Baltimore OUTloud • March 4, 2016

OUT

AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES

PLWHA Meets to Improve Access to HIV Care

By Bill Redmond-Palmer The Greater Baltimore HIV Health Services Planning Council, a body mandated under Federal law to administer funds provided under Ryan White Part A of the Federal budget, and to plan for medical and support services to People Living with HIV in Central Maryland, has begun a series of meetings to engage the community and stakeholders to help better inform Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Integrated Plan for HIV Prevention and Treatment from 2017 to 2021.

On February 23rd, the People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) Committee of the Planning Council, hosted the fourth in this series of meetings, entitled “Meeting the Needs of People Living with HIV,” at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. The meeting focused on the challenges consumers face in getting tested

and treated for HIV, improving access to care for people with HIV, educating the community on the importance of consumer input at all governmental levels, and soliciting input on how the Baltimore metropolitan area and Maryland can achieve the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) objectives. The NHAS objectives include increasing the percentage of newly diagnosed persons linked to HIV medical care within one month of their HIV diagnosis; increasing the percentage of persons with diagnosed HIV infection who are in care; and reducing the disparities in the rate of new diagnoses, particularly among vulnerable communities.

The meeting’s first panel highlighted the role of consumer advocacy in the health strategies planning process in all levels of government. Panelist Cyd Lacanienta, president of InterGroup Services, emphasized issues including the importance of health care to increasing the number of people living with HIV who are retained in care and to prevent future transmissions of HIV and that

By Mark S. King After community-based LGBT media and independent bloggers loudly and unanimously decried GLAAD’s decision to eliminate their “Outstanding Blog” award this year, the national media watchdog group released a statement last week apologizing for the omission and vowing to bring back the award in 2017. That did not appease LGBT media advocates like myself, who appreciated GLAAD reinstating the award but strongly objected to the one year wait. In this digital landscape, we argued, why could there not be a fast nomination and selection process so that a blogger would be recognized at the 2016 awards?

GLAAD has now reconsidered their reconsideration.

Today, GLAAD communications director Seth Adam announced that this year, at the

GLAAD Gala San Francisco, LGBT bloggers as a group will be honored for our contributions to the media landscape. From his statement: In addition to reinstating the Outstanding Blog category at the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, to be held in 2017, GLAAD will also be recognizing the contributions of the LGBT blogging community at this year’s GLAAD Gala San Francisco, which honors innovators in the Bay Area who advance LGBT acceptance through tech and new media. GLAAD will bring at least one LGBT blogger to the event to represent the blogosphere and accept the recognition.

Additional details to be announced this fall.

We’re greatly looking forward to paying tribute to the critical work of LGBT bloggers in

March 4, 2016 | Volume XIII, Issue 24

to stop the HIV epidemic and realize future cost savings, an increased investment today is needed now more than ever.

Panelist Carlton Smith, co-chair of the Planning Council and executive director of the Center for Black Equity Baltimore, encour- Howard Lambert, PLWHA committee co-chair; Evelyn Nicholson aged all stake- PLWHA committee member-at-large; Cyd Lacanienta, InterGroup holders to vote Services president; Kithia Gray, PLWHA committee co-chair in the upcoming elections, and to encourage and assist oth- in the Planning Council and in other governers around them in doing so. He challenged ing, advisory and planning bodies as well as community advocates to support others community forums. “We need in every cominfected with HIV in navigating providers, munity,” he said, sharing a quote from one of services, insurance, and other important as- his activist heroes, Bayard Rustin, “a group pects of achieving effective care. Finally, he of angelic troublemakers.” asked people to commit to getting involved —continued on page 3

GLAAD Relents & Bloggers Get Their Due Chalk one up for this on-stage moment.

It is a gracious and satisfying solution to a month of frustration, and GLAAD is to be commended for listening to community feedback and responding in a positive manner.

The initial elimination of the Outstanding Blog award, which has been bestowed by GLAAD for the last five years, caused an uproar because, as I wrote in a blog post for Poz. com, it was the only truly grassroots category at the GLAAD Awards. It celebrated bloggers, lone first-person voices that speak to our experience as people with HIV, or lesbians or as gay parents or transgender people or most

the little guy

everything else the LGBT spectrum has to offer. Moreover, bloggers often break news and highlight hidden stories that are then used as a resource for larger media outlets. At any rate, Outstanding Blog was the only category that honored independent LGBT writers and advocates among a star-studded roster of nominees from film and television.

In defending their earlier decision to cut the category, GLAAD explained that bloggers were welcome to compete in other categories such as digital journalism, pitting them —continued on page 13

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news // LOCAL PLWHA Meets to Improve Access to HIV Care – continued from page 1 “Step up and step out,” Mr. Smith said.

The second panel focused on research about accessing care in the Baltimore region and included presentations on the results of an annual survey in the community conducted by BESURE, that analyzes the characteristics of People Living with HIV/ AIDS in the Baltimore area, as well as their utilization of HIV related services. That was followed by a presentation on data from two major local HIV clinics on the service categories funded under Ryan White Part A most needed by People Living with HIV/AIDS. The final portion of the meeting was geared toward identifying the issues people vulnerable to HIV still face when trying to access care. The audience, composed primarily of advocates living with HIV/AIDS and a few representatives of service providers and government agencies, brainstormed solutions that have worked in overcoming challenges and reducing HIV infections as well as examples (such as services or interventions) that can be implemented which would improve access to care and health outcomes. This sparked a lively discussion and generated a great number of issues

and solutions that will be compiled and published at the next meeting of the PLWHA committee.

Some of the solutions included improving communication between providers and clients about changes to billing and insurance processing; strongly encouraging providers to accept all major insurance plans; the need for encouraging supplemental sources of mental health support including from Faith-Based Agencies; and the importance of visibility of people living with HIV/ AIDS to reducing stigma in the community.

Community advocate, PLWHA committee member and senior supervisor of credit operations at a major bank, Shawnte’ Spriggs, emphasized the need for unity amongst all People Living with HIV/AIDS, without regard for their race, gender, or sexual orientation.

The fifth and sixth meetings in the series are planned for April and May of this year.

For details and information on those meetings and the Planning Council, visit Baltimorepc.org. t Bill Redmond-Palmer is a long time community advocate for HIV/AIDS, interfaith, and sexual- and gender-minority related issues.

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news // LOCAL

AIDS Walk & Run Baltimore 2016

By Jacob Pierce The second annual AIDS Walk & Run Baltimore, produced by Chase Brexton Health Care, will occur rain or shine Sunday, May 1st, at the Maryland zoo in Baltimore. Amy Tignanelli, special events coordinator, explains last year’s fundraiser was canceled “because of the riots” and that the Zoo is a place “most people like to go to or haven’t been in awhile.”

Festivities take place with a 7 a.m. general registration at $25 while the timed race is $30; persons under 12 can sign up for either at $10. These fees are available for advance purchase as well as the Virtual Walker and Runner registration fee at $40 for those who can’t attend but can support. These two races will then be followed by a HIV/AIDS health fair. As a bonus incentive, Tignanelli reveals “everyone that registers is able to

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stay when it’s over” and “enjoy the animals without having to pay.”

With a little over two months away, there are still multiple ways to donate such as sponsoring a participant, becoming a member of a team or attending a fundraiser. On April 16th, Grand Central will host “Code Red: A Dance for Cure” with a $10 fee, door prizes, and another chance to register. “Proceeds from that night will go to the AIDS Walk,” she says. There will also be an upcoming fundraiser at Flavor in Mount Vernon.

And in terms of the significance of raising money for HIV/AIDS assistance, Tignanelli shares one reason as to why. “There are many barriers as to why people can’t get to our office.” Moreover, Tignanelli states “this [is] a way for us to be out in the community, talking to the community, educating people [and] getting people tested that may not if we weren’t there.” t To find out any information on the AIDS Walk & Run Baltimore, visit: Chasebrexton.org/index.php/get_involved/aids_ walk_baltimore.

beyond the beltway compiled by Jim Becker

to action,’ said Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/ AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention. (Seattle Gay News – Mike Andrew at Sgn.org)

CDC projects half of black gay men may become Lesbian HIV-positive confronts Atlanta, Georgia – Half of all gay black men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with HIV Clinton at event in their lifetime, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and over high black Prevention (CDC). The dire new warning was presented at the 2016 Conference on jail rates Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections and is based on diagnoses and death rates from 2009 to 2013.

In its study, the CDC noted that African-Americans do not engage in riskier sexual behavior compared to Americans of other races or ethnicities. Reasons for

their higher lifetime risk include a higher prevalence of HIV infections within the African-American community, which poses an increased risk of infection with each sexual encounter; lack of access to healthcare; poverty; and stigma. The CDC also reported geographic differences. People living in Maryland, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana have the greatest risk.

The CDC found that while the likelihood of an American of any race being diagnosed with HIV is only one in 99 – down from one in 78, as the CDC reported in 2005 – risk varies significantly by sexual orientation and also by race and ethnicity.

Men who have sex with men have a onein-six risk of being diagnosed with HIV, 79 times greater than the risk for straight men. Gay and bi black men have a one-intwo risk of contracting HIV; Hispanic men, one-in-four; and white men one-in-11. The racial disparity extends to women as well, with one in 48 black women likely to be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime, compared to one in 227 Hispanic women and one in 880 white women. “As alarming as these lifetime risk estimates are, they are not a foregone conclusion. They are a call

Charlotte, North Carolina – A black queer activist from Charlotte confronted Hillary Clinton February 24th at a private fundraiser in Charleston, calling her to account for remarks about crime dating back to 1996 and asking for an apology for the high incarceration rate for black Americans. Ashley Williams, 23, along with a colleague, gained access to the private fundraiser. An undisclosed person paid the $500 it cost to get them into the event, which the Clinton campaign did not disclose to media ahead of time.

Williams, a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, placed herself in front of the candidate and held a sign reading, “We have to bring them to heel.”

Clinton noticed Williams and read her sign aloud. The comments come from a speech where Clinton repeated the theory of “super predators.” “They are not just gangs of

Words that haunt H.R. Clinton

kids anymore,” Clinton said in a speech at Keene State College in New Hampshire.

“They are often the kinds of kids that are called ‘super predators.’ No conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but first we have to bring them to heel.” As Clinton read her own words on the sign, Williams called on

her to apologize. “We want you to apologize for mass incarcerations,” Williams said. “Okay, we’ll talk about it,” Clinton responded. “I’m not a super predator, Hillary Clinton,” Williams continued, adding, “Can you apologize to black people for mass incarceration?”

“Can I talk, and maybe then you can listen to what I say?” Clinton shot back.

“Absolutely,” Williams said, “I thought that quote was important not only because it was her own words, but because that was her pathologizing black youth as these criminal, animal people,” Williams said in an interview with the Washington Post.

“And we know that’s not right and we know that’s really racist.”

Clinton reached out to several news outlets saying she regretted using the term “super predators” and highlighting her work “lifting up children and young people who’ve been let down by the system or by society, kids who never got the chance they deserved.” (Q Notes Online – Jeff Taylor at Qnotes.com)

Ex Dallas Voice photographer considered suspect in murder Dallas, Tex. – Former Dallas Voice photographer Christian Colbert is wanted in the murder of his former next-door neighbor Ronald Shumway. He also uses the name Christopher Colbert. Shumway’s torso was found in the yard of his former home last September when a new owner was clearing the backyard. The body was identified through DNA tests earlier this month. Shumway was last seen on April 23rd, 2015. Facebook posts that police believe were made by Colbert indicated he was going to Austin. Several posts were made to indicate he was living in Austin with someone he met online.

After Shumway resigned by email from his position as a Dallas bus driver, his house was put up for sale in May and sold in June. Colbert has been identified as the person who appeared at the closing. When asked for ID, he said he left his driver’s license home and would fax it later.

He faxed Shumway’s license with Colbert’s picture replacing Shumway’s. According to

Christian Colbert

the police, Colbert assumed Shumway’s identity and committed several deceptive acts. Colbert is currently wanted for tampering with governmental record, securing execution of document by deception, and money laundering Colbert was a Dallas Voice Scene photographer around 2003-06. During the day, Colbert was a hair stylist. In 2008, he created a product to prevent bleach and hair from ruining a person’s makeup called ProTech Face Shields. He had done scene photography for Dallas Voice from as early as 1999. t (Dallas Voice – David Taffet at Dallasvoice.com)

These news notes have been compiled, with permission, from the online version of various newspapers and other web sites. We thank these publications for allowing us to bring you their news stories. Usually the reports have been significantly edited and you can read the full story by going to the web site mentioned following the item. Comments are strictly the opinions of Jim Becker and not of Baltimore OUTloud or Pride Media.

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Voice of the Center

Happening!

A brief overview What’s

of exciting things happening at the GLCCB! Black Voice

In honor of Black History Month, GLCCB hosted a night of honor and love for the incredible black LGBTQ voices we have in Baltimore. Held at the MICA Lazarus Center, artists and activists gathered under one roof to celebrate black voices and history. GLCCB honored several individuals and organizations doing amazing work for black LGBTQ people, including STAR TRACK, SpeakFire! Panel Series, Transgender Action Group, Deray Mckesson, Makayla Gilliam-Price and Donovan Taylor of CityBloc, Shawnna Alexander, and Michelle Antoinette Nelson a.k.a. Love the Poet. The audience was dazzled by performances from open mic artists, Jennifer Eden, Da Truth, George Lovett, Sons of Baldwin, and J. Pope. The event was hosted by the energetic and talented Unique Mical Robinson. GLCCB hopes to bring

this beautiful event back to the community each year. We thank DewMore Baltimore, Sons of Baldwin, and all other community members who helped make this event happen. t

The Shawnna Alexander Helping Hands Clothing Closet Last summer, GLCCB hired several young people from the Baltimore YouthWorks program. As a part of their employment, they were tasked with creating a project for the benefit of the LGBTQ community in Baltimore. They invented the Helping Hands Clothing Closet, a resource for LGBTQ homeless individuals or anyone in need to receive free clothing and food on the last Monday of each month. The founding youth decided to dedicate and name the closet after Shawnna Alexander, Baltimore’s own legendary activist and performer. On February 29th, 2016, Shawnna was honored with the dedication and a plaque posted outside of the closet. Clothing and food donations are accepted on an ongoing basis. Contact Kevin Holt at kholt@glccb.org or 410777-8145 x305 for more information! Our next open closet event will be Monday, March 28th, 1 to 6 p.m. Please share with those in need. t

Mayoral Forum on LGBTQ Issues

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GLCCB is pleased to plan and host Baltimore’s first LGBTQ-specific mayoral forum in anticipation of the upcoming election. In partnership with ReVision, the poetry club at University of Baltimore, GLCCB will provide an opportunity for our community to hold our next mayor accountable for BALTIMORE OUTLOUD

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LGBTQ-related issues in our city. Twelve candidates have confirmed their attendance so far, including Catherine Pugh, Nick Mosby, Elizabeth Embry, Carl Stokes, Deray Mckesson, Calvin Young, LaVern Murray, and Joshua Harris. Join us for the forum on Tuesday, March 8th, 6 p.m. at the H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons at the University of Baltimore. Do you have a question for the candidates? Submit it here: https://goo.gl/ZMNSsh. t

Queer Queens of Comedy Return!

March 6th national headliner Poppy Champlin is bringing her highly sought after and herlarious comedy troupe The Queer

Queens of Qomedy show to Magooby’s in Timonium. The Q3 show has been touring for eleven years and comic producer Poppy Champlin had such a wonderful reception in Balmore last year she is returning for more. Champlin is bringing two of her lesbian pals and nationally known comics Karen Williams and Mimi Gonzalez to share the bill Sunday March 6th at 5 p.m.

Magooby’s is a great venue to see this comedy show, the food is great the staff is wonderful and the community is welcome. Poppy is happy to announce that the GLCCB is on board as a sponsor and some of the proceeds will go to the GLCCB. Don’t miss it! Have a few laughs and support your center at the same time. The show will happen this Sunday, March 6th at Magooby’s Joke House, 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission at $40 for VIP, which includes a meet and greet with the performers, wine, cheese, and preferred seating. t

In Memoriam: Kayte Blanke November 2nd, 1945 – February 2nd, 2016 KAYTE BLANKE of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016. Her unexpected death has left family members and friends stunned and grief stricken. Kayte was an active part of the lesbian community in Baltimore during the 1970s and 80s and will be missed by many longtime friends here.

Kayte was a compassionate, fierce, and independent woman with a cowboy spirit and a soft spot for animals and children.

She was a skilled and gifted physician assistant, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University. Throughout her professional career, she worked to give comfort to people in distress and to be a staunch patient advocate. This took her to the Baltimore City Jail, PIP, Veteran’s Administration hospitals in Albuquerque and Columbia, to the Navajo reservation in Ramah, New Mexico, and to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program. She was also fiercely protective of animals and a true nature lover. After her recent retirement, she volunteered with Special Olympics of New Mexico helping horseback riders, basketball players and hockey players and loving those she worked with.

Over the course of Kayte’s life, she made close friends who became part of her family. Left behind to mourn her loss are her long-time partner, Debbie Weissman, of Albuquerque; her sister, Rebecca Childress (Sugar) and brother-in-law, Blake, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; her beloved dogs, George and Hedley, and her cat, Tommy; friends too numerous to count but whom she loved with all of her heart; and a loving extended family to include cousins, in-laws, first cousins once removed, second cousins and more.

If you wish, please send donations to Special Olympics of New Mexico, “Rockin Wranglers, Honoring the Memory of Kayte Blanke,” 6600 Palomas NE, Suite 207, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109. t

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out in the valley

Parenting OUTloud

Rev. Kelly Crenshaw

Musical Warfare Time travel with me for a minute. I want to go back in time to when we were teenagers.

For some of us, it’s a short trip. For others, it might take a minute or two. Are you there yet? Remember how it used to be?

When I was a teenager, I used to study in my room with the stereo blasting. My argument was that the constant music helped to block out the noise from the rest of the household so that I could concentrate. I played all of my favorites and my room became my safe space where I could do my homework in relative peace. And, the louder my music, the more peace and solitude I experienced.

What I didn’t realize, however, was that my musical selections didn’t have the same

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impact on the rest of my family. On some level I realized that my parents had different preferences. But, like most teens, I could not understand that they really didn’t like mine. I guess I figured that if I had to suffer through their preferences on every single car ride, they could suffer through mine in the house.

I am not picky about the music I enjoy. I am a trained musician and have performed in

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a variety of genres and styles. I appreciated them all. Even back then, I could listen to different performers and could find something to enjoy in them all. Apparently, it was not the same for my parents. So, while I bellowed out my favorite tunes, my parents were cringing inside.

One memorable night, I was writing a term paper with the music blaring. My father came into my room and yelled, “Turn that stereo down!”

I responded with, “You’re right next to it, you turn it down.” What followed was about ten minutes of craziness as my father explained, rather loudly and in no uncertain terms, how much he hated the music I enjoyed. I won’t even talk about how much he failed to appreciate my logical answer to his statement. I will admit that my stereo was silenced for the next week or so. It killed me.

And then, I became a parent. My friends complained about the music on kids’ programming. I learned the words and sang them for my children. I sang songs from Winnie the Pooh movies and popular television shows. I recalled all of the songs from my childhood and supplemented with the songs I learned in my music education courses in college. To this day, one of my daughters talks about our family’s version of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Basically, I got bored with the original and began improvising until I came up with a version I enjoyed.

And then, I became the parent of a teenager. Keep in mind that I have usually had toddlers and teens in my house at the same time. My teens loved rap music, with vocabulary that I really didn’t want my little kids repeating. Now, I was faced with a dilemma.

How could I respect my teens while I protected my little ones? It was a tough balance.

We compromised that they could listen to

their music when the babies weren’t around, but if I thought the little kids could hear the bad language, and then the music went off.

It worked for us.

But, if we were in the car alone, the music pumped. I enjoy loud music, so this went over well. One of the best times I’ve ever had was when my teenaged daughter and I drove across country in our motorhome. We blasted her playlist and sang at the top of our lungs.

So, while I can still appreciate and enjoy the music I grew up with, I also enjoy and appreciate the music my kids love. One of the best ways to reach your babies, kids, tweens, and teens i s to appreciate their differences. In all seriousness, music is the least of your worries.

Before you know it, they will move on to a new song and all those days will be a vague memory. But, the memories of singing her favorites for 3,000 miles will remain forever. t Rev. Kelly Crenshaw is the mom of 16 adopted kids, two biological kids, guardian of one baby girl and foster mom of dozens.

Some are lesbian, some gay, some straight, and some bisexual. Kelly founded a K-12 day school where kids could have a safe, bully-free environment for learning. She is co-owner of a counselling agency that works with children and their families. She has worked with kids in the foster care system for two decades, actively advocating for all kids, but especially those in the LGBT community. And, in her spare time, she is co-pastor of New Light MCC, the first openly LGBT friendly church in Washington County.

She will be answering your questions about parenting, as well as sharing stories of her parenting adventures. Feel free to send your parenting questions to her at pastor.kelly@ comcast.net

out in the valley

Beyond the Ice

Machine L:aura Anderson

Books of Transgender Inspiration for Teens In an earlier column we examined several books for young children, preschool through grades four or five that provide some understanding of issues of gender dysphoria. Through the sharing of literature, a dialogue can begin to help children express feelings, concerns, and fears.

In this article we look at some of the books available for older kids – those entering puberty and beyond. For a lonely young person beginning to feel their body changing in all the wrong ways, simply knowing that they are not alone may help ease the pain just a bit. This is a lonely journey and finding others along the path can be an inspiration. For some of us, our earliest companions were found in books.

You may be an adult, perhaps a parent desperately seeking ways to keep your child safe from others, and from themselves. Sharing one or more of these books may help. Or, as a parent, you may have recently learned the turmoil your child has been facing for longer than you can imagine. Coming to terms with the new reality that your child is transgender will be difficult and painful. You may be a young person feeling confused and full of despair who happened to stumble upon this article.

Perhaps you have told no one and may be looking for a path to take that is right for you. Or, you may have a friend for whom you can provide strength and hope by sharing one of the books listed here.

Some books for adolescent young people (and the parents who love them): Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition by Katie Rain Hill (Simon & Schuster, 2015) is a true, first-person account of being young and transgender. There are few transgender memoirs for and about teens, this is one that will take the reader along the perilous road of being trans and what it really means to be “normal”.

Some Assembly Required: The Not-

so-secret Life of a Transgender Teen by Arin Andrews (Simon & Schuster, 2015).

The true story account of 17-year-old Arin Andrews is a story of courage, self-acceptance, and the pain of finding and embracing one’s true self. Arin tells of the challenges he faced as a boy who was expected by everyone to live his life as a girl and how he overcame the humiliation and anger to eventually become himself.

Being Emily by Rachel Gold (Bella Books, 2012) is the story of Chris, a high school senior (who becomes Emily) and Clair, a friend who helped her along the way. Not only do we see the transition of Chris to Emily, but we also witness a transformation in Claire and Emily’s parents.

Here is a story of struggle, pain, and hope.

Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger (Simon & Schuster, 2015) everyone thinks that Angela is a girl, but inside he knows otherwise and as he goes about changing his appearance to match his feelings he is confronted by the reality of a world not yet ready to show acceptance. This book tells a fictional story but in doing so provides insight for the reader into the complexities of gender identity and gender dysphoria.

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher (Delacorte, 2010) is the fictional story of Sage who is getting by in high school as best she can. As with many other girls, she has a boyfriend she finds quite special. Her life is not so unusual, except, unknown to all, she is trans. The twists and turns of her struggle will resonate with many.

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin (Candlewick, 2015) is a series of photo-essays featuring six transgender and gender-neutral young people. Candid images accompany the honest discussion of each individual’s journey. It was a 2015 Stonewall Honor Book.

The transgender journey is an experience beyond words: the pain, the doubt, the feelings of shame and the eventual triumph of self are difficult to describe for others to understand. This is a path no one would ever choose. Told in these books are stories of young people who inspire us with their courage and their absolute belief-in-self that overcomes the most difficult of life’s hurdles.

Next time, a booklist for parents and professionals. t Laura Anderson is an educator, author, researcher, parent, and granddad. Her years teaching in public school classrooms as male provided the foundation for her more recent role educating future teachers. Living female for the past decade, she has come to appreciate the privileges she once held – both male and cisgender – privileges now replaced with the fulfillment of living as her true self.

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out in the valley // life of brian

Popquake: A Call for Allies

By Brian George Hose I never thought I’d say this, but we need to talk about Kesha. We also need to talk about Taylor Swift. Those who know me are probably wondering what’s happening in Brian’s brain this week, and for good reason. I know virtually nothing about either performer, other than that they are people who exist. There are people who love them, people who hate them, and people who are wondering why you’d want to brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack or sing about failed relationships in public. I’ll let you guess which camp I’m in.

I’m going to be upfront about this: I’m not commenting on Kesha’s legal battle or allegations of abuse. That conversation is already being had. What I do want to talk about is what happened after the ruling, after Kesha’s fans and celebrity peers began publicly voicing their support to #FreeKesha. It didn’t take long for followers to notice that a voice was missing from the conversation: Taylor Swift.

And then, for several moments, that became the focus. What resulted was what I like to think of as a popquake, a personal event in the life of a celebrity that resonates with the public, generating conversation, challenging ideas, and making us question the world we live in.

Enter Demi Lovato, another pop star who may or may not have publicly thrown shade at Swift for making a sizable donation to Kesha without also publicly supporting her on social media. The alleged shade implied that giving cash is not the same as giving support, which is a valid and debatable point. Before rushing to conclusions, I wonder if perhaps Swift is like Spider-Man and her great talent comes with great responsibility, specifically loyalty to the very industry Kesha is fighting? If so, Swift may have found the perfect loophole, publicly providing Kesha with the resources she needs to continue her fight (a statement in itself), while refraining from verbal comment.

As an outsider, I wondered which I’d prefer if I were Kesha in a seemingly this-

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or-that situation: 140 characters of support or $250,000? You may be surprised to know that I’d prefer the tweet. Why, because allies matter.

For Kesha, having Swift as an ally would be invaluable. Swift comes with considerable resources, connections, and influence, all of which Kesha will need to accomplish her goal. The popquake also revealed a closer look at the status given to Swift. Not knowing much about her, the demand for comment indicated to me that Swift has transcended mega-stardom and attained the highest echelons of celebrity and esteem, a level reserved for Oprah, Cher, and other famous rich people without last names.

No wonder Kesha’s supporters wanted her on their side.

The parallels between the LGBTQ community and Kesha’s predicament are somewhat obvious.

Our community was oppressed, made to live in a society that deprived freedoms and limited our options.

We fought the good fight and gradually others joined our cause and supported us.

Having allies helped give our causes legitimacy; “gay” issues became mainstream “equality” issues supported by LGBTQ allies. Ally advocacy showed that others with nothing to gain believed in us, in our causes, and that all Americans are entitled to rights.

We can be allies, too. The LGBTQ community isn’t located in any given street, bar, or club. We are everywhere, representing diverse backgrounds, locales, and all walks of life. Individually, we have access to many different communities, all of which have their needs. We can help others who are oppressed, marginalized, or dismissed by society. Though our struggles may be different, we understand what it is to fight for what’s right, to be told no, and to patiently continue our efforts knowing that slowly our work is changing the world, broadening horizons, and garnering support from sometimes unlikely sources.

In the coming weeks I’ll be discussing more about the importance of allies and advocates. Though this example is a high profile case, I think the message is clear: support matters, allies matter, and we all need help to make our dreams come true. Maybe now is the time to step up, show your support, and be an ally yourself. t

out in the valley

Health Chat

Liz Thompson

Buying Health Nothing is more important than your health.

You’ll spend hours shopping for the right outfit. Shouldn’t you be as careful when you’re shopping for your health?

Few things are quite as frustrating as going to a doctor and leaving feeling like you are no better off than when you went in. Certainly some situations are complex and can’t be addressed in a single visit but there are things you can do to up the odds of a satisfying visit.

The first step is to choose the doctor carefully. The doctor/patient relationship is based on trust so you want to find someone you are comfortable with. Things to consider when looking for a provider are: • Does this person work with your insurance plan?

• Does the provider treat the issues you need help with?

• Do they speak your language?

• Is the provider a person you can talk to openly and honestly?

• Is the staff friendly and welcoming?

• Can you easily get to their office?

Finding a provider will take some time and effort but there are lots of places to find information about different providers.

First, call the insurance company. There’s a toll-free number on the insurance card for member services. Give them a call and ask for a list of doctors in your area. With

this list in hand, find out as much as you can about each one. Talk to friends; search the internet; call the office and talk to the staff if you have specific concerns such as accessibility.

With all the information you can find at hand, weigh the pros and cons of each office, choose a doctor and schedule a visit.

The second step to a successful medical visit is to prepare. Make a written list of the symptoms you have concerns about.

Be sure to note how long each symptom has been occurring and how severe you feel it is. Write down any questions you have. Review your list and make sure the most important symptoms and questions are at the top so you can discuss those first. If your appointment is for a test or procedure, you may have been given directions on how to prepare: Follow them closely. Call the office if you have any questions.

The last step is to attend the appointment. If for some reason you can’t go, let the office know at least 24 hours in advance or they may charge you a no-show fee that your insurance plan won’t cover.

Plan to arrive 15 or 20 minutes early to allow for parking, finding the office and completing paperwork. Don’t forget your list.

Once you are in the doctor’s office, communication is the key. Be open and honest. The doctor can’t help if they don’t know what’s really happening. Make sure you understand what the doctor is saying to you. Sometimes doctors use “medical speak.” Ask questions. If the doctor gives you specific directions, write them down.

Ask the doctor to review what you have written to be sure you got it right.

After the visit be sure to follow the plan that was made during the visit. Getting the most from a medical visit takes effort from both the doctor and the patient, and when it comes to health care, you are more than a patient, you are a consumer too. t Liz is a Coordinator of Special Programs with the Frederick County Health Department where she has specialized in the field of HIV care over the past six years.

She holds a Master’s in Social Work.

For more information about health insurance plans in Maryland visit: Marylandhealthconnection.gov/how-to-enroll. t Debbie Anne is a public-health nurse with Frederick County Health Department in Frederick, Maryland. In 2014 she was awarded a Governor’s Citation for her work with Marylanders living with HIV/AIDS.

Food & Friends Ministry at New Light MCC

by Rev. Kelly Krenshaw In 2001, New Light MCC found a unique and meaningful way to serve the community. Specifically, they found a way to serve the HIV/AIDS community. The church began delivering food to those with HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Over the years, clients with other life-challenging illnesses were added to the client list.

The connection came through the Washington County Department of Social Services, which told the pastor about a D.C. organization Food & Friends. That connection remains to this day. The organization’s website explains it best, when it says: “The mission of Food & Friends is to foster a community caring for men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses by preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries in conjunction with nutrition counseling.” Because New Light has always been dedicated to LGBTQ advocacy, awareness and service, this organization seemed like a perfect match.

The food is delivered to the church from the organization’s kitchen to New Light’s freezers. Then, every other Saturday, New Light’s volunteer drivers take the food to those enrolled in the program. Clients are provided with three meals a day, seven days a week. At first, the food arrived every week and was delivered every Saturday. There were four different delivery routes in the Hagerstown area and six to eight clients per route. As the number of clients declined, the delivery changed to every two weeks. Currently, New Light has one delivery route with eight households receiving food.

New Light delivers a combination of prepared, frozen meals and staples such as milk, cereal, soup, and pasta. There is a bag of fresh fruit and vegetables. Each delivery is based on family size. Meals are geared toward each client’s needs, which might call for diets geared to renal issues, or feature foods that are soft, pureed, dairy-free, vegetarian, diabetic compatible, heart-healthy, fishless, shelf stable, and/ or gastrointestinal-friendly. The deliveries provide enough food for the entire family, including outside caregivers if necessary.

Volunteers at New Light report that the

clientele has changed over the years. At first, it seemed like 95 percent of the clients were living with HIV/AIDS. Now, most are facing the challenges of cancer or other illnesses. Several are children.

The best part of the program is the delivery itself. The volunteers report that they enjoy meeting the clients. They know they are helping make the challenges of living with a life-threatening illness just a little bit easier to bear by assuring that clients will have healthy food each and every day. For the most part, the clients enjoy meeting the volunteers and look forward to their visits.

Some prefer their privacy and are thankful that their wishes are respected. The program is designed to respect the wishes and needs of those enrolled.

New Light is proud to have been a part of the Food and Friends ministry over the past 15 years and is excited to see the changes that occur in the future. For most information about this program, please visit foodandfriends.org. t For more info about New Light contact one of the co-pastors at 301-797-5698 or newlightmcc@hotmail.com.

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thinking outloud

Pointing it Out

By Sage Piper

Becoming Eleanor 2,336: the number of surviving letters written by Eleanor Roosevelt to Lorena Hickok, a.k.a Hick, dating from their meeting in 1932 until Roosevelt’s death in 1962.

The letters detail, in no uncertain terms, the passionate and seminal relationship between these two remarkable women.

Hick, butch in appearance and a charismatic personality in her own right, resolutely climbed her way out of a mean and impoverished childhood to become the first female AP reporter to earn a national byline. She and Eleanor became acquainted during Franklin Roosevelt’s initial presidential campaign, when Hick was assigned (against her own wishes) to cover the can-

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didate’s wife on the campaign trail. Their love affair played out in the shadow of the national stage and in turn shaped and was shaped by the forces of history, fame, mission, separation, pain, and constancy.

Hick’s and Roosevelt’s affair blossomed and they declared their love for each other just before the 1932 election; Eleanor was in fact basking in new love and wearing Hick’s ring at the inauguration.

Incredibly, during the first months of the presidency, Eleanor and Hick went off on a three-week vacation completely alone (Eleanor refused Secret Service, and prevailed) driving through Nova Scotia in a cherished time referred to for the rest of their lives as “our honeymoon.” Hick was known in Washington circles as the First Friend; at one point she actually lived in the White house, with Eleanor installing her in a bedroom in her dressing room. She ended up giving up her job as an AP reporter, and years later the strain of sharing Eleanor with the public caused her to behave badly while travelling together. Eleanor eventually fell out of love with Hick, although they remained close companions for the rest of

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their lives.

How surreal it is now to imagine that time – the country mired in the depression and looking to Franklin Roosevelt for answers – ultimately finding those answers in the strength and example of both Roosevelts, and yet never knowing the secret source of Eleanor’s passion and inspiration. And yet millions of Americans could not know that 15 years earlier Eleanor had been devastated by Franklin’s serious affair with Lucy Mercer, and that she had offered to give him a divorce; ultimately they decided to stay together, though Eleanor cut off all sexual relations from then on.

They could not fathom that the fiercely intelligent and media-savvy Hick would be the person to spark Eleanor’s soul and that thoughts of Hick would sustain her through long and grueling days. Hick was ahead of her time: she was the one who saw Eleanor Roosevelt as a different kind of First Lady, an activist who could get her message out through the media. It was Hick who suggested that Eleanor hold regular press conferences (with exclusively women reporters), which was a sea change in terms of first ladies. And it was Hick’s idea for Eleanor to write the daily column, “My Day,” which was soon syndicated and a part of millions of Americans’ daily routine for years to come. Eleanor was in love with Hick and thus open to these completely new and radical ideas. As a result of their success the American people felt like they “knew” Eleanor, and she became an icon.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a remarkable woman, but too often she is seen as some kind of a puritanical do-gooder whose personal life was relegated to the tired and constricting pattern of remaining with a man who cheated on her, denying herself vital sexual and romantic fulfillment. The letters of Lorena Hickok prove otherwise, and this is why they are so important. We have an extremely closeted history of our country and our iconic leaders, and it is vital for everyone and gays especially, to be versed in this hidden part of Eleanor’s story, exactly because we have so few models from the past. There are those who cry that the outing of Eleanor Roosevelt somehow besmirches her place in history. Of course the opposite is actually true: seeing Elea-

How lesbian love fired up Eleanor Roosevelt

nor, who had such a transformative and lasting impact, for who she actually was is a vital piece in getting it right, in setting the record straight and acknowledging the existence of gay love wherever it has been hidden. It is also important, in Eleanor’s case, to highlight the formative influence of her upbringing. She was educated in a boarding school in England which was rife with lesbian influences (an outwardly lesbian headmistress, and many teachers and students) and it was in this atmosphere that Eleanor began, she reflected years

later, to “become herself.” She apparently did not partake in lesbian activity at that time, but the lesbians around her where important in nurturing her, supporting her, and giving her the message that she was a unique and amazing person, and these women set her on the road to becoming the Eleanor Roosevelt still inspirational and affecting to so many to this day.

If falling in love with Lorena Hick was Eleanor’s coming around full circle, if that love gave her what she needed to blaze the trail which is the stuff of legacy in this country, then the “outing” of Eleanor Roosevelt does not diminish her legacy. It allows it to flourish tenfold. For in unearthing the secret life that sustained her, the real Eleanor can emerge a full-blown and sensual participant, like all of us, in the mysteries of the gorgeous and throbbing human heart. t

GLAAD Relents & Bloggers Get Their Due – continued from page 1 against outlets such as MSNBC and the New York Times for a spot among nominees. That did not sit well with LGBT media advocates.

Blogger Alvin McEwen and I drafted an open letter to GLAAD expressing our dismay over the situation. With the immediate support of writers like Will Kohler (Back2Stonewall) and Bil Browning (Bilerico Report), the list of co-signers quickly grew to include people from across the entire LGBT media landscape. Within two days, GLAAD announced

the Outstanding Blog award would return in 2017. With this latest decision by GLAAD to honor bloggers in 2016, I am satisfied and grateful that they have acknowledged community concern and made a change to address it. It has been a gratifying bit of media activism that involved a lot of “little guys” standing up for ourselves.

While it is tempting to point out the irony of having to advocate against a national LGBT media organization with a mission to lift up our community, the fact is, all we can ask as advocates is that people take a second (or third) look at their decisions and remain teachable.

GLAAD has done that. Lesson learned. t

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quality of life

Ask

Dr. J

Janan Broadbent, Ph.D.

Time to Go or Stay?

Lately, I have come upon a number of writings that explain, question, challenge or describe how to end or stay in a relationship. This is an issue all of us have had to deal with at one time or another. Sometimes the decision is made for us, meaning the partner takes action with no recourse.

It is almost slightly easier to work through the misery that brings on, because when you are the one making the choice, you also carry the responsibility for the breakup. Then may come doubt and possibly guilt.

Let’s look at one of the first clear red flags any relationship can experience: less sex, or lack of sex. Unless there are medical reasons as to why a couple should re-

frain from physical contact, this is perhaps the most significant indication that something is awry. Remember those days when you couldn’t wait to be alone or in touch?

What happened? Work, stress, or fatigue gets in the way only so much. After that, one has to look at just what is obstructing this “connection” of the most satisfying, rejuvenating, and healthy way.

In the classic publication on love, The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck refers to the stages a relationship goes through. In the first, romantic phase, the partner can do no wrong, or if they do, we forgive oh so easily. And then, Peck says, one morning you wake up and notice the warts. This is when the work of building the connection starts. The human brain cannot sustain the “high” of the initial bond. It eventually calms down to a manageable level, but that does not mean to zero. So when you can’t event remember the last time you had sex, it spells, D-A-N-G-E-R. Do pay attention; consider whether anger, resentments, or unresolved issues are playing a part. When did you last have a date

night? When did you last have a heart-toheart talk about what is going through your mind? Do you hide your concerns? Why? Do you feel that you are not being heard?

Do you feel unimportant in his/her eyes?

How important is it to you that you get your way at the expense of the relationship?

If you value this bond, remember the wise words of John F. Kennedy: “There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.”

Instead of making this a pride issue, don’t wait for your partner to start the talk,

or address the problem. Take it upon yourself to make the first move.

Pride really does not have a huge place in love. After all, when we care about a person, we are voluntarily acknowledging that we are vulnerable in that affection, that we are making an emotional investment in another human being and therefore, can be hurt.

In that vulnerability, though, lays one’s strength in accepting the challenge of establishing a connection with another. In that vulnerability, lays the yin and yang of joy and happiness, anger and sadness that define the essence of being alive.

May you all relish that yin and yang… t

Predicting the Presidential Lineup

By Mark Segal As stated in this column months ago, before Dumpty Trump made his infamous and racist remark about Muslims, we should not look at him as a joke. Well, most did and now we’re at a point where he has the best shot at the Republican nomination for president.

Let me repeat myself: He should be taken seriously as a candidate. But first you must understand what that means. He’s the type of candidate that all campaigns want: the one where the candidate burns in the belly and will do or say anything to get that prize. To make it worse, he also understands media, and realizes what it takes to be in its limelight as much as possible. Hence, his modus operandi: say something outrageous let the media go crazy and then, as the roar dies down, say something more outrageous.

With Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio fighting for second or third place, it leaves the highway completely open for Trump.

Those candidates are just not up to his game. Trump is in the mud, and they simply do not wish to enter the pit. Rubio is now attempting to take him on, but it might be too late.

That makes Trump look strong, that’s not exactly the case; he’s just not as weak as his competitors.

This makes for a great situation at the Republican convention in Cleveland in July.

The assumption is a Trump nomination would cause Republicans to lose their majority in the Senate. The party establishment is not overwhelmed with Cruz, so that leaves them with Rubio. But you can’t get a nom-

ination with second- and third-place primary losses. Their only hope is that Trump doesn’t get the required number of delegates before the convention and thereby have a brokered convention where the party elite will decide who walks away with the prize. That would be a bloody battle, and one that will leave the party morale in a bad place before the November election. And for all their talk, Republicans are willing to send others to fight their battles, but never themselves.

The establishment side of the Republican Party is now attempting a last ditch effort: a Trump-Rubio or Trump-Kasich ticket, which would freeze out Cruz, who is universally disliked.

Over on the Democratic side, Bernie’s campaign was stunned by Hillary’s win in Nevada, and he’ll be hit again later this week when, as expected, he loses South Carolina. Then from March 1st to the 8th, 19 states and territories will have primaries, with Clinton expected to win most. At that point it is almost mathematically impossible for Sanders to catch up.

He will, though, have enough delegates to be able to make some of his agenda clear on the party platform, and that is a victory of sorts.

So, it seems that this is your fall lineup, but again this has been a very strange political year and predicting anything is problematic. And as I said months ago in this very column, this worries me. t Mark Segal is publisher of Philadelphia Gay News. His new memoir And Then I Danced is out now.

The establishment side of the Republican Party is now attempting a last ditch effort.

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Lively Arts // out on stage

Antigone’s Afterlife

By Tavish Forsyth After nearly 2,000 years, Sophocles’s Antigone inspires storytellers in Rep Stage’s latest production Antigone Project: A Play in Five Parts. Authored by five award winning playwrights, directed by Joseph Ritsch, and brought to life by an ensemble of five, the play reimagines Antigone’s circumstances in five different worlds to examine Sophocles’s work from perspectives of lust, regret, exploitation, race, gender, mental health, death, legacy – to name a few. Antigone Project is ambitious.

Part one imagines Antigone (Shannon L. Graham) on the beach with her sister Ismene (Katie Hileman). She is under surveillance by the powers that be. Ismene obsesses over boys, but Antigone only shows a passing interest. This part of the play oscillates between familiar, almost modern vernacular and formal diction evocative of classic theatre, and relies heavily on comedy to comment on responsibility relative to social constructs of gender, love, and family.

Part two leaves the sandy shores behind and introduces Antoinette Thebes (Kelly Renee Armstrong), the Antigone figure, who is searching for her brother’s body after he dies in war. Antoinette, who is black, argues with a white superior officer (Jonathan Feuer), who cannot produce her brother’s corpse. The racism that permeates the scene prevents Antoinette from being treated with any sense of dignity. Ironically the scene ends with the white officer turning on a radio, which plays jazz – one of the most iconic black (and appropriated) art forms.

Part three focuses on exploitation and

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sensationalism – and is set in a museum.

The tour guide (Jonathan Feuer) seems to delight in elaborating on Antigone’s death, gleefully identifying the place where Antigone hung her noose. Peppered into the tour guide’s lecture are testimonies from a ghost of Antigone (Shannon L. Graham) and entries from a video blogger (Katie Hileman). The approaches of the blogger and the tour guide beg questions about the enduring relevance of myth, and the degree – healthy or unhealthy – to which we separate ourselves from story.

Part four takes place in an African village. Antigone (Shannon L. Graham) is pregnant, and faces execution and shame for placing her heart above her duty to her family, which forbids her from romance, let alone sex. The most strongly feminist piece in the play, part four makes the audience question the role which women are relegated to in the face of tragedy, and the special scrutiny they face when they act independently, especially in oppressed, tradition-bound nations. “God is merciful, but the law is not” is the sentiment which hangs over the scene.

Part five takes place in the afterlife, a conversation between Haemon (Jonathan Feuer) and Antigone (Kelly Renee Armstrong). Back on Earth, Ismene (Shannon L. Graham) painfully copes with the social ruin Antigone left behind. The scene captures what seems to be the clearest message in Sophocles’s play: there is nothing to live for without freedom.

In some ways Antigone Project feels like a fevered dream. Ideas and concepts bubble to the surface, making this not an easy play to navigate. If you, the viewer, are unfamiliar with Antigone, parts of the play become inDilemmas accessible. The play is an galore intellectual puzzle, and while a few themes easily resonate with the audience, Antigone Project feels like it’s trying to do something that it isn’t: make an old story available to a new generation. Instead the play has an air of… elitism? In its quest to make Antigone continuingly universal, sometimes the play alienates the audience by self-indulging in its own metaphor, its own importance. There were moments where it felt like there should’ve been a laugh but there was silence; felt like there should’ve been applause, but there was si-

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Queerer & Queerer at Iron Crow of queerness relative to youth, but do not

By Tavish Forsyth After a yearlong hiatus, Iron Crow has address queerness to the youth directly. rebooted for a new excursion into queer If successful, Elias plans to take this initheatre in its 2016-17 season, ominously tiative out of Baltimore and bring it to the titled Dark Play. The announcement came national level.

In his address at the season announceon January 6th, when Iron Crow’s new artistic director, Sean Elias, unveiled the ment, Elias made a point to differentiate new season, the biggest in Iron Crow’s six queer theatre from gay theatre. As Elias years of existence, and his dream for the put it, queer is “celebrating the renegade future. To call the new season ambitious and unorthodox in everyone.” Queer is is an understatement, but nevertheless a not gay, it is much more ambiguous and source of great excitement for anyone in encompassing, encapsulating not only orithe theatre and LGBT communities.

The 2016-17 season will feature three main stage productions, and for the first time, two second-stage shows as well. As an added bonus, Elias has laid the framework for a new annual tradition: Iron Crow’s production of the Rocky Horror Show. This year’s Rocky Horror will be envisioned in a hauntIron Crowers prepare ed 1920s speakeasy! ambitious season Shows in the season proper include The Wild Party, entation, but gender and many Edith Can Shoot “Dark Play... when of the idiosyncrasies that keep Things and Hit certain players know us from a homogenized society.

Them, Fucking Appropriately, Dark Play – a A, Zero Hour, the rules and others phrase excerpted from a piece and Booty Candy don’t.” – Carlos

by Carlos Murillo – speaks to the – celebrated and queerness in the social games a w a r d - w i n n i n g Murillo we play as adults, games that pieces of theatre we may choose or that society that bring marginalized worldviews front may choose for us. From a distance, this and center. Additionally, Iron Crow will upcoming season is topical, worthy and be launching its first commission, work- anxiously awaited. Iron Crow is Baltimore’s ing with playwright Rich Espey to create only Queer Theatre, and their diversified an original work intended for Baltimore’s perspective is always refreshing. For more youth. Elias noted that many plays speak information, visit Ironcrowtheatre.org. t

lence. Why? Either the audience was processing, or they didn’t understand – maybe a bit of both. So what do I recommend?

Antigone Project depends on a familiarity with Sophocles.

If you are an aficionado of classical plays, Western history, puzzles, and codified intellectualism – go see this play.

If, however, you do not thoroughly enjoy the process of deciphering textual or metaphorical meaning, identifying when a

play is self-referencing its own source material, or if you do not enjoy adaptation – let’s face it, some people don’t – then this play might not be for you. If you want to see this play, and you are not familiar with Antigone, I highly recommend reading it, watching it or at least browsing the Sparknotes first. t Antigone Project runs through February 17th through March 6th at Rep Stage.

For ticket go to: Repstage.org.

Lively Arts // out on stage

Breaking the Glass Podium at The Lyric Opera: Il Barbiere di Siviglia

By Patrick Alexander This season The Lyric continues to bring grand opera to Baltimore with Rossini’s classic opera comedy Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville). The work takes place in sunny Seville and features some of the most recognizable arias and orchestral music in all of opera. Mistaken identities, love triangles, unexpected plot twists, and turns with love and joy overcoming all obstacles create the classic story of Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

When the Baltimore Opera Company closed its doors in 2009, patrons in the city were left feeling a void in the artistic landscape of Baltimore. Many wondered if the community would have local access to such a powerful, all-encompassing art form like opera. Then, in 2011, the Lyric began producing grand opera again. “We continue to celebrate the miracle that is the rebirth of grand opera in Baltimore,” said James Harp, artistic director, The Modell Lyric. Lyric Opera Baltimore is the only opera company in the U.S. to reopen after closing its doors.

The performances will feature a young American cast.

Among them is the openly gay baritone Steven LaBrie playing the role of Figaro. Mr. LaBrie is an award-winning vocalist with opera roles in his repertoire such as the Count in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (Marriage of Figaro) and both Marcello and Schaunard in Pucinni’s La Bohéme.

LaBrie says he has been fortunate to have never felt discriminated against because of his sexuality and has always felt supported by the diverse people who work within the arts.

When asked to share his thoughts on this opera in particular, he says, “If you’ve never seen an opera, this is a good one to start with. It’s a classic opera with lots of comedy and a charming love story.” Also in the cast are the internationally renowned bel canto specialist Emily Fons as Rosina and Metropolitan Opera star Alex Shrader in his signature role of Almaviva.

This production will be accompanied

by the Concert Artists of Baltimore Orchestra and will feature maestra Sara Jobin as the first woman to ever conduct grand opera at the Lyric. When asked about this historic moment, Jobin says, “I’m very honored to break the ‘glass podium’ anywhere I’m given the opportunity. Hopefully, however, one day it won’t be news when a woman conducts opera.” When asked if there is anything she’d like the audience to know about The Barber of Seville, the openly-bisexual conductor exclaims “It’s fun! It’s fun for the audience, musicians, and opera singers. To me, Rosinni is like champagne!”

The Lyric is committed to bringing opera to an audience of diverse ages. Says Harp, “We have selected this opera in part because of its special appeal to our younger audiences who will help to sustain the future of this beloved art form. Our great American city of Baltimore deserves great opera – now and especially for those audiences yet to come.”

The Lyric offers deals Baritone Steven directly aimed at a LaBrie younger audience, notably their “30 under 30” special where opera fans under the age of 30 can buy a subscription to two operas for $30. “It is imperative to me to keep opera alive for the younger generation in this city,” says Harp.

The Lyric is also committed to serving the community with educational outreach to students. Their school outreach programs work with 30,000 students per year in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The Lyric also collaborates with the Peabody Conservatory, where students from the school annually stage an opera (most recently Kurt Weill’s Street Scene). In the past, the Lyric has also been able to offer free tickets to high school students and has invited them to dress rehearsals.

Later this season, the Lyric will present Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet. This production while still set in fair Verona; will be visually modern and high-tech with digital projections giving the opera a 21st century feel. “We proudly accept the challenge of

continuing to build the extraordinary legacy at our historic theater,” said Cleaveland Miller, Chairman, Lyric Foundation. “The Modell Lyric is fully committed to presenting the highest quality opera series for the pleasure and enlightenment of Baltimore area audiences.” t There are two performances of Barber of Seville, Friday, March 11th at 7:30

p.m... And Sunday, March 13th at 3 p.m. at The Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com or at The Modell / Lyric box office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. For tickets call 410-547-SEAT (7328). For more information call 410-900-1150 or visit the Lyric Opera online at Lyricoperahouse.com

Baritone Steven LaBrie

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Lively Arts // out on stage

Sensory-Friendly Performance at CPM

By Ryan M. Clark Something very exciting is happening at the Children’s Playhouse of Maryland in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County. For the first time (and perhaps the first time in the Baltimore area) a children’s theatre is producing a special “sensory friendly” performance of their current production of James and the Giant Peach. This performance will have a shortened running time, lower sound levels, and a designated quiet area within the theatre to facilitate the needs of children

Exceptionally calm

with autism or other sensory sensitivities.

Artist Director Diane Smith initiated this idea last year when an audience member left the theatre with her child after Smith’s curtain speech (a general announcement to the children on theatre etiquette) before company’s production of Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang.

“I was devastated that my speech may have caused a child the chance to see the show. I actually ran out into the parking lot to try to find the woman and ask her to come back in. I was very upset that I could have done that to a child who really wanted to see a show,” said Smith. Smith later learned that the parent had left because her child had special needs and would not be able to watch the show without disturbing the performance. After conducting some educational research into theatre and children with autism, Smith decided to proceed with this exciting event, which will offer the opportunity to bring live performance to countless children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go to the theatre.

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In preparation for the performance, the company will conduct special rehearsals with the cast with the altered sound and lighting cues as well as with the shortened script. Additionally, Smith is educating her young performers (ages six to 18) about what to expect from an audience of sensory challenged children. “I think the student performers will adjust with no problem what so ever. We have been doing the sign language interpreted shows for three years and that could be a distraction for the actors and has never been. We also have taken productions in the past to other venues where we have not had stage lights, there have been small children who talk and ask questions during the show, and people move about, so many of the performers will have worked with this before.”

Children’s Playhouse of Maryland dates back to 1982 when it was part of the F. Scott Black Dinner Theatre and called the Young People’s Players. It was (and still is) one of the only theatres in the area when young people perform FOR young people. When the dinner theatre closed in 2001, F. Scott Black and Diane Smith decided that it was important to keep this wonderful opportunity alive for young people. After a short residence at Sheppard Pratt Hospital, CPM moved to it’s current home on the Essex campus of CCBC. Children’s Playhouse of Maryland is certainly taking on the challenge of offering sensory friendly performances with gusto as they plan to offer two sensory friendly performances next season.

For more information about the sensory friendly performance or general information about the Children’s Playhouse of Maryland visit their website at Cpmarts.org or call 443-840-2426. t Ryan Clark is an assistant professor and program coordinator of Theatre and Media Performance at Stevenson University.

Lively Arts // personalities

Sing Out, Sister

by Gregg Shapiro Fanny Brice wasn’t the only funny lady who could carry a tune. Margaret Cho did a good job of establishing herself as a singer and songwriting collaborator on her 2010 debut music album Cho Dependent. One of the busiest women in show business, between her stand-up comedy shows, Showtime specials, co-hosting duties on Fashion Police and her activism for queer, women’s and animal rights and causes, Cho has found the time to write and record her follow-up album American Myth (Clownery Records). Due out on April 29, Cho recorded the album with her band The Dog Children, and co-wrote most of the songs with out singer/songwriter Garrison Starr. She describes it as “a glamorous and glittering tribute to family, comedy, anger, fame, gayness, grief, fat pride, love and hate.” I spoke with Margaret about the album and more in early 2016.

Gregg Shapiro: Margaret, I had the pleasure of attending your concert in Miami in the fall of 2015, and the thing that struck me when you sang during the show’s finale is how increasingly strong your singing voice has become.

You were belting!

Margaret Cho: Why thank you!

GS: Are you taking voice lessons and who is your voice teacher?

MC: I had been taking various lessons.

I’ve also had a lot of incredible singers give me a ton of great advice. From Cyndi Lauper, who kind of taught me the basics, and I’ve also worked with Bird. She’s a tremendous coach and she often coaches the contestants on American Idol.

I’ve had a great amount of support.

I’ve worked with incredible producers who have also taken my voice and brought it to another level. I think I have some natural abilities, but it’s the technique that I’ve been learning from the best that keeps me going. I’m really honored to do it.

GS: When I interviewed Lea DeLaria at the time of the release of her first jazz vocal album, it seemed to me that singing was something she had wanted to do all along and that the other things she did as a performer all led up to this moment. Would it be fair to say that being a singer is something that you have always wanted to be?

MC: Oh, always. But then, again, I’m very much a stand-up comedian in my heart. That’s really what I do. Now I’m trying to incorporate all of the different elements of my work as a performer, and use

it as a stand-up comedian.

GS: You are calling your new album American Myth. Please say something about the title.

MC: It comes from one of the lyrics to the song “Anna Nicole.” It’s a song about Anna Nicole Smith. It’s the archetype of the tragic beauty who is too good for this world. It’s an American myth in the same way we mythologize Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. It’s an archetype we see over and over in film and on TV. That’s what I was referring to and what the song is about. It’s my version of “Candle In the Wind” for Anna Nicole.

GS: I’m so glad that you mentioned the song “Anna Nicole,” which you cowrote with Garrison Starr. Why was now the time to do this loving tribute to Anna Nicole?

MC: I actually wrote the song with Gar-

Margaret Cho

rison in 2010. We just hadn’t released it. It seemed too soon. You want to have some time to think about her. The world has changed. I think it’s the right time to look at her as kind of a frontrunner in reality television. She was Kim Kardashian before Kim Kardashian [laughs] was Kim Kardashian.

Of course, Kim Kardashian is a kind of archetype.

But she owns her beauty and is tremendously successful. There’s no tragedy, there’s no drug story. There’s just her and her fame and her beauty.

But Anna Nicole created that template of somebody that you’d want to watch on reality TV. Somebody that you’d want to invite into your home or as a role model, in terms of beauty and lifestyle and glamour.

GS: As someone who spends a lot of time on tour, have you had the chance to try out all of the songs on the new album in front of a live audience?

MC: Yes, I have tried a few of them.

A couple of the songs are a staple in my stand-up comedy. I usually end my shows with songs.

GS: How has the reaction been?

MC: The reaction has been tremendous! Especially to a song called “Kill My Rapist.” I think it’s an important song. It’s not about violence.

It’s about a cathartic release.

To let go of the anger that survivors often feel (because) they are silenced and not allowed to express it.

There’s a great catharsis that happens in the audience.

They’ve watched this comedy show, they’ve laughed and laughed, and now let’s take it to something that is serious, but at the same time there’s a dark humor running through it. It’s a good way to bring what I do as a musician into what I do as a comedian.

GS: I’m glad you mentioned “Kill My Rapist” because it made me think of Tori Amos’s song “Me and A Gun” and the way that opened up the conversation about rape, and made people aware of the organization RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network). Do you feel like you are reigniting that torch of conversation?

MC: I hope so. I love that song and I love Tori Amos. RAINN is a really important organization and it’s still going strong.

I think rock and roll can bring a lot of healing. This year we’ve also seen, “Til It Happens To You,” the wonderful Lady Gaga and Diane Warren song (from The Hunting Ground doc), we’re seeing more of this and people talking about their experiences.

It could also be an effect of Bill Cosby and all of his victims coming forward.

We’re living in an era of important truth and feminism and women standing up for themselves. This is a good sign.

GS: Did you collaborate with any of the same songwriters that you worked with on your previous music album Cho Dependent?

MC: No. Most of what was just written by me and Garrison. I also wrote a little bit with Roger Rocha, who is wonderful as well. I had fewer collabs on this one because I wanted to settle down and focus on my own songwriting. I also wanted collab with Garrison who is someone I will always

work with.

GS: There is a long tradition of comedic songwriters, including Ruth Wallis, Shel Silverstein, Tom Lehrer, Allan Sherman and Steve Martin. Do you have a favorite comedic songwriter and which comedic songwriters do you look to for inspiration?

MC: I think I look a lot to Morrissey. I think Morrissey is pretty funny. Of course, Bob Dylan and Patty Griffin; Patty’s not comedic but there are elements where she goes for lightness. There’s “Heavenly Day,” which is a love song for her dog. It’s so beautiful. I love Jill Sobule, another tremendous singer/songwriter who incorporates a lot of humor. There is also the amazing Flight of the Conchords who are very funny. They’re more in the vein of Weird Al Yankovic, who is the ultimate!

GS: Leslie Jordan is featured in the video for “Ron’s Got a DUI,” also co-written with Garrison. What was it like working with Leslie on the video?

MC: Oh, I love Leslie! He’s a sparkling star. There’s so much effervescence and so much joy in everything he does. I really love bringing his energy to a really nice fairy tale; this great relationship and one that I had when I was much younger.

As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There’s a trust there. I feel like little girls and old gay men together – there’s a safety. They make a shield from all of the bad things they’ve experienced in the world. They make a home together. There are no songs about that.

I don’t know if you remember, but there was a show a long time ago called Love, Sidney.

GS: Yes, with Tony Randall.

MC: Right. Originally, they didn’t state it in the show, but it was about an older gay man with a kind of surrogate family. That’s the only time I remember seeing something like that. Unfortunately, I’m of the era where a lot of the men I was around when I grew up died of AIDS. At the end of the video, there’s a regulation size panel (that I am making) that I’m going to sew on to the AIDS Quilt. It’s a great tribute and something that I think tends to get forgotten. Society moves so fast now, but we need to look back at important things like the AIDS Quilt. We have to remember that there is a whole generation of men we’ve lost and to remember to honor them. t Read the complete interview at Baltimoreoutloud.com

an interview with Margaret Cho

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD march 4, 2016 • baltimoreoutloud.com t

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march 4, 2016 • baltimoreoutloud.com

Lively Arts

Passing the Baton

By Terry Easton When we discussed with Baltimore OUTloud, the opportunity for a series of articles specific to the Miss Gay America organization, the intent was that Miss Gay America 2016 Asia O’Hara would begin the series, then a follow-up article by L&T Entertainment which would then lead to articles by others in the organization including former Miss Gay America titleholders. What we did not know when we agreed to begin the series of articles was that the article from L&T Entertainment would likely be the last article produced from the “Desk of Larry and Terry.” As we sit here thinking of what to write in this, the last article, we find ourselves dumbfounded at how quickly the 11 years of ownership has passed. We are in process of preparation for the transition of all of the many boxes of files, souvenir programs, promotional photographs, and day to day documentation and there is a whirlwind of emotions that is going through our minds.

Eleven years to the day, that L&T Entertainment purchased the Miss Gay America organization, the Miss Gay America organization was again sold. And this time to Mad Angel Entertainment under the auspices of Michael Dutzer and Rob Mansman. The purchase transaction of such an incredible legacy is more than a monetary transaction. There is a transition process that should occur so that the new owners should acquire some historical knowledge. Likewise, there is a multitude of documents, files, souvenir programs, promotional photographs, framed wall-posters (of the national competition) and framed headshots of the former Miss Gay America titleholders. You see, we have an obligation to the legacy of the Miss Gay America organization. Just as we made every effort to ready and school each Miss Gay America titleholder who reigned during the L&T Entertainment administration (and many of those Miss Gay America Titleholders who did not), we feel obligated to ensure the Michael and Rob are equipped with all that we can provide to them so that they too can make every decision to be in the best interest of the Miss Gay America organization. We have always made every effort to make every decision to be what is in the best interest of the Miss Gay America organization. Not everyone understood or agreed with each of our decisions but the decisions were made

in effort to remove personalities from the issue and make decisions with the best interest of the Miss Gay America organization in mind. Our advice to Michael and Rob is that decision making with that thought process will most often produce the most appropriate decision.

While taking on the huge task of organizing and packing the various things that will need to be provided to Michael and Rob, we found ourselves looking at a certain documents or photos and getting lost in the memories.

Words cannot convey the memories that have been created all because of February 4, 2005, when L&T Entertainment purchased the Miss Gay America Pageant from Norma Kristie, Inc. There have been many, many great memories that occurred because of this pageant system and yes, there are also some not-so-good memories that we’d rather not have had to experience. But all things considered, the good memories far outweigh the bad memories. We have met many, many people as a result of our affiliation with the Miss Gay America organization. In fact, we have met some amazing people which we have every intent of staying in touch because we developed a friendship rather than just being an acquaintance. We clearly understand that there were some that became our “friends” primarily due to our affiliation with the pageant system but to be able to say that we have made many lifelong friends and all because of this pageant system, is an amazing thing.

The Miss Gay America Pageant System means so many things to so many people.

Some aspire to become the national symbol of excellence while others simply wish to serve as a supporter or audience member.

No matter the aspiration, the level of respect that is affiliated with this pageant system is difficult to fathom. There are so many people that have an enormous level of respect for the title that more often than not, no matter who is fortunate enough to have the distinction of being the reigning Miss Gay America, the high level of respect usually transfers to the individual who wears the crown.

As owners of the Miss Gay America organization for 11 years, our paths crossed with individuals who wanted to become Miss

Gay America but most did not understand the depth of the position until they were crowned.

Our goals for each Miss Gay America that was crowned was to provide as much schooling, polishing and preparedness as we could, so that they would have the best year of their life and be sad at the conclusion of their reign rather than being relieved that the reign was over.

We experienced overwhelming success to prepare those that reigned during the L&T Entertainment administration. Yes, there were a few hiccups and stumbles along the way but all in all, our pride to have watched the L&T girls grow and enjoy their reign was rewarding. What instantly happened, from the moment we became owners of the national competition was that our demands and expectations, combined with the level of respect that many had for L&T quickly transformed into a “father-daughter” relationship whereby we quickly became the parental figure in many ways. With such position

as a “parental-type” figure, came emotions such as heartache when we witnessed one of the reigning Miss Gay America titleholders going through an issue whereby someone would publically say something negative that hurt their feelings... and that was a bitter pill to swallow as we only wanted each national titleholder to have a tremendous reign and enjoy their one and only year being called as the reigning Miss Gay America.

We were so very blessed to be able to have a very close and personal working relationship with Raquel Chevallier, Nicole DuBois, Luscious, Mikaila Kay, Victoria DePaula, Coco Montrese, Coti Collins, Kirby Kolby, Sally Sparkles, Jessica Jade, Blair Williams, and for a little while, Asia O’Hara.

We were very fortunate that the judges handed us 12 good hearted individuals who truly wanted to live up to the very legacy that so many others worked tirelessly to create and sustain. t For the complete story, browse to Baltimoreoutloud.com!

Reminiscences on the pageant system from nearly a dozen years of running Miss Gay America

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD march 4, 2016 • baltimoreoutloud.com t

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quality of life

The Law & You

Lee Carpenter

5 Steps to Take After Preparing a Will Winston Churchill once said, “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” When the worry is about what will happen when you die, the best thought may be to call an estate-planning attorney. Having a current Last Will and Testament can turn worry into confidence that all will be well when you are gone.

But will it?

It’s tempting to think that a will is all you need in order to be ready for your inevitable departure from this earth. After all, a will says who will inherit your assets, who will settle your estate, and who will look after your children and pets. What else could there be to worry about?

As it happens, plenty.

Having a will prepared is a good first step, but here are five other items you should take care of in order for your estate plan to be fully effective: • Update beneficiaries for life insurance, IRAs, and 401(k)s.

For many of us, our wealth lies mainly in our life insurance policies and retirement accounts – assets a will has no control over. Any property that names someone as a beneficiary will transfer to that person upon your death, so it’s important to ensure that these designations are up to date. If your will includes a trust, ask your attorney about naming the trustee as the beneficiary.

• Prepare an inventory of your electronic assets. In addition to money and real estate, your will should cover intangibles like your frequent-flyer miles, social-media pages, online shopping accounts, and any websites you own. These “digital assets” can have significant sentimental value – think of the emails sent to someone during a final illness. Or they

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may have monetary value, such as customer orders left by voicemail to a home business.

Keeping an inventory of these assets will enable your personal representative (“executor”) to pass them on to the people you care about – at least to the extent the provider’s policies allow. Make a list of user names and passwords for email, voicemail and other online accounts, as well as access codes for smart phones, other electronics, and even your home burglar alarm.

• List gifts of personal property. Your will may allow you to prepare a memo that says who should receive particular pieces of your tangible personal property. This is a helpful way to pass on heirlooms and other household items that would be meaningful gifts to family members and friends. Just be sure to reference the section of your will that allows for the memo.

One benefit of making bequests in this way is that you can revise the memo whenever you like, without needing to involve a lawyer. The memo can simply be torn up and rewritten after rethinking a friendship or visiting the pawnshop.

• Organize your important papers. Settling an estate can be a daunting task. The biggest favor you can do for your personal representative is to be well organized. Make sure he or she knows where to find your original will, as well as an inventory of your insurance policies, bank accounts, real estate, and other assets. On a separate list, compile contact information for each of your beneficiaries, guardians, and trustees.

• Revisit your estate plan regularly. A will doesn’t “expire,” but it can go out of date. In some cases, an out-of-date will can be worse than no will at all. The best practice is to review your will every three to five years.

Taking these five steps will help to ensure that your assets go to your loves ones as smoothly as possible. This efficient transfer of wealth will be part of the legacy you leave to the people you care about.

And as Winston Churchill also said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” t Lee Carpenter is an associate attorney at the law firm Semmes, Bowen & Semmes and can be reached at 410-576-4729 or lcarpenter@semmes.com. Learn more about LGBT estate planning at Mdlgbtestateplanning.com. This column offers general legal info, not specific legal advice.

march 4, 2016 • baltimoreoutloud.com

Fit

for

Life

Joshua H. Buchbinder

Why Workout?

Why exercise? I mean really, what’s the point? It hurts, it takes time in our busy schedules, we have to wake up early or stay out after work, we sweat, and our bodies hurt for days after. It’s easy to find reasons not to do it.

With all the excuses we find to not workout, what does it take to find reasons to exercise? Even someone like myself, a fitness professional, struggles with finding motivation to get my butt to the gym or to stay longer at my job and actually do it.

I remember starting this journey over 20 years ago, fighting my parents about going to martial arts classes. They would make me go; constantly reminding me that once I got there I would have a good time. And, as always, they were right. Over the years I’ve heard every excuse imaginable to avoid the gym or to skip a training session. A client once told me it was more important to get ice cream than to come to her session. Granted, she was getting ice cream with her kids, I’ll be the first to admit the importance of family time. Somehow, I still couldn’t wrap my head around that “reason.” Isn’t it more important to have a healthy mom who doesn’t develop diabetes, isn’t it more important to set a healthy example for your children? I know it is for me.

Regardless of how busy we are our personal health, both physical and mental have to come first. There was a time when going to the gym was my whole life, and then real life took over. And there have been times in my life where the gym wasn’t my first priority. Yet, in the back of my mind I‘ve always known if I don’t take care of myself first, I’m no good to anyone else.

For me the gym has become less about competing in sports or looking my

best, but rather my quality of life? I want to be healthy, to live longer, to not have diabetes, or cancer, or develop Alzheimer’s. I want to be able to play with my son, hike the mountains, and keep up with my friends, live life to its fullest. And yes, sometimes I like to cut loose and have fun with friends and family that doesn’t involve doing anything physical.

As we age our priorities shift from vanity to longevity, or at least one would hope.

It doesn’t really matter if you go to the gym to socialize, to find a date, to stare at the cute trainer, or to just avoid the rest of your life and have some personal time. Whatever your “why” it’s a good thing. If your why is to have a washboard stomach or to not have back pain, then go for it. We each have a responsibility to ourselves and our loved ones to take Factory for a care of our physbetter you ical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. On Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs” some of these reasons fit our most basic emotional needs, some fit into our physical needs, but when we truly understand our why, our driving force, this is called self-actualization. Every human being must come to a sense of who they are and why they do the things we do. For each of us the why is truly more important than the what.

If you are like the rest of the world and struggle with finding motivation to move and be fit, ask yourself, “Why do I go to work?

Why do I get out of bed in the morning?”

And believe it or not, the answers to those questions can be the same to my original question. Why workout? Because it makes me a better person, it helps me be a little bit better than I was the day before, it helps me be a better husband, wife, father, mother, and it makes me capable of providing. Because loving myself so much that I take care of myself allows me to fully love others. That’s my why, and if you dig deep enough, and ask yourself why you do it, you might find your answer to be the same. yyy Joshua Buchbinder, M.S., is the fitness manager at 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport in Aurora, Colorado. He has been working in health, fitness and athletics for over two decades and has dedicated his life to helping others be the best versions of themselves so he can be the best version of himself.

Out on Campus

Going Gender-Neutral

By Nick Owens Facility issues among the LGBT population have been present over a long period of time and continue to be a struggle today.

Whether it be the availability of restrooms or in the case of fitness centers, locker rooms, it is not always an inviting environment. A recent article chronicling the addition of a gender-neutral locker room at Utah State University detailed a student’s experience as a transman and how he worried who might see him and how they may be uncomfortable, ultimately making it uncomfortable for the individual. Additionally, the student described how the creation of a gender-neutral space eliminated his concern of getting in trouble for being in the space he was most comfortable in.

This exemplifies the ongoing challenges of facility utilization by the LGBT population.

A great resource for the location of gender-neutral restrooms is a recent app called “Refuge,” which gives the user a list of all gender neutral facilities in the immediate area. This makes the identification of gender-neutral spaces easier to locate in any given area. While an excellent resource, it is still in its early stages of development requiring much more integration of additional spaces that currently exist into its platform so users can see a more robust list of available facilities.

More specifically, we turn to facilities of the fitness industry. Physical activity is an important part of developing healthy and holistic individuals through healthy weight control, prevention/reduction of health conditions, increase of energy, and several other factors. With that in mind, the prospect of stepping outside into the cold winter months with nothing on but your lightweight gym clothes stops many people in their tracks or curled up under a blanket on their couch. One needs to look no further than their local fitness/recreation center to keep their physical activity levels. When talking about the use of public facilities though, not all spaces are created equal.

Over the last decade, a large shift in facility trends has become present moving to more inclusive facilities. Often called “gender-neutral restroom,” “all-gender restroom,” or “family changing room,” these spaces offer a more inviting space generally outfitted with a full bathroom and sometimes even lockers. Additionally, that can be lockable to accommodate a single occupant or open to multiple occupants. In the Baltimore

area, several colleges and universities have responded to this need for gender-neutral facilities on their campus. For instance, Loyola University Maryland has offered “All-Gender Restrooms” in their Fitness & Aquatic Center that boasts showers, lockers, and restroom facilities that are conveniently located right next to the pool. The University of Maryland, Baltimore, also offers a unisex locker room that also offers showers, lockers, and restrooms available to all patrons. Towson University has a number of gender-neutral restrooms on their campus to accommodate their student population and campus community members.

In looking at the renovation of existing spaces to match current trends, there can be challenges of varying sorts that make an endeavor like creating a gender-neutral facility difficult. At the University of Baltimore, there are gender-neutral restrooms in most buildings on campus including the Student Center which has two single stall bathrooms in its lower level. The Recreation Center offers both regular and

Of locker rooms, toilets, sex, & gender

faculty/staff locker rooms for both men and women as well as a gender-neutral restroom in its Competitive Sports office. In trying to keep up with current trends, a request has been submitted to renovate what is currently a sauna and storage space in the facility.

This space would be transformed into a gender neutral locker room that would house a shower stall, lockers, and restroom facilities that would be open to all patrons.

A space renovation such as this requires a number of changes to both physical space as well as infrastructure including development of floor plans and rendering of designs, new plumbing and electrical systems, tearing down walls, and purchasing of new fixtures and equipment to get started. These can all quickly add up and derail a project. An unfortunate roadblock to the project is renovation costs which have been unable to be supported by the Recreation Center itself as well as campus facility operations. With the recent creation of a transgender issues workgroup on campus being led by Shelia Burkhalter, vice president of student affairs at University of Baltimore, there will hopefully be some traction gained in this effort to create gender

neutral spaces across campus providing facilities to be utilized by all individuals.

The trend in facility creation and/or renovation to make more gender neutral facilities will continue to unfold and it is no more evident than in larger cities such as Baltimore.

Even within these areas though, a greater need for more gender neutral facilities is needed to complement gender-specific areas or in some cases eliminate gender-specific facilities all together. t

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD march 4, 2016 • baltimoreoutloud.com t

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quality of life

Violet’s Vet

Dr. Tony Calo

Never a Book (or Dog) Judge Henry was feeling somewhat left out. After all, both Violet and Daisy had breed profiles written about them. The only problem is that, other than cute and naughty, I did not really know what Henry was. So I did some research. I pulled his adoption papers and listed under “breed” was the following: Black Mouth Cur. I have been a veterinarian for over 17 years and I had not heard of this breed of dog. Additionally, the word cur had a negative connotation to me. When I think of a cur, images of mangy and mean mixed-breed dogs roaming the streets. This was the first thing that I needed to find out about. The word cur emerged from Middle English and is derived from a word meaning to growl, which resulted in the word being applied to dogs. The word

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became synonymous with certain types of dogs to protect their families, herd their catdogs of three main categories: Guarding Cur, tle, and hunt. The dogs needed to be strong Hunting Cur, and Herding Cur. Even though of mind and body as well as extremely loyal. the word has morphed into a The dogs helped the settlers worthless and unfriendly mongrel, in every way that a dog posit had the noble beginning being sibly could. They were terridescribing a hard-working comtorial over the homesteads panion. After learning about what to provide security, would a cur is, I quickly did a Google herd the cattle to and from image search of the Black Mouth the fields, and they would go Cur. What popped up was a slew into the forests and hunt wild of dogs that could have been Henboar. The best of these dogs ry’s brothers and sisters. There were singled out for breedwere multiple adorable tan dogs ing. Over time, by breeding with black muzzles and happy Continents to for specific characteristics, a faces. I was becoming more and conquer specific appearance was also more intrigued. To me and Connor, Henry selected. The body types of these dogs were was a cute mutt dog that was found wander- compact, well-muscled, and strong. They had ing the streets of Baltimore that needed a a tremendous amount of stamina and were home. What I was discovering was that he, smart and eager to work. As time passed, the like Violet and Daisy, actually had a long and dogs become more and more a type and deinteresting story. veloped a certain discernible look. The body So then I did some more research and color was tan and they had black lips and what I found out is that the Black Mouth Cur muzzles. Different cur dogs were developed is more a type than a breed and has a rich in different regions. There was the Southern history tied to the American South. As settlers Black Mouth Cur from Alabama, the Ladner from England, Ireland, and Scotland came to Yellow Black Mouth Cur from Mississippi, the the new continent, they started moving further Florida Black Mouth Cur, and the Foundation and further south into the areas that would Black Mouth Cur from Texas. These were become Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, the foundations of the dog that became to be and Florida. These settlers brought with them known as the Black Mouth Cur of today.

march 4, 2016 • baltimoreoutloud.com

As the early Americans started moving west, the dogs went with them. The dogs helped blaze the trail across the continent and now they have a strong foothold across the country. Today, the Black Mouth Cur is known as a great family dog. They are social, loyal, and eager to please. This type of dog is not for everyone, however. These are not couch-potato canines. They are very athletic.

The Black Mouth Cur needs to run and play outside every day, because of the strong work ethic and the high degree of intelligence, they can become easily bored. This can lead to behavioral issues. It is this same work ethic and intelligence that make the Cur a valuable work dog in many endeavors. To this day they are used for herding and tracking game. Thanks to being very versatile, they have adapted too many modern jobs that include search and rescue, bomb sniffing, and being service dogs. It is with this information that I look at Henry in a new light. We take him running to tire him out. We play games with him to keep him interested and to stave of boredom. We love doing this with him because his happy, loyal, and playful. I now see all of these things as part of his long and rich heritage. And unlike Violet’s and Daisy’s histories, his is uniquely American. t E-mail questions to violetsvet@baltimoreoutloud.com

BALTIMORE OUTLOUD march 4, 2016 • baltimoreoutloud.com t

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Quality of Life

real estate

Tech

Talk

David Sugar

Mac or PC? While sitting here on an airplane flying out to Colorado for the weekend I was starting to read Steve Job’s biography. That made me think which type of computer do you prefer, Mac or PC – and why? Personally I try to stay as neutral as possible working with computers. The goal of this article isn’t to influence your decision to purchase a Mac or PC but to make you think about the computer you are using and why you’ve made the decision. Just fair warning, this article is somewhat opinionated.

Before diving into the pros and cons lets look at the options. You have Apple (Mac) and PC, which typically is Windows but could also run Linux or Unix.

These days when you walk into your local coffeeshop or onto the campus of a college or university you see a lot of Mac laptops. If you walk into a business on the other hand, depending on the business, you most likely will find PCs as the choice of computer. Is this due to software availability? Maybe it’s the comfort level of the user? Price is also a big determining factor when choosing a computer. All these and more can influence your decision when purchasing a computer.

Let’s start with PC. Way before Apple or Mac ever was popular there were variants of the PC by makers such as IBM, HP, and other manufacturers. As such, most of the software on the market at the time was focused towards these computers and much less towards Apple when Apple appeared on the market. Still to this day you find old PCs running software not available on an Apple. So why do people hold onto these PCs or upgrade them for new ones rather than switch to Apple. My guess and argument is familiarity. When you are familiar with a specific operating system and software you tend to use what is familiar. My personal reasons for choosing PC over Apple is part familiarity but also the amount of software

available for a PC versus the Mac OS. There is much more software available for PCs especially those running Windows.

Yes you can run Linux on a PC, but unless you are a programmer or running a server I suggest staying away from Linux. So my argument for PC stands at the availability of software.

Now let’s take a look at Apple products.

I asked the person sitting next to me on the flight to Denver why he chose Apple products over PC. He started off saying he owned a PC for the longest time. Then he purchased a Mac and today he finds the Mac OS much more intuitive to use versus an operating system such as Windows 8 or Windows 10. More importantly he mentioned a few years ago he purchased an iPhone and not only do Apple products interface well with each other but once you have purchased an iPhone making the transition to any other type of cellphone is hard. You’ve purchased all these apps and music that only will work on the iPhone so you buy another iPhone when your old one dies. So the argument for Mac is intuitiveness over Windows and Apple has you sort of stuck, once you buy one of their products since you can’t easily move it over to a PC. Now for my arguments for Mac and Apple products. First I agree that Apple products integrate quite well, in fact if I get a call on my iPhone I can answer it from my Mac. I can even respond to texts sent via iMessage on my Mac. From a programmers standpoint the Mac OS is built on Unix making the Mac OS much more stable than the Windows OS. Finally, since Microsoft made the move making Windows more of an operating system designed for touch screen devices; I am more inclined to use the Mac OS. So which type of computer do I prefer?

Personally I am more inclined to move towards Mac versus PC. Though as a programmer I try to stay as neutral as possible. Hopefully this article has given you some food for thought. Why do you use one computer versus another? t If you have any tech questions for a future article or comments please e-mail me at outloudtech@gmail.com.

Which do you prefer?

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Should I Refinance My Mortgage?

By Woody Derricks Although mortgage rates jumped in December after the Fed’s rate increase, they’ve come down since the beginning of the year. According to BankRate.com, current rates for 30-year mortgages are 3.85% nationally (rates posted online as of February 17th). While you may have a low rate on your current mortgage, you may want to consider evaluating your refinance options to lock in potentially lower rates.

How do I know if a refinance makes sense for me? There are several reasons why someone would want to refinance their mortgage. The first, and most common, is to reduce your monthly payment.

Even with the fees paid to your lender, a large enough decrease in your interest rate could reduce your monthly mortgage payment. That reduction could then be used for paying off other debt, saving for the future, or to increase your monthly disposable income.

Another popular reason for refinancing is to shorten the term of your loan. You may be five or ten years into a 30-year mortgage and find that a refinance could keep

your payment the same while allowing you to pay off your mortgage in 15 years. Often 15-year interest rates will be lower than those offered for 30-year mortgages which could allow you to dramatically reduce the interest you’re paying to the bank.

If you took out an “ARM” or interest-only loan, your mortgage could be ready to reset to a new interest rate and monthly payment. Even if interest rates are lower today than when you took out the loan, the interest rate could still increase on your loan. The obvious impact of this would be an increase in your monthly mortgage payment. Also, you may decide that you want to lock-in these low interest rates rather than finding yourself at the mercy of potential rate increases over the next 20to-25 years. If you refinance, you’ll lock-in today’s rates and likely either reduce your payment or the time required to pay off your mortgage (as described above).

What type and term of loan should I choose? If you decide to refinance, you’ll have the option of selecting an ARM or permanent loan and the length of the loan.

With an ARM, you have a certain amount

real estate of time (usually three, five, or seven years) with a locked-in, lower interest rate. After the locked-in period ends, the rate then resets annually for the balance of the 30year term. With a permanent loan, you’re paying the same rate and monthly payment for the entire loan term.

When selecting a permanent loan, you can typically choose from a 15 or 30-year period to pay off your mortgage. The 15year loan often has a lower interest rate than the 30-year loan and allows you to pay off the mortgage in half the time. The drawback to this term is that your monthly payment will be higher than it would for a 30-year.

I often recommend to my clients that they go with the 30-year unless their current loan only has 20 years or less remaining. This is due to the size of their monthly mortgage obligation and is especially true of interest rates where the 15 and 30year loans are comparable. You can pay down a 30-year loan faster by making larger payments, but you can’t scale back your payments on a 15-year mortgage if you go through a financial crisis (disability, divorce, loss of employment, etc.).

What should I watch out for? While rates may be low, refinancing isn’t for everyone. Make sure that you’re carefully evaluating what makes sense for you. First, as you compare rates, make sure you’re focused on APR not the “rate.”

The interest rate only shows the base rate that you’re paying for the loan. APR is the annual percentage rate. APR shows you your total cost for the loan. This includes any fees that may have been assessed during your refinance. The APR is the more accurate measurement of your cost.

Second, remember that when you refinance, you’re likely extending the term of your mortgage. You may have already paid on your mortgage for five or more years, so spreading the balance of your mortgage

over a new 30-year time frame may cost you.

Even if you reduce your monthly payments today, you may be increasing the total interest that you’ll pay over the life of your loan.

Third, determine how long you plan to stay at your current residence. If you plan to move in a few years, the cost to refinance may outweigh the benefit of obtaining a lower interest rate.

After you decide how long you’ll stay at your home, you can compare the mortgage balance for your current loan against the estimated balance of the new loan. You can then determine which loan is more advantageous for you.

Remember that times have changed since you last took out a mortgage. Banks have become more selective with their potential mortgage customers. Someone who could easily have received a loan five years ago may no longer qualify for a loan. Also, the value of your home has likely declined. If you’re equity in the house is less than 20%, the bank will want to add insurance onto your monthly payment. This will be an added cost to you and could make the new total mortgage payment higher than your current payment.

If you decide to refinance, act sooner rather than later. Interest rates this low won’t last long. As the economy improves, interest rates will likely increase. Even a small increase could dilute the benefit for refinancing your mortgage. Talk with your financial advisor, tax advisor, and mortgage professional to determine what is best for you. t Woody started his career in 1998 and has been independent since 2005. “I have seen some of the best and worst markets in our history which allows me to approach my clients with the knowledge of how the markets fit into their financial picture,” he says. Woody is a certified financial planner. Learn more by visiting partnershipwm. com. Opinions expressed here for informational purposes only.

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Leather

Line

Rodney Burger

Wolfy Diaz is Mr. SECC Leather 2016 Wolfy Diaz of Tampa, Florida, was selected Mr. SECC Leather 2016 during the annual SECC Leather Weekend held at the Parliament House Resort in Orlando on February 12th through 15th. Wolfy is no stranger to the leather community, having held the title of Mr. Ybor City Eagle 2010.

Having competed at the International Mr. Leather Contest with his prior title, Wolfy is planning to compete in October for the American Leatherman 2016 title. Franco Dax of Orlando, the current Central Florida Leatherman titleholder, was selected as first runner-up. There were no other contestants for Mr. SECC Leather 2016 and

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there were no contestants this year for Ms. SECC Leather or the SECC Bootblack title. Kat Vago who was selected last year as SECC Bootblack 2015 has graciously agreed to hold the title for another year.

Having recently attended January’s Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend that was such a huge success this year that those who attempted to purchase the $220 tickets for the full event at the last minute were turned away from the sold-out gathering, it was quite a change to attend this year’s SECC Leather Weekend, which went from over 100 full event attendees in 2015 to only approximately 30 paying the $69 ticket price in 2016. This was the 20th anniversary for the Southeast Conference of Clubs and with cocktail parties, a formal leather buffet dinner, a big Sunday brunch buffet, and the contest, attendees got a lot of bang for their buck. I believe A lot of bang for your buck is also the unofficial motto of the Parliament House, but I digress. Perhaps the small turnout was because the Parliament House – Orlando’s oldest gay club, which opened in 1975 – was facing foreclosure in November or that the Southeast Conference of Clubs did not have an updated website to promote the event making it hard to make plans to attend. Even the Parliament House’s own

march 4, 2016 • baltimoreoutloud.com

Wolfy Diaz wins the sash at Mr. SECC Leather 2016

website did not list SECC Leather Weekend on their calendar. The good news is that the 10,000-square foot resort is still alive and well, and the place was packed all weekend. I had a really fun time.

It is great to know that “leathery” in Florida does not just refer to the skin of those old folks who go to the beach every day. Florida is also home to active leather organizations such as the Tampa Bay Bondage Club, founded in 1992, who hosted the opening cocktail party. The small leather vendor mart that was in the resort’s courtyard all weekend did well and connected with lots of folks in attendance who had no idea that the SECC event was even going on. It was also great to see so many young people in the house. Usually getting carded in Florida means one takes out the AARP card.

On Saturday, February 13th the Mr. SECC Leather 2016 Contest was held in the resort’s theater which was booked from February 5th through March 13th with the off-Broadway Show Naked Boys Singing.

The boys performed a 2 p.m. matinee on February 13th to accommodate the evening contest. I’m sure had management known how small the contest crowd was going to be they would not have moved a Saturday night performance. We went to the show on Sunday, February 14th and the theater was packed for this very entertaining musical revue. Plus there were some beautiful costumes.

I was glad to see that this contest only had four judges. I hate when contest producers fly in dozens of judges from all over the country to judge one or two contestants.

This year’s judges were Mr. SECC Leather 2015 Jeffrey Williams, SECC 2015 Bootblack Kat Vago, Southeast Puppy 2015 Sea Wolf, and Mr. Code Florida Leather 2013 Craig Clark. Tori Jones, co-producer of the

Leather History Conference, served as tally master. The contestants’ on-stage fantasies were particularly entertaining, with Woofly performing a dancing and flogging demo to Bloodhound Gang’s “A Lap Dance is so Much Better When the Stripper is Crying.”

Franco followed that tasteful performance with a very hot arresting officer scene. Both skits contained almost as much nudity as Naked Boys Singing.

I had four fun nights at the Parliament House and got to party with COMMAND, MC, members Mike and Marty, Mr. Maryland Leather 2007 Sir Steve, and even Ms. Baltimore Eagle 2002 Annie Carroll.

The Saturday night cocktail party hosted

by Mr. Gay Days Leather Central Florida 2008 Griff Morgan and Trident International Central Florida at a timeshare next to the resort was a highlight, much as it was last year. Last year’s party was on February 14th so the theme was “Puppy Love.”

This year the event fell on February 13th so the theme was “Black Valentine” and was complete with black heart decorations and Jell-O shooter boys in black jockstraps and

Orlando sizzles at Mr. SECC Leather 2016

black bowties. Plus lots of food and drink.

SECC has already scheduled SECC Leather Weekend 2017 for February 17th through 20th at a location to be determined. That decision will be made at the next SECC meeting scheduled for July 28th through 31st in Charleston, South Carolina in conjunction with the Southeast LeatherSIR, Leatherboy, Southeast Trainer and Puppy 2016 Contest. I’m hoping SECC will return to the Parliament House next February.

With cheap room rates (Yes the place is dated but some rooms are currently being remodeled), good food, fun bars, and lots of people-watching I wouldn’t mind returning again next year. After all the small leather events can be just as much fun as the big ones. Maybe size doesn’t matter. Plus with more promotion SECC Leather Weekend 2017 could be even bigger and better. t

Casts a gentle spell

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