Jan|Feb 2013
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2013 Career Section
Work It
Out!
Is anyone still closeted in the office these days?
Follow the Valentines
Catching up with singles and couples highlighted over the years
Michelle Kosilek
An emotionally charged case is a legal no-brainer
What Price Beauty?
Cost and other considerations when altering your physical looks [back row] John Basile, Vice President, Fidelity Investments, Wendell K. Chestnut, Senior Vice President, Bank of America, Michael Oliveri, Senior Associate, PwC [middle] Douglas Hauer, Member, Mintz Levin, Lisa M. Cukier, Partner, Burns & Levinson LLP [seated] Matthew V. P. McTygue, Partner, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP
Boston Spirit magazine
is pleased to announce our 6th annual LGBT EXECUTIVE NETWORKING NIGHT
March 7, 2013
Boston Marriott Copley Place 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. On March 7th LGBT corporate professionals from Greater Boston (and beyond) will gather at the Boston Marriott Copley Place for an unprecedented evening of networking and business conversation.
More than 1,300 people attended this event in March 2012, don’t miss out!
PRESENTING SPONSORS
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LEGAL COUNSEL, BUSINESS ADVISORS.
DO YOU WEAR BORROWED AND I WEAR BLUE? Traditions are what you make them. From rings to proposals, Long’s is here to help. Helping You Get It Right.com
From The Publisher Welcome 2013, it’s great to meet you. Each and every New Year gives us an opportunity to start fresh in many ways, and I cannot think of a time when we’ve needed it more. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the unimaginable tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, it’s been a tough couple of months in the Northeast and throughout the country. The holidays have given us a little time to heal and now, hopefully, we can begin to rebuild our homes and our hearts. While 2012 certainly had its ‘downs,’ it also had quite a few ‘ups,’ and it looks like 2013 has a chance to be even better. This spring the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the legality of DOMA and could finally strike down this discriminatory Act. Rest assured Boston Spirit will be on top of that story and we’ll have it covered from every angle. We are also looking forward to some great events we have coming up, including our first ever Pride Sports Awards Gala on January 26 (see page XX) and our annual LGBT Executive Networking Night on March 7 (see page XX). It is amazing that Executive Networking Night is only six years old and last year we had more than 1,300 attendees. Keeping with the theme of LGBT executives, and diversity in the workplace, we have some great articles in this issue on employment/recruitment/career. It is nice to see so many companies in the area leading the way when it comes to diversity. As a result, many of these companies are seeing very positive returns on their commitment to diversity initiatives. As Boston Spirit enters it’s 8th year of publishing we are thankful for your continued support and we wish you the happiest and healthiest of New Year's and a prosperous 2013.
David Zimmerman Publisher
Celebrating Another Marriage Victory!
2 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Boston Spirit Magazine supporters 5 Star Travel Services Accent Limousine AIDS Action Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Audio Concept Bavarian Chocolate Haus Beaconlight Guesthouse — Provincetown Bo Concept Boston Center for Adult Education Boston Symphony Orchestra Burns & Levinson, LLP Circle Furniture Club Café Columbus Hospitality Group Designer Bath Diageo Liquors DJ Mocha dot429 Eastern Bank Fenway Health Gardner Mattress Greater Boston CVB Harvard University Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Jasper White's Summer Shack Key West, FL Konditor Meister Long's Jewelers Lucia Lighting Marriott Copley Place Melrose Medspa Mintz Levin Morgan Stanley Smith Barney NYC-JC.com Peabody Essex Musem Pernod Ricard (Absolut) Portside Family Dental Reproductive Science Center Seashore Point Seasons Four Sonesta UBS Financial Services, Inc.
You can now get your dose of Boston Spirit on New England’s online leader, Boston.com. Visit Boston.com/lgbt where Boston Spirit brings you all things LGBT-related, including breaking local and national news, party and event updates, and lots more! Visit Boston.com/lgbt today.
23 28 85 93 61 64 94 26 39 66 50 11 16 25 73 Cover, 5 The Guide 74 29 55 67 35 37 21 Cover 17 13 1 24 7 45 27 The Guide The Guide 40 19 47 93 49 63 60 The Guide
CAN BOTH OF OUR MOTHERS WALK US DOWN THE AISLE? Traditions are what you make them. From rings to proposals, Long’s is here to help. Helping You Get It Right.com
As We Go To Press …
Contribute your opinion: editor@bostonspiritmagazine.com
As editor in chief of Boston Spirit it falls on me to write this ‘As We Go To Press ...’ introduction to each issue — Welcome to this issue! In it, I attempt to touch on the current state of LGBT New England — Congratulations to Maine on its first legally recognized marriages for same-sex couples! — while acknowledging the season — Happy New Year! — and focussing on perhaps one particularly important article or theme — LGBTs in the workplace, maybe — all while trying to tie it all together into compelling prose that somehow provides a pleasurable entry into the wildly diverse mix of stories that lay inside — like those in this issue, including: on transgender rights, LGBT career opportunities, Cherry Jones’ return to the American Repertory Theater, and plastic surgery. Okay. You figure it out. Ready. Set. Go!
from having the opportunity to hear someone say that a particular story resonated with them, or, alternatively to hear someone say, “here’s a story you really need to do.”
When it comes right down to it, there is no way to truly wrap up the current state of our community into any one particular theme or trend, in one limited issue. The strength of the New England queer community rests in the unlimited and unfolding diversity of its members and its members’ needs, visions, dreams, and desires. Yes, we’re political. Yes we care about injustice and equality. We also love our softball and basketball leagues, and we root for the Patriots. We love our children and our vintage ottomans and our half-a-bath-tub Virgin Mary kitsch. We love justice, work, play, and extra bright, white teeth. As local comedian Jim Lauletta puts it in the last story in this issue, we “live, laugh, and love.”
If there is any theme for me to wrap this issue in, it’s that everything matters. Everything. That’s why I love my job. I love how so many of our community events reflect that — like the December Toys for Joys event, the GLAD dinner party, and the Pride in Our Workplace gathering (see photos of these recent events in the back of this issue). We dress up to address social injustice, and we want our teeth white too! The two are not mutually independent. In fact, having a stiff upper lip is not only important in battling injustice, it can be awfully sexy too.
When asked about my position as editor of Boston Spirit, I frequently tell people that I feel like my work is less about editing and writing than it is about helping to provide a forum for our vibrant community to express itself. The magazine is merely the most visible means through which that is accomplished, but it also occurs in the events Boston Spirit sponsors — like the upcoming sports awards banquet and our Executive Networking Night. It also happens when our staff receives feedback — whether informally at receptions and out and about, or through e-mail, letters and phone calls. The most rewarding aspect of my work comes
4 | BOSTON SPIRIT
As we go to press for this issue, the state of LGBT affairs feels secondary to the state of the nation. As I write this ‘As We Go To Press,’ six- and seven-year-old children from Newtown, Connecticut, are being eulogized in the aftermath of one our nation’s most heart-wrenchingly violent events. In the wake of that, it seems almost silly to worry about things like cosmetics. And yet, when we look at some of the photos of the kids who are newly minted angels, we see in their smiles that all they wanted was to live, laugh, and love too. One little girl’s obituary read that she “loved horseback riding, learning about orcas, writing, and playing with her little brothers.”
So happy new year to all of New England’s well-groomed LGBT valentines — singles and couples — and workers, and those with children, and those who play sports and watch them, and who support the arts, and who live in fabulous homes as well as cozy small hovels, and those getting married in Maine. (I think I got most of it covered.) And welcome to this issue!
James A. Lopata Editor in Chief
62
Contents
Cherry Jones Comes Home
Jan|Feb 2013 | volume 9 | Issue 1
Culture
The Personnel is Political Pride in Our Workplace
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Love Boston
62
Takin’ It To The Streets
65
Waiting For Baby ...
68
Tony winner and A.R.T. founding member stars in The Glass Menagerie
The Personnel is Political
20
Pride in Our Workplace
30
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Love Boston
38
The famous furniture duo sit down for an exclusive interview with Boston Spirit, talking about their new flagship store in the South End and the importance of employment diversity The nation’s most notorious court case involving a transgender person may not be the most publicly appealing, but it’s pretty much a slam-dunk case of legal injustice
What Price Beauty?
Sometimes how you feel depends on how you look
True love found, growing, and yet to be ... Boston Spirit catches up with some of the singles and couples highlighted over the past years
Saturday January January Saturday
26 26
Stylish JP couple prepare for a new addition
Ricardo Recommends: Miami Nice 75 A chic insider guide for the perfect weekend getaway
Scene Point Foundation’s Boston Cornerstone 79 GLAD Spirit of Justice Award Dinner 80 Pride in Our Workplace 82 HBGC’s “We Wear the Mask” Masquerade 84 Halloween Marriage Proposal 85 Toys For Joys 86
New England Events
42
52
87
Coda Funny How Humor Can Heal
Seasonal Follow the Valentines
Boston’s premier queer performing arts group, The Theater Offensive, is spreading the love around with OUT in Your Neighborhood
Calendar
Michelle Kosilek Is Not The Problem 41
6 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Cherry Jones Comes Home
A Staggering Debut 8 One Breath at a Time 8 Double Splash! 9 A Blessed Annunciation 10 She’s Hot and Spicy 11 Ultimate Recycling 12 Lighting Trends: 14 Go Figure 16 Word Is Out 18
Boston-based LGBT professionals group exhibits power and pride in its recent relaunch at Mitchell Gold store in the South End
See page 33
60
Spotlight
The local connection between LGBT issues and the labor movement runs long and deep
What Price Beauty?
Master Class
Christine Ebersole brings music and life lessons to Boston
Feature
42
58
Boston’s most formidable gay poet, activist and arts and poetry editor is also responsible for the iconic name of LGBT newspaper Bay Windows
2013 Career Section
20
Living Legend: Rudy Kikel
Nationally known, Boston-based, stand-up comic Jim Lauletta leads the second annual Live Laugh Love benefit for the Boston Living Center
24 Miami Nice
96
Jan|Feb 2013 | volume 9 | Issue 1 Publisher
David Zimmerman Editor in Chief
James A. Lopata Art Director
Dean Burchell
Director of Advertising
Jennifer Cullen Dettmann
Account Executives
Chris George, Michael Poulin
TALK TO US Send comments, questions and encomia to feedback@bostonspiritmagazine.com Editorial Contact
editor@bostonspiritmagazine.com
Publishing/Sales Contact publisher@
bostonspiritmagazine.com 781-223-8538 Mailing address 236 Huntington Avenue, Suite 218, Boston, MA 02115
Boston Spirit magazine. A Division of Jake Publishing, LLC Published by Jake Publishing, LLC. Copyright 2004 by Jake Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Contributing Arts Editor No part of this periodical may be reproduced Loren King without the written permission of Boston Contributing Writers Erik Borg, Spirit magazine. Neither the publishers nor Scott Kearnan, Mark Krone, the advertisers will be held responsible for any Alan Tran errors found in the magazine. The publishers Contributing Photographers Joel accept no liability for the accuracy of statements made by advertisers. Publication of the name Benjamin or photograph of any person, organization or Cover photo Photographer: Joel business in this magazine does not reflect upon Benjamin. one’s sexual orientation in any way. Contributing Lifestyle Editor
John O’Connell
On the web
BostonSpiritMagazine.com
spotlight Film
spotlight Wellness
One Breath at a Time New JP yoga studio seeks to create a sense of community
A Staggering Debut Boston Filmmaker Releases New Documentary Amir Dixon, profiled in last year’s Let Us Introduce You feature in Boston Spirit, has just released his first documentary, Friends of Essex, a study of young, gay black men from around the country. The title, a twist on the coded Friend of Dorothy, refers to Essex Hemphill, a poet featured in Marlon Riggs’ ground-breaking 1991 work Tongues Untied and an inspiration for Dixon. “He’s honest and raw. He didn’t shy away from words that made people uncomfortable,” explains Dixon. “ We rarely hear voices that are unapologetic. I strive to be like that, but to stay really approachable and personable.” Dixon traveled the country over a period of seven months to interview young, gay, black men in Washington D.C., Atlanta, North Carolina, Florida, and Chicago. The resulting conversations reveal the spectrum of experiences within that one faction of the community at large. One young man from Boston shares how after he was kicked out of his home, he lived on the streets of New York City and dealt with seroconversion. A subject from Houston talks about his experiences with escorting and drug use. One of the most challenging themes in the film is how, as Dixon describes it, “young, gay, black men have failed other young gay black men by not being honest about sex and risks and what that looked like. The job of the piece is to reflect and ask questions. People don’t want to talk about escorting, drug use, racism with the community, the relationships between race and homophobia, sex and sexuality, dark and light skin. For me it’s about being transparent and bringing these voices to the table.” Friends of Essex held it’s Boston debut on December 14 and its New York premier on January 12. [JOC] Friends of Essex
www.nunationnow.com
8 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Located smack in the heart of Jamaica Plain, JP Centre Yoga was created as a labor of love by out co-founders Daniel Max and Sejal Shah. With active lives in the area, Max and Shah hope to both address a need in the area and to enhance the diversity within it. “Jamaica Plain is the place I live. It is the place I have community. It is the place I want to stay,” says Shah. “Yoga was the one thing I found myself traveling to outside of JP. It seemed like we needed it here.” Max continues: “Yoga gives you a space to hang up your work space and just step in JP Centre Yoga co-founders Daniel Max and Sejal Shah
Pride of the Ocean sails on the Norwegian Pearl to Alaska’s Glacier Bay in August 2013
Max has worked in the “health and balance field for over a decade,” as a yoga instructor, nutrition counselor and body worker. “Before this, my business card had a lot of text written on it.”
completely raw. And to be with people in that space builds community.” “People feel connected to each other when they’re in a class with each other. You have a common purpose with each other for the next hour of your life,” finishes Shah. An interesting facet of the studio is that every class is open to everyone, regardless of skill. Says Max: “All classes are all-level, meaning that you can still be presented things that are outside of what you can do at your deepest level of that pose. But all of our teachers are really good at saying this is the beginning of this pose and here’s how you can add on to it. The intention, the way the teachers present and verbalize it, is to be sure that everyone in the room is comfortable doing what they’re doing and where they’re at.”
A community of friends brought Shah and Max together. “A mutual friend said you two need to talk,” says Shah. “What we share the most is not only our passion for yoga but also our passion for the JP community. To be able to combine the two of those is where we were coming from.” The 3,600 square foot space has been given a clean, modern vibe, in direct contrast to the space’s former incarnation as a recording studio and nightspot. “The space had become a dumping ground that needed a little love and a little purpose,” says Shah, who is also a doctor of radiology at Beth Deaconess. A disco ball, left behind by the previous tenants, remains in the space’s main sound booth. “One thing that we’re really proud if is that, with the exception of the fans in the studio, there is nothing new, even the lighting,” says Max of the well-curated, eclectic design of the space. “We didn’t buy a single new piece of furniture. We went to Brimfield and hunted on Craigslist.”
The pair will also use the space as a gathering spot for special events outside of yoga. The studio was open during election night for a community viewing party of the developing results. Late-night alternatives are offered such as a recent White Elephant Dance party where DJs played West Coast and world beats to a crowd of barefoot dancers. “We’re both lovers of music and dance,” admits Max. The complex also offers craniosacral, shiatsu, and thai body work; nutritional guidance; and even henna tattoo as means of therapy. [JOC]
JP Centre Yoga
jpcentreyoga.com
Spotlight Film
Double Splash! Sneak preview of a documentary on out diver Greg Louganis to be presented at an LGBT Film Festival on an ocean cruise Billed as the only LGBT film festival on the high seas, Pride of the Ocean Film Festival will break from its three-year tradition of travel to Bermuda and instead head to the great state of Alaska on board NCL’s Norwegian Pearl. The round-trip cruise departs from Seattle on August 17 and will visit Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria, Canada, with a full day’s cruise of Glacier Bay. While the itinerary may be stunning, festival co-creator and program director John Scagliotti hopes to keep participants equally stimulated with an engaging line of films, workshops and discussions. Surely the highlight of the voyage will be a sneak preview of director Cheryl Furjamic’s documentary
Back on Board: Greg Louganis which was workshopped at last year’s festival. Both the filmmaker and the Olympic gold medalist and iconic gay activist will be on board during the festival. “We are excited to welcome Cheryl back on board!” says Scagliotti. The festival grew out of Scagliotti’s Vermont Bear Film Festival. Festival co-creator Jim Pollin visited the Vermont festival and approached Scagliotti about introducing a level of comfort and luxury to a LGBT film festival. “We can run workshops and showings and not have to worry about clean sheets,” laughs Scagliotti. “[The venue] allows us to just be into the program and not have to worry if someone is
[opposite] Greg Louganis and
Cheryl Furjanic photo by Kira Kelly
a vegetarian.” Scagliotti was the creator of the seminal PBS series In the Life which started in 1992 and ran for 12 seasons. An integral part of festival is the CineSLAM series of workshops that focuses on up-and-coming filmmakers and the work they are producing. “I love to have the people who enjoy films meet with the people who make them and with the people who finance them.” [JOC] Pride of the Ocean Film
FestivalPrideoftheOcean.com
Jan|Feb 2013 | 9
spotlight Art
A Blessed Annunciation Photographer Patrick Lentz, known for his incredible images capturing the Beantown Softball League and FLAG Flag Football, has just released a project that’s the perfect mix of kitsch and poignant memory. Our Lady of the Lawns — The Virgin known as Mary is a collection
of portraits of Virgin Mary icons that decorate the front yards of Revere, Winthrop, Chelsea, Somerville and Dorchester. While the project originally started because of its kitsch value, it grew into something more personal. Says Lentz, “I developed a fondness for the images. I started to meet [with, and I] interacted with the people who owned the statues. They would give me the stories of the statues, the effort put into the shrines. It takes a lot to make a ‘Bathtub Mary.’ I appreciated their spirituality and the effort.” Lentz’s book is self-published and available through his page at Blurb.com. [JOC] Our Lady of the Lawns — The Virgin known as Mary
www.blurb.com/user/store/Violentz
10 | BOSTON SPIRIT
spotlight Food
fresh-squeezed lemon juice — never concentrate or citric acid.
batches of the salsa fresca and it was always devoured. Anything that was left was always “The Fire Roasted packed up for someone to take home. I Corn and Black Bean always say that food should come from the Salsa takes the same soul and everything I cook comes from my approach to freshness,” soul with love.” says Torres. “I char or fire roast the tomatoes The true root of her inspiration comes from the locally-inspired skills she developed and corn to develop a After the indulgences of the holiday season, working in restaurants in Austin, Texas, nice, smoky flavor. The black beans are also we’re all looking for something full of flavor combined with passion for food of her native cooked from scratch with no added salt or while still being forgiving on the waistline. New Orleans. “I hope people can taste the preservatives.” Torres recommends adding Roslindale resident and out lesbian Sherie time, dedication and love that goes into the salsa fresca to almost everything. “It’s Torres has developed a new line of freshevery batch that I make,” says Torres. “It’s such a good way to flavor dishes without made salsas that fulfill both requirements. how we cook in the south and I wanted to Distributed under the New Orleans-inspired adding fat, cholesterol, salt or oils. My wife bring that to my new home in Boston.” [JOC] moniker of Nola’s Fresh Foods, Torres offers loves the black bean but doesn’t shy away Nolas from the fresca when it is out on the table.” up two distinct flavors that will quickly Currently available at Blanchard’s Wine and Spirbecome kitchen staples. Torres started the company on the urging
She’s Hot and Spicy
The light Salsa Fresca is made up of seven simple organic ingredients including
of family and friends. For weekly “Taco Nights,” Torres “would make up large
its and Harvest Coop in Jamaica Plain. www.nolasfreshfoods.com
circlefurniture.com Acton 978.263.7268 Boston 617.778.0887 Cambridge 617.876.3988 Danvers 978.777.2690 Framingham 508.875.0707 Pembroke 781.826.2728
spotlight Design
Ultimate Recycling We have found the perfect way to spend a cold, snowy winter’s day. Imagine wandering around a 7,000 square foot showroom and warehouse packed with unique, one-ofa-kind relics and pieces of architectural salvage. Boston’s Restoration Resources is filled with stained glass, bathroom fixtures, chandeliers, mantles, fireplace surrounds and objects d’art all reclaimed from various sites around the city. Looking for an entire room’s worth of rich mahogany paneling from a restored library on Commonwealth Avenue? They probably have it. The location is also a unique event venue with a period bar, large dining and conference tables with rich patinas and lush wood grain. Genius art pieces that introduce new functions to old finds punctuate the space. You’ll feel like you’re instantly transported on location to a fashion or movie shoot. Restoration Resources is also available as a recycling center for pre-approved pieces. Go, and be inspired. [JOC] Restoration Resources
1946 Washington Street Boston, MA 02118 617 542 3033 restorationresources.com
photos Patrick Lentz
12 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Beautiful Wedding Cakes
speCial OCCasiOn and HOliday Cakes
& fine eurOpean pastries
781.849.1970 www.konditormeister.com
spotlight Lighting story Lucy Dearborn, Lucía Lighting & Design
Lighting Trends: Flip the switch with color, customization and creativity Looking for bright ideas to add a splash of color and personality to your space? Innovations in lighting have opened a window of opportunity to express your personal style through color, customization and total lighting solutions. Homeowners who relish in creating spaces that illuminate color and personal preference are in for a treat this season. A great example of lighting fashion is illuminated in stylizing dimmers, wall plates and lighting controls. Historically these functional devices were available in neutral tones as inspiring as an eggshell. Today they come in a variety of colors, materials and fabrics.
Pop O’Color Red hot colors are incorporated in a rainbow of lighting solutions that add a splash of excitement to your space. So cool, it’s hot.
Virtually everything in lighting can be customized, from a lampshade to a blown glass pendant, giving today’s homeowners endless ways to light up your life. [x]
Urban sophistication Hue are you? Earth tones create a warm vibe that lets the light — and you — shine through originally and organically.
Coastal elegance Create a wave of tranquility by adding the colors and objects of the ocean.
14 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Cherry Red Plug $25 Rainbow Pendant $1975 Tie Dye Pendant $1160 Red Table Lamp $150
Mocha Stone Dimmer $85 Oatmeal Overhead (the 2-tier drum) $4150 Cream Chandelier Custom pricing Earth-tone twist pendant $250
 Sea Glass Dimmer $50 Blue Table Lamp $575 Sky Circular Fixture $2995 Royal Pendant $415
Jan|Feb 2013 | 15
spotlight Numbers compiled Alan Tran
Go Figure 4.6%
Percentage of African-Americans who identify as LGBT; 4.3% of Asians; 4.0 of Hispanics; and 3.2 of Non-Hispanic white people [Source: Gallup Survey 2012]
4.5%
1 in 5
Same-sex couples who live in a state where they can legally marry. If the US Supreme Court affirms or allows the 9th Circuit Court opinion ruling against Proposition 8, the number would rise to nearly 1 out of 3. [Source: Williams Institute, Analysis
of US Census Reports, November 2012]
4.0% 3.5% 3.0%
3.4%
2.5%
Americans who identify as LGBT [Source:
AfricanAmerican
Asian
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic/ White
Americans
Gallup Survey 2012]
3
76%
Number of states where marriage for same-sex couples was legalized by popular vote for the first time this past November — in Maine, Maryland and Washington. Also, for the first time, a popular vote referendum against gay marriage was defeated in Minnesota. [Source: news
LGB voters who voted for Barack Obama versus 22% who voted for Mitt Romney
reports everywhere]
4.5 million Number of voters in the 2012 presidential election who identified as LGBT [Source: Williams Institute, Analysis of US Census Reports, November 2012]
[Source: Williams Institute, Analysis of US Census Reports, November 2012]
26% New HIV infections occurring in the 13-24 age group. About 60% do not know they are infected. [Center for Disease Control, “HIV Among Youth in the US,” November 2012]
Okay, it is the size of the ship.
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spotlight News compiled Alan Tran
Word Is Out New Hampshire Representative-elect Stacie Laughton, who made headlines when she became the first out transgender woman to be elected into state office, handed in her letter of resignation Wednesday, November, 28 after details of her criminal history came to light. The question of whether Laughton should have been allowed to run for office with a suspended sentence and unpaid fines was still undecided by the state Attorney General’s office at the time of her resignation.
In the case Doe v. Clenchy, a Massachusetts Gov. Deval Superior Court judge in Maine Patrick’s administration dismissed the case of a transhas appealed the controvergender girl who was refused sial ruling that convicted access to the girls’ elementary murderer Michelle school restrooms. The ruling on Kosilek be given gender November 21 said that the school reassignment surgery, was not “deliberately indifferent” causing the ruling to be susto the discrimination she went pended. Last September, through. The lawsuit was filed by U.S. District Judge Wolf FEATURE Politics STORY Chuck Colbert the parents of the transgender had previously ruled that girl with the help of Gay and the state violated Kosilek’s Lesbian Advocate and Defenders constitutional rights by (GLAD) and the Maine Human denying her medically Rights Commission, who intend necessary sex reassignment to appeal the decision to the surgery. Maine Supreme Court.
Richard Tisei
Maine became the first of three states to vote marriage equality into law this November, in a definitive reversal of opinion and many hours of door-todoor campaigning following the 2009 ballot vote in which Mainers voted against marriage equality. Same-sex couples are expected to be allowed to marry on December 29.
He’s gay; he’s GOP; and he wants to be Massachusetts Lt. Governor The Massachusetts Republican Party made history this spring by nominating an openly gay man for lieutenant governor. Currently a lawmaker representing the Middlesex and Essex District, state Senator Richard R. Tisei of Wakefield still has to win—officially—the GOP primary in September. But with no other candidates on the ballot, Tisei will most likely be the running mate of former Harvard Pilgrim Health Care chief executive officer Charles D. (“Charlie”) Baker, Jr., of Swampscott, who also faces no primary challenger. If he were to be elected on November 2, Tisei would make history nationwide as the highest-ranking openly gay man to win a statewide office—as a Republican, no less. First elected to the House of Representatives at the age of 22, Tisei has served on Beacon Hill for 26 years, including three terms as state representative and from 1991 to the present as senator. Several years ago, Tisei became Senate Minority Leader. Tisei was born, raised, and educated in Lynnfield before heading to the nation’s capital where he earned a bachelor’s degree at American University. Shortly after graduation and his return to Boston, Tisei first sought elective office when an incumbent lawmaker retired. “I had my basic philosophy [x] figured out and thought it would be a fun thing to do,” Tisei said during a face-to-face interview in late January. “I’m a Republican because I believe the government should be limited, not involved in people’s personal lives.” Yes, “the government should set priorities to help people, but should not be intruding.”
he said. “It’s personal. We own property
run a business together.gay The thing InandMassachusetts, I like the most about my partner is that candidate Republican he is unpolitical, not really interested in politics, which is why we have such a great Richard Tisei lost his bid relationship.” forWhen Congress against John he finds spare time, Tisei said the couple likes to travel and enjoys “a good Tierney, a gay-friendly circle of friends.” A runner, Tisei also reads a lot andwho is a five-year piano student. Democrat received an endorsement by outgoWhat about that LGBT ing Rep.Vote? Barney Frank (MA-D). With an openly gay candidate for the
state’ second highest office, the Baker/ Tisei ticket ought to be making inroads into the LGBT community. But it could be a tough sell. During the recent GOP state convention social conservatives circulated a transgender-baiting flier, labeling pending civil-rights and hate-crimes legislation a “bathroom bill.” The Baker committee allegedly approved the tactic. “There’s no question that Baker’s opposition to the trans civil-rights bill will cost the Republican ticket LGBT support,” said Don Gorton, a local gay activist and chair of the Anti-Violence Project. It is notable that Tisei is a co-sponsor of the proposed legislation, entitled an Act Relative to Gender Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes. LGBT advocacy groups—including the Massachusetts Transgender Coalition (www.masstpc.org), MassEquality (www.massequality.org), and Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus (www.mglpc.org)—call it “a main priority.” Tisei insists the GOP ticket still has LGBT appeal. “A lot of people in the gay community are entrepreneurs who own small businesses and are self-starters, just by nature, people who don’t necessarily vote on one specific issue [LGBT rights] but want candidates to treat them fairly,” Tisei said. “There are a whole bunch of
On“ I’m World AIDS Day, December 1, 2012, Act-Up a Republican Boston members held a rally at U.S. Senator because I believe John Kerry’s Beacon the government Hill home calling for more resources global battle against AIDS. shouldin bethe limited, Act-Up Boston protesters in front of Sen. John Kerry's Beacon Hill home not involved in people’s personal Boston, Massachusetts received a perfect lives. ” 100 score in the Human Rights Cam2O12 Municipal paign’s new Municipal Equality Index, which rates 137 cities across the country Equality Index Richard Tisei for their LGBT-friendliness in areas such as city leadership, marriage equality, Tisei’s current Other Senate district is subemployment and public accommodations. New England cities scored urban, incorporating parts of Middlesex include Cambridge, MA (100), and Hartford, CT (95),areas Providence, RI (76), and Essex counties, including of Reading, Stoneham, and MA (64), and ProvMontpelier, VT (68), Augusta,Malden ME Melrose, (67), Northampton, Wakefield. incetown, MA (59). Tisei speaks of his district as a “pretty A Nationwide Evaluation of Municipal Law and Policy
good microcosm of the state,” including a significant immigrant population. Tisei and his domestic partner of 16 years, Bernie Starr, own Northup Associates Realtors. So, has the couple married? Tisei paused. “We’ve been together for 16 years. If anything changes, I will let you know,”
38 | BOSTON SPIRIT
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18 | BOSTON SPIRIT
2013 Career Section feature Labor story Scott Kearnan
The Personnel is Political The local connection between LGBT issues and the labor movement runs long and deep Tom Barbera has heard it all: horror stories from the workplace and angry shouts from the picket line. But some words, more than others, remind him of why he became involved in the labor movement. “Who is that fat faggot?” That’s the yell Barbera received from an audience member years ago, while speaking to a meeting of labor councils. He was there to
educate the crowd with CDC (Centers for Disease Control) information about sharing a workplace with HIV-positive coworkers. Barbera responded without missing a beat. “My name is Tom Barbera,” he replied. “And get used to it, because I’m going to be back here every month from now on.”
Working Toward Equality Tireless dedication is vital to making waves in the labor movement, where union
20 | BOSTON SPIRIT
organizers inspire high-level change by constantly mobilizing the grassroots rank-andfile. And as a 30-year labor, disability and LGBT activist, Barbera has plenty of tenacity. Among his accomplishments, the Waltham resident is a founding member of the National Stonewall Democrats; of the SEIU Lavender Caucus, an LGBT constituency group within the fastest growing labor union in the states; and of Pride at Work, a national LGBT labor constituency group. He’s a longtime steering committee member at the Gay and Lesbian Labor Activist Network (GALLAN), Pride at Work’s Boston-area chapter.
There are obvious reasons for the necessity of LGBT voices in organized labor. Historically, they’ve pushed for everything from workplace protections, antidiscrimination laws, and domestic partner benefits. But it’s the personal stories that have motivated Barbera most
over the years. He remembers tales from HIV-positive workers shunned in their place of employment; of a transgender firefighter fighting to build a women’s bathroom; and of a worker who once found his desk defaced with human excrement — because he openly displayed a photo of his boyfriend. Barbera himself once needed union intervention when he was blocked from a promotion because he is gay. But, says Barbera, advancing LGBT issues through organized labor is important for another reason. In a community where rights are often championed
through organizations led by “multi-millionaire, self-appointed leaders,” union work returns power to the people, and allows change to permeate communities organically at the grassroots level. “Moneyed individuals often see themselves as leaders in the movement, but there are many more LGBT people who are waiters, nurses, and others in the middle-class,” says Barbera, who describes himself as a “workingclass Italian guy” and practicing Catholic. He says that perspective helps him to connect with new allies — from carpenters to MBTA drivers — who work in fields that represent the average American experience, not its elite echelons. “When you have similar backgrounds, you connect in a different way,” explains Barbera. Instead of espousing top-down dogma, he relates to his peers. “We’re able to talk to each other on an
eye-to-eye level,” he says. “And people change.” Remember that crowd member who called Barbera a “faggot”? Years later, says Barbera, they were working together, side-byside, creating signs for a proLGBT rally.
Labor And Leaders Tim Coco of Haverhill also understands the value of drawing connections between LGBT issues and organized labor — from both personal and political perspectives. When Coco was a reporter at the Haverhill Gazette in the early ‘80s, he noticed a troubling trend: the paper was laying-off its loyal older workers as they neared retirement age, and replacing them with young guns at lower salaries. So Coco founded the Gazette Employees Association, which won certification from the National
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2013 Career Section
Labor Relations Board. He says the union didn’t go over well with the paper’s thenpublisher, who began targeting some of its organizers based on perceived vulnerabilities; in the case of Coco, that meant dropping derogatory anti-gay terms — “wimp,” “queer” — in the newsroom. It wasn’t until 1989 that Massachusetts became the second state to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in employment, and Coco says his vulnerability underscored the value of a worker union: “I was struck by the time at how important it was for labor and other progressive groups to work together. Once you add up the minorities, you’re a majority.” At that time, though, unions might balk at aligning themselves with LGBT issues — as Coco discovered when he moved on to the Daily News of Newburyport, part of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 50. Coco says that though his work was highly regarded, he was inexplicably passed over for obvious promotions. The clues were cagey at first: “I was told ‘We all like you, Tim — but you wouldn’t be a good role model for the very public position of editor.’” Coco recalls another incident, at a company Christmas party, when he was approached by the publisher: a born again Christian. “He came up to me at the party and said, ‘Tim, you portray yourself in a dignified manner.’ At the time, I was confused.” He later interpreted it to be a backhanded attempt at a “compliment.” Later, a colleague privately made it clear to Coco that his sexuality was indeed the reason for his missed promotions. But Coco says
22 | BOSTON SPIRIT
“ The only way we have a really vibrant social justice movement is to make sure everyone is connected,” says Lee. “You can never leave anyone behind. ” Tyrek Lee vice-president of the Massachusetts region of 1199SEIU
his union was too “squeamish” about the issue to go to bat for him. “We’re not a social causes group,” was the message he says he received. But things change. Fast forward to 2012, and Coco received a very different reception from labor unions: this time as an out candidate for state senate. His website prominently trumpeted, among other successes, his years-long effort to be reunited with his husband Genesio, who had been deported to Brazil under DOMA. Though Coco didn’t win the September election, he did score endorsements from a litany of labor unions: from groups of pipe fitters and roofers, to multiple SEIU local chapters. “I think they saw me as a fighter,” says Coco, who received significant financial
support from the unions. In fact, the independent expenditures his campaign received was the third highest among state legislative candidates. He says the unions focused on shared values, not sexuality. “In the big picture, we’re all ultimately trying to protect our families and improve our wages, health insurance and happiness at work and home. They see that we share these goals.” In fact, unions provide great opportunity to unite diverse groups around common social justice goals, says Tyrek Lee, vicepresident of the Massachusetts region of 1199SEIU, one of the unions that endorsed Coco. It’s an organization of considerable clout, and describes itself as the largest healthcare union in North America. And Lee is enthusiastic about using his leadership platform to advocate for LGBT issues in the union. Lee is straight, but LGBT issues are a priority for him. He compares the gay rights movement to the civil rights movement, and says he understands the struggles of marginalized groups. He also has a personal stake in its outcome — Lee’s mother is gay, and he remembers her struggles at work. “It caused a lot of anxiety, and a really stressful work environment,” says Lee. As vice-president, Lee works strongly with the union’s Lavender Caucus to advocate for LGBT issues across the board. The union has a number of different groups for different member constituencies. But Lee says what he most enjoys, and what really represents the power of the labor movement, is watching those diverse groups come together; he recalls a recent potluck dinner between various caucuses — representing the LGBT community, Haitians and Latinos, young workers, and other groups — in which they shared food, music, and cultural presentations. “This is what a social movement looks like,” says Lee of the diversity in unions. “It’s about empowering folks, helping them advocate for each other and for themselves, and introducing the understanding that we all want the same thing.” And Lee says he’s proud his position in the union allows him to underscore the value
2013 Career Section
of straight allies. “When I think about the civil rights movement, and when I watch a documentary and see white folks walking with Dr. King, that’s so powerful,” says Lee, who is African-American. “Because that demonstrates it is not just a movement for self, it’s a movement for all.” “The only way we have a really vibrant social justice movement is to make sure everyone is connected,” says Lee. “You can never leave anyone behind.” And part of taking the movement forward is throwing
weight behind pro-LGBT politicians. Lee is proud of the work of SEIU on a national level, and points to the recent passage of equal marriage in Maryland where the union was involved “fiercely on the ground,” says Lee.
The MassEquality And Labor Connection Of course, the political impact of unions is felt here in New England too. Simply
understanding labor movements is helpful in mobilizing around LGBT rights, says Wes Ritchie, organizing director at MassEquality. Ritchie even earned his undergrad in labor studies because, he says, union approaches to organizing can be applicable to other social movements too. And forming positive relationships with labor is essential for certain advocacy work, like helping to elect proequality candidates. Luckily, pro-union and pro-LGBT platforms tend to overlap within candidates, says Ritchie; and MassEquality has had great relationships with unions. “They’re very important and very active partners,” says Ritchie. He points to collaborations like Mass Values, a super-PAC backed by MassEquality and major unions like the Massachusetts Teachers Association and SEIU 1199. Mass Values chalked up several victories in November, ushering in the success of pro-equality candidates like representatives Danielle Gregoire of Marlborough and Paul Heroux of Attleboro. Both defeated Republican incumbents with anti-equality backgrounds.
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2013 Career Section Betsy Smith says that in the past, the most prominent labor unions were supportive of LGBT-related worker issues. Marriage, though, seemed to be a sticking point. “Folks at the top were supportive,” says Smith, but a stronger consensus was needed among members to guarantee an endorsement. Betsy Smith Equality Maine executive director
Unfortunately, there are still contemporary challenges to aligning LGBT issues with labor. Take the case of Equality Maine, which in 2011 hired a new position: a labor organizer. The role was given a specific mission, says executive director Betsy Smith: to build stronger, lasting relationships with the state’s major labor unions. Smith says that in the past, the most prominent labor unions were supportive of LGBT-related worker issues, like anti-discrimination laws. Marriage, though, seemed to be a sticking point. “Folks at the top were supportive,” says Smith, but a stronger consensus was
needed among members to guarantee an endorsement. So Equality Maine offered to assist in the organization of LGBT caucuses within the major labor unions, with the intent to foster support among the rank-and-file. But the effort stalled. Ultimately only one major union, the Maine Education Association (MEA), endorsed Question 1. And that decision came early on, and can’t be credited to Equality Maine’s outreach, admits Smith. Why was it so difficult to galvanize support for equal marriage among unions? Smith says it could be tough to convince union members that the issue was
relevant. “I think many people still do not see marriage equality as a workers’ issue,” says Smith. “We spent significant time in the first phase of the campaign trying to educate people that it is a workers’ issue. That it is about fairness and equality: about the legal protections that come with marriage, and allowing gay couples access to those protections.” Of course, unions are probably reluctant to endorse pro-LGBT measures when they see those who do pay a public price — as was the case with MEA. In May, Maine governor Paul LePage, a vitriolic opponent of equal marriage, vetoed a bill
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that would have provided additional pay to public school teachers who receive a special certification. In a statement about the veto, LePage specifically cited the MEA’s support of Question 1 as contributing to his veto. “The MEA announced its endorsement recently of the same-sex marriage proposal on the November ballot,” said LePage. “This announcement is an example of what the union is choosing to focus on rather than expanding and enhancing opportunities for teacher development.” “They [the MEA] took heat for it,” admits Smith, who says Equality Maine wrote the organization a letter of appreciation for their support in the face of criticism. When inclusiveness can come back to haunt a union, it’s no wonder that some hesitate to support the community.
Working Together Of course, solidarity is a founding principle of unions. Some leaders say that for the labor movement to continue supporting LGBT issues, LGBT people should increase their awareness of labor
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2013 Career Section issues. After all, the two are not mutually exclusive. “The gay community is not uniform. We are born into middle-class homes, poor homes and rich homes,” says legendary LGBT and labor activist Cleve Jones. “We are born to immigrant families and we have various political ideologies.” Jones is probably best known for working alongside his mentor, Harvey Milk, and for his HIV/AIDS activism; among other initiatives, he conceived of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. (The 1.3 million square foot quilt is now so large that in 2012 it was digitized for online viewing.) But he’s also become a major labor activist, and focuses on aligning the LGBT community with labor organizations. He is critical of LGBT advocacy groups that accept big corporate money, making them beholden to certain interests. He cites the case of former Massachusetts state senator Jarrett Barrios. Barrios resigned as president of GLAAD in 2011, amid allegations that the organization received funds from AT&T in exchange for his support of a corporate merger. (Now Barrios is CEO
28 | BOSTON SPIRIT
of the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts). Jones also works closely with UNITE HERE, a national union representing workers in the hotel, food service and gaming industries, and he’s especially involved in the Sleep With the Right People campaign, a UNITE HERE initiative encouraging LGBT consumers to avoid hotels that operate against worker interests. In 2012, the campaign organized demonstrations at Hyatt hotels across the country, including in Boston, to protest conditions it says are unfair to housekeepers and other low-wage workers.
What does that have to do with LGBT rights? “Some folks in our community are single-issue people, and don’t pay attention to immediate concerns beyond LGBT stuff,” says Jones. “But, to use the current vocabulary, 99 percent of gay people are part of the 99 percent.” Jones is quick to remind of the historic intersection of the labor movement and the gay
rights movement; back in the ‘70s, iconic organizer Cesar Chavez was a then-rare, outspoken advocate for gay rights, and Harvey Milk was working with teamsters to get gay bars on board the Coors beer boycott. Both are early examples of how intertwined LGBT and worker rights are — and the powerful, potent change that occurs when organizations on both sides work together. And, says Jones, LGBT involvement with unions remains an important way to form alliances with many different constituency groups. Barbera agrees. He remembers attending an international SEIU convention in 2004, and watching as thousands of delegates voted to endorse same-sex marriage. “It brought me to tears,” says Barbera. “Watching thousands of people: gay and straight, black, white, Latino, Asian, Pacific-Islander …” Ultimately, the unity was credited to something any union member would understand, says Barbera. “It was a declaration of many years of work.” [x]
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2013 Career Section feature Career story Scott Kearnan
Pride in Our Workplace Boston-based LGBT professional group exhibits power and pride in its recent relaunch at Mitchell Gold store in the South End
“ Our generation is certainly benefiting from all of the hard work that those who have gone before us have accomplished in the workplace. To me, Pride in Our Workplace isn’t about simply stopping insensitivity, but allowing the LGBT community to rise to the next level. ” Brandon O. Smith of Merrill Lynch
30 | BOSTON SPIRIT
John Basile addresses attendees of the Pride in Our Workplace event at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams' South End flagship store on December 12
“I feel like Evita!”
So joked John Basile, vice president of Diversity and Inclusion Strategies at Fidelity Investments, addressing the crowd. Basile wasn’t speaking from a balcony, but from the lofty perch of a staircase landing in the South End furniture store Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.
A chuckle went up from the dozens-deep throng of LGBT professionals assembled there to mix, mingle, nosh hors d’oeuvres and sip cocktails. The December fete was a re-launch party for Pride in Our Workplace, an ongoing series of networking and professional development opportunities that attract LGBT power players from major corporations — particularly those in legal and financial services. While Basile didn’t regale the crowd with a musical number — “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” will have to wait for another day — he did give those gathered a clear synopsis of what Pride in Our Workplace is all about. “The purpose of PIOW has really been to create a sense of community among our companies,” explained Basile. “To bring LGBT people together, to share best practices, to network and to learn from each other.” Pride in Our Workplace launched in 2006 as a joint initiative between Basile,
Bank of America senior vice president Wendell Chestnut, and PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Michael Poirier. Each had long been active in local LGBT community organizations, and as leaders within LGBT-focused employee resource groups at their respective corporations. But Basile says they wanted to galvanize even greater engagement, provide even more resources, and network even larger groups of LGBT professionals. The result, Pride in Our Workplace, began modestly; its first meeting at Good Life, a small bar near Downtown Crossing, brought together about 50 people from a handful of legal and financial services firms. The attendance and venues grew with every quarterly meeting — and so did the caliber of guest speakers that Pride in Our Workplace tapped to imbue each cocktailing event with a valuable keynote. Estee Lauder executive VP Sally Susman, Waltham-born umpire David Pallone, and
“ The purpose of PIOW has really been to create a sense of community among our companies. To bring LGBT people together, to share best practices, to network and to learn from each other. ” John Basile vice president of Diversity and Inclusion Strategies at Fidelity Investments
then-president of GLAAD Jarrett Barrios were among the prominent out speakers. Though Pride in Our Workplace took a two-year hiatus, its December re-launch event proved interest is greater than ever. The Mitchell Gold soiree attracted attendees from over 30 companies. That’s because the need to support and network with LGBT colleagues never goes away, said attendees — especially when you work in ultra-corporate environments. “Are there challenges to being out in a corporate climate? Of course!” added Pride in Our Workplace attendee Zachary
story continues on page 37 with thoughts from the Pride in the Workplace organization members on pages 32, 34 and 36
“It’s not just about grabbing a drink, socializing or going out,” says Wendell Chestnut of Bank of America. “It’s about saying, ‘Let us groom you, and help you understand how someday you can be sitting at that board table or running a business. ”
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2013 Career Section
“ Financial services is traditionally conservative, and steeped in Boston Brahmin tradition,” said John Basile, who told the crowd that it took him over a decade to come out at Fidelity. Though his Boston office is inclusive and supportive, he’s quick to remind that colleagues working and traveling outside the Massachusetts “bubble,” where LGBT acceptance is largely mainstream, aren’t always so lucky.
36 | BOSTON SPIRIT
2013 Career Section [From 31
Hill-Joseph, who works in financial services — a culture he calls “as conservative as it gets.” “The more events like this, the better,” said Hill-Joseph. “It’s important that we form connections and stick together.” “Financial services is traditionally conservative, and steeped in Boston Brahmin tradition,” said Basile, who told the crowd that it took him over a decade to come out at Fidelity. Though his Boston office is inclusive and supportive, he’s quick to remind that colleagues working and traveling outside the Massachusetts “bubble,” where LGBT acceptance is largely mainstream, aren’t always so lucky. He recalls the story of a manager in Texas who catered the office on Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day, and a research analyst in Toronto who chose to leave his decadelong position rather than come out to his colleagues. Stories like these, said Basile, underscore the value of a group like Pride in Our Workplace. But the re-launch of the group has another goal too: to engage a new, younger generation of rising leaders, says Wendell
Chestnut. In fact, he hopes it opens up more opportunity to develop mentorship relationships between established professionals and young leaders. “It’s not just about grabbing a drink, socializing or going out,” says Chestnut. “It’s about saying, ‘Let us groom you, and help you understand how someday you can be sitting at that board table or running a business.” The value of that opportunity isn’t lost on 26-year old Michael Oliveri of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of several younger professionals who stepped up to organize the Mitchell Gold event. “I think you get a newfound appreciation for how present we [LGBT people] are out there in business,” says Oliveri of the value of Pride in Our Workplace events. “There are so many executives in this room who can open doors for us and help us develop business. These are nurturing relationships that a lot of people wouldn’t have access to without something like this.” At the same time, it’s not just what happens at the networking events that is important; it’s how these professionals
bring back to the workplace the sense of pride and solidarity that is engendered here. “Our generation is certainly benefiting from all of the hard work that those who have gone before us have accomplished in the workplace,” says 30 year-old Brandon O. Smith of Merrill Lynch, another volunteer organizer of the re-launch event. But the road to equality doesn’t end with partner benefits and anti-discrimination laws. “To me, Pride in Our Workplace isn’t about simply stopping insensitivity, but allowing the LGBT community to rise to the next level,” says Smith. “When we take pride in ourselves and build genuine relationships with co-workers who may never have had the opportunity to truly know a LGBT individual, we change hearts and minds.” Says Smith, “One of the best compliments I ever received was from a coworker of mine who confessed, ‘I have never been friends with a gay guy before, but I want to let you know that you are awesome and I am glad I can call you a friend.’” Pride. It works. [x]
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2013 Career Section
feature Careers story David Zimmerman and James Lopata
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Love Boston
The famous furniture duo sit down for an exclusive interview with Boston Spirit, talking about their new flagship store in the South End and the importance of employment diversity
38 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Boston Spirit: When you started Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, the company, was there an actual discussion that took place regarding diversity or are you policies something that just naturally evolved? Mitchell Gold: I don’t think we ever really discussed it per se, but it was an easy evolution. We certainly were not going to ever discriminate against anyone because of their sexual orientation, or their race, or their gender. So for us it was never a discussion we needed to have. Of course for us, being down south in a rural area, close to 25 years ago, coming from a big furniture company, I knew there was a glass ceiling
for me as a gay man, as a Jew, and worse, from the North. I can’t recall one big Southern company that had a Northerner as the CEO back in those days. BS: How did you end up in North Carolina? MG: I worked for a large furniture company, Lane Furniture. And when they first hired me I lived in New York and was responsible for national accounts all over the country. Then they moved me down South into a different position and Bob moved down there as well. I am from New Jersey and Bob is from Texas. It was easier for Bob, as he is kind of a country boy.
“ We might have more gay employees than others and more gay people in senior management for a variety of reasons, but we have amazing straight managers and employees as well. ” Mitchell Gold
BS: When it comes to the topic of diversity, how do you convey to others in the business world the value of having a diverse workforce? MG: We think it’s just about hiring the best people for the job. And I think it’s very constricting to a company when they say, we need more of ‘this kind’ of person when they try to fill a slot. The reality is, you have to be 110% efficient and effective, you can’t just slot someone in any place. We have 600 people in our company, and in a company that size you need all cylinders working. But that’s the exciting thing for us. We look, and we hire the best people available. There are other furniture companies out there — perhaps fewer now than before — that wouldn’t have made some of the hires that we have made. The opposite end of that is that we have to make sure that all of our employees feel as though they can move ahead … gay or straight. This isn’t just a gay company. We might have more gay employees than others and more gay people in senior management for a variety of reasons, but we have amazing straight managers and employees as well. And since neither Bob nor I have children, there is no heir apparent to the company and every employee in our company has a shot at being president or CEO. I spoke to our VP of Manufacturing this morning, he is not even 40 years old yet and he knows that he has just as much a shot at running the company as anyone.
BS: How does Boston fit into your plans for the company? MG: Boston is a big, fabulous city. When you have a company like ours, you look at the country and say ‘where do we want to have stores?’ and the low hanging fruit is all the big cities. I have a long history with Boston, and I know the kind of business that can be done in the Boston area. One of our account managers set out to find an account in the Boston area, and he met Steve and Drew [the local owners of the Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams locations] at the time when they had a multiline furniture store. Once they got to know our product, they decided to open a new location with 4,500 square feet of mainly upholstery. We didn’t have tables etc. back then. The store did very well, then our line evolved. Then they opened the store in Natick, and now we have expanded the Boston location into a flagship store with more than 11,000 square feet. BS: Having stores all over the country, are you seeing major differences between the South and the North? MG: It’s very interesting. I don’t think there is the kind of overt discrimination that there used to be. A lot of businesses now have employees from a lot of different areas that are now running their companies. I see many companies that have gay employees but I think we are the only company in our area with a gay president and CEO. But as I said, it is not as overt as it used to be. There is a
much greater live and let live mentality. The evolution is because so many people have relatives and friends who are gay. Where we are it is mostly ministers and religious leaders who are telling people that gays are promiscuous, that they are deviants and ruining the moral fiber of society. But then they see their children and family and friends, they see Bob and I and the things we do in the community, and we are the furthest thing from promiscuous or deviant in the community. We’re building soccer fields. We have a great healthcare program. We have a daycare center. We are doing everything we can to build the community, not tear it down. So there is a conflict with people between what they hear from the pulpit and what they see in the reality. That said, North Carolina just passed a discriminatory amendment, but I will tell you that has
more to do with the stupidity of the way the campaign was run than whether or not the state is as prejudice as it came out to be. For example an interesting number that just came out is that 51% of southern Baptists no longer believe that homosexuality is a sin. That’s giant. And that was a survey from the Southern Baptist convention, not some gay, liberal pollster. BS: Can you talk a little about your foundation, Faith in America? MG: Our mission is to educate people about the harm of outdated, ill informed, misguided religious teachings and how it harms LGBT people, especially youth and straight people as well. When straight people are bigoted and they leave that world, they really do feel much better about themselves. We are now launching a website called Faith and Equality. The purpose of the site is to help
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that 15-year-old kid whose parent takes him to a church that says that he’s a sinner and an abomination and that 15-year-old kid realizes that he is gay and is freaking out because he believes in the concept of sin, where does that kid go? Of all of the websites where you think he can go, there aren’t any that say ‘we don’t think you’re broken.’ Jane Clementi is on our site. Her son Tyler was he Rutgers University student who killed himself. She is on the site saying she wishes she had embraced Tyler and not said to him that she was disappointed in him. Imagine a parent telling a 14- or 15-year-old kid that they are disappointed in them, not because they got a bad grade in school or didn’t study, but because of how they were born. That’s devastating. That’s why kids jump off of bridges or hang themselves. Faith in America
seeks to get at the root of why these suicides are taking place — why more than one millions LGBT kids live in depression. BS: You also have a history of supporting many local and national LGBT causes. Does that policy play into your overall mission as well? MG: Our philosophy as a company is that we support many national organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, Interfaith Alliance and many others. Then we support local organizations through our local stores. We were in Boston recently for the GLAD dinner due to the fact that my good friend the Reverend Irene Monroe was honored. Irene serves on the Board of Faith in America and has been a great friend for many years. And it gave us a great excuse to come to Boston, which we always love. [x]
feature Transgender story James Lopata
Michelle Kosilek Is Not The Problem The nation’s most notorious court case involving a transgender person may not be the most publicly appealing, but it’s pretty much a slam-dunk case of legal injustice “Judge goes too far in sex change ruling” — Boston Globe headline, September 7, 2012 Every time Michelle Kosilek makes headlines, Gunner Scott’s phone rings off the hook. Kosilek is in prison for committing a murder. By law, all prisoners are entitled to medically necessary procedures. For Kosilek, that means gender reassignment treatments. A U.S. District court recently unequivocally stated that withholding treatment is a “violation of Kosilek’s Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care.” For the judicial system, the case is a no brainer. For just about everyone else — as the Boston Globe headline above illustrates — the case can be confusing at a minimum, and downright infuriating at its worst. And some of those most disturbed by the case are often those who, like Kosilek, identify as transgender. Gunner Scott, as executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political coalition, fields a number of these calls from frustrated and angry members of the transgender community who pepper him with questions like: Why is Kosilek up for getting treatment paid for by the state that they themselves can’t get from their own health insurance? Do I need to go to jail to get the health care that I need? How did a murderer become the face of transgender health care rights? Scott frankly admits that Kosilek comes across as an “unsympathetic” character and that her case is not an easy one upon which to create public opinion in support
of transgender justice issues. Even a politician as liberal as Elizabeth Warren came out against Kosilek’s surgery. “I have to say, I don’t think it’s a good use of taxpayer dollars,” she said in an interview during her senatorial campaign. But civil rights movements do not always get to choose which battles come their way. And the Kosilek case, for better or for worse, has become an emotional lightning rod for discussing transgender issues. Ethan St. Pierre, a 51-year-old Massachusetts resident, possesses personally compelling reasons for having conflicting feelings about the Kosilek case. St. Pierre’s aunt was a transgender woman who was murdered in 1995. His aunt’s killer is currently serving a prison sentence. Moreover, it was his aunt’s murder that propelled St. Pierre into working on social justice issues for transgender people, which in turn compelled him to look more closely at his own gender identity and to eventually identify as a transgender man. “I understand the anger,” St. Pierre told Boston Spirit in a recent phone interview. “I get it.” First, St. Pierre understands the frustration felt by the family of Kosilek’s victim, Cheryl. St. Pierre knows how unpleasant it can be to know that the person who killed someone you love is still alive and your loved one is not. “I feel for the family.” But, says St. Pierre, “even people who commit heinous crimes get health care.” Under U.S. laws, prison punishes criminals by taking away their freedom, not their health care. St. Pierre put it succinctly: “The guy that killed my aunt gets dental care.”
Incarceration is a punishment that takes away a person’s freedom, not their healthcare. Denial of required medical care is considered “cruel and unusual punishment” and is forbidden under the 8th amendment of the U.S. Constitution. But how can dental care be equated with transgender reassignment surgery? Jennifer Levi, the director of the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defender’s (GLAD) Transgender Rights Project says that people should read the September 4, 2012 court ruling by U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf. Indeed, in the decision, Wolf states clearly that Kosilek had been unconstitutionally denied “sex reassignment surgery because of the belief that the idea of providing such treatment for a transsexual who murdered his [sic] wife is offensive to many members of the community” and that this represents a clear violation of the Eighth Amendment. Incarceration is a punishment that takes away a person’s freedom, not their healthcare. Denial of required medical care is considered “cruel and unusual punishment” and is forbidden under the Eighth amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The core issue has nothing to do with Kosilek being a transgender person. The problem is that state and prison officials, acquiescing to public discomfort, are not complying with very clear laws. Levi calls this “transgender exceptionalism.” St. Pierre calls it “blatant transphobia.” When it comes down to what really matters in the Kosilek case, St. Pierre says, “I am not defending Michelle Kosilek, the killer. I am defending the law.” [x]
Jan|Feb 2013 | 41
feature Beauty story John O'Connell
What Price Beauty? Sometimes how you feel depends on how you look
42 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Teeth that are brighter make people look younger. Worn, discolored teeth can make you look older than you are.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the use of Botox has jumped 621% in the past decade. Take a moment and let that sink in. 621%. That’s not an insignificant number and yet procedures of this type are rarely spoken of outside of whispered confidences over lunch. The changing face of cosmetic surgery (pun intended) is no longer the Hollywood trophy wife desperately clinging to years — maybe decades — gone by. The current goal is not to look age-indiscriminate and brand new, devoid of any laugh, frown or worry lines, but rather to appear refreshed and rejuvenated. Flaws are not erased fully, but subtly played down. There are few things Boston-culture does better than subtly play down anything that draws attention to itself. As Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel, chief of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and professor at Boston University School of Medicine says, “Subtlety can be another word for natural. It used to be that we just pulled the skin tighter and pulled the wrinkles out. There’s much more going on than that. It’s about being more natural, more appropriate.” And while many Bostonians will adamantly deny any interest in cosmetic
procedures, Boston Spirit has decided to ask some of the questions for you.
Dentistry — The Gateway Procedure Let’s start with teeth whitening. Who doesn’t want a brisk, white smile without any yellowing or signs of damage? Teeth whitening has become so commonplace that no one thinks twice about it. You can pick up a do-it-yourself kit at your corner drug store. The challenge comes when you objectify one part of the body, it’s sorely tempting to objectify the whole thing. It is, as they say, the slippery slope. Jason Kole, treatment coordinator and practice manager at Accent Dentistry in Bellingham, fully advises that teeth whitening be facilitated by a professional. “Many people operate with the mindset
that if a little is good, a lot is better,” he observes. “If you have any cavities or periodontal disease, putting a caustic chemical, like commonly used whitening agents, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, nearby is not a great idea. An inflamed tooth or damaged gums could have been avoided if they had not tried to self-treat.” While there still might be side effects, Kole insists that a dentist should do an exam before bleaching teeth. The process is relatively simply, with the whitening gels applied tooth by tooth via a q-tip, and a light is used to activate the gel. The procedure is repeated two additional times. Sunscreen is applied to the lips, cheeks and gums to prevent any burning. Former Fenway Men’s Event Co-chair Dr. James Seligman of Seligman Dental Designs in Boston believes that in-home teeth whitening can work if the patient is able to follow directions, while the most effective, state-of-the-art system is an initial in-office treatment, where the dentist “takes impressions of the client’s teeth and sets them up with custom-made trays that they can wear for 30 to 45 minutes at home to get a definitive whitening,” says Seligman. The whitening agent is a form of hydrogen that breaks down into carbon dioxide and is then flushed out with water.
Jan|Feb 2013 | 43
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the use of Botox has jumped 621% in the past decade.
“Anything that’s easier for the client, we get better compliance.” Seligman does believe there are limits. “I see the trend nationwide is for white, white teeth. I don’t get that because I don’t think it looks natural. But I can only guide people so far.” In addition to whitening, additional procedures can address an aging smile. Says Seligman, “Teeth that are brighter make people look younger. Worn, discolored teeth can make you look older than you are. Veneers can really change appearance.” Veneers are thin shells of ceramic or porcelain the width of a fake fingernail that are bonded to the front and tops of teeth. The veneer is translucent, allowing light to shine through, thus taking on the natural color of the underlying tooth. “The result is beautiful, strong and durable and can often be repaired in the mouth with bonding techniques,” says Kole. For teeth that are truly broken down, crowns are often an indicated treatment. While the result is very strong repair, the process requires a large amount of tooth reduction and the results are sometimes less natural looking than veneers or bonding. Seligman’s practice offers CEREC — Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics — a computergenerated custom crown that is bonded to the tooth. “It allows us to do a crown in one visit using all ceramic with no metal cores in under two hours. The process used to involve temporary measures with the clients coming back three weeks later. This
44 | BOSTON SPIRIT
saves the patient from coming back and being numbed up twice,” says Seligman. The biggest trend that Seligman sees in Boston: Invisalign. “They’re invisible braces, like mouth guards,” says Seligman. “We take impressions of the teeth, then create clear plastic liners that do specific movements of the teeth. The patient changes the tray every two to three weeks.” Depending on how much movement is needed, the overall process can take six months to a year. “If we’re getting teeth into alignment first, when we go into definitive treatments later, it’s much easier.” Kole’s team offers the ability to do multiple treatments at once with the process of sedation dentistry. Explains Kole, “It starts with simple novocaine, then nitrous oxide (laughing gas) at very low levels. An anxiolytic, in this case a valium medication, is taken the night before and again one hour before the visit.” The result is that the dentist can do all necessary procedures in one sitting ranging from three to 12 hours. The process is not recommended for patients with addiction
histories and requires a letter from a primary care physician. There is however a more direct tie to the world of cosmetic procedures. Nationally, some dentists are now beginning to offer Botox and other facial treatments as part of their regular practice. “We don’t see it as a trend here in Boston, but there are programs to train people in Botox.”
Deeper Cuts For truly educated opinions on facial cosmetic procedures, there are few more qualified than Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel. His point of view is that, “When you look better you feel better. Your quality of life is better. You want to make sure that your appearance is matched to your sense of self. If you’re a person who looks older but you feel more vibrant, there’s a disconnect between a sense of self.” Dr. Spiegel is internationally known as one of the top specialists in the area of male-to-female gender affirmation surgery. “My goal is to make people look like they’ve never had surgery. Most of my trans patients
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are looking to be like every other woman, not a cartoon character.” The use of Botox and hyaluronic acid fillers on the face remains one of the most acceptably mainstream procedures. Many patients fall into two camps that prefer one procedure over the other. Dr. Spiegel sees the the use of Botox and fillers as complementary rather than an eitheror. “Botox weakens the muscles in selected areas allowing for facial expressions; fillers are used in places where things have lost volume. They are two very different procedures used in very different ways.” Both procedures have a limited time frame with most clients coming back for touch-up treatments every six-to-eight months. There can be swelling of the area for 12-to-48 hours. Another product used on the face is Sculptra, a biostimulator that produces your own natural tissue; it was developed to combat facial atrophy from HIV. “If it works in a diseased state, it’ll work in a healthy state.” Sculptra is also used on the hands, to improve acne scars, and in facial deformities following cancer surgeries. Results are apparent for two years following treatment. Full lip augmentation is designed to create a more voluptuous shape of the mouth by shortening the distance
Sculptra is also used on the hands, to improve acne scars, and in facial deformities following cancer surgeries. Results are apparent for two years following treatment 46 | BOSTON SPIRIT
between the bottom of the nose and the top of the lip. An incision is made, a small section of skin removed and the gap carefully closed. The incision mimics the natural shape of the lip for a more natural result. Lip implants can also used. A dermal fat graft, a small piece of living tissue consisting of a mixture of fat, skin, and soft tissue can be placed inside the lip to create fullness. This option is only available when paired with procedures that include removing tissue like a facelift, browlift or forehead contouring. Previously mentioned synthetic fillers are also available. Facelifts are among the most commonly desired facial plastic surgery procedures. However, Dr. Spiegel cautions, “Not everybody that wants a facelift actually needs a facelift!” Instead a neck lift or a mini-facelift may be the right choice. During a facelift, incisions are made in front of and behind the ear. The skin is then raised and underlying muscle and connective tissue are tightened. “It’s not merely about lifting and tightening. It’s a matter of tailoring the skin back to the face and then camouflaging the incisions.” A procedure used as a portion of facial feminization is cheek augmentation which results in a heart-shaped look to the face and pulls the attention up to the eyes. “For most people, the first thing we look at is the eye brow and the shape of the bony ridge around the eyes. Women tend to have a much brighter area of the eyes, larger looking eyes and less shading,” says Dr. Spiegel. Dr. Spiegel acknowledges that some clients have initially come in for minimally invasive procedures and have come back for more extensive work later down the line. “People will come in for a consultation and
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say my nose, these lines, my eyes. And we talk about the options. Sometimes it’s an injectable; sometimes it’s surgery; sometimes it’s lifestyle. Sometimes a filler is good, but a facelift could be better. Let’s try the filler first.” Potential clients should also be aware of the healing time. With Botox or fillers, the results are apparent in minutes. Rhinoplasty, a nose job, ends with a cast on the nose for a week. “Two more days and you’re looking good,” says Dr. Spiegel, “but you won’t see the final results for 12 months. With a facelift, you’re looking presentable after two weeks and things keep getting better for months.” A trend Dr. Spiegel is seeing is more clients in their late 20s and 30s coming in requesting repair of ear lobes damaged from large gauge piercings. “Three-inch holes have been the biggest I’ve seen.” Sr. Spiegel is also noticing that men are bringing their male friends in for consultations. “It’s exactly the same way it works with women.” While not necessarily a trend, there is a movement among certain groups of gay men towards gynecomastia, male breast reduction, as a result of steroid use. Plastic surgery is no longer just for the Mommy Makeover, but increasingly the Daddy Do-Over.
Capping it All Off Hair loss continues to be a primary concern for many men. Hair Club, the “And I’m a Client, too” people are reaching out to the gay market specifically with the creation of Hair Club Pride, a dedicated website offering solutions and testimonials geared toward a gay clientele. The company did a phone survey of actual clients in 2010 and learned that approximately 15-20% identified as gay. The
48 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Hair Club Pride, a dedicated website offering solutions and testimonials geared toward a gay clientele company views the gay community as being more open to cosmetic procedures and tending to have more ability to afford such options. “We tend to use actual clients in our marketing,” says Lee Zoppa, hair Club’s VP of Marketing and Advertising. “After a recruitment process, we noticed that half of the testimonials were from gay clients. We set up a photo shoot in Fort Lauderdale and had the clients talk about their experiences.” Steve Barth, the President of the Hair Club of Boston, estimates that there are approximately 8,000 current members in the metro-Boston area. Says Barth, “Many people are attracted to our offices due to their comfort and anonymitity.” Clients are met with scientific measurements of current hair loss, an assessment of lifestyle and a client’s expectations. A personalized treatment plan is then developed. While clients may remember their flat hairline of previous years, clients are advised to consider what a natural hairline looks like over time. Barth insists that a good procedure should be undetectable with the pattern of density, with hairs coming out, applied cowlick, and waves to create a natural flow. Hair Club offers three different options for the treatment for hair loss. The most involved is the Follicular Unit Hair
Transplant where single hair units taken from the back of the head are moved to compensate for thinning in the front or the crown. “The five-to-eight hour outpatient procedure takes about nine months to take full effect,” advises Dr. Jeff Donovan, a Toronto based Dermatologist with the company. Follicles are collect either by taking a half-inch-wide-by-ten-inch long strip from the back, which is then closed up with stitches. The hairs are then cut under a microscope into individual units for insertion in the front. The strip method technique is able to move about 2000-to-4000 units in a day with a very small scar across the back. The follicular unit extraction method uses a small punch instrument, similar to a cookie cutter, that may move 800-to-1500 units from all over the back of the head, totaling about 20,000 hairs. The process is easily covered with regrowth, but takes a bit longer and is slightly more expensive. Warns Dr. Donovan, “The body sheds the hair fibre after three weeks. Three months later a new hair is produced. Full results are achieved after about nine months.” Not everyone is a candidate for the hair transplant method. “For those who are quite bald, they might not be a good candidate for surgery,” says Dr. Donovan. “They’re more susceptible to future loss.” Also someone who had thick, curly or coarse hair or salt and pepper hair will be more likely candidates than someone with thin, fine, blonde hair. Also, as women’s hair loss pattern tend to be different than men, the hair transplant process is not available to female clients. Instead, a Bio-Matrix system may be a solution. This means of camoflauging hair loss looks natural and creates densities that are tough to obtain with surgery. The matrix uses human hair that is sewn-in by hand, in many cases one-by-one, that can
be styled in any way suitable for the client. The membrane of the matrix is affixed to the scalp and is changed every few months. New matrices are often longer than necessary and then cut and styled to the individual client. While the biomatrix is the more frequently chosen option, gay men make up the a larger percentage of hair transplant options. Finally, Hair Club offers Extreme Hair Therapy, or EXT, a treatment designed to go on and under the scalp to stimulate growth. EXT is often used for clients undergoing hair transplants and as a preventative measure in the cases of early thinning. The Extreme Laser Comb has been developed over the last few years. Shaped like a brush, it contains several red 12_Layout 1 12/10/12 9:47 AM Page 1 the body. Used light lasers embedded into three times a week, there has been benefit for men in the early stages of hereditary hair growth. Another treatment — one that takes the idea behind the Extreme Laser Comb and kicks it up a notch — is Low Level Laser Therapy offered locally by Dr. Robert Leonard. The process is reported to stabilize the progression of hair loss in 90% of
men and women and promotes re-growth in 50% of people. The use of infrared light therapy stimulates hair follicles, causing re-growth by increasing cellular metabolism, blood circulation, and oxygen supply. Clients see as much as 70% of hair converting from a resting phase to a growing phase. Conveniently, the treatment takes place during a series of 30 minute sessions. “During the session, you can relax, watch TV or read while sitting under the ... device,” says Dr. Leonard. “The best part: you don’t feel any discomfort. There is no burning, pain or UV radiation involved.” Dr. Leonard has some pretty high profile clients including the Patriots’ Wes Welker and out-radio personality Mix 104.1’s Fast Freddy. [x] Jason Kole
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Treatment of Adopted Heirs Under Trusts
LISA M. CUKIER
Is Your Adopted Child’s Inheritance Up in the Air? In a jurisdiction as traditional as Massachusetts we often confront and seek to change antiquated laws to ensure fairness as our society evolves. On August 23, 2012, the Massachusetts Appeals Court decided the Bird Anderson v. BNY Mellon, N.A. case in which two Massachusetts residents, both of whom were adopted, faced such a challenge. In 1941, Anna, the great grandmother of later adopted individuals, created a
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trust fund for her descendants. When Anna died in 1942 there existed a statute excluding adopted children from the legal definition of descendants unless the child had been directly adopted by the person signing the trust. No adopted children existed in Anna’s family at the time of her death. Twenty five years after her death, however, three great-grandchildren came into her family; Rachel was the biological great-grandchild of Anna and she had two adopted brothers, Marten and Matthew.
Many individuals in the LGBT community have created their families with adopted children. I know what great joy children have brought to my family, and I don’t know any parent who would consider their adopted children any differently from their biological children. That said, can you imagine a law that prevents adopted heirs from inheriting equal to what their biological siblings inherit? On the other hand, is it fair to force someone to split up and share a right to income
Burns & Levinson is a Boston-based law firm with over 125 attorneys and offices in Providence and New York, as well as in the Merrimack Valley / North Shore, Metro West and South Shore areas of Massachusetts. We work with entrepreneurs, emerging businesses, private and public companies and individuals in sophisticated business transactions, litigation and private client services – family law, trusts & estates, marriage and divorce law. burnslev.com 617.345.3000 Office Locations: Boston (HQ), Andover, Hingham, New York, Providence, Waltham
or an inheritance she or he had already been receiving that was intended to go to that person exclusively? Which scenario is more unfair? This is what happens when an antiquated law gets changed retroactively. The statute in place at the time of Anna’s death in 1942 was updated in 1958 to allow adopted descendants to inherit from trusts. This update wouldn’t have helped her adopted grandchildren, Marten and Matthew, though, because the statute applied only to trusts signed after August 26, 1958. However, in the spirit of treating adopted and biological heirs equally, the statute was further updated in 2009 to unequivocally permit all adopted descendants to inherit regardless of when the trust was executed. Marten and Matthew’s sister, Rachel, began receiving income from the trust as of 2007 when her father died. However, since the trust was created before 1958 the administrator chose not to distribute funds to the adopted brothers. In 2010 though, just weeks after the 2009 amendment became effective, the trustee informed Rachel that Marten and Matthew were now considered descendants and were therefore beneficiaries under the trust. Accordingly, the trustee decided to split Rachel’s share into thirds, leaving Rachel far less than what she was previously entitled to. Rachel argued that this was unfair. The matter went to court to determine if the 2009 amendment was constitutional and fair in regard to their grandmother Anna’s trust. Rachel rightfully expected to receive the trust distributions. Further, her family had already corrected injustices through their own estate planning efforts by leaving money to Marten and Matthew. Rachel felt that the application of the 2009 statute was unconstitutional because it neglected her due process
“Can you imagine a law that prevents adopted heirs from inheriting equal to what their biological relatives inherit?” rights. Family members had created trust funds for Marten and Matthew to level the playing field so that each adult child would receive benefits from their ancestors. Rachel argued that the adopted relatives were taken care of and to suddenly change the rules at this point was unfair. The Court agreed with Rachel. Anna’s trust bestowed expectations and interests on her descendants that should not be unexpectedly ripped away without due process. The Court stated, “The 2009 amendment presumably was intended to serve the interest of equal treatment for adopted and biological children,” but “application of the 2009 amendment retroactively has the potential to upset the planning of multiple generations of a family” and could actually create “a situation where there remains unequal treatment of adopted and biological issue, but in the other direction.’’ The court further reasoned that the law is unfair because Anna and her children are long deceased and cannot update their estate plans to preserve their intentions that may contrast with statutory changes in law. The Court held that ensuring equal inheritances for adopted and biological children is a fine aspiration, but the effectiveness of the 2009 amendment in serving this interest is questionable
because it doesn’t consider the fact that people routinely override and correct statutory trust construction principles in their own estate plans. I expect that the court’s ruling will have significant impact on family trusts created decades ago as they apply to our generation and our adopted and biological children. With the sharp increase in adoption rates over the past twenty years, there will be an increased occurrence of trust beneficiary dissatisfaction and family controversy. Now, more than ever, there is great uncertainty whether trustees should apply the 2009 amendment retroactively. Because the court realized it was leaving the state of the law up in the air, it concluded that it would not penalize trustees for exercising good faith discretion on the issue. Hence, it is a free for all. This article by Burns & Levinson LLP provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. All views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Boston Spirit Magazine. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Best Lawyers® and Super Lawyers®, oh my! Burns & Levinson congratulates members of the Firm’s LGBT Group for being selected for inclusion in the following: The Best Lawyers in America® 2013: Lisa M. Cukier Laura R. Studen Donald E. Vaughan Ellen J. Zucker Peter F. Zupcofska 2012 Massachusetts Super Lawyers®: Lisa M. Cukier Laura R. Studen Ellen J. Zucker Peter F. Zupcofska The Firm was also included in multiple U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers® 2013 “Best Law Firms” national rankings.
burns & levinson’s lgbt group Top (left to right): Ellen J. Zucker - Employment Law, Business Litigation, White Collar Criminal Defense Timothy J. Famulare - Real Estate Laura R. Studen - Employment Litigation, Business Litigation, Family Law Litigation Donald E. Vaughan - Real Estate, Trusts & Estates, Estate Planning Lisa M. Cukier - Estate Litigation, Family Law, Business Litigation Bottom (left to right): Deborah J. Peckham - Intellectual Property, Trademarks, Licensing Peter F. Zupcofska - Family Law, Probate Litigation Scott H. Moskol - Financial Restructuring & Distressed Transactions, Bankruptcy, Corporate
seasonal Romance story Scott Kearnan
Follow the Valentines True love found, growing, and yet to be ... Boston Spirit catches up with some of the singles and couples highlighted over the past years
Brendan O’Hara He makes his living as a graphic designer, but hunky O’Hara is also a part-time model — once deemed “Mr. Massachusetts” in a search for America’s Gay Bachelor — and musician. (In the summer, you may spot him singing with his guitar on Provincetown’s Commercial Street.) So ask him to compare his love life to a song, and he’s ready with a response: “Mrs. Robinson!” When Spirit profiled O’Hara in our 2010 crop of eligible singles, the 32-year old mentioned that he’s only attracted to guys over 50. He found his “Mister Robinson” in a bar shortly after, bonding over a passion for books and politics. Now they’re live-in loves, and O’Hara has the May-December romance he’s long been looking for. “Love isn’t an equation where everyone needs to date someone in their own age bracket,” says O’Hara. “There is someone out there for everyone, and that’s what makes the world go around.” Ah, from the mouths of babes.
52 | BOSTON SPIRIT
David Foucher & Kevin Kline Tim Leahy Tim Leahy is a catch. He has a huge heart, and is the VP of Development and Communications for Community Servings, a nonprofit providing the critically ill with home-delivered meals. He’s a social butterfly, always charming crowds at city events. He combines the warmth and wisdom of maturity with the handsomeness and athleticism of someone half his age — try keeping up with this dashing runner, kayaker, and cyclist! Somehow, no one has reeled him in. Though Leahy
enjoyed several long-term relationships, he’s been single for five years — despite fetching a pretty penny at a Spirit singles auction. But it’s hard for a busy guy to meet new people in the contemporary dearth of gay-focused venues. “I sometimes wonder if I’ve been in Boston too long,” says Leahy, who has considered moving to refresh his dating pool. Given what a bright fixture he is in our LGBT community, that would be a big loss. Hook him, before he gets away.
When Spirit featured this couple in 2009, they had been married for around seven months. Now Foucher and Kline, EDGE Publication co-founders, are seven months into a different adventure together: raising their baby daughter, Kenley. “She’s a charmer!” say the doting dads about their adorable blue-eyed tot, who enjoyed her first family vacation to Disney World in December. Kenley’s arrival followed a two-year adoption process they say was gay-friendly and friction-free. And aside from expected adjustments — sleepless nights, anyone? — parenthood has been a smooth transition. It’s strengthened their communication skills, introduced them to an amazing local community of gay dads and moms, and allowed them to discover a love unlike anything experienced before. “It’s impossible to describe in words the moment that you first hold your child in your arms,” they explained. “But something else sneaks up on you within weeks, and you don’t even know it’s happening: you couldn’t have guessed that you’d love something so quickly, so fiercely.”
Jan|Feb 2013 | 53
Adrian Budhu Budhu was described as a “hopeless romantic” in Spirit’s 2010 singles profiles. Guess what? His faith in love paid off. This month Budhu celebrates a one-year anniversary with his boyfriend Chris, a med student whose smile caught his attention on OkCupid.com. They have an easy, natural rapport — and Chris is a big supporter of
The Theater Offensive, the cutting-edge LGBT arts group where Budhu is managing director. (Right now he’s readying for ClimACTS!, the annual fundraiser at Rumor nightclub on March 13. And Budhu is talking with Neil Patrick Harris and Wanda Sykes to participate in Theater Offensive’s 25th anniversary celebration in 2014.) Adrian
and Chris also share a passion for running, and — by sheer coincidence — in their first marathon together crossed the finish line at the same exact time. Consider that a life metaphor: “For a long time, I trained solitary,” says Budhu. “Now, it’s nice to run this race with someone special by my side.”
Spectra When we featured Spectra in 2010, she was searching for a kindred spirit; now, she’s found her fiancé in Idalia, a stunning Latina writer and slam poet who pursues a career as a corporate team coach. She’s a perfect partner for Spectra, a fellow editor at Queer Women of Color Media Wire, and
54 | BOSTON SPIRIT
a writer and media maven who travels the African diaspora working with women- and queer-rights activists promoting change from within. Their love stimulates the mind — whether discussing art, community organizing, and the immigrant experience — and stirs the heart. Spectra dreams of, and still
works toward, a day when her mother could see her marry in a traditional Nigerian ceremony. But even in an imperfect world, she’s found a flawless fit. “I was asleep when I met Idalia, a shadow of the person I am today,” says Spectra. “I wouldn’t be able to do half of all I’ve done without her love and support.”
Rodney Van DerWarker
Do you remember — the 21st night of September? Van DerWarker will. That’s the wedding date he’s set with his hard-working (but easy-going) fiancé, Todd. It was the first Saturday after Labor Day available, explains Van DerWarker, administrative director at Fenway Institute and a Boston Spirit bachelor in 2010. “We told our friend and she started singing the Earth Wind and Fire song. Hilarious! So I asked my theater troupe, Fresh Fruit, to perform it at our wedding.” What a wedding it will be: at Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, where the couple met during Carnival and is currently renovating a home. P’town
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is also where Todd popped the question during a romantic beach stroll: though by the time you read this, Van DerWarker says he’ll have returned the favor! After all, relationships are all about pleasant surprises. Van DerWarker recalls being disheartened when he first learned Todd had a daughter: “Then he told me she is 21. I was totally relieved. I don’t want to be a father – but I would love to be a grandfather some day!”
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Jan|Feb 2013 | 55
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Noah Wilson-Rich Every scientist knows that sometimes, important results take time. “I was intimidated by how handsome he was!” explains Wilson-Rich, a Simmons College biology professor and Boston Spirit 2011 bachelor, recalling when he met his now-boyfriend Omar at a club. They flirted, but he didn’t dare pursue it — until 18 months later, when Omar was watching TV with Wilson-Rich’s roommate, a mutual friend. “He told me to sit with him. Soon we were cuddling.” A year
later the handsome couple is going strong, united by their “science geek” sides — Omar researches age-related blindness at a pharmaceutical company — and a love of travel. Most recently they visited Puerto Rico, where Omar grew up. In early January Wilson-Rich visits Kenya with Bees Without
Earnest Offley When Offley took the stage at Boston Spirit’s 2011 singles auction, his now-boyfriend Ron was in the audience. They’d been dating just a short while, but the experience imbued an extra little spark. “Ron is extremely competitive when it comes to someone he’s courting,” says Offley. “After the auction, he realized he had a hot commodity and turned it up a few notches!” He won his date, alright — and it’s still going strong. The two now own
a home together, where — when they’re not traveling — they love kicking back with a good bottle of wine and their two dogs. (Their love of vino will soon be parlayed into a joint business venture, hints Offley.) These two may love to tease, but they’re also each others’ emotional rock. As for another rock, the kind that goes on a finger? Offley says: I will. “Whenever Ron decides to propose,” he says. “No pressure!”
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Borders, a coalition training impoverished communities in beekeeping. And his company, Best Bees, opens its South End “Urban Beekeeping Lab” in March — a research and public education facility spreading the buzz about, among other thing, colony collapse disorder.
Jon Dutt Being in a couple is great. But when you’re young, you’re most important relationship is with yourself. “My focus is on me,” explains Dutt. He dates casually — in fact, he had a 10-month relationship with his winning bidder from Spirit’s 2011 bachelor auction. But at 28, he has many other things to be thinking about: “I’m reevaluating every area of life right now: career, considering going to grad school.” He’d love to find a love, it can be tough in
Boston — a transient city where many twenty-somethings settle briefly after college before moving elsewhere. If dapper Dutt does catch your eye when you see him out, some advice: be outgoing, don’t be rude to the waiter (that dooms a second date), and get to Googling. “We live in a public world; it’s not hard to learn a little about someone’s interests,” says Dutt. “It’s attractive when someone takes the initiative to do their homework.”
Cindy Bishop In 2010, this multimedia artist was looking for her other half; now, she’s found a girl who knows art is the way to her heart. Bishop is about to celebrate 3 years with girlfriend Martha, a professional singer/ songwriter and film composer. She’s a perfect fit for a creative mind like Bishop, who just finished grad school for dynamic media at MassArt and works for a company that designs elaborate media exhibits for
museums like the MFA Boston and Smithsonian. The twosome even collaborated on Ghosts of Christmas, their December installation at Art Market Provincetown; Martha’s cinematic scoring accompanied vintage P-Town photos that, under Bishop’s design, inserted viewers into each historic image. “We call one another our ‘secret weapon,’” says Bishop of how the pair inspires, motivates and educates each other.
When they’re not spending time in the great outdoors, you can find this creative couple sharing love for galleries and museums. “We love learning new things, and getting turned on to the richness of culture.” [x]
Jan|Feb 2013 | 57
Culture Profile story Mark Krone
Living Legend: Rudy Kikel Boston’s most formidable gay poet, activist and arts and poetry editor is also responsible for the iconic name of LGBT newspaper Bay Windows
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Before gay rights, there was gay writing. Author Christopher Bram wrote recently that “the gay revolution began as a literary revolution.” In Boston, no gay male writer has had more influence or staying power than poet Rudy Kikel. Publishers Weekly called his work “in the tradition of Oscar Wilde, stylish, elegant, and clever.” In 1992, Kikel won a Cultural Achievement Award from the Greater Boston Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance. In 1997, he won the Grolier Award for poetry. Kikel has published five books of poetry and edited two collections. Kikel was also responsible for giving Bay Windows its name. New England’s LGBT weekly newspaper will turn 30 years old this year. He was the paper’s long-time arts and poetry editor. Kikel’s poetry is autobiographical and strikingly personal. While gay men recognize themselves in the details (cruising, coming out) Kikel also addresses universal themes: school, dates, parental relations and finding one’s own path. His poems are so accessible, it is easy to miss the double meanings and careful structure. For example, in “Show Dancing,” Kikel reveals how he and a college friend often ditched their dates early in the evening for quiet encounters together. … (dates) had been deposited at their homes, talks in the blue sedan would ensue, during which Bob’s hands would be innocently called into play upon your person — or your nerves — as on a musical instrument … Kikel’s poems consist of alternating lines of seven and eight syllables. The lines roll along with ease of sound and meaning but the small variation in syllables prods the reader to look deeper. Critic George Klawitter has dubbed these metered lines, “kikels,” in Rudy’s honor. Although not overtly political, Kikel’s poems fostered an emerging gay identity. Scholar Michael Bronski met Kikel in the late 1970s. Bronski stands by a statement he made in a 2004 interview, “… while other people who saw themselves as
artists were adamant in always distancing themselves from any political movement, Rudy saw his art as part of — I don’t know whether he’d use this word — the enormous upsurge of gay literature.” Born in Brooklyn in 1942 of immigrant parents, Kikel came from a family of outsiders. His parents came from Gottschee, a tiny province in what is now Slovenia. Gottscheers are a distinct ethnic and linguistic group whose dialect resembles medieval German. Over the centuries Gottschee was invaded by Turks, occupied by Napoleon, and swallowed up by Yugoslavia. This outsider perspective served Kikel as a gay poet. After attending Catholic schools, Kikel entered St. John’s University in Queens, New York, in 1960. On the outside, he was a conventional student majoring in English. He joined a fraternity and had a girl friend. But on weekend nights, he frequented gay bars in nearby Jackson Heights and on Long Island. It was around this time that he brought his sister (his only sibling) to a gay bar called the Hayloft. He wanted to introduce her to his other life. When she saw Rudy kiss another boy, she cried and ran out of the bar. Later, she called him a “faggot” in front of their parents who had no idea what the word meant. After college, Kikel earned a master’s degree from Penn State and in 1975, he completed a Ph.D. in English from Harvard. He taught at Suffolk University for a short time but disliked it and soon quit. He moved to an apartment on Charles Street on Beacon Hill where he became
the building’s superintendent, while he wrote poetry. For Kikel, the 1970s were filled with bars, sex, and dinner parties. He was still writing and hanging out with other writers. Kikel still recalls the night he attended a party on Beacon Hill at which the late writer Paul Monette famously met his future partner Roger Horwitz. (Monette wrote about the meeting in Becoming A Man: Half A Life Story.) As they left the party, Monette turned to Horwitz and said, “Welcome to the rest of your life.” By 1983, Kikel was ready for a change. He wanted to move to New York City to be closer to family and to ramp up his sex life at the clubs along the Hudson, including a favorite, the Mineshaft, which even by the standards of the time, was notorious. But as Kikel prepared to leave, local entrepreneur Sasha Alyson asked him to stay. Allyson was starting a gay weekly newspaper focusing on local news from a mainstream progressive perspective. The other gay paper in town, Gay Community News, founded in 1973, had a national focus with a militant tilt. Alyson, who now lives in Southeast Asia, recently recalled a brain storming session with Kikel about the naming of the new paper. “[Rudy and I] looked through a list of words and phrases associated with Boston and came upon “bay windows.” Kikel argued that in addition to being a familiar Boston architectural element, “bay windows” suggested multiple views on Boston’s GLBT community. The name stuck. Kikel says his decision to remain in Boston may have saved him from AIDS, which took the lives of many men in his generation, including his lover Craig Rowland, who died in 1991. Slowed by illness in recent years, Kikel’s sense of humor is undiminished. When asked where he met his husband, Sterling Giles (they married in February 2012), Kikel’s eyes brighten and he laughs quietly, “We met on the Esplanade about 25 years ago — during the day!” Long seen as a nighttime cruising area, the Esplanade runs along the Charles River. Life in the shadows was never for him. [x]
Jan|Feb 2013 | 59
culture Cabaret story Loren King
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Christine Ebersole brings music and life lessons to Boston Two-time Tony awardwinner Christie Ebersole’s life has become her cabaret. The actress with the ethereal voice has perfected a cabaret act that incorporates timely themes and personal tales with a well-chosen, wide-ranging repertoire. Her sophisticated concerts have catapulted Ebersole into the rarified strata of performers whose solo appearances are received with as much anticipation as Broadway opening nights. Under the direction of her collaborator Scott Wittman (“He’s good about finding songs for me that kick it onto another level,” Ebersole says) and accompanied by musical director and pianist John Otto, Ebersole performs with a full band January 26 at Sanders Theater as part of the Celebrity Series of
Boston. An Evening With Christine Ebersole marks Ebersole’s Celebrity Series debut. Titled Age Before Beauty, her new show will incorporate “personal stories about family, children and my career, Hollywood, New York, New Jersey and sort of, I guess, my philosophy,” says Ebersole, 59, over the telephone from her home in Maplewood, NJ. “There will be an overall arc. It’s not just ‘here’s my next number.’ They’re integrated into a bigger picture. That’s what makes it more performance art. It paves a road into the emotional world. People can identify and have an emotional response.” Ebersole, who performed two sold-out shows in Provincetown in 2011, tailors her material to specific themes in her concerts. In 2012, she wowed critics and audiences alike at the Cafe Carlyle in New York with The End of the World as We Know It, which featured songs from the Great Depression. She says Age Before Beauty will be a completely different show, dealing with her personal
and professional journey, so audiences can expect to hear selections from Ebersole’s tour de force in Grey Gardens, the 2006 musical that earned her a second Tony. Although An Evening with Christine Ebersole is her Celebrity Series debut, Boston has played a significant role in her concert career. After making her debut with the Boston Pops three years ago, she returned to Boston’s Symphony Hall and Tanglewood in the role of Desiree Armfeldt in a concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. She also performed Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook at Tanglewood with Betty Buckley, Michael Feinstein and the Boston Pops. Ebersole’s concerts are intimate and sophisticated not just because of her extraordinary musical gifts but because she sees this work as another
step on “a challenging road to spiritual growth,” she says. “At first it terrified me. I had no character to hide behind. But over the years, I’ve pulled the facade away. I’ve been left with myself and realized that was enough. Coming to that point of understanding gives [the performance] an authenticity.” Ebersole left a film and television career in Los Angeles and headed back to New York where she found mid-career stardom on Broadway. She won her first Tony in 2001 as Dorothy Brock in the Broadway revival of 42nd Street. After the acclaimed 2002 Broadway revival of Dinner at Eight earned her a Tony nomination as featured actress in a play, Ebersole tackled the career-defining dual role of Edith Bouvier Beale (“Big Edie”) and Edith Bouvier Beale (“Little Edie”) in Grey Gardens. Ebersole helped to develop the
musical based upon the famous Maysles brothers’ film from workshop performances to its off-Broadway run and finally to its Broadway engagement. She remained with the demanding show through its closing in July, 2007 after winning her second Tony. She last appeared on Broadway as Elvira in the 2009 revival of the Noël Coward comedy Blithe Spirit. Ebersole closed out 2012 in signature, if bittersweet, fashion. She was the final act at Feinstein’s at Lowes Regency, Michael Feinsteins’s 14-yearold Upper East Side cabaret spot that’s closing its doors. She laments the disappearing of such venues. “True cabaret is a lost art, in a way,” she says. Besides her cabaret performances, Ebersole has a regular gig on the TBS comedy Sullivan and Son (“It’s an old fashioned sitcom. I laugh all day and get paid” she says.) On the big
screen, she co-stars in the ensemble comedy The Big Wedding, set for release in April, and recently wrapped filming of Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street playing opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Rob Reiner. She’ll also release her latest CD, Strings Attached, this year. “It’s a full life,” she says. “I’m very blessed.” Ebersole attributes the spiritual philosophy that’s such an integral part of her art simply to “the experience of living” and being the mother of three children who are now teenagers. “Layers start to peel away. You shed garments that are too heavy. That’s what happens when you get older. You stop worrying,” she says. “I’m discovering more clearly that my job is to be a good steward of the gifts I’ve been given and to share them.” [x]
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Jan|Feb 2013 | 61
culture Theater story Loren King
Cherry Jones Comes Home Tony winner and A.R.T. founding member stars in The Glass Menagerie One of the most respected — and proudly out — actresses working today, Cherry Jones returns this month to the stage that launched her career. She tackles the iconic role of Amanda Wingfield in Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie at the American Repertory Theater February 3 through March 4. A two-time Tony Awardwinner (for The Heiress and Doubt) and an Emmy winner for her role as President Allison Taylor on 24, Jones was a founding member of A.R.T. in 1980. Throughout the ’80s and early ‘90s, she appeared in numerous shows there including Three Sisters, Sganarelle, The King Stag, The Serpent Woman, The Miser, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Major Barbara, and King Lear. Her last A.R.T. production was 2002’s Lysistrata. Williams’ “memory play,” which premiered in Chicago in 1944, is considered his most directly autobiographical. In it, aging Southern belle Amanda Wingfield (who is based on Williams’ mother, Edwina) dreams that her son Tom (Williams’ actual name) will find the perfect “gentleman caller” for her introverted and sickly daughter Laura. John Tiffany, who directed “Once” on Broadway, will helm the A.R.T. production. Jones leads a cast that includes Zachary Quinto as Tom, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Laura and Brian J.
62 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Cherry Jones Smith as the Gentleman Caller. Speaking by telephone from her home in Manhattan, Jones’ voice — mellifluous with just a dash of Southern spice — and her open, warm manner makes an interview feel more like having tea with a friend.
Boston Spirit: How does it feel to be returning to the A.R.T.? Cherry Jones: Those were the golden years for me. I was doing exactly what I wanted to be doing in my 20s. We were working with these extraordinary directors and we were tight, tight, tight as a company. We toured all over Europe in the summer of ‘82 with three or four different plays. After that European tour, you could have thrown anything at us and we could have done it. We adored each other. It was heaven, those years — Twelfth Night with Diane Lane and Tommy Derrah and that whole group
in ’89. I just went to see Diane in Sweet Bird of Youth in Chicago because we’ve been dearest friends ever since. I’m going to see Tony Shalhoub in Golden Boy when it opens. We’ve all stayed in each others’ lives even if we don’t see each other much. BS: Harvard Square has changed a bit since the early ‘90s ... CJ: I used to go to Cardell’s for scrambled eggs and a toasted corn muffin. I remember those long tables and sawdust on the floor. ... I’ll be staying with [actor and A.R.T. founding member] Jeremy Geidt. Jeremy and his wife Jan were my professional parents and siblings; we all were like puppies in a box in the ‘80s up there. They were so cool and wonderful; they’d have all the Thanksgivings and all the New Year’s Eve parties and they were a very important part of my life. ...
I’ll bundle up on my days off when I’m trying to learn Tennessee Williams and go wander in Mount Auburn Cemetery. BS: What was the route that got you back to the A.R.T.? Was it this particular play? CJ: I’d done a 10-month tour of Doubt in 2006-2007. Then my folks’ health began to decline and I was trying to figure out how to help my sister at home when I got the offer to do 24. I never wanted to do television. I certainly never wanted to do violent television. But I had friends who were fans of the show. And what middleaged woman is going to say no to going to work in the oval office every day? I shoot two episodes in a few days and then could fly home to Tennessee. [Over] the last three years of my parents’ lives, I was home 10 days out of every month after years of only getting home twice a year. I became part of the community again, so I’m very grateful to 24 for allowing me to do that. After they died, I wanted to stay home with my sister and there was no theater work for me, so I took another small TV part [the nowcanceled NBC show Awake] just to buy myself a little more freedom. Once I got my sister settled, it was time to come home to New York and to the stage. Right around
this time, one of my closest friends in the world, [artist] Taylor Davis, introduced me to John Tiffany. We had lunch in Cambridge and John said, ‘we’re going to work together.’ He loves the A.R.T. and always wanted to do ‘Glass Menagerie’ so he called me and asked me to do a reading. I said, ‘John, there is one part that all my life I’ve said I have no interest in and it’s Amanda Wingfield. I’ve seen [the play] six times, it’s boring, claustrophobic and depressing.’ He strong-armed me into doing the reading and afterward I looked at him and said, ‘When do we start?’ BS: What made you change your mind? I’m of the appropriate age to do the role but I’m also old enough so that actually I knew those women. I knew Edwinas and Amandas. I was born in ‘56 and by time I was eight or nine, all those women were only 70. They were the ladies at the church who’d have the girl choir over for cheese biscuits and hot chocolate out of demitasse cups by the coal fire — Miss Mae Coram and Miss Jeannette Dunlap and Elaine Davies — all those women. And the way they spoke was probably just post-Civil War. They would literally say ‘during the whoa-wuh’ instead of ‘war.’ Two syllables.
That accent was still lingering into the 1960s and it doesn’t exist anymore. Gone forevermore. I’ve always loved Tennessee Williams and I’m a huge fan of Night of the Iguana. It’s my favorite of his plays. BS: Had you warmed to the part after spending time in Tennessee and reconnecting with that part of yourself? CJ: That may be part of it, that my heart opened to it. I’ve played heroines my entire life, but rarely married women or mothers. I thought of Amanda as this old Mom of these grown kids but she is a heroine. She’s raised those children with no money, no help, nothing. She’s a survivor. BS: Had you ever worked with anyone else in this cast? CJ: No. I was lucky enough to see Brian in The Columnist and Celia in Peter and the Starcatcher and it was so wonderful. I have never in my life experienced the joy each time I mentioned her name to professional theater people, they just light up. This young woman with her brother put together an organization called Broadway for Obama and got volunteers who made calls to Ohio. She is something else, this girl.
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BS: Did you think about the irony of your Tony acceptance speech for Doubt when you referenced ‘Laura Wingfield,’ who was being played on Broadway at the time by your then-partner, Sarah Paulson? CJ: I had not thought of that. Now that I’m playing Laura’s mother, Sarah and I are no longer together as lovers. I told Sarah I would never have chosen to do this play; we all have our sense of ownership over roles and plays ... She supports it completely but was probably a little like, ‘Oh, so soon?’ BS: Are you seeing anyone now? CJ: I am, but what I have learned is that one mustn’t talk about it. One should keep the personal personal. It took a tiny bit of celebrity for me to understand that that is the best way to approach these things. BS: Any plans to return to television? CJ: After 30 years of doing theater, television to me was like taking a nice long vacation. I loved working on 24; I wish every few months I could do an episode just to reconnect with those people. But it was the easiest work I’ve ever done in my life. Any seasoned actor of my age could have played that part with both hands tied
behind their back [compared with] a life in the theater. It was fun to play the president of the United States; they wouldn’t even have had to pay me, but of course they did pay me more money than I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I’ve been able to put some up in the hayloft and spread some around. I feel like I’ve had my fantasy time; I’m grateful for it, but once you’ve played the president of the United States, there’s little else in television that’s going to appeal as an actor. I’m not saying I won’t do TV again — I used to be such a theater snob. But I’m desperate to get back on stage. It’s such rigorous work, you’ve got to keep your muscles flexed, and I’ve gained weight; I’m sure my voice has gotten flabby so I’ve got to get myself back in shape for the theater. BS: With such an iconic play, is it daunting to think about other actresses who’ve played Amanda, like Laurette Taylor [who originated the role]? CJ: I am fascinated by all of those actresses who came before: Eva Le Gallienne and Eleonora Duse and Sarah Bernhardt and Laurette Taylor. Tennessee wanted to fire her — she was on a bender half the time and opening night was dipping her dress
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in tea backstage to make it more antique, then came out and gave a performance for the ages. The thing I have to contend with isn’t the memory of Laurette Taylor. I just have to figure out who Amanda is and how I can do her. ... Tennessee was very experimental. He would not want his work set in stone. He would want us to move it forward and John is so visionary that way. When I saw pictures of the set, I thought I was going to die. If I thought I’d be going back to A.R.T. to do a play in a conventional, traditional fashion I could never have gone back because that’s not what A.R.T. was or will ever be. A.R.T. is an explosion of creativity, even at its worst. So John will take Tennessee Williams into the 21st century and let the sky be the limit. .... I honestly don’t know if I’m going to pull this off. But the roles I’ve most enjoyed in my life are the ones I’ve looked at with trepidation, the ones that in readings force me to throw the script across the room. So that’s a good sign. [x] The Glass Menagerie
www.americanrepertorytheater.org
culture Theater story Loren King
Takin’ It To The Streets
TTO Communications Manager Allison Francis, left, and Artistic Director Abe Rybeck at reading of ‘99% Stone’ in June at the BCAE photo Sam Bibbins
Boston’s premier queer performing arts group, The Theater Offensive, is spreading the love around with OUT in Your Neighborhood After more than 20 years as Boston’s premiere producer of cutting-edge queer theater, The Theater Offensive has moved to another stage — sometimes it’s a sidewalk, street, church or meeting hall. TTO is now engaging new audiences in four Boston neighborhoods — Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, Roxbury and the South End — with its brand of innovative, interactive LGBT theater. Artistic director Abe Rybeck says the new venture, OUT in Your Neighborhood, is TTO’s three-year plan to focus workshops, productions and community events year-round to reach at-risk LGBT youth. TTO is able to identify and engage these youths by partnering with civic, business and social organizations in their own communities.
Rybeck, who with other artists and activists founded TTO in 1989 as an outgrowth of the gay men’s guerrilla theater troupe, United Fruit Company, has always dispelled the idea that “the only place theater can happen is with a proscenium.” Now, on the streets and in places like Hibernian Hall in Roxbury and Villa Victoria in the South End, he’s proving it once again. OUT in Your Neighborhood grew out of TTO’s True Colors Out Youth Theater, a program for 14-to-22 year olds. Rybeck remembers how 16-year-old Ashley, a Haitian-American teen from Mattapan and a True Colors troupe member, said, “Why the hell should I take two trains and a bus to be who I am? I want to be out in my own neighborhood.”
Rybeck’s response was pure Rybeck. “That’s worth having a theater company about,” he recalls saying. “The unique part of our work is that no one else is going to do it. But we want to succeed. So the key was not to do it alone.” TTO spent six months in 2009 and 2010 just listening to what the needs were in the neighborhoods and targeting local businesses and organizations as TTO’s allies in reaching LGBT youth. As part of OUT in Your Neighborhood, TTO helped the creators of “The Secret History of Love” interview transgender and queer seniors from neighborhoods including Jamaica Plain, Roxbury and the South End. The interviews were part of the soundscape for” The Secret History of Love,” a dance-theater production by
Jan|Feb 2013 | 65
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Kara Mosley and Lenelle Moïse starred in TTO’s Expatriate in October photo Andrew McFarland
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award-winning transgender choreograown,” Rybeck says. “But I ride my bike in pher Sean Dorsey Dance that the troupe Dudley Square and I feel perfectly fine. If performed in May 2012 at Hibernian Hall. you go, you will feel very welcome.” But he “The elders were there and able to absorb also refuses to “paint too rosy a picture” all the love and respect in that production of some of the challenges. “We’ve run into and in the hall,” remembers Rybeck. some resistance but less than anyone This community-based approach, he thought. There’s been much more warmth says, is why the Hispanic Black Gay than anyone expected,” he says. “The comCoalition recently awarded TTO its Sylvia munity embraced [a recent show] ‘Fierce Rivera Community Award, which recogLove’ at Hibernian Hall but a minister’s nizes an organization that has helped to conference that was going to rent the hall improve the livelihood of LGBTQ people pulled out when they found out that it was of color. being used for gay events. It’s our allies OUT in Your Neighborhood is simply who often get the crap. We need to stand a continuation of the creative outreach with them.” that’s long been TTO’s hallmark. A new In October 2012, OUT in Your Neighborera required a new approach, says Rybeck. hood staged Expatriate, Lenelle Moïse’s “In 1990, when we were at the BCA, it powerful musical about two Haitianwas rare to see a queer-themed show. American women, Claudie and Alphine, Not it’s not,” he says. “That’s a substantial who flee personal turmoil in their native change. But what about the rest of the Boston for a musical career in Paris. city? Even at Villa Victoria, just five blocks Rybeck recalls how a “16 year-old Latino away [from the BCA], it’s a different world. kid was in tears at the end” of the show. Theater is vitally important to the health “He said, ‘I felt like it was my story,’” and future of these neighborhoods.” Rybeck recalls. “I love the BCA, but that It is also part of TTO’s mission to bring story can’t happen at the BCA. This was Bostonians into neighborhoods rich in on community turf. It helps [queer youth] culture but often ignored. “People have a have an experience that they can’t have at fear of neighborhoods that are not their the BCA.” Gardner12-10-12R2_Gardnr_Dec2012R2 12/11/12 2:15 PM Page 1
For nearly one year, TTO has been staging readings and workshops of Letta Neely’s 99% Stone, a musical about the 1969 Stonewall uprising. Actors took to the street outside Dbar in Dorchester and the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain and performed short scenes. TTO will have a staged reading of 99% Stone in February, with audiences invited to give feedback. A run of the production is being planned for Pride in June at Hibernian Hall, with a fully developed production expected to premiere in the summer of 2014. It’s all a lot of work, says Rybeck, “but the clarity of this approach has helped get the point across to our supporters.” Rybeck calls OUT in Your Neighborhood “an enormous blessing.” “I used to have way more sleepless nights worrying about the money I’d need for a fancy theater. Now it’s more like, how will I do this workshop in Fields Corner when I get called on my racism?” he says. “That’s what I actually care about. That cuts to the heart of what we’re about.” [x] The Theater Offensive
www.thetheateroffensive.org
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culture House Proud story John O'Connell
Waiting For Baby ... Stylish JP couple prepare for a new addition What’s a hip couple to do when preparing for a bundle of joy to arrive at any moment? How do they keep the their personal, modern esthetic while addressing the necessities of parenthood? The answer starts with combining comforting family heirlooms and a strong editing eye. Josh Reed, an account director for Almighty digital marketing, and Tim Kelleher, a yoga instructor at South
Boston Yoga, North End Yoga, and JP Centre Yoga, chose their Jamaica Plain home with a developing family in mind. “We had a lot of discussions about creating the space to make a family. We were committed to staying urban and not fleeing to the suburbs,” explains Reed. “Diversity was important to us. Plus, JP has a small town feel similar to where we grew up.”
The Rug is constructed from small reclaimed pieces that were stitched together and over-dyed from a vendor in Brooklyn, New York. The mid-century gem of a coffee table is an original Jens Risom. The Bo Concept chairs sitting in the room’s bay window are covered in a vivid blue wool felt.
68 | BOSTON SPIRIT
In 2010, the couple chose a 1909-constructed home that was recently converted from a Northeastern University fraternity house into two condo units. When they purchased the home, the second floor’s three rooms and the entrance staircase contained three separate colors of wall-to-wall carpeting. “Josh almost didn’t want the place because of the carpet,” Kelleher says. “I had to tell him
Josh Reed and Tim Kelleher
Jan|Feb 2013 | 69
‘This place is enormous and fabulous!’” A little elbow grease revealed the hidden potential. “We had to rebuild the staircase to expose the walnut stained oak underneath.” Astute visitors will notice repeating bird and tree motifs throughout the house, a reaction to their previous South-End garden level condo. Admits Reed, “I don’t know how we lived [there]. We must have subliminally craved trees and birds. Now we live in a tree house.” This is especially true in the master bedroom, an addition to the original structure that is surrounded on three sides with enormous windows. Functional Victorian-era details help keep the design from being too austere. A built-in china cabinet in the dining room is given a touch of whimsy with the addition of mirror ball among the objets d’art on display. A functional wood-burning stove architecturally grounds the living room. Used during the winter months to heat the first floor, the piece is occasionally put to use for stove-top cooking. Kelleher and Reed are not concerned about the accessibility of the stove when the baby becomes more mobile. “Josh and I both grew up
70 | BOSTON SPIRIT
“ Josh and I both grew up with wood burning stoves. Neither one of us is overly alarmed. They make great cast-iron baby fences. ” Tim Kelleher with wood burning stoves. Neither one of us is overly alarmed. They make great cast-iron baby fences,” says Kelleher. Reclaimed pieces also meld the modern and the classic. The dining room chairs, refurbished and reupholstered, are from an antiques auction and the table was a Craigslist find. Etsy.com, a website focusing on handmade and vintage products, is a major resource for the couple. The living room’s TV cabinet, a wall-mounted entry way table, and reclaimed railroad tie
[above] Priscilla, a Maine-coon, basks in the master bedroom. Says Kelleher, “I got her after a tarot card reading in Vermont 10 years ago. She was four weeks old and would not leave my side. They said it was meant to be.” Kelleher made the draperies with Dwell fabric from Zimmans. Bedding by Unison. Carpet in the Master and the Dressing Room are by FLOR. [left] The mirror was Reed’s grandmother’s.
The prints above the bed were found in Japan by Reed’s grandfather during WWII. The duvet cover is by Jonathan Adler in a pattern that repeats throughout the house. Wall desk is from CB2. The organic felt wall organizer is from Mio Culture. The pink Jesus on the side table is not only a pop of color but also a religious-themed Magic 8-Ball.
[opposite] The giant wall-decal, acquired
from Etsy.com, makes dramatic use of the room’s height and continues the home’s birds and trees theme. The built-in cabinet brings a Victorian detail to the modern detail to the home’s esthetic. A cowhide area rug defines the space and reinforces the organic curves in the rooms’ decor. Dramatic light fixture by Cartell.
Jan|Feb 2013 | 71
Reed insists he accidentally color -coded the books to coordinate with the wall art. “Tim’s an avid reader so there are lots of books in our life.” The wall art was purchased at the SoWa Market.
72 | BOSTON SPIRIT
The Yoga Room/Office will become the nursery. Mementos of Reed’s childhood, including his baby blanket and an embroidered pillow based on a crayon drawing, wait for the big day. Explains Kelleher, “My parents have all of my childhood stuff. They’ll give it up when the kid comes.” The statue of Ganesh was from Mohr-McPherson. The ottoman was vintage find.
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The small room was perhaps the home’s original nursery. A wall of bifold doors was removed and a closet system by Easy Closets installed. On display are some of Kelleher’s forty pairs of shoes and flip flops. Off-season footwear is in additional storage in other rooms. Reed has 10 to 15 pairs of footwear in total.
bench in the dressing room, were all custom made for vendors on the site. The couple have chosen adoption as the best means of creating a family. The office/yoga studio will be converted to a nursery when they get news of the baby’s arrival. “They tell you not to set up the nursery until [the baby is] in the home. Just in case,” explains Kelleher. Which does not mean that the couple hasn’t planned for the big day. “The moment we hear, the register goes out,” laughs Reed. “We have a list on Amazon.com for our families and one at Tadpole for all our local friends.” Cases of essential equipment are in
the ready, hidden under beds and sofas. The room’s pale taupe walls, which change from warm beige to a deep seafoam over the course of the day, will stay and become accented with more playful pops of color and accents. Pressed cardboard sculptural pieces will be added to the walls for visual interest. “While we’ve been on baby-austerity for the past few years,” admits Kelleher. “Lately we’ve been in full nesting and retail mode.” “I tend to nest. Tim curates,” continues Reed. [x]
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culture Travel story Ricardo Rodriguez
Ricardo Rodriguez
Is a celebrated and award-winning real estate and lifestyle expert based in Boston. He regularly appears in local and national TV shows, contributes to various publications in the areas of real estate, home, living and fashion, and is a tireless advocate and supporter of many and various charitable causes.
Ricardo Recommends: Miami Nice A chic insider guide for the perfect weekend getaway Forget what you think you know, these days Miami is much more than just a beachside resort town. The party still rages, but it’s the art and design scene that rage stronger and have transformed Miami into one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan cities in the world. Once known as the gateway to Latin America, now
Miami is the gateway to the world, as people from all over the globe have rediscovered this tropical slice of paradise. So I recruited the help of my dear friend Louis Aguirre to help us build the chicest, most amazing insider guide to this exciting new Miami. And he definitively knows best. Louis is the host of the popular
Our Miami insider: Louis Aguirre's — his newest project LouisList.com is a perfectly curated video guide to the city Louis' photo Pilar Rosero South Florida entertainment TV show Deco Drive and an actor appearing on hit shows like Sex and the City, JAG, and Burn Notice. His newest project LouisList.com is a perfectly
Videos of these LouisList.com spots are available on BostonSpiritMagazine.com: bostonspiritmagazine.com/home/2012/1/7/miami-nice.html OR bit.ly/R4TK7H
curated video insider guide to the city. So now that the winter is in full force you might want to plan a little escape. Go ahead. This is his Miami.
Louis Aguirre can be reached: twitter: @louisaguirre facebook: louisaguirretv
Jan|Feb 2013 | 75
Where to Stay
Miami is not just a place where you can find a beautiful beach and take a stroll on Lincoln Road. It has become the host city to some of the most exciting worldwide events, like Art Basel Miami Beach and the Food & Wine Festival. This has been a total game changer, as armies of fashionistas, hipsters, and tastemakers have followed path. The hotels have been forced to up their game, as their guests now have bigger expectations.
For the perfect weekend getaway, stay on Miami Beach. Here are my top picks.
Where to Eat Get off the beach! Most of the better restaurants are on the mainland.
The SoHo Beach House
Casa Tua
The Soho Beach House
Feel like a star, even if you're not a member of this international hipster haven. Founded in London in 1995 as a private club for those working in film, media and the arts, the Soho group established its third North American house on Miami Beach in 2010. Once the art deco Sovereign hotel (1941), now an uber chic 50 bedroom boutique beach house that is hands-down the coolest place to stay on Miami Beach.
and nightclubs are just a walk or a short cab ride away.
2201 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-938-3000 wsouthbeach.com
One the most beautiful restaurants in Miami, but like Burnett's "Secret Garden," you have to find it first. There's no signage. Look behind a walled ficus hedge and iron gates, and discover the über romantic Casa Tua: a restored Mediterranean villa right in the heart of South Beach. The restaurant is set up like a home with several dining areas from the romantic garden terrace to the beautiful marble chef's table in the communal kitchen. La dolce vita is alive and well here.
1700 James Ave Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-673-1010 casatualifestyle.com
4385 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33140 786-507-7900 sohobeachhouse.com
The Standard Spa Miami
W South Beach
The sexiest hotel on the beach: beautiful people, beautiful space with a permanent art collection that rivals many contemporary galleries and museums. Opening in 2009, as a condo hotel there are 334 luxury studios, suites and bungalows fully equipped with the latest modern amenities in a chic, sophisticated design. The W is in the heart of SoBe, so all of the beach’s best restaurants 76 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Far away from the trendy masses and thumping house beats of South Beach is this peaceful oasis of zen located on Belle Isle as you enter the Venetian Islands. The kitchy Morris Lapidus 1960s MiMo gem, The Lido Spa is now The Standard. It’s the best bang for your buck on the beach, only 105 rooms, not fancy or super luxurious. The magic here is on the grounds: a South Beach Shangri-La with guests walking around in bathrobes, going from their rooms to the pool to the sexy coed Turkish hamam.
40 Island Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-673-1717 standardhotels.com/spa-miami-beach
Michy’s
Real foodies only need apply. This is a restaurant for people who truly love to eat, period. There's no glam factor, the room is not a show palace, superstar chef Michelle Bernstein’s food hogs the spotlight and rightfully so. A James Beard winner, Bernstein's Miami roots meld perfectly with her Jewish Argentine background and French haute cuisine école to create a fusion of flavorful dishes that will leave you raving.
6927 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33138 305-759-2001 michysmiami.com
Zuma
The hottest restaurant in Miami: watering hole to the glitterarti, celebrities, the hip, the fabulous and the posers. I actually enjoy it more for lunch when it's not such a zoo. But if you want to experience the scene, look no further than the Miami satellite of this international Japanese gastro-phenom. Despite the nightly show, it's the incredible fare that's made a fan of me and keeps me coming back for more.
270 Biscayne Boulevard Way Miami, FL 33131 305-577-0277 zumarestaurant.com
Zuma
Mandolin Aegean Bistro
The fastest way to Greece from Miami. On a nice balmy night, the garden sets a magical stage for a beautiful dinner under the stars surrounded by lush bougainvilleas, candle lit votives, and real Miamians who know good food. A fusion of the best of both Greek and Turkish cuisine, it’s one of my favorite restaurants in the city. This place is really special.
Where to Play
By all means hit the beach and party at SoBe’s world famous nightclubs but to really experience Miami like a native you have to check out:
4312 NE 2nd Ave Miami, FL 33137 305-576-6066 mandolinmiami.com
Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink
A bustling American bistro in the heart of the trés hip Miami Design District, a neighborhood teetering on becoming the SoHo of the South. Pure, fresh and simple is a mantra that has served Chef Michael Schwartz very well. When the basic ingredients of a dish are only the best, only the freshest, everything else is gravy. Lunch is a scene, dinners can be very romantic, and Sunday brunch is a hallelujah moment. You may even see God.
130 Northeast 40th Street Miami, FL 33137 305-573-5550 michaelsgenuine.com
Wynwood Walls
Buena Vista Deli
La vie est belle at this authentic French blounagerie/patisserie/deli. It’s very casual and very neighborhood and they serve the best croissants in Miami. They have excellent coffees, sandwiches, fresh made quiches, and homemade pastries. C’est si bon!
"Feed the neighborhood and it will feed you." The prolific words of developer Tony Goldman have never been more relevant. Once decaying, drug infested, and crimeridden, now Wynwood hosts 22 blocks of the most amazing and important street art in the world. Go on a street art safari and discover Miami’s edgiest, coolest neighborhood with unique shops, art galleries, and terrific restaurants
2506 Northwest 2nd Avenue Miami, FL 33127
4590 Northeast 2nd Ave Miami, FL 33137 305-576-3945 buenavistadeli.com Jan|Feb 2013 | 77
Miami Design District
Miami Design District
Now ground zero for luxury shopping in Miami. No longer just a design center, this neighborhood en flux hosts the most chic boutiques in the South: Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Christian Louboutin, Celine and also boasts terrific restaurants.
are projected live onto the 7000 square foot wall facing Soundscape Park, offering free concerts to all.
500 17th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-673-3330 newworldcenter.com
Northeast 2nd Ave between 36th and 43rd Streets Miami, FL 33137
The Webster
Hoy Como Ayer The New World Center
Roll over Beethoven, you would've loved it here. The Frank Gehry designed architectural masterpiece has the entire world buzzing and is home to the world class New World Symphony. The NWS’ cutting edge performances have garnered international attention, and have made classical music hip on South Beach. Don’t miss the incredible Wallcasts where performances 78 | BOSTON SPIRIT
The best place to listen to live Latin music. More speakeasy than salsa club, spontaneous dancing will erupt and take over this Little Havana lounge. It's one of the coolest venues in Miami where you're just as likely to rub elbows with celebrities like J-Lo and Lenny Kravitz as you are the rhythm hungry locals who follow the hottest Latin beats.
2212 Southwest 8th St. Miami, FL 33135 305-541-2631 hoycomoayer.us
If you feel like shopping this is the place: The Webster, Miami's uber-chic luxury boutique. A three story 1939 art deco hotel now mecca to fashionistas from all over the world who flock here for the latest and greatest in designer duds and accessories, you cannot find anywhere else. 20,000 square feet of ultrahip labels like Givenchy, Balmain, Alexander Wang, Lanvin, Trussardi, Tom Ford ... you've died and gone to fashion heaven. [x]
1220 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-674-7899 thewebstermiami.com
scene Benefit photos courtesy Point Foundation
Point Foundation’s Boston Cornerstone Mandarin Oriental Hotel | Boston | October 18
Over 200 people raised a glass to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students of merit at Point Foundation’s sixth annual Boston Cornerstone fundraising event. Jorge Valencia, executive director and CEO called the event, “without fail, one of the most successful of the close to ten Cornerstone events we hold around the country each year. Point continues to have a number of scholars going to school in New England and we have a growing network of alumni in the region. So our ties to Boston and New England strengthen every year.”
Mitchell Gold, of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, with Reverend Irene Monroe GLAD Board Member, publisher and activist Alix Ritchie with Joanne Herman, author of Transgender Explained for Those Who Are Not
scene Benefit photos courtesy of InfinityPortraitDesign.com
GLAD Spirit of Justice Award Dinner Marriott Copley | Boston | October 26 Thirteenth annual GLAD Spirit of Justice event honored Reverend Irene Monroe.
Jeremy Neuringer, Wendell Chestnut and Dr. Jeremy Abramson
Members of GLAD’s newly launched Board of Ambassadors, Michelle Rediker, Rick McCarthy, Barry Field, Gary Bailey and Peter Epstein
GLAD Civil Rights Project Director Mary L. Bonauto with her parents, Jean and Al
GLAD Director of Development Marie Longo with Andrew and Samuel Pang of Reproductive Science Center
Paul Moreno and Stephen Barlow of 5 Star Travel, with one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
GLAD Board Member Joyce Kauffman with Ellen Wade and Maureen Brodoff who were plaintiffs in GLAD’s 2003 Massachusetts case Goodridge v. DPH which won marriage equality in the U.S. for the first time
Guests Judy Mencher, Nicole Polaski, Andrea Still Gray and Julie Gray enjoy the dinner
Ty Stone-Adams and Ed Goldberg of Macy’s, with Judi Goldberg
GLAD AIDS Law Project Director Ben Klein, Jeff Mostade, Herb Burtis (plaintiff in GLAD’s Gill v. OPM challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act), and Eric Nilson Dinner Co-chairs Richard Moore and Sandy Anderson, with Honoree Reverend Irene Monroe
Jan|Feb 2013 | 81
scene Networking
Pride in Our Workplace Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams | Boston | December 13
Great Boston area LGBT professionals gathered to network and schmooze.
Jan|Feb 2013 | 83
scene Celebration photos courtesy HBGC
HBGC co-founders Corey Yarbrough and Quincey Roberts honor former NFL player Wade Davis, Jr. with HBGC’s 2012 Audre Lorde Founder’s Award.
HBGC’s “We Wear the Mask” Masquerade
“We Wear the Mask” masquerade guest Willie Rivera and HBGC board members Chris Dixon and Karyn Smith strike a pose while enjoying the festivities at HBGC’s 3rd annual cocktail reception.
Holiday Inn | Somerville | November 17
The Hispanic Black Gay Coalition held its 3rd annual cocktail reception to celebrate the organization’s continued commitment and achievements in empowering LGBTQ people of color. Over 100 guests converged on the Holiday Inn Somerville donning cool and colorful masks to enjoy performances by Mob Music, members of The Theater Offensive,
and dance to the amazing skills of DJ Miss Lady J. A silent auction allowed guests to bid on luxurious getaways and memorabilia and special guest Josiane Martinez and award recipients activist Frank Mugisha and former NFL player Wade Davis, Jr. addressed the group speaking on the importance of efforts to achieve equality for LGBT people of color.
HBGC board members Wendy Hernandez and Earnest Simpkins encourage guests to donate their time, energy and money to HBGC and its commitment to empowering LGBT people of color.
The Theater Offensive staff pose with their HBGC 2012 Sylvia Rivera Award, an honor given each year to a local business or organization that has provided exemplary support and service to Boston’s LGBT community. DJ Miss Lady J gets the crowd moving.
84 | BOSTON SPIRIT
scene Marriage
photos Courtesy Rosana Gambino
Guests line up to have their masks judged in the evening’s “Best Mask” contest.
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HBGC co-founders Corey Yarbrough and Quincey Roberts show off their masks [1] HBGC cocktail reception special
guest Josiane Martinez, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Immigrants and Refugees, smiles as she reflects on the political, social and cultural power of Black, Hispanic and Latin@ LGBT individuals. [2] Legendary LGBT author James Earl Hardy spoke about the inspiring work of LGBT activist Frank Mugisha before awarding him with the HBGC’s 2012 James Earl Hardy Award for his efforts to end injustice in Uganda.
Halloween Marriage Proposal Old Cambridge Burial Ground | Cambridge | October 28
Just in time for Halloween, Rosana Gambino proposed to her partner Jerilyn next to the Old Cambridge Burial Ground while on the Cambridge Haunts: Harvard Square Ghost Tour. No word on the wording of their intended wedding vows, perhaps they will strike the “till death do us part” bit.
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About AIDS Action Committee About AIDS
mittee of Massachusetts AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts g provider of HIVis the state’s leading provider of HIV lness ser vices. Its mission prevention and wellness services. Its mission HIV infections, support is to prevent new HIV infections, support tackle root causes those of affected, and tackle root causes of follow follow us: f us: /TasteoftheSouthEnd more at www HIV/AIDS. Learn more at www.aac.org. f/TasteoftheSouthEnd t@TasteSouthEnd .aac.org. t@TasteSouthEnd
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scene Benefit photos Piper Jones
Toys for Joys
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Boston | Artists for Humanity | December 15
Boston’s mostly LGBT charity organization dedicated to providing toys to underprivileged children during the holidays held another sold-out event this year.
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[1] Toys 4 Joys Members [2] Jimmy Materese, Trevor Nardini, Greg Walker, Jorge Lizardi, Justin Henry, Brett Campbell [3] Thomas Nikolai, Jason Lyon, Michael Archibald, John Pestana,
Andre Briola, Brian Makarewicz, Mark Osborn
[4] Gary Arena, Jason Archambault, and Neil Berenson [5] Zac Stackell, Ty Kuppig
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[6] John Pompeii, Joe Iskander, Joshua VanOrden [7] Dave Schermacher, Jennifer Cullen Dettman,
Jane Eitel, Chris Remmes, Todd Wagar [8] Colleen Toldo, Chris Nash, Christopher Anifantis, Donny Maderos [9] Rob Krasow, Adam Feinberg, Donny Medeiros, Tim Famulare [10] Joseph Rifino, Jan Rifino, Denise Pacifico, James Rifino, Scott Differ [11] Mark Pandolso, Elise Lister, Frank Celeste, James Rifino, Adam Geragosian, Jessica Barry Kennedy [12] Trevor Donadt, Michael Meucci, Brian Bourquin, Cordy Elkins [13] Tim Yaeger, Michelle Waldon, Gorman Lee [14] Roxy Andrade, Scottie Oxhorn, Paul Downing, Curt Molina, Kevin Kelly [15] James Rifino, Tim Burke, Harry Pihl, Frank Celeste Jan|Feb 2013 | 87
Visit our online calendar for the latest events and submit listings for upcoming events: BostonSpiritMagazine.com
Calendar Dance Editor's Pick
Savion Glover SoLe Sanctuary
Sat Jan 12
Boston | Boston Opera House
The barebones production allows the world's best tap dancer to pay respect to the art of the dance through a craft that he has perfected. Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org Editor's Pick
Grupo Corpo
Mon Feb 18 - Sat Mar 2
Boston | Schubert Theatre
One of Brazil's most esteemed and electrifying dance companies. Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org
All Kylian
Thu Mar 7 - Sun Mar 17
Boston | Boston Ballet
Jiri Kylian's Wings of Desire, Tar and Feathers, and Symphony of Psalms, considered some of his most iconic ballets. Boston Ballet | bostonballet.org
Editor's Pick
Danish Dance Theatre, Love Songs
Sat Mar 16 Sun Mar 17
Boston | Tsai Performance Center
An evening dance and jazz meditation on the search for love. Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org
The Sleeping Beauty
Fri Mar 22 - Sun Apr 7
Boston | Boston Ballet
One of Boston Ballet's trademark works. Marius Petipa's beautiful ballet features original costumes and lavish sets by David Walker from The Royal Ballet. Boston Ballet | bostonballet.org
Spring Program
Thu May 2 - Sun May 12
Boston | Boston Ballet
Wayne McGregor's Chroma is book-ended by George Balanchine's Serenade and Symphony in C. Boston Ballet | bostonballet.org
Coppelia
Thu May 16 Sun May 26
Boston | Boston Ballet
A light hearted comedy for the whole family! Boston Ballet | bostonballet.org
88 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Fundraiser 429COCKTAILS Boston
Thu Jan 24
Error
Join dot429, the nation's largest LGBT professional network, and Boston Spirit at Mistral for an evening of cocktails and conversation for a cause. Hosted vodka bar and passed apps! $35 in advance/$45 at the door.
Music Purcell The
Indian Queen
Fri Jan 25, Sun Jan 27
Boston | Handel and Haydn Society
At NEC's Jordan Hall on the 25th, at Sanders Theater on the 27th. Handel and Haydn Society | handelandhaydn.org
Renee Fleming and Susan Graham
Sun Feb 3
Boston | Symphony Hall
Two of the greatest opera stars of our era share the stage in a rare duo recital. Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org
One of Brazil's most esteemed and electrifying dance companies , Grupo Corpo, Feb. 18 - March 2 at Boston's Schubert Theatre www.celebrityseries.org
Clemency
Wed Feb 6 - Sat Feb 9
Boston , MA | Boston Lyric Opera
Drawn from the book of Genesis, Abraham and Sarah are approached by three travelers with both joyous and dark news. Boston Lyric Opera | blo.org
Haydn in Paris
Cosi Fan Tutte
Fri Mar 15 Sun Mar 24
Boston , MA | Boston Lyric Opera
A light and airy romp that proves that love is indeed a serious game. Boston Lyric Opera | blo.org
Vivaldi Virtuosi
Fri Apr 5, Sun Apr 7
Boston | Symphony Hall
Boston | Jordan Hall/New England Conservatory
Handel and Haydn Society | handelandhaydn.org
Handel and Haydn Society | handelandhaydn.org
Fri Feb 22, Sun Feb 24
Jeremy Denk piano
Sat Mar 2
Barbara Cook and John Pizzrelli
Boston | Jordan Hall/New England Conservatory
Sat Apr 6
Beethoven Symphony No. 7
Sun Apr 7
One of the world's most compelling pianists performs selections from Liszt, Wagner, and Brahms. Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org
Fri Mar 15, Sun Mar 17
Boston | Symphony Hall Handel and Haydn Society | handelandhaydn.org
Boston | Symphony Hall
The legend and the legend in the making share the Symphony Hall stage. Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org
In Time of War Cambridge, MA | Sanders Theatre
Coro presents Haydn's Mass in Time of War and Ginastera's Lamentations of Jeremiah paired with Lee Hoiby's Last Letter Home and Peter Eldridge's Come Home. Coro Allegro | www.coroallegro.org
More than 1,300 people attended this event in March 2012, don’t miss out! The Flying Dutchman
Fri Apr 26 - Sun May 5
Boston , MA | Boston Lyric Opera
A tale of doomed sea captain and a yearning heroine set against the uncontrolled violence of the sea. Ends Boston Lyric Opera on a note of high drama. Boston Lyric Opera | blo.org
Handel Jephtha
Fri May 3, Sun May 5
Boston | Symphony Hall Handel and Haydn Society | handelandhaydn.org
Past and Future
Sun Jun 2
Boston | Church of the Covenant
Schubert's Mass in G, with works by contemporary composers: Jennifer Higdon's Southern Grace and the world premiere of Greg Bullen's The Orchard. Coro Allegro | www.coroallegro.org
Performance Roz Chast, Theories of Everything
Fri Jan 25
Cambridge, MA | Sanders Theatre
In this unique multi-media presentation, New Yorker cartoonist Chast takes the audience on a guided tour of brilliant interpretations of the everyday. Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org Editor's Pick
An Evening with Christine Ebersole
Sat Jan 26
Cambridge, MA | Sanders Theatre
One of New York's brightest cabaret stars, Ebersole is a Tony Award winner for her roles as both Edith Beale and Little Edie Beale in Grey Gardens and as Dorothy Brock on 42nd Street Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org Editor's Pick
David Sedaris
Sun Apr 7
Boston | Symphony Hall
The writer and cultural observer returns to Boston for his annual appearance. Sure to be a sell-out. Celebrity Series | www.celebrityseries.org
Theater 33 Variations
Ongoing thru Sat Feb 2 Moises Kaufman (The Laramie Project) has written a play about parenthood, Beethoven's genius, and the moments of beauty that can transform life. Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon St, Boston 02116, 617-585-5678, | lyricstage.com
Invisible Man
Ongoing thru Sun Feb 3
Boston | Boston University Theatre - Mainstage An idealistic young AfricanAmerican man searches for identity and his place in the the world in an epic journey through 1930's America. Huntington Theatre Company | www.huntingtontheatre.org/
Marry Me a Little
Ongoing thru Sun Jan 27
Newton, MA | New Repertory Theatre
An exciting, updated take on Sondheim's charming musical revue on modern day marriage. Contains songs from Sondheim's vault of unproduced shows as well as selections from his famous works. New Repertory Theatre | newrep.org Editor's Pick
Our Town
Ongoing thru Sun Jan 13
Boston | Boston Center for the Arts
Do not miss this revelatory production of this American classic. The story of Grover's Corners' Emily and George is retold in a fresh and startling way. Huntington Theatre Company | www.huntingtontheatre.org/
Pippin
Ongoing thru Sun Jan 20
Cambridge, MA | Loeb Drama Center
A bold new staging of the dark and existential musical about one young man's quest to find his own "Corner of the Sky." Original Bob Fosse will be re-created by Chet Walker. American Repertory Theater | www. americanrepertorytheater.org
March 7, 2013 Boston Marriott Copley Place 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
YOU MUST RSVP TO ATTEND THIS EVENT
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Presenting Sponsors
PrideSports
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Social Creatures
Sun Feb 17 - Sun Mar 10
Thu Mar 14 - Sun Apr 21
A young couple agonizes over having children in a world of overpopulation and global warming. An intimate, laughable look at the really important decisions we make in our lives. New Repertory Theatre | newrep.org
In the latest world premiere written specifically for Trinity, seven survivors are holed up after the end of the world, barricaded against contagion. They try to preserve civilization until one of their own begins to change... Trinity Repertory Theater | www.trinityrep.com
Newton, MA | New Repertory Theatre
Metamorphosis
Wed Feb 27 - Sun Mar 3
Providence | Trinity Repertory Theater
Boston | Paramount Theater By the Way, Meet A family's world is turned upside down when their son emerges one morning to find he has inexplicably been transformed into a giant bug. Kafka's terrifying but comic story bursts onstage in this new production. ArtsEmerson | artsemerson.org
Clybourne Park
Fri Mar 1 - Wed Mar 20
Boston | Boston Center for the Arts
Christine Ebersole www.celebrityseries.org
Jersey Boys
Wed Jan 30 - Sat Mar 9 Editor's Pick
Other Dessert Cities
Fri Jan 11 - Sat Feb 9
Boston | Boston Center for the Arts
Sister Act
Tue Jan 22 - Sun Feb 3
Boston | Citi Colonial Theater
This modern family favorite tells the story of Frankie Valli
Boston | Boston Opera House and the Four Seasons through
This gloriously campy brings musical the hysterical movie While celebrating Christto life. Wanna-be diva Delores mas in Palm Springs, a once Van Cartier's life take a drastic promising young novelist turn when she witnesses a announces to her family she is violent crime and the cops publishing a memoir dredging hide her in a convent. Hilarity up a pivotal and tragic event ensues. that the family, members of Broadway In Boston | www. Reagan's inner circle, would broadwayinboston.com rather remain hidden. From Oliver! playwright Jon Robin Baitz. Fri Jan 25 - Sun Feb 24 SpeakEasy Stage Company | Musical based on Charles www.SpeakEasyStage.com Dickens' Oliver Twist. balletrox.org/urbannutcracker/ Editor's Pick
Crime and Punishment
Thu Jan 17 - Sun Feb 24
Providence | Trinity Repertory Theater
A 90-minute three actor tour-de-force with a modern, poetic flair. Trinity Repertory Theater | www.trinityrep.com 90 | BOSTON SPIRIT
their own music. A jukebox musical at its finest. Broadway In Boston | www. broadwayinboston.com
Set in the same house 50 years apart, the play examines race, real estate and the values of each through discussions of diversity and gentrification. SpeakEasy Stage Company | www.SpeakEasyStage.com Editor's Pick
A Raisin in the Sun
Fri Mar 8 - Sun Apr 7
Boston | Boston University Theatre - Mainstage
Lorraine hansberry's groundbreaking 1959 drama is an inspiring and moving portrait Sat Feb 2 - Sun Mar 3 of people whose dreams are Cambridge, MA | Loeb constantly deferred. Drama Center Huntington Theatre Company | Tennessee William's exquisite www.huntingtontheatre.org/ memory play about a woman desperately trying to provide her daughter with one "gentleman caller" while her son Visit our online dreams of escape. Featuring calendar for the out-actress Cherry Jones as latest events and Amanda. submit listings for American Repertory Theater | www. upcoming events: americanrepertorytheater.org BostonSpiritMagazine.com Editor's Pick
The Glass Menagerie
Vera Stark
Thu Mar 28 - Sat Apr 27 A headstrong AfricanAmerican maid is cast in the same movie as her boss, a Hollywood star desperately grasping to hold onto her career. Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon St, Boston 02116, 617-585-5678, | lyricstage.com Editor's Pick
"M"
Fri Mar 29 - Sat Apr 27
Boston | Boston Center for the Arts
Adapted from the Fritz Lang film by Ryan Landry. Lang's film noir masterpiece gets the Landry treatment in a squeamish tale about a child killer brought to justice by the criminal underworld. Features Boston favorite Karen MacDonald. Huntington Theatre Company | www.huntingtontheatre.org/ Editor's Pick
Master Class
Sun Mar 31 - Sun Apr 21
Newton, MA | New Repertory Theatre
Terrence McNally's TonyAward winning play about the life and art of diva Maria Callas. Featuring Amelia Broome as Callas. New Repertory Theatre | newrep.org
Saturday January
26
7:30 pm-12 AM Westin Waterfront Hotel
Join Boston Spirit, PrideSports Boston and Master of Ceremonies Steve Buckley, sports columnist from the Boston Herald, as we honor Greater Boston’s LGBT athletes at the party of the year!
Presented by
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$60 Tickets are available at bostonspiritmagazine.com Neva
Trojan Women
Wed Apr 3 - Sun Apr 7
Wed Apr 17 - Sun Apr 21
NYC's Public Theater production tells the story of Anton Checkov's widow in a piece that examines the relationship between theatre and historical context. ArtsEmerson | artsemerson.org
One of the greatest antiwar dramas ever written, the royal women of Troy, still mourning the death of their sons and husbands, await enslavement and exile. ArtsEmerson | artsemerson.org
Boston | Paramount Theater
Editor's Pick
Boston | Paramount Theater
The Book of Mormon
Visual Arts FreePort [No. 005]:
Boston | Boston Opera House
Ongoing thru Wed Mar 27
Tue Apr 9 - Sun Apr 28 With nine 2011 Tony Awards, this is this season's must-see event. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park and co-creator Robert Lopez of Avenue Q. Hysterically irreverent and honestly affecting. Do. Not. Miss. Broadway In Boston | www. broadwayinboston.com
Pippi Longstocking
Fri Apr 12 - Sun May 12 She's the strongest girl in the world, has a pot of gold in her cupboard and a monkey for a best friend. Who couldn't relate? balletrox.org/urbannutcracker/ Editor's Pick
Beowolf - A Thousand Years of Baggage
Tue Apr 16 - Sun May 5
Cambridge, MA | Oberon Theater
The epic tale becomes a 21st century mead hall. Watch as Beowolf sings, struts, and slashes his way through 1000 years of literary scholarship. Music composed by Dave Malloy of last season's sold out Three Pianos. American Repertory Theater | www. americanrepertorytheater.org
Michael Lin
Salem, MA | Peabody Essex Museum
Lin has created a sprawling mural of original armorial and heraldic motifs inside the museum as well as a large-scale installation animating the history of trade between China and the West. Peabody Essex Museum | www.pem.org Editor's Pick
Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones
Ongoing thru Sun Mar 3
Salem, MA | Peabody Essex Museum
Plumed bonnets, silk turbans, sequined caps, embroidered crowns, and stunning fascinators. Over 250 elegant and outlandish styles displayed by British milliner-to-the-stars, Stephen Jones. Peabody Essex Museum | www.pem.org
Holland on Paper: The Age of Art Nouveau
Ongoing thru Sun Jul 7
Boston | Museum of Fine Arts/Boston
Early drawings by wellknown artists such as Mondrian and Bart van der Leck as well as many fascinating artists little known outside of Holland. Museum of Fine Arts/ Boston | www.mfa.org
TH
ANNIVERSARY
Editor's Pick
Mario Testino: In Your Face
Ongoing thru Sun Feb 3
Boston | Museum of Fine Arts/Boston
A provocative inside look at some of today's most elusive and exclusive subjects through the lens of renowned fashion and portrait photographer Mario Testino. Museum of Fine Arts/ Boston | www.mfa.org Editor's Pick
Perfect Imbalance, Exploring Chinese Aesthetics
Ongoing thru Thu Jan 31
Salem, MA | Peabody Essex Museum
The exhibition offers an understanding of Chinese culture through this study and celebration of Chinese Art. Peabody Essex Museum | www.pem.org Editor's Pick
The Postcard Age: Selections from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection
Ongoing thru Sun Apr 14
Boston | Museum of Fine Arts/Boston
An array of over 400 cards from the decades surrounding 1900 illustrate how big historical and cultural themes play out on a small canvas. Museum of Fine Arts/ Boston | www.mfa.org
Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones thru March 3 at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass. Over 250 elegant and outlandish styles displayed by British milliner-to-the-stars, Stephen Jones. www.pem.org Editor's Pick
THIS WILL HAVE BEEN: Art, Love, & Politics in the 1980's
Ongoing thru Sun Mar 3
Boston | Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston The ambitious collection, organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, presents the diversity and complexity of art produced in the 1980s showing influences of Reaganomics, the rise of postmodernism, and the growing voices of people of color, women and gay artists.
Jan|Feb 2013 | 91
Institute of Contemporary Art/ Boston | www.icaboston.org Editor's Pick
Amadeus
Sun Apr 28 Sun May 19
Newton, MA | New Repertory Theatre
Peter Schaffer's contemporary masterpiece examines the relationship between genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, a much-less talented and jealous rival. New Repertory Theatre | newrep.org
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Wedding | events Jan|Feb 2013 | 95
coda Laughs story Erik Borg
Funny How Humor Can Heal Nationally known, Bostonbased, stand-up comic Jim Lauletta leads the second annual Live Laugh Love benefit for the Boston Living Center When standup comedian Jim Lauletta needed support, he turned to the Boston Living Center to get it. Now that he’s back on his feet, he’s organized a night of comedy to return the favor. On Jan. 27, the second-annual ‘Live Laugh Love’ show will bring a handful of regional and national standup acts back to the Machine Nightclub in support of the Boston Living Center, an organization that provides education and support services for the HIV-positive community. For Lauletta, a fixture of the Boston comedy scene and a regular guest in standup comedy specials and on stages in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, a night of comedy is the perfect pairing to benefit the organization with deeply personal ties. After discovering his HIV-positive status in 2005, Lauletta went on a two-year tear of self-destructive behavior that unraveled his life and eventually landed him at rockbottom. “I thought my life was over and I really wasn’t educated about HIV,” he said. In 2007, Lauletta turned to the Boston Living Center for the support and education that finally helped him to begin to turn his life back around. During those early days of recovery, he would perform free shows for the others members of Boston Living Center that he called “comedy therapy.” In a way, the “Live Laugh Love” fundraiser is an extension of those early shows, he said.
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“They helped me get on my feet and so anything I can do to give back is important to me,” he said. Lauletta, the host for the evening, will share the stage with six local and national
“ If you go to a live comedy show, there’s nothing like it. It’s one of the best things you’ll ever see if the comedy is any good. ” Jim Lauletta
acts, some of whom performed in Lauletta’s Big Gay Comedy Buffet troupe at the Boston Comedy Festival last year. The line-up includes Ellen Moschetto, Jeffrey Norwood, Will Smalley, Thomas Patrick Naughton, Stacy Kendro, and Lady Kielbasa, plus a special guest or two, he said. Standup comedy was once a mainstay of Boston nightlife in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but has taken fallen off with the closing of live venues and the rise of comedy specials on cable television. Lauletta said he hopes audiences come out to experience “the magic” of live comedy, which has begun to make a comeback again. “It doesn’t carry over well [to television],” he said. “If you go to a live comedy show, there’s nothing like it. It’s one of the best things you’ll ever see if the comedy is any good.” He’ll also be using the stage for the difficult task of “coming out” with his HIV status in his comedy routine. The predominately straight audience at comedy clubs often think he’s joking when he says he’s gay in his set, to say nothing of HIV, he explained. “I’m walking through a lot of fear to do it,” he said, but “laughter is such a healing thing.” Lauletta, a 24-year veteran of standup, said the payoff is what makes it worth the challenge. “If I’m going to have purpose its going to be to help people,” he said. “I want to try to use my voice for something that will help people, so people don’t have to be afraid of it.” [x] ‘Live Laugh Love’
Advance tickets can be purchased at the Victory Program's website: www.vpi.org.