October, 2010 by Branching Out

Tallahasseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LGBT Community Newspaper

October 4, 2010

2010 Elections

How Supportive Are The Candidates?

GLBT History MonthThe Icons Then and Now.

National Coming Out Day Gayla OCTOBER 22

Volume 14, Issue #9

BRANCHING OUT is published monthly by The Family Tree Community Center. Appearance in this publication makes no inference about sexual orientation or gender identity.

BRANCHING OUT’S mission is to be the paper of record for the LGBT community of Tallahassee, and in that capacity it seeks to inform, advocate, engage, and entertain while being a responsible representative of the LGBT community and its allies to the outside world. Contact Branching Out:

P.O. Box 38477, Tallahassee, FL 32315 (850) 222-8555 branchingout@familytreecenter.org

Publication Schedule - 1st of Each Month Submission Deadlines - 15th of Each Month Production Team:

Andy Janecek, Executive Editor Steven Hall, Features Editor Patrick Patterson, Layout Editor Margeaux Mutz, Voices Editor Melissa Henderson, Circulation Assistant Marty Enright, Circulation Assistant Dan Beam, Layout Assistant

Contributors in this issue: Shani-Angela Harvey Lisa Livezey Comingore Diana Kampert Greta Langley Skye Nelson Ivan Sondel Vickie Spray

Queer Folk... RISE UP! By Patrick Patterson, Layout Editor Branching Out Production Team

A few days ago I was walking around Railroad Square and saw that someone had stenciled on a wall the words “Queer Folk, Rise Up, Bash Back.” Now, I am NOT FOR VIOLENCE of any kind, but I love the sentiment. Later in this issue, Steven talks about things that have had an effect on us as a community nationally. Six communities this month, however, are grieving over the loss of their children, friends, and classmates. Six teenagers in the United States have taken their own lives, in the past month, merely because they were gay and being harassed because of it. Opinion columnist Cody J. Sanders argued in his article, “Why Anti-Gay Bullying is a Theological Issue,” that the incredible amount of silence is to blame for these senseless tragedies. Sanders states that these suicides are not typical in the sense that these kids aren’t trying to escape the depression or inner pain—it’s the external pain and taunting that drove them to suicide. These acts are acts of resistance to the fear and “unjust reality” that every person in the LGBT community at some point encounters or at least could encounter. (As a side-note, this is a great article and I have provided a link below.) Gay communities around the country sit on a great precipice. We’re on the edge of losing more of our young people to these senseless acts. We all must do something to prevent it. Silence on the subject is no longer an answer. Gay teenagers are four times more likely to commit suicide than other teenagers, and in the wake of these most recent tragedies, I think it’s high time that we as a community stand up and fight back. Acceptance of us as a community is no longer enough. We must fight for the equality that we are entitled to. We are not sub-human and I no longer accept the fact that I am treated as such. We must take our fight to the streets and at the same time envelop our young and show them that it may be rough right now... but it will get better. I implore each and every one of you who reads this to find a way to make your voices heard. Get a bullhorn if you have to. Stand on the sidelines and let these children know that they have support. Find that anger inside of you that makes you jump to your feet and scream at the top of your lungs “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.” It’s time. It’s time to RISE UP! http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/sexandgender/3479/why_anti-gay_bullying_is_a_ theological_issue/

Asher Brown, 13

Seth Walsh, 13

Billy Lucas, 15

A Moment of Silence... For Those We’ve Lost

in this issue... News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 6-8

Raymond Chase, 19

Tyler Clementi, 18

Justin Aaberg, 15

Candidate Report Cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Transgenderscope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 News, Cues and Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 What’s Happening This Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 News From The Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

THE SILENCE ENDS NOW. www.thetrevorproject.org

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE (1-800-HELP-FLA). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

A National 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth.

BRANCHING OUT

ADAP Funding Becomes Focus at Gay Men’s Health Summit

Equality Forum Announces 2010 GLBT History Month Icons

The Gay Men’s Health Summit (GMHS) was held in Fort Lauderdale in August and the struggle for HIV positive persons to receive adequate medication became a major talking point for attendees who were permitted to ask questions of health experts and government leaders.

2010 marks the 5th Anniversary of GLBT History Month. “In just five years, GLBT History Month has mushroomed into our community’s most collaborative project with over 650 organizations having GLBT History Month links on their Web sites,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum, and founder of GLBT History Month.

The GMHS is a large, diverse gathering of both men and women who gather in a major US city every year to discuss HIV/AIDS as well as many other issues affecting the overall health and well-being of the LGBT population. Previous National GMH Summits have been in Boulder CO, Seattle WA, and Raleigh NC, and Salt Lake City UT. The National Summit comes to Florida in a time when there are waiting lists for AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) funding in the state.

“Our community has made profound international contributions as reflected by Alexander the Great, James Baldwin, environmental movement pioneer Rachel Carson, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Eleanor Roosevelt, Tchaikovsky, Alan Turing, Walt Whitman and Oscar Wilde.”

News Release

Officials like Christopher H. Bates of PACHA (The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz were on hand to discuss the issues. Some of the biggest questions attendees asked related to how much the Obama administration has done to address the LGBT Community when it comes to HIV and questions about funding. Some attendees were not even aware that a National HIV/AIDS Strategy was released while even a smaller few did not even know about the ADAP funding shortages. However, the majority were already informed on those two points but still had specific questions about funding. The President recently announced a much needed increase to ADAP funding on top of the previous increase which was criticized by many as insufficient. The previous increase would allot 6.9 million dollars in Federal ADAP funds to the state of Florida. It is not yet calculated how much the new increase would add to that but the number will likely be similar. However, even though the increases still fall short of what experts say their funding needs are – matters are further complicated by a failure on the part of Florida State Legislators to address the issue. Federal legislators from Florida like Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) and Senator Bill Nelson (D) have made it known that they wish to see more funding for ADAP but Governor Charlie Crist (R) and CFO Alex Sink (D) have been silent on Florida’s cutbacks to HIV funding. When pressed for comment, Wasserman Schultz said that Alex Sink, who is currently running for Governor of the state, would still be “comparatively” more open to resolving the funding crisis on the state level than her opponents in the race. According to Bates, the message from the Florida Department of Health is “partially true because the funding from the Federal Government is not commensurate with what the need is,” but he also says that “states always reserve the right to add from their own budget moneys to the ADAP program.” This can be illustrated by the way that California, after a number of cutbacks contributed millions of state dollars to their own ADAP. New Jersey, likewise, created an innovative program to cover 950 people who would have been left unable to afford medication because their income level was too high to meet budget standards. The New Jersey program took Federal Grants and combined them with rebates they negotiated with pharmaceutical companies to afford just basic HIV medication to those who were almost left out of the ADAP program. Christopher Bates says that “when some states found that their revenue was making a downward turn, they made a conscious decision not to continue to fund their HIV/AIDS programs. This is a problem because the Ryan White Care Act is structured in a way that is meant to be a partnership and you have to have a certain level of effort going on in your state to help match that Federal money you get.”

LGBT Business Partners Hosting 2011 Business Expo The Family Tree’s LGBT Business Partners Group will be hosting the first-ever “LGBT Business Expo” on Saturday, February 26, 2011. LGBT-owned and supportive businesses and organizations will have booth displays at the Monroe Conference Center in the former Marie Livingston’s restaurant. The event will be open to the public from 10am to 2pm. Various industries will be represented, including real estate, legal, insurance, photography and more. Raffles and prizes will be given out throughout the day. If your business or organization is interested in participating, spaces are filling up fast and are limited. For more information, contact Greta Langley at greta@familytreecenter. org or Christy Baldwin at christy@familytreecenter.org. The booth space is only $50.00 and it includes one boxed lunch. Table and chairs will be provided to vendors.

News Release

“Our nation has been enriched by Leonard Bernstein, George Washington Carver, George Eastman, Barney Frank, Philip Johnson, Alfred Kinsey, Annie Leibovitz, Margaret Mead, Suze Orman, Bayard Rustin and Gore Vidal.” “Our culture would not be the same without Alvin Ailey, Jr., Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Ford, Cary Grant, Keith Haring, Elton John, Jasper Johns, Bill T. Jones, Tony Kushner, k.d. lang, Jane Lynch, Rachel Maddow, Martina Navratilova, Cole Porter, Bessie Smith, Gianni Versace, Andy Warhol and John Waters.” GLBT History Month celebrates civil rights heroes such as Tim Gill, Barbara Gittings, Jim Hormel, Cleve Jones, Frank Kameny, Bishop Gene Robinson and Matthew Shepard,” said Lazin. Across the spectrum of 155 Icons, we have so much to be proud of in these remarkable role models and historic figures.” Beginning October 1, 2010, a GLBT Icon is presented daily, with a video, bio and bibliography. Visit www.familytreecenter.org each day in October to learn about a new LGBT icon.

ENDA and the November Election by Skye Nelson Special to Branching Out

This November, Congressional Seats are at stake in the midterm elections and it’s important for us to think about what the results of such could mean to the community and what effects they could have in our everyday lives. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, currently drafted with multiple co-sponsors in Congress, is one of these things. This bill, called ENDA for short, would add sexual orientation and gender identity to protected classes that cannot be denied employment or fired without an otherwise valid reason. We are very lucky, here in Tallahassee, thanks to the hard work of our community members, to have an Employment Non-Discrimination ordinance on the local level, but this only provides for a limited amount of protection and certainly cannot provide for the level of protection of ENDA, which attaches our right to work to the Civil Rights Act. As a transwoman, I understand on a personal level the need for this legislation, particularly during the recession. I recently graduated from college and have been searching for work in the several months since; not only has it been difficult to find any prospective jobs due to economic conditions, but I’ve also had to worry about the potential that I will be discriminated against when being considered for employment. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been in this predicament either; I’ve heard from several friends of their own experiences with employment discrimination. When jobs are so scarce, now more than ever, we need these protections. Without the ability to find gainful employment, we risk becoming an economic underclass or being forced into the closet just so we can earn the money we need to survive. Opponents to this bill try to avoid talking about exactly how discrimination affects lives; they try to ignore the fact that not only do LGBT individuals suffer, but LGBT families suffer as well. They demonize us and try to turn us against one another by dividing the community. When it comes down to it, the consequences of discrimination are exactly what opponents want to keep in place; more obstacles to open self-expression. ENDA doesn’t only protect us either, everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity will benefit from having these listed as protected classes. The bill would eliminate a means of firing and denying employment that could have otherwise been legally used as an excuse to do so without any valid grounds. What can easily be ignored by those who would not normally be concerned with these protections, is the large scope such things have; the bill not only protects based on one’s actual sexual orientation and gender identity, but also against the perceptions of one’s employer. Without the protection of ENDA, things as simple as a tomboy demeanor or a pierced ear can be legal grounds for denying employment or firing an otherwise productive employee. It’s important to let those outside our community know that what benefits us, isn’t just for us; measures to protect LGBT rights promote human rights for everyone. With the likelihood of any vote on ENDA occurring in Congress before the end of the session being very slim, it’s extremely important for members of the community and our allies to turn out for the vote in November and do our best to make sure that candidates that support the bill get the seats. With so much speculation that the Democrats, the majority of whom currently support the bill, will lose a significant numbers of seats to conservative Republicans, we need to be politically active to help ensure that ENDA survives and doesn’t end up another failed attempt at expanding human rights. If we don’t speak up for our rights, who will?

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 9

More news on pages 6-8

GLBTA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ASKS CANDIDATES:

How Supportive Are You?

Introduction by Lisa Livezey Comingore President, Capital City GLBTA Democratic Caucus Secretary, Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus

The Capital City GLBTA Democratic Caucus recently polled local and statewide candidates to find out how they feel about issues important to the LGBT community. All candidates, regardless of party affilitation, were asked nine questions. Their responses are below. The Caucus considers voter education to be one of it’s most important functions, so this year marks the first time we’ve sent out a survey to all local candidates. Surveys like this are important for two reasons. First, we wanted to be able to let our community know

where the candidates stand on our issues when deciding who to vote for and second, it gives us a way to hold elected officials accountable. For example, if an official gets our votes by stating on the record that he/she is in favor of local ordinances providing employment and housing protections and then votes against it later we have something to use to hold their feet to the fire. When it comes to voting, knowledge is power and having a way to hold our officials accountable is more power for all of us! We sincerely hope you find this information helpful and we look forward to improving and expanding this section before every election.

What We Asked 1. I support equal rights and treatment under the law for Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) persons. 2. I support enactment of age-appropriate comprehensive sex education that includes HIV/AIDS prevention in public schools. 3. I support adding protections for persons living with HIV/AIDS to state and local anti-discrimination laws. 4. I support adding protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to state and local anti discrimination laws. 5. I support state and local measures to ensure that students are protected from discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in school. 6. I support the repeal of Florida’s ban on adoption by gays and lesbians. 7. I support equal access to marriage for same-sex couples. 8. I support civil unions for same-sex couples that provide access to all benefits afforded through marriage. 9. I support the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Ray Netherwood US Congress, 2nd District Independent 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Additional Comments: “I don’t believe the Constitution allows for exclusionary treatment absent cause.”

Peter Allen Governor Independence Party of Florida

YES

YES YES YES YES YES YES

Daniel Imperato Governor Independent

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. “I support the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. I also checked No, this is a discussion made at the federal level of our military Not on a state level.”

YES YES YES YES YES YES

Scott Maddox Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Democrat 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

YES

Additional Comments: “[I] promise that we will do a great job for the people and restore Florida’s economy and jobs programs, as well as protect the people from getting their pockets picked.”

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Additional Comments: “Scott will continue to fight for equality for all Floridians and all Americans.”

The above information is provided for informational purposes. The Family Tree does not endorse any candidate in any election.

BRANCHING OUT

Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda Florida House of Representatives, District 9 Democrat 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Cliff Thaell Leon County Commission, AtLarge Group 2 Non-Partisan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Additional Comments: “I filed or co-sponsored four bills to provide more equal treatment for the GLBT community. I am on record and proud of my stances in support of equality for gays and lesbians.”

Additional Comments: “I was a leader in enacting the Leon County Human Rights Ordinance that expanded anti-discrimination law in employment, housing and public accommodations to include gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered individuals. I hope to earn your support.”

Nancy Miller Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 3 Non-Partisan

Ralph Mason Ochlockonee River Soil & Water Conservation Supervisor, District 2 — Non-Partisan

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Additional Comments: “One of Tallahassee’s many assets is our diversity. I believe it is important to have a Commission that reflects that diversity.””

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 9

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

John “Corri” Byrne Leon County Commission, District 1 Non-Partisan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Stan Peacock Ochlockonee River Soil & Water Conservation Supervisor, District 2 — Non-Partisan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

YES YES YES YES YES YES

NO YES YES

Stephen Hogge Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 3 Non-Partisan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

YES YES YES YES YES YES

NO YES YES

“with abstinence taught as the appropriate behavior.”

“I support civil unions or equivalent per Question 8 in lieu of marriage. However, I do think we need continued dialogue on question 7 and I am ready to listen and engage in it.”

Karen Gievers Circuit Judge, Second Judicial Circuit, Group 9 Non-Partisan

Editor’s Note: Judicial candidates are prohibited by law from indicating how they would rule on specific issues if the issues were to come before them. However, candidate Gievers have offered the following comments. “I can tell you I firmly believe that all persons are equal, have equal rights, and are entitled to equal protection of the law.”

Additional Comments: “[W]hile I was on the Leon County School District Advisory Council, I voted several times in favor of non-discriminatory policies dealing with sexual preference and orientation, that went on to final passage by the Leon County School Board. I also practice the same way in hiring employee’s where I work, and also in the treatment of all our patients.”

The above information is provided for informational purposes. The Family Tree does not endorse any candidate in any election.

Moving Forward By Lisa Livezey Comingore Special to Branching Out Thank you for taking the time in your hectic schedules to read about the upcoming election. Although Election Day is Tuesday, November 2, 2010, early voting is right around the corner and the deadline to register is October 4th! I encourage everyone in our community to exercise your right (and duty) to vote. Those of you who know me know that I have been active with the Democratic party for years, but right now I’m simply asking you to please get out and vote for the candidate who is best in your opinion after looking at all of the candidates. We’ve tried to provide some information here for you, but I urge you to visit the campaign websites to learn more. If you have the opportunity to meet the candidates in person, that’s even better! Ask them questions! We, as a community, must flex our political muscles if we ever want to see changes come about in this state and that starts at the polls. I’ve always heard that if you don’t vote, you can’t complain about the results, but that isn’t good enough. When you don’t vote it’s not just that you can’t complain because you don’t just hurt yourselves, you hurt the rest of the community as well. And until that changes - until we decide we have had enough and are ready to put not only our money, but our votes, where our mouths are – we will not achieve equality. I’m also going to take this opportunity to make a more personal announcement. In January 2009, I had the privilege of working with Andy Janecek, Steven Hall, Phil Perry, Joshua Hicks, Michelle Comingore, Ron Bunting and numerous other fantastic people in our community (there isn’t room for the whole list!!) to launch the Capital City GLBTA Democratic Caucus. Our group became an official chapter of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, which is an official arm of the Florida Democratic Party. We have had many officials address our members, such as Rep. Allen Boyd, Sen. Dan Gelber, Sen. Dave Aronberg, and Rep. Michelle Rehwinkle Vasilinda, to name a few, in addition to many candidates for local office. The experience I’ve gained from being associated with all of these folks has been tremendous and I look forward to continuing to work with everyone. However, I will be stepping down as President of the Caucus as of November 3, 2010. I will be moving on to serve as Commissioner-Elect Kristin Dozier’s Commission Aide. I am very honored and excited about this new opportunity. Thank you to everyone who has supported the Caucus thus far. I hope you will continue that support as we all move forward.

We have a wide selection of:

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This is a paid political advertisement and does not imply an endorsement by Branching Out or The Family Tree.

BRANCHING OUT

Healing Your Trust Workshop Participate in a workshop led by Susana Sorí on October 24, 2010. So many women have experienced a deeper healing through their participation and attendance at Healing Night over the past four years. If you have ever attended a Healing Night, you know how powerful this experience is. Please consider participating, sharing your art, writing or performance and attending this year. We also hope you will join us for the Healing Night workshop held the following day. Our power to reclaim ourselves is within us. These events offer a chance for that reclamation.

Opening Reception Artist’s Exhibit October 23rd 6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Healing Night Workshop October 24th 11 am - 4 pm Abundance Wellness Center 325 John Knox Road, Building T – Tallahassee

Readings and Performances October 23rd 7:00 pm-9pm Abundance Wellness Center 325 John Knox Road, Building T - Tallahassee

For more information, Vickie Spray at 850-322-6944 or vickiespray@ yourlifeexpressions.com or Robin McDougall at 850-212-0760 or robin.mcdougall@ comcast.org. Susana Sorí is an accomplished healer and educator with that rare quality that combines both a profound and deep understanding of her subject with a warm, and engaging personal style. Her focus is to free her clients from the obstacles and issues that hold them back, supporting a client’s positive shift at all levels.

“Mobile Homecoming” Documentary Filmmakers Coming to Tallahassee News Release

Alexis Gumbs and Julia Wallace have delivered thought-provocative projects in the past, but this time, they’ve dedicated the next phase of their lives to living in an environmentally sustainable mobile home and traveling across the country to interview queer women, transmen, transwomen, and gender-non conforming people of color. Their mission is to create a documentary that celebrates the bravery and genius of the black queer community. “Mobile Homecoming” has collaborated with Mixit Tallahassee and on Friday November 12, 2010, Filmmakers Alexis and Julia will be in Tallahassee! We are searching for queer people of color to participate in interviews (on or off camera) for the project. We need you to share your experience, your ongoing commitment to live and create your life despite “societal norms.” The fear, the courage, the victories, the setbacks, the risks, the culturally ingrained prejudice and animosity you’ve faced. Our LGBTQI community has a voice so let’s not miss this opportunity to share our unique sacrifice, bravery, and determination that we’ve invested into declaring and defending our humanity. This is an intergenerational project, and therefore crucial to have a cross-section of generations participating. Although Alexis and Julia’s project focuses on interviewing the unique experience of Black, Asian, Hispanic, and other minority ethnic groups, they want the entire LGBTQI community and allies to participate. This includes attending the free welcome reception at Aloft Hotel Friday evening, November 12, 2010. For more information or to participate in a private or group interview, contact ShaniAngela at 850-210-5386 or email her at info@mixittallahassee.com. To learn more about Alexis and Julia’s previous work and the “Mobile Homecoming” tour, visit: http:// mobilehomecoming.wordpress.com/.

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 9

Family Tree Announces Annual Membership Meeting On October 25, The Family Tree will hold its annual meeting at 6:30pm at 5126-C Woodlane Circle, Tallahassee. Members of the community are encouraged to attend. The meeting will include elections for the 2011 Board of Directors. Additionally, members will approve amendments to the organization’s bylaws and proposed budget for next year. Anyone interested in joining the Board of Directors is encouraged to apply. For more information or to view the proposed bylaws amendments, visit The Family Tree’s website at www.familytreecenter.org.

Ladies’ Softball is a Grand Slam! Mixit Tallahassee presents “Out of ur League,” a softball team for LGBT and supportive women. The team consists of women aged 20 to 50 with skills ranging from beginners to experienced players. All games are played at Tom Brown Park, Field 1. The team plays semicompetitive slow-pitch softball against other “womenonly” teams. “Out of ur League” is a City of Tallahassee league and is bound by their rules and regulations. Guys are encouraged to participate as “bat-boys” and to help with post-game socials and end-of-season celebrations. For more information, contact team manager Shani-Angela at info@mixittallahassee.com.

2011 Season Schedule Wednesday, October 6 @ 9pm Thursday, October 14 @ 6:30pm Wednesday, October 20 @ 6:30pm Wednesday, October 27 @ 7:45pm Thursday, November 4 @ 9pm

DON’T HOPE SO. KNOW SO. Call me for a fast, free Good Hands® Coverage Checkup. I can help you make sure you get the right coverage at the best possible price. Why wait? Call me today.

Big Bend Cares’ Hosting AIDS Walk and 5K Run in October Take a walk in Tom Brown Park on Saturday, October 17, to support Big Bend Cares’ AIDS Walk and 5k Run. Proceeds from the event stay in the Big Bend region to assist the organization with serving more than 800 of our neighbors affected by HIV/AIDS. Registration begins at 2pm and the walk follows at 3pm. For more information, visit bigbendcares.org.

Tallahassee Prime Timers A social group for mature men, featuring gatherings, house parties, monthly dinners and weekly happy hours PrimeTimersWW.org/talprime

What do you get when you’re a member of Pre-Paid Legal? Confidence in your daily decisions. Peace of mind with your personal affairs. Security for your family. Protection of your legal rights. Advice from courteous and concerned attorneys. Answers to your questions. Call today for more information on how to access the legal system!

KRISTEN WOFFORD Your Name Independent Associate Independent Associate 850-766-4352 Contact Information PRE-PAID LEGAL SERVICES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

BRANCHING OUT

GENTLE SHEPHERD METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH Rev. Mark R. Byrd, Interim Minister 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship 7:00 p.m. Comtemporary Worship Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Straight??? It doesn’t matter, because…

Family Tree Merchandise Available @ gear.familytreecenter.org

We are just regular folks who believe that God’s love is for all people…And YOU and YOUR LIFE are important to us. GSMCC is a congregation that is diverse in age, gender, and race… and while not exclusively so, we are predominantly LGBTQ individuals, who come from all different types of church backgrounds… and some folks, from no church background at all. While neither Catholic, nor Protestant, we seek to… · Be a safe haven to spiritual travelers from diverse walks of life · Meet others where they are in life · Offer each inspiration and encouragement as followers of Christ · Make a difference in our own lives, others, and the Community.

You are always welcome at GSMCC... A PLACE TO MEET NEW FRIENDS AND EXPERIENCE GOD’S LOVE

4738 Thomasville Road (850) 878-3001 www.GentleShepherdMCC.com

This is a paid political advertisement and does not imply an endorsement by Branching Out or The Family Tree. Ad paid for by Capital City GLBTA Democratic Caucus.

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 9

VOICES

Community Stories, Opinions, Happenings, and Ideas.

Transgenderscope

By Margeaux Mutz Branching Out Production Team

One more little nugget from Chrissy Jordan that I gleaned from her when chatting about her book “Between Twilight and Dawn” which “Branching Out” excerpted for the previous two months; she told me of a lady who walked up to her when she worked at Walmart (before she had fully transitioned) and asked her “Why were you in a dress yesterday?” Chrissy’s response was “Because my skirt is in the wash and the dress matches my shoes!” Right on girl! Just finished the September Transgenderscope last night and I’m already writing October’s. Wow, that has never happened before; it must be the black bobbed wig that I’m wearing. It is quite a rush to be black-headed after being blonde or blonde and pink for so long. It must account for the sudden proliferance of writing material in my brain. I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of having black hair but never thought I could pull it off after I got past a certain age. I lived my youth as a guy, a very straight one by the way, so my potential Goth years came and went without one attempt at black hair. I have since been everything else but never black. What fun! Why do I bring this up? Well, I guess because I’m feeling so free. Free to express myself much like a teenager, at least one who pushes boundaries. I’ve been legally Margeaux for close to 5 years and estrogenized (my word) for eight or so, which by my calculations makes my girl brain somewhere around 18 or 20 with girls reaching puberty at such young ages now days. I always was a late bloomer so I probably wouldn’t have started acting out until my late teens anyway. The cool thing is I don’t have to worry about a period, though some of my transwomen friends rue the fact that they can’t birth children. Count me among the transwomen or genetic women who don’t have a problem without the children thing. I have one, a child that is, but obviously I didn’t birth her. It is so invigorating to be the person I could only dream about being. I did sometimes dream of being a model, wearing the clothes, walking the runway, all of that stuff. Unfortunately the man thing got in the way and I don’t mean that I had a man to worry about, rather that I was one, never really wanted one of the men varieties anyway. Interestingly, I now feel as if I walk the runway everyday. I’ve made my life into what I’ve dreamed of and I get to do it as long as I live. I feel the excitement of a new day, every day, as I prepare for living as the woman that I want to be. The feeling of slipping into a bra and panties, wiggling into a dress, doing my makeup; is a daily upper. Walking the street in broad daylight with the dog, going out to eat, working, playing; all are done with a renewed vitality in my step since my transition. I don’t know what it feels like to be a GG (Genetic Girl) but I like my variation just fine. I wish I could see that same enthusiasm in those around me. As a hairdresser and gender chat facilitator I talk and work with all kinds. I’ve lost track of all the transsexuals I’ve met who on first meeting say “Why did it have to be me? Why do I have to be TS (Transsexual)?” or those that say they are the recipient of a cruel joke played upon them by God. I feel their pain and I once thought those very same thoughts myself, without the God part. The cruel joke isn’t of God’s (whoever or whatever that is) making, but rather that of certain members of society who choose to make us revolting and unacceptable. That will not change as long as we allow them to bully us into thinking that we are carrying a cross on our backs. I know that I am definitely no martyr. I chose to lift the cross off my back because I enjoy looking forward to every day; the weight of not doing that was getting heavy.

Ask Margeaux Q: Can you give an example of how situations and choices can have a positive or negative impact on the life of a transgender person? A: Once again this question was posed to me by a student in the MSW Program at FSU. It gave me a great opportunity to talk about the impact discrimination has on the choices made within the transgender community or any community that is not included in mainstream society. I use as an example, Dana A. “Chanel” Larkin’s murder on May 7 in Milwaukee, Wisc. Chanel was shot and killed that night for doing sex work and outing herself to a potential client over the fact that she still had a male body part. According to Joseph Erbentraut of “Edge,” “Those who knew her say she had identified as a woman since she was 16 and had wanted to change her birth gender identity as early as age three. She had turned to sex work to make ends meet.” Chanel made two choices that night. She chose a very dangerous occupation for a transwoman and she was honest about who she was. Her situation was not unlike many in the Trans community whose gender identity does not match their birth sex as chosen for them by those other than themselves, but yet need to make a living. Getting a job is hard enough but try doing it when your gender marker doesn’t match your presentation. Of course one can have surgery to correct the disparity but how can you do it without money? With no funds one cannot afford the surgery; without a job one cannot afford insurance, as if that matters since most insurance companies will not cover gender identity issues anyway. And what of honesty, Chanel died for it, that and the choice of being on the street to make a living. A living made infinitely harder by a world that, according to the words of Dr. Petra Doan, “sanctions gender tyranny.” Kinda like the cart before the horse, those in the cart don’t get too far. Not getting too far can sometimes mean taking chances. All too often in the Trans community those chances can be deadly. If you have a question for Margeaux, email her at branchingout@ familytreecenter.org. Your question may be featured in the next issue of Branching Out or online at familytreecenter.org!

But, if misery loves company we’ve got it. I hear a constant litany of woe almost daily from those who are depressed or physically challenged. I work with those who have dementia and watch grown men and women playing with toy cars or dolls and peeing in their pants. It does really seem that everyone has a cross to bear. Is their cross as heavy as a transsexuals? I’m really not into comparisons but I do believe that the measure of the person is how they handle what is put in front of them. Is it easy being transsexual? “Hell No!”, but if you are transsexual what is the alternative? It won’t go away despite what some doctors say (Are you listening Dr. Zucker?) and neither will the naysayer or the fact that there are depressed or demented people. What can go away is how you look at it. I spent 20 years working with some of the most negative people I know at The US Postal Service, it didn’t change anything and they are still negative. I got the hell out of there, became a woman and voila, happy girl! Well it didn’t happen quite like that, but it didn’t come by repeating the unhappiness mantra. Do I still have unhappy days or moments? Yes, but they have become more infrequent since I have presented the real me openly and unabashedly to the world. My hope is that with enough of us striding confidently through the world it will become easier and quicker for those who are still bogged down with the negative aspects of being transsexual. It can happen but only by being happy with You! Margeaux Mutz is the facilitator of Transgender Tallahassee. Reach her at margeaux. mutz@comcast.net .

BRANCHING OUT

News, Cues, & Reviews By Ivan Sondel Branching Out Contributor Local Theatre: Theatre a la Carte presents the gay inclusive musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee featuring a Tony Award winning book by Rachel Sheinkin and music and lyrics by out composer William Finn. The book is hilarious and poignant and I felt the score was the best of its season. When: October 8-10 & 15-17 at Tallahassee Little Theatre. For tickets call 385-6700 or visit their website. This is the third William Finn production staged by Eric Hurst and Theatre a la Carte. In 1999 they staged the Tony winning Falsettos and then in 2003 A New Brain. Knowing Eric Hurst, his wonderful company of players and Theatre a la Carte’s long list of triumphs, I urge everyone reading this to buy a ticket and take a friend – you will not be disappointed. FSU School of Theatre presents the musical The Drowsy Chaperon October 22 thru 31 at the Fallon Theatre. For ticket info call 644-6500. Chaperon won Tony Awards for Best Book (Bob Martin and Don McKeller) and Score (Greg Morrison and Lisa Lambert). Coming Soon: Books: Now in stores: Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lesson’s for Making it Work by Tim Gunn; Diaghilev: A Life a biography of the gay ballet impresario by Sjeng Scheijen; The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings by James Baldwin; Half Empty essays by David Rakoff; Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris; Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist and Sexual Renegade by Justin Spring. 10/5: Grant Wood: A Life a biography of gay painter by A. Tripp Evans; Gay Bar: The Fabulous, True Story of a Daring Woman and Her Boys in the 1950s by Will Fellows and Helen P. Branson; 10/19: Begin Again: A Biography of John Cage by Kenneth Silverman; 10/26: Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) by Stephen Sondheim. DVD: 10/12: I Am Love the gay inclusive drama starring Tilda Swinton in an unforgettable performance; 10/26: Evening Primrose the television musical by Stephen Sondheim starring Anthony Perkins. CD: 10/19: The Union Elton John and Leon Russell. All new material produced by T. Bone Burnett and featuring guest artists Brian Wilson and Neil Young. Congratulations LGBT Emmy Winners: Whoa…the Emmy Awards were so gay I thought I was watching The Tony Awards! Mad Men took honors for Best Drama Series and Writing for a Drama. Modern Family took home Best Comedy Series, Writing for a Comedy and Supporting Actor for Eric Stonesreet (as Cameron). Ryan Murphy and Jane Lynch won Best Directing and Supporting Actress for Glee respectively. Archie Panjabi won Supporting Actress in a Drama as the bisexual Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife. Neil Patrick Harris won two awards (one for hosting the Tony Awards and another for his guest role on Glee).

Passages: Character actor Glenn Shadix died in early September. Shadix appeared in many films, most notably Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, Planet of the Apes and The Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as roles on such television series as Roseanne, Seinfield, Cheers, ER, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and a recurring role on Carnivale. Book Review: Don’t Look Now by Daphne du Maurier (New York Review of Books). Looking for something macabre to read in honor of Halloween? Why not Don’t Look Now and The Birds? Though I had never read these stories, I had seen film versions of both and thought I knew what to expect. However, where Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now succeeds at bringing du Maurier’s story to life on screen brilliantly and faithfully, the Hitchcock adaptation pirated only two words from du Maurier’s manuscript: “the” and “birds.” Yes, the birds attack in both, but that is where the similarities end. [I still revere the Hitchcock film, which terrified me as a child]. Don’t Look Now uses Venice to stunning effect; the labyrinthine canals and dark deserted alleyways make for a perfectly sinister setting. A grieving couple has come to the city of falling angels to regroup after the loss of their young daughter. They encounter a strange couple: twin sisters, middle aged, one a blind medium with precognitive gifts. The sisters relay a warning from the daughter that the couple is in danger and must leave Venice…..to go any further would spoil the suspense (which would be a crime). Needless to say, there is tension, intrigue and dread on every remaining page. Densely plotted and executed with unparalleled skill, Don’t Look Now is a ghost story worthy of the masters. The Birds is a masterpiece of suspense, stark and exquisitely articulated. Set on a farm in Cornwall just after WWII, the story is an apocalyptic vision of a world where birds suddenly wage war against humans. There is no journey to safety; ninety percent of the action takes place in the farmer’s cottage. du Maurier’s tale is bleak and relentless, a claustrophobic nightmare. This story would make a great film. I imagine it just as written, shot in beautiful black and white. The bi-sexual du Maurier produced many bestsellers including My Cousin Rachel, Frenchman’s Creek, Jamaica Inn, and the classic Rebecca, a book I’ve never read; perhaps I’ll go ahead now that I’ve wetted my apatite with these gems. DVD Review: Dorian Gray based on The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Don’t ask me why this atmospheric big screen adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s macabre tale was never released in the USA; just be thankful the DVD has been. Director Oliver Parker and screenwriter Toby Finlay have done an admirable (if not completely faithful) job of bringing Wilde’s classic to the screen. For those unfamiliar with this story: a young gentleman has his portrait painted and, like Narcissus before him, he becomes transfixed by his own reflection. In the case of Dorian Gray, he sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty and from that moment on his portrait alone reflects each and every physical sign of age, as well as the corruption of his soul. Along with Dracula, The Picture of Dorian Gray remains the greatest Victorian gothic horror story. Among the many aspects that work so well in this adaptation is the casting of the comely Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian) as Gray; from innocent adolescent to debauched rake to world weary immoralist, the young actor communicates the multi-faceted character with great dexterity. Colin Firth, always dependable, adds gravity as Gray’s mentor cum nemesis. Ben Chaplin gives a strong performance as the ill-fated portrait artist and voice of morality. The two Ben’s share a sexy scene of seduction, only implied in Wilde’s manuscript. Horror fans of Saw and Midnight Meat Train may be disappointed; those who prefer classy horror fare like The Innocents, The Others or the old Hammer horror films, should enjoy this.

The Family Tree has 10x10 tents available for rental. Rental Fee: $40 Interested? Call 850-222-8555 or email staff@familytreecenter.org VOLUME 14, ISSUE 9

What’s Happening... this month

Compiled by Diana Kampert Branching Out Contributor

October 8 – 10, 14 – 17, 2010 Leon High Performing Arts Presents the Musical “13” 7:30 pm on October 8, 9, 14, 15, 16; 2:30 pm on October 10, 17 Sponsored by Leon Drama, and directed by Millie Seckel, this exciting musical features 13 young teenagers with all of their teenage problems and relationships. Accompanied by a pit band, the show is full of upbeat contemporary tunes and exciting dance numbers. This musical is being adjudicated by the International Thespian Society, and is hoping to be selected to perform at the State Conference in Tampa. Leon High Performing Arts Theatre 550 E. Tennessee Street, Tallahassee General Admission: $13; $25 for Special Patron tickets FMI: www.leonperformingarts.org; durhamr@leonperformingarts.org October 8 – 10, 15 – 17, 2010 “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” 8:00 pm on October 8-9 and 15-16; matinees at 2:00 pm on October 10 and 17 Theatre A La Carte presents a musical chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser Tallahassee Little Theatre 1861 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee Tickets: $16; $14 students and seniors FMI: www.theatrealacarte.org; (850) 224-8474 October 9, 2010 Symposium on Aging & Vitality 9:00 am – 4:30 pm A symposium on the rapidly evolving, positive paradigm for aging and vitality. The best leading edge information from Duke University’s Integrative Medicine Center and other sources come to our community. For dynamic seniors, “Boomers” who want to make their mature years the best years of their lives, people caring for an aging parent or loved one in their lives, and people of all ages who are enthusiastic about making a positive shift in the way our society perceives and experiences aging. Learn how we can choose to flourish as we mature and enjoy the greatest stage of our lives. United Church of Christ, 1834 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee Registration fee: $33.00 per person includes a gourmet lunch FMI: http://www.integrativehealthcarecmsc.com/Symposium-on-Aging--amp-Vitality.html October 9, 2010 Experience Asia Festival 2010 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Learning about the ancient traditions of Asian culture is as easy as a walk in the park. Music, dance, arts, crafts, and of course, various Asian cuisine will be featured during the 6th annual festival. Representatives from the Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Taiwanese, and Thai community will be on hand to share traditions and practices unique to each culture Lewis and Bloxham Parks Park Avenue, downtown Tallahassee Free admission; food and drinks for purchase FMI: www.asiantlh.org; (850)339-2699 October 10, 2010 Climate Action Fair 1:00pm – 5:00pm A fun, community-wide event dedicated to connecting the dots between lifestyle choices and global climate change. Rethink Energy Florida Group Lake Ella, Tallahassee FMI: www.rethinkenergyflorida.org October 16, 2010 Queer Idol Round 2 - Out & Out Saturday 10:00pm until Close Tallahassee’s Queer Idol! Professional/Amateur Drag King, Drag Queens, and other Queer Performers will be performing on stage to become Tallahassee’s Queer Idol! Local performers from around the area will be performing for your pleasure. Come out and enjoy an amazing social event! We will have a panel of judges that will be judging the event. PRIZES will be awarded for first, second and third place! Paradigm 115 West College Avenue, Tallahassee October 17, 2010 Big Bend Cares AIDS Walk and 5K Run 2:00 pm registration A community-based fundraiser to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The 2010 AIDS Walk/Run is an open invitation event to all residents of the Big Bend area. Individuals and groups are encouraged to participate. Tom Brown Park Located just east of Capital Circle SE between Mahan Drive and Apalachee Parkway Suggested Registration Fee: $10 for the Walk; $15 for the Run FMI: www.bigbendcares.org/aidswalk10/index.shtml; (850)656-2437 x. 225

October 21 – 24, 2010 Ghost Walking Tours in the Capital City Six Tours launched nightly between 6:00 and 9:00 pm. Startling-Lighthearted-Fun! Six tours nightly, costumed guides lead groups through the streets of old Tallahassee stopping at buildings said to have ghostly activities. You will be chilled by retellings of unfortunate actual events that transpired oh-so-many years ago on that very spot. Prepare to be visited by characters from the past demanding to tell their tales of woe that were lost but not forgotten. Proceeds from t-shirt sales going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend. Begins from the Challenger Learning Center IMAX Theater, on Kleman Plaza 200 South Duval Street, Tallahassee Tickets: $15; $5 children under 5. Reservations recommended, not required. FMI: www.toursintallahassee.com; tours@historicfloridaconsulting.com; (850) 212-2063 October 22, 2010 National Coming Out Day Gayla and Awards Presentation 6:00pm until midnight Celebrate those members of our community who have had a positive impact by nominating and voting for your favorites. Then, join us on October 22nd for a cocktails and dinner. The event features a cash bar, dancing, raffle prizes and MORE! Monroe Street Conference Center 2714 Graves Road, Tallahassee Pre-sale ticket purchase required. FMI: http://www.familytreecenter.org; (850) 222-8555 October 22 – 23, 2010 Greek Festival 2010 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Two days and two nights of delicious, home-made Greek delicacies, as well as traditional Greek singing, folk dancing, and Greek wine tasting. Holy Mother Of God Greek Orthodox Church 1645 Phillips Road, Tallahassee Free admission; food and drinks for purchase FMI: http://www.hmog.org/~festival/HolyMotherFestival/GreekFestival.html; (850) 8780747 October 23, 2010 Monarch Butterfly Festival 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Every fall, the amazing monarch butterflies make their 2,000 mile trip from the northern American boundary to the mountains of central Mexico. For the last 22 years, a festival has been held at the St. Marks refuge to celebrate the arrival of the butterflies. The daylong festival offers butterfly tagging, butterfly walks, butterfly crafts for children, van tours and wagon tours, exhibits on “people tagging,” and butterfly plants, and an opportunity to talk with butterfly researchers. Call after Oct. 1 to reserve space on the tour vans. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge 1200 Lighthouse Road, St. Marks Festival is free, but the normal entrance fee of $5 per car will be charged FMI: www.fws.gove/saintmarks; saintmarks@fws.gov; (850) 925-6121 October 23, 2010 Stone Crab Festival 10:00 am until whenever Eat, drink and be merry at the 13th annual Stone Crab Festival hosted by the Riverside Café in St. Marks, FL. Enjoy stone crabs fresh from the boats. Great food, drinks and live entertainment. Rain or shine. Riverside Café, St. Marks 69 Riverside Drive Free admission; food and drinks for purchase FMI: www.riversidebay.com; (850) 925-5668 October 23, 2010 Gainesville Pride Festival Gainesville’s downtown Bo Diddley Community Plaza 2 to 9pm The event is free and open to the public. November 5 – 6, and 11 – 13, 2010 “Apocalypse Faust: An Explosive Cabaret” All shows 8:00 pm The last battle is here and it’s being waged in Faustlandia. From the man-made disasters in our beloved Gulf to the meltdown of our financial system, come bask in original Faustian sketches and music that brings the shortsightedness of humanity into keen, albeit comic, focus. The show starts at 8, but come early to catch Eclectic Acoustic playing in the back yard before the show! Tickets: $15; $10 students, retirees and disabled 623 McDonnell Drive in Railroad Square, Tallahassee Mickee Faust Clubhouse FMI: www.mickeefaust.com; (850) 562-RATS

BRANCHING OUT

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of the

Roller Coaster Ride By Steven Hall, Co-Chair Family Tree Community Center

September has been quite a month for our community. As this paper is going to print the US Senate stalled progress of the Defense Authorization Act, containing within it a provision to allow the military to end the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, and Florida’s 3rd District Court of Appeal released its opinion in the gay adoption case. If you haven’t heard by now they found the ban unconstitutional. Governor Crist has indicated that he will instruct the Department of Children and Families to no longer enforce the ban and has not given any sign that he will appeal the ruling. This is quite exciting for many of the families in our community who have biological children where one of the parents has been unable to adopt and for those who do not have children but would like to adopt. While many of us were no doubt saddened that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell will remain in effect for now, at least we got some good news in Florida the next day, giving us a bit of an emotional roller-coaster. As there are developments we will send them out via our eNotes and post bulletins on our website. Looking at October, I’m expecting another busy month both locally, statewide, and nationally. As we are in the final weeks of the 2010 election season there will no doubt be a plethora of news, commentary, and events related to LGBT issues and other issues impacting our community. Here at The Family Tree we have several important events coming up. On October 22, we hold our annual National Coming Out Day Gayla and Awards Presentation. This year’s event will be held at the Monroe Conference Center starting at 6 PM. For more information on this event and how to get tickets, as well as the awards portion, see the ad in this paper and check our website, www.familytreecenter.org. On October 25, we will hold our Annual Meeting. What is the Annual Meeting? Previously held in February of each year, the Annual Meeting is our largest meeting of the year where we encourage all members of The Tree and interested community members to come together to help us make some of the big decisions, and to nominate and elect the next year’s board members. Of particular interest to many, we will be presenting and voting on a new set of bylaws for the organization. The meeting will be held at The Family Tree starting at 6:30 PM. Please add this to your calendar and attend if at all possible, especially if you are interested in helping guide our organization in 2011. You may have noticed another survey was included in this month’s paper. This survey is quite different from the last one, which was asking questions about this publication, Branching Out. The new survey is designed to get feedback from you, the community, about what you want in and from YOUR community center. As many of you know The Tree moved earlier this year. One of the things we hope to learn from this survey is not only where our future center should be located, but also what it should be. Please take a few moments to fill out the survey and send it back. If you prefer to fill it out electronically, it is available on our website. We will share the results in the paper and online later this year.

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BECOME A

FRIEND OF THE

TODAY For a donation of $60 we will send you • Membership Card • Family Tree car magnet and • Family Tree T-Shirt

How does your donation help the community? • provides funding for programs that educate members of the community • provides support for the youth of our community that are struggling with coming-out and other issues • provides funding for a safe space for people to visit, hang-out and relax • provides support for the publication of Branching Out, Tallahassee’s LGBT Community Newspaper • provides support for the production of Tallahassee PRIDEFEST and many other events all year long

Family Tree Volunteer “Captain” Ron Bunting speaks with a student at Florida State University’s “Radical Rush” event on September 4. Family Tree board members Steven Hall and Dave Glaze also took part in the event.

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 9

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To find out more, visit www.familytreecenter.org.

Help the Family Tree while you’re browsing and shopping online!

Visit - www.goodsearch.com and select Family Tree (Tallahassee, FL) from the pulldown charity menu Contact Us:

Mailing address: P.O. Box 38477, Zip 32315 Phone: (850) 222-8555 Email: Staff@FamilyTreeCenter.org www.familytreecenter.org

Programs and groups LGBT Business Partners Diversity of Spirit AA Gender Chat Support and Social Group Youth Group Women’s Chat Group Men’s group Globe (Narcotic’s Anonymous)

Services

Producer of Tallahassee PRIDEFEST Community meeting space Support and social programs Branching Out Newspaper Resource library Switchboard/referral support Community advocacy and outreach LGBT Speaker’s bureau Free Wireless internet

Mission Statement The Mission of The Family Tree, A lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community center, is to provide services which promote the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, to work to eliminate the conditions in society which allow homophobia to exist, and to be a place where everyone is welcome.

JOIN THE MAILING LIST

Branching Out is mailed free every month to nearly 1,000 recipients. We do not share or sell your information with anyone, and we value your privacy. Please sign up by sending us this form, or update your address information. Mail to P.O. Box 38477, Zip 32315, or call (850) 222-8555 Full Name Street Address/P.O. Box

City, State, Zip Code

BRANCHING OUT

Recurring Events Prime Timers Happy Hour 6pm+, Wednesdays Ming Tree Restaurant, 1435 East Lafayette Street

Board Members Co-Chair - Steven Hall, steven@familytreecenter.org

Dinner Potluck and Service Last Sunday of every month, a potluck at 5:30p.m. and then religious service. Gentle Shepherd MCC. 4738 Thomasville Road. (850) 878- 3001.

Co-Chair - VACANT POSITION

Noon Potluck and Service First Sunday of every month, a religious service at 10:45a.m. and potluck at 12p.m. Gentle Shepherd MCC. 4738 Thomasville Road. (850) 878- 3001.

Secretary/Webmaster - Andy Janecek, andy@familytreecenter.org

LGBT Business Partners First Thursdays, 12noon luncheon Third Thirsdays, 5:30p.m. - 8:30p.m. social. Locations and times vary. Contact Greta@FamilyTreeCenter.org for information about upcoming meetings.

Member-at-large - Greta Langley, greta@familytreecenter.org

Sunday Morning Service Every Sun. at 11a.m. at Gentle Shepherd MCC 4738 Thomasville Road. (850) 878-3001.

Member-at-large- Dave Glaze, dave@familytreecenter.org

Lesbian Spiritual Group Every other Monday, 7-9pm. Marcy or Rebecca, (850) 878-8997 Family Tree Board Meeting Second Monday of every month at 6:30 5126-C Woodlane Circle Gender Chat Second Tuesdays. 7:30p.m. Location TBA. E-mail for details. Margeaux.mutz@comcast.net Women’s Chat Wednesdays, 7-8:30p.m. Location TBA Patrice Brown, partrician1@aol.com PFLAG - Tallahassee 2nd Thursday of each month - 6pm St. John’s Episcopal Church 211 North Monroe Street Contact: Susan Gage, 850-597-2374 Beanstalk Ministries Sunday service at 6p.m. 850-766-3542

Treasurer - Debbi Baldwin, debbi@familytreecenter.org

Member-at-large - Paul Anway, paul@familytreecenter.org

Member-at-large - Christy Baldwin, christy@familytreecenter.org

Member-at-large - Margeaux Mutz, margeaux@familytreecenter.org

Community Resource Directory

Community Organizations • • • • • • • • • •

Pride Student Union PSU—FSU’s Lesbian/Gay/ Bisexual/Transgender Student Union 850-644-8804, www.fsu.edu/~sga/pride Youth Group A group for youth/teens 850-222-8555 facilitator Jennifer Martinez: jhm06e@fsu.edu Prime Timers A club for mature men over 21 850-877-4479, www.groups.yahoo.com/group/talprime Tallahassee Area Lesbian Moms rainbowshappen@lycos.com Big Bend Cares Support Group, www.bigbendcares.org For HIV-positive members Mondays, 7-8 Healthline 211 (Telephone Counseling and Referral Service) Crisis intervention and referrals 24 hours a day, 850-224-NEED (850-224-6333) Refuge House Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center, www.refugehouse. com, e-mail refuge.house@tallahassee.net, 24 Hr Hotline: 850-681-2111, LGBT Program: 850-395-7631 Safe Zone Tallahassee, A program designed to identify people who consider themselves to be open to and knowledgeable about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered issues, 850-644-2003 Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), 850-597-2374 North Florida Lesbians Listserve: nfll@yahoogroups.com

Religious Support All Saints Catholic Community............................................................................656-3777 Gentle Shepherd Metropolitan Community Church...................................878-3001 Nichiren Buddhism (contact Carol)....................................................................878-8467 Quaker Meeting.......................................................................................................878-3620 St. Catherine of Siena (Catholic)..........................................................................421-0447 Unitarian Universalist Church.............................................................................385-5115 St. Stephen Lutheran Church..............................................................................385-2728 United Church in Tallahassee...............................................................................878-7385 Temple Israel.............................................................................................................877-3517 First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee..........................................................222-4505

Submit your organization for the resource directory! Email staff@familytreecenter.org or call (850) 222-8555 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 9

October 22, 2010 Monroe Street Conference Center 2714 Graves Road (Former Marie Livingston’s)

Cocktails at 6PM • Dinner at 7PM • Awards to Follow $40 Single • $240 Table of Eight • $210 Table of Six Tallahassee LGBT Community Choice Awards Celebrate those members of our community who have had a positive impact by nominating and voting for your favorites.

www.fa milytr eecenter.or g To purchase tickets or reserve a table visit www.familytreecenter.org or call (850) 222-8555. Tables must reserved and paid in advance by October 18 TH .

Celebrate life behind and beyond the mask! Create your own mask or purchase at the door. Formal or Semi-Formal Attire Requested A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE (1-800-HELP-FLA). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.