Echo magazine september 2016 by OUTvoices Phoenix (former Echo Magazine)

PLUS:

Everything you need for heading back to school

You Better (Net)work!

Valley organizations underscore the value of who you know LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 27, #12 | ISSUE 684 | SEPTEMBER 2016 | COMPLIMENTARY

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inside this issue Issue 684 | Vol. 27, #12 | September 2016

features NEWS 10 4 Your Information 12 News Briefs 14 Datebook 16 NAU recognizes Flagstaff YMCA director for genderinclusive changes 18 LGBT Devilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pride welcomes new chapter president PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS 48 Without Reservations

Photo by Scotty Kirby.

50 At The Box Office

54 Opening Nights 62 Between The Covers

You Better (Net)work! ONE Community launches a new event. Bonus: Find out how Valley Leadership is impacting the LGBTQ community.

Photo courtesy of facebook.com/glsen.phoenix.

Back-To-School Basics GLSEN adds guidance for transgender students to syllabus. Bonus: Meet the 2016 Phoenix Pride scholarship recipients.

COMMUNITY 66 Talking Bodies 68 All Over The Map 70 Money Talks 72 Ask Lambda Legal ON THE COVER Travis Shumake, Valley Leadership alumnus, and Devon Norris, Roxx Vodka spokesmodel, at Ocotillo in Phoenix. Photo by Scotty Kirby. Photo courtesy of one n ten.

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Camp OUTdoors! Annual retreat provides LGBTQ and allied youth a place for community and personal development.

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TransParent AZTYPO offers families of transgender children support, resources and community.

inside this issue

echomag.com web exclusives PHOTO GALLERIES Did the Echo cameras catch you out and about at this month’s events? Find out at echomag.com/ gallery/2016-photos. COMMUNITY CALENDAR From pageants to advocacy, this is where the community goes to find out what’s going on in the gayborhood. echomag.com/ community-calendar.

Photo by nightfuse.com.

My Fair Lady Local company revisits iconic musical with timeless message. echomag.com/my-fair-lady

Dancing Queen Find out what Mark Howard had to say following his Dancing With The Bars victory. echomag.com/dancing-queen

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY Looking for a local group to join? Have a group that’s seeking new members? Either way, this is the place to connect: echomag.com/ community-directory. MARKETING SOLUTIONS Find out why Echo is the publication your future clients are already reading. echomag.com/ marketing-solutions.

Photo by Marcus Farrell.

School Pride Find out more about the LGBTQ clubs and groups on Arizona’s campuses. echomag.com/school-pride

online now

Hit Me With Your Best Shot For all the Out & About photos in this issue, and more, visit Echo’s online photo gallery. echomag.com/gallery

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SEPTEMBER 2016

notes from the

managing editor By KJ Philp

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill

ach year Echo delivers a back-toschool issue to celebrate students of all ages, to recognize the organizations that work on behalf of those students and to say thank you to the faculty who welcome and support the LGBTQ students and clubs within their educational institutions. This year we decided to include professionals who are never officially finished learning by adding a networking twist. We’re incredibly proud of the final product that is the September Issue, and we hope that, no matter where you are in your academic or professional journey, you’ll find information that will contribute to your personal growth or professional development in the pages ahead. After all, who couldn’t use a little selfimprovement every now and then? Let’s start with a proper introduction to our cover models. Meet Travis Shumake, Valley Leadership alumnus, and Devon Norris, Roxx Vodka spokesmodel. These two jumped at the opportunity to share a bit about their professional journeys with us – they clean up pretty well, too. Don’t you think? In our cover story, “You Better (Net) work,” Megan Wadding introduces us to ONE Community’s newest event. Find out more about the Young Professionals Multicultural Network, an event aimed at career-minded millennials, on page 24. From there, Liz Massey caught up with Shumake to learn more about the impact Valley Leadership is making on local LGBTQ leaders and the community as a whole. We’re excited to share more about their mission in “Advancing Passions, Accelerating Pursuits” on page 28.

Before you “fall” into our back-to-school coverage, be sure to check out “Roxx Solid” on page 26, where Norris shares more about his role as a brand development manager aka RoxxStar for Roxx Vodka. Heading back to school means returning to classrooms, locker rooms and bathrooms, too. In “Back-To-School Basics” on page 34, Tamara Juarez sat down with GLSEN to find out more about the efforts being made to educate schools and students about the new federal guidance that protects transgender students who attend public schools. What’s on everyone’s must-do list before summer comes to an end? It’s camping, of course. Ahead of this year’s “Camp OUTdoors!,” Laura Latzko tracked down three young adults who have grown from new campers, once upon a time, into leaders and mentors. These exceptional individuals share their stories on page 39. Last, but definitely not least, we have something for parents, too. Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization is a monthly meetup group for families of transgender and gender-nonconforming children. Megan Wadding has the details in “TransParent” on page 44. Beyond back to school, there’s another significant milestone taking place this month: It’s Echo’s 27th birthday! I invite you to join me in saying thank you to the readers, contributors and advertisers who continue to make Echo possible. KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine and can be reached at editor@echomag.com.

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR: KJ Philp CONTRIBUTORS: Cait Brennan David-Elijah Nahmod Tony Contini Tia Norris Tamara Juarez Hans Pedersen Laura Latzko Terri Schlichenmeyer Liz Massey Richard Schultz Devin Millington Michael J. Tucker Megan Wadding Melissa Myers ART DEPARTMENT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Jake Rojas PHOTOGRAPHY: LaQuan Photography, nightfuse.com and Tony Contini. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee James ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES: Gregg Edelman Randy Robinson NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863

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MEMBER:

If you know a community hero who should be considered for induction into Echo’s Hall of Fame or honored as one of Echo’s 2016 Leaders of the Year, we want to hear from you! For submission details, see page 12.

Echo Magazine is published by and is a trademark of ACE Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of including any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed in are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff or ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of a person or organization in articles, advertising or listings inis not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation of such organizations or persons (unless such orientation is specifically stated). Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing. Free copies limited to one per person. 8

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Photo credit: Nike.

The United States Navy formally named a ship in honor of after the LGBTQ rights icon and former Naval officer Harvey Milk Aug. 16 at Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay Area. Milk, a civil and human rights leader, became one of the first openly LGBTQ elected officials in the U.S. when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. The USNS Harvey Milk is the second ship of the next generation of fleet replenishment oilers (T-AO 206), and will be one of six total ships in the class that will all be named after civil and human rights leaders.

by the numbers Team USA member Chris Mosier didn’t pick up any gold medals in Rio – his event, the duathlon, isn’t an Olympic sport – he has earned yet another first place designation: Moser is the first transgender athlete to be featured in a Nike commercial. Mosier is also the first transgender member of Team USA and the first transgender athlete to be featured in ESPN’s Body Issue. The ad, called “Unlimited Courage,”canbe viewed at bit.ly/2aI884U.

fashion Grindr debuted its first-ever full range menswear line, The Varsity Collection, Aug. 11 in collaboration with innovative printing design studio, Print All Over Me (PAOM). As an effort to increase awareness and raise funds for LGBTQ athletes, all proceeds will go to Athlete Ally’s Principle 6 campaign, a nonprofit focused on ending homophobia and transphobia in the sports community. The 29-piece capsule collection is available on exclusively on grindrstore.com and PAOM’s e-commerce site. Photo by John Arsenault; styled by Djuna Bel.

social media GENDR, “the world’s first and only app created for the gender variant and queer community,” officially launched worldwide in July. GENDR, a membership-based online community that celebrates, shares and respects everyone’s identity on the spectrum. Members chat, private message and share photos. “People are joining GENDR to talk and learn about gender and sexual identity, authentic living – including transition tips, makeup tutorials and gender neutral apparel, breaking news, health resources, nightlife, trends and travel tips,” according to a July press release. GENDR membership fees are $5 per month or $30 per year (USD). For more information, visit gendr.co. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/gendrapp.

military

news briefs

One Community Announces Spotlight On Success Honorees One Community announced the 2016 Spotlight on Success Local Heroes Award honorees Aug. 5.

honorees include:

The honorees will formally be recognized as part of the sixth annual Spotlight on Success Awards Oct. 28 at the Sheraton Grand Downtown.

• Stephanie Feder, marketing manager, and John Hamby, operations manager – Uber

Dennis and Janine Skinner, parents of three children, including a lesbian daughter and a transgender son, are this year’s Change Agent Award recipients.

• Tyler Kinnie, recruiter, and Katee Van Horn, vice president, International People Operations – GoDaddy

“As people of faith and as active allies in their community, they have worked to educate and raise awareness of gay and transgender issues in their community,” a ONE Community press release stated.

• Donna Tanori, human resources director, and JoEllen Lynn, public & community affairs director – Fry’s Food Stores

The 2016 Spotlight on Success

• Deanna Jordan, chair, Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

• Rev. David Felten, pastor, The Fountains United Methodist Church

• Justin Owen, executive director, Phoenix Pride

“We are thrilled to be honoring leaders in the community who understand that

Echo Seeks 2016 Hall of Fame, Leaders of the Year Nominations Each year, as part of LGBTQ History Month, Echo Magazine honors community heroes who have helped raise consciousness and spark change on the local and national levels by inducting a select few into our Hall of Fame. Similarly, we wrap up each calendar year by naming Echo’s Leaders of the Year (formerly known as Man and Woman of the Year) and honoring the extraordinary efforts and accomplishments made by two individuals as part of our annual year in review tradition. This year, we want to hear from you. If you know of an LGBTQ or allied community member who is deserving of either of these honors – whether it’s for their contributions in government and politics, nonprofit service, activism or entertainment

– we invite you to submit a nomination on their behalf. To submit a nomination, please send your letter of nomination (300 words max. outlining why the individual being nominated should be considered) to editor@echomag. com by midnight Sept. 6. For more on Echo Magazine’s Hall of Fame, including a complete list of inductees, visit echomag.com/hall-of-fame-2015.

diversity and inclusion greatly benefit our wonderful state socially and economically,” said Angela Hughey, President of ONE Community. “Our differences are our strength, and these illustrious honorees are promoting and cultivating an environment that celebrates, respects and protects everyone,” she added. The event will take place Oct. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a networking cocktail reception to follow from, at the Sheraton Grand Downtown, 340 N. Third St., in Phoenix. For more information on the 2016 Spotlight on Success Awards, be sure to pick up the October issue of Echo. For tickets to the awards luncheon, visit onecommunity.co.

Join Echo Magazine’s Community Directory To have your LGBTQ club or organization added to Echo Magazine‘s Community Directory, send an email containing the name of your organization or group, a short description, website and contact information to editor@echomag.com.

echomag.com/community-directory

Artists Wanted: Tumbleweed Hosts “Wonderwall” Artwork Project Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development launched the “Wonderwall” artwork project in an effort to find five local artists to transform the blank exterior east-facing wall of the organization’s new center, located at 428 N. 24th St. in Phoenix. The project seeks to identify artists who will convert five panels on the

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Phoenix Youth Resource Center into messages of “Hope, Strength and a Brighter Tomorrow” for the homeless youth who use Tumbleweed services. Local artists are invited to enter their vision for consideration via tumbleweedwonderwall. hscampaigns.com by midnight Sept. 2. Five will be selected to transform the

blank exterior wall of a building on a busy Phoenix street – which, according to traffic experts, has an estimated 105,000 vehicles pass by it each week – into inspirational art. “Each artist will be responsible for one panel,” said Cynthia Schuler, Tumbleweed chief executive officer. . “There are actually six panels on the new center … but one will remain blank for future artists and to symbolize that the future offers opportunity, hope and never-ending possibilities. For more information on the project, visit echomag.com/artists-wanted. news

Letter From The President of Tucson Pride TUCSON, ARIZ., July 19, 2016 – Hello to the community of Tucson. I would like to start off by apologizing for the actions and behaviors of this organization. Even though I and the board of directors for whom I serve have not been directly involved in behaviors unbecoming of an organization, we do share the task ahead of us in repairing and maintaining the trust that has been lost throughout this community. I have met with several members of the community [and] what I am hearing is that The Lesbian & Gay Alliance has lost focus to the very core of its mission. “Our mission’s to produce and promote educational, cultural, and recreational events for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied communities in Tucson, AZ.” This is not the time to be fighting with each other. We need to remain vigilant and focused on the very nature of our mission of embracing each other’s cultural individuality. However, I can’t do this alone. My board of directors and I need the community of Tucson to stand side by side to help usher in a new beginning. What we don’t need are people with hot heads or personal agendas.

We need people to join our board of directors that bring talent, creativity, clarity and focus back to this organization. I am aware that this new board comes as a shock and surprise to many in the community. The lack of transparency, the lack of involvement in essence was too much to witness and could no longer continue. “It’s time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Tucson. To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our organization so it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent.” I can apologize for our past however; I can’t change it. The Tucson community has spoken. I know trust has been lost. I offer my hand in friendship along with my promise of moving this organization into the future. Best Regards, John Foley President of Tucson Pride Message: 520-276-9091 Cell: 602-793-2337 jhnytuc@gmail.com

Tucson Pride Welcomes New Board of Directors President: John Foley Vice-President: Bill Travis Treasurer: Cyndie Confortii Secretary: Timothy Franco Board Member: Dea Brasgalla Boar Member: David Fredricks Board Member: Patrick Holt Board Member: Larry Moore

Tucson Pride P.O. Box 57478 Tucson, AZ 85732 520-276-9091 info@tucsonpride.org tucsonpride.org facebook.com/tucson.pride

(480) 409-0268 AltaFillmore.com 601 W Fillmore Street Phoenix, AZ 85003 EchoMag.com

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datebook

You Better (Net)work ... aug. 25

sept. 7-10

The Tucson GLBT Chamber of Commerce’s August Out & About Mixer – hosted by Jeff Moore of J. B. Moore Tax Resolution Service and Margie Lannon of Home Watch Care Givers – will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at 1870 W. Orange Grove Road, in Tucson. tucsonglbtchamber.org Sept. 2

The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fresh Event Venue, 4117 N. 16th St., in Phoenix.

Trans*Studies 2016, an international transdisciplinary conference on gender, embodiment and sexuality, will take place at the University of Arizona Student Union (North Ballroom), 1303 E. University Blvd., in Tucson. bit.ly/2aO3wHL Sept. 27

ONE Community presents the debut of its Young Professional Multicultural Network, millennial-specific networking event, at The Newton, 300 W. Camelback Road, in Phoenix. (See story, page 24.)

RSVP at phoenixgaychamber.com.

aug. 20 & sept. 8 Phoenix Fire and Police departments, the Department of Homeland Security and Phoenix Pride will host Active Shooter Preparedness Trainings (at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. respectively) at the Pride To have your LGBTQ clubPhoenix or organization LGBT Center, 801 Magazine‘s N. Second Ave., Phoenix. added to Echo Community Directory, send an email containing the phoenixpridelgbtcenter.org

Join Echo Magazine’s Community Directory

name of your organization or group, a short20 description, website and contact aug. information to editor@echomag.com.

The Phoenix Gaymers will host a PowerUp Party for Terros from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center, 801 N. echomag.com/community-directory Second Ave., Phoenix.

aug. 21

onecommunity.co

sept. 4

Pride Guide’s fourth annual Phoenix LGBT Wedding & Honeymoon Expo will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, 800 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, in Phoenix. gayarizona.com aug. 26 & 28; sept 11 & 15

The Phoenix Mercury will tip off against Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Seattle (respectively) at Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St. in Phoenix. mercury.wnba.com/tickets sept. 1

Mixxers Entertainment presents Release, featuring DJ Dana Dub and recording artist Jenna Drey, beginning at 9:30 p.m. at Club DWNTWN, 702 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. mixxersent.com sept. 24 Safe Talk with Safe Out, a half-day alertness and prevention training to help increase knowledge, comfort, and ability to reach out to someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, will take place at 3864 N. 27th Ave. in Phoenix. lgbtqconsortium.com sept. 25 Pride Guide’s second annual Tucson LGBT Wedding & Honeymoon Expo will take place from11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., in Tucson. gayarizona.com sept. 30 Tucson Pride presents the 16th annual Pride on Parade and block party beginning at 7 p.m. along Fourth Avenue in Tucson.

Arizona Drag Stars, featuring Neveah Mckenzie, Mya Mckenzie, Savannah Stevens, Luna St. James, Coco St. James, Eddie Broadway, Dee Jae Galaxy, returns to Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave. in Phoenix, beginning at 9 p.m. crescentphx.com 14

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tucsonpride.org/parade2016 mark our calendars To have your event considered for Echo’s print and online calendars, submit your event details to echomag.com/ community-calendar. All submissions are subject to Echo’s discretion. events

Be a part of the ARTS!

LGBT NEWS, VIEW

TOBER 2015 | ISSUE 673 | OC T | VOL. 27, #1 EN NM AI RT TE EN S AND

RY | COMPLIMENTA

Each year, Echo dedicates its annual Arts Issue to local galleries, theaters, venues and artists, including a snapshot of what the upcoming arts season has in store. This year’s Arts Issue is already in the works, but there’s still time to be included.

To place your ad in this premium issue, call 602-266-0550 by Aug. 31.

Photo courtesy of Instagram.com.

Flagstaff Family YMCA. Photo courtesy of Smith Architects Inc.

Putting the Y in Ally NAU recognizes Flagstaff YMCA director for gender-inclusive restroom efforts By Liz Massey

Flagstaff Family YMCA manager has been honored by Northern Arizona University’s LGBTQIA Commission for her efforts in making the facility a safe and welcoming place for transgender and nonbinary patrons. Lindsey Combe (pictured), the facility’s operations director, received the commission’s Ally of the Year Award late in the spring semester. The award, which has been presented by the commission since 2013, recognizes partners on and off campus who demonstrate support for NAU’s LGBTQIA community. Combe was nominated for the award because of her handling of a request to change the signs on the two single-stall restrooms in the facility. After a member communicated that they didn’t feel safe or comfortable in the Flagstaff Family YMCA because of the strict gender-exclusive labeling of the restrooms, Combe met with the individual’s parents, Joe and DeeAnn Wegwert, who are also members of the YMCA. Joe, an associate professor at NAU, and DeeAnn, a community representative, provided Combe with insight on the best ways to update the signage, which included the suggestion to avoid using icons that emphasized the gender binary of male or female. This resulted in the creation of new signs bearing only a toilet icon and an wheelchair-accessible icon. The signs cost about $400 to have manufactured and installed, Combe said. The Wegwerts were instrumental to expanding Combe’s understanding of the issues that trans and non-binary individuals face in gendered spaces such as public

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restrooms, she asserted. “All staff at the Y want to be supportive, but we really didn’t have the language to begin the conversation. I said, ‘Please help me understand how to help you.’ Joe, in particular, and the NAU LGBTQIA group sat with me and helped me understand the language to use,” she said. The Ally of the Year Award praised Combe’s prompt handling of the matter, and her willingness to find a solution that created a welcoming atmosphere at the facility. According to Combe, the entire YMCA organization is dedicated to ensuring its members feel included and welcomed. “The Y is for everyone,” she said. “It’s a community place where everyone should feel comfortable. We say ‘no one is turned away from the Y,’ mainly in terms of finances, but it’s so much more than a person’s ability to pay. [Inclusion is] so important to our culture.” Combe noted that there was no general announcement about the signs on the restrooms, but that her staff has been trained to have educational conversations about why the change was made when members ask about it. Additionally, the Wegwerts have joined the YMCA’s board, and have sat in on staff meetings to answer questions about the change. The changing rooms for the Flagstaff Family YMCA remain gendered spaces, although Combe said conversations were taking place at the national level of the organization on how to promote the safety and inclusion of trans or non-binary members. For now, she said that the LGBTQ members she’s interacted with were appreciative of the inclusive restrooms as a

safe place to change into their workout gear. The signs have generated mostly positive comments for the Flagstaff Family YMCA, with other local organizations seeking counsel from Combe about how to design inclusive restroom signage and implement a similar change. Because Joe and DeeAnn are both members of the LGBTQIA Commission, the changes also attracted attention at the university, resulting in Combe’s nomination from the award. Matthew Tombaugh, the immediate past chair of the commission, said that honoring the actions of people such as Combe through the ally award was significant, because allies are crucial to the advancement of LGBTQ equality. “Much, if not all, of our work depends on the support of people who identify outside of the LGBTQIA community to move efforts forward,” Tombaugh said. Combe said she was “humbled” by the award, which she was presented at the President’s Annual Diversity Awards. “I hadn’t thought about being an ally much before this,” she said. “But I saw that something as simple as changing the bathroom signs meant so much to the people who are affected. It was such an easy change, but it showed me how much that segment of the community has struggled with this issue.” Liz Massey has been involved in LGBTQ community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com. news

Passing the Pitchfork

LGBT Devils’ Pride welcomes new chapter president By KJ Philp

aving grown up in Phoenix, Manuel Lucero (pictured) spent his high school years at Camelback High School, where he graduated in 2009. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Arizona State University in 2013, which is also the year he joined LGBT Devil’s Pride. As a part of this chapter of the ASU Alumni Association, he served as the board secretary for three years. During that time, he also completed his master’s degree in business management from the W.P. Carey School of Business. This fall, heading into his fourth year with LGBT Devils’ Pride, will be a bit different for Lucero. In May, he was elected as the chapter’s president for the 20162017 school year and he just took office in July. Echo Magazine caught up with Lucero, ahead of the fall semester, to find out more about what he has in store for LGBT Devils’ Pride in the coming year. Echo: What is the mission of the LGBT Devils’ Pride Chapter? Lucero: Devils’ Pride connects alumni in all walks of life, and also helps support the success of current LGBTQA Sun Devils. Echo: What prompted your initial move to become involved as president? Lucero: After serving as secretary for three years, I was ready to lead the group in a new direction. Echo: Did you have to put forth a platform of new ideas, initiatives, plans or intentions for this group? Lucero: Yes. The previous president did a fantastic job of connecting us with the [LGBTQ] community and making us well known. However, we did not have enough diversification within the group. We hope

to involve a much wider spectrum of the community in the coming year, and involve both small and large community partners as well. Echo: What were the top three things you value about LGBT Devils’ Pride, prior to taking on the role of president? Lucero: Our board of directors: a wonderful group of committed individuals. Our members: we exist to bring ASU alums together, and it is wonderful to see our members join us at events. Our scholarship program: awarding current ASU LGBTQA students scholarships makes our mission more valuable and worthwhile. Echo: What are the top three things you’d like to see change or improve now, as the president? Lucero: I hope to increase our membership and continue to bring awareness [of] the organization. We provide a great space for ASU LGBTQA alumni, and I hope more people will join us to enjoy what we have to offer. Echo: Describe the value of LGBT Devils’ Pride when it comes to business and community networking. Lucero: Our members represent a wide array of industries [and] many of our members are long-time professionals. Our mixers and events throughout the year not only bring members together, but also allows for organic networking to occur. Many times I have seen true partnerships come together through our organization. The ability to meet at an alumni group fosters a sense of commonality, so networking is not only easier, but occurs much faster. Echo: What else does LGBT Devils’ Pride do throughout the year? Lucero: We host meet ups/events/mixers once a month … We participate in the AIDS

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Walk [and] we have previously sponsored different LGBT events. We also host an annual scholarship dinner in March. We award scholarships to current LGBTQA ASU students, and the dinner in March not only serves as the award ceremony for the students, but also serves as our key fundraiser for the following year’s scholarships. Echo: Why is being involved in this capacity important to you? Lucero: We are a community organization made up of community members. We value our community, and thus, we are proud to partner with groups and support groups who make a difference. As we award scholarships to current students and bring together alumni, we hope to be playing a key role in unifying a big part of our community her in Arizona. Echo: Why is it important to have LGBT alumni included under the umbrella of the ASU Alumni Association? Lucero: We have a lot to offer. Just as every other alumni group, we serve an important role in representing a group of alumni from Arizona State University. Echo: If you had one message to relay to LGBTQ ASU alumni who are not chapter members, what would it be? Lucero: Getting involved is very easy, and it’s fun! You can join us at a mixer, attend an event or volunteer with us. We bring alumni together. The more the merrier; we have something for everyone. For more information on LGBT Devils’ Pride, including monthly events, visit alumni.asu.edu/chapters/lgbt-devils-pride or facebook.com/lgbtdpc.

READ THE REST For Echo’s full interview with Manuel Lucero, visit echomag.com/passing-the-pitchfork.

KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine and can be reached at editor@echomag.com. news

OUT & ABOUT Dancing With The Bars 2016 Aug. 7 at Tempe Center for the Arts. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Photo by Scotty Kirby.

feature story

You Better (Net)work!

ONE Community launches event aimed at career-minded millennials By Megan Wadding

feature story

“[Millennials] overwhelmingly believe in treating people fairly. They are the business and community leaders of the future. They are Arizona's future.” Angela Hughey

ith the launch of ONE Community’s Young Professionals Multicultural Network (YPMN) event, which will take place Sept. 27 at The Newton in Phoenix, networking in the Valley just got a little younger, trendier and more diverse. The event will be a blend of the Multicultural Networking and Recruitment Forum and the Young Professionals Network, two of ONE Community's most successful programs. “Millennials are the most culturally diverse generation in America's history and ONE Community is constantly evolving, so we combined the best of each event and [added] in a new interactive panel discussion,” said Angela Hughey, ONE Community co-founder and president. This event will specifically target millennials – a generation roughly defined as those currently in their early 20s to early 30s – with the goal of strengthening “business relationships and recruitment efforts between LGBT and diverse allied millennials” around the state, according to ONE Community’s website. “[Millennials] overwhelmingly believe in treating people fairly,” Hughey said. “They are the business and community leaders of the future. They are Arizona's future.” As a result, Hughey explained that ONE Community has been actively focusing on millennial outreach and education this year – including the launch of ONE Community's Millennial Multicultural Advisory Board (MiMAB) in January. “[Our] mission is to educate, inspire and activate millennials to build the thriving and inclusive Arizona of tomorrow,” said Marilyn Purvis, MiMAB chair, adding that YPMN was the MiMAB board’s first opportunity to bring the community together in support of their newly

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established mission. Hughey expressed her confidence in the MiMAB board’s ability to help further the mission of ONE Community in Arizona. “With the addition of the MiMAB, we wanted to ensure that we had an event that put our [board] in a position to lead,” Hughey said, and YPMN was just the opportunity. The purpose of YPMN, Purvis explained, is to bring together Arizona’s “young talent pool” and engage them in a discussion about how they, as millennials, can be actionable in expanding equality for all. According to the ONE Community website, this event is designed to bring together diverse communities in order to build worthwhile business transactions that will develop into mutually beneficial relationships. “There will be companies [at the event] that are hiring, along with business, faith and transgender outreach and education,” Hughey explained. “[W]e are focused on educating and empowering millennials to talk about the importance of Arizona being LGBT inclusive.” With a panel of guest speakers, networking opportunities, vendor booths and more, Purvis said attendees will have opportunities to get information from multiple perspectives about diversity and equality in the workplace. “The event will feature prominent business leaders and organizations that have placed an emphasis on diversity, inclusion and equality through their support of ONE Community,” Purvis added. “[Attendees] will have the opportunity to meet and engage with these leaders, one-on-one, about the ways in which we can all work together to build and shape Arizona we deserve.” Over the years, Purvis said, ONE

Community has enjoyed tremendous success in hosting several multicultural networking forums. Collectively, she added, they are unique in their purpose, which is to bring diverse, emerging businesses and community leaders together to network and discuss important issues such as LGBTQ workplace equality and inclusion. “[These] events have served as a guiding light for many businesses who want to embrace workplace equality but are not sure where to start,” Purvis added. “As for the Young Professionals Network, ONE Community has built up one of the largest emerging leader networks in the state of Arizona.” Event coordinators are expecting more than 200 “millennials, and business and community leaders who want to connect with and recruit millennials,” as well as many MiMAB board members and member business leaders. “Sometimes, all one needs to do is feel needed and valued in order to engage in their community,” Purvis said. “It is our hope that attendees will walk away with a renewed sense of belonging to our movement toward expanding equality for all Arizonans.” There is no charge for attending, but ONE Community is requesting that anyone interested please RSVP in advance. Young Professionals Multicultural Network 4:30-7 p.m. Sept. 27 The Newton 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix onecommunity.co Megan Wadding is a freelance writer and travel addict with a degree in journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @MeganWadding. EchoMag.com

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Photo by Scotty Kirby.

Roxx Solid

Local spokesmodel shares why networking is always ‘worth a shot’ By KJ Philp

t was about a year ago that Devon Norris, a local banking professional with a promising modeling career, took a shot on a new kind of networking. In July 2015 he met the founder of Roxx Vodka, Angie Nielsen, while she and a group of RoxxStars were out promoting in the Valley. Norris recalls being incredibly impressed with the “premium” brand that he describes as sophisticated, sexy and edgy. So when Nielsen asked him if he’d like to become a part of the team, he knew it was an opportunity he couldn’t say no to. Echo caught up with Norris to find out what this past year as a Roxx brand development manager and brand ambassador (lovingly referred to as a RoxxStar) has involved – and what these experiences mean to him. Echo: Describe your role with Roxx? Norris: My role has varied a lot over the past year, which I absolutely love! Most people probably recognize my involvement with Roxx from my role as a spokesmodel in our print and digital advertising, or as a promotional model in our LGBTQ market … My role is constantly evolving as the needs of the brand grow – no one in the Roxx family has only one job. Echo: What can you tell us about Roxx’s involvement in the local LGBTQ community? Norris: I absolutely love this question because I think it is so important for companies to get involved in supporting the communities they serve. It was a very proud moment for Roxx to be recognized during the Night for Life event, and I was honored to celebrate with the community that evening. Roxx has also participated in/sponsored several other local events supporting the Southwest Center for HIV/ AIDS, the Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus and LGBTQ fundraising campaigns hosted throughout the Valley … The Roxx family and culture is very diverse and supportive of equality for all communities. Roxx understands the

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importance of making sure that our business culture is inclusive ... [and] the Roxx demographic is very colorful, diverse and inclusive.

opportunities Roxx has presented for me to give back and volunteer – the team at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS has been awesome in that regard.

Echo: In what ways has your role with Roxx served as a networking tool for you and your career?

Echo: What's the biggest lesson you've learned in your time representing Roxx?

Norris: Being involved with Roxx has been such a cool networking experience for me … having the opportunity to learn from such a successful and knowledgeable entrepreneur has been a great networking experience in itself. The founder, Angie, has so much experience in launching successful businesses, and I am always in awe of her tenacity and work ethic … The Roxx family has so many diverse talents [which] create a great atmosphere to learn new skills. Any time I walk into a Roxx meeting I know I am going to meet new people who will expand my professional network somehow. Echo: How has working with Roxx opened doors for you professionally? Norris: Being recognized from Roxx events has really opened up opportunities for local modeling jobs, which have been a lot of fun … I have also met several executives in fashion and marketing while traveling, which has presented prospective modeling opportunities. I also really enjoy the

Norris: I think the biggest thing I have learned from my time representing Roxx is not to be afraid to say “yes.” So many times in life we are presented with opportunities that seem scary, or hard or something for “other people, but not me.” I think back to that night that I was first approached to promote a Roxx event – if I had said “no” I would have been saying no to a year of absolutely amazing, lifechanging experiences … [and] to so many chances to live outside of my comfort zone. I am so thankful that the universe urged me to say “yes” that night, and grateful for every “yes” it has led to since.

READ THE REST For Echo's full interview with Devon Norris, visit echomag.com/roxx-solid.

KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine and can be reached at editor@echomag.com.

OUT & ABOUT Tucson GLBT Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Out & About Mixer July 29 at Habitat For Humanity, Tucson. Photos by Stephanie Anne Donoghue.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 1 · REID PARK FACEBOOK.COM/TUCSON.PRIDE TUCSONPRIDE.ORG

TITLE S P ON SOR

C OM M U N IT Y S P ON SOR S

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Advancing Passions, Accelerating Pursuits LGBTQ participants use Valley Leadership’s civic resources to enrich community By Liz Massey

n Phoenix, a city known for its population churn, it's often a badge of honor to assert one’s status as a native. But laying claim to being a “desert rat” isn't the only way to prove that you really, really love this place. Becoming involved with Valley Leadership (VL), a nonprofit dedicated to equipping community leaders with the tools to transform the greater Phoenix area, is another method, according to recent VL alumnus Travis Shumake (pictured). “If someone wanted to offer an undergraduate degree in how Phoenix works, [VL] would be it,” he said of his experience in Class 37 of Valley Leadership Institute, the organization’s flagship program. As a case in point, Shumake offered his experience at the first of nine classroom instructional sessions he attended. It was a class on infrastructure, and Shumake went in thinking he'd receive some general information about how the city functioned. Instead, he said, he and his classmates learned about how the nine canals located within the city operate, even discovering the direction in which the water in each one flows. Shumake is one of growing number of openly LGBTQ local citizens who have graduated from VL during its nearly 40-year history. What he and other attendees say they have gained through this experience is in-depth knowledge about the social, economic, cultural and government sectors of Phoenix and access to a deep network

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of civic-minded peers. Additionally, they have found that working together with a wide range of fellow leaders provided them with a opportunity to represent the LGBTQ community in a constructive, nonconflictual manner to others.

Creating “Change Agents” According to its President and CEO Christy Moore, Valley Leadership was created in the late 1970s through the efforts of members of civic groups such as the Phoenix 40 and Greater Phoenix Leadership. “Phoenix needed change agents,” Moore explained. “We are the first and largest organization focused on creating change agents here.” When Class 38 of VL got underway last month, its members joined a network of more than 3,000 program participants. The class members have been selected via a rigorous application process involving essays, letters of recommendations and an interview, which Shumake likened to “applying for college all over again.” Out of the many applications submitted each year, alumni and community leaders select around 50 candidates to comprise the Institute class. The organization aims for diversity on all levels, including cultural, social and economic, as well as diversity in gender identity and/or sexual orientation status. About one-third of those selected are from nonprofits, one-third are from corporate or business settings and one-third are

employed by government agencies. One commonality for all VL Institute class members is that they are established leaders, Moore said. Applicants must demonstrate their history of leadership in a workplace, social, community, church or other setting. “Institute candidates are able to understand complex issues, and they are ready to step into solving these problems,” she said.

Learning Inside, and Outside, the Classroom At the heart of the VL Institute are the nine instructional sessions, known as “program days,” which offer concentrated doses of information about various aspects of Valley life. Topics include healthcare, arts and culture, the city’s infrastructure, quality of life and much more. According to Moore, the program days help participants gain “contextual intelligence” that is intended to make them better-informed decision makers. In-class experiences are supplemented with tours of prisons, schools, police ride-a-longs, etc., to augment understanding of key issues. Shumake said that the tours and class sessions helped him see how numerous elements of Phoenix functioned together smoothly. “You see the power that these sectors have and the role each has to play,” he said. The final, and possibly most important, feature story

Becoming Part of a Greater Network

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Photo by Scotty Kirby.

part of the VL experience is the group project in which each member participates. After their thinking styles and personalities are assessed through a testing process known as Emergenetics, VL class members are placed in groups of about seven or eight people, intentionally paired with other leaders who complement their strengths. According to Moore, this approach ensures each group was operating with a “whole brain.” Groups are provided with training in the discipline of design thinking, a human-centered, collaborative protocol for creating solutions to a specific challenge. After that, the group chooses their project, which typically identifies a need in the community and develops a method of addressing it. In the case of Shumake’s group, the members partnered with the Foundation for Senior Living (FSL) to develop an “Experience of a Lifetime” program to fulfill a wish for a low-income older adult who would not otherwise be able to achieve it. Each of the eight group members was able to lead one of the experiences, which included activities such as playing golf at the Arizona Biltmore resort and taking a hike in the mountains after many years away from the sport. The group worked with FSL to set up “Experience of a Lifetime” as an ongoing program of FSL after their VL class had graduated. Shumake said that the group work on the project was instrumental in helping the leaders in his class become more open to problem solving with people from diverse backgrounds. “Those group conversations break down the stereotype that we can’t work together, or that there will be a barrier to working together,” he said. “When you put (that many) leaders in a room, you learn to communicate and not compete … and actually get stuff done.”

Both Moore and Shumake identified the personal connections forged through VL – both within classes and small groups and between alumni from other classes – as one of the greatest assets for participants in the program. VL has a staff member dedicated to alumni programming, and the organization hosts a monthly get-together for graduates. An alumni e-newsletter regularly shares additional requests for resources and networking connections. Additionally, Moore said she’s been known to connect alumni from various classes when one of them asks for help with raising awareness around an initiative, finding quality job candidates or getting a project off the ground. “We consider Valley Leadership a lifetime commitment to our alumni,” Moore said. “We’re here to link them up with opportunities that align with their passions.” Prior to his involvement in VL, Shumake had been involved in a mix of community activities, including serving as the fundraising chair for the LGBTQ youth support organization one n ten, co-chairing the 2016 Dancing With The Bars competition and co-chairing Aunt Rita’s 2016 RED Brunch. After experiencing Valley Leadership, Shumake said he felt encouraged to reach for whatever leadership opportunity he felt passionate about, regardless of whether it was an LGBTQ organization or not. As such, he currently serves on the board of directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities, Phoenix Suns Charities and he also founded the Downtown Phoenix Neighborhood Alliance. “Sometimes, we don’t step outside of our own organizations – we’re afraid of not being respected as leaders,” he said. “Valley Leadership has given me renewed confidence to take leadership positions outside of LGBTQ organizations.” Involvement in the organization has also provided a boost to Shumake’s career. He said his employer (CityScape Residences) paid for his Valley Leadership experience, knowing that it would distinguish him among his professional peers. He also said that he feels that his status as a VL graduate would bolster his reputation if he were to search for a new job. “People know what Valley Leadership is and what it brings, and what you now have as a result of being involved with it,” he said. “For example, I am not sure I would have made the Business Journal’s list of 40 under 40 without VL on my resume.” Another advantage to being involved with VL’s programs as a LGBTQ participant and alum is

the opportunity to be viewed as an equal peer among community leaders, Shumake asserted. “We end up representing the LGBTQ community,” he noted. “I’ve had many of my classmates say to me, ‘I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, and you’ve changed my view on x, y, and z issues.’”

Reshaping a Personal Vision of Leadership VL’s approach to developing local leaders often sparked new insights and ideas in participants as they moved through the experience, Moore noted. “Many people have ‘aha moments’ [in our program] and become more self-aware,” she said. “People will tell me that VL has reshaped their thinking and given them new opportunities to serve.” According to Shumake, VL helped him refine his vision of himself as a leader. Prior to his participation in the program, he said, he would usually strategize how he might eventually become the top leader for any organization with which he became engaged. “I realized as a tresult of VL that my strengths are in connecting people and resources to reach a common goal,” he said. “It’s helped me figure out what to do with my life. I had wanted since about fifth grade to end up becoming the mayor of Phoenix, but now I’ve found other ways to serve the community that better fit my strengths and personality.” To learn more about Valley Leadership, including its Community Dialog Series events that are open to the public, visit valleyleadership.org.

Valley Leadership alumni reflect on program’s impact LGBTQ residents of Phoenix have been participating in Valley Leadership programs for most of its nearly 40 years of existence. Echo asked several of them, plus one ally, to comment on what the program had meant to them.

Andre St. Pierre

Dr. Bobbi Lancaster

Ben Cilek

Eileen Rogers

Valley Leadership Class 36

Valley Leadership Class 37

Valley Leadership Class 20

Director of professional services, Toshiba America Business Solutions and Lead15/Arizona 2030 Campaign co-founder

Family physician and former professional golfer

Senior director of financial planning and analysis at Apollo Education Group, Inc.

Principal, One Creative View/ Allegra Marketing & Print

I first learned of Valley Leadership about five years ago through a friend who was going through the program at the time. Valley Leadership prides itself on connecting proven community leaders from all walks of life and every demographic. The program exposed me to the rich history of Arizona, our expansive environmental and logistical infrastructure, our unique political landscape, the hurdles facing our educational and healthcare systems, our economic opportunities and challenges, the vital role our first responders serve within our community, the importance and impact of arts and culture, and so much more. LGBTQ community members can get the exact same experience out of Valley Leadership that their straight peers do. That includes an understanding of diverse individuals, organizations, communities, and cultures. I believe that is the crux of what Valley Leadership fosters – understanding, connections, and bridge building within our community. I appreciate that Valley Leadership emphasizes diversity ... I believe that allows people from all walks of life to overcome fears and misconceptions about people they might not otherwise interact or engage with. 30

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Just over a year ago, an alumna of Valley Leadership, a personal mentor of mine, encouraged me to apply for admission to this elite program. We both felt that the program would improve my leadership skills, especially in the area of small group dynamics. I convinced my VL small group to choose a community service project that focused on at risk and homeless LGBTQ youth. We partnered with 1n10, the local LGBTQ youth support organization, and completed an amazing project. I would have never done this on my own without VL’s assistance and the help of my classmates. Valley Leadership allowed me to speak to my class and the Hispanic Leadership Institute for one hour during one of our monthly program days. I educated my classmates about transgender issues and the discrimination we face. I spoke to them about the biology of gender. My wife was available to answer questions along with me. I feel the needle of acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ community was moved significantly on that day. Because of Valley Leadership, I have made many friends and I have established very special contacts. I will be enlisting my VL alums in the future to help me with my mission. And I will be there to help them with their causes. The Valley will be a better place in the future because of my VL class. I can’t wait.

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I was on a project team during my Valley Leadership experience with Dr. Bobbi Lancaster, and we partnered with one n ten to create a promotional fundraising video, as well as create a six-week photography class for the youth, which culminated in an art exhibit at one of our project member’s local art studios. Dr. Bobbi shared her story with our class, as well as in a one-on-one discussion with me. As a heterosexual white male with a fairly conservative Midwestern background, I had limited exposure or knowledge about transgender people and their issues. Her remarks taught me about the physiology behind being transgender and the spectrum of gender identity that exists. She also shared very personal stories about the depths to which she reached during her worst of times. I now take a step forward when encountering a trans person and “lean in,” because I understand the issues better and know that they need society to support them and walk with them in their journeys. This helped me not only with trans people but the entire LGBTQ community and made my time spent with the youth and administrators at one n ten during our group project so much more rewarding. I leaned into the community and have become friends with both youth and administrators there.

In our first Valley Leadership class gathering and retreat, there was an exercise in which I and a few other members came out together in front of the group. While I had believed that I’d been living my life openly as a gay person – I realized at this event that I had NOT been completely open. Throughout the course of the year with my classmates, I learned the fact that true leadership goes hand in hand with risk and integrity to one’s values. I could not separate being an authentic community leader, a successful businesswoman, and a genuine human being from living openly as a gay woman. On the final day of our class, one of my classmates shared with me something I will never forget. He was a member of law enforcement ... As we were saying our goodbyes he hugged me and whispered in my ear, “I will raise my children differently because of knowing you.” I was stunned at the impact of our simple connection. I still smile thinking about it today … and know the important and meaningful role I get to play each day when I share myself as a leader, who also happens to be a gay woman. Liz Massey has been involved in LGBTQ community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine.

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Back-To-School Basics

GLSEN adds guidance for transgender students to syllabus By Tamara Juarez

s summer comes to a close, and as the academic year approaches, the local .chapter of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has made it their mission to educate school districts and transgender students about the new federal guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Justice. According to the directive, transgender students who attend public school possess full rights under Title IX, which prohibits sexbased discrimination, including the freedom to use bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity, in educational programs receiving federal funding. The guidance makes clear that both federal agencies treat a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex for purposes of enforcing Title IX. Since the announcement in May, GLSEN has reached out to numerous schools across the Valley to ensure teachers and administrators have the tools and training necessary to create a safe and welcoming environment for all students. According to Sean Nonnenmacher, GLSEN’s student organizing coordinator, it’s important to increase awareness of LGBTQ issues and assist faculty members in promoting inclusivity inside the classroom. “GLSEN Phoenix has several touch points with schools throughout the year,” Nonnenmacher said. “We do

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student-organizing work, which allows us to communicate and advise clubs that support LGBT students, such as the Gay Straight Alliance. We also meet with principles, counselors and the professionaldevelopment sphere to offer workshops and training as to how they can best support LGBT students.” When the federal government issued the recommendations, Nonnenmacher said, GLSEN provided schools with regular updates and helpful guides to help them understand and implement nondiscriminatory practices. Once classes are back in session, GLSEN intends to continue helping transgender students find comfort and acceptance within their academic setting, despite opposition from state officials. Within Arizona, only a handful of cities have passed anti-discrimination laws for sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Tempe, Flagstaff and Chandler. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, only 20 states prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, while such states as North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas hold limited laws that protect sexual minorities. As a response to national dispute regarding transgender policies, and in the wake of North Carolina’s controversial bathroom bill, the federal government issued guidance to public

schools, which explained what the schools should do in order to support transgender students. Danny Hernandez, GLSEN’s education and policy coordinator, described the recommendations as a list of clarifications. “In the past, the Department of Education was very unclear about transgender policies. It was always just a court case here and a court case there, with more and more rights being recognized in some states,” Hernandez said. “So in May, the government put out a ‘Dear Colleague Letter,’ which stated that transgender students have the same rights as everyone else … It wasn’t actually a mandate, nothing was voted on, but there has been such a high number of court cases representing transgender students that the government saw it necessary to put out this letter.” The Obama Administration’s guidance is not legally binding but threatens violators with loss of federal funding. According to the letter, public school must allow transgender students to express their gender identity without subjecting them to unequal treatment or exclusion: • Schools must treat students consistent with their asserted gender identity. • Schools may not require a doctor’s note, diagnosis or other official documentation of gender transition. feature story

TAKE IT ONLINE Looking for information on starting a Gay-Straight Alliance at your school this year? Check out GLSEN’s 10 Steps To Starting a GSA or Similar Student Club at echomag.com/a-is-for-alliance. Or, to invite GLSEN to your school or set up a meeting, email studentorganizing@ glsenphoenix.org.

• Schools must provide equal access to all educational programs • Schools must provide access to sexsegregated school facilities, including restrooms and locker rooms, consistent with a student’s gender identity. • Schools may not force a student to use a single occupancy restroom, although a school may provide single occupancy restrooms as an option to students seeking additional privacy • School staff must use a student’s preferred name or gender pronoun and must respect a student’s privacy regarding school records. (To read the letter in its entirety, visit bit.ly/1YpXX4P.) Immediately after the recommendations were issued, dozens of states showed their support or discontent toward the letter, dubbing it a civil rights triumph or an overreach of federal power. Arizona is one of 11 states seeking to gain the legal power to overturn or ignore the recommendations. Nonnenmacher attributes the Arizona’s reluctance to several factors, including strong opposition by community members and government officials, but believes schools districts are capable of upholding the federal guidance. “Many schools already do an excellent job of supporting LGBT students,” he said. “Of

course there are some that are resistant ... there are parents, community member and other people who are very starkly opposed to supporting transgender students, but part of these recommendations also dictate that schools must protect their students regardless of what parents or the community has to say ... it’s their responsibility.” Last year, GLSEN held more than 40 different workshops and assisted some of the biggest school districts in the state, including the Scottsdale Unified School District, Tempe Union High School District, Glendale Union High School District, Gilbert Public Schools, Mesa Public Schools and Paradise Valley Unified School District. Undeterred by Arizona’s political stance, many school districts are determined to provide students with a safe environment where they can attend classes without being invalidated or discriminated against. Drew Davis, Paradise Valley Unified School District’s director of student services, said he is proud of his school district’s fight for transgender and minority rights. “I believe a point of pride in PV Schools is the ongoing work of the district in providing equity and access to our very diverse student population,” he said. “The District Equity Leadership Team of Advisors, or DELTA, is a stakeholder group of administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, and

students dedicated to the work of equity in the district. DELTA’s goal, and the first goal of equity established by the team in our district, is to create positive relationships among staff, school, and community members at school buildings characterized by acceptance, value and respect. By focusing on these relationships, we create safe, welcoming school climates for all of our students and the diverse cultures, ethnicities, and identities they bring to our buildings.” Like Davis, Nonnenmacher said he holds a positive view of the future after the passing of the new recommendations. “We are very optimistic and hopeful that this will help continue the discussion around transgender issues,” Nonnenmacher said. “School must learn to be supportive for all individuals, including transgender students.” To find our more about GLSEN Phoenix, including information on professional development for educators and resources on transgender rights, visit glsen.org/chapters/phoenix. Tamara Juarez s a student at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. During her spare time she loves to read, hike and make bad puns.

Photo courtesy of facebook.com/glsen.phoenix.

Phoenix Pride Awards Annual Scholarships

Alex Geiger

Tanner Bollman

Dan Galloway Scholarship Recipient Alex Geiger is a third year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, where he served as the co-leader of LGBTQ in Medicine, a group for LGBTQ and allied medical students. In addition, as a member of the Diversity Advisory Committee at UACOM-P, Geiger has worked to improve the school’s climate for LGBTQ students and the curriculum about LGBTQ health issues. Additionally, Geiger’s research examines barriers to reproductive health screening and family planning for transgender men. In his free time, Geiger said he enjoys spending time with his husband, Tray, giving back to his community and participating in any activity that gets him outdoors.

This year mark’s Tanner Bollman’s senior at Grand Canyon University where he’s pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biology with an emphasis in pre-physician assistant. Bollman’s experiences working with children – including volunteering at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Refugee Ministries and mentoring foreign exchange students at a local high school – underscore his passion for both children and medicine. Bollman’s goal is to own and operate his own pediatric practice one day, allowing him to ensure children are receiving the care they need. “In today’s society, many children lack acceptance and care that limits them from attaining a happy and prosperous future. My personal experience has allowed me to understand what acceptance really is,” he said. “Growing up with a homosexual father has taught me that everyone is equal regardless of their gender, race or sexual orientation. I am always looking for ways to help others and support my dads along with the LGBTQ community…”

Nemanja Demic Nemanja Demic is beginning his third year at Northern Arizona University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, Politics and Law with a minor in International Relations. Demic said he hopes to attend law school in order to obtain a dual J.D./M.A. in Law and International Law. His passion for international affairs stems from his background as a war refugee; he and his family, victims of the Serbo-Croatian wars, immigrated to the United States as refugees in 2000. To prepare himself for law school, Demic completed an internship with Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona’s first congressional district, he spent the spring 2016 semester in Perth, Australia, at Murdoch University and has been selected as the intern for Griffen and Steven’s Law Office for this semester. In addition to his passion for immigrant rights, Demic said he plans to fight on the frontlines for LGBTQ rights as well. “Our community has fought too long for basic human rights, however, the fight is far from over,” he said. “I plan to be a changemaker in the near future …”

Juan Pedroza Reyes Juan Pedroza Reyes, a first generation college student, will start his senior year at The College of St. Scholastica this fall. In addition to his studies, Pedroza Reyes has held a full-time job working with youth and families at a behavioral health clinic, Valle Del Sol. Here he began as a community health worker in June of 2014, was promoted to family consultant and then to clinical case manager. In these roles, Pedroza Reyes has helped a countless families access resources, psychoeducation, child and teen anger management groups, parent support groups, skills training and case management. Pedroza Reyes was a member of Phoenix College’s honors program and a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He is also a recipient of the URSA Student Leadership Award and was recognized by Maricopa Leadership Institute. He is currently a member of National Association of Social Workers. One day, Pedroza Reyes hopes to become a Licensed Master Social Worker and continue to promote overall health and wellness throughout the community. 36

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Cody Holt Cody Holt is heading into his junior year at Arizona State University this fall. While at ASU, Holt has served his fellow studentresidents as the president of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Residential Council, a student leadership organization that advocates for tens of thousands of students on campus. In this role, Holt developed multiple programs geared toward LGBTQ rights, and won an ASU Pitchfork Award for his World AIDS Day event. He also served as a chapter officer and delegate for the Students for Sensible Drug Policy 2016 International Conference and maintains employment as a student orientation leader and desk assistant at ASU. In the school year ahead, Holt will serve on the Residence Hall Association Executive Board at ASU-T while pursuing degrees in Global Health and Global Studies, as well as a minor in Mandarin Chinese.

Juan Hinojos Juan Hinojos will be attending Arizona State University this fall, majoring in Global Studies. Hinojos said he aspires to become a United Nations Officer or U.S. Ambassador. His goals to be a civic servant reflect on his morals and values, as he loves to volunteer and give back. Thank you, Hinojos said, to Phoenix Pride for this wonderful opportunity. Courtesy of Phoenix Pride. For more information on Phoenix Pride or the Phoenix Pride Scholarhsip Program, visit phoenixpride.org.

OUT & ABOUT Gay Skate Neon Night Summer 2016 Edition July 27 at Great Skate in Glendale. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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Photos courtesy of one n ten.

Camp OUTdoors!

Annual retreat provides LGBTQ and allied youth a place for community and personal development By Laura Latzko

ach summer, there’s a camp for LGBTQ youth that promises opportunities to meet peers, to find role models and mentors, to create community, to discover more about yourself and your identities and to evolve as a leader. Which is why more than 300 youth from throughout Arizona – as well as Massachusetts, Washington, New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Kentucky and Florida – applied in hopes of being selected to be a part of this life-changing experience. Established by one n ten’s director of programs Kado Stewart, in 2008 as part of her Prescott College senior project, Camp OUTdoors! had just over 40 youth in its first year and has been growing consistently every year since. This year, 150 to 175 young people – ages 11 to 24 – will head to Prescott from, for Camp OUTdoors! Sept. 2 to 5.

Finding Your Tribe According to Mike Schneider, assistant camp director and one n ten youth center program coordinator, camp is the first time many of the youth are around other LGBTQ youth. “For a lot of campers, this is the first official LGBTQ event. Some of them don’t have another LGBTQ friend,” Schneider said. “It’s usually the first time in their life that they know there is some sort of support out there.” For transgender and gender non38

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conforming youth, who made up 40 to 50 percent of the camp population, Stewart said being around others like themselves can be especially affirming.

as marriage equality and the right to serve openly in the military, Stewart said an open and inclusive camp for LGBTQ youth and allies is still needed.

“If you look at history, and even the past few years, trans folks have been made to feel like they don’t exist,” Stewart said. “Having youth be able to meet other youth, mentors and volunteers that identify as transgender or gender queer is really important because it really validates them, knowing there are other people that might be going through similar struggles.”

“The issues facing LGBT youth are not the same as the issues facing LGBT adults who have their own autonomy to be able to make their own decisions in their lives,” Stewart said. “The issues facing LGBT youth are very pressing. Even though our LGBT youth have fought for marriage equality and are looking for equality in the workplace, the issues [they are facing] are definitely more personal.”

A Sense of Community At camp, youth are encouraged to get to know people of all ages and all experiences, which Stewart said is an important part of community building – not just at camp. “We need to come together to support each other and show, one, we are not invisible; two, we can’t be erased; and, three, that we are stronger together,” Stewart said. Developing a stronger sense of self, building a community and finding sources of strength are especially important for LGBTQ youth, Stewart said, because of the issues they often face outside of camp, which can include bullying violence, homelessness as well as discrimination from faith organizations, family members and classmates. Although society continues to progress, with LGBTQ people gaining such rights such

It Takes A Village Community members are essential to making camp a success each year, serving as volunteers, workshop leaders, counselors, mentors and role models for the campers. This year, representatives from Phoenix Pride, GLSEN, members of the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Phoenix Women’s Chorus, local drag queens and State Senator Katie Hobbs will serve as counselors and lead workshops or activities at camp. According to Schneider, adult mentors play an important role in shaping the lives of youths at camp. “Sometimes, they don’t have an adult that identifies as LGBT in their lives, so it’s the first time they’ve received support Continued on page 40. feature story

Former Campers Leave Their Stamp at Camp

KJ Williams (pictured bottom left).

Bryce Brown (pictured in cowboy hat).

Caleb Schultz (pictured bottom right).

OUTscout KJ Williams, 20

CIT Bryce Brown, 24

CIT Caleb Schultz, 22

As a former church camp counselor, a current member of the Arizona Army National Guard and a lifelong lover of the outdoors, KJ Williams found that taking on a leadership role at CampOUTdoors! was a quick but natural progression. During her first year at camp, Williams admired the OUTscouts! and said she hoped to be a similar type of role model for other youth. One year later, Williams is returning to camp as OUTscout! “I felt inspired by them, and they are the group that everyone looks up to, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that,” Williams said. “It’s pretty nerve-wracking knowing there’s going to be 11- and 12-year-old kids looking up to me, but I think that together … as the OUTscouts! as a whole, we look out for each other, and we make sure we are all on our A-game all the time.” Williams was raised in a religious Phoenix home, and had little contact with the LGBTQ community and was kicked out of her family after coming out. “I was very secluded as a kid and didn’t really know anything about the LGBT community … For those first three or four years being out, I didn’t even know this community existed,” Williams said. “Then coming in and being in classes about how to fight for what’s right and how to play a part in our community … it definitely motivates you to, once you get home and get off that mountain, do something about it.” For a time in her life, Williams said she felt resentment and anger toward the church. Through camp, however, she was able to get back in touch with her spiritual side and find an inclusive and accepting church. “There was a core part of me that always knew that I was faith-based, and I was spiritual, and I just wanted to be somewhere where I could feel accepted and loved for who I was,” Williams said. “… I didn’t feel that way until I found this church at camp last year.”

Bryce Brown grew up in Kingman and relocated to Flagstaff in 2010 to attend Northern Arizona University. Growing up in a small town, Brown said, he didn’t have an LGBTQ group or support system. Still, Brown came out to his family as bisexual at age 15. During his first year at Camp OUTdoors!, which he described as a chance to be a leader and to find himself, Brown began to use the name “Bryce” and never went back. “It took me four days to realize I’m not the person I thought I was,” Brown said, adding that he came out to his family as transgender last year. According to Brown, coming out to his family the second time went smoothly because of what he’d learned at camp. “Now my mom calls me her son, and my sister is talking about how she has the best brother,” Brown said “I never thought that I would be able to come out and say most of that stuff to my family, and now everything is OK.” This year will be Brown’s fourth time at camp, and second year as a CIT. The support Brown received at camp in his first two years, he said, continues to motivate him to help younger campers in his role as a CIT. “When you are a little bit older, you may be a little bit wiser,” Brown said. “And you can remember being that age, and … the things [campers] might be going through and give them, from personal experience, some advice.” According to Brown, he works hard to apply what he learned, especially about gender identities, in his everyday life. For him, this often means having informed discussions with others. “It’s definitely easier to stand up for yourself after going to camp,” Brown said. “If someone calls you the wrong pronoun or something, you are able to step up and say, ‘Actually, let me educate you about this.’”

According to Caleb Schultz, every year at Camp OUTdoors! is a new experience. In the six years that he’s attended camp, Schultz has evolved from a shy camper to an enthusiastic OUTScout and, now, a more confident CIT. Growing up, Schultz camped every month with his family and, to this day, he savors moments in the great outdoors. It was this love of the outdoors, combined with a desire to meet other LGBTQ people, that initially prompted Schultz to go attend Camp OUTdoors! “Just to be out in the quiet of nature is nice,” Schultz said. “When you walk around, you just stop, and you listen, and you hear the sounds of the birds and the forest.” Schultz came out at age 16 and said he’s found acceptance in his own family over time, but growing up in Mesa in a conservative Irish Catholic family, he often felt out of place. “I was the first ever to come out in my family,” he said. “When I came out, it was going against the grain of everything they had planned for me. So, I kind of felt a little bit isolated, a little bit out of the norm.” At camp, Schultz found both family and community. During his two years as a CIT, Schultz said he acted as a “big brother” to teens in his cabin. He also tries to engage new campers, just as others approached him his first year at camp. “Once I got there, immediately five to six people came up to me who I’d never met. They were unbelievable to me and were genuinely interested in what I had to say,” Schultz said. “[As] this little weird, awkward 16-year-old, I definitely needed that, and that’s the experience I bring when I go to camp every year.” The chance to meet people from different parts of the country, and hear their stories, keeps Schultz coming back to camp every year.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Photos courtesy of one n ten.

Continued from page 38. from an adult who identifies similarly to them,” Schneider said. Although the exchanges between mentors and mentees may only last a few days, Schneider and Stewart said they make a lasting impression.

Camper Development Many youth have grown up at camp – starting out as campers and moving up to such leadership roles as counselors in training (CITs), members of OUTscouts!, volunteers, workshop leaders and counselors. As part of the CIT program, youth 20 to

Stewart said, is really what it’s all about.

24 years old take on leadership roles in cabins by aiding counselors and leading activities.

To ensure all campers have the supplies they need, one n ten is hosting a sleeping bag drive, to collect gently-used sleeping bags, blankets, rain coats, backpacks and other supplies, through Aug. 29.

OUTscouts!, a program for Arizona youth that has developed out of camp, allows participants opportunities to go on outdoor trips and learn wilderness skills throughout the year, and also take on leadership roles at camp by leading wilderness-based workshops.

Donations can be dropped off at one n ten’s youth center at 3660 N. Third St. in Phoenix. For more information, visit onenten.org.

Youth play in important role in leading and shaping camp each year, and are encouraged to apply the leadership skills they learn at camp in their everyday lives and in their communities. As a result, a number of campers have gone on to start GSAs at their schools and help to run LGBTQ programs in their communities – and that,

Laura Latzko is a Phoenix-area freelance writer, originally from Michigan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies from Hollins University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

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TransParent

AZTYPO offers families of transgender children support, resources and community By Megan Wadding

here was a new walking group in this year’s Phoenix Pride parade. They wore pink or blue t-shirts bearing their name: Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization (AZTYPO). While they’ve existed in one form or another for quite some time, this support group for parents and family members of transgender and gender-nonconforming children is just getting started. According to Robert Chevaleau, AZTYPO leadership board member, the group was started between five and six years ago by Tammy Janssen to support her son, Max. (Editor’s Note: Max was featured on the cover of Echo’s 2014 Back-To-School issue before leaving for college). According to Tami Stass, a group facilitator and the initial contact for new members, Janssen started AZTYPO as a support group specifically for parents because there wasn’t anything else quite like it in the Valley. “[Janssen] was trying to find support for herself, so she decided to make her own group,” Staas explained, adding that AZTYPO split amicably from Trans*Spectrum, the organization that they had been partnered with from the start, late in the summer of 2015. “They were going in a different direction,” Staas explained. “We wanted to keep the focus on the parents.” When Janssen relocated to Florida earlier this year, she left the group in the hands of a few members of the Parent Advisory Board, Chevaleau explained. “Since then,” he added, “AZTYPO has

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left the umbrella of Trans*Spectrum and started out on our own, as a nonprofit corporation here in Arizona.” According to Staas, AZTYPO currently has more than 120 members and continues to grow. While monthly meeting attendance varies, with a slight drop in the summer, Staas said she talks to two to three newly interested families every month. The meetings, which usually last about two hours, are completely parent-run, with the facilitators leading the programming on a rotating basis. “We have a core group of parents who show up at every meeting, and we have other parents that come and go,” Staas said. “We’ve had some meetings where we were buckling at the seems, and then sometimes we have smaller groups of about 20 parents. Larger groups are maybe 60 to 70 parents.”

Family Matters According to Staas, the group’s most important asset is the parents themselves. “We have parents of older kids who have been there and parents of younger kids who are going through it,” Staas said. “We have a lot of, ‘Hey, this worked for me, this didn’t,’ or ‘this is what I encountered, this is a great doctor,’ or ‘this didn’t work out so well.’” Staas stressed the importance of getting the word out about AZTYPO so that more and more families can benefit from these conversations. Spreading the word about the group, Staas said, resulted in a visit by Dr. Veenod Chulani, leader of Phoenix Children’s Adolescent Medicine Program, who

attended a monthly meeting as a guest speaker and offered a great deal of information and support to the teens and children involved. “[Dr. Chulani] has come and talked to our group and we’ve given them our information to give to their clients and patients,” Staas said. “I know when my son first started transitioning, there was one endocrinologist. Now we have choices. That was four years ago.” Along with the core parent group, there is also a group for younger children and a group for teens. “We have a space [for children tweens and younger] with volunteers from different groups, such as one n ten,” Staas said. “It’s like a play group for the little kids – they tie-dye shirts and make artwork.” There is also a peer-facilitated group for ages 13 to 18. “The older kids who have aged out are the ones who facilitate [this group] and figure out what needs talked about so they can get the other kids going,” Staas said. “They talk about their stuff and their resources. It’s their space.” Staas’ son, Sam, is one of the facilitators.

Back-To-School The format of the monthly meetings typically includes an introduction, where everyone has a few minutes to talk about who they are, who their child is and why they’re there. “The discussion organically flows from that. Sometimes we’ll bring up events that feature story

happened, like Orlando, the bathroom bill in North Carolina or legislation we face in Arizona,” Staas explained. “Oftentimes our talks revolves around school, resources, name changes, doctors, things that we parents are dealing with on a daily basis.” It’s during this time of year especially, when students are getting ready to go back to school, that Staas said the conversation gravitates toward bathrooms. “Bathrooms are always a huge issue,” Staas said. “Basically, how we can approach schools with the Title IX legislation and say, ‘these are our rights … and my kid can use the bathroom they choose … by law.’ Because a lot of times schools will say no and that it’s against the law, and they don’t know.” Being informed parents, she added, is critical to being able to support our kids. According to Staas, AZTYPO is also working on programming to help support educators on how to make schools more inclusive and how to work with transgender students and their families. As an educator herself, Staas explained that teachers love their students and, in most cases, just need to know how to support them. “Where we run into problems is administrators and district heads,” she explained, “because they’re so far removed from the classroom [and] because they’re so caught up in ‘what if’s.’”

A Safe Space Due to safety and privacy concerns, Staas said the group’s monthly meeting spot is never announced publicly. “For some of these kids, this is their only safe place where they can be themselves. That’s huge,” Staas said. “We try to really honor that and protect them in that. That’s why we don’t advertise where our meetings are and we do screening calls for everyone who attends. It’s all about keeping our kids safe.” Although AZTYPO does not have religious affiliation, a church donates a space to them each month so that the group has a safe space to congregate. “We work out of a free space, so

unfortunately we don’t have unlimited facilities,” she said. It also has a unique challenge because we’re just a group of parents getting together. The facilities we use are donated to us.” The group includes families, specifically parents, who are at various levels of “outness” and acceptance. “Most of our parents … are on board,” Staas explained, “But whether they’re out in the community or out socially varies.” Still, the group is steadily planning more outings together. This includes a youth art show in the spring and a youth retreat in the fall (email contact@aztypo.com for details). “It’s so hard, with so many people, to get everyone together and to find the space where we can do that and where our kids can be comfortable and be [them]selves,” Staas said. “We want … our kids to not have to live in fear and be able to advertise where our locations are, but we aren’t there yet.” As a “parent-run, parent-driven” group, Staas said it is up to the group to determine where they’d like to see themselves heading in the future. “We’d like to eventually see an organization like ours go away because the necessity is [no longer] there,” Staas said. In the meantime, Staas invites any parents of transgender or gender nonconforming children who are looking for support, resources or community, to give AZTYPO a shot. “AZTYPO is a super great group of people who just want the best for their kids [and] love their kids unconditionally,” Staas said. “I’m constantly amazed at the stories I hear and the support I see. It gives me great hope for the future.” Parents interested in finding out more about Arizona Trans* Youth and Parent Organization are invited to email contact@aztypo.com, visit aztypo.org or search “Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization” on Facebook. Megan Wadding is a freelance writer and travel addict with a degree in journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @MeganWadding.

Tami Staas (right) with AZTYPO members at the 2016 Pride Parade. Courtesy photo.

feature story

Q&A with an AZTYPO parent

Cherise Basques, and her 7-year-old daughter, has been involved with Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization for the past two years. Basques, who initially joined the group thinking it would be helpful to talk to other parents in a situation similar to hers, took a few minutes to share what her experience with the group has been like. Echo: How did you first hear about AZTYPO and how did you get involved? Basques: I was looking for a therapist and I found one n ten online, I called them for therapist suggestions and they told me about the support group. Echo: How has AZTYPO, and the support it provides, made a difference in your life and your child’s life? Basques: It was such a relief to know there were others going through the same thing [we were]. It helped us to not feel crazy or like bad parents or that something was wrong with our child. It gave us the confidence to make sure our child was treated equally in school. We can relate to the families in the group. My child looks forward to the meetings, [which] give her a place to fully be herself. Echo: What would you like interested parents to know about the group? Basques: The group is very supportive of families, wherever they happen to be on the journey – if they are just starting to ask questions about gender nonconforming or if they have transitioned. Each family’s situation is unique and everyone needs to be able to do what is right for them. The group offers a place learn from others’ experiences and be a part of a supportive community.

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without reservations

Ahipoki Bowl

Coastal kitchen serves up an island favorite in Arizona By Rachel Verbits

ummer dining can be tricky. How do you decide what’s for dinner when it’s 115 degrees outside? Our answer: Head for the ocean! So, naturally, the palates at Echo set their sails for the newest and freshest addition to the local cuisine scene and dropped anchor at Ahipoki Bowl in Scottsdale, on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Thomas roads. The California-based restaurant chain that boasts fast-casual Hawaiian fusion all centered on raw, sushi-grade fish. Poke (pronounced poh-keh), a Hawaiian favorite, refers to the raw fish salad that’s traditionally mixed with such fresh ingredients as onions, garlic, sesame seeds, soy sauce and served alone (like a cross between sushi and ceviche). This coastal kitchen draws inspiration for the classic Hawaiian recipe and offers ingredients “sourced from the freshest and highest quality ingredients” they can find for their signature bowls and salads.

Walking into Ahipoki Bowl, diners are immediately welcomed by ocean-centric décor and a wall-sized menu with stepby-step instructions on how to create the perfect poke masterpiece for your palate. While the menu makes ordering a breeze, the staff is ready and willing to answer questions and offer suggestions for customizing your bowl because, as you’ll soon discover, the combination possibilities are endless. As a first-timer, I had some questions, and the employees were knowledgeable, friendly and helpful – even during the bustling lunch hour. 1. Rice, or Nah? In Chipotle-style fashion, the first – and easiest – selection customers are faced with is which base they’d like. Selections include rice (white or brown), salad or mix of both and, in my attempt to discover everything Ahipoki Bowl has to offer, I shamelessly opted to try one of each.

2. Choose Your Scoops The next step, choosing scoops of raw fish and seafood options, was overwhelming for me at first, since the selections here range from safe and familiar to exotic and new. A deconstructed sushi roll is the best way to think of the options here, and I quickly learned that the raw options include tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, albacore and yellowtail and shrimp – but scallops and octopus are all cooked offerings. I chose the salmon, which was velvety and flavorful, as well as the octopus and yellowtail, which were incredibly fresh, light and completely free of any fishy taste. (Get your mind out of the gutter). 3. Get Saucey Moving down the line, you then have the choice of house-made sauce: house, house spicy, spicy creamy or sweet citrus. I chose the creamy spicy, which was exceptional and added just the right amount of bite without overpowering the delicate fish.

Left to right: Large Ahipoki Bowl with salmon, Macaron ice cream sandwiches, large salad bowl with Thai iced tea.

Photo by Rachel Verbits. 48

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Photo by Rachel Verbits. |

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without reservations

4. Toppings (even for bottoms) The next step on the process is a wide range of healthy extras that give you the opportunity to really make your dish one of a kind. The fresh toppings were wellstocked and ranged from edamame, crab meat, masago (roe of capelin), green onions, Daikon sprouts, jicama, seaweed salad, cucumber, ginger and wasabi. I noticed most people piled their bowls high with every option, so I did the same, and was pleased with the variety of both flavor and texture. Avocado is unsurprisingly a dollar extra, but worth it. And if you’re looking for a vegetarian or vegan option, the staff recommends two generous scoops of avocado instead of the seafood selections, for no additional charge. Nestled right up next to the fresh

toppings is the dry toppings, which include sesame seeds, crispy onions, chili flakes and roasted seaweed. I requested sesame seeds for added crunch. To wash everything down, Ahipoki Bowl offers your standard soft drinks as well as green tea, a creamy and perfectly sweetened Thai iced tea and an aptly named “tropical drink,” which is refreshing and fruity, with hints of mango and pineapple. As you move your way to the register to pay for your poke masterpiece, you won’t be able to ignore the Macaron ice cream sandwiches that are available in every color (and, I’m assuming, flavor) of the rainbow. Good luck resisting one of these decadent desserts – at least the rest of your meal was low cal.

Poke has been a staple in Hawaii for as long as anyone can remember, but only recently has it begun gaining popularity throughout the other 49 states – and beyond. People can’t seem to get enough of it, and after visiting Ahipoki Bowl in Scottsdale, I can see why. Ahipoke Bowl Scottsdale: 2805 N. Scottsdale Road Chandler: 820 N. 54th St. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 480-219-9310 ahipokibowl.com Rachel Verbits is a published writer and a selfproclaimed foodie who spends her time exploring all the amazing eats Arizona has to offer.

Echo is currently seeking Phoenixbased freelance restaurant reviewers. Qualified candidates are invited to send published restaurant and food reviews to editor@echomag.com for consideration.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

at the box office

By Hans Pedersen

Little Men In theaters Aug. 26 | PG | 85 minutes

Life, Animated Now Playing | PG | 89 minutes

From out Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams comes this stellar documentary about an autistic boy who cannot communicate with his family – until one day he blurts out a line from the movie Aladdin. Slowly, but surely, immersing the boy in Disney tales helps to bring him out of his shell. The director of God Loves Uganda helms this marvelous film about Owen Suskind, based on the uplifting best-selling book by his father, Ron Suskind. This heartwarming documentary has earned numerous accolades, including this year’s Directing Award for U.S. Documentary at Sundance.

Filmmaker Ira Sachs (Love Is Strange, Keep the Lights On) has crafted his latest ode to New York in this tale of two families that clash over high real estate prices. Two young teens, who eventually become friends, find themselves caught in the middle of their parents’ property battle over a dress shop lease. While there’s not any specific gay content here, it’s interesting to see the out director exploring some of the themes from his earlier films. Little Men stars Greg Kinnear and Alfred Molina, and features Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri as Jake and Tony, the two young men whose friendship gets tested.

Hockney Available on DVD and home video Sept. 6

The Intervention In theaters and available on iTunes Aug. 26 | R | 90 minutes

Out actress Clea Duvall (Argo, But I’m a Cheerleader) directs her first feature, which earned awards at Sundance and plenty of praise as opening night feature at Outfest 2016. Four couples are on a weekend getaway when one of them learns the entire trip was planned as an intervention to help with their troubled marriage. Of course the woes of the other three couples quickly become evident, especially when same-sex couple Sarah (Natasha Lyonne) and Jessie (Duvall) are threatened by sexy seductions from young Lola (Alia Shawkat), unbeknownst to her boyfriend. 50

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An affectionate portrait of multitalented gay British painter, photographer and printmaker David Hockney, this documentary features oodles of footage from his own personal archive. Filmmaker Randall Wright goes behind the scenes of the artist’s bright acrylic swimming pool scenes and his celebrity persona, which first exploded at the height of the British Pop Art scene. Viewers get a look at his studio and learn of his love life, his time-tested career and his way of coping with the AIDS crisis. This enlightening glimpse at an artist who still paints daily, it’s infused with both humor and a sense of wonder. Hans Pedersen is a freelance writer based in Phoenix.

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Other People SNL’s Chris Kelly offers a sneak peek at his debut feature film By Hans Pedersen

hildren watching their mother die is not typically a source of humor in cinema. But writer-director Chris Kelly fills his movie Other People with a slew of moments that are funny because they’re so true, tapping into that human need to find humor in tragedy because it makes it more bearable.

The SNL writer spoke with Echo Magazine following the premiere of his belly-achingly funny and stunningly sad movie Other People after its screening at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Echo: What gave you the courage to share everything that happened to your family on the big screen? Was it strange seeing these alternate versions of family members? Kelly: Yeah it was a little weird. I’m a comedy writer and I mostly write for SNL… I just wanted to write something longer. First and foremost, I wanted to write a feature. I wanted to write something that was a little, tonally – something that I want to watch, that’s like half and half comedy-drama … I felt like you basically write what you 52

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know, so I thought it would be good to write something personal, something that I felt capable of writing about. And so when I started it I didn’t have designs to directing it or making it. I never imagined that would ever happen. It didn’t feel courageous or anything ... It was a writing exercise, first and foremost, to see if I could do it. And now that it’s turned into something that people have seen, it’s been very lovely. And a little bizarre for family members to see alternate versions of themselves! But I would say it is autobiographical and the building blocks of it are there, but I don’t watch the movie and say “oh that’s exactly my sister” or … “that’s exactly my dad.” These just became fictionalized versions of everybody. Echo: You succeed in making a film that had universal themes that people could relate to ... Can you talk about “gay incidentalism” and how the gay content is an important part of the story, but it’s not the most important part?

Kelly: Jesse Plemons the actor in the movie [who plays David] said recently he’s not gay in real life, but he could relate to it, even though he wasn’t gay, because even if you’re not struggling with that (issue) with your family, there’s something else. Something that makes you self-conscious or makes you feel like “other”… whether it’s that you’re gay or that your mother’s dying, or whether you’ve moved away, or feel weird coming back to a small town. I didn’t really think much about the “gay aspect” of what I was writing. It was just a no-brainer to me, I didn’t really think anything of it. Echo: Can you talk a little bit about the decision to include humor to include and the tonal shifts? Kelly: I never relate to something that’s all sad. I never relate to a wrenching drama without a moment of levity. That doesn’t ring true to me, at least for myself, that wasn’t what it was like when my mother passed away. It was kind of the funniest nine months of my life, and the saddest. To have this horribly wrenching experience and then my mother would just make some joke... You just go through so many absurd experiences that you’d never realize were possible until you’re in such a horribly sad experience. I remember the moments of levity coming without warning, and the moments of sadness coming without warning sometimes. And so that’s in the movie why I wanted in both a mix of both. But also why movies

“You see through the lens of judgmental selfish comedy writer who writes other people off, doesn’t pay enough attention to them. But hopefully the idea of the movie is that the idea of ‘other people’ is important.” Chris Kelly

I wanted hard cuts from one to the other, so to end a moment of everyone laughing to a hard cut of this horrible moment in the hospital. That just seemed like a close approximation of what I remembered it being like… I think you get emotion easier if you’ve been laughing and then you’re surprised by how sad something got, rather than if you’ve been watching a two-hour movie with a gorgeous score totally lulling you into a cry for two hours. Echo: Has your dad seen the movie? Kelly: He hasn’t seen the movie but he’s super-supportive and there’s no drama there... (The movie is) based on some things that he will cop to, and I will cop to, and us not being close, or having some differences of opinion, to say the least. But he’s great, and so excited the movie... but this isn’t a documentary about my life. This isn’t my father up there. It’s been good, he’s been nothing but wonderful about it. Echo: Is there an underlying message to the film? Kelly: Yeah, yeah, it feels so pretentious to articulate it … The movie starts with this really sad death scene, and then it’s undercut by this woman who’s calling and giving her condolences, and then she’s taking a Del Taco order on the phone. And it’s this rude, other person, treated as a bumbling dummy, and it’s like, how could you not know any better?

movies

Other People

he death of a parent, for most of us, can be one of the most painful events of our lifetime.

Writer and director Chris Kelly’s Other People is an incredibly personal film based on his own mother’s battle with cancer. And it’s a brilliant balancing act between comedy and tragedy, making pinwheel turns from snarky quips to heart-wrenching sadness and back again. The first feature film from this “Saturday Night Live” writer premiered earlier this year at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, and is headed to theaters Sept. 9. Molly Shannon is the ideal casting choice for the role of Joanne, the mother battling the disease. The SNL alum’s entire persona somehow gives viewers the permission to laugh whenever guffaws need to escape. Turns out Shannon studied at the Yale School of Drama, so she’s got the strong acting chops for the role. Kelly makes a brave choice by opening the movie with a death scene that would typically happen at the end of the story, and then tops it off with a dark comic touch. You don’t expect a distant friend’s unthinking phone call of consolation, playing out on an answering machine message at a woman’s deathbed, to be quite so funny when it’s interrupted by a Del Taco drivethru order, but Kelly nails such absurdities with an ineffable authenticity. Moments of jest bring levity to the situation time and time again here. In the story, struggling comedy writer David (Jesse Plemons from AMC’s “Breaking Bad”) returns to his suburban Sacramento home, ensconced in a world of strip malls and housing developments. You can feel the awkward tension underlying a genial, fun-filled family gathering. Looking for his next gig, this young gay man is back home because his mother is dying of cancer. But David hides the fact that he has

broken up with his boyfriend Paul. And while David’s father pays lip service to accepting his sexuality, there’s clearly a bit of distance and a whiff of homophobia. Yet, in turn, David seems to avoid his sisters as they try to bond with him during this family crisis. Over a series of several months events unfold, and each time we watch David and his mom cross the same public square in identical overhead shots, Joanne walks more slowly and with greater frailty with each passing season. But the story is peppered with funny family moments like Joanne throwing up on the bathroom floor and then squirting soap in her mouth to clean it out. This is clearly a mother who wants her kids to remember some good times before she’s gone. Undercutting the gravity of death with the light-heartedness with which we ought to try to face it, Kelly deftly handles these tonal shifts. Despite the pain from chemo and loss of her hair, David’s mother takes a trip to New York City to check out her son’s stomping ground. The two even attend an improv event with his friends at the Upright Citizens Brigade, where Joanne shares her struggles. And while this mother and son share a close bond, David ultimately must mend fences with his other family members, particularly when tensions with his father boil over. Some may shirk from the dark humor, but comedy is a clever coping mechanism for embracing life, the movie seems to suggest, one that behooves us as we slog through life.

READ THE REST For Echo’s full interview with Chris Kelly, visit echomag.com/otherpeople.

Hans Pedersen is a freelance writer based in Phoenix.

EchoMag.com

SEPTEMBER 2016

opening nights By Richard Schultz

Footloose Sept. 9-25

One of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the stage. When Ren, (played by Nathan Taylor), and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher (played

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Sept. 2-18

by Mark Hackmann), determined to exercise the control over the town’s youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend’s rebellious daughter, Ariel (played by Greta Perlmutter), takes a liking to Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren’s reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges is

The Velocity of Autumn Sept. 2-17

of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for the father who walked out on him. This Oscar and Tony award-nominated top 40 score is augmented with new songs for the stage musical. Directed and choreographed by Suze St. John, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people as well as guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore

Sept. 2-18

Everyone’s favorite flying car comes to life in the musical adaptation of the beloved family film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It’s a fantastic adventure with an out-of-thisworld car that soars through the air and sails the seas. Based on the 1968 film version of Ian Fleming’s children’s book, and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers who wrote the music to Mary Poppins, this charming musical follows an eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, who sets about restoring an old race car from a scrap heap with the help of his children, Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car has magical properties including the ability to float and take flight. Trouble occurs when the evil Baron Bomburst sets his sights on magic car. The family joins forces with ingénue Truly Scrumptious and batty Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Child Catcher. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is filled with stage spectacle and unforgettable songs, including the Academy Award nominated title song.

Postponed since this spring, due to a cast member injury, The Velocity of Autumn is powerful drama by playwright Eric Coble that takes a look at aging. This sublime tale swirls around Alexandra, a 79-yearold artist played by Judy Rollings, in a showdown with her family over where she’ll spend her remaining years. In Alexandra’s corner are her wit, her volcanic passion and the fact that she’s barricaded herself inside her Brooklyn brownstone with enough Molotov cocktails to take out the block. But her children have their own secret weapon: estranged son Chris, portrayed by Brad Bond, returns after 20 years by crawling through Alexandra’s second-floor window and becomes the family’s unlikely mediator. No sooner are the words “Hi, Mom” uttered than the emotional bombs start detonating. Directed by Rosemary Close, this production explores the frustrations of old age and promises to ignite the nerves of many families embroiled in a similar reality.

Written by Nora and Delia Ephron, and based on the bestselling book by Ilene Beckerman, Love, Loss, and What I Wore is a collage of comic, sentimental and even some sad moments about what’s hanging inside your closet. Directed by Valley favorite Patti Davis Suarez, the play follows fragmented stories about the nostalgic power of women’s clothing. This cast of women tells funny, wistful and universal memories about their families and loved ones through the prism of their closets. The through line is narrated by Gingy, a wise older woman who reminisces about what she wore at milestones in her life – complete with sketches of the styles. Like a long heart-to-heart with a best friend over coffee, the conversation meanders from a bittersweet story of a stepmother wearing the same style bathrobe as her husband’s late wife (to the dismay of the children) to a rant about loathing the need to carry a purse. With odes to everything from cowboy boots to outfits that makes mothers cringe, Love, Loss and What I Wore is unabashedly girly and as timeless as a little black dress.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The Velocity of Autumn Sept. 2-17 iTheatre Collaborative Herberger Theater Center – Kax Stage 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix Tickets: $20; 602-252-8497 itheatreaz.org

Love, Loss, and What I Wore

Sept. 2-18 Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills Tickets: $35; 480-837-9661 x3 fhtaz.org 54

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Sept. 2-18 Theatre Artists Studio 4848 E. Cactus Road, Ste. 406, Scottsdale Tickets: $25; 602-765-0120 thestudiophx.org theater

Your “Alternative” Dental Office WANTED: Colorful Characters Echo is always looking for LGBTQ theater artists to spotlight as part of Opening Nights. If you know of someone, please send a note with a short bio to Richard Schultz at rlschultz41@aol.com.

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Footloose Sept. 9-25 Mesa Encore Theatre Mesa Arts Center 1 E. Main St., Mesa Tickets: $31; 480-644.6500 mesaencoretheatre.com

Pageant

Aug. 26-Sept. 18

Long before “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” there was a beauty pageant that takes you where no beauty pageant has ever taken you before. In this wacky musical, six contestants (all played by men), vying for the title of Miss Glamouresse, compete in pageant staples such as swimsuit, talent, gown and spokesmodel categories. In this hilarious romp (think: Miss America meets Kinky Boots) judges selected from the audience get to pick the winner – so no performance is ever the same and the suspense is real! The show was conceived by Robert Longbottom (Side Show), with book and lyrics by Bill Russell and Frank Kelly and music by Albert Evans. Pageant debuted Off-Broadway in 1991 at the Blue Angel in New York where it ran for more than a year before playing successful engagements on the West End and around the world.

Pageant Aug. 26-Sept. 18 Arizona Broadway Theatre 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria Tickets: $43.50-$82; 623-776-8400 azbroadway.org

Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.

theater

EchoMag.com

SEPTEMBER 2016

Randy Harrison as the Emcee and the 2016 National Touring cast of Roundabout Theatre Company’s CABARET. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Cabaret

“Queer as Folk” heartthrob wows audiences in latest role By Richard Schultz

f course, everyone remembers Randy Harrison as Justin from the groundbreaking Showtime series “Queer as Folk.” What some fans don’t realize, though, is that this Broadway blond is all grown up now. Harrison, 38, has quite an impressive resume, too. The most recent addition to which includes his portrayal of the emcee in the national tour of Cabaret, which is receiving rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. In the Tony Award-winning production, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company, the action takes place in the infamous Kit Kat Klub. Here, emcee Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd and to remind them to leave their troubles outside – because life is beautiful at Cabaret. The score includes some of the most

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memorable songs in theater history, including “Cabaret,” “Willkommen” and “Maybe This Time.” John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff’s Tony-winning musical details what happens when you follow your heart while the world loses its way.

and His Kind and the two Berlin stories, which the play is based on. I then watched the video production with Alan Cummings. I don’t avoid other productions because it is incredible to watch and see how different actors interpreted the role.

Echo Magazine chatted with Harrison on his latest role, ahead of Cabaret’s stop at ASU Gammage Sept. 13-18, and here’s what he had to say.

Echo: How did you approach the dance in the show?

Echo: How did you prepare for the role of the emcee? Harrison: I grew up watching Cabaret with Joel Grey and always found it fascinating, scary and charming. I did see the original Broadway production three times. So, I knew the role. When it was announced that they were casting the role, I knew that I had now aged into the role. I started by studying the material and music. I read Christopher Isherwood stories, Christopher

Harrison: Choreographer Cynthia Onrubia is terrific and helped me greatly to prepare for the role. This show is more about communication and not as much about precision and technique. It’s a very physical show. Echo: In your role, you have the opportunity to interact with audiences. How has that gone? Harrison: I break down the fourth wall and help the audience feel like they are club denizens. I am very responsive to theater

Echo: How does Cabaret speak to our times?

audiences and how vocal they are. No two shows are ever alike because the audience is a character [who] changes the show. I do mingle and bring an audience member on stage. Audiences are always game. Yet, the first time someone said ‘No,’ it was a bit shocking, but I got used to it. It’s all in synch to the music, so I have a limited time to dance with someone and make jokes. I found it’s best the less I think about it. Sometimes an overly enthusiastic audience member can be dangerous because it can be hard to get them off the stage.

Harrison: There’s a political party that promotes hate, discrimination scapegoating and we are watching a demigod come to power. There are parallels to what is happing here in the United States in terms of extremism and its acceptability. Echo: Would you consider doing a television series again? Harrison: Sure, I would be interested in doing a series again. I actually miss television. I did a few episodes of “Mr. Robot.” I also directed for the first time a web series written by friends called “New York Is Dead.”

Echo: What is the message in this production?

Echo: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about the show?

Harrison: It’s all about the consequences of political disengagement. As my character, I always have a strong opinion about what’s happening on stage and the audience’s reaction to the action. I turn outrage into humor. My role challenges the audience. I enjoy creating expectations and then subverting them by pulling the rug out on the audience. The sadist in me enjoys that.

Harrison: I’m so proud of this production and want people to come see it. Cabaret Sept. 13-18 ASU Gammage 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe Tickets: $20-$84; 480-965-3434 asugammage.com

Echo: Do you have a particular moment that resonates for you? Harrison: My role changes throughout the show. I provide commentary that is up-tempo and satirical. Yet, I really enjoy the song, “I Don’t Care Much” – it is gorgeous. It is the first time the emcee is not playing a character. He drops the façade and you see how he is being affected.

Randy Harrison as the Emcee in the National Tour of Roundabout Theatre Company’s CABARET. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.

F RE N C H D

It’s about love. It’s about time.

Thurs Art Walk: 6 to 9 pm Mon – Sat: 10 am to 5 pm

7 1 4 8 E . M A I N S T R E E T S C O T T S D A L E A Z 4 8 0 . 9 9 4 . 4 7 1 7 W W W. F R E N C H O N M A I N . C O M EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Season opener conveys importance of community By Richard Schultz

ith In The Heights as its 2016-2017 season opened, Phoenix Theatre has proven once again that it’s mastered the art of timing. According to associate artistic director Robert Kolby Harper, Phoenix Theatre had the rights to do this show for a while, but it just never was the right season for it. This year, he explained, brought about the “we-must-do-this-now” moment. “[W]ith so much strife ricocheting around the media, we need stories of community,” Harper said. “It doesn’t matter what the nationality or political affiliation [is], we all want the same things: love, a sense of security, a dream to follow and people who hold our hand when we stumble.” Harper believes the power of this musical, which will run Sept. 7-Oct. 2, lies in its timeless elements. “We need art that creates compassion and understanding and highlights our similarities and honors the differences,” he said. “ It’s the similarities that bond us and the differences that keep things interesting. I don’t believe that you should be scared of those things. It’s all very beautiful and important in each community. All the colors. All the love. That’s makes for the good stuff.” Winner of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, In the Heights features music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the Broadway blockbuster Hamilton. The musical is a joyful story centered on three days in the life of Washington Heights, a tightknit community at the northern tip of Manhattan. At the center of the show is Usnavi, a bodega owner who looks after the aging Cuban lady next door, pines for the gorgeous girl working in the neighboring beauty salon and dreams of winning the lottery and escaping to the shores of his native Dominican Republic.

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Meanwhile, Nina, a childhood friend of Usnavi’s, has returned to the neighborhood from her first year at college with surprising news for her parents, who have spent their life savings on building a better life for their daughter. Ultimately, Usnavi and the residents of the close-knit neighborhood get a dose of what it means to be home. For this production, Phoenix Theatre secured the national touring set, which Harper feels will instantly transport the audience to the street in Washington Heights as they enter the theatre. Still, it is the show’s theme that he believes will offer the greatest impact. “This musical is, at its core, a show about home, family and community,” he said. “It addresses themes of striking out on your own and following your dreams. The journey is always exciting, but it’s the people who believe in you and love you that give you the courage and strength to keep going. I believe that the greatest thing we can choose to do is become an active member of the community we live in.” Additionally, Harper said, the diverse score is one of the show’s strengths. “Lin-Manuel Miranda’s arrangements are amazing,” Harper said. “Each character is captured by a slightly different type of music … Usnavi raps most of his music, the roles of Abuela Claudia, the grandmother character, and The Piragua Guy, who pushed a cart and sells snow cones, have more a traditional Latin feel. When you bring them together, you get a story.” According to Harper, casting a large ensemble show was a challenge and audiences will see a lot of new faces this time – some are from New York even. “Casting was difficult because of the demands of this show. It is a marathon,” Harper said. “The music, dancing and

acting are all challenging because it’s so real and raw. The cast is mostly always onstage doing something. If they are not specially in a scene or number, they are often creating the ambient life.” Because this musical is set on street corner, Harper explained that a power ballad might be taking place downstage right, but life is still happening up and down this busy street. “That is part of this show’s brilliance,” he added. “How many times have you been in public struggling with a very personal dilemma as the world is still bustling around you?” Another key factor in capturing the energy and spirit of this celebrated musical is choreography. Although he’s worked more in the world of concert dance, Harper explained that he wanted Nick Flores as the show’s choreographer because of his background and tremendous understanding of musical theater. “The choreography is essential to this storytelling,” Harper said. “It captures the celebration and cultural pride and reflects the emotional circumstances of the characters. It is their passion, their release.” In The Heights Sept. 7-Oct. 2 Phoenix Theatre 100 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix Tickets: $36-86; 602-254-2151 phoenixtheatre.com Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.

theater

EchoMag.com

SEPTEMBER 2016

Registration opens at 7am Walk and Run starts at 9:00 am Walk Festival starts at 9:30 3rd Avenue and Washington Visit

www.aidswalkaz.org to register!

Grab a bite to eat and listen to live music at the new AIDS Walk Festival! 9:30-1:00pm

Sunday October 23rd

Logo with Pantone Spot Colors

pantone 319C 62 c 20y pantone 497C 32 c 73 m 52 y 08 k

Logo with Pantone Process Colors

....Walk to End HIV

- Beer garden - Food trucks ...anD lots more!

between the covers

Two must-reads for your back-to-school shopping list By Terri Schlichenmeyer

The Battle for Room 314

hat was the name of your favorite teacher? Even after all these years, you still remember the smell of chalk, the sound of her reading aloud, the way he pulled ideas from your head or music from your fingers. That teacher changed your life, and in The Battle for Room 314 by Ed Boland, you’ll get a view of today’s classroom – one you’ll barely recognize. What was a nice, educated gay man

The Battle for Room 314 by Ed Boland. Grand Central | 2016 | $26.

SEPTEMBER 2016

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doing in a snarling pit of teenage attitude? With sweaty palms and a worthless planner, newly minted teacher, (author) Ed Boland wondered that himself. Inspired by teachers in his family, he’d given up a well-paying job to teach – but the ninthgrade class he’d gotten wasn’t what he bargained for. Because Boland had spent a year teaching English in China, he figured he had a “leg up” on a job at Manhattan’s Union Street School, “a new combined middle and high school” that focused on history and international studies. Teaching there, he’d been led to believe, was a dream job and, since he’d already worked with “promising” but disadvantaged New York-area minority students through Project Advance, he thought he knew the kind of fresh-faced students he’d have. Instead, what he found in the classroom that fall were sullen, attitudinal, sometimes violent young adults, many – if not most – of whom were dealing with absentee parents, drug abuse, poverty, pregnancy and bullying. Some of his new ninth-grade students were in their very late teens; many were unable to write in complete sentences or do age-appropriate schoolwork. And at least one barely spoke English. And yet, with a Hollywood-happy ending on his mind, Boland persevered. He hoped to connect with the kids, though they were often uncontrollable. He dreamed they would eventually learn something, though they usually ignored his lessons. When the year was over, he even considered staying at Union Street but he just couldn’t. “I so wish it were a different ending for me and for the kids,” Boland writes, “but some stories have to end like a seventies movie – gritty, real, and sad.”

Courtesy photo. Sam Zalutsky.

The solution to the country’s school- and grade-based issues, according to Boland, is a multi-faceted one, beginning with more education for the educators. There are other fixes, too, and The Battle for Room 314 offers them. But that’s not all: Boland, overall, tells a story that’s both shocking and unsurprising; part To Sir, With Love and part battlefield skirmish. There are occasional moments of too much information (both personal and classroom), but even more of frustration and missed opportunity (again, on two levels). What Boland shares left me feeling glum, mostly, but there are shadows of hope in this book – especially at the end, when he wraps up his story with a chapter of follow-ups. Though you should be reminded that it’s representative of one man’s experience in one school, this book offers hard lessons. Still, if you’ve ever fretted about the state of education – on either side of the teacher’s desk – The Battle for Room 314 goes to the head of the class.

books

“She was up-front with friends, Barbara Walters, and others about being a girl in a boy’s body, and she had plenty of haters but she learned who her friends really were.” Jazz Jennings

Being Jazz

here’s nothing special about you. You’re just an ordinary kid, nothing unique – except, there is. You have your own thoughts, passions, creativity and sense of humor. There’s nobody else like you; you’re ordinary and special and so is Jazz Jennings. In her new book Being Jazz, she writes about being an everyday kid, with a difference. As a very small child, Jazz Jennings knew that something was wrong with the way adults were acting toward her. Her

Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings. Crown Books for Yound Readers | 2016 | $17.99.

parents dressed her in boy clothes, gave her trucks and said things like “Good boy!” But Jennings knew even before she could speak that they were wrong. She was a girl, though her body said otherwise. For most of her toddlerhood, Jennings (known then as Jaron) fought against anything that was remotely masculine. At two years of age, she asked her mother when the “Good Fairy” was coming to change her into a girl; Jennings’ mother then realized that this “probably wasn’t a phase.” At home, the Jennings family was fine with their child’s girliness, but preschool was different: the principal of the school made concessions about school uniforms, but Jennings wasn’t allowed to use the girls’ restroom. Shortly after that, she started calling herself “Jazz,” and Jazz often wet herself at school. But that was just little-kid behavior. As Jennings grew up, she became an inspiration for many with Gender Identity Disorder (later, gender dysphoria). She and her father fought for her right to play soccer with other girls, a battle that took “years.” She was up-front with friends, Barbara Walters, and others about being a girl in a boy’s body, and she had plenty of haters but she learned who her friends really were. She says she still struggles with depression sometimes, as well as typical teen issues but overall, she’s confident. And if she can help other transgender kids,

Courtesy photo. Jazz Jennings.

then that’s all good, too. Who’d ever thought that bathrooms would be such a hot-button issue in 2016? Author Jazz Jennings, perhaps; she’s been dealing with potty parity nearly all her life, which is just one of the topics she tackles in Being Jazz. Right from the outset, it’s obvious that this is one exceptionally upbeat book. There’s almost no poor-me-ing here; even when Jennings writes about struggles and occasional anger, her cheery optimism is front-and-center. She gives props to her family for this, praising their easy acceptance and unconditional support, and acknowledging that many trans teens don’t enjoy the same familial benefits. That praise can almost be expected, but I noticed one refreshingly unexpected thing: because of her honesty and openness, Jennings has become a role model, a status of which she seems nonchalantly abashed but secretly delighted, with a tone of pride there, too. Who could fail to be charmed by such straightforward authenticity? While this book is supposedly for teens, ages 12 and up, I think a transitioning 20-something could certainly benefit from what’s inside this book. For sure, its buoyancy and optimism makes Being Jazz all kinds of special. Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm, lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 13,000 books. She’s been reading since age 3 and, to this day, she never goes anywhere without a book.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

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talking bodies

Add Fitness 101 to Your Back to School Schedule By Tia Norris

his time of year means back to school for many community members, and as such, I’ve created a lesson plan to teach the do’s and don’ts of fitness here in the “Talking Bodies” classroom this issue. This might sound remedial, but given the amount of misinformation in the fitness industry, it’s difficult to know what’s accurate and what’s not. Luckily, you have a professor of fitness (aka personal trainer) in your corner to help you make informed fitness choices this back-to-school season. Step into my classroom.

Health: Do make yourself a priority. We all have responsibilities, whether it’s family, work, travel or whatever. The truth is that you’ve got to put yourself first at least some of the time if you want to be healthy. Just like hitting the books, you must invest time in your exercise, diet and recovery – otherwise you’ll fail. Schedule those appointments with your trainer, knowing that you’ll be held accountable to the time. Take a half hour to squeeze in a quick run or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout at home, or over lunch. If you don’t put yourself first, no one else will! And, most importantly, when you do make the time for yourself, you’ll be less stressed, more energized, more focused and stronger – even when it comes to dealing with the rest of your responsibilities.

Literature: Don’t believe everything you read (or hear). First of all, most “trainers” or “fitness experts” out there just do not know what they’re talking about. They might know what works for them individually, but not for all their clients collectively. Second, remember, that every single person on the 66

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face of the earth is different! What works for him or her may not work for you. Yes, you’ve got to do your research and see what all out there, but take it with a grain of salt and be prepared to adjust or throw away fitness programs that don’t work for you. And read carefully!

Phys Ed.: Do focus on what you mostly enjoy, as part of a balanced, comprehensive program. Unlike school, I encourage you to quit the subjects (in your fitness program) that you despise. Let’s say you hate weight training. Fine, then don’t do it as the biggest part of your program! Or let’s say you can’t stand running. OK, cut it out then! The world of fitness is truly infinite. You can go from weightlifting, to running, to yoga, to dance, to team sports, to martial arts, and so on, unit you get sick of something or, better yet, find something you mostly enjoy. Of course, not all days are going to be good or easy days. But if you actually enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll do it harder and for longer. Don’t punish yourself unnecessarily with something you hate, or you’re doomed.

Chemistry: Don’t rely on supplements, cleanses, magic pills or fitness gadgets. There are no cheat sheets or shortcuts that will actually work and keep you safe long term. Most supplements and cleanses are either a placebo effect or no effect at all, and therefore both are a waste of your money. Not to mention that cleanses are a pathetic Band-aid over the problem – I’ve seen it a thousand times: you’ll go right back to your bad habits as soon as you finish the cleanse, gaining back some, all or more of the weight that you initially lost. And stop relying on those fitness gadgets! All they do is track what you’re doing – and

if what you’re doing was getting you the results you wanted, you wouldn’t have a need for this device, right? At the end of the day, there is no substitute for good oldfashioned sweat and discipline!

Science: Do drink more water than you think you need. And measure it! This should be a no brainer for Arizonans, but it really applies to athletes of every skill level and every variety. Active adults need at least 100 ounces of water daily, at minimum. If you’re outside at all or doing vigorous activity, drink 128 ounces (one gallon) or more. Do not underestimate the need for water! Your body is 80 percent water and will not function optimally without it – including performance, recovery, sleep, mood, fat burning, hormone optimization, and more.

Physiology: Don’t neglect recovery (sleep, massage therapy, etc.) You can’t burn the candle at both ends. If you’re killing it in the gym but only sleeping five hours per night, your body will eventually reject the workouts and you’ll end up packing on fat and losing muscle. Sleep is when all of the most important recovery processes happen. All active adults need at least six to seven hours per night – preferably more – especially if you’re working hard. No excuses, make it happen! Whether or not you’re heading back to school this season, make sure to you have a fitness routine that’s right for you this fall. If you have any questions, consult an expert (extra credit if it’s me). Tia Norris is the president and head trainer at FitPro, LLC, a local fitness company. Find out more at fitprollc.com.

EchoMag.com

SEPTEMBER 2016

ALL OVER THE MAP

Checking Out Equality By Liz Massey

esbian author Rita Mae Brown proclaimed that “When I got my library card, that’s when my life began,” and I can totally relate to what she’s talking about. Walking out of the Cedar Roe Library in Johnson County, Kansas, at age 6 with my first library card (which looked like a minicredit card) was one of the highlights of my first decade of life. That was followed by the temporary tragedy of misplacing my library card later that year and mistakenly thinking I’d never be allowed back in … I cried bitter book-hungry tears and pleaded with my mother to help me find it. It felt like the ultimate redemption when we did. Books I checked out through the public and school libraries became the lens through which I came to see the world around me. In grade school, I fueled my travel

SEPTEMBER 2016

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dreams with the “Enchantment Across America” series of state and regional guides, and devoured novels filled with descriptions of space exploration and time travel. When I was older, my journeys became more personal, and the books I checked out focused on psychology, selfhelp, spirituality and music. Given this tendency of mine to map my internal landscape with the aid of library books, perhaps it should come as no surprise that it was in the stacks of the cavernous library at the Midwestern university I attended where I first encountered the LGBTQ community I would soon join as a member. Before I marched in a parade or a protest, before I even ventured out to a bar to pick up a local gay paper, I read books that introduced me to the fascinating, colorful people who made up the LGBTQ community, and taught me that we had both a past and hope for a better future. I also had access at that library to contemporary publications such as Boston’s Gay Community News, which gave me an idea of how much infrastructure and support some queer communities had been able to build for themselves, even in the midst of the AIDS-saturated 1980s. It was these early experiences, combined with a five-year stint working in public libraries after I graduated from college, that helped me understand the power of libraries to create a just, democratic society. In a country that has lost most of its noncommercial public gathering spaces, libraries stand out as a place where people from all walks of life can coexist peacefully. A major component of libraries being able to do this heroic job is the people who work there, and the training in information evaluation that they receive; as journalist Linton Weeks asserts, “In the nonstop tsunami of global information, librarians provide us with floaties and teach us to swim.” While I think many LGBTQ persons have had experiences similar to mine at their local library, and while surveys indicate that public libraries enjoy broad support by most Americans, it’s never a bad idea for our community to be a little more intentional in bolstering its alliance with librarians. There are a number of reasons why openly embracing libraries could benefit our equality movement; here are just a few of them:

• Public libraries defend books on LGBTQ topics. The American Library Association catalogs challenges to library books each year during Banned Book Week, and three or four of its “top 10” most challenged books of the year inevitably have a gay, trans or queer theme. • Public libraries offer accurate, supportive information for LGBTQ youth. In some communities, the library may be the only place a teen can read about safer sex, or have a safe place to explore Internet sites aimed at gay or trans young people. • Public libraries preserve queer history through archival collections. Archives can house books, memorabilia and other items that document our movement’s history, and can guard against the actions of those who would try to erase or misrepresent our activities. • Public libraries promote diverse points of view and learning through dialog. Through their book and periodical collections, litbraries provide access to non-mainstream thinking. They also place social change movements such as ours on a par with “traditionalists” when they host events designed to promote conversations from all viewpoints. • Public libraries encourage participation over consumption. Many libraries offer programs on how to create blogs, build a wiki, promote a podcast, or become part of the hands-on Maker movement. All these activities can promote a bias toward action and critical thought that is quite useful for LGBTQ advocates. As civil liberties lawyer Alan Dershowitz has said, “A library is a place where you learn what teachers were afraid to teach you.” The real advantage of partnering with America’s libraries is that they and our equality movement are both on a mission of positive subversion. We both want to change the world for the better, in ways that are totally wholesome, as well as totally dangerous to the status quo. Liz Massey has been involved in LGBTQ community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com. COMMUNITY

EchoMag.com

SEPTEMBER 2016

money talks

Budgeting Tips For Your Big Day

By Melissa Myers and Michael J. Tucker Michael J. Tucker: Some of our readers have been asking us about the costs incurred for weddings.

around any more. Or they may not be able or willing to share the happy couple’s joy by footing the bill.

Melissa Myers: You mean, like, your dowry?

Myers: Marriage customs differ from one family to another and from one culture to another.

Tucker: Well, if that’s a cultural expectation, sure. Myers: We could look at fixed costs or likely costs that will arise after marrying, as well as discretionary costs that the couple can choose whether to incur. Tucker: So fixed costs would include things like the marriage license ($76 in Maricopa County) and the impact on the married couple’s income tax liability. Myers: For those marrying in Maricopa County, the website for marriage license information is clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/ marlic.asp. Tucker: Some couples’ combined income tax liability will decline as a result of marrying, while others’ will increase. Myers: That sounds boring. Let’s talk about the discretionary expenses already. Tucker: Well, this depends a lot on the expectations of the brides or the grooms. Myers: Many of our readers will have experienced, or at least observed, marriage ceremonies that cost more than what the happy couple could afford. Tucker: Hopefully they exercised some of their own bootstrap financial planning by asking their parents or other relatives to pay some or all of those costs.

Myers: Often, but not always. When it comes to marriage, some couples want to pull out all the stops.

Myers: The point of budgeting such expenses isn’t to kill the fun. Instead, the idea is to place them in context.

Tucker: Extravagant expense might be a consequence of sheer fabulousness, or it might unfold from wedding plans that are made out of a sense of obligation to uphold family or cultural traditions.

Tucker: The happy couple who considers how the wedding expenses will specifically limit their ability to enjoy other discretionary spending choices would be far less likely to be disappointed by the result of what they decide to spend on the wedding.

Myers: As a financial planning professional, my instinct would be to invite clients to consider realistically the likely costs of wedding celebrations they choose, as well as who will pay those costs. Tucker: Would you place that in the context of a budget? Myers: A useful approach is for clients to identify other financial goals, such as home ownership, home remodeling, travel plans, retirement savings, educational goals, and the like, and to consider how the wedding celebration expenses will impact their progress toward those goals. Tucker: That sounds like a useful framework for folks to consider how they spend their discretionary cash generally.

Tucker: Right. Their parents may not be

Tucker: I can understand that. We can

EchoMag.com

Myers: Opposite-sex couples, who have been getting married for a lot longer, often go through process to right-size their wedding budgets. Tucker: I see what you mean. The bride who wants a sit-down dinner for 200 guests may change her mind once she sees the budget from the caterer.

Myers: Random wedding celebration expenses can be a good example of how people’s expectations or unconscious beliefs can impact their choices in a way that they might not choose if they step back from it.

SEPTEMBER 2016

probably all think of some real life examples.

Tucker: We might expect our readers to be less bound by social convention than other folks who might be getting married.

Myers: That’s not a bad planning idea when it’s available. Keep in mind that a disproportionate number of same-sex couples now getting married are older than stereotypical brides and grooms. 70

Photo courtesy of DePoy Studios.

Myers: Maybe that’s common sense. Anyway, the discipline of considering those expenses in the context of an overall financial plan, even a short-term one, can be helpful here. Tucker: Congratulations to all of our brides and grooms among our Echo readership.

Melissa Myers is a certified financial planner with Camelback Retirement Planners, in Phoenix, a registered representative with Commonwealth Financial Network and a registered investment adviser. Michael J. Tucker is an attorney with Michael J. Tucker, P.C., in Phoenix, and is a certified specialist in estate and trust law. For more information, see their ads in this issue. This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice. Investors should consult a tax or legal professional regarding their individual situation. Neither Camelback nor Commonwealth offers tax or legal advice. FINANCE

WE SOLVE PROBLEMS The small business is our BIGGEST client. Call today and start saving money and time. Robert F.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Photo by Fernando Hernández.

ask lambda legal

My child just came out to me, now what? By Currey Cook

ear Ask Lambda Legal, My daughter recently came out as lesbian, and while I was shocked at first, I want to be there for her and be supportive. But to be honest, I don’t know where to start, or what the best resources are for more information. There is so much online, and I’m not sure what to trust. What do you recommend? Lambda Legal: It’s likely that it took a lot of strength and courage for your daughter to come out to you, and now it’s important for her safety and wellbeing that you demonstrate your love and support. As the National Director of Lambda Legal’s Youth in Out-of-Home Care Project, I have seen first hand the damage that can come from parents’ rejection of their LGBTQ children. LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care, juvenile justice systems and among youth experiencing homelessness. In fact, it’s estimated that a staggering 40 percent of homeless youth in the United States identify as LGBTQ, and many of those youth have been kicked out by or run away from parents who did not accept them for who they are. I commend you for expressing your love for your daughter by accepting and affirming her. As you may know, it’s not unusual for a person to identify as LGBTQ – approximately one in every four families in this country has a family member who does. This means that not only are you not alone, but also that you’ve got a huge, supportive community around you and lots of resources at your disposal.

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The best place to start is your local LGBTQ community center. You can check Centerlink (lgbtcenters.org) for the one closest to you. These centers can provide you and your daughter with educational resources and social events with a group of people who identify with your experience. Another excellent resource is an organization is PFLAG (pflag.org). They offer a volunteer-based peer support network and have chapters all over the country. You might have questions, you might feel uncomfortable or you might just not know what to say. Please know that your reactions are normal and your feelings are absolutely OK. The important thing is that your daughter knows that you love her even if you may need some time to gain understanding about this aspect of her identity. There is actually a project dedicated to this very concept called the Family Acceptance Project (familyproject.sfsu. edu). The Project’s research has shown a clear link between family rejection and negative health outcomes for LGB youth. Conversely, the Project has found that family acceptance can actually lead to positive outcomes for LGBTQ youth, protecting them from suicide, depression, and substance abuse. The Project does a lot of work with families of faith who have difficulty reconciling their child’s LGBTQ identity with their religious beliefs, and has assisted in connecting families of faith with affirming religious groups. They have helped families of many faiths learn to

accept and affirm their children’s identities. It’s important to recognize that while a person’s identity as LGBTQ can sometimes evolve over time, it is not something that can be changed at will. You might hear about “reparative” or “conversion” therapy, which claim to make gay people straight or transgender people identify with their sex assigned at birth. These therapies are ineffective at best and harmful at worst. In fact, every major medical and psychological association has spoken out against conversion therapy, citing its use as leading to higher levels of depression, anxiety and self-destructive behaviors. Being LGBTQ is a normal part of human development and supporting your daughter means accepting her for who she is, rather than trying to make her into someone else. I commend you for wanting to support you daughter, and I think that with time, you’ll find that her sexual orientation is an aspect of her identity just as yours is and she’s still that awesome daughter you raised and love. By letting her know you love and support her, you’ll help guarantee she is healthy and successful. If you have any questions, contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk at 1-866-5428336, or visit lambdalegal.org/help.

Currey Cook is a senior attorney with Lambda Legal and is also the project director of Youth in Out-of-Home Care. legal

Life isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a two party system. Choose you, not the party.

#BeSafeOut Safe

OU T

GBTQ L Consortium www.facebook.com/safeout www.lgbtqconsortium.com This program is funded through Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care.

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business cards For a complete listing of all Echo display advertisers, please see our Lambda Directory on page 82.

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Local business

BUNKHOUSE

the gayborhood

S M

$1 drafts & HH prices all day & night

T W T F

7 & 10 p.m.: Free-to-join poker. HH prices for participants.

6, 8 & 10 p.m.: Free-to-join poker. HH prices for participants. Winners get $10 Bunkhouse bar tabs

Greenway Pkwy Thunderbird

9 p.m. Karaoke

Olives vodka, 8 p.m.-close

2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 drinks

open-close

2-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics, $3 pitchers; midnight

Thomas

domestics, $3 Absolut & Bacardi 10 p.m.-midnight

W T

2-4-1 ALL DAY; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance

10 12

HH, 4-8 p.m.; $1 draft pint, $3 charity shots, $4 Mojitos & Caipirinhas ALL DAY; live DJ

HH & $1 draft pint, 4-8 p.m.; $1 draft pint & wells, 8 p.m.-midnight;

Tatum 26

143

Broadway Baseline

HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

101 16

*MAP IS NOT DRAWN TO SCALE

live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

202

Roosevelt

4 Van Buren

Karaoke, 9 p.m.-close; HH & $3 charity shots ALL DAY

Scottsdale Rd.

. Ave

McDowell 13 2

. Ave

STACY’S @ MELROSE $1 Rolling Rock pints & well drinks until 10 p.m.

nd Gra

Noon-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well &

S M T

21 22 15 23 3 9 19

Indian School

HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $1 drafts 10 p.m.-

8 24 20 28 6 25 17

5th

Camelback

2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; $3 Three

40th St. 44th St.

cocktails & beer 8 p.m.- close

2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1

32nd St.

Lincoln 24th St.

Glendale 18 Bethany

1/2 off drinks for wearing underwear, $3 Jack Daniels

C Northern 7th St.

7th Ave.

27th Ave.

43rd Ave.

51st Ave.

Super HH 4-7 p.m., $3 pitchers; $3 Long Islands open to close 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 8 p.m.-close,

Shea Blvd

e av

Central

Dunlap

8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Bud family products

CHARLIE’S S M

16th St.

8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Miller family products. 4 & 6 p.m.: Free-to-join poker

Cactus

Underwear night: $1 off all drinks if in skivvies!

Mesa Chandler

HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

ANVIL 2424 E. Thomas Road

M, D, L 602-956-2885

LOS DIABLOS 1028 E. Indian School Road

MF, R, N 602-795-7881

AQUA NIGHT CLUB 1730 E. McDowell Road

F, N, E, D 602-253-0689

NUTOWNE SALOON 5002 E. Van Buren St.

M, N, L 602-267-9959

BAR 1 3702 N. 16th St.

M, N, E 602-266-9001

OFF CHUTE TOO 4111 N. Seventh Ave

M, A 602-274-1429

BLISS REBAR 901 N. Fourth St.

N, R 602-795-1792

OZ BAR 1804 W. Bethany Home Road

MF, N 602-242-5114

BS WEST 7125 E. Fifth Ave.

MF, D, E 602-200-9154

PLAZMA 1560 E. Osborn Road

MF, N, E 602-266-0477

BUNKHOUSE 4428 N. Seventh Ave.

M, N, L 602-200-9154

R LOUNGE 4301 N. Seventh Ave.

F, N, E 602-265-3233

CASH INN COUNTRY 2140 E. McDowell Road

F, C, D 602-244-9943

ROSCOES ON SEVENTH 4531 N. Seventh St.

M, N, G 602-285-0833

CHARLIE’S 727 W. Camelback Road

M, C, E, D 602-265-0224

ROYAL VILLA INN 4312 N. 12th St.

M, AO 602-266-6883

CRUISIN’ 7TH

M, E

3702 N. Seventh St.

602-212-9888

THE CHUTE 1440 E. Indian School Road

M, AO 602-234-1654

DICK’S CABARET 3432 E. Illini St.

M, G 602-274-3425

STACY’S @ MELROSE 4343 N. Seventh Ave.

MF, D, N 602-264-1700

FEZ 105 W. Portland St.

R 602-287-8700

THE ROCK 4129 N. Seventh Ave.

M, N, E 602-248-8559

THE TWISTED PEACOCK 3108 E. McDowell Road

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TICOZ LATIN KITCHEN

5114 N. Seventh St.

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TOASTED

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FLEX SPAS PHOENIX 1517 S. Black Canyon Hwy

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KARAMBA 1724 E. McDowell Road

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KOBALT 3110 N. Central Ave., Ste. 125

MF, E, N 602-264-5307

MAP CODES: A Adult Retail & Entertainment M Mostly Males F Mostly Females MF Mixed Male/Female

N R D C

Neighborhood Bar Full Restaurant Dance Club Country Dancing

L E G AO

Your Neighborhood Community bar... 4428 N 7th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85013 (602)200-9154

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Leather/Bears Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag) Go-Go Dancers Accommodations/Other EchoMag.com

SEPTEMBER 2016

bar photos One Pulse July 30 at Club Dwntwn, Phoenix. Photos by Marcus Farell.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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OUT & ABOUT United For Pulse July 23 at Stacyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s @ Melrose, Phoenix. Photos by Bill Gemmill.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

lambda directory Please support our advertisers who help keep Echo free. To find out more about advertising in Echo, call 602-266-0550. ACCOUNTANTS/TAX PREPARATION Robert F. Hockensmith, CPA, PC p. 71 Steve Price, CPA p. 76 ADOPTION Child Crisis Arizona

AUTO SERVICES Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair p. 43 BAR & CLUBS Bunkhouse Charlie’s Stacy’s @ Melrose

p. 40

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT/ RETAIL The Chute p. 80 Flex Spas Phoenix p. 81

COUNSELING SERVICES People Empowering People of AZ, Inc. p. 55 DENTISTS

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING Mustang Air Mechanical p. 75 Valdez Refrigeration p. 76 APARTMENTS Alta Filmore Alta Paradise Ridge Aura at Midtown East and West Apartments Proxy 333

p. 77 p. 9 p. 65

Concorde Dental Omer K. Reed D.D.S. p. 71 My Dentist p. 55 Open Wide Dental p. 5 EDUCATION

p. 13 p. 64 p. 67

Maricopa County Community College District p. 47 EVENTS

p. 74 p. 11

AIDS Walk 2016 p. 60 Cabaret at ASU Gammage p. 51 LGBT Night Out: Pageant p. 69 Phoenix Mercury p. 41 Rainbows Festival p. 46 Release Labor Day Party p. 79 Silver 16 Award Celebrations p. 61 Tucson Pride p. 27

ART GALLERIES Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art p. 75 ATTORNEYS Jackson WhiteAttorneys At Law p. 59 Matthew Lopez Law, PLLC p. 31 Phillips Law Group p. 17 The Law Offices of Lemuel A. Carlos, PLLC p. 67 Michael J. Tucker p. 76 Tyler Allen Law Firm p. 2 Udall Shumway Law Firm p. 73

FINANCIAL SERVICES JW Advisors Inc.

p. 75

HOME SERVICES

Don’s Painting Service Lyons Roofing Quandt Landscaping Rainbow Bug Studio Z Sunset Spas The Mattress Man

p. 74 p. 59 p. 75 p. 75 p. 76 p. 4 p. 64

INSURANCE Benefits Arizona Hector Cerda, Allstate

p. 55 p. 3

MASSAGE Rainbow Massage Therapy

p. 75

MORTGAGES Jeremy Schachter, Pinnacle Capital Mortgage p. 3 MOVERS Always Affordable Movers Two Men and a Truck

p. 55 p. 76

NETWORKING GPGLCC

p. 69

PHARMACIES CVS Specialty Pharmacy p. 16 Fairmont Pharmacy p. 64 Metier Pharmacy p. 59

RELIGIOUS GROUPS Community Church of Hope p. 74 First Congregational UCC p. 75 RESTAURANTS China Chili Hula’s Modern Tiki Marcellino Ristorante

p. 14 p. 49 p. 49

RETAIL Easley’s Fun Shop p. 74 French Designer Jeweler p. 57 Off Chute Too p. 78 RETIREMENT PLANNING Calvin Goetz, Strategy Financial Group p. 3 SALONS

REAL ESTATE Contour on Campbell p. 74,84 GayRealEstate.com p. 68 REALTORS Arizona Gay Realtors Alliance

Berney Streed, Re/Max Excalibur p. 75 Bradley B. Brauer, HomeSmart p. 3 David Oesterle, ReMax p. 3 Fred Delgado Team, Keller Williams p. 3 Jan Dahl, HomeSmart p. 3 Matthew Hoedt, Realty One p. 3 Nicholas Yale, Realty Executives p. 3 Shawn Hertzog, West USA p. 3

p. 3

Salon Exodus

p. 75

VETERINARY SERVICES Dynamite Animal Hospital p. 73 East Maryland Animal Hospital p. 74 WELLNESS

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Avenger Fitness, LCC p. 74 Banner Health p. 47 Dr. Wilson & Associates p. 71 FitPro, LLC p. 75 Precise Body p. 32, 33 Skinny Bus - Mobile Cool Sculpting p. 83 TERROS Health-LGBTQ Consortium p. 73 Triumeq p. 20-23 Willo Medi Spa p. 76 lambda directory