March, 2012

Tallahassee’s Monthly LGBT Newspaper VOL. XVI, Issue 3 • March 2012 BRANCHING OUT is published monthly by The Family Tree Community Center, Inc. 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.

George Takei “Boldly Goes” to FSU

By Andy Janecek  Branching Out Production Team Many of us know George Takei as Lt. Hikaru In the 2000s, Takei guest starred on an episode Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise in of Will & Grace after he “came out” in 2005 the original Star Trek television series. What in Frontiers magazine, and later appeared on you may not know is that Takei is an active Heroes, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Secret Talents proponent of gay rights, being an openly-gay of the Stars, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out man himself, and has won several awards for of Here!, and has been a guest star on NPR’s his work on human rights. Later this month, Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me! Takei most Takei will navigate to Tallahassee to speak to recently appeared – and was fired – on Donald students and members of the community at Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice.

FSU’s Rudy Diamond Auditorium.

Takei currently serves as a spokesperson for In 1965, a young George Takei was cast by the Human Rights Campaign “Coming Out Gene Roddenberry to appear in the pilot Project” and frequently speaks publicly about episode of the Star Trek series. He continued his life as a gay Japanese American. in this role until the series’ end in 1969 and returned to reprise his role in six Star Trek The Florida State University PRIDE Student motion pictures. In the 1970s, Takei entered Union and Union Productions will host the realm of political office by serving as a George Takei at an event on March 27th delegate from California to the Democratic that is free and open to the public. Doors National Convention and even ran an open at 7:30pm and the event begins at 8pm. unsuccessful bid for City Council of Los For more information, contact the PRIDE Angeles. Later, Takei was instrumental in the Student Union at pride@admin.fsu.edu. planning and development of the Los Angeles Andy Janecek is the current vice-chair of The subway system, having been appointed by Family Tree’s Board of Directors and serves as Mayor Tom Bradley to the Southern California the Executive Editor of Branching Out. He can be Rapid Transit District in 1973. reached at andy@familytreecenter.org.

www.branchingoutnews.com

Contact Branching Out: P.O. Box 38477 Tallahassee, FL 32315 (850) 222-8555 news@branchingoutnews.com Submission Deadline 15th of Each Month

Production Team:

Andy Janecek, Executive Editor Steven Hall, Features Editor Josh Willoughby, Layout Editor Margeaux Mutz-Tso, Voices Editor Melissa Henderson, Circulation Assistant Ron Bunting, Circulation Assistant

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.

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We thank those who make

possible!

CHANGING UP OUR “DIGS” F O R O U R S W E E T 16

by Steven Hall  Branching Out Production Team By the time you read this, I will have signed (or will be about to sign) a lease for a new community center facility, inside the Tallahassee Mall. Yes, you read that correctly, The Family Tree Community Center will be located inside the Tallahassee Mall above AMC Theatres, and across from the Army and Air Force Recruiting Offices.

I’m thinking a life-size Harvey Milk cutout in the window with the quote “I’m here to recruit you” would be great for our main window, what do you think?

This new facility is about 2,200 square feet, considerably larger than our current location, and offers a lot of potential for different uses (right now it is one big open room). While not the busiest mall in town, the Tallahassee Mall offers a lot more foot traffic than we are used to, is on the bus routes, has food and other entertainment QUITE close to our office, and a myriad of other benefits.

The board has worked a great deal towards envisioning a reinvigorated, active center serving the community. Given that this is our 16th anniversary, it’s quite appropriate for us to reexamine ourselves and move into some new digs. As we discuss the future, it’s important to say thanks to Jackie Watts of Watts Mechanical, who has graciously donated our current space.

Shortly after moving in and opening the center, we plan to become a testing site for HIV, with free testing offered on a regular basis. Later, we hope to also offer testing for other STI’s, Hepatitis A & B vaccinations, and even other health services as we outreach with the local medical community.

We are talking to a few counselors who are interested in offering their services; our hope is to offer free counseling on a weekly or at least monthly basis. We also hope to reinvigorate the youth group, and create new social and support groups for those who are interested, including a book club, young adult social group, a support group for coming out, addiction support groups, a group for those living with HIV/AIDS, and even some health and athletic groups.

Much of this will be community driven; tell us what your needs are and we will try to meet them.

We have also envisioned a small storefront.

Our vision isn’t a full-blown store; rather, a place where members of the LGBT and supportive community could come to buy greeting cards for all occasions and seasons, pride (rainbow, etc.) merchandise, jewelry, charms, flags, etc. Perhaps it will even include items for commitment ceremonies, weddings and baby showers. Most of these aren’t items that we can get anywhere in the area. Exactly what the store will end up offering will evolve over time, starting small and developing as we respond to the needs and wants of the community. Eventually, our goal would be that the proceeds from the store would cover some of the Center’s operating costs, such as utilities or maybe even rent!

Our overarching objective is to reinvigorate not only the community center itself, but also the community. Simply being the organization that puts out a monthly publication, holding periodic events, and providing visibility through community events and the annual PRIDEFEST, is no longer enough. The community is in need of a communal gathering spot for meetings, events, movie nights, discussion and support groups, and just plain ‘ole hanging out every now and then, outside of a bar.

The need exists for expanded services, like testing, counseling and health fairs. Those are but a few. Over the coming months, and beyond, it is our aspiration to meet the needs of the community as best we can. We have no desire to become some behemoth that is unresponsive or unmanageable. Rather, we intend to be true to what a community center is—a place where members of the community can gather for group activities, social support and information, that attends to people’s needs, desires and aspirations.

Our mission statement sums it up pretty well: we are here “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. We will do this by providing a safe place for LGBT community life; providing services that promote well-being; building bridges

to other communities and groups; and advocating for LGBT issues and rights.”

In order to accomplish all of this, it’s going to take a great deal of time, effort, and money. It is important to us to proceed in organized phases. Phase 1 will include considerable cleaning, painting and

Front LAYOUT OF THE NEW FAMILY TREE CENTER FACILITY

continued on pg. 4

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CH A NGING U P OUR “DIGS” continued from pg. 3

preparation throughout, building a wall to create a separation between the front and back areas, and development of the reception area, a small storefront, and moving our existing library into place. The cost to complete Phase 1 is estimated at $2,500, which includes renovating the front reception area and development of the retail space, with a completion date of May 31 for an early June welcome and open house reception. Phase 2 includes finishing the office and storage spaces, building a conference room, and furnishing much of the back areas. The estimated cost for Phase 2 is $3,000, with a completion date of September 30. In Phase 3, we plan to put the finishing touches on the center with computers, a ceiling-mounted projector and screen, and expanding the storefront. Phase 3 is estimated to cost $3,000, and is hoped to be complete by early December. Not listed in these costs are things such as the utility deposit, monthly rent, telephone and Internet access, and utilities, to name a few of our operating costs.

tree FRIEND OF THE

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TREE TODAY! We’d like to thank our 2012 Friend of the Tree Benefactor Members!

Andy Janecek Bennett Chesser Chuck Strom John Wallace Skye Dakota Nelson Steven Hall

How far we can get and how quickly those phases can be completed will depend greatly on financial contributions, donations of needed goods and professional services, and volunteer labor. The proper mixture of donations and volunteers could see us completing Phase 3 in a matter of a few months, rather than nearly a year. It is our hope that the community center we have described, that we aspire to become, is what you want us to develop into.

We will know we are on the right track by your response to this article, and to a follow-up mailing in the near future with some additional information.

Don’t just tell us you support us and what we are striving to provide for the community, show us through your donations of time and money. The board is committed to working towards this new Center, but we cannot do it alone. We need you. My name is Steven Hall, and I’m here to recruit YOU, let’s be part of the change we want to see in this community, together.

COMMUNITY CENTER

Steven Hall is the current chair of The Family Tree’s Board of Directors.

He can be reached at steven@familytreecenter.org

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UPCOMING

EVENTS

March 22, 29: 6:30pm Tallahassee PRIDEFEST Planning Committee Meeting @ Krewe de Gras Midtown Tavern March 23: 8pm Spring Fling Live DJ, Dancing, Cash Bar Hosted by The Family Tree @ American Legion Hall, Lake Ella $5 at the door, 18+ Event Sponsored by ABJames DJ

March 26: 6:30pm Board of Directors Workshop March 30: Door 8pm, Show 9pm GenderNation X: A Drag Show!

A sophisticated labyrinth of gender expression!

Hosted by Aidan Justus Benefit for Transgender Tallahassee @ The Warehouse $5 at the door, 18+ Event Sponsored by ABJames DJ

April 1: 2pm Green Back Event at H&R Block Tax Filing Assistance and Past Reviews @ H&R Block S. Monroe Street, Near Winn-Dixie April 9: 6:30pm Board of Directors Meeting April 15: Branching Out May Issue Deadline April 17-21: Tallahassee PRIDEFEST 2012 See www.tallahasseepride.com for details!

ALL EVENTS TAKE PLACE AT THE FAMILY TREE UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. For more information about any of these events, contact The Family Tree at 850.222.8555 or staff@familytreecenter.org.

TRANSGENDERSCOPE

by Margeaux Mutz-Tso • Branching Out Production Team

A little bit about a few things: A few weeks ago, my fellow board members, Steven Hall, and I were checking out what will soon become the new home of The Family Tree at the Tallahassee Mall.

Quietly, Steven nudged me and said, “Look, isn’t that cool, two guys!” “That’s cool Steven,” I said, “but guys aren’t exactly an endangered species.” “They could be if they are holding hands at the mall,” he said. That piqued my interest so I turned and looked. Sure enough, there they were.

What a beautiful sight it was! My mind immediately went to my first foray to a mall dressed in women’s clothing and the feelings I felt. It was both exhilarating and discomforting (an extremely understated word for scary). I wondered if they were feeling the same thing.

For me, walking through a mall or anywhere else as the woman I have always been has gotten easier; it no longer makes me feel discomfort. On the other hand, my new label as a lesbian has created issues involving hand holding in public. During my designation as a man, holding the hand

of a woman in public produced no looks, no feelings of discomfort. Thus, after I began my transition, I didn’t think twice about holding hands with a girlfriend in public spaces. As time has passed though, I have noticed a feeling welling up inside me that is disturbing. I sometimes feel the need to be discreet about public displays of affection with my wife (“wubbie”). I’m not talking about sex on the sidewalk but things such as holding hands. What a shame that I have to stop and think about it! Is this the price I now pay for being a woman who loves a woman? It is only if I let it! You go guys! I’m right with you!

I did have a positive experience lately in an area that has been extremely vexing.

That is the area of phone interaction. For those of us who are MTF (male-to-female) transsexuals and have transitioned late in life, the hormone testosterone has had many years to do its thing. Thus, the secondary sexual characteristic of voice pitch has had a long time to become established; neither estrogen, testosterone blockers, nor surgery will change it. Therefore, any time I talk

COLORS OF FAITH: RADICAL INCLUSION

to a phone representative on the phone I get the “How can I help you today, sir?” I actually have one transwoman friend who has her partner do all her phone interactions because of the hated “Sir.” Recently though, a phone representative actually asked me, after seeing the spelling of my name, whether she was talking to a female or male. That was really cool, one example of a person not making assumptions about a person’s gender.

Sometimes I wonder if anyone but me has bought into my femininity. It’s not an important issue to me anymore but it is nice to get validation every now and then. That validation came when a hairdresser who has known me since pre-transition said to me “your short haircut is just adorable!” Not the words that one would use if they thought they were talking to a man. Priceless!

Margeaux Mutz-Tso is the facilitator of Transgender Tallahassee and owns a local salon – Hairvoyance. Reach her at margeaux@familytreecenter.org.

Photos from planning meeting for the Tallahassee PRIDEFEST 2012 Interfaith Service

P OW E R E D B Y P R I D E 5

Community Resource Directory Community Organizations •

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

• • • • • • • •

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 youthgroup@familytreecenter.org 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 for HIV-positive members

Mondays, 7-8 , www.bigbendcares.org 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 GLAAM: Gays, Lesbians and Allies Advancing Medicine - Florida State College of Medicine, GLAAM is a student group at FSU College of Medicine that promotes equality in healthcare. ­— jmo09@med.fsu.edu TCC Pride - tccpridegrp@gmail.com FAMU’s LGBT Pride Student Union - facebook.com/groups/FAMUpride

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 Lake Jackson United Methodist Church 4223 North Monroe Street...................................................................................562-1759 Red Hills Pagan Council ......................................................... www.redhillspagans.org

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

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Please support the businesses that support your community!

We have a wide selection of:

Birdseed Bird Feeders Optics Nesting Boxes Birdbaths Nature Gifts

1505-2 Governor’s Square Blvd

850-576-0002

www.wbu.com/tallahassee

Finding Your Wings, LLC Therapy for Individuals, Couples, and Groups

Elizabeth Kamphausen, LCSW Certified in Grief, Loss and Bereavement Counseling EMDR Trained for Healing Trauma Substance Abuse Counseling Spiritual Direction Diploma

850-274-3992 liz4therapy@earthlink.net 1113 S. Magnolia Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301

The Family Tree has 10x10 pop-up tents available for rent.

Contact staff@familytreecenter.org for more information.

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The Family Tree P.O. Box 38477 Tallahassee, FL 32315

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RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

GenderNation X

A Drag Show hosted by Aidan Justus

“A sophisticated labyrinth of gender expression!”

Gender bending performances by some of Tallahassee’s Best Performers!

Kings, Queens, In-Betweens, & Outside the Seams!

Door prizes, contests, and fun!

March 30th @ the Warehouse $5 Admission • 18+ • Doors open 8pm • Show @ 9pm Benefit for Transgender Tallahassee Sponsored by ABJames DJ Official After Party at ReHab To Volunteer or For More Info: ABJamesDJ@gmail.com or (850) 528-9552