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Catholic Church and LGBTQ+ Believers Pandemic Is Hitting LGBTQ Families Harder Than Straight People 12 Stories From 2020 That Prove LGBTQ People Are The Future Of The Sports World Why COVID-19 Has A Vaccine After 1 Year And HIV Doesn’t After Nearly 40 Years Monique Heart Of ‘Drag Race’ Reveals Conversion Therapy Ordeal Billy Porter Is Co-Hosting “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” To Say Goodbye To 2020 In Style Tituss Burgess, Adam Lambert to Star in “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical” Gay St. Thomas
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gay son eulogize my mother at her funeral at St. Isadore’s Church in Riverhead, N.Y.? (That
woman. Still, nothing new. But the damage done by this document is likely irreparable. Moreover, the Vatican outright rejects the notion that, that Catholic Church and LGBTQ+ Believers gender is malleable. For some, By Drew Williams like hermaphrodites, their genders are chosen for them The last 12 months has been was so 2019.) based on the most prominent another year of the Catholic In October, Pope Francis told organ at birth. These men and Church continuing its don’t ask, his flock that heterosexual, women can experience things don’t tell policy of love the married sex can be not visible at birth, while their sinner not the sin. Another year pleasurable. Isn’t all gender assignment is chosen when the Vatican missed lovemaking pleasurable, part of for them by hospital staff, a life opportunities to affirm the an all-good and all-loving God’s of brain development may lead positive contributions of plan for his beloved children? to self-discovery, e.g., that they LGBTQ+ people. This year will are embodied in a foreign be remembered as the year the In June, during Pride Month, body. The Vatican dismisses Vatican told lesbians and gays the Vatican issued its most this quickly, whereas, recent antigay argument: only that they were no longer unfortunately for liberal interested in their salvation, or biological males and females Catholic writers like Fr. James marriage, punting that issue to are complementary. The Martin, the Vatican can never document, “Male and Female state rights. What a failed use “real-life experience” to He Created Them: Toward a policy for the smallest City shape its theology or dogma. If Path of Dialogue on the State located in Western Question of Gender Theory in it did, divorced Catholics could Europe. Just a few countries remarry and receive the away, anti-LGBTQ+ zones are Education” is an instructional document whose purpose is to Eucharist. This is why calling rejecting LGBTQ+ people, for dialogue and listening to growing increasingly intolerant correct a crisis in the field of people talk on gender is sex education. The document towards sexual minorities. dubious, if not manipulation by takes its title from Genesis In America, Catholics are a few progressives to keep the 1:27, which Jesus restates in inspired to laud Amy Coney pews filled with a portion of the Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6. Barrett whose Supreme Court Of course the theology of the faithful so easily termed confirmation has pitted her uncomplimentary. document does not deviate style of Catholicism against from century-old Vatican norms When the Church, through President-elect Joe Biden. The or Church dogma, for example, documents like “Male and United States Bishops tell us the primal purpose of adult Female He Created Them” Barrett can receive opposite-sex relationships is to articulates an antigay theology, communion, but Biden cannot. procreate. Thus, the Vatican then through Pope Francis I In October 2020, Gay History exalts child-making couples, says, “We must be attentive, Month, Pope Francis informed and shames all others; gay, not saying all are the same” parents of LGBTQ+ children lesbian, non-child bearing, and that “people must be that “the church loves your gender-fluid couples. accompanied” it causes children as they are because confusion, and provides a safe Of course, by exalting they are children of God.” Was child-making couples, the space for discrimination, this even in doubt? And if it bullying and violence against Vatican is affirming its stance were a true Vatican conviction, that sacramental marriage is the LBGTQ+ community. Only why couldn’t I, an ex-Jesuit and between one man and one Papal hugs and phone calls are more confusing. 06 www.cityxtramagazine.com
There is nothing ambiguous here, no oscillation between full acceptance and full rejection. Here, a call for dialogue does not pass the smell test, because the Vatican never listens to people’s experience, rather, heralds male philosophers and theologians. Pope Francis himself made this clear, when in This Economy Kills: Pope Francis on Capitalism and Social Justice (2015), he said gender theory is likened to “nuclear arms,” “genetic manipulation” – all because it failed to “recognize the order of creation.” In 2016, Pope Francis went further, the “wickedness” of gender theory is “against the natural order.” Thus, “the world war against marriage” is an example of the “ideological colonization” running amok in the world. Again, it is painstaking to listen to a few progressive Catholic writers voice pastoral concerns about the lack of insight gained by the Vatican through first person interviews with transgender or even de-transitioning men and women. Such experiences are not meritorious, furthermore, the Vatican would never exalt the experience of a transgender man or woman over the vestige of patriarchal
societies: the complementarity of men and women to make babies.
canceling out differences, destabilizing the family as an institution.
As if never before, in 2020 the Vatican reentered the “world vs. the other world” debate. In a year of climate of groupthink, cancel culture, fragmentation and lack of communion, it is curious that the Vatican elected more confusion over the place of LGBTQ+ people in its flock. It’s a childlike move, one likened to spending all of Advent berating closeted gay priests for choosing to welcome the birth of Jesus by blessing boats and houses and not same-sex marriages. But when you don’t deviate from traditional Catholic teaching in the 21st century you do just what you cry out against: disorientation,
Just as the Vatican argues against gender existing along a spectrum so is it becoming increasingly clear, if you do not practice the Catholic faith in the most conservative of ways you are not fully a member of the Church. Whether you hope for a dialogue or listening, the only cudgel against the LGBTQ+ community is leading them to hope in something greater to come. And for LGBTQ+ people, that something greater might just be a change in faith; finding a new home in a house of worship that fully embraces them now and in the eternal life to come. Why settle for less? Jesus did not.
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Pandemic Is Hitting LGBTQ Families Harder Than Straight People By Charles Yeng
A recent report by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) found that LGBTQ families are experiencing disproportionate challenges due to the pandemic. The report, based on the results of a summer survey by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that LGBTQ households are experiencing greater financial strain, more unemployment, and bigger struggles to balance work and childcare than non-LGBTQ households. The report found, for example, that 66% of LGBTQ households have experienced a serious financial problem since the pandemic began, compared to 44% of non-LGBTQ households. It also found that 52% of LGBTQ households with children have had trouble keeping their kids’ education going, compared to 36% of non -LGBTQ households that have experienced this challenge. Healthcare has also been a huge challenge for the LGBTQ community, with 38% of LGBTQ 08 www.cityxtramagazine.com
households reporting they were unable to get medical care or delayed getting medical care for serious issues. This compared to 19% of non-LGBTQ households. The difficulties are even more exacerbated for Black and Latino LGBTQ households. 95% of Black LGBTQ households and 70% of Latino LGBTQ households reported that they or someone in their household have experienced one or more serious financial problems since the pandemic began. The report also found that LGBTQ people have experienced job loss at higher rates than non-LGBTQ people. “This is particularly troubling given that LGBTQ people report higher rates of employment discrimination generally and may struggle to find new jobs,” wrote the report’s authors. The authors added that the increased struggles of this community is not a surprise, in part because even in good times, LGBTQ people experience greater financial issues, increased healthcare barriers, and are already
vulnerable to employment discrimination. In addition, the study mentioned the Human Rights Campaign’s finding that 40% of LGBTQ adults work in the five industries most affected by the pandemic. Only 22% of nonLGBTQ adults work in these industries—hospitals, K-12 education, colleges and universities, restaurants and food services, and retail. “The pandemic has disrupted life for all of us,” said Ineke Mushovic, Executive Director at MAP. “Yet, some communities have borne the brunt: Black and Latinx people, low-income people, and, as this new data show, LGBTQ people. Decades of discrimination on the job, in health care, and beyond, combined with uneven legal protections around the country make LGBTQ people more vulnerable to pandemic-related instability and insecurity, with an even more devastating impact on LGBTQ people of color.” The authors of the study concluded that the data prove the need for more assistance for the LGBTQ community.
“These findings point to the need for targeted assistance and explicit protections from discrimination as our country continues to weather the storm and looks to rebuild,” the authors wrote in the report’s conclusion. One of the study’s authors, MAP policy researcher Logan Casey, said these findings prove the dire need to pass the Equality Act. “It’s clear that the COVID-19 has amplified and exacerbated disparities that existed before the pandemic. LGBTQ people were more likely to struggle with economic stability and have challenges with access to health care prior to COVID, and that’s even more true now. The existing patchwork of legal protections is insufficient, which is why we need a nationwide law like the Equality Act so that LGBTQ people in every community are protected from discrimination.”
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12 Stories From 2020 That Prove LGBTQ People Are The Future Of The Sports World By Debi Joshlin
In 2020, sports somehow triumphed and managed to offer millions of people an outlet to entertainment through one of the more difficult periods in history. There was progress that paved the ground for more athletes to come out and continue playing in the coming future. Whether out of bigoted ignorance or out of newfound acceptance, from the Super Bowl to various television networks, LGBTQ people were a major influence in sports throughout the entire year. Here are the top eleven examples of that. Sports announcer caught using anti-gay language pulled off air immediately Thom Brennaman, a color commentator for FOX Sports Ohio calling the first game of a Cincinnati Reds doubleheader, was abruptly yanked off the air mid-game in August after he was caught using an anti-gay slur. Brennaman did not realize that the broadcast had returned from a commercial break and 10 www.cityxtramagazine.com
he was live on air. Before exiting, he made an on-air apology, which he stopped giving midway to announce a home run had
been hit. Brennaman went on to say he is a “man of faith” and claim “that’s not who I am. It never has been.” Within days, he further apologized in an online editorial, and ultimately resigned after he was dropped from FOX’s NFL coverage as well. He has since signed on to work as a play-by-play announcer for the upcoming season of the Roberto Clemente League in Puerto Rico.
Patrick Mahomes’ brother fends off anti-LGBTQ snide while traveling with his brother to the Super Bowl Jackson Mahomes, the younger brother of NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, has become a popular TikTok creator and entertainer in his own right. While he is not publicly out, he is constantly attacked with anti-gay hate, and it reached its boiling point after Jackson celebrated his brother’s Super Bowl victory this February. Within days of Patrick’s Super Bowl win, multiple videos — and even compilations — had been dedicated to social media
users making fun of Jackson and his sexuality. Media outlet Barstool Sports championed the ridicule with several articles and tweets about him. “[A] lot of people DM me hurtful things then be like ‘you get 1000s of DM you will never see this’ … Literally about to start blasting all these people,” Jackson tweeted a few days after, even suggesting he would report the harassers to their employers. This led him to receive “over 300 DM’s of positive things” instead. UK Sports announcer goes viral doing play-by-play calls while watching everyday activities Nick Heath had a lot more time on his hands in April, as every major sporting event around the world was being cancelled or suspended. He had to find a new outlet for his love of sports, and thankfully for us, he did – a series of videos where he energetically describes actions happening on the field into describing commoner’s activities, such as dogs chasing each other, or a woman crossing the street. Heath, an out sports commentator and journalist from England, who has worked as a play-by-play announcer for events such as the Rugby World Cup and the Gallagher Premiership. “I’ve sort of referred to it a little bit as almost being the placebo for real sports,” he said on the videos.
NCAA threatens to move its events out of Idaho due to state law “harmful” to transgender athletes Idaho passed House Bill 500, a law that allows schools to subject young athletes to invasive medical examinations in order to sideline them if they’re found to be transgender, that went into effect on July 1. As a result, the NCAA began considering moving its sporting events outside of the state, potentially costing The Gem State tens of millions of dollars. They denounced H.B.500 as “harmful to transgender student -athletes and conflicts with the NCAA’s core values of inclusivity, respect and the equitable treatment of all individuals.” This is similar to their response to move events from North Carolina after that state passed H.B.2, a law that banned trans people from using bathrooms that aligned with their gender identity, which was eventually repealed. A lawsuit filed against Idaho has resulted in a federal injunction on the law in the meantime. The Trump administration argued in favor of the law in court briefings. In the meantime, the NCAA has “agreed to continue to monitor” the situation before committing to relocating part of their upcoming March Madness competitions. Caster Semenya blocked from participating in Olympic competitions without taking hormones In September, world-renown
track athlete Caster Semenya lost an appeal against a rule that would force her to artificially lower her testosterone levels in order to compete at next year’s Olympic games. This signaled the final legal avenue for the South African 29-year-old, who has been involved in legal fights to participate in women’s sports for years. She is a cisgender woman – she was assigned female at birth and she identifies as a woman – but an intersex condition means that she has high levels of
testosterone in her body. “I am very disappointed,” she said. “I refuse to let World Athletics drug me or stop me from being who I am.” World Athletics issued a rule in 2019 requiring participants in three women’s races to have a low level of testosterone in their bodies, and to undergo six months of hormone therapy if their natural testosterone levels are high. All three races are the ones Semenya competes in. The UN has condemned such rules. “Excluding female www.cityxtramagazine.com 11
athletes or endangering our health solely because of our natural abilities puts World Athletics on the wrong side of history,” Semenya said. Hundreds of women athletes stand with trans, non-binary & gender non-conforming athletes A favorite excuse that anti-trans activists use for targeting transgender athletes, is that somehow allowing them to compete in sports in accordance with their gender identity will disadvantage cisgender athletes or put them at risk. This trope is most often directed at trans female athletes, or athletes that compete primarily against cisgender women. But earlier this month, over 170 women athletes came together to refute that. They signed an amicus brief in support of transgender girls and women playing sports as their gender identity, and against Idaho, for the upcoming Hecox v. Little lawsuit. The women “believe that every young person, and especially youth who are transgender, or intersex, should be able to participate fully in sport alongside their peers and gain the benefits that sports participation brings.” Out sports leaders Megan Rapinoe, Billie Jean King, and Katie Sowers were among the scores of professional athletes, college athletes, and sports administrators to sign the brief. WNBA stars Candace Parker 12 www.cityxtramagazine.com
and Layshia Clarendon, Olympic athlete Rachel Dawson, and Paralympic swimmer Sophia Herzog also put their name on it.
“I’m not here to just be the token female. I’m here to help us win,” she said in a commercial for Microsoft that aired throughout the 20192020 playoffs. She became the Nyla Rose becomes a first LGBTQ coach, first woman trailblazing (and champion) coach, and first out participant wrestler in All Elite Wrestling All Elite Wrestling (AEW) made to take part in a Super Bowl, after the 49ers qualified for the Nyla Rose, a trans woman of biggest NFL game of the year Oneida descent, the first with their victory over the known transgender Green Bay Packers in January. professional wrestler in North America in February 2019. Sowers headlined a record In 2020, the AEW – which now level of LGBTQ representation at the Super Bowl this year. airs weekly on TNT – made The 49ers would eventually Rose one of the faces of its lose to the Kansas City Chiefs, league. This February, Rose but her rise in profile made for became the league’s second a great motivation story Women’s World Champion. nonetheless, as she had been She would go on to reign for denied the opportunity to coach over three months before losing the title in May, but she in women’s basketball due to continues to be a fan favorite. her sexuality. Rose has become the subject WNBA players, led by a lesbian, protest a league of hatred for fans, but most of owner’s anti-Black Lives her wrestling peers have welcomed and only supported Matter statements her. After having her as a guest WNBA players openly revolted on his podcast show, wrestling against anti-LGBTQ, anti-Black legend Chris Jericho slammed Lives Matter U.S. Senator Kelly back at transphobic comments Loeffler (R-GA), and made attempting to disrespect Rose. their support for her opponent in an upcoming election very He told online haters to clear with some help from educate themselves before WNBA player Sue Bird, the talking trash. girlfriend of U.S. Soccer star Katie Sowers becomes the Megan Rapinoe. first out person to coach at a Loeffler co-owns the women’s Super Bowl basketball team Atlanta Dream. Katie Sowers, a lesbian woman, is in her fourth season After she complained multiple as an assistant offensive coach times about the WNBA’s support for Black Lives Matter, for the San Francisco 49ers. players began openly She became just the second woman to coach full-time in the championing Loeffler’s opponent, Rev. Raphael NFL, and the first openly Warnock. LGBTQ coach in the league’s history. “When we realized what our
owner was doing and how she was kind of using us and the Black Lives Matter movement for her political gain, we felt like we didn’t want to feel kind of lost as the pawns in this,” Dream player Elizabeth Williams said, crediting Bird for the strategic decision to endorse Rev. Warnock. Bird earned our nomination for Celebrity Activist of the Year for the move. Meanwhile, neither Warnock nor Loeffler had the required “50% plus 1” margin to win the initial special election, so they are facing off again in a runoff January election. Star athletes Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird announced their engagement Rapinoe & Bird revealed in October that they were hitched to get married. They began dating four years ago, shortly after meeting each other at the 2016 Olympics, and went public the next year. “Love will always win. Congratulations,” Joe Biden tweeted in response to their announcement photo.
Illustrated‘s Sportsperson of the Year Speaking of out WNBA stars, Breanna Stewart was chosen as one of five Sportspersons of the Year by Sports Illustrated. Stewart is Bird’s teammate on the Seattle Storm, the team that won the WNBA championship this season. She dedicated her season in honor of Breonna Taylor, a Black paramedic killed by police in her own home. Stewart was The couple, in addition to profiled for the magazine by quarantining together, has Rapinoe, Bird’s now-fiancée shared the big stage together and last year’s solo choice for as the first gay couple to be the honor. cover stars for ESPN The Magazine‘s Body Issue of 2018 Amidst criticism for selecting a and co-hosting the 2020 white player from a ESPYs with NFL quarterback mostly-Black athletic league, Russell Wilson. Bird has even Co-editor-in-chief Stephen defended Rapinoe from attacks Cannella said in a statement, from soon-to-be-exiting “Breanna Stewart was the top President Donald Trump, who player for the WNBA champion offered no congratulations of Seattle Storm and was named his own. Finals MVP. She did all that less than a year after suffering Out WNA forward Breanna a career-threatening injury.” Stewart named Sports
Stewart is only the fourth woman athlete to receive Sports Illustrated‘s top honor. Ryan K. Russell stars in an affirming PSA for the NFL — and then challenges a team to sign him NFL veteran Ryan K. Russell came out as bisexual in an ESPN article in September 2019. After an injury led to his release from one of the league’s teams, he stated that his goal is to get back in the NFL and to do so openly and honestly. Since, Russell has worked with the league, guiding its LGBTQaffirming policies and outreach. He even appeared in a league-sponsored PSA, where several active players and front office personnel made it clear that they are ready for LGBTQ athletes. Still, Russell waits, working toward his desire to become the NFL’s first out player to play in a regular www.cityxtramagazine.com 14
season game — even penning an article calling for his own hiring. “I’m not just sitting here like, ‘Yeah, it’ll happen’ – it will happen because I will make it happen, because I’ll finally get an opportunity,” he told LGBTQ Nation in an exclusive interview in November. “If I didn’t [believe], I would call my agent, retire right now, and start doing the other thousand things that I feel like I am f**king great at.” A soccer player was called a gay slur during a game. So his whole team forfeited in solidarity. San Diego’s professional men’s soccer team walked off the field mid-game after a Pheonix Rising player used a homophobic slur during the match. The team, coached by champion soccer star Landon Donovan, was in the lead at the time, 3-1. The slur was directed at the San Diego Loyal’s midfielder Collin Martin, the only out player in any of the big five American sports leagues. After leaving the field for halftime, the players returned, took a knee, and refused to play. The decision to take a forfeit ultimately contributed to their failure to make it in the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs. “The team came into tonight needing a win to stay alive,” sportscaster Jack Croni said. “The sacrifice that they are making, taking away their own points, made it that much more powerful.” 14 www.cityxtramagazine.com
political power. Thus, the lack of an HIV vaccine Why COVID-19 Has A Vaccine After 1 Year can seem And HIV Doesn’t After Nearly 40 Years like a conBy Brenda Smith spiratorial The rapid development of way to let these communities several COVID-19 vaccines die off. has compelled numerous web However, a big part of the commenters to accusingly ask reason that an HIV vaccine why the same hasn’t been hasn’t been developed, done for HIV, a pandemic that according to the National has lasted nearly 40 years Institute of Allergy and longer than the coronavirus. Infectious Diseases, is that the However, a closer look at the virus “mutates rapidly and has different virology of coronavirus unique ways of evading the and HIV helps explain why the immune system.” former has a soon-to-be widely At present, scientists have available vaccine and the latter researched about 14 different doesn’t. strains of HIV. Comparatively, The rapid development of there are at least six strains of several COVID-19 vaccines coronavirus, “but that the has compelled numerous web mutation rate is low and the commenters to accusingly ask virus shows little variability, why the same hasn’t been making it easier to develop a done for HIV, a pandemic that vaccine,” Reuters reports. has lasted nearly 40 years “HIV inserts itself into our DNA longer than the coronavirus. and remains there until those However, a closer look at the cells die, whereas [coronavirus] different virology of coronavirus does not,” University of and HIV helps explain why the Western Australia virologist former has a soon-to-be widely Associate Professor Alison available vaccine and the latter Imrie told AFP, explaining doesn’t. another key difference in how each operates in the body. The aforementioned critics often claim that the lack of an Most vaccines are developed HIV vaccine is due to the fact based on the immune that HIV has most affected responses of recovered men and trans women who patients, but thus far, there have sex with men, Black aren’t any cases of any HIVpeople, people of color, and positive people whose immune intravenous drug users — systems eradicated the virus marginalized people who tend from their bodies. Compare to have less money and that to the nearly 17.5 million Americans who have 16 www.cityxtramagazine.com
recovered from COVID-19, providing numerous immune responses for study. Many vaccines also use inactivated or weakened forms of the virus. But inactivated forms of HIV haven’t produced any immune responses during previous vaccine trials, and scientists consider it too dangerous to introduce a weakened form of HIV into the body as it could cause an HIVnegative person to seroconvert. The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t use a weakened form of the virus. It uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to get the body to produce a protein spike that viruses embed on cell surfaces before reproducing. When the body recognizes the spike’s presence, it begins producing antibodies to fight off infection. Researchers have been studying mRNA proteins for decades, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The proliferation of similar respiratory viruses in Asia, like SARS and MERS, have also made researchers more familiar with different types of coronaviruses. Vaccines for such illnesses have been in development since 2003, partly owing to their ease of transmission and capacity to quickly infect millions of people. Undoubtedly, there has been a huge an unprecedented global effort to pool resources for quick development of a COVID -19 vaccine, and that rapid development has included
“governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, philanthropists and global health organizations” as well as “unprecedented financial investments and scientific collaborations,” Reuters reports, something that hasn’t occurred on nearly the same scale for HIV.
on the outer layer of HIV cells to help trigger immune responses. These vaccine components can help the body produce bNAbs, broadly But that doesn’t mean there’s neutralizing no hope for an eventual HIV antibodies, which vaccine. In fact, three different can stop trials have brought hope that numerous HIV strains from an HIV vaccine could be availa- infecting human cells. While ble as early as 2021. These some people make bNAbs vaccines use harmless viruses soon after being infected with to help deliver HIV’s genetic HIV, the virus often replicates information into human cells too quickly in the body for the and then alter proteins found bNAbs to fight off an infection.
Researchers are examining whether infusions of bNAb-rich blood or viruses carrying bNAb genetic information could help the body prevent new HIV infections.
Monique Heart Of ‘Drag Race’ Reveals Conversion Therapy Ordeal By David Vandygriff
Drag star Monique Heart, known for her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10, has opened up about her own coming out, and how she survived conversion therapy. While chatting with Johnny McGovern on the digital talk show Hey Qween!, Heart revealed that her mother enrolled her in conversion therapy just after Monique (real name Kevin Richardson) came out of the closet. The pair even relocated from New York to Missouri as part of the “treatment.” “I moved to Kansas City in 2008,” Heart says, “and I enrolled at the International House of Prayer, where they do 24/7 prayer…I was like ‘I struggle with homosexuality,’ and they call it ‘SSA,’ Same-Sex Attraction. So then after they read it, they were like when did you last act out? And I had just sucked this man’s d*ck–his name was Ryan. He worked at TGI Fridays. I was working there. He was very cute.” “So they put me into this inner healing group called Pure Heart, where it was like restoration from the Beatitudes 18 www.cityxtramagazine.com
and all this other bullsh*t,” she continued. “The reason that I am gay is not because my father was not there and I had an overbearing mother. My friend who is in a family of five children is gay. So if it’s a parenting issue, why ain’t the rest of them homos? It was all of this BS.”
transformative in a way.” Heart spent four or five years after conversion therapy abstaining from sex with men. That changed after she enrolled in beauty school and befriended two other out gay men. Ultimately, their encouragement allowed Heart Heart spent six months in the to make peace with God & her program before going on to spirituality and accept her lead an intensive breakout sexuality. The practice of group called “Living Waters.” conversion therapy, “The last time I was leading the meanwhile, has become widely group,” she recalls, “my best discredited by international friend Junior had broken up psychological and medical with his girlfriend. She said experts as ineffective and some shady sh*t to him. He torturous for queer people to was like I’m at a breaking point. endure. I’m going out to the club. You wanna go? And this was like Monday night after praying the gay away. I was like yeah bitch, I’m going! So sure enough, for like six months I would pray with the homos, and then me and my friend would go to the gay bar afterward.” “It was horrible,” Heart concludes. “I mean coming out is not easy, but it was amazing to be in a room with other people who identified like you, and I had never had that experience, so it was just
The Ratatouille musical will be performed in a one-time-only virtual event from Seaview Tituss Burgess, Adam Lambert to Star in Productions “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical” (Jeremy O. By Carol Williams Harris’ Slave Play). In a New year, new Ratatouille! statement, a spokesperson for Seaview said the show will The cast of Ratatouille: The “feature content created by TikTok Musical — a musical members of version of the 2007 Pixar TikTok’s #RatatouilleMusical classic adapted by Gen Z theater kids on TikTok — was Community, whose collective work has earned the announced this Monday, engagement of more than 200 December 28, and the lineup is… actually really impressive. million fans around the globe, and will be performed with the Out actor Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt) 20-piece Broadway Sinfonietta orchestra.” will star as Remy the rat, with fellow queer actor-singer Adam Proceeds from the show will Lambert appearing as Emile, benefit The Actors Fund, and Remy’s older brother. Other given the COVID-19 celebs tapped for the show pandemic’s devastating toll on include Wayne Brady, André the entertainment and nightlife De Shields, Kevin Chamberlin, industries, the organization’s and Ashley Park. work is more important than ever. (Worried about the
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TikTok users who developed the musical? Don’t fret. According to the show’s official website, the creators are being “credited and compensated.”) Tickets start at $5, and the show begins streaming this Friday, January 1, 2021 at 7pm ET. It will only be available for 72 hours, so go get your grubby rat paws on some tix!
locals and tourists alike!
Gay-Friendly Activities & Attractions The Caribbean island has more St. Thomas things to do than just Gay Scene swimming, though you should Most of the definitely dip your feet in the gay-specific Caribbean Sea while on St. Gay St. Thomas bars and clubs Thomas. The most populous By Pedro Garcia have relocated and urban of the US Virgin to neighboring Islands, St. Thomas is a The most populous and urban St. Croix, but that doesn’t mean one-stop shop for fun, there aren’t lots of options for of the US Virgin Islands, St. beaches, relaxation, and island Thomas is a one-stop shop for gays and lesbians on St. -inspired nightlife—enough to Thomas. Some locals and fun, beaches, relaxation, and keep visitors busy! visitors alike tend to be liberal island-inspired nightlife. Just and open-minded, meaning the Spend your time in the water minutes from St. John and lack of gay venues on St. Voted “the Best Excursion of about an hour from St. Croix, Thomas may have more to do the Year in St. Thomas” among St. Thomas is home to two with the fact that there is limited other honors, Heavenly Days main settlements - Charlotte need for gay-oriented bars and offers a variety of sailing Amalie (also known as excursions or their boats can downtown) and Red Hook (also clubs. Go on, relax and have fun! be rented for private charters known as the East End). While and weddings on the Charlotte Amalie is where the If you wish to get away from Caribbean Sea. Besides the cruise ships come in and most the crowds and worry less beaches, snorkeling, and of the shopping is centered, about being demonstrative in swimming, you can also take a both areas offer a number of public, then head to Little guided underwater walking tour dining and partying options. Magens Bay. LMB is the designed for non-swimmers Make no mistake, the party unofficial gay beach where l never seems to stop here in St. ocals often sunbathe au natu- and non-divers with Sea TREK. Thomas, though! Still, thanks to ral. From Magens Bay Beach... Little Magens Gay Beach the natural beauty and sandy find the marked path to Little Litle Magens is still known as beaches nearly all the way Magens. Be sure and get bev- the "gay beach" where folks around, there’s always erages or sun screen at the gift can be open and comfortable. somewhere you can escape to. store at Magens Bay as there Yacht Haven Grande Marina Most people get to St. Thomas is nothing but surf and sand at Little Magens. For beautiful waterfront via cruise ship or flights into shopping and dining located on local airports. Ships often bring When to Visit Long Bay Rd in Charlotte lots of tourists into port so be The late spring and early Amalie, Yacht Haven Grande is sure to anticipate the island's summer see the best weather a great spot to wander and extra full capacity. There are in the US Virgin Islands—that's shop. Check out the plenty of places to rent cars when you can expect mild restaurants with the waterfront once you are in town but weather with rare rainshowers. views. beware of left side of the road The peak season to visit St. driving. An easier but more Gay-Friendly Dining Thomas is in the northern expensive option would be hemisphere's winter season, Dining on the Caribbean island taking advantage of the from December to March when is pretty standard—lots of abundance of taxis and many Americans have long seafood and typical American shuttles at the disposal of winter breaks or the spring cuisine. holiday season. 18 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Iggie's Beach Bar & Grill Grab a barstool, or relax in a colorful Adirondack chair on the beach and breathe in the fresh ocean air, meet locals, mingle with visitors, order a bucket of VooDoo juice and let the good times begin! Iggie's Beach Bar & Grill is a popular spot day and night on St. Thomas and very gay-friendly. Amalia CafĂŠ Near the Charlotte Amalie Ferry Pier, Amalia Cafe is an upscale eatery serving tapas & other classic Spanish fare wines in a sunny, open-air location. There's an extensive in-house wine list, as well. Gay-Friendly Bars & Nightlife There are no specific gay bars or gay clubs in St. Thomas, though many of the seaside pubs and restaurants are LGBTQ-friendly. Iggie's Beach
Bar & Grill is especially popular everywhere on the island but for LGBTQ visitors. tends to be warmer in temperature than most people ARC Vodka expect so don't be alarmed! A Virgin Islands craft vodka distillery based in Charlotte While there are many LGBTQAmalie, ARC Vodka is a great friendly hotels, merchants and spot to sample Caribbean proprietors that call St. Thomas vodka — and in 2019, the home, the island is not distillery even hosted a gay completely gay-friendly. The pride event, one of the first in US Virgin Islands have St. Thomas. historically been a very homophobic place. There is a Safety strong influence from a large As far as safety goes, number of churches and pedestrians need to be extra although many of the island's careful while walking leading political and business roadside- roads are often leaders are gay themselves, narrow and busy, and left side the local government is driving often throws less-than-welcoming. Though newcomers for a loop. Most you would be unlikely to shops and restaurants close encounter any issues, use around 8 or 9 each night so its caution with regard to public best to avoid being out and displays of affection; especially about alone after the locals when in town. settle in for the night. Also, water is potable most
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New Emergency Shelter Opens For Homeless Young Adults In Jacksonville By Lindsey Massengill
Jacksonville’s Youth Crisis Center opened a new temporary emergency shelter for 18 to 24-year-olds who find themselves homeless.
with people,” Sirdevan said. “With how many young folks are on the streets and so It’s the first shelter of its kind in vulnerable to this, we had a Northeast Florida and is open space and we found a need.” 24/7. The center took in its first Paige Mahogany Parks client Tuesday. understands that statistic first Kim Sirdevan, the Youth Crisis hand. She had to leave her home after her mother found Center’s president, said this out she was transgender. She shelter has gender-neutral since started the Transgender rooms that help the Awareness Project, which transgender community. She told Action News Jax’s Robert helps those facing trouble find a place to stay. Grant that a recent study in Florida shows 60% of the “My mother found out I was area’s homeless population transgender and it was a rocky who are 18 to 24 years old, road at home. I went to the also identify with the LGBTQ streets,” she said. “I never want community, which is higher the youth to go through what than the 40% seen across the I’ve been through.” The rest of the state. Transgender Project aims to help adults after 24 years old. “This is a space that’s really not worried about their identity. The Youth Crisis Center works It’s a space that we’re working directly with
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JASMYN, a local LGBTQ nonprofit. They provide a place for young adults to go, but don’t have an overnight shelter. The organization went to the Youth Crisis Center three years ago to help find a solution. Now the House of Hope is open. The Youth Crisis Center also said that the need is growing. In January of 2019, there were 109 homeless individuals between the age of 18 and 24. In 2020, that number jumped to 118 in Duval County. YCC said it’s a trend that continues to increase. Those in need of help can call the center’s 24-hour crisis hotline at 904-725-6662.
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Murray referenced a state supreme court decision in Barbour v Department of Social SerMichigan Court Rules That Businesses Can Refuse Gay & Bi People, But Not Trans People vices, where the court ruled By David Vandygriff that the state’s A Michigan court has ruled that ban on discrimination because it’s legal for businesses to of sex does not ban discriminarefuse to serve gay and tion against gay and bisexual bisexual people but not people. transgender people. “Whether Barbour’s reasoning
that the U.S. Supreme Court was right to conclude, as did the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, that ‘sex’ in this context is also inclusive of sexual orientation,” Michigan Department of Civil Rights Chair Stacie Clayton told MLive.com. “The fact is that continuing to interpret the word ‘sex’ in a more restrictive way than we do any of the other protected classes under ELCRA is in itself discriminatory.” The state’s civil rights law is no longer valid in light of Michigan Attorney General Daincludes neither sexual Bostock v Clayton Co,” Murray na Nessel said that she plans orientation nor gender identity, wrote, “is a matter for the Court to appeal Murray’s ruling. but the Michigan Civil Rights of Appeals, not this Court.” “Michigan courts have held that Commission voted in 2018 to But the state supreme court federal precedent is highly interpret the state’s ban on has not yet ruled on antipersuasive when determining discrimination on the basis of transgender discrimination, so the contours of the sex to include discrimination Murray referred to several Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, against LGBTQ people, an federal rulings, including and federal courts across the interpretation that federal Bostock, which Murray said country – including the U.S. courts have agreed with and held “that an employer violates Supreme Court in Bostock v that was later used by the Title VII when it treats an Clayton Co – have held that Supreme Court in Bostock v. employee born male but who discrimination on the basis of Clayton County this past year now ‘identifies’ as female sexual orientation is a form of to rule that federal law already differently than an employee sex discrimination,” she said in bans job discrimination against born female. That type of a statement. LGBTQ people. dissimilar treatment, the Court “We intend to submit that all State Court of Claims Judge held, was discrimination Michigan residents are entitled Murray issued a summary because of sex.” to protection under the law – judgement in two discrimination The state’s civil rights regardless of their gender cases, one based on anti-gay legislation, Murray said, is identity or sexual orientation – discrimination and the other on similar enough to apply the in our appeal to this decision.” anti-trans discrimination. One same reasoning, so the case case involved Rouch World, a about anti-transgender Michigan Dept of Civil Rights wedding venue that refused to discrimination can proceed law and policy director Dan host weddings for same-sex Levy said that they are still gowhile the case about anti-gay couples, and the other involved discrimination cannot. ing to investigate cases involvUprooted Electolysis, a hair ing sexual orientation-based removal service that refused to “We are encouraged that the discrimination. If they are workserve a transgender client. The Michigan Court of Claims has ing on a case that ruled the word ‘sex’ in ELCRA involves only sexual orientation lawsuits were combined into [the state’s civil rights law] one. discrimination, they “will hold encompasses gender identity, the complaint pending a final but we will continue to argue result in this case.” 28 www.cityxtramagazine.com
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The historic decision was written by conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, who said, “An employer who fires an Victories For The LGBTQ individual for Community In 2020 being homoBy David Vandygriff sexual or With so many LGBTQ rights transgender fires that person under attack over the past four for traits or actions it would not years, it is important to pause have questioned in members of for a moment to remember the a different sex. Sex plays a wins. necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly While 2020 certainly may not what Title VII forbids.” feel like a year of wins, the LGBTQ community did in fact Utah And Virginia Banned experience some victories Conversion Therapy For worth celebrating: LGBTQ Youth The Supreme Court Said Anti-LGBTQ Employment Discrimination Is Illegal In June, LGBTQ people rejoiced over the Supreme Court’s landmark decision that employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal. This means it is illegal in the entire country to fire someone for being LGBTQ. The decision was based on three cases, one involving a transgender woman and two involving gay men, all who alleged they were fired by their employers due to their LGBTQ identities. These terminations, their lawyers argued, violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. The Supreme Court agreed. 20 www.cityxtramagazine.com
This year, Utah and Virginia became the 19th and 20th states to ban conversion therapy, an extremely harmful practice that studies show can lead to a rise in suicide attempts. An administrative rule banning the practice for LGBTQ youth in Utah went into effect in January and was issued by the state’s Republican Governor, Gary Herbert. Virginia’s ban made it the first southern state to ban conversion therapy for minors. “Conversion therapy sends the harmful message that there is something wrong with who you are,” said Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (R) in March. “No one should be made to feel they are not okay the way they are — especially not a child. I’m proud to sign this ban into law.”
Three States & District Of Columbia Banned The Gay And Trans Panic Defenses This year, New Jersey, Washington, and Colorado, become the 9th, 10th, and 11th states to ban the “Gay and Trans Panic Defense.” Now, it is no longer allowed in these states to argue in court that a defendant committed murder due to “panic” after discovering their victim was LGBTQ. Washington D.C. has since banned the defense “strategy” as well. Banning this defense is a big deal. According to the National LGBT Bar Association, dozens of murderers have been acquitted by using it. “Gay and trans panic defenses are rooted in homophobia and abhorrent excuses that should never be used to justify violence against vulnerable populations,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in a January statement. “With this new law, we are enacting critical measures to protect our friends and neighbors in the LGBTQ+ community.” Virginia Passed Several Pro-Equality Bills In 2019, Democrats took control of the Virginia legislature for the first time in over twenty years. Lawmakers in the state wasted no time in passing sweeping progressive legislation, including measures to protect the LGBTQ community. In March, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed three bills into law to increase
protections for LGBTQ Virginians. One bill requires the Department of Education to create policies to protect transgender students in elementary and secondary schools. Another expands the definition of a hate crime to include crimes committed based on a victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, or disability. The third bill, sponsored by the first out transgender person in the Virginia General Assembly, Delegate Danica Roem, gives localities the authority to prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination in housing, public accommodations, credit, employment and education. And that’s not all. In April, Gov. Northam signed a bill passing anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across the state. Virginia is the 21st state to do so. America Voted For A
Rainbow Wave Of Elected Officials More LGBTQ candidates were elected to public office in 2020 than ever before. Three hundred thirty-four LGBTQ candidates won their elections this year, many of whom became the first LGBTQ person to hold their position. Candidates like Delaware’s Sarah McBride, the nation’s first out transgender state senator, and New York’s Ritchie Torres, one of the two first out gay Black members of Congress, have made 2020 a year of shattered rainbow ceilings. This increase in queer representation is sure to lead to even more legislative wins in the future. President-Elect Joe Biden Promised To Advance LGBTQ Protections In Office Not only will President-elect Joe Biden be the first president
to enter the White House supporting marriage equality, but once sworn in, he has promised a wave of change for the LGBTQ community, and especially for transgender people. Some of his pledges include reversing the Trump Administration’s ban on transgender people in the military, reinstating Obama era protections for transgender students in schools, and utilizing federal resources to curb violence against trans people. Biden has also promised to prioritize passing the Equality Act during his first 100 days in office. The Equality Act would ban anti-LGBTQ discrimination at the national level. While these changes haven’t yet happened, it seems the LGBTQ community has a few things to look forward to in 2021. www.cityxtramagazine.com 31