SOUTHERN WITH A GAY TWIST
11.04.16 V7-22
THE COLOR OF LOVE
correcting our collective mistake obsession photography: keith o’neil model: kurt bailey
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Contents
11.04.2016
PG: 29
obsession photography: keith o’neil model: kurt bailey
CALENDAR: 8 GREAT
08 THINGS TO DO 10 24 28 30 34 36
OUT & ABOUT PHOTOS THE COLOR OF LOVE
CORRECTING OUR COLLECTIVE MISTAKE MISS JANE: A NOVEL HEY GIRL HEY GAY NEWS AT A GLANCE Scan the QR Code with your smart phone to like us on
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November 5 - 6 Central Presbyterian Church begins a four-class series titled “Pronouns, Potties and People: Transgender Studies 101.” The series reveals the complex and painful struggles faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer faith as they confront entrenched bigotry and work to build loving support within their churches. 5 p.m., in the church sanctuary. Free. www.cpcatlanta.org
FOLLOW THE SUN
Saturday, November 5 The Atlanta Women’s Chorus opens season 4 with a musical journey through the seasons. “Follow the Sun” will offer a variety of musical genres that will carry audiences through the moods of winter, spring, summer and fall, along with a little taste of the holidays. This is one show you definately don’t want to miss! 2 and 8 p.m., Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, 1026 Ponce de Leon Avenue, 30308. COMMUNITY
ELECTION DAY 2016 Tuesday, November 8
PLEASE VOTE TODAY! Afterwards, attend an election party near you, www.mvp.sos. ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do
08: November 04, 2016
NOV 10
NOV 8
VOTE
#FACING RACE
Thursday, November 10 Does the level of structural racism and violence in our country keep you up nights? Then come to #Facing Race: A National Conference, a chance to meet like-minded professionals, organizers, creatives and activists who want a better future for the nation. The track includes some LGBT panel discussions as well. Hilton Atlanta, 255 Courtland St NE, , www. facingrace.raceforward.org
COMMUNITY NOV 7
NOV 6
BIRDS OF PREY SHOW
Sunday, November 6 Discover the majesty of owls, hawks and other raptors in our daily free-flighted shows. No two shows are alike as different raptors soar overhead and visit guests up close on a trainer’s glove. You’ll be amazed at the grace and strength of these fascinating creatures, and you’ll learn from all about their way of life as our raptor experts explain how man’s actions affect their wellbeing. 12:30pm. Free.
TRANS & FRIENDS
November 7 Trans and Friends is a youthfocused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender, and aspiring allies. Charis provides a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. Whether silently or aloud, please come ready to consider your own gender in a transient world. 7 – 8:30 p.m., www. charisbooksandmore.com
THEATRE CHARITY
OCT 29 05.03.15
NOV 5
NOV 5
OUT OF ORDER
FUN
MUSIC
LEARN
STATE OF LGBTQ HEALTH
Thursday, November 10 Join national and state LGBTQ healthcare advocates, providers & policy makers to discuss what’s working & what lies ahead at the State of LGBTQ Health Roundtable and Reception. From 3:30 – 6 p.m. will be the keynote address by Dr. Scout, a national LGBTQ healthcare policy advocate. Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, thehealthinitiative.wufoo.com
FAITH NOV 13
CALENDAR
CATHOLIC LGBT FAMILY RETREAT
Sunday, November 13 “Invitation to Mercy” is for Catholic parents who love and accept their LGBT children. Check-in at noon, followed by Mass, a presentation by Christian ethicist and author David Gushee, parent/priest dialogue, group sharing, and dinner and fellowship. Registration is $25 per person; $40 per couple. Contact: www. ffatl.org for more information about our group.
OUT & ABOUT
10: November 04, 2016
AIDS WALK ATLANTA 2016
PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
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OUT & ABOUT
12: November 04, 2016
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OUT & ABOUT
14: November 04, 2016
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OUT & ABOUT
16: November 04, 2016
PHOTOS
PARTY @ BLAKES PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
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OUT & ABOUT
18: November 04, 2016
PHOTOS
PARTY @ FELIX PHOTOS BY: ANDREA DWYER
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*Available only when you close on a To-Be Built home in the Towns at Breton Ridge community pursuant to a contract you sign on or between 11/1/16-11/30/16. Receipt of $15,000 credit or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM; $15,000 credit is subject to limits and is contingent upon buyer closing a loan with our affiliated lender, CalAtlantic Mortgage or, where permitted by seller, another seller preferred lender. Receipt of $6,000 in closing costs or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM and affiliate title; $6,000 in closing costs is subject to limits and is contingent upon buyer closing a loan with our affiliated lender, CalAtlantic Mortgage or, where permitted by seller, another seller preferred lender, and obtaining title insurance and closing services from our affiliated title agent, CalAtlantic Title of Atlanta, LLC. The offer to pay closing costs does not include payment of prepaid taxes, property or mortgage insurance, or mortgage installments. Pre-payments of HOA assessments are typically subject to lender limits. Seller provided credits may be applied to upgrades or options. Upgrades and options available solely through Seller’s Design Center. Availability of items may vary by community. Offer does not have any cash value. The combined value of seller incentives, credits and other seller contributions may exceed lender limits established for the loan program for which buyer qualifies. Buyer should ask his or her lender about the impact of such limits. Prices, plans and terms are effective on the date of publication and subject to change without notice. Depictions of homes or other features are artist conceptions. Hardscape, landscape and other items shown may be decorator suggestions that are not included in the purchase price and availability may vary. CalAtlantic Mortgage, Inc., NMLS# 203897 , Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee License #24225, 8660 E Hartford Drive, Suite 200A, Scottsdale, AZ; 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 210, Alpharetta, GA License #68278. CAATL013
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ARTS
COLOR OF LOVE By John Stein
Don’t Marry Griff tells the story of Lyodell Archer and best friend Sutton Brown as their friendship is shaken to its core once Sutton confesses his love for Lyodell. Things get even more complicated because he does it as Lyodell is about to wed his fiancé, Griffith Lowell. “It’s a romantic comedy about love shared between African American men,” explains director Steven L. Coard, who also stars in the film. “I have always dreamed of the day when I could produce my own independent film for the gay African American community. I aim to create unique and original stories that will hopefully unite our community.” Coard intends for Don’t Marry Griff to be the first of a series of movies that tackle love stories of gay African American characters. “It’s important for African American gay men to have characters they can identify with while being entertained,” he says. “I think most gay black men are striving to achieve the American Dream. I know I want that white picket fence. Although I am not looking for the children part,” he adds with a grin. In addition to Coard, Don’t Marry Griff stars Chris DeLoatch and JR Rolley. Coard had DeLoatch in mind for the role of Sutton when writing the film. “I had seen him in the web series, ‘Bait’. He plays a psycho killer in the show but I saw a genuine goodness in him.” The character of Sutton is the type of guy everyone dreams about being with one day. He’s honest with a sense of humor. He’s confident, courageous, communicative, a natural leader who listens and takes initiative. He’s not afraid to go after what he wants and most importantly, he stands up to Griffith in the film and provides Lyodell a safe haven. Coard originally had another actor in the role of Griffith, 24: November 4, 2016
but as so often happens in independent filmmaking, two weeks before filming was set to begin, the actor dropped out. Coard was left scrambling to find someone to replace him. DeLoatch recommended he consider JR Rolley, an actor known for playing lovable guy-next-door roles. Coard was doubtful as the role of Griffith called for a type-A, badass personality. “Despite my hesitation, I brought JR in to read for the part. I immediately saw the passion in his eyes and that he was very prepared and looking for a character opposite from the pretty boy roles he usually plays.” All seemed to be back on track with filming, until the actor confirmed to play Lyodell unexpectedly dropped out, too. Pressed for time, Coard decided to take on the role himself. “I had wanted to focus on working behind the camera as executive producer and director but things don’t always work out the way you plan,” he laughs. “I sucked it up and and called in my acting chops to start working again.” Don’t Marry Griff is being distributed by Color of Love Production Studios, an award winning production company that specializes in creating stories about the LGBTQ community of color. The studio strives to focus on unique issues of relevance to the gay African American identity. “The wonderful thing about Don’t Marry Griff is that viewers do not need to be African American and gay to enjoy it,” says Coard. “Anyone who has experienced a toxic relationship can relate to the film. It entertains and is educational as well. I won’t give away the ending but I will tell you, in Don’t Marry Griff , karma is a beeeotch.” For more information, visit https://colorofloveproduction. com.
INTERVIEW HEALTH CULTURE
BY: BRAD WALSH
hen they came for everyone but you, you did not speak out, because w you were not one of those that they were coming for. Until they came
for you next… but what if they didn’t come for you next? Would you still regret not speaking out for others? Or is your fear of being next the only force driving you to speak out against the mistreatment of others? Silence implicates you in the subjugation of others, but whether or not you speak out, if it’s based only in fear for yourself, you deserve no commendation. Do not act only because you suspect you may be next; act because you’re a human being and the degradation of other human beings is unacceptable.
Correcting Our Collective Mistake
26: November 04, 2016
A friend of mine, “Rebecca,” was a casual racist. She said things that were red flags and if I tried to calmly refute or explain why what she’d said was a problem, she would immediately become defensive and shut herself down to avoid soaking up any new information. Laughed at me, acted like I was stupid, dismissed me as an “SJW” because I cared about people who didn’t look like me. She was entirely self-centered, and stubborn. I could respond with emotion or logic, but neither was effective. Still, I tried. It always ended with me having to walk away frustrated, and take some space from our friendship. She was white, and her mother was one of those people who insisted frequently that she was not racist just before making a sweeping generalization about an entire race of people. She was friends with a black man at her church, and she loved spending time with him there. It was too bad more blacks weren’t like him, she would say, instead of what she believed most of them to be: unintelligent, prone to violence, and averse to working for what they get. “It’s not racism, it’s just the truth!” She had no knowledge or opinion of socioeconomic systems designed specifically to benefit the types of people who created them – nor of any issues pertaining to centuries of discrimination practices in real estate, government protection, hiring/wages, and nearly every other facet of everyday life – other than to say “that’s all in the past.” To her, racism didn’t exist anymore, and anyone who thought it did was an idiot. When Ohio Trump surrogate Kathy Miller recently said that “if you’re black and you haven’t been successful in the last fifty years, it’s your own fault,” I was instantly reminded of my friend’s mother. This is not an aberrant point of view. It’s remarkably common in people who do not have any meaningful interaction with people unlike themselves, and/or who believe that because they have problems of their own, nobody else has the right to complain. The belief that racism is over can be seen as optimism, but truly it’s a symptom of stubborn ignorance. It’s impossible not to absorb the reality of racism unless you make a point not to. Rebecca’s father was very religious, but the “love thy neighbor” part missed him entirely. How he could revere so strongly a God who created all humans, and yet feel disgust for everyone who didn’t immediately resemble himself went hand-in-hand, I’ll never understand. But I do understand why Rebecca had anti-black and anti-Mexican sentiment hard-wired into her. It’s how she grew up. Everyday comments from parents have a lifelong effect. Overt racism is easy to spot, and easy to condemn. A white man in a Klan robe shouting “go back to Africa!” is easily rebuked. When it’s blatant and loud, it’s safe for everyone to say “I disagree with that.” Casual racism – and
casual sexism and homophobia for that matter – practiced by so many people who insist they don’t have a racist bone in their body, is far more dangerous. It allows injustices to happen without interference, and without accountability. Rebecca and I had an argument when I brought up a recent case of racial discrimination ending in violence. She didn’t understand why so many young people of color, especially women, were upset about this incident and others involving police brutality. I said that when a group of historically and consistently oppressed people are telling you something, you should listen. Her response was that a group of Klan members can all believe something but that doesn’t make it right. I tried to explain the difference between Klan members being full of blind hatred, and young black women being concerned about their rights and safety, but it fell on deaf ears. To Rebecca, it was a cutand-dry issue of oversensitivity. There is a big difference between a group of oppressors all feeling one way about the oppression they commit, and a group of oppressed people feeling differently. The concept of biological supremacy is not an opinion that we must respect. It’s a tool to maintain power, by definition to maintain inequality and subservience. Her response when I asked her thoughts on oppressed people feeling recognized, safe, heard, or equal? “I don’t really care.” “I don’t really care.” This was especially shocking to me because it was the first time she had said that so matter-offactly to me. She just didn’t care. I could have responded by discussing white privilege and explaining that she has the ability to not care while people of color have no choice but to care. But I didn’t, because we were already at that point where nothing I said would have mattered. Rebecca was someone who would not understand what “white privilege” meant, anyway. She would take it as an attack, rather than a term to explain the very real American social advantage that white skin brings even with the lowliest birth. I said “you don’t care?” “Nope, don’t care.” What was doubly worrisome about this interaction was that Rebecca worked at a company that had much opportunity to make change. Her company influenced people of all ages, and could cater to people of their choosing. To know that she “didn’t care” about what people of color think about, worry about, deal with every day… to me signaled she didn’t care to cater to them in her career either. She was poised to impact social change for the better in her own way, and simply didn’t care. In the past, I had tried to explain to her my belief that being called “racist” should not be taken an insult, even if it is said with anger. It should be seen an excuse to think critically about what you say and what you mean. I am racist. My husband, my mother, and my best friends are racist, despite being some of the most open-minded and progressive people I know. I believe that pretty much every person who grew up in America
– immersed in images that reinforce negative stereotypes against people of color, and surrounded by white people who have centuries of ingrained irrational fears and supremacist self-esteem inside them – is racist. People of color can be conditioned to believe that other people of color are inherently less virtuous than white people. Just like gay men can be irrationally turned off by “feminine” qualities in other gay men, because society says that femininity in a male is something to be disgusted by. People in an oppressed group are not immune to the detrimental effects of negative propaganda that targets their group. Nobody is free from conforming to white supremacy in America, not even non-white people. In our collective subconscious, it’s always there. It’s so normal that many people do not even recognize its existence, and take offense even to the topic. I’m not even white, by many standards. Growing up I was often asked what country I came from, because of my olive skin, dark hair and
harmful. It takes patience to understand the term “racist” as a term for mental error, and not an attack. Knee-jerk reaction for most, when called a racist, is to explain how incredibly not racist they are, usually with irrelevant anecdotes. Many people’s first reaction to being told they have made a mistake is to mentally contort until they have found what they believe to be a justification for their behavior. It’s instinctual self-preservation, but everyone could save a lot of time and anguish if they applied the same critical eye to their own behavior that they apply to bold names in the tabloids.
“We were ecstatic, but we knew there would be ups and down. By his first birthday, he was ours,” Mark said with pride.
It’s true that often, the word “racist” is used as an angry label. But we must understand where that anger comes from, and understand that it’s a cry to be treated equally and to be seen as a valuable life. A mental error can be recognized and worked on. Racism is a mental error, and the onus to correct it is on the individual who is being told that he or she has it.
eyes, and non-European features. My resemblance to my Middle Eastern father and grandmother, both out of the picture, confused me as a child in a white family in suburban Ohio. But I was ingrained with white supremacy simply by existing in this place at this time, and by being whiter than black. This may sound radical, but it’s the truth about white people that most white people do not want to say out loud. It’s a fault that we share, but as long as we are open to admitting it and actively working against it, it’s simply something to consciously overcome. It’s not that hard. It’s on me to directly combat the stereotypes with which I was coded from birth. It’s on me to speak up for people who are victimized, even when I am not. As someone who cares about my rights and safety as a gay man, I must also care about the rights and safety of people of color, people of different religious beliefs, people who are differently abled, or any member of any stigmatized group. And that takes effort to understand. It takes humility to admit that we are not perfect and that we are capable of mistakes, even ones that we do not mean to be
It’s easy for those who disagree to write off my sentiments as “white guilt” despite my mixed heritage and raciallyconfused upbringing. The term “white guilt” assumes these feelings to be baseless in contemporary times, and circles back to the belief that racism is a thing of the past. So to argue against that, one must convince someone who has made that choice – to ignore the glaring reality of systemic racism – to suddenly stop making that choice. And here we are met again with the tendency of the human mind to try to rationalize whatever it has convinced itself of rather than make a change in theory. Instead, I focus on myself and offer the addition of my voice to those whose voices are overlooked as unfounded or ungrateful.
I excused myself from Rebecca’s presence the day she revealed to me that she didn’t care about people unlike herself. My frustrated parting words were that she was ignorant, defensive, and stubborn. “It’s a real problem for me,” I said. Since then, I haven’t reached out to her, and she hasn’t reached out to me. When I first wrote about her, many were quick to tell me to cut her out of my life, or say “you need better friends.” But this was someone who had been in my life for almost a decade. I wanted to educate her. I wanted her to grow. I didn’t want to abandon her completely and contribute to her belief that anyone who thinks like I do is just stupid and stubborn (projection!). She never understood what I was talking about, or why I was upset about things that were happening to other people. I asked myself at the time, “what is a friendship where you disagree on the most basic human issues?” How could I move forward with someone who refused to see further than the tip of their own white nose? It turned out, I couldn’t. Brad Walsh is a singer/songwriter, producer and visual artist whose second full-length album, Six Infinite, is now available on iTunes and Amazon. The thirteentrack LP showcases what Walsh does best, the ability to mix dance pop songs with EDM undercurrents and darker lyrical content.
REVIEW
By: Terri Schlichenmeyer
BOOK REVIEW:
Y
“MISS JANE: A NOVEL”
our mother called it an “angel’s kiss.” Ugh. Lots of people are born with birthmarks or unique features but you saw yours as a flaw and you hated it for years. Slowly, though, you came to embrace it, to see it as something that sets you apart, and now you wouldn’t erase it for the world. As in the new novel, “Miss Jane” by Brad Watson, it’s a part of who you are. In her later years, Jane wasn’t afraid of anything. Oh, sure, she didn’t care much for horses or bodies of water until her father taught her differently, years ago, but grown up, she was fearless. She just lived her life by her Mississippi garden, unafraid, and vexed by but accustomed to the incontinence she’d endured since the day she was born. Jane’s mother was too old to be having another baby back then and everybody knew it, especially Ida Chisolm. It was 1915, and Ida had already lost enough children so she wasn’t putting too much stock in the life of this’un. When Jane was born with something wrong down there, Ida blamed herself for a good long time, and never really did cozy up to her youngest daughter. Because of that, Grace, the oldest daughter and the only Chisolm child left at home, was saddled with babysitting. It rankled her; everything did, in fact, and even though she was barely old enough to be in school, she knew right then that motherhood was not for her. Even at that tender age, Grace couldn’t wait to get away. When Jane was born, Sylvester Chisolm was unsure what to call his child. Clearly, she was a daughter but something was wrong. Still, though men of his day never fussed much about babies, Chisolm took particular delight in his youngest. He taught her about trees and birds, how to fish, and how to be selfsufficient. She’d need that. For many years after Dr. Thompson helped Jane into the world, he kept an eye on her. He advised her, taught her 28: November 04, 2016
about her body, and counseled her when she started noticing boys. He was her friend. And when Jane was old enough for the truth, he told her… Here’s a challenge for you this fall: find a book that’s as beautiful as “Miss Jane.” Wait, don’t bother. It’s impossible. From almost the first page of this story of a hard-scrabble life, you’ll find yourself basking in words that set difficulty awash in lushness. Based on a real person, author Brad Watson’s Jane is a dutiful daughter, smart and a little too nosy, and remarkably unabashed about her physical anomaly – at least, at first. Watson wisely allows his character to mature, both in body and in mind, which inevitably leads to the sweetest, loveliest bust-your-heart-intiny-pieces passages you may ever read. Be aware that parts of this book may make you squirm, if you a sensitive type but mostly, you’ll just float on the sentences inside this book. Start “Miss Jane” and kiss your afternoon goodbye. By: Always Overbooked... Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez, LLC bookwormsez@gmail.com The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book.
FAITH
Spiritual Fitness:
SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
piritual awakening is a sudden shift S in consciousness, sometimes drastic, mainly for a better life and or in a good direction. Webster’s Dictionary defines it as an enlightening realization.
Some of us might be experiencing a spiritual awakening and not know it. Here are 11 signs that indicate that you are experiencing and awakening or enlightening. 1. You are creating new belief systems. 2. You want more freedom and less stuff. 3. A sudden desire or change in life. 4. You find yourself drawn to inspiration & personal development. 5. You have a deep desire to connect with nature. 6. Experiencing usual burst and energy and unusual sleep patterns. 7. You have increased self talks or talks with your creator. 8. You are experiencing synchronicity. 9. You are having a greater feeling of
oneness. 10. You desire to take better care of the whole body. 11. Feeling of really deep emotions! John O’ Donahue has a famous quote: “Once the soul awakens, the search begins and you can never go back. From then on you are inflamed with a special longing that will never again linger in the lowlands of complacency and partial fulfillment. The eternal makes you urgent. You are loath to let compromise or the threat of danger hold you back from striving towards the summit of fulfillment”. This statement is so true. It’s kind of like an onion you begin to peel all the way to the core and begin to live again in a better way with great expression, and for people who don’t understand this it would seem very odd or crazy. That doesn’t matter because when you begin to open and shift your consciousness in a new better direction you begin to really be connected to oneself. When you are connected you are free! Finally when you are free,
BY JOSHUAH NEAL
connected and awaken you have no interest in judging others are worry about others judging you! Spiritual awakening is also the 12th step (last step) in the TWELVE STEP PROGRAM for Alcoholic/ Substance Abuse Program or Rehab centers. The reason it is the final step is because you have to use the other 11 Steps to become awakened or enlighten. The 1st in the 12 step Program is admitting that you are powerless over alcohol and substance and you life has became unmanageable. Therefore in the 12 Step Program you go from step 1 being powerless to the final step, step 12 being powerful and awaken of your life. Personally I began my spiritually awakening not too long ago at all and still working on it in every single one of my affairs. One my personal quotes that tend to refer to is: “I’m not the same soul I once was. A lot has changed. A lot is still changing. A lot had to have change. Therefore you can not expect out of my what I embodied in the past. For that part of me no longer exist!” My spiritual awakening also includes daily talks with my Creator! I’m so connected with myself right now that all I can do is just smile! Spiritual Awakening may not come when you want it to, but it will come. I promise! You may not realize it at the time it’s happening but once you start see. I hope this helps, Joshua Neal Behavioral Health Coach & Fitness Expert www.TinyHabits.com www.AnytimeFitness.com www.CrisisTextLine.com Behavioral Health & Development 2 Peachtree St NW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-225
obsession photography: keith o’neil model: kurt bailey
30: November 04, 2016
FENUXE.COM : 33
Hey Girl Hey! Holler Poodles! Girls, I’m so happy Halloween is over I can barely speak. Fenuxe Magazine sent my best friend Selma B. Hole and I to beautiful downtown Jonesboro to take in a Haunted House called Nether Regions. Oooh girl! Doesn’t that sound spooky? I must admit I was a little nervous about going and you know when I get nervous, I tend to eat. So Selma and I went to KFC and got a bucket of chicken and 3 family sides little bit to eat to calm our nervous stomachs. Well, just as we pull up to the haunted house, the smell of death slapped me in the face and I looked over and saw Selma laughing. She said, “Oops, I guess I have a nervous stomach.” I replied, if your stomach gets any more nervous, I’m gonna be wearing brown!! We hobbled in through the front entrance which looked like a Big crab leg stuck in the bushes. We were immediately bathed in the smell of fish.l Since I bathed last week yesterday, I knew the smell wasn’t coming from me though most of my nose hairs were singed when Selma fated. I asked Selma did she smell that and she replied “Mary! Get over it--I farted!” Well, some ladies don’t know how to conduct themselves in public! Next we moved to a room that smelled like a cross between Krispy Kreme doughnuts and beer. It looked like the walls were living organisms as they bubbled and oozed. So far, not too scary! Next we entered a wind tunnel and I have to say, it smelled like Selma! Damn, “how much ass do I have to smell tonight?” I thought. The deeper into the tunnel we walked, the darker and bumpier it became. I was beside Selma when it happened. A guy dressed as a crab jumped out from around the corner and Selma screamed while simultaneously filling her pants with sh*t! Great!, just great!! As soon as I smelled it, I started throwing up and we then were asked to leave “Nether Regions!” It took that long for me to realize all of the different rooms were things that happened to your privates-Crabs, Yeast Infection, Anal Warts. Gross!! And Yes, Scary. We called Uber to come pick us up and as we were attempting to get in the car, the driver sped away. Now isn’t that rude? Love and Lashes,
Mary Edith Pitts Mary Edith Pitts
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P.S. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please contact me at maryedith99@gmail.com or @maryedithpitts on twitter!
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Sunday November 13th @ 9 p.m.
Gay News At A Glance ANTI-GAY MANEUVER BY REPUBLICANS CALLED ‘RIDICULOUS’ BY WHITE HOUSE
Copyright Getty Images
The White House is blasting Republicans for tying an anti-LGBTI ‘religious freedom’ amendment to the the nation’s 2017 military spending bill. ‘The prospect that Republicans would hold hostage funding for our national security unless the president makes it easier for companies to discriminate against gay people is ridiculous,’ White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters during a briefing this week. ‘But unfortunately (it is) consistent with the pattern of behavior we’ve seen from Republicans in Congress over the past several years.’ The provision is sponsored by Republican Congressman Steve Russell of Oklahoma adds protections and exemptions to ‘any religious corporation, religious association,
TYLER CLEMENTI’S ROOMMATE PLEADS GUILTY Dharun Ravi, the Rutgers University student who spied on Tyler Clementi as he was having a sexual encounter with a man, has agreed to plead guilty to attempted invasion of privacy. The charge is one of the original 15 counts he faced in his 2012 trial. 36: November 04, 2016
religious educational institution, or religious society’ that receives a federal contract.’ Tied to a $600 billion military spending bill, the measure threatens to derail President Barack Obama’s 2014 executive order that forces federal-contracted service providers to protect their LGBT employees from discrimination. Obama has previously vetoed 12 other bills during his two terms as president and is prepared to veto the military bill if the controversial provision remains a part
of it when it reaches his desk. ‘I assure you those views have been communicated very clearly to Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. There’s no mistaking the president’s strong opinion on this issue,’ Earnest said. ‘They shouldn’t use the need to pass that kind of (military spending) legislation to try and jam through controversial provisions that, for example, make it easier to discriminate against gay people. That’s not the right thing to do.’
The pro-LGBT Obama administration had The White House illuminated in rainbow lights following the US Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage in June 2015.
According to the New York Times, by accepting the thirddegree felony state prosecutors will drop all other charges. Last month, the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Newark dropped Ravi’s 2012 conviction of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy, and tampering with evidence as well as other charges. The appeals court opinion is based on a 2015 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling last year that the state’s bias-intimidation law was unconstitutional. The evidence presented on the bias charge ‘tainted the jury’s verdict on the remaining charges,’ the judges argued in their opinion. During last week’s hearing, prosecutors noted they disagreed with the appeals court’s ruling. However, they added the state would more than likely lose if the case was tried again. In 2010, Ravi spied on Clementi’s dorm room encounter with another man; he then used Twitter to discuss, with friends,
on the webcam. After discovering what was happening, Clementi committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. After his first trial, Ravi was sentenced to 30 days in a county jail and released after 20 days due to good behavior. Joe and Jane Clementi, who started the Tyler Clementi Foundation to combat bullying, released a statement after last week’s developments: ‘We have learned a lot through this process of pleas, convictions, time served and appeals,’ the Clementis said, according to the New York Times. ‘We learned at the trial that what happened to Tyler was a lot worse than what was initially related to us. ‘We have learned that our legislators need to make constitutionally valid and clear laws,’ the statement continued. ‘And we have learned that witnesses or bystanders need to become upstanders for those in our society like Tyler, who cannot stand up for themselves.’ Steven D. Altman, Ravi’s lawyer, told the newspaper he would file a motion to have his client’s criminal record erased. Ravi, who is from India, could then apply for United States citizenship. ‘He just wants to disappear,’ Altman said.
SCOTLAND HOTEL HAS FIVESTAR STATUS SUSPENDED OVER OWNER’S HOMOPHOBIC COMMENTS
A Scottish hotel has had its five-star status suspended after the owner made homophobic comments. Stewart Spence, owner of the Marcliffe Hotel in the north-eastern Scottish city of Aberdeen, reportedly left guests stunned when he made anti-gay remarks. During a speech at his hotel last Thursday (20 October), he reportedly said he was ‘lucky’ to never have hired a gay employee. Spence, who is good friends with Donald Trump, immediately apologized the following day, calling the comments ‘ill-advised’ and describing himself as ‘mortified’. Now the hotel, which is a member of VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance (QA) scheme, has had its five-star status suspended and been removed from the agency’s website.
SUPREME COURT WILL TACKLE TRANSGENDER ‘BATHROOM BILL’
The Supreme Court has agreed to step in an settle the hot-button issue of ‘bathroom bills’ aimed at transgender people. The high court today announced it will take on the case of a transgender male student who challenged his Virginia high school’s restroom policy.
Gloucester High School student Gavin Grimm filed suit over a policy that segregates transgender students from their peers by requiring them to use ‘alternative, private’ facilities. The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit had determined in April that Title IX – the federal law that bans discrimination on the basis of gender in public schools – protects the rights of transgender students to use sex segregated facilities that are consistent with their gender identity. The outcome of the case is expected to have major implications for Bill 2 (HB2).
via Facebook (Mark McCabe, left; Buck Cooke, right)
MOM OF PULSE VICTIM: ‘HOW [CAN] YOU JUSTIFY A VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP’
Christine Leinonen, whose son was among those shot to death inside Pulse nightclub last June, is speaking out against Donald Trump bid for the US presidency. Leinonen’s son Christopher died with his boyfriend Juan Ramon Guerrero in the worst mass shooting in US history. ‘This is definitely a mother’s worse nightmare, something that you would never have even imagined. Christopher and Juan’s love was like Romeo and Juliet. Unfortunately they died together,’ the mother said in a Human Rights Campaign commercial for Hillary Clinton. Leinonen spoke out against gun violence at the Democratic National Convention last summer and says her son supported Democratic presidential nominee Clinton.‘He had the kind of personality that brought people together – all people – and that’s why he supported Hillary Clinton,’ she said. ‘He was impressed with her as a leader. She wants to bring everybody to the table. We have to continue moving forward as an inclusive society. ‘If you love a gay person & you really truly love them, I don’t know how you could justify a vote for Donald Trump.’ FENUXE.COM : 37
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THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HIV & AIDS
BY AHRIA JACKSON
#2:
HIV AND AIDS ARE NOT THE SAME. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can become AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which leaves people vulnerable to dire infections.
#3:
ANYONE CAN GET HIV.
Folks with HIV come from all walks of life. It’s not just one socioeconomic class that struggles with this. Gay and bisexual men of all races are most severely affected, but women made up 19 percent of the United States’ over 44,000 new HIV diagnoses in the most recent study.
#4:
HIV TREATMENT IS LEAPS AND BOUNDS FROM WHERE IT WAS IN THE PAST. When HIV was first discovered in the 1980s, it was a terminal illness. In the ‘90s, there were medications that were effective but difficult to tolerate. In the 2000s, there were more tolerable medications, but people still struggled with side effects. Today’s doctos & medication are very good with HIV.
#5:
HIV IS ONLY CONTRACTED WITH FLUIDS The virus is only transmitted through certain bodily fluids: blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. For infection to occur, these fluids need to come into contact with mucous membranes, which are found inside the mouth, penis, vagina, and rectum.
#6:
SOME MEDICATION CAN PREVENT HIV If someone is at continued risk of getting HIV, either because of their sexual activity or drug use, they can use pre-exposure prophylaxis to drastically
KNOWLEDGE IS
POWER
reduce their odds of getting the virus. PrEP, as it’s commonly known, is a medication marketed under the name Truvada.
IF YOU THINK YOU’VE BEEN EXPOSED TO HIV, YOU CAN GET POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS TO POTENTIALLY PREVENT INFECTION. PEP, which needs to be started within 72 hours of exposure to work, can reduce your risk of getting HIV if you were exposed during sex, during drug use, or if you were sexually assaulted. It needs to be taken once or twice daily for 28 days. If you think you were exposed, talk to your doctor, call a healthcare clinic, or go to an emergency room. Any one of these options can get PEP for you ASAP.
#7:
PREVENTION IS STILL THE BEST WAY Abstinence is the obvious way to protect yourself, but we all live in the real world. Nothing is 100 percent, but you need to use barrier protection like a condom, female condoms, or dental dams.
#8:
EVERYONE SHOULD BE TESTED Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 needs to be tested for HIV at least
1
once, but many doctors recommend HIV testing at least once a year if you’re having sex.
YOU DESERVE
ANSWERS HIV Answers gives you the information you want, privately, right on your phone. Get started online at
Download the app at
HIVanswers.com
HIVanswers.com/app Answers
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