Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 32, No. 5

It’s Summer!

PRIDE Is Coming Drag at the Beach

C R E A T I N G

A

M O R E

P O S I T I V E

R E H O B O T H

May 27, 2022 Volume 32, Number 5 camprehoboth.com

inside 4 In Brief 6 President’s View WES COMBS

8 CAMP News 12 Community News 14 LGBTQ+ YA

Outside of the Gender Binary ASPEN MOON

16 The Way We Were

Belly Up to the Bar, Boys (and Girls)

BETH SHOCKLEY

ROMEO SAN VICENTE

30 Be A Sport!

96 The Sea Salt Table

PATTIE CINELLI

ED CASTELLI

Pickleball: Not Just for Seniors

Dry Rub BBQ Ribs

32 Health & Wellness

100 CAMP Arts

Dementia? Or Normal Aging?

DOUG YETTER

ROBB MAPOU

102 Booked Solid

34 Dining Out

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

Great Dining at go fish

112 Byways

MICHAEL GILLES

18 It’s My Life

CLARENCE FLUKER

20 Historical Headliners

90 Deep Inside Hollywood

28 ‘Tis the Season

36 Words Matter

MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

VOLUME 32, NUMBER 5 • MAY 27, 2022

Beach Joy

FAY JACOBS

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

THIS ISSUE

The Art of Provoking Conversation

40 Volunteer Spotlight KAREN LAITMAN

Party On! The Slide Bar

“Celebrating CAMP,” by Geri Dibiase, see page 100.

MICKEY ROX

44 Service, Support, Comfort It’s a Dog’s Life!

MARJ SHANNON

48 The Real Dirt

ANN APTAKER

Displaying Your Pride

22 Guest House Chronicles

50 Straight Talk

Herbert’s Legacy TOM KELCH

24 Out & About

A Pro-Choice Film Festival ERIC PETERSON

ERIC WAHL

Setting Up the Dominoes DAVID GARRETT

52 Queens at the Beach MATTY BROWN

62 View Point

First They Came for the Women

114 We Remember

RICHARD ROSENDALL

68 Celebrity Interview Paula Abdul at the White Party MICHAEL COOK

70 CAMPshots

Gumbo Crawling, Golf Ladies, and More RB Springtime!

ON THE COVER

Tamia Mykles, see page 52.

Photo by Murray Archibald

78 Q-Puzzle 82 Quincy

Where Are You?

88 Visiting View

26 CAMP Houses

A Honeymoon for One ROBERT DOMINIC

Aqua: Behind the Chalk Board RICH BARNETT

Down & Dirty with Gay Racer Dustin Sprouse

See page 52

Photo: Alexander Frost

Letters from CAMP Rehoboth welcomes submissions. Email editor@camprehoboth.com.

Photographs must be high resolution (300 dpi).

Documents should be sent as attachments in Microsoft Word®. Deadline for submissions is two weeks prior to the issue release date.

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EDITOR Marj Shannon EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE Matty Brown DESIGN AND LAYOUT Mary Beth Ramsey ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Tricia Massella DISTRIBUTION Mark Wolf

Letters from CAMP Rehoboth is published 13 times per year, between February and December, as a program of CAMP Rehoboth Inc., a non-profit community service organization.

CAMP Rehoboth seeks to create a more positive environment of cooperation and understanding among all people. Revenue generated by advertisements supports CAMP Rehoboth’s purpose as outlined in our mission statement.

CONTRIBUTORS: Ann Aptaker, Rich Barnett, Matty Brown, Ed Castelli, Pattie Cinelli, Wes Combs, Michael Cook, Robert Dominic, Clarence Fluker, Michael Thomas Ford, David Garrett, Michael Gilles, Fay Jacobs, Tom Kelch, Karen Laitman, Amber Lee, Robb Mapou, Tricia Massella, Aspen Moon, Eric Peterson, Mary Beth Ramsey, Richard Rosendall, Mikey Rox, Romeo San Vicente, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Marj Shannon, Beth Shockley, Eric Wahl, Doug Yetter

The inclusion or mention of any person, group, or business in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth does not, nor is it intended in any way, to imply sexual orientation or gender identity. The content of the columns are the views and opinions of the writers and may not indicate the position of CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. © 2022 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved by CAMP Rehoboth. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the editor.

CAMP REHOBOTH

MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE MISSION CAMP Rehoboth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community service organization dedicated to creating a positive environment inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Rehoboth Beach and its related communities. We seek to promote cooperation and understanding among all people, as we work to build a safer community with room for all.

VISION We create proud and safe communities where gender identity and sexual orientation are respected.

PURPOSE Promoting the health and wellness of our community through a variety of programs including HIV testing and counseling, mental health support, fitness classes, mindfulness classes, support for LGBTQ youth, and building community and support.

Promoting artistic expressions and creative thinking, and giving aid to artists and craftspeople with an emphasis on the works of LGBTQ people.

Advocating for our community to build a safe and inclusive community through voter information, education, and registration; and analysis of issues and candidates.

Education and outreach to the larger community, including sensitivity training seminars, and printed materials to promote positive images of LGBTQ people and our allies.

Networking resources and information by publishing a newsletter, and functioning as an alternative tourist bureau and information center.

From the Editor

BY MARJ SHANNON, EDITOR

ANOTHER OPENING, ANOTHER SHOW…. OH, WAIT—DIFFERENT VENUE. HOW ABOUT…IT’S another kick-off, another season…. And, off we go into sun-and-fun 2022—yay summer!

Never mind that the storm of a few weeks ago made off with a lot of our sand; there’s still a bit of beach, the boardwalk, the ocean, the salty breezes, the scent of sunscreen and Thrasher’s fries—yes, there’s still summer. In Rehoboth. At last.

Beth Shockley’s Beach Joy (page 28) speaks to how many of us are feeling about that: joyful, indeed. And Ed Castelli’s BBQ ribs (page 96) are a perfect, finger-lickin’ accompaniment. Matty Brown (page 52) lets us in on some of the entertainment in store this summer in Dewey—there are good times ahead, for sure!

We’ve got lots more to share with you in this issue, from look-backs to look-aheads— SunFestival, anyone?! See page 10 for what’s in store come summer’s end (never mind we’re just now at its beginning!).

There will be lots of opportunities for you to be a part of assuring SunFestival 2022 is fabulous. So plan now to roll up your sleeves, sharpen those pencils, refresh your ushering skills, and get ready for a good time. Eager to get started? Just send an inquiry to sunfestival@camprehoboth.com.

Meanwhile, take a look at our LGBTQ+ YA column, where the writer shares their story of emerging identity. Or accept Robert Dominic’s invitation to vicariously visit an up-andcoming wedding destination—never mind that he gets to go in-person. And Pattie Cinelli reports on her love affair—with pickleball!

Of course, it’s not all fun, all the time. We have some serious looks at the worrisome direction it seems the Supreme Court is heading; meanwhile, Eric Peterson offers us a prochoice film festival line-up to help us cope.

PRESIDENT Wesley Combs VICE PRESIDENT Leslie Ledogar SECRETARY Mike DeFlavia TREASURER Bea Vuocolo

As we contemplate the possible loss of some hard-won rights, we’re also offered an opportunity to underscore the importance of others: June is Pride month. Any time—all the time—is a good time to be proud. But it’s even better when we can share our pride—and celebrate it—with our community. Some of the local festivities are noted in the next few pages. Check out the possibilities and come join in!

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS Chris Beagle, Jane Blue, Pat Catanzariti, David Garrett, David Mariner (non-voting), Jason Darion Mathis-White, Natalie Moss, Tara Sheldon, and Leslie Sinclair

CAMP REHOBOTH 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 tel 302-227-5620 | email editor@camprehoboth.com www.camprehoboth.com

CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to CAMP Rehoboth are considered charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes and may be deducted to the fullest extent of the law.

A copy of our exemption document is available for public inspection.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Wear Orange Weekend

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ear Orange is a non-political, non-partisan initiative organized

by Everytown. The campaign is called “Wear Orange.” It begins with National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday, June 3, followed by Wear Orange Weekend, June 4 and 5.

During this time, the goal is to spread awareness of public safety. It is dedicated to honoring the lives of people in the US affected by gun violence and to elevating the voices of those asking for an end to it. Fifty-eight percent of Americans have been affected by some form of gun violence, such as suicide, domestic violence, homicides, or assaults.

Anne McWalter, the Delaware volunteer for Everytown, is a two-time survivor of gun violence herself. Both instances were suicides. “The trauma from those events had lasting effects,” says McWalter. Her story is not unique; there are many survivors who carry that trauma ev-

ery day. That’s where Everytown comes in, providing services like counseling to survivors, and education and awareness campaigns for the public.

“Much of gun violence is driven by hate. We reach out to communities affected to transform tragedies into education and awareness and a call to end gun violence,” said McWalter.

Visibility is key in that effort.

In Delaware, during Wear Orange Weekend, buildings and landmarks will be lit orange on Friday evening; a Wear Orange Vigil will be held in Dover; a Wear Orange team will be spreading the word at a Pride Fest table on Saturday; and a survivor event, “Celebrating Lives Lost,” will take place on Sunday. The campaign invites all to either wear orange, hold up an orange sign, do an orange craft—something creative with the color orange—and post to social media to broadcast and amplify this message. ▼

ACME Fundraises for Pride

The countdown to Pride Month is on!

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n alliance with the LGBTQ+ community, ACME is thrilled to share that the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center has been selected by ACME Community Relations in the Give Back Where It Counts Bag Program for the entire month of June 2022.

For the month of June 2022, CAMP Rehoboth Community Center will receive a $1.00 donation from each purchase of the $3.00 reusable Give Back Where It Counts Bag at the ACME store located at: 18578 Coastal Highway #13, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Thank you, ACME, for supporting CAMP Rehoboth’s mission! ▼

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Narcan Training at CAMP Rehoboth

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n Thursday, May 12, community members at CAMP Rehoboth were certified to administer Narcan, a lifesaving treatment used in an overdose.

Allenet Dessuit, a CRT Coordinator with the Delaware Community Response Team, facilitated the training, and all attendees earned a certificate for completion.

Attendees learned that Delaware ranks second in the nation for the highest opioid overdose rates, making the urgent need for the training abundantly clear. Narcan kits can be purchased at most local drug stores or can be sent for free upon request to the Delaware Community Response Team.

Interested in receiving this training yourself? Follow the team on Facebook at DECommunityResponseTeams to find training opportunities.

SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendars for their event, Overdose Awareness Day, at Del Castle Park on August 26. This will be a free, family-oriented, fun event including children’s activities and remembrance activities for those lost to overdose. ▼

SPEAKOut Summer Solstice at the Lodge

Diversity Panel at UDEL

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he Lodge at Truitt Homestead will host the second annual Summer Solstice on the Terrace fundraiser to benefit CAMP Rehoboth on Saturday, June 25, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The event follows the hugely popular inaugural celebration last June, which raised over $8,200.

This year’s event will include a silent auction, 50-50 raffle, win-a-wine, and hors d’oeuvres & cocktails. Entertainment will be provided by Peggy Raley and the True Blue Jazz All-Stars. All-white attire is requested.

Tickets are $75 on EventBrite and RSVPs are due by June 15. ▼

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n April 28, CAMP Rehoboth’s Amber Lee and a panel of speakers met with Dave Sechler of the University of Delaware.

They spoke to a classroom of future teachers. The goal was to create an environment where the future teachers were able to ask questions and have a safe environment to do so. All classrooms are inherently diverse, and making sure future leaders are culturally competent is a vital undertaking.

Panelists included CAMP volunteers Kasey Gonzalez-Cruz and Tamia Gisele Mykles; Tiffanni Felder, Executive Director of The First State Outreach Center; Jalisa Mack from The First State Outreach Center; and Donna Dunlap, from I Am Me Inc. ▼

CAMP Rehoboth Gears Up for Pride

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olunteer with CAMP Rehoboth for specialty Pride events throughout the month of June.

On June 4, Dover will host Delaware Pride at Legislative Mall in Dover. Join us at the CAMP Rehoboth table for Pride flags and giveaways, and volunteer to staff the table to help spread CAMP’s mission to attendees. Delaware Pride will feature a parade, drag performances, and many more family-friendly activities.

Plus, don’t miss CAMP’s presence throughout Milton Pride events—e.g., a Magnolia Applebottom drag show on June 10, the Queer Queens of Comedy show on June 11, and the Elton John tribute on June 12. ▼ INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT? Sign up by visiting camprehoboth.com/volunteers.

The Spirituality of Coming Out

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he Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Kaeton and the Rev. Barry Stopfel will share their insights about The Spirituality of Coming Out on Thursday, June 16, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the parish hall of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 2nd and Mulberry Streets in Lewes. Ice cream will follow.

Kaeton and Stopfel will discuss coming out as part of a life-long spiritual practice of seeking the integration of our sexual identities into the whole of our lives. For LGBTQ+ folks, as well as everyone, living out of an identity that is more authentic and the purging of a false life image will bring an abiding communion with the Divine that is at the deepest center of ourselves.

Admission is FREE. Attendees must be fully vaccinated and boosted or wear a mask.

This presentation is part of the Summer Spirituality Series at St. Peter’s on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. through the summer. For more information, go to stpeterslewes.org and select Parish Life. ▼

Dear Editor: On May 15, I attended the CAMP Rehoboth Concert. It was a very strange occurrence to be a part of the audience as opposed to being an alto-singing member of the Chorus as I had been for the past several years.

Doug Yetter was our Director then as he is now. We always worked very hard and I practiced relentlessly to get it right. It was always an emotional experience to sing for large audiences of ever-appreciative friends and family. Standing on the risers gave me a bird’s-eye view of the shared emotions as we sang away. People mouthed the words, some cried, some held hands, and I saw tons of smiles and heard pounds of applause.

This year, due to COVID constraints, I chose to stand down and let my friends carry on. This time I mouthed the words, cried, held my spouse’s hand, smiled, and gave the Chorus their well-deserved rounds and pounds of applause.

It was definitely different from the other side, but I loved every minute of it.

The Chorus has and will continue to be an everburning star among the many happenings of CAMP. I was always so proud to be a part of that talented group. I am still so proud of them, and I will be out there on the other side for them for as long as I can be.

– Barbara Passikoff

Send letters to the editor (up to 300 words) to editor@camprehoboth.com MAY 27, 2022

5 Letters

President’s View

BY WESLEY COMBS

Providing Services; Embracing Change

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don’t know about you, but summer cannot come soon enough! The last two weeks of gloomy weather has me hungering for sun-filled days on the beach, happy hour at Aqua, and hanging out in the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard noshing on a bagel from Lori’s Oy Vey Café.

Slowly but surely, life is coming back to a new normal that feels more familiar than I could have hoped. While COVID is still rearing its ugly head, thanks to vaccines and boosters infection rates remain low and in most cases those who test positive are experiencing mild symptoms.

Speaking of health and wellness, the staff at CAMP Rehoboth has remained focused on our primary mission of providing impactful free health and wellness programming to the community throughout the year. One such initiative is the CAMPsafe program, which seeks to prevent new HIV infections and reinfections among negative and positive community members.

Thanks to a longstanding contract with Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), CAMPsafe staff and volunteer HIV testers and counselors continue to provide free health workshops and screenings, and HIV-STD testing and prevention. The program targets the Rehoboth area, western Sussex County, and beyond. Throughout the pandemic CAMP Rehoboth served as a vital resource for the state offering continuous service and support. That included having a presence at events ranging from the hugely popular Firefly Music Festival to a health fair hosted by Beebe Healthcare.

I recently spoke with DHSS Division of Public Health staffer Ray Collins, who coordinates the HIV testing program statewide. He shared that CAMP Rehoboth’s efforts in western Sussex County have been instrumental in combatting the surge in HIV infections from IV drug use. Ray attributes Delaware’s ability to raise awareness about how HIV is spread and to get people into treatment as soon as possible in part to the success of the CAMPsafe program.

Throughout the pandemic CAMP Rehoboth served as a vital resource for the state offering continuous service and support.

Maintaining the community’s mental health is also central to our ability to create a more positive Rehoboth, and nothing heals the soul better than music. Attending one of this month’s Great American Songbook concerts by the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus was definitely something good for what ailed me. More than 700 people attended the three concerts at Epworth United Methodist Church, where close to 60 chorus members sang unforgettable music by America’s greatest 20th-century songwriters, including Ira Gershwin, Billy Joel, and Carol King.

Did I hear someone ask for more music this summer? I am happy to answer your prayers with the announcement in this issue of Letters that SUNDANCE is returning Labor Day weekend. Emmy-award winning comedian Judy Gold kicks off SUNFESTIVAL 2022’s extravaganza on Saturday, September 3, followed by SUNDANCE on Sunday, September 4. Fan favorite DJ Robbie Leslie will start us off spinning disco hits from Studio 54 at the SUNDANCE Twilight Tea followed by THE SUNDANCE, featuring New York-based DJ/Producer/Remixer James Anthony.

For more details, check out the two-page announcement on page 10, or visit camprehoboth.com/sunfestival2022.

I invite you to join me to exhale the past and inhale the future. ▼ Wesley Combs is CAMP Rehoboth Board President.

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TRANSITION

D

uring times of transition in my personal and professional life, I have found comfort in this quote from Socrates: “The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” As a consultant, I have led complicated initiatives launching new programs as well as reimagining existing ones. Those that achieved success had three things in common: align stakeholders on the vision, seek input from them during the process, and communicate progress along the way.

To that end, I am allocating a third of my column for the foreseeable future to provide the community with updates about CAMP Rehoboth’s leadership transition. After seeking input from non-profit management experts, the board has chosen a path forward designed to strengthen current operations, assess how best to deliver services, and develop a plan capable of achieving sustainable outcomes.

STRENGTHEN: Attracting and retaining the talent necessary to achieve CAMP’s mission requires a leader who is passionate about serving others and has proven expertise managing day to day operations. Which is why the board selected Lisa Evans to serve as Acting Manager until an Interim Executive Director is hired. Lisa brings 30 years of experience running programs and leading nonprofits in the Baltimore area.

I am excited to also share that former Financial Assistant temp Derrick Johnson has joined the fulltime staff at CAMP Rehoboth. You can read more about Derrick in CAMP News (page 8).

ASSESS: The Executive Committee is wrapping up the interview process to identify an Interim Executive Director who has proven experience in assessing an organization’s strategic focus, leadership and management, governance, human resource capacity, and financial and fundraising structure against leading practices.

Our goal is to have this person in place by mid-June. ▼

MAY 27, 2022

7 Letters

CAMPNews CROP at the Food Bank

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n Tuesday, May 3, a CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) team of seven volunteers made its bi-monthly appearance at the Food Bank of Delaware in Milford.

This visit, they sorted incoming donations into various food categories such as breakfast, protein, soup, pasta and rice, beverages, and more.

And then, filled 80 boxes with 30 pounds of food each; these boxes will go directly to individual families in need.

It’s always a good day when CROP volunteers can help out their fellow Delawareans. Next outing to the Food Bank: Tuesday, July 5. Hope to see you there! ▼

Book Your Next Event at CAMP Rehoboth

Do you have any big upcoming events and need an accommodating space? Consider booking your next event at CAMP Rehoboth!

Whether it’s a gathering for a birthday party, a wedding, a conference, or a general meeting for your organization, our conference rooms and/or the Elkins-Archibald Atrium may be your perfect fit. For more information and for booking rates, call 302-227-5620. ▼

Rainbow Thumb Club Is Back in Action

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n mid-May, the Rainbow Thumb Club sprang back into action for another season of beautifying CAMP Rehoboth’s Courtyard.

This special group of volunteers waters the flowers, blows the leaves, and freshens up the dog bowls for all stopping by the courtyard. Many members of the crew are impressive gardeners in their own right, and to combine their talents as a collective makes the CAMP gardens look inviting and wonderful.

Special thanks to Linda DeFeo, the club’s coordinator for many years. She has stepped down from her coordinating position, but will Letters 8

MAY 27, 2022

still show each Friday morning for her gardening shift. And another special thanks to Carol Brice, who assumed that role in addition to her Monday morning shift.

The club appreciates you both!

CAMP Rehoboth extends a huge thank you to Windsor’s Flowers, Plants, & Shrubs, which has again graciously donated many of the flowers that grace the courtyard.

Please stop by CAMP anytime to marvel at the selections, and if you see one of our volunteers sweeping leaves or plucking weeds, be sure to say hello! ▼

— DERRICK JOHNSON — JOINS THE TEAM

On May 23, Derrick Johnson officially joined the CAMP Rehoboth team as a full-time financial assistant. Previously, Derrick had worked with CAMP in this role as a temp. Bringing an extensive background in healthcare administration, Derrick was retired for two years before deciding to get back out there. And we’re so happy he did! Get to know Derrick a little from his answers below and stop by the CAMP Rehoboth front office anytime during business hours to meet (and welcome!) him in person.

Where are you from?

I am originally from NYC.

What’s your favorite part about living by the beach?

Living by the beach provides quick access to the ocean. The ocean is a natural wonder that soothes as well as invigorates my spirit.

Latest music obsession?

Brazilian soul

Favorite cocktail?

Vodka martini, but Manhattans are a close second.

Did you expect to see the growing acceptance of the LGBTQ community in your lifetime?

No, but I am excited by the freedom of expression of the young LGBTQ community.

What excites you about CAMP Rehoboth?

The mission, vision, personal acceptance of all of me, and the interpersonal comfort I experience with the CAMP community. ▼

CAMPNews Rehoboth Beach Bears Donate to CAMP Rehoboth

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he Rehoboth Beach Bears, celebrating seven great years of fun in Rehoboth Beach, recently made two donations to CAMP Rehoboth. The Fundraising and Philanthropic Committee of the Bears recommended a donation of $2,000 to support the general operations of CAMP Rehoboth. An additional $500 was earmarked specifically for CAMPsafe, the organization’s health and wellness programs. The Board of Directors approved the donations earlier this year.

The Rehoboth Beach Bears hold an annual weekend of fun activities each fall. This year they will host their gathering on September 14-18. Over 300 attendees from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region are expected to participate.

Highlights of the weekend will include visits to local restaurants and bars, social gatherings, and shopping sprees at a bear-centric vendor mall. The climax of the weekend is a Comedy Show on Saturday evening that features headliner Ben Zook, a well-known and beloved fixture of the Where the Bears Are film series.

Weekend passes and individual event ticket information will be available on the Bears’ website at rehobothbeachbears.com.

The Rehoboth Beach Bears are part of the LGBTQ+ commu-

nity and can best be defined as “a large part of the community, being men of a larger size, most of them with facial hair, and all of them with a jovial perspective on life.” The Rehoboth Beach Bears, Inc. is a 501(c)3 community-based social organization working to better the LGBTQ+ community in the Rehoboth Beach area. ▼ Pictured, left to right, Kenny Mahan, Board Vice President, RB Bears, Wes Combs, Board President, CAMP Rehoboth, Mike DeFlavia, Board Secretary, CAMP Rehoboth, Charlie Rouse, Board President, RB Bears

Condom Stuffing Party

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n Friday, April 29, CAMPsafe hosted its first condom stuffing party in the Elkins-Archibald Atrium. This volunteer event brought in community members to stuff condoms, lube, and materials promoting safe sex to be shared with CAMPsafe distribution points and community partners. Dozens of kits were prepared and are being shared with local establishments. See a jar around town running low on materials? Feel free to let us know at the CAMP Rehoboth office. Would you like to be added to our condom distribution list? Contact amber@camprehoboth.com to register for this free service. ▼

All Aboard to the Philly Flower Show

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he CAMP Rehoboth bus trips are back! On Thursday, June 16, CAMPers will be heading to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show.

As the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event, the show’s theme is “In Full Bloom.” CAMP’s excursion will fall in the middle of the show’s run, which begins on June 11 and ends on Sunday, June 19. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at camprehoboth.com. ▼

CAMP REHOBOTH THANKS OUR PREMIER SPONSORS

For information on how to become a CAMP Rehoboth Annual Sponsor, email development@camprehoboth.com or call 302-227-5620.

MAY 27, 2022

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CommunityNews Petco Love Supports Brandywine SPCA

Wings of Hope

ational non-profit Petco Love has invested $1.5 million in Brandywine Valley SPCA to save pet lives in Delaware and Pennsylvania. The grant is the largest in BVSPCA history and among the largest awarded by Petco Love.

One million dollars of the grant will be applied to the BVSPCA’s new campus in New Castle, Delaware, expected to open in late summer of this year. The new center will feature the first shelter Intensive Care Unit in the region, double the organization’s capacity to provide low-cost veterinary care to family pets, and enhance shelter pet housing with features like outdoor catios, indoor/ outdoor dog kennels, and outdoor dog play yards.

The remaining $500,000 will be applied to lifesaving programs, including the BVSPCA’s Mega Adoption Events (MAEs). The BVSPCA will hold an in-shelter MAE on June 25-26 at all of its campuses across Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Congratulations to the BVSPCA and thank you for all the work you do! ▼

The 12th Annual Wings of Hope butterfly release to benefit Cancer Support Community Delaware (CSCDE) will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, at Milton Memorial Park, Milton, Delaware. The free-to-the-public, family-friendly event is highlighted by a ceremony and the release of butterflies in recognition of family, friends, and neighbors throughout Sussex County whose lives have been impacted by cancer.

Further details can be found on CSCDE’s Wings of Hope event page: cancersupportdelaware.org. ▼

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Café Azafrán Wins the Gumbo Prize The Gumbo Crawl was back this year, and 16 restaurants participated. Hosted

by Rehoboth Beach Main Street, the event was a big success, drawing hundreds of gumbo tasters. Congratulations to the winner, Café Azafrán! ▼

Prime Timers Happy Hour Join the kickoff of Coastal Delaware Prime Timers—a local social group for gay men. It will meet for the first time on Tuesday, June 14, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Shrimpy’s Bar & Grill in the Midway Shopping Center on Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach.

The chapter invites interested community members to join and meet other local guys and tell their chapter what kind of activities should be sponsored. It will be a great place to get together with old friends and make new ones.

Prime Timers is a national organization with 75 chapters and over 10,000 members. To find out about upcoming events, send your name and email address to Frank at coastalprimetimers@ gmail.com. ▼

Know o t s Thing My Mom: y, About

e attorn d e r i t 1. Re eal Estate FT R 16712 Kings Highway, Lewes Agent 302.645.6661 e c i v r e S tomer t! s u C .

2 firs comes

The DonnaWhiteside Group 302.381.4871 donnawhiteside@gotogallo.com A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC

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S R A E B H C A E B H T REHOBO RS

A E Y T A E R G 8 G IN T A R CELEB

2022 Scholarships will be awarded on June 2

*FURst FRIDAY: Top of The Pines 56 Baltimore Ave Starting at 6pm

MAY 27, 2022

13 Letters

LGBTQ+ YA Column

BY ASPEN MOON

Outside of the Gender Binary

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he lockdown that took place in 2020 was a time of several awakenings for me. One of these awakenings was the beginning of my gender identity crisis. I know that sounds dramatic, but at the time it felt like my world was turning upside down.

It started with a video game I really enjoyed at the time. It was mostly a text-based game where you could decide what your character was proficient with, and then go through a series of dungeons to fight your way through. In my first run of the game, I decided to play as a male herbalist.

One of the things about this game I loved is that there was no player avatar shown on the screen, so what your character looks like is only limited by your imagination.

One of the nights I was cooped up in my room playing it, I thought, “What does my character look like?” Those who know me can confirm drawing has always been a major part of my life.

Creating art has provided me with an outlet for storytelling; a way to cope with mental health struggles and express myself in ways I otherwise couldn’t in the physical Within my friend groups, I’m world. So, soon after, I got out my drawing tablet and trying out how it feels being started brainstorming. referred to as they/them and The outcome was… unexpected, to say the he/him, along with the she/her least.

I’ve grown so used to.

Up until that point, I had always drawn myself as a woman. This felt comfortable, and I never thought of doing anything differently. It wasn’t until I drew this character that I realized how much I enjoyed feeling and being perceived as masculine, and how badly I wanted to look like this fictional representation of myself.

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, what I was feeling was gender euphoria. For those who don’t know what gender euphoria is, it is a feeling of relief, comfort, or joy that occurs when how you present yourself aligns with your internal gender Letters 14

MAY 27, 2022

identity. Each person’s experience with gender euphoria—and on the flip side, gender dysphoria (or lack thereof)—is very personal. No two folks’ experiences will be exactly the same.

Fast forward from that period in lockdown to March, 2021. The previous summer, two of my closest friends had come out as non-binary and were now using different pronouns. Before this happened, I had a hard time understanding what non-binary was, and frankly was very ignorant when talking about it. That summer, suddenly this strange new identity I’d written off the year before was now right at my doorstep, so to speak. I was forced to reconcile with my internalized feelings of confusion, discomfort, everything, head-on if I wanted to support my friends the way they deserved.

And through that, I realized that I fell outside of the gender binary as well. It’s been more than a year later, and I’m only just starting to overcome my feelings of imposter syndrome.

Creating art and character designs to represent how I’ve been feeling has really helped facilitate my journey through this self-discovery process, just as it helped me begin it. Within my friend groups, I’m trying out how it feels being referred to as they/them and he/him, along with the she/her I’ve grown so used to.

So far, I’ve been quite fond of being able to be so fluid with how I present myself on a day-today basis. Comforting, even, not boxing myself into a singular category of man or woman. I’ve even gotten in touch with an LGBTQ+ specialized therapist. This time during 2020, I don’t think I would ever begin to imagine where I would be today. Let alone before lockdown. I have no idea where this gender journey will take me, but I’m grateful to just enjoy the ride and see where it leads. ▼ Aspen Moon is a Delaware college student majoring in Human Services. They plan to pursue a master’s degree in Art Therapy.

Artwork by Aspen Moon

MAY 27, 2022

15 Letters

THE WAY WE WERE

BY FAY JACOBS

Belly Up to the Bar, Boys (and Girls)

T

he very first almost-gay bar in Rehoboth was the Pink Pony, housed where Victoria’s stands now, in the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel. In its heyday, Rehoboth’s gay men often stopped by the Pink Pony at cocktail hour.

Thanks to liquor laws in those days, it was illegal to walk around with a drink in your hand in a bar. Somehow, the men were able to socialize with those sitting on either side of them at the bar.

It wasn’t Diego’s or Aqua, but it was all they had.

Sadly, the Pink Pony was washed out to sea by the great 1962 storm.

Several miles south along the shore, just over the Indian River Bridge where Matt’s Fish Camp is now, the Nomad Village opened. Closed and torn down in the early 2000s, the hotel and bar complex catered mainly to men and women staying at the Nomad Hotel. But word spread that the Nomad backroom was a great meeting spot for closeted folks from DC. Sussex Countians Randall and Betty Godwin bought the land where the Nomad stood in 1959. Randall built 12 A-frame cottages and a three-story package store and bar, with apartments above. They envisioned a summer resort for families.

Randall described himself as a gay man, although one who also shared his life with his wife Betty and their children.

Randall became friends with Jim Short, a Wilmington man who lost his job as a teacher and his teaching license when he was outed as a homosexual.

Years ago, Jim told me he used to go to the Pink Pony on the Boardwalk and another bar, owned by a woman named Juliet, which stood where the original Frogg Pond and now Freddie’s Beach Bar stands.

Godwin remembered that it was 1963, when Short told him that a spotter was hired at Julie’s bar to point out the increasing number of gay men frequenting the place. “Then, they used to charge a dollar a drink to the gays and Letters 16

MAY 27, 2022

just 65 cents for the straights,” Randall said.

With so many gay men in town, Jim suggested that Randall open the “other room” at the Nomad and cater to gays.

Randall said “I didn’t start out to have a gay bar; it just sort of happened. It just made sense economically.”

By the early 1990s, Bonnie and I would drive to Bethany from Maryland for dance parties around the pool at the Nomad.

Many folks who frequented the Nomad back then remember being asked their names and having to sign in. Randall insisted that, rather than harassing people, he was just trying to keep the place a private club so that they wouldn’t be harassed. The Nomad charged $5 to join plus a $3 cover in exchange for three tickets good for three beers or two drinks.

While the “other room” at the Nomad thrived, things were not easy for the Godwins. They faced problems with their liquor license as well as zoning. They were convinced their troubles were the result of their gay clientele. From 1972 through the 1980s, the Godwins fought

the county just to stay open. And more than once they heard tales of lawmakers and county officials “not going to do anything to keep that queer joint open.”

But open it stayed.

Local resident Libby Stiff had a trailer at Love Creek in the 1970s and recalls coming down on weekends from Wilmington to go to the Nomad. “It was mostly a men’s bar, but my friends and I would go there every Friday and Saturday night. In the late 1970s more women started coming to the Nomad, and it was really hopping on the weekends,” Libby recalls.

By the early 1990s, Bonnie and I would drive to Bethany from Maryland for dance parties around the pool at the Nomad. It was wonderful.

I last interviewed the Godwins in late 1999 when they lived part-time in Florida and still ran the Nomad during the summer season here in Delaware. With a self-deprecating sense of humor and pride, Randall Godwin told of holding on at the Nomad through storms, fires, and the incredible gusts of wind from local residents and officials, holding them responsible for “the gay problem.”

“It’s generally accepted that straights think I caused what was called ‘the gay problem’ in the area,” says Randall, “but it’s not true. Gays were already coming from Washington, DC. By the hundreds.”

What is true is that several generations of gay men and women, from the 1960s to the turn of the century, found safe haven at the Nomad before there were other gay and gay-friendly bars, restaurants, and dance clubs here in Rehoboth Beach. ▼ Fay Jacobs is the author of five published books and is touring with her one-woman sit-down comedy show, Aging Gracelessly. Her reports on Rehoboth’s LGBTQ history can be heard on RadioRehoboth, 99.1.

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17 Letters

It’s My Life

BY MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

“Y

ou really need to get out of there,” my friend Brett messaged me.

The there in question is the United States, and the reason for Brett’s message was the recent announcement that the Supreme Court looks likely to deliver a knockout blow to Roe v. Wade. This is, of course, just the latest in a string of exhausting events, but it’s the one that seems to be making a lot of people consider taking Brett’s advice.

Brett himself hasn’t lived in the United States in five years. He left after Trump became president, declaring that things were only going to get worse.

Taking advantage of his ancestry, he ended up in Berlin. He was able to do this not only because a handy grandparent made getting residency easy, but because his job is not location-specific and because he had significant financial resources.

“That’s it, I’m moving to Canada!” (or wherever) has long been the generally idle threat of those of us irritated by one thing or another in American life. And most of us never follow through. But more and more, my friends are seriously considering making the move. They’re weary of living in a country that appears to be being dragged backwards in time. They fear losing the rights they’ve fought for.

The older ones like myself are mostly just tired. “I marched for reproductive rights half a century ago,” my friend June said. “Now my granddaughter has to do it all over again. I’ll be there with her, of course, but I really thought we were done with this nonsense and I could maybe take a nap or something.”

Even those who can’t or won’t leave the country are looking at moving to more progressive states. “I want to live where the majority of people think like I do,” one friend said. “I just want to feel safe, and I no longer feel that way where I currently live.”

I get it. I’ve lived in some of the most liberal cities in the country, including New York, San Francisco, and Boston. But I now live in rural Ohio. Ohio in general has been trending right for a long time, culminating in the 2020 election when Trump won the state handily and for the first time since 1960 (when they chose Nixon over Kennedy) Ohio did not choose the winning candidate.

While we live in one of the few blue dots in the state, we’re surrounded by Trump flags and bumper stickers, reminders that there are a lot of people

…I know what it’s like to be one of those kids, and I know what it feels like when you finally do escape.

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here who would likely be more than happy to see the place turn solid red. When I vote, I do so knowing that the best I can generally hope for is that I’m cancelling out one Republican vote rather than voting for a candidate I believe would make the state (or the country) a better place.

“You don’t owe anyone anything,” Brett reminded me when I said that I think it’s important to stay and fight if it becomes necessary. “It’s not like the right is playing fair anyway.”

I understand his point. And I understand why so many people just want to go somewhere where the battles have already been won. But we thought we’d won them too. And if all of us leave places where it might become increasingly difficult to live our lives, what’s to become of the people who can’t leave?

Especially the young people?

I was recently invited to speak at the Dayton Metro Library this fall as part of their Social Justice Speaker Series. I will also be conducting a writing workshop for queer youth. Speaking at libraries is familiar territory for those of us who write books for young people, but recently a lot of my writer friends are turning down speaking engagements and conferences held in states where right-wing politics are the norm.

Just as I understand those who want to leave the United States because it’s become a place where they don’t feel welcome, I understand my friends who are refusing to visit states where the politics are against them or people they care about. However, I think these are exactly the places where our voices are needed. And so I’ll stay in Ohio. And I’ll cast my vote even if I know it probably won’t result in a win for my candidate. And I’ll speak to queer youth in places where they may not feel welcome, places they may dream of one day escaping. Will I tell them they should instead stay and fight? No. Because I know what it’s like to be one of those kids, and I know what it feels like when you finally do escape.

But perhaps I’ll encourage them to look for ways they can help to make change, even as I myself look for ways to do the same thing here in our rural village and beyond. Because eventually, we will win.

Again. ▼ Michael Thomas Ford is a much-published Lambda Literary award-winning author. Visit Michael at michaelthomasford.com.

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19 Letters

Historical Headliners

BY ANN APTAKER

Party On! The Slide Bar

J

une is Pride Month, one of the happiest events in the LGBTQ+ calendar, when we celebrate our struggles, triumphs, our culture, and our glorious lives. Within that happy month is one of our saddest days, June 12, the Pulse Night of Remembrance, when the LGBTQ+ community commemorates the horror at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, where 50 of our sisters, brothers, gender queers, and others in our LGBTQ+ family were shot to death and 53 were wounded by a terrorist.

So it seems fitting, in honor of our Pride and in memory of our lost loved ones to nightlife violence, that we tip a hat to historic nightspots and their courageous, outrageous patrons who defied their era’s smothering moral codes and oppressive laws.

For me, one nightspot in particular stands out as an example of LGBTQ+ courage in a time of brutal suppression of LGBTQ+ life and culture: The Slide, a true dive bar opened in 1890 in a basement on Bleecker Street in New York’s Greenwich Village where it operated until it was shut down by the police in 1892.

Despite laws criminalizing samesex relationships and socializing, there were a number of late nineteenth century nightspots across the country.

In New York, a mecca of gay life, they were chiefly in the Tenderloin district and Greenwich Village, which catered to an LGBTQ+ clientele. Most of these establishments operated clandestinely, or tried to, though their locations were more or less open secrets. Police raids or raids by the era’s moralizers were commonplace, resulting in arrests and beatings. And yet these nightspots continued to provide social and entertainment venues where LGBTQ+ patrons could meet, drink, dance, laugh, hook-up, and generally be themselves.

Among these nightspots, The Slide was considered to be the most daring. Indeed, it was often referred to by the scandal-hungry press as “notorious.” It earned this distinction because of the working class, rough-and-tumble clientele which Letters 20

MAY 27, 2022

frequented the place, and because of the rouged and lipstick’d waiters who sang sexually explicit songs while serving The Slide’s beer and cheap whiskey.

Moreover, The Slide, like other downtown dive-joints, didn’t discriminate among the races. Blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, and others of immigrant stock mixed freely. This, as much as the saloon’s sexual outlaws, enraged the general public and the moralizing crusaders who editorialized their outrage in the newspapers.

Gathering in our nightspots is also an act of remembrance and defiance…

Among The Slide’s chief attractions was a lively “fairy” contingent, fairy being the general nomenclature at the time for cross-dressing men. Though the clientele was mostly men looking for other men, The Slide also attracted its share of women, as well as male and female prostitutes. In other words, The Slide attracted a cornucopia of genders, everyone enjoying the booze, the freeflowing sex, and the bawdy music played on The Slide’s piano.

The proprietor of this wild nightspot was himself a rather wild and colorful personality: gambler, boxing referee and promoter, and friend of Tammany Hall big shot Frank Stephenson (spelled

Stevenson in some accounts, notably in Joseph Pulitzer’s New York Evening World newspaper). Though evidently not gay himself, Stephenson’s life in the sporting world introduced him to men of various races, not to mention closeted gay men and women. As far as he was concerned, these people were all potential customers for his various drinking establishments.

The aforementioned Mr. Pulitzer demonized Stephenson and The Slide in a short but acidic article in the Evening World newspaper, calling the bar “morally the lowest in New York, London, Paris or Berlin” and “a sink of vice and depravity.”

The article labeled the patrons’ socializing “evil doings.”

Such is how our LGBTQ+ community was thought of for decades, if not centuries: depraved, immoral, evil.

During this month of Pride, it behooves us to remember that such attitudes have not gone away despite our gains in civil rights. The massacre at the Pulse nightclub is testament to that ongoing hatred of our community and our lives.

Though there was an outpouring of public support for our grief and our struggle for civil rights after the Pulse shootings, the current political climate has once again turned threatening to our rights and our very safety.

Thus, gathering in our nightspots is not only a night of socializing, dancing, laughing, singing, or a night filled with tempting romantic possibilities. Gathering in our nightspots is also an act of remembrance and defiance in honor of all those who dared to live their lives, even flaunt their lives, centuries before us in nightspots like The Slide and others across the United States, where the booze was cheap, the music was sexy, and despite the threats to life and liberty, inhibitions were left at the door.

Happy Pride, everybody! Party on. ▼ Ann Aptaker’s Cantor Gold crime/mystery series has won Lambda Literary and Goldie Awards. Her short stories appear in numerous publications and anthologies.

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21 Letters

Guest House Chronicles

BY TOM KELCH

Herbert’s Legacy

I

n 1979, the Paradise Guest House (PGH) opened its doors as downtown Rehoboth’s first gay-owned, gay-operated, gay business. Herbert Koerber created his vision of gay paradise in happy times and in a place he deemed as safe.

In its short existence (of only eight years), it experienced disaster, and sadly would end in tragedy. However, its existence set off a chain of events that would ultimately change Rehoboth into one of the most desirable small cities for the LGBTQ+ community to visit and live in the country.

Herbert was a pretty incredible guy, and before we get into the drama of the 80s in Rehoboth, I wanted to share a couple stories with you I learned about him and the PGH. When I was doing my research, it slowly became obvious to me that he deserves recognition and to be remembered by the city he loved.

This is why I am writing this series.

Herbert was known to own a VW bus from the 1960s, and it apparently matched the times—i.e., hippy inside and out. In 1980, the Renegade opened.

As word spread about Rehoboth, the LGBTQ+ population dramatically increased in the 80s and the local, mostly religious, citizenry took notice.

For gay men, it was becoming unsafe for them to walk around town alone.

Herbert used his bus to provide safe transport for his guests at the PGH to and from the Renegade. One of those guests (who requested anonymity) told me about this experience in an interview: “I’ll never forget Herbert and his bus.... When he would drop us off, and in his thick German accent, he would count us and tell us not to leave the bar no matter what, and he would say exactly what time he would be back. When it was time to go, his bus would always be right there waiting for us. He would open the door, the pot smoke would billow out, and he would count everyone all over again….

“Extra numbers were no problem,

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but if someone was missing, the bus wouldn’t move till they were found. Even if that meant Herbert going inside and dragging them out himself. For him, knowing his guests were safe under his watch was something he took very seriously. I was very young and the fatherly type of stern loving protection I felt from him still sticks with me to this day.”

I am not aware of anyone else in Rehoboth that was offering this kind of protection to their customers. However, that bus had another purpose and it was really wonderful and special.

Clearly, Herbert was instrumental in integrating Rehoboth’s gay community.

Herbert really enjoyed the company of Black men. The problem was, he couldn’t find any gay Black men in the area. He found this to be totally unacceptable. So, Herbert would drive his VW bus to nearby cities, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, and sometimes even New York—places he was familiar with and where he already had a strong base of friends.

Once a month, he would fill his bus with gay Black men and bring them to PGH. He would close down the property

and let his friends have it to enjoy with him and other like-minded men. Soon, he was having the very first racially inclusive—Black and white—gay parties in the city.

These events were a lot of fun and gained much attention. The men he would bring into the city enjoyed themselves so much they would go back and tell their friends and they would become frequent and faithful visitors to the city. Clearly, Herbert was instrumental in integrating Rehoboth’s gay community. This is one of the reasons the PGH is now being considered as a registered historical site.

Herbert’s time was short, but his legacy should be remembered and honored. Herbert opened the first gay business in Rehoboth. He provided the first safe place for gay men in the city.

He also would go on to own another guest house on Olive Street that was just for women. He brought diversity to the city’s gay community. Imagine what else he could have done had he and his business not been struck down by tragedy.

In the next article I will cover the rise of The Bertha’s, and the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faced in the 1980s.

In upcoming articles, I’ll recount the devastation the HIV/AIDs pandemic and its massive impact in Rehoboth Beach; I’ll also cover CAMP Rehoboth and my personal superheroes, Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald, whose incredible, selfless work will forever be imprinted into this city I love. ▼ Tom Kelch is the innkeeper and property manager of the Rehoboth Guest House. He is excited to write this new series for Letters and thrilled to share these stories with Letters’ readers.

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MAY 27, 2022

23 Letters

Out & About

BY ERIC C. PETERSON

A Pro-Choice Film Festival

U

nless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, you might have heard a bit of news about the US Supreme Court.

Specifically, a majority opinion written

by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked, and it looks as though the landmark case Roe v. Wade, which codified a woman’s right to an abortion in all 50 states, will soon be overturned.

This news was upsetting to many but surprising to few. Donald Trump was only in office for one term, but because of timing and the corrupt machinations of one Mitch McConnell, he had the ability to appoint three very conservative justices to the Supreme Court. The prevailing wisdom is that the ramifications of these appointments will be felt for decades.

Personally, I suspect that the next period of American history will be rough.

And, I do have hope that the court’s attempts to recriminalize abortion will likely fail, for one simple reason. No American woman under the age of 50 can remember a time when abortion wasn’t legal. They take the right for granted. It’s part of their permanent wiring. In other words, it’s hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube.

Now, this column is usually about pop culture, specifically television and movies, but the court’s radical conservatism is on my mind this month for obvious reasons. So I thought I’d recommend some films—some new, some old—that celebrate a woman’s right to choose.

The Cider House Rules (1999).

The wonderful Michael Caine won his second Oscar for playing Dr. Wilbur Larch, an OB/GYN in the 1940s who runs an orphanage but secretly performs illegal abortions on the side. It’s a movie that evokes the period beautifully while telling a story that movies simply couldn’t tell during the Second World War. Love With the Proper Stranger (1963). Released a full decade before Roe v. Wade secured a woman’s right

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MAY 27, 2022

to choose, Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen starred in a film about two young New Yorkers in search of someone to terminate a pregnancy. It’s sobering to see what abortion looked like in the 1960s: unsanitary, unsafe, and ultimately terrifying. In this film, Wood’s character doesn’t undergo the procedure—not by choice, but by not having a real choice.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). While most people remember Sean Penn as a hilarious stoner who has pizza delivered to history class, the emotional heart of this high school “dramedy” is Jennifer Jason Leigh as a high school freshman who gets pregnant by a smooth-talking ticket scalper

The right to choose is as American as movies themselves. who abandons her on the day of her scheduled abortion, forcing her to pay for the procedure alone. Watching the film, it’s almost impossible to imagine that this confused, impulsive, 15-year-old should be a mother, and her choice is both simple and obvious.

Cabaret (1972). Released the same year the oral arguments for Roe v. Wade were being made before the Supreme Court, this film features a brilliant, Oscarwinning performance by Liza Minnelli as the indomitable, breezy, annoying flibbertigibbet Sally Bowles in 1930s Berlin. After cheating on her lover with a married aristocrat, she finds herself pregnant. Not knowing who the father is, she is prepared to terminate the pregnancy (illegally) when her erstwhile lover proposes, leaving her with a choice between him and all her dreams. That, and the slow rise of a fascist government in the background make this film especially prescient these days.

Obvious Child (2014). Literally marketed as an abortion rom-com, this indie comedy was written and directed

by Gillian Robespierre and stars Jenny Slate as a comedian who rebounds from a humiliating breakup with a one-night stand, and…you guessed it: a few weeks later, she discovers that she’s pregnant.

She immediately schedules her abortion, but meanwhile keeps running into the rebound, who seems like a perfectly nice guy. I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s surprisingly sweet and absolutely prochoice in tone and content.

Dirty Dancing (1987). Yes, that Dirty Dancing. You might have forgotten, but the whole reason Baby got out of the corner and danced with hunky Johnny Castle in the 1963 Catskills is because his partner Penny is pregnant.

In addition to rehearsing with Johnny, Baby borrows money from her rich father to pay for Penny’s abortion, during which Penny is gravely injured when the illegal procedure is botched.

And there are more where those came from: Imelda Staunton is brilliant in Vera Drake (2004), Laura Dern is hilarious in Citizen Ruth (1996), and Lily Tomlin is acerbic and fabulous as the title character in Grandma (2015).

Every single one of these films is entertaining, which doesn’t diminish their importance—rather, it heightens it. The right to choose is as American as movies themselves. For that reason, I believe it’s here to stay. ▼ Eric Peterson is a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) educator; co-host of The Rewind Project, a new podcast about old movies; and is the author of a new novel, Loyalty, Love & Vermouth.

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25 Letters

CAMP Houses

BY RICH BARNETT

Aqua: Behind the Chalk Board

A

few days after the vicious Mother’s Day nor’easter chewed up Rehoboth’s beach and knocked down tree limbs all over town, I met up with Kevin McDuffie, one of the three owners of Aqua Bar and Grill on Baltimore Avenue. “The storm messed up one of our big umbrellas and blew down my greenhouse in the back, but overall, we weathered it quite well,” Kevin tells me. I glance around.

The place had been freshly painted and looked great, ready for what everyone hopes, and thinks, will be a busy summer.

The hydrangeas, pansies, and Shasta daisies planted in silver galvanized metal tubs catch my eye too. Last summer, I obsessed over the sunflowers. Each of Aqua’s owners brings a different strength to the ownership group. Tyler Townsend manages staff and day-to-day logistics.

Bob Suppies is the numbers guy. And Kevin focuses on ambience, décor, and the customer experience. As Aqua’s resident plant daddy, he also grows and tends the restaurant’s herbs, cherry tomatoes, and seasonal flowers in the greenhouse.

As much as I like to talk gardening, I hadn’t come to chat with Kevin about the merits of annuals versus perennials. At least not for this column. I was interested in the Aqua house. If you stand back and take a close look above the bar and behind the big marquee chalk board, you’ll see the shingled gable of a small house.

I’d heard Kevin had lived on the property back in the day when it was a private home and I wanted to know more.

Rehoboth was founded originally as a Methodist camp meeting in 1872, a religious resort where the faithful could renew their spiritual and physical health by the sea. Worshipers constructed simple wooden houses known as “tent houses” around a tabernacle that stood at the western edge of town near what is today Grove Park, near the circle entrance to Rehoboth. The original camp meeting lost its steam as the new resort grew and became more secular. Many

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say it was due to the railroad bringing in people with no affiliation to the camp meetings. Drinkers! Card players! The women prayed and the men caroused.

From the get-go, the fellas aimed to balance Aqua’s old Rehoboth charm with contemporary styling.

They still do.…

A second, short-lived revival occurred in the 1890s, centered around Baltimore Avenue. Again, the Methodists built their tent houses. The typical tent house was shingled, had an open porch, a living/dining room downstairs, and a low loft area upstairs that served as sleeping quarters.

Kitchens and bathrooms were added later. They were basically little wooden boxes, seasonal housing without heat or air conditioning and never meant for permanent living.

To my knowledge, there are a few of these original tent houses left in Rehoboth today that are still private homes.

One sits just to the left of Aqua at 57 ½ Baltimore Avenue. There’s one on Columbia Avenue and another on Grove Street.

Most of the others have been torn down or significantly altered over the last 130

years. If you’re interested, the best-preserved tent house is the Anna Hazard Museum house on Christian Street. It was moved from Baltimore Avenue to its present location in the 70s.

By now you’ve likely guessed where this is going. Yes, Aqua started out as a Methodist tent house, constructed sometime in the early 1890s. “I stayed in the Aqua tent house one summer back during the late 70s,” Kevin tells me. “It was me, the bar manager from the Blue Moon, and a waiter from the Back Porch.

I was in art college and waiting tables at Chez La Mer. It was cramped and I slept in the living room—it’s where the Aqua bar is now. The other guys used the two upstairs bedrooms. We shared a bathroom. It wasn’t fancy.… I recall wood paneling.… And I think there was a window air conditioner. We didn’t care because the location was great. We set up a volleyball court out in the yard and had people coming and going at all hours. It was wild.… Of course, we were young, and Rehoboth’s gay community was too.”

Not long after that summer, Kevin remembers the house was converted into a restaurant called Scalawags that served crabs and beer at picnic tables on the deck. Thirty-some years later, an enterprising gentleman by the name of Bill Shields purchased the business and converted it into the Aqua we know and love today with its outdoor drinking and dining, flowers, shirtless waiters, and casual and welcoming ambience.

Since its opening in 2005, this quintessential beach bar has been a runaway hit with the LGBTQ crowd and a mainstay on Baltimore Avenue. I can only imagine how much money I’ve spent there over the years. When Bill began thinking about selling the establishment in 2019, he spoke with the ownership of the Pines Restaurant across the street.

Pines Partners Tyler Townsend and Bob Suppies had always been fans of Aqua and felt it would be a great complement to the Pines and to Baltimore Avenue if they kept it gay-owned. They brought in Kevin and put together an offer. It

all happened very fast, and the new ownership group took over in the fall, right before COVID hit.

The new owners wanted to keep the essence of what Bill had created and what made Aqua so special. They gave the place a facelift by expanding and re-doing the deck and fence—goodbye sandbox—and updating the kitchen

and bathrooms. New large garage-style doors created a better flow, blending the outside with the inside. And the purple light highlighting the gable of the old tent house is the perfect nod, I feel, to the place’s history. From the get-go, the fellas aimed to balance Aqua’s old Rehoboth charm with contemporary styling. This concept also extended to

the menu and its mix of traditional pub food and healthy options. Honestly, the only food I remember at Aqua before the new menu was the queso and chips and that’s mainly because they helped break up a marriage.…

So, what’s on tap for the summer of 2022 now that COVID (hopefully) is in the rearview mirror? “More DJs and an updated menu,” Kevin says. “I’d love to host more events and perhaps even create some theme parties that harken back to the days when Rehoboth group house parties ruled the social scene.” Shirtless waiters? “We’re gonna try,” he promises.

And the sunflowers? Will they be back?

“I’ve already got them growing in the greenhouse out back,” Kevin assures me.

I can’t wait. Bring on the summer. ▼ Rich Barnett is the author of The Discreet Charms of a Bourgeois Beach Town, and Fun with Dick and James.

MAY 27, 2022

27 Letters

‘TIS THE SEASON!

BY BETH SHOCKLEY

Beach Joy

O

f the joys of my childhood, nothing compares to our vacations at the beach. My parents, two older brothers, me, and two weeks’ worth of stuff would be piled in the station wagon in late July every year for the 30-mile trip to the shore. We stayed at a beach cottage on 33rd Street in Ocean City, Maryland, and later, at Castle in the Sand, nearby.

The anticipation rivaled that of Christmas Eve. Once on the Route 50 bridge into town, I was ready to swoon. I could smell the salt water and almost hear the waves crashing. I couldn’t wait to get in the ocean.

We would stay on the beach all day, eat picnic lunches from the cooler, and swim even after the lifeguards went off duty. Our mother would slather suntan lotion on us—in the 1960s and 70s there was no such thing as sunscreen. The many skin cancers I’ve had removed over the years attest to that. But there was zinc oxide, which went on our noses and sometimes our shoulders, too. We were a family of redheads. My mom and older brother would tan to a golden bronze but the rest of us would burn to a crisp. Blistering sunburn was a condition you just lived with.

At night, to the boardwalk we went.

This was even better in its way because we were allowed to go without our mother. Complete and total freedom!

Well, almost. She would plant herself on a bench or ride the boardwalk train while we were free to do whatever we wanted.

She would give us money for rides, games, and food, and we would be free until meet-up time at whatever bench or landmark.

We’d head straight to Trimper’s amusement park—to the Wild Mouse (roller coaster), the Trabant, and of course, the Haunted House, where you could see the operators turning lights on and off if you looked behind you. I only rode the hair-raising Zipper once, because I nearly got sick: around and around was fine, but upside down was too much after all the ice cream,

Letters 28

MAY 27, 2022

And every time we go, I still feel that childhood excitement when we arrive at the roundabout—I feel the pull of the ocean, smell the salt air, and joy settles into my soul.

Thrasher’s fries, and cotton candy.

We zigged and zagged, running through the crowds to the games. I was a Skee-Ball champ and the gazillion tickets I earned went for everything from plastic insects to Frisbees. I could always fool the “Guess How Much You Weigh” guy on the Pier. I was skinny as a rail but weighed more than I looked because I was solid muscle. So, I’d leave with at least one excellent stuffed animal to add to my prodigious collection.

The crowds, the bright lights, the happy sounds—it was the closest I’d come to being in a city, a place where I longed to be all the time. The whole two weeks were spent in the ocean all day and at the boardwalk every night. The second week it would be my birthday, and even more fun with cake and presents. It was just the best.

I don’t know why we never went to Rehoboth—it was only 15 or 20 minutes away from Ocean City. I knew of it, but we never went there as a family.

In fact, I didn’t start visiting Rehoboth until 1988, when I lived in DC. My partner at the time and I would stay for a week every summer. I fell in love with

Rehoboth during those vacations—by then, I was an adult and preferred better dining and the quieter beach. Huge bonus—it was gay friendly!

I moved to NYC in 1993, so I left the Rehoboth beaches for East Hampton, Montauk, and Fire Island. But when I left New York in 2005 to be with the love of my life in Delaware, guess what was waiting?

So now I live about 40 miles from Rehoboth and at the end of every summer, we spend a week. It’s always too short, but with five furbabies, two of them elderly, we can’t stay longer.

Besides, there are day trips. And every time we go, I still feel that childhood excitement when we arrive at the roundabout—I feel the pull of the ocean, smell the salt air, and joy settles into my soul. ▼ Beth Shockley is a public affairs specialist and a former editor of Letters.

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MAY 27, 2022

29 Letters

BE A SPORT!

BY PATTIE CINELLI

Pickleball: Not Just for Seniors

I

was shocked. The first time I played pickleball every preconceived notion I had of the sport was destroyed. As a tennis player and former racquetball competitor, I had thoughts like, “It’s just for old people. It’s easy. It’s slowmoving.” Those went out the window. I discovered it’s challenging, it’s fun, and it’s great exercise. I am hooked.

Pickleball is the perfect game to play if you are new to racquet sports.

The hand/eye coordination is excellent for keeping your brain and body in top shape. It’s also great for keeping your muscles toned and flexible, and it helps to improve your balance and reflexes.

It’s also challenging for people who have played other racquet sports. It’s easy to learn but hard to master which is what makes the sport so interesting.

I started playing during the shutdown at an outdoor court in my community. I found it a good way (and one of the few ways) to meet people and exercise in a time when social distancing was in and indoor activities were out. It’s a popular sport in my neighborhood. We’ve had as many as 20 players show up for one of our sessions.

What is Pickleball? Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or graphite to hit a whiffle ball over a net. It shares features of other racquet sports: the dimensions and layout of a badminton court, and a net and rules somewhat similar to tennis. Pickleball has an array of shots and unique names for them. There are lobs and overhead smashes. The ‘kitchen’ is the small box seven feet from the net in the front of the court that is the ‘non-volley zone.’

The History of Pickleball According to legend, the game was created by Washington politician Joel Pritchard to entertain his bored family during the summer of 1965. There are two theories as to how this sport got its name.

According to a published statement by Pritchard, his wife described the sport as looking like the pickle boat in rowing.

Letters 30 MAY 27, 2022

This refers to a crew of oarsmen who are leftovers from the other boats. The second theory is that it is named after the Pritchard’s dog, Pickles. The dog would chase the ball and run off with it.

In the past six years the number of participants has grown by 600 percent.

Pritchard’s wife has been quoted as saying Pickles the dog did not come around until two years after the game was invented, and the dog was named after the game. It’s possible the game simply didn’t have a formal name until the dog turned up to inspire it.

However it got its name, the game clearly has caught on: a couple of years ago the US Sports & Fitness Association recognized pickleball as the fastestgrowing sport in the US. In the past six years the number of participants has grown by 600 percent.

Who Can Play Pickleball? While 75 percent of players are over 50, I have had a 13-year-old as a partner. I’ve also played with an 88-year-old. One of our

opponents was a member of his high school tennis team. I’ve also had as a partner a woman who had never played any sport in her life. In our group, we regularly have 30- and 40-somethings who run the gamut of skill sets.

While it’s caught on with older people, it’s popular among all ages.

One of the top pickleball players in the country is 14-year-old Leigh Waters who won championships in 2019 and 2021 (none was held in 2020). The sport is co-ed and diverse. Families—including grandkids—often play together.

Where Can You Play? The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) has a list of all addresses and names of places at which you can play pickleball, organized by state. The sport is also gaining in popularity internationally.

Most of the towns in Sussex have outdoor courts. Many communities like mine have courts as well. Georgetown and Lewes both have indoor facilities.

If you can’t find an official pickleball court, do what we do in my community: use a tennis court, outline the court in a different color from the tennis lines, and lower the net to a height of three feet.

Or you can create your own court on a blacktop surface. Because you don’t need much area (compared to a tennis court), it’s easy to find a suitable area on which to draw the service courts and non-volley zone, and then hang a net in the middle.

If you’d like to learn more before you dive in, check out the USA Pickleball Association website: usapa.org. You can also find demonstrations and instruction about pickleball on YouTube. ▼ Pattie Cinelli is a health and fitness professional who loves exploring all of what the beach has to offer. She focuses on nontraditional ways to stay healthy and get well.

Please email her at: fitmiss44@aol.com.

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MAY 27, 2022

31 Letters

health+wellness

BY ROBB MAPOU, PHD, ABPP

Dementia? Or Normal Aging?

I

f you are of a certain age, you may have asked yourself these questions:

• What was it I came in here for?

• Where are my… (glasses, phone, keys, wallet, etc.)?

• It’s the…what’s that word?

• What was I talking about? I lost my train of thought!

Most likely, these are normal everyday cognitive failures (NECFs) and not a harbinger of dementia.

NECFs occur in everyone and not just in those 50 and older. But, as we age, they become more frequent.

This is because our brain’s processing speed slows, and it takes more time to retrieve information. At the same time, the good news is that we actually continue to learn and build wisdom as we age. We are not just losing it!

But what, exactly, is dementia? It’s a progressive loss of cognitive abilities (e.g., attention, memory, language, visuospatial skills, planning, and problem-solving) and an associated loss of the ability to function without assistance.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), which is the most common form of dementia, typically begins with subtle changes in the ability to learn and remember new information. Old memories, such as from one’s childhood or the distant past, remain intact. Word retrieval difficulties also are common. For some, changes in the ability to perceive and identify what we see can be an early sign. Over time, usually seven to 10 years, cognitive abilities decline to the point that a person may be bedridden and unable to care for him- or herself.

Early onset AD, which begins in the 50s and 60s (though sometimes begins in the 40s), is usually genetic and seen in individuals with a strong family history. The prevalence of AD increases as we age; by the time we get to around age 85, almost 25 percent of adults will have symptoms.

But when these symptoms occur later in life, the course may be slower.

The cause of AD is unknown but

Letters 32 MAY 27, 2022

is believed to be due to the presence of amyloid deposits (plaques) and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.

However, recent research has started to question whether these are the cause or are a byproduct of the disease.

Vascular dementia (VD) is caused by changes in the veins and arteries in the brain, typically due to high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol.

In the past, this was referred to as “hardening of the arteries.” Brain imaging may show small strokes in the brain that cause progressive cognitive changes.

…we actually continue to learn and build wisdom as we age.

It was once thought that VD was characterized by slowed processing speed and difficulty with information retrieval without deficits in learning and retention of information. However, researchers now believe that brain changes common in AD can be seen in VD, and the vascular changes common in individuals with VD can be seen in those with AD. So, researchers see the two as less distinct.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is more common in individuals in their 50s and 60s. The beginning symptoms typically include changes in behavior and personality, poor judgment, and difficulty with planning and problemsolving. However, in one form of FTD, there is a progressive loss of language and the ability to express oneself— actor Bruce Willis likely has this.

Parkinson’s disease, which mainly affects motor functioning, can cause cognitive deficits including, most commonly, slowed thinking and difficulty with information retrieval.

But researchers are increasingly concluding that some with Parkinson’s dementia actually have AD.

So how do you know if your forgetfulness is a sign of dementia?

NECFs usually are not. But, if we begin to notice and attend to them, we can become increasingly anxious and exacerbate the problem. This is because emotional distress can interfere with thinking clearly. The following are signs that, if cognitive lapses occur regularly, you should consult your doctor: • You have difficulty finding your car in a parking lot.

• You get lost while driving, especially when going to familiar places.

• Your spouse, partner, or other family member notices that you are asking the same question repeatedly and are not recalling things you have been told.

• Your forgetfulness is interfering with your work or everyday functioning.

Your doctor can do a simple screening test to determine if there is cause for concern. However, these tests can miss subtle changes in individuals who are very bright and high functioning. Consequently, your doctor may decide to refer you to a neurologist or a neuropsychologist who, using more extensive testing, can look for profiles that are associated with dementia or that just reflect emotional distress.

In my next column, I will talk about what you can do to maintain or improve brain health. ▼ Dr. Robb Mapou is a board-certified neuropsychologist. In addition to evaluating older adults who have concerns about cognitive changes, he specializes in evaluating teenagers and adults for autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disorders, and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. You can find him at drrobbmapou.com.

Classes & Events For information about any of these events, please email info@camprehoboth.com or call us at 302-2275620. Zoom links (when applicable) can be found on our website or in the weekly email newsletter.

Unless indicated otherwise, in-person meetings take place at CAMP Rehoboth.

Weekly Events WALK-IN HIV TESTING

Mondays 12:00-4:00 p.m.

Free rapid HIV testing at CAMP Rehoboth. Get your results in 15 minutes. No appointment needed during this time. Appointments available for other dates and times.

MORNING MINDFULNESS Tuesdays 8:00 a.m. (Zoom)

Start your Tuesdays off with CAMP Rehoboth! Erin will lead a mindful exercise or morning meditation for 30 minutes.

CHAIR YOGA

Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. (Zoom)

In this class Erin guides you to synchronize conscious breath with mindful movement. The sequence of poses is designed to energize and strengthen, as well as relax and lengthen muscles.

MEN’S YOGA

Saturdays 8:45 a.m. (in-person)

Join us for our weekly yoga class. All levels are welcome, and everyone will be given the opportunity to modify or advance their practice, based upon their preferences.

Bi-weekly & Monthly Events WOMEN IN CIRCLE

June 4/June 18, 10:00 a.m. (in-person) Email info@camprehoboth.com for location

Women in Circle is a gathering of LGBTQ women. The circle is a welcoming, inclusive, and positive place to meet, connect, and share with other women. Each week a different topic opens the circle for women to discuss, learn from, and support each

other. This group meets on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

MEN’S DISCUSSION GROUP

June 8/June 22, 7:00 p.m. (in-person)

The Men’s Discussion Group is a safe and nurturing space for GBTQ men to start conversations important to our community. We celebrate who we are, promote respect and understanding, and we accept each other’s differences with the intention of building a more connected community. This group typically meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays each month. For more information, contact William Dye at william.z.dye@gmail.com.

YOUTHUP MONTHLY SOCIAL June 17, 6:30 p.m. (in-person)

Join us for the YouthUp Monthly Social taking place Friday, May 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. This event is designed specifically for 11- to 19-year-old LGBTQ+ youth.

Email amber@camprehoboth.com for location.

YOUTHUP MONTHLY OUTING June 11, 12:00 p.m. (in-person)

Join us for a fun outing! We meet the second Saturday of the month. This event is designed specifically for 11- to 19-year-old LGBTQ+ youth. Locations and times may vary so please email youthup@camprehoboth.com for more information.

for informal discussions of school, friends, media, and other youth-driven topics—requests for presentations and other questions from/by adults should be directed to julian@camprehoboth.com.

FLAMING KNITTERS

June 6/June 20, 6:30 p.m. (in-person)

Flaming Knitters provides a thoughtful and engaging space for working, conversing, connecting, showing off, sharing resources, and supporting fiberrelated crafts/projects in queer- and trans-affirming space.

CAMP REHOBOTH BOOK CLUB June 27, 5:30 p.m. (Zoom)

The CAMP Rehoboth Book Club is a queer-facilitated discussion group dedicated to reading novels about queer topics and/or books by queer authors that tackle a variety of interests and subject matters.

COFFEE TALK

June 25, 10:00 a.m. (in-person) Email info@camprehoboth.com for location

Coffee Talk is a place where the LGBTQ community can come together in a positive, non-judgmental atmosphere to share our thoughts and perspectives on a topic and dare to think outside the box.▼

YOUTHUP DISCUSSION GROUP June 9/June 23, 6:30 p.m. (Zoom)

The YouthUp Discussion Group meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month. This discussion group is for youth ages 11-19 years old to get together and chat virtually with other LGBTQ+ youth and a supportive adult moderator. These meetings are meant

MAY 27, 2022

33 Letters

Dining Out

BY MICHAEL GILLES

Great Dining at go fish!

I

n Home-Thoughts, from Abroad, the poet Robert Browning wrote “Oh, to be in England.…” Well, now you can be. And you only have to travel a few feet from the boardwalk to get there! go fish!, the brainchild of Londoner Alison Blyth, is the perfect place to grab a taste from across the ocean. From bangers and mushy peas, to its beer-battered fish and chips, go fish! makes you feel as if you’ve landed on the banks of the Thames River.

Alison owns and operates the 40seat, full-service restaurant on the ocean block of Rehoboth Avenue. She says, “We specialise (that’s how the English spell it) in all the good stuff from across the pond, absolutely authentic, GREAT British Fish and Chips, and a nice menu of other British favs, and our own spin on some American dishes. Everything is homemade and delicious.”

Couldn’t say it better than this personable, passionate woman, so I’ll move on to the ambiance of this little gem by the ocean. It’s obvious that Blyth has a love affair with tradition. Union Jacks adorn the walls, along with road signs all the way from England. Cap it off with a Guinness, and you’ll think you’re in an English pub.

But the ambiance is only part of the story. There’s the food, of course. What a menu! On our recent evening there, my friend Linda and I were treated to a smorgasbord of samples, allowing us to try many of the dishes on the menu. Aside from being incredibly full at the end of the evening, we enjoyed every bite.

Many of the selections came with go fish!’s signature beer-battered coating.

From jumbo shrimp to chicken to the savory Alaskan pollock, this light and crispy batter provided a delightful crunch to its nicely cooked insides. The shrimp appetizer with large shrimp and a perfect amount of batter was excellent, and the pollock…well, we’ll get to that in a minute!

We tried many menu items and were impressed with the consistent quality of the dishes. The clam chowder and the Maryland crab soup were both full of

Letters 34 MAY 27, 2022

their respective seafood (the clam chowder is one of my local favorites). The crab dip was thick and tasty, and the tandoori chicken skewers were tender and served with garlic-mint yogurt.

Once we devoured our appetizers, we were met with assorted British and American dishes. go fish!’s crab cake has lots of crab and has a little bite to it. Another memorable dish is their bangers (sausages to us Americans), served with English brown sauce. You can even get bangers encrusted in that great beer batter. Definitely worth the try. There is shepherd’s pie to dine on, as well as a baked fisherman’s pie. All worth your while.

Well, we’ve been dancing around the subject throughout the article, so let’s talk about it…fish and chips!

First of all, the Alaskan pollock is tender and very tasty. It also comes in an ample size. And once you coat it in

that beer batter, you have a real treat.

The chips themselves have an amazing history before they come to your plate.

Each day, these morsels evolve from fresh potatoes to the ones that wind up cradled next to your fish. go fish! uses anywhere from 400 to 600 pounds of potatoes every day! Alison’s great staff comes in at 4:00 in the morning. Two to three members take five to six hours to bring the potatoes from fresh spuds to delicious English-style chips.

Thus, one of the secrets to go fish’s tasty treats is that everything on the menu is homemade, down to the soups, even the tartar sauce. Also, the recipes are consistent and exactly followed. So, if you drive down Rehoboth Avenue to eat there one night and walk in off the beach a week later for a nice lunch, you’ll find your favorites remain the same. Not every restaurant can say that.

After all this food, we were so full that we had to turn down dessert. Sure. Linda had the key lime pie made with real lime juice and drizzled with raspberry sauce. I chose the House Dessert, a homemade English sticky toffee pudding served warm with a dollop of whipped cream.

Remember when you stop by, you are NEVER too full to try these desserts.

Setting up shop in 2002, go fish! recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary, and its sister restaurant, go brit!, in Lewes, just hit 10 years. Either of these places is a sure go-to restaurant. As for that 20-year mark, I hope Alison and her loyal crew have 20 more.

Author Sir Thomas Browne, once wrote “I am in England, everywhere.…”

While you aren’t necessarily in England while you’re splashing around in the Rehoboth surf, you’re only a few yards away from a real British experience. See you there! ▼ Michael Gilles is a playwright, actor, and director from Milton, and a regular contributor to Letters from CAMP Rehoboth.

Grow Strong Without Notice.

Provide Shelter.

Hang Tough Through the Storms.

Emerge Renewed at the First Sign of Spring.

After 30 Years Our Roots are Deep.

Same Bank. New Look.

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MAY 27, 2022

35 Letters

Words Matter

BY CLARENCE FLUKER

The Art of Provoking Conversation

A

Strange Loop has made a lot of noise since its much-anticipated opening on Broadway in April and being nominated for the 2022 Tony Award for best musical.

The show is about a Black queer man writing a musical about a Black queer man. The night I saw the show, after the curtain call was over and the lights of the theater had gone up, it took me several minutes before I could get out of my seat.

What I had just witnessed was breathtaking and I needed a few moments to recover mentally and emotionally. I remarked to my friend who joined me that evening that it was like watching and hearing all the things that Black gay men talk about with Black gay men but not in front of other people. That was part of the beauty and catharsis for me.

On the way out of the theater a woman stopped to ask my opinion of the show. I told her I thought it was fantastic and that I hoped that everyone I know sees it. She said that she also enjoyed the show and that it gave her homework. I asked what she meant by that, and she explained that there were words and references to the Black, gay, and/or Black gay experience that she wasn’t familiar with and that she wanted to learn more to get a better understanding. In that moment, I knew that this piece of art had done its job. I also knew that she was a real art lover, committed to exploring.

The poet Gwendolyn Brooks famously said, “Art urges voyages—and it is easier to stay at home.”

This spring, Jerrod Carmichael crafted a brilliantly vulnerable and honest standup routine that aired as the HBO special Rothaniel. In it, Carmichael invites the world in and opens up about being same-gender-loving publicly for the first time. He talks about his journey and embracing of his whole self as an African American same-gender-loving man from the South, and the difficulty he’s still experiencing navigating his relationship with his family after sharing his truth.

I’ve spoken to many friends who were deeply moved by the special because it was so relatable to their own lives and their paths seeking to accept themselves, and to find acceptance from their

He talks about his journey and embracing of his whole self as an African American same gender loving man from the South…

Letters 36 MAY 27, 2022

families and communities. The family theme is one that was touched on in Jay-Z’s song “Smile” from his 2017 album 4:44 where he rapped about his mom.

“Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian. Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian. Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate. Society shame and the pain was too much to take. Cried tears of joy when you fell in love. Don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her. I just wanna see you smile through all the hate.

Marie Antoinette, baby, let ‘em eat cake.”

While mainstream hip-hop is an artistic genre often criticized for its history of amplifying misogyny and homophobia, again this year the most anticipated rap album runs counter to that idea. On May 13, Pulitzer Prize-winning rap artist Kendrick Lamar released his first studio album in five years, Mr Morales and the Big Stepper. On the track “Auntie Diaries,” Lamar talks about his evolving understanding of gender identity, transphobia, and homophobia through his lens as a straight man seeing how his gay and trans family members were treated by others. In one verse he raps, “I’m old enough to understand now,” and goes on later to profess, “My auntie was a man now, we cool with it.

The history had trickled down and made us ign’ant.

My favorite cousin said he’s returning the favor. And following my auntie with the same behavior.”

Not all his fans will be pleased about his song devoted to acceptance and loving his family members as they are and for who they are, but it will stir thoughts and conversations that may not otherwise be had. Some fans will listen to the song and appreciate the sentiment but not fully support his language and storytelling. That too leaves room for discussion. Art nor artists aren’t meant to have all the answers.

Art—be it theater, film, television, music, or visual—advances critical conversations. And creators are here to help spark questions for us as individuals and as a society. ▼ Clarence J. Fluker is a public affairs and social impact strategist. Since 2008, he’s also been a contributing writer for Swerv, a lifestyle periodical celebrating African American LGBTQ+ culture and community. Follow him on Twitter: @CJFluker or Instagram: @Mr_CJFluker

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37 Letters

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39 Letters

Volunteer Spotlight

BY KAREN LAITMAN

Shay Almond

S

hay and her wife, Ang, live in Rehoboth Beach. They the time. I must get involved with CAMP Rehoboth.” moved here two years ago from Berks County, PennsylDuring the concert I was volunteering with the accessibility vania (Poconos area). They have been married for eight team. I helped seat people, acted as a concierge, got drinks, years, together for 14, and have two boys. etc. It felt amazing to be part of a team that has this service Shay and Ang both worked from home for 11 years, which and that these individuals can be part of the amazingness of afforded them the opportunity to be stay-at-home moms. They Women’s FEST. There were only three to five people who were loved that because their whole life is about their kids. Shay signed up to attend Women’s FEST who indicated they needed (worked) and Ang (currently works) with accessibility assistance. But word spread an advanced inheritance company that fast, and by the end of the weekend there researches probate cases for the state of were 17 individuals who utilized our team.

California. This company helps people with I loved the fact that these women could their inheritance. be part of everything that Women’s FEST When people would pass away, and their had to offer. Hope went as far as reserving homes were going to probate, Shay and Ang beach wheelchairs for individuals so they would gather all the information and figure would be able participate in the Broadwalk out who gets the estate and the real estate on the Boardwalk event. companies would get a heads up on what How long have you been coming to the real estate was coming up for sale. Many of Rehoboth area? I had never come here the homes were prime real estate in Califoruntil we moved here. I was never a beach nia. person—always a mountain person. I COVID took Shay’s position, so she curmoved here sight unseen. Now I LOVE the rently works at Olive and Jules hair salon in Rehoboth. This is a totally different position The one thing that I can do is to beach! for her. She loves pampering the clients preach love, keep shining, keep What changes have you seen since during their shampooing and helps make moving to the Rehoboth area? Well, the everyone feel welcome. Shay says that it is smiling, and keep going forward. development is crazy. The wildlife that is super fun, and something that she has never being displaced; the marshes that are being done before. disrupted—it is so disheartening. I feel bad Shay and Ang also work with Frantic saying that because we moved here too, but I really feel like it Frets music store in Milton, Delaware, organizing fundraisers. is being over-developed; there should be some sort of limit.

They helped organize a Ukrainian benefit at Big Chill which What do you like to do for fun? We love to fish and kayak, raised over $10,000. Shay and Ang love music and love to see anything outside or music related. We have met a lot of great Christine Havrilla and support other local bands. people especially in our neighborhood. I am on the celebration Shay is interested in working for and volunteering with CAMP committee in my neighborhood, and we organize fun stuff Rehoboth. She is interested in fundraising and says that fundthroughout the year. Our community is wanting to start a turtle raising is right up her ally. She has done quite a few fundraising rescue; we live on the bay and want to have a bay day. In the events. Currently she works with kenyagather.org. Their son summer we spend a lot of time at Frantic Frets (we do all their went to Africa this past summer with that organization. car parking).

Why do you or did you want to get involved with CAMP If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?

Rehoboth? The reason why I signed up to volunteer and get I still see lot of prejudice. I am upset about what is going on in involved with CAMP is because of Hope Vella, a friend of Florida. Last summer we were witness to a pickup truck driving mine. I met her though music. I meet the best people through around with a megaphone speaker screaming derogatory music. Music is my thing. I love live local bands and will always homophobic statements. There were children everywhere, support them. Hope asked me to be on her accessibility team parents, and grandparents. It was very disturbing. Straight and for Women’s FEST 2022, and I said yes! gay families froze and pulled their children close. The one thing that I can do is to preach love, keep shining, keep smiling, What was your best experience volunteering with CAMP and keep going forward. You can’t feed into it. I try to educate; Rehoboth? Our friend Christine Havrilla performed at Women’s knowledge is power. ▼ FEST 2022 at the Rehoboth Convention Center. I remember walking to the back of the room, and I had chills. I said to my wife and Hope, that “I have never seen so many lesbians in Karen Laitman is a member of CAMP Rehoboth’s Volunteer one room; I have never been to an event of this magnitude.

Development Committee.

The energy in this place is unbelievable. I want to feel this all

Letters 40 MAY 27, 2022

MAY 27, 2022

41 Letters

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43 Letters

SERVICE | SUPPORT | COMFORT

BY MARJ SHANNON

It’s a Dog’s Life!

S

oon, we’ll be arriving at the dog days of summer. I always envision a tongue-lolling lab at poolside. Then I remember the dog days have nothing to do with our fur friends, and everything to do with the celestial calendar. The dog days mark the reappearance of Sirius, the dog star, which rises and sets with the sun each day. It’s a very bright star, easily seen in the dark.

Despite that inconvenient truth about the derivation of the name, we still can use the upcoming dog days as a great excuse to talk about our dogs. Most especially, about dogs that have jobs: not all the animals that live among us are pets.

Some are working animals that are key to their owners’ welfare. One of the most familiar of those is a guide dog that assists someone who is blind. These dogs are allowed into apartments, stores, restaurants, airplanes—in fact, pretty much everywhere.

But hey—your upstairs neighbor is not blind. And that’s no German shepherd she’s got in her apartment. Can it possibly be true that her fluffy dog, “Blossom,” is a service dog, as your neighbor claims? Or is your neighbor just trying to circumvent the building’s “no pets” policy?

To take the easy part of the question first—sure! Blossom could easily be a service dog. There are no breed or size requirements.

What is required? First off, your neighbor has to have a disability which qualifies her to have a service dog. And then, the dog she has must have been trained to help her—specifically her—with the tasks she needs help with.

Types of service dog include:

1. Guide dogs, which help people who are blind to navigate streets and use public transportation.

2. Hearing dogs, which help people who are deaf, alerting them to sounds like a doorbell or telephone.

3. Mobility dogs, which can open doors, retrieve items, or push buttons for someone. They may also help steady someone whose balance is poor, or help support them as they transfer from a bed to a chair.

4. Medical alert dogs, which let someone know of an impending medical issue, such as an oncoming seizure or plummeting blood sugar.

5. Autism service dogs, which help a person control negative behaviors.

6. Psychiatric service dogs, which help people who suffer from a variety of disorders, including PTSD. These dogs enable people to more comfortably go about daily activities.

By the way—in specific situations, a miniature horse can be an ADA-compliant service animal. So maybe you should be grateful Blossom’s a fluff-ball!

Letters 44 MAY 27, 2022

Can it possibly be true that her fluffy dog, “Blossom,” is a service dog, as your neighbor claims?

Another possibility: Blossom might be an emotional support animal (ESA). Those differ from service dogs in a variety of ways.

For one, it’s a far less demanding job: Blossom needs to provide comfort to your neighbor, but not much else. She doesn’t have to be trained to assist your neighbor—and only your neighbor—with specific tasks.

Your neighbor does have to have been prescribed an ESA by a licensed mental health professional. She also must have been diagnosed with a disabling mental illness that can be helped by an ESA. For example, Blossom might help your neighbor better manage her anxiety or depression.

If she’s an ESA, Blossom has a few of the privileges that accrue to service dogs: she can live in otherwise pet-prohibited housing, and she can fly with your neighbor. She does not have the access a service dog would have to stores, or restaurants, or workplaces. The building management and airlines can also require paperwork proving your neighbor’s need for her ESA—something it cannot require of a service dog’s owner (or of the dog).

Blossom also—by the way—doesn’t have to be a dog: ESAs come in many forms.

Maybe Blossom is a therapy dog? If so, she shouldn’t be living in a no-pets building: therapy dogs don’t fall under any of the federal laws which provide special rights to service dogs and ESAs. Which isn’t to say that therapy dogs—and their owners— don’t perform a great service. These are the dogs (and people) who volunteer at libraries, schools, hospitals, nursing facilities, shelters, hospices, funeral homes—you name it! They provide comfort and pleasure to a person or group of people, often in distressing situations.

Service dogs, ESAs, therapy dogs—lots of different dogs (or other animals), with very different laws impacting where they can—and cannot—be. But wherever they are, they deliver lots of love, as well as service, support, and comfort to the people in their lives. May we do the same for them. ▼ Marj Shannon is the editor of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth.

Photo by Courtney Mihaka on Unsplash

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45 Letters

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47 Letters

The REAL DIRT

BY ERIC W. WAHL

Displaying Your Pride

H

appy Pride Month! such as oakleaf hydrangea, southern magnolia, and luxuriWe all show our pride in different ways during this ous peonies with finer texture specimens like cardinal flower, special month, and indeed every month. Now more butterfly weed, coreopsis, and asters. Careful planning with the than ever it is paramount that we are seen and heard aforementioned species will also provide the garden in a true in these bewildered and disconcerted times. How we are seen rainbow of colors (one more way to show off your pride). can take a variety of ways, from the subtle efforts of placing Oakleaf hydrangea “Ruby Slippers” would fit in well with this a flag in our gardens to the more visible protests in our towns star-studded theme. Its conical spike of red flowers is long-lastand cities. ing, and its oak-shaped leaf provides a large, coarse texture I like to think that our gardens are a reflection of ourselves to the landscape. The grand, robust flowers of the southern to some extent. How we plan magnolia is a showstopper asand design our landscapes can is, and the aroma they put off be a very personal experience is extraordinary and magical. for many. Being a landscape Their seed pods in autumn architect, I often describe display bright, fuchsia-colored myself as a tool that can be seeds, and is an encore you used to attain your vision. This don’t want to miss. means having a connection Peonies are one of my to the clients so that I can favorites and their diversity understand their point of view, of colors has no limit. There or what they are hoping to are many varieties available achieve in their outdoor living so there are surely some to spaces. satisfy your tastes. ConsidFor a more subtle and er trying an Itoh peony. Itoh intimate garden, try a monopeonies are hybrids between chromatic garden that uses the tree peony and the herbashades of white and gray in ceous peony. They have huge, addition to green that provides long-lasting blooms, and their a base for little pops of color. leaves tend to stay a deep Pinks, lavenders, and blues in green into autumn. subtle shades will complement I’ve also observed throughthe monochromatic theme and out my gardening years that provide hints of your personmany people actually have ality throughout the sea of peonies that are divided and calming whites and grays. handed down through generaA panicle hydrangea such tions. One family has peonies If your personality calls for a dramatic garden, as “Strawberry Shake” would that were their grandmother’s, using bold colors and contrasting textures will be an excellent specimen which were transplanted surely help set the stage for your garden debut. and moved from location shrub for this type of garden.

Its architectural form will to location over the years. I also provide a contrast to have even taken part in this herbaceous perennials and tradition, moving my mom’s groundcovers. The flowers fade from white to pink and last peonies from place to place and seeing them thrive and bring for much of the season. For other nuanced additions of subtle joy to the next generation of gardeners. color, consider lavender planted in mass (the aroma also I hope I’ve piqued your interest in the many ways of displayprovides a calming effect), white or pink gaura for a whimsical ing one’s pride. I wish all of you the happiest of Pride months; flair whose stems arch over other plantings and put on a may you continue to show your pride in any way that you see display of dainty flowers flitting in the breeze, and blue star fit. You never know who will be inspired. creeper as a groundcover around steppingstones: your own Stay safe and let’s garden together. ▼ personal walk of fame.

If your personality calls for a dramatic garden, using bold Eric W. Wahl, Landscape Architect at Pennoni Associates, and President colors and contrasting textures will surely help set the stage of the Delaware Native Plant Society for your garden debut. Contrast big and bold showstoppers

Letters 48 MAY 27, 2022

MAY 27, 2022

49 Letters

Straight Talk

BY DAVID GARRETT

The Outrageous and the Unrighteous

T

he recently leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion piece composed by Justice Samuel Alito has had tremendous repercussions, on both sides of the aisle. Five of the nine Justices have signed on to this draft ruling that is due to be voted on by the end of this judicial session, June 30. Whoever leaked this draft is of grave concern to Chief Justice Roberts and many political commentators.

The opinion piece authorizes the revocation of the 1973 ruling Roe v.

Wade. One would be excused for thinking a Supreme Court ruling that has been in place for almost 50 years would be safe from review and reversal. In the political climate where we find ourselves today, that would turn out to be a false assumption.

According to Noah Feldman, writing for the Bloomberg View, “…it indicates that in the justices’ private conference, at least five members of the court voted to reverse the 1973 abortion precedent.

They aren’t bound by that vote, which they can change up to the day the final opinion is released. Almost all first drafts undergo significant revision based on discussion and debate among the justices. So the second point to make is that Roe isn’t yet overturned, though it very likely will be.... Abortion rights are poised to fall. That’s a constitutional tragedy.”

It is devastating enough to imagine a post-Roe v. Wade world. Different governors and states are already passing legislation not only outlawing the abortion procedure itself, but criminalizing other parties involved.

These could include doctors, nurses, counselors, and other support staff.

Proposed legislation is taking it even further, so that residents of certain states are subject to felony charges if they travel to other states to receive an abortion.

This rush to reverse the 1973 Roe decision cannot be seen truly as a rush. People from many corners of the

Letters 50 MAY 27, 2022

political—and religious—field have been plotting this move for decades. The political climate in 2022 has made it the “right” time to push it through. Riding the wave of four years of a presidency where one institutional standard after another has been dismantled or destroyed, the momentum for ultraconservative court rulings has gained speed.

The next domino in line to fall may well be Obergefell v. Hodges.

One of the problems with undoing a 49-year-long Supreme Court ruling is not just that a legal precedent is being reversed, it is that it will be establishing a new precedent. And that precedent will be setting up dominoes to fall across the American landscape. Politicians are already talking about pushing the abortion restrictions further, by criminalizing the use of contraceptives.

In addition, legislators have even proposed that life begins at conception.

The ramifications of these legal ventures are not only disheartening, but also destructive.

Once Roe v. Wade is reversed, any safeguards to more recent rulings could disappear. There will be nothing to stand in the way of courts, and their activist judges, stripping away other protections that we have taken for granted.

Voting rights are being threatened.

Gerrymandering seems to continue unabated. Redrawn voting district maps come out of the corners of backroom strategizing to limit or lessen the representation of minority groups. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was severely altered by the Supreme Court in 2013.

Shelby County v. Holder removed the federal oversight of different states’

voting regulations. These states had historically been found to be discriminatory in their application of voting laws. This case allowed them to continue to pass new voting restrictions without consequence.

The next domino in line to fall may well be Obergefell v. Hodges. We are just a few weeks away from the seventh anniversary of this Supreme Court ruling which legalized same-sex marriage. If Roe v. Wade is no longer an established precedent, how can anyone expect this 2015 ruling to stand?

It is difficult to imagine going back in time to pre-Obergefell life. Those who identify as LGBTQ+ are once again on the chopping block of rightwing oppressive legislation. Already several states have enacted laws that criminalize proper medical care of trans youth. Others have set up “trigger” legislation that will become the law of the land the day Roe is overturned.

Nothing is sacred anymore, especially rights of American citizens who have become complacent and unaccustomed to serious threats to those rights. Without being an alarmist, it is time to be alarmed! This is no slippery slope to losing our privacy rights. It is instead a toboggan run downhill to the demise of basic rights which we have come to expect in our “civil” society.

The dominoes are being set up, one after another. How many dominoes fall and how that will affect the lives and livelihood of our friends and families remains to be seen. ▼ David Garrett, a CAMP Rehoboth Board member, is a straight advocate for equality and inclusion. He is also the proud father of an adult trans daughter. Email David Garrett at davidg@camprehoboth.com.

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51 Letters

QUEENS AT THE BEACH

Drag IN DEWEY

BY MATTY BROWN

Drag is a job, and trans is a way of life.

Letters 52 MAY 27, 2022

F

ans of drag are spoiled with options on where to see queens in the Delaware scene, and summer 2022 is shaping up to offer even bigger and better shows. For one, North Beach in Dewey will host drag shows every Wednesday from June 1 to August 31.

Adored local queens and nationally-known stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race will entertain audiences all summer long.

“It’s the second year we’re having it in Dewey. They’ve never had shows there before,” said Rehoboth’s own Tyra Parker, the show host. “It’s something new for everyone, which is very exciting.”

“We’re excited to be stepping it up this year, and to be supporting CAMP Rehoboth,” said North Beach co-owner John Snow, who also owns other Dewey favorites like Bottle & Cork and Rusty Rudder. As Snow notes, $5.00 covers for these shows will generously benefit CAMP Rehoboth’s mission and free programming.

Letters got the chance to chat with some of the shows’ key players, including Tamia Gisele Mykles and Drag Race season six’s Laganja Estranja.

Walking in the Heels of Tamia Gisele Mykles Tamia Gisele Mykles, along with Tyra Parker, took charge of producing the North Beach affair. The pair, plus emcee Pinkky, will perform at each North Beach outing with a rotating cast of local stellar talent that will regularly include Kristina Kelly and Amethyst Diamond.

Hailing from Federalsburg, Maryland, Tamia’s drag name comes from: a) the R&B chanteuse Tamia, known for singles like “Stranger in My House,” b) Victoria’s Secret model Gisele Bündchen, and c) a surname from drag mother Shanel Mykles (now known as Miss Peaches). Performing for over 11 years, Tamia started her drag career in Philadelphia with the Attic Youth Center. “We started doing a drag program, where anyone who thought of entertaining could practice, get it out there, and when the time came, they’d be ready to perform,” said Tamia.

Fast forward a bit, and Tamia first came down to Rehoboth when her drag mother (at the time) was performing at Rigby’s Bar & Grill for a mother-daughter show. Soon, Tamia was regularly performing at Cloud 9, Blue Moon, Purple Parrot, The Pond, Rehoboth Ale House, Cypress, and other hotspots around town.

Eventually, Tamia progressed to competing in pageants. Currently held titles include Miss Lancaster Pride and Miss Gay Wilmington, the latter of which she calls a “family title” following wins by her drag mother and her sister, “fallen angel” Isabella Frost. Compared to bar performances, Tamia noted that pageants require queens to be much more polished, prepared, and practiced.

Pageant skills are transferable, of course, and have allowed Tamia to elevate her performances at other venues.

From these competitions, “styling, hair, makeup techniques, and creativity all have translated into my shows.”

At these shows, Tamia’s knack for performing is electric. But what makes a signature Tamia Mykles number? “I love a good split, and a good-time dip. One of my favorite moves when I host shows at Touchdown in Dover is jumping off the bar into a split. That’s always a crowd favorite.”

Inspired by the fierce performers like Finesse Ross and Erica Andrews, Tamia’s drag career eventually brought a revelation: she identified as trans. Simply put, “Drag gave me a schooling. When I graduate, I will be a woman. Drag has helped me immensely with my identity,” she said.

To differentiate her drag from her trans identity, she explains, “Drag is a job, and trans is a way of life. People will say ‘oh, she’s trans so she can’t be a drag queen.’

Yes, she can.”

Now, with the North Beach shows, Tamia’s got on her producer hat. After a great kickoff last year, Tamia wanted to raise the stakes this summer. “I had to think more outside the box, and say, ‘if this is going to be a good show, and we’re going to have RuPaul’s Drag Race stars come to this establishment, the quality needs to reflect that,’” said Tamia.

The water, sand, and all beachy elements are right there.

Then, there are audience considerations at North Beach. From her own performing experience, Tamia noted that she is actually more excited for Dewey’s predominantly “straight” crowd. “When you’re performing for the straight audience, there’s a lot less criticism in it.

They’re enjoying the artistry, the costumes, and the energy you’re putting into it. When you’re performing for gay audiences, they will judge you head to toe, giving you the harshest critique. I perform a lot easier for a straight audience than I ever would for a gay audience,” said Tamia.

“It’s hard to say, but when it comes down to it, gays are more critical. It comes from our culture—we have to be harsher on ourselves, and I get it, but sometimes we need a break.”

Plus, the tag of “drag at the beach” rings the truest at North Beach’s open-air space. The water, sand, and all beachy elements are right there. “If you’re not a coordinated queen, I would suggest not coming,” warned Tamia, with a hint of shade.

No matter the audience or the conditions, Tamia plans to make each Wednesday night a unique experience. “Tyra and I are not going to have the same show twice at North Beach.”

That comes down to rotating the cast each night. Queens from all over the Delmarva region will show out, including Katrina Colby, Mona Lotts, Miss Troy, Shanae Morgan, Dreaux Sidora, Emma Zon Prine, Kandy Fuentes, and Indiana Bones. “Just as there are queens that want to branch out, there are queens from out that want to branch into Delaware,’’ said Tamia.

Catching Up with Laganja Estranja One of those queens “branching in” is Laganja Estranja, the tongue-popping, cannabis-loving queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race season six. Famed for her catchphrases, death drops, and remarkable dance skills, Laganja is one of the most recognizable names from the Drag Race franchise. In the past year alone, Langanja returned as a lip sync assassin on RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 6, released singles like “Hypeman” and “Poison Ivy,” continued her work as a cannabis activist, and came out as transgender last June.

Matty Brown: What excites you about drag at the beach, and about returning to North Beach in Dewey?

Laganja Extranja: The first time I went, I had such a fabulous time. The location is amazing. I’m from Texas, but I’ve been living in LA for over 15 years, so I definitely describe myself as a beach gal. I felt right at home the minute I got to North Beach. To be able to perform right there on the beach sand—I’ve never had an experience like that before. As someone who’s traveled the world, it’s really cool when you can find a space that’s really unique. I was super excited when they asked me to help produce this year, because as much as I love being a queen, I love being an organizer and promoter as well.

MB: Can you speak more to your role as Continued on page 56

MAY 27, 2022

53 Letters

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MAY 27, 2022

55 Letters

QUEENS AT THE BEACH Continued from page 53

a producer/organizer and bringing in more girls from RuPaul’s Drag Race?

LE: I’m following in my sister Shangela’s footsteps. Shangela started Say What Entertainment, her talent management company, many years ago. I used to be beneath her wing back when I was touring with the Haus of Edwards. I’ve always known that I wanted to do something similar and use my talents as an organizer and as a Capricorn. I’m really grateful that I’ve made a long list of friends in the industry, specifically RuPaul’s Drag Race girls, and I wanted North Beach to have access to them. Right now, we’ve got Morgan McMichaels, Mayhem Miller, and Biqtch Puddiń, who’s the winner of Dragula, coming to perform, and I’ll be performing once a month as well during the summer.

MB: As June approaches, how do you celebrate Pride?

LE: I believe in living out loud and proud 24/7. As much as I love Pride, I try to stress that I don’t just celebrate myself and my community that month, I really try to celebrate it all yearround. But I think what’s really special about Pride is, for a lot of people, it gives them the excuse to come out and be one of many. For a lot of people, I think Pride is so important because it’s a safe space for them to be who they are, because maybe they’re not afforded the same luxury as I am to live out loud and proud at all times. Pride is really special, especially in Dewey, a predominantly straight venue, so it’s really cool they’ve created this space where members from the LGBTQIA+ can feel safe.

MB: You came out as trans last June. In what ways did the art of drag help you in your gender journey?

LE: If it wasn’t for drag, I would’ve never found my truth. Drag helps in almost every way. It was a way for me to explain my femininity not only to other people but to myself. Once I began to realize that gender is on a spectrum, that’s when I discovered my truth during the pandemic.

Being able to share that with Dewey last year was so special. When I first went, I had trans individuals come up to me and say how much it meant to have someone representing them, that they’ve been coming to this bar for years, and to finally have someone up on stage that was a part of their community was really impactful. That made me feel good not only as an artist, but as an activist.

MB: Your All Stars 6 jump-split stunt was, for a lack of a better word, iconic.

What was it like to return to the show as a lip-sync assassin?

LE: Dewey got to see it first! I did that stunt for my first performance there. Returning to Drag Race was stressful, I’ll be honest. There’s a reason I have never returned as a competitor, and that is ultimately because of the stress Letters 56 MAY 27, 2022

levels I went through during season six. I will say I was much more confident knowing I was going just to lip sync because that’s really what I do. I’m a dancer at heart, classically trained, and have a BFA in dance and choreography. So even though I was nervous and had a little bit of PTSD, for the most part I was confident and excited to return and tear that stage up.

MB: You dropped “Poison Ivy” last October. Is there any more music on the horizon?

LE: Yes, my EP Daily Basis will hopefully be dropping sometime in the fall, which will include all my previous singles and my new single called “Daily Basis.” I’m very excited about that.

Eventually, we’re going to be working on a new album as well.

MB: Is there anything else coming up for you that you would like to plug?

LE: I’m in a new movie called God Save the Queens, where I am acting opposite Alaska Thunderfuck. It’s going to the Tribeca Film Festival this year, which we’re very excited about.

It’s also going to be showing in the Out Festival. So we’re hopeful that will be up for distribution very soon. I’m also working on season three of Muse Me, a show that I’ve done on YouTube for the last two years with my best friend Robert Hayman, who is a photographer, makeup artist, director, and all-around fantastic artist. Right now, we’re in talks with a production company to fully produce season three, so we’re really excited about that because we’ve self-produced everything during corona and shot it on our iPhones, so to elevate that, we’re looking forward to sharing that project on a larger scale.

MB: That’s very exciting. Is there any more you’re allowed to share about God Save the Queens and its premise?

LE: The film is done in different vignettes. It follows three different sets of drag queens. It’s not your typical gay, drag movie. It really tries to show the struggles we go through. One section features Kelly Mantle, who plays an aging drag queen who talks about her struggles with the new kids and the Drag Race girls coming up. In my section with Alaska, our story is about two friends who have separated in their lives and are coming together for the first time to enter a competition. It’s a really interesting movie because it provides a lot more depth than we usually see and not just tonguepops and “yes gawds” and wig changes. There’s a lot of heart to the film.▼ Matty Brown is the Operations Administrator at CAMP Rehoboth and Editorial Associate for Letters.

Tamia Mykles photo: Murray Archibald Laganja Estranja photo: Alexander Frost

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MAY 27, 2022

57 Letters

Letters 58 MAY 27, 2022

MAY 27, 2022

59 Letters

CAMP REHOBOTH BEACH GUIDE BEACH AREA LODGING Atlantic Sands Hotel, Boardwalk & Baltimore Ave.........................302-227-2511 Atlantis Inn, 154 Rehoboth Ave.....................................................302-227-9446 Breakers Hotel, 105 2nd St & Baltimore Ave.................................302-227-6688 Canalside Inn, 34 6th St.................................................................866-412-2625 Rehoboth Guest House, 40 Maryland Ave.....................................302-227-4117 Sea ‘n Stars Guest Suites, 44 Delaware Ave.................................302-226-2742 Summer Place Hotel, 1st St & Olive Ave........................................302-226-0766 The Shore Inn, 37239 Rehoboth Ave Ext.......................................302-227-8487

LEWES FOOD & DRINK Go Brit, 18388 Coastal Hwy...........................................................302-644-2250 Harbour Waterfront Dining, 134 West Market St...........................302-200-9522 Matt’s Fish Camp, 34401 Tenley Ct...............................................302-644-2267

Visit the Beach Guide Directory on the CAMP Rehoboth website to find links to these area businesses in BOLD. The Guide includes: Food and Wine, Shopping, Lodging, and Services—all at camprehoboth.com.

OTHER AREA FOOD & DRINK Bluecoast Seafood, 1111 Hwy One, Bethany................................302-539-7111 Catch 54, 54 Madison Ave, Fenwick..............................................302-436-8600 Matt’s Fish Camp, 28635 Coastal Hwy, Bethany...........................302-539-2267

SERVICES AT THE BEACH REHOBOTH RETAIL SHOPS New Wave Spas, 20660 Coastal Hwy............................................302-227-8484 Unfinished Business, Rt. 1 behind Panera Bread..........................302-645-8700

REHOBOTH ART | GALLERIES | MUSEUMS Caroline Huff, Fine Artist ...................................................www.carolinehuff.com Gallery 50, 50 Wilmington Ave......................................................302-227-2050 Philip Morton Gallery, 47 Baltimore Ave........................................302-727-0905 Rehoboth Art League, 12 Dodds Ln...............................................302-227-8408 Rehoboth Beach Museum, 511 Rehoboth Ave..............................302-227-7310

REHOBOTH FOOD & DRINK 1776 Steakhouse, Midway Shopping Center................................302-645-9355 Aqua, 57 Baltimore Ave................................................................ 302-226-9001 Back Porch Café, 59 Rehoboth Ave...............................................302-227-3674 Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Ave........................................................302-227-6515 Café Azafrán, 18 Baltimore Ave.....................................................302-227-8100 Café Papillon, Penny Lane Mall......................................................302-227-7568 Coho’s Market & Grill, 305 Rehoboth Ave......................................302-227-2646 Diego’s Bar Nightclub, 37298 Rehoboth Ave................................302-227-1023 Dos Locos, 208 Rehoboth Ave.......................................................302-227-3353 Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant, 3 South First St.......................302-527-1400 Go Fish, 24 Rehoboth Ave..............................................................302-226-1044 Goolee’s Grille, 11 South 1st St.....................................................302-227-7653 Indigo, 44 Rehoboth Ave.............................................................. 302-212-5220 Just In Thyme, 38163 Robinsons Dr..............................................302-227-3100 Lori’s Café, 39 Baltimore Ave.........................................................302-226-3066 Loves Liquors, LLC, 305c Rehoboth Ave........................................302-227-6966 Lupo Italian Kitchen, 247 Rehoboth Ave.......................................302-226-2240 Purple Parrot Grill, 134 Rehoboth Ave...........................................302-226-1139 Rigby’s, 404 Rehoboth Ave............................................................302-227-6080 Shorebreak Lodge, 10 Wilmington Ave.........................................302-227-1007 The Pines, 56 Baltimore Avenue....................................................302-567-2726

Letters 60 MAY 27, 2022

BUILDING/CLEANING/REMODELING/LANDSCAPING

A.G. Renovations ...........................................................................302-947-4096 bsd, 18412 The Narrow Rd, Lewes...................................... 302-684-8588 Randall-Douglas.............................................................................302-245-1439

CHURCHES/SYNAGOGUES

All Saints’ Episcopal, 18 Olive Ave.................................................302-227-7202 Epworth UMC, 19285 Holland Glade Rd.......................................302-227-7743 Grace of God Lutheran, ELCA, 20689 Shoppes at Long Neck.......302-947-1044 M.C.C. of Rehoboth, 19369 Plantation Rd.....................................302-645-4945 Seaside Jewish Community, 18970 Holland Glade Rd..................302-226-8977 St. Peter’s Episcopal, 2nd & Market Sts, Lewes.............................302-645-8479 Unitarian Universalist, 30486 Lewes-G’Town Hwy........................302-313-5838 Unity of Rehoboth, 98 Rudder Rd, Millsboro.................................717-579-2612 Westminster Presbyterian, 301 King Charles Ave.........................302-227-2109

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

AARP of Delaware (age 50+)..........................................................866-227-7441 ACLU of DE—Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights Project............................302-654-3966 CAMP Rehoboth Chorus—Program of CAMP Rehoboth................302-227-5620 CAMP Rehoboth—LGBTQ Community Service Org........................302-227-5620 CAMP Rehoboth Families—LGBTQ parents connect......................302-227-5620 CAMP Rehoboth Parents of Transgender & Gender Non-conforming Children............................................302-227-5620 Cape Henlopen Senior Center—Rehoboth (age 50+)....................302-227-2055 CHEER Centers of Sussex County (age 50+)..................................302-515-3040 Delaware Aging & Disability Resource Center...............................800-223-9074 Delaware Human Relations Commission Housing & public accommodation............................................877-544-8626 Delaware Information Line............................................................................2-1-1 Delaware Pride—Community events, annual Pride Festival..........302-265-3020 Delaware Transgender Resources—transdelaware.net, delawarelgbtq@gmail.com Delaware Transgender Support.....................................................302-402-3033

Gay/Lesbian Alcoholics Anonymous—add’l schedules..................302-856-6452 Saturdays 6 pm: Epworth UMC, 19285 Holland Glade Rd (step meeting) Saturdays 7:30 pm: All Saints’ Church, 18 Olive Ave (step meeting) Tuesdays noon: St. Peter’s Church, 211 Mulberry St, Lewes (step meeting) Thursdays noon: CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave (open discussion) Sundays 9 am: CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave (open discussion) Tuesdays 8 pm: CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave (Young Persons) Gay Men’s Discussion Group—Program of CAMP Rehoboth.........302-227-5620 Lesbian Support Group—Program of CAMP Rehoboth..................302-227-5620 Lewes Senior Activity Center (age 50+).........................................302-645-9293 LGBTQ Student Union—University of DE, Newark.........................302-831-8066 Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth................................................302-645-7449 PFLAG-Rehoboth—3rd Tuesdays, Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes SLAA and SAA—Thursdays, 7:30 pm, All Saints’ Church 18 Olive Ave ............................................................................302-745-7929 Social Security Administration—Lewes office................................800-772-1213 TransLiance of DE—Rehoboth—4th Tuesdays at 7 pm, MCC of Rehoboth; contact: TransLiance@gmail.com

COUNSELING/THERAPY/LIFE COACH

Jewish Family Services........................................................ 302-478-9411 Karen Abato, ATR-BC, LPAT, Licensed Art Psychotherapist... 302-232-5330 Kevin J. Bliss, Personal/Professional Coaching.............................302-754-1954 Time to Heal Counseling & Consulting, Lewes ............................302-574-6954

ELECTRICIANS

Silver Electric..................................................................................302-227-1107

EVENT PLANNING/CATERING

Flair................................................................................................302-930-0709 Plate Catering.................................................................................302-644-1200

FINANCIAL SERVICES

County Bank, 19927 Shuttle Rd.......................................... 302-226-9800 Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley.........................................................302-644-6620

FLORISTS

Bayberry Florist..............................................................................302-227-5725 Windsor’s Florist, 20326 Coastal Hwy...........................................302-227-9481

FUNERAL SERVICES

Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium................................ 302-645-9520

HAIR SALONS/TATTOO & PIERCING

Beach Cuts, 214 Rehoboth Ave...........................................302-226-ROBB Gregory Meyers Hair Studio, 20245 Bay Vista Rd & Rt 1..............302-727-5331 Stephan & Co Salon & Spa, 19266 Coastal Hwy................... 302-260-9478

HEALTH-RELATED

AIDS Delaware – Kent & Sussex Counties.....................................302-226-3519 AIDS Delaware – New Castle County............................................302-652-6776 AIDS Hotline – Delaware statewide...............................................800-422-0429 Brandywine Urology Consultants...................................................302-824-7039 Beebe Healthcare, 26744 J.J. Williams Hwy.................................302-645-3300 CAMPsafe AIDS education & prevention program of CAMP Rehoboth ..................................................................................................302-227-5620 Christiana Care HIV Wellness Clinic ..............................................302-933-3420 Christiana Care LGBTQ Health Initiatives.......................................302-733-1227 Delaware HIV Consortium - Statewide..........................................302-654-5471 Delaware Hospice..........................................................................800-838-9800 Delaware Total Foot & Ankle Center.................................... 302-297-8431 National Alliance on Mental Illness of DE (NAMI)...........................302-427-0787 Rehoboth Beach Dental, 19643 Blue Bird Ln....................... 302-226-0300 Steven B. Wright, D.M.D., 18912 J.J. Williams Hwy............. 302-645-6671 The Aesthetic Center......................................................................302-827-2125

INSURANCE

Eric Blondin, State Farm...................................................... 302-644-3276 George Bunting, State Farm................................................ 302-227-3891 Jeanine O’Donnell, State Farm............................................ 302-645-7283

LEGAL/ACCOUNTING/TRUST SERVICES

Lawson Firm, 402 Rehoboth Ave...................................................302-226-3700 PWW Law LLC, 1519 Savannah Rd, Lewes................................... 302-703-6993 Steven Falcone CPA, Taxes & Planning..........................................302-644-8634

LOCKSMITHS

Rock Lock/Robin Rohr/Your Community Locksmith.......................302-386-9166

MASSAGE THERAPY/FITNESS

Midway Fitness & Racquetball, Midway Center.............................302-645-0407 One Spirit Massage, 169 Rehoboth Ave........................................302-226-3552 Rehoboth Massage/Alignment.......................................................302-727-8428

PET RETAIL

Critter Beach, 156 Rehoboth Ave..................................................302-226-2690 Pet Portraits by Monique................................................................717-650-4626

PET SERVICES

Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd, G’twn.......... 302-856-6361 Delaware Humane Association, 18675 Coastal Hwy........... 302-200-7159 Parsell Pet Crematorium, 16961 Kings Hwy, Lewes............ 302-645-7445

REAL ESTATE

Allen Jarmon, NextHome Tomorrow Realty...................................302-745-5122 Bill Peiffer, Patterson Schwartz, 18958 Coastal Hwy....................302-703-6987 Chris Beagle, Berkshire Hathaway, 37230 Rehoboth Ave............302-227-6101 Debbie Reed Team, 319 Rehoboth Ave.........................................800-263-5648 Donna Whiteside, Berkshire Hathaway, 16712 Kings Hwy...........302-381-4871 Hugh Fuller, Realtor........................................................................302-745-1866 John Black, Patterson Schwartz, 18958 Coastal Hwy...................302-703-6987 Lana Warfield, Berkshire Hathaway, 37230 Rehoboth Ave...........302-227-6101 Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, 16698 Kings Hwy....................... 302-645-6664 Lingo Realty, 246 Rehoboth Ave....................................................302-227-3883 McGuiness Group, 246 Rehoboth Ave...........................................302-227-3883 McWilliams Ballard, Kevin McDuffie.................................. kmcduffie@mcwb.com McWilliams Ballard, Justin Orr.....................................................jorr@mcwb.com Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Lingo Realty................................302-227-3883 Sea Bova Associates, 20250 Coastal Hwy........................... 302-227-1222 Troy Roberts, Mann & Sons, 414 Rehoboth Ave............................302-228-7422

RETIREMENT LIVING/SENIOR CARE FACILITIES

Springpoint Choice, 17028 Cadbury Cir, Lewes............................302-313-6658 The Lodge at Truitt Homestead, 36233 Farm Ln.................. 302-232-6372

TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION

Accent On Travel, 37156 Rehoboth Ave.............................. 302-278-6100 CHEER Transportation (age 50+)....................................................302-856-4909 ITN Southern Delaware (age 60+ or disabled)...............................302-448-8486 Jolly Trolley Shuttle from Rehoboth Ave & Boardwalk...................302-644-0400 Olivia Travel...........................................................800-631-6277 ext. 696

POPULAR LGBTQ BEACHES

Poodle Beach, south end of the Rehoboth Boardwalk Cape Henlopen State Park, Ocean Dr north to Cape Henlopen State Park. Daily parking rate in effect March-November.

MAY 27, 2022

61 Letters

View Point

BY RICHARD J. ROSENDALL

First They Came for the Women Alito’s Attack on Privacy Puts Queers Next

T

he Stonewall uprising was not four years old when the Supreme Court ruled for abortion rights in Roe v. Wade. Now, as we see in the leaked draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito, a wildly unrepresentative Court is about to reverse a 49-year-old precedent and steal the right to bodily autonomy from over half of America’s population.

Most Americans oppose overturning Roe. Republicans don’t care, and haven’t for a long time. On this and other issues, they show their disregard for democracy.

They are determined to impose a deckstacked autocracy that would betray every noble principle America ever touted.

The hypocrisy is astounding. Justice Thomas says he and his anti-abortionist cohorts will not be bullied. Apparently bullying is their exclusive prerogative.

They are outraged at the violation of their deliberative privacy, which apparently is much more sacred than any citizen’s privacy that impedes this highly partisan court majority’s policy preferences.

On Facebook, a notorious phrase resurfaced. “But her emails.” Hillary Clinton won nearly three million more votes in 2016 than Donald Trump, but because of our undemocratic Electoral College and various other factors including sexist double standards, Trump became president and appointed three justices. Neil Gorsuch was installed after Sen. Mitch McConnell denied even a hearing to Merrick Garland, President Obama’s centrist nominee. Amy Coney Barrett was rushed onto the Court shortly before the 2020 election.

When you add the impending tyranny to our undemocratic Senate structure, the aforementioned Electoral College, aggressive gerrymandering of House seats, and actions in several states to increase vote suppression and nullification to ensure Republican victories regardless of the will of voters, it is fanciful to call ourselves a democracy in which rights are protected.

In his draft opinion, Alito repeatedly Letters 62 MAY 27, 2022

invokes misogynistic 17th-century English jurist Sir Matthew Hale in support of his claim that laws banning abortion have a long “unbroken tradition.” Deanna Pan writes in The Boston Globe, “Hale is notorious in the law for laying the legal foundation clearing husbands from criminal liability for raping their wives, and for sentencing two women accused of witchcraft to death, a case that served as a model for the infamous Salem witch trials 30 years later.”

Alito’s reasoning against privacy rights under the Fourteenth Amendment applies equally to contraception rights under Griswold and marriage equality under Obergefell.

Our Founders gave us a secular constitution that allowed for amendment.

We are no more bound by the long tradition of subordination of women than by the long tradition of slavery.

Alito’s draft says the pending decision should be limited to abortion, but why trust him? Justice Brett Kavanaugh said in his confirmation hearing that Roe was settled precedent. Alito’s reasoning against privacy rights under the Fourteenth Amendment applies equally to contraception rights under Griswold and marriage equality under Obergefell.

What would stop the reactionaries from overturning them and also allowing recriminalization of sodomy and interracial marriage? What would stop a Republican Congress and president from enacting a nationwide abortion ban? Nothing.

Meanwhile, some leftists blame the Democrats for not increasing the number of justices on the Court. Excuse me,

but Democrats have a razor-thin House majority and an evenly split Senate. To blame Democrats because we agree overwhelmingly but not unanimously is absurd and politically suicidal.

Defeating the Christofascist theocrats in the GOP requires that we vote in record numbers and increase Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. Yet some of us prefer internecine warfare between progressive and centrist Democrats that only benefits Republicans.

Mike Franken, a retired vice admiral and Democrat running for senator from Iowa, writes, “This will go down as one of the most disastrous decisions the Court has ever made, certainly during my lifetime. Nobody ever tells men what they can and cannot do on health care in this country.

“I’m running against Chuck Grassley because as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he oversaw blocking Merrick Garland and confirming rightwing justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. And this November, we MUST turn Iowa blue, expand our Democratic Senate majority, and codify Roe as law once and for all.”

Admiral Franken is right. As frustrating as it is that we need a landslide just to squeak by, that is what we have to do in the midterm elections if we are to rescue our republic and preserve the freedom of women, African Americans, religious minorities, and LGBTQ people.

Let us not dishonor the spirits of the generations that brought us this far by withdrawing out of despair or futility.

That only helps the bullies. We owe our ancestors and our children better. ▼ Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist at rrosendall@me.com.

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MAY 27, 2022

63 Letters

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Letters 64 MAY 27, 2022

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MAY 27, 2022

65 Letters

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Letters 66 MAY 27, 2022

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MAY 27, 2022

67 Letters

Celebrity Interview

BY MICHAEL COOK

PAULA ABDUL at the White Party

F

or Paula Abdul, her mutual love affair with the LGBTQ+ community started decades ago, and her recent appearance at White Party Palm Springs seems to be a culmination of those decades of mutual adoration.

After keeping people (and herself) dancing for decades, Abdul headlined the legendary event at a particularly poignant time: it was the first White Party to occur following the death of White Party founder Jeffrey Sanker. I sat down with Paula for an exclusive chat where we discussed what it is like being tapped to headline this momentous occasion, her storied career, and the impact it has had on the LGBTQ community.

MICHAEL COOK: You headlined this year’s White Party in Palm Springs.

This is one of the most legendary weekends of the year for the LGBTQ community, and always for a worthy cause. This year also marked the return of the event after an extended hiatus, as well as marking the passing of acclaimed White Party founder and visionary Jeffrey Sanker. What did it feel like to be part of the event in such a pivotal year?

PAULA ABDUL: I had been wanting to do this for so long. I feel really blessed that one of Jeffrey’s wishes was for me to perform this year at White Party. In honor of Jeffrey, I feel like for me, this is a huge deal. It is an important time, when everyone is out living the new normal way and the new normal way of life. People want to celebrate and people want to have fun, and I was just thrilled that I got to kick that off.

MC: Your remixes continue to take your material to the next level, with the Shep Pettibone remix of “Knocked Out” being—for me—the first time I got to hear your music remixed on a dance floor. What is it like to hear your music remixed on a dance floor and see hundreds or thousands of men dancing to it, as happens at White Party?

PA: It’s exhilarating. It never gets old. It’s like the first time I’ve heard and seen people singing and dancing to my music. It is like a little bit of an out-of-body experience, because you forget that you’ve hung in there long enough that internationally, everyone knows Continued on page 74 Letters 68 MAY 27, 2022

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56 Baltimore Ave, Rehoboth Beach | 302-567-2726 | thepinesrb.com MAY 27, 2022

69 Letters

CAMPshots

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

Gumbo Crawling, Golf Ladies, and More RB Springtime!

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Rehoboth Beach Gumbo Crawl: David Root, Yolanda Pineda, Sandi Castillo, Vicki Root (Mariachi), Paul Spavenla, Ricky Didominico, John Black, Eileen Spavenla, Susan Sulpizio, May Kay Thompson (Rigby’s), Mitt Patel, Prashant Patel, Richard Suter, Bradley Brittan (Dos Locos), Tony Sacco, Joe Maggio, Bill Greene (Port 251), Jill Mummau, Dick Byrne (Sunny Bay Café), Leslie Sinclair, Debbie Woods (Aqua).

OPPOSITE PAGE 2) at Rehoboth Beach Gumbo Crawl: Brent Quinn, Steve Morris, John Quinn (Aqua), Alex Ilinykh, Zed Smyth, Gabriel Smyth (Café Azafran), Gene Dvornick, Marion Jone, Wendy Hapster (Rehoboth Ale House), Rudy Gilbert, David Herring, Gabby Johnson, Tracy Horwarth, Jim Burke, Abby Herta, Nancy Wester (Freddie’s Beach Bar & Grill), Mike Venanzi, Jim Betz, Greer Maneval, Vicky Venazi, Danielle Tassone (Above the Dunes), Hugh Fuller, Ronal Garcia, Angie Culp, Julia Sugarbaker II, Patrick Lawler, Debra Dean, Shane Griffith, David Park, Clarence Pineda, Tom Newton, Frank Albino, Tyler Chaves, John Hackett (Purple Parrot).

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Letters 70 MAY 27, 2022

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THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Aqua: Lisa Taylor, Lori Klein, Raz Razavi, Eric Hirsfield, Michael Reamy, Andres Tremois, Gary Seiden, Chris Smith, Ah Bashir, Drew Mitchell, Tyler Townsend; 2) at The Pines: Matt Rice, Artez West, Jay Chalmers, John Potthast, Seth Sikes, Craig Sencindiver, Gary Alexander, Dennis Cozzens, Steve Hayes, Al Cozzens, Scott Neier, Nick Parash.

OPPOSITE PAGE 3) at The Pines: Rob Robertson, Carlos Taylor, Jimmy Katsounis, Tom Poor, Keith Fitzgerald, Michael Taggert, Tony Burns, Cory Peterson, George Stakais, Karl Hornberger; 4) at CAMP Rehoboth Golf League at American Classic Golf Course: Shelley Stevens, Lisa Faber, Pat Catanzariti, Claire McCracken, Susanne Furman, Helen Hilderbrandt, Jodi Foster, Karen DeSantis, Caroline Pellicano, Maddie Cunningham, Linda Matulaitis, Angela Murray, Renee Guillory; 5) at Ava’s Restaurant: Clayton Cox, John Krafty, Joe Santoe, Bryan Hecksher, Mark Robenson, Michael Whitlock.

(More CAMPshots page 92) Letters 72 MAY 27, 2022

More Springtime Festivities!

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Celebrity Interview Continued from page 68

my songs. It is such a blessed and humbling feeling. It also makes me smile, because I love to see different people’s interpretation of movement and see how they dance, so that makes it fun for me.

MC: The LGBTQ community absolutely adores you, for a myriad of reasons. When did it click to you that the relationship with the LGBTQ community was so strong and that there was so much love for you there?

PA: It is a mutual love affair. For me, it started way back when I was becoming a big choreographer. I was working with so many dancers who were my extended family. It was a beautiful thing to see that I got respect from the community, even when I was doing a job that didn’t have me front and center. I feel like it’s been going on for decades and decades and I certainly would not have the career that I have without the community. I have been so close with the community, and I have lost so many beautiful gems along the way.

I love to see different people’s interpretation of movement and see how they dance, so that makes it fun for me.

MC: White Party was a phenomenal event, and with summer coming, there is no better time to have some brand-new Paula Abdul material for us to enjoy. What can you tell us is coming up for you?

There is a mutual love and appreciation and for me, no one started their career like I did. I started below the line working to help other artists to take flight. So to be able to witness behind the scenes and in front has been a career path that is different than most would take. I never had anyone that I could call up and say, “how was this like for you when this happened,” because it was very different and very strange in so many ways. The community, though, always stood behind me and it has been a beautiful, beautiful relationship. My family is filled with members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Follow Paula Abdul at her website: paulaabdul.com.

MC: You mention helping artists “take flight” but getting to watch artists like Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson become LGBTQ icons of their own with spectacular careers must be a beyond-surreal feeling.

PA: One hundred percent. There is no mistaking, I try to make it to every Idol’s first “big thing.” Whether it is their first big concert, their first play on Broadway, whatever it is. I am the proud mom, what can I say? On Kelly Clarkson’s wall at her tv studio before you walk on stage, I wrote on the wall, “After your own Mom, I am your second proudest Mom.” Letters 74 MAY 27, 2022

PA: I am working on music right now; I have the bug. Now is the time for me to do that between projects. I am going to be heading back to Las Vegas as well and doing my residency.

I have an HBO Max show that I am working on called Made for Love; I just filmed Season 2 and that will be airing soon.

MC Scat Kat is also in a Disney movie with a cameo for Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. In between all of that, I will be recording! ▼

Michael Cook has been a part-time resident of Rehoboth Beach for over a decade. He is currently a contributor to Instinct Magazine, World of Wonder’s WOW Report, and South Florida Gay News.

PRESENTS

An Evening of Opera & Pops

Paul Spencer Adkins - Tenor

Lisa Daltirus - Soprano John Cimino - Baritone

Three Internationally, award-winning voices of exceptional brilliance, warmth and power.

Joined by acclaimed pianist, Jon Klibonoff

The New Bel Canto Trio ~ ONE NIGHT ONLY — JUNE 4th ~ Show Details: Pre-Show Bar and Doors Open at 6PM Showtime: 7-9PM Tickets: $40 - General Admission $55 - Premier Seating & After Concert VIP Reception

Presenting Sponsor

www.nassauvalley.com for tickets Partial proceeds to benefit “True Blue Jazz Young Musicians Scholarship”

32165 Winery Way Lewes, DE 19958 www.nassauvalley.com | 302-645-WINE Delaware’s Premier Award-Winning Winery | Est. 1993 MAY 27, 2022

75 Letters

Lewes Beach

Powerful Philanthropy

A donor advised fund at the DCF helps you make a difference in Delaware.

Salty air. Outdoor adventures. Sundrenched spots... Preserving and enjoying Delaware’s beautiful beaches is an investment in all of our future.

If you’re passionate about Delaware’s environment — whether it’s preserving the beaches, protecting wildlife or ensuring access to our gorgeous parks — you can make a difference through a donor advised fund (DAF) at the Delaware Community Foundation.

A DAF is a charitable fund that brings you tax advantages while growing tax-free and helping you support the charities you care about — forever. It’s a smart way to be generous.

Talk with us about how your DAF can make what you love about Delaware even better.

To learn more, visit delcf.org/daf or contact Mike DiPaolo, Vice President for Southern Delaware, at 302.856.4393 or mdipaolo@delcf.org.

Letters 76 MAY 27, 2022

Delaware Hospice provides more than in-home hospice services.

MORE THAN HOSPICE

Whether it’s palliative care, children’s care or bereavement services you are looking for, we have you covered.

delawarehospice.org 302.683.8948 MAY 27, 2022

77 Letters

Q Puzzle Tallulah

Solution on Page 116 ACROSS 1 Tracey of Growing Pains 5 Frequent Trump portrayer Baldwin 9 Former American Idol judge Abdul 14 Morales of Resurrection Blvd.

15 Japanese attack word 16 Boneheads or tails 17 Peace Nobelist Wiesel 18 Larry Kramer and classmates 19 Wonder Woman star Carter 20 Start of a Tallulah Bankhead quote 23 Diana or Betsy 24 B. or D. to Wong 28 “Lesbians ___!”

31 Rainbow shapes 32 Long in the field of acting 33 Dorothy, to Em 34 More of the quote 36 Not so exciting 37 De-Lovely star Kevin 38 Sappho’s H’s 39 DC summer clock setting 40 What we eat 41 Dull surface 42 More of the quote 44 Take a breather 46 In addition

47 Cut 50 End of the quote 54 Threesome for Marcella Hazan 55 Poet Kitty 56 Humorist Bombeck 57 Dress with a flared bottom 59 Respondents to 911 60 Elite Navy diver 61 “You’ll ___ Walk Alone” 62 Sexy clothing material 63 “The ___ the limit!”

64 They go down south for the winter DOWN 1 Went right in the field 2 City where Dick Button won gold 3 Reclined, for Nathan?

4 Marlene of Blonde Venus 5 Private’s position 6 Dangles 7 Lutheran gay minister Christensen 8 Like some stomachs 9 One who gives hand jobs?

10 To date, but not to go out with 11 Mil. sub-division?

12 Ran first 13 Nutty fruitcake center?

21 Big bag

22 When actors should come 25 Like a partner who causes gayngst 26 Get a bead on 27 Return to homophobia, e.g.

28 Where some may lie 29 Comedienne Radner 30 Like a bottom 31 Somewhat 34 “Break ___!”

35 Cut out 37 It’s from the heart 40 Break bread 41 Stallion on the range, maybe 43 Like Liberace’s mansion 44 Organ appendages 45 “___ live and breathe!”

47 Wallace running mate 48 Sea eagles 49 Brand for cutting leaves of grass 50 Ellen and Anne, once 51 “Woe ___!” (“Hamlet”) 52 Testicles 53 Star journey for George Takei 58 Writer Harper

Tests for HIV and other STDs are easy, fast, and confidential.

Before you hop between the sheets with someone, make sure that you know and share your status. Knowing the truth about your HIV status puts everything in balance, minimizes risks, and gives you a huge increase in returns. Have fun. Play smart.

Sponsored by CAMPsafe. © 2009 CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. For more information, call CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620 or the CDC hotline at 1-800-232-4636. Funding provided through a contract with the Delaware Division of Public Health. CAMPsafe is a program of CAMP Rehoboth.

Photography by Alexander Vasiljev | www.alexandervasiljev.com

Plan Your Stimulus

Letters 78 MAY 27, 2022

Resort Realty Team

Bill Peiffer Broker

302.542-9318 cell billpeiffer.com bpeiffer@psre.com

John Black

Realtor®

302.249.6922 cell meetjohnblack.com jblack@psre.com

Whether you’re a buyer or seller, we know how to guide you through the real estate transaction. Experience matters and we share a combined 50+ years of proven results!

New Listings Henlopen Station 2 bedroom / 2 bath

Unit 104 - $494,900 Unit 106 - $489,900

Under Contract Star of the Sea Unit 104 Listing price $589,900

Patterson Schwartz Real Estate 38958 Coastal Highway, Suite C Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 302.703.6987 office pattersonschwartz.com

MAY 27, 2022

79 Letters

Becky Becky is Marj’s beloved rescue pooch—maybe a bassador?! (The scent-drive and body shape suggest “basset”; the head, ears, and heart say “lab.”) All of her loves car rides and treats.

FUN FACT: Becky just celebrated her seventh birthday by welcoming a new-to-her feline sibling, Zoe. Zoe is older (she’s 10), but Becky has household seniority. It’s all good! #bassador

Interested in having your critter(s) featured in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth? Send a high resolution picture (300 dpi) along with their name(s) and one fun fact to editor@camprehoboth.com. Our roaming photographer will also take photos in the courtyard all year long.

A bonded pair.

MAKE A NEW FRIEND FOR LIFE THIS SUMMER

Midway Shopping Center 18675 Coastal Hwy Suite 8 Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

VISIT US 24/7 AT: delawarehumane.org/rehoboth | 302-200-7159 | @delawarehumane

Letters 80 MAY 27, 2022

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE

seeing the face of a homeless cat or dog light up because you’ve taken the time to give them a little time and love. Or seeing the magic happen when you connect people with those pets who may not otherwise have met them.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS

you can make a difference as a BVSPCA volunteer, including: Walk and train dogs Socialize and groom cats Help with adoptions Give a homeless pet a much needed outing Represent our animals and organization at events Foster a dog or cat to give them a much needed bridge to adoption

Provide administrative support Assist in the veterinary clinic Participate in humane education Assist with the pet food pantry

GETTING STARTED IS EASY! Just sign up for an orientation at: bvspca.org/volunteer

Georgetown: 302-307-9736 • 22918 Dupont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947 MAY 27, 2022

81 Letters

Quincy In Purr-suit of Happiness in Historic Society Hill

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ot your ordinary house cat and not an ordinary search. Our Quincy went missing October 19, 2020, with an entire community—since then—helping us try to locate our brown Bengal cat with black stripes and green eyes.

In historic Society Hill Philadelphia, we named him John “Quincy” Adams.

He has a brother George “Georgie” Washington, and his wife, Louisa Adams.

The three are bonded—always sleeping, eating, and playing together.

Quincy could never manage without his siblings and their hours of chasing and rough housing. The three were always eating, playing, and grooming each other’s head until they fell asleep together.

Quincy was born with a rare heart defect and hip dysplasia. He is on medication for his heart; treatment includes regular check-ups along with a diet of lean, low fat/high protein shrimp and fish.

His hip had come out of its socket and the required preventative measure is one hour (daily) of intense vertical exercise to build strong muscle to support the bones.

He has missed his rabies, feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline herpesvirus type 1, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia, and bordetella vaccines.

His birthday is in November. He loves playing with helium balloons, his whiteand-orange mousey, and his wand with a ribbon tied with a toy.

Where could he be? There are beautiful green spaces, but the reality is that he is close by and probably living with a neighbor. Perhaps someone welcomed Quincy in for friendship during COVID or they felt he was a stray cat needing a loving home.

Our beautiful boy is missed terribly.

His family is searching every day, all day, asking, “Where did he go?”

Our efforts to locate Quincy go beyond putting out flyers. We walk different neighborhoods calling for him and asking neighbors if they have seen him.

We put out cameras and food with hope to capture his image.

Letters 82 MAY 27, 2022

We hired a dog tracker to locate his scent and path that he was on. He is featured on Pawboost, Tabby Tracker, Nextdoor/Society Hill, Facebook, and other Lost Pet websites. And yet, no one has seen Quincy.

Our 16-month search has produced many new friendships and a deep gratitude for the help in our community. We continue always hoping to get the one lead that brings him home.

HOW TO HELP Create awareness by forwarding a photo to Facebook friends and other social media.  Post a flyer in your community.  Please ask friends, family, and workers if they saw or found a brown cat last year.



Thank you very much for helping us. We are hopeful that he will return home.

Cheryle & David Rosen 215.687.5521, cherylerosen@comcast.net Thank you, good Samaritans! ▼

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A CAT/DOG • If you know the owner, contact them right away.

• If you do not know the owner, take the pet to a local vet or animal hospital within 48 hours to determine if they have a microchip. Microchip scanners that reveal the chip number are also available on Amazon.

Call 24PetWatch 1-866-375-7387 with the microchip number and 24PetWatch will provide owner information if available.

• List pet photo and information at no charge on Pawboost, Tabby Tracker, and social media like Facebook.

• Cats are permitted to roam freely in Philadelphia. They should not be relocated because they are, often, quite able to get home.

• Recognize that a family pet is missing and the owners are searching. Every attempt to locate the owner should be made.

We are open Wednesday - Sunday

Dinner 4:30pm - 9pm

Happy Hour 3pm - 5pm

Now serving Sunday Brunch from 10am - 2pm!

Make a reservation by calling or going to our website

(302) 200-9522 | 134 West Market St, Lewes, DE 19958 | harbourlewes@gmail.com www.harbourlewes.com

You’ve Always Belonged Here . . .

Under Contract in 4 Days!

7 Pilot Drive $469,000

Lana Warfield

16712 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE Office: 302-645-6661 Cell: 302-236-2430 E-mail: lcwarfield@hotmail.com

A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC

MAY 27, 2022

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5pm on patio & beach

Letters 84 MAY 27, 2022

k i c k o f f by

MAY 27, 2022

85 Letters

ALWAYS

FRAREKIENG P

KA VOD

UUM R ILA TEQ

VODK

RUMA TEQUIL A

LIQUID DRAG BRUNCH AUSTIN ARMACOST FROM 2PM

MAGNOLIA APPLEBOTTOM 1pm SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH 2022

DRINK SPECIALS | LIGHT BUFFET | CHAMPAIGNE SPECIALS

DIEGOSBARNIGHTCLUB.COM FOR MORE INFO: (302) 227-1023 3 7 2 9 8 R E H O B O T H AV E . R E H O B O T H B E A C H , D E | LIMITED SPACE

Letters 86 MAY 27, 2022

PRIDE PRIDE

FOR MORE INFO :DIEGOSBARNIGHTCLUB.COM

Always Free Parking

Monday-Social Hour & Special Event Tuesday & Wednesday Social Hour & Special Event Thursday NaughTEE Bingo & Dirty Dancing FriGay Tdance & Fierce Dance Splash Saturdays & Shirtless Saturday Dance Sunday Su Tdance & Cabaret MAY 27, 2022

87 Letters

Visiting View

BY ROBERT DOMINIC

Come on Down!

H

ow did I wind up here? On a flight bound for Cancun, all expenses paid! Something like this definitely does not happen to me. But today it is. As a writer, I can quite easily spin any FB post to make it seem like my life is all beaches, boys, and bars. Which it definitely is not.

I don’t really know what people think when they hear I left teaching to become a freelance writer. You work odd hours as a freelancer: late nights, early mornings—a very flexible schedule. But you need to book the jobs to get paid and obviously the more you write, the more you get paid.

The pay isn’t the best. But you do it for “the work”; as cheesy as that sounds, it’s true. There are perks. Sometimes. But you have to know how to “work” them, how to ask for them. And I don’t think I have mastered that quite yet. Need to get on more PR lists, more screener lists, more “try this product and if you like it write a great review” lists—a Botox one of those would be AMAZEBALLS. But back to the here and now. The here: 30,000 feet in the air. The now: En route to Mexico, on a group trip with seven other journalists from the states,

Canada, and Colombia. The reason: To tour the region. As of March 4, samesex marriage is now legal in the Yucatan peninsula. Another win for gay marriage, or as we call it now, marriage.

Yes, there is a select, very vocal, very powerful portion of the USA that doesn’t want to say gay, thinking that if you don’t say the word that somehow makes it so queer people don’t exist. Sorry not sorry, but it doesn’t work that way.

Gays have been around for centuries. If the studies are correct, one out of every 10 people are gay, which means there are 33 million gay Americans.

(There are 330 million people in the USA. I hope my math is correct.)

The gay wedding industry is big bucks and the state of Yucatan would love to tap into that market. Destination weddings are trés gay and Merida wants to be part of the conversation. Groom and Groom has a nice ring to it. I think that’s the first time I ever said that.

The fact of the matter is, when I was envisioning my life and planning it out, I never saw myself as a husband. Marriage was never in the picture of the life I envisioned for myself. But I marched for it.

I fought like hell for it. I celebrated when

it became the law of the land. But even when marching I felt myself marching for the cause. For my queer brothers and sisters. For equality. But not really for myself.

I have had boyfriends; relationships.

Even been in love once or twice. And even throughout those relationships, the topic of marriage didn’t even come up. I did date a guy once who was obsessed with getting married. He dropped the ‘I love you’ within weeks of our first meeting. I definitely was not in the same space as he was.

Admittedly, this trip has all the makings of a rom-com! (I love me a rom-com!)

Friends have specifically told me, “Do not fall in love!”

Background history on that: in my younger days I would somehow—reliably—“fall in love on vacation.” Atlantis Cruise, Puerto Vallarta, Provincetown.

On each of those trips with friends, I met someone, usually on day one, and we hit it off. We quickly become VBs—vacation boyfriends. My PV VB even joined our group for breakfast on the last day. But that was the younger, leaner, more carefree Robby. He did not get on the plane for this trip—lol.

Speaking of rom-coms, I think I just realized I am Jane—Katherine Heigl’s character in 27 Dresses. She winds up having to plan her sister’s wedding—to the guy she thinks she is in love with, Edward Burns. Yes, it’s a stretch, but I will be tasting wedding meals, touring catering halls.

Scouting the perfect locations for a gay wedding. But not my gay wedding.

Pilot just announced we are making our way into Cancun and should be landing in 30 minutes or so. My first international assignment! (I wonder if I am going to get the honeymoon suite in any of the places we are staying?!) ▼ Robert Dominic splits his time between Brooklyn and Rehoboth Beach. He writes for publications including Instinct Magazine and his own blog, The Gays of Our Lives.

Letters 88 MAY 27, 2022

PR DE FOOD, DRINKS, MUSIC, SHOWS AND MORE

CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM OF LOVE

POSITIONS AVAILABLE JOIN OUR TEAM! TEXT: (202)-439-2435

ALL MONTH PRIDE MONTH AQUAREHO AQUAREHO

57 Baltimore Ave. Rehoboth Beach, DE Phone: (302)-226-9001

MAY 27, 2022

89 Letters

Deep Inside Hollywood Felicity Jones and Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey Sign-on for Maria

Q

ueer actor Jonathan Bailey is a fan favorite on the hit Shonda Rhimes series Bridgerton, and he’s about to take a minor holiday from Shondaland to take a role in a comedy called Maria with Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything). Simon Amstell (Benjamin, Carnage) wrote the script and will direct, with Jason Isaacs attached to co-star, and production is scheduled for this fall. Jones stars as a young woman dealing with a boyfriend (Bailey) she’s not sure about, an indifferent father (Isaacs), and a hot new stepbrother who keeps turning her attention away from that boyfriend. Hot stepbrother hasn’t been cast yet, but that might change by the time the project hits the buyer’s market at the Cannes Film Festival. Look for this one sometime in 2023 and, in the meantime, root for Bailey’s rising profile to hook him up with a gay role sometime soon. Not a demand, merely a request.▼

BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE

Janelle Monáe to Play Josephine Baker for A24

Q

ueer singer-actor Janelle Monáe, who recently came out as non-binary, has a new role coming to a streaming platform near you. They’ll portray legendary performer Josephine Baker for a series produced by A24. Baker was the African-American singer-dancer-actress who left the US for Paris in the 1920s and became a celebrated performer. And not incidentally, during World War II, she used her fame to become a document-smuggling spy for the Allies and the French resistance against the Nazis. The project starring Monáe is called De La Resistance and will focus specifically on those war years. Oh yes, and Baker was queer, too, having had relationships with author Colette and artist Frida Kahlo. Now that’s an icon. No word yet on when the series drops or on which platform, but keep your spying eyes open for it. ▼

Physical Lunges into Season 2 with Looking Star Murray Bartlett

P It’s Another Celine Dion Movie!

I

t’s a scientific fact that everyone loves Celine Dion (and if it’s not then it should be). Her repeated Las Vegas residencies pack in audiences and she’s currently on her first world tour in years. She was the subject of a delightfully goofy concert documentary called Celine: Through the Eyes of the World. There’s another official documentary currently in the works. And the French film Aline was just released to US theaters (call it not-exactly-abiopic but do call it bonkers, because it is). And as if all that weren’t enough, Celine will act in the upcoming rom-com It’s All Coming Back to Me. Written and directed by James C. Strouse (The Incredible Jessica James), it’s about a woman (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) whose partner dies in an accident and who deals with grief by texting his old phone number. The man on the other end of that number (Outlander star Sam Heughan) begins texting back, and somehow Celine Dion shows up as herself to guide these two lonely people on the path to love. Looking star Russell Tovey figures in all this, too, and we trust that it will all make more sense when it opens in February 2023. And if it doesn’t make sense then we don’t care. Go Celine! ▼

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MAY 27, 2022

hysical, the Apple TV+ series starring Rose Byrne, is readying its second season, and it drops on June 3. If you missed the first season—we get it, there’s too much TV these days—because you believed it was all campy outfits and Jazzercise, then you missed out on a shockingly resonant story of a woman who battles troubles both personal and public on her way to building a fitness empire in the early 1980s. The second season seems to promise more obstacles for Byrne’s character as she meets a fitness coach played by Murray Bartlett.

Bartlett was the Mustache Daddy in Looking who opened a jerk chicken business. After that he was the Mustache Daddy in The White Lotus who…uh…well, let’s just say he did some things and then some things were done to him (we so dislike spoilers, especially the kind of spoilers one finds in The White Lotus). Created by Annie Weisman, Physical is a vintage-set wellness journey that is decidedly unwell, which kind of makes it about our current moment, something great television aims for. Put on the opposite of workout gear and binge it before June. ▼ Romeo San Vicente is near, far, and wherever you are.

MAY 27, 2022

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SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

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(Continued from page 73) THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at The Pond: Pamala Stanley, Davey Keitch, Pete Borsari, Joe Roy, John Murphey, Tim Ayers, Debbie Rees, Carol Meyer, Matt Allen, Chris Gearis; 2) RB Main Street’s Oldies Dance: Suzie Martin, Jeff Martin, Marty Caulk, Marsha Burd, Josh Appleman, Garret Gacusana, Chase Angle; 3) at Dos Locos: Dan Kyle, Marvin Miller, Wendy Eaby, Cliff Lassahan, Jon Kaplan, Bruce Clayton.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 4) at Dos Locos: Tony Zacchei, Tuan Huynh, Jacob Anthony, Scott Kroupa, Richard Nacey, Kurt Hochstuh, Don Horne, John Wallden; 5) at Eden: Mark Pipkin, RB Commissioner Tim Bennett, Karl Zoric, Richard Blob; 6) at Lupo Italian Kitchen: A.J. Hemphill, Katie Axell, Tony Gangemi, Duane Reed; 7) at Mid-Atlantic Symphony Concert: Sandra Pace, Barbara Passikoff, Stanley Silverblatt, Cindy Silverblatt; 8) at Purple Parrot: Matty Brown, Sarah Herrmann, Eric Engelhart, Chris Beagle, Paula Walker, Brenda Dunn, Karen Anderson; 9) at Mike and Tony's Open House: Tony Sowers, Mike DeFlavia. ▼

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®

®

LIVE MUSIC

DOUBLE POINTS FOR OFF-CENTERED SOCIETY MEMBERS

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

OPEN AT 4PM | 316 REHOBOTH AVE. REHOBOTH BEACH, DE

MAY 27, 2022

95 Letters

The Sea Salt Table

BY ED CASTELLI

Dry Rub BBQ Ribs

T

he Rehoboth area is a trove of great places to eat. We have it all. From fine dining in the cozy corner of a posh Baltimore Avenue restaurant, to ice cream cones dripping on the boardwalk. Eating out is its own attraction, a part of the beach everyone looks forward to.

But for cooking in, we’re lucky too. There are stores like the exceptional Fresh Market on Rt 1. And the glorious farmers markets all along our coast throughout the summer. Like Tuesdays in Rehoboth, Saturdays in Lewes, and Sundays in Bethany Beach.

A special haunt for me is The Spice & Tea Exchange on Rehoboth Avenue. I can linger there way too long for the health of our Visa. The staff is more than willing to help you explore.

Sniffing their unique blends costs nothing. And you’ll walk out with all sorts of inspiration for things you want to try at home.

Dried spices have a bad reputation. They embarrassingly remind us of the dusty, expired container of some exotic herb in the back of our cabinet. The one you packed from two houses ago, determined to resurrect but never did.

Believe it or not, one of my favorite dried seasonings is garlic powder. Fresh garlic is great, no doubt. But dried has its place too, adding an intensely concentrated flavor not possible with fresh.

And don’t get me started on mushroom powder. It’s fantastic mixed with ground beef. Reconstituted dried mushrooms rock too. And don’t toss that liquid! Find something to throw it in, like tonight’s gravy or tomorrow’s scrambled eggs.

I can’t think of another recipe that highlights dry spices and herbs like my ribs. These gems have evolved over many years.

Once, while gnawing on a fantastic baby back, I overheard the cook discussing their “low and slow” baking technique. I remember it well. I was in a bib. And I got BBQ sauce on my ear as I bent it towards the conversation.

I’ve been determined ever since to recreate and even improve that restaurant version. So here are my ribs. Let’s get started, shall we?

DRY RUB BBQ RIBS

 Trim excess fat from 6 lbs baby back pork ribs  Mix together: 1/4 cup sugar, 2 Tbl. paprika, 1.5 Tbl. seasoned salt, 1 Tbl. chili powder, 1 Tbl. pepper, 1/2 Tbl. celery seed, 1/2 Tbl. garlic powder, 1 tsp. ground sage, 1 tsp. ground sage.

 Cut ribs into small sections with 2 to 3 bones each. Rub the Letters 96

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spice mixture generously over all sides of each section. Bake as described, or store in refrigerator up to 24 hours.

 Preheat your oven to 300°. Scatter the bottom of your largest rimmed cookie sheet with: • A couple celery stalks cut into chunks (use the leaves too) • Some roughly chopped onion, any variety you have on hand • Some garlic cloves • A jalapeno pepper also cut into chunks, optional • Some fresh parsley and sage, if you happen to have some you want to use up

Place ribs arching upwards on top of the vegetables in a single layer. Tightly seal the sheet with foil. Bake for 2 to 2.5 hours, until meat gives easily from the bone when gently nudged with a fork. Keep 1/4 cup of the pan drippings. Cool the ribs to room temperature or refrigerate until ready to grill.

 Preheat your grill to medium high while you mix the

following: 1.5 cups red BBQ sauce, 3 Tbl. honey, the 1/4 cup of reserved drippings Drench ribs in the sauce mixture and grill until charred to your liking, flipping and basting as you go. I'm a big fan of blackened edges and grill marks. Pass ribs with bibs, paper towels, wet wipes, and beer.

A common mistake is to stop baking ribs as soon as you see the meat starting to shrink from the bone. But the goal is to get almost to the point the meat is falling off the bone. I know it’s painful, but keep testing until the meat gives easily. Reseal the foil and bake another 15 minutes each time.

TIPS ⊲

• Don’t skip the ground sage. It adds unique flavor. For the chili powder, I have a soft spot for Penzey’s brand “Con Carne.”

• Don’t grill ribs hot from the oven. If you cool them first, especially if they’re really tender, they’ll be less apt to fall apart as you flip them on the grill.

• The rub is the star here, so go with a BBQ sauce that doesn’t overshadow. A neutral variety from the supermarket works great.

• The honey is what gives these ribs their char. But watch closely. Don’t walk away to refill your mojito.

Extra Credit: Be adventuresome and make this rub your own.

I’ve seen recipes with a dash of coffee grounds, and even cocoa powder. Have at it and invite us over! ▼

Ed and his husband Jerry split their time between homes near Harrisburg Pennsylvania and Bethany Beach. Ed builds websites to pay the bills but loves to cook, garden, hike, and dote on their dog Atticus.

SAVE THE DATE Where the

JAZZ

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Oct. 12-16, 2022 Connect with Us @

legacy lives

EMMETT

RIO COHEN T

THE BOARDWALK PLAZA HOTEL 2 Olive Ave & The Boardwalk Oct. 13th - 730pm & 930pm

www.TrueBlueJazz.org

ERS THE COOK THE BOARDWALK PLAZA HOTEL 2 Olive Ave & The Boardwalk Oct. 14th - 730pm & 930pm

ESCO

RANC JOEY DEF

THE BOARDWALK PLAZA HOTEL 2 Olive Ave & The Boardwalk Oct. 15th - 730pm & 930pm

Local & Live Listings for Artist & Venues coming soon…

Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet

Minas Music • Getz/Gilberto Show

Webb T’s Superband

THE Independent Straight Ahead Jazz Festival

Columbia Jazz Big Band

A 501(c)3 Non-Profit MAY 27, 2022

97 Letters

BEEBE HEALTHCARE,

The Premier Healthcare Facility in Sussex County Beebe Healthcare has become the premier healthcare facility in Sussex County, serving a thriving beach and vacation resort area and a growing year-round population.

For a complete listing of all Beebe job openings, please visit our website

www.beebehealthcare.org

Attracting and retaining the best healthcare professionals is Beebe Healthcare’s top priority.

We offer an excellent patient-focused environment, exciting career opportunities, and leading-edge technology with supportive, progressive leadership.

Joining Beebe Healthcare means joining an exciting healthcare team that is deeply committed to the community. Our customer-service focus is recognized on a daily basis through our patient satisfaction surveys. Our clinical expertise strives to surpass patient expectations.

A variety of work/pay options are designed to meet the needs of team members, including: • Flexible schedules and shifts available based on the needs of the department • Full-time/comprehensive benefits • Part-time/pro-rated benefits • Per diem incentive plan • Competitive shift differential Join us now to take advantage of our excellent benefits and compensation package.

Beebe Healthcare is committed to hiring qualified professionals who provide the best patient care in the region.

EOE | 424 Savannah Rd, Lewes, DE 19958 | www.facebook.com/beebecareers Letters 98

MAY 27, 2022

immanuel quarter 28-02_Layout 1 3/30/2018 1:54 PM Page 1

D E E N E W R SUPPORT

YOU

Immanuel Shelter serves those experiencing homelessness in Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and surrounding areas.

Your generous support allows us to continue our mission and helps our community provide assistance for those in need.

FOR INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN VOLUNTEER OR DONATE, PLEASE VISIT www.immanuelshelter.org 17601 Coastal Hwy, Unit 11, #431 Nassau, DE 19969 1-888-634-9992

All monies raised go directly to Immanuel located in Rehoboth Beach, Sussex County, DE.

MAY 27, 2022

99 Letters

arts+entertainment

BY DOUG YETTER

SPOTLIGHT ON THE

arts

CAMP Rehoboth Puts Art at the Heart of Our Community 30 Years in 30 Photos Come and see the people and events that defined CAMP Rehoboth and take advantage of the last chance to acquire one of these special photographs while you can! The show and the online auction close May 31. You may bid up to 11:59 p.m. at camprehoboth.com/arts/ CAMPgallery.

As I See It…from Kodachrome to iPhone “I am grateful for my life behind the camera as it has provided the opportunity to go more slowly, to take a closer look. There is such beauty around us, in both the grand and the minute.” This is the philosophy of Geri Dibiase, the talented photographer who brings her art to CAMP Rehoboth for a one-woman exhibition, June 4-July 2, with a reception Sunday, June 5 (2:004:00 p.m.).

CAMP Rehoboth Arts Director Leslie Sinclair says, “Geri is a local favorite and over the years she has donated art to CAMP Rehoboth fundraisers, shared her art for Women’s FEST shirts, and much more.“ From local scenes to landscapes, florals, and creative compositions, there is something for everybody. Stop by to enjoy the art and attend the reception to see how Geri sees it! ▼

Geri Dibiase images at left, top to bottom: The Irises Are Popping; And the Wind to Carry Me; I See Skies of Blue.

This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.

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arts+entertainment

artist SPOTLIGHT EDDY SEGER Eddy Seger has created art from the grand to the minute! From sprawling sets for Opera Delaware and Clear Space Theatre to designing the Delaware state quarter.

SAVE THE DATES

Theater Tickets on Sale Now CAMP Rehoboth’s upcoming June theatrical production will be a night to remember. Two one-acts by Pittsburgh playwright F.J. Hartland will be performed in the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard from June 23 to 25. The one-acts, Auto Erotic Misadventure and Ponce de Leon is Dead, hilariously explore the dynamics of love, family, and friends. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at camprehoboth.com.

CAMP REHOBOTH highlights our community’s unique history and culture, and serves to further diversity, equity, and inclusion, by building unity and understanding. Exhibits may be viewed Monday-Friday (10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m.) and Saturday (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). View and purchase art on the CAMP Rehoboth website under “SHOP.” Doug is the Artistic Director of CAMP Rehoboth Chorus and Minister of Music at Epworth UMC. You can contact him at dougyetter@gmail.com.

Eddy Seger’s set for The Odd Couple (female version), Clear Space Theatre, 2014

Doug Yetter: Where did you receive your training?

Eddy Seger: I am a proud Jayhawk with a bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Kansas.

Set design began in high school with a tutor from Wichita State, but the rest was ‘OJT,’ [on-the-job training] paying attention, and stealing from the best.

DY: Do you have a favorite aspect of your work?

ES: I love seeing the spaces change from a blank page to a full-blown composition—heaven, a swamp, Skid Row, a Greek island, a Victorian parlor.

DY: Where do you find inspiration?

ES: Walt Whitman said: “To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle, every cubic inch of space is a miracle.” That’s how I view theater.

DY: Do you have a favorite time of day to create?

ES: The dark; the nighttime seems to lend itself to ideas and creativity.

There’s less interruption working alone at night. Creating is such a singular activity.

DY: What motivates you to create?

ES: Challenges. I tell directors to imagine their best dream; we’ll make the reality fit the dream.

DY: How do you define success as an artist?

ES: There’s an unannounced moment in the process when I realize I’ve done what I set out to do—captured a look, transformed a space, achieved a magical effect.… I live by the 11th Commandment—the Artist’s Commandment: Spend Thyself. The wonder of art is revealing the divine spark in each of us when we create.

DY: Does your art influence other

parts of your life?

ES: Art has been a dominant influence in my life. I met my wife, Sallie, in the theater playing Billy to her Julie in Carousel. I taught art to thousands of students over 30 years, and designed sets for great opera, ballet, musicals, the plays of outstanding writers, and worked with outstanding directors, technicians, actors, choreographers, dancers, and musicians.

DY: How have your interests and/or style changed?

ES: I’m not sure they’ve changed at all. As a director, I want the most honest presentation of the moment. As a set designer, I aim to be faithful to the playwright’s vision of the story and to give the actors an engaging, believable space. As an actor, I want to tell a story that touches people’s lives, and as a painter, I want to remind everyone of the wonders that surround us—if we’ll just look for them.

DY: How has your work been affected by the pandemic?

ES: Beyond delaying or canceling several projects, the greatest effect of the pandemic has been to reinforce how precious ‘now’ is, how truly blessed we are to have friends and family, and how we can take nothing for granted. I am more particular about the projects I choose.

Visit eddyseger.net for a more complete exploration of his work! ▼ MAY 27, 2022

101 Letters

arts+entertainment

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

BOOKED SOLID Queer Country

by Shana Goldin-Perschbacher c.2022, University of Illinois Press $110 hardcover; $24.95 paperback, 288 pages

Two steps.

This way, two more that way, tap your heels together, step-andbow left, step-and-bow right, turn and again. Eventually, you’ll get the hang of doing this and you won’t bump into everybody on the dance floor. Also eventually, you’ll see that country music has a place for you even when, as in the new book Queer Country by Shana Goldin-Perschbacher, you never thought you had a place for it.

Usually, when one thinks about country music, rural living comes to mind: cowboys, pick-ups, Christian values, conservatism, heartbreak, and honky-tonks. Stereotypically, few of those things have seemed LGBTQ-inclusive and listeners might have felt unwelcome, were it not for today’s boundary-breakers and “Queer Country” which, says Goldin-Perschbacher, is becoming more of a music category with fans.

Goldin-Perschbacher is quick to say that Queer Country is not a genre on its own. Some out musicians might more closely identify themselves with Americana or folk music; k.d. lang’s music is more countrypolitan, but with humor; and you can attend queer bluegrass festivals, if you want. None of this defines the various artists: in many ways, gay, lesbian, and trans artists have really had no other options than to embrace all labels.

Then there’s the issue of how to do Queer Country: Goldin-Perschbacher refers often to Patrick Haggerty, who was the first gay artist to officially record the album Lavender Country. He recorded it in Seattle, shortly after Stonewall. At

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that time, Haggerty was especially determined that his album be honest and sincere in its reflection of gay life—things that continue to concern queer artists who use irony, drag, and camp in their work.

And there’s that struggle to go mainstream. GoldinPerschbacher writes about k.d. lang’s career and how it progressed. You’ll read about Chely Wright and Lil Nas X and how they used non-traditional ways to rise to stardom. And you’ll read about many artists who do what seems best for them, and count LGBTQ listeners and cis audience members among their fans.

There really is no way Queer Country could ever be considered a “beach read.”

This isn’t the relaxed, rangy kind of book you want to sunbathe with; instead, author Shana Goldin-Perschbacher speaks to the academic, rather than the casual listener, with language that seems to fit better in school, than in sand. The analyses border on the high-brow just a bit, with some amount of repetition to underscore various points.

Even so, this is an important work.

In writing about this almost-hidden branch of country music, Goldin-Perschbacher also tells of the efforts she’s made to help some artists gain a wider audience. This lends more of an insider feel; the intimately extensive interviews with artists, and excerpts from other works, let readers know that they should keep their eyes (and ears!) open.

Give yourself some room to absorb, if you tackle this book.

It’s not for everyone, but C&W listeners and Queer Country fans may find it necessary. Step one is to find somewhere comfortable to sit. Reading Queer Country is step two. ▼ Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was three years old and never goes anywhere without a book. Always Overbooked, she lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 15,000 books.

MAY 27, 2022

103 Letters

OUR SUPPORTERS MAKE IT HAPPEN PURPLE LEVEL Greg Albright & Wes Combs X Sondra N. Arkin X Aaron, Heather, Gia & Joe Book* Catherine & Katie Brennan Carol Bresler & Carolyn Billinghurst X Pat Catanzariti & Carole Ramos* Edward Joseph Chrzanowski * Skip Dye & Steven King* Judy & Carole Jesiolowski James W. Johnson & Matthew H. Shepard* Wesley Lin & Brian Chapman Sherril Moon & Louise Montgomery* Fred Munzert & J.P. Lacap Beth Pile & S.A. White X Mark Purpura & Matthew Adams* Chris Rinaldi & Brian Powers X Mary Rossettini & Kathleen Taylor Jennifer Rubenstein & Diane Scobey X Gary Seiden & Ah Bashir X Evie Simmons & Barb Thompson X Leslie Sinclair & Debbie Woods X Diane Sweeney* Hope Vella William E. Cross Foundation, Arthur Brisker, Director Steven Wright DMD PA*

INDIGO LEVEL Terry Albarella Murray Archibald & In Memory of Steve Elkins X James Beal & In Memory of David Van Patter Wesley Blickenstaff* Jane Blue & Louisa Watrel X Joe Brannen & John Klomp X Tom Brown X Chris & Richard Cahill X Elizabeth Carl & Tori Hill X Richard Coss & Mike Hull* Elbert Leroy Dage Lou Fiore & Jim Burke* Gary Gajewski - In Memory of Dr. John A. Boscia Richard Gamble & Paul Lindsey* David & Marti Garrett* Harry Hallock Fred Harke - In Memory of Robert Rougeau X Holly Horn & Kathleen Garrity X Peter Karsner X Melissa & Amanda Kaufman X Maureen Keenan & Teri Dunbar X Jerry Kennedy & Robert Quinones X Russell Koerwer & Stephen Schreiber X Roger Kramer* Susan Kutliroff & Barbara Snyder* Christine Lay X Curtis J. Leciejewski, DDS, PA X Thom Morris & Jim Slusher Natalie Moss & Evelyn Maurmeyer X Rick Mowery & Joe Conn X Tom Negran & Marc Anthony Worosilo X John Newton & Mowry Spencer X Mark Niehaus & Brooks Honeycutt X Jeanine O’Donnell - State Farm* Gwen Osborne & Katie Handy X The Pearsall Family* Porter-Gordon Family*

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Deborah Qualey & Karen Gustafson X John Roane & Doug Lingenfelter In Memory of Jeff Hosley Lori & Renee Rocheleau Mark Roush & Dave Banick* Mark Schweizer & Robert Voelker Susan Tobin & Cathy Martinson* Terry Vick* Mel W. & Linda Lee M. Weller Ronald Wetzel & Nathan Hench* Brian Yanofchick

BLUE LEVEL Marge Amodei* Ronald Bass & George Robbins X Rocky Bible & Kevin Bosley In Memory of Jackie Morris Teresa Bolduc & Kim McGeown* Chris Bowers* Karen Brause & Kim Sheaffer* Tony Burns X Donna Davis & Gail Jackson X Scott Davis & Chris Shaheen* Connie Fox & Donna Adair* Tom Galloway & Les Diggs Perry Gottlieb & Tim White* John Holohan & William Ensminger* Irene & Lou Katz* Nancy & Tora Kennedy* Paul & Anne Michele Kuhns* Glenn Lash & Mark Paugh Bob Mancuso & Doug Murray Marvin Miller & Dan Kyle X Chris Rouchard X Michael Shaffer & Benjamin Wilson X Sandra Skidmore X Frank Surprenant, DDS & Chris Wisner X

GREEN LEVEL Sharon Bembry & Lois Powell* Alex Benjamin & Pete Grover* David Bower* David W. Briggs & John F. Benton X Charlie Browne & Rod Cook X Barry Bugg* Cheryl Buxton* Jay Chalmers & John Potthast X Stephen Corona Lewis & Greg Dawley-Becker* Robert Defendis & Ronald O. Dempsey* Mike DeFlavia & Tony Sowers* Ann DeLazaro & Annette Potemski Marianne DeLorenzo & Linda Van de Wiele* Max Dick* Diane Dragositz Kathy & Corky Fitzpatrick X Keven Fitzsimmons & Jeff Stroud X Cynthia Flynn & Deirdre Boyle X Lisa Gilley Richard Green & Asi Ohana X Joe Greenhall & Tom Klingler Bob Gurwin & John Rourke David Hagelin & Andy Brangenberg* Jo Hamilton & Donna Voigt* Terry Hollinger & Mike May Steve Hoult & Rick Bane X Karen Hugues & Cathy McCallister X Anthony Incalcatera & James Buswold Alex IX & Gare Galbraith Nola Joyce & Brenda Eich*

Jocelyn Kaplan & Idalie Adams In Memory of Adeline Kaplan X Linda Kemp* Deborah Kennedy & Beth Yocum* Eric Korpon & Steven Haber* Lee Lambert Leslie Ledogar & Marilyn Hewitt* John J. MacDonald & Douglas James Susan Morrison* Dennis Neason & Steve Bendyna* Kim Nelson & Lori Simmons X Fran O’Brien & David Gifford* Keith Petrack & Michael Fetchko* Anne Pikolas & Jean Charles X Gail Purcell & Sandy Kraft* Tony Purcell & In Memory of Daniel Espejel Marty Rendon & John Cianciosi* Douglas Sellers & Mark Eubanks* Scott Shaughnessy & John Hassell* William Snow X Mary Spencer & Kathy Lingo* Joseph Steele & Chris Leady David Streit & Scott Button* Anne Tracy & Mary Gilligan* Peter Trost & John Worek Cal Weible X Kathy Wiz & Muriel Hogan X Jon Worthington & Bryan Houlette X

YELLOW LEVEL Brenda Abell X Ria Allman Keith Anderson & Peter Bish X Gwen Atwell & Marla Hoon Dale Aultman & Paul Gibbs X Shannon & Sarah Avery* Pamela Baker & Diane Dixson* Linda Balatti & Shirley Gilmer X Susie Ball & Susan Delaney X Mike Ballinger & In Memory of Martin Thomas* Miriam Barton* Chris Beagle & Eric Engelhart* Tom Beall Barbara Beavers & Kathy Carrell Sherry Berman & Deb Hamilton X Abby Bernstein & Karen Frank X Michael Boyle & Greg Murphy X David Carder Kathy Casey & Jean Burgess X Kate Cauley & Pat Newcomb Bob Chambers* Jean Chlastawa & Susan Griesemer* Paul Christensen & Dennis Morgan* Jim Chupella & Jim Wigand* Steve Clayton & Brad Lentz* Gary Colangelo & Gerald Duvall X Nancy Commisso* Thomas Conway & Thoth Weeda* Billy Cox & John Carr* Drexel Davison - Bad Hair Day?* Anthony Delacruz & Ronald Mangano Fred DiBartolo & Steve Wood X Maureen Dolan & Karen McGavin* Albert Drulis & Scott Silber* Sandy Duncan & Maddy Ewald Karen & Lisa Faber* Alice Fagans & Ruth Ann Mattingly* John Farley & Dennis Wilson X Dent Farr & Erick Lowe* Dee Farris* Jerry Filbin* Cecily Fisher & Loretta Higgins

CAMP REHOBOTH MEMBERSHIP 2022 Diane Fisher & Kharma Amos Metropolitan Community Church of Rehoboth* Monica Fleischmann & Lona Crist X John Flournoy & Jim Chrobot John Furbush & Tom Feng* Gail Gormley* Susan Goudy* Ken Green & Joe Kearney* Renee Guillory & Melissa Vila-Guillory Mary Gunning Wesley Hacker & David Block* Pete & Joanne Harrigan* Robert Henthorne & Roger Bolduc David Herring & Karl Hornberger Carol Holland - Holland Jewelers X Caroline Huff & Brenda Robertson* Nan Hunter & Chai Feldblum Pete Jakubowski* Dorsey Johnson & Kay Jernigan* Philip Johnson* Dee Dee Jones & Julie Blake Frank Jump & Vincenzo Aiosa* Bob Kabel* Marilyn Kates & Laura Glenn* Andy Kite & Karl Martin Rose Korten & Brenda Pinkney* Greg Kubiak* Carol Lazzara & Sheila Maden* Edmund LeFevre & Keith Wiggs X Greg Lehne Monica Lewis & Ann Zimmerman* David Lindeman & Andrew Phipps Frank Liptak & Joe Schnetzka* Jim Lonsdale & Bryan Hoffman John Mackerey & Donald Filicetti Teresa Madonna & Stacey Mazzacco Patricia Magee & Anita Pettitt X John Marson Jill Masterman & Tammy Jackson* Tony Mazzarella Michael McCarthy & Lars Kontz In Memory of Vickie Stapleton Mickie McManamon* Howard Menaker & Patrick Gossett X Phil Merola & Rocco Scutaro Ray Michener & Tom Carlson* Sandy Neverett & Pam Cranston X Robert Nowak & David Bergman X Judy Olsen & Joanne Kempton X Maggie Ottato X Dotti Outland & Diane Mead X Peninsula Gallery - Tony & Carol Boyd-Heron* Joanne Picone & Kathy Bostedo* Frank Pirhalla Stephen Pleskach X Jim Pressler X Sam Profeta X Lisa Rabigi & Bea Vuocolo* Gene Roe X Thomas Rose & Thomas Sechowicz X Lucien Rossignol & Tom Harris* Mark Saunders & Bob Thoman* Richard Scalenghe & Thomas Panetta* Sheryl Schulte & Jeanne LaVigne* Troy Senter & Stacey Chan* Mary Ann Slinkman & Sharyn Santel* Polly Smale - In Memory of Charlotte Reid* David Smith & Kenn Williams Susan Soderberg & Terri King X John Michael Sophos & Miss Dot Sophos*

Diane Sozio & Patricia Hutchinson* Dee Speck & Linda Kauffman X Robert Stoltzfus & Gerald Warhola* Lenny Stumpf & John B. Pitchford* Jackie Sullivan & Sharon Padbury Brett Svensson & Bill Quinn Dust Doctors LLC* Thrasher’s French Fries* Don Wainwright & Tom Jamison* Lana Warfield & Pamela Notarangelo X Elizabeth Way & Dorothy Dougherty* Michael Weinert X Justin Weitz William Wheatley* Joseph & Diane Wood Tony Wright & Mary Jo Bennett X Steven Wunder & Rod Hastie Jean Sutliff Young* Joanne Yurik* Larry Zeigler X John Zingo & Rick Johnson*

ORANGE LEVEL Ruth Ball & Mary Ellen Jankowski* Romulus Barba & Dean Yanchulis* Paul Barbera & Joseph Nolan Nancy Bearss & Jenni Lindsay Kathleen Biggs & Maria Campos* Janet Blaustein Kathy Board & Jackie Maddalena Boland Family - In Memory of Michael J. Kelly* Richard Bost & Thomas Moore* Linda Bova & Bridget Bauer The Sea Bova Associates* Victor Branham & Mark Clark William Briganti & Gary Moore* Anita Broccolino - In Memory of Cathy Fisher Wendy Bromfeld* Ronald Butt & Steve Cannon* William Byron & Ali Lazur Ingrid Callmann & Karen Askins* Charlie Codacovi* Beth Cohen & Fran Sneider X Community Bank Delaware* Mark Conheady* Lois Cortese & Jill Stokes X Kay Creech & Sharon Still* Kenneth Currier & Mike Tyler X John D’Amico* Julie A Danan Linda DeFeo X J. Lynne Dement & Lisa J. Snyder* Jim DiLalla & In Memory of Frederick Episcopo* Tony DiMichele & Jeff Smith* Donna Dolce* Kevin Doss & Arie Venema Arlyce Dubbin & Kathleen Heintz* Brenda Dunn & Karen Anderson Richard Egler Susan Eig & Ellen Schiff X Jeanne Embich* Robin Esham Maureen Ewadinger* Ellen Feinberg & Lesley Rogan X Barbara Fitzpatrick & Denise Centinaro Sara Ford & Anne Donick* Roland Forster & David McDonald Deb Fox & Deb Bonneau Charles Gable Christopher Galanty & James Apistolas Continued on page 106

clear space theatre company JUNE 24 thru AUGUST 27

20 Baltimore Ave. (Beach Block) RB, DE 19971

Catch every show twice each week!

WEEKENDS ONLY!

Saturdays ONLY, 11 am

Masks are required for everyone while inside the building.

No food or beverages allowed inside the theatre.

For complete show schedules & tickets, please visit:

www.ClearSpaceTheatre.org Or call

302.227.2270

ThisThis program supported, in by a program is is supported, in part, part,grant by from a grant from the the Delaware Division of the Delaware Division the Arts, with Arts, a state agency,of in partnership a state agency, in partnership the National Endowment for the Arts. withThe Division promotes Delaware arts theevents National Endowment for on www.DelawareScene.com. theClear Arts.Space Theatre Company, Inc. is a The501(c)(3) Divisionnon-profit promotes organization.

MAY 27, 2022

105 Letters

Continued from page 104

Ron Glick & Tien Pham* William Gluth & Channing Daniel* Ed Gmoch* Mike Gordy & Ed Brubaker* Joe Gottschall & Scott Woody Charles Graham* Deborah Grant & Carol Loewen* Robert Grant & Chris Cossette Todd Hacker Siobhan Halmos & Beth McLean* Sharon Hansen X Pat Harte & Nancy Sigman Jacqueline Havriliak Tracey & Erica Hellman Nancy Hewish & Vicki Martina* Bill Hillegeist X Mary Anne Hoopes & Dianna Johnston* Vance Hudgins & Denny Marcotte* John Hulse X Mary Huntt & Angela Creager* Janet Idema & Patricia Higgins* Anne Kazak & Chris Coburn X Maryl Kerley X Bonnie Kirkland & Wanda Bair X Jay Kottoff & Mark Matey* Rob & Jean Krapf X Barbara Lang & Diane Grillo* Dale & Sue Lomas* Duncan MacLellan & Glenn Reighart* Marsha Mark & Judy Raynor* James Mastoris & Edward Chamberlain X Jonathan Mattner & Chad Rinker Michael & Stephan Maybroda* Kathy & Steve McGuiness* James Mease & Philip Vehslage* R Moore Carol Morris & Ann Abel Lisa Mosley Pat Nickols* Donna Ohle & Susan Gaggiotti X Lisa Orem & Debby Armstrong* Sandra Oropel & Linda Frese* Carolyn Ortwein & Ann Barry* Rutland Paal & Robert Mittleman* Sandra Pace & Barbara Passikoff X Steve Parker* Ellen Passman X Marilyn Pate & Dorothy Smith* Patricia Pawling & Jennifer Butz* Rina Pellegrini Colleen Perry & Jane Kuhfuss* Marianne Perry & Jeanette Laszczynski* Deena Pers X Grace Pesikey & Janet Urdahl* Russ Phipps & Stephen Jacobs* Peter Pizzolongo & Carlos Prugue* Pierce Quinlan & Ginny Daly* Susan Reinagel & Dawn Henderson* Pat Renninger & Tammy Plumley X Joseph Rively & Ty Hoffman Bill Rogers & Jeff Wilkinson Judy Rosenstein & Elva Weininger X Deborah & Charles Ross X Katherine Sams* Richard Sargent* Gary Schell & Jim DiRago Laurie Schneider & Margie Ripalda* Carol Scileppi & Valerie McNickol* Teri Seaton & Rena Frampton-Seaton Michael Seifert & Harvey Holthaus* Craig Sencindiver & Gary Alexander* Tara Sheldon Frank Shockley & Arthur Henry* Anita Smulyan Tina Snapp & Susan Leathery Christine Stanley & Joyce Rocko* Matthew Stensrud & Michael Cohen*

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MAY 27, 2022

Greig Stewart & Jake Hudson* Caroline Stites & Elizabeth Coit X Brian Straka* Sandra Sullivan & Lorie Seaman* Terrence Sullivan Trudie Thompson Susan & Rich Thornberg Jeffrey Trunzo & Herman Goodyear* James Vernicek & Jeff Dailey* Joseph Vescio Tama Viola Patricia Walker Shawn Walker Don Wessel Ralph Wiest & Anthony Peraine* Daryle Williams & Steven Fretwell Terri Windlan Melanie Wolfe & Monica Niccolai Robert T. Wright & Jack Lim* Sherri Wright & Dick Byrne* Niki Zaldivar & Cecil McNeil X Kathryn Zimmerman Helaine Zinaman & Roselyn Abitbol X

RED LEVEL Guy Abernathey X Dale Adams Adrienne & Kim* Jim Affonco X Mark Aguirre & Wayne Gleason X Bill Alldredge X Chris Allison Stephani Allison & Judith Gorra X Alan Anderson X Daniel Anderson & Greg Melanson Andrea Andrus & Maggie Shaw X Peter Antolini X Patricia Antonisse X Wanda Armwood & Illona Williams Terry & Gayle August Josh Bach & Edward Ginley Kathleen Bailey X Christine A. Baker John Baker & Richard Latham X June Baker* Sarah Barnett Curtiss Barrows X Brian Bartels* Eric Barton & Greg Nagel Barbara Bastow & Margaret McHale John Batchelor X Karen Beck* Beebe Medical Foundation* Pat Beebe Mike Behringer & Nelson Correa* Alex Belano Sheryl Bender & Doreen DiLorenzo* George Benes & Michael Mallee X Suzanne Bennethum & Deborah Smith* Joe Benshetler & Kurt Angell Jeri Berc X John Berdini X Joel Berelson & Charles Maples* James C. P. Berry & Matthew Stanislao Lisa Beske - In Loving Memory of Steve Elkins* Christine Bielenda & Karen Feuchtenberger* Thomas Biesiadny X Deb Bievenour & Susan Shollenberger* Beatrice Birman & Mary Malgoire Lorraine Biros* Cathin Bishop & Laura Simon X Ann Black & Kaye Wachsmuth X Carol Blair* Eric Blondin - State Farm Insurance Rehoboth Beach X Jacquelyn Blue X Rev. Dr. Tom Bohache & Tom Laughingwolf Simmons X

Annabelle Boire* Carl Bomberger & Mike Rhoads Robin Bond & Leanna Johannes* Bob Bonitati X Joy Boone & Marina Simmers X Randall Borgerson X Pete Borsari X Laura Borsdorf X Nancy Bouse & Norma Morrison X David & Donna Bowman X Deni Boyer & Loretta Imbrogono Brian Boyle & Larry Gee X Beth Bozman* Jim Brady & Mike Hays X John Brady X Kelly Brennan & Susan McVey* Susan Brinsfield & Barbara Devenport Debora Brooke * Kevin Brown X Lyn Brown & Winsome Boyd Matthew Brown Diane Bruce & Annie Sorvillo* Daniel Bruner & Tim Beymer Jack Bucchioni Carol Buck Al Bulliner X Belinda Buras & Linda Simeone Geoffrey Burkhart & Bruce Williams* Lyn Burleson & Sharon Werner* Carol L. Burnett X Mary Jean Burns & Novalyn Winfield Stephen Burt & Michael Jones Timothy B. Bush X Sherry Butler Randy Butt & Emerson Bramble* James Byrnes X Robertine Cale Debbie Cali & Maddie Cunningham Leslie Calman & Jane Gruenebaum* Pat Campagna & Debra Sansoucie Terri Campbell & Victoria Smith Michele Campisi & Julie A. Slick X Joe Canter Matt Carey X Jim Carlo X Justine Carpenter X Shirley Carpenter & Mary Coldren X Deborah Carroll & Jill Steiner Alice Casey & Anthony Codella Jo Cason & Peggy Neidlinger Teresa Cason & Lynda Schepler X Sara Cavendish & Wendy Bunce X Denis Chandler & Sebastion DiMauro Linda Chaney & Irene Lawlor* Helen Chang & Pat Avery Dr. Harvey J. Chasser X Mike Chateauneuf X Dan Childers & Ted Hernandez* Tom Childers & John Hall X Sandra Chinchilla & Michelle Holmes X Curt Christensen & Ellen Heald* Billy J. Christian X Dennis Chupella & Rob White X Dottie Cirelli & Myrna Kelley X James Clark Norma K. Clark X Rob Cline Barbara Clipper Amy Clouse & Betty Long X Julie Cockley Anne Cole & Sandy Freeman Carolyn Cole & Sandy McDevitt X Stuart Comstock-Gay X Inez Conover X Blanche Cook & Clare Coss Bill Cooley & Ken Watkins DVM X Josh Cooper & Steve Rathburn Jeffery A. Coover X Michael Cornell X Lois Corson X Mary Costa & Kris Nygaard* Becky & Tom Craft X

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ENTERTAINMENT MINUTES FROM THE BEACHES!

QUEER QUEENS OF QOMEDY Pride Stand-Up Comedy June 11 - 5PM & 8PM

PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM Tribute To Elton John June 12 - 3PM & 8PM

June 2 - HOT SAUCE BAND: Quayside@Nite / 7PM June 4 - PRIDE KIDS & YOUTH CABARET / 2PM June 5 - PARROTBEACH: Jimmy Buffett Tribute / 8PM June 8 - MILTON PRIDE PRE-PARTY & ART SHOW / 6PM June 9 - BETTENROO: Quayside@Nite / 7PM June 10 - MAGNOLIA APPLEBOTTOM: Milton Pride Drag Show / 8PM June 16 - UNIVERSAL FUNK ORDER: Quayside@Nite / 7PM June 23 - DIRK QUINN BAND: Quayside@Nite / 7PM June 24 - HAVE A GAY OLD LAUGH: Stand-Up Comedy / 8PM June 25 - ELEMENTS: The Ultimate Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute / 7:30PM June 26 - LEZ ZEPPELIN: Tribute to Led Zeppelin / 8PM June 30 - CHARLIE & THE COOLTONES: Quayside@Nite / 7PM July 1 - THE ELO TRIBUTE SHOW: Tribute To Electric Light Orchestra / 8PM July 2 - AUNT MARY PAT DISABATINO: Comedy / 8PM July 7 - LOWER CASE BLUES: Quayside@Nite / 7PM July 8 - MAGNOLIA APPLEBOTTOM: Drag Show / 8PM

MILTON PRIDE 2022 Celebrate June Pride Month with Us!

33 1/3 LIVE's KILLER QUEEN EXPERIENCE

The Best Of Queen June 18 - 3PM & 8PM

Check out the full events calendar on our website!

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STRANGELOVE The Depeche Mode Experience June 22 - 7:30PM

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MAY 27, 2022

107 Letters

Continued from page 106

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111 Letters

BYWAYS

BY MIKEY ROX

Down & Dirty with Gay Racer Dustin Sprouse

T

here’s no beating around the bush with competitive race car driver Dustin Sprouse: He’s out, he’s proud, and he’s an unrepentant Trump supporter.

Before you crumple up this page or close the browser window—like most LGBTQ+ folks are apt to do whenever they read the T-word—Sprouse implores you to hear him out. And so do I. Which is precisely why I chose to interview the 35-year-old amateur athlete who, in 2021, won Rookie of the Year in dirt-track racing’s Top Notch Late Model series.

Politics and sports seem to go hand-in-hand these days anyway. Auto racing is no different. Sprouse—thick like a grizzly on a 6-foot-2-inch frame—is at a crossroads, however.

Being gay has limited his sponsorship within the blue-collar racing community while his conservative leanings alienate a large portion of the LGBTQ+ community.

As a recent cover story of the speedster in Sport Illustrated points out, his life is complicated. (I recommend reading that piece, as it’s a broader introduction to Sprouse—and one of his insurrectionist crewmembers—than is this more focused interview.)

As you’ll discover in our recent chat, Sprouse is a Trump supporter, yes. But he’s also a passionate, caring, dedicated friend, and a family-oriented race car driver who yearns to be accepted for his wheel-spinning skills without being judged on the basis of his sexual orientation—or political alignment.

Even the open-minded need to be challenged now and again. Consider this a crash course.

MIKEY ROX: Racing is in your blood. Your entire family has a need for speed, including your parents and your brother.

Tell me a bit about your upbringing in West Virginia and your journey to becoming a professional dirt-track racer.

DUSTIN SPROUSE: My dad started racing in 1989, and that’s where my own love of racing began. I never went on vacations because we were always at the races every weekend. My brother started racing in 1997, and I started in 1999.

We all got out of it in 2010 due to [a lack of] financial support. I found my way back in 2021 in the Top Notch Late Model series where I would end up winning the 2021 Steel Block Late Model Rookie of the Year. That brings us to where we are today.

MR: What were some of the considerations you made when deciding to come out publicly in your early 20s? How was it received?

DS: I was really nervous about coming out in a redneck state, but when I was 23 years old I finally did it and, believe it or not, the rednecks stayed my friends and the friends I thought would stay are no longer my friends. Just have to respect others as they are.

MR: Success in racing comes down to winning races, but it’s also about sponsorships—race cars are expensive and you’ve got to keep yours running if you want to compete.

What’s the criteria for a sponsor choosing to affiliate with you?

Letters 112

MAY 27, 2022

We know what’s in it for you—financial support to keep doing what you love—but what’s in it for dirt-track racing sponsors?

DS: I’m looking for corporate backing from a national company that prides itself on being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. A corporate partner that will commit to supporting my efforts at being the first openly gay driver competing at the top level of dirt-track racing. This shows consumers that they

I believe that I deserve to be treated with inclusion and understanding, with fairness and support from both LGBTQ+ allies as well as friends and family. are committed to building inclusivity into their brand and to supporting the efforts of people like me who are unapologetic about who they are. I put a great product on the track to advertise their business. I have a kind heart, I’m a good sport, and I’m a great person to be a public representative for your business.

MR: Sponsorship has largely eluded you because you’re gay. How does that change, and how long can you compete without that deep-pocketed corporate financing?

DS: I’ll continue racing at a local amateur level if I’m not successful at attracting meaningful corporate backing. However, if I’m fortunate enough to secure a strong sponsor interested in supporting my racing career, I know in my heart I can compete at a professional level in national dirt-track racing.

MR: Sports Illustrated profiled you in a cover story published at the end of last year and in it, one of your crewmembers, Eric Barber, who remorsefully attended the January 6

insurrection, details how the confluence of social media and politics affected his mental health. In the same piece, you proudly proclaim to be a Trump supporter. First, why are you a Trump supporter?

DS: I like Trump for his “America first” policies. I support the coal industry, and I have friends who depend on oil and pipelines for employment. I felt like our economy was strong under Trump.

MR: Why—especially given Barber’s very distracting experience with politics—would you publicly attest to being a Trump supporter as a gay semi-professional athlete? How do you see that admission helping your career? Is there a possibility that you’re publicly a Trump supporter because you think it will ingratiate you to conservative race fans?

DS: I am who I am, and after living a closeted life I feel best when I’m completely honest about who I am and what I believe.

MR: It’s a very interesting intersection. You’re an example yourself of inside politics preventing you from receiving sponsorships, yet you’re vocally supporting the conservative ideology that instituted it. How do you respond to someone who says you might be getting what you deserve?

DS: I’m not sure what people with a strong partisan perspective think I deserve. However, I believe that I deserve

to be treated with inclusion and understanding, with fairness and support from both LGBTQ+ allies as well as friends and family. So my political views don’t define me as much as racing does. To be truly inclusive means accepting me as a proud gay athlete despite my support for Trump.

MR: Politics aside, a profile in Sports Illustrated is a huge deal for any athlete, let alone a gay-identifying one. How did that story impact your career? What has changed since it was published?

DS: I’ve received some local sponsor support, but it’s been minimal as far as financial support goes. Encouragement from people all over America in the form of private messages and likes/shares in social media has been the most noticeable impact of the Sports Illustrated article.

MR: If your sexual orientation, ultimately, is the limiting factor in your suc-

cess as a racer, what will you do about it?

DS: I’ll continue as I have been since I started. I’ll never give up or quit. My dreams and goals are important to me, and I’ll never let discrimination obstruct my pursuit of success on the track.

MR: Romantically, where are you? Is there a man behind the man behind the wheel?

DS: I’m single still, but always have room in my life for that special someone.

MR: What’s your dream car?

DS: Brand new Dodge 3500 Cummins. Already have the late model but need better equipment to have my dream dirt-track car to compete at the Top Notch level.

MR: What are your aspirations beyond the track? If you succeed, what’s the ultimate goal? If you don’t, what’s the contingency plan?

DS: I will keep being me and racing as much as I can, but if that does fail I will live my life as a loving and caring family man because I put my family first. ▼ Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBTQ lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @ mikeyroxtravels

MAY 27, 2022

113 Letters

WE REMEMBER Henry Eschel Edgerton Jr.

H

Photo: Jurek Wajdowicz, All Rights Reserved

Urvashi Vaid

L

ongtime activist Urvashi Vaid, a leader of many LGBTQ+ and other social justice organizations, died May 14, 2022, at her home in New York City. Most recently, she was the president of the Vaid Group, a social innovation firm that works with global and domestic organizations to advance equity, justice, and inclusion.

Vaid, a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law and Vassar College, began her career as a staff attorney at the National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, where she initiated the group’s work on HIV and AIDS in prisons. She spent 10 years at the National LGBTQ Task Force in various positions, including serving as executive director of the group, then known as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, from 1989 to 1992. Her time at the Task Force “saw her bring all aspects of queer life and struggle into the public eye,” the group’s press release notes. She co-founded its Creating Change conference, now in its 33rd year.

Vaid was executive director of the Arcus Foundation from 2005 to 2010, and deputy director of the Governance and Civil Society Unit of the Ford Foundation from 2001 to 2005. She served on the board of the Gill Foundation from 2004 to 2014. In 2012, she launched LPAC, the first lesbian super PAC, which has invested millions of dollars in candidates who are committed to social justice through legislation.

An award-winning author and researcher, one of Vaid’s books, Virtual Equality: The Mainstreaming of Lesbian and Gay Liberation (1996) won the Stonewall Book Award.

Vaid was the aunt of activist and performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon, who survives her, along with her longtime partner, political humorist Kate Clinton. ▼

Letters 114

MAY 27, 2022

enry Eschel “Hank” Edgerton Jr., 80, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2022. He was born December 6, 1941, to the late Henry Eschel Edgerton and Dorothy Mae (née Coleburn) Rae. Hank grew up and lived mostly in Baltimore City, graduating from Forest Park High School in 1961, where for a short time Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas fame was a classmate. He later received two associate of arts degrees from the Community College of Baltimore.

Hank worked at St. Agnes hospital in the accounting and medical records departments, retiring after 35 years of service.

After retiring, he moved to Rehoboth Beach. Hank enjoyed singing throughout his life, performing with the Baltimore Men’s Chorus and local barbershop quartet, and was looking forward to auditioning for the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus. Hank loved to travel, read, and follow the Ravens and Orioles.

Hank, who was predeceased by his loving partner, Theodore “Ted” R. Zapalowicz, was laid to rest April 26 in Holy Cross Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland. ▼

Jeanne Ann Farnan

J

eanne Ann Farnan, 82, of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away Monday, April 18, 2022, after a sudden illness. Her beloved partner of 44 years, Linda Karen Jennings, was by her side.

Jeanne was born in 1940, in Buffalo, New York, to the late Edward George Senecal and Rita Veronica (Malark) Senecal.

Jeanne attended Rosary Hill College, where she obtained her bachelor of arts in history. She also obtained a postgraduate degree in political science and law from Canisius College.

Jeanne held key executive leadership positions across her career and was most notable in her role of international investment banking and trade finance, specializing in infrastructure project finance.

Jeanne was a member of American Women in the Arts, the Smithsonian Association, Washington Trade Association, Annapolis Yacht Club, and was Phi Beta Kappa. She was of the Catholic faith. Jeanne loved sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, home gardening, and riding horses. Most of all, she loved spending time with her dear, close friends in Rehoboth Beach and Annapolis.

Jeanne is survived by her partner, Linda Karen Jennings, of Rehoboth Beach; her son, Christian Jon Farnan; her daughterin-law Christine Michelle Farnan; and her granddaughter, Shea Elisabeth Farnan, of Powder Springs, Georgia.

A funeral mass will be offered at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church, 401 King Charles Avenue, Rehoboth Beach. Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions in Jeanne’s memory may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 Central Avenue, Davidsonville, Maryland 21035. ▼

WE REMEMBER Georg Thomas Urban

D

r. Georg Thomas “Tom” Urban passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at the age of 74. Tom was born March 29, 1948, in East Cleveland, Ohio, to George and Helen Williams Urban. He attended Ohio Wesleyan University, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1970.

Tom obtained a master of arts degree in philosophy from Ohio University in 1976, and a PhD in philosophy from Duquesne University in 1993. This kicked off a successful career in academia, where he was a professor of philosophy.

Tom relocated to Houston, Texas in the early 1990s, where he taught at multiple colleges and universities, before committing full-time to Houston Community College. At HCC, he expanded the philosophy course selection and access for all students and was eventually elected president of the Faculty Senate. He retired from HCC in 2012.

While in Houston, Tom was president of the non-profit charity, The Grey Party, which was organized in the 1980s to raise funds for local HIV-AIDS charities. From 1999-2005, he was a member of the Ryan White Planning Council, an organization whose goal is to improve the quality of life and

advocate for those living with and/or affected by HIV. Tom met his husband, Marc Samuels, in 2003. The two moved to Delaware in 2012 after Tom’s retirement, to be near one of his favorite vacation destinations: Rehoboth Beach. In retirement, Tom was an active member of the Caesar Rodney Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and spent a great deal of time researching and organizing family history, locating graves and documents for his family going back over 400 years. He could often be seen walking his neighborhood (targeting 10K distance per day), or with Marc at Cape Henlopen State Park.

He will be dearly missed by his husband of 19 years, Marc Samuels; their beloved cats, Rachel, Elje, and Friedrich; his sons, Alexander Darius (Rose Bialecki) and Josiah Stephen Carrier (Toni Cruthirds); his sisters, Alice Glady and JoAnne Taylor; his former spouse, Laura Jean; multiple nieces and nephews; and countless beloved friends.

The family will hold a gathering in Tom’s honor later this summer. Donations can be made to Citizens for Animal Protection, cap4pets.org. ▼

WE HELP FAMILIES:  Shelter assets from long term care costs  Apply for Medicaid & VA long term care benefits  Create Wills and Powers of Attorney

 Utilize Trusts for probate avoidance  Preserve public benefits for persons with special needs  Administer their loved ones’ estates

Serving Delaware & Maryland Families Virtually or In-Office

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Planning today to protect your family’s tomorrow.

MAY 27, 2022

115 Letters

gay Women of Rehoboth ®

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www.meetup.com/Gay-Women-Rehoboth Learn about women’s activities, dances, discussion groups and singles events in the2:26area. windsor's 28-02_windsor's 14-15.qxd 3/30/2018 PM Page 1

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MAY 27, 2022

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SUN FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS

July 26, 2019 Volume 29, Number 10 campreho both.com

Join us to plan for the extravaganza! Send an email to sunfestival@ camprehoboth.com to let us know you’d like to help.

PRIDE VOLUNTEERS Join us at Dover Pride and Milton Pride to celebrate and to staff a table at their events, sharing and representing CAMP Rehoboth’s mission.

CAMPSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHERS We are looking for photographers for Letters CAMPshots. Volunteers may use their camera or iPhone, or may sign out the CAMP Rehoboth office camera. More guidelines will be shared with interested volunteers.

YOUR NAME

SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEERS

PARTNER’S NAME ( IF APPLICABLE)

Tech savvy volunteers needed to take charge of posting and scheduling CAMPshots found in Letters to CAMP’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Must have some social media experience.

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Send your check for $40 to CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. If you prefer to use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express call 302-227-5620.

Your volunteer efforts benefit you and others.

— PLEASE VISIT — camprehoboth.com/volunteers to register as a volunteer and to sign up for available opportunities.

thank you

to all the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center volunteers for the period: April 22-May 13, 2022

ARTS TEAM

Logan Farro Jane Knaus Lois Powell Leslie Sinclair Patricia Stiles Debbie Woods CAMP COMMUNITY CENTER

Natalie Moss Sandra Skidmore Alan Spiegelman CAMP LIBRARY

Glenn Lash Kim Nelson

CAMP MAINTENANCE

Eric Korpon

CAMPCIERGES

Barbara Breault Kenneth Currier Lynn Eisner Ron Gluck Jim Mease Kim Nelson Pat Powell Kathy Solano Patricia Stiles Russell Stiles Joe Vescio CAMPSAFE CONDOM STUFFING PARTY

Mark Bianco Mark Eubanks Barb Ralph Doug Sellers Sandra Skidmore Margaret Tobin Paul Toomey

CAMPSHOTS PHOTO VOLUNTEERS

Tony Burns David Camorali Laura Reitman

CHORUS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

Matt Brown Bill Fuchs Dianna Johnston Dave Minges Judy Olsen Dave Scuccimarra Sandra Skidmore CROP AT THE FOOD BANK

Deb Carroll Max Dick Mark Eubanks Jim Mease Carol Schleppi Doug Sellers Debbie Woods

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Leslie Calman Kate Cauley David Garrett John Roane Leslie Sinclair

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LETTERS DISTRIBUTION TEAM

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Jane Blue David Carder Ann Evans

Chris Beagle Karen Laitman Jim Mease Rina Pellegrini Leslie Sinclair John Michael Sophos Debbie Woods

LETTERS MAILING TEAM

David Hagelin Nancy Hewish Grant Kingswell Vicki Martina Stephen Palmer Russell Stiles Linda Yingst

MAY 27, 2022

117 Letters

AD INDEX 1776 Steakhouse....................................................... 23 Accent On Travel........................................................ 25 AG Renovations.......................................................... 99 Aqua Bar & Grill.......................................................... 89 Atlantic Jewelry.......................................................... 21 Beebe Healthcare.................................................... 110 Beebe Healthcare Career Opportunities................... 98 Brandywine Urology Consultants........................... 7, 46 Brandywine Valley SPCA............................................ 81 bsd.............................................................................. 91 Café Azafrán............................................................... 55 CAMP Rehoboth Letters Subscription...................... 117 CAMP Rehoboth Premier Sponsors..............................9 CAMPsafe................................................................... 78 Caroline Huff, Artist.................................................... 17 Cat & Mouse Publishing............................................. 47 Chris Beagle Group, Realtors..................................... 13 Clear Space Theatre................................................. 105 Coho’s Market & Grill.................................................. 43 Country Lawn Care................................................... 118 County Bank............................................................... 35 Debbie Reed Team, Realty Group.............................. 51 Delaware Community Foundation....................... 57, 76 Delaware Hospice...................................................... 77 Delaware Humane Association.................................. 80 Delaware Pride......................................................... 103 Diego’s Bar Nightclub.....64, 65, 66, 67, 84, 85, 86, 87 Dog Fish, Chesapeake & Maine........................... 94, 95 Donna Whiteside, Realtor.......................................... 14 Elegant Slumming...................................................... 51

Letters 118 MAY 27, 2022

Fifth Avenue Jewelers................................................ 63 Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant........................... 119 Gay Women’s Meet Up............................................. 116 go fish go brit............................................................. 35 God’s Greyts Senior Greyhounds............................... 99 Harbour Waterfront Dining......................................... 83 Hugh Fuller, Realtor.................................................... 58 Immanuel Shelter....................................................... 99 Jack Lingo, Real Estate.............................................. 54 Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley..................................... 23 John Black/Bill Peiffer, Realtors................................. 79 Jolly Trolley................................................................ 63 Just In Thyme Restaurant........................................... 39 Lana Warfield, Realtor................................................ 83 Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Realtors............................ 42 LifeMed Institute........................................................ 31 Lori’s Café.................................................................. 99 Loves Liquors............................................................. 43 Maplewood Dental Associates................................... 83 McWilliams Ballard Real Estate.................................. 37 MERR Institute............................................................ 39 Milton Theatre.......................................................... 107 Nassau Valley Vineyards............................................ 75 New Wave Spas.......................................................... 35 Olivia Travel................................................................ 19 Port 251................................................................... 109 Purple Parrot.............................................................. 59 PWW Law.................................................................. 115 Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Realtors.................. 17 Rehoboth Beach Bears............................................... 15

Rehoboth Beach Dental............................................. 55 Rehoboth Beach Museum.......................................... 55 Rehoboth Guest House.............................................. 63 Rigby’s Bar & Grill....................................................... 49 Ron Whitesell, Realtor................................................ 77 Saved Souls Animal Rescue....................................... 77 Sea Bova Associates, Realtors................................. 120 Seaglass at Rehoboth Beach..................................... 63 Springpoint Choice..................................................... 38 State Farm—George Bunting..................................... 39 State Farm—Jeanine O’Donnell/Eric Blondin............. 51 SunFestival........................................................... 10, 11 Sussex Family YMCA.................................................. 47 The Lawson Firm........................................................ 17 The Lodge at Truitt Homestead.................................. 45 The Pines.................................................................... 69 The Warren Group, Realtors....................................... 29 Time to Heal Counseling & Consulting.................... 113 Towers Comedy Festival............................................ 41 Troy Roberts, Realtor.................................................. 23 True Blue Jazz............................................................ 97 Unfinished Business................................................... 47 Village Volunteers.................................................... 102 Volunteer Opportunities........................................... 117 Volunteer Thank You................................................ 117 Westminster Presbyterian Church.............................. 83 Windsor’s Flowers.................................................... 116 Zane Jones, Realtor................................................... 27

MAY 27, 2022

119 Letters

LINDA BOVA

BRIDGET BAUER

BROKER-ABR®

ASSOC. BROKER-REALTOR®

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HOLLY OAK - Lewes. New Construction – Late Summer Delivery!!!

3BR/2BA home is a 1,506 sq. ft. one-level rancher with an oversized 2-car garage. Open concept floor plan. Great room opens to the kitchen and dining area. There is also a sliding glass door leading out to the big 12’x16’ deck.

Main bedroom suite has a walk-in closet & elegant bath with a 5’x4’ tiled “curbless” shower. Split bedroom plan with a tub/shower in 2nd bath.

Bamboo floors. Stainless steel kitchen appliances.

W&D included. Low HOA. $449,900 (2021958)

THIS SPOT IS RESERVED FOR YOUR HOME ~ LIST WITH US IN 2022

FIELDWOOD - Rehoboth.

Cleared 0.31-acre lot already has a well, sewer connection & electric service. East of Hwy 1 & near State Park hike/bike trail. 4 miles to the boardwalk & beach. $250,000 (2017644)

WEBBS LANDING - Lewes. 6BR/5BA home is +3,300 sq. ft. with an In-Law Suite at the rear, a 2-bed/1-bath unit upstairs, an en suite bedroom off of the family room, plus a 1st-floor main suite with a large bath with soaking tub & shower, plus another 1st-floor bedroom next to the full bath in the hall. Living room opens to the kitchen. Family room has a wood-burning fireplace & dining area. All of this on a 1-acre parcel with its own basketball court.

Community pier on Love Creek. HOA just $200/yr. $669,000 (2019326)

HEARTHSTONE MANOR - Milford. 2016-built 3BR/2BA home is in “like new” condition. Rear-load, oversized 2-car garage. Great room has cathedral ceiling, bamboo floors & a natural gas fireplace.

The Great room opens to the dining area and the beautiful kitchen.

Upgraded kit. cabinetry, tumble-marble subway tile backsplash, Ogeeedged granite counters & SS appliances. Big main bedroom suite. Split bedroom plan. Fenced yard with hot tub. HOA $142/qtr. Community pool & clubhouse. $385,000 (2020638)

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REHOBOTH BAY - Rehoboth.

Waterview of White Oak Creek out to the Bay. 1986 3BR/2BA w/VinylTech porch.

Part Furn. Pool. Marina. 6.5 miles to beach. $150,000 (2016730) Lot Rent $750/mt.

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SUSSEX EAST - Lewes.

1992 3BR/2BA doublewide.

LV & family room. Split BR plan. Screened porch & shed.

55+ community w/indoor pool.

6 miles to beach. $129,000 (NEW) Lot Rent $532/mt.

SILVER VIEW FARM Rehoboth. 1997 3BR/2BA home is a 14’x70’ on a corner lot. Vaulted ceilings. Big deck & shed. Part furnished. Pool & 3 miles to beach. $120,000 (2021962) Lot Rent $604/mt.

ANGOLA BY THE BAY Lewes. Adorable 1975 2BR/1BA home. So many community amenities, plus a marina. 10 miles to the beaches $285,000 (2020982) THERESA CAPPUCCINO 609-515-5820 has more details!

CHERRY WALK - Lewes.

1973 4BR/1.5BA manufactured home on 0.39 acres. 9 miles to the boardwalk or Lewes public beach. $199,900 (2021754) Call LUZ ESCOBAR 302-260-2080 for more info. SE HABLA ESPAÑOL

20250 Coastal Highway - Suite 3, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971  302-227-1222 office www.SEABOVA.com 

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Office Independently Owned & Operated by SBA, Inc. Prices, promotions & availability subject to change without notice. * “A/C” Active/Under Contract -- Accepting Back-Up Offers