CommUNITY Magazine (vol 3 iss 5) by Pride Center of the Capital Region

JUNE 16-21 PEPSI_H1_4CP_SM (FOR USE .25” 1.5" ) CMYK

PEPSI_H1_4CP_MED (FOR USE 1.5" TO 4") CMYK

2 PEPSI_H1_4CP_LARGE (FOR USE 4" AND LARGER) CMYK

FEATURES Celebrate 45 Years as the Community’s Center with a look back at the Pride Kickoff

Pride Kick-off Picnic 2015

pg. 6

Rainbow Cafe: Past, Present and Future pg. 8 It’s More Than Just a Parade by Acey Mercer pg.12 Hudson Pride 2015

pg. 21

Schenectady Pride

pg. 22

Capital PRIDE Memories

pg.24

Strive to Develop New Patterns of Celebratory Thinking Paraded in True Pride ~Acey Mercer

June / July 2015 Volume 3, Issue 5 CONTENTS

COLUMNS Gay Man’s Musings PRIDE...I’m Proud to be... by Nyvek Moshier pg. 10 Trans View Burning for Justice - For Everyone by Moonhawk Riverstone pg. 14 Ask the Lawyer Universal Health Care is an LGBTQ Issue by Geri Pomerantz pg. 17 To Be a Blessing Bridging the Bible and Sexuality by Aninna Van Riper pg. 26 Ask Mark Your Tax Questions by Mark D. Witecki pg. 28 Money Matters Lower Foreign Currency and Travel by Thomas Walling Out in the Garden Instituto Terra

Judith Fetterley

pg. 29

pg. 31

The Fashionable and the Frivolous How to Wear Pride by Alan Bennet Ilagan pg. 32 Michael Cooks and You Can Too Strawberries by Michael Meade pg. 33 Here’s Guffman Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS by Patrick White pg. 35

NEWS,UPDATES & INFORMATION Cover Photo: © Dawn Sylvester This page & opposite: © Pilar Arthur-Snead / Photographic Expressions

Farewell Note From the Editor’s Desk Quick Clips

pg. 7 pg. 7 pg. 9

Affiliates Calendar Weekly Events Calendar Our Programs CommUNITY Calendar

pg. 34 pg. 36 pg. 37 pg. 38

Advertisers Index

pg. 30

Pride Kick-off

Kick-off Picnic 2015 presented by In Our Own Voices and the Pride Center of the Capital Region

photographs: Pilar Arthur-Snead / Photographic Expressions

see more pictures at: http://pilararthursnead.zenfolio.com/pridebbq15

Pride Kickoff

with 3 of the Center’s Executive Directors, from Keith Hornbrook to Nora Yates to Curran Streett, and I can only hope that I can live up to the legacy of these amazing people, even as interim.

in fundraising. She has been a brilliant star, guiding the Center as Executive Director for 2 and ½ years and raising us to new heights. It has been my privilege to have worked with her these years and been a part of our “dynamic duo”. I will miss her terribly.

So stay tuned as we being a new chapter in Pride Center history and continue to celebrate our 45th anniversary this year with more events including our annual Gala on October 16th and a special concert celebration in November. But more on that later!

F R O M T H E But the Pride Center is someE D I T O R ’ S D E S K thing bigger than any one by Mi chael Wei d ric h person and we must press on and continue our mission! We haven’t existed for 45 years by accident. It literally takes a HAPPY PRIDE!!! Capital village to run a Pride Center! PRIDE 2015 has arrived and And Curran has assembled it’s big, beautiful and fabu- the best team in the world lous! While we are celebrat- and I am honored to become ing this amazing community, the caretaker of this amazing we are also sad to see our organization as your Interim fearless leader Curran Streett Executive Director. Over the leave us for new adventures years of my affiliation with the Center, I have worked

FA R E W E L L NOTE I am writing to let you know of some new directions for both myself and the Center. It is with mixed feelings that I announce that after 6 years at the Pride Center, I will be moving on. I have

Be well and be empowered! Michael Weidrich Interim Executive Director

accepted the position of Vice President of Development for Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, and will be working with the Pride Center’s Board of Directors on the transition plan. We are fortunate that our incredibly talented Deputy Director, Michael Weidrich will be stepping in to the role as the Interim Executive Director as the board conducts a search to fill the role permanently. As a 45 year old organization, the Pride Center has an amazing history of improving the Capital Region for our LGBTQ community. I am so proud that today, the organization has never been stronger and vibrant serving more people than ever be-

fore. In leaving the Center, I have an incredible amount of confidence in our staff, board, and community to carry this tradition forward and I am excited to see the bright future of our community’s center. It has been an incredible pleasure to work with you, and an honor to be a part of the growth of the Center that helped me as a young person. With kind regards,

Curran Streett, Former Executive Director

Thank You Curran, from all of us! We’ll Miss You. ~ Pride Center Staff

Rainbow Café: Past, Present and Future

Rosy Galvan, MSW (Program Director)

Rainbow Café is the Pride Center’s oldest program. For over 40 years it served as the one of the only safe spaces LGBTQ people had available to congregate, be themselves, heal, organize, grow, and build community seven days a week.

While we still have a long way to go to reach true equality, we have made many strides. Our community can now access safer spaces more than ever before, and as a result, the Center has evolved to address more current community needs. Staff are now able to prioritize time to dig deeper, implement meaningful programs & approaches to maximize positive impacts for LGBTQ people in our area. The Pride Center will always be your Community Center. Rainbow Café is now available on some Sundays for themed events. If you have an idea for a reoccurring monthly Café event (craft nights, writing circles, etc.)

email rgalvan@capitalpridecenter.org for info. 8

QUICK CLIPS

True Pride Parades from the Inside Out (Help curb your shame on pg. 12)

PRIDE MONTH continues in Hudson (see the schedule pg. 21)

PRIDE MONTH comes to Schenectady (see the schedule pg. 22)

/hr s, tax, 8 $ ga e!

des uranc u l inc ins +

We Love to Hear What Made PRIDE Special for You (#MyCapitalPRIDE on pg 24)

Get There with

Capital CarShare 518-545-4740 | capitalcarshare.org | Albany, NY

Wear your PRIDE No Accessory Needed

(Alan dresses up from the inside on pg. 32)

LETTERS TO THE EDITORmweidrich@capitalpridecenter.org 9

GAY MAN’S MUSINGS by NYVEK MOSHIER

PRIDE… I’m Proud to be… something happening this June that gives me an even greater sense of pride. Every year when Pride comes around I find myself thinking about that word (Pride) and what it means to me at that particular moment in time. There was a time in my life when I felt the word pride was one that could never be associated with me. Outside of my art work, there was very little I took pride in throughout much of my life before discovering the community and ultimately myself. Since coming out I have had many ask me “Why do you cling so fiercely to your identity as a gay man? There is more to you than the fact you are gay.” What these people fail to realize is that it was through becoming a proud gay man that I eventually learned how to take pride in other aspects of my life and my individual identity. Since coming out I have learned to take pride in who I am physically, emotionally, intellectually, sexually and even spiritually. Prior to coming out I felt trapped in a prison where my depression and self-hate had stripped me of any sense of pride. Now I’m not saying that coming out fixed all my problems and made me perfectly happy, but I am saying that it most certainly resulted in an awakening of my spirit. I can honestly say that each year, since coming out, I have learned to love a different piece of myself a little bit more. So what am I taking pride in this year? Well, this year I am proud to be turning 30 on June 12th. I’ve never been one to fear growing old. When it comes to aging, my only wish is that I do it well. With that said, I have 10

I am extremely proud be marrying the love of my life on June 14th of this year. I look forward to saying “I Do” to an amazing man, one Jonathan Aurthur Hammer. For those of you who do not know already, Nyvek is a nickname. My birth name is Kevin Michael Moshier, but on June 14th I will become Kevin M. Hammer. I cannot wait for Jonathan and me to start this amazing journey together. I only have two regrets. My first regret is that my mother, God rest her soul, will not be there in body. I would give anything to be able to have her share this day with us, although I do know that she will most assuredly be there in spirit. My second regret is that so many from the community, those who have helped me become the proud man I am today, cannot be there to share in our love and commitment. So with those amazing people in mind, I have decided to share my vows to Jonathan with all of you. “Jonathan, my love, my soul, my everything. There was honestly a time when I didn’t think this was possible, when I didn’t think that I would ever get to have this moment. It is in this moment that I now realize that all the moments of my life, both the good and the bad, have been

coming out I have learned to take pride in who I am physically, emotionally, intellectually, sexually and even spiritually

leading me to you. In the three and a half years that we have been together, you have shown me just how much love my heart is capable of. You have both encouraged and inspired me. I only hope that I can spend the rest of my life thanking you for every moment that you have made me feel like the most important, as well as the luckiest, man in the world. I cannot wait to start a family and build a home with you. I cannot wait to grow old with you. I love you Jonathan Hammer, and I look forward to that love

use this time to discover something new within yourself that makes you proud to be you only growing stronger with each passing day and year that I am lucky enough to call you my husband.” So now, with every bit of my heart and soul, I wish you all an amazing Pride and it is my sincerest wish that each of you use this time to discover something new within yourself that makes you proud to be you. May your journeys be inspiring and, more importantly, fulfilling.

Since

Nyvek is a local college student who has been volunteering with the Pride Center since 2008. It was Nyvek’s passion for weddings that first got him involved in the fight for marriage equality and the community as a whole.

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The Albany Gay Men’s Chorus Presents:

“That’s Amore” Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 7:30 pm The College of Saint Rose Massry Center for the Arts Picotte Recital Hall 1002 Madison Avenue Albany N.Y. Sunday, June 21, 2015 at 5:00 pm First Presbyterian Church 369 Warren Street (corner of Fourth and Warren) Hudson N.Y.

Adults $12

Students $9 Under 12 Free Tickets discounted at: www.capitalpridecenter.org Romeo’s Gifts on 299 Lark Street Albany The Spotty Dog Books and Ale on 440 Warren Street Hudson.

"(.$

A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Capital Area Council of Churches’ Emergency Overflow Homeless Shelter. Special thanks to the Friends of the First Presbyterian Church of Hudson. AGMC is an affiliate of the Pride Center of the Capital Region.

TR A NS* V IEW

Burning for Justice-For Everyone by

When I woke up this morning, May 4th, 2015, as I always do when writing my June column and it’s Kent State day, I hear the refrain in my head, “Four dead in Ohio” from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young pounding the remembrance, and wonder who, if anyone, will remember one of the most terrible days in our American history as it vanishes each year more intensely into oblivion. This year that troubles me more than most. Forty-five (45) years later, what have we learned? Baltimore is burning, the National Guard has taken back the streets. The good news is they haven’t killed anyone--or shot at and wounded anyone, as they did to those innocent students 45 years ago. Recently, I met someone who grew up a neighbor to the man who gave the order to fire on the students that day in Kent State, and getting older, thought how, if we live long enough, how incredibly and inextricably interconnected we all are. How small the world truly is. But what do we learn being in such close proximity to each other? This year there was virtually no major media the Kent State anniversary. But Baltimore was burning. Ferguson, MI had been burning, and black men and women killed by the police in questionable circumstances were dominating our media. How easily, how conveniently, we forget, we look away from those pictures seared into my young adult mind of the student Mary Ann Vecchio calling out, crouched over the dead body of another student. In my more saddened moments it seems we’ve not learned anything and social amnesia is a disease of epidemic and pandemic proportions worldwide. There was a new documentary film released on Kent State this year, but as a country, we did not pause, and did not remember, and contemplate, was it because Baltimore was burning? What do Kent State and Baltimore 2015 have to do with each other? One involves mostly white folks protesting the war in Vietnam and other involves mostly African-American people protesting police violence against innocent black men--and women. Underneath both events is the all the simmering, frothing rage and anger about state power and control, state misuse and abuse of power, murder by the state for the purposes of social control. It’s also 14

Moonhawk RiverStone

a good measure like the Occupy Movement of 2011 and the WW1 Bonus Veterans Occupation of Washington, Dc, how those in power quickly eradicate the social movements of those who hold a mirror to us about the deeply seeded problems of race and class and the lack of social justice for the poor and people of color.

What do Kent State and Baltimore 2015

have to do with each other?

Dylan Scholinski, a transgender man, wrote a ground breaking book about reparative therapy called, “The Last Time I Wore A Dress”. I had the privilege of meeting him at Binghamton University when the book first came out where he gave a speech about his artwork on display there. We met again years later and spent a long couple of hours discussing transgender related psychiatric abuse and its aftereffects on its victims, picking right up where we’d left off probably ten years earlier. Dylan shared with me his then current project of photographing found objects-the detritus we overlook, or turn away from looking at in the streets--the garbage, the dead animals, the uncomfortable (what is that object anyway) stuff we’d rather not comprehend-or embrace. We agreed it’s really important to look deeply at what it is we throw away, we cast off or cast out. What we’d rather not see. Rare is the person who can look at that which is cast off, or confront death in any form and stay present to its grief and horror and not turn away. Just as we turned away from Kent State, we turned away from the racial violence of the 1960’s and 1970’s, we, too, turned away, from the Dylans of the transgender community. They remind us that when we look we have to accept responsibility for the problem--for our white part of the problem of maintaining a racist, classist transphobic society--that and when we look away we automatically become complicit in maintaining it. How long will it be before we look away in Baltimore (the riots have ended after all)? How long will it be before we hold law enforce-

ment officers fully accountable for the choices they make in the work they do? I was heartened that officers were indicted in Baltimore, then, at least, despite any verdict, there is a better chance the fuller picture of what happened to Freddie Gray will be examined. That’s not true elsewhere. Mya Hall is not getting that opportunity. Mya Hall was a black transgender woman shot to death on March 30th for making a wrong turn. No one is rioting to protest what happened to her. While it appears that she may have been on a drug high and was driving a stolen vehicle, it seems that the response to her actions at the Ft. Meade gate of the NSA were quicker and more intense than might have been necessary. Here it is not so much whether or not police action was unjustified or not--we’ll never really know--it’s what happened afterward that is so brutal. So nauseatingly repetitive about violence against black transgender women. We all know the media has a choice in how they report any story, the approach and slant to the story. Here in Hall’s case over and over again, the reporting seems consistently slanted to make out Hall and her companion, Brittany Fleming as more intentionally violent than was actually true. Is that because they are women of color? Because they are trans women of color? I’ve been passed that exit many times in my travels, and I hear it is a very common mistake for people to make in taking the exit, yet, it seems, the police are not shooting at all those other people making this wrong exit. There has not been much attention at all to getting to a more objective rendering of what actually happened that morning. It’s already been swept away, like the detritus Dylan preserves and challenges us to look at. More importantly, there has been no movement in the larger press to correct or apologize for the incredibly transphobic manner in which Hall and Fleming were described as “crossdressers” and “men in dresses” implying that these were “the disguises of two terrorists” rather than both women were transgender women dressed as many women might choose to dress. Mya Hall is all but forgotten by the LGBT community, a footnote somewhere,

killed by the police in Baltimore. But Baltimore is not burning in outrage to what happened to Hall, and I wonder if there will ever be a day, Baltimore, New York, Albany, Los Angeles, San Francisco burn because yet again another transgender person of color has lost their life in interactions with the police. The burning is not the goal, the outrage and the justice are. This year as we celebrate Pride Month, we need to take a moment to gaze as Dylan does at that which we don’t want to see, our shame. Our shame that we need to be doing a whole lot more to see justice for everyone in our LGBT community--not just the identities under the letters, but the actual people living the letters--and fight for full equality for our community members who are so very marginalized because they just happen to be poor, to be people of color, to have mental illness, to have disability, to be different in some way in which the larger society has institutionalized even harsher violence against them, and to remember often, Pride Month is not much of a celebration for them as just another month to get through. Until next time...T

TRANS VIEW© #134

Rev. Moonhawk River

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like so many other transgender people of color. I so admired Daniella Carter in her Pride Agenda Equality & Justice Day keynote speech that she spoke of Hall as being the other person

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how incredibly and inextricably interconnected we all are. How small the world truly is. But what do we learn being in such close proximity to each other?

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Stone of Riverstone Consulting is an Interfaith Minister, transgender activist, writer, educator, consultant, keynote speaker and psychotherapist in private practice for over 25 years with experience and extensive expertise in all aspects of transgender policy and health.

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ASK THE LAWYER by Geri Pomerantz

As the nation waits for the US Supreme Court to rule on the same sex marriage cases, the headline from the front page of the Wall Street Journal read “Firms Tell Gay Couples: Wed or Lose Your Benefits” (Wall Street Journal May 12, 2015). The issue addressed in the WSJ article is the phasing out of health insurance benefits for the unmarried same sex partners of employees as marriage equality becomes a reality, in at least a majority of states to date. Some employers recognize that offering benefits to domestic partner or employees, both gay and straight, is an attractive employee benefit and creates a more diverse pool of employees. For those employers (state, municipal and private sector) who have been providing health benefits for both same sex and oppose sex unmarried partners, ideally there would be no basis for phasing out the coverage because of marriage equality. Other employers, however, are warning their employees that in order to keep their coverage they must get married. Some argue that, where same sex marriage is legal, the playing field no longer needs to be levelled by offering benefits to same sex partners. For other employers, it could simply be about saving money. I have not polished my crystal ball sufficiently to offer a prediction as to how this Supreme Court will rule in the marriage cases. A decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, and three other cases, is expected by the end

Universal Health Care is an LGBTQ Issue of June. There are two questions for the Supreme Court to answer: (1) Does the US Constitution require the states to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples and (2) Does the US Constitution require the states to recognize same sex marriages validly performed outside the state. I can only hope that both questions will be answered affirmatively. On the issue of health care, for this writer, the more relevant question is, should access to health care be dependent upon marital status, or employment status? Or for that matter, upon age, income, wealth or other status? There is no doubt that access to health care is an LGBTQ issue. Every year since 1992, NYS Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried has introduced a universal single payer health plan bill. It passed the Assembly only in 1992, and since then, has not been reported out of committee. As reported in the

On the issue of health care, the more relevant question is, should access to health care be dependent upon marital status, or employment status? Or for that matter, upon age, income, wealth or other status? There is no doubt that access to health care is an LGBTQ issue.

Legislative Gazette, 5/12/14 at page 13, Assembly speaker Heastie plans to allow a vote on the bill before the end of the session. The bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Perkins, and was referred to the health committee in February. The universal health care bill, if passed, would provide a comprehensive system of access to health care for all NY residents, regardless of marital or employment status, age, income, wealth, diagnosis, or other status. There would be no premiums, no deductibles, and no co-pays. The benefits would include comprehensive care, as currently required by state insurance law, or state public employee plans, family health plus, child health plus, Medicare and Medicaid. Coverage would be publicly funded. Health care providers would be paid by NY Health, and not health insurance companies. The plan would be paid for by a progressively graduated payroll tax (paid for by employers and employees), and by federal funding already received for Medicaid, Medicare, family health plus and children health plus programs. I’m in favor of a single payer plan because, covering all people equally regardless of their status, creates a higher quality of care for everyone. A single payer system eliminates the concept of preexisting conditions to deny access to care. Preventative health care measures are emphasized in a single payer system. People can chose their providers, and can have continuity of providers. By saving on administrative waste, and Ask the Lawyer continued on pg. 18

LAW OFFICE OF GERI POMERANTZ, ESQ. Proudly serving the LGBT community and our friends

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Ask the Lawyer continued from pg. 17

The universal health care bill would provide a comprehensive system of access to health care for all NY residents utilizing a not for profit structure, it makes health care affordable and accessible to everyone. According to an article in the Atlantic (June 28, 2012), the United States stands almost entirely alone amongst developed nations, along with a few Balkan states and Belarus, that do not have some form of universal health care.

The legal rights of LGBTQ families are an ever-changing landscape, to be addressed monthly in this column. The material in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to give legal advice, and should not substitute for the independent advice of counsel. The views expressed in this column are solely those of Ms. Pomerantz and do not reflect the opinion of the Pride Center. The material in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to give legal advice, and should not substitute for the independent advice of counsel. The views expressed in this column are solely those of Ms. Pomerantz and do not reflect the opinion of the Pride Center. Geri Pomerantz is an attorney in the capital district with a practice focused on family and matrimonial law, specifically including LGBTQ families. Geri conducts continuing legal education training for other lawyers, and conducts community education, on issues of importance to the LGBTQ community. She recently presented on parentage issues at the LGBT law day at Albany Law School. Geri is a member of the Collaborative Divorce Association of the Capital District. She can be reached at GPEsq@pomerantzlaw.org. 18

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In May of 2010, at the first Hudson Pride Foundation meeting, it was unanimously agreed that the name of the parade would be, simply, ‘Hudson Pride’ - no acronyms. This little city of Hudson, once had a population two to three times the current size, had been through a rough patch - manufacturing factories shut down, jobs were lost, and many storefronts on the main street, Warren Street, boarded up. Hudson is experiencing a re-birth! Businesses and bed and breakfasts are opening up alongside antique stores, art galleries and restaurants. Hudson is now a weekend destination, with many downstaters looking for a sample of upstate New York life. ‘Hudson Pride’, is not only the pride of our LGBT community, but also the Pride in a little city’s rebound. The Hudson Pride Parade takes over the entire city! Everyone is included! The Festival by the Waterfront is a familyfriendly event with free carnival games for kids. When we plan the Hudson Pride Weekend - the

weekend after Capital Pride - we make sure to include the entire community. During our first year, none of us knew how to plan or organize a parade. At the time, we did not even THINK of asking the Fire Department to be part of the parade. We had assumed that they were an “old boy” network, and wanted no interest in an LGBT event. A local reporter asked if the Fire Department if they were going to be in the parade. Their response was, “We would, but no one has asked us yet.” Here we were, parade organizers, thinking that they wanted no part of us, meanwhile, they were waiting to be asked to participate. The Fire Department is now always invited to the Hudson Pride Parade, and part of our growing community.

Come to Hudson for our SIXTH annual Pride! Friday, June 19th Boat Cruises 7-9pm Sunset 9-11pm Moonlight Saturday, June 20th Parade | Festival | Cabaret | Dance 1pm - Line-up for Parade 2pm - Parade down Warren Street 3-6pm - Festival at Waterfront 8pm - Cabaret show with Hedda Lettuce at Club Helsinki 10pm - Dance Party with Tedd Patterson at the Half Moon Sunday, June 21st 2-6pm Tea Dance at the Red Dot All information and ticket purchases can be found at

www.HudsonPride.com Thanks - and see you in Hudson!

- Trix

Come to Schenectady for our FOURTH Pride! Saturday, June 20th

Line up begins at 4:00pm

Performances by

The Schenectady Pride Color Gaurd RuPaulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

LATRICE ROYAL w/s/g

Ms. Pride South Florida Tanish Cassadine The Empress of Schenectady

Champagne, Jenna Taylor, Sabryna Chanyl, Calypso Breeze and more Loreal Lavigna & Desafinado

DJ Nate the Great Beth Zaje 22

First things firstâ&#x20AC;Ś on behalf of the Schenectady Pride Committee, Happy Pride 2015! Well if your reading this article chances are you live and/or work in the Capital Region. Regardless of whether you call Troy, Albany, Saratoga or Schenectady home, there is no doubt these are exciting times for our region. From the expansion of new industries to the re-development of historic downtowns, the Capital Region is bursting at the seams. Although not originally from the area, the City of Schenectady has stolen my heart and so much of what I do and support has to do with aiding in the renaissance taking place in city. I am proud to call Schenectady home were my husband and I have a house on Kings Road in the Woodlawn Neighborhood. I am also honored and humbled to work at City Hall alongside progressive leaders who recognize the value of diversity.

This brings me to pride and the need to celebrate the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender culture that we know and cherish today. Just a few short decades ago we hid in closets and dreamed of freedom. After much advocacy and effort we celebrated marriage equality wins in New York and in several states across the country in recent years. Today our greatest challenge and responsibility is to ensure that our transgender brothers and sisters secure basic human right protections with the passage of GENDA in the New York State Senate. As our work continues Pride festivals are part of how we engage the hearts and minds of our community, family, friends and colleagues. This June as pride festivals take place around the region, culminating in New York City where the gay rights movement was sparked let us look close to home for pride festivals we can support and enjoy with those we hold dear.

Schenectady Pride is in its fourth year and was founded on the premise that LGBT Schenectadians are making significant contributions to the redevelopment, life and culture of the city. We are business owners, residents, artists, professionals and community leaders to name a few. Our families come in all shapes and sizes and we are out and proud in #Schenectady. As such, please accept this article as a personal invitation to #DiscoverSchenectadyPride. Our committee has worked hard to put together an epic event to take place among other great Schenectady happenings. First off, Saturday, June 20th will also host the Tony award winning, Broadway hit, Kinky Boots at the historic Proctors Theatre. In fact the Schenectady Pride festival will be sandwiched in-between the matinee and evening performances. In addition Upper Union Street will be hosting its annual Strawberry Festival which runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Furthermore, St. Anthony’s will be in the middle of a three day Italian Festival just blocks from Pride on the corner of Seward and Nott Street. In short, thousands of people will be milling about many great events taking place on June 20th in the City of Schenectady. The Schenectady Pride 2015 line-up promises to impress with national talent flown in from Florida alongside

local artists and performers ready to impress as well. The Pride performance schedule kicks off at 4:00 p.m. with the debut performance of the Schenectady Pride Color Guard team. This eclectic group of volunteers range in age and talent, but promise to get you moving. Then the one-andonly Latrice Royale from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Drag Race All Stars will own that stage. Performing with her and alongside local drag talent is Ms. Pride South Florida, Tanisha Cassadine. This hour-and-half drag-tastic show will be non-stop, pump of the volume performances that will leave you begging for more. Special thanks to the Duchess of Schenectady, Ms. Anistasia Lovless for organizing the local drag talent which includes Champagne - The Empress of Schenectady, Jenna Taylor, Sabryna Chanyl, and Calypso Brezze. Immediately following local soloist Loreal Lavigna and Indi-Rock band Desafinado will take the stage for a special performance spot they won as a result of participating in the Schenectady Pride’s Got Talent, Do You? event held in May. Then around 6:00 p.m. the Schenectady Pride Committee will take the stage with local honorary guests for a special proclamation and recognition of the Schenectady Pride sponsors and volunteers. DJ Nate the Great will keep the tunes pumping and host a

special dance party before the 2nd act. Local pop artist Beth Zaje will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with non-stop rock’n melodies that will certainly entertain. Plus throughout the pride festival tasty eats and drinks will be available courtesy of Mad Jacks Beer, Café Nola, Thai Thai Bistro, Moveable Feast and Cuffs Cakes. Plus our famous pride ambiance will embrace you with more LGBT pride than a Dorothy cabaret on Broadway packed with your favorite show tunes. In addition we can’t forget our faithful local non-profits and commercial vendors that will line the Jay Street Marketplace in between the numerous boutique shops and eateries that make up the Marketplace. Still want more? The official Schenectady Pride After Party kicks off at 9:00 p.m. at Mexican Radio on State Street in downtown Schenectady, hosted by DJ Nate the Great and Ms. Anistasia Lovless. If you’re looking for more pictures, posts and love from the Schenectady Pride crew related to the festival or otherwise check out Schenectady Pride on Facebook or visit www.SchenectadyPride.org XO #SchenectadyPride,

Chad Putman,

Chair

Welcoming Congregations

Join Us In Exploring Your Spiritual Side At One Of The Welcoming Congregations Below:

Capital PRIDE Memories #MyCapitalPRIDE I had a lot of fun during the parade in 2014. All [of] the patrons were so awesome! Two beautiful girls, all dressed up, had a “dance off”. I dance with them between working and had a blast. Everyone was so nice and fun! Can’t wait till next parade day! I’m definately working again! - Toni, Server at Cafe Hollywood #MyCapitalPRIDE [2014] was my first experience with the Capital PRIDE, after moving here from Kansas. I am certainly a long way from home. The festival was amazing and incredibly welcoming. As a single mother who knows not a soul in the area, I certainly felt a part of the community right away. My children had the greatest time and are still talking about how wonderful of a time they had at the festival. Thank you for everything! - Sarah #MyCapitalPRIDE It was less than two weeks after my gender confirmation surgery and I had been recuperating at my parents’ house in Glens Falls, but there was no way I was going to miss Pride! I hadn’t seen my friends for almost three weeks, so when I told them I was determined to come down with my folks they threw me a celebratory brunch. We all ate, caught up, watched the parade, then (slowly) made our way to the park. I was hobbled, tired, and in pain, but I smiled all day long. - Drew Cordes #MyCapitalPRIDE Racing down to the corner of Lark and Madison in a golf cart to pick up Congressman Paul Tonko and New York Assemblyman John McDonald. Then “FLOORING THE CART’ to get them to the Parade staging area just before the start of the Parade. Now for the rest of the story...the golf cart was a 2 seater -Ed Davis, Capital PRIDE Parade Chair

Community Congregational Church (UCC) 221 Columbia Tpke, Rensselaer www.clintonheightsucc.org Community Reformed Church of Colonie 701 Sand Creek Road, Colonie www.coloniereformed.org (518)869-5589 Congregation Agudat Achim (Conservative) 2117 Union Street, Schenectady www.agudatachim.org (518) 393-9211 Congregation B’nai Shalom (Reform) 420 Whitehall Road, Albany www.bnaishalom.albany. ny.us (518) 482-5283 Congregation Berith Sholom (Reform) 167 Third Street, Troy www.berithsholom.org (518)272-8872 Congregation Beth Emeth (Reform) 100 Academy Road, Albany www.bethemethalbany.org (518)436-9761 Congregation Gates of Heaven (Reform) 842 Ashmore Avenue, Schenectady www.cgoh.org (518)374-8173 Congregation Ohav Shalom (Conservative) 113 New Krumkill Road, Albany www.ohavshalom.org Congregation Temple Sinai (Reform) 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs www.templesinai-saratogasprings.org (518) 584-8730 Eastern Parkway United Methodist Church 943 Palmer Avenue, Schenectady www.easternparkway.weebly. com (518)374-4306 St. George’s Episcopal Church 30 North Ferry St., Schenectady www.stgeorgesschenectady. org Emmanuel Baptist Church 275 State Street, Albany, NY www.emmanuelalbany.net (518)465-5161 First Church in Albany 110 North Pearl Street, Albany

www.firstchurchinalbany.org (518)463-4449 First Congregational Church of Albany UCC & NACCC 405 Quail Street, Albany www.firstcongregationalalbany.org (518)482-4580 First Lutheran Church 181 Western Avenue, Albany www.FirstLutheranAlbany. org (518)463-1326 First Presbyterian Church 362 State Street, Albany www.firstpresalbany.org (518)449-7332 First Reformed Church 8 North Church Street, Schenectady www.1streformed.com First Unitarian Society of Schenectady 1221 Wendell Avenue, Schenectady www.fussonline.org (518)374-4446 First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany 405 Washington Avenue, Albany www.albanyuu.org (518)463-7135 First United Methodist Church 603 State Street, Schenectady, www.gbgm-umc.org/schenectady (518)374-4403 First United Methodist Church, East Greenbush www.fumceg.org First United Presbyterian Church 1915 Fifth Avenue, Troy www.unitedprestroy.org (518)272-2771 Friends Meeting (Quaker) 727 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 436-8812 Presbyterian New England Congregational Church, Saratoga http://pnecchurch.org/ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 501 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville www.goodshepherdchurchloudonville.org (518)458-1562 Holy Trinity National Catholic Church 405 Washington Avenue, Albany www.NCCofA.org/holytrin. html

(518)434-8861 Journey United Church of Christ 500 Kenwood Blvd, Delmar www.journeyucc.com Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs www.saratogaspringsumc. org (518)584-3720 Saint Aelred’s Priory and Retreat House (National Catholic) 670 Bunker Hill Road, Northville staelredpriory@aol.com (518) 863-8086 / (518) 4348861 St. Andrews Episcopal Church Main at Madison Avenue, Albany www.standrewsalbany.org (518)489-4747 St. John’s Lutheran Church 160 Central Avenue, Albany www.stjohnsalbany.org (518)465-7545 Temple Israel 600 New Scotland Avenue, Albany www.tialbany.org (518) 438-7858 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga 624 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs www.saratoga-uu.org (518)584-1555 Unity Church in Albany 21 King Avenue, Albany www.unitychurchinalbany. org (518)453-3603 Woodstock Jewish Congregation (Reconstructionist) 1682 Glasco Turnpike, Woodstock www.wjcshul.org (845)246-1671

Proud To Be Open! Affirming! Welcoming! Joyous!

T O

B E

B L E S S I N G

Bridging the Bible and Sexuality by Annina Van Riper It is my final semester as a high school student and the program I have been in since my freshmen year does not take this semester lightly. As an example, I have to write a seven to 10 page thesis paper (which is not that bad), give a 30-minute, thesis-based presentation, defend my position in front of a board of examiners and complete at 175 hour internship. No completion of any of these meant no graduation. Like many of my classmates, my first thought was not appropriate to publish in a magazine. At the time, the internship was the most pressing requirement and to combat my impending stress, I began to search for one throughout the fall terms. It quickly became apparent that I was lucky my birthday falls in the beginning of January as many fields I was looking into required interns to be at least 18. Fast forward to the middle of January and I had found my internship -- working in the Pastoral Care Department at Albany Medical Center. At the start of my internship, I had only a slight idea of what pastoral care really was and I don’t think I really grasped the idea of it all until I went on patient visits. My initial thoughts were something along the lines of a religious figure going to preach to patients about how “Jesus will save you” and “Everything will be okay if you just believe in G-d”; it was refreshing to see how wrong I was. Upon further examination, I connected the dots and believe that my naïve ideas regarding pastoral care largely stemmed from the fact that I tried desperately to fight my sexuality

by using conservative Christian theology to demonize myself. When I was struggling with my sexuality, for whatever reason, I turned to the Bible and ended up wielding it as a tool against myself. I was aware that the Bible was all about how you interpret its words so I simply made a choice to read the holy text using a lens that would remind myself – as it has many others – that I was a disgrace to mankind, that my existence was pitiful and I that was a blemish on society all because of my sexuality. The irony in my thoughts was that I saw nothing wrong with being gay. In fact, I grew up in a Unitarian Universalist household which has views of being LGBTQA friendly. Additionally, one of my best friends at the time identified as a gay male. Despite this, I could not come to terms with myself and accept that I may be a lesbian. I was absolutely convinced I was going to hell and yet I did not mind. I’m not sure what about hell it was, but the whole burning flames thing didn’t scare me. I was much more concerned with the hell I thought I was putting others through by not aligning to the social expectations of finding a nice husband, settling down and having kids. The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint everyone by being gay. I was apprehensive about working in and around religion for the very reason mentioned above. It was not that I assumed all people who were religious saw homosexuality as sinful; on the contrary, I was hyper-aware how false my assumptions were. In truth, the discomfort I once felt for myself still trickled into my ideas about religion.

The irony in my thoughts was that I saw nothing wrong with being gay

(To be completely and utterly clear, I have nothing against those who practice religion. In fact, I have an immense amount of respect for those who stand by their faith as it is something that I have yet to develop fully and therefore lack the understanding of such a strong will towards a certain set of beliefs.) Expansion of the mind is something I value and do my best to maintain by trying new things like reading new literature, listening to new music and being an intern in pastoral care. Being around religion at my internship has helped me create a metaphorical bridge between myself and my sexual identity. It has helped me address my own discomfort with the Bible and I sincerely feel like I have made peace concerning the two subjects.

I was apprehensive about working in and around religion

Annina Van Riper is a senior attending Bethlehem Central High School and has been working with the Pastoral Care Department at Albany Medical Center since late January. She has been president of her high school GSA and proudly came out during her freshman year. She has been a member of the Center Youth Action team since her sophomore year and aims to continue LGBTQ activism in college. Annina will be sharing her musical skills at the Interfaith Pride Service on June 8 at First Presbyterian Church of Albany.

This article is one of a series provided by Advocates for Welcoming Congregations, a Capital Region group that encourages the welcoming of LGBT persons into the full life and leadership of communities of faith. The group also works to make visible for members of the LGBT community opportunities for practicing their faith traditions.

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ASK MARK YO U R TA X Q U ESTI O N S

Welcome to the DEAR MARK column where you can ask a tax question. Of course some questions might warrant answers that cannot be answered to due to the limited space in this column or warrant more facts due to specific circumstances of the taxpayer.

Dear Mark, I own a rental property but have been unable to rent it out because next door there are drug deals going on and despite lots of ads I have placed in the newspaper seeking tenants, no one is interested in renting it. the other problem is that my income is too high to take advantage of the year after year losses. If I were to sell the property what would happen with the taxes? Signed, Hopeless Dear Hopeless, Assuming that you are not a “real estate professional” as defined in the tax code, and assuming that you are correct in not being able to currently use those losses, and assuming that you “suspended” the losses and carried them over year to year, then you are able to use the suspended losses in the year of sale. ============================ Mark Witecki, I received a settlement from the insurance company for a dog bite. It was a lot of money and I am worried I have to pay taxes on it. Is it taxable? Worried Dear Worried, Assuming that your settlement award was for pain and suffering and medical expenses, the award would not be taxable. If you previously deducted medical expenses on your return because of the dog bite, you may have to add those back to income or reduce your current medical expense deduction. I would advise you to contact me and have me take a look at the paperwork.

Dear Mark, I bought a couple of rental properties partly furnished. It was a package deal and there is no amount to separate the cost of the buildings. As part of the deal there was also a vacant piece of land included. I know I am entitled to depreciation, but how do I figure out the cost of each building to depreciate? Confused. Dear Confused, I would advise hiring an appraiser to figure out the relative values and the rental properties and vacant land to allocate the cost of each, and further separate out the portion of those costs that belong to the furnishings. This will give you the information you need to start your calculations If warranted , you may want to have a cost segregation analysis done by an engineer which may enable you to depreciate building components more rapidly than by suing the standard methods. ============================ Mr. Mark W, i am an independent social worker and I am self-employed. At the end of the day I am so stressed that I have a stash of liquor in my office and have a few drinks to unwind. Can I deduct the cost of the liquor? Sign me, Stressed out and need a drink. Dear Stressed out, Assuming you are not joking about this, you cannot deduct the amount because you are drinking the liquor by yourself and there is no tentative connection between the liquor and your business for tax purposes. If you had a drink with clients that may qualify under certain circumstances.

crops. If I rented it out, how would I pay the taxes on it? Very Truly Yours, Farmer Jones Dear Farmer Jones, You would included the rental payments in income and deduct expense such as real estate taxes, insurance, any maintenance expense on the land, any legal fees to draw up the contract between you and the renter, as well as other expenses. Some expense such as land improvements would not be deductible and would be added to the cost of the land You should consult an attorney dealing in the area, especially regarding the use of any pesticides the farmer may use, etc.

Aswers that apply to specific taxpayers may not necessary apply to others. Changes in tax law and rules may affect answers given at any point. You can write Mark at Mark Witecki CPA CFP(R) CFE, 3701 State St, Schenectady, NY 12304. Mark D. Witecki specializes in small businesses and professional individuals. Mr. Witecki has a B. S. in Accounting from S. U. N. Y. Albany and an M. S. in Accounting from Syracuse University. Mark D. Witecki is a Certified Public Accountant, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ practitioner, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified College Planning Specialist and is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® , CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. Mark’s office is located at 3701 State Street, Schenectady, New York

============================ Dear Mark, I bought a parcel of vacant land in the country last year Now I am thinking of getting rid of it because it is such a long distance away and I am sorry I bought it. I originally thought I would build on it, but I am concerned about living in the boondocks with no one around. Now a local farmer wants to rent the land to grow ============================= ============================= =============================

Mark D. Witecki Certified Public Accountant Certified Financial Planner™ Certified Fraud Examiner Tax Preparation 3701 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12304 (518) 346-4000 f: (518) 346-5196

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the Certified Marks CFP (c). Certified Financial Planner ™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S. which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP’s initial and ongoing certification requirements

of the Euro, cities like Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and Brussels are now on sale at a 25% to 30% discount. April 30th of 2014 showed an exchange rate of $1.39 down to around $1.10/ Eurodollar (Euro) at the time of the writLower Foreign ing of this column. A loaf of bread in costs approximately 1.61 Euros. Currency Paris If you figure in the cost in dollars over and Travel the past year, bread has dropped from $2.23 down to $1.77. If a hotel room is 150 Euros it has dropped in true price from $208.50 to $165. Foreign money can be very confusing. Most countries use their own currency which is usually tied to that The United Kingdom uses British country’s economic strength. The Pounds (GBP’s). In July of 2014, the worth of their money to us is depen- exchange rate was as high as $1.71/ dent on how the American economy GBP. It now hovers around $1.50/ stacks up against theirs. It seems the GBP. With bread costing approxiUS is recovering faster from the re- mately 1.03GBP, the cost in dollars cession than most of its international has dropped from $1.76 to $1.54. counterparts. What this means is that In less than one year, the exchange international travel may be the most rate has dropped over 12%. A hoaffordable it has been in years. Our tel room in London that costs 150 dollar’s strength presents negatives as GBP has dropped from $264 to $231. well as positives. The things we make This is not as huge a difference as with here are more expensive overseas and the Euro, however a room upgrade is this affects our trade and economy. probably possible at last years’ prices. Mexico’s peso has had a similar deIs your dream holiday exploring Eu- cline as the GBP. A year ago, $1 would rope’s history and culture or to spend buy 13 pesos. May 1st, the rate was some time on a beach in Mexico? 15.5 pesos/$1. With bread costing These dreams may not have been an average of 23 pesos, the cost has possible a few years ago due to the declined from $1.76 down to $1.48. exchange rate to the US dollar. These Tortillas are more common which rates change daily. In order to gauge explains bread seeming more expenthe differences and give them all a sive there. Similarly, a hotel costing point of reference, we will be looking 1000pesos/night has dropped from at the cost of a loaf of bread in many $77 to $64.50. places over the last year. MONEY MATTERS by

Thomas

Walling

The Eurodollar is a currency used in a large part of the Europe. We have all heard of the economic woes the EU is having with certain countries, mainly Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain. Due to these issues and the deflation

Certain things have not changed when traveling overseas. Airfares are not reflecting the lower oil prices and airport and hotel taxes can be astronomical. Passports still take some time to get so it is advised to start this process long before needed. Also a

universal electric converter is necessary. Check with your mobile phone plan to see what will and will not work overseas (and the cost). Try to get a hotel with wifi. If possible, try to learn a few words of their native language. When they hear your sad understanding of their language, they will usually switch over to English. Do not take for granted that they speak English, however. This will make you seem like an ethnocentric American tourist. This is usually not preferable and ruins it for the rest of us. Happy travels!

Is your dream holiday exploring Europe’s

history and culture or to spend some time on a beach in Mexico?

Thomas J. Walling CFP® is an Investment Advisor Representative of and offers securities and investment advice through Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC. (Member FINRA/SIPC) and a Registered Investment Advisor. Branch office:235 Lark St. #43 Albany, NY 12210. He is also past presenter at the PrideCenter on financial affairs affecting the LGBT community as well as for SAGE of NYC. Tom Is past president of the board of directors of Our Brothers’ Keepers Foundation. Reach Thomas at 518.878.1294 or ceteranetworks.com

Thomas J. Walling, CFP®

INVESTMENT ADVISER REPRESENTATIVE

NY Insurance License #LA910069 235 Lark St., Suite 43 Albany, NY 12210

Direct: 518.878.1294 thomas.walling@ceteranetworks.com Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC

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out

In Brazil, the photographer Sebastiao Salgado and his wife Lelia have created the Instituto Terra, an extraordinary project designed to restore a ravaged ecosystem. The site of this project is land that was once part of the Salgado family farm, Sebastiao’s childhood home. The scope of this “garden” staggers my imagination – over 17,000 acres, and more than 4 million seedlings planted! I calculated how many seedlings I could plant in an hour by hand as they did (10, the earth is hard packed and not easy to plant in), then I multiplied that by 8 for the work day hours. Based on these figures, it would take me 50,000 planting days to accomplish this reforestation.

the

garden

Instituto Terra

Judith Fetterley

forming a degraded cattle ranch into a fertile woodland where water flows once again and flora and fauna thrive. Through restoring the earth he restored himself but the plants did it. Should we not then call plants the “salt of the earth,” though they certainly don’t want salty soil or water? I think only a project the size of the

Sebastiao could no longer believe in the fundamental decency of human beings

He “retreated” to his garden Through restoring the earth he restored himself

“Salt of the Earth” is an extraordinary documentary made about the lives of the Salgados. The title, according to the director of the film, evokes Sebastiao’s profound love for people, a love that provided the driving force behind his photography. Yet in many ways the title is misleading. After photographing the genocide in Rwanda, the civil wars in the Congo and the former Yugoslavia and the famine in Ethiopa, Sebastiao could no longer believe in the fundamental decency of human beings or bear witness to their violence toward each other. He “retreated” to his garden, and reforested a piece of Brazil trans-

only working with plants could manage the healing

To see that barren, eroded, bitter land returned to green and wet gives one hope

Instituto Terra could heal Salgado from the violence he witnessed during his years as a photographer, and only working with plants could manage the healing.

I too take refuge from the seemingly ceaseless violence of the world, and particularly as a feminist from the violence of men against women. The recent UN report on the status of women is devastating in its statistics: one in three women experience sexual or physical violence at some time; it is legal for men to beat their wives in over 30 countries in the world; “forced sexual acts” are rampant; “honor killings” and “corrective rape” twist the meaning of words in ways that are violent in themselves, to say nothing of the acts they refer to. From such news, I retreat to my garden, and to the healing power of plants. Though on a far smaller scale, the restoration of a degraded suburban landscape has social value. And, given that over 50% of the world now lives in cities, if we do not find a way to green our urban environments we are in even deeper trouble than we think. Could we not at once restore our urban environments and find work for teenagers at risk by creating green spaces throughout our cities? Respecting our need for plants and respecting the plants we need are at the heart of the work of remaking our relation to the planet of the garden. The Instituto Terra is a model of what can be done and I urge you to visit their website. To see that barren, eroded, bitter land returned to green and wet gives one hope. Perhaps people working with plants will turn out to be the salt, not the scourge, of the earth after all. Judith Fetterley lives and gardens in Glenmont, New York. She also runs Perennial Wisdom, a garden design business for new and existing gardens. Reach Judith at f etterleyj@gmail.com

THE FASHIONABLE AND THE FRIVOLOUS by ALAN BENNET ILAGAN

It turns out that true pride is not something that you can buy and wear on your back. It doesn’t come in a cologne bottle or the hand-stitched finery of the most gorgeous haute couture piece. It cannot be conjured by fashion or looks or beauty, and it’s more than just an attitude or frame of mind. (I used to think that was enough.)

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There was a time when I thought that pride was something I could carry in a Louis Vuitton bag or sprinkle out of a Tom Ford Private Blend decanter. I believed that pride could be found in the paisley lining of a Versace coat or the shiny surface of a Gucci loafer. If I could locate the elusive purple croc Hermes tote bag or Jeffrey Scott’s golden winged sneakers then surely I would find it. I thought pride could be bought, like so many baubles and trinkets, wrapped around my head like a pair of trendy sunglasses, encasing my heart like the richest and mostfinely embroidered corset. Yet like all tempting ruses, the idea that pride was something that could be appropriated from anywhere other than within was too good to be true.

My pride was something I had to work to uncover, and it didn’t always come easily. There was no set of instructions on how to access pride, no easy-tofollow list of the steps necessary to bring it into being. Even acting the part and proudly flying my rainbow flag and pink triangle weren’t an authentic rendering of it. It proved elusive, even when I paraded around in Prada and thought I had it all. My pride was sometimes latent and quiet and covered in shame, but it was always there. The realization of it took some time, and even as I write this I am coming to understand that it’s never really over. Like the best parts of the human condition, it continues to be an ongoing process of acceptance and love and evolution. The difference now is that I’m aware of it. I sense it and it empowers me. You may strip me of my cashmere socks and fancy designer underwear, but you can never strip me of my pride. It comes from a belief in the dignity of oneself, in the very trust that you are worthy, you are equal, you are all the wonderful things that comprise a human being. When you realize that, the fashionable and the frivolous can be seen and appreciated as aspects of beauty – admirable and noble to a certain extent, but only as an accentuation of what you already are. Alan Bennett Ilagan is a freelance writer and amateur photographer who resides in upstate New York with his husband Andy. He created the website www. ALANILAGAN.com, which contains a repository of his work, as well as a daily blog; the website recently celebrated its tenth anniversary online. He was the manager of the Romaine Brooks Gallery from 2008 to 2012. His writing has appeared in Instinct, xy magazine, Capitalmen, Q Northeast, the Windy City Times, and the Boston Phoenix. Notable artistic collaborations have been created with the likes of Steven Underhill, Paul Richmond, Dennis Dean, and Michael Breyette.

MICHAEL COOKS AND YOU CAN TOO by MICHAEL MEADE

Who can resist the aroma and flavor of a perfectly ripe, freshly picked strawberry on a hot June day? The fragrantly sweet juiciness and deep red color of strawberries can brighten up both the taste and aesthetics of any meal; it is no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world. Although strawberries have become increasingly available year-round, they are at the peak of their season from April through July, although June is usually when they are the most delicious and most abundant. Look for them at farmer’s markets, roadside stands or farms where you can pick them yourself. Unlike other fruits, strawberries don’t ripen further once they’re picked, so look for berries that are already fragrant and deeply colored. Avoid bruised, wrinkled or moldy fruit.

Spicy Strawberry Salsa Strawberries are mixed with peppers and onions, with a touch of citrus. Serve with grilled fish, shrimp, or chicken or as an appetizer with toasted baguette slices. 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 jalapeno pepper, minced 1/2 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and julienned 1/2 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and julienned 1/2 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and julienned 1/4 cup finely shredded fresh cilantro leaves 1/2 pint (1 cup) fresh strawberries, washed hulled and sliced 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper

While fresh strawberries should be eaten right away, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Don’t wash the berries until right before you’re ready to use them. Wash them with the hull on, then hull and slice them. You can freeze the berries by arranging them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a plastic freezer bag or container to enjoy year round.

Place red onions, jalapeno pepper, bell peppers, cilantro, strawberries, orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for two to four hours. Remove the salsa from the refrigerator fifteen minutes before serving, so that it loses some of its chill.

One of the best ways to eat fresh strawberries is right out of your hand or served in a bowl with a dollop of whipped cream or a splash of balsamic vinegar. But there are also hundreds of recipes utilizing strawberries, ranging from soups and salads to desserts, available in cookbooks and on the Internet. Here are a few good ones to get you started.

This strawberry freezer jam is quick, easy and delicious on toast, ice cream or even in milkshakes! Keep jars of this in the freezer and take them out when you are ready to use them. Once thawed, they will last approximately 1 month in the refrigerator. At least, that’s what they tell me; I’ve never had it last long enough to find out.

Strawberry Freezer Jam

1 quart (4 cups) crushed fresh strawberries 4 cups sugar 1 package (1.75 ounce) dry pectin 3/4 cup water

Mix crushed strawberries with sugar and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the pectin into the water in

a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for one minute. Stir the boiling water into the strawberries. Allow to stand for three minutes before pouring into small glass jars or plastic containers. Place lids on the containers and let them sit for 24 hours. Place into freezer and store frozen until ready to use. Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp Strawberries and rhubarb are a perfect combination, blending sweet and sour. If you can’t find fresh rhubarb, you can use frozen. 1 cup white sugar 3 tablespoons flour 3 cups sliced fresh strawberries 3 cups diced rhubarb 1 & 1/2 cups flour 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup butter 1 cup rolled oats

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix white sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, strawberries and rhubarb. Place the mixture in a 9x13” baking dish. Mix 1 & 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar, butter and oats until crumbly. You may want to use a pastry cutter for this. Crumble on top of the strawberry-rhubarb mixture. Bake 45 minutes or until crisp and lightly-browned. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Michael Meade graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, worked at Jack’s Oyster House in Albany and is currently sous-chef at Thunder Mountain Curry in Troy. Questions and comments are welcome at Michaelmeade1215@yahoo.com 33

Affiliate Events

Chorus Rehearsal The Albany Gay Men’s Chorus rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:45 to 9:00pm at the First Lutheran Church. For more information: www.albanygmc.org, E-mail: albanygmc@yahoo.com, Voice-mail: (518) 459-7563 or join us on Facebook at: Albany Gay Men’s Chorus - AGMC.

Movie Night-Second Tuesday of each month We will begin at 5PM at Harvey’s Pub, 14 Phila Street Saratoga Springs,. From there, we can decide who wants to see what movies and leave accordingly for Bowtie Cinemas. Lesbian Networking Breakfast We meet on the third Thursday of each month, at the Country Corner Café on Church Street in the upstairs dining room at 7:30 am. Latecomers are welcome. Monthly GLBTQ Support Group Second Sunday of the Month Fallstaff Building, Skidmore College 3-4:30pm. Contact Caroline with questions: 518.857.9361

QueerEngineer Get to know us & how you can support LGBTQ* students in science, technology, engineering, & mathematics. /QueerEngineer

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HERE’S GUFFMAN by PATRICK WHITE

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS

I would like to celebrate Pride month by combining my passion for theatre with gay men’s causes and no one better exemplifies that then one of my oldest friends Joe Norton. A celebrated and accomplished playwright, he turned his love for theatre into a career with one of the world’s leading philanthropic causes: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Could you give a brief history of BCEFA and how you became affiliated with it? BC/EFA grew out of a community response to the AIDS epidemic in the 80’s. Equity Fights AIDS was founded by the Council of Actors’ Equity, under thenpres Colleen Dewhurst in 1987, with the mission to raise money to care for entertainment professionals through The Actors Fund’s AIDS Initiative; Broadway Cares was founded in 1988 by The Producers Group, with the mission to raise funds for AIDS service organizations nationwide. The two organizations officially merged in 1992 to form the 501 (c) 3 nonprofit charity that we have today. We still stay as close to the original mission of the two organizations as possible: we raise money in the theatre community, which we use to make grants to support direct care services for people living with HIV/ AIDS and other illnesses. Every year, half of the money we raise goes to six health programs of the Actors Fund, the other half goes out to over 450 AIDS and family services nationwide, and even to some organizations in other countries. Of course, we’ve expanded our mission just enough to include grants for meals services for the homebound, and when the community requests it and the board approves, for emergency relief efforts, things like that. But we’re still very much focused on HIV/AIDS. We have a lot of fun affecting change. Theatre people are inexhaustible. After my own HIV diagnosis in 1992, I started working with AIDS orgs to stay healthy, and to join the fight. It took me away from theatre for a while, but I came back by working for BC/EFA, first as a producer, then as head of our Outreach dept. It’s the perfect storm of passion for me: making theatre, building communities, and fighting AIDS. What is BCEFA’s role in the publicized “End Aids” campaign? Is that NYS BOH? That’s the Governor’s campaign

(with the NYS DOH), to which he’s assigned a task force consisting of many BC/ EFA grantees and individual supporters. As an organization, we support the effort in theory, but we don’t pay for it. We do grant annually to at least a dozen major service organizations represented on that task force, though. And I know some of those individuals personally. They’re doing good work.

But for those of us who have been living with HIV for a long time (I’ll be 23 years poz this June), fighting AIDS means surviving towards normalcy, managing side effects of medication, dealing with finances and insurance issues, bodily changes and breakdowns, dentists, etc. But even in our own age group, there is still the issue of stigma. That hasn’t changed all that much.

What does fighting AIDS look like theses days? Very different than it did in the 80s and 90s and early 2000’s, but then again, some the same. AIDS is not in the news much anymore, because people are living and not dying. But stigma still exists, especially in some of the places we fund, people still need services to stay healthy and alive. Marriage is the gay hot issue now (my husband and I support it, obviously), so in some sense, the fight against AIDS is folded into the fight for human rights, whereas it used to be at the top of the gay fight. That’s why I’m grateful for the Campaign to End AIDS. They are addressing the current state of the disease by including discussions on PreP and PEP prevention toward our youth (especially important in the age of social media hookups). Personally, I was on the fence at first about PreP and PEP; you know, “use condoms, safe sex,” what we learned in my time. Now, though, I see real value in offering up some options that young adults will really go for; health safety must include realistic options for a new generation, including the ones that I heard about when I was their age. This in itself is a political issue, too, which is another thing about fighting AIDS that has changed and yet remains exactly the same – politics is a very big deal. Discrimination is back (it never really went away), just under a different cause – marriage. Again, when someone speaks out against gay marriage, HIV is always under there, and many anti-gay politicians still use HIV/AIDS as a scare tactic to create a moral judgement. What horrifies me is a whole new group of young voters who follow them and support these views. Luckily, all our hard work has not been for nothing, and there is indeed a very articulate, organized and impassioned group of pro-gay young voters to fight them back. Violence towards gay people still exists, yet we have our own social media campaigns to battle it, the field is a little more even now. “It Gets Better,’ GSAs in schools and queers on TV. This is progress, sure. A large part of fighting AIDS now happens on-line. Technology can and does work for us.

How does BCEFA celebrate Pride month? How about you? Before Broadway Bares (our annual fundraiser) got so big, BC/EFA used to organize a Broadway contingency for the NYC Pride parade. Now we just don’t have time. But many of us on staff and in the community march with other groups. As it stands, I’m usually working out of town that week. But when I’m here, my husband and I march with Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, who’s an old friend and one of the best guys in Albany and in NYC, really one of the best. After the parade, he buys us lunch, and then we go home and put on the A/C and watch TV. I’m too old for the bars and parties, but it’s nice to see. Why do you think theatre is especially powerful and vocal in gay rights issues? Because we’ve always been powerful and vocal on anything to do with stories about people. And we’ve always been an inclusive and a protective community. Many of us found ourselves in theatre, a place where we can be ourselves and be like each other, a place where we can tell our stories without fear of prejudice, at least at first. We pay that foreward. Many of the big players now on Broadway are openly gay, have been for decades. Gay people are so awesome, and now we run the show, literally. But also, because of our craft and our field, we know how to work together, how to organize, how to market and produce, and how to perform. Want to throw a rally? Call your local theatre. What is the play that changed your life? I only get to pick one? Oh, jeez. As a gay man, Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein. As a poz man, The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer. As an artist, True West by Sam Shepard. I can give you more if you want.

Patrick White is a Capital Region actor, director and teacher who is currently directing “Clever Little Lies” by Joe DiPietro opening July 10th at Curtain Call Theatre in Latham.

Your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Com m unity Center since 1970

OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE Center Support: Offering low-cost counseling, and peer support groups such as Men’s Group, Women’s Group, and Family and Friends of LGBTQ people. Also providing comprehensive and culturally specific referrals for LGBTQ individuals. Our Rainbow Café has been offering peer support opportunities and vital referrals since 1971 and is an open community space for recurring events such as Game Nights & Supper Sundays. Center Youth: Providing support, outreach & advocacy for LGBTQ youth ages 18 and under. Programs include 3 regional youth groups, Albany Youth Organizing! (AYO!) Drop in Space through a partnership with St. Anne Institute, HIV testing, civic engagement, the Center Youth Action Team, opportunities with state and local legislators, and annual events like the Alternative Prom and Youth in Power! Camp. Pride Center staff also support schools in 11 counties by providing training for staff and students on how to support LGBTQ youth. Training & Education Services: Creating safer spaces and services for LGBTQ people in the Capital Region by offering comprehensive trainings for mental health and medical providers, colleges, businesses, organizations, and governmental agencies. Our nationally-known trainer is an expert in providing high quality, individualized trainings for entities seeking to improve services for LGBTQ individuals and communities. Center Families: Dedicated to helping LGBTQ headed families in the Capital Region achieve their goals of building and sustaining happy and healthy families through providing ongoing social and community building opportunities.

332 HUDSON AVE. ALBANY, NY 12210

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Center Arts: Our Romaine Brooks Gallery is a creative space and outlet for LGBTQ artists and themed work. The gallery is located on the first floor of the Pride Center. The LGBTQ Book Club also meets monthly to discuss works written by LGBTQ authors. Trans Pride: Promoting the wellbeing of transgender and gender non-conforming communities in a safe, empowering space through social opportunities, community building, peer support, resource sharing and advocacy. Vintage Pride: Connecting LGBTQ older adults to each other and to the broader community with monthly social gatherings, special events, educational and leadership opportunities, and taking time to celebrate and honor their resilience and contributions to our community.

Business Alliance: Business Alliance members gain exclusive visibility, ways to leverage customer allegiance & access to a dedicated consumer base. Join monthly Mixers to meet up with friends, distribute business cards, and make important business contacts. Capital PRIDE: As the producer of the largest annual Capital Pride celebration in Upstate NY, the Pride Center brings a record breaking 30,000 festival and parade attendees, and 35,000 people celebrating throughout PRIDE week each year. CommUNITY Magazine: The Pride Center’s monthly publication highlights & informs the larger Capital Region on local LGBTQ news and events as well as supports other LGBTQ organizations. Over 3,000 avid readers reached per month across 10 counties.

CapitalPrideCenter1

518-4 62-6138

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CapitalPrideCtr

W W W .CAPITALPRIDECENTER.ORG

Our m ission is to prom ote the w ell-being of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identified people and those affected by discrim ination based on gender identity and expression. 37

SPORTS/ FUN & GAMES Gay Skate Tuesdays: An open skate for the LGBTQ Community! $9.50 w. Skate Rental / $6.50 w. your own skates. For more info contact David at DB40@AOL.com or (518) 573-3962 - 7-9:30pm Rollarama Skating Center 2710 Hamburg St., Schenectady KARAOKE

Mondays: Waterworks Pub - 10pm 2am, No Cover. (18+) 76 Central Ave, Albany, (518) 465-9079 Thursdays: Oh Bar - 10pm - 1am, No Cover. (21+) 304 Lark St., Albany, (518) 463-9004 Fridays: Waterworks Pub - 10pm 18+ (w. cover). 76 Central Ave, Albany, (518) 465-9079 ROCKS- 9pm-12am 77 Central Ave, Albany, (518) 472-3588 Saturdays: Circus Cafe - 10pm - 2am, (21+) 392 Broadway, Saratoga, (518) 583-1106 Center Square Pub -10pm - 2am, No Cover. 32 Dove St., Albany, (518) 7292880

OPEN MIC / LITERARY

Wednesday, Live from the Livin-

Calendar

groom poetry open mic 6/10: w. featured poet Carri LaCroix Pan 7pm & 7/08 w. featured poet Bernadette Meyer The Pride Center, Garden Level 332 Hudson Ave, Albany, (518) 462-6138 Thursday 6/18, 7/02 & 7/16: Open Minded Mic & Talent Showcase (for all performers)- sign up 8:30pm start 9:00pm Rocks 77 Central Ave., Albany (518) 472-3588

SOCIAL / SUPPORT GROUPS

Out of the Closet I Am (for women who have sex with women): 1st & 3rd Wednesdays- 6:30pm-8pm Men’s Empowerment Group: 1st & 3rd Thursdays -6-7:30pm Voices of Unity (for Transgender people of color): 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month from 6pm-7:30pm Groups listed above meet at In Our Own Voices 245 Lark St., Albany (518) 432-4188 YouthPride! A student led meeting that centers around helping LGBTQ students and allied students discuss matters in our community, schools, and in their Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) that they have in their schools. YouthPride provides

leadership development and an opportunity to help plan activities around GLSEN’s Days of Action and Days of Support. 1st Friday of the month 6-9pm Professor Java’s Coffee Sanctuary 217 Wolf Rd., Colonie Trans Partners Group: provides support for people to discuss and explore their relationships with trans-identified or gender non-conforming individuals. Open to people currently in partnerships with trans-people or people exploring their gender identities. Monthly on Tuesdays at 5pm. Contact Faith Hoffman at faith@choicesconsulting.com for more information. Choices Counseling and Consulting 523 Western Ave. Suite 2A Albany, NY 12203-1617 (518)438-2222

TRIVIA

Tuesdays: Live Trivia with Frieda ROCKS - 8-10pm 77 Central Ave, Albany, (518) 472-3588 Wednesdays: Oh Bar - 9pm-12am 304 Lark St., Albany, (518) 463-9004

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