SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1979
MARYLAND’S LGBT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011 VOLUME XXXIII, NUMBER 22 WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
25
OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO
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ART CLASSES FOR LGBT YOUTH
HOLLYWOOD DRAMA
AT FELL’S POINT THEATRE BSCENE PHOTOS OF
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itt e n byy Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company ted Comp Products rod und erwr writte wr ppany nyy and Aff ilia iliated Com p anies. Home Offi ce: Columbus,, OH 43215. Subject j to underwritingg gguidelines,, review,, and approval. pp Products and nd discounts d nott Max. credit: $500. Details and availabi lityy var ava lable to allll pe avai per p r sons son in all states. Vanishingg Deduct uctible ible ble is an o pptio nal feat fea ure. Terms and Conditions Apply. pp y Annual credits subject j to eligibility g y requirements. q varyy byy state. ationwide Series logo TThe NASC ARR N atio g is used unn der lice li ce nse lic n byy t hhe N ational Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, g, Inc. and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. p y NASCAR® and the NASCAR® logo g ar e regist re ggi ered Auto Racing, trad emar marr ks o f tth e National Association on f or Stock S toc toock Car Aut gg, Inc. Nationwide,, Nationwide Insurance,, the Nationwide framemark and Vanishingg Deductiblee a re service s ce marks m arks of Nationwide Mutual In surance ura In uran Compp any. anyy ©2 ©2011 Nationwide Mutual tual al Ins urance ce C ompany. p y All rights g reserved. Paid endorsement. The JR Motorsports logo and the n ame, a e, likk enes enesss and an d signat si gnat gna ure of Danic D anicaa Patric Pa trickk, and a nd all a ll relat r elated ed trade t rademark mark s aan d J R Mo torsports, LLC and JRM Licensing, LLC. ADP-1301 (02/11) copy pyrigh ri h ts are righ a used with the per ermiss er mission miss i on of JR io
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PAGE 2 • NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011 Susan Shollenberger
1057 S. Charles St Baltimore, MD 21230
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Nationwide Insurance® Customer
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Criminal Traffic DWI MVA Hearings Estate Planning Wills Power of Attorney Personal Injury Automobile Accidents Worker’s Compensation Family Law and Divorce Second Parent Adoption
201 N. Charles Street, Suite 2300 Baltimore, MD 21201 Office: 410-332.1170 • Fax 410-837-0288 Lyndamdee@aol.com • www.lyndadeelaw.com
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 22 • PAGE 3
Beginner Yoga Sundays at 3:30pm (please arrive a few minutes early) Room 201 at The GLCCB 241 W. Chase St. Cost is $9 As LGBT individuals, our experience in the cyber-speed world around us becomes more integrated and fluid when we regularly create time to center, focus, and enjoy therapeutic activities that “re-boot,” strengthen, and support us. Join Registered Yoga Therapist Tim Hurley (Yoga Alliance Certified E-RYT-500) weekly for Gentle Hatha Yoga at a slower, more human pace and re-encounter your own natural state of integrity and harmony.
letter editor’s
I first visited Video Americain on Cold Spring Avenue in 1994 when my mom bought a house a few blocks away. I would walk to the store every weekend, spend hours exploring the shelves, and walk home with four or five movies in hand (and these were the days of the bulky VHS!). I’ve never considered myself a film buff — but there was something about this store that kept me loyal throughout the years, even as I moved farther and farther away. My guess is that most of us have a store like this, a place where we enjoy the browsing as much as the purchase, where we hope the employees approve of our selections, where we are eager to hand over our money. These days it’s especially important that we spend our money wisely, which is why GL is featuring our favorite LGBTfriendly retail stores. From movies to books, clothing to pet food, sterling silver to some things much sexier, we collected the spots we think can’t be missed. We hope you share our excitement when you discover — or rediscover — some of Baltimore’s best shops.
CONTENTS
14 outfront
outgoing
PAGE 5 COMMUNITY
PAGE 14 SPOTLIGHT
Community news.
“Will-Power Party” combines responsibility and fun with free assistance with legal documents for community members.
PAGE 6 ART
GLCCB Artist in residence teaches youth art classes.
By Rachel Roth
By Kelly D. McClain
DATEBOOK
PAGE 7 COMEDY
Comedian Kate Clinton performs for Creative Alliance’s OUT in Highlandtown LGBT series.
Calendar of Events.
By Rachel Roth
By Kristi Metzger
afterhours
THEATER
PAGE 14 BSCENE
Fell’s Point Corner Theatre presents sexy and witty Hollywood love triangle in “The Little Dog Laughed.”
By Querin Brown
Halloween parties, costumes and contests galore. Photos by Samatra Johnson
PAGE 8 DINING OUT
Alewife offers Hippodrome theatergoers an impressive selection of beer in an inspiring setting.
By John Cullen with Marty Shayt
headlinenews Maggie Beetz Editor
PAGE 9 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FEATURE
By Rachel Roth
PAGE 10
firstperson ON THE COVER
Comedian Kate Clinton. Photo by David Rodgers.
www.glccb.org or call 410.837.5445. A portion of the cost is donated back to The GLCCB
PAGE 4 • NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011
PAGE 12 LETTERS
Everyone is welcome at Club Hippo. By Charles Bowers
Gay Life’s 25 Favorite Places to Shop, including 30 years with Pikesvile Silver & Antiques. By Terri Solomon
241 W. Chase Street • Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone 410.837.7748 • Fax 410.837.8889 Email sales@baltimoregaylife.com
Maggie Beetz, Editor
M. Cory Burgess, Art Director cory@metroscapemedia.com
Charles Bowers, Querin Brown, John Cullen, Kelly D. McClain, Kristi Metzger, Rachel Roth, Marty Shayt, 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.
Scott FitzPatrick, Advertising
Photographers
editor@baltimoregaylife.com
sales@baltimoregaylife.com 410.837.7748
National Advertising Rep.
Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863
Contributors
Jay W Photos, Samatra Johnson
Newspaper Committee
Trevor Ankeny, Bud Beehler, Kelly D. McClain, Terri Solomon
Marty Shayt
Senior Volunteer
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
outfront COMMUNITY
Gay Bingo Player Wins $1,000 Jackpot On October 27, Gary Nelson won the Bingo jackpot of $1,000 at Club Hippo’s weekly Gay Bingo. Proceeds from Gay Bingo benefit the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB), but that didn’t stop Nelson from generously donating $100 of his winnings to the Center. “Over the 9 plus years that Gay Bingo has been hosted at the Hippo, the community has helped to raise over $210,000 to support the GLCCB!” said GLCCB Board President Trevor Ankeny. “All of us at the GLCCB, the Board, staff, volunteers, and most importantly the community members we serve, send a special thank you to everyone who has come out to play Bingo. It is through this generous and continued support that this important institution has served the LGBT community going on 35 years.” Bingo is held every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Special themed evenings include the upcoming Turkey Bingo on November 16. A total of 20 turkey dinners will be given away, one turkey dinner with each game. The dinners will include the turkey and the trimmings. ■
TURKEY BINGO Wednesday, Nov. 16 • 8:30pm • $20 Club Hippo • 1 W. Eager St. 410.576.0018 • ClubHippo.com
Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Protections Introduced in Howard County A joint press release from PFLAG Columbia-Howard County and Gender Rights Maryland announced that Howard County Councilmembers Courtney Watson (District 1), Calvin Ball (District 2), Jen Terrasa (District 3), and Mary Kay Sigaty (District 4) introduced county legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in the areas of housing, law enforcement, public accommodations, financing, employment, and health, and social services. “As parents of transgender children we want the same thing for our children as all parents want: we want them to be happy, to WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
get a productive job, and to move out and support themselves. This bill will make that dream more possible for transgender children in Howard County, who are at much higher risk for suicide, unemployment and homelessness,” said Catherine Hyde, the coordinator of PFLAG HowardCounty’s Transgender Parent Network. “All hardworking people in our state, including transgender people, should have a chance to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families. Nobody should have to live in fear that they can be legally fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance,” said Sharon Brackett, Board Chair for Gender Rights Maryland. ■
8:30 pm wednesdays
by Roger Dimick with Prizes and Progressive Jackpot. Proceeds Benefit Club Hippo 1 W. Eager St.
Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown
Lt. Governor to Appear on Md. Gay Radio Listeners can tune in to Maryland Gay Radio on November 15 to hear host Ted Hart interview Maryland Lt. Gov Anthony Brown, who will share his view of Maryland’s LGBT community and the upcoming fight for Marriage Equality. Lt. Governor Brown leads the O’MalleyBrown administration’s work to expand and improve health care, support economic development, help victims of domestic violence, increase access to higher education, and provide Veterans with better services and resources. Prior to serving as Lt. Governor, Anthony Brown represented Prince George’s County for two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates, rising quickly to the position of Majority Whip. A Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Anthony Brown is the nation’s highest-ranking elected official to have served a tour of duty in Iraq. ■
MARYLAND GAY RADIO Nov. 15 • 3pm BlogTalkRadio.com/MarylandGayRadio Call 818.532.9777 to ask questions during the live show. CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 VOLUME 33, NUMBER 22 • PAGE 5
outfront ART
Email us at Sales@BaltimoreGayLife.com to place your ad today!
BY KELLY D. MCCLAIN Award-winning artist Denise Duarte is offering a free, weekly art program, “Express Yourself,” for LGBTQ youth. “The program will nurture creativity and provide leadership skills, team building, and community building opportunities in a safe and accepting environment,” said Duarte, an artist in residence at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB). Duarte has facilitated and installed six community art ceramic murals that “celebrate, not only the sponsoring community facility, but the residents that created it,” she said about her work in her previous residence in Las Vegas, Nev. She has more than 24 years of social justice activism history and currently studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in collaboration with MICA’s Community Arts Collaborative AmeriCorps program. She developed and implemented more than 11 public art and community art projects to date, with three more scheduled this year. The youth art program consists of several short art workshops and will continue until the end of July 2012. The workshops will introduce the visual as well as the tactile experience of making art while emphasizing the techniques to polish and perfect their artwork. “The skills learned will encompass analysis, critical thinking, and problem solving as well as basic art construction and design,” she said. In addition to the “Express Yourself” youth art program, Duarte recently received a grant to help fund a temporary art project at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual Creating Change Conference, held this coming year in Baltimore,
Denise Duarte January 25-29, 2012. The MICA’s Student Affairs Community Service Fund will help Duarte purchase art materials for projects that will be chosen, designed, and created by the participating youth. She is working with Creating Change’s local host committee to include a community arts project with the youth planning to attend the conference. “It is our intent that those under the age of 16 will attend the conference for free,” she said. Youth older than 16 can volunteer four hours per day at the Youth Hospitality Suite and then attend the rest of the day for free. Baltimore City schools are scheduled to be closed January 26-27, which will offer youth a presence at the conference. “This opportunity to participate at this conference will expose the youth to LGBTQ leadership, as well as a chance to be proactive in social engagement and organization,” she said. In addition to the youth art program, Duarte is planning a permanent and portable art piece reflective of Maryland LGBT history, to be unveiled at the GLCCB-organized Baltimore Pride, June 15-17, 2012. “This project will be designed, planned, and created by the youth with my facilitation,” said Duarte. The artwork will be in celebration of the GLCCB’s 35th Anniversary and will be showcased throughout the weekend at various participating venues, such as the Mount Vernon Block Party and the Pride Festival in Druid Hill Park. “Artistic expression can impact others more deeply than other forms of communication,” said Duarte. “It can be the message, the messenger, and the call to action! The Creating Change conference is a perfect opportunity for Baltimore’s LGBTQ youth to express themselves artistically regarding the issues that impact them.” ■
EXPRESS YOURSELF! LGBT YOUTH ART CLASSES
Saturdays • 3:30-5:30pm. • GLCCB 241 W. Chase St • FREE! • dduarte@glccb.org
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LGBT EQUALITY CREATING CHANGE
“Anti-Atlas” Art Tile by Denise Duarte PAGE 6 • NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011
January 25-29, 2012 • Hilton Hotel 401 W. Pratt St • CreatingChange.org
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
Photo by Paul Erschler
Reach the local gay market... Advertise in Gay Life!
LGBTQ Youth: Express Yourself!
COMEDY
THEATER
Kate Clinton Comes Out in Highlandtown
Local veteran actors Tom Burns, Holly Pacuillo, Chris Krysztofiak and Emma Healey
BY KRISTI METZGER
elf proclaimed “fumerist” or feminine humorist, Kate Clinton kicked off her comedy career in 1981 using her hilarious blend of lesbianism, Catholicism, and politics as material for her jokes. This is quite the departure from her initial career as a high school English teacher. I had the exciting opportunity to capture a few minutes of Kate’s time and catch up on her career, her tour, and her thoughts on Baltimore. Gay Life: How do you jump from teaching high school English to becoming a comedian, especially in a time when being out wasn’t as widely accepted as today? Kate Clinton: My friends thought it was a sophisticated career death wish. I had left teaching, was coming out, and I had to say I was going to school to get a leave of absence. I started to write and was in a writers group. We’d read and I was the cleanup reader. I wanted to try to write more directly for a laugh and decided to try standup. My best friend went and booked me at a club and said, “You’re on in a month!” At first it was a slow build; I was substitute teaching and my friend and I were in the window cleaning business. That didn’t last long; we were both afraid of heights.
You have made a 30+ year career out of finding hilarity in lesbianism, Catholicism, and politics. Looking back, what would you say have been some of the most pivotal events that have inspired some of your favorite material? Great question! Umm, I think that in the beginning in the first five or six years, definitely I was in the good embrace and in the end of a lesbian separatist movement and performed in a number of Unitarian churches. In the late ‘80s it was working with gay men and fighting AIDS. It was a horrible scourge that wasn’t dealt with by the government. It was really formative. The ‘90s and Bill Clinton were able to say gay and lesbian without spitting up. Lots of people were coming out and it was a huge change. We became more mainstream, my audience changed. The Bush years and trying to do comedy after 9/11. Everyone knew Bush was bad and I had to try not to make it boring. Oh then the Obama years—it WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
has been like the wildest ride ever of crashing banks, institutional racism, he’s a friend of the gay community, he’s a foe of the gay community. You blog, vlog, Tweet, Facebook, work with social justice and nonprofit organizations, host fundraising events, have written three books, appear all over television and movies, in addition to numerous comedy tours. Do you sleep?! How do you fit it all in? [Laughing] Yes, I sleep, surprisingly. It’s all pretty organic, which is a lovely thing. I always felt that I was in it for the marathon, not a sprint. I’ve been able to manage it in a way that enables to give me longevity. Got to feed that internet beast! It’s voracious. To make people laugh, I couldn’t have a better job. I decided I’m going to take the world seriously, but not myself. CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
Photo by Ken Stanek Photography
S
The Little Dog Won’t Be the Only One Laughing at FPCT BY QUERIN BROWN
Sexy, scandalous, secrecy. Words all too familiar in Hollywood’s fast-paced, competitive, silicon world are brought to life by the cast of Fells Point’s latest theatrical performance. Located in a historic brick fire house, Fells Point Corner Theatre presents “The Little Dog Laughed,” written by Douglas Carter Beane and directed by Steven Goldklang. Goldklang was drawn to Beane’s screenplay because of its “…smart, sophisticated and witty dialogue.” Goldklang has been in the business for over 30 years, directing shows such as “Six Degrees of Separation,” “The Clean House,” and “The Norman Conquests: Table Manners.” He enjoys comedies that make you think while they address contemporary issues. “The Little Dog Laughed” tells the story of a rising actor, Mitchell Green, who is talented, good-looking and likes to fit in a few late night “sessions” when not working on his budding career. Sounds like the perfect resume for a Hollywood wanna-be. There is only one problem, Mitchell’s late night rendezvous come with names like Mike, Xavier, and now Alex. Alex, a “rent boy,” (high end male prostitute) and Mitchell fall in love and must decide what to do next. Mitchell wants to come out of the closet to the industry. Alex faces revealing his affections for Mitchell to his girlfriend, Ellen. Yes… girlfriend. The plot thickens when Mitchell is up for a big movie role, play-
ing a homosexual man. In Hollywood it is acceptable for straight actors to play gay roles, but it has yet to wrap arms around a gay thespian doing what he knows best. With this in mind, Mitchell’s ambitious agent, Diane, is mortified to discover the relationship her client is blossoming with Alex. Devious Diane is diligent about keeping Mitchell in the closet and taking herself to the top. Mitchell and his “slight recurring case of homosexuality” will leave you searching for a cure from side-splitting humor. No strangers to theater, Holly Pacuillo, Tom Burns, Chris Krysztofiak, and Emma Healey are ready to bring this enormously funny script to the Baltimore stage. Nominated for a 2007 Tony Award and a GLAAD Media Award, Douglas Carter Bean’s “The Little Dog Laughed” delivers. The play’s title is derived from the nursery rhyme, Hey Diddle Diddle, a line quoted toward the end of the show. Diane explains, ‘’You know the type of ending I want… I want a couple walking off into the sunset: ‘The little dog laughed to see such sport and the dish ran away with the spoon,’ that type of thing.’’ ■
“THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED”
Friday, November 11, 8pm through 12/11 • $10-17 Fells Point Corner Theatre • 251 South Ann St. 410.276.7837 • FPCT.org Starring Holly Pacuillo, Tom Burns, Chris Krysztofiak and Emma Healey VOLUME 33, NUMBER 22 • PAGE 7
outfront
Photo courtesy of Alewife
DINING OUT
Alewife Offers Atmosphere and Beer BY JOHN CULLEN WITH MARTY SHAYT
www.embracehomeloans.com
Contrary to popular belief, Alewife’s handsome building never was a bank! It was built in 1847 for the Baltimore Equitable Society (founded in 1794 to provide fire insurance and put out house fires for its members). The Society moved out in 2005 to bigger offices on Pratt Street (between then and when Alewife opened, two other restaurants have opened and closed at this location). Alewife retains much of the original architectural detail (including a vault where the Society’s insurance contracts were stored!). The striking interior has 20+ foot tall ceilings, large windows with views of the nearby Hippodrome Theater, handsome woodwork, and an attractive bar. Alewife (also the name of a fish that invaded the Great Lakes) has a dinner menu which includes two soups ($6), six appetizers ($10-15), an entrée salad with steak ($18), five sandwiches ($11-15 including a Kobe hot dog for $12 and an 11 ounce cheeseburger for $15) and five entrees ($19-26). Many Alewife fans are most impressed by availability of over a hundred beers ($6-45). Visiting with a couple of friends for a light dinner, Marty decided to try the black bean burger ($11), John and our friend Paul ordered the Cubano sandwich ($12) and Tom opted for the catfish tacos ($12) with a side of fennel tempura frites ($6). Marty’s bean burger and heap of French fries got his attention. While
he liked the salty fries, the bean burger had a “mushy” texture that he didn’t like. (John tried some and thought it was tasty.) The really large Cubano sandwich arrived with a side spinach salad with “warm bacon dressing.” While Paul enjoyed it, John was disappointed—inside the large hunk of bread, he found a few slices of ham and pork topped with not much melted cheese and some yellow mustard; the spinach was good, but the dressing was neither warm nor contained any obvious bacon. Tom’s three tacos looked and tasted interesting, and he enjoyed them; though the catfish was buried amidst bits of chimichurri, corn salsa, and slaw topped by a few decorative shoestring fries. Just when we had concluded that our waiter had forgotten the fennel tempura frites, they showed up about 20 minutes after our entrees without any apology or explanation (which made us wonder how the place would handle a Hippodrome crowd). The light licorice flavor of the fennel was enjoyed more after we started stripping off its greasy shell fried tempura coating. Ah! If only Alewife’s food and service were as impressive and memorable as its handsome building, its long list of available beers, and convenient location across from the Hippodrome, then it would be perfect. But the good outweighed the not-as-good, and we concluded it’s definitely worth another visit. ■
ALEWIFE
21 N. Eutaw St. • 410.545.5112 Open 7 days, 11am-1am Full bar w/ huge list of beers, vegetarian options AlewifeBaltimore.com Email DiningOut@BaltimoreGayLife.com & find past reviews at BaltimoreGayLife-DiningOut.info
Licensed as Embrace Home Loans, Inc. NMLS# 2184
PAGE 8 • NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
headlinenews NATIONAL
D
A House Democrats Challenge DOMA House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and 130 Democrats have officially challenged the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) by filing a friend-of-the-court brief. Pelosi is credited with spearheading the effort, which challenges the decision by House Republican leaders to hire outside counsel to defend the statute after the Justice Department decided in February it could no longer do so on constitutional grounds.
E
F
C
B A
Healing Foundation B International Apologizes to LGBT Community On its 21st anniversary, the International Healing Foundation (IHF) has issued an official apology to the LGBTQ community. IHF Founder and Director Richard Cohen, is sorry for “years of unknowingly fueling anti-gay sentiment.” Headquartered in Maryland, but serving men, women, and adolescents worldwide since 1990, the IHF’s new message is one of acceptance and tolerance. IHF’s new effort, “Coming Out Loved,” adopts therapeutic guidelines from the American Psychological Association for members of the lesbian, gay and, bisexual communities; American Counseling Association guidelines for the transgender community; and National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality therapeutic guidelines for anyone questioning their sexuality and/or experiencing unwanted same sex attraction.
C
New Jersey GOP Members Make ‘It Gets Better’ Video
For the first time since the It Gets Better Campaign began in 2010, three members of the Republican Party participated in a video with other members of New Jersey Delegation in support of LGBT youth. New Jersey Congressional Republican Reps. Leonard Lance, Frank LoBiondo, and Jon Runyan have a mixed voting record when it comes to legislation to expand gay rights, but in a statement to the Washington Post, Runyan – who opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions—said, “There is no place in our society for bullying, especially when continued bullying leads to young adults taking their own lives. This issue goes beyond political affiliations.”
D Gay Ohio Teen Beaten by Classmate A 15-year old student at Union-Scioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio was brutally attacked on campus, and the entire event was captured on video. No one attempted to help. According to Change.org—a campaign launched by Bret Thompson of Columbus, Ohio—the victim suffered broken teeth and a possible concussion. His attacker was suspended for three days. Thompson started the campaign to urge the Union-Scioto Local School District to create and implement a policy that specifically protects against harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
E California Politician Comes Out California Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani has officially come out as a lesbian. Galgiani, who helped pass a law requiring that LGBT history be taught in schools, told the Stockton Record that she was motivated to come out after actor Zachary Quinto publicly announced he was gay. He cited the recent suicide of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer as the moment that made him want to show there’s no reason to hide being gay. Like Quinto, Galgiani wants to be an example to LGBT youth.
Lady Gaga Starts Nonprofit Aimed at Supporting LGBT Youth Lady Gaga, known for her support of LGBT equality, has announced that she is launching the “Born This Way Foundation,” a non-profit that will focus on youth empowerment. According to The Daily Activist, the organization is joint effort between Gaga and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The California Endowment, and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University to create the foundation. Beginning in 2012, it will focus on issues like “self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development.”
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
BY RACHEL ROTH
H
G
I
INTERNATIONAL
to Enter Same-Sex Civil Union F First in Denmark Dies Gay rights pioneer, Axel Axgil, one of the first LGBT citizens of Denmark to exchange vows, died Oct. 29 due to complications from a fall. He was 96. Axgil is credited with helping Denmark become the first country to legalize same-sex unions, which it did in 1989. He was also one of the founding members of LGBT Denmark. Vivi Jelstrup, a spokeswoman for the organization said in a statement to the Associated Press that Axgil in many ways personified the struggle for gay rights in Denmark.
G Malaysian Government Bans Pride Event Malaysian police have vowed to prevent “Seksualiti Merdeka,” the annual gay rights festival meaning Sexual Freedom. According to ChannelNewsAsia.com, the festival has taken place in the capitol city of Kuala Lumpur since 2008. Khalid Abu Bakar, deputy national police chief stated that the Sexual Freedom Festival was canceled after Muslims and other groups in the socially conservative country protested that it could “create disharmony, enmity and disturb public order.” Festival organizer Pang Khee Pik said the announcement marked a “very tragic day for Malaysia.” He told the Agence France-Presse that “we are aware that homophobic polices in Malaysia are not isolated, but [the police decision] is a symptom of a systemic breakdown in human rights in the country.”
Prime Minister H Zimbabwe Appears to Support LGBT Rights Morgan Tsvangirai, prime minister of Zimbabwe, is making waves over a statement he made in support of gay rights. According to a report in the Mail & Guardian Online, Tsvangirai said on BBC’s Newsnight, “I hope the [new] constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation.”After outrage from Zimbabweans over Tsvangirai’s shift in ideology, he backpedaled slightly by saying his comments were “only the opinions of an individual and not a collective party position.”
Brazilian High Court Clears the Way I for Marriage Equality Brazil is one step closer to legalizing gay marriage. In a 4 to 1 vote that took place Oct. 25, the highest federal court ruled that the Constitution “makes it possible for stable civil unions to become marriages.” The ruling comes five months after Brazil’s highest court approved civil unions for same-sex couples. Experts say that this decision should play some role in discouraging Brazil’s states from blocking same-sex marriage. Presently, Argentina is the only country in Latin America where same-sex marriage is legal.
SEE MORE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM/NEWS VOLUME 33, NUMBER 22 • PAGE 9
GAY LIFE’S 25 FAVORITE
PLACES
Shop!
TO
We compiled a list of our ABSOLUTE favorite retail businesses—just in time for holiday shopping. The following stores are not only LGBT-friendly, they are independent, local shops that deserve our attention and support.
KEY
O = LGBT-OWNED M = LGBT-MANAGED
Mt. Vernon SPIRITS (O, M)
Champagne, wine, gourmet cheese, crystal stemware, decanters, plus weekly wine tastings and Boris the wine dog. 900 N. Charles St. 410.727.7270
CHAINED DESIRES (M)
Variety of clothes, toys, books and novelties to spice up your life. 136 Read St. 410.528.8441
READ STREET BOOKS (O, M) New and used books, vintage paperbacks, lesbian fiction, plus espresso, teas, Italian sodas, and desserts. 229 W. Read St. 410.669.4103
Pikesville Silver & Antiques Your source for all things silver
Hampden MA PETITE SHOE (O, M)
Boutique specializing in the world’s most fabulous shoes from some of the newest designers, plus vegan products and chocolates. 832 W. 36th St. 410.235.3442
SUGAR (O, M)
Stir up raw passion in this sex-positive shop offering toys as well as classes. 927 W. 36th St. 410.467.2632
HAMPDEN JUNQUE (O, M) 629 Reisterstown Rd. · 410.358.3377 · M-F 10-5
Buying and selling chic nostalgic antiques, collectibles and junque. 1006 W. 36th St. 410.889.6453
ATOMIC BOOKS
Legendary, alternative, independent bookstore specializing in comics and graphic novels, as well as John Waters’ mail. 3620 Falls Rd. 410.662.4444
DREAMLAND (O, M) Cute, crafty vintage clothes, jewelry and gifts.
845 W. 36th St. 410.467.1582
EYE CANDY
Fashionable lenses and eyewear specific to each client’s needs. 849 W. 36th St. 410.889.0607
PAGE 10 • NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011
CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT (O) Fine art, antique furniture, estate and handmade jewelry, gourmet sauces and treats, rare and unique books,, and treasures from all over the world. 837 W. 36th St. 410.243.0990
FLECKENSTEIN GALLERY Custom and archival framing plus a diverse collection of local and regional artists in a variety of media: prints, painting, sculpture, and more. 3316 Keswick Rd. 410.366.3669
HOWL
Natural, high quality pet products specializing in special food needs, chemical/filler/by-product –free foods, plus toys and accessories. 3531 Chestnut Ave. 410.235.2469
MINÁS
Two venues in one: an art gallery (and home of the 510 Reading Series) and a boutique with clothing, jewelry, local crafts, retro toys, Japanese ceramics, and more. 815 W. 36th St. 410.732.4258
S.C. LORD DESIGN (O, M)
Gallery and archival framing from oversized antique posters to three-dimensional works, works on paper to vintage photographs. 3000 Chestnut Ave. 410.961.4597
Charles Village Waverly Belvedere Square VIDEO AMERICAIN
The best selection of independent, local, foreign, cult films and documentaries, plus extensive LGBT and adult sections. 3100 St. Paul St. 410.889.5266 400 W. Cold Spring Ln. 410.243.2231
NORMALS
Overflowing with used books, records and CDs.
Mt. Washington Cross Keys Timonium BALTIMORE CLAYWORKS
Non-profit ceramic art center offers classes as well as beautiful ceramics made from safe, natural materials from the earth. 5707 Smith Ave. 410.578.1919
DOGMA (O, M)
Food, treats, products, and grooming services for cats and dogs. 1340-G Smith Ave. Ste B 443.708.4420 3600 Boston St. #20 410.276.3410
JEAN POOL (O)
A boutique denim store that caters to men and women with the goal of finding the perfect fit for everyone. 92 Village Sq. 410.466.1177
GREAT DESIGNS AND FINDS Quality pre-owned furniture and accessories that express your individual style, plus current and vintage art work, lamps, china, jewelry, porcelain and crystal.
1924B Greenspring Drive 410.561.9413
Downtown ARHAUS FURNITURE
Beautiful and stylish furniture. 660 S. Exeter St. 410.244.6376
HANDBAGS IN THE CITY (O) The latest must-have designer handbags as well as clothing, shoes, and luxurious accessories for men and women. 1001 Fleet St. 410.528.1443
SIDESHOW SHOP AT AMERICAN VISIONARY ART MUSEUM (O, M)
AVAM’s gift shop offers original art, books, scares, jewelry, souvenirs, and toys. 800 Key Hwy. 410.244.1900
425 E. 31st St. 410.243.6888
NOUVEAU (O)
Furniture and accessories that are fun, funky, contemporary, and transitional. 514 E. Belvedere Ave. 410.962.8248
Did we forget your favorite LGBTfriendly retail store? Let us know: editor@baltimoregaylife.com. Look out for GL favorite Services and our favorite Restaurants & Bars in upcoming issues! ■
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
THREE DECADES OF SERVICEFOR
P ikesville Silver & Antiques
LOCAL SILVER SHOP CATERS TO ITS CUSTOMERS
OWNER JORY NEWMAN
BY TERRI SOLOMON
Photos by John Kardys
Pikesville Silver & Antiques is a family affair. Just ask owner Jory Newman, who runs the “Ma and Pop shop” along with his wife Barbara and his father Jay. The Newmans do everything related to silver imaginable, from plating, polishing, and engraving pieces to selling new gifts and restoring broken family treasures.
JAY & JORY NEWMAN
A Family Affair “We have a lot of pride in what we do,” said Jory. “We treat people fairly and they come back and send their children and grandchildren in. I think everybody walks out of here feeling good.” His father Jay, who began the business in 1982, echoes that sentiment. “It’s a very personal business. There’s a lot of trust that goes into what we do, with the irreplaceable family heirlooms we are entrusted with,” said Jay. “We have had people bring in damaged silverware WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
from parents or grandparents who were deceased. They have cried with joy seeing the piece they remembered restored.” Almost 30 years ago, Jay, a successful eyeglass manufacturer, and his wife were sterling silver and china collectors, but hadn’t considered turning their hobby into a full-time profession until Jay bought a double-end polishing machine from a former employee. “I put a $4 ad in a local paper at the time, saying we polished silver and brass candlesticks and trays,” he said. From there, the business grew as the Newmans continued shopping for antiques and customers began requesting silver plating and engraving. Son Jory assisted his father with the expanding business for many years before taking it over in 2004. Now, Pikesville Silver & Antiques counts among its clients museums, religious institutions, and people with family heirlooms that need restoration and polishing, as well as those who come in to buy gifts or decorations for their home.
Gay-friendly business welcomes all Neither Jory Newman, nor his father Jay, is a gay man. So why are they both supportive of Baltimore’s LGBT community? As Jay succinctly puts it, “Why not?” Jory chimes in. “It’s a group of people—African American, Jewish, Catholic, gay—and everybody should be easy with one another. It’s mainstream soci-
ety now.” He credits his upbringing with encouraging him to be open-minded. “I was brought up not to see a difference between people. You have to be yourself,” he said. He encourages the community to come into the shop and be “wildly delighted” by his wares. “For making a condo or a house look beautiful, I have great things,” he said. Collectors can find Portuguese candelabra from the 1940s1950s and a hundred-year-old repousse bowl handmade by Samuel Kirk & Sons, a renowned local silver manufacturer, among other one-of-a-kind finds. “A silver gift is personal and a piece of artwork as well,” said Jory. In today’s world of disposable flatware and paper plates, silver may seem a little archaic. But “a piece of sterling stays in the family for many years,” Jory said. And there is something comforting about doing business with a man who believes in listening without judgment to the life stories of his patrons, regardless of race, religion, or sexuality. “We listen to our customers, and they share personal things with us,” said Jory. “This isn’t K-Mart.”
Stories from over the years Jay tells an amusing anecdote of a woman who brought in a large trophy that had belonged to her mother; the woman wanted the old trophy to be silver plated. “I said, it’s not a great trophy to start with, and I can sell you something that
will cost you less that it will cost to have this plated,” he said. “But this woman would have none of it, because her father gave the trophy to her mother on their 5th wedding anniversary, to commemorate her putting up with him.” Over the years, the Newmans have restored pieces that were badly damaged when they were taken out of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe, and each and every one had a different story to tell. They also possess several Russian samovars from the 1800s, ornate containers that used coal to heat water and make tea. “The Russian ones are really pieces of art,” said Jay. “It took a long time to be able to get them out of Russia, and then when they were shipped to the US, customs would damage them, and people would bring them to us to be fixed. They predate the electric coffee pot.” With the holiday season fast approaching, both Newmans are predicting an increase in customers buying gifts with longer staying power than an expensive bottle of wine, as well as a post-holiday surge of clients who accidentally damaged Grandma’s silver. “After most holidays, people bring in silverware to be fixed that went down the garbage disposal. They say this can’t be mine when they get it back. We make something that looks terrible look beautiful,” said Jory. ■
PIKESVILLE SILVER & ANTIQUES 629 Reisterstown Rd. 410.358.3377 Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 22 • PAGE 11
firstperson LETTERS
Everyone is Welcome at Club Hippo BY CHUCK BOWERS
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter is in response to a recent incident at Club Hippo in which a staff member expelled a transgender patron from a restroom.) As owner of Club Hippo since 1978 it is my highest priority to let the community know that everyone is welcome. Many already know, I am not the Hippo’s first owner. If fact, I remember first visiting the club in the mid-1970s; I also remember leaving after I witnessed the obvious discrimination my African American companions experienced. This memory has stuck with me, and it continues to inspire me to put our patrons first. In 2009, Club Hippo listened to the transgender community and honored their request to establish unisex facilities so that no one is forced to choose. Today, I’m reaching out to the transgender community again. As laws and regulations, as well as etiquette and common decency, continue to evolve, Club Hippo is hoping to be a model for other establishments in embracing Baltimore’s transgender communities. Working in collaboration with Equality Maryland, in an effort to ensure and strengthen this message, the Hippo’s management and staff are continuing to learn more about the needs of the transgender community, and we are taking immediate action to meet those needs. Effective immediately, we are posting the following notice in all of our restrooms (the unisex restrooms, as well as the women’s and men’s rooms) to let both patrons and staff know that no one has a right to judge or assume another’s gender—regardless of outside appearance.
Dear Patrons, Family, and Friends, ALL persons have the right to use facilities that fit their personal Gender Identity and/or Expression. In Accordance with Article IV of Baltimore City code persons have the right to equal access to Public Accommodations based on race, country of origin, religion, sex, mental disease or defect, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Club Hippo has a commitment to ensuring a welcoming and safe environment for its customers and staff. Thank you for your cooperation and continued support. Sincerely, Club Hippo Management and Staff We are excited for the opportunity to lead the way toward better understanding, education, and acceptance. At Club Hippo, Everyone Is Welcome. Thank you, Charles (Chuck) Bowers Club Hippo Owner PAGE 12 • NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011
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
Assemble 8:45am, run 9am. Reassemble for brunch 10am. Panera Bread, 3600 Boston St., BaltimoreFrontrunners.org Caleb Stine’s Round the Mountain: Join Caleb as he shares some of his favorite folk performers like The Honey Dewdrops from A Prairie Home Companion, Hugh Campbell, Fiddler Anna Roberts-Gevalt and others. $15-20. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., CreativeAlliance.org I Want to Be A Gay Icon: Last chance to see the original “play with music” by Sarah Lynn Taylor. Join her as she travels on a journey through the Gay Rights Movement in her quest to become a gay icon. FREE, donations appreciated. Baltimore Theater Project, 45 W. Preston St., IronCrowTheater.com
Sunday, November 13 Gems of American Music: Handel Choir’s Chandos Singers present a concert of choral and organ selections to benefit the restoration of the historic Niemann organ. $15. 4-5:30pm. First Unitarian Church, corner of Charles & Franklin Sts., FirstUnitarian.net
Monday, November 14
SPOTLIGHT
Will-Power Party is an Event for Everyone
QUIT PROCRASTINATING AND START CELEBRATING The Free State Legal Project is hosting a “Will-Power Party: Estate Planning for the Rest of Us,” a community workshop and pro bono assistance event at the GLCCB. Executive Director Lee Ann Hopkins plans for the occasion 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. Community members in need of simple wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives will be matched with attorneys and receive assistance in drafting their estate documents. Attendants will enjoy refreshments and will take home gift bags in addition to inevitable feelings of accomplishment. ■
Event Info
“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
DATEBOOK
COMPILED BY RACHEL ROTH
Friday, November 11 Wine tasting: Get your weekend started off right with complimentary tastings of wines from around the world. Discounts on bottles included in tastings. FREE. 5-8pm. Fridays. Spirits of Mt Vernon, 900 N. Charles St., 410.727.7270, SpiritsOfMtVernon.com “The Little Dog Laughed”: (See article p. 7), $10-17. 8pm. Thru 12/11. Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 South Ann St., 410.276.7837, FPCT.org
The Celluloid Diva: Great Operatic Moments on Film: The greatest operatic excerpts from historical and current operas on film with opera aficionado Jonathan Palevsky from WBJC-FM discussing the divas who immortalize opera on the big screen. FREE. 7pm. Towson University, Center for the Arts Recital Hall, 800 York Rd., Towson.edu Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving: Join the MCC for their annual Service of Thanksgiving. All are welcome! FREE. 7pm. Metropolitan Community Church, 401 W. Monument St., 410.669.6222, MCCBaltimore.org
Tuesday, November 15 Acoustic Alchemy: U.K.-based group promises to satisfy the eyes and ears with songs from their new album, Roseland, described as an intersection of jazz, pop and world music. $35. 8pm. 21+ Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St. Annapolis, RamsHeadOnStage.com
Wednesday, November 16 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 Owen@EqualityMaryland.org Interior Worlds: Photography of Candida Höfer: Internationally acclaimed contemporary German photographer showcases photos of two of Baltimore’s cultural institutions: The Johns Hopkins University’s George Peabody Library and the Walters Art Museum. FREE. Thru 2/26/12. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., ArtBMA.org B’more Dance: An Autumn Mixer: Baltimore Theater Project is hosting a night of dance featuring the work of local, professional dance companies to promote and support local talent. Mix with the artists before and after the show. FREE. Cocktails 6:30pm, performances 7pm. Baltimore Theater Project, 45 W. Preston St., TheatreProject.org Turkey BINGO! 20 turkey dinners (and the trimmings!) will be given away, one turkey dinner with each game. Plus drink specials, appetizers, raffles all night. Come for happy hour, stay for Bingo and receive $5 off your Bingo package. Cash prizes and progressive jackpot. Hosted by Roger Dimick. Proceeds benefit GLCCB. 8:30pm. Club Hippo, 1 W. Eager St., 410.547.0069, ClubHippo.com
Winterfest Jazz Preview: An evening with beautiful ceramics, live music, spirits, and lite fare. $15-25. 6-8pm. Baltimore Clayworks, 5707 Smith Ave., 410.578.1919, BaltimoreClayWorks.org Sound in Motion IV: An exciting, ongoing interaction between the Baltimore Composers Forum and local dancers and choreographers. $11.25-22. 7:30pm. Baltimore Theater Project, 45 W. Preston St., TheatreProject.org The Tempest: The Riotous Youth program puts classics in the hands of Maryland youth, teaching them to channel their own truth and experience into Shakespeare’s language. See what happens when students are turned loose in the dreamscape of Prospero’s island. $10. 8pm. Thru 11/19 Cultural Arts Center, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MDShakes.org
Saturday, November 19 Audrey Herman Season Celebration: After 50 years, Spotlighters Theater opens its doors to the hundreds of actors, directors, designers, patrons, and volunteers that helped the theater become what it is today. Music, silent auction and performance of “The Fantasticks.” $30. Reception 6:30pm, show 8pm. Spotlighters Theater, 817 St. Paul St., Spotlighters.org Harmonious Wail: The Cabaret at Germanos Trattoria welcomes a “gypsy jazz” mix of mandolin, guitar, bass, and killer female vocals with snare percussion. $20. 7:30pm. Germanos Trattoria, 300 S. High St., GermanosTrattoria.com
Sunday, November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance: Interfaith Memorial Service; the Reading of the Names, and a Candle lighting Ceremony. Transgender people of faith and their allies provide focus and leadership. 6–8pm. First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, 12 W. Franklin St., 410.685.2330, FirstUnitarian.net, TransgenderDOR.org PFLAG-Westminster/Carroll County: The chapter will discuss LGBT individuals’ coming out around the holidays, why it happens and how to handle those situations. Open to the public, confidential, refreshments will be served. FREE. 5pm. Fellowship Hall, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Bond & Green Sts., Westminster, 443.545.9863, PFLAGWCC.org CARE Dance Project Benefit for Uganda: Local dance artists and Uganda Rural Fund raise awareness for Uganda’s children. Proceeds help the Hope Academy acquire resources for students, many of whom have been left orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic. $12-22. 2pm and 7pm. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., CreativeAlliance.org Yury Shadrin: Winner of the Yale Gordon Competition at the Peabody Institute of Music performs a solo recital as part of Music in the Great Hall’s partnership with the Peggy & Yale Gordon Charitable Trust. $5-20. 3pm. Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd., TowsonUUC.org
Monday, November 21 Hairspray: The world is spinning out of control…but all Tracy Turnblad wants to do is dance. $62-67. 7:30pm. Thru 1/29/12. Signature Theater, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA, Signature-Theatre.org Stoop Storytelling Presents: We Are Family: Seven storytellers get seven minutes each to tell a true personal story. No notes, no scripts, no actors. Just true stories, artfully told. $20. 7pm, cocktails and live music. 8pm, show. Centerstage, 700 N. Calvert St., StoopStorytelling.com
Thursday, November 17
PFLAG Howard County Parent Forum: Support group Q&A for parents of LGBT children. FREE. 7:30pm. Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, PFLAGmd.org
Eclipse! at Club Orpheus: Dance to a mesmerizing light show with video projectors, lasers and strobes. 9pm Fridays. 18+. Club Orpheus, 1003 E. Pratt St., ClubOrpheus.webs.com
Holiday Trunk Show: Get a head start on your holiday shopping at 925 Silver Store’s first-ever holiday trunk show with the latest collections by Baltimore jewelry designer Jennifer Wilfong of Yummy & Company. Wine and nibbles included. FREE. 6-9pm. 925 The Silver Store, 1634 Thames St., 925TheSilverStore.myshopify.com
Tuesday, November 22
Maryland Art Place 30th Anniversary Gala: Honoring women who have made an impact on Baltimore’s cultural community, gala and silent auction features Grace Hartigan paintings work of local and national artists. $250. 6:30pm, after party 9:30. BrownPaperTickets.com. Inner Harbor, 8 Market Pl., 410.962.8565, MDArtPlace.org
The Airborne Toxic Event: The California-based band performs songs from their new album, “All At Once.” Songs focus on mortality, loss, the battle between the comfort of complacency and the need for change, the issues—both personal and political. $25. 8:30pm. Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl., RamsHeadLive.com
Bill and Helen Murray Jazz Residency: Internationally acclaimed saxophonist and Towson University alum Ellery Eskelin, discussion to follow. Proceeds benefit TU Foundation. $5-15. 8:15pm. Towson University Center for the Arts, 8000 York Rd., Towson.edu
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
BINGO! Come for happy hour, stay for Bingo and receive $5 off your Bingo package! 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
Friday, November 18
Thursday, November 24
Kate Clinton, 2011 Glee Party Tour: (See article p. 7) $25-30. 7 & 9:30pm. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., CreativeAlliance.org
Happy Thanksgiving! From the staff of Gay Life and GLCCB
emma’s revolution CD Release Party: The DC area’s favorite activist duo brings it home to celebrate the release of their new CD, “Revolutions Per Minute.” $15-18. 7-10pm. Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, BusboysAndPoets.com
Saturday, November 12 Baltimore Frontrunners: Running/walking club for LGBT individuals and friends. WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
PFLAG Baltimore County General Meeting: Support group Q&A for parents of LGBT children. FREE. 7pm. Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd., TowsonUUC.org
Wednesday, November 23
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 22 • PAGE 13
afterhours HUNTER ON THE PROWL!
Allen Center Benefits, Miss Gay MD, and (of course) Drag Shows! BY MARK HUNTER
HUNTER was on the Prowl to let you know about the entertainment that Baltimore and beyond has had for you! Friday, October 7 was a double dose night. Down in South Baltimore at The Rowan Tree, Miss Shawnna Alexander hosted part two of her benefit show for The Allen Center. Shawnna had many entertaining performers such as Mr. & Miss Rowan Tree 2012, Miss Eve D’Mure, Marketta Buffet, Blu Alexander, Victoria Blair, and Miss Youth Princess 2011 Krystal Nova. Another great benefit for The Allen Center by Shawnna Alexander and The Rowan Tree! On that same night Miss Leon’s 2011 Gracie Freebush held a benefit show at
The Triple L Bar for Miss Gay MD US at Large. I was not able to make it in time for the show but some of the performers were still around. According to Miss Freebush she had a very good show. On Friday the 14th at PW’s Bar in Laurel, they were hosting “The Miss Gay MD US at Large” Contest. The bar was very packed and was hard to see the contest, but it was good to see so many people! Miss Gracie Freebush was in charge and she did an amazing job. After Red, White & Blue creative ware, Gown with on-stage question, and talent, the winner was declared Miss CoCo Blackwell!! Job well done to all the contestants. On Sunday, October 23, Club Mixer’s held their Halloween Drag Show hosted
by Miss Victoria Blair. I was able to say hello to some of the entertainers such as Miss Mixers, Kelly Koxx, Misty Barfly, Victoria Blair, and others. Unfortunately I had to leave before the show started due to a family car emergency and was not able to get back in time. I do understand everyone had a great time. October 26 was a past Gay Life editor’s birthday. Happy Birthday Andy Liu! On the 27, Towson University held a drag show with local performers along with some of the students. Miss Ada Buffet accompanied me to the event. The show was hosted by Shawnna Alexander along with the local entertainers such as Anastasia, Sadie Collins, Dee Chloc’ Attatood, Krystal Nova, Phoenix
BSCENE
Bloomingdale, Kelly Koxx with many others include performing students. The night was very entertaining and fun. Keep an eye out for the next show! On Saturday, October 29, many of the bars hosted their Halloween Contests. Leon’s/ Triple L Bar had a contest and a small Halloween Drag show featuring Ada Buffet, Marketta Buffet, Victoria Blair and Krystal Nova. The night was filled with many different costumes, ranging from cute to scary. One of my favorites was “Lady Gaga Zombie” worn by Jeff Wilkins. Great time for all! Please be safe while you are out and about! Until next time boys and girls, see you when Hunter is on the Prowl! ■
PHOTOS BY SAMATRA JOHNSON
HALLOWEEN AT CLUB HIPPO
HALLOWEEN AT GRAND CENTRAL
PAGE 14 • NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011
BALTIMORE’S GAY LIFE NEWSPAPER
outfront COMMUNITY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
NAACP Chairman Emeritus Endorses Marriage Equality in Maryland The Marylanders for Marriage Equality coalition announced that civil rights legend Julian Bond, former president of the NAACP, is featured in the group’s fourth web ad supporting marriage equality in Maryland. In the video, Dr. Bond says, “As Chairman Emeritus of the NAACP I know a little something about fighting for what’s right and just. Gay and lesbian couples in Maryland have the same values as everyone else: love, commitment and stable families.” The video campaign raises the profile of and underscores the diverse support for civil marriage equality in advance of
the 2012 legislative session. Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD) kicked off the effort earlier this month, followed by Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Baltimore native and Oscar Winner Mo’Nique. The bill to be considered in the Legislature allows same-sex couples to get a government-issued marriage license. Clergy and religious authorities would never have to perform a marriage they did not agree with. ■
The videos can be viewed at MarylandersForMarriageEquality.org.
Kate Clinton CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 Tell me about your 2011 Glee Party Tour. What can fans expect from your upcoming shows? It’s been totally fun. I find I’m singing more in my shows, it kind of frightened everyone, but it’s the Glee influence. With the economy and everything else going on in the world it’s my responsibility as a comedian to give a little Glee. You’ll be visiting us here in Baltimore at the Patterson. This is a much smaller venue than your other tour dates. Will that affect your show in any way? You know, I perform in a small club in Provincetown in the summer. It’s a very intimate setting, it reminds me of teaching. I see and hear everything. Any other big plans while you’re here in Baltimore? My sister lives in Baltimore so I get to hang out with her! She just moved here and she loves it. She
WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM
loves that it’s so walking friendly. She’ll probably walk my legs off! ■
KATE CLINTON
performs for The Creative Alliance at the Patterson’s Fall/Winter LGBT series “OUT in Highlandtown!” Friday, November 18 7pm and 9:30pm $25-$30 The Patterson 3134 Eastern Ave. CreativeAlliance.org
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 22 • PAGE 15