SOUTHERN WITH A GAY TWIST
02.10.17 V8-03
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Contents
02.10.2017
8 GREAT 06 CALENDAR: THINGS TO DO
08
OUT & ABOUT PHOTOS
18 25
TIPS TO ATTRACT CUPIDS ARROW
26
THOU SHALT BAKE CAKE FOR THE GAYS
34 36
VISION QUEST
HEY GIRL HEY GAY NEWS AT A GLANCE
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FEB 16
COMMUNITY
LIVING WITH HIV?
Friday, February 16 Are you living with HIV and/or passionate about educating others on how HIV affects our communities? Join hundreds of your fellow advocates at the Georgia State Capitol to show lawmakers we are watching! 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Georgia State Capital, 206 Washington St. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30334
06: February 10, 2017
Sunday, February 12 Explore the world of America’s favorite plant during the annual Orchid Daze exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Step inside the tropical warmth of the largest orchid center in the United States for a special exhibition of thousands of gorgeous orchids.This year emphasizes the contrasts between vibrantly colored orchids and wooden elements
COMMUNITY
THE MANOLOGUES
Saturday, February 17 FIRST-EVER performance of a collection of monologues, spoken word, and movement created by intergenerational, critical, diverse voices that examine toxic masculinity and the deconstruction of dominance. This body of work offers insight and clarity in ways that are both profound and surprising -- all performed by men.
COMMUNITY FEB 15
FEB 14
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Tuesday, February 14 This Valentines day celebrate with all the girls over at Lips as Monica van Pelt hosts the Valentine’s Day event LoveLoveLove. Remember to make your reservations early! Lips Atlanta 3011 Buford Highway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329, www.lipsatl.com
OUR FOUNDING VALENTINES
Thursday, February 15 Atlanta Pride and Touching Up Our Roots present: Our Founding Valentines: Celebrating Our Pioneers. This year the event will honor Lynn Cothren, Betty Couvertier, Pat Hussain, Julie Rhoad, Cheryl Summerville, Craig Washington and Dennie Doucher. The event is hosted by Out Front Theatre Company This event is free and open to the public.
COMMUNITY CHARITY FEB 22 05.03.15
FEB 12
Saturday, February 11 This annual must attend event benefits Joining Hearts. This years event features DJ Mike Pope and will be hosted at Cantoni Design at 1011 Monroe Drive. For tix and info go to www.joinghearts.org
ORCHID DAZE
FEB 17
FEB 11
LOVE ON THE ROCKS: JOINING HEARTS
FUN
FUN
CHARITY
BAYARD RUSTIN
Monday, February 6 The Harvard Club of Georgia presents Behind the Scenes of Civil Rights & Gay Rights, with local arts educator John Doyle dramatically depicting the character of Bayard Rustin. Bayard Rustin worked alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. in the struggle for civil rights, but, was often behind the scenes due to being gay. 7 p.m., PACE Academy, Fine Arts Auditorium, 966 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W., Atlanta, GA 30327
MUSIC FEB 25
CALENDAR
LIFE’S JOURNEY
Saturday, February 25 Voices of Note presents “Life’s Journey” tonight. In the second concert of the season, the Atlanta Women’s Chorus reflects on themes of love, loss and unity, ultimately imagining a world where every person’s story is heard and celebrated. Artistic Director Dr. Melissa Arasi drew inspiration from an article written by Sir Winston Churchill. 2 and 8 p.m., Druid Hills Church, 1026 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306
OUT & ABOUT
08: February 10, 2017
PHOTOS
AFFAIR OF THE ART BENEFITING JERUSALEM HOUSE PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
“New you, new life”
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OUT & ABOUT
10: February 10, 2017
PHOTOS
LAMBDA LEGAL @ SENOR PATRON PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
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OUT & ABOUT
12: February 10, 2017
PHOTOS
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*Available only when you close on a To-Be Built home in the Towns at Druid Hills community pursuant to a contract you sign on or between 1/1/17-1/31/17. Receipt of $20,000 credit or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM; $20,000 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 $10,000 in closing costs or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM and affiliate title; $10,000 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. CAATL189
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OUT & ABOUT
14: February 10, 2017
PHOTOS
RUSTIN LOURDE MLK DAY BREAKFAST PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
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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 1/1/17-1/31/17. Receipt of $10,000 credit or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM; $10,000 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 $5,000 in closing costs or other seller contribution that is contingent upon use of CAM and affiliate title; $10,000 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. CAATL189
16: February 10, 2017
OUT & ABOUT
PHOTOS
LIGHT BEING OPENING @ BLUE MARK STUDIO PHOTOS BY: SHER PRUITT
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INTERVIEW
18: February 10, 2017
the arch of a relationship between two guys, from beginning to end? The project breathed new life into him.
Vision quest By Hugo Lefferson Photos By: Julie Perry
Glam Rocker’s Tragic Life Journey Leads to Brilliant New Opera
Tim Cain, lead singer of the queer rock band, Boys Entrance, began writing the songs that would become “Tunnelvision,” his gay rock opera, in 2006. It was a hard time for him. The economy crashed. Tim lost his job, his home, and eventually, blew through two relationships. Through the turmoil, he amassed about forty songs — mostly all about sexual obsession — and worked hard to record them with his friend Timmy Samuel, thinking the album, which he had named “Tunnelvision,” might be his band’s last. Tim was seriously considering checking out of life.
Tunnelvision: The Musical will debut in St. Petersburg this summer. The rock album by Boys’ Entrance, also titled Tunnelvision, is available on iTunes now along with the band’s first single release, “The Wolf Is At The Door.” It’s interesting that a story set during the start of the AIDS epidemic is told through rock. Tim Cain: Rock’s in-your-face defiance is a great vehicle for the story. I can tell you from experience, glam rock tore through the 80’s at the time of the epidemic. Klaus Nomi, a progenitor of the style, was one of the first to die of AIDS. Were you always a rocker? Tim Cain: In college, I was a disco DJ, but I tired of the adorable, indelible, disco beat. I morphed my style of DJing into what I called Progressive Dance Music, mixing Euro Disco, Punk, Art Rock, and anything else that I loved. Instead of having a seamless, numbing beat, my music was a confrontation with the dancers, as if to say, “Now, what are you going to do with this soxng?”. I started playing rock bands in 1975. Hedwig and The Angry Inch appears to be a strong influence in Tunnelvision. Tim Cain: I had not thought about that, but now that you say it I can totally see the connection. Ironically, Stephen Trask who wrote the music for Hedwig, was going to sing the part of Troy in the 13th Step. He really liked that song. Unfortunately I was unable to meet his terms, so it fell through. The “Creation” single in Tunnelvision seems to echo Hedwig’s ”Origin of Love”. Tim Cain: I take that as a compliment! I have to admit, Hedwig derailed Boys’ Entrance for a time. I felt that I could never write anything as good as “The Original of Love,” so why bother?
“Creation” is actually my manifesto regarding the purpose of gay folk. It comes from Harry Hay’s famous question, “What are we for?” “Creation” is my answer. I am making the case for Creation rather than Procreation. Creation requires consciousness. Procreation does not. Where Hedwig dealt with gender, Tunnelvision focuses more on sexuality and identity. Tim Cain: I agree, absolutely. I think Hedwig employed humor as a way of dealing with gender stereotypes. I am using operatic melodrama to deal with a tragedy. Is the character of Tim based on you? Tim Cain: Yes, in part. Though, as far as I know, I have never had sex with aliens. Tunnelvision is labeled a queer opera but do you think it could have universal appeal? Tim Cain: Twenty-five years ago, when I was first writing for Boys Entrance, I wrote exclusively for gay people. I wanted to be able to have a dialog amongst ourselves. Somewhere along the way, I realized that everyone faces the same challenges in life. I can relate to a hetero love story in a movie so I have to believe a hetero can relate to a gay love story. So yes, the story is for everyone, however, it is not for prudes. It will be interesting to see how the music makes the transition from album to stage. Tim Cain: Tunnelvision: The Musical will debut in St. Petersburg during their pride. The boys are going to be nude on stage! Will you be in the show? Tim Cain: Oh, no! I have aged out of my namesake role. (Laughing) Nudity is best left to the young. Tunnelvision by Boys’ Entrance is available on iTunes now along with the band’s first single release, “The Wolf Is At The Door”.
One evening, he found himself thinking about the lyrics to one of the song’s from the album, “The 13th Step”. It told the story of two men who meet at a Sexual Compulsives Anonymous meeting and hook up. In the SPA program, when two members hook up, it’s called the 13th Step. Cain realized there was more than a story in the song, there was dialogue! And when he looked at many of the other songs he had been writing, it dawned on him that dialogue could be added into them as well. He wondered, why not re-write the album as a gay rock opera, detailing FENUXE.COM : 19
BY HUGO LEFFERSON
TIPS TO ATTRACT
cupids arrow
t
hanks to apps, your smartphone can be the ultimate wingman.
Sure, the world of online dating apps can be a tricky, overwhelming place to navigate with plenty of guys using “alternative facts” in their profiles. Also, let’s be real: most guys on apps are looking for quick hookups over anything more substantial. But there are plenty of guys who have found love, marriage, and LTR on apps. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we enlisted the dating and relationship experts at Jack’d to explain the do’s and don’ts of finding true love online. Here are their top ten tips. 1. Put Your Best Face Forward First impressions are everything. A simple headshot is ideal and gets the most responses because guys can see who you really are. If you are looking for a serious relationship and connection, it is important to lead with how you want to be perceived. Leading with a cute and playful headshot helps attract the right kind of audience to your profile. 2. Mo’ Photos, Mo’ Photos Include as many additional photos as are allowed. Use each image to show a different side to who you are. One can be you on the weekend with friends, one can be you in a suit on your way to work, and another can be you on vacation on the beach showing some skin. Diversifying the photos is ideal.
3. Keep It Classy The biggest mistake guys make on apps that sabotages the possibility of finding true love is leading with their sexual images. It should go without say that sending inappropriate pictures before even introducing yourself first is not they key to LTR. 4. Choose a Name The profiles that get the best results for finding love are those that use real names with emojis. The real name attracts serious-minded men and the emoji adds a touch of personality to the profile. Names that look like screen names or are overly sexual will get responses but not necessarily the best results for love. 5. Things Not To Say “Sup?”, “Nudes?”, and “DTF?” are some of the most overused phrases out there. Guys like to be approached in a way that grabs their attention without turning them into a piece of meat. Avoid saying these overused phrases at all cost. 6. Consider Instead When reaching out to a guy for the first time, the best intro line is “Hey, what are you up to today?”. Also, “How is your day going?” works well as it starts a positive conversation that can lead to something more serious.
7. Be Real Guys tend to fib on their profiles, especially when it comes to their weight and height. Don’t do it. Also, be truthful about what you’re looking for. A lot of guys are scared to admit they want real intimacy. Own that you want an authentic relationship. Saying you are open to a hook up but secretly hoping for more will lead to disappointment. 8. Make Sure He Is Real There is always the potential for a catfish situation. The way to avoid them is to make sure the guy you are talking to has multiple photos, has filled out his profile, and can verify who he is by sending you more photos when you chat. 9. Look Outside The Box You should consider giving guys who aren’t your usual ‘type’ a chance because trying something new can lead to growth and potential connections. Look, you are still single so there’s a chance the guys you have been seeking are not exactly right for you. 10. Be Online During Peak Times Interestingly, there is an actual time that most men are on the apps. For Jack’d, 7 p.m. is the sweet spot—so you might want to be on the app around then. Also, enable push notifications so that you are aware when a guy in your area has swiped on you or sent a message. FENUXE.COM : 25
COMMUNITY
BY: BRAD WALSH
BY CHARLES D. DUNST
thou shalt bake cakes for the gays
I
have combed through the Bible many times, as a Christian youth and later as a gay man looking to reconcile his sexuality with his faith. I have scanned every passage, reviewed every sin, from Genesis to Revelation. In all that reading over all those years, I have yet to find a commandment forbidding the baking of a cake for a same-sex couple. Leviticus does not make a sinner of a photographer snapping photos of two men hugging. I cannot find any red letters in the New Testament speaking of some ban on serving a gay man steak and eggs in a greasy spoon after Sunday church. Yet every time the need for “religious freedom” laws gets raised, these are the very actions many Christians claim they need the legal freedom to refuse. Through the Bible, they say, God tells them they cannot engage in these activities. Of course, He has said no such thing.
26: February 10, 2017
Performing a service for a same-sex wedding or allowing a gay person to spend the night in your bed & breakfast are not sins. They are not even endorsements of “sins.” Doing a good deed for another person pursuing their own happiness is simply that – doing a good deed. It can take the form of a flower arrangement at a wedding or a cot and a blanket under a dry roof on a frigid night. On the contrary, over and over throughout the New Testament in particular we learn of the power and importance of generosity, forgiveness, kindness and brotherhood. Jesus did not ask to whom He gave bread, He simply gave to those who needed it. The true Christian photographer, baker or florist lends his services to all who need – and can afford – his services. Helping someone with your expertise isn’t an endorsement of their “lifestyle.” It’s simply an acknowledgement of their humanity and your ability to contribute to it. Making a wedding cake isn’t putting a stamp of approval on a marriage.
Of course, there are always grey areas that get us stuck in the mud. When a minister officiates the wedding of two people, his signature goes onto the marriage certificate – unlike the passing role of a florist or baker, that minister’s very identity becomes an indelible part of the couple’s marriage. His signature is a legal witnessing – and you could say endorsement – of that relationship. It’s what got Kim Davis in trouble (of course, she was a government employee and as such had forfeited her ability to object with her denial of services). It is no badge of honor to have the name of an unwilling participant on anyone’s marriage certificate. A priest’s refusal to marry a couple doesn’t bar that couple from the right to marry, as there are many others who would love to be witness to the marriage of any two loving people. So might there be a couple very specific societal roles that need some protecting on a religious basis? Sure. Is there some appropriately narrow area of compromise? As much as both sides hate the idea, compromise is a deeply American tenet. Yet every “religious freedom” law that gets put forward is always far too
broad and covers far too wide a swath of “religious belief” to be remotely constructive for any of the parties potentially involved. If we want to make a law protecting people and the doctrine set forth for them by the Bible, Qur’an or other truly holy scripture, let’s talk. Let’s look at what the words really say and figure out a place where we can meet. Allowing someone to discriminate against other people based on the gender of the person they’re dating? Show me the passage in the Book of Matthew that says baking a cake for that couple is a sin, and I’ll be the first person to donate to that campaign. Until then, let’s call these “religious freedom” efforts what they are: baseless discrimination cloaked as an expression of religious doctrine.
FENUXE.COM : 27
REVIEW
Y
BOOK REVIEW:
By: Terri Schlichenmeyer
“RAISING THE TRANSGENDER CHILD”
our preschooler has always had an active imagination. Flights of fancy and dress-up fill his days. She’s rough-and-tumble, a scrapper in her mind. Make-believe has always been a big part in your child’s life but now you’re hearing something you know in your heart is not pretend – and in the new book “Raising the Transgender Child” by Dr. Michele Angello & Alisa Bowman, you’ll find guidance for it. In retrospect, you might’ve seen it coming: your son told you once that he was really a girl. Or your daughter cried when you wouldn’t let her get a buzz-cut. You’ve suddenly realized, or your child has told you, that zie is gender-diverse. Either way, Angello and Bowman point out that few parents are immediately one-hundred-percent prepared for raising a child like yours. And so, you’re not alone: child, you may think that all this others have raised transgender is common-sense stuff you’ve children before you and have heard before – and that may be “blazed trails” already. Your so, but there’s a certain calmness feelings are normal, so is worry, inside “Raising the Transgender and confusion about gender Child” that can’t be beat. dysphoria will “burn off.” The other thing that sets Dysphoria. Now, there’s a word this book apart is that is its you might have seen while doing comprehensiveness: authors research in print or online. There Angello and Bowman seem to are, in fact, many terms you’ll have thought of everything Mom, want to know when raising a Dad, or caregiver could possibly gender-diverse child, starting need to know about present with the difference between issues and what’s to come. It’s all “sex” and “gender.” easy to comprehend, too, and it covers children from small And by the way, as for shaky toddler to older teen. Particularly “studies” and internet myths, vexed parents will be happy set them aside. There are many to see that the authors even theories on “what leads to gender tackle unpleasant situations, and diversity,” and a lot of unknowns. emotions that may need to be Again, put arguments away and heeded along this journey. ignore negativity; all kids are different, and so are their gender Whether you need it now, or experiences. Is it worth obsessing you sense that you might later, over? “Raising the Transgender Child” is a good book to have in your Probably not; you love your child parenting bag of tricks. For regardless, so prepare yourself for questioning children and families a toe-dip into “social transition.” with questions, it’s more helpful, Talk with teachers, neighbors, perhaps, than you can imagine. and take steps to make relatives aware of new pronouns and appearance. Educate yourself on public bathrooms, team sports, By: Always Overbooked... and other legalities. Know when Terri Schlichenmeyer to ask for help – both financial The Bookworm Sez, LLC and emotional. Remember that bookwormsez@gmail.com grief is common, and that your child may experience issues, too. The Bookworm Finally, dare to dream again. Zie is Terri will grow up one day and, as the Schlichenmeyer. authors say, will eventually fall in Terri has been love with “Someone wonderful reading since she and amazing…” As a parent of a transgender 28: February 10, 2017
was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book.
PHOTOSHOOT
BY JOSHUAH NEAL
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,
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 josh hobgood Behavioral Health photography: & Development photography assistant: star elliott 2 Peachtree St NW Berglund, Enerio Medina , models: joakim Atlanta, GA 30303 Liam Eidenire & quinton Chandler (404) 657-225 Clothing by BOY NEXT DOOR
playing in the park
30: February 10, 2017
supawear available at boy next door
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FENUXE.COM : 33
Hey Girl Hey! Holler Poodles! I just got back from the most spectacular spa/beauty treatment ever as a treat from Fenuxe Magazine. Located in the heart of midtown at Mansley Mall, the new spa designated for the gay community is called Gay Spa Day Spa: Girl, Get Yo Body Did! Featuring half naked menszezes in scantily clad clothing (i.e., jockstraps, thongs, and/or a smile), your happy ending is both guaranteed and assured. As I entered the building sideways, I was greeted with twinkie Michael who ushered me into a suite complete with every conceivable luxury a drag queen could want. Picture it, Sicily, 19 Aught 2, a beautifully appointed suite with what looked like a water wall feature. Upon closer inspection, the beautiful stone wall with its golden waters splashing down its slate walls seemed oddly familiar--with an acrid aroma and upon inspection, surprisingly warm and welcoming temperature. Michael instructed me it had antiseptic and healing qualities so I quickly dowsed my face in its warmth. Michael then instructed me to disrobe and since I’m not shy, I started removing my moo moo and peeled my white-ish thong out of its cavernous confines. There I stood nude and vulnerable in front of this twinkie whom I wanted to suck his creamy deliciousness from... but I resisted. Admittedly, I had let my grooming schedule relax since the onset of the fall and winter months. While I usually kept my carpet trimmed down to a berber or sometimes even a hardwood floor, I was sporting a full on 70’s sculptured shag resembling afro puffs and errant adornments (i.e, lint, and possibly a troll doll). Michael whipped out an industrial hedge trimmer and quickly pruned my bush and shrubs. Ahhhh, relief!! Next up, he pulled out a belt sander and proceeded to sand my hoofs and nails down to a fine pedicure befitting a queen. Next Michael asked me if I would like any anal bleaching done, and I replied, “Why, what have you heard?” He suggested I might benefit from a thorough Cloroxing so my backdoor can be pink and bright instead of dull and brown. Although it burned like hell, I must admit, I haven’t see it that pink since i was a schoolgirl. My final treatment was a massage that definitely provided a release. Just not the kind I was expecting. I had gotten so relaxed that I accidentally on purpose let a little gas escape. Michael fell to knees gasping for air and my eyes started to burn and I started to heave so I ran out of the spa down the pathway into the adoring eyes of my fans at LA Fitness. All together they cheered “Looking fabulous Mary Edith.” I knew then I had found my new spa. All in a days work. Love and lashes,
Mary Edith Pitts Mary Edith Pitts
PS. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please email me at maryedith99@gmail.com or on twitter @maryedithpitts
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Gay News At A Glance WHITE HOUSE: NO PLANS ‘AT THIS TIME’ TO SIGN ANTI-GAY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ORDER
Copyright The Mirror
US President Donald Trump has no plans ‘at this time’ to sign a sweeping religious freedom Executive Order to make it legal to discriminate against gay people. ‘We do not have plans to sign anything at this time but will let you know when we have any updates,’ Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a White House spokesperson said. A draft of the order was leaked to The Investigative Fund and The Nation and was quickly denounced by gay organizations. The four-page draft is
titled titled ‘Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom.’ It calls for religious freedom ‘when providing social services, education, or healthcare; earning a living, seeking a job, or employing others; receiving government grants or contracts; or otherwise participating in the marketplace, the public square, or interfacing with Federal, State or local governments.’ The draft creates exemptions for people and organizations who claim religious or moral objections to same-sex marriage and trans identity as well as premarital sex and abortion. White House officials say that the draft appears to be among the hundreds of possible Executive Orders that are circulating. These orders have been drafted by the Trump transition team, the White House policy team or by outside groups. The administration claims
‘FAMILY’ GROUPS BLAST BOY SCOUTS’ DECISION TO ALLOW TRANS KIDS Following years of controversy over their stance on LGBTQ members, the Boy Scouts of America announced that they will permit transgender children who identify as boys to join their packs and troops. It was, by all accounts, a refreshingly inclusive gesture on behalf of the scouting organization and one that will undoubtedly
36: February 10, 2017
that not all the orders reflect administration thinking or likely policy. Even still, many gay organizations are gearing up for battle: ‘The reported Executive Order is a direct attack on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, everyone living with HIV, women, and all Americans who love liberty,’ Lambda Legal CEO Rachel B. Tiven said in a statement. ‘The immediate public
please 8-year-old Joe Maldonado and his family. The third grader, who resides in Secaucus, New Jersey, sparked a national dialogue around the issue of transgender scouts after he claimed to have been asked to withdraw from his Cub Scout pack in November 2016 because he identifies as trans. (Following the announcement, he’s been invited back.) Still, not everyone is thrilled. The N.C. Values Coalition, which deems itself a “bipartisan” network that rallies for “pro-family” positions, blasted the group’s decision in a Tuesday blog post. In it, they argued that the scouting organization had “lost its way” when it decided to allow transgender children to participate. “The Boy Scouts were founded in part to foster the healthy development of masculinity and morals among boys,” officials wrote in the post while encouraging parents to seek out “faith-friendly” alternatives, like Trail Life U.S.A., for their sons. “It is sad to see an important institution that has served over 110 million individuals buckle beneath the weight of political correctness.” Meanwhile, the Florida Family Policy Council’s John Stemberger,
outcry in response to the leaked order confirmed what we already know: people overwhelmingly reject discrimination against LGBT people and don’t want taxpayer money to fund hatred. Bigotry—whether against LGBT people, women, Muslim immigrants or refugees—has no place in our country. ‘The Administration needs to stand down.’
who’s been deemed the Sunshine State’s “leading anti-LGBTQ activist,” claimed the Boy Scouts was “encouraging and facilitating a recognized mental disorder” in their decision. “Knowing that boys and biological girls will be showering, dressing and camping in tents together create a clear child protection issue which is being ignored,” he said in a statement on his organization’s website: “It’s simply stunning that a leading youth organization which parents entrust the protection of their children with has opted to again appease political activists rather than follow clear, common-sense best practices for child protection.” Radio host Bryan Fischer, who was unhappy that gay youth are allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts, offered similar, if more crudely worded, thoughts on Twitter: “Boy Scouts will allow sexually confused girls into programs. Thank you, Rex Tillerson” As troubling as these viewpoints are, knowing that a new generation of children will be encouraged to have more rational and inclusive mindsets because of the Boy Scouts’ decision is the perfect antidote.
TWO MEN CONVICTED OF GAY SEX RING Two Hungarian men were found guilty of running a gay sex slave ring in New York and Miami Gabor Acs and Viktor Berki were convicted of human trafficking, conspiracy and racketeering in a Miami-Dade court this week. The two men face more than 200 years in prison. Acs, Berki and a third man Andras Janos Vass were arrested last October for running a company called Never Sleep Inc which forced three young men to prostitute themselves for up to 20 hours a day. According to the arrest warrant, the company flew the three men to New York City, where they lived in a one-bedroom
KYLIEMINOGUE BREAKSUPWITH JOSHUASASSE OVER‘CHEATING’
Kylie Minogue has reportedly ended her engagement to lover Joshua Sasse. The Australian singer ditched her fiancé over suspicions he was cheating on her. The couple had famously vowed they’d wait to get hitched until Australia introduced marriage equality for same-sex couples.
apartment and were forced to have sex with customers or with each other on webcam. Up to eight men lived and worked in the apartment. In August 2012, the group moved their operation to Miami. The court heard that the ringleaders kept their passports, and threatened them and their families back in Hungary if they refused to work. The ringleaders met two victims in Hungary through a website called GayRomeo.com while another was ‘living with gypsies’ as a male prostitute in Hungary when he met one company representative through Facebook, the Miami Herald reported. The victims were promised they would make US$3,500 to US$5,000 a month for legal escort work. Sentencing for Acs and Berki will take place soon. And only last week, Kylie said she’d take her partner’s surname once they tie the knot. Now she has reportedly thrown Joshua out of her home because she was suspicious of his closeness to Spanish actress Marta Milans. The singer is said to suspect there is more than friendship between the two actors. She immediately asked him to leave her home, which he had moved into at the start of the relationship. He has since moved back into his family’s house in Herefordshire.
WYOMING INTRODUCES LGBT WORKPLACE PROTECTION LAW
New legislation to offer workplace discrimination protections to LGBT employees in the state of Wyoming has support from both Republicans and Democrats in both state houses of Legislature. (SF) 153 will prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It comes on the same day that a controversial piece of Wyoming legislation, religious freedom bill HB135, is dropped. If accepted later this spring, SF135 will instead mean that Wyoming businesses cannot decline employment to, or fire someone, simply because they’re gay, bisexual or transgender. LGBTI advocates have welcomed the fact that the bill has been introduced, and will introduce previously lacking discrimination protections. However, they are unhappy the legislation includes exemptions for religious organizations. They are urging supporters to write to their representatives to make their views known. In a statement, the group said: ‘Tonight, we took our first big step toward winning LGBT equality in Wyoming! ‘After a flood of calls, emails and visits to our Wyoming State Legislature, the sponsors of HB135 withdrew the bill. It’s dead, y’all. We’re now closer to working towards real equality by passing SF153, our “ENDA” (Employee Non-Discrimination Act) which would provide workplace protections for LGBT workers. FENUXE.COM : 37
HALF TIME
LADY GAGA GOES PATRIOTIC & POLITICAL IN SUPERBOWL HALF TIME SHOW Even though the Falcons lost, we still got a great half time show. A lot of people expected Lady Gaga to use her half time performance to make an overt political statement against Mr. Donald Trump. But she said, "The only statements that I’ll be making during the halftime show are the ones that I’ve been consistently making throughout my career. I believe in a passion for inclusion. I believe in the spirit of equality, and that the spirit of this country is one of love and compassion and kindness. My performance will uphold those philosophies." Gaga opened the 14 minute performance began atop Houston’s NRG Stadium singing a medley of This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie and God Bless America. It was a patriotic tribute to her homeland and a message to Trump that the US belonged to everybody. The prerecorded segment featured 300 drones creating a light show projected onto the night sky behind Gaga, which eventually morphed into a dazzling Star Spangled Banner. Gaga then dove from atop the stadium and flew onto a giant podium to begin an energetic medley of her greatest hits. How political did Gaga go? Perhaps the most political moment of her set happened early on when she belted her dance hit Born This Way. It is a song which preaches the importance of inclusivity of everyone including LGBTI, disabled and racially diverse people. Born This Way was a goosebump inducing moment given the current political climate
with President Trump signing an Executive Order to ban people from seven mainly Muslim countries from entering the US. It was also rumored he planned to sign an order repealing workplace protections for LGBTI people. Beyoncé is that you? Beyoncé was rumoured to make a surprise appearance in tonight’s half time show and Gaga managed to get the hopes up of the entire world as the opening refrains of Telephone played. Houston is Beyoncé’s home town and the duo have never performed the song live together. But hopes were quickly dashed as Gaga moved onto another song without the appearance of Queen Bey. There was barely a second of rest for Gaga who ran over to a piano to sing a breathy rendition of Million Reason of her latest album Joanne. During the song she spotted her parents in the crowd and gave them a shoutout. Gaga then hit the mainstage again in a camp interpretation of a football uniform to perform arguably her biggest hit Bad Romance. She was joined onstage by a massive group of football clad dancers as the live crowd went wild. To finish the show Gaga ascended a staircase to deliver the most epic mic drop ever. She then caught a gridiron hurled her way before leaping off the top of the stairs. It will most likely need multiple viewings to take in everything that happened during Gaga’s high energy performance. But it only needs one viewing to know this was an iconic Superbowl Half Time show.
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