Christie: All-female ensemble puts their spin on a staged reading of the classic play. $2. 8pm. Thru 3/17. Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at the Mead Center, 1101 Sixth St. SW, Washington, DC, TaffetyPunk.com LGBT Ladies Night Bash: While every night is ladies night, this particular evening is presented by Positive Women Making Positive Choices. $10. 10pm-2am. Cafe Calypso, 771 Washington Blvd., Meetup.com/Positive-LGBT-Families-Making-Positive-Choices
Sunday, March 18
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
Organ Concert: World-renowned organist, Richard Elliott, performs Reception follows. Holy Comforter is a diverse and friendly community that welcomes all. $20. 4pm. Holy Comforter Church, 5513 York Rd., Comforterbalt.com
Cori Dioquino, Alexander Scally and Peter Blaine
SPOTLIGHT
BY RACHEL ROTH
A New Spin on an Old Tale When most people hear ‘Cinderella,’ they think of Disney or fairy tales. The Glass Mind Theater is attempting to turn that narrative upside down with its newest production, Adapting Cinderella. The production takes the theme from the classic tale—a story about a person who overcomes hardships and abuse, ultimately to find the key to a true, free identity—and uses completely original dance, text, and music to explore the idea self and the idealism of love. “What we are trying to do with this piece is show the audience that the story is more than just magic and romance,” says actor Peter Blaine. “Yes, Cinderella was given the dress and shoes, but she actively made the decision to take a risk and go to the ball despite the punishment she could face if she was caught.” Blaine, who recently won the Baltimore’s Newest Faces drag contest at Club Hippo, said that process of creating an original piece was a challenge: “We created most of the script by researching all the different versions of the ‘Cinderella Story,’ improvising scenes, and [spending] many hours locked up in a room and storyboarding.” The end result is a piece that explores what happens when one “veers” from societal norms about gender, sexuality, and love.
Event Info Through March 25 • $8-12. LOF/t • 120 W. North Ave. GlassMindTheatre.com
Photo by Britt Olsen-Ecker Photography
DATEBOOK Friday, March 16 Brothers Size: A fresh new drama brings contemporary rhythms of soul, hip-hop, and R&B together with traditions of ceremonial presentation in a modern-day spin on West African myths. $45. Thru 4/15. Everyman Theatre. 1727 N. Charles St., 410.752.2208, EverymanTheatre.org Gay Men’s Chorus: The Rocky Horror Show: All-male version of the wild and untamed gender-bending cult musical. $20-50. 8pm. Thru 3/18. Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., Washington, DC, GMCW.org
Saturday, March 17 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
Saturday, March 24 Capital Queer Prom: Have the fun you didn’t have back then. Interactive carnival games, entertainment, cocktails, canapés, dancing, silent auction, prom photos, and the crowning of 2012 Prom King and Queen. 21+ $85. 7:30-11:30pm. Almas Shriners Ballroom, 1315 K St. NW, Washington, DC., CapitalQueerProm.com African Film Festival: Critically acclaimed releases by African directors. English subtitles. Please note: Some unsuitable for children. $5-10. 1-7pm. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, ArtBMA.org QuestFest Community Showcase with Black Cherry Puppet Theater: A showcase of visual theater featuring folktales told through movement & gesture by students from Friendship Academy, Gwynn’s Falls Elementary and MD School for the Deaf. FREE. 3pm. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., CreativeAlliance.org
Next Steps Community Meeting: Learn about the next steps to help protect marriage equality in Maryland. RSVP: http://bit.ly/A0meHq. FREE. 3pm. Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, 333 Dubois Rd., Annapolis, MarylandersForMarriageEquality.org
The Swingin’ Swamis: The Latin/ Jazz/ R&B/ Soul/ Rock & Roll group featuring vocalist Kerra Holtgren. FREE. 8pm. Meli Restaurant, Minoan Room, 1636 Thames St., KalisMeli.com
Tom Goss & Stewart Lewis: LGBT songwriters perform at GLCCB. 7pm. $12. GLCCB, 241 W. Chase St., TomGossMusic.net/wordpress/tickets, TomGossMusic. com, StewartLewis.com
The Musical Life of Mozart: Selections from operas, symphonies, oratorios, songs, overtures narrated by WBJC-FM’s Jonathan Palevsky. $22-30. 8pm. Peabody Conservatory, Miriam A. Friedberg Hall, 1 E. Mount Vernon Pl., Peabody.jhu.edu
Monday, March 19
Sunday, March 25
PFLAG Howard County Parent Forum: Support group and Q&A for parents of LGBT children. Meets 3rd Mondays. Contact: judygaver@hotmail.com. FREE. 7:30pm. Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, PFLAGmd.org
25th Anniversary AIDS Action Baltimore Award Brunch: Honor John G. Bartlett, MD, Reverend Debra Hickman, and Charles A. Reid for their extraordinary work and commitment to our community. $100. 11am-2pm. Four Seasons Hotel, Grand Ball Room, 200 International Dr. Harbor East, AIDSActionBaltimore.org
Tuesday, March 20 A Mouthful of Isms and Tions: Super 8 films about the city, queerness, and language by NYC poet-filmmaker Stephanie Gray. FREE. 5pm. MICA, Gateway, Room 201, 1300 W. Mount Royal Ave., MICA.edu Drink Like a Mad Man: Celebrate “Mad Men” with classic cocktails & hors d’oeuvres of the ‘60s. Come as your favorite character! $25-30. 6:30-8:30pm. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., CreativeAlliance.org
Wednesday, March 21 BINGO! Come for happy hour, stay for Bingo. Cash prizes and progressive jackpot. Enjoy drink specials, appetizers, and raffles all night. Hosted by Roger Dimick. Proceeds benefit GLCCB. 8:30pm. Club Hippo, 1 W. Eager St., 410.547.0069, ClubHippo.com
ADAPTING CINDERELLA
Blood-bound and Tongue-tied: A haunting blend of the Oedipus Myth and racial politics in Depression-era Texas where one desperate lie instigates a catastrophic wave of bloodshed. $10-25. 8pm. Thru 4/1. Strand Theater, 1823 N. Charles St., Strand-Theater.org
Yappy Hour: Every 3rd Wednesday, the Camp Bow Wow lobby is transformed into a Wine & Cheese mixer. See the Camp, meet the staff, and mingle while your four-legged friends romp with their buds. Camp Bow Wow, 7165 Oakland Mills Rd., Columbia, CampBowWow.com Transgender Issues Working Group: Meets every other Wednesday. Registration required. FREE. 7pm. Equality Maryland, 1201 S. Sharp St., Owen@ EqualityMaryland.org
Thursday, March 22 Next Steps Community Meeting: Learn about the next steps to help protect marriage equality in Maryland. RSVP http://bit.ly/wxlatY FREE. 6pm. Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ, 15 West Church St., Frederick, MarylandersForMarriageequality.org
Monday, March 26 The Outliers: Occupying the Spaces Between Genders: (See article p. 7) FREE. 5-7pm. Thru 4/4. MICA, Main Gallery, 1300 W. Mount Royal Ave., MICA.edu Chris Hedges, Death of the Liberal Class: Author, journalist, and Occupy Movement supporter discusses new book which “examines the failure of the liberal class to confront the rise of the corporate state.” FREE. 7pm. MICA’s Brown Center, Falvey Hall, 1301 W. Mount Royal Ave., MICA.edu
Tuesday, March 27 PFLAG Baltimore County General Meeting: Support group and Q&A for parents of LGBT children. FREE. 7-9pm. Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd., PFLAGBaltimore.org Rainbow Youth Alliance of Baltimore County: Support group for LGBTQ teens and allies. A safe place to ask questions, find mutual support, and learn information pertinent to their lives. FREE. 7:30-9:30pm. Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd., Lutherville, RYABaltimoreCounty@gmail.com, PFLAGBaltimore.org Rainbow Youth Alliance of Howard County: Support group for LGBTQ teens and allies. A safe place to ask questions, find mutual support, and learn information pertinent to their lives. Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, rya_leaders@hotmail.com, 410.280.9047, PFLAGmd.org Parents of Transgender Kids Support Group: Support group and Q&A for parents of transgender kids. Meets on the 4th Tuesdays. FREE. 7:30-9pm. Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, cvhyde@gmail.com, PFLAGBaltimore.org
The Lit Show: Co-hosts Betsy Boyd and Jen Michalski are your ticket back to the golden days of late night, with a literary twist. $5-10. 8pm. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., CreativeAlliance.org
Wednesday, March 28
Friday, March 23
BINGO! Come for happy hour, stay for Bingo. Cash prizes and progressive jackpot. Enjoy drink specials, appetizers, and raffles all night. Hosted by Roger Dimick. Proceeds benefit GLCCB. 8:30pm. Club Hippo, 1 W. Eager St. 410.547.0069, ClubHippo.com
Joan Rivers at the Hippodrome: (See article p. 8) $42-62. 8pm. Hippodrome Theater, 12 N Eutaw St., France-MerrickPAC.com
Friday, March 30
Grrl Parts: The Extra Bits: New short plays by notable female playwrights shed light on trials and victories in the still male-dominated American theater. FREE. 2pm. Centerstage, 700 N. Calvert St., UMBC.edu/grrlparts
Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor: The bel canto masterpiece is one of opera’s most famous ‘mad scenes,’ in an extraordinary, intimate venue. $25-65. 7:30pm. Thru 3/25. Baltimore Concert Opera, 11 W. Mt. Vernon Pl., BaltimoreConcertOpera.com
WAMMFest: Celebrate and promote women and minorities in media production with Jamil Walker Smith and Brittany Ballard. FREE. 6pm. Towson University, 8000 York Rd.,Towson.edu
Moveable Feets!: “Unconventional” dance contests, prizes, sparkly outfits and more benefit Moveable Feast. 21+$12-20 suggested donation. 8pm. Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St., TheMetroGallery.net
Graphic Design Exhibition: Chance/Choice: Post Baccalaureate students exhibit artifacts, experiences, and ideas on the relationship between chance and choice. FREE. 5pm. Thru 4/15. Bunting Center: Pinkard Gallery, 1401 W. Mount Royal Ave., MICA.edu
Patti LaBelle: The one-and-only “Lady Marmalade” nailed hit after hit last season to a sold-out audience. $39-120. 8pm. Thru 3/31. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Strathmore.org
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 21
afterhours SEE MORE ON BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
BSCENE
GOV. MARTIN O’MALLEY SIGNS MARRIAGE BILL ■ MAR. 1 PHOTOS BY GLCCB
TESTING MAKES US STRONGER BALTIMORE LAUNCH CELEBRATION ■ MAR. 8 PHOTOS BY ERIK LIAM SANCHEZ
Staff members of the Baltimore Health Department attended the Testing Makes US Stronger Launch
More Tax Tips 5 COMMON IDENTITY THEFT/ TAX FRAUDS Identity Theft—Identity thieves obtain a taxpayer’s identity and personal information to file a fraudulent tax return and claim a refund. Phishing—Scammers solicit personal information via emails or websites that appear to be legitimate. Remember, the IRS does NOT initiate contact with tax payers via email! Return Prepare Fraud—A few bad apples can ruin the bunch. Most tax professionals are honest and provide good service. However, questionable preparers have been known to skim off their client’s refunds or charge inflated fees. “Free Money” Scams—If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers are targeting low income individuals and the elderly with prom-
PAGE 22 • MARCH 16 – MARCH 29, 2012
ises of easy refunds from the IRS and Social Security, and charging a fee for their guidance. Misuse of Trusts—This is not a new scam – trusts have been used for years by dishonest tax preparers and financial advisors to illegally avoid income tax liability and hide assets. More recently, the IRS has seen the use for private annuity trusts and foreign trusts to shift income and deduct personal expenses.
5 TAX TIPS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS Think “credits”—New tax credits for businesses are popping up every year, or old ones are being re-vamped. Keep abreast of the situation by visiting the Comptroller of Maryland website (business.marylandtaxes.com) to see a listing of business tax credits that you may be eligible for.
Rashad Burges from CDC with Carlton Smith of Baltimore Black Pride
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
Know your rules for end of the year tax forms—Business owners should know that employees get W-2’s at the end of each year, but who gets a 1099? Related to payments from your business, persons receiving $600 or more for services, rent or legal fees need to receive a year end 1099 from your business. Fraud prevention—You work hard to build your business and keep it running; don’t let anyone take that from you. In 2010, 42.1 percent of small businesses fell victim to some sort of fraud. Make sure to have knowledge of office software, business vendors, and employee day-to-day actions, as well as keep an eye on invoices, credit card statements and cleared checks to prevent fraud or embezzlement. One big tip: Be sure to have your bank statements sent to your home not your office, and read them yourself! The infamous “F” word: fees!— Be aware of tax penalties for late filing
or late payments, they can be a doozy! The failure-to-file penalty is typically more costly than a failure-to-pay, so if you cannot pay all that you owe, file by the deadline and explore other payment options. The IRS will work with you. Research and Development, and Personal Property Tax—As a Maryland business owner, you are eligible to not only gain current credits on R&D and PPT, but you can also gain credit for taxes already filed (up to 3 years back). The categorizing of PPT can be a hassle, and often gets handed off to the least experienced person and simply re-filed from the year before. Companies often report assets that they no longer use, or put property into categories that end up costing them more money. As for R&D, many business owners consider that to only mean big companies with R&D departments, but many small businesses do work that also qualifies. ■
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
outfront THEATER influential actors,” stated Bryan Schlein, production manager for the Iron Crow. “I think that having actors such as Brad Pitt and George Clooney attached may attract an audience that may not be interested in a piece of theater about marriage equality, but after viewing “8” many may come away from the piece with a changed heart.” Satta explains that there will be a discussion component that ties into the ending of the show. “My hope is that the discussion will help folks understand that, despite the fact that Governor O’Malley has signed marriage equality into law, the fight is far from over,” Satta said. “I am sure the
Katie Ellen Simmons-Barth and Sarah Gorman
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 referendum will make it onto the ballot next November. We need to be mobilizing grassroots efforts to convince Marylanders to get to the polls and vote for marriage equality in our state.” Along with the Iron Crow Theatre’s reading, The Social Action Project, in collaboration with the Center for Student Diversity at Towson University has also planned for a production on April 5. “I hope to get the story out so people know what’s going on in the world and how our legislative system works,” said Social Action Project Director Eric Avery. Avery was surprised with the response from people who outside of Baltimore. “I’ve been contacted from many people in Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania who showed interest in our performance. It’s definitely ignited interest all throughout the area.” Trevor Ankeny, board president of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB), and GLCCB Program Associate Anne Kotleba will be participating in the postperformance discussion. ■
COMEDY slept her way there. I’m not gonna become Bent Over Betty. [But] if an 86-year-old woman can bend over, she deserves to host [SNL].
What’s on your playlist? Showtunes and opera.
Do you do karaoke? I don’t like karaoke. A lot of my noncelebrity friends do.
What do you think of Baltimore? I love Baltimore. My father went to John Hopkins. It was wonderful for my father as an immigrant. They gave him a college degree. It’s a wonderful area. You have great architecture. The gays in Baltimore are fabulous.
How does it compare to D.C.? In D.C. you better be in politics or get out.
Do you think the referendum will pass in Maryland? What if it does not? Every gay has to get out and ring doorWWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 bells. You don’t vote in the person against you. Gays have tremendous power of the pocketbook.
As a gay icon, have you ever thought about running for congress? I hate being called an icon anything. I love being called anything gay. To be honest, I think both sides are morons.
How do you relax? I relax at Melissa’s. Nine o’clock Tuesdays is our show [Joan and Melissa]. I’m a big relaxer. I can do my show in ten minutes and then be relaxing with friends.
Do you see yourself as an introvert or an extrovert? Total introvert. Most people in the arts are. It comes out in your writing.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know? I adore gay men. And tell them to get to the theater! Gay men in the theater [audience] make the show. No question. ■ VOLUME 34, NUMBER 5 • PAGE 23