Pride 2014, June 2014 by Schneps Media

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June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

SPORTS

HEALTH

Hold on to the Spirit

The women of Gay Games 9

HIV prevention needs may revive black LGBT group

EMPLOYMENT

PERSPECTIVE

PRIDE

Fine print, enforcement key to Obama orderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effectiveness

Are gay neighborhoods an endangered species?

Mayor, first lady out front on Brooklyn Pride

92-98 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

THEATER

BOOKS

Romance in the park

Living for real

Why ENDA is not the answer

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

POLITICS

Legislature Leaves Albany With Conversion Therapy Ban, GENDA Not Done State Senate refuses to move on key LGBT goals despite support on the floor, Assembly passage BY PAUL SCHINDLER

GAY CITY NEWS

he New York State Legislature went into 24-hour overtime on June 20 to conclude its regular 2014 session, but the State Senate still did not find the time or will to approve two bills of vital interest to the LGBT community. After a campaign of nearly a dozen years, the Senate once again did not take up the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, which would extend the civil rights protections given gay and lesbian New Yorkers in the 2002 Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act to the transgender community. GENDA has been approved seven times by the State Assembly, where it is sponsored by Manhattan Democrat Dick Gottfried. And, the Senate also failed to act on a measure — widely viewed as having the votes necessary for passage — that would bar mental health professionals licensed by the state from performing “sexual orientation change efforts” (SOCE) on minors. The ban on such treatment — sometimes dubbed “reparative therapy” — would also apply to efforts to change the gender self-identification and expression of underage New Yorkers. The bill

would not apply to counselors, such as religious advisors, not licensed by the state to carry out mental health treatment. The SOCE ban won approval from the State Assembly by an 86 to 28 vote on June 16. “There is no reason why these two bills critically important to the lives of LGBT New Yorkers did not pass in the Senate this session,” said Nathan Schaefer, the executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA), the state’s leading LGBT advocacy group. “The failure of the Senate leadership to bring these bills to the floor for a vote leaves thousands of transgender New Yorkers vulnerable to discrimination in their homes, on the job, and on the streets of their own neighborhoods. And children are left susceptible to harm in the offices of so-called therapists licensed by the State of New York.” The SOCE measure, sponsored by two out LGBT Manhattan Democrats, Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, is modeled on legislation enacted in the past two years in California and New Jersey. The California law, adopted first, faced two court challenges from SOCE practitioners on the grounds that it violated their free speech rights, but last August a federal

Nathan Schaefer, ESPA’s executive director, says there is no excuse for the Senate’s inaction.

appeals court upheld the statute, distinguishing between the rights practitioners enjoy to advocate for the practice in public debate and the limitations on the therapeutic practices they can employ in their professional conduct governed by state licensing. Advocates emphasize that leading professional groups — including the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Associations, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry — agree that SOCE, in treating homosexuality

and gender nonconformity as mental illnesses in need of cure, actually increases mental health risks for young people in terms of depression, substance abuse, and suicide. In his comments about the Senate’s failure to act, ESPA’s Schaefer referred to those engaged in SOCE as “quack therapists.” The Pride Agenda and Hoylman, on the Senate side, were also keen to point out that the measure only applies to mental health professionals who must be licensed in the ordinary course of business. It would have no effect on a religious practitioner engaged in “pray-thegay-away” types of efforts. As last year’s federal appellate ruling in the California case noted, even licensed mental health professionals would remain free to argue in favor of SOCE in the public square, and they can refer their minor patients to non-licensed SOCE programs. According to one source familiar with the effort to pass the bill, despite the unambiguous limits on it, Senate Republican leaders pointed to concerns some religious communities voiced about their freedom to counsel young people unfettered by the state. No such group, however, made a public statement in opposition to the bill.

ALBANY, continued on p.56

HEALTH

Critics Fault Medical Marijuana Compromises Cuomo Demanded Politics trumped science, qualifying illnesses not yet clear, costs will be high, reform advocates say

BY NATHAN RILEY

n the closing hours of the legislative session, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed of f on an approach to medical marijuana legislation that will allow its use under carefully controlled circumstances. The law that was adopted as a result — reflecting his bottom lines but not those of Staten Island Independent Democratic Conference

Senator Diane Savino or Manhattan Democratic Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, the bill’s sponsors — will prohibit smoking raw marijuana but permit the use of vaporizers and edible marijuana. This limitation, imposed at the governor’s insistence, may explain the nearly unanimous support for the bill. It passed the Assembly by a lopsided majority of 113 to 23 and the Senate 49 to 10 — majorities that showed broad comfort with the measure among both Republicans

and Democrats. People living with HIV/AIDS may apply to become an eligible patient if their doctor obtains certification from the state health department to prescribe medical marijuana. Two to four hours of training will be required for doctors seeking such certification, and they must be credentialed in a specialty for treating the patient’s qualifying serious illness. Prescriptions can only be written by the doctor actually providing treatment to the patient.

The Drug Policy Alliance, which has emerged as a critic of the Cuomo bill, pointed out that its mandated training is “a requirement for which there is only one other precedent in all of US medicine.” That stipulation, the group argued in a Daily News op-ed, represents “an extraordinary level of intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship.” The Alliance provided funds and

MARIJUANA, continued on p.30

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

SPORTS

The Women of Gay Games 9 Focus, commitment, and practice, practice, practice on the road to Cleveland

BY RYAN HOWE

As with everything else in her life, Mollie Marr is very focused in her swimming practice.

she was done. But she found many other things to keep herself occupied. Described by friends and family as never doing anything half-assed, Marr has always been competitive. In high school, she was the youngest person to make the varsity debate team and still holds the school’s record for 32 consecutive undefeated debates. “I’m a bit of a nerd in case I didn’t mention it,” she said. Then with a smile stretching across her face, Marr said, “My parents would sit me down to explain that I didn’t have to exceed so far ahead of the others, because if I’m burying my competition it makes people feel bad. I would get so focused on the goal and I wouldn’t just want to win, I would want to really win.” That drive to succeed followed Marr into her adult life. While double-majoring in theater and psychology at NYU and working four jobs to put herself through college, she discovered her passion for physiological psychology. Today, as she juggles work, studying, and practice, Marr says her workload is nothing compared to what it was in the past, but she’ll be relieved when she can focus on building her strength as she prepares for a triathlon and then five swimming events and a second triathlon at the Gay Games. And relieved, as well, when she can start having Sunday brunch with friends again. Still new to the pool, Marr is

RYAN HOWE

n the corner of Saint Alps Teahouse, on Third Avenue at East 10th Street, Mollie Marr sat focused. The teapot in front of her steamed as she skimmed through a large textbook. Two hair barrettes held back her bangs from falling in her face as she studied. Marr, 32, is preparing for the Medical College Admission Test. She is also training for an early August triathlon and then to compete in Gay Games 9, held August 9-16 in Cleveland. “I actually think I have the perfect way to balance everything I am doing,” Marr said as she sipped on her tea. “I’m using my exercise as a way of structuring my study time.” Every day after her 9-to-5 job as a clinical researcher, Marr studies for a couple of hours before she works out — swimming, running, or biking — and then hits the books again before she goes to bed. It’s a balancing act with most of her attention spent on MCAT studies until she takes the test on July 2. On July 3, however, her focus will shift to strength-building as she prepares for the Gay Games. A newbie, Marr heard about the Games through her involvement with Team New York Aquatics. With chatter about the Games percolating at practices and among teammates, Marr approached the coach to see if she was ready to go to the Games and compete. “I have never even competed at a meet and I’m not used to diving off the blocks or doing flip turns,” she explained. “I’m thinking, ‘I’m going to get there and get disqualified and embarrass the team, and they will never let me swim with them again, and I’ll be mortified.’ When I asked the head coach, he looked at me and said, ‘Why are you asking? Of course, go sign up.’” Marr joined TNYA last October, but her love of the water began early in life. When she was eight years old, she tried to join a swim team, but the pool, fed by creek water, was too cold and during her first practice she got hypothermia. After that,

Sara Schwartz is pushing herself to be ready for Cleveland, and hopes enough rock climbers show up to allow the sport to makes its Gay Games debut.

excited to compete for the first time, but also excited to be around LGBT athletes and gain the full experience of the Games, she said. “I’m excited to get to meet people from all over the world and meet other athletes who have similar passions,” Marr said. She took a sip of her cooled-off tea before adding, “It’s not very often that gets to happen.”

One New York athlete who is no rookie to the Games is swimmer Kathleen Romano. “I wanted to compete at the New York Games in ‘94, but I didn’t have a team,” Romano said. “When I found out the next ones were going to be in Amsterdam, I decided I was going to find some kind of team, so I started swimming even though I hadn’t been swimming since I was a kid.” A year after the Games in New York, Romano, who is 68, started hitting the water. On a mission to join a team, she chose to pursue swimming because she “could do it.” Since then she has been swimming nearly every day for two hours a morning. “I loved it,” she said. “I still love it.” It took Romano two years after the 1994 Games to join TNYA and another year to officially attend a practice with the team. She practiced with them for a year, improving her technique at stroke clinics and getting in a rhythm with her teammates. The team helped her turn her time in the pool into a workout instead of just swimming.

In 1998, Romano attended the Amsterdam Games. Romano remembers standing outside the Amsterdam Arena in the August heat and getting a pint of ice cream to help herself cool off. The ice cream took her mind off of the heat and calmed her nerves. But as soon as she walked onto the field, an overload of emotions took hold of her. “You look around and see all these people in complete support of us and cheering for us and it’s a bit overwhelming, in the best way,” Romano said. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt.” Romano next attended the 2002 Games in Sydney, where she walked away with 12 medals. After Chicago in 2006, though, she had a new feeling toward the Games. The overwhelming feeling she felt in Amsterdam came back as she walked into Chicago’s Soldier Field to a sea of rainbow lights illuminating the stadium. But the feeling of acceptance and pride faded throughout the week. It started at the opening ceremonies when the people around her made the night uncomfortable as they booed the performers. It continued when the swimmers were put in a warm water pool that wasn’t Olympic size. “It cured me of needing to go to the Gay Games,” Romano said, the smile she showed off earlier having disappeared. Romano gave Chicago the benefit of the doubt since the Games

GAY GAMES, continued on p.7

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

GAY GAMES, from p.6

Another rookie to the Gay Games, ready to compete and soak in the experience, Sara Schwartz is pushing herself. Harnessed in and strapped to her climbing partner, Fo, Schwartz, 29,

COURTESY: KATHLEEN ROMANO

had switched venues from Montreal at the last minute. Regardless, it clued her into the politics behind the Games and dimmed her Olympic torch. She didn’t attend the 2010 Games in Cologne, but she will travel to Cleveland in August. Usually, Romano attends Games that are in cities she wants to visit, and it’s no different this year. The last time she was in Cleveland, the Cuyahoga River was on fire. “It’ll be nice to go back and swim in a place where I watched flames sit on top of the water so many years ago,” Romano said, flashing her smile again. “I’m also excited to go and swim with people I’ve met over the years and to watch the ballroom dancing. Everyone needs to watch these people dance, it’s beautiful.”

started climbing up the rock wall in front of her. In less than a minute she was halfway to the top. “She’s a speedy climber,” Fo said as she pulled the rope through her harness. Once Schwartz reached the top she sat back for a minute then gave Fo a thumbs up to let her know she was climbing down “Most people just walk back down, but she has to climb down,” Fo explained. Once she touched back down on the ground, Schwartz expanded on Fo’s thoughts about her climbing down. “It gives you more time on the wall, and it’s a completely different experience looking down at the path than up at it,” she said. Schwartz’s love for rock climbing ignited when she was a kid. Occasional trips climbing with gym classes sparked her interest in the sport. In 2011, she attended CRUX, an LGBT rock climbing group in New York, and her love for the sport blossomed. Two years later, she became the executive director of the organization. Schwartz climbs at different gyms throughout the city, some-

Kathleen Romano practices for her first Gay Games since 2006 in Chicago.

times with a partner, like Fo; other times she boulders, without ropes, alone. As she climbs, she remains focused, always scoping out new routes up the wall and assessing their difficulty. Leading up to August, Schwartz is pushing herself to be a better competitor, even though the word competition scares her. “For me, it’s similar to what you feel before a big test,” she said. “I just have to make sure I’m not pushing myself too hard.” Even though Schwartz is working to be at the level she needs to be at to compete, it is still up in the air whether rock climbing will be fea-

tured at the Games. Being the first year rock climbing and bouldering are offered, 50 people need to sign up for the competition to take place. Schwartz remains hopeful. Standing on a blue mat, figuring out her route up the wall and chalking up her hands, she said, “I’m excited to go and have fun. It’ll be great to go climb, meet some new people, chill out with other climbers and athletes who share similar values. I’m really excited.” For Gay City News’ March 5 story on three men headed to the Cleveland Games, visit tinyurl.com/ p4fvwat.

The Riverside Church

490 Riverside Drive, New York NY 10027 212.870.6700

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

CIVIL LIBERTIES

A Heartfelt Cap to Robert Pinter’s Battle Crowd gathers at Stonewall Inn to celebrate victory over NYPD’s false arrests of gay men

BY DUNCAN OSBORNE

he emotion was evident in Robert Pinter’s voice as he stood outside the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street and read an email from a man who, like Pinter, was falsely arrested on prostitution charges by cops from the Manhattan South Vice Enforcement Squad. “Good... congrats fr om my part... glad you stood up,” the man wrote in broken English of the recent $450,000 settlement Pinter reached with the city regarding his 2008 arrest. “Myself no brave enough to go like you… but you victory is our victory in such many ways… I hope that we don’t have to go through this ever again.” Pinter, 58, was one of 41 men known to have been arrested for prostitution in six Manhattan porn shops in 2008 and early 2009. The city cited those arrests, which were widely seen as false arrests, in nuisance abatement lawsuits brought against the shops in an effort to close them. Soon after he exposed the arrests in late 2008, Pinter began a six-year campaign in conjunction with other groups to reform police practices. And he sued in federal court. “What began as a horrendous experience and embarrassing experience has enriched my life

beyond measure,” he said at the June 21 event that marked the end of this effort. His initial work was with a group of longtime community members who brought various grievances to the effort. Among the members were Joel Czarlinsky, who once owned the Houston Street sex club El Mirage that was shuttered by the city in 2006 and remained angry over that closure, William Dobbs, who has long been a defender of free expression, including sexual freedom, and Chris Farrell, a longtime member of the North American Man/ Boy Love Association, who wanted to see the vice squad ended. In 2009, Pinter was clearly unhappy with the diverse interests and Farrell’s participation in particular. The group quickly imploded. “I think it was a difference in strategizing, a difference in focus,” Pinter said at the Stonewall event. “I wanted to keep it tightly focused on this issue.” Pinter, who launched the Campaign to Stop the False Arrests, eventually found peers in the Police Reform Organizing Project (PROP), a program at the Urban Justice Center that opposes stop and frisk, among other police practices. Pinter began organizing LGBT people to support PROP’s work. His effort to forge a coalition gained momentum in 2012 when he joined national civil rights

DONNA ACETO

Robert Pinter with the Anti-Violence Project’s Sharon Stapel.

A crowd of supporters stand with Robert Pinter at the Stonewall Inn on June 21.

groups, such as the NAACP, major unions, and local and national LGBT groups in endorsing the End Stop and Frisk Silent March Against Racial Profiling. A press conference announcing the unified embraced of that march was also held at the Stonewall Inn. During his political organizing, Pinter was also contending with the federal lawsuit that saw favorable rulings from District Judge Shira Scheindlin as well as setbacks, as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reduced the scope of his complaint and the number of defendants. The Bloomberg administration, which was always more interested in appearing to be pro-police, designated his case “no pay” and refused to settle. In 2013, the case was set to go to trial. Of the six lawsuits filed over the arrests, Pinter had the least favorable facts. In Blue Door Video, the East Village porn shop where he was arrested, the obvious pattern was that police sent young undercover cops in to solicit consensual sex from older men. When men agreed to the sex, the undercover cops said they would pay for the sex and the men were arrested. Pinter never said yes or no to the offer of cash. He initially pleaded guilty to a violation and received an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. His guilty plea was later vacated, with the support of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Police targeted African-American and Latino men in the other five shops. The four men who were arrested in those shops and later sued explicitly rejected the money and never pleaded guilty. Their cases were dismissed. The sixth lawsuit stemming from an arrest in a spa is ongoing. Ultimately, it was a new administration under Mayor Bill de Blasio that made a settlement possible. “I’m happy that Robert won, but it was earned really hard,” said Andy Velez, a longtime gay and AIDS activist, at the June 21 event. “There is no money that can pay for that harm.” Pinter gets $50,000 in the settlement and his two attorneys split the remaining $400,000. The amount for Pinter is in line with earlier settlements that saw one man get $25,001 and the other three get $45,001. A few men who were also arrested reached out to Pinter, but he was alone in going public. The email Pinter read came from a man he called José, a pseudonym, was unsigned, and the man never gave his name or agreed to meet Pinter. “That kind of courage is so wonderful and a great example,” Sharon Stapel, the executive director at the New York City Anti-Violence Project, said of Pinter. “We can learn from Robert’s example and his courage.”

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

A single moment can change everything.

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2014

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

MARRIAGE

A Pride Week Trifecta Three federal courts issue important pro-gay decisions, with 10th Circuit upholding Utah win BY ARTHUR S. LEONARD

n a burst of pro-gay rulemaking, federal appeals and trial courts on June 24 and 25 issued important progay decisions, advancing not only the cause of marriage equality but also the broader fight for constitutional anti-discrimination protections. In a ruling reported on page 18 of this issue, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reconsider its January decision that established heightened scrutiny — under which a law under challenge is presumed unconstitutional unless the government can demonstrate a compelling rationale for it — as the appropriate standard of judicial review in gay rights cases. The following day, a three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit ruled that Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutionally deprives couples of a fundamental right. Also on June 25, a federal district judge in Indiana ruled similarly in a challenge to that state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Unlike the 10th Circuit, which stayed its ruling pending the state’s anticipated further appeal — to either the full 10th Circuit or the Supreme Court — Judge Richard L. Young in Indianapolis specified that his ruling would have immediate effect. The state is likely to seek a stay from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. The 10th Circuit ruling — the first by a federal court of appeals to rule that bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutionally deprive same-sex couples of a fundamental right — is the most significant of the three in its impact on the marriage movement. The court’s opinion, by Judge Carlos F. Lucero, appointed to the bench by Bill Clinton in 1995, held the State of Utah to the burden of showing its marriage ban was narrowly tailored to accomplish a compelling state interest. The state argued that the plaintiffs were seeking a new constitu-

tional right of “same-sex marriage,” but the court decisively rejected that assertion. The Supreme Court’s prior rulings identifying marriage as a fundamental right all involved different-sex couples, but the court found that distinction irrelevant, Lucero agreeing “with plaintiffs that in describing the liberty interest at stake, it is impermissible to focus on the identity or class-membership of the individual exercising the right.” He quoted New York’s former chief judge, Judith Kaye, from her dissent in the 2006 case where marriage equality advocates here lost, in which she wrote, “Simply put, fundamental rights are fundamental rights. They are not defined in terms of who is entitled to exercise them.” Lucero continued, “Plaintiffs seek to enter into legally recognized marriages, with all the concomitant rights and responsibilities enshrined in Utah law. They desire not to redefine the institution but to participate in it.” The 10th Circuit found support for this conclusion in both the Supreme Court’s 2003 Texas sodomy ruling and its decision last year striking down the Defense of Marriage Act — both of which stressed that the right to marry is about an individual’s right of choice. “As the district court eloquently explained, ‘it is not the Constitution that has changed, but the knowledge of what it means to be gay or lesbian,’” Lucero wrote. “Consistent with our constitutional tradition of recognizing the liberty of those previously excluded, we conclude that plaintiffs possess a fundamental right to marry and to have their marriages recognized.” The court found that none of the state’s justifications for its marriage ban survived its demanding strict scrutiny review. Lucero efficiently eviscerated Utah’s arguments regarding procreation, child-rearing, tradition, social convention, religious liberty, and the democratic decision-making that led to the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage. His opinion drew on the blizzard of district court rul-

ings since the Utah ban was first struck down in December that have thrown out similar bans in state after state. Nothing Utah’s lawyers came up with had not been repudiated in one of those rulings. The court’s majority also rejected Utah’s argument that the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a gay marriage case back in 1972 — for lack of a “substantial federal question” — was still binding on lower courts. Subsequent high court rulings since then superseded that precedent, the court found. Judge Paul Joseph Kelly, appointed to the court by George H. W. Bush in 1992, sharply disagreed about the 1972 precedent and about the conclusion that the Utah case involves a fundamental right. In his view, Utah’s concerns about the potential dangers of “redefining” marriage sufficed to uphold its ban. Since the 10th Circuit majority viewed the case as one involving a fundamental right — which meant the marriage ban was subject to strict scrutiny — it ducked a question that played a central role in many other marriage equality cases: whether the plaintiffs’ claims of sexual orientation discrimination required heightened scrutiny of the state’s marriage policy. As reported on page 18, heightened scrutiny is now the standard that the Ninth Circuit will bring to the pending marriage cases there — an approach that will undoubtedly lead to a string of additional victories by same-sex couple plaintiffs. Acknowledging that the Supreme Court had issued a stay of the original district court order in the Utah case, Lucero wrote that the circuit court would also stay its ruling. If the state does not seek review in the Supreme Court, however, the 10th Circuit will lift its stay. Otherwise, the stay will remain in effect until the Supreme Court either declines to hear the case or affirms the 10th Circuit’s ruling. Judge Young’s ruling in the Indiana case might be overshadowed

by the 10th Circuit decision, but in the short run might appear the more consequential because Young did not stay his ruling. There had been little doubt how he would rule since, in April, he ordered the state to recognize the same-sex marriage of one of the plaintiff couples, Nikole Quasney and Amy Sandler, because Quasney is suffering from ovarian cancer that is no longer treatable. His opinion at that time made clear his view that the state was unlikely to succeed in its defense of its marriage ban. So the only real suspense in Indiana was about when the decision would be issued and whether it would be stayed pending appeal. The Seventh Circuit, where the state’s appeal would go, is already considering an appeal of the recent Wisconsin marriage equality ruling. Like the 10th Circuit, Young treated this as a fundamental rights case, applied strict scrutiny to the Indiana ban, and concluded the state failed to meet its heavy burden of showing the policy was necessary to achieve a compelling state interest. He found that the ban was not “closely tailored” to Indiana’s goal of “encouraging [a different-sex] couple to stay together for the sake of any unintended children their sexual union may create.” Gays and lesbians are excluded from marriage, Young noted, but “post-menopausal women, infertile couples, or couples that do not wish to have children” are not. Even had Young not viewed the case as one involving a fundamental right, he would have struck down the gay marriage ban. From an equal protection perspective, he found, “The court finds that there is no rational basis to exclude same-sex couples.” Even accepting the state’s contention that marriage laws should be geared to the interests of a couple’s children did not suffice in upholding the ban, with Young pointing out, “The purpose of marriage — to keep the couple together for the sake of their children — is

TRIFECTA, continued on p.28

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

HEALTH

HIV Prevention Needs May Revive Black LGBT Group Organizers say health issues must be part of community building, focus on economic opportunities BY DUNCAN OSBORNE

GAY CITY NEWS

aying that the views of African-American gay men are largely missing from current discussions around HIV prevention, a group of activists hope to revive a New York City organization that was once lauded for its community building and innovative HIV prevention work. “The voice of black gay men has really gone silent,” said Nathan Kerr, who has long experience with AIDS and health groups. “We need to find a way to reengage, and the strategy is more than just disease prevention.” Kerr is part of a group of researchers and activists who are exploring the establishment of the Black LGBT Alliance of New York. That working name may change as could the mission of any group that is eventually founded. “It is early,” said Kerr during an interview in his Brooklyn home.

Nathan Kerr in his Brooklyn home.

“We’re working on definitions, we’re working on structure.” Their initial model is People of Color in Crisis (POCC), an AIDS group that operated in Brooklyn until Michael Roberson, its executive director in 2007 and 2008, was caught stealing government funds and it was forced to close. Under Gary English, who headed POCC from 1997 to 2007, POCC was lauded for Many Men, Many

Voices, its comprehensive HIV prevention program, and its annual Pride in the City event, and for its role in founding the Black Gay Research Group. In 2003, POCC, which was founded in 1989, co-sponsored the first Black Gay Research Summit. English is among those who hope to found the new group. The underlying view in POCC’s work was that black gay men have

experiences that are fundamentally different from their white, Latino, or Asian peers and that health campaigns, economic development, and other improvement efforts must consider that experience. “One of the things we’ve struggled with over the past 20 to 30 years is are you gay first or are you black first?” Kerr said. Pride in the City was a party that allowed its thousands of participants to be both and included health and wellness components, such as HIV testing. “This event does a lot of different things on different levels,” English said in a 2004 interview with Gay City News. “It gives exposure to prevention messages, access to testing and referrals, and it’s a great way to form community.” For Kerr, the event avoided what might be seen as a dreary health fair, but delivered the content of a

KERR, continued on p.32

Callen-Lorde Emerges as Big Player in PrEP Prevention Drive With gay, bi men slow to adopt anti-HIV drug approach, Chelsea clinic can’t serve them fast enough BY DUNCAN OSBORNE

ith the two-year anniversary of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving Truvada for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and Americans only slowly adopting the HIV prevention tool, the CallenLorde Community Health Center may be writing a significant number of the prescriptions for PrEP in the country. “I don’t know that it’s a singular achievement,” Jay Laudato, executive director of the Chelsea health clinic, told Gay City News. “I don’t think hospitals are doing tons of this, but we do know hospital partners who are doing PrEP.” In 2012, the FDA approved using a daily dose of Truvada to prevent HIV infections. Gay and bisexu| June 26 - July 09, 2014

al men who have condomless sex, HIV-negative people in a relationship with an HIV-positive person, and sex workers could all be candidates for PrEP. Few people who are at risk for HIV infection appear to have chosen to take the drug and various explanations are given for the slow uptake. In studies, Gilead Sciences, the company that manufactures and markets Truvada, estimated that 2,319 “unique individuals” started PrEP between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013. That increased from the estimated 1,774 “unique individuals” starting PrEP between January 2011 and March 2013. There is overlap between the two estimates and it is unknown how many of those individuals are still taking the drug. Since February of this year, Callen-Lorde has written 110 PrEP prescriptions for clients who are not

part of any clinical study, suggesting the agency could be responsible for a significant percentage of the PrEP prescriptions written overall. Sarit Golub, a professor at Hunter College who is working on PrEP studies at Callen-Lorde, said the agency spent a year training staff on how to identify PrEP candidates and how to discuss the drug regimen with them. “We cannot get people in the door fast enough,” Golub said at a June 17 meeting in Manhattan on PrEP messaging. “If we had the capacity, we could double the volume.” Chicago’s Howard Brown Health Center reported comparable numbers with 150 clients on PrEP, and Legacy Community Health Services in Houston has 45 clients on PrEP. Other health agencies are reporting lower numbers. At the meeting, Kimberleigh Smith, the policy director at Harlem United, an AIDS

group, reported that her agency had two clients on PrEP. Dr. Antonio Urbina, associate medical director at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospitals, estimated his agency put 10 clients on PrEP in the past six months. Fenway Health in Boston, which had 782 clients on PrEP in clinical studies, told Gay City News that it has 25 clients on PrEP who are not part of a clinical study. Other clinics around the country did not respond when asked how many clients they had on PrEP. Callen-Lorde is known for its work on sexually transmitted diseases and sexual health gener ally so clients there may be more inclined to discuss and try PrEP. Laudato said the agency has clients who have a primary care physician, but come to the clinic when they need to talk to a healthcare profes-

PREP, continued on p.32

What is STRIBILD? STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. It combines 4 medicines into 1 pill to be taken once a day with food. STRIBILD is a complete singletablet regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses you must keep taking STRIBILD. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD?

• All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection.

• Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, cisapride, lovastatin, simvastatin, pimozide, sildenafil when used for lung problems (Revatio®), triazolam, oral midazolam, rifampin or the herb St. John’s wort. • For a list of brand names for these medicines, please see the Brief Summary on the following pages.

• If you take hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc).

• Take any other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection, or the medicine adefovir (Hepsera®).

• If you take antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD.

What are the other possible side effects of STRIBILD?

• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking STRIBILD.

Do not take STRIBILD if you:

Serious side effects of STRIBILD may also include:

• Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired, unusual (not normal) muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold especially in your arms and legs, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do regular blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with STRIBILD. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD.

• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking STRIBILD for a long time. In some cases, these serious conditions have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD?

• All the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how STRIBILD works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Do not start any new medicines while taking STRIBILD without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Who should not take STRIBILD?

STRIBILD can cause serious side effects:

• Serious liver problems. The liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and fatty (steatosis). Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice), dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored bowel movements (stools), loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach pain.

• Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you also have HBV and stop taking STRIBILD, your hepatitis may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking STRIBILD without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health. STRIBILD is not approved for the treatment of HBV.

• Bone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. • Changes in body fat can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines. • Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking STRIBILD.

• If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. Also, some medicines in STRIBILD can pass into breast milk, and it is not known if this can harm the baby.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Brief Summary of full Prescribing Information with important warnings on the following pages.

The most common side effects of STRIBILD include nausea and diarrhea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used as a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

I started my personal revolution Talk to your healthcare provider about starting treatment. STRIBILD is a complete HIV-1 treatment in 1 pill, once a day. Ask if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right for you.

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

Patient Information STRIBILD® (STRY-bild) (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) tablets Brief summary of full Prescribing Information. For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information. What is STRIBILD? • STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. STRIBILD is a complete regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. • STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. You must stay on continuous HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. • Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do not share or reuse needles, injection equipment, or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them. Do not have sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? STRIBILD can cause serious side effects, including: 1. Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in some people who take STRIBILD or similar (nucleoside analogs) medicines. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: • feel very weak or tired • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain • have trouble breathing • have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting • feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • feel dizzy or lightheaded • have a fast or irregular heartbeat 2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take STRIBILD. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of liver problems: • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) • dark “tea-colored” urine • light-colored bowel movements (stools) • loss of appetite for several days or longer • nausea • stomach pain You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking STRIBILD for a long time. 3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and take STRIBILD, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking STRIBILD. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. • Do not run out of STRIBILD. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your STRIBILD is all gone

• Do not stop taking STRIBILD without first talking to your healthcare provider • If you stop taking STRIBILD, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking STRIBILD Who should not take STRIBILD? Do not take STRIBILD if you also take a medicine that contains: • adefovir (Hepsera®) • alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral®) • cisapride (Propulsid®, Propulsid Quicksolv®) • ergot-containing medicines, including: dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), and methylergonovine maleate (Ergotrate®, Methergine®) • lovastatin (Advicor®, Altoprev®, Mevacor®) • oral midazolam • pimozide (Orap®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®) • sildenafil (Revatio®), when used for treating lung problems • simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®) • triazolam (Halcion®) • the herb St. John’s wort Do not take STRIBILD if you also take any other HIV-1 medicines, including: • Other medicines that contain tenofovir (Atripla®, Complera®, Viread®, Truvada®) • Other medicines that contain emtricitabine, lamivudine, or ritonavir (Atripla®, Combivir®, Complera®, Emtriva®, Epivir® or Epivir-HBV®, Epzicom®, Kaletra®, Norvir®, Trizivir®, Truvada®) STRIBILD is not for use in people who are less than 18 years old. What are the possible side effects of STRIBILD? STRIBILD may cause the following serious side effects: • See “What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD?” • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you start and while you are taking STRIBILD. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD if you develop new or worse kidney problems. • Bone problems can happen in some people who take STRIBILD. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones. • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known. • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

The most common side effects of STRIBILD include: • Nausea • Diarrhea Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. • These are not all the possible side effects of STRIBILD. For more information, ask your healthcare provider. • Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including: • If you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis B infection • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking STRIBILD. - There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry. • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take STRIBILD. - You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. - Two of the medicines in STRIBILD can pass to your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in STRIBILD can pass into your breast milk. - Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements: • STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how STRIBILD works. • Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following medicines: - Hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc) - Antacid medicines that contain aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD - Medicines to treat depression, organ transplant rejection, or high blood pressure - amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®) - atorvastatin (Lipitor®, Caduet®) - bepridil hydrochloride (Vascor®, Bepadin®) - bosentan (Tracleer®) - buspirone - carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®) - clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Prevpac®) - clonazepam (Klonopin®) - clorazepate (Gen-xene®, Tranxene®) - colchicine (Colcrys®) - medicines that contain dexamethasone - diazepam (Valium®)

- digoxin (Lanoxin®) - disopyramide (Norpace®) - estazolam - ethosuximide (Zarontin®) - flecainide (Tambocor®) - flurazepam - fluticasone (Flovent®, Flonase®, Flovent® Diskus®, Flovent® HFA, Veramyst®) - itraconazole (Sporanox®) - ketoconazole (Nizoral®) - lidocaine (Xylocaine®) - mexiletine - oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) - perphenazine - phenobarbital (Luminal®) - phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) - propafenone (Rythmol®) - quinidine (Neudexta®) - rifabutin (Mycobutin®) - rifapentine (Priftin®) - risperidone (Risperdal®, Risperdal Consta®) - salmeterol (Serevent®) or salmeterol when taken in combination with fluticasone (Advair Diskus®, Advair HFA®) - sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®) or vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®), for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). If you get dizzy or faint (low blood pressure), have vision changes or have an erection that last longer than 4 hours, call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away. - tadalafil (Adcirca®), for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension - telithromycin (Ketek®) - thioridazine - voriconazole (Vfend®) - warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) - zolpidem (Ambien®, Edlular®, Intermezzo®, Zolpimist®) Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking STRIBILD without first talking with your healthcare provider. Keep STRIBILD and all medicines out of reach of children. This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about STRIBILD. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can also ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about STRIBILD that is written for health professionals, or call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.STRIBILD.com. Issued: October 2013

COMPLERA, EMTRIVA, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, HEPSERA, STRIBILD, the STRIBILD Logo, TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2014 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. STBC0106 06/14

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

BOOKS

The Elephant Is Still in the Room Ted Olson, David Boies tell a story we know, black-slap each other, but don’t say what happened to their original goal BY DUNCAN OSBORNE

idway through “Redeeming the Dream: The Case for Marriage Equality,” authors Ted Olson and David Boies tackle an issue ignored by the two other histories of the federal lawsuit that struck down Proposition 8, the 2008 California ballot initiative that put an end to same-sex marriage there. In 2009, the two superstar lawyers took up the case on behalf of a gay couple and a lesbian couple and won before Judge Vaughn Walker in federal district court in San Francisco in 2010. Prior to the case starting, Olson had boldly promised they would take the case to the US Supreme Court and win a ruling allowing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, they faced

REDEEMING THE DREAM: The Case for Marriage Equality By David Boies and Theodore B. Olson Penguin Group $28.95; 313 pages

a dilemma. The three-judge circuit panel wanted them to deal with a legal issue, specifically did the groups that sponsored the ballot initiative, the official proponents, have standing to appeal the lower court’s decision? California’s governor and attorney general had declined to defend Prop 8 in Walker’s courtroom. That task was left to the proponents. If Boies and Olson won by arguing the proponents did not have standing, the circuit court would issue a ruling that applied only in California and not in the other eight states the circuit oversees. The attorneys say they were ethically required to protect the district court victory they had achieved for their

clients and so they argued the proponents did not have standing. This is both correct and an honest recounting that was missing from “The Case Against 8,” an HBO film by Ben Cotner and Ryan White, and Jo Becker’s book, “Forcing the Spring: Inside the Fight For Marriage Equality,” the other two histories. Having had that honest moment, Boies and Olson promptly take it away. They write, “And victory in California would, we believed, affect other states and courts… A standing victory overturning Proposition 8 would deliver the result we had set out in the first place to achieve.” We know that is wrong because Olson told us in 2009 that their goal was a sweeping decision that would allow gay and lesbian couples across the country to wed. In 2013, the US Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the merits and found that the official

proponents did not have standing to bring the case to the court. The result was marriage in California and only there. Along with the HBO film and the Becker book, “Redeeming the Dream” is the third component of a campaign clearly intended to present the two lawyers, Chad Griffin, a PR expert who founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the group that launched and funded the Prop 8 lawsuit, and other players in the case as heroic. In all three histories, we are asked to see these people as akin to those who fought segregation and racial prejudice in the civil rights movement. What none of the creators of these histories grapples with is that Olson and Boies did not produce the victory that they promised. Griffin, who has since gone on to head the Human Rights Cam-

OLSON, continued on p.32

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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MARRIAGE

Heightened Scrutiny Standard Upheld in Ninth Circuit Refusal to reconsider judicial review approach in gay discrimination cases good news for marriage plaintiffs BY ARTHUR S. LEONARD

n an action that presages a sweeping victory for marriage equality litigation in the states under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the circuit on June 24 announced it had declined a suggestion by one of its judges to reconsider a three-judge ruling in January that claims of sexual orientation discrimination must be evaluated using “heightened scrutiny.” Given the scathing dissent to this decision by Judge Diarmuid Fionntain O’Scannlain, it seems likely he was the one who sought reconsideration. Given that states must provide a compelling justification for laws that discriminate when they are subject to heightened scrutiny, the Ninth Circuit’s action is very good news for gay marriage litigants who have cases pending in that circuit. Legal observers generally agree that bans on marriage by same-sex couples cannot survive such a high standard of judicial review. The January heightened scrutiny ruling resulted from a lawsuit SmithKline Beecham brought against Abbott Laboratories in an HIV drug-pricing dispute, and involved Abbott’s use of a peremptory challenge in eliminating a gay man from the pool of prospective jurors. In an appeal to the Ninth Circuit, SmithKline argued that Abbott’s attorneys should not have been able to do that, and the panel agreed. In 1986, the Supreme Court ruled that a lawyer could not use peremptory challenges to keep African Americans of f juries, since this was discrimination based on what is known as a suspect classification — in that case, race. A few years later, the high court extended that ruling to sex, explaining that because sex discrimination claims must be examined under heightened scrutiny, a lawyer should not be able to keep a woman off a jury without pro-

viding proof that she was biased. When government discriminates based on race or sex, it has to have a valid, non-discriminatory justification. SmithKline argued the same standard should be applied when a lawyer tries to eliminate somebody from serving on a jury because he is gay. The difficult SmithKline had in making this claim is that on more than one occasion the Ninth Circuit ruled that sexual orientation discrimination claims are not subject to heightened scrutiny. The three-judge panel pointed out, however, that those cases predated last June’s Supreme Court ruling regarding the Defense of Marriage Act. The panel concluded that the DOMA decision changed everything. In his majority opinion on DOMA, Justice Anthony Kennedy did not state that the court had applied heightened scrutiny, but the three-judge panel concluded that was the inevitable conclusion to be drawn from the ruling. As a result, the earlier Ninth Circuit precedents were no longer valid, the judges found. Appeals in two marriage equality cases are currently before the Ninth Circuit, where oral arguments are scheduled for September. In Nevada, a district court ruling that denied marriage rights — issued before the DOMA ruling came down — is being appealed by the plaintiffs, while the State of Idaho has appealed the recent decision overturning its ban on gay marriage. If heightened scrutiny applies, the appeals court is supposed to consider the marriage bans presumptively unconstitutional and place the burden on the government to show they substantially advance an important governmental interest. This reverses the customary situation in which laws are presumed constitutional, putting the burden on the plaintiffs to show there could be no rational justification for them.

NINTH CIRCUIT, continued on p.31

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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EMPLOYMENT

Fine Print, Enforcement Key to Obama Job Bias Order’s Effectiveness Absent progress on ENDA, president set to act alone; religious exemptions, recourse on complaints open issues

PETE SOUZA/ THE WHITE HOUSE

President Barack Obama is prepared to respond to a longstanding demand by LGBT advocates.

BY DUNCAN OSBORNE

i t h t h e White House preparing to add sexual orientation and gender identity to a 1965 executive order that bars discrimination by federal contractors, the question becomes how effective the US Department of Labor — which will investigate complaints brought under the amended order — is at handling discrimination complaints. “Generally speaking, it tends to be successful,” said Lawrence Z. Lorber, senior counsel in the labor and employment practice at Sey-

farth Shaw LLP, a law firm. “When I say successful, it tends to be in the more intensive investigations.” The executive order covers an estimated 22 percent of the work force and is enforced by the Labor Department. Currently, the order bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status. Lorber was an assistant secretary in the Labor Department and headed that agency’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which will likely investigate any complaints charging discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The OFCCP has a memorandum of understanding with the Equal

A PRESIDENT’S PRIDE MONTH With the announcement this month that President Barack Obama intends to sign an executive order barring federal government contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers, it’s clear the administration is taking the opportunity of Gay Pride Month to underscore its support for the community. At a June 17 LGBT fundraiser at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall — a day after news of the impending executive order broke — the president said, “Congress has been considering legislation to protect LGBT workers for decades. I want you to understand — for decades. Last November, it finally looked like we were getting somewhere. The Senate passed ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. It had strong bipartisan support. But shockingly enough, the House refused to act… That’s why I’ve directed my staff to prepare for my signature an executive order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.” During the same remarks, Obama also spoke about seeing the HBO film adaptation of Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart,” and said, “I know that many people in this room have photographs with smiling friends from days gone by, and a lot of those friends are gone, taken before their time — both because of a disease and because there was a government that failed to recognize that disease in time.”

Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that allows the OFCCP to send individual discrimination complaints there. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected classes in any federal statute. It is not clear that the EEOC could address such complaints, though a 2012 EEOC finding that a gender identity discrimination claim would be handled under provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act banning discrimination on the basis of sex may allow for flexibility there. Asked if an employee at a federal contractor alleging sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination could be referred to the EEOC by the OFCCP, Lorber said, “I don’t believe so,” explaining that such a complaint is “not within the authority of the EEOC to investigate.” Allowing the EEOC to address such a complaint would be a “de facto enactment of [the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA],” Lorber said. That legislation, which would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity by all employers with 15 or more employees, passed the Senate last year and is pending in the House, where it is not expected to get a vote. The OFCCP tends to investigate systemic compensation and discrimination issues at federal con-

Just weeks before, a US Health and Human Services Department panel ruled that Medicare would now cover “medically necessary” gender reassignment surgery. The Department of Education announced it would extend Title IX gender equity provisions of federal law to protect transgender students. The Department of Labor initiated a rulemaking to guarantee that married same-sex couples enjoy the protections of the Family and Medical Leave Act whether or not they live in a marriage equality state. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell traveled to Manhattan’s Stonewall Inn to announce a new federal initiative to preserve significant LGBT historical sites. And on June 24, Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, delivered the keynote address at a White House Forum on LGBT Human Rights. Serendipitously, on June 17, the Senate confirmed two openly gay nominees the president named to the federal judiciary — Darrin Gayles in the Southern District of Florida and Salvador Mendoza in the Eastern District of Washington. Meanwhile, in addition to the House Republians’ resistance to ENDA, the Texas GOP approved a party platform endorsing conversion therapy to “cure” LGBT people of their orientation. With difficult midterm elections coming up in November, the White House must be hoping that LGBT voters understand that elections have consequences. — Paul Schindler

tractors. “The agency generally focuses its attention on the more macro complaints,” Lorber said. Where a complaint represents a “systemic issue underlying the complaint,” the OFCCP is at its best, he said. “In that instance, it does very well,” according to Lorber. The executive order does not allow an individual to sue an employer in federal court, making the Labor Department the likely sole arbiter of any complaints alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. “There is no private right of action under the executive order,” Lorber said. “That’s an important fact to consider here.” The Obama administration leaked the news of the proposed change to the 1965 executive order on June 16. LGBT groups, particularly Freedom to Work, have been demanding the amendment for years. While groups welcomed the news, there was also some caution in their views as they have yet to see the order’s language. “The White House statement today is promising, and we look forward to seeing the details of the executive order,” Chad Griffin, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a written statement. The possibility that the order might include a religious exemption that would exempt too many employers has raised concerns for some advocates. “It is now vitally important for all of us to insist that this executive order, when eventually signed by the president, does not include religious exemptions that would permit taxpayer dollars to be spent on discrimination,” Heather Cronk, co-director of GetEQUAL, said in a release. Within hours of the White House signaling its intention to move forward on the executive order, Utah Republican Senator Orin Hatch told the Washington Blade that he would expect to see the same religious exemption that is included in the version of ENDA he voted for last year as part of the Obama order. That exemption has been criticized by many LGBT advocacy groups.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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| June 26 - July 09, 2014

POLITICS

In New York, Mississippi Governor Confronted on Anti-Gay Law With “religious freedom” law similar to one nixed by Arizona taking effect July 1, Phil Bryant faces GetEQUAL BY ANDY HUMM

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, a Republican, chats during a Central Park picnic while Todd Allen holds up a sign protesting that state’s new anti-gay law.

GAY CITY NEWS

CALEB-MICHAEL FILES

odd Allen, a gay activist who has lived in Mississippi since 1965, drove all the way to New York City to confront his state’s governor, Phil Bryant, who signed the kind of anti-gay “religious freedom” legislation that even right-wing Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona vetoed earlier this year. The Mississippi law, which goes into effect July 1, is considered a more legalistic, ambiguous version of the Arizona bill allowing people to discriminate if they feel their religious convictions are at stake. Anti-gay leader Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council was present at the bill signing ceremony in April. While the Arizona bill attracted national attention, most shrugged when notoriously conservative Mississippi acted — but not Allen. Bryant was in New York for the 35th annual Mississippi Picnic, an event held in the heart of Central Park as an outing for Mississippi natives and ex-pats to celebrate their culture and heritage. It was announced from the stage that when the late Ed Koch was mayor he allowed the event to become the only one in the park authorized to have cooking on site — in this case, native Mississippi catfish. The Republican governor’s website, which has a “Rising Together” theme, quotes Bryant saying, “I call on every Mississippian, no matter what our race or region or party, to rise above our petty differences and build the Mississippi our citizens deserve.” But while he engaged many Mississippians in small talk in Central Park, he refused to speak to Allen. Allen, who is affiliated with the Mississippi chapter of the direct action LGBT rights group GetEQUAL, joined by GetEQUAL supporters from New York, held a silent vigil, positioned between the stage that pumped out bluegrass music and booths that promoted tourism, heritage, and cuisine (including Sugaree’s Bakery from New Albany,

GetEQUAL’s Todd Allen gets support from Yazoo City Mayor Diane Delaware.

Mississippi, which makes a mean caramel layer cake and has a rainbow cake among its offerings). “We’re silent because the governor’s silent,” Allen explained, though he did try to question Bryant from the crowd while the governor, speaking from the stage,

proclaimed, “We are a state of the arts and entertainments,” and celebrated Mississippi’s “financial stability.” Gay City News asked Bryant what the state would do if the federal courts ordered him to open marriage to same-sex couples.

“We’d appeal it,” the governor replied. And when those appeals fail? “We’ll decide what to do when that happens,” he said, which is — so far, at least — not the same thing as saying he’d block the marriage bureau door. Also on hand for the picnic was Congressman Gregg Harper, a Mississippi Republican famous for telling Politico that the purpose of the Sportsmen’s Caucus in the House of Representatives was to “hunt liberal, tree-hugging Democrats — although it does seem like a waste of good ammunition.” Allen said that when he tried to engage Harper about gay issues, the congressman told him, ‘This is so wrong what you are doing. We’re here celebrating Mississippi’s heritage.” When Gay City News tried to question Harper, he responded, “This is just a picnic. I’ll just say, ‘Have a nice day.’” Allen said that on three visits to Washington to join the Human Rights Campaign’s lobby day on Capitol Hill, he was denied the chance to meet with the congressman. The GetEQUAL picketers passed out fliers reading, “Y’all mean ALL” surrounded by the words “lesbian, white, transgender, black, straight, imprisoned, gay, brown, undocumented.” The flyer asked Bryant, “How can you in good conscience invite New Yorkers, including LGBTQ New Yorkers, to move to Mississippi?” Many of the picnickers were receptive to the GetEQUAL message. Diane Delaware, the new mayor of Yazoo City, with a population of less than 12,000, stopped to chat and pose for pictures with the group. “It takes time for states like Mississippi to change,” she said. “I think it will. Those of us who labor for change just have to keep working on it.” As an African American who moved back to Mississippi from New York eight years ago, Delaware

MISSISSIPPI, continued on p.28

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

CIVIL LIBERTIES

Better Late Than Never? Alabama appeals court nixes consensual sodomy conviction BY ARTHUR LEONARD

ifty-one years after Gover nor George Wa l l a c e s t o o d i n a schoolhouse door in defiance of a federal mandate to integrate his state’s educational system, Alabama continues its slow crawl to membership in what, in intervening years, has sometimes been termed the New South. In 2003, the US Supreme Court in its Lawrence v. Texas sodomy decision ruled that state laws making it a crime for two men or two women to have consensual sex violate the 14th Amendment of the Constitution by impairing individual liberty without adequate justification. At that time there were many states, especially in the southeast, that continued to treat such conduct as a crime, and they did not rush to take these unconstitutional

laws off the books. One holdout has been Alabama, which did not repeal its sexual misconduct statute, one that punishes consenting adults for having gay sex. On June 13, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals put an end to that, ruling that the state must comply with the Lawrence sodomy precedent. The defendant in this case, Dwayne Williams, was charged with sodomy in the first degree, a felony offense, after a complainant identified as A.R. alleged to police he had forced him to have anal sex. According to the unsigned opinion by the appeals court, Williams was hanging around in the lobby of the Jameson Inn motel in Selma and evidently became sexually interested in A.R., the 23-year old reception clerk. Williams followed A.R. into the motel office and “pushed him into the bathroom in the office,” holding him by his throat and telling A.R. “to not

say anything or scream and that if A.R. did, Williams would choke A.R. harder.” After locking the bathroom door, A.R. alleged according to the court opinion, Williams told him to pull Williams’ pants down and then to pull down his own, and Williams began groping A.R., bent him over, and entered him while biting him on the neck. After Williams left the hotel, A.R. texted a co-worker to come to the motel, and told her what Williams had done. The next day, A.R. also told his mother what had happened and “the police were notified.” A.R. went to the hospital for a sexual assault exam, and the police lab confirmed that rectal and genital swaps showed evidence of Williams’ DNA. In his trial, Williams presented character evidence and testified in his own defense, admitting the sexual act but stating that A.R., an adult, had consented. The prosecutor asked the judge during a

“charge conference” to instruct the jury on both the sodomy count and “sexual misconduct” as a lesser-included offense. Williams objected, saying that this would “disregard” the 2003 Supreme Court sodomy ruling, but the judge granted the state’s request. The judge told the jury that if it believed Williams’ testimony that A.R. had consented, it could not convict Williams of first-degree sodomy, but that “consent is not a defense to prosecute under the charge of sexual misconduct.” Williams again objected on the record, citing the Lawrence sodomy ruling. The jury then convicted him of sexual misconduct. Williams filed a post-trial motion, again arguing that he should have been acquitted and that the sexual misconduct law is unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s Texas precedent.

ALABAMA, continued on p.28

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| June 26 - July 09, 2014

PRIDE

The Gayest City Council Ever Honors LGBT Icons Diversity and a progressive commitment on display in Cooper Union’s Great Hall

DONNA ACETO

Jason Collins of the Brooklyn Nets with the Council’s lesbian and gay caucus: Members Daniel Dromm, Corey Johnson, Rosie Mendez, Jimmy Van Bramer, Carlos Menchaca, and Ritchie Torres.

BY ANDY HUMM

DONNA ACETO

he gay and lesbian caucus of the New York Council jumped from three to six members this year — half of them people of color — and their more progressive politics were on full display June 18 at their LGBT Pride Celebration. The Cooper Union Great Hall event emphasized the connections between the community’s issues and those of other oppressed people here and around the world. In honoring David Rothenberg, 81 — the founder, in 1967, of the ex-offenders group the Fortune Society and, in 1985, one of the earliest out gay candidates for City Council — Councilman Daniel Dromm, an out gay Jackson Heights Democrat, said, “My objective is to help LGBT people understand that we are all in this struggle together.” Noting Rothenberg’s work with the “formerly incarcerated,” Dromm reminded the audience that LGBT people “were at one time outlaws, too.” Melissa Mark-Viverito, who succeeded out lesbian Christine Quinn

Councilman Corey Johnson with Christine Marinoni and her wife Cynthia Nixon.

as Council speaker, said that the LGBT community “is my political and personal family,” talked about her two gay brothers, and promised to be “a fierce advocate and ally” — something she demonstrated when she pulled the Council’s banner from the anti-gay St. Patrick’s Day parade in March. She kicked off the Pride celebration with a tribute to the late activist and drag king Stormé Delarverie, who died at 94 last month, and by honoring transgender activist Chase Strangio, founder of the Lorena Borjas Community Fund

that provides bail and bond help to LGBTQ immigrants in criminal and immigration cases. Strangio, a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT and AIDS Project, said that despite the community’s advances, “the struggle is real and immediate” for many, especially transgender folks and immigrants. Among other things, he called for “an end to the cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE,” the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit. Mark-Viverito also honored Allen

Roskoff, an early Gay Activists Alliance member and now president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, who was an opponent of the Giuliani and Bloomberg administrations as well as a vociferous foe of Quinn’s. Roskoff gave a militant speech, reminding the audience that when GAA first pushed the gay rights bill he co-authored in 1970 only four Council members put their names on it and the one from Greenwich Village dismissed it as “preposterous.” He recounted war stories — from liberating the Rainbow Room with same-sex dancing to heckling US Senator Chuck Schumer over his long resistance to same-sex marriage. “We are not in this movement to be polite,” Roskoff said. “Be rude and demand our rights.” Ritchie Torres, a Democrat elected to the Council at 25 and the first out LGBT official from the Bronx, honored veteran political activist Paul del Duca, chief of staff to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., who was also on hand. Del Duca said that “as we celebrate our collective achievements, we should pause to remember those who go about their lives openly” here and abroad in places where it is not as easy as in New York. Out gay Councilman Corey Johnson, a Democrat who represents the West Village, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen, honored Christine Marinoni for her pioneering work with the Alliance for Quality Education and for “getting arrested with ACT UP.” Marinoni, appointed to the Department of Education by Mayor Bill de Blasio as a special adviser for community partnerships, praised the diverse Council LGBT caucus as a group that is “truly progressive, speaking to issues well beyond those that affect them directly.” Marinoni quoted her wife Cynthia Nixon, who famously said, “I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay and I can tell you that gay is better.” She also praised the out members of the de Blasio administration,

CITY COUNCIL, continued on p.34

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

45 years after the Stonewall riots, New York University joins Greenwich Village in celebrating a turning point in LGBT civil rights.

We salute the LGBT leaders, friends, and allies, then and now, whose tireless advocacy continues to further equality, inclusion, and support for individuals from every community â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

in New York City and beyond.

Learn about NYUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public programs and community partnerships nyu.edu/nyu-in-nyc

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

@NYUinNYC

facebook.com/NYUinNYC

COMPTROLLER ISSUES USER-FRIENDLIER LGBT GUIDE Pride Month has traditionally been the time when the Office of the New York City Comptroller issues an updated directory of local LGBT resources. For years, this guide was issued in printed form, and over time was supplemented by an online version. This year, Comptroller Scott Stringer has introduced several new features likely to increase its utility for city residents. In a directory that encompasses descriptions, resources, and contact information for hundreds of organizations, enhancing ease of use is likely to be particularly important for LGBT New Yorkers uncertain about exactly what group can best serve their needs — often the same people most in need of immediate assistance. The new directory, available in both interactive and pdf form online (at tinyurl.com/kwtz5d), organizes and indexes community resources according to both the types of services they provide and the borough where they are located. Categories of services include legal, HIV/ AIDS, general health and wellness, and anti-violence resources, and also organizations addressing the specific needs of youth, seniors, communities of color, and transgender New Yorkers. The index also breaks out services located in the four boroughs outside Manhattan, and maps of the Bronx, Brooklyn,

TRIFECTA, from p.10

served by marriage regardless of the sexes of the spouses.” Writing that he had “never witnessed a phenomenon throughout

MISSISSIPPI, from p.24

said that on race, “Mississippi has changed tremendously. I left in 1978 and came back in ‘03” to be with her elderly mother. “I love it. It’s different from New York. I don’t think you would find yourself outcast at all. Laws and culture take time to catch up with each other.” Allen echoed that perspective, saying Mississippians “accept gay people. It’s a minority of politicians and preachers who capitalize on fear” that are the problem, he said. There is no statewide LGBT rights bill, but seven cities in

ALABAMA, from p.25

The Court of Criminal Appeals agreed with Williams. “To date,” it wrote, “no Alabama court has ruled on the constitutionality of [the sexual misconduct law] in light of the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Lawrence. Because ‘the only federal court whose decisions bind state courts is the United States Supreme Court,’ Lawrence controls our decision.” The court also mentioned an unrelated case in which a federal

Queens, and Staten Island pinpoint their specific locations. “New York City is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the world, with over 300 LGBTQ-oriented service providers located throughout the five boroughs,” Stringer said, in a statement accompanying release of the new directory. “We have revamped the LGBTQ guide to make it even more easy to use and comprehensive. I am proud to take the lead in providing this extensive listing of resources so that members of the LGBTQ community can more easily connect and find vital services across the city.” Stringer, who served two terms as Manhattan borough president and 13 years in the State Assembly prior to his election last year as city comptroller, has a long record of working with the LGBT community. Earlier this year, in tandem with State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, he called on corporate sponsors of the Winter Olympics in Sochi to speak up against Russia’s campaign of harassment and criminalization of its LGBT community. With fiscal oversight of one of the nation’s largest pension systems, the comptroller’s office has for several decades played a leading role in shareholder activism aimed at improving workplace fairness for LGBT employees in corporate America. One

Comptroller Scott Stringer (r.), his wife Elyse Buxbaum, and their son Miles, with City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer at the out gay Queens Democrat’s annual LGBT Pride brunch on June 21.

of the Fortune 100 companies that has resisted such pressure most determinedly has been ExxonMobil, which, ironically, Stringer recently had success in pressuring to be more transparent in disclosing risks related to its hydrofracking operations. — Paul Schindler

the federal court system as is presented with this issue,” Young concluded, “In less than a year, every federal district court to consider the issue has reached the same conclusion in thoughtful and thor-

ough opinions — laws prohibiting the celebration and recognition of same-sex marriages are unconstitutional. It is clear that the fundamental right to marry shall not be deprived to some individuals based

solely on the person they choose to love. In time, Americans will look at the marriage of couples such as Plaintiffs, and refer to it simply as a marriage — not a same-sex marriage.”

Mississippi have passed resolutions affir ming LGBT rights recently. “2014 is turning the tide and making Phil Bryant look like a dinosaur,” said Allen, who pointed out that several thousand businesses in Mississippi now display a sticker with a rainbow stripe that says, “We don’t discriminate. If you’re buying, we’re selling.” At a June 13 dinner at City Grit in Soho held in conjunction with the weekend’s festivities, award-winning Oxford, Mississippi, chef John Currence hosted a Big Gay Mississippi Welcome Table.

With seven other chefs, the event raised funds for the Pride Networks at the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University, according to the Associated Press. Currence told AP that he wanted to show that Mississippians who celebrate the state’s controversial new law as a blow against gay people “are a tiny minority.” Benny Ng of the Bronx, who joined the Central Park action along with fellow congregants from the Upper West Side’s Broadway United Church of Christ, said, “Most people seem supportive.” Asked whether she was referring

to Mississippi transplants to New York or the natives in attendance, Ng responded, “Both.” Caleb-Michael Files of GetEQUAL NY, a recent émigré from Missouri, said, “It’s sad that the governor wouldn’t take 30 seconds to chat with a constituent, especially since Todd drove all the way up here. It’s not fair.” “I’m experiencing what I know,” said Allen. “The people attending this event understand that hospitality equals equality. And I knew the governor would refuse to speak with me because he wants to advocate more discrimination.”

appeals court noted that Alabama’s attorney general had “specifically conceded” that the sexual misconduct law “is unconstitutional, in his words, ‘to the extent that it applies to private, legitimately consensual anal and oral sex between unmarried persons.” Somehow the word hadn’t gotten to the local prosecutor in Selma. The state argued, however, that the court should not declare the statute unconstitutional, but instead simply strike down the sentence stating that consent was not

a defense. Rejecting this request, the Criminal Appeals Court said its role is limited to interpreting the law, not amending it. The state also asked for a chance to retry Williams, but the court concluded this would violate the Constitution’s double jeopardy clause, which prohibits trying somebody twice for the same offense. Given that the jury refused to convict Williams on first-degree sodomy, the Court of Criminal Appeals concluded it must have found that the sex was consensual

and that Williams’ conviction had to be vacated. The remaining question is whether the Alabama Legislature will now take the common sense approach recently taken by the Virginia Legislature, which had rejected attempts to revise its sex crimes law in light of the Lawrence sodomy decision for more than a decade, but finally did so earlier this year after the a federal appeals court found the state’s sodomy law unconstitutional. The Supreme Court refused to review that decision.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

MARIJUANA, from p.4

technical support to a broad coalition of patients, doctors, AIDS organizations, citizen groups, and drug treatment programs that pushed the medical marijuana issue to a successful vote in Albany. Mischa Sogut, a spokesman for Gottfried, said the guidelines for how seriously ill a patient must be and what hoops the doctor must go through to prescribe the non-smokable marijuana will be developed through a regulatory process led by the state health commissioner. But Alliance leaders Julie Netherland and Gabriel Sayegh, the op-ed’s authors, argued that “the bill gives the governor’s administration sole discretion” and that “politics, not science, drove the final agreement.” At the heart of that concern was the governor’s demand that the provision for a medical advisory board to work in tandem with the health commissioner in developing guidelines be eliminated. As a result, Cuomo’s appointee will call the shots without any outside oversight from medical experts unencumbered by political allegiance.

Her mother and her doctors believe that marijuana would prevent these frightening seizures from happening.

At this time, it is not clear how severe the symptoms of people contending with AIDS, cancer, or post-traumatic stress disorder will have to be in order for them to qualify for medical marijuana treatment. The implementation procedures for the new law mean that marijuana may not be available for qualifying patients any sooner than the end of 2015. An early draft of the law contained emergency provisions that would have allowed the health commissioner to waive the regulatory niceties to get marijuana into the hands of those with the greatest need immediately. That option is no longer there, and obtaining medical marijuana approved by other states is also not in the cards. Erik Williams, director of government and community

affairs for Gaia Plant-Based Medicine, a leading purveyor of medical marijuana in Colorado, said “it’s not realistic to expect interstate transportation of marijuana medicine,” noting that federal drug laws bar its movement across state lines. Cuomo’s intervention in the marijuana debate was intended to convey his concern that the drug is dangerous and can be a “gateway” to harder drugs; controversially, he even linked its use to heroin addiction. Apparently concerned about the political downside of appearing to send the wrong message, the governor demanded numerous changes in the legislation under consideration and emphasized his determination not to see medicine diverted to non-medical, recreational uses. Even as Cuomo took a stand against the availability of drugs for the state’s youth, the presence of parents lobbying for medical marijuana with their children sent a very different message. Just before the Assembly passed the governor’s bill, an 11-year-old lobbying in the State Capitol with her mother had a seizure that suppressed her breathing. EMTs who came to her rescue gave her oxygen and an injection of a valium-like narcotic that restored her breathing to normal after a onehour nap. She was able to continue lobbying with her mother and fellow activists. Her mother and her doctors believe that marijuana would prevent these frightening seizures from happening. Gottfried explained his advocacy of the legislation in terms of such incidents. “I am especially concerned about the very young children with a devastating, severe life-threatening form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome,” he said. “A particular form of medical marijuana gives them almost complete relief. Some of these little children will die waiting for the law to be implemented.” Gottfried first introduced a medical marijuana bill in 1997, and as chair of the Assembly Health Com-

mittee has been at the center of campaigns to pass this law. Sayegh, who is the Alliance’s New York State director, acknowledged, “This is a huge step for patients in New York who will benefit from this legislation, and without question, today would not be possible but for the dedicated and sustained organizing work by patients, families, and advocates.” He added, however, “This bill is far from perfect. Many of the limitations in this bill — like the restrictions on conditions and physician-patient relationships — are unnecessary and not supported by the science. And we know that overly restrictive medical marijuana programs leave patients behind.” Savino chose to emphasize the progress made in enacting the compromise law, saying, “We celebrate this victory with the countless patients, families, advocates, health care professionals, and physicians who have all fought passionately for the safe and reliable use of medical marijuana.” Janet Weinberg, the chief operating officer at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, thanked “my heroes and heroines in GMHC’s Action Center and the staff of Compassionate Care New York, who’ve made so many trips to Albany. This has been a long and hard fight.” The non-smokable marijuana mandated under the law will probably be expensive. Providers must grow it in-state and indoors, and their product must then be tested at their expense at a laboratory approved by the health department. Even with that, an additional 7 percent tax will be tacked on to the price to pay for the regulatory process. Sogut, from Gottfried’s office, expressed regret over the cost to patients built into the new law. Smokable marijuana, he said, is “cheap and effective.” Many state medical marijuana laws, in fact, allow eligible patients to grow marijuana in their homes in strictly limited quantities, though the programs in neighboring Connecticut and New Jersey do not. There, marijuana is sold at authorized dispensaries. At the end of December, New Jersey’s health department reported that 1,670 patients and 197 caregivers were enrolled in its program, which permits smoking.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

NINTH CIRCUIT, from p.18

There is virtually no dispute among legal analysts that if marriage equality cases are decided using heightened scrutiny, the plaintiffs will surely win. Therefore, the Ninth Circuit should easily reverse the district court’s decision in the Nevada case and affirm the marriage equality ruling in the Idaho case. In fact, after the January 21 heightened scrutiny decision in the SmithKline Beecham v. Abbott Laboratories case, Nevada’s attorney general and governor agreed the state could not survive an appeal if the heightened scrutiny standard stood. They withdrew their defense of the lower court’s ruling, leaving it to an intervening anti-gay organization to carry the appeal forward.

If heightened scrutiny applies, the appeals court is supposed to consider the marriage bans presumptively unconstitutional.

Marriage equality lawsuits are pending in the other non-marriage equality states within the Ninth Circuit — Alaska, Montana, and Arizona — and the trial judges in those cases will be bound by this Ninth Circuit precedent to apply heightened scrutiny. They could well issue summary judgments in favor of the plaintiffs even before the Ninth Circuit rules on Idaho and Nevada. With marriage equality already the law in California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii, this portends a clean sweep in the Ninth Circuit. Meanwhile, rulings could come any day from the Fourth Circuit in the Virginia case or the 10th Circuit in the Utah and Oklahoma cases, where oral arguments have already taken place, so the breakneck speed of marriage equality | June 26 - July 09, 2014

decisions shows no signs of abating. O’Scannlain’s fervent dissent foresees all this, and he scolds his colleagues for refusing to reconsider the January panel’s decision. He accuses the panel of having misconstrued the DOMA ruling and failing to follow existing Ninth Circuit precedent, and that claim is not without merit since Kennedy’s ruling makes no explicit mention of heightened scrutiny and many lower courts and legal scholars have pointed out that the ruling’s doctrinal basis is not clear in the way one might wish. Indeed, it is not implausible to argue that if the court applied heightened scrutiny it was because DOMA involved discriminatory treatment of marriages legal in the states where they were performed, and Supreme Court precedent recognizes the right to marry as a fundamental right. That could justify using heightened scrutiny to evaluate the federal government’s refusal to recognize marriages sanctioned by the states regardless of what level of scrutiny the high court deems appropriate in sexual orientation discrimination cases. “Without even acknowledging the consequences of its decision, the panel has produced an opinion with far-reaching — and mischievous — consequences, for the same-sex marriage debate and for the many other laws that may give rise to distinctions based on sexual orientation, without waiting for appropriate guidance from the Supreme Court,” O’Scannlain wrote. “And in doing so, it plainly misread [the DOMA ruling], abandoned our own equal protection precedents, and disregarded our procedures for departing from settled constitutional doctrine.” The panel’s action, he said, was “an exercise of raw judicial will.” O’Scannlain, a Reagan appointee, is one of the most conservative judges on the Ninth Circuit. A total of 22 Ninth Circuit judges voted on his request for reconsideration, so it’s clear that he failed to win 12 votes, but beyond that the tally is unknown. Two other conservative judges, Jay Bybee and Carlos Bea, who were both appointed by George W. Bush, joined his written dissent, but others may have voted with him.

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health fair to guests. “Pride in the City was brilliant because it mobilized black gay men around culture and health,” Kerr said. “My personal experience is that developing community through disease prevention is a bust.” The need for many voices in HIV prevention was apparent at a June 17 community meeting organized by the Treatment Action Group (TAG), a leading treatment think tank and advocacy organization. TAG has a contract with the state health department to assess the need for campaigns promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), anti-HIV drugs taken by uninfected people to prevent infection, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), anti-HIV drugs taken by someone immediately after they are exposed to HIV to stop infection from taking hold. PrEP and PEP are central features of a plan proposed by 30 AIDS groups to cut new HIV infections in New York from the current 3,400 a

PREP, from p.11

sional about their sex lives. “People are known to use Callen-Lorde for sexual health,” he said. “People who know about this and who are engaged in their own sexual health seek us out.” Callen-Lorde may also see far more HIV-negative clients than an agency like Harlem United, which is better known for working with HIV-positive people, who are not PrEP candidates. Callen-Lorde saw 15,000 clients last year and 12,000 were HIV-negative. It did 6,000 to 7,000 screenings for sexually transmitted diseases and pre-

scribed post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to 600 clients last years. PEP is a 28-day course of anti-HIV drugs that prevents HIV infection from taking hold following an exposure. A person who is completing a PEP regimen could be a candidate for PrEP. “We have a number of staff and counselors here who can be brought in and have multiple conversations with patients,” Laudato said. “We have a lot of conversations.” The slow uptake of PrEP generally has a number of explanations. One, which is supported by several recent studies, is that people don’t know about it, including doctors who might prescribe it. At the meet-

OLSON, from p.16

paign, the nation’s leading gay lobby, skillfully manipulated the press and public throughout the four-year-long staged event that was the lawsuit against Prop 8. With the case finished and the result known, the two books and the film look like empty spin. As with the film and Becker’s book, this is a major failing of “Redeeming the Dream.” A second major failing of this book is that the writing is often dreadful. The 13th chapter opens with, “A petition for a writ certiorari is the formal document a lawyer submits to the US Supreme Court seeking review of a case that has been lost in a lower-level court. Certiorari is a Latin word meaning ‘to be informed of.’” Having slogged through more than 200 pages, I really did not want to go on after reading that. The authors open chapter 14 with Olson stepping to a lectern and beginning his opening statement before the US Supreme Court. He is

year to 730 or less annually by 2020. The plan also envisions significantly expanding the number of HIV-positive people who are in treatment and have an undetectable viral load. This approach is known as treatment as prevention. There is science that suggests that if these bio-medical interventions are used in a community at the same time, they will reduce new infections dramatically, effectively ending the epidemic. The key questions to be answered are whether people will take these drugs and how to let them know they are available. Attendees at the June 17 meeting, including Kerr, made it clear that any messaging about PrEP and PEP had to be tailored to specific communities and that launching just one campaign would not work. With these bio-medical interventions looking like they will be a primary form of HIV prevention in the future, groups want very much to be involved. “Two years from now, we don’t want to be saying ‘We don’t know why black gay men aren’t

doing this,’” Kerr told Gay City News. But bio-medical interventions cannot be the end of the conversation, he added. The Alliance may also work in community building, run a jobs program, and deal with health matters other than HIV. The group will incorporate soon, and Kerr said it was likely the group could produce a Pride in the City event within a year. Historically, POCC and Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD), the two New York City groups serving men of color, raised little of their cash from the communities they served and relied almost entirely on government contracts and grants. With constrained federal, state, and city budgets, raising the money to launch a new group will be a significant challenge. This new effort will rely on the community, Kerr said. “Our community resources will be the initial funding,” he said. “That is to send a message that if you care enough, build your own community.”

ing, Terri Wilder, who works at the Spencer Cox Center for Health, a clinic affiliated with St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospitals, said doctors are asking for training on PEP, which has been used for over 20 years. “As much as people are excited about PrEP, I’m just now getting a lot of requests for PEP training,” she said. Janet Weinberg, the chief operating officer at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, said her AIDS agency sent a film crew into the streets to ask people about PrEP as part of a series of town halls the agency is producing on the HIV prevention tool. “What we learned from it is people

immediately peppered with questions. Since I know what happened in the nation’s highest court, I knew this was Olson practicing in a moot court session and I had no idea why I was reading this. The drama of a courtroom drama, which is what this book should have been, happens in the courtroom, not in moot court. What I wanted was the inside story, the arguments, how the decisions were made. What I was told is that one party before the US Supreme Court uses a blue cover on its filing and the other party uses a red cover. And the court has “strict guidelines” on type size and word count. Olson and Boies produce some drama in chapter 15 when they recount the actual hearing before the US Supreme Court. It took the authors 238 pages to get there. In other places, the structure is odd. Chapters two and three have the authors explaining why they took the case. This could have been done throughout the story. The book is arranged

need more information,” Weinberg said at the June 17 meeting. She said that when people were asked about PrEP, “the most common answer was, ‘Prepare for what?’” In reporting the findings of an earlier study, Golub said white gay men resisted taking PrEP because they feared being viewed as promiscuous while black gay men feared people would think they were HIV-positive if they took PrEP. Wilder said the answer is more physician training and more messaging. “We need to think about penetration,” she said. “We need to think about medical conferences.”

chronologically until we come to a screeching halt in chapters nine and 10 so each author can write about the other. Olson can barely contain himself. Boies is “gifted with a unique combination of charisma, intelligence, mental agility, spontaneity, focus, energy, and indefatigability, to mention just few of his qualities,” Olson wrote. No x-ray vision or other super powers? Boies describes Olson’s closing statement in the trial before Walker, saying Olson is “an exceptionally gifted and experienced oral advocate.” So no super powers there either and apparently much less to praise. At the close of “Redeeming the Dream,” the authors give a nod to Olson’s promise, writing, “It would have been great if the Court had gone further and announced a constitutional right to marriage equality for the entire nation.” No, that was the point of this lawsuit and the authors should have confronted this in their book, but they were too busy rendering themselves as heroes. June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

Alger House

 c  including “community organizer” Emma Wolfe, the mayor’s director  in the village of intergovernmental relations, and  “scores of others,” whom she cited by first names, for “doing good pro gressive work.” Rothenberg talked about being  inspired by his first political hero — Jackie Robinson, who broke  the color barrier in baseball — to go down to challenge Washington,  DC’s segregation in 1952.  “Before Stonewall, I was deeply closeted,” he said. “I didn’t recog nize my own oppression.” Rothenberg decided to come out  on David Susskind’s TV show in 1973 and met with his colleagues  at the Fortune Society to offer his resignation. Mel Rivers, one of the  ex-offenders, told him, “You stood alongside us for six years. Give us  the chance to stand by you.” Magnificent private carriage house  Rothenberg said that at 81 he for weddings and ceremonies under 100 guests. was being honored for “hanging  around,” but he got one of the bigExtraordinary food and services and the best value in town! gest hands of the evening.  AlgerHouse.com | 212-627-8838 Jimmy van Bramer, the out gay Council majority leader who is a  Sunnyside Democrat, honored Brooklyn Nets player Jason Col lins, saying, “Just like Jackie RobCITY COUNCIL, from p.26

DONNA ACETO

Honoree Robert Pinter, who successfully battled the NYPD’s sting operation aimed at gay men in adult video stores.

DONNA ACETO

inson changed the world, you will change the world for the better by being who you are and being a great basketball player.” Collins, who came out in April 2013, wears #98 to honor Matthew Shepard, who was brutally beaten to death in 1998. Collins works with the Matthew Shepard Foundation as well as GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. Collins, the first active out gay player in the four big male professional sports leagues in the US, said, “I want to make it easier” for others to come out — and Michael Sam, recruited out of college this year by football’s St. Louis Rams, already has. Acknowledging “others who came before me, particularly female athletes” such as Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, Collins said, “We’re all on the same team. The goal is to lead an authentic life.” The evening’s emcee, actress Carmelita Tropicana, said, “It feels like we are creating community right now.” Introducing Councilman Carlos Menchaca, she described the out gay Democrat’s Red Hook-Sunset Park district in

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Longtime activist Allen Roskoff.

Brooklyn as the area where “all my exes are from.” Not skipping a beat Menchaca — who grew up in public housing in El Paso and is New York State’s first Mexican-American elected official — shot back that “all my exes are in Texas.” He honored trans Latina LGBT organizer Bianey Garcia, who left Mexico, she said, “to escape transphobia” and now works with Make the Road NY, a social justice group.

CITY COUNCIL, continued on p.35

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

Happy Pride! from DONNA ACETO

Councilman Daniel Dromm congratulates David Rothenberg.

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New York, Ny 10005

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Trans activist Bianey Garcia with Councilman Carlos Menchaca.

! e r e H e r e w Wish you

CITY COUNCIL, from p.34

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

DONNA ACETO

Rosie Mendez, a Lower East Side Democrat and now the only out lesbian in the Council, honored Robert Pinter, who came to her more than five years ago after his false arrest for prostitution, a case that the city just settled under pressure from her and her colleagues. Mendez praised him “for obtaining justice for all of those men who were afraid to speak up.” “In Ray Kelly’s world, I am one of the oldest gay male prostitutes in New York,” Pinter said, decrying the scheme “Bloomberg and the police department” rigged up to falsely arrest unsuspecting gay men — many of them men of color — in adult bookstores. Cute young cops solicited older men and then turned around and offered them money, at which point they were falsely arrested as hookers. The scam was part of what Pinter called a “despicable” effort to rack up violations against the stores in order to close them. “The police counted on our shame,” he said, but with the encouragement of activists such as Mendez and his friend Brendan Fay,

Councilman Ritchie Torres, the first out LGBT elected official in the Bronx.

he overcame his “embarrassment” and stood up not only for himself but for others being damaged by the sting. His settlement with the city was celebrated with a rally outside the Stonewall Inn on June 21. Public Advocate T ish James closed the proceedings, calling herself “an honorary member of the gay caucus” and proclaiming that “closets are a place to hold old clothing. We’ll be marching down Fifth Avenue to celebrate who we are.”

E BEACH H T N O Y O J TH PRIDE & 12TH -14

EPT NAGS HEAD, NoCm S obxpridefest.c

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Why ENDA is Not the Answer PUBLISHER JENNIFER GOODSTEIN

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troy@gaycitynews.com EDITOR IN-CHIEF & CO-FOUNDER PAUL SCHINDLER

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BY PAUL SCHINDLER The argument for the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act is clear and catches the public’s attention because it is so stunning: in 29 states you can legally be fired for being gay and in 32 — including New York — you are at risk due to your gender identity and expression. That is an outrage that needs to be remedied. The civil rights protections enjoyed, for example, in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Minnesota, Illinois, California, and Oregon should be available to LGBT Americans everywhere. The problem is that this is not what ENDA would deliver. Civil rights laws generally extend protections to all of life’s significant public activities — including housing, public accommodations, and access to credit, in addition to employment. So ENDA immediately opens up a debate about incrementalism and I will get to that. The first issue to consider, however, is ENDA’s failure to deliver even on the promise of universal employment protections. The current version of the measure — the one that garnered bipartisan support when passed in the Senate last year — contains a religious exemption unprecedented in civil rights law, one that gives religiously-affiliated institutions a broad right to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. By religiously affiliated, I mean not just churches, synagogues, and mosques, but faith-based and affiliated organizations such as Catholic Charities, one of the nation’s largest social service employers. In the past, religious exemptions in civil rights law have been very narrowly crafted. The 1964 Civil Rights Act — the gold standard in anti-discrimination legislation — allows faith organizations to discriminate only on the basis of religion in hiring related to doctrinal matters. A synagogue can limit the pool of candidates for rabbi to Jewish applicants. An Episcopal church cannot fire a Muslim janitor because of her faith. And no faith organization can place a categorical ban on the hiring of an African American for any position. That’s not the way ENDA works. As a gay man I could be denied janitorial

employment by any faith-affiliated organization. Don’t take my word for it. Tico Almeida, the gay employment rights advocate, acknowledges that the ENDA exemption, which he helped craft when he was a Senate staffer, creates a wide berth for groups like Catholic Charities to bar gay employment. And as the grassroots activist group Queer Nation points out, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, one of the nation’s oldest civil rights groups and a supporter of ENDA, concedes, “A religiously-affiliated hospital could choose to require all nurses to follow a declared set of significant religious tenets, including avoiding same-sex sexual activity, and be able to terminate a male nurse who they subsequently learn is in a relationship with another man.” The problems with ENDA’s employment protections don’t end there — again, as Queer Nation notes, the bill also bars significant remedies available under the Civil Rights Act in cases of race or sex discrimination. LGBT plaintiffs cannot file disparate impact claims seeking to show that an employer’s policy has disproportionately negative consequences on our community, and the federal government is prohibited from considering religiously-based discrimination against LGBT employees in distributing grant money, cannot require any affirmative action steps to cure longstanding patterns of discrimination, and cannot even collect the data necessary to monitor private sector anti-LGBT employment discrimination, as it is required to do in the case of race and sex. At the same forum in New York last year where I discussed the exemption language with activist Almeida, Evan Wolfson, an attorney who heads up Freedom to Marry, warned of the terrible precedent ENDA would lock into federal law — what he termed “a license to discriminate.” Removing the religious exemption language is clearly the absolute minimum our community should demand from our advocates in Washington, most importantly the Human Rights Campaign. Unfortunately, HRC agreed to the exemption language in its negotiations to win Republican support in the Senate. When President Barack Obama recently signaled he is prepared to sign an executive order barring anti-LGBT discrimination by federal contractors, one of

those Senate Republicans, Utah’s Orrin Hatch, quickly and predictably stood up to demand the same language be incorporated into that order. Our advocates have put us in a box, one that is unacceptable, and it’s time to regroup. Fifty years ago, on July 2, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. A decade later, New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced legislation to add sexual orientation protections to that law. By the early 1990s, neither house of Congress had voted on the bill, and our community shifted to an incrementalist strategy. Surely the nation was prepared to protect our basic right to a job, so the thinking went. More than 20 years later, that incrementalism has proven a false promise. We have not enacted ENDA, even in its fatally flawed form. When Chad Griffin, HRC’s president, stood up in 2009 to challenge California’s Proposition 8, he boldly repudiated what he characterized as the incrementalism of the marriage equality movement, then working from a stateby-state strategy playbook and wary of taking the issue into the federal courts. Griffin did not achieve the complete victory nationwide he and his allies hoped for at the Supreme Court, but their instinct that Prop 8 could be reversed in the federal courts was well-founded. Meanwhile, other legal advocates successfully toppled the Defense of Marriage Act, also in federal court. Incrementalism has now been thoroughly eschewed in the fight for marriage equality. In every state where a ban is still in effect, litigators are in federal court swinging for the grandstands and the victory could be complete by the end of the 2014-2015 Supreme Court session. In our fight for marriage rights, we have left half-measures behind. LGBT Americans looking to hang on to their jobs and their homes and to access basic public accommodations open to every other citizen deserve no less bold of an advocacy on their behalf. On the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, it’s time to revisit the wisdom that anti-discrimination advocates demonstrated in 1964. We should also borrow the courage and foresight Abzug demonstrated a decade later. It’s time to return to the spirit of 1969, the spirit of Stonewall. We must commit to amending that brilliant work of civil rights protections from a half-century ago. It’s time.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

PERSPECTIVE: A New Yorker in LA

The Politics of Dancing BY DAVID EHRENSTEIN

omosexuality shocks less, but continues to be interesting; it is still at that stage of excitation where it provides what might be called feats of discourse.” So wrote Roland Barthes — a Big Ol’ Gay Homosexual himself — in a 1978 essay, published as an introduction to “Tricks,” novelist Renaud Camus’ account of “25 Encounters,” all of them explicitly (homo) sexual. Barthes, who lived with his mother until her death a few years before his own, was a much more decorous fellow than Camus. His affairs with actor and screenwriter Jacques Nolot and writer-director André Téchiné were very much on the “down low” (or French equivalent of same). In his last years, however, Barthes began to loosen up. He especially enjoyed going to the gay Parisian disco Le Palace. “I feel relaxed there,” Barthes enthused. “At Le Palace, the familiar places are many: a salon for chatting, bars to meet in, to rest in between dances, a belvedere from which to gaze, above the intervals of the balustrades, down at the immense spectacle of lights playing over bodies. From each place where I take up my position, I have the delightful impression of occupying a sort of imperial box, from which I can master all that happens… I am not obliged to dance in order to sustain a living relationship with this site. Alone, or at least somewhat apart, I can ‘dream.’” To anyone who can recall the glory days of Disco in the USA — which is to say before Studio 54 celebrified and, therefore, ruined everything, it’s easy to see what Barthes is talking about. The rise of disco was inextricably tied to the post-Stonewall period of what was once called Gay Liberation. One of the first things the Gay Activists Alliance did when it purchased its Firehouse headquarters on Wooster Street was to have dances every Saturday night. It was a recruitment tool, but also a reminder of how far we’d come. For prior to Stonewall, merely standing still was | June 26 - July 09, 2014

Paris’ Le Palace in the late 1970s.

Ellen makes a point of dancing at the top of each and every one of her afternoon talk shows. She does so “alone,” so to speak. fraught with peril for gay people. I was reminded of this by a scene toward the close of “Love is Strange” — Ira Sachs’ marvelous romantic comedy-drama about a gay couple (perfectly played by John Lithgow and Alfred Molina) who after being together for nearly 40 years take advantage of the change in the law and get married — setting a whole series of comi-tragic complications in motion. In a scene toward the film’s last quarter, our heroes find themselves having a drink at Julius’, arguably New York’s most revered gay bar, recalling a moment when it was less than revered. They were friends with participants in the Sip-in, a protest that made Julius’ (in)famous when on April 21, 1966 Mattachine Society president Dick Leitsch, John T immons, and Craig Rodwell entered the bar, announced that they were

homosexuals, and asked to be served. They were, not surprisingly, refused since the State Liquor Authority had a regulation against any establishment serving “known degenerates” and would have the police close it were it known to do so. Needless to say clandestine gay bars flourished in the city under the management of organized crime and were disturbed only when the payof f to the NYPD didn’t come through on time or was insuf ficient. Mattachine chose Julius’ because it had a sign in the window stating, “This is a raided premises,” indicating the cops had shut it down before for serving gays. Julius’ had a rather ingenious solution to the prohibition on overt homosexual conduct: a very large mirror hung at an angle over the bar. Patrons could look into it and signal their interest to the party-ofthe-second-part. In order to “seal the deal,” however, they had to exit the premises where they could complete their “hook up.” Back in those days, the streets were a lot more copasetic than any bar. Those cruising the West Village’s byways had no fear that the returned glances of a comely stranger posed any threat. We were all there for the same reason, no

“mistake” being possible. “Socializing” indoors, however, was another matter. One of the reasons Judy Garland was such an imposing Gay Icon had to do with the fact that her concerts were one of the few places gays and lesbians could congregate to casually chat in full public view. “Lily Law” wasn’t about to raid the Palace (in New York, bien sûr) and pick the gay concertgoers out of the straight ones to harass. But we couldn’t dance at the Palace. For that, the club was required, which was why the Stonewall Inn — Mafia-run and unsanitary as all get-out — was favored by some for the jukebox it had in the back room and the small space it offered for dancing. In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the place was raided — and the customers fought back. Their fury was perchance spurred by the fact that early that day Judy Garland had been laid to rest. (The fastidious have pooh-poohed this notion, but I tend to believe it.) In any event, nothing was the same afterwards. For Stonewall was not simply a political protest — it was an act of physical violence against the heterosexual status quo. They didn’t see it coming — and no one gay or straight saw what would be coming over the next 45 years. True, you can still get fired in 29 states for your sexual orientation — and in 32 states for your gender identity or expression — but in prime sophisticated urban climes this is not the case. Culturally, the “closet” has collapsed and “openly gay” personalities like Jim Parsons, Neil Patrick Harris, and Ellen (no last name needed) are universally admired. Ellen makes a point of dancing at the top of each and every one of her afternoon talk shows. She does so “alone,” so to speak. For though it’s clear that her audience is dancing along with her, her turns bring to mind the “line dancing” viewed as permissible on Fire Island in the pre-Stonewall era because partners never faced one another. Not surprisingly, that continued for some time afterwards at discos like the Loft and Flamingo. Who could resist the charms of doing the Madison”? Indeed, who could resist danc-

NEW YORKER IN LA, continued on p.44

PERSPECTIVE: Media Circus

Good Men Are Easier to Find

Gayer than Logo

BY ED SIKOV

hen Flannery O’Connor wrote her sublimely perverse short story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” in the mid-1950s, she was correct: decent men were scarce. Her story ends with a man plugging an old woman full of lead and remarking, “She would of been a good woman, if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” A real charmer. O’Connor’s Misfit might be extreme in his misogyny, but only by degree. American culture is rife with examples of the irrational but learned contempt for women that men carry with them from childhood to senility. Watching Billy Wilder’s classic comedy-melodrama “The Apartment” with a group of New York City high school students some years ago, I was horrified by the crowd’s response to the scene in which a doctor slaps a heavily drugged and suicidal Shirley MacLaine in the face to snap her back to consciousness. They laughed. Uproariously. What fun to see the guy smack the bitch across her face! I had thought we’d moved beyond that sort of crude and violent sexism, but in fact it had gotten demonstrably worse since 1960, when the film was released. Back then, such glee would have been considered barbaric. But things may be improving. One sign of this progress is the website The Good Men Project (goodmenproject.com). Devoted to what the site calls “the conversation no one else is having,” the Project provides entertaining stories and advice columns in a fully integrated manner, which is to say that straight men and gay men are all in it together and that many of the writers are women. Some stories are sexual orientation-neutral: “10 Things Your Massage Therapist Wants You to Know” makes no assumptions about what type of man is reading it (unlike certain men’s magazines that go out of their way to de-gay their content — are you listening, Men’s Health?).

Like most articles on The Good Men Project, the author’s advice is practical, direct, and designed to relieve men’s multifarious anxieties.

“Bodily functions happen,” the female author declares. “If things are going well in the massage and you are fully relaxing, guess what? It improves your digestion. Your stomach might get noisy and you might fart. It’s a good thing.” Is there anyone who hasn’t worried about that? Take it from me: it’s tough to relax if you’re desperately clenching your butt cheeks. Also of personal concer n to me is, “There is no right or wrong amount of body hair. We aren’t shocked by it. We aren’t grossed out by it. It really is all good, regardless of how you’ve decided to groom it (or not).” I’ve often wondered if my masseurs are appalled by my manly and extensive fur. Like most articles on The Good Men Project, the author’s advice is practical, direct, and designed to relieve men’s multifarious anxieties — worries that really do lead to tension between sexes and genders as well as within them. I was especially taken by “A Straight Man’s Reasons for Loving Gay Bars”: “Whenever I leave New York City, when I find myself in smaller towns, I like to drink in gay bars.” Okay, I admit it: my initial response was, “Oh, honey, please!,” followed by a lengthy mental roster of all the gay sexual delights the writer clearly needed to try. But he quickly convinced me he wasn’t putting one over on himself: “Most every gay has had to fight intolerance growing up. Especially those in rural or religious areas of the country. They understand the pain of life and have often

moved beyond it. They don’t forget it though. Consequently they are some of the least judgmental people I have met. Well, except when it comes to what others wear.” Funny! He sounds like someone I’d like to meet. Bet I could turn him… Nah. I was skeptical of “Misogyny Hurts Men, Too” — until I read it. The writer, Noah Berlatsky, begins with the story of an eighth-grade boy who wore eye make-up and lipstick to school one day along with an anarchist T-shirt. The kid was clearly a young provocateur, and his visual stink bomb worked: the principal promptly informed him that he was in violation of the school’s dress code, despite the fact that girls were permitted to wear exactly the same make-up. Berlatsky’s point is that misogyny isn’t just men’s hatred of women; it’s everyone’s hatred of all things feminine. He goes on to tell of a women’s music festival that embraces transmen but rejects transwomen. Apparently the adoption of masculinity by a born-biological woman is fine as far as the festival’s organizers are concerned, while the opposite — a born-biological man taking on the characteristics of femininity — is unacceptable. By the end, Berlatsky won me over. His essay wasn’t at all the “poor men” whine-fest I’d feared. My pal the poet Charlie Bondhus edits the Poetry section. That the Good Men Project even has a poetry section is impressive. The site simply assumes that good men read poetry. Can’t get much more progressive than that.

We all know and love the great Rachel Maddow, Rhodes scholar, political wit, sometime snark purveyor, absolutely lesbian host of the MSNBC show that bears her name. Less familiar, except to those of us who are smitten with them, are that channel’s two out gay men, Steve Kornacki and Josh Barro. Kornacki is the host of MSNBC’s weekend morning show, “Up with Steve Kornacki,” the title of which sparks prurient thoughts about which the squeaky clean Steve would surely be mortified. Barro is a frequent contributor to “The Cycle” (he often subs for the mind-bogglingly hot, tragically straight Ari Melber) and to other MSNBC shows. Barro also recently began writing for the New York Times’ online offering “The Upshot.” Both men are, as they used to say about respectable African Americans, a credit to their kind. They’re phenomenally smart. Kornacki knows seemingly every detail of American political history; he calls up facts with lightning speed on camera, where even seasoned on-air anchors and reporters sometimes get flustered when forced to ad lib. Barro is an expert on economics, both practical and theoretical, and despite his reedy voice, he’ll probably have his own show sometime in the future. He used to be a real estate banker before he gave up usury for journalism, and he not only understands the way politics and economics work in tandem but excels at explaining complex ideas in clear, everyday language. I’m a big fan of these guys, and I’d hoped to feature interviews with them in this Pride issue. Unfortunately, neither of them (nor MSNBC’s press office) dignified my respectful and polite requests with even a brief reply; they couldn’t even be bothered to fob off on some hapless summer intern the task of sending a short “thanks but no thanks” note. I wish Kornacki, Barro, and MSNBC didn’t feel so high and mighty and dismissive of me, not to mention you. It’s most unlovely and really quite rude. Follow @edsikov on Twitter.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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PERSPECTIVE: South Bronx Diary

Pride? Yes! But with a Pinch of Prudence BY SAM OGLESBY

LYNAS

arly Memorial Day morning, really early, while the city is still at rest with nary a bird warbling, my partner and I stumble sleepily to the subway. The streets are silent and wet from a passing shower, the air is Aspen-fresh, and it’s all I can do to suppress a Rodgers and Hammerstein outburst declaring to the world that it is good to be alive. We head to the A train and Far Rockaway where we have been invited by a lady friend to spend the day at her mansion by the sea. Food, drink, music, friendly people, and a splash in the salty surf are on the menu. The day goes by in a flash as happens when you’re having a good time. Twelve hours later, tired and happy, we reach our stoop back in the South Bronx, agreeing that the day had indeed been fabulous. Our friend, without a doubt, is the hostess with the mostest. We dined, drank, laughed, sang, danced, and even had time for serious, meaningful conversation with a fascinating group of people from the four corners of the globe. We especially liked one couple, a pair of husbands in their 30s who had just become the proud fathers of twin girls, tiny 10-month-olds just struggling to find their feet and walk. The miracle of modern medical science had given this couple two beauties: one little girl had dark African features resembling her Ethiopian biological father, the other was a blonde little Swede who took after her Nordic biological dad. The two dads before us. Even though Memorial Day had a specific theme to observe — remembrance of fallen heroes who had defended our shores — I somehow felt, after that precious time by the sea with those wonderful people, that I wanted to turn the day into a celebration of life and all the good things it had brought to us, to everybody, gay people and straight. For those few hours, I really felt the whole world was one.

But reality does have a way of tapping on your shoulder and saying, “No, no, no, it’s not really like that!” Reality in this case was entering our street, a working-class block in the South Bronx and experiencing the volte-face that occurs as we head down the street to our house. Typically a friendly, rather noisy neighborhood with a strong stoop culture where neighbors hang out together, laughing and talking, sharing news and gossip, the block suddenly becomes stony silent as we near our stoop. As is their custom, most of the neighbors actually turn their backs to us, one of the signs of ultimate insult, several muttering, “llegan los maricones” (“here come the queers”). It had not always been like this, this freeze that we now receive on a daily basis. When we first arrived on the block 16 years earlier, it was all friendly smiles and hand shakes. I was truly touched by the neighborly hospitality and warmth we received back then, a far cry from the rather cold social chemistry that characterized our old area in Manhattan, where a woman in our building’s elevator once accused me of “over-sharing”

when I started a conversation on our long ascent to the 20th floor. But the South Bronx honeymoon did not last. After a month or so, the greetings and smiles became less frequent and enthusiastic as the neighbors put two and two together and figured out that two older guys living together in a big Victorian house must be gay. Then one day, their greetings stopped all together; almost nobody spoke to us anymore. Not a person to be ignored or put down easily, I decided not to be deterred by what was obviously hostile behavior. I continued to say good morning and buenos días, until one day I realized I was talking to myself, so I stopped. And this cold shoulder was not the worst treatment I would experience. Some months ago, in what seemed to me to be a routine discussion with my neighbor about parking my car in a space she normally used, I suddenly and inexplicably found myself the object of an angry, homophobic onslaught that culminated with, “You motherfuckin’ homo….!” My partner and I constantly discuss this problem of bad vibes on our block and we are undecided about what we should do. Some

days we think we should sell and move. But move where? Is running away from a problem the solution? Will it be any better in another location? Besides, we love our stately brownstone and the lovely backyard garden and could never, in 2014, find another affordable place that approaches the beauty and quality of our historically landmarked Fawlty Towers. Why should we let a bunch of narrow-minded know-nothings drive us away ? Needless to say, we have become rather thick-skinned and have learned to suffer the slings and arrows of meanness that are thrown our way even in current-day New York City. Some years ago, I was fired from a job because I was gay. It was a position I had worked for all of my life — the career I had cherished and dreamed of having and excelled at once I was in the job. I did not accept defeat, but instead, after a year in emotional and professional purgatory, bounced back and somehow managed to find an even better job. But wouldn’t you know it, after years of advancing professionally and gaining praise for my work in this new job, I ended up one fine day with a homophobic supervisor who tried to get me fired again? And this was at the United Nations, an organization that trumpets its embrace of human rights, its walls plastered with posters proclaiming “Year of the…!” Lesson learned: even in the most politically correct of work environments, if you have the bad luck to end up in the wood pile with a queer -hating boss, you’re done for. Luckily in this case, a knight in shining armor in the form of a new boss appeared on the scene, liked me, respected my work, and brought me back in out of the cold. But the experience taught me a valuable lesson: gay people have to be extra cautious in almost everything they do. It’s not enough to work hard and please people, you have to cultivate a support group as a double insurance that you can keep your job as you deserve to do. “Watch your back !” is a good motto for all of us to follow. And that’s why my partner of 33 years and I are not getting married… not just yet and maybe not

PRIDE/ PRUDENCE, continued on p.45

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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PERSPECTIVE: Snide Lines

Barbie’s Gay Pride Shocker! BY SUSIE DAY

et out! Get out of here and never come back!” shrieked an enraged Barbie, as she hurled a tiny bedroom slipper in my direction. The dainty missile careened off an itty-bitty bust of Ken, then shattered the frame that held a photo of Barbie’s best friend, Midge. “Take your Gay Pride and shove it!” Barbie’s entire Malibu Dreamhouse shook and threatened to cave in on itself as the diminutive lass slammed my nose in the door. This doll was mad, but I couldn’t help it; I was just doing my job. Me? I’m a crackerjack reporter for Gay City News. My editor had just given me “one more chance” to turn in a story on Gay Pride that was “upbeat” and “gay-positive,” and not “another of your infernal, politically correct diatribes against the US corporate war machine.” My assignment: To come up with a breezy, vapid piece of queer-friendly consumerist claptrap hawking Gay Pride, in 45 minutes, or be fired. I had to work fast — no matter how many hearts I broke. I was in a dither. Then I remembered Barbie and her Malibu Dreamhouse. I had purchased the set — $156.98 at Toys R Us — as a present for a campy, shopaholic gay male friend (if I ever found one). I took Barbie and her Dreamhouse out of my closet. Maybe, I thought, the pert little minx could provide an upbeat, gay-positive perspective. Leering journalistically into her upstairs bedroom, I peeped Barbie at her dressing table. There she sat in a negligee, quaffing a wee can of Diet Coke. WAIT — isn’t Diet Coke a “Platinum” sponsor of New York City’s Heritage of Pride? WOW! Whatta scoop! “Hey, doll!,” I called, inserting my nose-fornews through her window. “Since you obviously

NEW YORKER IN LA, from p.37

ing of any sort, no matter what the risk? Certainly not Frank O’Hara, who celebrates a long gone Mafiarun speakeasy in a poem entitled “At The Old Place” — written in 1955 but not discovered until 1969 — the very year of Stonewall: Joe is restless and so am I, so restless. Button’s buddy lips frame “L B T TH O P?” across the bar. “Yes!” I cry,

don’t need to lose weight, you must be drinking Diet Coke to support Gay Pride, right? My, your Dreamhouse is so pink — isn’t that an upbeat, gay-positive color? Here, let me fix your strap for you…” In a playful response to my barrage of hard-hitting questions, Barbie tried to stab my finger with her cuticle scissors. Then she said something that was shockingly non-upbeat. “Don’t you know the Coke Company is bankrolling Gay Pride so the LGBT community will forget last winter, when Coke sponsored the Olympic Games in Sochi?” Barbie asked, taking a large swig of the brown bubbly. “Coke said absolutely nothing about Russia’s gay propaganda law. Nothing about queers threatened with prison or having their children taken away —” “Whoa there, honey,” I countered. “This story will never trend online if you’re such a Gloomy Gus. Look on the bright side — Corporate America doesn’t hate us anymore! Things Go Better With Queers!” Barbie stifled a belch. “Fine, have your Pride,” she said resignedly. “Just know that your so-called sexual orientation now depends for its validation on another planet-destroying multinational. The Coke Company expropriates drinking water in India and kills union leaders in Colombia. And don’t get me started on some of those other Pride sponsors. Wells Fargo: Major financial supporter of US immigration detention centers. TD Bank: More than $15 billion invested in the Alberta tar sands project. HSBC: Ginormous fines for laundering drug cartel money…” This reporter was beginning to get a whole new sense of why Barbie might like pink so much. But I couldn’t let her Marxist rhetoric poison my upbeat, gay-positive journalism with hideous, hideous facts. “If the Coca-Cola Company and other major corporate entities want to recognize queer people as human,” I rebutted adroitly, “then I think we should return the favor and regard these corpo-

for dancing’s my soul delight. (Feet! Feet!) “Come on!” Through the streets we skip like swallows. Howard malingers. (Come on, Howard.) Ashes malingers. (Come on, J.A.) Dick malingers. (Come on, Dick.) Alvin darts ahead. (Wait up, Alvin.) Jack, Earl, and Someone don’t come.

rations as people — maybe even queer people. In fact, I have every reason to believe that Wells Fargo is gay. I am, therefore, proud to identify with Wells Fargo, and not a bunch of heterosexual detainees. In fact, I suspect that any corporate or human entity with a net worth of at least $65 billion is probably gay. Bill Gates, $78 billion: gay. Vladimir Putin, $70 billion: gay. Betty Crocker does it with Sara Lee. Trump Tower is hot for the Chrysler Building.” I began humming and snapping my fingers. “Come on, Barbie, sing it with me! ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’ …” Barbie only stared vacantly into the bleak, aluminum opening of her Coke can. “I’m drinking this bilge in hopes that the aspartame will kill me,” she said hollowly. “It’s useless.” “Oh Barbie,” I started to say, “nothing’s useless in an upbeat story about Gay Pride —” But she cut me off. “You see, I’m in love. Deeply in love with Chelsea Manning.” This reporter tried to wrap this reporter’s mind around Barbie’s shocking confession. Chelsea Manning — really? Chelsea Manning who, as 23-year-old Army private Bradley Manning, gave classified data to the whistleblower website Wikileaks, stunning the world with over 700,000 instances of heretofore unknown US diplomatic malfeasance and war crimes? Chelsea Manning who, facing a 35-year sentence in the brutal hopelessness of prison, dares to transition from male to female? What did Chelsea Manning have to do with Gay Pride? Obviously, nothing. So I asked the only question that I, as an upbeat, gay-positive reporter, could think of. “Gee, Barbie — does this mean you’re a lesbian?” That’s when the commie dyke kicked me out. Fair enough, I thought: Plastic is as plastic does. Besides, I had only three minutes until my deadline, and no time to care. So I kicked Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse back into my closet, slammed the door, and ended this piece.

Down the dark stairs drifts the steaming chacha-cha. Through the urine and smoke we charge to the floor. Wrapped in Ashes’ arms I glide. (It’s heaven!) Button lindys with me. (It’s heaven!) Joe’s two-steps, too, are incredible, and then a fast rhumba with Alvin, like skipping on toothpicks. And the interminable intermissions,

we have them. Jack, Earl and Someone drift guiltily in. “I knew they were gay the minute I laid eyes on them!” screams John. How ashamed they are of us! we hope. O’Hara, happily ensconced at the Museum of Moder n Art — beginning in the card shop and

NEW YORKER IN LA, continued on p.45

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

quickly moving his way up the ladder to curator — led a remarkably free and easy gay life amid the painters and poets of the postwar New York scene. His output was voluminous. A “Complete Poems” was soon followed by a volume of “Poems Retrieved” as he left verses all over the place. Perhaps there’s more to come. I certainly hope so. Frank O’Hara (who once said of a lover, “You were made in the image of god / I was not / I was made in the image of a sissy truck-driver” — died on July 25, 1966 of internal injuries from an accident two days before on Fire Island, where he had been run over by a dune buggy in

PRIDE/ PRUDENCE, from p.42

for some years to come. There is nothing we would want more than to be joined officially, for the world to know that we are the loving couple we are. And our tax accountant tells us there are distinct financial advantages to being married. So what’s the problem, you may ask ? The problem is my partner’s job. He is well respected and liked by his colleagues and is rising in the organization as he deserves to do. But he is also in the closet and chooses to stay there for good reason. And that is because a significant number of senior management in his firm are homophobic. Not formally, mind you, but anti-gay without question. Little remarks and anti-queer jokes suddenly pop up when the level of oldboy intimacy spikes during office happy hour. So sometime we have to make a choice: out and proud or staying employed. Since we have a big mortgage to pay off, for now the choice is not difficult. Trawling the dictionary I came upon some interesting definitions for PRIDE: 1-justifiable self-respect; 2-inordinate self-esteem bordering on conceit; 3-delight or elation arising from some act or relationship; 4-proud or disdainful behavior; 5-ostentatious display; 6-a company of lions; and 7-exultant. And here is something to contemplate: pride (or hubris) is considered the original and most serious of the Seven Deadly Sins. | June 26 - July 09, 2014

the wee smalls. An irony, then, that in January of 1980, Roland Barthes was knocked down by a laundry van while walking home through the streets of Paris. Barely more than a month later, he succumbed to the chest injuries sustained in that accident. Barthes didn’t much care for gay politics, despite the world it had created for him. As for O’Hara, as noted by Stuart Byron in Marjorie Perloff’s “Frank O’Hara: Poet Among the Painters,” “What would Frank have thought of gay liberation?,’ I asked John Button. ‘Oh, he would have thought it was silly,’ came the reply, ‘but he would have loved the dances.’”

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NEW YORKER IN LA, from p.44

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There were also some useful entries for PRUDENCE: 1-the ability to govern oneself by use of reason; 2-sagacity or shrewdness in management of affairs; 3-good judgment in the use of resources; and 4-caution or circumspection as to danger or risk. So let us celebrate Gay Pride in a loud, clear, and joyous way, taking satisfaction in the unbelievable progress that has been made in recent years to make our lives more decent and equal. But let us also not forget to be wise and think before we act, knowing that the

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Sam Oglesby, a journalist and author of four books, most recently “Wordswarm,” won the 2013 New York Press Association Award for Best Feature article. Written for Gay City News, the piece is available online at tinyurl.com/o4c94mh.

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PERSPECTIVE: Community Portraitist

Are Gay Neighborhoods An Endangered Species?

BY AMIN GHAZIANI

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS

n behalf of the National Park Service, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell recently announced plans for an unprecedented study of LGBT history, one that aims to “identify places and events associated with the civil rights struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and ensure that the agency is telling a complete story of America’s heritage and history.” This is not the first attempt to recognize the “places and events” that are important to the modern movement. Jewell made her announcement at the Stonewall Inn, after all, a site designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2000. Similar commemorations exist in many cities. In Washington, DC, locals can stroll down Frank Kameny Way, named in honor of one of the most significant figures of the movement, while activists in San Diego succeeded in renaming Blaine Avenue, a two-block street in Hillcrest, as the nation’s first Harvey Milk Street. These places and events share a geographic DNA. Chelsea in New York, Midtown in Atlanta, Boston’s South End, Boystown in Chicago, Houston’s Montrose, Hillcrest in San Diego, and the Castro in San Francisco: these are the sites of traditional gay neighborhoods — or “gayborhoods,” as many residents affectionately call them. Gayborhoods are the very places “associated with the civil rights struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans” — and yet, it is difficult to avoid the irony that efforts to formally recognize such sites are occurring at a time when there are aggravated anxieties that gayborhoods are disappearing. The New York Times best captured this angst on its front page: “Gay Enclaves Face Prospect of Being Passé” — but similar tensions are also simmering in San Francisco, where the GLBT Historical Society of Northern California kicked off a recent urban planning series with the urgent question, “Are Gay Neighborhoods Worth Saving?” All neighborhoods change, of course, and gayborhoods are no exception to this most basic insight of urban life. These areas look and feel different today because contemporary society barely resembles the postwar years when gayborhoods first formed. Same-sex households are moving out, while a steady stream of straight newcomers are arriving. Gay businesses like Oscar Wilde bookshop in New York or Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia have closed, in 2009 and 2014, respectively. This isn’t merely a function of gentrification. It is also because LGBT people, in greater numbers than ever

Assimilation is broadening the residential imagination of many people beyond the singular streets of a gayborhood.

before, are living their lives outside the boundaries of just one neighborhood in the city. Demographers express the extent to which groups of people like gays and straights are segregated through what they call an “index of dissimilarity.” This is a statistic that represents the proportion of a minority group within a census tract that would need to be replaced by a member of the majority in order to reflect the composition of the city overall in terms of sexual orientation. When we run the numbers, we see that zip codes associated with traditional gay neighborhoods are “de-concentrating,” to borrow a word from demographers. More specifically, in comparing the 100 most populous places in the US during the 2000 census with how those same places looked in the 2010 collection, average segregation scores for male same-sex partner households decreased by 8.1 percent and a whopping 13.6 percent for female same-sex partners. When we zoom out even further, we

see that both male and female same-sex partner households collectively reside in 93 percent of all counties of the country. As I was researching the alleged demise of gayborhoods, I heard two major reasons why LGBT people these days tend to think outside the gayborhood box. First, assimilation is broadening the residential imagination of many people beyond the singular streets of a gayborhood to the city that surrounds it. “The entire Island of Manhattan’s gay,” one gay man said. Another added: “New York is really spread out. All the gays are really spread out. You go in different areas, and you’re going to see a lot of straight people, and you’ll see gay people, too. It’s really mixed.” Second, many LGBT people today feel culturally similar to their straight neighbors. “No one gives a good goddamn if you are gay or straight,” one realtor said almost dismissively. I was surprised, in fact, by how many people simply shrugged their shoulders when I asked about sexual orientation. Who cares if you’re gay? And who cares if you’re straight? “There is a portion of our community that wants to be separatist, to have a queer culture, but most of us want to be treated like everyone is,” Dick Dadey, then the executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, said back in the 1990s. “We want to be the neighbors next door, not the lesbian or gay couple next door.” I’m still not convinced that this is the time or place for us to sing a requiem for the gayborhood. In fact, I think it’s dangerous to think in such a binary way — that gayborhoods either matter or are now passé. Wondering whether gayborhoods are worth saving misses the bigger picture. Just because sexual minorities can comfortably live virtually anywhere doesn’t mean that gay neighborhoods are a relic of the past or that all LGBT people want to live side-by-side with heterosexuals all the time. The rapid rate at which sexual minorities are blending into American society represents the most impressive civil rights triumph of our generation. Activists have influenced remarkable social changes in recent years, including the elimination of a section of the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8 by the Supreme Court in 2013, as well as 22 consecutive pro-equality court decisions in the 11 months since the Hollingsworth v. Perry decision (which allowed same-sex marriages to resume in California) and the United States v. Windsor decision (which ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment). Granting all this, we still need gayborhoods because they allow diverse communities of LGBT people to flourish in ways that we cannot when we simply merge into the mainstream. There are numerous benefits that gay dis-

GAYBORHOODS, continued on p.57

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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HOL Since the 1969 Greenwich Village rebellion that shook the world, the legal status of LGBT Americans has shifted dramatically. In the immediate aftermath, cities and counties across the nation began enacting basic nondiscrimination ordinances, though there were occasional waves of backlash. After Anita Bryant, a popular gospel singer and orange grower industry spokeswoman, led a successful referendum effort to repeal the gay rights law in Dade County, Florida, similar voter rollbacks occurred in St. Paul, Minnesota, Wichita, Kansas, and Eugene, Oregon. Wisconsin, in 1982, became the first state to adopt a sexual orientation nondiscrimination law, though it did not apply to gender identity and expression and no amendment to broaden the law in that way has ever been adopted by the State Legislature there. Of the 21 states that ban sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, only Wisconsin, New York, and New Hampshire fail to also provide transgender civil rights protections. A total of 29 states offer no protections for the LGBT community from discrimination in private sector employment, housing, and public accommodations, though 11 of those states do have laws or administrative policies barring discrimination in government employment. Even where statewide protections have not been established, the LGBT community is having success in winning anti-bias ordinances at the local level. Sodomy and same-sex behavior generally was illegal — a felony, in fact — in every state until Illinois repealed its ban in 1962. No other state followed suit until after Stonewall. In 1986, the US Supreme Court upheld the Georgia sodomy law, writing that “to claim that a right to engage in such conduct is ‘deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition’ or ‘implicit in the concept of ordered liberty’ is, at best, facetious.” Seventeen years later, the high court reversed itself, finding that the 1986 decision was “wrong when it was decided.” The ruling in Lawrence v. Texas struck down sodomy laws that remained in 14 states. Though a marriage challenge by a Minnesota gay couple reached the US Supreme Court as early as 1972 — the high court declining to hear the case, finding no “substantial federal question” was at stake — the marriage equality movement first gained legal traction in Hawaii in the mid-

1990s. The reaction by that state’s voters stopped the momentum in its tracks, though Hawaii did adopt the first statewide domestic partnership law in 1998. The Hawaii litigation also triggered the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, which barred federal recognition of legal same-sex marriages until the Supreme Court threw out that prohibition last year. In the final days of 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court reignited the marriage question by ordering the state to grant same-sex couples all the rights and benefits of marriage, even if not the name. The result was the 2000 civil union law there, the nation’s first. In November 2003, the high court in Massachusetts ordered full marriage equality, which despite an uproar in the State Legislature began in May 2004. Today, same-sex couples can marry in 19 states and the District of Columbia, with civil union or domestic partnership laws in effect in three others. Federal or, in the case of Arkansas, state court rulings have struck down part or all of the prohibitions on same-sex marriage and/ or recognition of out-of-state marriages in 11 states, where appeals are underway. Challenges to marriage bans have been filed in every other state. Looking at five areas of the law — marriage, employment, hate crimes, and school bullying protections, and adoption rights — comprehensive civil rights for the entire LGBT community exist in only 10 states, plus the District of Columbia: Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, California, Oregon, and Washington State. Mississippi fails in every category, including imposing barriers to adoption by same-sex couples. Had a federal court not struck down the marriage ban in Utah, a ruling now under appeal, that state would rank with Mississippi. The picture in eight other states — West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, and Wyoming — is nearly as grim, though adoption by same-sex couples in those states is not explicitly forbidden. The legal picture regarding adoption in those states, however, is uncertain. The situation in Oklahoma looks somewhat better than the others, since the marriage ban there has been struck down by a federal court, in a ruling under appeal. — Paul Schindler

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

LD ON TO THE SPIRIT

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

PERSPECTIVE: Caring For Myself

Thought I Needed a Gay Doctor, But What I Needed Was Respect BY CHRISTOPHER LEO DANIELS

was a lucky kid: no broken bones, sprains, or cuts that needed stitches. So completely unaccustomed to hospitals and doctors, I took for granted that I could coast on good genes, good habits, and good luck. But as a kid, my healthcare was completely covered by my parents or the jobs I had in my 20s — that is, until I became 30, moved to New York, and became a freelancer, with no insurance. That was 20 years ago. So, here I was, coasting again — this time with no backup. I was busy working, building dreams, paying rent, finding love, and all things a young gay man in New York does. Health insurance and doctors took a back seat to other priorities, like the

gym. It was only scary when I really thought about it, so I really didn’t think about it. It was a precarious game, and at any moment my fate could have changed. But hitting the gym and getting STD screenings did not represent comprehensive health care. In my 30s, I could pretend it was enough. New York City offers free STD screenings and treatments, and shots for flu, tetanus, and even hepatitis. Then there was the prostate exam. We LGBT folks experience misunderstanding, judgment, or disrespect, both mild and overt, and learn to maneuver around it just to get through the next 10 minutes of our lives. Without getting too graphic, 10 years ago during an STD screening, while getting a digital (finger) prostate exam, I expressed to the doctor that he was

being rough. Instead of empathy or a gentler touch, the physician told me that since I was gay, I should have no problem with how he was doing the exam. His words weren’t so polite. Not only was I feeling violated, but it was implied that I should’ve been enjoying it. Ouch. That was my last prostate exam — until this year. In 2014, I stopped coasting. The Affordable Care Act forced my hand. I always wanted health insurance, but now it was affordable. So after signing up for the MetroPlus health insurance plan, I immediately felt a huge weight had been lifted that I’d forgotten was even there. I was energized and excited to take my healthcare seriously. After all, my parents are in their mid-80s now — one with hypertension, the other with early Alzheimer’s — so the writing’s on the wall. Nobody gets

out alive, and almost nobody is in perfect health right up to the end. I was ready to pick a primary doctor again, after 20 years. I then discovered that the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) was opening a Comprehensive LGBT Health Center at Metropolitan Hospital. Perfect! “I could get a gay doctor,” I thought. It didn’t matter that it was a new health center or that it was across town. What mattered was that I

DANIELS, continued on p.53

PERSPECTIVE: A Dyke Abroad

My Own Dyke Amnesia BY KELLY COGSWELL

admit it. Sometimes when the Dyke March rolls around again, and the committee starts asking the community for themes, I can’t remember a single lesbian issue. As if we don’t have any, and should cede our place to gay men, bi and trans folks, not to mention straight women. And it’s true, our practical concerns exist at a peculiar intersection of misogyny, homophobia, and gender. Like other females, lesbians know what it’s like to get harassed by men on the street, face the demands for smiles, the anger when we refuse. Lesbians, though, often get an extra level of fury because when we refuse to go out with some asshole, talk to him, or grin, we’re seen as rejecting not just him, but his whole category. This is what leads to systematic

waves of “corrective” rape. And if we decide to fight back, if we happen to be dykes of color, maybe working class, well, that doesn’t work out so well either. In her new documentary film, “Out in the Night,” blair dorosh-walther describes how a group of African-American dykes were demonized when they responded with their own violence to an assault — by a black man — in New York’s West Village. The press called them a “Lesbian Wolf Pack.” The prosecutors were worse, and four of the group got huge sentences. If they’d been guys fighting back, maybe it would have been laughed off as one more testosterone-laden encounter since the “victim” didn’t die. If they’d been straight women, white, a little further up the social pecking order, maybe they’d even have been applauded as brave. You want to talk class? Sure, lesbians are right there as well. As

women, we already get less for the same work. But things get even more complicated if we come out. If we don’t like being too femme. I struggled getting temp jobs because I couldn’t stand all the baggage of nylons and heels and how wearing those things signals a certain female availability, brings more unwanted attention that drives me nuts. Don’t even get me started on health care or the horror of finding a new gynecologist. I dread their questions about sexual activity and birth control. More than once my answers to female GYNs have earned me looks of disgust, transformed me into a repulsive creature they could barely stand to touch. They seemed to believe the mere sight of a woman turned me on and never considered that the opposite might be the case, especially when she’s holding a speculum.

Male GYNs can be as bad — the prurient questions, oh really? But the worst ever was this lesbian GYN who’d gotten caught up in the movement to uncover repressed abuse. She spent the whole exam trying to convince me I’d been screwed as a child. One of the few things I actually escaped. Yeah, good times at the GYN. No wonder most dykes would rather die of whatever than step inside a doctor’s office. I could go on detailing our marginalization by gay men, custody battles with ex-husbands, the violence, the battle for our souls, but let me return to my own amnesia, wondering how I could possibly forget these things which are not small or insignificant. There’s no mystery, really, just the ongoing issue of invisibility. We don’t exist enough as a category to even have our own problems. They all seem individual. Or can be assigned elsewhere. In 2014, we still have no real social presence, no power, no weight, no human-

COGSWELL, continued on p.53

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

DANIELS, from p.52

never wanted to feel the way I did during that prostate exam, 10 years ago — ever. Here I am a few months later, catching up on 20 years of checkups, and with the specially trained LGBT health center team, I’m free to discuss my most intimate concerns. The nurses are not just helpful but downright welcoming. My insurance kicked in a few weeks into my visits, but I was assured that whatever the situation, they were ready to work with me. I finally found a medical home. I also realize that I didn’t need a “gay doctor” any more than a threeyear-old needs a three year-old doctor. A three-year-old needs a doctor who’s skilled at working with and understanding three-year-olds. I needed respect, and I’m receiving it. I also need a doctor who’s going to ask me the right kinds of questions, and one whom I can ask questions in return. I am now a collaborator in my own healthcare. Apparently, I was walking around with hyper-

tension. Well, not anymore, because it’s under control. Luck is a wonderful thing — if you’re lucky, and I was for a very long time. But even I realized that luck can run out. I urge every one of us in the LGBT community to demand more respect and to respect ourselves. I finally respected myself enough to take my healthcare seriously as should you. My colonoscopy is scheduled for later this month. I’m 50. It’s that time. Wish me luck. Christopher Leo Daniels is a freelance cinematographer living in Washington Heights. HHC’s Metropolitan Hospital Comprehensive LGBT Health Center (nyc.gov/hhc/ metropolitanhospital), where he has been receiving care, is located at 1901 First Avenue at 97th Street, fourth floor. It is open Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only. To schedule an appointment or speak with a member of the LGBT Health Center staff, patients and families can contact 212-4237292 or metlgbt@nychhc.org.

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COGSWELL, from p.52

ity. Hell, 20 years after the Lesbian Avengers, we dykes can barely bring ourselves to use the word lesbian. C’mon. Say it out loud. Lesbian. The word commonly understood to indicate female types who are into other female types and may span a variety of gender expressions from butch to femme to genderqueer, including people like me who after a long day in front of the computer are surprised to find they have ar ms and legs, much less the usual girly bits. The world despises us, sneers, and we do little to fight back. Our own worst enemies, we actually attack each other under the false banner of inclusivity. If three or four lesbians decide to gather in | June 26 - July 09, 2014

our own name, a fifth will surely come along and tell us what lowlife, selfish bitches we are for not addressing bi issues or trans stuff, working for women, or even global warming. Even we think we have no right to exist. No value as ourselves alone. Which means lesbian organizing is still as radical and as urgent as ever. I think we should give it another shot. And if anybody dare use the word inclusive, we should turn it into an opportunity to make sure “lesbian” embraces every dyke across all our real and metaphorical geographies. If we don’t take care of each other, who will?

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ALBANY, from p.4

Schaefer and Hoylman were clearly frustrated with the Senate’s failure to move the SOCE measure, both of them having been upbeat about the prospects for victory in a floor vote. “We had a very firm vote count,” Schaefer said. “We were confident that we could win that vote.” ESPA identified three Republican supporters, and Schaefer noted that Long Island Republican Jack Martins’ decision a few days before the end of session to add his name as a co-sponsor was “the first time in recent memory” that an LGBT measure had a GOP co-sponsor. For Hoylman, the leadership’s refusal to give him a vote capped two years of mounting exasperation that he and his Democratic colleagues have with the governing coalition that runs the Senate. Democrats won a majority of the seats in the 2012 election, but a rump faction of five from that party formed the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), which joined the Republicans to put together a majority. “The bottom line is until we change the leadership of the State Senate, New Yorkers can continue to expect forward-thinking bills to stall,” Hoylman said. “Add conversion therapy to the pile of failed progressive initiatives in the Senate, which includes a decent minimum wage, codifying a woman’s right to choose, the DREAM Act, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, and others.” Governor Andrew Cuomo, as part of his agreement with the Working Families Party to garner its endorsement, pledged to help Democrats win a clear majority in November’s elections. That, in turn, has prompted speculation that the IDC might be prepared to rejoin the Democratic ranks. At the same time, fueled by anger at the obstacles he argues the IDC poses for progressive issues, Oliver Koppel — a former member of the City Council and State Assembly who 20 years ago served a brief stint as state attorney general — is mounting a September primary challenge to the conference’s leader, Jeff Klein, who represents portions of the Bronx and Westchester County. Klein’s office did not respond to queries from Gay City News toward the end of the session about the

prospects for movement on the SOCE ban. Schaefer noted that all five IDC members had endorsed both that bill and GENDA, and that all but Klein had signed on as co-sponsors. Two IDC members, Staten Island’s Diane Savino and Tony Avella of Queens, he said, were helpful in the push to win a vote for the SOCE measure. On June 19, the day the Senate was originally scheduled to wind up business, Avella told Gay City News that a vote on the SOCE ban was “definitely possible” before the end of the session and that the bill remained an IDC “priority,” but that “there are a lot of bills in the mix and the more that are in the mix, the more difficult it is.” Unlike Hoylman’s SOCE bill, there was little last-minute drama regarding GENDA, which is sponsored by Lower Manhattan-Downtown Brooklyn Democrat Daniel Squadron. It had long been clear that it would not be moving this year, Schaefer acknowledging the “unfortunate” reality that “some in the Legislature think a community only gets one thing a year.” (He noted, as well, that this year the LGBT community got neither GENDA nor the SOCE ban.) GENDA has had a troubled history in the Senate. The only time it came close to getting a floor vote was 2010, when advocates were confident of victory but were blocked by Republicans from getting the approval needed from the Judiciary Committee. With changes in the Senate’s membership. GENDA’s boosters are less assured they have the floor votes now. “I was worried if it got to the floor, it might not have the votes,” Schaefer acknowledged, “but this is a bill the community has been working on for 12 years and it deserved a vote.” Squadron, who has in the past voiced the same frustrations as Hoylman about the intransigence of the Senate’s coalition leadership, put the bill’s failure in a larger context. “Most people are shocked when they learn transgender New Yorkers don’t enjoy the same basic protections that most of us take for granted, including in housing and at their job,” he said in a written statement. “Over and over again — seven times

ALBANY, continued on p.57

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

GAYBORHOODS, from p.48

tricts, and perhaps only gay districts, provide. It is in these spaces that LGBT people create unique ways of life and expressions of community like annual Pride parades; articulate a distinct political voice; gestate organizations and businesses from bars and bookstores to community centers and nonprofits; find each other for friendship and fellowship; nurture our families (same-sex couples with children tend to live in similar areas of the city); and feel an incomparable sense of safety from hate crimes, discrimination, bigotry, and bias. The more we look, the more we see that gay districts have a hand in nearly every aspect of modern life: from the municipal promotion of urban spaces to city planning and the shaping of real estate values; from the institutional development of LGBT communities to our civic engagement; and from Pride parades to protests and electoral influence. This is why I don’t think gayborhoods are dying – and I’m certainly not the only one. In a June 2013 nationally representative survey of 1,197 LGBT American adults, the Pew Research Center finds “different points of view about how fully they should seek to become integrated into the broader culture.” Nearly half their respondents (49 percent) said that “the best way to achieve equality is to become part of mainstream culture and institutions such as marriage.” An equal share, however, say that “LGBT adults should be able to

ALBANY, from p.56

now — the Assembly has done the right thing. It’s time to vote in the Senate on this basic issue of fairness and civil rights.” Now that the legislative session is over, the Pride Agenda turns its attention to the elections ahead — the primary in September and the general in November. Schaefer would not get ahead of ESPA’s political action committee, saying, “I don’t think that we as an organization have made a determination as to what endorsements we will be making,” but he added, “There certainly is cause to see a need for | June 26 - July 09, 2014

achieve equality while still maintaining their own distinct culture and way of life.” The decision by the Park Ser vice to commemorate places of significance to LGBT history, many of which are located in gay neighborhoods, comes at an opportune time. It is only a matter of moments before same-sex marriage is the law of the land. As the stonewall of legal discrimination comes crumbling down, many of us may feel that the fight is finally over. But this is just not true. “There are always going to be bigots and homophobes in the world, and they’re always going to have really loud voices,” a woman reminded me in an interview I did for my book. “And people who are in minority groups are always going to perceive that lots of people are discriminating against them, even if they’re not.” This “is going to cause them to want to go to places where they feel safe.” It does not matter “whether or not they’re needed,” said a gay man, because “the perception will be that they are needed.” I heard these messages loud and  clear. Anyone who says that we no longer need gay neighborhoods is just missing the point. Amin Ghaziani, an associate professor of sociology at the University of British Columbia, is the author of the forthcoming book “There Goes the Gayborhood?” from Princeton University Press. Contact him via aminghaziani. net and follow him on T iwtter @Amin_Ghaziani

a change in the composition of the leadership. The current leadership isn’t allowing LGBT bills to get to the floor.” Taking pains to emphasize the group’s bipartisan posture, Schaefer said, “We have made endorsements of every political affiliation and we may do that again.” He added, however, that the group could get involved in contested September primaries in addition to making general election picks. As it has done in the past, ESPA is likely to do a rolling series of legislative endorsements, the first ones probably being announced by late July.

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MAYOR, FIRST LADY OUT FRONT ON BROOKLYN PRIDE

PHOTO ESSAY BY DONNA ACETO | Brooklyn Pride, a day-long event June 14 that included a 5k run in Prospect Park and a street festival on Park Slopeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fifth Avenue, culminated in a twilight march that snared the biggest gets in New York City politics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife, First Lady Chirlane McCray. The mayor shared grand marshal honors with Public Advocate Letitia James and City Councilman Carlos Menchaca, who represents Red Hook and Sunset Park and is the first out gay official from the borough and the first Mexican-American elected to office in New York State. The huge crowd for the parade along Fifth Avenue included contingents of drummers and other musicians, some kids with the right idea about inclusive scouting, and a member of Cheer New York willing to turn the world upside down for a good time.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

A HUDSON RIVER GARDEN

Glennda Testone, the Center’s executive director, presiding over the evening’s formal program, looks on as City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer addresses the crowd.

Gail Brewer (r.) attends her first Garden Party in her capacity as Manhattan borough president, and is seen here with Steven Sobotta and Melissa Sklarz.

Guests included Marriage Equality USA executive director Brian Silva, seen here with Paul Freene, Ingrid Galvez, Gene Cavazos, Curtis Wong, and Connie Thorp.

The Imperial Court of New York, which over the years has raised millions for groups within the LGBT community, was represented by Emperor Tony Monteleone.

As the music spins, two guests get “Footloose.”

PHOTO ESSAY BY DONNA ACETO | Sustaining what seems like an unbroken streak, the LGBT Community Center enjoyed a beautiful early summer evening for its annual Garden Party. The June 23 event was once again held at Pier 84 at 44th Street and the Hudson River. June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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REAL ESTATE

Hell’s Kitchen Savories

Adjacent to the Great White Way, a Manhattan neighborhood now ahead of the pack

BY LAUREN PRICE

“There is no doubt that Hell’s Kitchen is undergoing an exciting transformation,” says Stephen McArdle, senior managing director of Halstead Property Develop-

An interior at Gotham West at 420 West 45th Street.

From Silverstein Properties,

SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES

What’s on the Market?

GOTHAM ORGANIZATION

ts established roots are still very evident. Hell’s Kitchen has always been a closely-knit neighborhood rich in cultural opportunities and Old New York history. But while the area of town bounded by West 37th and 57th Streets was once dotted with warehouses, parking lots, and walk-ups, for more than a decade developers have been eyeing the possibilities of building luxury rentals. Residential revitalization — coupled with expanded dining, shopping, and nightlife options — is now the order of the day, so much so that as of two months ago, sale prices and rents now surpass the averages for Manhattan as a whole. None of this should really be surprising for a neighborhood with globally famous landmarks — Broadway’s playhouses, Theater Row, and Restaurant Row. Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio has — over the years — made this part of town home to renowned red carpet stars from James Cagney and James Dean to Jerry Orbach, Tom Hanks, Larry David, and Alicia Keys. And television has also been part a big part of the scene. In their first US appearance in 1964, the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway and West 53rd Street, which has been home for decades now to David Letterman’s show. John Stewart’s “Daily Show” has had two Hell’s Kitchen homes — first on West 54th and now on 11th Avenue. “The Colbert Report” films at the original Stewart venue. Two world renowned dance companies — the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Baryshnikov Arts Center — have also been Hell’s Kitchen stalwarts for quite some time.

movie screen, with an adjacent Sky Lounge. Amenities also include playgrounds, a bike porter for last minute tune-ups, free weekday shuttles to and from 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue for evening and morning commutes, on-site parking, and doorman/concierge services. The ground-level indoor/ outdoor blocklong Gotham West Market features artisan vendors and restaurants. No-fee monthly rentals currently begin at $2,900. (gothamwestnyc. com)

An aerial shot of Hell’s Kitchen and beyond shows the Silver Towers at 42nd Street and 11th Avenue.

ment Marketing. “Reaching this milestone demonstrates that savvy homesteaders who now choose to live and invest in New York City not only see the potential of this particular neighborhood, but also want to be at the forefront of its revitalization.” It might seem as though Hell’s Kitchen has become a labyrinth of glass-wall residential towers and luxury loft conversions, but plenty of mid-rise apartment houses and walk-ups remain, especially closer to Ninth Avenue, preserved in good measure because of specific zoning laws that have long been in place.

Developed by the Gotham Organization , Gotham West at 420 West 45th Street leases studios to three-bedroom homes, replete with condo-like finishes and ame-

nities such as quarter sawn oak floors, washer/dryers, floor-to-ceiling windows, and kitchens outfitted with the likes of KitchenAid appliances and honed Absolute Black granite worktops. Some units offer walk-in closets, separate kitchen pantries, and Hudson River views. The communal amenities list is long and includes a lounge, which serves daily breakfasts, a business center, a screening room, a demo kitchen used by invited professional chefs, and a game room with a handcrafted pool table. The fitness center has a motion studio and yoga/ spinning classes. The building also includes three outdoor spaces: a huge courtyard garden, the Perch, with an outdoor fireplace overlooking the garden, and the Sky Terrace, with misting walls, a bar, and an outdoor

Silver Towers is an enormous complex with million-dollar views of the Hudson River and Manhattan’s skyline. Located at 42nd Street and 11th Avenue, two glass towers offer studios to two- bedrooms, including lofts and penthouses. Some have private outdoor space. All feature floor -to-ceiling windows, Afromosia wood floors, and washer/ dryers. Floors two through seven in the North Tower are outfitted with furnished units for corporate residents. Open kitchens boast stainless steel appliances, custom-designed wenge wood grain laminate, and aluminum-framed glass cabinetry with engineered stone worktops. Porcelain-tiled bathrooms come with Carrera marble-topped floating vanities as well as vessel sink vanities, rain showers, and soaking tubs. For tenants, the Entertaining Terrace has cabanas, chaises, daybeds and misting showers, a BBQ grill, and a wet bar. The fitness center offers spa and nail services and a yoga room. There’s a 75-foot indoor pool and sundeck, too. Other communal amenities include a lounge, a screening room, a playroom, on-site parking, and concierge services. Complimentary weekday shuttles connect residents to and from multiple locations during morning and evening commutes. A quarter -acre public park designed by Thomas Balsley show-

HELL’S KITCHEN, continued on p.66

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

REAL ESTATE

The Quiet Allure of Tribeca

Residential spaciousness overlays warehouse/ cobblestone historic district

BY LAUREN PRICE

URBAN COMPASS

unning from Canal Street south to Barclay and from Broadway to the Hudson River, T ribeca is a neighborhood of some 16,000 high-energy residents that has grown up amidst cavernous castiron warehouses set on historic cobblestone streets. Home seekers can find light-filled, loft-like layouts that typically fetch sky-high prices or they can look to the new luxury buildings, some with units for sale, others with rentals. When artists in the 1970s began searching out less expensive studios and homes, the residential transformation of the neighborhood that only then came to be called Tribeca. It is now one of Manhattan’s most sought after neighborhoods. Smart shops, art galleries, performance spaces, and prime eateries

like Kutsher’s, Bouley, and Nobu are now the public face of the neighborhood, and when Lower Manhattan was staggered by the 9/11 attacks, Robert De Niro and other Hollywood bigs rallied spirits by launching the Tribeca Film Festival — though its success in recent years has led it to seek larger venues uptown. Considered a quieter alternative to its equally expensive neighbor Soho, Tribeca is chock-a-block with tony shops such as the boutique retailers Steven Allen, Patron of the New, Nili Lotan, and By Joy Gryson, specialty cutlery shop Korin, and the bicyclist’s haven Adeline Adeline. Whole Foods, the Amish Market, the All Good Things artisanal market, and Grandaisy Bakery offer the very best alternatives for residents who take their cooking seriously. The Lower Manhattan locales of world-class retailers like Bloomingdales, Hermès, and Tiffany are just steps away.

The interior of a duplex co-op at 74 Reade Street.

The neighborhood is well served by subways, with ready access to the 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E, and another half dozen or so lines available nearby at City Hall. With Stuyvesant High School and P.S. 150 and 234 in the neighborhood, the public schools are a draw, as well.

What’s on the Market? According MNS’s May 2014 report, Tribeca’s median purchase price per square-foot for a one-bedroom residence is $1,131. For two-bedroom units, the media price per square foot is $1,392. The same

TRIBECA, continued on p.67

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HELL’S KITCHEN, from p.62

cases pavilions, a kids’ area, an enclosed dog run, a mist fountain, and an area for lounging and picnicking. There is also an on-site Sunac Fancy Foods market. The Spot Experience dog daycare will soon be a part of Silver Towers. No-fee monthly rentals currently begin at $3,190. (silvertowers.com)

A one-bedroom rental unit with a large balcony and Hudson River views is now available at Icon at 306 West 48th Street, where there are only three residences per floor. With double-corner exposure, it features walls of glass, solar shades, high ceilings, hardwood floors, custom closets, and a washer/dryer. The kitchen has custom hardwood cabinetry with granite countertops and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Bathrooms are done up in Italian porcelain tile, and there’s a wenge wood vanity. A fitness center, a sky deck, and round-the-clock concierge/ doorman services are also part of the package. Leased through Town Residential, the monthly rent is $4,850. ( tow nr ea l estate.com / r ental / id-774038/306-west-48th-street19c-midtown-west&scroll=1)

A condominium developed by Fortis Property Group and Wonder Works Construction Corp., 540West, on West 49th

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screen, and a pet spa. Sold by Halstead Property Development Marketing, prices start at $725,000. (540west.com)

The real estate development team of JDS Development Group and Property Markets Group, in partnership with Starwood Capital Group, are bringing the latest Ralph Walker conversion to Hell’s Kitchen — Stella Tower at 425 West 50th Street. Originally designed by Walker in 1927 for the New York Telephone Company, the condominium has one- to three-bedroom residences ranging from 1,000 to 2,200 square feet, though penthouses boast as much as 3,600 square feet. Units feature oversized tilt-andturn windows and soaring ceiling heights, and select residences have fireplaces and private outdoor space. Stella Tower will have a 24-hour attended lobby, a fitness center, a lounge with a pantry and bar, and a garden lounge. Sold through Douglas Elliman, prices are from $1.8 million. (stellatower.com)

The Piano Factory, the conversion of an 1870s building at 454 West 46th Street where Wessell Nickel & Gross built pianos, has 48 loft-like units. An enclave-like complex, it offers features a European-like interior courtyard where plants cascade down from restored iron catwalks that connect two buildings. Town Residential is now offering a four-bedroom penthouse duplex with an enormous terrace. Lightfilled with wonderful skyline views, this home has hardwood floors and high ceilings — including a vaulted ceiling in the living room — pocket doors, and a laundry room with a Bosch washer and dryer. The very large eat-in kitchen, which opens onto a second terrace, is outfitted with cherry wood cabinets, granite countertops, and a radiant heat floor. Appliances are by Jenn-Air, Dacor, and Bosch. The master suite has a dressing area, two full closets, and an en suite bathroom. The owner will have roof rights, so with board approval, a third deck can be added. Priced at $3.995 million. (townrealestate.com/sale/ id-452084/454-west-46th-streetph-6bs-midtown-west&scroll=1)

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

L U X U RY R E N TA L S BUILDING UPON EXCELLENCE FOR 40 YEARS

THE PRIDE OF THE WEST VILLAGE WORLD-WIDE GROUP

A rental at 50 Murray, a converted1964 office building.

TRIBECA, from p.65

report indicates that average rents for studios in doorman buildings run at $3,400, with one-bedrooms coming in at about $4,736. Marketed by Corcoran Sunshine Group Marketing, the landmarked Cast Iron House at 67 Franklin Street at Broadway is a conver sion developed by Knightsbridge Properties. The building has 13 duplexes, including two penthouses on newly constructed levels atop the original structure, and all sport soaring ceilings (from 17 to 25 feet), vaulted windows, washer/dryers, and quarter sawn white oak floors. Ranging from three to five bedrooms, some with outdoor space, in the original portion, square footage is from about 2,850 to 4,890. The four-bedroom penthouse is about 3,800 square feet, with some 1,530 square feet of outdoor space. The five-bedroom unit at the top is about 4,560 square feet, with rough 1,430 square feet of outdoor space. Appliances by Gaggenau and custom lacquer cabinets topped with Corian are inside open kitchens. Marble slab master bathrooms boast white mosaic glass tile walls and radiant heat floors. Communal extras include doorman/ concierge services, a courtyard garden, an exercise room, a hydrotherapy spa and treatment room, a dance studio, a water room, a playroom, a game room, and private storage. Prices begin at about $4.97 million. (castironhouse.com)

About 3,000 square feet with key-lock elevator access, a duplex co-op at 74 Reade Street just off Church Street is now for | June 26 - July 09, 2014

Whether you prefer the classic or the ultramoder n, Rockrose has the rentals to express your own unique lifestyle.

sale through Urban Compass. In a converted office building originally erected in 1964, this flexible live/ work spaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current configuration has two bedrooms. It features double-height windows, hardwood floors, a skylight, exposed brick walls and piping, and 15-foot pressed tin ceilings. The open kitchen with a large pantry is dressed in sleek wood cabinetry and highend stainless steel appliances. Residential extras include a roof deck and video intercom. Priced at $3.1 million. (urbancompass.com/ listing/506a5c79e9e36097ea1dfe20e431ebb66068e5a7/view)

The World-Wide Group made the decision to convert 50 Murray, a 1964 office building between Church Street and West Broadway, just before 9/11. As part of the drive to revive downtown in the wake of the attack, the developers switched gears in their attention to upgrading the fixtures and finishes, and by 2002 were renting loft-like studios to three-bedroom units, ranging from about 500 to 2,000 square feet, some with outdoor space. As a result youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find 11-foot beamed ceilings, kitchens with stainless steel appliances, sleek white cabinetry, black granite countertops, and two-tone penny tile mosaic bathroom floors. Residential extras include a laundry room on every floor, a bi-level roof deck, an outdoor basketball court, a lounge and screening room, a game room, playrooms, a parking garage, and doormen/concierge services. Both Equinox Gym and the Amish Market are on site, as well. Currently, no-fee monthly rentals start at $2,900. (50murray.com)

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MEDIA

I Want My Queer TV

Whose stories? Our stories. This is “SIGNIFIED” BY BRIAN McCORMICK

SIGNIFIED

ho gets to tell our stories and why does it matter? It’s 2014 and Laverne Cox, the breakout trans star of the Netflix hit “Orange Is the New Black,” just made the cover of Time magazine. LGBT and queer characters are everywhere you look — and more and more they reflect and represent the real diversity of our communities. Don’t they? “SIGNIFIED” co-creators and directors Jessie Levandov and Anna Barsan.

A Multimedia LGBTQ Documentary Project thisissignified.com

SIGNIFIED

Certainly, we’ve made progress since the days of Uncle Arthur from “Bewitched” and Jack McFarland from “Will and Grace.” But cultural hegemony remains a critical factor, and for the most part, the portrayals we see — we engage with — are dominated by an “It Gets Better” mentality informed by a mainstream, First World, white perspective. Cameron on “Modern Family” is portrayed by a straight white male. Kima and Omar, complex gay black characters on “The Wire,” were written by a straight white male. Jenji Kohan, creator of “Orange Is the New Black,” is a straight white female. Self-narrative matters. This is not all we are. On the documentary side of TV, for 20 years we had “In The Life.” At a time when LGBT people were virtually invisible in media, it was the first — the only — to regularly broadcast images and stories of our history and experience. “ITL” gave a human face to the AIDS crisis and showed the world that gay people could get angry and fight back. It gave voice to those not heard by the mainstream media, even as it became, itself, part of the gay mainstream. In the fall of 2011, about a year before the final episode of “ITL” aired, Anna Barsan, 28, and Jessie Levandov, 26, premiered the first series of interviews for their project “SIGNIFIED” at the Gug-

Jessie Levandov and Anna Barsan interviewing writer and activist Darnell Moore and playwright Tarell McCraney.

genheim Lab, a mobile laboratory that focuses on urban life. “SIGNIFIED” was and is a direct response to what the creators saw as a tendency toward assimilation in queer media. “Instead of telling queer youth, it gets better,” said Levandov, “we should be affirming who they are now.” Twenty episodes on, “SIGNIFIED” has grown into a multi-media space for LGBTQ testimony and documentary, featuring the work of queer artists, scholars, and activists. Notable interviews include “queer black feminist troublemaker” Alexis Pauline Gumbs of the Mobile Homecoming Project, spoken word artist Emanuel Xavier, and the HIV/ AIDS activist collective Queerocracy.

Season 3 focuses on LGBTI experiences in Latin America: what it means to be lesbian in Bogota; living with HIV and AIDS in Cuban prisons; and performance from Buenos Aires trans “artivista” Susy Shock. All episodes are available in both English and Spanish. For Barsan, Levandov, and the other “SIGNIFIED” team members — producer Sam Tabet, director Carmen Torres, and motion graphics designer Erin Culton — the project isn’t just about increasing visibility or about queer people making queer media, but responding to assurances that it gets better with the question, “What is better?” “Visibility is important... being able to see queer sex and sexualities is important,” Barsan said. “But the reason we are asserting

our presence is that access to queer content and queer media is still dominated by a white, upper-middle-class perspective. It isn’t politically challenging. It doesn’t question the system. ” “In the quest for marriage equality,” Levandov added, “we are reproducing the model of the patriarchy.” Both makers emphasized the importance of considering race and class together with sexuality and sexual orientation. “It’s important to our work to deconstruct our privilege, to look at how power is connected to our queerness and to media,” said Barsan. “Our privilege plays into everything we do.” Levandov emphasized, “We also need to be able to ask other questions, to know that our solidarity can exist beyond our sexuality.” That is potentially a daunting challenge. “Being amongst this community of educators, activists, artists, arts educators, healers, and academics, we are also held to a certain standard, “Barsan explained, “not only in terms of how are we reflecting communities, but why we are creating this.” For “SIGNIFIED,” the work comes down to a question of queer self-determination. “It is not enough for us to negate, or resist, or be in opposition to,” said Levandov. “We have to experience these stories in live spaces. We have to pay tribute to our elders.” “[‘SIGNIFIED’] is not just media to watch,“ Barsan said. “We are offering dialogue and language. We do a lot of screenings, workshops, media training, and parties in tandem with releases. Workshops are organized around themes such as race, the capitalist system, how to grow community, how to create together, and how to connect our disparate communities.” The latest episode, “Queer Archive,” is “a departure from past episodes,” said Levandov. It uses archival documentary and television footage from the 1950s through today as a means of showing the changing represen-

SIGNIFIED, continued on p.77

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

“AN UNFLINCHING MASTERPIECE.” —DAVID LEVERING LEWIS, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer of W.E.B. Du Bois

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THE NEW PRESS Publishing in the Public Interest www.thenewpress.com

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

THEATER

Romance in the Park A stellar “Much Ado” under the stars makes magic on summer nights

JOAN MARCUS

Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe in William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” directed by Jack O’Brien, in Central Park through July 6.

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t just about the point the plot turns dark in Jack O’Brien’s rich, romantic, and lyrical production of “Much Ado About Nothing,” night had indeed descended and there was a chill in the air at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater. While no doubt a matter of serendipity on the evening I attended, it was nonetheless one more pleasure in a production overflowing with them. O’Brien’s smart reading of the play, John Lee Beatty’s lovely Italian villa where it’s set, the gorgeously understated 19th century costumes by Jane Greenwood, and a sublime company make this a production not to be missed. This is the third “Much Ado” I’ve seen in Central Park, and I can count at least six other productions I’ve seen over the years. Still, this play never fails to engage me in its romantic journey. That’s partly because the play itself is so well structured. The rocky road to love for Beatrice and Benedick, so effectively juxtaposed against the darker plot of Don John trying to ruin the virginal Hero to satisfy his ego, touches such elemental emotions that even when the ending is well

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING The Delacorte Theater, Central Park Enter at W. 81st St. & Central Pk. W. Through Jul. 6 Tue.-Sun. at 8 p.m. Free; publictheater.org

known, it’s impossible not to get swept up. For nearly 400 years, audiences have found ways to project themselves onto this story. Here, the battle between Beatrice and Benedick is taken up by Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater. Both have sworn off love, perhaps because they’ve been too bruised by it in the past, maybe even by each other. Their meetings are characterized by barbs and banter until their friends trick them into thinking one is hopelessly in love with the other. Rabe, who was a magnificent Portia in “The Merchant of Venice,” demonstrates a superlative gift for comedy inflected with heart. Watching Beatrice’s brash defensiveness melt into an embrace of her wronged cousin and ultimately a clear-eyed love for Benedick is a complete joy. Linklater, one of the most accomplished comic actors working today, hits all of Benedick’s expected

SHAKESPEARE, continued on p.87

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

THEATER

Sister Shelter Cherry Jones chats about her latest role, the Tonys,

and the hullaballoo over hugging her girlfriend

JOAN MARCUS

Cherry Jones in Sarah Treem’s “When We Were Young and Unafraid,” at New York City Center through August 10.

BY DAVID KENNERLEY

herry Jones is one of the most for midable forces on the New York stage today. This past season, the 57-year-old actor was nominated for a Tony Award for her exquisite portrayal of Amanda Wingfield in “The Glass Menagerie,” which ended its impressive run in February. Alas, she had tough competition, losing out to Audra McDonald (“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill”). No matter — she’s doing just fine, thank you, having snagged her share of glory, including the best actress Tony in 1995 for “The Heiress” and in 2005 for “Doubt.” Just last year, she was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. And besides, she did win the 2014 Outer Critics Circle Award for playing Amanda. Not that glamorous trophies are a goal for the esteemed actor. “I’ve never cared much about awards because it’s all kind of ridiculous, but I still [wanted] us to win,” Jones said of the play itself in a recent interview with Gay City News, adding that she was thrilled to be reunited with the cast at the ceremony. “Doing | June 26 - July 09, 2014

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID Manhattan Theatre Club New York City Center — Stage 1 131 W. 55th St. Through Aug. 10 Tue.-Wed. at 7 p.m. Thu.-Sat. at 8 p.m. Wed., Sat.-Sun. at 2 p.m. $89; manhattantheatreclub.com Or 212-581-1212 Two hrs., 20 min., with intermission

the play was such an extraordinary experience for all of us and we’ve gotten very close. I’m surprised at my own feelings about it.” Incredibly, Jones’ follow-up to “Glass Menagerie” is not on Broadway at all, but rather a relatively small play titled “When We Were Young and Unafraid,” premiering at MTC’s New York City Center Stage 1. Directed by Pam MacKinnon (“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”), the feminist-minded drama centers on Jones’ character Agnes, who runs a bed and breakfast on an island off the Washington State coast that doubles as a secret safe house for troubled women. One such visitor, a battered young woman who fled from her brute of a husband, has a profound influence on Agnes’ 16-year -old

daughter. Also in the mix are an angry black lesbian separatist and a lonely male songwriter whose marriage recently imploded. The year is 1972, before the Roe v. Wade decision or the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act — a time when there was scant legal recourse for abused women. What drew her to the role of Agnes in such a modest production after her star turn on the Great White Way? She had workshopped the drama with playwright Sarah Treem at Sundance and was intrigued by the complex characters and the portrayal of empowered women. “I didn’t honesty think I was right for it then,” admitted Jones. “But there’s a soft spot in all actors — when someone says they want you, it’s hard to say no. I thought I should make this work for the rest of the cast and the play. I’m giving it my best shot.” The New York-based actor — she lives in the West Village — is stoked to be sharing the stage with a gifted supporting cast that features Cherise Boothe (“Ruined”) as the militant lesbian, Zoe Kazan (“The Seagull”) as the battered refugee, Morgan Saylor (Showtime’s “Homeland”) making her stage debut as the defiant daughter, Penny, and Patch Darragh (“Our Town”) as the songwriter. “Zoe is doing astonishing work,” Jones enthused. “Cherise makes that whole arc succeed so beautifully. She convinces me that everything she says is completely rational. Little Morgan Saylor is also amazing. That kid is not intimidated by anything — she leads the charge.” When I suggested that Amanda Wingfield and Agnes are both doting mother figures who are loners, Jones agreed, but noted sharp contrasts between the two characters as well. “Amanda has the incredible flamboyance of that Southern lady,” said Jones. “I knew those women growing up in the South. Agnes is a little awkward as a human being and in many ways has almost winterized herself. She

loves Penny but she’s not a natural mother. She never planned to have children and her mothering is a work in progress. When a little girl becomes a teenager, all bets are off, even if you’re the most accomplished mother. That’s what’s going on in our play.” In many ways, Jones felt it was tricky to transition from Amanda to Agnes, especially when the language was so different. Because T reem is writing for a woman closed down, it’s more naturalistic and not the lyrical poetry of Tennessee Williams. “I was used to all of those floral bouquets,” Jones explained of Amanda’s dialogue. “I had to figure out places to breathe because once she gets going she never stops, going off into back alleys and down mountainsides. Agnes has very short sentences, just four or five words and a period. The rhythm of it was so different, and frankly quite daunting for me.” Jones admitted it was exhilarating to originate a role rather than reinterpret a classic, having done so several times. “It’s fun because nothing is written in stone,” she explained, adding that they made several tweaks in previews. Jones recalled approaching MacKinnon and Treem about one pesky passage where she couldn’t understand the motivation behind her line. “Sarah was able to craft it so it made all the sense to me,” Jones said. “To have a living playwright with a new creation, so open to collaboration, is wonderful.” When asked to elaborate on the play’s themes like physical abuse, sexism, and sexuality, Jones refused outright. “I’m not an intellectual,” she declared. “I never think of themes, ever. I just focus on what my character is doing and thinking and feeling and trying to accomplish,” adding that themes are the purview of the director and playwright. In some ways, the role of Agnes is as complex as any Jones has

CHERRY, continued on p.86

THEATER

Pride in the Theater

When you want a break from dancing in the streets, take a seat at a show

BY CHRISTOPHER BYRNE

et’s say you want to make seeing a show part of your Pride Weekend, but haven’t planned ahead. It’s for that very situation that we publish our fourth annual roundup of what’s on, what’s hot, and how to get a pair of seats. If you want to see something, chances are you’ll be able to — in some cases, though, it may cost you time or money. Or both. (For the nuts and bolts of purchase, see the accompanying “Here’s How” sidebar on page 89.) So, what can you get tickets to? Here are some of my personal recommendations and what we’ve learned about availability from June 26 through July 2. Bear in mind that the situation can change daily.

ALADDIN New Amsterdam Theater 214 W. 42nd St. For the die-hard Disney fan, this is everything you’d expect. It’s bright, colorful, and exuberant with plenty of visual magic and a cast that’s knocking itself out to dazzle you. Availability: Spotty singles as premium seats only.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Stephen Sondheim Theatre 124 W. 43rd St. Yes, it’s a jukebox musical, but Jessie Mueller’s well-deserved Tony and Drama Desk-winning performance is not to be missed. You don’t even have to be a Carole King fan to enjoy the infectious, heartfelt story or the outstanding performances by a great company. Availability: Very limited. Listed regular ticket

prices are $75-$162, but for Pride Weekend, we found very few rear and side orchestra seats at $177.50, some orchestra seats at $283.50, and some center mezzanine seats at $207.50.

CABARET Roundabout at Studio 54 254 W. 54th St. Alan Cumming recreates his role as the emcee, and Michelle Williams is a stunning Sally Bowles in this remounting of the famous production from 1998. It seems sharper, more mature, and more emotional than before, thanks to Cumming and Williams as well as strong performances by Bill Heck, Danny Burstein and Linda Emond — and of course the Kit Kat girls and boys. Availability: Limited regular ticket prices are $47-162. There are seats along the bar rail at the back of the orchestra with a partially obstructed view and some mezzanine seats available. No discounts are available during this period.

CASA VALENTINA Samuel J. Friedman Theater 261 W. 47th St. You’ll have to hurry to see this; it closes June 29. But it’s worth it. Harvey Fierstein’s tale of cross-dressing men in the Catskills in 1962 is funny, poignant, and politically charged in a very subtle way. It has a brilliant ensemble cast, with Reed Birney and Nick Wastrate as standouts giving unforgettable performances. Put this at the top of your list. Availability: Good. Regular ticket prices are $67-$125, there are online discounts of as much as $50 per seat, available through Broadwayoffers.com, and it’s been up regularly at the TKTS booth.

JOAN MARCUS

Jefferson Mays, Jennifer Smith, and Bryce Pinkham in “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.”

Alan Cumming in “Cabaret.”

THE CITY OF CONVERSATION Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center 150 West 65th St. Jan Maxwell gives a characteristically brilliant performance in this well-made drama about a family torn apart by political differences. Maxwell plays Hester Ferris, the ultimate DC doyenne, chronicling her role through six presidential administrations. When her son and daughter-in-law become Reagan Republicans, Hester must choose between her integrity and her family. This is one of the most intelligent and well-crafted new plays of the season, and Maxwell leads an exceptional cast. Availability: Very limited. Side and rear orchestra seats only available at select performances.

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER Walter Kerr Theatre 219 W. 48th St. Clearly I’m in the minority on this one. It won the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards and, while it is entertaining in a Gilbert and Sullivan way, what starts out as charming soon wears thin. Still, the leads — Bryce Pinkham and Jefferson Mays — are quite appealing. Availability: Very limited, thanks to the Tony buzz. We found premium seats at $307.50 in the orchestra and some rear and side orchestra at $150.50. Very limited mezzanine seats at $107.50.

HERE LIES LOVE Public Theater 425 Lafayette St., btwn. E. Fourth St. & Astor Pl. David Byrne and Fatboy Slim have written an

THEATER PRIDE, continued on p.88

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

IN THE NOH

A Complete Cole Porter Find

“The Ambassador Revue” gets an unearthing; cabaret enchantress Carole J. Bufford

BY DAVID NOH

“

T:8.75” c IN THE NOH, continued on p.75

DAVID NOH

o one brings the intensity to confabs that lovers of musical theater manage when they get together. And my recent meet-up with essential bandleader Vince Giordano and director/ producer/ historian Ken Bloom proved an absolute Broadway nerd-fest. The two guys have collaborated to revive Cole Porter’s 1928 “The Ambassador Revue” at Town Hall on June 27 (thetownhall.org), with a cast that includes Amy Burton, Jason Graae, Tom Wopat, Catherine Russell, and Anita Gillette. The show was originally only done in Paris and then fell into obscurity, with the music thought to be completely lost. When these gents told me that I probably wouldn’t know any of the songs, I said, “Try me.” Giordano responded, “Well, maybe the bestknown one would be ‘Pilot Me’” — which, of course, I knew from the album “Bobby Short Loves Cole Porter,” which obsessed me in high school. “We’re obviously talking to the right person,” Bloom laughed, and we were off. “Apart from that,” Giordano said, “There were

two songs recorded by Ben Bagley, but that’s it. If you look at Bob Kimball’s book, ‘The Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter,’ it says right at the top that none of the music has survived. But guess what? I found it after searching all over Europe and the Library of Congress. Ken even called [popular band leader] Fred Waring’s archives at State College in Pennsylvania, and he must have gotten the wrong person on the phone because they said, ‘It’s not here.’ So I went back and found another person, gave him a list of song titles, and he said, ‘Yeah, we have those.’ “You should have heard me screaming on the phone! Fred was an astute businessman who’d spent all that money for these songs, so he wasn’t going to get rid of them. No one has seen them since 1928, and I even found a Porter song written for the show but not used, which he orchestrated, and we are putting it in the show. The Porter estate and the Library of Congress had no knowledge of any of this. Waring went to Penn State and left everything to them, even his steamer trunks with booze bottles still in them. It was a party band.” Bloom added, “This all really started with [New

Director and music historian Ken Bloom and bandleader Vince Giordano are bringing back Cole Porter’s 1928 “The Ambassador Revue” at Town Hall on June 27.

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IN THE NOH, from p.74

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

I asked Giordano if there were any contemporary singers whom he enjoyed listening to and the first name out of his mouth was Carole J. Bufford, with whom he’s worked. I was really struck by her talent at the 54 Below concert of Liza Minnelli’s show, “The Act,” in which Bufford killed on “City Lights,” cannily working the entire room to sell this exhausting belted anthem. Coming up for Bufford is a free concert, “Speakeasy,” at Kingsborough Community College, with Giordano and his Nighthawks (July 19; onstageatkingsborough.wordpress. com), but currently, she is doing her show “Shades of Blue” at the Metropolitan Room (metropolitanroom. com), and a smarter, more musically varied one I’ve yet to see. Bufford sang two songs off what I call my DNU (Do Not Use) list — overdone pieces I never want to hear again — the warhorse “The Man That Got Away” and “Summertime” a la Janis Joplin. She utterly redeemed both with her lovely, chameleonic voice, interpretive skill, and serious musicality. This slip of a gamine — and a white girl at that — has some serious blues and soul in her being and displayed some hardcore chops on Bessie Smith’s amazing “Send Me to the ‘Lectric Chair.” From Lincolnton, Georgia (“a teeny one-stoplight town near Augusta”), Bufford told me, “I would work as the cashier in my dad’s hardware store after school and never wanted to do anything else but sing. My parents found this piece of paper from school when I was seven saying that what I want-

CAROLEJBUFFORD.COM

York City Opera soprano] Amy Burton, who wanted to do a Porter club act, and it got into my and Bob Kimball’s head that no one knows anything about ‘Ambassador.’ I called a friend, Christopher Mirabeau, in Paris, who worked for Universal, which bought Salabert, the original publisher of the music, and he went to the archives and found half of the piano sheet music, just very simple with the lyrics but no band arrangements. Christopher hired Broadway arranger Larry Blank, and in 2012, we did a Paris concert of what we had. For this New York show, I said to Vince that we had to do it with a real 1920s sound, not Broadway, so Vince was going to write the orchestrations but said, ‘Let’s give it one more crack,’ and that’s when he found the stuff at the Waring archives.” “I hit a home run and to tell the truth, I never could have made it as good as what we found,” Giordano continued. “These are originals, which Porter approved and worked on, with the imagination and whole spirit of the 1920s here. It’s a real sound, not that cliché boop-boop-adoop, and we don’t really know the sound except on old scratchy 78s where you can’t differentiate the instruments. We’re going to have a 16-piece orchestra.” Bloom said, “The Ambassador Revue” was a big production, and “all these Americans came to Paris to do it. The star was Morton Downey and the choreographer was Bobby Connolly, who later did ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ George Gershwin’s sister, Frances, was in it and, in the middle of the show, she sang a Gershwin specialty number we have a Xerox of, with original orchestrations. George was there at the time writing ‘An American in Paris,’ and on opening night, he accompanied her!” These musical detectives have so far only managed to dig up one photo from the original production, but feel that some Pathé newsreel footage of the show may exist. “It was such a big success that there was a second edition, for which Porter wrote the song ‘Looking at You,’ which we are including,” Giordano said. “He was at the beginning of his career with just one Broadway flop to his name, so this really kicked off his career. He did the show ‘Paris’ shortly after, and word got out that

we’d better pay attention to this fellow who’s writing incredible things. Irving Berlin was very instrumental in getting him back to the States.” Porter’s alma mater, Yale, is thrilled over these findings, which will all be donated to their collection, and there are plans for a Kickstarter campaign to CD-preserve the show. “We’re also going to have four tap dancers, with Randy Skinner choreography,” Giordano said. “It’s really amazing that you can find something new from Porter and Gershwin in 2014.” Bloom added, “And it’s not only historic, it’s really good. We’ve all seen so many lost things which get found and now you know why they were lost — but not this!” Carole J. Bufford burns down the house with her show “Shades of Blue” at the Metropolitan Room.

ed to be when I grew up was a singer in a smoky nightclub. Clearly I watched too much ‘Cabaret’ and Liza — wildly inappropriate — but I was obsessed by the ‘Mein Herr’ number. My family loved music and I listened to Judy, Liza, Dinah Washington, and Della Reese, one of my top favorites. She has such an odd

tone, really captivating, which pulls you in. “I went to this great musical program at Ithaca College and came here right after graduation in 2004. I immediately booked the tour of ‘Junie B. Jones’ for almost a year,

IN THE NOH, continued on p.84

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FILM

A Wave Receding

New York audience for Asian film is young, diverse, and small BY STEVE ERICKSON

s the New York Asian Film Festival enters its 13th year, interest in individual Asian films — such as Wong Kar-wai’s “The Grandmaster,” which was 2013’s highest-grossing foreign film — remains strong, but the sense that there’s a New Wave beyond it all seems to be dissipating.

In the ‘80s, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan all created exciting cinema, more or less at the same time. When these waves wore out, South Korea and (to a lesser extent) Thailand picked up the slack. Now major filmmakers remain from those countries, some of whom are represented in this year’s festival. But they and their Japanese counterparts, like Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Takashi Miike, and Sion Sono, have never found an audience in the US beyond a small cult. The New York Asian Film Festival plays to an enthusiastic audience, one younger and more racially diverse than the retirees who attend much of the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s year-round programming. They used to feel like the tip of the iceberg; now, I wonder if they represent most of the audience for Asian cinema in New York. This year’s festival includes a number of special programs and retrospectives, including a focus on Hong Kong cinema, “Hong Kong Forever!,” a tribute to Hong Kong producer Sir Run Run Shaw, and a series on Korean actor Lee

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NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL

13TH NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL

A banner honoring North Korean leader Kim Jong-um is held aloft in Anna Broinowski’s “Aim High in Creation!”

Lee Joon-ik’s “Hope” handles a sensitive topic without becoming maudlin or sensationalistic.

Jung-jae. One of the festival’s few LGBT-themed films, 1998’s “Portland Street Blues” (Jun. 28, 3:15 p.m.; Walter Reade) plays as part of a tribute to its star, Sandra Ng; the movie focuses on a lesbian pimp.

sent Dennis Rodman to North Korea. Due to its very isolation, the country has become a source of fascination for Westerners. “Aim High in Creation!” obviously means well but comes across as a wallow in the last available source of socialist realist kitsch.

Anna Broinowski’s “Aim High in Creation!” (Jul. 10, 8:15 p.m.; Walter Reade) is an outlier in this festival. A slick-looking Australian documentary, it chronicles its director’s attempts to use North Korean propaganda methods to fight fracking in Sydney. To learn from the North Korean film industry, she travels to the country and participates as an actress in a film shoot with a director she describes as “North Korea’s Oliver Stone.” There’s a great deal of fascinating material in “Aim High in Creation!,” both in North Korea and Australia — the details of life inside North Korea’s film world, which seems to offer its participants a privileged existence denied ordinary North Koreans, and an interview with a farmer whose family’s health has been ruined by fracking. Yet I wonder if the director ever thought that linking the anti-fracking movement to North Korean communism might actually hurt the former. At times, she seems extremely respectful to North Koreans; at others, she romanticizes their isolation (“no reality TV,” she gushes) and unconsciously condescends to them. Her film is no low-budget production. It appears glossy from the start, with text on-screen and movie images juxtaposed onto paintings, and the anti-fracking short she eventually makes is both stirring and cheesy. Yet “Aim High in Creation!” covers fairly familiar ground, from films like Jim Finn’s “The Juche Idea” and Mads Brugger’s “The Red Chapel” to the episode of Vice magazine’s HBO show that

Rape is a frequent subject in Korean cinema, sometimes dealt with problematically (as in Kim Ki-duk’s “Pietà,” which combines it with incest). Lee Joon-ik’s “Hope” (Jul. 8, 6 p.m.; Walter Reade) depicts the aftermath of sexual assault on an eight-year-old girl. (The film takes its title from her name.) While it keeps threatening to become horribly maudlin, the film never actually does. Lee’s approach recalls a more melodramatic version of Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda’s style. Like Kore-eda, he’s a skilled director of child actors; in the title role, Lee Re delivers a remarkably restrained performance in a difficult part. She was seven at the time of filming. The cinematography is milky and pale, making bright colors stand out. I can’t deny that “Hope” also has a touch of the Lifetime Original Movie to it as well — mostly stemming from the more extroverted performances of the actors playing Hope’s parents — but it brings a sense of gravity to a situation that’s often either treated exploitatively or used for cheap uplift. The coda comes dangerously close to the latter, but it doesn’t ruin the power of the two hours that came before it, especially the film’s anger at lenient sentences given to rapists.

Chinese director Fei Xing’s “Silent Witness” (Jul. 6, 9:15 p.m.; Walter Reade) is a handsome-looking production, with attractive,

FILM FESTIVAL, continued on p.77

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

FILM FESTIVAL, from p.76

often saturated cinematography and elegant circular or horizontal pans around its characters. Yet I can’t shake the feeling that it’s just a Chinese variation on a familiar brand of courtroom drama — Sidney Lumet might have done a better job with it than Fei does. The film opens at the trial of a young woman accused of the murder of her rich father’s girlfriend and gets busier from there. The narrative is full of twists, reminiscent of a particularly complicated mystery novel. Some of the film’s devices — flashbacks, shifting perspective from one character to

SIGNIFIED, from p.68

tations of homosexuality and the expanded tent of gender queerness, sexuality, and intersectionality. Mixing in the new and old, the goal was to “reactivate the text,” Levandov explained. In making this video, Barsan and Levandov discovered “how difficult it is to find and access our history,”

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

(sic) (Jun. 27, 8:30 p.m., Jul. 1, 4 p.m.; Walter Reade) offers up much

the same mix of gross-out and sentiment as the Farrelly brothers’ best films. It opens with a history of prostitution in China — and serves as a follow-up to two earlier films starring Sandra Ng as a hooker — but a realistic depiction of sex work is the last thing Chow has on his mind. For its first half, “Golden Chickensss” is a goofy comedy, showing Madame Kam (Ng) and her stable of prostitutes running a successful business via cell phones, traveling to Japan to learn about fellatio from a gay hustler, master the art of the “20-second grope,” and fool a dying woman into thinking that she’s slept with actor Louis Koo (he plays

his own impersonator). There are lots of Hong Kong film industry in-jokes, including a reference to “The Grandmaster” and cameos from the island’s stars. But halfway through, the film turns more melancholy; Kam remains the ultimate “hooker with a heart of gold,” but she guides a middle-aged gangster through a changing city where street fights can end up on YouTube. The jokes eventually add up to something. “Golden Chickensss” plays like a love letter to the golden days of Hong Kong cinema, vomit jokes and all. This is not for the easily offended, but it’s a lot warmer than it initially appears.

Levandov said. Now, she added, “the adolescent phase of the project,” aims to address this. “Queer Coordinates,” a new initiative at “SIGNIFIED,” will be a virtual archive of queer media geographically mapped based on where the content originated. What Jonathan Ned Katz’s textual work did documenting historical changes in the social organization of sexual-

ity in the US, “Queer Coordinates” aims to do for representations of queer communities and their movements worldwide, through an online mapping database. “And not just LGBTQI,” explained Levandov, “but different movements connecting different stories in time.” “If we are only looking at things labeled as queer,” Barsan said, “we

are missing out on a lot.” “SIGNIFIED” aims very high. “It will be a radical and imaginary space for new sexuality and gender systems to flow through,” Levandov asserted. Barsan agreed, saying, “That space beyond that Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Octavia Butler talked about. A space of celebration.”

another -—seem designed to paper over the fact that about a third of it takes place inside a courtroom. “Silent Witness” alter nates between an aspirational fascination with wealth and a sense of the rich as corrupt. As the program notes point out, its underlying values, such as familial self-sacrifice, are thoroughly Chinese. For better or worse, its faith in the goodness of human nature is something you’re unlikely to find in American cinema.

Hong Kong director Matt Chow’s “Golden Chickensss”

FILM

At the Movies

Steve James pays loving tribute to iconic, distinctively American film critic BY GARY M. KRAMER

MAGNOLIA PICTURES

ased on the late Roger Ebert’s memoir, “Life Itself” traces the life and work of one of America’s most famous film critics. The film, on which production began five months before Ebert’s April 2013 death, is a lovely, fitting tribute to a writer the New York Times’ A.O. Scott dubbed “the definitive mainstream film critic in American cinema.”

LIFE ITSELF Magnolia Pictures Directed by Steve James Opens Jul. 4 Landmark Sunshine Cinema 143 E. Houston St., btwn. First & Second Aves. landmarktheatres.com Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center 144 W. 65th St. filmlinc.com

The documentary is directed by Steve James, whose 1994 film “Hoop Dreams” Ebert championed. “A film like ‘Hoop Dreams’ is what the movies are for,” the critic wrote. “It takes us, shakes us, and makes us think in new ways about the world around us. It gives us the impression of having touched life itself.” James’ documentary on Ebert is not as great as that, but it is an interesting and different kind of film. Ebert is quoted in the opening of “Life Itself” saying, “Movies are a machine to generate empathy.” This is is precisely what James does in his film. He shows Ebert in his rehab hospital after a hairline fracture developed in his femur. The critic, suffering from throat, tongue, and jaw cancer, cannot drink, eat, or speak. He communicates by typing and is fed through tubes that require suction. These hospital scenes are difficult to watch, but they are necessary. Ebert was as insistent as James that they be presented. Ebert’s career, which began in newspapers, is the focus of “Life Itself.” “Electrified” as a youth by seeing his byline, he became edi-

Roger Ebert, a longtime film critic at the Chicago Sun-Times and, with his Windy City rival Gene Siskel, host of a weekly television show.

tor of his college newspaper. When JFK was assassinated in 1963, Ebert, with a dramatic flair appropriate to a movie, ordered that the presses be stopped. After college, he got a part-time job at the Chicago Sun-Times, becoming the newspaper’s youngest film critic. That turned out to be a great gig for him, and for Ebert the films were great, too. Waxing poetic about “Bonnie and Clyde,” his words of praise appear over a clip of the film. At that point in his life, Ebert was a drinker, frequenting O’Rourke’s, a local watering hole filled with characters right out of the movies. In humorous recollections from his drinking days, buddies describe his terrible taste in women, including the time he brought a “hired” girl into the bar. Presenting a side of Ebert fans and readers are unlikely to know, the anecdotes are highlights of the film. In August 1979, he entered Alcoholics Anonymous and got sober. It was in AA where he met his wife Chaz. Episodes of the couple traveling and recollections Ebert has of taking walks with his step-grandson are poignant, intimate moments that reveal a gentle nature. And when Chaz helps a debilitated Ebert struggle up a flight of stairs in their home, viewers get some understanding of what the couple bravely faced as he declined.

During scenes of such adversity, Ebert is only slightly combative, in contrast to the downright nasty relationship he had with his TV partner, Gene Siskel, whom he described in “Life Itself” as a “professional enemy.” Not surprisingly, James’ documentary spends considerable time examining the various incarnations of the show the two Chicago critics did together. Testimonies from the shows’ producers are insightful, but well chosen clips of the critics themselves fighting range from entertaining to downright uncomfortable. Shooting a promo, the pair nip at each other, Ebert, his patience exhausted, exhibiting petulance. A particularly compelling chapter in “Life Itself” reveals the impact Ebert had on filmmakers — Errol Morris, whose “Gates of Heaven” was featured three times on Ebert and Siskel’s show; Martin Scorsese, whose career was rejuvenated after he was fêted in Toronto by Siskel and Ebert; and Werner Herzog, who dedicated his film “Encounters at the End of the World” to Ebert. Filmmakers Ramin Bahrani (“Man Push Cart”) and Ava DuVernay (“I Will Follow”) also share wonderful fond memories of the late critic. The film succeeds in casting a war m, appreciative glow on Ebert, but does not probe deeply into what made him tick. When asked about why he wanted to

share screenwriting duties with Russ Meyer on “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,” the answer is “large breasts.” That 1970 film, which Scorsese praised for a sex scene set in a Bentley, was described as a “satire, melodrama, rock musical, comedy, violent exploitation picture, skin flick, and moralistic exposé.” It was something of a defining career moment, one far removed from the pinnacle Ebert reached when he won a Pulitzer Prize for criticism, the first film reviewer to gain that honor. We learn that he declined an offer from Ben Bradlee to move to the Washington Post after receiving the Pulitzer, and we see the interesting debate waged between Ebert and Richard Corliss when the latter termed Ebert’s thumbs up/ thumbs down TV-style criticism as “vulgarism” and “populist.” Clips of Ebert reporting from Cannes are also highlights in the film. Still, viewers are likely to want more from a documentary about an iconic film critic, and the questions James emails Ebert as they make the film — about his favorite places in Chicago — suggest there is more to know and to show. One thing that comes through loud and clear in James’ documentary is that Ebert was not one to hide his thoughts or the difficulties in his life. When Siskel developed brain cancer in the late 1990s, he opted to keep this information private, something his widow recounts movingly in the film. Ebert, in contrast — and how could it be otherwise when he’s compared to Siskel? — went public with his declining health, using that disclosure as a means of emphasizing his humanity and even his populist embrace of other people’s challenges. His public posture does not seem calculated to generate empathy, but it does, especially when we see Chaz confronting her fears and Siskel’s widow reading a poignant letter Ebert sent her. “Life Itself” shows us how well Ebert lived his life, something he was as dedicated to as he was to his writing.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

FILM

Disorient Express

PLAY DINE UNWIND

Bong Joon-ho’s dystopian sci-fi is allegory but at times untranslatable

Over 5,000 Games. Minutes Away!

RADIUS-TWC

Chris Evans in Bong Joon-ho’s “Snowpiercer.”

BY STEVE ERICKSON

hilosopher Fr edric Jameson once said that we can imagine the end of the world but not the end of capitalism. His remark doesn’t apply exactly to Bong Joonho’s Korean/ American production “Snowpiercer,” but it nevertheless fits. In the post-apocalyptic world of Bong’s film, a train endlessly circles the planet. There’s no more market economy, but the battle between the haves and have-nots is alive and well.

SNOWPIERCER Directed by Bong Joon-ho Radius-TWC In English and Korean with English subtitles Opens June 27 The Angelika 18 W. Houston at Mercer St. angelikafilmcenter.com Elinor Bunin Munroe Theater 144 W. 65th St. filmlinc.com

Bong’s previous films have reflected on Korean politics and relations between South Korea and America, even if they had to use a monster movie framework to do so. He obviously wants to use “Snowpiercer” to talk about politics once again, but the results are singularly incoherent, if effective as a science fiction dystopia. The ending con| June 26 - July 09, 2014

trasts the possibility of revolutionary co-option with sudden, violent action and seems to side with the latter. The most interesting thing about it is that after two hours of showing a white American man as the leader of a multi-ethnic crew of rebels, the final scene suddenly offers a Korean woman and a black child as the Adam and Eve of a new world. “Snowpiercer” begins after a failed attempt to control climate change has led to a new ice age. The planet’s surviving inhabitants are all onboard a train. The tail of the train contains poor people, who live off a free supply of gelatin “protein bars” really made from crushed insects. One of them (Chris Evans) wants to rise up and gathers together a band of like-minded people to storm the front of the train. As one goes further into the train, conditions get better, but the price for rebellion is high. One man is tortured by having his arm stuck out the window for seven minutes, which turns it into a solid block of ice. All the same, the rebels persevere. The Weinstein Company is crazy to limit “Snowpiercer” to an arthouse release, a decision that may originate in Bong’s refusal to cut the film according to its orders. This is a

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SNOWPIERCER, continued on p.87

BOOKS

Living for Real

Janet Mock’s memoir gives her nationwide platform for advocacy she’s built on since her middle school years BY RYAN HOWE

s she swept into Café Pick Me Up in the East Village, Janet Mock’s floor length gray maxi dress swayed as she maneuvered through the maze of tables and chairs. It was one of the first hot days of summer, and the writer, advocate, and New York Times bestselling author was trying to fight off the heat.

By Janet Mock Atria Books $24.99; 288 pages

“I walked outside in something else and had to turn around and throw this on,” she explained as she situated herself in a chair at the small round table. “It’s going to be a hot summer in the city.” Even though the temperature and humidity are rising, the summer is giving Mock time to cool off. Coming off of a book tour to pro-

AARON TREDWELL

REDEFINING REALNESS: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More Author and advocate Janet Mock.

mote her recent memoir “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More,” released in early February, Mock is taking the summer to relax as much as she can as she prepares for a second leg of the tour. Of course, there is busy work to be done, and a few appearances, including a trip to San Francisco

on Sunday to be the celebrity grand marshal alongside Ross Mathews for that city’s 2014 Pride celebration. “I’m excited to take most of the summer off because I was traveling extensively from the end of January until the end of May. I was in 40 cities in three months, so this summer should be pretty mellow for

me,” she said with a chuckle. Growing up in Hawaii, Mock met a trans girl named Wendi in middle school and began wearing lip gloss and makeup. She started hormones when she was 15. In high school, she was an honor student while she worked as a prostitute, saving money for gender reassignment surgery, which she travelled to Thailand for. After graduating from the University of Hawaii in 2005, she moved to New York where she earned a master’s in journalism at New York University and worked as a staff editor for People.com. In 2011, she came out publically as a trans woman in Marie Claire magazine, though that wasn’t originally her intention. By the time the article came out, Mock had already been working for a year on “Redefining Realness.” Her book recounts her coming of age as a trans woman, intertwining her stories of poverty, prostitution, transitioning, and finding love in New York City. “I always thought I would share my story through the book and not a magazine article,” she explained

JANET MOCK, continued on p.91

Our Empowerment, Ourselves

A comprehensive resource guide to transgender lives follows in tradition of iconic ‘70s feminist book BY RYAN HOWE

hen she was 12 years old, Laura Erickson-Schroth picked up her mom’s copy of “Our Bodies, Ourselves.” She flipped through the pages, entranced by what she was reading. The 1973 book, which took a radical posture toward women’s bodies, sexuality, and rights, was filled with the stories of women from all backgrounds and walks of life. And it spoke to the self-proclaimed tomboy. “I was always kind of dressing like a boy and playing sports, so

TRANS BODIES, TRANS SELVES Edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth Oxford University Press $39.95; 672 pages

gender was something that was always present in my life,” Erickson-Schroth said. “I was always being told what to do for gendered reasons, and reading this book with so many women breaking the stereotypes, it just stuck with me.” Like glue, the idea behind “Our Bodies, Ourselves” stuck with Erickson-Schroth into her teen years and into adulthood. The idea that women should be telling their own stories led her to start a five-

year project that gave transgender and gender non-conforming people the outlet to share their own stories and to educate readers on trans issues. On May 20, the book “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” was released by Oxford University Press. Ripping a page from “Our Bodies, Ourselves,” Erickson-Schroth wanted to produce something with voices from every part of the trans community and share trans health information with the public. “In ‘Our Bodies, Ourselves’ I was captivated not only by the quotes from hundreds of women, but the way they challenged the medical world’s monopoly on knowledge

about women’s bodies,” Erickson-Schroth said. “That’s what we did with our book.” Reading as part educational, part memoir, part picture book, “T rans Bodies, T rans Selves” prides itself on not having to be consumed from the front cover straight through to the back cover. It is to be referenced and picked up and put down at different times, Erickson-Schroth explained. Complete with a glossary defining terms used in the trans community and an introductory chapter providing an overview of concepts that will help readers delve

EMPOWERMENT, continued on p.90

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 26TH 9/8c

An event honoring those who carve new paths to progress.

HONOREES INCLUDE

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| June 26 - July 09, 2014 1 LogoTrailblazers_GayCityNews_06122014-1.indd

6/12/14 3:04 PM

OPERA

Opera in Odd Spaces

New York performances of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s “Pygmalion,” “The Raven” from Toshio Hosokawa Gotham Chamber Opera also programmed a short work, the US premiere

PAVEL ANTONOV

Marc Molomot, Camille Zamora, and an immobile Kim Kardashian in On Site Opera’s production of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s “Pygmalion.”

BY ELI JACOBSON

ith the mid-May end of the Metropolitan Opera’s season, opera is on the move throughout the city, springing up in museums, churches, concert halls, and parks. On Site Opera specializes in performing small-scale works in site-specific locations. For Jean-Philippe Rameau’s 1748 one-act opéra-ballet “Pygmalion,” performances took place in two locations — Madame Tussauds New York and the Lifestyle-Trimco Showroom, a mannequin store. At the June 17 opening night performance at Madame Tussauds, just off Times Square, the opera was performed in the top floor rotunda, with a central faux-Venetian portico used as the proscenium performing area. Seating was arranged on either side of a fountain, while singers and dancers entered from the center aisle. Founder and stage director Eric Einhorn provided a bare-bones, modernized staging that could function in a variety of spaces. The 45-minute piece, based on Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” concerns the sculptor Pygmalion who has fallen in love with his creation, the statue Galatea, which is brought to life by Venus. Tenor Marc Molomot as Pygmalion was initially seen putting final touches on an effigy of actor Patrick Stewart, while a waxen yet bootylicious Kim Kardashian looked on. I was gripped by a horrifying thought — was La Kardashian perhaps engaging in another matrimonial adventure coinciding with an operatic debut? Fortunately, lovely Camille Zamora was wheeled onstage as Pygmalion’s beloved Galatea, upstaging Kardashian, who remained blessedly inanimate and silent.

Librettist Ballot de Savot added a romantic triangle to Ovid’s simple story — the disconsolate Céphise, who loves the hero but is rejected. Einhorn changed the original ending so that Pygmalion returns to Céphise and the statue reverts to inanimate solitude. It was difficult to assess the musical quality of the performance because the open space lacked a resonant acoustic. I was told the musicians could not hear each other, let alone the singers. Still, conductor Jennifer Peterson presiding at the harpsichord maintained a polished ensemble performance from the New Vintage Baroque Orchestra (12 young Juilliard graduates performing a reduced orchestration). Molomot’s weedy, unresonant tenor utilizes a stylistically correct but thin, disconnected falsetto top register. His failure to project I blamed on the acoustics until Emalie Savoy’s rich tones filled the space easily. Molomot seems more a character tenor in both appearance and vocal quality, despite careful French diction and flexibility in runs. Savoy’s Céphise looked beautiful and sang movingly with a lusher, more rounded, easily produced tone than I have ever heard from her. Zamora has a beautiful stage face, an elegant figure, and a warm soprano with a mezzo coloration. Brooklyn soprano Justine Aronson was a petite, piquant L’Amour. Dancers Eloise DeLuca and Jordan Isadore as “Jeux” and “Ris” (laughter and games) fooled this critic into thinking they were also statues. They maintained total immobility alongside a waxen George Clooney and Denzel Washington until they burst joyously into jazz-inflected contemporary choreography (by Isadore) that brought the evening to a festive close.

of Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa’s monodrama setting of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.” It was performed three times in late May at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College as part of the New York Philharmonic’s Biennial. Poe’s long narrative poem consists of 18 strophes with a recurrent final refrain of “Nevermore,” the internal rhymes and insistent rhythm being conducive to musical setting. Hosokawa’s arrangement for solo mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble utilizes darkly shifting instrumental textures evocative of Schoenberg and Ligeti. Fragments of lyrical declamation are interrupted by spoken passages punctuated by percussion, reminding me of Kabuki. The repeated refrain of “Nevermore” was set to different music each time, something illustrative of both the strengths and the weaknesses of Hosokawa’s piece. It always defies expectation and yet there is no overarching musical structure to coalesce the individually arresting musical passages into a memorable, coherent whole. A short 1908 work by André Caplet, “Conte Fantastique: Le Masque de la Mort Rouge” (“The Masque of the Red Death”), served as an overture/ prelude. Caplet’s instrumental study is stylistically influenced by Claude Debussy who was a friend and colleague. This ravishing miniature made the Hosokawa seem musically fragmented and patchy in comparison. Director and choreographer Luca Veggetti conceived the singer/ narrator and the dancer/ raven figure as physically entwined doppelgängers. The raven represents the guilty conscience of the narrator grieving over his dead lover “Lenore.” New York-born, European-based mezzo-soprano Fredrika Brillembourg and famed Italian ballerina Alessandra Ferri were identically garbed in black jumpsuit and ponytail. The lithe agile Brillembourg and the feral, inscrutable Ferri stalked and wrapped around each other while shadows and projections danced on the gray walls behind them. Brillembourg’s rich, ductile mezzo managed the wide-ranging declamation, the too few passages of lyrical melody, and the Bergian speechsong with great authority. Her diction was admirable. Ferri’s thin, tensile frame could be serpentine, seductive, or oppressive like a succubus. The images stayed in the mind longer than the music did. The Gotham Chamber Opera Orchestra played with deep dedication as it has always done in myriad musical styles of various eras. Gotham Chamber Opera is an enlivening stimulating presence in New York’s musical scene, even if their output has been artistically uneven. June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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IN THE NOH, from p.75

came back, and did it at the Lucille Lortel here, then ‘Peter Pan’ in Atlanta, Fringe shows, and Terrence Mann’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. “I also did some readings, but about five years ago I was feeling artistically unsatisfied so I entered the Metro Stars cabaret contest at the Metropolitan Room. I had this arrangement of ‘Folsom City Blues,’ which I wanted to sing in public, but didn’t know much about this world. Where I’m from, cabaret meant stripping. I threw myself into the contest and did well, and that first night I met [the late] Donald Smith, head of the Cabaret Convention, and he said, ‘I want you to sing that song in this year’s convention,’ and that catapulted me into the world of cabaret. “I love artistically challenging myself to put together my own show, to have that creative control. As an actress I was being sent to the wrong jobs — I just don’t have an ingénue-y voice nor do I want to. I’m not wild about contemporary musicals — that crazy high belting is not my thing. I like big juicy belts! “So much thought went into this show and I’m glad you thought that enough of my personality came through without me talking about myself. I really don’t like to on stage, would rather you get to know who I am through the music. But it was tricky picking songs, as the blues can get very monotonous, with the same sound and similar situations. We were aware of trying to find some variance there, as with ‘The Man That Got Away.’ The blues roots are there because Harold Arlen [whom Duke Ellington once described as the blackest white man he ever knew] so often had an undercurrent of it in his work. You want to do justice to the song and Judy Garland’s version is lauded on high as it should be. A carbon copy doesn’t work because she does it way better. A great lyric — I never get tired of it — and I agree with you that it is the greatest movie musical moment of all time, another one I saw way too young as a child.” Bufford says that she is the first artist to be exclusively represented by tireless producer/ impresario Scott Siegel: “We started the show by emailing song titles back and forth. He’s been wonderful for me

and my career, and a good friend. I met him at the Metro Stars when I sang ‘Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer’ and ‘Old Man River.’ He said, ‘I love you and I’m putting you in one of my shows.’” Bufford has really found herself in cabaret and said, “I had a lot of trouble in college with people who kept trying to make me sound like Broadway. One of my professors got so frustrated that he said, ‘Carole! You either do what I’m telling you to do and get cast constantly on Broadway, or keep doing what you’re doing and have drag queens imitating you!’ And I was like, ‘Which do you think I would prefer? Do you know me at all? Come on!’”

With the tragic demise of beloved City Opera, smaller companies are happily jumping into the breach and On Site Opera’s production of Rameau’s “Pygmalion” was a complete delight. The brainstorm of artistic director Eric Einhorn, his choice of Madame Tussauds for its setting was nothing short of genius, with the waxen likenesses of Kim Kardashian, Julia Roberts, and Robin Williams playing an ineffably organic and apropos part in the rococo antics. The singers were charmers, everyone of them, and Jordan Isadore’s choreography was enchanting. My favorite scene in the screwball comedy classic “The Awful Truth” is when, at a musicale where Irene Dunne is exquisitely singing “Serenata,” Cary Grant’s chair disruptively collapses under him. Who knew that I would be in a re-enactment when the same thing happened to me in the middle of the opera? Happily, the Tussauds staff was on it in a trice, with a new chair provided and the red wine I’d spilled mopped up, as the performance continued seamlessly. Embarrassing, yes, but the staffs of both museum and On Site were incredibly caring and apologetic afterwards. Result: I probably have a lifetime pass to the museum, which is a total hoot and a selfie-taker’s paradise. I screamed at the Dalai Lama, gave Presidents Reagan and Bush Jr. the finger, and laid my tired head on Princess Diana’s shoulder. Contact David Noh at Inthenoh@ aol.com, follow him on Twitter @ in_the_noh, and check out his blog at http://nohway.wordpress.com/.

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

| June 26 - July 09, 2014

CHERRY, from p.71

JOAN MARCUS

ever played. Agnes has spent her whole life caring for others, yet finds it hard to allow others to take care of her. Plus, she’s mystified about her sexuality. “She has tremendous faith in her own skills,” said Jones. “Her sexuality is something that was dor mant inside of her. I don’t think she had dates with men or women. Being a lesbian those days, especially in the South where she’s from, was truly out of the question. She is shut down that way.” Although set in the early 1970s when Women’s Lib was in full force, the play still resonates for today’s audiences on many levels. “There’s the whole abortion twist in the play,” said Jones, citing a line that refers to Roe v. Wade going back to the court. “Hanna says, ‘The times are a-changing,” and Agnes replies flatly, ‘They’ll change back.’ There’s an audible murmur from the audience when we say that every night. Now here we are almost half a century later and the last abortion clinic in Mis-

sissippi is closing.” Despite her stellar theater track record, Jones is no stranger to film and television, winning an Emmy for her role on “24.” Yet she is more comfortable onstage than in a television studio. “I am a stage actor, I dabble in television and film,” she said. “I don’t feel accomplished in either of those, I haven’t done it enough. I don’t have a lot of confidence and I’m not as fearless as I’d like to be. They put up with me on the set of ‘24’ and guided me a lot.” According to Jones, on screen an actor must inherently look and sound like the character, unless highly skilled at metamorphosis like Meryl Streep. “On stage, you can play a 60-year-old nun from the Bronx in 1964 even if you are a 50-yearold Tennessean. You can get away with transforming yourself much more.” When Jones won her first Tony nearly two decades ago, she thanked her girlfriend at the time. It was one of the first overt public mentions of a same-sex partner by an actor — this was before Ellen

Cherry Jones with Morgan Saylor and Zoe Kazan.

DeGeneres famously declared, “Yep, I’m gay.” “Everybody made such a fuss over my speech,” recalled Jones. “I gave her a hug when I got up to get the award. She was among a long list of thank-yous, but I didn’t say ‘my lover’ or ‘my cherished one.’ I was surprised and thrilled about the big deal because it was a good thing. After all [adopting a jocularly haughty accent], the theater is absolutely rife with homosexuals!”

“For those of us who are older, we are thrilled at the lightning speed with which it’s happened,” Jones continued, referring to advances in LGBT visibility and equality. “I remember years ago when I first heard the term ‘gay marriage’ on the floor of the Senate, uttered by Bob Dole. Even though he was speaking derisively and banning it, I thought, woo! — the times, they are definitely a-changing.”

“YOU CAN’T FIND A BETTER STAGE ACTRESS THAN CHERRY JONES.” GUARANTEED TO GENERATE SUSPENSE.”

Photo by Zachary Maxwell Stertz

“SMART & EXCITING.

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID A new play by

Directed by

SARAH TREEM with

CHERISE BOOTHE

PAM MacKINNON

PATCH DARRAGH

CHERRY JONES

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June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

SHAKESPEARE, from p.70

notes. He could probably do that in a walk, but what makes his performance extraordinary is that he creates a multi-layered Benedick, who, for all his swagger, has clearly been damaged by love. As a soldier, though, when called on to do what is morally right, he does so, as much for who he is as out of his growing love for Beatrice. Linklater is a solid leading man who is sensitive and romantic, but can still crack up an audience with a welltimed look. The unmistakable chemistry between Rabe and Linklater creates much of this production’s charm; even the most cold-hearted person can’t help but smile when they finally make love out of war. That’s not to diminish the rest of the cast. Ismenia Mendes is lovely as Hero, graceful, delicate, and transparent, where Beatrice is harder edged. Hero falls in love with Claudio, the sturdy and handsome Jack Cutmore-Scott, but their marriage almost goes awry when Don John hatches a plot to make Hero look like “a common stale.” Pedro Pascal is cramped and angry as Don John — for no reason, other than malice, stamping out plants in the garden as he hopes to compromise his brother Don Pedro, the beloved prince he is forced to follow. Brian Stokes

SNOWPIERCER, from p.79

sci-fi action film that obviously benefited from a healthy budget, if not the $200 million that’s become routine for American blockbusters. In “The Host,” Bong showed Spielbergian tendencies, but “Snowpiercer” owes a debt to Terry Gilliam, even naming a character after the director. The lighting in early scenes of “Snowpiercer” is dim. The costumes are dark and unattractive, and the character’s faces are layered with dirt and grease. Bright colors are a sign of privilege. It’s not uncommon for people to be missing limbs. The train mixes ethnicities and nationalities — portable translation devices help bridge the gaps. As the rebels move further into the train, the lighting becomes softer, the colors less oppressively dark, and the people seem noticeably whiter and | June 26 - July 09, 2014

Mitchell is a strong Don Pedro, making an often-overlooked part distinctly and regally his own — even adding his wonderful voice to a couple of songs. Mitchell is marvelous in the darker moments when Don Pedro is fooled into thinking his honor has been compromised by Hero’s disgrace, but he is also unforgettable in the comedy scenes, particularly when laying the trap for Benedick to fall in love with Beatrice. John Glover is outstanding as Leonato, the governor of Messina in whose villa all this takes place. Glover has an unerring sense of character and language that is put to excellent use in this role. In the comic role of Dogberry, the bumbling constable who discovers Don John’s plot, John Pankow is exactly right, as is the motley crew he has assembled to watch over Leonato and his guests. This “Much Ado” has been meticulously crafted and is consistently delightful. Jeff Croiter’s lighting brilliantly contrasts sunny days full of romantic games with dark nights overrun with plottings. David Yazbek’s music is fresh and original. To steal from “Twelfth Night,” this “Much Ado” is so beautifully filled with depth and dreams that it is, indeed, “high fantastical.” So, if O’Brien wants to take credit for the sunset, too, I’m inclined to let him.

more segregated. Civilization may have collapsed, but power’s rules haven’t changed much. The initial villain is played — in an extremely eccentric turn — by Tilda Swinton, but it’s no surprise that the final one is a 60-something white man. Allegory can often be a more effective way of treating racism and classism than facing these subjects head on. In 2011, Rupert Wyatt’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was a far more bracing and less patronizing depiction of underclass rebellion than Tate Taylor’s “The Help.” But allegory has its perils too, especially when one aims to reach a large worldwide audience. “Snowpiercer” would clearly like to be the contemporary equivalent of Aldous Huxley’s novel “Brave New World,” but it’s closer to a better-directed version of Neill Blonkamp’s sci-fi dud from last year, “Elysium.”

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THEATER PRIDE, from p.72

incredible musical about the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos. Yes, it’s a little bit “Evita-Goes-to-the-Philippines,” but the vibrant score, mosh pit staging — you stand for the full 90 minutes — and electric performances by a consistently superlative cast make this a completely thrilling experience. Availability: Good. It’s general admission, with the exception of a handful of seats above the action, which have partial views. Tickets range from $99 to $139 depending on the performance. You’ll have to check bags, even purses, and wear comfortable shoes.

American Airlines Theatre 227 W. 42nd St. Sutton Foster is at the top of her game in this sung-through tale of a girl disfigured in an accident who seeks the help of a faith healer. It’s a lot more fun than that sounds, and Jeanine Tesori’s score is outstanding. This show also has some of the best singing on Broadway now from Foster, Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell, Alexander Gemignani, and a powerhouse ensemble. Availability: Good. Regular ticket prices are $67-$152. Greatest availability in rear and side orchestra at $99 with a theatermania.com offer, versus $152 for the same seats.

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And for something a little different:

Circle In The Square 1633 Broadway at 50th St. Audra McDonald gives an ach-

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Audra McDonald in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.”

ingly beautiful performance as Billie Holiday, and while this is billed as a play (and McDonald won the Best Actress in a Play Tony), there’s lots of music in this. McDonald’s acting and singing are sensational, and this is a galvanizing 90-minute tour-de-force. Availability: Spotty. Full-price tickets are $97-$250. (For $250, you sit at a table on the floor.) But for Pride Weekend, we found only premium tickets and rear orchestra. The show is often up at TKTS, however.

The McKittrick Hotel 530 W. 27th St. This is not so much a play as an art installation with performances. The audience travels through dozens of amazingly decorated rooms as a version of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” unfolds around them. Familiarity with the play helps somewhat, since it’s likely you’ll experience the play out of order, but that doesn’t matter so much. The ingenuity and creativity of this production are unlike anything else you’ll see. This is great for a group to do, and you can stay for quite a while and get lost in the vision and imagination of Punchdrunk, the company responsible for this. Availability: Good. No discounts are available, and tickets are $75 and available through broadway.com

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING Davenport Theatre 354 W. 45th St. The ultimate inside Broadway satire is back with a mostly new edition that’s as loving yet poison-penned as ever. The astonishing four-person cast does incredible impersonations of Broadway’s biggest stars, and Gerard Alessandrini’s lyrics are, as always, trenchant observations about shows that won’t die… like “Les Misérables.” It’s all in good fun, but it’s oh-so deliciously nasty. You’ll like it even if you haven’t seen all the shows but

THEATER PRIDE, continued on p.89

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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THEATER PRIDE, from p.88

love a good satire. Availability: Good for all performances. Tickets are $79 and available at telecharge.com.

A list like this can never be comprehensive. I haven’t mentioned long runs like “Once,” “News-

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ies,” “Mamma Mia,” or “Phantom” that have big tourist appeal and are occasionally on TKTS. “Wicked” tickets are still hard to get, as are those for “Kinky Boots,” though premium seats are available for both during Pride Weekend. Whatever you choose, I hope it adds to your celebration and creates wonderful New York memories.

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HERE’S HOW TO SCORE THOSE TICKETS There are many ways to shop for tickets, and it can pay to check out a couple of different options. First and foremost, remember: the last thing any producer wants is to have empty seats that could have been sold before the curtain goes up. That’s revenue that can never be recaptured. That’s why the TKTS booth in Times Square (under the red steps at 47th Street and Broadway) can be a benefit, though you’ll invest a little time in waiting. It’s a day-of-performance operation and it can be hit-or-miss regarding the quality of available seats, but the people working there always seem genuinely willing to help you find the best options. TKTS also has a very handy app you can download to see what’s up before you head out to get in line. The most important thing to remember is to show up by 2 or 3 p.m. for evening shows and 11 a.m. for matinees. As you’re probably aware, the rise of “premium seating” in the last few years has created a situation where a pair to “The Book of Mormon” will set you back north of $700. But, we have found regularly priced seats located just a row behind ones sold as premiums, so buying online (telecharge.com or ticketmaster.com) with access to a seat map can be your friend. Be aware that prices can change by performance, as can the areas designated as premium seating. Theatermania.com can be a good resource to shop for discounts, as well, but know that you will have to register. | June 26 - July 09, 2014

They may seem antiquated at this point, but you can still find ticket brokers. Though they charge a hefty fee and their seats are sometimes no better than premium or side orchestra seats we found on our own, if you’re in a pinch for Pride Weekend, brokers are more likely to cough up seats on short notice. Some shows have lotteries that will get you in the door for under $50, but you have to fit into their schedule — and be there when the lottery is called. Standing room is sometimes available for shows that are sold out. For lotteries or standing room, head to the theater and find out their policies. Or you can also search online by the name of the show and “lottery.” Even without a lottery or resorting to standing room, you can score by showing up at the box office right before show time. I’ve even managed a few unused house seats. You’ll pay full price, but if you’re willing to take a single or scattered singles if you’re in a group, you might get into that show you’re dying to see. Off-Broadway, too, has some gems, and if you have never had the experience of Shakespeare in the Park, that’s worth a day of lounging in Central Park to get free tickets and a quintessential New York experience. Currently on is “Much Ado About Nothing” with Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater (a full review appears on page 69 of this issue). Go to publictheater.org for full information on getting the free seats. — Christopher Byrne

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EMPOWERMENT, from p.80

into the rest of the book, the project is first and foremost an educational tool for the trans community, allies, and doctors. Another main goal was to share as many viewpoints and personal stories as possible. The contributing authors come from multiple backgrounds, with expertise in law, health, culture, and policy. Quotes from a more than 3,000 people appear scattered through the chapters. When Erickson-Schroth studied at Middlebury College in Vermont from 1999 to 2003, trans issues weren’t something on people’s minds, she recalled. It wasn’t until after she graduated — as some of her friends came out as trans and she started meeting other trans people and coming across trans patients during her medical school training — that it became an important issue and interest in her life. Erickson-Schroth quickly started noticing a disconnect between the healthcare system and trans people. “Health providers were either hostile or uneducated about trans issues,” she said. “But trans people saw health providers as gatekeepers because that was their role for a really long time.” Today, there is information all over the web and in books, but Erickson-Schroth and her team wanted to compile a comprehensive overview of available information into one book. “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” covers health issues, but also employment, social transition, and building communities. Laura Jacobs, psychotherapist and trans activist, got involved with the project two years ago, when she met Erickson-Schroth while doing similar public speaking and activism. Erickson-Schroth invited Jacobs to join the team. Jacobs contributed a few excerpts and helped edit the book. But to her, it was much more than that. “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” is providing a resource that she didn’t have growing up. Jacobs explained that in the 1970s and ‘80s there wasn’t much out there about trans issues except for scandalous transphobic stories and porn. “To see this piece of work creat-

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ed is so incredible,” Jacobs said. When she transitioned in the early ‘90s, it was still difficult for her to find literature on trans issues. Even with the few books she could find in the library — and sneak out between other books — or find on the nascent Internet, she was still left with information imbued with stigma about trans lives. Jacobs continued to look for information, or role models, or resources to help better her knowledge of physiological aspects of trans identity as well as the stigma and prejudice transgender people encounter. To be a part of something that put in one ready place a lot of the information she struggled to find really spoke to Jacobs. “I have been working in the community for years, and this is the first book that really is geared toward educating the community and allies on a number of issues without it being written in an academic or medical way,” she said. “A high school student could pick this up and follow it.” Having contributed to the book, Jacobs is continuing her work on the project as a board member of the Trans Bodies, Trans Selves non-profit organization. The board is raising money to help get the book into the hands of those who can’t afford it — and may need it most. It’s also working on spreading the word about the book and gathering more stories for future editions. The book already incorporates the input of thousands of trans-identifying people, but a key goal is to get more stories from outside the US and Canada. The estimated release date for the next

EMPOWERMENT, continued on p.91

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

JANET MOCK, from p.80

as she picked through her chicken salad. “The article just kind of forced me to hurry up and write the book.” Since then, she has been a very vocal advocate for the trans community. Mock sits on the Arcus Foundation board, helped create programming for New York City trans youth at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, and started the Twitter hashtag “#GirlsLikeUs” that is used across many other social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook. “#GirlsLikeUs” started in March 2012, when Canadian Jenna Talackova was disqualified from

Miss Universe for being trans, during Cece McDonald’s sentencing for fatally stabbing a man who attacked her in Minneapolis, and in response to a rash of murders of trans women of color. After talking with the youth at Hetrick-Martin and finding out the young trans women didn’t identify as ‘trans’ but as ‘girls’ — which caught her off guard — Mock was inspired to start the movement. The hashtag also gave trans women a place to connect to one another, and it remains in daily use today. “The reason it has its own life and power now is because it gives a fuller portrait that’s not just about one aspect of you,” Mock said. “You can use it and mean anything. It

EMPOWERMENT, from p.90

August 14-17 tropicalheatkw.com | June 26 - July 09, 2014

Trans Selves” catches on like the book it was modeled after and that it can continue to publish updates as time goes on. On the back cover of 1973’s “Our Bodies, Ourselves” are that book’s last words — “Please share this book with others.” “That’s still the most important message I can share with people,” Erickson-Schroth said. “Spread the word, share this book with everyone.”

beyond just the trans and gender aspect, but read in a complete sense with an engagement in pop culture and media means that people are getting what the book is. It’s not just a transgender memoir to people, and that is so awesome to me.” Mock plans to keep bringing trans issues into the light of mainstream media through her appearances on TV and through her writing. She doesn’t see that ending any time soon. “I’m glad I had the experience with the grassroots organizations, but it’s not where I am best suited,” she explained. “My gifts as a writer and storyteller are helping raise those voices to a national level. It’s a different kind of advocacy.”

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edition is 2020. “Right now we are working on getting the first issue to as many people as possible,” Jacobs said. “What’s really wonderful about this is that we got so many people to contribute. Every chapter is incorporating a different person’s perspective.” Erickson-Schroth hopes “Trans Bodies,

gave women on social media a label that they could proudly put on their profile.” Mock will be back on the road once college campuses start filling up again and she starts a second tour, as a lot of her work focuses on college lecturing. Her book has also been adapted for different courses at universities, including Rutgers University where it will be a part of a women’s study course “Politicizing Beyoncé.” “Redefining Realness” reveals that Beyoncé was most responsible for “shifting” how Mock viewed herself as a woman of color. “I love Beyoncé,” she said. “I also just love pop culture in general, so the fact that my book is being read

Laura Erickson-Schroth was influenced as a youngster by the feminist breakthrough book “Our Bodies, Ourselves.”

KEY WEST 91

takes off from Bryant Park, Sixth Ave. at 42nd St. Jun. 28, 5 p.m. For more information, visit dykemarchnyc.org.

YOUTH Everyone Is Gay

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NIGHTLIFE Ring in Pride Weekend

JUNE 29: Dance with Demi.

“Everybooty” at BAM, curated by Spankzine Buddy, Hey Queen!, and Earl Dax promises a radical night of multi-arts mayhem to ring in Pride Weekend. The evening includes performances by LAVA, Penny Arcade and Steve Zetner, Max Steele’s Fag City featuring Juliana Huxtable, Sam McKinniss, Becca Blackwell, and Khaela Maricich, Avan Lava, Erin Markey, Hard Ton, Horrorchata, House of Ladosha, Lee Soulia, Julia Weldon, Katy Pyle and Jules Skloot, Sequinette, and Slanty Eyed Mama. Visuals are produced by Big Art Group, Dirty Looks NYC, and Jeffrey Owen Ralston, and the party’s DJs include Amber Martin, Average Jo, Kim Ann Foxman, and Sean B. BAM Fisher, 321 Ashland Pl., btwn. Lafayette Ave. & Hanson Pl. Jun. 27, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets are $15 at bam. org/everybooty or $25 at the door.

THU.JUN.26

CABARET And Now, Here’s Johnny!

FRI.JUN.27 PRIDE The Rally

For the second year in a row, the all-ages event will call Pier 26 in Tribeca home. Michelle Visage, the raven-haired “always keepin’ it real” emcee, from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” is joined by performers Sharon Needles and Betty Who. NYC Pride has continued the tradition of the rally since it originated in 1970, a year after the Stonewall Riots. Hudson River Park Pier 26, with access to cross West St. at N. Moore & Laight Sts. Jun. 27, 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Free.

BOOKS Love in the War to End All Wars

In his new epic novel “Flower of Iowa,” journalist and playwright Lance Ringel recounts the saga of two young World War I soldiers — one from America, the other British —who unexpectedly find love together behind the battle lines in France. Ringel reads from the novel, and is joined by Chuck Muckle, who sing songs from the period that appear in the book. Ringel also examines the history of

Two Rooms, Three DJs, One Party BGSQD

Marilyn Maye appeared on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” a record 76 times, probably because she was the chanteuse he called “Super Singer.” Of Maye he said, “If there are any young budding singers out there, get her recordings, listen to her — she knows how it’s done.” For three nights, Maye pays tribute to the late Carson at 54 Below, 254 W. 54th St. Jun. 26, 7 p.m.; Jun. 27-28, 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $40-$115, depending on night & seating, at 54below. com, and there’s a $25 food & drink minimum.

that brought him out of the closet. But Sank introduces us to some new pipes that frat may not have seen and welcomes singer and actress Erika Amato, fresh from her national tour in “Flashdance.”61 Christopher St. at Seventh Ave. S. in Sheridan Sq. Jun. 27, 7 p.m. The cover is $10 at theduplex.com, and there’s a two-drink minimum.

homosexuality in the Great War. Bureau of General Services — Queer Division at Cage, 83A Hester St., btwn. Orchard & Allen Sts. Jun. 27, 7:30 p.m. A reception, with a cash bar & light snacks precedes the reading at 7. Suggested donation is $5. For more information, email contact@bgsqd.com.

PERFORMANCE Celebrating Composers, Poets in Song To kick off Pride Weekend in New York, the Cheah Chan Duo — Phillip Cheah, voice, and Trudy Chan, piano — presents “Rise, My Love,” a celebratory program of songs and short piano pieces by nearly two dozen LGBT composers and poets, both historical and contemporary, foreign and home-grown, from classical art songs to the avant-garde. Church of Saint Luke in the Fields, 487 Hudson St. at Grove St. Jun. 27, 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at risemylove.eventbrite.com.

He Smiles, He Jokes, He Sings!

We know Adam Sank as a devilishly handsome joke man, but in two shows at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre, titled “Mama, I Want to Sing Showtunes: A One ‘Mo Show!,” he introduces us to his inner chanteuse, as well. Okay, so there are some laughs as well — when he remembers botching “Corner of the Sky” a cappella in the seventh grade or recalls a bathroom stall frat boy encounter

New York’s weekly dance party for men, Click Fridays, partners with NYC Pride to present “Click-Pride.” Hosted by the International Gay Ambassadors, the party will host three international DJs — Ivan Gomez, Tony Moran, and Wayne G — in two different rooms. The Click dancers will be scattered throughout the rooms, with special guests expected. BPM New York Nightclub, 516 W. 42nd St. Jun. 27, 11 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $60 at bpmny.com/pride.

SAT.JUN.28

ACTIVISM A Herstory Open House

Prior to heading into Manhattan for the Dyke March, women are invited to a Pride Open House at the Lesbian Herstory Archives. 484 14th St., btwn. Eighth Ave. & Prospect Park W., Park Slope. Jun. 28, 1-3 p.m. More information at lesbianherstoryarchives.org.

Not a Parade, but a Protest

The Dyke March is a protest march, not a parade. Without an NYPD permit, thousands of women take to the streets to declare their right to protest unimpeded by the powers that be. Every year, they take over Fifth Avenue in celebration of LBTQ women and to protest against ongoing discrimination, harassment, and anti-LBTQ violence in schools, on the job, in our families, and on the streets. The march

Everyone Is Gay, an LGBTQ youth organization, hosts an all-ages pride celebration. Singer-songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs will performer along with surprise guests, and cupcakes will be provided by Baked by Melissa. Bluestocking founders Dannielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russ will try their hand at a few jokes, so probably best to humor them. Bluestockings, 172 Allen St., btwn. Stanton & Rivington Sts. Jun. 28, 1 p.m. More information at bluestockings.com.

GALLERY Body Language

“After Our Bodies Meet: From Resistance to Potentiality,” curated by Alexis Heller, traces the efforts of contemporary queer artists within the legacy of early feminist art. By bridging historic and contemporary endeavors, the exhibition not only aims to honor the pioneers of gender-conscious art, but also highlights the evolution of feminist thought within artistic representations of queer bodies — including some that question the gender binary on which feminism was first conceived. Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay + Lesbian Art, 26 Wooster St., btwn. Canal & Grand Sts. Through Aug. 3, Tue.-Wed., Fri-Sun., noon-6p.m.; Thu., noon—8 p.m. More information at leslielohman.org.

THEATER Based On True Events

The Nuyorican Poets Café presents Anthony Fusco’s “Crossing Verrazano,” a drama about love, lust, hatred, and sexuality. Based on true events about three young men from Los Angeles and their fateful night in New York after meeting two men who weren’t looking for love at the iconic Stonewall Bar. The Nuyorican Poets Café, 236 E. Third St., btwn. Aves. B & C. Jun. 28, 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance at vendini.com, $25 at the door.

OUTDOORS Serving T on the C

Sea Tea is returning for its 18th season. The weekly three-hour sail event’s rebirth, or “re-berth,” kicks off during Pride Weekend with a new boat, the Hornblower’s J.J., but with the same amenities — perhaps most importantly, a free buffet dinner and air conditioning down below. The summer schedule begins on Jun. 28, at 6:30 p.m., departure at 7:30 sharp from Pier 40, 353 West St., with a muscle bear cruise hosted by porn star Samuel Colt, with DJ Jonny Mack spinning tunes. On Jun. 29, 6:30 p.m., two cruises launch: the Pride cruise, on the Hornblower’s J.J., with DJs Randy Bettis and Laritza Dumont; and the Latin Pride cruise, co-sponsored with Club Evolution and Friends Tavern, with DJs, dancers, and entertainers from Evolution. Both Sunday evening cruises return after the Hudson River Pride fireworks are concluded. Tickets range from $25-$40 in advance at seatea.com; $35-$50 the day of, depending on which cruise.

NIGHTLIFE Rage on the Roof

NYC Pride and Brian Rafferty Productions present the VIP Rooftop Party. Now in its fourth year, the party has become one of Pride Weekend’s leading men’s events. With DJs Dave Aude, Escape, and Nacho Chapado providing the dance music, guests will

SAT.JUN.28, continued on p.94

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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Come celebrate Pride with the annual March along Fifth Avenue. The March is a celebration of our lives and our community. In 2013, more than 300 marching contingents, representing a vast array of activist groups, non-profits, community organizations, , small businesses, political candidates, and corporate sponsors walked the Lavender Line in one of the city’s biggest annual events and the world’s biggest LGBT turnouts. This year’s grand marshals are actress Laverne Cox (Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black”), actor Jonathan Groff (HBO’s “Looking”), and Rea Carey, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Line up begins at 11 a.m. on Jun. 29, with kickoff at noon, from 36th St. & Fifth Ave. The march ends in the West Village at Christopher & Greenwich Sts. More information at nycpride.org.

After a sold-out benefit run for Broadway Cares in February, producers of “Pageant — The Musical” bring the show back in a limited Off-Broadway engagement. “Pageant” features contestants desperately vying for a glittering tiara, with swimsuit, talent, and evening gown competitions. The prospective queens includes Nick Cearley, from “The Skivvies,” Frankie J. Grande, from “Mamma Mia,” and Alex Ringler, from “West Side Story.” Each night a different winner is crowned by the audience, who get to vote for the winner. The Davenport Theatre, 354 W. 45th St. Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; Mondays, 7:30 & 10 p.m., Jun. 29-Sep. 1. Tickets are $49.50-$79.50 at telecharge.com.

SAT.JUN.28, from p.92

have a million-dollar view of the city. Hudson Terrace, 621 W. 46th St. Jun. 28, 2 p.m.–10 p.m. Tickets still available begin at $119 nycpride.org/events.

Changing the Game

Teaze, formerly Rapture on the River, is NYC Pride’s exclusive event for women. After more than a decade of “rocking women’s worlds,” Teaze is refreshing the event, introducing new ways for ladies of all walks to come together and celebrate Pride. The evenings DJs include Dimples and Susan Levine. Hudson River Park, Pier 26, cross West St. at Laight & N. Moore Sts. Jun. 28, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Tickets are $25-$75 at nycpride.org/events.

Try Your Luck

Masterbeat sponsors an all new NYC Pride dance party event, the WE Party: Casino. Try your luck as Masterbeat once again transforms New York’s legendary Hammerstein Ballroom — this time into a mega-club casino, complete with slots, craps, and blackjack. WE Party is a dance event that incorporates visual art and live installations, utilizing the latest technology, projections, LED displays, and live acts to create mesmerizing theatrical performances that blend seamlessly into the music provided by international DJs Issac Escalante (Mexico City) and Micky Friedmann (Berlin). The Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 W. 34th St. Jun. 28, 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. Tickets Range from $85 - $120 at nycpride.org/ events.

Yachting on the Gowanus Canal

Hey Queen!’s fifth anniversary port-of-call is the embarkation point for a sail away to a queer island of casual elegance, luxurious accommodations, and impeccable service, all available in Brooklyn without leaving dry land. The evening’s DJs include Precolumbian and J Lamar Wright, and the dancers are Addys Gonzalez, Jen Rosenblit, and Effie Bowen. The anniversary party’s Queen of Honor is Rye Rye, a Baltimore native whose debut single “Shake It To The Ground,” assisted by DJ Blagstarr, has received more than one million YouTube views. Srb Brooklyn, 172 Second Ave. at 13th St. in Gowanus. Jun. 28, 10 p.m.-4 a.m., with an open bar sponsored by Coors Light for the first hour. Tickets are $10 at heyqueen.brownpapertickets.com; $12-$15 at the door. A portion of the proceeds benefit Sylvia’s Place, a project of the Metropolitan Community Church NY’s Homeless Youth Services.

SUN.JUN.29

Services: Queer Division at Cage, 83A Hester St., btwn. Orchard & Allen Sts. Jun. 29, 4 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested, but a $20 admission is a ticket to an unlimited open bar.

PRIDE The March

The Festival

PrideFest, now in its 20th year, is the annual LGBT street fair that combines vendors, entertainers, and activities for a day of celebration in the name of equality. PrideFest attracts thousands of out-of-state visitors and brings them together with local residents and families, community leaders, area business owners, and corporate sponsors. Performers this year include De’Borah, Dina Delicious, Kim Joyce, Ray Issac, and Mighty Real. Hudson St. between Abingdon Sq. & W. 14th St. Jun. 29, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Free. More information at nycpride.org.

Dance with Demi

The annual Dance on the Pier, which is the climax of Pride Weekend, returns with headliner Demi Lovato, DJs Pagano and Grind, lighting by Guy Smith, and visuals by Robert Montengro. All proceeds benefit the annual Pride events hosted by NYC Pride as well as New York’s LGBT community organizations. The annual Hudson River Pride fireworks bring the evening to a close. Hudson River Park, Pier 26, cross West St. at Laight & N. Moore Sts. Jun. 29, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Tickets range from $80 - $139 at nycpride.org/events.

Alt Celebration

The Bureau of General Services — Queer Division is throwing a pride party without “the crowds and corporate-sponsored floats.” Queer Pride at Queer Division features performances by Kaitlyn Holland, Shane Shane, Max Steele, and Elsa Waithe and gives guests a chance to peruse a wide array queer books, zines, and art works. Bureau of General

THEATER Getting the Audience Involved

MON.JUN.30

PRIDE Broadway Stars Celebrate Pride with Anthem

Broadway Sings for Pride, which brings together theater professionals to support equality and community organizations, celebrates Pride with its fourth annual benefit concert, drawing talent from more than 15 Broadway shows. The event, “Anthem,” features songs that embody the resilience of the LGBT community and benefits the Hetrick-Martin Institute, which serves the educational needs of LGBT youth. Toshi’s Living Room & Penthouse, 1141 Broadway at W. 26th St. Jun. 30, 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 at broadwaysingsforpride. com.

PERFORMANCE The Women of Klezbos

Isle of Klezbos presents the 16th annual celebration of KlezBiGay Pride, with this year’s concert saluting the community spirit of the venue, El Sol Brillante Garden. “WunderKammer Klezmer” features a full sublime sextet in the summer’s only all-gal concert. E. 12th St. between A Ave. and B Ave. Jun. 30, 7 p.m. Free.

ADVOCACY A Benefit for New Alternatives Hosted by singer, songwriter, and actress Jené Hernandez

MON.JUN.30, continued on p.97

June 26 - July 09, 2014 | www.gaycitynews.com

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