Empty Closet, April 2016

The Empty Closet

Page 7

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NUMBER 499

A PUBLICATION OF THE GAY ALLIANCE

APRIL 2016

Make magic at ROC Pride Fest, July 16-17 at Cobbs Hill Park

April 24 celebration to mark 20th anniversary of MEUSA fight for marriage equality It wouldn’t be a 20 Year Anniversary without a party, right? On Sunday April 24, Brian Silva, Executive Director of Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA), will be in Rochester hosting one of many nationwide celebrations of the completion of the organization’s 20 year fight for marriage equality and the sunset of formal operations of MEUSA, and to share the plans which will allow the MEUSA legacy and programs to continue to support the ultimate goal of full LGBTQ equality.

The Gay Alliance is pleased to co-host the Rochester celebration, which will include light refreshments, pictures and archive displays, plus speakers including Rochester political, labor, religious and community activists who were significant in the past fight for marriage and those who are continuing the fight for a world of equality and justice for all.

Marriage Equality USA came to Western NY in 2009, originally in the form of the grassroots organization Marriage Equality New York (MENY). In the vacuum of state-wide strategy after the failed NY legislative marriage vote of 2009, local Pride Agenda trained marriage activists Anne Tischer and Kitty Lambert of Buffalo went to New York City to see what MENY leaders would advise they do next.

Cathy Marino-Thomas, then head of MENY and mentor of SCOTUS plaintiff Edie Windsor, urged them to “think for yourselves…you are the experts at what is needed in your area”.

Both took that advice to heart and welcomed MENY as one of the many collaborative organizations that they worked with as the Equality Rochester Coalition and Outspoken for Equality in Buffalo.

(April 24 continues page 3)

Kristin Beck to speak at Brockport on April 6 Transgender activist Kristin Beck will speak at The College at Brockport on Wednesday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Seymour College Union Ballroom.

The event is free to any community members.

Kristin Beck, born Christopher Beck, is known to be the first trans female Navy SEAL. She was interviewed by Anderson Cooper in June 2013 and quickly became known throughout the world. Soon after that she became a civil rights activist, giving speeches nationwide. She was invited to go before Congress with her personal story.

Kristin distinguished herself in 20 years of exceptionally

Kristin Beck

meritorious service with Special Operations Forces (SOF) in the SEAL teams. She conducted special operations with small UAVs, HUMINT, and Direct Action missions in her 13 deployments.

Final tours were with Naval Special Warfare Development

Group (DEVGRU) to head the Special Reconnaissance units and various Task Forces as a HUMINT source handler and technical operations director.

In 2009, Kristin was asked to be the advisor to SOCOM’s Science Director William Shepherd (SEAL/Astronaut). She became an integral part of SOF technology and advancements while serving in this capacity. She has prepared and briefed position papers on SOF -- unique technology for State Department and White House approvals. As a result of these achievements, Kristin Beck received the NDIA 2010 Special Operations Award.

Now a civil rights activist, she gives speeches and lectures at various events around the country. Kristin was a key voice (Beck continues page 3)

Sam Brett and Lora Thody. Photo: Susan Jordan

letes, both formal and informal, and to have a little fun with it.

I am particularly excited about the 5K run this year, because we will be incorporating a training series for those interested in taking up running.” All the events and activities will be open to all skill levels and physical abilities.

“I’ve enjoyed the Rochester Pride festivities ever since my college days at RIT back in the ‘90s,” Brett continued. “In the past 20 years I have seen many different variations to our celebration: locations, activities, themes, but we always see our community come together for this one week to celebrate our culture, our accomplishments, our lives! I am very thankful for the wonderful team of volunteers that is working very hard to put together these events for all of us. There have been many Pride leaders over the decades, and there will be many more in the future. I hope we can carry on their legacy and make them all proud of the work we are doing.

“One thing we are committed to this year is listening to what our community has to say, its wants and its needs. We’ve held open forums, and had

online and social media surveys, and heard from our donors and other participating organizations. The feedback has been very clear, we need more programming for everyone at the festivities; more activities, more vendors, more options. That’s why the festival will feature a second stage with different entertainment, why there will be more art in the making on the festival grounds, among other program changes.

“This is the first time any festival of this magnitude is being held at Cobbs Hill Park. We had outgrown our previous locations and the park’s footprint seemed ideal to display the beauty of the green areas of the city for our summer festival. The City of Rochester has been instrumental in making these changes happen.

They are very excited to be working with us, and to be exploring all the opportunities that the park has to offer, and keeping the fest within the city limits.”

Said Matt Haag, Parks and Public Works Committee Chair.

Rochester City Council, Member At-Large, “Rochester has historically been a welcoming city for the LGBTQ+ commu(Make Magic continues page 3)

Leigh Anne Francis… page 13

Inside PHOTO: YOSRA EL-ASSAWY

L-R: Harry Bronson, Sandra Frankel, Tom Privitere, Jo Meleca Voigt and John White celebrate the passing of marriage equality in June 2011. Photo: Ove Overmyer

By Susan Jordan This year Rochester’s Pride celebrations (the 27th anniversary) will take place July 10-17, with a variety of events all week long, culminating with the ROC Pride Fest weekend on July 16-17. The celebrations feature some of the Rochester traditional Pride events, and the addition of some new elements.

The flag-raising ceremony and movie night will take place Friday, July 15, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park downtown. The Parade is Saturday July 16, starting at Park and Alexander and heading down Park Ave. and participants are being encouraged to take part in the parade theme “Let’s make magic!”.

Then Pride Fest part one will start at Cobbs Hill Park.

The Fest, spread over two days at Cobbs Hill, will include music, vendors, food and many activities, including expanded entertainment and family fun.

Some differences between the Fest on Saturday and the Fest on Sunday, July 17 will be the different performers onstage, the inclusion of the final rounds of competition for the Pride Games, and other recreational activities for all ages. Samantha Vega and DeeDee DuBois will be mistresses of ceremonies at the festivities.

Sports events have also been expanded this year. Organizers Sam Brett and Lora Thody say that the 5K run will be back, and there will be volleyball, tennis and kickball tournaments and more, perhaps including bowling and video gaming.

Sam Brett commented, “There’s a large portion of our LGBTQ community that participates in sporting activities year round, yet we don’t often see activities that cater to this growing sector of the community. This is an opportunity to showcase some of our local ath-

Editorials....................................... 2 Interview: Paul Brikby................... 7 Making the Scene.......................... 10 Opinion: GOP & hate....................15 Health ..........................................16 LGBTQ Living: In the woods ......17 Shoulders To Stand On ...........21 Columnists ................................22 Community ................................25 Entertainment: More Than Us........27 Gay Alliance: Trans youth .........30 Calendar.....................................34 Classifieds..................................34 Comics........................................35 The Gay Alliance is publisher of The Empty Closet, New York State’s oldest LGBTQ newspaper.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

Perspectives The Empty Closet Editor SUSAN JORDAN

Family Values The Republican catch-phrase has been used for many years to imply that only conservative extremists care about families, and that equality for LGBTQ Americans somehow represents destruction of families.

And the lies go on. Bigot Pat Robertson announced again last month that gays are incapable of love.

Why do the haters claim we can’t love? Because that stereotype perpetuates hatred of queer and gender-nonconforming people, thus gaining more votes and power for the Right. People who are incapable of love are less than human. And if certain people are seen as less than human, it’s OK to take away their civil and human rights, and even their lives.

It’s also OK to destroy their families.

Trump and Cruz have stated that they will reverse same sex marriage -- and that’s just the beginning of the anti-family repression they promise.

It takes a special kind of evil to declare that people who love each other and want to marry are “incapable of love”. And even as hate-propagandists spew their lies, we see Family Values conservatives losing custody of their kids because they are wife-batterers, or being charged with approaching 14-year-old girls for sex; anti-gay politicians trying to

hit on men in airport restrooms; GOP lawmakers who want to drug test welfare applicants getting busted for cocaine.

Racist stereotyping, woman-hating and demonizing the poor are also big vote-winners for the Right. If you believe that impoverished African American single mothers are causing all our economic and social problems, then you can believe that Big Corporation really cares about you. The Republicans say poor people want “free stuff,” but Big Corporations get REALLY BIG government handouts – and usually pay no taxes, stashing billions overseas.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Acts are another excuse for discrimination. The extremists tell people their churches are under threat by “the gays”.

But no church doors are being closed, no religions are being persecuted by gays, no Christians are being thrown to the lions. Simply disagreeing with the hate rhetoric is enough to make you a threat. If you don’t believe as they do, you are trying to “destroy religion” – and they want to destroy you. Sound like the Taliban much?

The fanatical rightwing pastors who back Trump and/or Cruz say that all gays should be executed and we will cause the apocalypse. They also say that God sent Hitler to punish the Jews for rejecting Christ.

Sound like Nazis much?

The Right wants to gain power through keeping Americans angry and divided. Setting the “have-nots” at each other’s throats is good for the “haves” -or so the haves think. Actually, demonizing and dehumanizing people isn’t good for anybody, even the billionaire elite, or the fanatics who politicize religion.

We’d all be better off with more love and less hate, fear and anger in our lives.

Newsflash – LGBTQ people are capable of love.

But are the rightwing extremists? ■

Gay Alliance Board of Trustees David Zona, President W. Bruce Gorman, Secretary Jason Barnecut-Kearns, Paul Birkby, Kim Braithwaite, Jeff Lambert, Jennifer Matthews, Colleen Raimond

Gay Alliance Executive Director SCOTT FEARING

How do I meet other LGBTQ people?

That is one of the most common phone calls we receive at the Alliance. Sometimes the question includes a caveat such as, “…outside of social media” or “…outside of the bars.”

As communities LGBTQ people can have strong civil rights, but even so the age old problem of isolation can still haunt us. Loneliness can lead to lowered self-esteem, depression, and even suicide.

It can be really hard to make friends. (Except on Facebook where all you need to do is click a button and suddenly you have a new friend.) Meaningful, deep friendships can be tough to establish and they require attention to maintain.

But the rewards can be many.

Research shows that most friendships develop between people who have a shared interest in science, art, music, sports or any other topic or activity. Friendships start when we have conversations about things you and someone else have in common.

So the staff at the Alliance was wondering… what can we do to help people meet each other? How can we bring people who share an interest together?

How can we provide a fun way for people of all backgrounds

Name

to meet?

InQueery is one of the answers we came up with.

Initially launched about six years ago, InQueery was put on the shelf three years ago when we lost our community program space. But now, with our move into a new location, and opening the LGBTQ Resource Center, we can again offer unique opportunities for community members to gather, learn, share and create.

InQueery classes are no- or low-cost classes that provide a chance to learn, discuss or create- just for the fun of it.

InQueery prides itself on offering a broad array of opportunities. In the past we had classes as varied as queer history, volleyball, kink and coming out.

April, May and June 2016 are quickly filling with InQueery opportunities for people to gather together. As we like to say, InQueery is as much about meeting other people as it is about learning, sharing or creating. It also has the side benefit of building stronger LGBTQ communities.

Do you have a special skill, talent interest or job that you want to share with others? Let us know- send an email to: InQueery@GayAlliance.org.

We are now seeking instructors for classes in 2016. The only ground rule is that the InQueery class cannot be a commercial for a private enterprise. You could teach people how to knit, take people on a tasting tour of a neighborhood, show and discuss a documentary… as long as you are not breaking any laws, it could be an InQueery class.

While instructors are important, so are students. I hope you will look over the wide variety of InQueery classes that we have planned, and that you will come and join us for a session or two. No doubt you will learn something new, have some fun and maybe develop a new friendship. ■ 04/16

Address City/State/Zip Phone E-mail Gay Alliance Membership Levels: ❏ $30-99 Advocate ❏ $100 Champion ❏ $1,000-4,999 Triangle Club ❏ $5,000+ Stonewall ❏ Check enclosed in the amount of _________ (check #______) Please charge my credit card in the amount of __________ To: ❏ American Express, ❏ Discover, ❏ MasterCard, ❏ Visa Credit card # ____________________________Exp. Date: _______ ❏ I would be proud to have my donation publicly acknowledged.

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THANK YOU THE GAY ALLIANCE APPRECIATES THE CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP OF BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SUPPORT OUR MISSION AND VISION.

GOLD Bachelor Forum City of Rochester SWS Charitable Foundation, Inc Trillium Health

SILVER Constellation Brands Empire Merchants Lake Beverage Nixon Peabody, LLP Southern Wine & Spirits Victory Alliance Waddell & Reed

BRONZE 140 Alex Bar & Grill Advantage Federal Credit Union Anderson Windows Avenue Pub Bank of America, Merrill Lynch CSEA Empire North Excellus First Niagara Fred L. Emerson Foundation Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP HCR Home Care Hedonist Chocolates Jim Beam John’s Tex Mex Joseph & Irene Skalny Charitable Trust Logical Operations New York Life NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti Violence Project NYSUT Pride at Work Prudential Rochester Area Community Foundation Rochester Broadway Theatre League Rochester Institute of Technology Three Olives Waldron Rise Foundation Wegman’s School of Pharmacy Woods, Oviatt, & Gilman, LLP

CHAMPION Bohnett Foundation Brighton Dental Canandaigua National Bank Centerlink Jimmy C. Entertainment Group Marshall St. Bar & Grill Out & Equal Park Ave Merchants Association RIT Student Association RIT Women & Gender Studies Department Rochester Kink Society Rochester Labor Council AFL-CIO Rochester Rams MC Third Presbyterian Church

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

(Make Magic from page 1) nity and as our community continues to grow, we find more and more ways to celebrate it! Pride this year will have many different events to allow all members within the community to find a way to celebrate them being themselves. It will also create connections between different communities.”

For more information, go to #RocPride2016, or gayalliance. org/pride, and see the May, June and July Empty Closets. ■

(April 24 from page 1) Jo Meleca-Voigt came on as MENY Regional Coordinator and several high profile advocacy events ensued. One highlight was the participation of Rochester and Buffalo in the annual visibility marches coordinated

by MENY to highlight the need for equal access to civil marriage for same-sex couples.

In September 2010, over 300 Rochesterians carried a rainbow of umbrellas as they crossed the International Bridge over the Genesee River. The march was followed by a community festival at Crossroads Park. As a side note, such stories of grassroots history are being solicited

by MEUSA from volunteers and allies to include in a book and archive preserving grassroots contributions to the marriage equality movement Said Brian Silva, “Marriage Equality USA is proud to announce celebrations across the country of 20 years of working together to accomplish our core mission of full marriage equality nationwide! We invite our current and former volunteers, donors, and allies who supported our work to join us as we celebrate our past, and look towards the future. As an important part of our history and our future, we want our supporters to know where MEUSA goes from here.

In our planning and decisions we tried hard to honor the work of so many over the past 20 years.

“It is truly amazing when you accomplish your mission - winning marriage for same sex couples!. But while we won this fight and our organization is winding down, the work to secure full LGBTQ equality in every state is far from over. In 33 states LGBTQ people are not fully protected from discrimination – whether in employment, housing, or in public spaces like restaurants or hotels. We need to secure laws at the local, state, and ultimately federal level that ensure that no one can face legal discrimination because of who they are or who they love.

That’s why the National Equality Action Team (NEAT), for-

ON GARD

merly chaired by MEUSA, is changing leadership, with a new home at Freedom for All Americans (FFAA), the national campaign working to pass comprehensive LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws in all 50 states and at the federal level.

We urge people to stay engaged through NEAT and commit the same energy they invested in the marriage fight to direct action in critical non-discrimination campaigns nationwide.

“Through NEAT, volunteers will continue to make phone calls to residents of states with pending legislation, knock on doors to urge residents to contact their lawmaker, and assist with a variety of other actions that put NEAT volunteers right in the middle of these exciting, historic campaigns. No matter where you live, as long as you have a cell phone and computer or tablet, you can volunteer with us remotely – and when you do, it makes a big difference. Since November of last year, NEAT has already been involved in battles in Texas, Massachusetts and Florida, and is gearing up to engage in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia as well.

“As my work with MEUSA comes to a close, I will be moving to a new role as Director of Grassroots Engagement for NEAT with one of our trusted strategic partners, Freedom for All Americans. (www.freedomforallamericans.org.) I look forward to celebrating with friends in Rochester and sharing more about the movement toward full LGBTQ equality.”

All are welcome to the MEUSA 20th Anniversary Celebration Event, Sunday April 24, 2-5 p.m., at 140 Alex Bar & Grill, 140 Alexander St. This event will include a fundraiser for the Gay Alliance Youth Group’s Big Gay Prom, to be held in May. This part of the event will be held upstairs, where Samantha Vega and Dee Licious will present a cabaret.

RSVP to 244-8640 or online at www.marriageequality. org/20year. ■

(Beck from page 1) in the Congressional Bill to end discrimination toward the LGBT community. She continues her “new mission” fighting for equality for all Americans.

She is “Lady Valor” and offers services in consulting, full spectrum law enforcement training, motivational and informational speeches, innovation collaborations, art and other original works such as books, comic books, screenplays, painting/pottery/abstract multimedia pieces.

In February 2015, Kristin registered as a candidate in the 2016 US Congressional race. She is a Democrat and will be running against Steny Hoyer for Maryland’s 5th District. ■

The Gay Alliance on-line Resource Directory The online community tool – providing local, state and national resources... twenty-four, seven! www.gayalliance.org

NewsFronts LOCAL AND STATE United Way, Excellus, Gay Alliance offer leadership seminar To encourage LGBTQ involvement in Rochester’s notfor-profit sector, the United Way of Greater Rochester, Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and the Gay Alliance have partnered to create the Pride in Leadership Development Program. This unique seminar was first offered in 2015, and the 2016 session will be offered on May 5 and 6 at the LGBTQ Resource Center.

The objectives of the seminar are to expose participants to challenges facing not-forprofits in Rochester and across the nation, to describe the reasons why LGBTQ leadership is needed in not-for-profits, and to provide participants with an overview of the purpose and functions of a Board of Directors in the governance of a not-forprofit organization.

The United Way offers a number of Leadership programs to help local not-forprofits expand the diversity of their board. The Pride Leadership Development Program joins similar programs promoting women’s leadership roles, as well as leadership in the Latino, African-American, and AsianAmerican communities.

“The Pride Leadership program opened my eyes to the important role played by a notfor-profit organization’s Board of Directors,” says former Gay Alliance board member Shira May. “I not only learned how boards work in general, but more importantly I was inspired to think about how I might play a leadership role in supporting the mission of an organization that I am passionate about.”

One of the key goals of the seminar is to prepare more LGBTQ individuals to take on a leadership role in our community.

“Our goal is to get LGBTQ

people on the Boards of not-forprofits around town,” says Gay Alliance ED Scott Fearing. “I have seen local boards recruit LGBTQ members who are not prepared to be on a board and they end up failing because they are not prepared to take on this leadership.”

Paul Birkby, a school media specialist for the Penfield Central Schools, spoke to the Empty Closet about his experience in the 2015 Pride Leadership program: “I was glad to have the opportunity to enhance my understanding of the duties of a not-for-profit director. I also think focusing on LBGTQ leadership skills was valuable for

Inqueering minds want to know…

Inquiring minds want to know….or at the Gay Alliance LGBTQ Resource Center, (InQueering continues page 6)

Tim O’Connell, city history expert, passes on Feb. 13 Timothy John O’Connell died on Feb. 13, at age 70. Tim worked for the City of Rochester for many years and was a wellknown expert on the history of the city and its maps, records and architecture. He was often consulted by researchers and artists.

Tim served on the board of the Highland Park Conservancy and was recently elected president. He was especially knowledgeable about Highland Park, the work of Frederick Law Olmstead, and Mt. Hope Cemetery, where he conducted tours and gave lectures.

Tim is survived by his spouse James Graves, pet dog Myles, and a large family including both relatives and friends, who knew and loved Tim as an unfailing source of kindness, intelligence, laughter and fun. ■

Community mourns the passing of Rich Schroedel Richard Schroedel, owner of Outlandish Videos and Gifts, passed away unexpectedly on March 7. He was 73.

Rich was born and raised in Irondequoit, where he continued to live until his passing. At the age of 19, he opened his first business The Waffle Stand, which was located in Sea Breeze Amusement Park. This venture, which he owned and operated for two decades, not only began his passion for small business, but financed his B.A. from St. Lawrence University in Northern New York State and his M.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.

both members of the community and allies that service on not-for-profit boards.” Birkby currently serves as Governance Committee Chair for the Gay Alliance Board of Directors.

Colleen Raimond, a trademark attorney at Nixon Peabody LLP, and a Gay Alliance board member, also attended the program in 2015. Raimond commented, “I found the experience very enlightening. It taught me how my input and leadership might be valuable to a board. It also taught me how to determine when a board position is a good ‘fit’ for me.”

Registration for the May 2016 is now open. Contact the Gay Alliance for more information.

PHOTO: SUSAN JORDAN

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After working at SUNY Brockport, he spent many years as an Associate Professor at Monroe Community College, where he taught Criminology and Sociology. While at MCC he served as the first faculty advisor of the student LGBT club. In addition to teaching, during this time period, he also owned and operated two BaskinRobbins Ice Cream stores.

In 2001, he, along with Russel Shaner, bought and re-

opened Outlandish after its previous owner, Paul Pape, was killed in a car accident.

In 2010, Rich became the sole proprietor of Western New York’s longest-running LGBT-themed store.

Throughout the years, Rich was a supporter of many local groups and organizations, including the Gay Alliance, The Gay Men’s and Women’s Choruses, ImageOut, and Trillium Health. In addition, he was a member of the Community Business Forum and the Just Us Guys group. In 2009 he was chosen to be CoGrand Marshal of the Rochester PRIDE Parade.

Rich is survived by his cousin, Annelise Alan of Minnesota, his Outlandish Family, and many dear friends in the Rochester community. ■

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

NewsFronts

Under the United States Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause, states are required to respect court judgments, including adoption orders, issued by courts in other states. V.L.’s request said, “this Court’s review of the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision is urgently needed” because “the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision flouts a century of precedent on the Full Faith and Credit Clause and will have a devastating impact on Alabama adoptive families.”

In December 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the Alabama court’s decision, allowing V.L. to have visitation with her children while the Court considered her case.

South Dakota governor vetoes “bathroom bill”

Supreme Court reverses Alabama denial of Georgia lesbian adoption On March 7, the United States Supreme Court reversed an Alabama Supreme Court decision refusing to recognize a lesbian mother’s prior adoption of her three children in Georgia. The summary reversal restores V.L. full rights as an adoptive parent.

“I am overjoyed that the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Alabama court decision,” said the adoptive mother, V.L. “I have been my children’s mother in every way for their whole lives. I thought that adopting them meant that we would be able to be together always. When the Alabama court said my adoption was invalid and I wasn’t their mother, I didn’t think I could go on. The Supreme Court has done what’s right for my family.”

“The Supreme Court’s reversal of Alabama’s unprecedented decision to void an adoption from another state is a victory not only for our client but for thousands of adopted families,” said National Center for Lesbian Rights Family Law Director Cathy Sakimura, who is representing V.L. “No adoptive parent or child should have to face the uncertainty and loss of being separated years after their adoption just because another state’s court disagrees with the law that was applied in their adoption.”

V.L and E.L. were in a long-term samesex relationship in which they planned for

and raised three children together, using donor insemination. To ensure that both had secure parental rights, V.L., the nonbiological mother, adopted the couples’ three children in Georgia in 2007, with E.L.’s support and written consent. When the two later broke up, E.L. kept V.L. from seeing the children, fighting her request for visitation, and arguing that the Georgia adoption was invalid in Alabama, where they live.

In September 2015, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an order refusing to recognize V.L.’s Georgia adoption and declaring that it is “void.” Even though V.L. raised the children from birth and both women participated in the adoption hearing and consented to the adoption, the Court broke with more than a century of precedent requiring states to honor court judgments from other states. Disregarding this clear precedent, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that Alabama could treat the adoption as void based on the Alabama Supreme Court’s view that the Georgia court should not have granted the adoption in 2007.

In November 2015, V.L. asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review her case, noting that the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision is unprecedented. Before this ruling, no state supreme court had refused to recognize a same-sex parent’s adoption from another state—or any out-of-state adoption—based on a disagreement with how the court issuing the adoption interpreted its own adoption laws.

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard on March 2 vetoed the nation’s first discriminatory anti-transgender bathroom bill to pass a state legislature. An attempt to overturn the veto failed on March 3.

The measure became the subject of national scrutiny for proposing to single out South Dakota transgender students by forcing them to choose between isolated accommodations and those that do not match their gender identity.

“Today Governor Daugaard made a symbolic statement that South Dakota’s transgender students are a valued part of the community and that our state leaders won’t be swayed by out-of-state groups that don’t have the interests of South Dakotans at heart,” said Heather Smith, executive director of the ACLU of South Dakota. “People from across the state and country took time to reach out to the governor to urge this veto — that’s the true testament of democracy. There was no place for discrimination in South Dakota when this bill was initially proposed by a handful of legislators, and today the governor confirmed unequivocally that discrimination has no place in our future.

Thank you, governor, for listening to the collective voices of South Dakotans and voting your values.”

The veto protects the health and safety of transgender South Dakota students and ensures that state law complies with federal law prohibiting discrimination in schools on the basis of sex. The veto comes as 16 other states are considering similar discriminatory measures that expose transgender students to unequal treatment. (See page 12) “Governor Daugaard’s decision will place him unequivocally on the right side of history,” said Chase Strangio, staff attorney with the ACLU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. “Federal law is clear that transgender students are protected under Title IX and the governor’s veto prevents costly investigations into school districts across South Dakota.

Hopefully this important action by Governor Daugaard will allow the state and other states across the country to continue to invest in the safety of all students instead of singling out a vulnerable few for

isolation and discrimination.”

Transgender student Thomas Lewis rallied against the bill by starting a petition that garnered more than 83,000 signatures and organizing a delivery to the state capitol. Gov. Daurgaard invited Thomas and a group of other transgender students for a meeting to discuss their concerns about the harms of the bill, HB 1008. He celebrated the victory.

“In my meeting with Governor Daugaard, I could tell that he was genuinely interested and concerned with my story, and I believe this openness helped him make this decision to veto HB 1008,” said Thomas. “The governor made it clear today that transgender people like me are worthy of respect and kindness. I join thousands of people across the state in thanking Governor Daugaard for standing up for all South Dakotans.”

GLSEN response GLSEN’s Director of Public Policy, Nathan Smith, applauded South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard for preventing a discriminatory bill from becoming law by vetoing HB 1008. The bill would have required transgender and gender nonconforming students to use the restroom and locker rooms that correspond with their gender assigned at birth, even if that conflicts with their gender identity.

The bill would have also restricted the ability of schools to work with students to devise solutions that best serve them.

“GLSEN is relieved that the dangerous actions of the South Dakota legislature in passing HB 1008 have been halted

by Gov. Daugaard’s veto. We applaud Gov. Daugaard for his leadership in protecting all of South Dakota’s students and not placing unnecessary legal burdens on the state’s school districts.

“We hope this sends a message and serves as an example to other state and local policymakers that all students, including transgender and gender nonconforming students, should have access to safe and affirming schools. GLSEN calls on all policymakers to best serve their students and educators by supporting LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination and anti-bullying and harassment laws.

GLSEN is ready to work with policymakers, school administrators, educators and students to help create school climates where all students can thrive.”

The latest edition of GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey found that transgender students were more likely to avoid gender-segregated spaces at schools, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, because of feeling unsafe or uncomfortable. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students who experienced discrimination and bullying and harassment at school were more than three times as likely to have missed school in the past month as those who did not, had lower GPAs than their peers, and had lower self-esteem and higher levels of depression. GLSEN has created model laws and policies for schools, districts and states to ensure LGBT students are safe and affirmed at school, including a model dis-

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET trict policy for accommodating transgender and gender nonconforming students that complies with Title IX. NCLR response The National Center for Lesbian Rights applauded South Dakota Governor Dennis Dauggard for vetoing House Bill 1008, which would have required South Dakota public schools to invade the privacy of all students and deny transgender students the ability to be treated the same as other students.

NCLR Transgender Youth Project Attorney Asaf Orr, Esq. stated: “We salute Governor Daugaard for meeting with students and listening to the concerns of legal experts and medical professionals about the serious harms caused by denying students equal access to all school programs and activities. School policies should be based on evidence, not irrational stereotypes and fears, and should support the health and well-being of all students.”

Center for American Progress response CAP Executive Vice President for External Affairs Winnie Stachelberg issued the following statement: “Governor Daugaard has sided with compassion and reason with his veto of H.B. 1008, legislation that would have banned transgender students from using appropriate restrooms at school. It is clear that in meeting transgender people, the governor saw that they are worthy of respect, and his veto ensures that all students have the same opportunities to receive a safe and quality education. For the transgender South Dakota students who have had to witness their state legislators ridicule and mock them for political points, this nightmare has hopefully come to an end.

We hope that the other states considering this discriminatory legislation will follow South Dakota’s lead and move on to measures that seek to expand opportunity for all students and families.”

NCTE response The National Center for Transgender Equality said, “HB 1008 would have completely disrupted the school lives of hundreds of transgender students. By taking this action, Gov. Daugaard has shown that discrimination against transgender people is not a South Dakota value.”

NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling, who was on the ground in South Dakota, said, “Gov. Daugaard has demonstrated true leadership in listening to the hundreds of transgender South Dakotans and their families who would have been directly impacted by this bill. He has made a carefully informed decision that protects all students in South Dakota.

His example shows that scare tactics can be overcome by understanding who trans people really are.”

NCTE thanked the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, the Center for Equality in Sioux Falls, and Equality South Dakota, as well as the national ACLU and the Human Rights Campaign, for all of their hard work combating this bill.

National LGBTQ Task Force Action

Fund response “We would like to thank Governor Daugaard for vetoing this bill, which if made law would have been a direct attack on transgender and gender non-conforming children and young people at school.

It’s good to see decency and dignity prevail over appalling discrimination targeting some of the most vulnerable in an environment where they should be protected.

We also want to thank all the advocates, groups, businesses, parents and allies that worked so hard to achieve this victory,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

because of their sexual orientation,” said EEOC General Counsel David Lopez in a press release that announced the lawsuits against Pallet Companies and Scott Medical Health Center. “While some federal courts have begun to recognize this right under Title VII, it is critical that all courts do so.”

- See more at: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/03/01/ eeoc-files-first-sexual-orientation-discrimination-lawsuits/#sthash.28tTCL3x.dpuf

Alabama Supreme Court rules same-sex marriage is still law of the land

The Human Rights Campaign on March 10 announced that 60 major corporations have endorsed the Equality Act, including Amazon, Apple, Google, Twitter, IBM, Facebook, Hilton, Hyatt, MasterCard, General Mills, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. Via press release: Since HRC joined with lawmakers and advocates last July to introduce the Equality Act in Congress, HRC has continued to build support from the business community. The Business Coalition for the Equality Act now launches with 60 leading American companies. With operations in all 50 states, headquarters spanning 22 states and a combined $1.9 trillion in revenue, the companies that make up the coalition employ over 4.2 million people in the United States.

“These business leaders are showing true leadership and fighting to end a shameful status quo that leaves LGBT people at risk in a majority of states for being denied services or fired because of who they are or who they love,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We’re proud of all these corporate leaders stepping forward to say that all Americans, including LGBT people, should be able to live free from fear of discrimination and have a fair chance to earn a living.”

A majority of states — 32 states in total — still lack fully inclusive non-discrimination protections for LGBT people, and there are no explicit federal protections against discrimination. Introduced one month after the historic Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that ushered in nationwide marriage equality, the Equality Act would finally guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBT people under our existing civil rights laws.

The Equality Act provides clear, permanent and equal protections under federal law for all Americans in vital areas of life, like employment, access to public spaces, housing, credit, education, jury service, and federally funded programs.

Via AL.com: The Alabama Supreme Court on March 4 dismissed petitions by the Alabama Policy Institute, the Alabama Citizens Action Program and Elmore County’s probate judge that had sought a landmark ruling declaring the state’s prohibition on gay marriage still stands.

The ruling means same-sex marriage is still intact in Alabama and the petitions challenging it are tossed. The petitions had sought to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling declaring same-sex marriage legal in the Obergefell case.

The Alabama Supreme Court issued a one-page order and 169-page opinion with all nine justices concurring, and seven of them writing specially. In an opinion that takes up much of the ruling, (homophobic) Chief Justice Roy Moore wrote that despite the dismissal of the petitions, Moore believes the state’s ban on gay marriage is still intact.

Read the full story on joemygod.com

EEOC files first sexual orientation discrimination lawsuits The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on March 1 filed its first two sex discrimination lawsuits based on sexual orientation.

The EEOC in a lawsuit that it filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore alleges that Pallet Companies fired a lesbian woman after she said her supervisor harassed her because of her sexual orientation. The second lawsuit, which it filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, claims the manager of a gay man who worked at Scott Medical Health Center harassed him because of his sexual orientation.

The EEOC last July ruled that discrimination based upon sexual orientation amounts to sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in 2014 said the statute also protects transgender people.

“With the filing of these two suits, EEOC is continuing to solidify its commitment to ensuring that individuals are not discriminated against in workplaces

HRC: 60 corporations endorse Equality Act

India votes down decriminalization of gay sexuality Nick Duffy posts on pinknews.co.uk: Politicians in India have voted down a bill that would decriminalize gay sex, for the second time in three months.

5 Activists have been battling to remove Section 377, the country’s colonial-era anti-gay law, which was reinstated by the Supreme Court in 2013.

However, the cause has failed to pick up steam in Parliament, and activists suffered a defeat just before Christmas when a bill to repeal the law was overwhelmingly voted down, by 71 votes to 24.

After a lobbying campaign, on March 11 Congressman Shashi Tharoor took the bill to Parliament again – but his proposal was gathered even less support than previously.

Tharoor’s push to discuss the private members bill was defeated by a vote of 58 to 14, with one abstaining.

Read the entire story at pinknews. co.uk

LGBTQ students: Mexican language centers offer summer program, immersion Progressive Spanish language and cultural centers in Cuernavaca, Mexico, are offering programs for students wanting to learn Spanish through immersion, cultural exchange, and deeper understanding of Mexican life and society, including the real situation of the Mexican LGBTQ movement.

CETALIC and CILAC FREIRE have a three week program, June 11-July 1, which includes roundtable discussions, guest speakers (artists, activists, community leaders), museum visits, videos, meetings with local community groups and an “LGBTQ welcoming homestay”.

Students are welcomed regardless of nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual preferences, age, etc. CETALIC is credited by the Mexico Department of Education. For more information, visit the website at www.cetalic.org.mx and www. cilacfreire.mx.

Mo. Dem filibuster goes down as state senate approves “Religious Freedom” hate bill The Democratic caucus of the Missouri Senate began filibustering a Republican “religious freedom” proposal to end marriage equality on March 7 at 4 p.m.

And as of 6 a.m. March 9 they were still holding the floor — that’s 38 hours, and counting. (In the end the bill passed.)

That appears to be a new record for the Missouri Senate, according to the Riverfront Times; the previous “longest filibuster” in the state that’s regularly cited was 30 hours, in 2003. In addition, the New York Daily News suggested that if the Senators could just get to 43 hours, they’d set a record for the longest filibuster in history. Even the famous Wendy Davis filibuster in Texas was just eleven hours.

The resolution they tried to block, SJR 39, refers to Missouri voters a pos(Filibuster continues page 11)

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LOCAL AND STATE (InQueering from page 3) InQueering minds want to know.

The month of April will kick off the community education classes through the InQueery Community Learning program. InQueery provides learning opportunities for personal and professional development in safe, inclusive class rooms.

InQueery classes are taught by volunteers with a particular expertise, not necessarily a degree. Like traditional “Adult Education,” InQueery sessions are not offered for “credit,” but for the experience and learning in community.

The first Inqueery class “Driving the Informational Super Highway Safely” will be taught by David Frier. David is an Information Security Risk Assessment program manager for a large local company. This class will cover the basics of computer and internet safety. Participants will learn the principles of protecting their personal information and privacy, while still enjoying all that the Internet has to offer. Though being online is never absolutely risk-free, it can be made safer. And all explanations will be in English, not in computer technical language. Bring your questions along with your sense of humor.

Kennan Beckstrandt will bring a touch of the Japan to the LGBTQ Resource Center in an introduction to the classic account of the meaning and symbolism of the Japanese art of Ikebana. Kennan is a renaissance man, speaking several languages fluently, one of which is Japanese.

He is an educator and has taught in Japan as well as several colleges in the United States. The Japanese culture values the creativity and reflection of natural laws in the art of Ikebana (Ike—living. Bana— flower.) A demonstration and discussion on the art of Ikebana includes the philosophies, the aesthetic meanings, and the qualities that make this Japanese art form

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016 so admired by many Western cultures.

Kennan will also be teaching an origami class in the creation of Kusudama. Kusudama (Kusu comes from the Japanese word for Kusuri—medicine. Dama is a Japanese word for a ball.) A kusudama is a sphere made up of origami (folded paper) stylized flowers. They are very therapeutic because it is extremely relaxing to make the flowers, relax and visit with other participants, and express yourself creatively with a beautiful piece of art that you can display with pride. Later in the month a follow-up workshop is scheduled for those who have the desire to create their very own Kusudama or Ikebana.

Craig Filek will hold a work shop on Purpose Mapping; this is a process of bringing together all the threads in your life to find your unique purpose. Purpose Mapping is a process of organizing the four aspects of the psyche - Essence, Strengths, Downfall & Shadow - in a way that highlights the intelligence of each part. By bringing all aspects of yourself into focus, a clear understanding of your Purpose emerges. From this clarity, you’ll naturally align your life with the gift you were born to give, resulting in profound fulfillment and durable flow. Flow is the state of effortless concentration and energized focus that emerges when we’re fully engaged in an activity we enjoy. As a depth coach and highly attuned facilitator, Craig will be bringing over 20 years of experience in transformative work, shadow work and authentic relating to this unique process for radically clarifying your purpose, Craig will help you organize your life around making a powerful contribution and stepping into your flow.

CSI will be coming to the LQBTQ Resource center. Tom Rodwell, a forensic scientist at Monroe County Crime, Lab talks about forensics and what actually goes on in a crime lab. Tom will discuss what is forensic science as well as the structure of the crime labs in Monroe county and New York State. He will go over how evidence is collected at a crime

scene, to the medical examiner’s office, autopsy and forensic toxicology. Tom will also talk about firearms and ballistics, controlled substances, arson and DNA. During this three hour program, we will look at all of the trace evidence and form a conclusion at the end of the evening of guilty or not guilty.

InQueery is looking for people to offer classes in most any subject area. Subjects are as diverse as history, theatre, crafts, painting, cooking, reading, book study, creative writing, computer skills, walking tours and activist training. If you have a skill, and want to teach others, InQueery may be your opportunity to “reach­ n­ teach” LGBT and allied learners. Teachers are not paid for leading a session. If you are interested in volunteering to facilitate a class please email InQueery@gayalliance.org The Alliance are thrilled to be bringing these exciting and informative community education programs to the LGBTQ Resource Center. For more information on the programs, or to register for a class, please visit www.gayalliance.org/ InQueery.

Creating a home for our own: Housing Survey

By Todd Plank As Dorothy Gale so aptly exclaimed as she clicked the heels of her ruby slippers three times, “There’s no place like home!”

What does “home” mean to you today?

What has home represented to you in your past? What will home look and feel like in your future?

Assuming that you have a safe, affordable, comfortable place to call home, which not everyone does, you may not have given much thought to these questions; however, an increasing number of older LGBTQ adults (55+) have reason to be concerned about their housing options as they age. As the number of LGBT elders has dramatically increased, a phenomenon called “going back into the closet” has developed due to their fears of discrimination and mistreatment. Many of these older adults lack the traditional family supports that our society presumes are readily available to provide practical, emotional and financial support to their aging parents and other relatives.

Surely the LGBT community at large has a responsibility to plan for the future of at risk adults in our respective communities. We are all too familiar with the persistent problem of homelessness among queer youth, and since many middleaged adults remember suffering harassment and rejection during their formative years, the outpouring of support to our queer youth continues to pull at the heartstrings of the LGBTQ community.

The same cannot be said for the LGBT aging community. It’s easy to empathize with our youth because we have a point of reference. We were all young once. The same cannot be said for those of us who have not yet experienced what it is like to grow old. It’s like viewing a foreign land from an airplane. You may be able to make out the outlines of the landscape between the clouds, but at such a high altitude you can’t possibly understand what life is like for its inhabitants.

Perhaps part of the reason that we avoid talking about aging (aside from the casual joke) is a general aversion to thinking about growing older in a community that continues to place great emphasis on youth and beauty. Also, planning for the natural process of aging was not, for the most part, something that the generation that grew up during the AIDS epidemic had on their radar. The loss of an entire generation of men and women who would by now have reached older adulthood may be one reason why the contemporary LGBTQ movement has been slow in responding to the needs of our aging population.

Thankfully that is slowly beginning to change. Over the past five years LGBTQ friendly senior living accommodations have sprung up in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and Philadelphia, and the

planning for similar developments are underway in San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego. Most of this housing has been built in tandem with state-of-theart LGBTQ community centers, where LGBTQ older adults have an impressive menu of rewarding activities to choose from.

Some of these success stories have been filmed as documentaries. Check out the film A Place to Live: The Story of Triangle Square (2008). Film synopsis: “A Place to Live chronicles the journey of seven brave individuals as they attempt to secure a home in Triangle Square, Hollywood, the nation’s first affordable housing facility for LGBT seniors. Since demand far exceeds the number of available apartments, a lottery system was set up to determine who would be selected.

This film is a moving exploration of the applicants’ personal stories and the journey that brought them to the lottery and what the future might hold.”

This film made a lasting impression on me and has served as my inspiration to do all that I can to ensure that our older adults, now and in the future, can age with dignity in wholesome LGBTQ friendly environments. Locally, SAGE Rochester has a robust group of older adults who are taking full advantage of opportunities afforded them at the Gay Alliance to exercise, socialize, organize events, support our local veterans and educate themselves on a variety of interesting topics. The attendance at SAGE Rochester’s Health Quest program has exceeded expectations and plans are already underway to offer another eight-week program designed to promote a healthy lifestyle with an enthusiastic support group to cheer you on.

Despite the progress that is being made in various locales around the country, the picture is not a rosy one for many of our vulnerable elders, who have few housing options available to them due to limited finances, chronic health issues and lack of social supports. Failure to plan now for the future of aging LGBTQ activists and supporters who laid the groundwork for the many advances that we have witnessed in the early 21st century would be a shameful sign of neglect among those of us who have benefited from their labors and sacrifices.

LGBTQ Housing Survey Goes “Live”; SAGE Rochester Needs Community Feedback Since the soft launch of the LGBT Housing Project Survey in March, the buzz has been growing about the Gay Alliance’s exploration of the viability of having a developer build affordable LGBTQ friendly (this would include our supportive straight identified allies!) housing for the 55 and over population. In order to capture the interest of prospective funders and developers we have to demonstrate that there is sufficient demand for safe, affordable, LGBTQ friendly housing in the Rochester area. We have to make a compelling case based on reliable data that there is sufficient interest in and support for a LGBTQ friendly housing community.

SAGE Rochester is undertaking a survey of local adults (55+) to determine how many single individuals and couples would favor living in an LGBT friendly and affirming environment.

SAGE Rochester, a program of the Gay Alliance, now has a link on their webpage to the LGBT Housing Project Survey that can be submitted online. For folks who lack computer access, you are invited to complete the survey at the Gay Alliance’s new LGBTQ Resource Center located at 100 College St. Alternatively, you are welcome to call (585.278.4190 ext. 31) or email (sage@gayalliance.org) and request that a paper copy of the survey be mailed out to you.

How about hosting a “house party” and filling out the survey with friends and “family”? I’m always up for a party, so send me an invite and I’ll drop by to distribute the surveys and join in a conversation about the future of Rochester’s aging LGBTQ community.

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Interview

Paul Birkby

GSA advisors summit

By Susan Jordan A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Advisors Consortium summit will be held on April 7 at the LGBTQ Resource Center, offering support and training to those teachers and administrators who advise LGBTQ student groups in area schools.

Co-organizer Paul Birkby, GSA advisor at Penfield High School, told The Empty Closet, “This first meeting is primarily designed to be an opportunity to GSA Advisors to begin to network and share successes and challenges, to seek advice from others who may be dealing with similar circumstances, and to provide some basic training about creating safe spaces.”

How many GSAs are there locally?

Paul said, “Another purpose for this initial

gathering is to get a better sense of that.

We believe most area high schools have GSAs. We don’t have a sense of the number of middle schools with GSAs. Previous attempts over the years to create an organization for area GSA advisors and participants haven’t met with sustained success.

“GSAs have historically operated pretty independently with coordination based on personal connections. For example, the Penfield High School and Fairport High School GSAs have held joint meetings and events partially because the advisors know each other. Students from various schools may also know students attending other schools and they may connect informally. We are hoping to create a structure through which connections can be created and maintained.

“There are several national organizations that have, as at least part of their missions, support for GSAs. GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network) (http://www.glsen.org/) has a number of online resources for both advisors and students. The GSA Network (https://gsanetwork.org/), based in California also provides online resources.

“GayStraightAlliance (http://www. gaystraightalliance.org/) has a more global focus, with links to resources for GSAs around the world, in addition to the United States. Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, It Gets Better, and the Trevor Project are also excellent sources or information and resources.

“One of the goals of the Consortium is to be a clearinghouse on the local level to provide resources, support and assistance to GSA Advisors.”

How many area students are involved with a GSA? Paul stated, “The number

varies from school to school and year to year, depending on the interests and needs of the students. I can only speak for my school. Some years we have a very large, active group (20-30 students) with interests in social and political advocacy; some years our GSA tends to be smaller, more focused on being a supportive, safe place for our own students, and some years it falls somewhere in that continuum.”

Bullying is a major concern for LGBTQ students, their parents and the GSA advisors, who seek to keep youth safe from verbal and physical assault.

According to Paul, “DASA (the Dignity for All Students Act) has clearly raised awareness on the part of school districts of the need to provide safe and welcoming environments for all students. The climate in each school tends to be a reflection of the community. Penfield Central Schools, where I work, has a number of supports and structures in place to create safe settings and to address issues of bullying and harassment. We also are redoubling

our efforts to reach students that might otherwise fall through the cracks. That is not to say that bullying has been eradicated, but the climate does seem to continue to improve.

“As climates have improved and the need for strictly social and emotional support for our LGBTQ students has changed, GSAs are also looking for ways to help them develop leadership and advocacy skills.”

Organizers are looking forward to a good turnout on April 7. As Paul puts it, “We are really looking to the participants in this first meeting to design a future that will meet their needs and the needs of their students. We are very excited that we have over 35 advisors registered so far!

“We hope that this first meeting will give us guidance and direction for the future of the Consortium. Included in the possibilities are an annual summit for advisors and students; quarterly meetings; training sessions on specific topics, student leadership training and opportunities, and more.” ■

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

Making the Scene

SECOND THURSDAY: Out & Equal held its monthly networking event at the Gay Alliance’s LGBTQ Resource Center on March 10. Photos: Jill Frier

IRISH SINGALONG AT SAGE: Irish Crooners Kat Wiggall, Christopher Hennelly and Anne Tischer. Photo: Andy Fernandez

SAFEZONE: Scott Fearing and Jeanne Gainsburg conduct a Safezone training exercise with CSEA labor union in Buffalo. Photo: Bess Watts

HEALTH QUEST: The first Health Quest class was March 7. Photo: Bess Watts

Tom Somerville teaches a yoga class at Health Quest. Photo: Bess Watts

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET (Home from page 6) There is a pressing need to get as many people as possible to fill out the survey so that we can demonstrate that there is a local market for LGBTQ friendly housing. Equally important is the need for your feedback regarding the essential components of desirable living arrangements for the 55+ community.

This is your opportunity to offer feedback and contribute to the design of what you would envision to be an ideal housing arrangement for LGBT seniors and LGBT friendly adults in their second half of life. If you were to make the decision to live in LGBT friendly housing what would you consider the essential features? What options would you want to have available to you? This anonymous survey is designed to address these and other questions. Please take the time to help SAGE Rochester plan for our collective future.

Ali Forney Center, Episcopal Diocese of L.I. will partner to develop housing for homeless LGBT youth in NYC

The Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest organization for homeless LGBT youth, and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island are pleased to announce their plans to develop a 23-unit long-term housing program for homeless LGBT youth on the site of the rectory of the church of Saint Andrew’s in Astoria, Queens.

This new housing program will expand upon a partnership between the two organizations that has existed since 2009, when the diocese renovated the lower level of the Church of Saint Andrew in order for the Ali Forney Center to provide emergency shelter. The Ali Forney Center currently has over 230 youths on a waiting list for its housing programs.

“The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island is committed to caring for all of God’s people, especially those most at risk,” said Bishop Lawrence C. Provenzano, who represents 133 congregations in Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk counties. “In as much as intolerance and hatefilled attitudes are associated with those who claim to follow Jesus, our partnership with the Ali Forney Center gives us the chance to witness to a holy and real expression of Christianity. We take seriously the baptismal promise to ‘respect the dignity of every human being’ and to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves”.

“When our youths tell us why they were unsafe in their homes, the reason they cite most often is the religious beliefs of their parents.” said Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center. “We are deeply grateful to the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island for showing such an extraordinary commitment to the safety and welfare of home-

less LGBT youths. By their compassion, caring, and generosity in providing space to house those who have suffered so much from homophobia and transphobia, they offer more than property; they offer a beautiful example of how the divide between the LGBT community and many religious communities can be healed by their fidelity to the Gospel message of unconditional love.”

The Ali Forney Center will also partner with Cooper Square Committee to oversee the financing and construction of the property. Cooper Square Committee has likewise partnered with the Ali Forney Center in developing the soonto-be-opened Bea Arthur Residence for Homeless LGBT Youth in Manhattan.

“Having partnered with the Ali Forney Center to develop the Bea Arthur Residence, we are excited to be working with AFC again on this pioneering project with the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island to develop urgently needed housing for homeless LGBT youth,” said Steve Herrick, Executive Director of the Cooper Square Committee.

Get a boost in your job Search with SAGEWorks!

By Todd Plank Anyone who has ever been unemployed can understand how difficult it can be to maintain a positive attitude and stay motivated when searching for that next job.

The process of conducting a successful job search requires tenacity and the ability to adapt to the demands of the changing marketplace. Individuals in their fifties and sixties can find it particularly daunting to learn new skills and apply different approaches in their job search strategy. If you are currently seeking employment SAGEWorks boot camp may be just what you need to re-energize you and help you land your dream job.

SAGEWorks is a national employment support program for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people age 40 and older that expands participants’ job hunting skills and career options, and connects employers to diverse high-caliber candidates. Recognizing the importance of remaining employed and fulfilled in today’s competitive job market, SAGEWorks provides hands-on workshops, technology training and personal coaching at various sites nationwide. (Reference: https://www.sageusa.org/ /programs/sageworks.cfm) Through SAGEWorks programs around the country, participants attend an intensive two-week boot camp designed to increase their technology and job skills to remain competitive in the modern work place and gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of job search strategies and employment resources. SAGE Rochester is excited to be able to offer this intensive twoweek program at the Gay Alliance’s new LGBTQ Resource Center from May 16

through May 26.

Each day (Mon.-Thurs.) will be divided into two parts. (On Fridays participants are expected to devote their day to applying what they have learned in their job search.) The first half of the day (9 a.m.-2 p.m. with a 12-12:30 break) will be devoted to learning the skills and strategies that will give you a competitive edge in your job search. The textbook, HIRED! The Ultimate Job Search Course (a $55 value) will be provided at no cost to workshop participants.

Skilled facilitators will guide the class through the lesson plan: (1) The Soul Search Before the Job Search; (2) Your Career Marketing Documents; (3) The Hidden Job Market; (4) Communicating With Your Network; (5) Using Social Media in Your Job Search; (6) Job Search Resources and (7) Ace Your Interview and Negotiate Like a Pro. Recognizing that individuals have different learning styles, the curriculum will be presented in a variety of ways.

Local professionals and employers will be invited to share their practical suggestions and insights on how to land a job.

There will also be an opportunity to tour the neighboring RochesterWorks’ Career Center and learn about their resources.

The afternoons will provide participants with time to utilize the Gay Alliance’s Cyber Center to update their marketing tools (i.e. resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, etc.), and continue with their job search.

The small class size (limited to ten people) will allow for plenty of personalized attention. Past boot camp participants have consistently emphasized the value of peer support during the program. It is not uncommon for folks to remain connected after the two weeks of workshops have concluded.

If you are thinking about applying to SAGEWorks boot camp, check out the information posted on the Gay Alliance’s website. Be sure to check out the testimonials from SAGEWorks’ graduates to hear firsthand how they have benefitted from this LGBT friendly program. Click on the link on the SAGEWorks slide on the Gay Alliance’s home page or visit the SAGE Rochester webpage to complete and submit an online application.

Due to the limited number of available seats, prospective candidates will be evaluated based on criteria designed to identify those individuals who stand to gain the greatest benefit from the boot camp. Once the ten seats are filled a waitlist will be created in the event that there are any cancellations. Applicants can expect to be notified by no later than May 6. It is critical that individuals selected to attend the SAGEWorks boot camp be fully committed to attending all eight days of classroom instruction and actively apply what they are learning during the two-week program.

Questions can be directed to SAGEWorks Program Educator Todd Plank at sage@gayalliance.org or by calling 585.244.8640 ext.31. ■

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NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Filibuster continued from page 6) sible constitutional amendment spelling out clear protections for anyone opposed to same-sex marriage. In essence, it would bar the state from imposing “any penalty” on those entities — including churches, other houses of worship and individuals “with sincere religious beliefs” — who decline to officiate or otherwise participate in same-sex marriage celebrations.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Using a parliamentary maneuver, Republicans voted to end the blockade, which had put a national focus on a GOP-sponsored measure to shield clergy, wedding vendors and religious organizations from penalties if they oppose samesex marriage. The Senate then voted 23-9 to give the proposal preliminary approval.

The Senate’s minority party launched its stalling attempt at about 4 p.m. Monday and went non-stop until Republican leaders called for a break at about 5 a.m.

Wednesday. Word began spreading about the filibuster Monday night. By Tuesday afternoon, national outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Buzzfeed and the Los Angeles Times were covering the marathon.

LGBT groups and allies react “Religious freedom is one of our nation’s fundamental values, and that’s why it’s firmly protected in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “This reckless legislation has nothing to do with religious freedom and everything to do with enabling discrimination against LGBT Missourians and their families. Discrimination against LGBT people should never be sanctioned by the state, and we call on the Missouri House of Representatives to resoundingly reject this outrageous resolution.”

“Laws that promote discrimination are anti-democratic, harm Missouri families, and – as we’ve learned in Indiana – are bad for our economy,” said ACLU of Missouri Executive Director Jeffrey Mittman. “That is why so many Missourians, including clergy and business leaders, strongly oppose any effort – such as SJR 39 – that would seek to enshrine inequality in our Missouri Constitution.”

“We agree that religion is a fundamental right, which is why it is protected in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and in our existing Human Rights Act. We are not arguing that clergy and churches should be denied their freedom of religion,” said PROMO Executive Director Steph Perkins. “But those same religious beliefs cannot be used as a reason to deny someone the same services that are offered to the rest of the public by private businesses. And that is exactly what SJR 39 aims to do. Businesses and organizations have already been rightly (Filibuster continues page 12)

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NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Filibuster continued from page 11) concerned about the consequences of this bill and are outspoken in their opposition.”

Read more at JoeMyGod.com

N.C. Assembly overrides LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance, governor signs hate bill Sunnivie Brydum posted on The Advocate on March 24: In the span of a single day, North Carolina lawmakers introduced and passed a bill through two houses and got it signed by the governor.

That seemingly urgent bill strikes down all existing LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances across the state.

North Carolina lawmakers voted overwhelmingly… during a special legislative session that was called in response to Charlotte, N.C. passing a transgenderinclusive nondiscrimination ordinance The ACLU comments: The North Carolina General Assembly convened a $42,000 special session to introduce and pass House Bill 2, an unprecedented bill that overrides a recently passed LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance in Charlotte, prevents local governments from enacting a range of nondiscrimination and employment policies, and jeopardizes billions of dollars in federal funds that North Carolina schools receive through Title IX. The governor has now signed the bill into law.

The Charlotte ordinance protected lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents from discrimination in public accommodations including restaurants, hotels, taxis and bathrooms. Among other protections, it allowed transgender men and transgender women to use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity HB2 removes the ability of any local

government to protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and requires all public facilities, including schools, to allow restroom access only on the basis of “biological sex.”

It also jeopardizes the more than $4.5 billion in federal funding that North Carolina receives for secondary and post-secondary schools under Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination, including discrimination against transgender students.

“Rather than expand nondiscrimination laws to protect all North Carolinians, the General Assembly instead spent $42,000 to rush through an extreme bill that undoes all local nondiscrimination laws and specifically excludes gay and transgender people from legal protections,” said Sarah Preston, acting Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Carolina. “The manner in which legislators passed the most extreme anti-LGBT bill in the nation – voting hours after it was unveiled without adequate public debate – flies in the face of fairness and democracy. Legislators have gone out of their way to stigmatize and marginalize transgender North Carolinians by pushing ugly and fundamentally untrue stereotypes that are based on fear and ignorance and not supported by the experiences of more than 200 cities with these protections. Transgender men are men; transgender women are women.

They deserve to use the appropriate restroom in peace, just like everyone else.

We urge Governor McCrory to veto this extreme, far reaching and misguided bill.”

The North Carolina League of Municipalities, Attorney General Roy Cooper, Red Hat, and Dow Chemical were among those who came out in opposition to the bill, in addition to major companies including Apple, Siemens, Microsoft, and AT&T who supported the Charlotte ordinance A Public Policy Polling survey released on March 22 showed widespread, bipartisan agreement among state voters that the legislature should leave Charlotte’s ordinance alone. ■

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Charles Blow at UR: Being true to himself

By Kristin Hocker One of the many reasons why I enjoy working at a university is having access to events that contribute to my need for lifelong learning, such as lectures by notable individuals like New York Times Op-Ed Columnist and author, Charles M. Blow.

I hadn’t read Fire Shut Up in My Bones prior to attending his lecture at the University of Rochester on March 14 (although I did purchase it that day). Instead I knew of Mr. Blow through his poignant essays in the New York Times, in addition to following him on Twitter and recently on Facebook (We generation Xers are hip on social media too, you know!).

His video commentaries about the election primaries expand my horizon beyond the sound bites and sensationalist headlines of mainstream media. For example, while mainstream media outlets deliberate on which Democratic candidate is the sure-fired favorite among Black voters (as if Black voters are a monolithic group), Mr. Blow instead provided assessments of the unique experiences of diverse Black communities that provide a much-needed reminder of the heterogeneity that exists among Black Americans and their range of interests as voting citizens.

So while I had no idea what Mr. Blow would say that evening, I was confident that whatever he would say, it would make the world that much more personable to me, which is exactly what happened.

He began his thoughtful and emotional lecture explaining the purpose of the biography within the literary canon as an exploration of the connective tissue that binds one’s beliefs to their behavior. He related this premise to the way his book Fire Shut Up in My Bones served to navigate the connections between his painful experience of childhood sexual abuse, his journey towards understanding his sexual identity as a bisexual male, and the affirmations that substantiate his sense of self in which he stated is, “Never feeling like I have to apologize for me.”

He then steadily unfolded an emotional testimony of what he called, “the betrayal,” the series of events that transpired at a time when he and his family were reeling from the aftermath of his parents’ divorce.

The divorce left a young Charles craving attention from a male figure to fill the void of a father who left and elder brothers too caught up in their own needs to be concerned with that of their younger sibling.

Charles M. Blow

A fateful visit from an older cousin fulfilled the needs of companionship and attention until, when Charles’ brothers innocently offered their bed for the cousin and Charles to share (as children often do when spending the night), the appalling intentions for the cousin’s devoted attention were revealed.

It wasn’t the only betrayal Charles would experience. An uncle would take advantage of Charles’ need for connection one fateful evening. After dozing off in his uncle’s bed, Charles awoke to feel his uncle’s hand, “winding like a snake” over his hips. Silently, he left his uncle’s room riddled with the fear and confusion that many adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse can attest. Eventually that fear and confusion led to the pain and internalized shame of keeping such secrets.

For some the story ends there; such a story is too fraught with fear and confusion to come to terms with the fragility of a childhood betrayed. But as Kahlil Gibran states, “Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” Charles was able to reconcile his past by understanding the dynamic power of vulnerability, recognizing the way social constructs of gender and sexual identity inform social behavior, and a child who is unknowingly queer can find themselves on the fringe of their familial or social circles- the sibling who is introverted, creative, or overly energetic, that everyone calls weird and isolates. Yet isolation is the opportunity a sexual predator uses to violate a child in their misconstrued attempt to help the child feel that they matter.

For Charles Blow, his vulnerability became a tactic to live openly and unapologetically and to “be true to himself so he can be the truth of himself.”

Within that truth he traversed his abuse by ensuring his own children are void of vulnerable isolation and indubitably know they are loved. ■

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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Conversations in the Community

By Todd Plank Todd Plank: Hi Leigh-Anne! I am very excited about the opportunity to introduce you to our readers prior to your visit to Rochester in mid-April, when you will be speaking at the Social Welfare Action Alliance’s (SWAA) national summit. I was surprised to learn that you have a connection to Rochester.

Leigh-Anne Francis: Yes. I attended RIT from 1996-1999. During that time I was very closeted; however, I became more comfortable with my sexual orientation and gender nonconformity while attending SUNY Brockport (Fall 2001-Summer 2003). During that time I volunteered with the Gay Alliance when Patty Hayes was running the LGBTQ youth program. While Rochester, like any community in the country, is not free of racism, heterosexism, classism, etc., it has a large LGBTQ community that includes people of color. I felt safe there. I’m currently living in Maryland with my spouse Jenny and our one-year old twin sons Rustin and Langston.

Todd: Congratulations on your recent appointment as Assistant Professor of African American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at the College of New Jersey. I did some research online to educate myself about your background and came across an article on the website Vitae: “When Diversity Doesn’t Come Easy.” I don’t have space to recount the entire story here, but I want to invite our readers to visit this link and read the complete narrative: https://chroniclevitae. com/news/455-when-diversity-doesn-tcome-easy It was shocking and deeply disturbing, but sadly not surprising, to read about the incident back in August 2013 when you were the object of racial and gender profiling by the Oneonta police department. This incident seems like a microcosm of what is and has been going on in the United States for a long time.

Leigh-Anne: I agree with you. Race relations have been and continue to be bad in this country. When I reflect back on that incident I realize that I could have been beaten or killed by the white male state trooper that arrested me. The incident not only resulted in physical damage (my arm was badly bruised and I was handcuffed tightly) and psychological trauma from which I have only recently started to recover, but there was also a severe financial impact on me and my family. I also recognize that if my white, effeminate, gender conforming wife had been pulled over that night the state trooper would probably have just ticketed her or let her go home.

Todd: Based on the many highly publicized tragic deaths of people of color at the hands of law enforcement it would appear that race relations in this country have deteriorated. Would you agree with that observation?

Leigh-Anne: I don’t think that conditions have necessarily gotten worse for people of color. In the United States, racism has always been bad. There have been major improvements. Since the 1970s, the black middle class has grown and we now have a black president; however, these changes do not indicate that racism has decreased. People of color are disproportionately poor, most schools are racially segregated, poor black and brown communities are cruelly stereotyped in ways that encourage and justify racist violent hyperpolicing of these neighborhoods.

Today’s racism often looks different from slavery era and Jim Crow racism because the liberal white mainstream

Leigh-Anne Francis. Photo-Art by www. yosra.co.uk | yosra@yosra.co.uk © Yosra El-Essawy. All Rights Reserved

media is paying more attention to police violence against black people. This has increased the white public’s awareness of the pervasive racism in this country and prompted many liberal and progressive white people to take notice of the racism that has always been there.

T: In your teaching and research you tackle a broad range of issues, including the crisis of mass incarceration, prisoner’s rights, racial profiling, police brutality, and the institutional oppression of people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, and those at the intersection of these identities. Why do you think that so many are rallying around Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric on these and other issues? How much of a danger do you think he represents to oppressed groups?

LA: I think that Donald Trump is very dangerous because he is a smart manipulator and he knows how to tap into white people’s racialized and economic frustration, fear and anger – their job insecurity, bigotries, racial resentments and anxieties. When I observe the crowds that are turning out for Trump rallies his supporters are vastly white.

He talks about “making America great again”, but for who? There is a long list of people who are excluded from his definition of what constitutes “America”: poor people, immigrants, black people, white women who decry his misogynistic vitriol, Muslims and people perceived to be of Middle Eastern descent – these people are not included in Trump’s stereotypical, bigoted vision of “America.”

He’s singling out these groups as the source of the country’s problems.

The people protesting against Islamophobia and racism at Trump rallies are very brave. They know that they stand a good chance of being rounded up, beat up, or both. Trump’s rhetoric incites and condones racism, anti-Muslim attitudes, and violence.

T: It seems to me that the subject of class, which cannot be divorced from racism, sexism, ableism, etc., is the pink elephant in the room within LGBTQ communities.

LA: I agree that it is crucial to address issues of class in our LGBTQ communities. Focusing on economic inequality helps people to understand the intersectionality of social identities and oppression. Unfortunately, poverty links people from a wide range of

social groups. In the U.S., most middle and upper class people are white. There are 46 million poor people in the U.S. and most of them are white. Yet people of color are disproportionately poor – meaning, there are higher rates of poverty among blacks, Latinos, Asian Americans, and so on (for example, 10% of whites are poor while 24% of blacks are poor). The combined forces of racism and classism create higher poverty rates among people of color. The poverty rates in LGBTQ communities are also disproportionately high, but LGBTQ people of color are even more likely to be poor than white LGBTQs. Class is just one aspect of a person’s overall identity; however, when we examine class as an intersection with other social identities such as race, sex, assigned gender, education, sexual orientation, gender identity we see how LGBTQ communities are stratified.

T: Is there anything else that you would like to share regarding your perspectives on intersectionality as it relates to LGBTQ identities?

LA: “Gay” issues are “women’s” issues, “black” and “brown” issues, poor people’s issues… Gay issues are intersectional – racism, sexism, classism, cissexism, ableism, and many other oppressions drive and shape anti-gay oppression. So, I don’t think that there are one-dimensional “gay” issues. When we think that way, our LGBTQ organizations and activist groups end up reflecting the needs and concerns of those with the most privilege and power – those who are white, cisgender and affluent, for instance. You can’t separate a person’s queer identity from the intersectionality of the endless spectrum of complex, multifaceted social identities they inhabit.

In a specific context some identities may be more visible, privileged or disadvantaged, but that doesn’t mean that the other aspects of that person’s identity are irrelevant or lie dormant. In a middle class queer context, a working class cisgender gay man may be privileged by his gender normativity but oppressed by his low-income status. Gay issues are black issues, aging issues, trans issues, etc. I believe that at some point everyone fails to see the intersectional nature of other people’s identities and oppressions – not because we are bad people but because we do not share those identities, we are not targeted for those oppressions. The more conscious we are of our own privileges and prejudices the more empow-

ered we are to eliminate prejudice in ourselves and in the world around us.

It’s important that when someone realizes that they have rendered an individual or group invisible that they not get mired in guilt or shame or become defensive. It is not useful to assign blame to others or ourselves. The society that we grow up in installs filters within each of us that obscure our view of reality. What matters is that when a person awakens to the struggles of others they take some initial step to correct the imbalance. Resisting oppression can be as simple as re-tweeting a message or posting a news story on Facebook to create greater awareness among friends and family of social, economic and racial injustice. This kind of support for the activism of individuals and organizations engaging in grassroots work has a profound impact on the lives of oppressed people worldwide.

Todd: The Gay Alliance, at 100 College St., will host a reception for Professor Francis on the evening of Wednesday, April 13 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to hear more from Leigh Anne about the issues discussed in this interview.

Professor Francis will also be one of several presenters speaking at the Social Welfare Action Alliance’s (SWAA) Summit being held in Rochester on April 14 and 15. The theme of the summit is Connect, Move, Act. Standing Together for Human Rights. On Thursday evening (6-8 p.m.) there will be a panel discussion at the College at Brockport Metro Center-Grand Hallway, 55 St. Paul St. The topic will be Human Rights DENIED! Flint’s Water Crisis as a Microcosm of the Nation’s Politics of Inequality. Grassroots organizers from the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and other social activists will be discussing the serious implications of the Flint, MI water crisis.

On Friday (8:30 a.m -4:30 p.m.)

SWAA will be offering a series of presentations, panel discussions and interactive workshops at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church (121 N. Fitzhugh St). Willie Baptist, who is organizing the New Poor People’s Campaign with the Poverty Initiative from the Kairos Center, will be among the featured speakers. For more information about the SWAA Summit call 585-969-3409 or Email: info@swaarochester.org See Facebook - Social Welfare Action Alliance - Rochester Chapter ■

PFLAG MEETS 3RD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH Meetings are at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church 707 E. Main Street, Rochester, New York 14605 from 1 to 3pm. Questions? Call: 585-993-3297 or Email: RochesterPFLAG@gmail.com Join us!

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

From our readers Thanks and meow To The Editor: Thank you so much for the lovely article about ME in the March Empty Closet. I have always known I was important but now I see it in print. Especially with my picture right on the front page!

Please excuse my human. She is not often able to translate Cat into English with the ease that she should by now.

Poor, rather pitiful humans; not you, of course.

The other furballs in my house are jealous, as well they should be. They all want to know when you will be calling on them. Don’t worry, I don’t plan to give them your contact information. Though, should you hear from one of them, pretend you don’t know who they are.

Yours in Catness, Tunaman

Sponsor G-BLAG Network for homeless Jamaican youth To the Editor: I, Jordan Willis, founder and executive director of Generating Bisexuals, Lesbians and Gays (G-BLAG) Community Network, am hereby requesting the opportunity of inviting those in the Rochester community to become one of my sponsors, in giving a bit of respite to tired and beaten down spirits, in touch-

ing the heart and souls of the abandoned LGBT Jamaicans youths with love and merriment.

The primary source of funding in reaching to these individuals with the continuation of my doings is from corporate and individual sponsors such as you.

G-BLAG Community Network is not about creating new programmes, except where basic programmes do not exist currently. Rather, it is about using a framework to create linkages and respond to gaps in existing programmes so that they are more efficient and responsive to the needs of LGBT people.

Programmatic components areas of G-BLAG Community Network: Empowerment; Human rights visibility campaigns; Social and economic support of homeless Jamaican LGBT youth; Health protection and access; Gender equality and sexuality.

Your sponsorship will help assure the growth of the group in empowering LGBT youths through health education, meal treat and human rights programmes.

Please feel free to visit my group Facebook page at G-blag Symposium via www.gblagsymposium.wordpress.com or my personal Facebook page Spontaneous Kidd Unruly Jae’d. Also you can contact me with any questions and concerns.

Warm Regards, Jordan Willis, Founder and Executive Director 1(876) 327-8522/530-1949

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Opinion GOP candidates court anti-gay hate groups By the Southern Poverty Law Center Last November, Sen. Ted Cruz made some waves when he and two other presidential candidates — Mike Huckabee and Bobby Jindal — addrºessed an event in Iowa in support of “religious liberty.” The event was sponsored by extreme antiLGBT radio host Kevin Swanson, of the anti-LGBT hate group Generations with Vision.

Swanson has made many anti-LGBT statements over the years, and he has also defended the execution of LGBT people, though he said he would provide LGBT people a chance to repent first. Huckabee and Cruz pleaded ignorance about Swanson’s views, which are readily accessible through a web search.

Appearing at the event was a mistake, Rick Tyler, a Cruz campaign spokesman, told USAToday in December. Tyler said that Swanson’s comments about supporting the execution of LGBT people are “reprehensible,” and further stated that Cruz has spoken out repeatedly against anyone who calls for hatred or violence against homosexuals.

In spite of Tyler’s claims about Cruz’s support for LGBT people, Cruz was scheduled to be at a campaign rally in March in Mississippi that included anti-LGBT and anti-Muslim radio host Bryan Fischer, the former director of issues analysis at the American Family Association (AFA), an anti-LGBT hate group. Cruz cancelled the appearance, citing illness, but told his Mississippi campaign chairman, State Sen. Chris McDaniel, that he wanted to come, and that he was still hoping to do a pop-in, but “there’s no way he could make a full rally.”

Though Fischer was removed from his directorship early last year, he remains a radio host and blogger at AFA. Fischer is known for his vitriolic anti-LGBT and anti-Muslim statements linking homosexuality to pedophilia as well as Nazism.

He has called for the criminalization of homosexuality, called for the cessation of Muslim immigration to the U.S. and also stated that Muslims don’t have First Amendment rights. Fischer has even attacked African-Americans, saying, “[I] t’s no wonder we are now awash in the disastrous social consequences of people who rut like rabbits.”

“Religious liberty” has become a rallying cry for anti-LGBT groups, especially since last year’s Supreme Court ruling that legalized marriage equality nationwide. A litany of so-called “religious freedom restoration acts” have been proposed in many states, all drafted and driven by anti-LGBT groups attempting to legalize discrimination In late February, in fact, the Cruz campaign announced a “religious liberty” advisory council that features several people who have been instrumental in spreading and propagating damaging falsehoods about LGBT people for years The narrative behind “religious liberty” portrays Christians who object to homosexuality on biblical grounds as victims of religious persecution. The socalled RFRAs would allow Christians, especially, to deny goods and services to LGBT people on the basis of their religious beliefs. Cruz devotes a page of his website to this new narrative. On day one of a Cruz administration, the site claims, Cruz will “instruct the Department of Justice, the IRS, and every other federal agency that the persecution of religious liberty ends today.”

Marco Rubio’s campaign website (EC: he has now dropped out of the race) states that “religious liberty is the right to live according to your religious teachings and to have the opportunity to spread it

to others, instill it in your children and live it in your everyday life.” He has also stated that he has a plan to make samesex marriage illegal again, which includes appointing only conservative justices to the Supreme Court who would interpret the 2015 ruling differently.

The choices for Cruz’s religious lib-

THE NARRATIVE BEHIND “RELIGIOUS LIBERTY” PORTRAYS CHRISTIANS WHO OBJECT TO HOMOSEXUALITY ON BIBLICAL GROUNDS AS VICTIMS OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. THE SO-CALLED RFRAS WOULD ALLOW CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY, TO DENY GOODS AND SERVICES TO LGBT PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. erty advisory council are weighted heavily toward anti-LGBT Christians, something his council has in common with a “marriage and family” advisory board that Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign announced in February.

In fact, the two boards share some members: • Cruz’s council includes two people from the anti-LGBT hate group Family Research Council (FRC) which has, for over two decades, worked to defame LGBT people with a variety of discredited myths and pseudoscience. FRC president Tony Perkins is the chair of Cruz’s advisory council and has linked homosexuality to pedophilia, even claiming that LGBT people “recruit children.” Other FRC officials have over the years called for the deportation of LGBT people, claimed that LGBT households are “violent” and that LGBT people are sexual predators.

The FRC website states that “homosexual conduct is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large, and can never be affirmed.”

• FRC fellow Kenneth Blackwell is on Cruz’s new council and Rubio’s board.

Blackwell has compared same-sex marriage to incest, suggested that transgender and bisexual people would use same-sex marriage to engage in polygamy, and tried to link a 2014 mass murder in California to attacks on “natural marriage.”

• Ryan Anderson, a research fellow at the Heritage Center, was also named to Cruz’s advisory council and Rubio’s board. Anderson is one of the young guns of the anti-LGBT movement who, though not as overt in his anti-LGBT sentiment, routinely traffics in anti-LGBT pseudoscience when speaking to national media.

He has also written that the decriminalization of homosexuality helped lead to the Penn State molestation scandal in 2011 and commended a book that supported the criminalization of “sodomitical relationships.”

• Another member of Cruz’s council is pastor Jim Garlow, who was a major proponent behind California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in 2008. (It was later found unconstitutional in court.) Garlow has repeatedly linked gay marriage to Satan and held a conference at his Skyline megachurch in California in 2015 at which many speakers disparaged homosexuality as unhealthy and destructive.

• The Rubio campaign named Bradford Wilcox to their board. Wilcox, listed

15

as senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies and a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, is also the director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. Wilcox was instrumental in pushing the discredited anti-LGBT Regnerus study into the public square after he played a key role in the study’s development by recruiting Regnerus to do it, serving as a paid consultant, and possibly a peer reviewer.

• Everett Piper was also named to Cruz’s council and Rubio’s board. Piper is president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University and delivered the closing keynote address at the 2015 gathering of the antiLGBT hate group World Congress of Families in Salt Lake City. At Garlow’s 2015 conference, Piper claimed that the LGBT rainbow flag had become “the dark flag of tyranny overnight.”

• Cruz has also brought in Kelly Shackelford of the Texas-based Liberty Institute, a legal firm that bills itself as fighting for “religious liberty.” In reality, the Liberty Institute works mostly against antidiscrimination ordinances and defends those who claim to have been hurt by them. Shackelford and the Institute peddle alleged anti-Christian incidents (many of which are false or misrepresented) to demonstrate the need for “religious liberty.”

• Carol Swain, a professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, also sits on Cruz’s new religious liberty advisory council. A self-described Christian evangelical, Swain garnered attention last year when she wrote an op-ed in the Tennessean claiming that Islam is not like other

religions in the United States, and that it “poses an absolute danger to us and our children unless it is monitored better than it has been under the Obama administration.”

• Rubio’s board includes Joseph Backholm, executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington (FPIW), who worked in 2009 to prevent domestic partnership benefits from including samesex couples. He also led the battle against same-sex marriage in Washington state through Preserve Marriage Washington.

He has called marriage equality “wrong in the eternal sense” and said that once people realized how wrong it is, that is would be abandoned, like the ancient practice of bloodletting. One of the resources that the FPIW website listed with regard to same-sex marriage is an article that includes the myths that gay people molest children at a higher rate than heterosexuals and that gay people are promiscuous.

• Caitlin La Ruffa, executive director of the Love and Fidelity Network, is also on Rubio’s board. The Network is geared toward helping college students “uphold the institution of marriage,” according to the group’s website. The site also states that “redefining” marriage to anything other than one man and one woman “jeopardizes the religious liberty” of those who “hold more traditional views on the family” and also causes children to suffer “from a weakening marriage culture.” Gay parents, the website adds, are denying a child of either a mother or a father, no matter a gay parent’s love and provision for that child and that the child would “do best” when raised by their married mother and father. ■

Health

Bernie Sanders issues HIV/AIDS strategy Bernie Sanders on March 13 issued his strategy on HIV/AIDS, which includes a multi-billion dollar annual federal prize as a substitute for new drug patents. Below is his message in full: Today, one of the biggest problems in caring for the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV is the crisis of access to affordable drugs. One of the great moral issues of our day is that people with HIV and AIDS are suffering and, in some cases, dying in America because they can’t afford to pay the outrageous prices being charged for the medicine they need to live.

It is indefensible that even with insurance and rebates, a person with HIV must spend thousands of dollars per year just on prescription drugs — often leaving them unable to afford decent housing or other necessities — all while profiteering companies continue to jack up the

price of these treatments overnight, simply because they can.

Instead of focusing on public health and the public good, drug companies are focused on padding the pockets of their shareholders and top executives. That has got to change.

In the richest nation in the world, we must not tolerate a health care system that offers the best care to the rich, while leaving everyone else to fend for themselves.

We must do everything possible to end the greed of the pharmaceutical companies and get people the medicine they need at a price they can afford.

The Prize Plan for HIV/AIDS As president, Bernie will fight to reform the existing patent laws written by and for the pharmaceutical industry to boost their profits and which make medicine so expensive in the United States.

To lower costs for HIV/AIDS drugs everywhere, Bernie has a plan that would (Bernie continues page 15)

16

HEALTH (Bernie from page 15) establish a multibillion-dollar prize fund to incentivize drug development. This prize fund would replace our country’s broken system that drives drug prices up through government-sanctioned monopolies.

Bernie’s plan would provide virtually universal access to lower-cost life-saving medicines for HIV/AIDS as soon as they are approved for sale.

Under Bernie’s plan, innovation would be rewarded annually from a Prize Fund for HIV/AIDS therapies. The amount of money in the Prize Fund for HIV/AIDS would be more than $3 billion per year.

The Prize Fund would reward medical researchers and developers of medicines based primarily upon the added therapeutic value a new treatment offers and the number of people it benefits. Instead of a system where the market is manipulated to keep out all competition, companies would be rewarded for their innovation with a cash prize for their medical innovations, rather than through the grant of a monopoly. Under Bernie’s plan, drugs would have generic competition immediately after FDA approval.

In other words, this plan would break the link between drug development and the rewards for medical research and development. In doing so, we will reward true innovation, eliminate the market incentive for copycat drugs and get all HIV/AIDS treatments to the people who need them at generic prices.

The Prize Fund proposal would also be much cheaper than the current system, reducing the costs of the drugs to employers, taxpayers and patients by billions of dollars per year.

Bernie would also direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and reduce barriers to the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada and other countries.

The United States is the only major country on earth that does not regulate prescription drug prices in some manner and the results have been an unmitigated disaster for patients and their families.

As president, Bernie will take on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people and fight for legislation to lower the cost of lifesaving drugs. And by fighting to overturn Citizens United, he will make it easier for members of Congress to address the concerns of their constituents, not their wealthiest campaign contributors.

Universal Health Care Bernie believes that health care is a right, not a privilege. To truly ensure every American has access to quality, affordable health care, Bernie is fighting for a Medicare-for-all, single payer system.

Until that happens, we must make sure insurance companies and providers are not discriminating against those with HIV/AIDS, including when it comes to drug coverage.

The Affordable Care Act was an important step forward on the road towards universal health care, and it has made some real advances—banning discrimination based on health status; eliminating bans on preexisting conditions; making health insurance affordable and accessible for millions who did not have it before. But we still have 29 million Americans without health insurance and millions more who are underinsured.

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016 Those with HIV/AIDS or other chronic conditions should not have to fight with an insurance company in order to get the medication they need.

Expanding Substance Use and Mental Health Services for People Living with HIV/AIDS and at risk for HIV Bernie will build on the implementation of President Obama’s National HIV/ AIDS Strategy by significantly expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder services by protecting and expanding community health centers, which provide key behavioral health and substance abuse services to more than 1.3 million patients. We must also support access to mental health services at community mental health centers.

He will also fight to expand the National Health Service Corps, which provides scholarships and loan repayments for health care providers, including mental health providers, in underserved communities. And he will work to ensure these critical health care professionals are appropriately compensated for their important work.

Substance use counselors are uniquely capable of providing HIV prevention services to a patient population that may be engaging in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection. All substance abuse treatment centers should provide on-site HIV/AIDS testing. Today, fewer than half do.

Additionally, we must ensure that federal agencies, state and local health departments, and mental health agencies have the resources and training to provide screening and referral services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and who are at risk for HIV. Expanding the Ryan White HIV/ AIDS Program Bernie will fight to expand the highly successful Ryan White HIV/AIDS program which provides HIV-related services for those who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources. It was unacceptable that at the height of the Wall Street crash, many states had long waiting lists for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Especially when so many people were losing their jobs and their life savings, people should not have had to wait for the life-saving treatment they needed.

Expanding Services for All—Prevention and Treatment Beyond Health Care In the year 2016, it is unacceptable that a person could be fired or denied housing in many states based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or health status. Bernie would push for legislation that would expand civil rights protections to all LGBT individuals and those living with HIV/AIDS. We must ensure that health providers, social services, law enforcement, and all other entities have proper resources and training to handle the varying needs of the communities they serve. Schools must be giving students age-appropriate, comprehensive sex education and all Americans should have access to scientifically-accurate information regarding HIV infection.

Bernie would also expand, not cut, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) program that currently provides funding for housing assistance and related services for tens of thousands of low-income people living with HIV and their families.

Expanding the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Ending the AIDS Epidemic As president, Bernie will fight to end

the AIDS epidemic by doubling the number of people on HIV treatment worldwide by 2020.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been an incredibly successful program, currently supporting antiretroviral treatment for more than 9.5 million people. But that is only a fraction of those worldwide who need treatment. More than 22 million people with HIV/AIDS do not have access to the medicine and support services they need. As president, Bernie will fight to expand PEPFAR funding so we can increase access to treatment worldwide.

Stopping Bad Trade Agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership that would substantially increase prices for HIV/AIDS drugs A major reason why Bernie is leading the fight against the disastrous TransPacific Partnership (TPP) is because it would significantly increase prices for HIV/AIDS drugs for some of the most desperate people in the world.

At a time when prescription drug prices are skyrocketing, the TPP would make a bad situation even worse by granting new monopoly rights to big pharmaceutical companies to deny access to lower cost generic drugs to millions of people.

According to Oxfam, over 125,000 in Vietnam alone — more than half of HIV/ AIDS patients living in that country — could lose access to the medication they need to survive. That is unacceptable.

Here in the U.S, we still have work to do until everyone knows their status and those who need it are on treatment. Every patient should have an HIV test as part of their annual wellness visit; far too many people with HIV do not know their status, so any steps we can take to get people into treatment and cut down the number of involuntary transmissions will be worth doing. The sooner we normalize an annual HIV test, the better. But a test is not enough—providers should work with patients to identify those at risk who may not know they are at high risk, especially women with potentially high-risk partners. Patients should learn about prophylaxis options or all other appropriate measures, and these visits should be fully covered by health insurance.

We all must work together so we can finally realize the goal of an AIDS-free generation.

Erie Co. Bar Assoc. offers free HIV/AIDS legal services in eight counties HIV and AIDS prevention, detection, and treatment have come a long way, but the disease continues to spread and devastate lives.

Despite Governor Cuomo’s plan to “end the epidemic” by 2020, the Centers for Disease Control report that in 2010, 47,500 new HIV infections were reported in the United States. At the end of 2012, 1.2 million people in the United States were living with HIV. The picture is even more daunting in New York State.

Specifically, New York State has 6.28% of the population of the United States, but 14.9 percent of all persons living with AIDS, the highest percentage of any state.

Attorneys Nikole Wynn and Christine Vogel at the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer Project, Inc. provide free legal services for people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS through the “Legal Services for Positive Families & Individuals” program. Both attorneys have several years of experience in private practice, which they left to pursue careers that make a substantial impact in the lives of the clients they serve.

A grant through the New York State Department of Health allows these attorneys to provide free legal representation to people affected by HIV/AIDS in eight counties of Western New York, including Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Genesee and Wyoming counties. There are no income or citizenship requirements. To qualify for

these services an individual must have an HIV or AIDS diagnosis, or a family must have an individual with HIV/AIDS in their household and at least one child in the household under the age of 21.

Free legal services include, but are not limited to, health care issues; family law matters; discrimination/confidentiality; financial issues; housing issues; public benefits; end of life planning and care and custody planning.

You do not need a referral to call the attorneys with the “Legal Services for Positive Families & Individuals” program. You can speak directly with attorneys Nikole Wynn and Christine Vogel by calling (716) 847-0662 extensions 315 and 319.

1. HYPERLINK “http://www.cdc. gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/2012/hivinfections-2007-2010.pdf ” http://www. cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/2012/ hiv-infections-2007-2010.pdf 2 HYPERLINK “http://www.cdc. gov/hiv/basics/statistics.html” http:// www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/statistics.html 3 NYS Dept. of Health Division of HIV and Hepatitis Health Care Bureau of Community Support Services, RFA No. 1502270940, page 4.

NHeLP backs Senate investigation into high prices, barriers for Medicaid beneficiaries The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) sent a letter to Senators Ron Wyden and Chuck Grassley supporting the Senate Finance Committee’s investigation into high prices for hepatitis C prescription drugs and barriers to access for Medicaid beneficiaries.

The committee requested public comments in January 2016 on its investigation into biopharmaceutical company Gilead and Sovaldi and Harvoni, Gilead’s breakthrough hepatitis C treatments.

“As we have seen with HIV treatments, drug company profiteering and high costs prevent people from getting the care they need,” said Wayne Turner, NHeLP staff attorney who led the successful 2014 HIV anti-discrimination complaint against four insurance companies. “When people with chronic diseases like hepatitis C are unable to afford treatments due to state restrictions or discriminating company policies, federal action is necessary.”

In 2014, The AIDS Institute and NHeLP filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) charging four Florida health plans with unlawful discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS by placing all HIV medications, including generics, on the highest cost sharing tier, thus requiring enrollees to pay as much as 50 percent co-insurance for every HIV drug. In the complaint, the groups contend that such practices discourage people with HIV/ AIDS from enrolling in the plans and violate the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) non-discrimination provisions. The ACA bans plans from discriminating against individuals based upon disability and prohibits them from discouraging enrollment by people with significant health needs.

“Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, we have monitored Medicaid enrollment efforts across the country to ensure states are making every effort to help residents obtain adequate health insurance coverage, which should include affordable prescription drugs,” said Jane Perkins, NHeLP legal director. “Restrictions on breakthrough treatments are blatantly illegal and violate federal Medicaid requirements and the ACA’s non-discrimination provisions.”

“Low-income individuals so often are the most in need of breakthrough treatments and are the least likely to afford them,” said Abbi Coursolle, NHeLP staff attorney. “It is inherently unfair for Medicaid beneficiaries to be both denied treatments simply because they are expensive and unable to afford the two most widely used medications because of the company mark-up.” ■

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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LGBTQ Living Cathie and Sue Timian

A house in the woods

By Susan Jordan Cathie and Sue Timian have left the suburbs and built a home in the forest.

Why did they choose this and how did they make it happen?

Cathie said, “Sue grew up just south of the Adirondacks, and vacationed there often while growing up. As we began to consider where to spend our retirement years, the forests and lakes of the Adiron-

dacks had great appeal. It is relaxing and peaceful in the woods.

“We searched online for acreage in the Adirondacks, and after seeing numerous properties we found 120 acres of undeveloped forest. The majority of the property was relatively flat, offering the opportunity for a great building site 1/4 mile off the road in the woods. Once we had purchased the property, a friend of Sue’s sister (who lives 1/2 mile down the road) gave us the name of a local excavator. Through that contact we have found numerous local contractors to put in our electric/septic/well systems, and to build our 16x24

cabin and pole barn.

“We sold our house in Hamlin and moved here in July of 2015, in advance of Sue’s retirement in January of 2016. We spent the first few months in our camping trailer, and the cabin was finally ready for moving in just before Thanksgiving of 2015.”

What was the most challenging part – and what was/is the most rewarding part of the change?

Cathie replies, “The most challenging has been the many aspects of building your own home, without using a traditional home builder. We’re learning along the way, how one system ties to the next and how one step needs to be done before another, etc.

The most rewarding is that we are doing it all from scratch, here in the middle of our woods. The peacefulness and ‘oneness’ with nature is the most rewarding.

“We see the birds (chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, tufted titmouses, geese, crows, ravens, sparrows, etc.) and the small critters (red squirrels everywhere, chipmunks) often.

“But the larger animals are everywhere but rarely seen. There are deer droppings everywhere in the woods, and coyote droppings also. There are snowshoe rabbits. Oh -- and field mice everywhere. If you leave any small crack in the exterior of a building or shed, they will find a way in! A black bear is seen maybe once a year.

The forest is everywhere -- most of your larger animals don’t want to find us and we don’t see them.”

The Adirondack mountains offer endless beautiful trails. Cathie notes, “We walk in the woods on a trail to the small lake (or large pond) in the center of our property. In the summer, we walk on the

snowmobile trail that runs along the edge of our property (part of the NY State snowmobile trail system). Truthfully, our summer last year was busy with building. This year will be our first where we may be able to relax and spend more time walking in the woods and fishing in the pond. Keeping our fingers crossed!

“Living in the woods is not for everyone. But if it was always your dream, go for it. It is everything we had hoped it would be.

“Our two dogs, Justice and Hope, made the move with us. Justice is our 180-pound male English Mastiff, and Hope is our 125-pound female English Mastiff. They love the woods and they can bark all they want without disturbing any neighbors. They bark at the red squirrels and the birds, and the unseen critters out in the woods. They lie around on the deck soaking up the sunshine when

it is nice out, or lay around on their beds in the cabin when it isn’t. They are our built-in security system -- no one can get up the driveway unannounced.”

Sue’s idea of retirement is “puttering” in her shop, which is the lower section of the pole barn. Woodworking and building projects are the intention... Cathie isn’t ready for retirement.

She is diving into her musical interests in full force in the couple’s new home.

She started up an open mic night at a local bar, making contacts with several local musicians. She hosts an acoustic jam on their land -- in the 14x48 loft in the pole barn (claimed as her “she loft” as opposed to a man cave). She is now a lifetime member of the Mohawk Valley Blues Society and has met many talented musicians in the area. She is singing with a couple of bands with the intention of performing gigs out and about in the community. ■

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

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21

Shoulders to Stand On

A Community’s Response To AIDS – ACT-UP

By Evelyn Bailey While the government failed to respond to the epidemic, a number of non-governmental organizations were founded in the most affected areas of the USA, such as The Kaposi’s Sarcoma Research and Education Foundation in San Francisco (later renamed the San Francisco AIDS Foundation) and, in New York, Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC).

In 1982 GMHC distributed 50,000 free copies of its first newsletter about the syndrome to hospitals, doctors, clinics and the Library of Congress. The New York State Health Department AIDS Institute was created in summer of 1983, which led to the creation of AIDS Task Forces across the state in major cities.

The Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS was established in the fall of 1983, at about the same time AIDS Rochester was founded. Through the leadership of the University of Rochester, New York City Medical Center and Beth Israel, and the New York State Health Department’s AIDS Institute, the infrastructure for dealing with this disease in New York state was in place within two years of the mention of AIDS in June, 1981 by the CDC. Federal and State funding for treatment, research, and education was little and did not go far. When Ronald Reagan mentioned the word AIDS in September, 1985, the US Government allocated $70 million for AIDS research.

In 1986, the federal budget increased its AIDS allocation by 113 percent. The University of Rochester was designated by the National Institutes of Health as an AIDS drug treatment and research center. AZT went into clinical trials. By the end of 1986 there were 37,061 AIDS cases nationwide and 16,301 people had died.

There were 60 cases in Monroe County, and 36 of those were reported in 1986 alone, which was more than all cases in the previous four years. There were nine new cases reported from non-urban counties for a total of 13.

In October 1985 several people with AIDS and ARC (AIDS-related complex) began a 24-hour -a-day vigil outside the federal building in San Francisco to demand increased government action to combat the AIDS epidemic. On Dec. 11, 1987 the San Francisco police began to arrest the protesters. These acts of civil disobedience were only one part of a national effort to bring attention to AIDS. In March 1987 a group of gay men and lesbians in New York City formed the “AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power”, now known by its acronym “ACT UP.” Angered by government mismanagement of the AIDS crisis on local, state and fed-

eral levels, ACT UP members began staging demonstrations in metropolitan New York City to focus attention on AIDS issues.

Shortly after forming the group, members held a demonstration on Wall Street to protest the extremely high cost of AZT (also known by its commercial name, Retrovir). According to ACT UP, the average yearly cost of providing the drug to people with AIDS was $10,000 to $13,000.

ACT UP claimed success when, shortly after the demonstration, Burroughs Wellcome, the company that manufactured AZT, reduced the cost of the drug by 20 percent.

ACT UP’s slogan “Silence = Death” was instrumental in radicalizing gay men at the “Agitate, Educate, Organize” forum held on Oct. 12 in Washington, D.C. as part of the March on Washington activities. Participants at that meeting called for a week of mass education and agitation from April 29 to May 7, 1988. In response to the forum’s call for a week of mass education and agitation from April 29 to May 7, 1988, the late Martin Hiraga and Paul Scheib brought a group of gay men and lesbians together on Jan. 11, 1988 to form Rochester ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power).

Rochester ACT UP organized as a non-partisan, non-violent direct action group. Members of the group pledged to keep AIDS issues in the public eye through mass education and demonstrations. The group recognized and praised the unique and irreplaceable work support organizations such as AIDS Rochester, Inc. have done to educate the public about AIDS and the issues of people with AIDS. Rochester ACT UP formed as part of a nationwide network of AIDS activist organizations that demand immediate full-scale action to combat the epidemic.

The rights of people with AIDS and the rights of those at risk for the disease were another focus of concern for Rochester ACT UP. Rochester ACT UP claimed its work would be different from the work of support networks and AIDS agencies, and deliberately did not seek the endorsement of these agencies and gay and lesbian community groups. The group’s immediate focus was lobbying local officials and congressional delegations for increased funding for AIDS education and research.

The group monitored all elected officials’ votes on major AIDS issues to keep the local gay, lesbian and bisexual communities up to date. Members of Rochester ACT UP made plans to demonstrate at the Democratic debates in April. Plans were also made to organize local seminars in conjunction with other activist groups throughout the country during the first week of May. Local demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience were planned.

In an article written in the February, 1988 Empty Closet, Martin Hiraga explained that AIDS activist organizations used civil disobedience to focus attention on issues they felt private industry and governments have ignored. When they believe they have exhausted all other avenues to influence agencies and individuals in a position to move AIDS research and education forward, then they resorted to demonstrations and civil disobedience.

Participants in Rochester ACT UP ranged from those who were publicly involved in demonstrations to those who worked quietly on committees to promote expanded AIDS education and legislation. One lesbian member of Rochester ACT UP described herself as someone who contributes by baking cookies and writing letters. Lobbying and other legislative activities, along with mass education, made up the bulk of Rochester ACT UP’s activities.

Rochester ACT UP and its members took no stand on individual medi-

cal or psychotherapeutic treatments for people with AIDS. Their focus was on lobbying and demonstrating for steppedup research into new treatments and increased funding for current research, education and treatment.

The group met at the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, then at 713 Monroe Ave., at 7 p.m. on Feb. 9 and Feb. 24.

They continued to meet throughout 1988 to organize actions and strategically plan on the most effective ways to educate the general public and lobby state and federal governments for increased funding for research.

ACT UP Rochester is not active at this time. Since its birth in March 1987 at the Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center in downtown Manhattan, the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) grew to have thousands of members in 70+ chapters in the U.S. and worldwide. ACT UP’s non-violent direct action, often using vocal demonstrations and dramatic acts of civil disobedience, focused attention on the crucial issues of the AIDS crisis: lack of research and clinical trials for promising drugs, slow FDA approvals, profiteering of pharmaceutical companies, housing, and the inadequate local, state and federal response to the AIDS crisis.

Shoulders to Stand On is proud of the quick effective grass roots response the Rochester LGBT community made to the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Shoulders is grateful for the activism of ACT UP and it members, and recognizes the passion, commitment and dedication of Martin Hiraga and Paul Scheib, the founders of ACT UP Rochester, to fight for increased funding for AIDS education and research.

For more info: http://www.actupny.org/ documents/cron-87.html

History Corner A Monthly Publication By and For the Gay Community of Rochester, April, 1977 No. 70 Focus: There seems to be an overabundance of political and societal issues surfacing of late which should motivate us as a community of lesbians and gay men to

question, reflect, decide and act.

The main thrust of the feature section is to raise the issue of political change.

Bills are pending in both houses of the New York State legislature dealing with gay human rights. How can we best support the few activists who are working in our behalf to help free us from senseless legal oppression. Don’t miss the sample letter which can be used to inform your particular Senator or Assemblyperson that you are a concerned constituent.

GAGV co-president Michael Robertson raises the issue of how lesbians and gay men view each other’s sexuality. Perhaps in our consciousness raising attempts to free us from the built in effects of homophobic oppression, lesbians and gay men can become more aware of and sensitive to each other as a group. Marg Hall addresses this issue in her April Lesbian Lines column, and makes some observations which are perhaps painfully accurate.

A discussion of how the issue of gay oppression relates to the oppression of blacks and women and offers a new perspective for viewing the gay movement can be found in the article “Matriarchy”, page 5. The confrontation of these issues will hopefully initiate thought and conversation, which will enable us to grow.

We at The Empty Closet are proud to be connected with an organization which provides a forum for airing public opinion, and thus challenges lesbians and gay men to confront issues and hopefully arrive at mutually beneficial solutions.

Do you want to read this issue of the Empty Closet?

Here is Link: http://www.library.rochester.edu/rbscp/EmptyCloset On that page click on: Browse the Empty Closet issues. Go to 1977 – April A GAY DIRECTORY. For further info see events calendar on back page.

• Lesbian Resource Center • Gay Brotherhood of Rochester • Dignity-Integrity/Rochester • Gay Alcoholics Anonymous • Gay Liberation Front • Gay Association of People • Rochester Gay Task Force • The Empty Closet Collective ■

Learn the history of the LGBT community in Rochester from the people who made that history.

The Gay Alliance invites you to celebrate 40 years of LGBT history in Rochester with your very own DVD/ BluRay of this powerful film.

Shoulders To Stand On Evelyn Bailey, Executive Producer Kevin Indovino, Producer/Director/Writer Standard DVD $25 / BluRay DVD $30 Order at: www.GayAlliance.org

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

Columnists The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet.

Growing Up PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION

By Eric Bellmann Recently I went to a theater event in New York, a performance of “Snow White” that was advertised as part dance, part circus, part Burlesque.

Very young crowd. To distract myself from the row of young women in front of me who were all gazing into the glaring lights of their phones engaged in who knows what, checking email, taking selfies, browsing Facebook, I struck up a conversation with the attractive couple sitting next to me.

Recorded music was playing but not loud enough to drown out the endless inane chatter that precedes theater events; NY audiences are restless at best, at times borderline rude. The music was Peggy Lee at her best, vintage ‘40s, before her voice shrank and she whispered her later hits and because I like to engage strangers and without much thought, I said to the couple next to me, “I’ll give you a buck if you can tell me who’s singing.”

Nice folks. Blank look. I explained Peggy Lee was a big band singer, worked with Tommy Dorsey. Blank look did not go away. “She sang ‘Fever’, surely you remember the Madonna cover?” Yes, the blank look remained in place. Jeeze, I was afraid to follow the Madonna thread.

Madge is pushing 60. This couple was one-third her age. Best not to know.

During the twilight of my teaching career when I only taught drawing at night and took a fairly casual attitude toward the job, I used to tell my class that I’d give an A to anyone who could name two Rita Hayworth movies. I figured they would guess “Gilda” and then go flat. Came a day no one knew who Rita was. You know I explained all about Rita, that she was Fred Astaire’s favorite partner, her marriages, that she owned a Van Gogh “White Lilacs” and the sad end afflicted by Alzheimers, cared for by her loving daughter Yasmin Aga Khan. I can go on at length. Some things are just important to me.

Now I might not remember my Iphone number (why should I? it’s at the top of my contact list where I can find it) but I can recite in order Jennifer Jones’ filmography. I’m gay, for God’s sake. And not stupid. Eventually I settled on asking the class to name the three leads of “Sex and the City”. Perhaps by now that’s also lost knowledge. At the time it worked.

Which brings me to my beloved Sonny, friend for six years, Sonny is now pushing 30. We’ve traveled some distance together.

He is a Republican. I have learned to glide past that fact. He has come out at work, not a slam dunk since he works in a testosterone jungle. On the positive side he shovels snow. The snow that buries my car and makes me fearful of keeling over dead in the driveway.

He is worth gold. One makes allowances. Sonny is self involved. That’s a nice way of saying he doesn’t give a shit when I yammer on about gay history. He’s like the third generation of women who draw blanks on Bella Abzug; their world is just dandy, they could care less about what their foremothers did, or so I’ve been told.

Topic shift. I’ve been into borrowing DVDs from the Public Library. What a blessing.

Faster than waiting for mail delivery

of Netflix. And free. You can check out 10 movies at a time. Nothing on TV anyway. I came across “The Celluloid Closet” about Vito Russo and it blew me away.

All about gay and lesbian film history, the AIDS crisis and our emerging identity and strength.

I told Sonny. He said he’d watch it.

He works nights and is often bored and watches horror movies. A gamble but maybe worth a shot. I am ashamed to admit a degree of ambivalence about subjecting Sonny to this film, in that dear Vito was not very hot, kind of gawky, not typical of the buffed gym rats that have over taken gay culture today. Sonny likes the film! My eyes filled with tears.

Next film: “How to Survive the Plague”, a runner up for Best Documentary Oscar and a film, when I saw it in New York, that reduced me to jello. I lived through all those years. Sonny liked it. At last we are in the same book, if not on the same page. I tasted blood.

Not a teacher for nothing, I decided to shift gears and find some cheery films.

Do you know that the magnificent Rochester Library does not have “Jeffrey”? I was horrified.

It’s so popular on Netflix that they warn you, “long wait”. Next best will be “In and Out” with Kevin Kline and Joan Cusack and also, as it happens written by Paul Rudnik who wrote “Jeffrey”. I got it from the library along with a personal favorite oldie, “Longtime Companion”.

I explained to Sonny that it was a major battled to get the New York Times to list survivors as such, sigh, in obituaries during the plague years .

Verdict: bored with “In and Out,” stopped watching after half an hour. I have to remind myself that Sonny is gay, how could he just turn it off? And, while he did like “Longtime Companion”, he thought it was “dated”. Rather a queenie comment. So, I’m settling for progress.

And happy for that, too.

Email: EricLBellmann@gmail.com

Cleaning My Closet WHAT?

By Meredith Elizabeth Reiniger With some regularity, every morning I rise at the crack of ten. Part of my retirement perks. Daily, so far, I wake up to the gift of singleness serenity in the company of a readily relaxed dog-bump cuddled under our covers.

Long gone are wicked alarms wailing 5:01!!! (I sing a secular hallelujah!)

Soft daylight, not cold black, greets me.

No more snow-brush work in wind-chill minuses. No required daily driving. In fact, for this expired-teacher, very few vehicular expeditions are necessary. I count myself lucky every day I can spend not-in-a-car, playing, reading, writing, and coloring. Enjoying my 24 precious hours.

Minus, of course, my 8-10 hours of repose. Or fewer if my book needs me to stay-up until three-ish at night. (FYI: those three hours after midnight are part of my day, the last hurrah of my eyes wide-open period, a pre-sleep, time designation. However, when I have to wake up at 3 dark-time and get out of bed way too early, that my dears, that is three o’clock in the morning.)

(Although I hasten to add that time

designed as o’clock is an archaic word, mumbled only by equally archaic persons.

It should be, perhaps, 3 o’cell.)

I realize that all my counter-culture time management is inherited. I was raised as a Night Owl, my father being Senior Owl, keeper of time. Into the wee hours, his model railroad activities kept him rolling along, on-track for managing tiny wheels and on-time arrival of little engines that could and did. Which required, in that patriarchal domain, that his Little Woman remain on duty, ready to serve Late Tea to all on board. At table, nine to dine: our Master Engineer Cecil/ Daddy, plus his crew of four, plus his wifely-duty cook, plus we three on-site residents.

So, when my Body Memory strikes dark-time twelve, it’s no wonder I crave a sandwich on white bread (but now we know not building bodies in 8 Wonder ways). Ahh, that soft white bread, evenlycovered, crust to crust, with real butter, then considerably slathered with Exclusively-Hellman’s mayonnaise, and deeply stuffed with whatever we had recently left over.

I do dearly wish I could upgrade Body Memory’s GPS, greatly needed as it keeps escorting me into rooms, for no apparent purpose. We elders know auto-wander: why did I come in here?

But, more crucial, how do I jump-start my memory Memory? I can’t, I absolutely cannot access its supposed-to-be-thererecent RAMs. (“Oh my stars!” Grandma Olive would lament. “BULLSHIT!” Aunt Thelma would bewail. “HELP me, I’m melting,” I would text to all my younger friends.) Mayhap a quick call to 911: “9-1-1. What’s your emergency?” Umm, I would admit, I am Senior-Citizen Baffled by exponentially increasing memory glitches.

Okay, here’s my back-story. (In my eighth decade, need I point out that all my stories are BACK?) I was going to do Vacation. Ever ready, I decided that I would, with prior, proper planning, protect my extra credit cards while I gallivanted through dunes and groves. So omgoddess, senior-I took my handfuls and cleverly concealed them. Safely secreted, they lay.

But, alas a woe, I had forgotten to write an Answer Key. Omgoddess, what were you thinking? Thus, returned and rested, I discovered that I had no idea where I had hidden those cards. Where, oh WHERE? Not the foggiest. Plus I discovered that my toothpaste was missing.

Who on earth steals toothpaste?

Being of sound body and suspect mind, wrinkly-I checked all logical places.

(LOL) I wandered room through room two more times, trying to locate my wayward fresh-striped-mint Colgate TOTAL. (Did, in case you, dear reader, worry, did have a back-up tube in my stash.)

BINGO! I spied my little tube. Yes, my curled, curled and curled-up tube reclined on my work table, in my studio, alone. (Severely defunct memory and I could not, still cannot, for the life of me, recall how dental paraphernalia hopped onto the table.) Case closed.

But, still on the books, a Silver ALERT. MISSING: my Minimalist Memory and my credit cards.

I tried calling “here little cards, come to mama.” (Note to self: do not hide things from strangers because there is no one stranger than you.) Eventually, I gave up. Sulking at my desk, I heard stomach complaints. Oops, I had forgotten to eat.

(Phew, I did recall where groceries hide.)

As I headed toward my kitchen, Body Memory pulled me into my laundry room . . . . . . yes, laundry room because a Reality-Star Burglar advised: best hiding place because robber persons won’t waste time pawing through dirty laundry.

(Oh dear, now that I have revealed this dandy hiding place to robbers who subscribe to The Empty Closet, I must change spots. Ah ha, my old days’ hiding place . . . inside a Sanitary Napkin box . . . the assumption being that robber-men would skip such a private, embarrassing,

ladies’ product.)

Surfacing memory: during my old days, words like Kotex, Tampax, and Mouse Mattress were whispered. There were no suggestive ads. No commercials of a Brand Name able to suck-up, for demonstration purposes only, suck-up cranberry juice faster than a common/off brand/inferior plug-of-material tampon.

Can I ever again enjoy cranberry juice?

So anyway, back on my train of thought. I made my daily call to sisterwomyn, told her about my dilemma, and while she was making suggestions, I silently sauntered into my laundry room . . . moved (more efficiently than my prior, mere slip ‘n poke search) each pile of neatly folded dish towels and rags (that’s a whole ‘nother topic) and voila!! (One of seven French words I recall from 3 years of classes) there, waiting for rescue: my 15 or so credit cards.

Relief. I smiled. Oops, inadvertently I verbalized: FOUND THEM. So my sister realized that I was double-tasking, had been slightly unglued to her every word.

She just laughed; she completely understands. (La fin! N’est pas?)

“Well,” sister-womyn asked, “so, what are you doing next?” I said “Brush my teeth.” She said “I hope you don’t forget where they are.”

MeredithReiniger@gmail.com

Faith Matters A RELIGIOUS UTOPIA TURNED NIGHTMARE

By Rev. Irene Monroe “Their emigration to Jonestown in Guyana, South American represents another leg of the African Diaspora, but this time black bodies are stolen and killed not by the hands of white slave hunters, but rather by a religious rhetoric that pimps and profits on the racial, economic, and gendered disenfranchised.”

The last time an African American lesbian was the protagonist in a novel was in Ann Allen Shockley’s 1982 “Say Jesus and Come to Me.” What shocked and awed readers about this main character is that she is also an itinerant minister.

While crusading against street vice in Nashville, the Reverend Myrtle Black meets world-famous R&B songstress Travis Lee who joins the crusade. Their girl crushes on each other are both profoundly spiritual and so powerfully sexual that neither can ignore. And neither could readers ignore the author’s apt and scathing critique of the Black Church’s misogyny and homophobia. For decades Shockley’s novel was every black lesbian’s Bible -- myself included.

But the book leaves you with the following queries to do more than merely pray about: Should the Black Church continue to have such a central role in the lives of African Americans given its very toxic androcentric ecclesiastical paradigm that systematically still bars many of us – straight or LGBTQ – ascendency to the pulpit?

Can African Americans find liberation in the ever present accommodationist phase of the black church that sells out its social gospel message of justice for conservative faith-based initiative dollars?

Whereas Shockley’s fictional tale gives -- especially African American LGBTQs -- unproved reasons and unfed hope to stay in the Black Church, other than its familiarity, Sikivu Hutchinson’s historical gothic novel “White Nights, Black Paradise” gives us all reason to leave religion entirely.

For centuries, the paradigm of leadership in the African-American community has been the Black Church with its homophobic and sexist yet charismatic gay preacher (i.e., Bishop Eddie Long). Hutchinson’s novel disturbingly shows the complexity of a repackaged

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET and unexamined black religious idealism espoused from the mouth of a white megalomaniacal messiah alongside the harsh reality of a supposed utopia. Based on the true and horrifying story of the charismatic Reverend Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple and Jonestown massacre, Hutchinson’s novel is both a reckoning and remembering of the lives lost -- the largest religious murder-suicide in American history.

The majority of its black congregants were women, while its core leadership was predominantly white, as too are the historical records and visual optics of the event. And as in the Black Church, black women were “the backbone” of Peoples Temple. Sadly, the majority of Jonestown’s victims were African American women, too. And the haunting question is, why did so many black women die?

“Unpacking why so many black women died in Jonestown requires taking a critical look back at the racial underbelly of the Jonestown age. It demands confronting hard truths about the dangerously gendered seductions of organized religion, particularly given the global appeal that 24/7 prayer movements and charismatic Pentecostalism have for women of color,” Hutchinson said.

“The widening wealth gap between blacks, whites and Latinos, coupled with the downward mobility of the black middle class, only amplifies the role of religion in black life. Because charismatic faith movements thrive in the presence of socioeconomic and political turbulence black religiosity is flourishing.”

The title “White Nights, Black Paradise” is drawn from two metaphors. The phrase “White Night” signified a state of siege and persecution Jonestown rallied around to protect itself from white racist attacks, and “Black Paradise” refers to Jonestown settlement as a kind of “Promised Land,” and racial utopia.

The characters in the novel are a cross-section of the American populace -- “queer, lesbian, bisexual, trans, straight, African American, Latino, multiracial, white, age/class diverse and all over the map in terms of spiritual belief, “ Hutchinson explains.

Whereas one of Shockley’s main protagonists, Reverend Myrtle Black, is a lesbian and Christian, raising eyebrows for many in the African American community, one of Hutchinson’s main characters, Taryn Strayer, is an atheist, and her sister Hy Strayer, is an agnostic -both causing a disruption and dis-ease in how African Americans have seen, read, accepted, and envisioned themselves in the African American literary canon.

The sisters’ religious beliefs are born from too many unanswered prayers.

The book opens with the sisters’ migration to (to their surprise) segregated San Francisco from the Midwest. Their emigration to Jonestown in Guyana, South American represents another leg of the African Diaspora, but this time black bodies are stolen and killed not by the hands of white slave hunters, but rather by a religious rhetoric that pimps and profits on the racial, economic, and gendered disenfranchised.

We know how the Jonestown massacre happened. “White Nights, Black Paradise” seeks to answer the “Why?” and ask, “Could it happen again”?

As I read Hutchinson’s book I thought of “Those Bones Are Not My Child,” a fictional rendering of the 1979-1981 Atlanta child murders. Toni Cade Bambara’s magnum opus that Toni Morrison depicts as a “novel that leaves us with an enduring and revelatory chronicle of an American nightmare.” Similarly, Hutchinson’s novel does, too. Sadly, however, Bambara’s book, in my opinion, went away from the public eye as swiftly as it came.

But Hutchinson’s won’t, because for those who dare to remember the Jonestown massacre these questions still linger: “But why is it that the African American community then and now, refuse to stand still and acknowledge the gravity

of what took place that fateful day? Why aren’t African American ministers of the cloth, churches and communities not setting this day aside to remember the tragedy that was the People’s Temple?”

Defiantly, many are still waiting for a response.

A Few Bricks Short NO PEOPLE LIKE SHOW PEOPLE

By David Hull If you’ve read my column before you’re probably aware that my husband, Bernie is one of those people – you know, a “cat person”. He’s been that way since I met him; he’s always rescued stray, homeless cats, adopted them out if possible and then he keeps the ones that can’t find a home. If the old adage is true that a house filled with cats is a house filled with love, then our house is freaking overflowing with affection!

A few weeks ago, perhaps I was overcome with boredom, maybe I was temporarily insane, I don’t know; but I let Bernie talk me into going with him to a Regional Cat Show at the local Community Center.

Now, first of all, it was $5 a ticket to get into the show. Five bucks to see cats?

I started complaining that I can see cats at home for free! I asked the person at the admission table if we could pay for our entrance fee in cats; trust me – that, we could have afforded, but apparently, this cat show was a “cash only” kind of event.

Upon entering the event arena (it is called a gymnasium when the basketball players use it) we were greeted with a large sign with neon, red lettering: “ABSOLUTELY NO PETTING! YOUR AFFECTION SPREADS INFECTION!” Good lord; that sounded like a catchphrase from some 1980s anti-AIDS seminar! Except in this case, I was still forbidden to touch even if I was wearing… well, a glove.

So, let’s review – I had just paid $5 to enter a gigantic room filled with cats – and I couldn’t pet any of them. What the hell else do you do with a cat?

At this point, Bernie started wandering off and I hurried to catch up with him – no way was I getting separated from him in this feline funhouse!

We walked up and down aisles lined with cages and crates full of cats all grouped together by breed: Burmese, Siamese, Persian, Siberian, Russian Blue, American Shorthair, British Shorthair (what – does it meow with an English accent?) Savannah, Abyssinian, Manx and Maine Coon. Who would have thought the world had this many different breeds of cats? And what was with segregating the Siamese cats from Maine Coon cats or the Russian Blue cats from the American Shorthair cats – isn’t that racial profiling?

“No, it’s not segregation,” Bernie insisted. “They’re just putting them in cat-e-gories.”

I groaned.

Next we passed on participant that was selling a type of cat called a Spotted Bengal for $1,500. When the woman heard me gasp at the price she quickly responded; “It’s a show quality animal.” I had no idea what that meant. “$1,500 dollars for a cat?” I whispered to Bernie as we walked away. “Give me a $1.98 can of brown spray paint from Walmart and I can make all our cats at home ‘spotted Bengal cats’!”

Our next stop was at the judging show table – and honestly, I had no idea what the judges were looking for when they placed the cats on the table to observe them. To me a good cat is one who doesn’t scratch the furniture, shed on the rug or come into the bedroom at 4 a.m. and start meowing. It was obvious that these judges were looking for something completely different.

The final stop on our cat show tour was the vendor’s area, which was a corner of the gym jam-packed with long tables covered with every imaginable cat-correlated creation on earth. Cat food, cat treats, cat vitamins, cats toys, cat beds, cat blankets (both for humans and their pets), cat shampoo, cat conditioner, cat books, cat greeting cards and, of course, all-natural, organic catnip.

There was even a vendor table covered with decorated wooden plaques, each with an inscribed quote about cats.

“Cats choose us; we don’t choose them.”

“Time spent with a cat is never wasted.”

“What greater gift is there than the love of a cat?”

“Every life should have 9 cats.”

“Cats speak with their tails.”

“Every cat owner knows; nobody owns a cat.”

“Kittens are angels with whiskers.”

Strange, but it seemed they had somehow neglected any of my classic catthemed quotes, such as; “Get the hell off the counter!”

“Stop meowing – I just got home – I’ll feed you in a minute!”

“Bernie! Get in here! I just stepped in cat vomit with my bare feet! Call 9-1-1!

This is an emergency!”

Okay, so obviously no matter how hard I try I’ll never be a feline fanatic, but I certainly can’t deny the intensity and commitment of the vast group of folks who are cat lovers.

On our way home, Bernie commented that he thought visiting the cat show was actually a nice way to spend the afternoon.

“At least it wasn’t a complete cat-astrophe,” I cheerfully replied.

Contact David at davidhull59@aol.com

INTRODUCING A NEW COLUMNIST Safer Computing DE-MYSTIFYING TECH

By David Frier Greetings: I am your Safer Computing guide, David Frier. By day, I am the Information Security Risk Assessment program manager for a large local company. (I’ll not mention them by name in this column, since these opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect any opinion or position of my employer.)

I call this series “Safer Computing” because I want to evoke some of the same ideas we think about when we talk about “safer sex.” We know sex with others can’t ever be 100 percent absolutely safe. So we are being clear-eyed about those risks when we intelligently reduce them to the point that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Computers were originally invented to be super-calculators. Even the so-called “killer app”, the one that caused the IBM-PC to explode in popularity, was VisiCalc. VisiCalc was one of the earliest commercially successful spreadsheet applications. But most of those early PCs were also being connected by their owners to modems, and later to DSL and broadband. Because we all quickly discovered that these things were not only supercharged calculators, they were also super communicators. And since communication involves other people, sooner or later there were bound to be problems with some trying to victimize others. Not to mention the potentially disastrous results of honest mistakes.

In the installments to come, I will discuss various security and safety issues involving computers, tablets, smartphones and connected devices. The things we do with computers are really not new or complicated. Buy a book. Read the news. Pay our bills. Catch up with friends. If I can explain these things as we do them digi-

23 tally so they are as easy to understand as going to a bookstore or opening a newspaper, I will consider my mission accomplished.

Technologists are quite proud of the new and efficient and somewhat complex ways they’ve worked out to do these otherwise simple things, they want you to appreciate the engineering marvel they have wrought. So they back up a dump truck full of technical terms, and make up a few new ones, and bury any plain meaning there might have been. The way to make my points about using computers, smart devices and the Internet more safely will be to DE-mystify the concepts.

You will not find a lot of technical jargon here in this column, and on the rare occasions you do, there will be a plain-English definition. If using your computer and the Internet to pay your bills electronically can be as easy-to-understand as writing checks and sealing them in envelopes, we’re all going to have a good time.

And one more thing: I want this to be interactive. I want to make sure that I deal with topics of concern to you, the readers.

Therefore, I have opened an email inbox for you to send me your questions. Please, send your questions to questions@safercomputing.com and I will answer at least one reader question each column.

Both Sides Now ACCEPTING AND EMBRACING IMPERFECTION

By Cora Treoir Duncan One of my cherished friends in the online Transgender community recently reached a new milestone in her ongoing quest for authenticity.

She was faced with a late night run-in with a mirror, seeing herself as she really is: her (now almost desired length) natural hair without her usual wig and her unmade-up face with overnight beard growth. She had a heart stopping epiphany of self-recognition and correctly identified the moment as it signaled another step forward in her Transition.

At 64, I’ve had my own share of those “get real” gifts. Last year at this time my face was splashed on the front page of The Canandaigua Messenger Post on a Sunday and Monday. I did a half hour on a morning talk radio show and was interviewed and featured on TV-10’s weekend news. I had no choice but to accept my presentation, though I stepped up my game and enlisted a great ally and girl friend to perform miracles with my hair and make up for the TV appearance.

When I sat for photographs for the newspaper I was in my early days of learning how to apply makeup, therefore I had little experience in enhancing my strengths and playing down my short comings. I figured, “Oh well! It’s a totally honest picture of change, of my transition to Cora in public with all the left over remnants of masculine presentation clinging to my face.” I had barely been on hormones four months so any effects were non-existent or invisible.

It would take another six months to really gain even an apprentice’s mastery of makeup. I had already started coloring my hair a few months prior to March 2015 with my original hair color. By late summer I would be golden blonde, waiting for the jokes to begin. My sartorial style has evolved almost organically, defined by my identity as a person. The best I can tell, it’s a patchwork quilt of original hippie, research librarian, flamboyant lead singer, hip school teacher and what’s now labeled “bohemian”.

It’s an unlikely mix, I know, but it’s me. I embrace it, fully realizing many of my clothing choices are reminiscent of what I saw women wearing for the last 40 years. I now get to wear what I admired from afar and have been able to acquire many items recycled from thrift shops and (Columnists continue on page 24)

24 (Columnists continued from page 23) have done a modicum of online and instore shopping for the rest.

So here I am in the mid-60s, doing my best not to embarrass myself by dressing too far from what is appropriate for my age group. Admittedly, 60 is the new 40 (as we boomers keep saying to ourselves hoping it is true) so I can get away with more than women may have been able to in the 1960s and 1970s when cultural norms were far more restrictive. As usual, I’m pushing the envelope, but I spent time in a mall researching what most women were wearing on a busy weekend. I targeted what I thought were the classiest ladies for common choices in attire and presentation, so I am reasonably confident I’m not making a fool of myself nor attracting undue attention.

There are some inescapable truths I have to accept: a small patch of pattern baldness that’s taking its damn time filling in, the aged-based deterioration of the skin around my eyes and the character lines that have begun to permanently etch themselves on my face, no matter how many times I exfoliate, make trips to the electrolysist or apply revitalizing collagen miracle cream to my face. I could be obsessing a lot about all of these; however it wouldn’t change the reality.

I am in the process of addressing all of these shortfalls. Then (of course) there’s my waistline. I lost a quick 30 pounds in the first six months of my transition, but upon beginning estrogen, I suddenly found myself subject to unbridled binges on nearly anything edible. Oh well, it will all redistribute thanks to the hormones, right? Ah, no! Apparently only the fat you add AFTER you start hormones transmogrifies into wide hips, a shapely rear and, most desired, two beautiful breasts.

Apparently I’m going to have to do some serious exercise this year. I’m inclined to do walking and/or swimming and as much dancing as I can. My sister has offered to pay for three months of a gym membership, but I’m wary of the commitment necessary to actually gain measurable results. And of course, I must face the hurdle of changing rooms to use more public utilities.

The inconvenient truth is that I’m nearing the end of middle age, as I define it by reaching 65 years. That thickening middle was an unwarranted side effect of hitting 50 and my last partner’s ItalianGerman cooking, which leaned far too heavily on pasta and pastries. My prior solo living stint was notable for walking two miles a day to work and eating a lot less, primarily because I wasn’t taking very good care of myself and because of a lack of funds necessary for a healthier diet.

One of the most important things any person in transition must do is pay extraordinary attention to one’s health,

LET’S MAKE ❊ ★ MAGIC! ♥ THE THIRD ★♥ ★ WEEKEND ★ ❊ ♥ IN JULY ❊ ROC PRIDE ♥ ❊ 2016 ★ ❊ JULY 15, 16, 17 ❊ ❊ ❊ ★ SAVE ♥ THE DATES ★

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016 monitoring all aspects of one’s body. This is extremely important for several reasons.

One: Estrogen and Spironolactone (AntiAndrogen|Testosterone Blocker) for Transwomen and Testosterone for Transmen are prescribed based on blood tests, body weight, age and other factors specific to each individual. This will involve an endocrinologist and one’s primary care doctor depending on each individual’s current health.

Two: Medically assisted transition is a very new process considering it really has less than 50 years of practice, observation and results for diagnostic reference. Essentially as Transgender individuals we are all science experiments conducted in real time. It behooves us to be cognizant of all perceptible physical changes we experience and keep in close contact with our health care providers.

It is also crucial that we do our best to monitor and adapt to the psychological shift that accompanies our journey. Having a strong connection with your Center and a clear picture of your current mental state are critical. Far too many of those in Transition leave their demons unchecked; unless one faces, embraces and erases their toxic control over one’s feelings, a person may find themselves without an anchor, adrift on the other side of the process. I believe that all would do well to pursue therapy for their answers and acceptance moving towards Self Love and Self Care.

We have all experienced regret at not starting earlier, not being pretty or handsome enough or being confronted with obstacles designed to impede our progress.

Being content with who you are, where you are, when you are, how you are and why you are leads to the freedom inherent in accepting Imperfection. With that unbridled attitude I have been able to find compassion (first and foremost) for myself and forgive myself for not living up to the unreal expectations that I once employed and still entertain. I’ve learned to move beyond that rose-colored glass filter to a clearer understanding of my reality. What was once an effects-laden fantasy is now re-framed and re-envisioned as an imprecise documentary that rejoices in every variation from what is considered “normal” as a badge of honor. With this inner peace I am allowed occasional challenges to my equanimity without dissolving into a puddle of self doubt. These days my confidence and the virtual absence of self directed sabotage have bestowed on me a life of continuous curiosity, empowered exploration and positive progress.

I am lovingly marked with the character lines of experience that reflect my inconsistencies back to me every time.

Here I am approaching the last great chapter of my finite life story, engaged to the fullest, reflecting on my inglorious past and highlighting all those unique things about me that have contributed to creating this vast incredible tapestry. I feel energized, ready to give it all I have and finally deliver on the promise and potential that has waited offstage for the performance of a lifetime. I have been and will always be a magnificent mess, an unapologetic outsider and an imperfect example of humanity. I celebrate my own inner diversity and laugh at my petty fails with the knowledge that we all are identified by our own fingerprints as we smear that illusion of perfection.

I am what I am; confused and questing, learning and confident, chaotic and centered, undecided and pushing the envelope, caring and indifferent, giving and taking, beautiful and disturbing, entertaining and teaching, encyclopedic and ignorant, humble and incredibly vain, numb and full of power, scarred and pristine, a blurry picture and sharply in focus, on fire with youthful passion and truly exhausted and resigned; compassionate, a social justice monster with gentle hands, complex but easy to understand, active and lazy, satisfied and yearning, nearly sane and clearly crazy, sloppy and precise, intimate and vulnerable and loving, loved and lovable.

I’ll never be perfect but I have achieved imperfection. It was easy. Honest. ■

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Find the friends, fun, and common interests you’re looking for through the various groups listed here.

DIGNITY-INTEGRITY Since March, 1975, Dignity-Integrity Rochester has been welcoming all who come through our doors, worshiping every week at 5 p.m. at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh Street, at the corner of Broad St. We have the following services and activities for the month of April, 2016: 1st Sunday: Episcopal Mass/Healing Service, with music 2nd Sunday: Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word, with music 3rd Sunday: Episcopal Mass, quiet 4th Sunday: Prayers to start the Week, followed by a Potluck Supper Our Potluck Supper theme for the month of April is “Ethnic Entrees”. One way to celebrate our wonderfully diverse community is to share a meal. Bring a dish that is a part of your heritage and share at our table. All are welcome! Tradition has it that when we aren’t cooking up a Potluck supper on the fourth Sunday, we’re gathering for fellowship around a tasty coffee hour and going out to a local restaurant for dinner each Sunday. Join us anytime!

Lenten Movie night February and March was a success. We highly recommend that you put the movies we saw on your “must see list”. The 2012 version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” was phenomenal, updated to see the story of Christ’s betrayal and crucifixion in today’s world. The movie “Jesus of Montreal” (1989, French w/ subtitles) told the story as a play within a movie and was very moving. “The Apostle” with Robert Duvall was a powerful movie that looked at redemption and forgiveness through the experiences of a preacher. All can be found through your local library.

Save the Date: Sunday, May 24 will be our annual Picnic in the Park. Details will be available on the website closer to the date!

Remember that you can always call the Hotline at 585-234-5092 or check our website at www.di-rochester.org/ for updates on services and activities.

EMPIRE BEARS

Spring, fresh air, rain, flowers, walks, puppies, a new start. Are you getting ready for a great summer?

The BEARS love camping. We’re regulars at Jones Pond, and also can be seen at Hillside. Get your reservations in; they’re selling out fast. When we’re home, you’ll find the BEARS out for dinner, breakfast, movies, canal walks, any fun activity.

Meanwhile, in April we’ll continue gathering every Wednesday for supper.

We meet at 6:00. 4/6 Hot Pot; 4/13 Flavors of Asia; 4/20 Carrabba’s; 4/27 Winfield Grill; 5/4 Southwedge Diner. We’ll meet at Cartwright’s Maple Tree Inn for pancakes Sat 4/2 at 11:00. Sat 4/9 we’ll host a potluck at the GAGV at 6:30.

Sat 4/23 we’ll be at the RGMC annual More Than Us fundraiser at The German House. Members bowl on Sundays in the Friends and Family League. And you can

always catch members at the Cinema or the Little. By the way, have you tried the Sunday afternoon euchre at the GAGV? Great fun!

See you later. WOOF!

L.O.R.A. KNITTING GROUP The LORA Knitting Group meets the first and third Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. at Equal Grounds Coffeehouse, 750 South Avenue. Lessons provided; bring current project/materials.

For further information contact Kerry, Hostess, at DressyFemme@aol.com.

OPEN ARMS MCC Join us on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. for a vibrant and exciting blended worship experience that includes contemporary and traditional hymns, inclusive language, and a useful and timely message.

We engage the living word of God as it speaks to us as citizens of the modern world. We celebrate an open communion table - that means that you don’t have to be a part of our church, or any church at all to participate. When the service ends, join us for coffee, fellowship and a snack in the Community Center.

Open Arms - beyond open, beyond affirming, beyond welcoming - here is where you will find acceptance and the love of Christ in everything we do.

What’s happening at Open Arms: Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., Brae Adams will be leading a bible study on the book of Acts.

Sunday School for Teens & Tweens is on the first of each the month at 9:15 a.m., refreshments will be served.

We are beginning to plan for our community garden that was such a success last year!

We are again partnering with the Rochester Red Wings and we will be there for the 4:05 p.m. OPENING DAY on April 9 working the Pop/Hot Dog stand and throughout the baseball season through August! Lots of volunteers are needed, so contact Open Arms if you’d like to participate in this FUNdraiser!

And come join us for fun afternoon at the ballgame!

The TRANSformative Ministry Team continues to grow and last month played “Trans- Jeopardy ” which was a lot of fun and everyone learned something about being trans, including some of trans participants! We now have our vision statement: “We are a faith community that supports and respects people of all gender identities and gender expressions.” And our mission statement: “We create ties by linking people of diverse gender identities and/or expressions, and allies, through stewardship, education, and social justice.”

We will accomplish these through worship, prayer, education, outreach, inreach and activism. All are welcome to join us on our journey toward a fuller understanding, support and inclusion of our trans friends and family members in the life of our church. You can check our

Come worship among Friends…

Rochester Quaker Meeting 84 Scio Street (downtown)

Sunday worship, 11:00 am Child care ∞ Free parking ∞ Wheelchair access www.rochesterquakers.org 325-7260

free parking in front and to the side of our building. For updated information on coming events and to view our facilities, check our website: openarmsmcc.org.

Our provisional pastoral leader, Brae Adams, has office hours on Wednesdays, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and by appointment. (Please call first to make sure she’s available.) We are also open Thursdays and Fridays from 12 to 4 p.m. Our phone number is (585) 271-8478.

ROCHESTER BUTCH FEMME CONNECTION We will have two dinner events in April 2016.

On April 2, we will meet at Peppermints Restaurant on West Henrietta Road/Rte. 15 at 7 p.m.

On April 16, we will meet at Agave Express Mexican Grill on Rte. 96 in Bushnell’s Basin at 7 p.m.

For further information, e-mail Kerry at DressyFemme@aol.com. See you there!

ROMANS March was another busy month for members of the Rochester Male Naturists (the ROMANS). Our members joined Naturist Rochester in two nude swims this month and, keeping to our tradition, we had a clothed dinner on both evenings before the swims to network with likeminded nudists.

Our monthly gathering for March was a St. Patrick’s Day au naturel celebration. Some members decorated their birthday suits with something green to highlight their best assets for the festivity. It was a lovely gathering in a very private basement and there were bangers and mash to complement the awful looking but amazing green beer for the special occasion. (Another time we had a very visually appealing crystal blue Margarita at a Mexican theme social.) Everyone enjoyed an afternoon of nude comradeship whether green is his color or not!

You can find out more about the ROMANS on our website at www.wnyromans.com. If you are interested in becoming a member, contact us via email at wnyromans@yahoo.com, by regular mail at PO Box 92293, Rochester, NY 14692 or call us at our message line 585281-4964. ROMANS is a social club for gay and gay-friendly male nudists over 21.

SELL SOME ADS MAKE SOME MONEY

585 244-9030

Community

Facebook page for the dates and time of up-coming meetings.

We continue hosting a number of community groups in our Community Center: AFTY (Adult Families with Trans Youth) meets the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, and Questioning) meets on the third Sunday of each month at 1 p.m.

TAGR, Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester meets on the third Saturday of each month from 3-5:30 p.m. The Cobbs Hills Drumming Circle meets at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary on the first Mondays each month.

We have a bin in the Community Center for recycling items like empty ink cartridges, empty toner cartridges, cell phones, chargers, batteries, cords. You can also drop off your scrap metal to be recycled at Metalico Rochester and you will earn money for Open Arms. Days will be arranged for drop off at church as well. Let your neighbors and friends know they can drop off recyclable metal, too. Just mention that it is for the Open Arms MCC account and the proceeds of the recyclables will come to us.

We have a supply of non-perishable items in stock for when our neighbors stop in looking for emergency supplies. If you are out shopping and can pick up one or two items it would be greatly appreciated.

Some ideas for contributions are toiletries, including toothpaste, soap, paper towels, toilet paper, tampons, sanitary pads, and baby wipes. Non-perishable food items that require little preparation including pasta meals, canned meat/tuna, vegetables, and beans, also dry food items such as cereal, pasta and mixes. Pop-top cans are also appreciated as many homeless persons do not have access to can openers. Pet food is also needed. We also have some clothing available -- socks, shoes, sneakers and shirts.

Our facilities are available for rental by any community groups or individuals needing a safe and flexible meeting space.

You can see our ad with pictures and rental fees on Craigslist.

Open Arms MCC is committed to Building Bridges and Changing Lives.

You are welcome, regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or religious beliefs. We are located at 707 East Main St., across from the Delta Sonic. There is plenty of

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

INQUEERY 2016 Classes on everything from Japanese paper flowers to forensic science start April 7.

Driving the Information Super Highway Safely.

This one-hour class will cover the basics of computer and internet safety. You will learn the principles of protecting your personal information and privacy, while still enjoying all that the Internet has to offer.

David Frier is an Information Security Risk Assessment program manager and holds the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification (CISSP), as well as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

At the LQBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Wednesday, April 6, 6:30pm.

Kusudama (Kusu comes from the Japanese word for Kusuri— medicine. Dama is a Japanese word for a ball.) This is not a medicine ball usually associated with strenuous physical exercise. A kusudama is a sphere made up of origami (folded paper) stylized flowers. The class will have a $5 donation fee for the origami paper and glue. Kennan Breakstrandt, the Gay Alliance LGBTQ Resource Center on April 12 and/or April 26 at 6:308:30pm.

Introduction to Ikebana Kennan Breakstrandt, April 19, 6:30-8pm at the LGBTQ Resource Center.

Purpose Mapping Everyone (and we mean everyone) is born with a Purpose. But most people go through their lives without knowing who they truly are and why they are here. If you knew your purpose, would you live it? Purpose Mapping is coming to the Gay Alliance, and we couldn’t be more excited. Tom Rodwell, Wednesday, April 27, 6:30-9:30pm.

What is Forensic Science?

Structure of the Monroe County Crime Lab; New York State Crime Labs; Crime Scene and Evidence Collection basics. Medical Examiner: The Autopsy and Forensic Toxicology; Crime Lab Sections: Firearms and Ballistics, Controlled Substances; Fire Debris (Arson); Trace Evidence or Criminalistics; Biology/ DNA; Evidence from a case: Guilty? Craig Filek, May 3, 6:30-9:30pm, Gay Alliance LGBTQ Resource Center.

RSVP at InQueery@gayalliance.org

Rochester LGBTQ Resource Center

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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Arts & Entertainment Steven Randell’s photography is on show at Gallery Q

The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus.

RGMC and Friends host dinner show extravaganza “More Than Us 3” The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus (RGMC) will share the stage with entertainers from across the area for More Than Us 3: The RGMC’s Fabulous Dinner Show.

This annual key fundraiser for the chorus will be held Saturday, April 23 at ButaPub in the Historic German House, 315 Gregory St. A cash bar will open at 5 p.m., with a buffet dinner at 6 p.m. and the show at 7:30. Raffle prizes and silent auctions will be on hand throughout the evening.

Performers thus far confirmed are Thomas Warfield, Pittsford Dance Studio, comedian Vinnie Paulino, a dance duet choreographed by Tammy Carrasco of The College at Brockport, and the RGMC’s own beloved dancing Rochettes.

Additional performers are expected to join the

Black Sheep Theatre presents evening of one-act plays about women Rochester’s Black Sheep Theatre is pleased to present “More Than A Rib”, featuring works of award winning playwright Jane Shepherd and local playwright Mary Megan, directed by Kristy Angevine-Funderburk and Colleen DiVincenzo.

“More Than A Rib” contains an evening of one acts determined to showcase the beauty, absurdity, and universal stories that women share among themselves and with the world.

The evening will feature: “Commencing” by Jane Shepard - “The beautiful Kelli can’t wait for the blind date her friends have set her up on.

Until it turns out to be one very disappointed lesbian named Arlin. Mutually appalled, yet appallingly intrigued, they proceed to pull the screws loose on both straight and gay women’s culture, to find the common ground beneath in the search for love & self. “ “Friends of the Deceased”

by Jane Shepard - “An embittered widow lies in wait at her

roster in the coming weeks.

The evening will be emceed by Rachel Barnhart, anchor of News 8 First at Four (WROCTV). “I was thrilled to be asked to participate in this event,” Rachel said. “I am a big fan of the RGMC. I’m also a huge believer in equality and acceptance. What better way to demonstrate a community’s contribution to Rochester than through the arts?”

Tickets for the show and dinner are $55 each or $100 for two. They are available online at http:// rgmc.ticketleap.com/more-than-us-3 or by phone at (585) 423-0650. Various levels of event sponsorship are detailed on the website, offering donors promotional opportunities during and leading up to the event. ■

husband’s grave for the appearance of his mistress, and encounters a soulful teen. Unable to extract a confession from the girl, the widow offers to buy one, and finds that she has purchased a deeper truth. “ “The Last Nickel” by Jane Shepard - “Theatrical, funny & touching, It’s another long night for Jamie, with an obnoxious sister & a trio of sardonic puppets to keep her awake. Tinged with fun & sisterly nostalgia, the merriment comes inevitably to focus on the cause of Jamie’s self destruction, and the loss that has brought her to the edge.”

“Me, Mom...And Elaine” by Mary Megan - “A daughter is beckoned home for an important family event, only to relive the moments that transfixed and transformed her life. It takes more than time away from home and a family’s need to bond to see her truly mature.”

This program contains mature

content, and is not recommended for children under 14.

Shows are April 8, 9, 15, 16 @ 7:30 p.m. and April 10 @ 2 p.m.

Tickets are $16 in advance and $20 day of show. Ticketline and information (585) 861-4816.

Theatre Location - 274 North Goodman Street Village Gate Square, D313 Rochester, NY 14607 Entrance B Produced by Special Arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. ■

Steven Randell’s photographic work will be exhibited at the Gay Alliance‘s Gallery Q, at the LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., opening on First Friday, April 1, 6-9 p.m.

The artist says, “These images show the interplay of infrared light and how it behaves beyond our normal perception. Infrared Illumination gives center stage to the white monuments and buildings of Athens and Mykonos normally seen against blue sky and blue-green ocean.

“All digital photos were taken with a modified Canon 40D SLR camera, making the sensor particularly sensitive to infrared light. Because this light has a different focusing point the lens has been permanently altered as well. These pictures were taken in Greece and the Island of Mykonos in November of 2015.

“Greece with its ancient and modern white toned monuments and architecture is perfectly suited for IR photography. Its cultural acceptance of homosexuality (although not represented in these photos) was one of many reasons I decided to embark on this journey.” ■

“Matilda” is coming to the Auditorium Theatre TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year, Matilda The Musical, is coming to Rochester as part of the 2015-2016 M&T Bank Broadway Season Presented by RBTL and Albert Nocciolino. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Dodgers, the first national tour of Matilda The Musical will be coming to RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre April 12-17.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000 and the Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 15 or more. Groups may call 585-2773335. For additional information, visit: www.rbtl.org.

Winner of 50 international awards including four Tony Awards ® and a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards ® including Best Musical, Matilda The Musical is based on the beloved novel by best-selling author Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox). It is the story of an extraordinary girl who dreams of a better life. Armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, Matilda dares to take a stand and change her destiny.

Michael Graceffa, who plays Rudolph, told The Empty Closet, “I grew up in Waltham, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.

Theatre and dance have always been my biggest passions since I was a babe, so deciding to become a professional performer was a no brainer.

“Matilda is definitely a show for all ages. It teaches us all important lessons about fighting for what we believe in- even when situations seem grim. It also reminds us that we really are still children at heart. Audiences should expect to laugh and even shed a couple tears.

“The most rewarding part

Michael Graceffa

of playing Rudolph is probably making the audience laugh every night for basically prancing around the stage like a goof ball.

The most difficult part is probably dropping into those splits every night. I think Donna McKechnie has been one of my biggest inspirations -- I would spend hours as a teenager watching old clips of her dancing and snapping that neck of hers. She can also ACT.” Matilda The Musical is directed by Tony Award® winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage), who helms this production with a book by Tony Award®-winning playwright Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin.

The production has sets and costumes by Tony Award® winner Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Tony Award® winner Hugh Vanstone, and sound by Simon Baker.

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The Women of Tiffany

By Merle Exit Dr. Egon Neustadt’s renowned collection of Tiffany lamps, windows, metalwork, flat glass and glass “jewels” have been the subject of an exhibition at the Queens Museum as half of his studios were located in Corona.

Women were a vital part of Louis C. Tiffany’s artistic enterprise. As early as 1879, well before women had the right to vote, Tiffany collaborated with and employed women in his decorating firms, entrusting them with essential roles in executing his artistic vision. He believed that women had an innate sensitivity to decorative design and a keen perception of color.

Trained in art schools and on the job at Tiffany’s studios, these women worked as designers and artisans in a host of different media, including textiles and embroideries, leaded-glass windows and lamps, mosaics, metalwork, pottery and jewelry.

A New Light on Tiffany presents groundbreaking research revealing the many women who played a crucial role in the design and creation of Tiffany Studios’ masterpieces, in particular, Clara Driscoll (1861–1944), head of the Women’s Glass Cutting Department. Driscoll’s recently discovered correspondence, written during her employment at Tiffany Studios at the turn of the century, reveals that she was responsible for many of the firm’s most iconic lampshades, including the Wisteria, Dragonfly and Poppy, as well as numerous other objects made with glass, bronze and mosaic. In addition to designing, Driscoll managed a large department of young women, known as the “Tiffany Girls,” who specialized in selecting and cutting glass for windows, shades and mosaics.

The exhibition includes approximately sixty Tiffany lamps, windows, mosaics, enamels and ceramics designed by Clara Driscoll and other women at Tiffany Studios, as well as numerous objects made under her direction. Supplementary

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

archival material documents the activities at Tiffany Studios and sheds light on Driscoll’s experience as a New York working woman at the turn of the century.

Agnes F. Northrop, a Flushing native, was the foremost female artist at the Tiffany Studios. She shared Tiffany’s love of nature, and during her five decades at the Studio, she designed nearly all of the firm’s floral and landscape windows.

Northrop’s position at Tiffany Studios was essentially privileged; like her male counterparts, she had a private studio and received international recognition for her work. She was awarded a silver medal at the Paris World’s Fair of 1900 for her stained-glass designs.

May Faller’s tenure at Tiffany Studios is uncertain. According to her family and census records, she assisted with mosaic work, including the 1909 mosaic curtain for the National Theater in Mexico City.

Composed of nearly one million pieces of glass, it took twenty workers fifteen

months to cut and assemble the design.

Faller also worked on windows in the Ecclesiastical Department and later served as the department secretary. She posed for The Bathers window, designed by Tiffany and installed at Laurelton Hall, his grand estate on Long Island. Tiffany considered this window the crowning achievement of his stained-glass career.

As with many of the women who worked for Tiffany, few details about Emma Stanley’s employment are known.

A group photograph of the Women’s Glass Cutting Department confirms that Stanley was one of the “Tiffany Girls.”

According to her family, she worked in leaded glass. Census records list her as “Artisan, Glass Works” and “Artist, Studio Worker” between 1910 and 1920.

When Stanley married and left Tiffany Studios, she moved to Ozone Park, Queens, but remained close friends with coworkers, including May Faller.

“The Neustadt includes over a quarter of a million pieces of original Tiffany flat glass and glass jewels used to create this icon designs”, said Curator Lindsy R. Parrott. “Our non-profit organization is committed to sharing this story and its collections with diverse audiences through its gallery at the Queens Museum as well as exhibitions that travel to museums nationwide.”

Film review: Naz and Maalik

By C. Todd White A movie must be outstanding in three different aspects if it is to stand as an excellent film. Naz and Maalik, written and directed by Jay Dockendorf, excels in writing, acting, cinematography, and score, which in my book propels it into the exclusive five-star category.

This amazing film, portraying one day in the life of two black gay Muslim men living in Brooklyn at the dawn of their love, is currently playing at Cinema

Village in New York and was recently released on DVD/VOD by Wolfe Video.

Naz and Maalik is far from being (or feeling like) a documentary, yet it is highly ethnographic, an accurate portrayal of a particular cultural milieu. Dockendorf and his crew are all outsiders to the lives they portray; the actors do not identify as gay, nor are they Muslim. Dockendorf himself is white. Perhaps being from the outside worked to their advantage by helping the artists involved to perceive, practice, and portray nuances in character that “natives” might edit out, those quirky life-as-lived minutia that are so familiar as to become imperceptible.

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET At once social science and craft, the film was constructed from the ground up. While subletting a room in New York from a Muslim graduate student in 2012, Dockendorf came to hear of the difficulties of growing up as closeted gay Muslim, and he began to compose a screenplay based on conversations with his host.

Similarly, the actors and filmmakers continually sought the advice of “insider” consultants, and it took three years of work to get the story right. Three years of effort by what would become a team of four score to produce an 80-minute film about two young men in Brooklyn covering a span of one day.

This day begins on a Friday morning with a Muslim girl [Ashleigh Awusie] in a hijab blowing her nose, tossing the tissue, and spotting a condom in the bin. She confronts her brother [Kerwin Johnson, Jr.] with the goods, requesting $25 not to tell Mom and Dad. Her brother in a pressed blue shirt and white cotton Kufi shrugs off accusations and leaves, meeting his purpleshirted (secret) boyfriend [Curtiss Cook, Jr.] to work the streets of Brooklyn to raise money for college. The game is to purchase Lotto tickets and “smell-goods,” scented oils, which they hock on the street for profit. Blue Shirt purchases a deck of Saints cards as well, on some strange impulse. Or maybe a twinge of guilt?

As Naz and Maalik hit the streets, their personalities begin to differentiate.

Fifteen minutes in, we finally figure out which is which. When confronted individually by a nosy and suspicious FBI agent [Annie Grier] who was actively and openly engaging New York’s Muslim community in order to “get to know the neighborhood,” one gives truth and the other lies as to their whereabouts the night before — Maalik had spent his first intimate night with Naz, thus the condom — and the plot is set in motion.

While the individuation process continues, and differences are exemplified and then magnified, the rapport between the two protagonists remains palpable and realistic. I found myself rooting for them, wishing to see them somehow survive the ordeal of this one incredible day, which is a testament to the powerful performance of these two (straight, it seems) male actors.

Naz and Maalik is not an allegory, so one should resist the temptation to read into the film more than is there. Still, the film provides insights on Islam that help the outsider audience to understand the religion, getting a peek at it from the inside and seeing it as a thing of beauty not to be feared. Similarly, non-gays will understand how painful — and dangerous — the coming out process can still be for anyone coming of age within a strict religious household.

But all of that is secondary to sheer beauty of this film. Brooklyn is presented as a wonderland of subways and parks, busy streets and colorful alleys. Ethnic tensions are acknowledged but not exaggerated, and we see a place full of wonder and growth.

While Naz and Maalik might seem to be among the disenfranchised, I see things

very differently. These are two very, very good people who are learning hard lessons about the power of being honest even in the stark face of adversity. It is about trust and family, neighborhood and community.

There is danger, for sure, and oppression.

But I’m with Maalik, the optimist of the pair, the one who sells the smell-goods and laughs at the saints. Together or separately, these young men are headed exactly where they belong: college.

What makes this film outstanding is how Dockendorf both wrote and directed the project yet managed not to control freak the final production. With producers Margaret Katcher and Jacob Albert, Dockendorf compiled an impressive team of seasoned (though young) professionals, and he integrated their perspectives into the film while respecting the individual expertise of each. Much of the credit for the film’s inevitable success should thus be given to Holly Buczek for her impeccable casting, Adam Gunter for a propelling but unobtrusive score, and Jake Magee, as Director of Photography, for making this film as beautiful as it is real.

Naz and Maalik: Written and Directed by Jay Dockendorf Produced by Margaret Katcher and Jacob Albert with Lacy Dorn Director of Photography: Jake Magee Production Design: Dylan Metzger Edited by Andy Hafitz Score by Adam Gunther and Jay Dockendorf Distributed by Wolfe Video • 86 Min. Premiered March 14, 2015, South by Southwest Film Festival

Marriage celebration to include fundraiser for Big Gay Prom, April 24 at 140 Alex Bar & Grill From Proms to Weddings: A Celebration of Relationships, a fundraiser for the 12th Annual Big Gay Prom, will also honor the 20 years of work by Marriage Equality USA. Brian Silva, national Executive Director of MEUSA, will stop in Rochester to help the local community celebrate the conclusion of MEUSA’s 20 year mission to ensure full marriage equality in the USA (see article, page 1).

The afternoon event will also raise funds for the Rochester Big Gay Prom, the spring social for LGBTQA youth in the area. Political and social leaders and all Rochester friends are invited to this once in a lifetime celebration.

Dee Licious, Samantha Vega and Todd Ranous will perform in the upstairs cabaret at 140 Alex for the prom fundraiser, while on the first floor there will be plenty of opportunity to network and hear from Rochester’s finest who helped to make Marriage Equality a reality.

The party runs from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday April 24, at 140 Alex- 140 Alexander St. The event is for those 21and over.

Appetizers and drink specials provided

by MEUSA, Tito’s Vodka and Barefoot Wines. ■

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GAY ALLIANCE NEWS FOR APRIL 2016

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

Ride for Pride bikers. Photo: Joe Yokajty

Four crazy facts about the world that we intend to change Why do Ride For Pride riders bike 50 miles for the Gay Alliance? Because we believe in the life-changing work done by this wonderful agency.

Here are a few crazy facts about the world that we intend to change with our fundraising to support the LGBTQ Academy’s educational and advocacy work, the LGBTQ Resource Center and InQueery events.

More Americans claim to have seen a ghost than have met a trans person. – Huffington Post 2015

Volunteers of the Month: Dawn and Wanda MartinezJohncox Dawn is originally from Penn Yan and Wanda is from Puerto Rico. Currently, they both live in Canandaigua with Wanda’s two children, Maxwell, 13 and Mariedeliz, 10. Both children attend the Canandaigua city school.

They were married July 25, 2015 at the Spiritus Christi Church here in Rochester.

Dawn is a store manager for Rite Aid and oversees the Pittsford

Being intersex is as common as having red hair, yet due to social stigma, intersex individuals remain almost completely invisible. – Organization Intersex International 2015 41 percent of transgender people have attempted suicide compared to 1.6 percent of the general population. - National Transgender Discrimination Survey 2011 People can still get fired from their jobs for being gay, lesbian or bisexual in about half of the states in this country. - Human

Rights Campaign 2016 Last year with your help Ride For Pride raised $30,000 for the Gay Alliance. This year our goal is $40,000! Your tax-deductible donation goes directly to the programs at the Gay Alliance. Please help us turn this crazy world around by supporting one of our fabulous riders.

Any amount is appreciated by so many.

To see a list of our 2016 Ride For Pride bikers, please go to: http://www.gayalliance.org/ ride-for-pride/

plaza store. Wanda works at the Veterans Affairs in Canandaigua as the Behavioral Health Preceptor Telehealth Clinical Technician.

Dawn started volunteering for the Gay Alliance two years ago when she was in the Puerto Rican Parade representing the GAGV. Now she is in the Speakers Bureau, a member of SAGE, helped organize the Valentine dance this past February, helped with the painting at the new Resource Center and this is her second year riding for Ride 4 Pride.

Wanda has been volunteering since 2009. She is part of the Speakers Bureau and Safe Zone Train the Trainer, a member of SAGE and this is also her second year riding for the Ride 4 Pride. Recently she started to be involved in the SAFER committee (Survivors Advocating for Effective Reform) run

by Geena Cruz. She is the Volunteer LGBTQ Coordinator at PFC Joseph Dwyer Program CompeerCORPS. Wanda is also this year’s President of the Puerto Rican Parade of Rochester, Inc. She is also involved in others groups in the community.

Thanks to this dynamic couple!

More programming needed for trans youth, families; GAGV event is May 13 at the Center

By Neka Zimmerman In the past few years transgender people have become much more visible. Anti-trans legislation popping up all over the country is perhaps the best indicator that we as a community are no longer in the closet.

Accomplished trans women such as Laverne Cox and Janet Mock have done wonders for giving people in the Unites States and beyond a face to place with the idea of a transgender life.

With the increasing visibility it has become easier for some trans adults to come out and get the medical care they need and medical professionals have begun to acknowledge that there is no one way to be trans.

Although it remains challenging for adult trans folk to find a doctor knowledgeable and affirming of trans care, gatekeeping for trans patients has lessened.

Lest there be any confusion, living as a trans person, particularly a trans feminine person

of color, can still be incredibly challenging and many people find themselves hopeless, without recourse for the injustices they experience. However, we are, ever so slowly, making this country a more accepting place for trans and gender variant people.

As people become more accepting of trans adults, some of the scrutiny has turned to trans kids and youth. People debate on every aspect of a transgender child’s life including: how the children should be treated by their families and communities, what sort of medical interventions they should be able to access, and what age is old enough to self-identity as a certain gender, the list goes on. In the scuffle a child’s right to happiness and self-determination can get lost. As trans kids become less of a taboo topic more researchers are investigating their unique needs as a population, and their findings are not surprising. Trans kids and youth thrive with families and guardians who support their identity whatever it may be.

Often comfortable in their gender identity, trans youth and children know what they need to be happy. Their confusion related to gender identity occurs more because cultural norms and expectations presented to them oppose their internal feeling about their gender. Caregivers have the power to be their child’s primary advocate, educating themselves and interacting with the world on their child’s behalf. Supportive caregivers act as a stabilizing and empowering force for children navigating a complex world that doesn’t always treat them well.

Caretakers often want to be supportive of their children but struggle to find resources, particularly ones that operate in person rather than entirely online. Trans children and their families may become isolated from their immediate community and feel like there is no one else facing the same challenges.

There is great power in building community; positive relationships provide preparation and resilience for the unique experiences facing a family raising a trans child.

The Gay Alliance recognizes the importance of providing a safe space for trans kids and youth to explore their identity and their relation to their communities. In order to encourage and affirm parents’ and caretakers’ active and positive engagement with their trans children, we are planning “Crunch”, an evening of dinner and stories for trans kids 10-18 years of age and their caretakers (trans youth are welcome to come on their own as well). There will be a catered meal followed by personal stories and a question and answer session with a few younger trans adults of various identities. We

hope to make a space where caregivers along with trans children and youth can continue their education on trans issues and begin to envision a future where a person of any gender identity will be able to thrive as they age.

Come join us for this event on Friday May 13, 6-8 p.m. at the Gay Alliance LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., suite #100. There is limited space so if you plan to attend please RSVP to nekazimmerman@gmail.com. For more information feel free to call the Gay Alliance office at 244-8640.

PHOTO: SUSAN JORDAN

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Meet the Board: W. Bruce Gorman I live in Brighton with my husband, a local landscape and interior designer, Joseph Nardone. This year marks 30 years that we’ve been together, married for six years. We have two Cairn Terriers who are the center of our lives.

Along with my work at the GAGV I serve on a number of other state and local boards and committees, including The School Administrators of NY State (SAANYS), St. Mary’s Church, the LGBT Giving Circle, the Monroe County Education Coalition Steering Committee (MCEC) and the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA).

Six years ago, I chose to join the Board of GAGV at a time when I was able to take early retirement from my position as an elementary school principal, having enjoyed that role for over two decades. My father always taught me, “those who can help, must help”. That credo is part of what motivated me to join the GAGV Board.

And it supported my special interest in the Youth Program. The statistics around the struggles that LGBTQ youth faced at that time were alarming to me and I hoped to be able to help make a difference for those kids. Sadly, when I was a youth and struggling with my sexuality there was no help to be found. My hope was that, if my efforts could help guide just one young man or woman, it would be worth any effort that I could expend.

The Gay Alliance is a non-profit agency, dedicated to cultivating a healthy, inclusive environment where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) people are safe, thriving, and enjoying equal rights. We are a coalition of individuals and groups working to empower LGBTQ people to affirm their identities and create an atmosphere where the diversity can thrive both collectively and separately. We educate and advocate for civil rights for all and for the eradication of homophobia.

Board President: David Zona • Executive Director: Scott Fearing • Education Director: Jeanne Gainsburg Education Coordinator: Rowan Collins • Database: Kat Wiggall Bookkeeper: Christopher Hennelly The Empty Closet: Editor: Susan Jordan, E-mail: susanj@gayalliance.org Phone: (585) 244-9030 Designer: Jim Anderson Fax: (585) 244-8246 Advertising: (585) 244-9030; jennieb@gayalliance.org.

The Gay Alliance, 100 College Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607 • Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm Phone: (585) 244-8640 • Fax: (585) 244-8246 • Website: www.gayalliance.org • E-mail: Info@gayalliance.org

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GAY ALLIANCE NEWS FOR APRIL 2016

It was early in my tenure on the Board that I was asked by then Board Chair John Altieri if I would take on the role of Board Secretary, a role that I continue to enjoy today. Although my interests continued to revolve around the needs of our youth I have been fortunate, because of my training at the GAGV, to expand my sphere of interest to that of our LGBTQ seniors and their evolving needs.

However, my most significant challenge these past few years has been to help stabilize the agency financially. As is the case with many small not for profit agencies, finding the funds to keep the door open and serve our community was/is an ongoing challenge. I was able in concert with my colleagues on the board and the GAGV leadership to help move the agency from a grant dependent entity to one that is moving toward self-sustainability. One of my proudest accomplishments on the Board was to help celebrate the work of Evelyn Bailey and her Shoulders to Stand On initiative during the GAGV’s 25th Anniversary Year!

As I look toward the future of the GAGV I have no clear plan, because the needs of our

community are evolving and as an agency we need to be fluid as we remain true to our vision and mission. But I am ever more confident that with our current leadership, both on the Board as well as with our ED, that we are poised to do great things for this community. The GAGV Board has been energized with many dynamic folks who work diligently to support the staff and serve our members. Scott Fearing is doing good work on our behalf and for that we all must feel confident.

In closing my interview I want to leave you with this suggestion. For those of you reading this who may have an interest in the work of the GAGV, I urge you to do two simple tasks: become a sustaining member of the Alliance and give serious thought to the Alliance as you plan your estate. I am a sustaining member and have remembered the Alliance in my will. By so doing I believe I can help the GAGV continue the work that will need to be done to support the ever changing needs of the LGBTQ community. Please join me if you are able. No amount is too small.

If we all do a little, a great deal will be accomplished!

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS February 2016 • LGBTQ History in Rochester at The Highlands at Pittsford • Working With Trans Youth at the LGBTQ Academy at the Gay Alliance • Working with LGBTQ Youth at Center For Youth • Creating Transgender Inclusive Schools at the Western New York School Counselors Consortium • Transgender Healthcare Panel at the NYS Perianesthesia Nurses Association Conference (District 14) • SafeZone Training at Victor Central School District • LGBTQ 101 at the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired • Creating LGBTQ Inclusive Schools at Monroe #1 BOCES • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at Stockton University in New Jersey • SafeZone Training at the Irondequoit Public Library • SafeZone Training at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts • Working Towards Inclusion in Identity Movements at Southwestern College in California • Creating LGBTQ Inclusive Campuses at Southwestern College in California • LGBTQ and the Deaf Community at Southwestern College in California • SafeZone Training at the LGBTQ Academy at the Gay Alliance • “Closet to Career” Panel at RIT • LGBTQ 101 at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College • Gender Policing InQueery at the LGBTQ Academy at the Gay Alliance • Transgender Panel at Emma Forbes-Jones’ Parent Group • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at SUNY Geneseo

Feedback from our February Presentations • “I’ve been to many presentations over the years.

Finding one that engages me untill the end is a gem.

Yours did. Thank you.”

• “All staff in every school should have today’s experience and education. Thank you!”

• “I learned how to be a better support system and advocate for my students. Super interactive and personal, which I think is critical to effective learning.

Don’t change a thing!”

31

SAGE APRIL

“Good as Mom’s” first place SAGE Chili Cookoff award goes to Jessie Gibson (center). Judges Lucille Haley & Kat Wiggall.

LGBTQ Health Quest: continues Mondays, April 4 to April 25, 5:30pm-7:30pm, a health & wellness support program encouraging better eating habits and increased physical activity. There is no cost but you must pre-register at sage@gayalliance.org or (585) 244-8640 x23 Friday April 1 7-9pm, SAGE Coffee Hour: Pick up a Cup! Gilda’s Club Comedy Show starts at 8pm. Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave, 14620 Hosted by: Roza Monday April 4 1pm – Monday Movie Meet Up at the Dryden, 900 East Ave. 14607.

Film screenings are free to seniors. Film begins at 1:30pm. Arrive by 1pm to sit together. Contact Roger & Dave by email: rcfdjm@gmail.com, Learn more: https:// eastman.org/film-series/senior-matinees Tuesday April 5 10:30-11:30 Yoga with Tom; 11:30am-2pm “Cake Day”: Celebrate April birthdays with catered lunch and cake, $3. donation, games & conversation.

Hosted by Jessie, LGBTQ Resource Center.

Thursday April 7 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom in LGBTQ Resource Center, 5pm: SAGE Leadership Council meets.

Sunday April 10 2-5pm, Euchre Sunday Social at the Center. Euchre is easy to learn, fun to play and a great way to meet new people. All are welcome – new card players especially! $3. donation towards snacks & beverages. Donations of munchies & baked goods are appreciated!

Monday April 11 1pm – Monday Movie Meet Up at the Dryden. Film screenings are free to seniors. Film begins at 1:30pm. Arrive by 1pm to sit together. Contact Roger & Dave by email: rcfdjm@gmail.com Tuesday April 12 10:30-11:30 Yoga with Tom; 11:30am-2pm, Catered lunch & crafts – Cookie Cutter Bird Seed Feeders $3. donation. Hosted by Anne, LGBTQ Resource Center.

Thursday April 14 No Yoga. 10am-noon, Breakfast Club at Denny’s, 911 Jefferson Rd, Henrietta). RSVP to Audet at (585) 287-2958 no later than April 11.

Saturday April 16 5-8pm Saturday Night Potluck & BINGO Bash - a community potluck and Bingo for token prizes, All are welcome – so bring a friend. $3. donation.

All potluck dishes are needed - salads, veggies, casseroles, etc. LGBTQ Resource Center.

Monday April 18 1pm – Monday Movie Meet Up at the Dryden. Film screenings are free to Seniors. Film begins at 1:30pm. Arrive by 1pm to sit together. Contact Roger & Dave by email: rcfdjm@gmail.com Tuesday April 19 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom; 11:30am-2pm: Catered lunch, People’s choice PBS video clip & discussion $3. donation. LGBTQ Resource Center.

Thursday April 21 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom, LGBTQ Resource Center.

Friday April 22 5-6:30pm SAGE Fabulous Fish Fry at Jay’s Diner, 2612 W Henrietta Rd, 14623. Please RSVP to Jim at 585-354-8009 or by email at Jimz7875@aol.com

by April 19.

Monday April 25 1pm – Monday Movie Meet Up at the Dryden. Film screenings are free to Seniors. Film begins at 1:30pm. Arrive by 1pm to sit together. Contact Roger & Dave by email: rcfdjm@gmail.com Tuesday April 26 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom; 11:30am-2pm: Catered lunch, games & conversation $3. donation. LGBTQ Resource Center.

Thursday April 28 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom, LGBTQ Resource Center.

SAGE Rochester is a program of the Gay Alliance designed for LGBTQI people over 50. SAGE operates out of the Gay Alliance LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Avenue 14607. All programs are open to the public and all are welcome. Yoga is $5.00 per person and is offered every Tuesday and Thursday unless specified in calendar.

All programs are subject to change and all members are responsible for their own transportation and meals. Donations help defray our costs but we understand if flexibility is needed - please contact Anne Tischer. Become a SAGE member or get information at sage@gayalliance.org or 585-244-8640 x23. We are also on Facebook as “SAGE Rochester a program of the Gay Alliance”.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

Resources Check our monthly and ongoing calendar and community section for more groups and events. For further information, call the Gay Alliance, 2448640 or visit: www.gayalliance.org.

More SAGE and Gay Alliance Youth Group info: pages 30-31.

BISEXUALITY RESOURCES AMBI Los Angeles; American Institute of Bisexuality (Journal of Bisexuality); Bay Area Bisexual Network; ; BiNet USA; Bisexual Organizing Project (BOP); Biversity Boston; Boston Bisexual Women’s Network; ComBIne - Columbus, Ohio; Fenway Health’s Bi Health Program; Los Angeles Bi Task Force; New York Area Bisexual Network; Robyn Ochs’s site; The Bi Writers Association; The Bisexual Resource Center (email brc@biresource.net)

CULTURAL Rochester Women’s Community Chorus 234-4441. (See Ongoing calendar).

Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus www.thergmc.org Open Arms Community Center Available for parties, events, meetings. 707 E. Main St. Parking. Accepting and welcoming of all.

271-8478.

DEAF SERVICES Deaf Rainbow Network of Rochester See Facebook.

Spectrum LGBTIQ & Straight Alliance RIT/NTID student group. <SpectrumComment@ groups.facebook.com

ELDERS Gay Alliance SAGE Rochester Many monthly get togethers, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 244-8640; SAGE@gayalliance.org. See page 31.

FAMILY Open Arms Community Center Open Arms Community Center available for parties, events and meetings; 707 East Main St. Plenty of parking. We are inclusive, actively accepting, welcoming of all people. 271-8478 openarmsmcc.org CNY Fertility Center Integrative Fertility Care. Support meetings, webinars, workshops. Information: cbriel@cnyfertility. com; www.cnyhealingarts.com Rochester Gay Moms’ Group Support group for lesbian mommies and wannabe mommies in Rochester and surrounding areas.

Subscribe: RochesterGayMoms-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com.

Catholic Charities Community Services 1099 Jay Street, Building J (585) 339-9800, www.ccsrochester.org . Offers: Families in Transition services for HIV positive parents with small children, short term/long term housing assistance, employment services, supportive case management, health education and behavioral health education and peer navigation for substance abuse linkages.

Lesbian & Gay Family Building Project Headquartered in Binghamton and with a presence throughout Upstate NY, the Project is dedicated to helping LGBTQ people achieve their goals of building and sustaining healthy families.

Claudia Stallman, Project Director, 124 Front St., Binghamton, NY 13905; 607-724-4308; e-mail: LesGayFamBldg@aol.com. Web: www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) PFLAG’s threefold mission: supporting parents and family members in coming out process; educating the community; advocating on behalf of LGBT family members. rochesterepflag@gmail. com; 585-993-3297.

Adoptive Parent Support Group Monthly potluck lunches. For information, location, call Shari, 350-2529.

Angel Food Ministry Box of fresh/frozen food for $30 in advance.

Menu changes monthly. For information and distribution sites, call 585 861-4815.

HIV/AIDS Free testing for HIV exposure is available from New York State Department of Health: call Rochester Area Regional Hotline at (585) 423-8081, or 1 800 962-5063. Deaf or hearing impaired people should call (585) 4238021 (TDD.) Available from NY Dept. of Health: HIV and STD resource testing site. Rapid testing in only 10 minutes. STD testing provided by Bullshead Clinic, 855 W. Main St., Rochester. Contact: Narissa @ Rochester hotline.

Volunteer Legal Services Project (585) 232-3051; www.vlsprochester.org. 1 West Main St., Suite 500 Rochester, NY 14614. Free legal services for low-income HIV positive clients.

No criminal cases. Appointments are scheduled at area medical provider locations or by calling 295-5708.

Trillium Health Trillium Health is the leading provider of HIV/ AIDS services in Rochester and the Finger Lakes.

On-site services include HIV testing and limited STD screenings, Primary and HIV Specialty Medical Care, Pharmacy, and many more. Satellite offices in Geneva and Bath. Trillium Health is also a leader in providing services and education to members of the LGBT community. Contact Information: Website: www.trilliumhealthny.org. Main Office: 259 Monroe Ave., Rochester, NY 14607; Main Phone: 585-545-7200, Health Services After Hours: 585-258-3363; Case Management After Hours (Lifeline): 585-275-5151; Fax: 585244-6456. Finger Lakes Office: 605 W. Washington St., Geneva, NY 14456, 315-781-6303.

Southern Tier Office: Buell St. Box 624, Bath, NY 14810 607-776-9166. The Health Outreach Project: 416 Central Ave., Rochester, NY 14605; 585454-5556.

Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley Referrals to physicians and service agencies.

(585) 244-8640; www.gayalliance.org.

Victory Alliance University of Rochester Medical Center. One of several research sites worldwide that comprise the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Rochester site conducts research vaccine studies sponsored

by National Institutes of Health (NIH). 585-7562329; www.vaccineunit.org.

Threshold At The Community Place, 145 Parsells Ave., third floor, 585-454-7530. Provides confidential HIV, STD testing and General Health Care, ages 12-25.

Sliding fee scale, no one denied, most insurances accepted. Mon., Wed., Fri. 9am-5pm; Tues., Thurs., 9am-7pm; Sat. 10am-2pm. www.ThresholdCenter.org Center for Health and Behavioral Training of Monroe County 853 W. Main St., Rochester 14611. Collaboration of Monroe County Health Department and U.R. Provides year-round training in prevention and management of STDs, HIV, TB and related issues, such as domestic violence and case management. (585)753-5382 v/tty.

Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region 114 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14605; Tollfree Helpline: 1 866 600-6886. Offers confidential HIV testing and information. When you make your appointment, be sure to ask about our sliding scale fees. No one is turned away for lack of ability to pay.

Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS A collection of agencies providing a multiplicity of resources and services to the upstate New York community. Their offices are located through the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, which also provides medical literature and newspaper clippings, as well as demographic and statistical data for use in developing health care services. (585) 461-3520.

The MOCHA Center of Rochester Our mission is to improve health and wellness in communities of color. Youth drop-in center, HIV testing, peer education, support groups, computer lab, referral services and more. 189 N. Water St., lower level. (585) 420-1400.

Monroe County Health Department at 855 W. Main St., offers testing and counseling for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

(585) 753-5481. Hours: M-W 8:30-5:30; R: 8:30-11 am; F 7:30-2:30.

Strong Memorial Hospital provides a complete range of HIV medical care, including access to experimental treatment protocols, and HIV testing. Also provides individual and group psychotherapy. Training of health care professionals also available. Infectious Disease Clinic, (585) 275-0526. Department of Psychiatry, (585) 275-3379. AIDS Training Project, (585) 275-5693.

Planned Parenthood of Rochester and Genesee Valley Offers testing and information (585) 546 2595.

Rural HIV testing Anonymous and confidential, in Allegany, Livingston, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne or Yates Counties, call 1 800 962-5063.

Action Front Center (Action for a Better Community.) Provides HIV, STD, viral hepatitis prevention counseling, risk reduction counseling. Tailored programs available to incarcerated, ex-offender individuals. Services for people living with HIV; case management, peer support groups, United Colors support group for MSM of color, educational groups, peer educator training and leadership development, multi-

cultural, bilingual staff. 33 Chestnut St., 2nd floor, Rochester 14604. Office hours M-F 8:30 am-5 pm. 585-262-4330.

Anthony Jordan Health Center Jordan Health’s Prevention & Primary Care Department provides personalized care designed to address and treat the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C; and services focusing on the prevention of those diseases.

Bilingual staff serves both English and Spanishspeaking patients. HIV and hepatitis C virus (HVC) rapid testing as well as HIV and HCV education and counseling. Walk-in testing at all Jordan Health Sites. Prevention & Primary Care Department hours are Mon – Fri 830a – 500p.

HIV Clinic hours are Tuesday and Friday 830a – 400p. HCV Clinic hours are Wednesday and Friday 100p – 500p. The Prevention & Primary Care Department has two sites: Anthony L. Jordan Health Center 82 Holland Street, Rochester 14605 585.423.2879, fax 585.423.2876 and Woodward Health Center, 480 Genesee Street, Rochester 14611, fax 585.295.6009 Jordan Health’s Prevention and Primary Care Department is now providing PrEP services. For more information please call 585.436.PREP (7737). We are accepting new PrEP patients at the following sites: Anthony L. Jordan Health Center, Woodward Health Center and Jordan Health at Community Place, 145 Parsells Ave. 585.436.3040 x1764 - 585.454.7530 CDC National STD and AIDS Hotline 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) 24 hours a day. TTY service: 1-888-232-6348. E-mail address: cdcinfo@cdc.gov.

Fair Housing Enforcement Project of Monroe County 585-325-2500; 1-800-669-9777. Deals with housing discrimination on basis of race, orientation, HIV status, etc.

Public Interest Law Office of Rochester 1 W. Main St., Suites 200 & 300. Free legal services to HIV positive persons, families. Spanish bilingual advocates available. All civil cases except divorce; no criminal cases. Ask to speak to someone in PILOR. 454-4060.

Westside Health Services Brown Square Health Center, 175 Lyell Ave. (2546480); Woodward health Center, 480 Genesee St. (436-3040). HIV/AIDS services, support, more.

McCree McCuller Wellness Center at Unity Health’s Connection Clinic (585) 368-3506, 89 Genesee St., Bishop Kearney Bldg., 3rd floor. Full range of services, regardless of ability to pay. Caring, confidential and convenient.

Geneva Community Health 601 W. Washington St., Geneva. Provides HIV testing, HIV specialty and primary care for residents of Ontario and surrounding counties. M, W, R, F 8am-8pm. 315-781-8448.

LGBT HEALTH Huther Doyle Healthcare, chemical dependency treatment.

585-325-5100; www.hutherdoyle.com Trillium Health See www.trilliumhealthny.org, www.everybodysgood.com LGBT Healthy Living: Veterans Canandaigua VA, second and fourth Tuesdays, 10-11am, Building One, 2nd floor, room 245. Matt Cokely 585-393-7115.

HCR Home Care We provide a full multidisciplinary team consisting of nursing, social work, physical, occupational, and speech therapies as well as home health aides who have completed the eight-hour cultural competency program provided by the Gay Alliance. For more information, contact us at 585272-1930 or visit us online at HCRhealth.com.

Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley See www.gayalliance.org Resource Directory under “Health” for Gay Alliance referrals to physicians and service agencies.

CNY Youth Group Bi-Polar Support.

Second Monday of every month. 315-428-9366.

Q UNDER 40 Q<40 Special Events for LGBTQ people and friends over 20 and under 40. Info at GayAlliance.org

TRANSGENDER Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester (TAGR) Support/educational group for gender variant people and allies. Last Saturday, 3-5:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Adult Families of Trans Youth (AFTY) First Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Trans Lifeline Hotline for transgender people experiencing crisis. Staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs callers might have. The Trans Lifeline number is (877) 5658860. Additional info is available at www.translifeline.org.

Empire Justice Center Milo Primeaux, Esq., Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellow, Empire Justice Center, LGBT Rights Project, Telesca Center for Justice, 1 West Main Street, Suite 200, Rochester, NY 14614. (585) 295-5721 Fax (585) 454-2518, mprimeaux@ empirejustice.org, www.empirejustice.org.

Volunteer Legal Services Project (585) 232-3051; www.vlsprochester.org.1 West Main St. Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14614. Free legal services for low-income clients seeking a name change. Other legal services for lowincome clients include family law issues, bankruptcy, unemployment insurance hearings, wills and advance directive documents for clients with serious illnesses.

Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Support Group First Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 100 College Ave. Ages 13-18. 244-8640 Genesee Valley Gender Variants Thurs. 7-9pm, Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. GVGenderVariants@yahoogroups.com Guys’ Night Out Trans* group, 1pm second Saturdays at Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. Transmen and those identifying with trans-masculine experience (including questioning individuals) welcome. Conversations range from topics regarding family life, personal experiences with regard to medically/ socially transitioning and how life is going in general. Contact Adrian at abartholomeo@gmail.com.

WOMEN L.O.R.A Late Bloomers Group E-mail info@loragroup.org Website: www.loragroup.org; L.O.R.A (Lesbians of Rochester & Highland Hospital Breast Imaging Center 500 Red Creek Drive, Rochester 14623; 585487-3341. Specializing in breast health, diagnostic breast imaging and treatment and mammography outreach and education.

Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester 1048 University Ave., Rochester NY 14607 585-473-8177; www.bccr.org; info@bccr.org Programs and services for those diagnosed with breast or GYN cancer. Programs include support and networking groups, Healing Arts classes, book club, writing workshop, monthly evening seminars and a group for those living with metastatic breast cancer. Comprehensive lending library at our office. Community speakers available! All programs and services FREE. Center for Community Health (585) 224-3050. Comprehensive breast cancer screening services for uninsured and underinsured women.

Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic 170 Sawgrass Drive. 442-8432. Mammograms.

Self Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer (SHARE) Breast: 866-891-2392; Ovarian: 866-537-4273.

Willow Domestic Violence Center 232-7353; TTY 232-1741. Shelter (women only), counseling. Lesbians, gay men welcome.

Victim Resource Center of Wayne County Newark N.Y. Hotline 800-456-1172; office (315)331-1171; fax (315)331-1189.

Mary Magdalene House Women’s outreach center for HIV positive women and women at risk. 291 Lyell Ave. Open Mon-Fri. 6:30-9:30pm.

Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/ Syracuse Region 114 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14605; Toll-free Helpline: 1-866-600-6886. Planned Parenthood has led the way in providing high quality, affordable reproductive health care since 1916. All services are confidential. Accept most insurances; including Medicaid. You may qualify for low- to no-cost family planning services. When you make your appointment, ask about our sliding scale fees. No one turned away for lack of ability to pay.

Women’s Shelter YWCA, 175 N. Clinton Ave. 546-5820.

YOUTH Gay Alliance Youth Group Monthly Special Events 100 College Ave. 2448640; Ages 13-20. www.gayalliance.org. Check Facebook.com/GayAllianceYouth Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Social/Support Group First Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., Ages 13-18. 244-8640 Trevor Project The Trevor Project offers 24/7 Lifeline with trained counselors, 1-866-488-7386; Trevor Chat, instant messaging; TrevorSpace online where youth can talk to each other, and Trevor Text, now in development, with text trained counselors for support and crisis intervention.

CNY Youth Group Bi-Polar Support.

Second Monday of every month.

315-428-9366. ■

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Ongoing Calendar DAILY Free confidential walk-in HIV testing M/W 9am-5pm, T/Th 9am-7pm, F 9am-12:30pm Trillium Health 259 Monroe Ave. 585-545-7200 Gay Alliance Library & Archives 9am -5pm. Wed. 6-8pm 100 College Ave. Walk-in HIV testing At all Anthony Jordan health center sites including 82 Holland St. (See Resources)

MONDAYS Women’s Coffee Social Equal Grounds Coffee House 750 South Ave. Monday evenings. 7 pm. Contact: Regina Altizer: reginaaltizer@gmail.com Crystal Meth Anonymous Meeting Every Monday 12-1pm. Huther Doyle, 360 East Ave., Rochester. Starting Monday Oct. 5.

Rochester Historical Bowling Society 7pm. Empire Lanes Born That Way Formerly 3rd Presbyterian LGBT Support Group.

First, 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm, 34 Meigs St. Carol, 482-3832 or Kaara, 654-7516.

Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Mondays, 6pm, George Eastman House parking lot. www.rochesterfrontrunners.org.

Steps Beyond Stems Crack Support Group, Mondays, 7-8pm, 289 Monroe Ave.

TUESDAYS The Social Grind 10am-12noon and again 7:30-9pm at Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. Email: DHutch457@aol. com for information Adult Families of Trans Youth (AFTY) First Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30, Open Arms MCC Community Center, 707 E. Main St. LGBT Healthy Living Veterans support. 2nd, 4th Tuesdays, 10-11am Canandaigua VA, bldg. 9, room 8, Library conference room. 585 463-2731, 585 205-3360.

Testing Tuesdays at Trillium Health FREE HIV Testing for everyone, STI/STD testing FREE for women and MSM. Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave, 5-8 pm. 585-545-7200 Women’s Community Chorus Rehearsals each Tuesday, 6:30-9pm, Downtown United Pres. Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street. 2344441, www.therwcc.org Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Support Group 5:30-6:30pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Ages 13-20. 244-8640.

SAGE Rochester 50+ Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually 10:30am at venues including LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 244-8640. (See page 31) LORA Coffee Social Equal=Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave., Tuesdays 6:30 pm. The LORA Women’s Group is open to everyone, all races, sexualities, and genders. For more info visit www.loragroup.org

WEDNESDAYS Identity Group The Identity Group is for LGBT identified individuals who have a developmental disability diagnosis. The group meets Wednesdays 3-4 pm at ARC Health Services (2060 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Rd. 14623). The goal of the group is to provide a safe space to discuss identity issues, share personal experiences and increase selfesteem. The group is facilitated by Delaina Fico.

LMSW. For more information, please contact Delaina Fico at dfico@arcmonroe.org or 585271-0661 ext. 1552.

LORA Knitting Group 6:00pm, Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. L.O.R.A. Knitting group meets the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month from Equal Grounds Coffee House. Join Us! Bring your supplies and a sense of adventure! For more info visit www.loragroup.org or Contact Kerry Cater: dressyfemme@ aol.com or email us at info@loragroup.org Lifetime Care LGBT Bereavement Support Group For loss associated with any type of relationship.

Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month from 5:30-7pm at Center for Compassion and Healing (3111 Winton Rd S). No fee. Please call 475-8800 for more details.

Gay Alliance Board of Directors Meets Third Wednesdays, 6pm, 100 College Ave., 244-8640 New Freedom New Happiness AA Gay meeting, 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd. Men and women. Open.

COAP Come Out and Play Wednesday game nights. 7-10pm.

Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. coap.rochester@ gmail.com Rochester Rams General Meeting 2nd Wednesdays, 7:30pm, Bachelor Forum, 670 University Ave. www.rochesterrams.com Positive Warriors Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm. Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. Positive Divas Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm. Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. Frontrunners/Frontwalkers 6pm, Eastman House parking lot. www.rochesterfrontrunners.org.

Gay Alliance Library & Archives 100 College Ave. 6-8pm.

Empire Bears Every Wednesday. 6pm dinner at various venues. www.empirebears.com

THURSDAYS Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns 6:30pm, first Thursday. Ralph, 271-7649 Pride at Work & AFL CIO First Thursdays, 5:30pm. 1354 Buffalo Road, Rochester 14624, 426-0862.

GLOB&L (Gays & Lesbians of Bausch & Lomb) Meets every third Thursday in Area 67 conference room at the Optic Center. Voice mail: 338-8977 Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St. 6:30-9pm, 423-0650 NLIST Transgenger Support Group 5-6:15pm, Trillium Health. Must pre-register.

LORA Late Bloomers Group 4th/Last Thursday of the month. Coming out group for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women of all ages and backgrounds! Last Thursday of each month in a safe private location. For more info visit: www.loragroup.org or contact Jessica Cohen at LGBTHealth@trilliumhealth.org or email us at info@loragroup.org Out & Equal Second Thursdays Social/business networking, 5:30-7:30pm.

Changing venues. E-mail: fingerlakes@outandequal.org Genesee Valley Gender Variants 7-9pm, Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. GV GenderVariants@yahoogroups.com SAGE Rochester 50+ Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually 10:30am at venues including LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave, 244-8640. (See page 31)

FRIDAYS Gay Men’s AA meeting Fridays, 7:30-8:30pm, Closed meeting. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave.

Gay Alliance Youth Monthly Special Event, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., 244-8640; Ages 13-20. youth@gayalliance.org. Check Facebook.com/ GayAllianceYouth GLBTQI Motorcycle Group Second Fridays, 5:30pm, Various locations.

RochesterGLBTIQbikers@yahoo.com; 467-6456; bmdaniels@frontiernet.net.

Boyz Night Out Drag king revue. First Fridays, The Firehouse Saloon, 814 S. Clinton Ave. LORA GaYmes Night Meets 4th Friday of the Month, 7-10pm, Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. Rochester. Contact Person: Christine O’Reilly. Email: irishfemmerochester@yahoo.com. Phone: 585.943.1320. More Info: www.loragroup.org.

Events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ L.O.R.A.14464/ Monthly LBTQ Womyns Bingo Night Third Fridays, 7 pm, at Empire Bingo. Contact: Christine, IrishFemmeRochester@yahoo.com; 585-943-1320 text/talk.

SATURDAYS Rochester Rams Bar Night Third Saturdays, 8pm-2am, Bachelor Forum, 670 University Ave. 271-6930 Sapphic Singles – Professional Women’s Group http://www.meetup.com/Sapphic-Singles-Rochester/. Contact: Patty: Email: pattyrdn11@gmail. com. Phone: 585.223.6743. 3rd Saturday of each month. Monthly Dinner Socials for single professional women at various locations in and around Rochester NY area! Join us!

Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester Support/educational group for gender-variant people, allies. Last Saturdays, 3-5:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Frontrunners/Frontwalkers 9am, George Eastman House parking lot.www. rochesterfrontrunners.org.

Guys Night Out GNO, social group for transmen, now meets on the second Saturday of the month, @ 1pm @ Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. Saturday Night Special Gay AA 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd., S. Men and women. Open meeting.

Sophia’s Supper Club First, third Saturdays, 25 Bernie Lane, 6:30 pm.

Men’s Cooking Group Third, fourth Saturdays. 585-355-7664; mcgofrochester@aol.com.

SUNDAYS PFLAG (Parents Families & Friends of Lesbians And Gays) 585 993-3297; rochesterpflag@gmail.com.

Dignity-Integrity 1st Sunday: 5pm Episcopal Eucharist with music; 2nd Sunday: 5pm Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word with music; 3rd Sunday: 5pm Episcopal Eucharist (quiet); 4th Sunday: 5pm Prayers to start the week, followed by potluck supper.

Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church 707 E. Main St. Rochester, Services at: 10:30 am and 5:30 pm. 271-8478.

Gay Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous St. Luke’s/St. Simon Cyrene Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. 8pm, 232-6720, Weekly.

Closed meeting ■

Gay Alliance Library is Open Daily!

The Library & Archives of the Gay Alliance is now open at its new location at 100 College Avenue, 9am-5pm and on Wednesday evenings, 6-8pm.

Check out our ten thousand-volume library, along with the Bohnett Cyber Center. Please contact the Library with questions at library@gayalliance.org or at 585-244-8640.

GAY ALLIANCE LIBRARY & ARCHIVES

585 244-8640 • GayAlliance.org

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ROCHESTER AA/NA MEETINGS

Every week there are three regularly scheduled GLBTI AA and two inclusive NA meetings in Rochester.

TUESDAYS Narcotics Anonymous 6-7:30pm. AIDS and Recovery 1124 Culver Road (Covenant United Methodist Church) This is an NA meeting that is open to all addicts who have a desire to stop using. Although it is not specifically a gay-oriented meeting, it is welcoming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as to anyone who is affected by HIV and AIDS.

FRIDAYS LGBT 7:30pm. Immanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. • Open meeting • Handicapped accessible This is a round-robin discussion meeting. If you are shy about meeting people or speaking up in a group, you will find this meeting particularly warm and inviting because everyone gets their turn to speak (or pass). As a result, this meeting often runs long, so plan on more than the usual hour.

SATURDAYS Saturday Night Special 7pm. First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd. Bus riders: The #18 University Ave. bus does not go by the church on weekend evenings. Take the #1 Park Ave. bus to the corner of East and Winton, then walk five minutes south (uphill) on Winton.

• Open meeting, all are welcome, “straight friendly” • Mixed men and women • Handicapped accessible, take elevator to basement Meeting begins with a speaker, followed by open discussion.

SUNDAYS Step in the Right Direction 7:30-9pm. 1275 Spencerport Road (Trinity Alliance Church) This is an NA meeting that is open to all addicts who have a desire to stop using.

Although it is not specifically a gay-oriented meeting, it is welcoming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Each week features a reading from NA literature, followed by discussion.

Rochester Gay Men 8pm. St. Luke/St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh Street. Bus riders use the Fitzhugh Street stop on Main Street at the County Office Building and walk south one block.

• Closed meeting, restricted to alcoholics and addicts • Men’s meeting • NOT handicapped accessible Meeting begins with a speaker, followed by open discussion. ■

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016

April 2016 FRIDAY 1

First Friday opening of Steven Randell photography show, LGBTQ Resource Center’s Gallery Q, 100 College Ave. 6-9 pm.

Gilda’s Club Comedy Show starts at 8 pm. Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. SAGE Coffee Hour at 7 pm precedes show.

The Ordinary and The Divine.

Opening reception for 40 new paintings by Kathy Calderwood. Rochester Contemporary Art Center, 137 East Ave. 6-9 pm.

SATURDAY 2

Butch Femme Connection dinner event. Peppermints Restaurant on West Henrietta Road/Rte. 15 at 7 pm. Kerry at DressyFemme@aol.com.

SUNDAY 3

Dignity Integrity. Episcopal Mass/ Healing Service, with music. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

MONDAY 4

Health Quest continues each Monday night, 5:30-7:30 pm, with yoga, healthy food, health information, at LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. No charge but you must register: sage@gayalliance.org or (585) 244-8640 x23

WEDNESDAY 6

Inqueery class at Gay Alliance’s LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Computer Safety and Privacy with David Frier. 6:30-8 pm. 244-8460.

Kristin Beck, trans activist, speaks at The College At Brockport, 7:30 pm in the Seymour College Union Ballroom.

THURSDAY 7

GSA Advisors Consortium Summit.

Offering support, resources and training to teachers and administrators who advise LGBTQ student groups in area

schools. LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. For time, information, call 244-8460.

Out at Geva. Reception for LGBTQ community, 6 pm before performance of “A Moon for the Misbegotten”. Mention Out at Geva when you buy your tickets and get your name on the list for the free reception.

FRIDAY 8

Opening night of “More Than a Rib,” presented by Black Sheep Theatre, 7:30 pm at 274 Goodman St. Village Gate Square. Through April 16.

SATURDAY 9

Open Arms MCC at Red Wings Opening Day, working hot dog stand.

Fundraiser continues throughout the season.

Empire Bears host potluck at LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., 6:30 pm.

SUNDAY 10

Dignity Integrity. Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word, with music. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

TUESDAY 12

Inqueery class at LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Introduction to Kusudama with Kennan Breakstrandt, 6:30-8 pm. 244-8640.

WEDNESDAY 13

Reception for Leigh Anne Francis, 6:30-8 pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Light refreshments, program.

244-8640.

THURSDAY 14

Social Welfare Action Alliance Summit. “Connect, Move, Act”. 6-8 pm, College At Brockport Metro Center Grand Hallway, 55 St. Paul St. Speakers include Leigh Anne Francis. Summit runs threough Friday April 15. Information at 585-

969-4309; info@swaarochester.org Out & Equal Second Thursday Networking. West Edge Restaurant, 284 Exchange Blvd. 5:30-7:30pm

throughout the evening. Tickets for show and dinner are $55 each or $100 for two, available online at http://rgmc.ticketleap. com/more-than-us-3 or by phone at (585) 423-0650.

FRIDAY 15

SUNDAY 24

Empty Closet deadline for May issue.

244-9030; susanj@gayalliance.org.

Connect/Move/Act. Workshops on social issues. 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Downtown United Presbyterian Church. Info: 969-4309; info@swaarochester.org SAGE potluck and Bingo Bash. All are welcome. $3 donation, bring a dish to share. 5-8 pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Butch Femme Connection dinner event. Agave Express Mexican Grill on Rte. 96 in Bushnell’s Basin at 7 pm. Kerry at DressyFemme@aol.com

Dignity Integrity. Prayers to start the Week, followed by a Potluck Supper (Ethnic Entrees). 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. MEUSA 20th Anniversary Celebration. Marking the work of Marriage Equality USA in gaining legal marriage rights for LGBTQ people, plus Big Gay Prom fundraiser upstairs with cabaret

by Samantha Vega, DeeLicious, Todd Ranous. 2-5 pm, 140 Alex Bar & Grilll, 140 Alexander St. Ages 21 and over.

RSVP to 244-8640 or register online at www.marriageequality.org/20year

Dignity Integrity. Episcopal Mass, quiet. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

Inqueery class. Workshop on Kusudama and Ikebana with Kennan Breakstrandt. 6:30-8pm. 244-8640.

Inqueery class at LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Introduction to Ikebana with Kennan Breakstrandt. 6:308 pm. 244-8640.

Inqueery class at LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Purpose mapping with Tom Rodwell. 6:30-9:30pm.

244-8640.

RGMC benefit “More Than Us 3”.

ButaPub in the Historic German House, 315 Gregory St. Cash bar opens at 5 pm with buffet dinner at 6 pm and show at 7:30. Raffle prizes and silent auctions

Beltain, Walpurgisnacht. Ancient Fire Festival of Spring and Sexuality.

Sacred tree: willow. Sacred beast: hare.

Feast of Artemis. ■

SATURDAY 16

SUNDAY 17

TUESDAY 26

TUESDAY 19

WEDNESDAY 27

SATURDAY 23

SATURDAY 30

Joe Russo, Psy.D., CGP

nge a h to C t e k Roc

Licensed Psychologist Certified Group Psychotherapist 25 Canterbury Road, Suite 313 Rochester, New York 14607 Phone: (585) 506-6096 E-mail: joerussopsyd@gmail.com

Addiction ▼ Anxiety ▼

Depression ▼ Grief/Loss ▼

Trauma ▼ Relationships ▼

▼ Weekly

Bi/Gay Men’s Therapy Group

Classified Ads Classified ads are $5 for the first 30 words; each additional 10 words is another $1. We do not bill for classifieds, so please send or bring ad and payment to: The Empty Closet, 100 College Ave., Rochester, New York 14607.

Paying by check: checks must be made out to Gay Alliance. The deadline is the 15th of the month, for the following month’s issue. We cannot accept ads over the phone. Pay when you place your ad. We will accept only ads accompanied by name and phone number. Neither will be published, but we must be able to confirm placement.

The Empty Closet is not responsible for financial loss or physical injury that may result from any contact with an advertiser. Advertisers must use their own box number, voice mail, e-mail or phone number. No personal home addresses or names allowed. Classified ads are not published on The Empty Closet page of our website. However, each issue of the paper is reproduced online in its entirety.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Children’s Ministry thriving at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church for toddlers to ‘tweens. Join us for vibrant, inclusive, progressive worship on Sundays at 10:30 am, 707 E. Main St. info@openarmsmcc.org; (585) 271-8478.

HELP WANTED

Sell ads for The Empty Closet.

Must be energetic and reliable. 30 percent commission. 244-9030.

SERVICES

Rochester’s Best Man to Man Rubdown. Unwind with this degreed, employed, fit, friendly, healthy, Italian GWM. Middle aged, 5’8”, 165 lbs., 32” waist, nonsmoker, d & d free, HIV negative. My 10-plus years experience guarantees your relaxation and satisfaction.

Hotel visit, in call in my home or out call

in your residence. Reasonable rates. Discretion appreciated and practiced. Don’t delay, call me today at 585-773-2410 (cell) or 585-235-6688 (home).

Handyman: Simple repairs or full renovations, no job is too large or small.

Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Interior & Exterior. 35 years experience. Call Alan & Bill 585-204-0632 or cell 304517-6832.

Martin Ippolito master electrician.

Electrical work, telephone jacks, cable TV, burglar alarm systems, paddle fans.

585-266-6337.

TL’s Home Repair Service. Electric, plumbing, home remodeling. Cell: 585224-6279; office: 585-473-7205.

Wedding Space and clergy services available. Celebrate your special day at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church, 707 E. Main St. info@ openarmsmcc.org (585) 271-8478. ■

Martha M. Howden, LCSW, CASAC Anxiety • Depression Alcohol • Stress • Grief Relationship • Family Plan Rectification Work Holotropic Breathwork • Specializing in work with individuals and families in the Coming Out process Martha M. Howden, lcsw, casac 945 E. Henrietta Road, Suite A6 Rochester, New York 14623 Phone: 585 272-1760 Fax: 585 272-8986 Most Insurances Accepted

APRIL 2016– • NUMBER 499 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

The Empty Closet is published by the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley 100 College Avenue Rochester, New York 14607 © 2016, All rights reserved.

Editor-in-Chief: Susan Jordan Graphic Design: Jim Anderson Ad Sales: Jennie Bowker (jennieb@gayalliance.org) Advertising policy: The Empty Closet does not print advertisements that contain nude drawings or photographs, nor does it print advertising that states that the person pictured in the ad is for sale, or that you will “get” that particular person if you patronize the establishment advertised. Advertisements that are explicitly racist, sexist, ageist, ableist or homophobic will be refused; advertisements from organizations that are sexist, racist, ageist, ableist or anti-gay will also be refused.

All political advertisements must contain information about who placed them and a method of contact. Additionally, The Empty Closet does not print negative or “attack” advertisements, whether they relate to a product or politics and no matter in whose interest the ad is being produced. A negative advertisement is defined as one that focuses upon a rival product, or in the political area, a rival election candidate or party, in order to point out supposed flaws and to persuade the public not to buy it (or vote for him or her). The Empty Closet maintains, within legal boundaries, neutrality regarding products, political candidates and parties. However, “attack” ads that fail to provide undisputable evidence that the information in the ad is true do not further in any way the objectives and policies of the Gay Alliance or The Empty Closet, including the primary tenet that The Empty Closet’s purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community and to provide an impartial forum for ideas.

Submissions: For publication, submit news items, ads, photos, letters, stories, poetry, ads, photographs or art by mail or in person to The Empty Closet office by the 15th of the month. Design services for non-camera ready ads are available for a fee.

244-9030, susanj@gayalliance.org Publication Information: The Empty Closet is published 11 times a year (December and January combined) by The Empty Closet Press for the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc. Approximately 5000 copies of each issue are distributed during the first week of the month, some by mail in a plain sealed envelope. The publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles is not an indication of the sexual or affectional orientation of that person or the members of that organization. For further information, please write to The Empty Closet, 100 College Avenue, Rochester NY. 14605, call (585) 244-9030 or e-mail emptycloset@gagv.us.

The Empty Closet is the official publication of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc., as stated in the bylaws of that organization. Its purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community about local and national gay-related news and events; to provide a forum for ideas and creative work from the local gay community; to help promote leadership within the community, and to be a part of a national network of lesbian and gay publications that exchange ideas and seek to educate.

Part of our purpose is to maintain a middle position with respect to the entire community. We must be careful to present all viewpoints in a way that takes into consideration the views of all – women, men, people of color, young and old, and those from various walks of life.

The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. The Empty Closet shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the publication (whether correctly or incorrectly) or omission of an ad.

In the event of non-payment, your account may be assigned to a collection agency or an attorney, and will be liable for the charges paid by us to such collection agency or attorney.

Letters to the editor: The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. We will print letters at the editor’s discretion and on a space available basis. Only one letter by the same writer in a six-month period is allowed. We will not print personal attacks on individuals, nor will we be a forum for ongoing disputes between individuals. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. We will print anonymous letters if the name and phone number are provided to the Editor; confidentiality will be respected. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month at: The Empty Closet, 100 College Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607; e-mail: susanj@gayalliance.org. The online edition of EC is available at www. gayalliance.org.

Bed & Breakfast

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 499 • APRIL 2016