Empty Closet, May 2015

LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS, INTERVIEWS, OPINION, ENTERTAINMENT, COLUMNISTS, EVENT CALENDARS, COMICS, & HEALTH RESOURCES FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT EMPTY CLOSET NEWS • FOLLOW US AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/EMPTYCLOSETNEWS

NUMBER 489

PHOTO: CIANA ROBERTSON

The Empty Closet Penfield GSA… page 7

A PUBLICATION OF THE GAY ALLIANCE

MAY 2015

Prepare for blast-off: Gay Alliance’s Prom-I-Con is May 9

By Susan Jordan Fire up the phaser banks!

Arm the photon torpedos!

“Prom-I-Con” will take place May 9 at the Diplomat Banquet House, 1956 Lyell Ave. The Gay Alliance’s 10th prom will mark a decade of Big Gay Proms for Youth Group members and all area LGBTQA youth.

Fans of comics and Star Trek, Star Wars and sci-fi/fantasy go to annual conventions (“Cons”) to meet celebrities and each other. Now Rochester-area LGBTQA youth have a Con of their own, in the form of a

Members of the Monroe County Federation of Social Workers accept the True Colors Award from the local chapter of Pride At Work. Photos: Ove Overmyer

Tom Privitere.

Pride At Work honors Federation of Social Workers, Tom Privitere with True Colors Award

Prom that welcomes gay teenagers and their friends and provides a safe space for youth to be themselves, without the fear of bullying or harassment. The Prom also fits neatly with next summer’s Pride theme, “May the Pride Be With You.” Super-heroes and super-villains of all genders, orientations and intergalactic species, will be dancing to music provided by DJ Chuck Argento. The Prom runs from 7-11 p.m. and advance tickets are $20, available at Equal=Grounds and online at www.gayalliance.org.

Make it so! ■

By Ove Overmyer On March 24, the Rochester & Finger Lakes Chapter of Pride At Work held an awards celebration at the Diplomat Banquet House in honor of activists committed to improving the lives of working people.

The Monroe County, NY Federation of Social Workers (FSW IUE-CWA 81381) was recognized for their critical assistance in establishing the local chapter of Pride At Work in 2007 and assisting with the advancement of rights for LGBTQ workers and their families. Accepting the True Colors Award were former FSW union Presidents John Vasko and Evelyn Evans.

Local activist Thomas M. Privitere was also honored for 52 years of labor leadership and civil rights activism. Tom has retired from the Public Employees Federation after 38 years

as an organizer and contract representative. In 1993, he was an instrumental member of the labor delegation that conceived of the existence of Pride At Work, now an AFL-CIO constituency group and a nationally respected LGBTQ and labor rights voice. He attended the 1993 March on Washington and is also a founding member of the local chapter. He has served as Vice President for the past eight years.

Bess Watts, president of the local chapter, told The Empty Closet, “It is so gratifying to know that hard work pays off.

We see change every day. We also need to remember our history — and contributions need to be recognized. Our friends at FSW and our very own member Tom Privitere are true leaders in every sense of the word. We would not be where we are today without their strong contributions. They have made our workplaces more righteous and dignified and we wholeheartedly thank them for their efforts.”

At the event, NYS Assembly member Harry Bronson’s office also honored the awardees with proclamations from the NYS Assembly. ■

(See back cover)

Mayor Warren issues travel ban in response to discriminatory religious freedom laws

Mayor Warren at the March 12 GENDA press conference.

Photo: Susan Jordan

By Susan Jordan Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren on March 31 issued an order banning city-funded travel for city employees to states that have enacted religious freedom laws that do not specifically prohibit discrimination against citizens (under such categories as sexual orientation, race, or gender).

This was in response to the discriminatory bill recent-

ly passed and signed into law in Indiana, which would enable businesses to refuse LGBT customers, based on the business owner’s homophobic religious beliefs (see p. 4). Many other Republican-controlled states have passed or are considering similar ordinances.

The City of Rochester has historically been a pioneer in promoting equality based on race, gender and sexual orientation.

“Rochester, New York has long been the ‘Hometown of Equality’ in America,” said Mayor Warren. “As the home of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, Rochester has been a stalwart for freedom and a beacon of progress for those seeking justice and equality. I cannot support the use of our residents’ tax dollars to fund travel to states who adopt policies that fly directly in the face of what our community has always stood for.”

The mayoral order instructed all departments, boards, commissions and any individual acting in an official capacity

representing the City of Rochester not to expend any city dollars or to sponsor any travel to states that create the grounds for such discrimination. Any publicly-funded travel to these states is banned unless necessary for law enforcement purposes, to meet existing contractual obligations or with express written permission from the Mayor.

Mayor Warren informed Rochester City Council of this action. President Loretta Scott supported the Mayor’s order and has enacted a similar ban for council staff.

The order took effect immediately. It is not specific to Indiana, and refers to any state where “religious freedom” discrimination against LGBTQ people has been legalized.

Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a similar travel ban for NYS employees, but quickly rescinded it when Indiana GOP legislators made some weak changes to what many national LGBT organizations believe is still a discriminatory bill (see page 4 for the full story). ■

Pride Agenda names community champions: dinner is May 16 The Empire State Pride Agenda, New York’s statewide LGBT civil rights organization, has named 25 Community Champions who have made significant contributions in the struggle for LGBT rights across Western New York.

The Champions represent a diverse cross-section of Western New York’s LGBT and allied

communities, and have worked to further equality across workplaces, education, arts and entertainment, politics, communities of faith, and more. Community Champions will be honored at the Pride Agenda’s 25th anniversary celebration Spring Dinner on Saturday, May 16 at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester (Pride continues page 3)

Inside

Editorials....................................... 2 Interview: Steven Tracy................ 7 Making the Scene......................10 Health: Mammograms.................16 LGBTQ Living: Trans style...........17 Shoulders To Stand On ...........21 Columnists ................................22 Community ................................25 Entertainment: Kinky Boots.....27 Gay Alliance: Ride for Pride......30 Calendar.....................................34 Classifieds..................................34 Comics................................ 34, 35

Kinky Boots… page 27

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 489 • MAY 2015

Perspectives The Empty Closet Editor SUSAN JORDAN

Youth are leaders of today The Big Gay Prom is coming up this month. “Prom-I-Con” will be the 10th prom hosted by the Gay Alliance.

It’s hard to believe that the Alliance started the prom only a decade ago. The Youth Program began around 1999, but volunteers had met regularly with youth for some years before that to offer support. Then in 2005 came the first Big Gay Prom. It usually attracts over 200 youth.

The prom is not only fun for the youth, it is their only chance to have that dream dance where they will be free to be themselves, meet new friends and socialize with other youth who have had many of the same experiences.

And some of those experiences have been terrible. LGBT youth are still harassed, beaten and even killed. So far in 2015, at least five trans youth have committed suicide, driven to take their own lives by years of bullying.

That’s the message our society has always given LGBTQ youth: be “normal” like us, or die/kill yourself. And that is the message sent by conservative extremists today, and by heterosexual youth who have been encouraged to hate and bully others.

When a gay British aristocrat was caught and then fled to the continent back in the early 20th century, King George V’s

comment was, “I thought chaps like that killed themselves.”

That’s what gay, lesbian, bi and trans people are supposed to do, according to “Traditional Values”.

And that’s why we need youth groups, GSAs and all LGBTQ organizations. That’s why we need the Day of Silence and Pride, and bans on torture “therapy” for youth. (See pages 14 and 22) We must reject the bigotry and vicious hate masquerading as Christianity (or any other religion) and reject the message “You are bad and wrong and should die.” Saying that to anyone is cruel and irresponsible – telling children to hate and kill themselves is about as immoral as you can get. But that’s what conservative extremists are doing, despite their hypocritical denials.

It’s time to end this. It’s time to say once and for all that hatebased rhetoric and discrimination (like Indiana’s “religious freedom” law) are profoundly immoral and incite bashing, murder and self-destruction.

In upstate NY we saw the result of conservative hate speech this spring when a corrections officer resigned after posting that he hoped citizen execution of gays, as pushed by that California ballot amendment, would become legal -and the first “faggots” he’d kill would be his gay neighbors.

When youth see Pride marches and other evidence that gay people can live happy, fulfilled lives, they become stronger and realize that they have support, that they are not “bad” or “wrong” and that their lives are precious. In turn, today’s youth are becoming role models for younger LGBTQ kids and examples of heroic strength for those who would abuse them and try to destroy their selfrespect and even their lives.

Our youth also inspire older LGBTQ people with their courage and leadership. Youth are leaders of today as well as tomorrow! ■

Gay Alliance Board of Trustees David Zona, President, Jessica Muratore, Vice-President, W. Bruce Gorman, Secretary, Jason Barnecut, Paul Birkby, Kim Braithwaite, Emily Jones, Jeff Lambert, Colleen Raimond, William Schaefer

Gay Alliance Executive Director SCOTT FEARING

The shame of Indiana In late March, the State of Indiana found itself in the glare of a big queer spotlight.

The attention caused Governor Pence to perform a couple of awkward dance numbers. Eventually he called offstage and begged the state’s legislators to change the music. With new music he was able to make a somewhat graceful exit from the stage.

New York Governor Cuomo and Rochester Mayor Warren helped to shine that spotlight.

Both quickly called for travel bans on the State of Indiana.

“Today, I direct all agencies, departments, boards and commissions to immediately review all requests for state funded or state sponsored travel to the State of Indiana and to bar any such publicly funded travel that is not essential.… The ban on publicly funded travel shall take effect immediately,” Cuomo said in his statement.

Warren’s comments were steeped in local pride. “As the home of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas, Rochester has been a stalwart for freedom and a beacon of progress for those seeking justice and equality. I cannot support the use of our residents’ tax dollars to fund travel to states who adopt policies that fly directly in the face of what our community has always stood for.”

I applaud each of them for

Name

taking such bold action. But neither addresses the discrimination that still occurs in New York.

The reason given by these leaders for travel bans was that they felt NY taxpayer funds should not support a place that allows LGBTQ discrimination. That’s great! However maybe they need to look a little closer to home.

In late February Mayor Warren held a press conference where she reminded everyone that unlike most of New York, Rochester has legal protections for members of the Trans* communities. She called upon the rest of NY State to follow our lead. (In 2003 NY banned discrimination based on sexual orientation. Sadly, people working in Albany allowed SONDA, Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, to pass, leaving our Trans* and gender variant community members open game for open discrimination.)

The NY Assembly has passed the Gender Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) eight times. The NY State Senate is the roadblock. The Gay Alliance has long called for the passage of GENDA. We feel that New York is shamefully behind the times and we hope that our political leaders will at last do the right thing and outlaw discrimination against Trans*people.

If our leaders boycott Indiana because discrimination against LGBTQ people is bad, what about the discrimination that remains legal in NY State?

Shouldn’t Mayor Warren call for a ban on spending Rochester tax-dollars in most of NY, since Trans*-discrimination is legal in most of the State? Shouldn’t Governor Cuomo limit state funds going to the majority of municipalities in NY since most allow discrimination against Trans*people?

What is wrong in Indiana is wrong in New York. ■

05/15

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.

Benefits: Subscription to The Empty Closet mailed to home or work, plus privileges at each level. Phone: 585 244-8640 or mail to: Gay Alliance, 875 E. Main St., Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14605.

Home delivery of The Empty Closet is free with your annual membership.

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 Harder, Secrest, & Emry 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

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

PAGE ONE (Pride from page 1) Riverside Convention Center.

Community Champions were selected by a committee following a nominations period that was open to the public.

“We’re so excited to celebrate these 25 outstanding members of Western New York’s LGBT and allied community in this very special silver anniversary year,” said Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Nathan M. Schaefer. “We look forward to honoring these extraordinary individuals and generally having a great time on May 16, as the Spring Dinner always proves.”

“These Champions have followed their hearts knowing their work was the ‘right thing to do’ with disregard for their own personal consequences,” said Community Champions Committee Co-Chair Emily Jones. “The courage, tenacity and unshakable focus have created a community where LGBTQ people may thrive.”

The Spring Dinner is the largest LGBT event in Western New York. The evening draws hundreds of LGBT supporters and allies. Since the inception of the Spring Dinner, the Pride Agenda has publicly recognized a member of the Western New York community for their commitment and work towards the mission of furthering equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers with a Community Service Award. This is the first year 25 Community Champions will be honored in conjunction with the organization’s 25th anniversary.

The 2015 Spring Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 16 from 5:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester. The evening will be hosted by Netflix’s Orange is the New Black star Lea DeLaria with the keynote address delivered by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Additional information, including sponsorships and tickets, is available at prideagenda.org/ SpringDinner. ■ The 25 Community Champions are: John Altieri Bryan Ball Shirley Bowen Jessica Cohen Larry Champoux John Cullen, PhD John Curtis Former Mayor Robert Duffy Former Mayor William Johnson Former Mayor Thomas Richards Sandra Frankel, Former Brighton Supervisor Jeanne Gainsburg Michael Gamilla Maureen Kelly Catherine Lewis Mallory Livingston Laine Lundquist Laurie Mancuso Wanda Martinez Ove Overmyer Samuel Antonio Brett Sanchez BJ Scanlon Bill Schaefer Dr. William Valenti Jo Meleca-Voigt Thomas Warfield Dontaee Williamson

NewsFronts LOCAL AND STATE

NY Scout Council hires gay youth, defies BSA rules 18-year-old Pascal Tessier became one of the first openly gay youth to receive the rank of Eagle Scout back in February and has now been hired by the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America to serve as a leader at its scout camps this summer, Buzzfeed reports: When asked on April 1 if there was any change to the national policy regarding out gay adult leaders, Boy Scouts of America spokesman Deron Smith responded, “[T]here isn’t.” Smith did not immediately respond on April 2 to a request for comment regarding Tessier’s hire specifically.

The Greater New York Councils, however, is ready for Tessier to get to work.

“We’ve accepted him, he was put through the normal process,” Richard Mason, a board member of the Greater New York Councils and spokesman for the councils, told BuzzFeed News. “They have not, to my knowledge, rejected him, so, as far as we are concerned, this young man is coming to work, is ready to do so this summer.”

Prop 8 lawyer David Boies has already stepped up to represent Tessier should the BSA reject Tessier’s hire. Boies says he’s “hopeful” Tessier’s hire “signals the end of the last vestige of the Scouts’ discrimination.”

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/#ixzz3WBNwjhiN

Center for Youth offers parents support group The Center for Youth offers a parents support group on a drop-in basis. The group will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-7 p.m.

There is no charge to attend the group. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend the group without any prior contact with Safe Harbour. This is not a treatment group or a parenting class. It is a support and psych education group offered to people who are parenting young people who may be or are victims of human trafficking.

3 from his job as full-time state corrections officer at Attica Correctional Facility. His Facebook profile has since been deleted.

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/#ixzz3WAEyELzi

NYS increases funding for homeless youth shelters

The group will be facilitated by Safe Harbour Advocates.

For location and other questions contact Jessica Knapp, Safe Harbour, (585) 473-2464, JKnapp@ centerforyouth.net; www.centerforyouth.net.

Cheektowaga corrections officer resigns after threat to kill gay neighbors A WNY part-time prisoner cell block attendant who was arrested following a Facebook exchange with family and friends that included threats to shoot gay people has since resigned from his job, reports the Buffalo News.

Richard “Rick” Pilarski Jr. resigned from the Cheektowaga Police Department on March 28 after he acknowledged the Facebook exchange which was spurred by a news account about California’s proposed “Sodomite Suppression Act” ballot which calls for a bullet in the head for gay men and women who are sexually active.

One of the offending comments read: “Wouldn’t this be the greatest thing in the world??? The guys around the corner would be the first 2 faggots in my sights.

What you do in your house is one thing but when you fly flags of equal rights and the rainbow flag in a small quiet neighborhood is another.”

Pilarski replied to a relative for sticking up for gay people: “... shut up you sound like a retard u wana love gays u love them I hate them. I’m not raising my kids to love them if you wana raise your to then go ahead.”

Assistant Police Chief James J. Speyer confirmed: “We brought him in today and he decided to resign from the position. He was remorseful and apologetic. It is one of those situations where he never intended it to be something that would come out.... It should never have happened. We don’t condone it. The Cheektowaga Police Department stands for integrity, honor and respect.”

33-year-old Pilarski was also placed on administrative leave

The New York State Legislature’s passage of the 2015 State Budget nearly doubles the amount of funding for Runaway and Homeless Youth (“RHY”) to $4.48 million The increase in funding is welcome news to the thousands of young people – 40 percent of whom identify as LGBT – who are forced to sleep on the streets each night and will help to create up to 1,000 new dedicated youth shelter beds across the state.

The increase in funding for homeless youth shelters is the result of a successful campaign launched by a coalition of partners, including the Pride Agenda, the Coalition for Homeless Youth, the Ali Forney Center, and Covenant House, under the leadership of New York State Senator Brad Hoylman, Senator Tony Avella and Assembly Members Linda Rosenthal and Andrew Hevesi. Even singer Miley Cyrus weighed in by sending a letter to New York State leaders. Since 2008, state funding for homeless youth shelters and services has been cut by $4 million. At the same time, the number of instances of kids being turned away from youth shelters each year due to a lack of beds has increased from 570 to more than 5,000, according to state data. While more is still needed to address this growing crisis, this year’s increase will provide much needed relief to hundreds of New York’s most vulnerable kids.

In addition, the New York State Legislature maintained funding for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Health Initiative through the AIDS Institute at the NYS Department of Health at $4.97 million. One major project of the LGBT Health Initiative is the New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network (The Network).

The Network is a coalition of 53 LGBT-specific and LGBTsupportive nonprofit organizations that provide programming and services to nearly 1.5 million LGBT New Yorkers and families. Founded in 1994 and administered by the Pride Agenda Foundation, the Network consists of organizations like AIDS Care in Rochester, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in Manhattan and Long Island’s Pride for Youth, providing services that address the continuum of needs facing our communities. Though more funding is still needed, the funding allocated by the state helps sustain the critical services provided by Network organizations in all 62 counties across New York State.

“We’re grateful to Senator Hoylman, Senator Tony Avella, Assembly Member Rosenthal and Assembly Member Hevesi for leading the efforts in the legislature to make our kids a priority in this year’s budget. We also commend Governor Cuomo,

Speaker Heastie, and Senate Leaders Skelos and Klein for defending the funding increase during budget negotiations,” said Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Nathan M. Schaefer. “This is the first appreciable increase in funding for runaway and homeless youth since 2008 and represents years of advocacy. As a result, fewer kids will be forced to fend for themselves on New York’s streets or to resort to survival sex just to find a warm place to sleep at night.”

Seminar to explore “Being Transgender Today” on May 3 Third Presbyterian Church will host “Being Transgender Today: a report of Rochesterbased interviews and study” with Ben Eshleman, named an R.I.T. Wolf Scholar for research into Rochester’s transgender history.

The Church (4 Meigs St. at East Ave.) will hold this Sunday Seminar at 9:30 a.m. on May 3, “to deepen understanding of our brothers and sisters who are transgender”.

Discrimination against transgender persons in employment, housing, medical care, and education is not only prevalent in New York state, it is also legal. The Seminar will explore social, legal, and health concerns for transgender persons and why this matters to people of faith.

The Sunday Seminar will be followed by a “Lunch and Learn” Panel Discussion at 12:15 p.m. with Ben Eshleman and community partners Emily Heninger and Julia Acosta from the Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester, Cara Wood from Trillium Health, and the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley.

Third Presbyterian says, “All are welcome to the Seminar, welcome to stay for our 10:45 a.m. service of worship, and welcome to the lunch afterward. If you plan to attend the lunch, please contact the church office at 585271-6513, the cost of lunch is $5.”

Here is the event link on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/events/15597787643 04957/

East Coast Two Spirit Society educates, supports and serves The East Coast Two Spirit Society is a new not-for-profit organization, serving the Two Spirit Native American and First Nations communities of the North Eastern Region of Turtle Island (North America).

The mission of the organization, as posted on its web page ec2ss.net reads, “The East Coast Two Spirit Society (EC2SS) is devoted to Two Spirit Native American and First Nations communities and the reduction of bias and discrimination due to lack of information. The EC2SS provides information to the general public and support and services to Two Spirit Natives, formerly known as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or gender non-conforming.

“EC2SS works to increase the positive visibility of Two Spirit communities and to pro(Two Spirit continues page 6)

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

NewsFronts NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL

Indiana governor signs “religious freedom” bill; huge national backlash brings weak “improvement” In a private ceremony open only to his rightwing supporters and anti-gay clergy, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana on March 25 signed the “religious freedom to discriminate” bill allowing businesses to discriminate against gays depending on the owners’ religious beliefs.

A massive gaming convention and the convention of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) immediately canceled their Indiana events in protest. AFSCME Women’s Conference also moved their conference from Indiana (on March 30).

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy quickly banned state-funded travel to Indiana, followed by Vermont and the mayors of San Francisco, Denver, Oakland, Portland (Oregon), Washington D.C. and Seattle.

On March 31 Mayor Lovely Warren issued a travel ban for Rochester city employees. The five gay lawmakers in the NYS legislature wrote to Cuomo on March 31 urging him to issue a state employee travel ban. The lawmakers -Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Daniel O’Donnell, Harry Bronson and Matthew Titone -joined the growing chorus of criticism over the law, saying Cuomo needed to sign an executive order to bar state-funded travel to Indiana.

Governor Cuomo issued a ban for New York State, but quickly reversed that when Indiana, reacting to the national backlash, made meaningless “improve-

ments” to the still-discriminatory bill (see below).

NASCAR, Gap, Subaru and Levi’s announced their opposition on March 31.

Thousands of Hoosiers took to the streets in Indianapolis, the state capital, to protest on March 28. And the backlash kept growing, leading to a weak reversal on the part of the Indiana legislature (see below).

Indiana could lose $250 million The Center for American Progress stated on April 1 that the national backlash could cost the state as much as $250 million in economic activity and counting, according to their analysis. Experts from CAP analyzed publicly available estimates of the economic impact of lost or at-risk business activity or events that have already either publicly announced their intention to pull business from the state or stated they are considering moving events “In just the past few days, Indiana’s license to discriminate against LGBT Americans has already put one-quarter of a billion dollars at risk for the state’s economy,” said Laura E. Durso, Director of CAP’s LGBT Research and Communications Project. “And that number will only climb as long as state officials insist on disingenuously using religious freedom as a ruse to discriminate against LGBT Americans. A broad coalition of businesses, faith communities, and organizations have taken a stand against this law. It is time for officials in Indiana and

the roughly 30 other states where LGBT discrimination is legal to take notice. You cannot be pro-business and pro-discrimination at the same time.”

Gay activist and Star Trek veteran George Takei wrote on his Facebook page, “…This bill is strikingly similar to one proposed — and vetoed due to public outcry — in Arizona. Such laws harken back to a time where our society was divided, and people of color were banned from white establishments. That is not our nation any longer, and those are not our values.

“To the governor and to the legislators in Indiana who support this backward-looking and divisive bill, I say to you this: If it goes into effect, Indiana will be marked as a state where certain people are not welcome, and so we will not visit. We will not spend. And we will not attend events, including GenCon, the world’s largest gaming convention, held in Indianapolis each year. Many fans here are gamers, Governor Pence, and we will demand the convention move out of your state.

“Fans, friends and especially you gamers, let Governor Pence know how you feel about this bill. Give him a call: 317232-4567.”

His post had already been shared 11,000 times in late March. Takei has millions of followers on social media.

The backlash continues The CEO of Salesforce, a global cloud computing company that made over $5 billion in total annual revenue last year, announced that he would be canceling all programs that require travel to Indiana.

Similarly, the NCAA released a statement saying it would be re-evaluating its relationship with Indiana in the wake of the new “license to discriminate” law and a change.org petition is already underway asking the NCAA to move the Big Ten Football Championship out of Indianapolis.

Outsports founder Cyd Zeigler, meanwhile, pledged to ask every person he does business with in Indianapolis during the Men’s Final Four match-up on Easter weekend whether or not they have a problem serving LGBT people.

And these are just the tip of the backlash iceberg Pence has brought to his state. Politicians, businesses, advocacy groups, actors and more are speaking out.

Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3Vajex2vU From Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman: “It is unconscionable to imagine that Yelp would create, maintain, or expand a significant business presence in any state that encouraged discrimination by businesses against our employees, or consumers at large. I encourage states that are considering passing laws like the one rejected by Arizona or adopted by Indiana to reconsider and abandon these discriminatory actions. (We’re looking at you, Arkansas.) I hope that in the future the legislatures in the nineteen states that have these laws on the books will reconsider their actions.

“In the meantime, Yelp will make every effort to expand its corporate presence only in states that do not have these laws allowing for discrimination on the books. I also hope that other companies will draw a similar line in the sand for equality on behalf of their employees and the greater public to persuade legislators to do the right thing and stop or rescind these harmful laws.”

San Francisco-based Yelp went public in 2012 and says it will gross about $575M this year.

–JoeMyGod.com Pence won’t reveal names of professional anti-gay cohorts Indiana Governor Mike Pence told George Stephanopoulos that SB101, the “religious freedom” bill he signed into law, is not about anti-gay discrimination.

Yet when he signed it, as the graphic above so helpfully points out, he was surrounded by several men, Micah Clark, Curt Smith, and Eric Miller, who have been working for years to demonize gays and lesbians.

When asked by the Indianapolis Star who the lobbyists in this photo are, Pence refused to identify them Mike Pence is a liar out to destroy the state of Indiana with his anti-gay animus. (graphic by @seamonkey237 based on GLAAD cap by Jeremy Hooper) Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3Vsa9DILt Pride at Work condemns Indiana anti-gay discrimination “…Versions of these laws are being pushed by legislators in many states in the wake of recent progress for LGBT marriage equality. Pride at Work opposes these bills and Executive Director Jerame Davis, an Indiana native, reacted strongly to the enactment of this law in Indiana.

“Up is not down, left is not right, and we have not always been at war with Eastasia,” said Davis. “Orwellian doublespeak will not hide the true nature of these laws intended to restrict the freedom of LGBT people while masquerading as ‘religious tolerance.’ As a born and raised Hoosier, I’m appalled that a state known for its hospitality and easy-going demeanor would even consider such a divisive and unwelcoming law….”

Apple CEO condemns “religious freedom” discrimination Apple CEO Tim Cook has come out swinging against so-called “religious freedom” bills allowing individuals and businesses to discriminate on religious grounds in an op-ed published in The Washington Post.

Writes Cook: “America’s business community recognized a long time ago that discrimination, in all its forms, is bad for business. At Apple, we are in business to empower and enrich our customers’ lives.

We strive to do business in a way that is just and fair. That’s why, on behalf of Apple, I’m standing up to oppose this new wave of legislation — wherever it emerges.

I’m writing in the hopes that many more will join this movement. From North Carolina to Nevada, these bills under

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET consideration truly will hurt jobs, growth and the economic vibrancy of parts of the country where a 21st-century economy was once welcomed with open arms….”

Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3VsaZswbu Lambda Legal calls out Pence on lies Via press release from Lambda Legal: Governor Pence continues to deceive the public about this deeply flawed law.

Let’s clarify a few things.

Gov. Pence myth: SB 101 is just like Illinois law that then-State Senator Obama voted to support.

Truth: Gov. Pence fails to point out that Illinois has robust nondiscrimination clauses in its state Human Rights Act that specifically protect LGBT people. Indiana does not. This matters because those seeking to discriminate in Indiana may claim that the lack of a statewide law barring sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination means that there is no compelling state interest in enforcing local ordinances providing such protections.

Gov. Pence myth: This law only reinforces established law in Indiana.

Truth: The language in SB 101 is so broadly written that someone can sue even without their religious beliefs having actually been burdened simply by claiming that is “likely” to happen.

Gov. Pence myth: SB101 is just like federal law that President Clinton signed 20 years ago.

Truth: SB 101 is substantially broader than the federal law. The federal RFRA can only be invoked against government action. SB 101 goes much further, inviting discrimination by allowing religious beliefs to be raised as a defense in lawsuits and administrative proceedings brought by workers, tenants and customers who have suffered discrimination. In addition, SB 101 makes it easier to claim a burden on religious freedom than the federal RFRA by defining the ‘exercise of religion’ as ‘any exercise of religion, whether or not compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief.’

If Governor Pence meant it when he said that SB101 isn’t intended to allow discrimination against LGBT people, then why were amendments designed to make that explicit repeatedly rejected during the legislative process? If he truly means what he says, then he and the legislature should work together to add this language: “This chapter does not establish or eliminate a defense to a claim under any federal, state or local law protecting civil rights or preventing discrimination.” And the Indiana government should include gay and transgender people within Indiana’s protections from discrimination.

Subaru weighs in The corporate backlash to Indiana’s recently enacted Religious Freedom Restoration Act continues to grow, with automaker Subaru of America adding its voice to the chorus of critics who say the law is discriminatory.

“We at Subaru do not agree with any legislation that allows for discrimination, or any behavior or act that pro-

motes any form of discrimination,” said Michael McHale, director of corporate communications for Subaru of America.

“Furthermore, we do not allow discrimination in our own operations, including our operations in the state of Indiana. We will certainly continue to take the issue of non-discrimination into consideration as part of our decision-making processes.”

Subaru, which received a score of 90 (out of a possible 100) on the Human Rights Campaign’s latest Corporate Equality Index, maintains an assembly plant in Indiana. McHale had previously told reporters that the company did not comment on local or national legislation but made the statement on the record to John Voelcker, editor of Green Car Reports, according to HRC. -Sunnivie Brydum on The Advocate UPDATE: Indiana GOP adds meaningless fix to “non-discriminatory” hate law on April 2 Indiana Republican leaders have announced an addition to the state’s new “religious freedom” law that they say will prevent it from being used to discriminate against LGBT individuals.

The Indianapolis Star reports: Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, and House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis said at a press conference at the Statehouse that leaders would present the proposal to lawmakers after speaking with corporate and civic leadership this week.

“Hoosier hospitality had to be restored,” Bosma said.

The leaders referenced the intense backlash that rained down on Indiana after Gov. Mike Pence signed the bill last week.

“It was never intended to discriminate against anyone,” Long said. “That perception led to the national protests we’ve seen.”

Bosma said he recently had a sit down with openly gay Olympian Greg Louganis and apologized “not for actions taken, but for messages receive.” Bosma and co. are apparently still sticking to the fictitious talking point that they had no idea the

bill was being driven through the legislature by anti-LGBT animus.

JoeMyGod.com: …The IndyStar correctly notes that the new proposal “doesn’t go as far as establishing gays and lesbians as a protected class of citizens statewide or repealing the law outright, both things that Republican leaders have said they could not support.” This means that, as before, it remains 100% legal in many parts of the state to fire, harass, and discriminate against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Full repeal or full protections - that’s the only way you’re going to quell this backlash in Indiana. Pence and the rest of the state GOP leaders need to wake the hell up.

UPDATE: Lambda Legal reacts to the “fix” This bill reduces the threat but is far less than this situation requires. It recognizes there are problems, but does not fix it as LGBT Hoosiers and others urgently need. Now that there’s broad public understanding that gay and transgender people in much of Indiana are terribly vulnerable to arbitrary discrimination by businesses, refusal of housing, and being fired just for being who they are--and even Gov. Pence has agreed that that is wrong—that unacceptable situation requires a full solution. We’ve provided multiple options of straightforward bill language. This is not a complicated or novel task. Many states have done it with only positive results economically and socially. The time is now.

America is watching.

Indiana’s RFRA is an ill-conceived law that invites religiously motivated refusals to comply with laws that protect everyone. The state’s elected leadership today has taken one step to reduce these refusal problems by amending the RFRA to ensure compliance with civil rights laws.

Now they need to complete the fix by actually providing those basic protections that LGBT people need to be equal and safe in the Hoosier State, and by further amending RFRA to prevent it from being used to excuse any harm to other people.

Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3WAFUbUwO

Federal workplace antidiscrimination order went into effect April 8 On April 8, President Obama’s Executive Order on LGBT Workplace Discrimination went into effect. This executive order prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

For the first time, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people employed by federal contractors will have the right to be judged by the quality of their work, not for who they are or whom they love.

White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett wrote an op-ed for The Advocate on this milestone. Link to the op-ed here: http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/04/08/op-ed-protecting-lgbt-

5 workers-means-protecting-all-workers Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez also released a blog post on this topic: “Today, President Obama’s Executive Order on LGBT Workplace Discrimination goes into effect. It prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Because of this Executive Order, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people employed by federal contractors across the country will now receive new legal protections designed to ensure they are judged by the quality of their work, not who they are or whom they love.

“As I said when the executive order was announced, this is a civil rights victory consistent with our founding principles.

It will mean a more dynamic and inclusive workforce that captures the talents of more of our people. It advances the principle that we should be leaving no one on the sidelines, that America is strongest when it fields a full team.”

President Barack Obama delivered remarks before he signed the executive order regarding to protect LGBT employees from workplace discrimination, in the East Room of the White House, July 21, 2014.

“Each year, federal contractors and subcontractors receive billions of taxpayer dollars to supply goods, provide services and perform construction work for government agencies. In return, they are held to a reasonable standard that they may not discriminate in hiring, firing, pay, promotion and other employment practices.

Until today, it was discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability and status as a protected veteran that was prohibited. Now, in the first expansion since 1974, LGBT Americans enjoy these same protections.

“The obligation not to discriminate covers every type of new and modified federal contract – from companies that build our highways and manage our IT infrastructure to those that run our cafeterias, produce our military uniforms and stock our supply closets. And it applies to every establishment of those contractors and subcontractors – not just the ones directly involved in performing the contract. While these protections for LGBT workers go into effect today, they do not require employers to undertake new record keeping, data analysis, goal setting or other similar affirmative action. Nor are employees and job applicants required to identify their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Many of the largest federal contractors already ban sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. They understand that it’s both good for their bottom lines and the right thing to do.

And we at the Labor Department have been working hard to make this process as easy as possible for contractors. Compliance assistance and other resources are available online, as is information for workers and job applicants who wish to file a complaint.

(Federal continues page 6)

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LOCAL AND STATE ( Two Spirit from page 3) vide safe, supportive opportunities for social, traditional and recreational interactions that are culturally appropriate to them. EC2SS also strives to reach Two Spirit youth and their families, to provide emotional support, care and a community of people who have experienced the challenges of being Native and Two Spirit, often while living and working in Native and other communities where they may not be fully welcomed or supported themselves.”

The Leadership Council is made up of six individuals from different Native nations, living in different states, but who presently reside in the North East region of North America. Working in many fields, each member of the Leadership Council is also an artist in a variety of mediums, including the performing arts. Each member also plays a role in the planning of the EC2SS Annual Gathering, and in creating a truly safe and welcoming atmosphere where our Two Spirit community can experience the joy and freedom of being their authentic selves.

The Chair of the organization, Sheldon Raymore, is from the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in La Plant, South Dakota. Currently residing in NYC, Sheldon is a competitive grass dancer, competing on the National powwow circuit. He is an artist, a designer and co-facilitator of the weekly powwow dance practices held in NYC. The Vice Chair of EC2SS is Janis Stacey, who resides in Eastern Pennsylvania and is a Co-Chair of the 2015 Philadelphia Trans Health Conference planning committee. She also serves on the board of Trans Faith. Janis is of Dakota and Cherokee blood, and has supported a variety of organizations

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015 and participated in many efforts involving Native American, racial, gender and LGBT issues.

Sadé Ali lives in Delaware and serves as the Treasurer on the Council. She is affiliated with the Pictou Landing First Nations Reserve in Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia, Canada. She is First Nations Mi’kmaq, Two Spirit and a member of the Sturgeon Clan. Sadé is an author, a trainer on healing from historical trauma and works with Tribal Nations in the US as a government contractor.

Gréggoire Martello, a member of the Eastern Band Cherokee who resides in Pittsburgh, Pa., wears many hats. He serves EC2SS on the Leadership Council as the secretary, scribe and the registrar for the EC2SS Annual Gathering.

Gréggoire is an educator and interpreter at the Senator John Heinz Historic Center (Smithsonian) and a Native American Interpreter with the Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village. He is a Representative/Member of the NMAI, INAFA, BAA, BSA, ITG, SA and the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center.

Personnel and Veteran’s Affairs are taken care of by Kelly Baumgartner. Kelly, who is a US Navy Veteran of Cherokee decent, has worked with LGBTTSQI youth and as a victim advocate where she lives in Rochester, NY. She believes that the health of the People can be improved by empowering them with the knowledge and ability to grow their own healthy, organic food.

Kelly is also dedicated to helping our Two Spirit Veterans find the support and services they require.

Last but certainly not least is Ty Defoe. Ty is the youngest and newest member of the Leadership Council and will be taking the lead in Youth Services.

Ty Defoe (Giizhig), is from the Oneida and Ojibwe tribes of Wisconsin. He is a Grammy Award winner for

work on “Come to Me Great Mystery: Native American Healing Songs”. He is a two-spirit/trans* activist, cultural pioneer, writer, musician, and is known for his cultural education, hoop and eagle dancing. As a multidisciplinary artist, Ty has gained recognition in many circles around the world.

Among current highlights, Ty received an Indigenous Heritage Festival Award. This award is given to artists who have made a major positive impact on indigenous people and issues of the world. A NEA award grant for work on “Drum is Thunder, Flute is the Wind,” 2016 Robert Rauschenberg Artist in Residence, and 2015 Yale Institute for Musical Theatre for book and lyrics on “Clouds Are Pillows for the Moon” (w/ composer Tidtaya Sinutoke).

Ty, is a devoted mentor at the Alaskan Cultural Heritage Center & Pineridge Playwrights Initiative. He also is a member of the East Coast Two Spirit Society. He received degrees from California Institute of the Arts, Goddard College, and recently from NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at Tisch School of the Arts. Ty is TCG’s Leading the Charge: equity, diversity, and inclusion fellow. Dramatist Guild member. tydefoe.com The traditional roles of Two Spirit People are to live in service of the People, those in need as well as Mother Earth and all her inhabitants. The Leadership Council members each serve the People and their communities in different ways, bringing to the table an overabundance of talent and life experiences. Each wishes to use those experiences and abilities to help Two Spirit Elders and Veterans receive the services they require and deserve, and to support the youth who are living in a time of epidemic rates of suicide among their peers, and in their Native communities.

If you or anyone you know is Two Spirit and in need of support, contact any one of the Leadership Council at ec2ss.net and leave a message and a safe way to contact you.

You can see the East Coast Two Spirit Society at the Philadelphia Pride Parade, the New York City Pride Parade and the Pride Parade in Rochester next July. ■

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Federal from page 5) “Equality under the law means equality under the law for everyone. It means giving everyone the chance to go as far as their hard work will take them. Today is an important mile marker on the path to workplace equality, but our efforts are far from finished. We will move with all haste, bringing to bear the full resources of this department to implement and enforce these new protections on behalf of the LGBT Americans who work for federal contractors.”

Washington Post profiles widowed SCOTUS plaintiff Jim Obergefell Via the Washington Post: Jim Obergefell cannot fathom hearing his name mentioned alongside Brown or Roe. For one thing, he knows people will mispronounce it. (It’s Oh-ber-guh-fell.)

And he never wanted to be the face of a movement or a legal groundbreaker. “I’m just Jim,” he said. “I just stood up for our marriage.”

It was not a long marriage, just three months and 11 days — the time it took his husband, John Arthur, to struggle to say, “I thee wed,” and then die from ALS. Now their union, and the 20-year relationship that preceded it, is at the center of Obergefell v. Hodges, the title case of four consolidated appeals the Supreme Court heard last month to decide whether gay couples have a constitutional right to marry.

For Obergefell, the case is simply about that tricky-to-pronounce name: He wants it on Arthur’s death certificate as the surviving spouse, an idea the state of Ohio, where same-sex marriage is illegal, opposes. Should Obergefell win, history books will probably take a more expansive view of his quest.

-JoeMyGod.com

Kentucky’s transphobic “bathroom bill” fails

By Mitch Kellaway on The Advocate A proposed Kentucky law that trans advocates say would have empowered students to become “bathroom bullies” towards their transgender classmates failed on the last working day of the Senate’s current session, Kentucky’s Fairness Coalition announced in a March 23 statement.

If passed, Senate Bill 76, originally introduced by Republican Senator C.B. Embry, Jr., would have restricted trans students’ access to bathrooms, locker rooms, and other gender-segregated facilities on school campuses. On Feb. 23, SB 76 quietly passed through the Republican-controlled state Senate in a 27-9 vote, just days after it had passed the Senate Education Committee with only minutes of notice, on a vote taken when the only Democrat seated on the committee was out of the room.

Once SB 76 moved to the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, however, it was unable to advance in its original form, reports the Fairness Coalition. The House refused to hear the bill, which would have required all students to use the bathroom that accorded with their “biological sex” — a “physical condition of being male or female” that the bill stated was determined by a student’s chromosomes and anatomy at birth.

The legislation also suggested that trans students may use a single-stall, unisex bathroom, and that cisgender (nontrans) students sharing a bathroom with a (Kentucky continues page 11)

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Kentucky from page 6) trans student would experience “psychological, emotional, and physical harm” that opened schools to legal action.

On March 23, in what the Fairness Coalition called a “last-ditch effort,” Sen. Embry added the proposed legislation as an amendment, along with a second piece of failed legislation titled the “Student Religious Speech Bill,” to the unrelated student-authored House Bill 236 about choosing school superintendents. Hundreds of Kentucky high school students rallied at the state capitol on Tuesday, against both amendments to House Bill 236 — and while the “Bathroom Bully Bill” amendment was ultimately removed, HB 236 passed with the “religious speech” amendment intact.

Following voting, Democratic Senator Reggie Thomas lamented the House’s inability to send a “clean bill” to the governor, reports local news station WMKY. “This Senate has succeeded in doing one thing,” he declared. “We have now shown every young person across this state how messy, how futile, and how ineffective government is.”

Trans advocates are still lauding the House’s decision, whether it was a result of government inefficiencies, a push for trans youth rights, or both. “We are elated that this mean-spirited legislation has failed,” Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund Executive Director Michael Silverman said in a statement.

“Denying students access to bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with who they are is cruel. It is also illegal, as it violates Title IX’s anti-discrimination provisions as interpreted by the United States Departments of Justice and Education.”

Similar “bathroom bills” targeting trans students are currently being consid(Kentucky continues page 11)

Interview

Steven Tracy. Photo: Ciana Robertson

Where everyone is welcome: a talk with Penfield High GSA President Steven Tracy

By Adam Young Initially Steven Tracy was hesitant about joining the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Penfield High School.

Chatting with the school librarian, Paul Birkby, during his freshman year, Tracy eventually took the plunge and joined during his sophomore year in 2012.

It wasn’t long before he rose through the ranks from secretary to president of the organization. “Before I came out, I just thought it would be nice,” Tracy said. “I just decided to give it a shot.”

Tracy also joined to increase awareness of inequality. He is quick to correct a classmate who mutters, “that’s so gay” in response to something they find ridiculous. “Find another adjective,” Tracy interjects. While the focus of the GSA is to create a welcoming environment for LGBT students, the organization is open to anyone looking to erode racism, sexism, or any kind of intolerance. “The GSA is not just for the LGBT community, it’s more about acceptance for everyone,” Tracy said.

While a typical GSA meeting involves watching documentaries like Stonewall Uprising and planning activities and holiday events, the meetings mainly consist of “icebreaker” discussions. The goal is to have people open up and be themselves.

Tracy said several students come and go in between meetings, but all grade levels are represented, encompassing students of different genders and backgrounds. Perhaps unexpectedly, Tracy notes, “I think there are more straight people in [the club] than people in the LGBT community.”

If a student is having difficulty fitting in at school, Tracy recommends connecting with teachers and fellow students.

Although he understands the initial reservation, he also recommends joining the school GSA, or starting one if the club doesn’t already exist. Just knowing there are other students in a similar situation can make school less intimidating. Assistant Principal Terry Febrey notes that the presence of a GSA at school improves morale, attendance and grades. Tracy agrees, saying GSA members frequently greet each other in the halls in between classes, generating a warmer environment.

“We all have more similarities that we should be working toward instead of

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ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL TERRY FEBREY NOTES THAT THE PRESENCE OF A GSA AT SCHOOL IMPROVES MORALE, ATTENDANCE AND GRADES. TRACY AGREES, SAYING GSA MEMBERS FREQUENTLY GREET EACH OTHER IN THE HALLS IN BETWEEN CLASSES, GENERATING A WARMER ENVIRONMENT. “WE ALL HAVE MORE SIMILARITIES THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOWARD INSTEAD OF AGAINST,” TRACY SAID. against,” Tracy said.

Involvement in various activities made coming out to his friends and family easier for Tracy. Along with being a GSA officer, he has been on the Robotics team for four years (noted as a very accepting group), volunteers with the Penfield Ambulance and participates in his church’s Youth Group. He has traveled to assist people on three different mission trips. He notes that the variety of people he has met from different backgrounds has helped him realize that a person’s sexuality is only one component of their personality.

As a senior, Tracy plans to major in social work in college next fall in a premed track. His ultimate goal is to become a psychiatrist, although at only 18, he acknowledges that course may change. He hopes to stop back and check in with the Penfield High GSA during breaks. “My whole plan is to help people,” Tracy said.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

Make Rochester Green and support the Gay Alliance with Broccolo Garden Center’s “Goodness Grows” Program.

On May 16th and 17th, Broccolo Garden Center will donate 10% of your purchase to the Gay Alliance when you present this coupon OR show the Facebook or email notice on their phones.

2755 Penfield Road Fairport New York 14450

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

Making the Scene

FIGHT FOR $15: Around 800 people, including many LGBTQ workers, marched on April 15 to call for a raise in the NYS minimum wage. Demonstrations went on all over the country that day. Mainstream media coverage was minimal or non-existent. Photos: Bess Watts

Jim Bertolone, President of Rochester Labor Council.

Pride At Work AFL-CIO members Dawn Lepard and Ryan Tucker.

Colin Coffey.

My Own Private Rochester: BJ Scanlon

By Susan Jordan BJ Scanlon is a native of Olean who moved to Rochester after graduating from SUNY Geneseo. He worked at first with Americorps for a year, with homeless and runaway youth. He is now Senior Legislative Analyst for Rochester City Council, and also volunteers with the Gay Alliance Youth Group.

In addition, BJ is a stand up comic and part of the comedy sketch group Canary in a Coal Mine, which will appear in the Blackfriars Comedy Series, and also member of an improv troupe, Broken Couch, which performs on first Wednesdays at Johnny’s Irish Pub. He does solo stand up comedy and will soon celebrate the opening of a new coffee shop in Collegetown. He lives in a loft space downtown and loves city life.

About his work with the Youth Group, BJ says, “I never thought I would work with kids but I found I like teenagers a lot.

We have interesting conversations. It’s important for youth

to have a comfortable and safe space. The youth would like to do monthly events like dances, or going to the movies. I’d like to provide free of charge events for them.”

BJ’s most admired Rochester person is Bill Schaefer, who is Physician’s Assistant at Trillium Health, where BJ is on the board. “I really like Bill Schaefer,” BJ said. “He’s a soft-spoken guy who does work without getting praised for it. He doesn’t want the limelight – and he’s a very funny guy.”

BJ is also a big fan of the many area open mics. He lists his favorites as Charley Wildey at the Park Ave. Boulder on Wednesdays, the Equal=Grounds open mic on Fridays (go online for schedule) and the underground poetry event organized

by Rachel McKibben, “Poetry And Pie Night,” also on Fridays.

Again, check online; you must request the location at poetryandpienight@gmail.com.

BJ’s favorite local eating places include Le Petit Poutine Food Truck. “I LOVE it – they have a great vegetarian gravy option!” he enthuses.

As a downtown resident, he also likes many downtown plac-

PRIDE AT WORK AWARDS: Left: FSW member Ginny Baggs and Linda Donahue, Cornell University Director of On-Line Labor Studies, attend the 2015 Pride At Work True Colors Awards Dinner held on March 24. Donahue won the award in 2012. Right: Tom Privitere accepts the 2015 Pride At Work True Colors Award. Photos by Ove Overmyer

es, such as High Falls. “You can’t beat High Falls,” he said. “It’s the most attractive feature we have.

Our downtown is great. There are so many loft projects coming. It’s very exciting – things are really shaking downtown. Hart’s is now there, behind The Little Theatre. They have produce and local fruit and vegetables, Hedonist Chocolates, local coffees and beers and great prepared foods.”

His favorite events include RoCo’s 6x6 exhibit, coming up in June. “I usually try to buy one thing from the show each year.

And the Monroe County Democrats put on a good panel series.

They’ve done Poverty in Rochester and there was one last month about police relations.”

As a performer, BJ’s ideal Saturday night would be “to have all my friends at a comedy show. Thank You Kiss would perform, and also the comedic bands Hardwood and Passive Aggressives Anonymous (a witty band with a jazzy feel) – then we could all go to the Forum and play darts.”

What would he show out of town visitors? “So much of Rochester beauty is hidden and happens randomly,” he said. “I’d

Funnyman BJ Scanlon. Photo: Susan Jordan

be remiss not to mention the Public Market. I really like the potato pancakes at the Ukrainian restaurant there. And MuCCC is a great place. They often put on great stuff – and also the Fringe Festival, I’d take people there.”

BJ sums up, “I’m a profes-

sional Rochester promoter!

Rochester is a community where everything happens, but it’s on a small scale. If you are interested in something, you can start something new – whether it’s artistic, political or whatever – and people want you to be involved.” ■

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Kentucky from page 7) ered in both Texas and Minnesota, while bills barring people using public facilities that do not accord with their assigned birth gender are being debated in Texas, Missouri, and Florida — with the latter state’s proposed law already passing two committee votes in the House.

Deaf gay man says family helped him come out, feel comfortable

By Mel Spencer on gaystarnews.com Lost, isolated and unsure.

That’s how Richard Mesich, a deaf gay man from Portage, Indiana, felt throughout his senior year.

In an attempt to get away from the negativity of school, Mesich moved to L.A. to start college, where he spent time with his mom’s brother, who lives with his male partner and their two adopted children.

Mesich, who is now out and proud, shared his moving story of self acceptance on video as part of the I’m From Driftwood project, explaining how his mom and uncles helped him realize his identity.

“I wasn’t happy with who I was,” he explained. “I was not ready to come out of the closet. My mom knew that I was gay but I wasn’t ready to come out to her.”

After spending more time with his uncle and cousins, Mesich began to come to terms with his sexuality.

“Every time I saw them, I would see their lifestyle and meet their gay friends,” he said. “I realized how open and very comfortable they were with themselves.

“I then realized that I am gay.”

The day he came out to his mom, his uncles were there to help him celebrate, taking him to his first gay bar and helping him when he felt unsure.

11

“When I went in, I had never seen so many gay people in my entire life,” he said. “I realized that I felt uncomfortable and told my uncles how I felt. They said it is okay, it’s fine if everyone looks at me, they won’t hurt me.”

It’s this support, he explains, that has helped him come to terms not only with being gay, but being deaf and gay -- dealing with the difficulties that come with dating men who didn’t understand deaf culture.

“Comparing high school to where I am now, I used to feel lost and isolated.

I didn’t know who I was,” he revealed.

“Now I feel confident, happy and know who I am. I’m comfortable with hearing and deaf people, it doesn’t matter to me.

“Now I know who I am but I am not in a rush to look for love. All that matters are my family and friends who I enjoy being with.”

Media ignore epidemic of violence against trans women of color Media Matters has published an extensive report showing that cable, broadcast, and Spanish language networks have ignored an epidemic of violence against transgender women in 2015 despite (most of them) devoting coverage to trans issues.

Among the findings in the report, which covered the first two months of 2015: CNN and MSNBC devoted nearly 108 minutes to transgender stories combined in January and February while FOX News devoted 11 minutes.

CBS devoted 10 minutes while NBC devoted six and ABC a paltry two.

Bruce Jenner, Chelsea Manning, Leelah Alcorn were the most discussed transgender stories.

Only one Sunday show, MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry, discussed trans issues.

A collage of media coverage of trans issues in 2015.

Networks ignored an “epidemic of deadly violence” against transgender women.

National news networks largely ignored the murders of seven transgender women of color.

ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC, and NBC ignored the murders of seven transgender women of color during the first two months of 2015. CNN’s Don Lemon briefly mentioned the murder of three of the women during a discussion about Bruce Jenner during the February 5 edition of CNN Tonight.

Fox News, ABC, and NBC failed to host transgender guests when discussing trans issues -- CNN’s trans guests were white while MSNBC featured trans women of color.

Univision and Telemundo devoted less than 10 minutes to trans issues.

Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3WjVf0qMU

North Dakota bans discrimination including sexual orientation Via the Associated Press: North Dakota’s Republican governor sent a memo to 17 government departments on April 6 saying discrimination against anyone is unacceptable, just two hours before every Democrat in the Legislature delivered a letter calling on him to go further and issue an executive order prohibiting bias against gays and lesbians.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple’s chief of staff sent the letter to all agency directors appointed by the governor.

“This administration expects all cabinet agencies to hire employees and to maintain agency staff based on ability and performance,” Chief of Staff Ron Rauschenberger wrote. “Ours remains a policy of non-discrimination, including no discrimination based on sexual orientation.”

(North Dakota continues page 12)

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (North Dakota from page 11) All 38 Democrats from the House and Senate delivered a letter to Dalrymple later in the day asking him to issue an executive order to require state agencies to ban discrimination in hiring and employment based on sexual orientation.

Democrats are the minority in the Legislature, where Republicans hold twothirds majorities.

On April 3 the Republican-dominated North Dakota House rejected a bill that would have provided LGBT anti-discrimination protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations. The bill had been narrowly approved by the state Senate.

-JoeMyGod.com

Malta has one of best trans, intersex laws in the world

By Joe Morgan on gaystarnews.com Malta is now leading with one of the most comprehensive laws protecting trans and intersex people in the world.

They no longer need to have surgery, sterilization and a diagnosis of mental illness to legally change gender under a law passed on April 1.

It also bans medically unnecessary surgery on the genitals of intersex infants.

“To say that this Act is a groundbreaking human rights milestone is almost an understatement,” Paulo Paulo CôrteReal, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, said.

“It provides an inspirational benchmark for other European countries that need to improve their own LGBTI equality standards. The Act is a beacon of hope - and bears testament to the political leadership and hard work of the LGBTI

movement in Malta.”

The passage of the Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Act (GIGESC) followed an apology from the government to a trans woman, Joanne Cassar, who was successful in her fight to marry her husband.

The following year, gender identity was added to the constitutional list of non-discrimination and trans people were afforded protection under national employment laws.

The third reading was passed with a unanimous vote. The bill was then sent to President Maria Louise Coleiro Preca for her signature.

Maltese Member of the Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, Miriam Dalli MEP, said, “I am very proud to be from a country that has from now on the most comprehensive and respectful laws when it comes to the rights of trans and intersex people.

“No one should be declared mentally ill, undergo forced surgery or being forced to go through a divorce, in order to be recognized as who they truly are. I sincerely hope that the whole of Europe will follow Malta’s example, and that such degrading practices will be issues of the past.”

Another bullied trans youth commits suicide

By Darren Wee on gaystarnews.com Photo via xxtayloralesanaxx/Instagram A transgender girl from Fallbrook, California who was constantly bullied at school has committed suicide.

Family members confirmed that Taylor Alesana, 16, took her life on 2 April but details surrounding her death are not being revealed.

The teen uploaded make-up tutorials and vlogs on YouTube in which she described her experiences of bullying.

“I’ve lost friends – tons of friends – and it’s been hell. I get my lunch and I sit down,” she said in a video posted in

campaign is designed to help people share their concerns about anti-LGBT laws in other states similar to Indiana’s. A large part of what made Indiana such a visible target were things like social media signal boosts from celebrities like George Takei and fantastic media scrutiny that put public officials on the spot. Nix It Now aims to make sure that the public can drum up that same kind of attention.

Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3WFhAfLyi

Taylor Alesana

November.

Alesena was mercilessly cyber-bullied and called names in school, where she said she always wore headphones “because of all the shit I’m going to get.”

The North County LGBTQ Resource Center, where Alesana received support, mourned her death its latest newsletter.

“This past week we lost another dear young friend Taylor Alesana,” it read.

“Taylor had many friends here at the center but the support she received was not enough to counter the very difficult time she had at Fallbrook High School.

“As a transgender teen she was constantly picked upon, bullied and attacked by her peers. With few adults to turn to, and with no support from her school, her life became too difficult. Taylor was a beautiful and courageous girl, and all she wanted was acceptance.”

The center urged schools to teach inclusiveness and acceptance and celebrate diversity in order to prevent more suicides.

“Stop imposing gender roles that create false expectations and disappointments, while undermining the gender creativity of our kids and compromising their self-esteem,” it said.

Task Force “Nix It Now” campaign fights religious freedom discrimination

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Russell Roybal stepped into his role as the National LGBTQ Task Force’s newest deputy executive director in early April with a message about discriminatory religious freedom bills. Indiana, he explained, won’t be the last state to attempt passing similar legislation, and pro-LGBT activists must remain vigilant.

“As a nation that prides itself in the separation of church and state and religious liberty inscribed in the United States Constitution, we find ourselves at a crossroads,” he wrote in an op-ed for The Hill. “In state capitals across the country, there are attempts to include [religious freedom bills] in new and existing laws, with the intended outcome of denying or stripping away critical protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people.”

The attention and criticism directed towards Governor Mike Pence played a crucial role in his decision to sign a new bill meant to counteract the harms created by the original bill. It’s likely that in the coming weeks some LGBT advocates will walk away from Indiana confident that the battle against discriminatory “religious freedom” acts has been won.

As Roybal points out, though, it will take the same kind of focused response in the future to defeat similar bills in other states. The Task Force’s “Nix It Now”

Arkansas passes watered-down bill still permitting anti-gay discrimination The son of Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, who asked his father to veto the state’s Indiana-type discrimination law, was pleased that his father asked for less discriminatory language. Most gays disagree that the revised bill is any better, however.

“I am happy that my Dad is now calling on legislators to rework HB 1228. I had communicated with him my opposition to the bill, along with thousands of other Arkansans and concerned citizens around the country. I’m proud to have made a small contribution to the overall effort to stop discrimination against the LGBT community in Arkansas, the state that I love (Go hogs!). I love and respect my father very much, but sometimes we have political disagreements, just as many families do. We must build a mass movement of Americans fighting for economic, environmental, and social justice if we want to see real progress.” Seth Hutchinson, in an email on April 2 to Business Insider.

Via Arkansas Online: The Arkansas Senate on April 1 approved transmitting two amended existing bills to the House that add language that mirrors the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Senate Bills 229 and 975 as amended serve as potential compromises to House Bill 1228, a bill opponents say could allow for discrimination against gay people while the bill’s main sponsor has said it strengthens religious freedom protections.

SB 229 passed with 26 voting for and six voting against, and SB975 passed with 25 voting for and no one voting against.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced (on April 1) that he had asked legislators to amend HB1228 or present a new bill with language more closely matching the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Several senators said they were upset of the “hostile” takeover of SB975, originally sponsored by Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch to amend state law concerning government entities regulating free exercise of religion.

More from the Arkansas Times: For those of you who may be wondering the significance of SB 229 and 975: There is none. They were bills that had failed previously in the session and therefore simply acted as empty vessels to be filled with new substance via an amendment. We’ve long since passed the filing deadline of the legislative session, which is the date after which no new bills can be filed. However, new amendments can be filed up until the end of the session, and an amendment can make any change to a bill that’s already been filed previously. An amendment can, in fact, remove every bit of language from the original bill and rewrite it into something entirely different — which is what happened in this case. Whatever those bills contained beforehand is immaterial. However, it’s still fun to mention that SB 229 was intended to protect Arkansas citizens from Sharia Law, sponsored by Sen. John Cooper (R-Jonesboro). That represents some deep level of irony that we can’t quite grasp in our current fatigued state.

The AP recaps: “Unlike the version on Hutchinson’s desk, the new proposal only addresses action by government, not individuals or businesses.”

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Russia blocks online support for LGBT youth A court in Russia has authorized the government to block the social network page of a support group for LGBT teens, reports Radio Free Europe.

Lawyer Maria Kozlovskaya said the support group Deti-404 had been preparing for a court hearing on the issue on April 6.

However, when activists arrived at the court in St. Petersburg they were told that a decision had already been made to include the group’s page on VKontakte on a list of banned websites.

According to Kozlovskaya, it is very likely that the page will be blocked.

404 refers to the error message displayed on computer screens when people attempt to navigate to a web page that doesn’t exist.

Last year, Russia’s People’s Patriotic Channel claimed that the documentary Deti-404 violated Russia’s “gay propaganda” law.

Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3WirHqh9L

April 24 Post-ABC poll shows 61 percent back marriage equality Via the Washington Post: A record-high 6 in 10 Americans support same-sex marriage and a similar share say individual states should not be allowed to define marriage as only between a man and a woman, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The national debate on same-sex marriage moved to center stage on April 28, when the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether state restrictions on samesex marriage are unconstitutional. The Court is expected to rule by the end of June.

The Post-ABC poll finds 61 percent of Americans support allowing gays to marry and 35 percent are opposed. Support is up only slightly from last year but is a reversal from public sentiment a decade ago, when opponents outnumbered supporters 58 percent to 39 percent.

In the short and long run, support for same-sex marriage has grown significantly across demographic and political groups.

13

Among those under age 30, support has grown since 2005 from 57 percent to 78 percent. Among those 65 and over, it has increased from 18 percent to 46 percent.

Support has also risen by double digits across partisan groups, though Democrats and independents have shifted the most.

-JoeMyGod.com See the June issue of The Empty Closet and www.gayalliance.org (Empty Closet News) for coverage of the Unite for Marriage rally in Rochester, held at the Federal Building on April 27, the day before the Supreme Court began hearings on marriage equality.

A USA Today/Suffolk University poll on April 13 had the number at 51 percent and also found a majority of respondents oppose “license to discriminate” laws, which would allow businesses to cite religious views as a legal reason for refusing to provide goods and services for same-sex weddings. Fifty-eight percent said businesses should not have this right, with only 31 percent saying they should “It’s nobody’s right to say, ‘This is right or this is wrong’ or exclude a certain group of people,” said Ashley Williams, 25, of Durham, N.C. “Just because they’re gay doesn’t mean they’re any less human.”

Philadelphia 50th anniversary panel set for historic Congress Hall The organizers of the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration (July 2 to 5) on April 14 announced that the National Politics Panel with LGBT movement leaders will be held in historic Congress Hall in Philadelphia.

The National Politics Panel will be moderated by Kevin Naff, Editor, Washington Blade. Panelists include Kirk Fordham, Executive Director, Gill Action Fund, Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Stacey Long Simmons, Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs, LGBTQ Task Force, and Winnie Stachelberg, Executive Vice President for External Affairs, Center for American Progress.

The panel will be held on Thursday evening, July 2 in historic Congress Hall, where the U.S. House of Representatives first met from 1790 to 1800. “It is a rare day that Congress Hall is provided. This reflects the pride that Independence National Historical Park and National Park Service take in the organized LGBT civil rights movement having been launched at Independence Hall with picketing demonstrations each July 4th from 1965 to 1969,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Chair, LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration. There is a Gay Pioneers historic marker directly across the street from Independence Hall.

“The National Politics Panel and LGBT 50th Anniversary events could not be more timely. Our national movement will gather shortly after the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality and at a time when the political landscape for LGBT Americans is dramatically chang-

ing.” said Lazin.

The organized LGBT civil rights movement was launched when activists from New York, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia staged demonstrations for equality each Fourth of July from 1965 to 1969. When 40 activists picketed in front of Independence Hall in 1965, it was the largest demonstration for gay equality in world history.

Organized by pioneering gay activists Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings, these “Annual Reminders” laid the groundwork for the Stonewall riot in 1969. After Stonewall, Kameny and Gittings suspended the Annual Reminders and turned their energies to the 1970 march from Greenwich Village to Central Park marking the first anniversary of Stonewall.

From July 2 to 5, in Philadelphia, the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration includes panels, Gay Pioneers screening, fireworks, daily parties, LGBT history exhibits, concerts, National Interfaith Service, wreath laying at the Gay Pioneers historic marker, and street festival in the gayborhood with the highlight the one-hour LGBT 50th Anniversary Ceremony on a large stage in front of Independence Hall on July 4th.

There is no registration fee and most programs are free and held on or near Independence Mall. For more information, visit www.lgbt50th.org and www. gaypioneers.com

Activist counters execute-gays ballot proposal with “Shellfish Suppression Act”

By Darren Wee on gaystarnews.com Photo via Wikipedia A Californian activist has countered a ballot proposal calling for all LGBTI people in the state to be shot with his own – the Shellfish Suppression Act. Joe Decker from San Jose filed the counter-initiative and a $200 check on 31 March.

Christian lawyer Matthew McLaughlin filed the Sodomite Suppression Act in February, citing a verse from a book in the Bible that states: “If a man also lies with a man, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death.” (The ballot proposal would require the government to execute all gays “with a bullet to (Activist continues page 14)

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NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Activist from page 13) the head”, and failing that, it would be legal for any citizen to kill gays.)

Another verse in Leviticus similarly condemns “whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters” as an “abomination,” and is the basis of the new initiative.

“Shellfish are a monstrous evil that Almighty God, giver of freedom and liberty, commands us in Leviticus to suppress. They also smell bad,” it reads.

“Any person who willingly consumes or sells shellfish is guilty of a felony, and shall be fined $666 thousand per occurrence, and/or imprisoned up to 6 years, 6 months, and 6 days.”

Earlier in March, a lawyer filed a another counter initiative – the Intolerant Jackass Act. The proposed law seeks to punish anyone who suggests killing LGBTI people with sensitivity training for at least three hours per month for twelve consecutive months and a $5,000 donation to a progay group.

Florida senate blocks GOP’s state anti-gay adoption law In a stunning turnaround on April 8, the Florida Senate blocked GOP efforts to allow Indiana-style discrimination in adoption. In doing so they derailed an effort that originated in the House of Representatives to reintroduce an anti-gay adoption law in Florida.

Former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Destin, was an eloquent opponent, stating, “We don’t need to turn back the social clock in this state to 1977,” the year Florida banned gay and lesbian people from adopting children.

“We applaud Senator Gaetz for rally-

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015 ing his colleagues to stop this disastrous effort to put discrimination back into Florida law.” said Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida. “Now is not the time for Florida to look back to its ugly past. It is time to secure full equality and chart a fair and inclusive path for our state.”

The decisive Senate action came just minutes after the Florida House voted overwhelmingly to allow taxpayer-funded private adoption agencies to turn away gay people and others. While the House bill was clearly aimed at discriminating against gay and lesbian people, the fiery debate spotlighted bill sponsor Rep. Jason Brodeur’s unwillingness to deny that agencies might be able to discriminate based on race, religion or other factors as well.

This Senate adoption bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives, would also eliminate Florida’s 1977 anti-gay adoption statute which has remained on the books despite being unenforceable since it was declared unconstitutional in 2010. The bill has one more reading in the Senate; if passed as expected it will be sent to the Governor, anti-gay Rick Scott.

Fla. House backs Indiana-style discrimination; won’t become law In an ugly symbolic move, the Florida House on April 9 approved an Indiana-style discrimination bill that gives taxpayer-funded adoption agencies a “license to discriminate” against gay and lesbian couples looking to adopt.

The 75-38 vote is symbolic because the Florida Senate had overwhelmingly rejected a similar proposal just the day before, under the bipartisan leadership of former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Destin.

The Senate proposal came in the form of an amendment to a larger adoption bill that was already approved by House. The amendment’s failure means the House will not have another chance at the larger bill, which has one more vote in the Senate before being sent to the Governor.

The larger bill provides incentives to

adoption agencies designed to improve foster children’s chance for permanent homes. It also removes a no-longer enforced 1977 prohibition on gay and lesbian couples that a state appellate court ruled unconstitutional in 2010.

“Thursday’s House vote sends an ugly message about Florida, whether it becomes law or not,” said Nadine Smith, chief executive of Equality Florida. “As other states such as Indiana have learned, discriminatory laws under the false guise of religious freedom are widely criticized.

They are unfair and unjust, and they also hurt a state’s economy.

“Thankfully the Senate on Wednesday pulled us back from the brink of embarrassment that Indiana has recently faced.

Now is not the time to turn back the clock to 1977. Instead, we must move forward to approve a state law that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination.”

President Obama supports states’ bans on ex-gay torture therapy On April 8 the White House formally responded to a petition on WeThePeople. gov seeking a ban on efforts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of young people, the The New York Times reports.

The petition called for the creation of “Leelah’s Law,” ideally national legislation that would prohibit licensed therapists from engaging in the scientifically discredited practice of so-called conversion therapy. The petition on the government’s We the People website was authored in the wake of transgender Ohio teenager Leelah Alcorn’s suicide. In a note that went viral after she scheduled it to post to Tumblr after her death, the 17-year-old Alcorn detailed the harm she endured when subjected to conversion therapy by a Christian therapist she was taken to by her parents. The petition obtained more than

100,000 signatures in January, triggering a formal response from the White House.

Noting that the practice is often used on minors, “who lack the legal authority to make their own medical and mental health decisions,” senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett offered a fullthroated support from the administration toward efforts to ban such “therapy,” which has been denounced by every major medical and mental health organization in the country as not only ineffective but likely to harm.

“We share your concern about its potentially devastating effects on the lives of transgender as well as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer youth,” Jarrett wrote in the White House’s formal response to the petition.

“When assessing the validity of conversion therapy, or other practices that seek to change an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation, it is as imperative to seek guidance from certified medical experts,” the statement continued. “The overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that conversion therapy, especially when it is practiced on young people, is neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm.

“As part of our dedication to protecting America’s youth, this Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors,” the statement concluded.

The official response also included remarks from the president, who stopped short of outright endorsing national legislation — which has yet to be introduced — to ban such efforts. However, the official response did mention bans on the use of such “therapy” on minors in California, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. “Tonight, somewhere in America, a young person, let’s say a young man, will struggle to fall to sleep, wrestling alone with a secret he’s held as long as he can remember,” said President Obama in a statement. “Soon, perhaps, he will decide (President continues page 24)

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

15

Opinion Domestic violence in the Deaf LGBTQI community

By Aimee Whyte and Kelsey Wall, Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims Domestic violence (DV) is a significant concern and an issue that calls for attention from people in our community.

DV is defined by the Office of Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice, as “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.”

DV is commonly known in malefemale partnerships and less with samesex couples. Study results report, however, that one out of four (1/4) to one out of three (1/3) lesbian and gay relationships experience DV. This recognizes that DV is an equally presenting concern in the LGBTQI community, and even more so in the Deaf LGBTQI community, as we know that Deaf people experience DV at higher rates compared to hearing people.

The Power & Control Wheel, developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (DAIP) in Duluth, MN, describes the most common examples of domestic violence tactics and behaviors used to intentionally control or dominate an intimate partner. There is a Power & Control Wheel that depicts specific tactics and behaviors in same-sex couples, known as the LGBT Power & Control Wheel, and also a Deaf Power & Control Wheel, which highlights the experiences of Deaf survivors of DV. There does not yet exist a Power & Control Wheel for Deaf LGBTQI persons. Would combining both wheels together help give us a picture of what DV survivors in this underserved population experience?

Deaf and LGBTQI are two large communities that exist in Rochester, New York. However, we do not know much about the experiences of Deaf LGBTQI persons in getting information, help, and services for DV. To address DV within the Deaf LGBTQI community and to improve support services, Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims (ASADV) and the Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley (GAGV) are collaborating on a project, funded by an Underserved Grant (Grant No. 2014-UD-AX-0003) from the Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women.

This project includes an online survey and three focus group meetings for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Signing LGBTQI individuals. The online survey is open until June 30, and the focus group meetings will be on May 13, May 27, and June 6. The goal is to collect feedback, experiences, concerns, ideas, and suggestions to help make DV, dating violence, SA, stalking, and related services, programs, trainings, and events more accessible and inclusive for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Signing LGBTQI people in Rochester.

The survey and focus group results will help both ASADV and GAGV tremendously in identifying gaps in services, programs, and events that are needed.

Please contact ASADVhope@gmail. com for more information about this project.

Power & Control Wheel: http://www. theduluthmodel.org/pdf/PowerandControl.pdf LGBT Power & Control Wheel: http:// tcfv.org/pdf/Updated_wheels/LGBT.pdf Deaf Power & Control Wheel: http:// www.ncdsv.org/images/DeafHope_ DeafPowerControlWheel_2006.pdf

Perspectives on race

By Steven Jarose Rochester and the LGBTQ community are making efforts to put attention on issues of race. Recent sessions on the intersections of race, sexual orientation, gender

identity and expression point out the need for more dialogue and understanding.

My journey in this direction, toward exploration of privilege, has been one of surprise, embarrassment and great learning. I’ve had to unravel my assumptions that being white and male is not only desirable, but also the ideal. Where did those notions come from? How did they get reinforced? Why do they persist?

I grew up in a rural area at a time when supports and resources for gay people were nonexistent. I knew the sting of rejection due to bullying, religious intolerance, social isolation and being the youngest in a family with less than enough financial resource. My privilege had nothing to do with these things. It came the moment I was born because of my white skin color.

My struggles to succeed, to achieve and to excel would have been so much more challenging if I had been born with a different skin color. I was oblivious to the privileges I carried and unconsciously took them for granted.

The gay community sincerely wants to be inclusive, but gaps in perception and understanding hold us back. Privilege does that. We white folks need to do more than say “the door is open”. We must move out of our white, middle class comfort zones. Safety and trust come about though listening with humility and an open heart. People marginalized by systemic barriers of racism, compounded by the intersections of our many other LGBTQ identities, will help us… if we do our work.

How to make it happen Here are a few ideas to make that happen. First, understand that you have privilege. Privilege exists within and between racialized groups.

Second, learn about the impact of racism on all of us.

Third, reach out. Develop personal relationships. To do this well requires time, persistence and a sense of humor when things do downhill. And they will probably go downhill before they come back up.

Fourth, intervene when you witness racist behavior or speech.

Whether or not a remark or action was intended, it hurts. Apologize when you make a mistake without becoming defensive. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process.

And finally, work towards systems change. Build a diverse team of allies around you. Things go better when you’re not operating in a vacuum.

Let’s remember that we are vitally connected to one another. Until we learn to transform our individual and collective pain, we’ll continue to transfer it on to others.

Remembering Jewish heritage: “You Don’t Cry Out Loud”

By Merle Exit Thursday, April 16 was Holocaust Remembrance Day, also known as Yom Hashoah. The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust.

In 2006, President George W. Bush officially established May as Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) after a campaign led by Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz and with the co-sponsorship of the late Senator Arlen Specter.

Lily Fishman, matriarch of The Isaacs, a Blue Grass Gospel singing group, has written an autobiography entitled “You Don’t Cry Out Loud”. The first portion tells about her parents, who survived the holocaust.

94-year old Fiegle (Faye) Fishman is one of comparatively few living survi-

Max, our German “son,” graduating from SOTA.

Expand cultural horizons -- host a foreign exchange student in 2015-2016

By Tony Perri My partner Chuck and I have had the pleasure of hosting two foreign exchange students in the recent past, Max from Germany and Bill from China. To tell you how these experiences have enriched our lives would take volumes. Our “sons” continue to be a part of our family, as Bill and his girlfriend Erika, currently a freshman at SUNY at Stony Brook, spent their spring break at our home in Rochester.

There are many myths concerning who can be a Host for a foreign exchange student.

Families with or without children, empty nesters, singles with or without children, and gay and lesbian singles and couples with or without children in the home.

I am currently a local coordinator for the CIEE (Cultural International Education Exchange) placing high school students for the 2015/2016 school year. Placements are for either one or both semesters.

This is a completely volunteer program. Students come with their own spending money. The hosts provide a bedroom (may be shared with a person of the same sex and within three years of the exchange student’s age ), a desk or table for study, three meals a day and making sure student has a way to school, usually provided by school bus service.

The most important part of this program is providing the foreign exchange student with exposure to the United States, so that they may bring back with them a positive view of their time here.

Anyone who feels that they would like to explore hosting, feel free to contact me (rtony13@aol.com) or visit the ciee website at ciee.org/highschools. You will not have any regrets and will experience memories to last a lifetime.

vors. Poland, April of 1941: “‘Fiegle’,” my grandmother said one day putting money into her hand, ‘take Zlotta and Mendel to buy groceries.’ She sent my mother to a neighboring town. My mother always felt a foreboding when she left the house and left her mother, but on that particular morning she walked away with her two younger siblings feeling very certain that something bad was going to happen, certain that she would not see her mother again.” My mother soon discovered that she had been taken out and shot.

“My mother witnessed thousands of Jews stream into the city from other areas in Poland, and once they arrived they mostly fled to the ghetto. Soon 48,000 Jews lived in their ghetto, scrambled for rations, terrified for their family…

The fate of anyone who complained or didn’t follow orders became obvious and straightforward: instead of being taken to a separate room and never being seen again, they were simply shot in the street.”

In another passage about BergenBelsen Lily writes, “The ground was hard, covered with snow and the air was cold.

The Nazis stripped her and soon she was numb, standing there in the winter air.

The women all stood around naked on that January day, crossing their arms, trying to stay decent, trying to stay warm.

Guards shaved her entire body.” They

were sent to unheated barracks designed for 100 housing 1,000.

Those nightmare days when her mother thought “I want to see where my family is. Nothing else. Sure you cry inside, but you don’t cry out loud.”

Her mother’s camp continued to fill and by the end of the war 125,000 prisoners were crammed inside.

“At least 40,000 people lost their lives in that particular camp, many from starvation despite the fact that warehouses full of food from the World Jewish Congress sat nearby. The Nazis refused to distribute it.”

It was a few years later that Feigle met Uszer Fiszman. He passed on his experience. The train had taken her father to Buchenwald, one of the largest concentration camps in Germany. Early on his job he had to carry heavy bricks up and down a ladder. A soldier passed by to see him resting for a moment and threw a brick at his head. He fell as blood gushed. But he finally got up. “He had to keep moving. He had to work. He had to live,” Lily writes.

Eventual freedom, and the birth of Lily, her uncle sponsored the family as they moved to the U.S. Feigle became known as Faye and their last name evolved to Fishman. ■

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

Health Highland Breast Imaging Center offers free mammograms To celebrate Mother’s Day, Highland Breast Imaging Center is teaming up with The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester and the Cancer Services program of Monroe County to offer free mammograms on May 9 to women 40 and over who do not have health insurance.

The Imaging Center provides free mammograms every day, but May 9, a Saturday, may be more convenient for some women.

The event will take place at 500 Red Creek Drive, Suite 130, from 8 a.m. to noon. Light refreshments will be provided and a reiki practitioner will give free 10-minute sessions.

To make an appointment, call 585487-3304.

Court: Affordable Care Act protects gender variant patients

By Mitch Kellaway on The Advocate In a first-of-its-kind decision, a federal court ruled March 30 that the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) prohibits discrimination against a patient based on their gender identity, reports the National Center for Transgender Equality.

The decision clarified that health care providers and hospitals accepting federal Medicare or Medicaid funds are subject to the ACA’s prohibition of discrimination based on sex, which extends to transgender individuals. This interpretation is akin to with recent federal decisions on Title IX protections for trans students and Title VII protections for trans employees.

The ruling was handed down in a federal lawsuit known Rumble v. Fairview Health Services, filed in June by Minnesota’s Gender Justice on behalf of a young trans man who claimed his Minnesota hospital allegedly misgendered, ridiculed, gave “careless and assaultive” exams, and generally provided him substandard care because of his trans identity. His lawsuit states that he faced such treatment for six days after being admitted following an emergency room visit for genitourinary pain, according to NCTE. While the hospital argued that antitrans bias is not prohibited under the ACA, NCTE noted that the comprehensive healthcare reform law does, in fact, provide a means to address “civil rights” complaints to the Department of Health and Human Services — but that very few citizens are aware of this provision,

and it has therefore gone largely untested until now.

In light of the federal court’s groundbreaking announcement, the Center’s policy director, Harper Jean Tobin, urged trans people to stand up for themselves when facing discrimination from health care providers.

“Having recently experienced a stay in a hospital myself, I know that no matter who you are, if you are trans the fear of mistreatment in medical settings in constant,” she stated. “When it happens, trans people need to know that, no matter where you live, there’s something you can do.”

Federal judge orders gender-affirming surgery for Calif. trans inmate

By Mitch Kellaway on The Advocate In a first for the state, California’s Department of Corrections has been ordered by a federal judge to grant a transgender prisoner access to genderaffirming surgery, reports the Associated Press.

On April 8, U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar ruled that trans inmate MichelleLael Norsworthy’s constitutional rights had been violated when a state prison denied her access to gender confirmation surgery in 2012.

Norsworthy’s prison doctor and psychiatrist have determined that genderaffirming surgery is a medically necessary part of Norsworthy’s transition-related healthcare, in addition to the psychotherapy and hormone treatments she is currently receiving.

Georgia must provide hormone treatment for trans prisoners

By Mitch Kellaway on The Advocate In response to a federal lawsuit filed in February against the Georgia Department of Corrections by trans inmate Ashley Diamond, the federal government has issued a landmark statement regarding humane health care for transgender prisoners, reports the New York Times.

Backing Diamond’s claim that her Eighth Amendment rights had been violated when prison staff continually refused to provide the hormone therapy she had been on for nearly two decades prior to incarceration, the Department of Justice clarified in a court filing and a public statement that such “freezeframe” health policies for trans inmates are unconstitutional. Prisoners should continue to receive the same medically

necessary health care they received “in the community prior to incarceration,” the DOJ asserted.

The DOJ also declared that the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, “mandates individualized assessment and care for gender dysphoria” in all trans prisoners, suggesting that trans inmates who were not undergoing hormone therapy prior to incarceration should also be eligible for access.

Gender dysphoria is the diagnosable distress that occurs from a mismatch between an individual’s internal gender identity and their external anatomy.

Psychotherapy, hormone treatment, and gender-confirming surgeries are all considered by the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association to be “medically necessary treatment for this distress, which can result in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation if a person goes without treatment.”

Indeed, those are exactly the results Diamond, 36, says she’s experienced for the past three years that she’s spent in several men’s prisons following a theft conviction. The loss of hormone treatment, which Diamond had been on for 17 years prior to incarceration, has “violently transformed” her body by reducing her breast tissue and secondary sex characteristics, resulting in several attempts at suicide and self-castration, according to her lawsuit. Prison staff’s failure to note that Diamond is transgender on her intake forms has allegedly allowed the prison to repeatedly deny Diamond’s requests to restart her hormone regimen.

Diamond also alleges that she’s been exposed to harassment while imprisoned, including being called derogatory names like “he-she thing” by a staff member, told to “act like a man,” and told to “guard her booty” by a guard reportedly implying that she should expect to be raped. She has allegedly been punished, including one stint in solitary confinement, for being “insufficiently masculine,” notes her lawsuit.

Further, Diamond’s suit alleges that she has been raped at least seven times while imprisoned, often by her cellmates, and says she sees no indication that her risk for sexual assault will lessen. Her lawsuit claims that some of her housing placements were made in retaliation for her continued requests for hormone treatment.

10 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

By Diane Anderson-Minshall on The Advocate Edward T. Creagan, MD, cancer specialist and author of How Not to Be My Patient: A Physician’s Secrets for Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis, says, “The careful physician will encourage you to elaborate on how you’re feeling, and then with insight, professionalism, and judgment can outline the

most appropriate tests to home in on your symptoms. Ultimately, your health is in your hands. No one has a greater stake in your health than you do.”

Here are Creagan’s top 10 symptoms you need to watch out for: 1. Fatigue lasting more than a week without obvious explanation.

2. Cough that lasts more than five to 10 days, especially if you are a smoker and particularly if you start coughing up thick green or bloody mucus.

3. Pain that lasts more than three to five days in a specific area without obvious explanation.

4. Chest pain.

It’s the big one many men and women foolishly ignore. Don’t toy with disaster.

Get emergency care now.

5. Blood in the rectum, stool, urine, or mucus.

6. A new lump or bump that’s not particularly painful or associated with trauma. Cancer usually is not painful. A lump or bump that has occurred relatively quickly and feels tender is almost always not cancer. But if it doesn’t disappear over a week or so and you can’t remember if you hurt yourself there, see your doctor.

7. Moles.

If a mole appears rapidly or darkens or itches over a relatively short number of months, or starts to bleed, you need to have a biopsy (cells viewed under a microscope).

8. Weight loss.

As a society, we are obsessed with diets. But weight loss without a diet is another matter. Many people who experience a dramatic loss of weight might dance with joy. But a relatively quick loss of weight—faster than two or three pounds a week—may signal an underlying problem.

9. Headaches often are related to tension and stress and rarely are brain tumors, although that can be your first thought. Don’t ignore the new onset of a new type of headache, especially if it occurs in the morning and increases when you cough or sneeze.

10. Stroke signs: Weakness of an arm or a leg, or numbness and tingling of an arm, leg, face, or tongue, or difficulty with speech, could indicate the potential onset of a stroke. Stroke causes the death of brain tissue because the blood supply to certain parts of your brain is interrupted. This is a 911 emergency.

Edward T. Creagan, MD, is a professor of medical oncology at one of the world’s leading medical centers in Rochester, Minn., and the author of over 400 scientific papers. @AskDoctorEd, Facebook.com/HowNottoBeMyPatient, and online at HowNotToBeMyPatient.com ■

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

LGBTQ Living

dom without her liquid to powder foundation (“covers up the color under the skin from hair removal”); Revlon Cover Girl standard oil control pressed powder (“so you’re not too shiny”); L’Oreal True Match blush and Kimmel red matte lipstick. She had eight laser facial treatments a few years ago.

She applies the lipstick over a coat of red lip stain – “I let that set for a few minutes before applying lipstick. Bright red is a new exploration for me and I really love it.”

Emily seldom uses eye make-up except a little pencil on her brows. She has naturally curly hair, which she trims herself.

Emily’s wardrobe consists mostly of trousers, although she says, “every once in a while I’ll wear a dress or skirt, but usually pants.” She added, “I don’t shop exclusively anywhere – my choices are

Emily Henninger applies red matte lipstick. Photos: Susan Jordan

Trans style

By Susan Jordan Gender variant or gender queer people are not usually interested in transitioning from one binary gender to the other. They create their own third-gender style, adopting and inventing as they please (and the EC hopes to interview gender queer persons and also trans men in future articles).

But trans people who do want to transition -- whether male to female (MTF) or female to male (FTM) -- generally have to adjust to a whole new gender presentation.

In addition to dealing with medical protocols if they want hormones and/ or surgery, and complicated legal issues in any case, it can be a struggle for those transitioning to learn to visually express their true selves, sometimes after a lifetime of trying to be someone they never really were. Finding new clothing, make-up and hairstyles may make them feel more comfortable and help them relax into their authentic identity.

This month The Empty Closet talked to two trans women, Cora Treoir Duncan and Emily Henninger, about the evolution of their personal styles.

Cora took her mother’s first name (which her mother had actually rejected), the middle name Treoir (Gaelic for “guide”) and her old first name as her new last name – Duncan meaning “warrior”.

“Cora” also refers to the ancient Greek maiden goddess of the Underworld and springtime, Kore (or Persephone) and in Gaelic signifies “a seething pool”.

Cora, 64, has been a rock and roll lead singer, both in bands and as a soloist, for many years, as a fixture on the Rochester area music scene. She knew from childhood, even in pre-Kindergarten, that she was a girl, but in those days there was no language to describe her feelings, much less support or role models -- except for Christine Jorgenson, supposedly the only trans person in the world.

“THE CLOTHING PART IS EASY – IT’S THE INTERNAL JOURNEY THAT’S AMAZING!” -CORA TREOIR DUNCAN Over years as a cross-dresser Cora accumulated a lot of women’s clothes, but had sold or given most of them away by the time she began transitioning in February 2014.

A year later, she was being interviewed

by Brother Wease, Channel 10 News and, in March, the Canandaigua Messenger Post. “I had to figure out my style,” she said. “My sister (on the board of a PFLAG in the Midwest) and some cisgender girlfriends helped me. One of my girlfriends said, ‘You can’t dress like a granny’.

“I had to start looking for new clothes anyway,” Cora went on, “because I had lost 30 lbs. My style is still rock ‘n roll, and I’m an old hippie. So there’s fringe” (she swings

Cora Treoir Duncan. Photo: Michael Johnson

her fringe bag) “and a little bohemian in the mix. It’s an amalgam of everything.

As it gets warmer I’ll wear skirts, but now in spring it’s knee high boots and skinny pants. I’ve spent a lot on clothes in the past year, even at thrift shops. I’m not a person who dresses like everyone else – even when I presented as a male I was like that.”

As far as make-up goes, Cora said, “I don’t wear a lot of make-up, sometimes lipstick and a little eye make-up. I’ve had some experience with make-up but I’m still working on that. In late March Trillium put on Trans Self Care and I volunteered for the make-up workshop.

“I’ve been having laser facials for six months which has caused a marked change in my appearance. I did my wig early on, but decided it’s not for me. When I was on Channel 10 News one of my girlfriends helped make sure I looked good – I felt like a goddess. I loved the whole thing.”

Cora goes to Facebook transgender sites to see what the younger generation is doing. “‘Transition to authenticity’ is my motto,” she said. “This is who I am. A lot of people ask, ‘Do I pass?’ My friend Robin said, ‘Passing is for quarterbacks,’ and Alexis Martinez says, ‘It’s not about passing, it’s about how I feel.’”

Cora believes in dressing age-appropriately, since mini skirts and cropped tops are not for people in their 60s. “My pet peeve is fishnet stockings,” she confesses. “To me that’s whores, strippers and Hollywood!”

She adds, “The clothing part is easy – it’s the internal journey that’s amazing!

Some trans women who’ve been in the closet all their lives haven’t yet made the switch to a female perspective, and are still locked into their old male perspective of what women should look like – basically the drag queen ‘50s Hollywood image of glamor. I define myself as a pansexual or demi-sexual trans woman.

“My reason for coming out so big was I know a lot of people who are stuck in the closet and have a lot of fear. My being vis-

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ible has helped people – I’ve gotten incredible feedback.”

Emily Henninger, IT specialist, also realized as a child that she was different. “I had an idea,” she said. “It was never really clear, I just knew things weren’t right – I didn’t feel like a boy.”

She continued, “I started transitioning about 2011 and when I got started I didn’t know anything, but I knew I was meant to be a woman. When I made the first steps… I tried to find people like me.

I wasn’t into politics at all – just trying not to feel like an alien. I never felt pressured to pass, I identify as a trans woman and have since the beginning.

“Gender is a social construct. I know I’m more like the women in that construct than like the men. So I try to project my idea about who I am. It’s been very interesting and strange. At first I was fine. Then when I started getting into the really deep thinking about who I am, I repressed it for a long time because I wasn’t allowed to be a girl. In my 20s I did some cross-dressing but privately and not seriously. I finally met my current fiancé who has helped me.”

Emily doesn’t really have a style inspiration, but she says, “Lately I’ve been watching a lot of ‘Once Upon A Time’ and I can relate to one of the main characters, Regina, the Evil Queen. She’s the reason I tried red lipstick!”

Emily uses some make-up, and is sel-

“BEING TRANS IS NOT A LIFE OR DEATH CHOICE – IT’S NOT A CHOICE AT ALL. IT’S ABOUT LOVING YOURSELF AND CONTINUING TO GROW.” -EMILY HENNINGER 100 percent based on how I look in the clothes, and if I see a reflection of what I want to put out to the world.”

As the hard-working president of the Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester (TAGR), Emily does all communications for the group, handles emails, created and manages the website and is currently organizing the dinner-dance which TAGR plans to host on June 5. The theme will be “Spaghetti Western” and it will be held in the Genesee Valley Park gazebo.

“Visibility is very important,” she says, “but wanting it isn’t. I see a lot of emails from people who just don’t know who or what they want to be or could try to be. They come for advice and I always say the same thing – ‘I can’t decide for you and I’m not a therapist, but we can offer support and education.’ I refer them to the Gay Alliance Resource Directory (GARD).”

Emily concludes, “Being trans is not a choice. Deciding to transition is about loving yourself. It’s not all about (trans people being murdered) or having your parents mourn. That’s all wrong. Being trans is not a life or death choice – it’s not a choice at all. It’s about loving yourself and continuing to grow.” ■

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Shoulders to Stand On A Community’s Response To AIDS – The Beginning Years Before 1986 in Rochester This month we begin to look at the Rochester Response. We need to look at communication mediums in the early ‘80s. In 1980 it was estimated that there were one million computers world wide – world wide! Communication occurred though paper, phone and “snail” mail.

The use of faxes, email, on-line newspapers were in the infant stages of development.

In June 1981 the first official documentation of the condition which would come to be identified as AIDS was published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Getting the word out about this new condition was a slow process. Here in Rochester, the medical profession knew about Pneumocystis Pneumonia Carinii (PCP), generally only found in individuals with seriously compromised immune systems, and Karposi’s Sarcoma normally only affecting elderly men of Mediterranean or Jewish heritage and young adult African men, but were beginning to see these diseases appear in men who were young and had previously been in relatively good health. The only other characteristic that connected them was that they were all gay.

Doctors at the University of Rochester Medical Center began to encounter more cases. Dr. Roy T. Steigbigel, MD, Board Certified in Infectious Diseases in 1974, was on the faculty of the University of Rochester. In 1982 - 1983, Dr. Steigbigel began to see a number of patients, mostly men, who had compromised immune systems. These patients were immuno deficient at the cellular level.

In 1983 when Dr. Steigbigel left the University to found the Division of Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Medical Center, he asked his colleague Dr. Ray Mayewski, currently a Professor of Medicine and Chief Medical Officer and Vice President at URMC, to follow these patients and become their primary care physician. Dr. Mayewski, who was at St. Mary’s at the time, agreed to do so. He took on Dr. Steigbigel’s cases, a handful of mostly male gay patients with immune deficiency. By word of mouth, others already experiencing symptoms of immune deficiency, or fearing they would, began seeing Dr. Mayewski. This was a precursor to many AIDS treatment clinics, and the Community Health Network, the first official AIDS treatment clinic in Rochester under Drs. Steve Scheibel and William Valenti in 1989. Throughout the AIDS crisis hospitals did not publicize their services to this population because they did not want to become identified as the “GRID or AIDS” hospital, fearing negative response from patients and donors.

At about the same time, in October 1982, Sue Cowell interviewed Dr. Thomas Rush, a fellow in Infectious Diseases at Strong Memorial Hospital, currently involved with a research project studying A.I.D. Syndrome, for The Empty Closet.

In this article Dr. Rush reports that physicians associated with the Infectious Diseases Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester are in the process of organizing a study to examine the function of a cell called a macrophage which resides in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and skin and whose function it is to remove foreign materials from the blood stream and to interact with other blood born white cells to fight infections.

This cell is of prime importance in resistance against Pneumocystic carinii as well as other agents causing infections in these patients. Dr. Rush goes on to say the researchers are especially interested

in comparing the function of this cell in gay males with the prodrome to that of the cells of healthy gays and healthy heterosexuals. Studying this group is especially meaningful in light of the generally accepted notion that the prodrome may be a warning of what is to come.

Hence. an important other role of the screening clinic will be to help identify patients at risk for serious infections or Karposi’s sarcoma. Others involved in the study include Sue Cowell, a nurse practitioner at the University Health Service, who will be involved with various aspects of the project, particularly with maintaining patient confidentiality.

Dr. Rush informs the community that researchers in Rochester are applying for funds for research from the National Institute of Health (NIH) for the study.

The screening clinic would also serve to identify a group of gay males to enter in a pilot study required to apply for such funds. If funds are allocated from this or other sources, patients would be followed in the clinic for three to five years.

September 24, 1982: The CDC defines a case of AIDS as a disease, at least moderately predictive of a defect in cell-mediated immunity, occurring in a person with no known cause for diminished resistance to that disease. Such diseases include KS, PCP, and serious OI. Diagnoses are considered to fit the case definition only if based on sufficiently reliable methods (generally histology or culture). Some patients who are considered AIDS cases on the basis of diseases only moderately predictive of cellular immunodeficiency may not actually be immunodeficient and may not be part of the current epidemic.

November, 1982: Gay Rights National Lobby (GRNL) organized a major congressional lobbying campaign aimed at getting more federal funding for urgent research on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

In December, 1982 a 20-month old child who had received multiple transfusions of blood and blood products died from infections related to AIDS. This case provided clearer evidence that AIDS was caused by an infectious agent, and it also caused additional concerns about the safety of the blood supply. Also in December, the CDC reported the first cases of possible mother to child transmission of AIDS. By 1982 a number of AIDS specific voluntary organizations had been set up in the USA. They included the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF), AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), and Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in New York City.

By the end of 1982 many more people were taking notice of this new disease, as it was clearer that a much wider group of people was going to be affected.

“When it began turning up in children and transfusion recipients, that was a turning point in terms of public perception. Up until then it was entirely a gay epidemic, and it was easy for the average person to say ‘So what?’ Now everyone could relate.” - Harold Jaffe of the CDC for Newsweek Shoulders to Stand On is grateful for the courage of these early Rochester AIDS pioneers: Dr. Roy T. Steigbigel, Dr. Ray Mayewski, Dr. Tom Rush, Sue Cowell.

Next month we will look in more detail at the Rochester Response in 1983 and 1984.

History Corner A Monthly Newspaper of The Gay Brotherhood of Rochester, NY 713 Monroe Avenue, Room 4, Rochester, N Y l4607 (716) 244-8640.

May, 1975 NO 49 FOCUS This is our 50th issue. The CLOSET first appeared in March 1971 at the U of R in magazine style. This month, we

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focus on the parks, featuring an article by a man arrested in last year’s massive arrests (p-2) The Art of Avoiding Arrest is on p 1, while page 3 has a cruising guide (with ratings) and discusses the baths as an alternative to the bushes. In our letters column, lesbian activist Barbara Britton takes us to task for giving too little credit to the role of women (and too much to men) in our reporting of the recent gay rights statement at Geneseo. Gay Times in the Unemployment line continues this month on p2. Regular features include: a review of the Front Runner, and the Rochester Social Scene. CLOSETARY COMIX will return next month after artist B I Groach recovers from final exams.

Last month’s CLOSET OPINION commented on the lack of variety in bar entertainment. In response to that article Bud Wegman, a local director, has volunteered to direct a dinner theater performance at Jim’s. For info on the show and casting, see pages 2 and 6.

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

Here is the link: http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=4800.

On that page click on: Browse the Empty Closet issues Go to 1975 – May GAY BROTHERHOOD MEETINGS SUN. 4 MAY: TALKING WITH THE DEAF. Intro to sign and communication with deaf gays SUN 11 MAY: GAY VACATIONS. Gay places to go and things to do.

SUN 18 MAY: BUSINESS MEETING. Open to all.

SUN 25 MAY: COFFEE HOUSE. Informal social evening.

Gay Brotherhood meetings are normally held 7:30 Sunday night at the GAGV center, 713 Monroe Avenue, second floor, except as noted above. Meeting topics may occasionally be shifted due to scheduling difficulties.

Other events of interest this month: Sun. May 4 NYSCGO Convention Ithaca, N.Y. Tues. May 6 V.D. Clinic, A.M.-P.M. Club (see ad page 2) Sat.. May 10 Show at Red Carpet (see ad page 3) Sun. May 11 Casting at Jim’s for “Norman, is That You?” (see ad page 6) Mon. May 19 Auction at Bachelor Forum (see ad page 7)

Dr. Michael Keefer of URMC receives Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award On April 30, Dr. Michael Keefer was awarded the Dr. David Satcher Community Health improvement Award, which recognizes an individual on the faculty or staff of the University of Rochester Medical Center for their significant contributions to the health of the community through research, teaching, practice and/

Dr. Michael Keefer

or outreach programs.

Dr. Keefer, affectionately called Mike by friends and colleagues, has been a pillar in the fight against AIDS since 1987, when he received a Fellowship in Infectious Disease at Univ. of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Dr. Keefer has over 28 years of experience in the preventive HIV vaccine field, having served as Director of the University of Rochester’s NIH-supported HIV Vaccine Trials Unit (HVTU) since 1991.

Working initially as a laboratory investigator, he was the first to demonstrate T-cell mediated immune responses to a candidate HIV vaccine. Subsequently he focused his attention on the design and conduct of clinical trials.

When the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) expanded to include international sites in 1999, he assumed the position of the HVTN’s Associate Director of Scientific Administration. In that role his duties include leadership of scientific and administrative committees and visits to international sites. Dr Keefer is also PI of an NIH-funded Program Project entitled “HSV-1 amplicon vectors for HIV vaccine delivery”, a collaboration with Drs. Dewhurst, Mosmann, Federoff and Bowers.

Mike has become the face of HIV/ AIDS research in Rochester. The timeline for bringing a drug from its research phase to use in the general population takes many years. A researcher has to be in it for the long haul to see results. Dr. Keefer is in it for the long haul. Currently, he is one of the doctors leading the first study in Rochester of a potential oral HIV vaccine.

Over the past 28 years, the LGBT community and its allies have come to know Dr. Keefer as a caring, humble, compassionate, competent, tenacious doctor fighting to find a vaccine/cure for AIDS. His work and his Shoulders have brought this goal closer to reality. In it for the long haul, Shoulders To Stand On congratulates Dr. Michael Keefer on his reception of the Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award.

Legal name change?

Birth certificate amendment?

You’ll need those forms notarized!

Our Notary can help!

Schedule a free appointment today!

Call 585 244-8640 or email: info@gayalliance.org

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

Columnists Growing Up WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED (SO FAR)?

By Eric Bellmann A few years ago I was lucky enough to catch a documentary film about the jazz singer Anita O’Day. O’Day was famously featured in “Jazz on A Summer’s Day” filmed at the first Newport Jazz Festival. She transfixed the audience with her double time version of “Tea For Two”. I was an instant fan. Years later I read she was high on drugs that day. My affection for her only increased. I identify with complicated lives.

Twenty-five years ago a friend hauled me to Art Park in Lewiston to hear O’Day sing. This was near the end of her popularity. Her career had several slumps and a number of re-starts. She was middleaged now and, as was her habit, annoying to some, did not face the audience.

She turned to her musicians. She considered her voice an instrument and relished being part of the combo, more it seemed than performing for a crowd. What the hell, I got to see a legend and if no longer in her prime her skill still showed bright.

O’Day got her start in the ‘40s singing with the popular big bands of the postwar era that toured the country. Singers then were limited to one or two songs, then sidelined. No small accomplishment for a woman to succeed in that milieu.

O’Day’s recordings made her a star. She perfected a distinctive style of syncopation when damaged vocal cords prohibited her from holding longer notes.

The drug abuse was, for me, mere frosting. I love talent. I understand adversity. I had no idea how messy her life was until I saw the documentary “Anita O’Day: Legend of a Jazz Singer”. (It’s on Netflix.) O’Day was a tough kid from Chicago. Abortions, arrests for marijuana possession, heroin addiction. There were periods of clean time. Her best recordings were on Verve and recorded while touring in Japan. Then a slow slide into obscurity, ending up in a California nursing home.

Fans rescued her. She decided to return to recording at 80!

In the film there’s a clip of a local TV interview and the host asks O’Day, then in the midst of a successful return to performing, what life had taught her. Not missing a beat, she smiled and said, “How to be a good loser.”

What would be my answer to that question?

One thing that’s proved useful, alas coming fairly late in the game, is to take the blame.

For years when I would find myself in conflict, the deal was always to list my adversaries’ shortcomings. I may have done this, but you sure as hell did that. I skip that step now.

Another thing I’ve learned is that when I am bent out of shape, hurt or offended -- so very, very easy for this gay man who viewed pretty much the entire universe as the enemy -- is that it’s just my ego telling me I deserve different, better treatment. When I can step off side emotionally and recognize that mechanism, I drop it. Nothing useful comes from nursing injuries.

I often panic about being alone, more so now as I age. Lots of what-ifs float through my head. Who will help if my car breaks down? Can I still handle the snow?

I heard an old lady say, “If you can’t help me, I’ll ask the next person.” That sunk in. Don’t wait for people to volunteer.

Just keep asking. That involves a degree of humility and persistence. But it does

work. Especially if you have a neighbor with a snow blower, not that being neighborly has come easy.

Then there is love. Hah! Who hasn’t spent hours, days, years yearning, waiting for the love that will erase all pain. Good luck on that. I know a single mom with two kids she loves who is bitter that she has never known romantic love. I gape at her in disbelief.

There is always love. It just arrives in other forms. I’ve definitely learned that.

Scoff if you will but friends are worth gold. Then there is my mother and her cats!

I struck up a conversation with a sexy older man, a psychiatrist as it turned out, who owned a foreign import business in New York. He told me he believed in God. He explained that he had been “scooped up ” so many times before hitting the pavement that he had no alternative to his belief. Looking back on my messy/complicated life, I reflected how many times I could have died, been arrested, crashed onto the pavement.

I don’t believe that was God saving me. That connection didn’t click. I have no explanation for how I’ve come this far.

Complicated lives reveal honesty and hold encouragement for me. Public personas are so managed, packaged now, it’s hard to find the real person in the story.

That’s why I find sustenance in knowing that Dietrich banged pretty much anyone she could get her hands on and that Colette ignored her daughter and that Anita O’Day was a terrific singer. It makes me like myself more.

Email: EricLBellmann@gmail.com

Cleaning My Closet HYPHENATED-HER-STORY

By Meredith Elizabeth Reiniger Once upon a moment, I was engaged to two suitors. Each gave me a sparkling token of his sweetheart intentions. I wore the first-received bedazzling adornment until it fell apart. Fortunately, there was that second ring.

Those two childhood lovebirds and I lived on Rochester’s Champlain Street.

In those old days, there was no “inner city” of despair and disadvantage. Our in-the-city streets were paved by The American Dream. First generation Italian, German, and Polish immigrants lived in clusters, their languages and foods the glue that kept them connected. They sent their children to neighborhood schools where diversity was a natural blending of just-kids walking together. Learning and laughing together.

We three played Hide-and-Seek and yes-I-had-to-be-nurse Army. Danny, a cute, dark haired, Italian boy, lived with his grandfather who planted grapes in their front yard. Jimmy, of course also cute, was an Irish-Catholic boy who lived next door to his grandfather, a cop. Then there was indubitably cute me who lived with her parents, sister, and one “old maid” aunt. Adorable nine-year-old me with blue (sometimes green) eyes, one with a streak of brown. A mutt-American girl with German and Dutch ancestors, but with no discernible ethnic or religious affiliations.

On our first date, to the Madison Theater on Genesee Street, I sat in the middle while those two boys hand-wrestled on the back of my seat, struggling to win first place in their arm-draped-across-hershoulders competition. Each boy shared his popcorn with me. Until Jimmy used his finger to poke a hole in Danny’s bag.

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.

Which I DID NOT find amusing.

1953. Kids gathered on and around our couch, saying “cheese.” I remember because there remains a memory-enhancing photograph. It was my very first Surprise! birthday party... unless you count my Birth Day, which probably was an astounding shock to me and surely to my sister who had reigned as Princess-OnlyChild for seven heavenly years.

There is the outside possibility that old-timey birthday... no-guest-gift-bagsand-no-Bounce-House... parties were primarily an opportunity to eat unlimited pieces of sumptuous cake with butterfrosting, pink-of-course flowers. It was never about presents. It was certainly about being with friends in the same room at the same time. Mostly giggling.

My big sister had invited Jimmy, my actual heart-throb; runner-up, Danny; Billy who was too young to woo me with glittery diamonds; silent, ethereal, red-haired Veronica; allowed-to-be-student-in-our-Play-School-if-she-agreedI-would-be-teacher Donna Marie; walk-to-school-together Suzanne; makeeclairs-together-after-school-while-herwrinkled-little-grandfather-slept-in-a-tinyroom-off-their-kitchen Joanne; plus others too fuzzy to remember. And quiet, sturdy, did-she-know-she-was-a-lesbian Trudy.

(Or, like me, did it take her thirty-eight years to turn that knob into reality?)

Hmm. That anecdote just came to mind because… because the word “birthday” triggered my recall… because I am old and a large percentage of my life is behind me and, frankly, my life stories captivate me. (Why, I even write a column about Me.) 2015. Now, in the hard-to-believeit-is-here eighth decade of my existence, I find that my birthdays have become a kind of ALL CALL for dear friends. A legitimate, pay-attention-to-me request. Probably a behavior stemming from my father-knows-best 20th century stereotype. In my young-adulthood, my father, yearly, called-in my orders: remember-you-need-to-visit-your-mother/ grandmother-on-her-birthday-becausewe-can-never-tell-if-she-will-be-aroundmuch-longer… which points to another reason I need current friends to show-up.

My ALL CALL includes let-me-hearyour-voice phone calls from distant heartlinks. I especially treasure our continuing family tradition whereby my sister and brother-in-law, calling from Virginia, sing “Happy Birthday”… with Leslie adding her “you…ou…ou…ou…ou” ala Marilyn Monroe’s voluptuous greeting to our Royal President Kennedy.

I value all forms of Reach-Out-andTouch-Someone testaments of unique bonds. This year, using fancy-dancy technology, a friend emailed squishy hugs.

Cousins sent You-Tube birthday greetings with those magically evolving paintings of gardens blooming.

Others employed snail-mail delivery for a Hallmark-ish roasting, portraying me as a paisley penguin, a Sparkle Ducky, and a dangly-earrings, glitter girly-girl.

Some shared heart-deep words that might be spoken over my dead body, but thankfully I was here to feel them. Sure, cards provide no voice, but yes, they have actual signatures, which, for some strange reason, feel like embraces.

Nevertheless, one cannot omit mentioning Reality Checks. It is noteworthy that the first card to reach my mailbox this year was from Blue Cross. The next five were stay-alive-wishes from stores celebrating our credit-card-connection.

“Goody, goody for me,” (what IS that song burbling a bit-short-of-my-tonguetip?) one crazy-wild friend after another helped to elongate this year’s merrymaking period. No only-one-measly-day of attention for me. I was Queen-for-theDays in rooms of friends. We painted the

town purple.

During days upon days of our culinary happy hours, we played Food with Friends over homemade frittata brunch, a Mad Hatter’s lunch, and dinners of sushi, chicken curry, Bucatini Pasta, and charcoal-grilled cowburgers. Alas, our bellylaughs reminded us to forego feasts of frosting flowers.

Most satisfying, our superlative ingredient was friends savoring a smorgasbord of stories-lived. meredithreiniger@gmail.com

Faith Matters “CONVERSION” THERAPIES’ DEADLY OUTCOMES

By Rev. Irene Monroe I wish Leelah were alive today.

She would know how a petition on the White House website with 120,000 plus signatures calling for the enactment of “Leelah’s Law to Ban All LGBTQ+ Conversion Therapy” not only went viral across mainstream and social media internationally, but how the petition was also swiftly supported by Obama and his administration.

“Tonight, somewhere in America, a young person, let’s say a young man, will struggle to fall to sleep, wrestling alone with a secret he’s held as long as he can remember. Soon, perhaps, he will decide it’s time to let that secret out,” Obama’s statement read. “What happens next depends on him, his family, as well as his friends and his teachers and his community. But it also depends on us — on the kind of society we engender, the kind of future we build.”

Leelah’s memory will haunt us as a society until there’s change. Her suicide note sparked a movement to end conversion therapy (also known as “reparative therapy”). These pseudo-therapies are motivated primarily by conservative religion-based homophobic and transphobic therapies and ministries that are hell-bent on the idea that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people can and should be made straight.

“If you are reading this, it means that I have committed suicide and obviously failed to delete this post from my queue…

To put it simply, I feel like a girl trapped in a boy’s body, and I’ve felt that way ever since I was 4…. When I was 14, I learned what transgender meant and cried of happiness. After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was. I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn’t make mistakes, that I am wrong,” Leelah’s suicide note opened.

In wanting to advance the civil rights cause of transgender people Leelah (whose birth name was Joshua Ryan Alcorn ) was a 17 year old trans female who left the following instructions: “I want 100% of the things that I legally own to be sold and the money be given to trans civil rights movements and support groups…. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say ‘that’s f***ed up’ and fix it. Fix society. Please.

Goodbye.”

Just seven years ago, the American Psychological Association put out an official position paper stating, “The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET health professions is that homosexuality per se is a normal and positive variation of human sexual orientation.”

The negative health outcomes both emotional and psychological that these “conversion” programs exact are untold and include depression, anxiety, selfdestructive behavior, sexual dysfunction, avoidance of intimacy, loss of faith and spirituality, and the reinforcement of internalized homophobia and self-hatred, to name a few.

There are, however, still conservative groups proselytizing ex-gay rhetoric as both their Christian and patriotic duty.

For example, in “Pray the Gay Away?,” an episode of the television series “Our America with Lisa Ling,” that aired on “OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network” in March 2011, Alan Chambers (then president of the renowned conversion therapy enterprise Exodus International) spoke about his sure-fire remedy for us LGBTQ “prodigal” children, and how his organization can help us reconcile our faith, mend our sinful lives, and finally walk away from our supposedly wrong-headed “lifestyle” choice. Chambers is a married man with two adopted children, and a purported ex-gay client himself.

But in 2013 in a public mea culpa about conversion therapies titled “I Am Sorry” published on Exodus International website Chambers wrote: “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical…. God is calling us to … welcome everyone, to love unhindered.... Please know that I am deeply sorry…. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents…. I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart. I am sorry that I have communicated that you and your families are less than me and mine. “ For some of us in the LGBTQ community Chambers’ apology was more than a day late and a dollar short -- it was suspect.

Chambers’ act of contrition was suspect not only because of huge cultural and legislative changes made in support of LGBTQ civil rights, but also because Chambers always knew from his own first hand experience of same-sex attraction that one’s gay sexual orientation is never a choice and can never be “cured.”

“Conversion” therapies are acts of rhetorical violence aimed squarely at LGBTQ people. They are also a tool used by right-wing religious organizations to raise money and advocate against LGBTQ civil rights. And with this money these organizations are able to produce politically and religiously Biased Agenda-Driven (aptly abbreviated as “B.A.D.”) science like “reparative therapies,” attempting to justify them by presenting LGBTQ people as genetically flawed — a charge eerily reminiscent of the scientific racism and

sexism that once undergirded treatment of blacks and women as morally inferior due to supposed genetic flaws.

With more and more ex-gay ministries not only losing potential clients and political leverage, but also losing monies reparative therapies generate, there is a gradual shift from “curing” one’s LGBTQ sexual orientation to abstinence from it.

In other words, the theological message that homosexuality is an abomination to God and is a sin remains intact, but more emphasis will be placed on celibacy.

An emphasis on a discipleship to celibacy is equally as harmful and damaging as ex-gay ministries. This message suggests we’re incurable and should execute control over our ungodly desires.

However, when we miss the essential point that human life is varied, precious, and of equal worth, we ignore the unique gifts that each life brings to each other and to the world.

Ex-gay ministries like Exodus International, Restored Hope Network, and “Focus on the Family,” to just name a few, should all fold because they don’t focus on families, but rather they blur the distinctiveness that makes us who we are. God created humanity as a tapestry of variety; diminishing that variety diminishes ourselves.

That’s what Leelah was telling us.

A Few Bricks Short THE SITCOM OF NATIONAL POLITICS

By David Hull I love national politics and I love wacky, screwball situation comedies – and nowadays they are both basically the same thing. I’m already overwhelmed with the 2016 election and 2015 isn’t even halfway over yet. (I’m actually writing this at the end of March, so who knows what is happening as you read this in early May!) I’m astounded by all the names of Republican Presidential candidates; Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, Rick Perry, Mario Rubio, Rick Santorum (I still love Googling his name!), Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Bobby Jindal, Mike Huckabee and my favorite, once again: Donald Trump.

I feel like a new party trivia game will be – can you name all of Disney’s seven dwarves, all of Santa’s reindeer or all of the Republican Presidential nominees for 2016?

But even though I’m flabbergasted by all the Republican men who want to be President, I still have no idea why they want to be President. Well, except, of course, to repeal Obamacare. Is that really the only reason we have dozens of Republicans hoping to be the Commander-in-Chief; just so they can eliminate affordable health care for 16.4 million Americans? It must be Republicans think

stripping folks of their health care is a really patriotic thing to do, I guess.

Jeb Bush has mentioned that, in regards to the Bush Dynasty, he is “his own man”. But if that is true, does it really make sense to have the 41st and 43rd Presidents campaigning for him?

When Ted Cruz announced his candidacy for President at Liberty University in Virginia in March, he did it in a stadium filled with thousands of University students – who were required by the University to be there. If a student didn’t show up, then they would be fined $10. So, will the students also be fined $10 if they don’t vote for Ted Cruz?

There is one Republican candidate who has made a stand on an item besides repealing Obamacare – he’s Indiana Governor Mike Pence; he’s a supporter of “Religious Freedom”. He feels that Americans are being cheated out of their religious freedoms if business owners can’t discriminate against LGBT people. And he’s passed a bill to enforce it!

You know, like if you operate a bakery or an automotive repair garage or a shoe store, you should not be forced to offer services to the LBGT community. Governor Pence thinks that business owners should be able to turn LBGT customers away because of their religious beliefs.

I guess those religious believers would be Bible readers who interpret the gospel to state that God does not approve of “that kind of people”. After all, there is no better way to honor your spiritual deity than to deny your pet grooming services to a gay guy’s Lhasa Apso or refuse to serve a lesbian a caramel frappe at your coffee shop. So, if Mike Pence is elected President, he would eliminate affordable health care and support discrimination in the name of religion. Yep, that would really get our country headed in the right direction!

Now, while I’m overwhelmed with all the Republican guys that want to lead this country – I’m positively underwhelmed on the Democratic side. Instead of hearing two dozen different names, I just keep hearing one name two dozen times: Hillary.

I would really like to see a couple of other Democratic choices before the primaries; however, I don’t need a cast of thousands like the Republicans.

I do have to be honest with you though – I don’t care about Hillary’s deleted emails. I’ve had lots of people tell me that I should care, but no one has told me why I should care. I don’t believe that she deleted any emails because she actually supported the Benghazi tragedy. I don’t think she did any deleting because she was sending insulting, hateful emails to Monica Lewinsky. I don’t imagine she deleted emails because ISIS secretly funded Chelsea’s wedding. And I sincerely don’t care how many times Hillary had to email Bill to remind him to pick up bread and milk on his way home.

I do get frustrated that more young people don’t vote, but I guess when you look closely at the wacky, screwball situa-

23 tion comedy that is our national politics, it’s easy to understand how they could lose interest.

With Republicans sounding like Ricky Ricardo demanding, “Hillary, you got some ‘splainin’ to do!” and Democrats proclaiming, “Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!” as if Jan Brady was her campaign manager – it is kind of hard to take the whole thing too seriously.

Contact David at davidhull59@aol.com

Transmissions WHY NOT THE ASTERISK?

By Laine DeLaney So I’ve decided to stop using the asterisk entirely.

The second column that I wrote for The Empty Closet involved an explanation of why I used the asterisk (prompted by our editor Susan Jordan asking me where the footnotes were).

The short version is this: the asterisk was added to the word trans as an act of inclusion for non-binary individuals, and I wanted my writing to be accessible and inclusive.

I’ve seen non-binary people (genderqueer, agender, gender fluid, and others) get ignored or written off by trans organizations too often. Many of the groups that I’ve encountered are even given gendered names, “Ladies” this, “Sisters” that, and “Guys” the other thing. While it’s important for people who share certain identities to have groups where they can celebrate and explore who they are, I feel that it is also important to have open space where all of us who defy the gender binary (which does include binary transfolk such as myself) to gather and interact.

We have a lot of experiences in common, even if there are individual details that are different. We also have to fight a lot of the same prejudices.

Recently there has been backlash against the use of the asterisk by people who identify as non-binary. The most common issue that I’ve heard raised is that the term “trans” should be inclusive in the first place, without the addition of a symbol that is never used as a part of a word in the English language.

Another point raised against the asterisk lies in its origins. The asterisk was first instituted by Sam Killerman of the “It’s Pronounced Metrosexual” website. There are many who take issue with trans terminology being defined by cisgender people.

The trans community worldwide is coming to a point where many of us feel that we want to take hold of our own destiny and define our own identities and terms for ourselves in terms of our own unique experiences and narratives. We spend so much of our lives fighting the identities imposed on us by others that many of us have grown to resent any such imposition.

This last one is a bit of a sticky wicket, because allies have helped us with

24 terminology in the past. Still, there are many who disagree with Killerman’s work (including the famous Genderbread Person) because he is a cisgender man who does not have a trans experience and there is a lot that he says that does not resonate with many of the voices out there. I believe that Sam Killerman has brought about a lot of important dialogue and exposure to our cause, but it is important in any fight for minority rights to listen to the voices of said minority – after all, that’s the first step to becoming an ally.

I am a binary trans person – I am a woman, and my gender identity is solidly on one side of the line. As such I’m part of an arguable majority in a minority community and it’s important to me that all of us have our voices heard. I honestly can’t say that I’ve spoken to a non-binary person who has endorsed the use of the asterisk. In fact, I’ve been called out in multiple spaces for it, and I couldn’t consider myself a good ally if I wasn’t willing to listen to the voices of the people who I want to support.

The other day I saw an ad for a trans discussion group. The ad stated that it was for “trans* and genderqueer people”. If the asterisk is supposed to be inclusive of nonbinary identities, then why would you list genderqueer people separately? I was reminded of how I’d once been invited to a panel that was looking for “LGBT people and members of the trans community” -- what does the T stand for if not trans?

This may seem like a minor issue of style, and hardly worth its own column.

The fact is that it does affect people – it affects our community’s constantly evolving and shifting attempts at self-identification and self-established narratives.

We’re experiencing a freedom in recent years that we’ve never had before, and it’s going to be a long time before the dust settles, if ever – we have thousands of years of hidebound binary oppression to make up for with self exploration and sharing of our experiences. We are undergoing a Renaissance, a rebirth into a new world

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015 that we are determined to be a part of, and all of us deserve the opportunity to explore and express ourselves in an environment free from externally imposed identities and markers.

Being Well WELCOME TO MY COLUMN

By John Aceto Greetings, and welcome to my column. Actually it’s my very first column ever! My name’s John, and I’m a therapist in private practice.

There used to be a column in the EC about mental health concerns for the LGBTQ community in the past, written by my friend Dennis Foley, PhD, but he stopped writing it years ago. I thought the timing was right to resurrect it.

So what is mental health? A quick Google search reveals this: A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. And what affects your mental health? No Googling needed for this one: just about everything.

Someone does or says something that upsets you, and you get angry. Your partner’s in a bad mood, and you feel helpless.

You just got fired, you feel depressed. You had trouble sleeping last night and you’re cranky today. The list is endless.

However, are there mental health issues that are specific to our community?

Certainly. There are studies that show increased rates of depression and suicide in LGBTQ youth and teens. Other studies demonstrate higher rates of alcohol and drug use in our community, compared with our straight counterparts. And with “gay marriage” afoot, there is an increased need for couples counseling; didn’t see that one coming?

My plan for this column is to educate

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

and inform about mental health issues in general and focus on those that affect our community, with at times a healthy dose of humor. If you have a question or just want to drop me an email, I can be reached at Acetocounseling@gmail.com.

I’m looking forward to this new chapter.

Quick bio: Born in Rochester, raised in West Irondequoit. I graduated from Gannon University in 1988 with a BA in psych, and upon returning home, burst upon the gay scene. I graduated from the U of R in 2001 with a MS in Mental Health Counseling; I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in NYS. I worked at Strong Hospital Dept. of Psychiatry for 20 years; last year I started my private counseling practice. I’ve been with my partner for 16 years. We live in the city and we have two French bulldogs.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (President from page 11) it’s time to let that secret out. What happens next depends on him, his family, as well as his friends and his teachers and his community. But it also depends on us — on the kind of society we engender, the kind of future we build.”

Transgender advocates applauded the administration’s action.

“Having President Obama and the weight of the White House behind efforts to ban conversion therapy is so critical in the fight for transgender and LGB young people,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality in a statement.

“My hope is that when a transgender person’s struggle is acknowledged by one of the most recognizable figures in the world, it positively changes the way they view themselves. The pseudo-science that propels conversion therapy cannot match the self-acceptance that comes with this kind of change.”

Incidentally, the formal response came on the same day Jarrett published an op-ed with The Advocate marking the implementation of the president’s executive order prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination among federal contractors. Between the publication of Jarrett’s op-ed and the response to the petition for Leelah’s Law, the White House disclosed to The Advocate that there are gender-neutral restrooms in the administration’s executive building.

GLSEN response GLSEN’s Executive Director, Dr. Eliza Byard, thanked President Obama for calling for an end to conversion therapy for minors. Organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American School Counselor Association and many others reject the use of conversion therapy, also known as “reparative therapy.”

GLSEN’s Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel, produced in partnership with a coalition of education, health, mental health and religious organizations, addresses this and other practices.

“Studies conducted by major mental health organizations and personal testimony from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth have shown that conversion therapy can create dangerous and even life-threatening effects, including depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse and suicidal behavior,” Byard said.

“We are thrilled that President Obama will call for an end to the use of conversion therapy on minors. It is a harmful and discredited practice that uses rejection, shame and psychological abuse aimed at changing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

“Fifteen years ago, major medical, psychiatric and counseling associations rallied to GLSEN’s side to beat back attempts to force this insidious practice into our schools. We salute them for their pioneer-

ing stance and thank the President for his leadership in protecting youth from these damaging and misguided practices.”

Southern Poverty Law Center Staff Attorney Sam Wolfe responds President Obama’s public support for a nationwide ban against the harmful practice of conversion therapy is an important step toward achieving equality for all LGBT youth and protecting them from the psychological abuse of being told they can and should change their sexual orientation.

These bogus and dangerous conversion therapy services have no basis in science and are based on the lie that there is something wrong with LGBT people – that they’re sick and can be “cured” or “repaired.” The practice, in fact, has been thoroughly discredited or highly criticized by all major American medical, psychiatric, psychological and professional counseling organizations.

Not only does conversion therapy cause devastating harm to young people, as the American Psychological Association has noted, it promotes a climate of bigotry and discrimination against the LGBT community.

Therapists who claim to be able to change sexual orientation also are defrauding their customers as they prey on the vulnerability of youth and their families.

We’re currently suing a New Jersey provider, called JONAH, under that state’s consumer fraud statute. Its services can cost more than $10,000 each year.

In February, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Peter F. Bariso Jr. ruled that misrepresenting homosexuality as a disorder while marketing conversion therapy services is a violation of state law. This ruling marked the first time a U.S. court has found that it’s fraudulent as a matter of law for conversion therapists to tell clients they have a mental disorder that can be cured.

In a separate order, Bariso wrote that “the theory that homosexuality is a disorder is not novel but – like the notion that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around it – instead is outdated and refuted.”

Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s statement “As President Obama has said, sexual orientation change efforts -- colloquially known as ‘conversion’ or ‘reparative’ therapy -- have been widely discredited by nearly every major medical and mental health association across the nation, as not only unable to accomplish their stated goals, but harmful to youth. I believe that licensed mental health professionals should be prohibited from engaging in these deceptive and damaging practices. I am proud that President Obama has added his voice to the effort to end ‘conversion’ therapy nationwide.”

House resolution calls for national LGBT protections law Center for American Progress Executive Vice President for External Affairs Winnie Stachelberg issued the following statement on the announcement of a resolution intended to be introduced in the House of Representatives calling for comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, Americans.

“We applaud Representatives André Carson (D-IN), Steve Israel (D-NY), Jared Polis (D-CO), David Cicilline (D-RI), and their colleagues for announcing their intention to introduce this important resolution calling for nationwide comprehensive LGBT nondiscrimination protections.

Equality should not depend on someone’s ZIP code, and the recent events in Indiana highlight the immediate need for federal action to ensure basic fairness for all Americans regardless of who they are or whom they love. The time has come for Congress to provide LGBT people with the same explicit protections from discrimination currently afforded to other Americans in all areas of life, and we look forward to working with Congress to make the goals of this resolution a reality in federal law.” ■

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Community Congratulations to TAGR!

By Laine DeLaney I’d like to offer my thanks to all who participated in the voting for the Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester on April 11.

I have heard that there was a lively debate, and I’m glad that diverse viewpoints were brought to the fore – our community can only grow as a result of dialogue and discussion.

I’d like to thank anyone who ran for a position; showing interest in taking leadership roles in our community is vital in our efforts to bring visibility and pride to our cause.

I’d like to congratulate Emily Henninger, the newly elected President of TAGR! I’d like to congratulate Genesis Nunlee on his re-election to the position of Vice President! I’d also like to congratulate Aska, the newly elected Secretary! I feel confident that they will make positive contributions to the organization, and I am pleased and filled with hope knowing that TAGR is in good hands. I’d like to thank everyone who voted – your voices are what shape our organization and community.

I also want to give a general thanks to everyone who contributed to the Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester during my term as President, and especially to the indefatigable JoAnne Metzler, without whom absolutely none of this would have been possible. I hope that this election marks a new era of participation and pride for the Rochester trans community.

TAGR has accomplished a lot in a short time – I can’t wait to see what’s next!

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 St., at the corner of Broad St. We have the following services and activities for the month of May 2015: 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: Regular service to celebrate Pentecost, followed by a Picnic in the Park!

5th Sunday: Roman Catholic Evening Prayer We’re headed to the great outdoors for dinner after our fourth Sunday liturgy. This is another tradition: a Picnic

in the Park on Memorial Day weekend.

Bring a dish to share and, if you want to grill something, bring that along as well.

We’ll provide beverages, paper goods and a fire. Exact location (park, shelter, etc.) will be announced in church. Hope you can join us!

2015—Our 40th Anniversary!

We’re booked for AUGUST 15, 2015 for a FABULOUS 40TH REUNION PICNIC! Volunteers are always welcome to prepare for this big event. We’ve started making lists of all the people we can remember (we’re up to about 250!) and now we need addresses. Please make sure you let us know how to contact you. It would be fantastic to see or hear from as many former members of DI as possible.

Send us your current contact information via our email, info@di-rochester.org, or write to us directly at 17 S. Fitzhugh Street, 14614 so we can be sure to send you an invitation!

You can call the Hotline at 585-2345092 or check our website at www.dirochester.org/ for updates on services and activities.

EMPIRE BEARS

Spring has finally sprung. Camping season has started. Friends are always welcome at our sites in Jones Pond.

There is a full summer of great themed weekends coming. If you’re staying in town, every Wednesday night the BEARS meet for supper at 6. May 6 we’ll be at Sticky Lips on Jefferson. May 13 at JB Quimby’s on S. Winton. May 20 is Carrabba’s on W. Henrietta. And May 27 we’ll be at the Winfield Grill.

On second Saturdays the BEARS have a potluck. It starts around 6:30, with eating of all your favorites at 7. Meet us May 9 at the GAGV offices on the 5th floor of the Memorial Auditorium, 875 E. Main St. We’ll probably hit some movies and shows in May. Show up and meet us, or check on Facebook for Empire Bears.

G.R.E.A.T. Celebrates 28 Years

Greater Rochester Eastern Area Tournament, better known as G.R.E.A.T., will be hosting its 28th annual bowling tournament May 1 through May 3 at Clover Lanes.

The theme of this year’s event is “the G.R.E.A.T. lei” and offers bowlers and guests plenty of activities and bowling throughout the weekend. The event previously has welcomed bowlers to Rochester from as far away as California, Florida and Canada. Thanks to all who have participated, the event has been able to raise

over $260,000 for a local charity and a junior bowling program.

Being part of the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO), the committee is proud to be the representatives for Rochester and be able to give so much back to the community. We are already looking forward to next year when bowlers will be able to attend “the G.R.E.A.T.est Show on Earth”.

Feel free to come by and visit us at Clover Lanes during the tournament where you can get more information about volunteering, sponsoring, or making a contribution. Or go to bowlgreat.org.

ROCHESTER WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CHORUS The Rochester Women’s Community Chorus (RWCC) will present its spring concert, “Songs in the key of SHE” on Saturday, June 6 at 8:00 p.m. at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St. Attendance is FREE. We are pleased to announce that this is a benefit concert.

Proceeds from free-will donations the night of the concert will go to Alternatives for Battered Women (ABW).

ABW’s mission is to prevent domestic violence and ensure every survivor has access to the services and supports needed along the journey to a safe and empowered life. ABW’s services are comprehensive and confidential. RWCC is dedicated to using music as the vehicle for messages of peace, hope, understanding and cooperation within the global community.

We hope you will be inspired to attend this benefit event and make it a huge success! The concert promises to provide a delightful evening of songs written by women with a wide range of styles, including songs such as “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, Holly Near’s “1000 Grandmothers,” the gospel piece, “Still I rise” by Rosephanye Powell and the poetic “The Earth is Singing My Name” by Marjan Helms and Dar N’Var. The performance is sign language interpreted and wheelchair accessible.

For more chorus information, call: 585.234.4441 or visit our website at www. therwcc.org. For information on Alternatives for Battered Women, visit: www. abwrochester.org

ROMANS Rochester Male Naturists (ROMANS) is a Rochester based social club for gay and gay-friendly male nudists (or naturists) over 21.

Our membership is $15 for a single person and $25 for a couple. To encourage local young men to embrace a naturist lifestyle, full-time students over 21 years old receive one year of free membership. ROMANS members are year round nudists who are active in indoor as well as outdoor textile-free activities.

Our members will be at two major all male nude camps this year; one in Maryland in June and another one in the Pocono Mountains in August. Over the summer months, you may find our promotional table at local festivals or Pride fairs.

For more information on the club and the latest listing of our activities, please check out our website at http://www.wnyromans.com. You can ask any questions you may have by calling the ROMANS at message line 585-281-4964, or sending an E-mail to wnyromans@yahoo. com or a note via regular mail to PO Box 92293, Rochester, NY 14692.

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

OPEN ARMS MCC Open Arms MCC is Beyond Open and Affirming…Beyond Welcoming. We are a church for ALL. Our 10:30 Sunday morning service is a celebration that blends traditional and contemporary worship styles -- including hymns, prayer, scripture, audio visual messages, and special music. Children are invited to participate in our Children’s Moment before heading off to Rainbow Rangers (ages 5-12) or Rainbow Sprouts (newborn to 5). Our lay pastoral leader, Brae Adams, delivers an inspirational message that connects the scriptures with everyday life. Following the service, all are welcome to join us for coffee and snacks in the Community Center.

Our Adult Sunday School, studying “The Living Questions”, meets weekly at 9 a.m. This group explores what a meaningful faith can look like in today’s world.

Each week offers an individual lesson; new members or visitors are always welcome.

Our last Agape Supper Service, until the fall, will be held on Sunday, May 3 at 5:30 p.m. During this service, you’ll experience worship while sharing a meal with others. Please bring a dish to share as you join in this intimate worship experience.

We have some exciting things coming up in May and June. Get ready to Karaoke and enjoy a potluck on Saturday, May 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Then on Saturday, June 13, from 5:30 pm to 8 p.m., we will have another potluck with a game night!

Our Social Justice Team continues to support Dwayne’s House, which provides clothing and monetary assistance to homeless LGBTQ youth in Jamaica We also help fund the work of our pastor emeritus, Jim Mulcahy, who ministers to our LGBTQ siblings in Eastern Europe.

And, we continue to reach out into our Rochester community. Two recent donation efforts involved sewing mittens for Rochester’s homeless and collecting towels for the shelter at Alternatives for Battered Women. We collect the change from our pockets during our services for the DUO fund (Do Unto Others). This is used to assist people in our neighborhood with urgent housing, medical, food or transportation needs.

We host numerous community groups in our building: AFTY (Adult Families with Trans Youth) meets the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m.; SAGE Rochester gets together with Tom Somerville for yoga, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday mornings; PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, and Questioning) meets on the third Sunday of each month at 1 p.m.; the Cobbs Hills Drumming Circle meets in the sanctuary on the first and third Mondays each month. Our facilities are available for rental by any community groups needing a safe and flexible space.

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 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 lay pastoral leader, Brae Adams, has office hours on Mondays, from 12-2 p.m.

You can also reach us by phone at (585) 271-8478. ■

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

The Avenue Pub Celebrating 40 years in the Gay Community 1975–2015

Updates are posted daily with drink specials & events

The Avenue Pub 522 Monroe Avenue 585-244-4960

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Arts & Entertainment RGMC presents “More Than Us 2” on May 9

J. Harrison Ghee shines as Lola in “Kinky Boots”

By Susan Jordan The amazing gay-themed musical “Kinky Boots” was written by Harvey Fierstein with a score by Cyndi Lauper. It will run May 12-17 at the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000, the box office and rbtl.org.

J. Harrison Ghee plays Lola and is Assistant Dance Captain/ Swing. A North Carolina native, J. has appeared in regional theatre: “The Color Purple”; Industrial: Tokyo Disney Resort, Norwegian Cruise Line. He will be playing the role of Lola in the following cities: Nashville, Dallas, Durham, Charlotte, Buffalo and Rochester.

J., like Lola, is a talented drag performer. “Even though Lola is a larger than life drag/ cabaret performer, everyone can relate to her because of the simple story she has of wanting to be accepted for who she is by her father and living in her truth,” he said. “The thing I enjoy most about the character is how close it is to my real life; I’ve been performing in drag for almost five years and have had the time of getting my family to understand my choices. The most challenging thing about the role is to not allow my personal experiences to get the best of me on stage and to allow the message to simply shine through.”

J. has always loved music.

He said, “I’ve been singing and entertaining myself through dance and music since I can remember; the greatest joy I find in life is affecting people with my work and that’s what led me to show business. I didn’t take my first dance class until I was

18 in New York, and it’s always come naturally much like the singing, but I will always say I’m a singer first and foremost, then a dancer and actor.”

“Kinky Boots” won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical.

J. noted, “The most outstanding thing about ‘Kinky Boots’ is the journey it takes the audience members on; you will laugh, cry, have moments of contemplation, want to get up and dance, and even want to scream out at the stage at some points. It really is a feel-good show with a message that is universal; just be who you want to be and you can change the world when you change your mind. From the amazing costumes designed by Gregg Barnes to the choreography and direction of Jerry Mitchell and the amazing music of Cyndi Lauper and the book

by Harvey Fierstein, this show is constructed to make you fall in love with it.”

J. has carved out a career for himself in the challenging world of show business. What would he tell young aspiring actors, singers and dancers?

“To any LGBT youth who see the show, I would say, take the show’s central themes of being who you want to be and changing the world with your mind and run with it. We must be the change we want to see in the world and even though we have come a long way in the LGBT community, we still have further to go and everyone has a part to play in this journey. “ He concluded, “It really is a pleasure and an honor to have this opportunity to travel the country spreading joy, love and acceptance with this amazing show and I hope the Rochester community will receive the show with open arms and join in the journey of changing the world when you change your mind.”

The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus presents the return of the biggest fundraising event of the season, More Than Us 2, on Saturday, May 9 at a new location: Carey Lake, 959 Penfield Road (Route 441) in Macedon.

Tickets are available for purchase at $55 per person or $99 per couple, online at www. thergmc.org or by calling 585423-0650.

The event will begin with cocktails followed by a buffet dinner, and then the main event: performances by the RGMC and a variety of musical acts from across the greater Rochester area, including RAPA’s Roc City Singers, Brick City Singers from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Concentus Women’s Chorus.

DJ Mikey Mike will perform during intermission, as well as at the conclusion of the show, until midnight.

A silent auction will be held throughout the evening, with over $11,000 worth of items including trips, spa packages, fine dining, sports memorabilia, and more! A full list of prizes is available on www. thergmc.org.

More Than Us 2 will feature Norma Holland as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Well known for her journalistic work in the community as Anchor and Reporter at 13WHAM, Ms. Holland’s vibrant personality and style will frame the evening’s program. “We are very excited to bring More Than Us back as our spring fundraiser,” said Committee Chair and RGMC Board Vice-Chair Ted Smith.

“We are building off the success of last year; bringing a new slate of groups, a larger silent auction, and a new location.”

The chorus is also proud to announce the support of Rochester City Councilwoman Carolee Conklin, and New York State Assemblyman Harry Bronson as honorary co-chairs for the exciting event.

Proceeds from More Than Us 2 help realize the mission of the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus: to create social change through excellence in the choral arts. This event, and others throughout the year allow the chorus to perform in and for the community, fostering a positive environment for the LGBT community, its allies, and supporters.

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Brian O’Neill’s MUSE paintings salute Rochester City Ballet

By Susan Jordan MUSE 2.0, Brian O’Neill’s paintings of Rochester City Ballet dancers, will be on show at The Nan Miller Gallery, 3000 Monroe Ave., through May 14.

The paintings depict RCB dancers at various locations around the Rochester area.

Brian O’Neill told The Empty Closet, “I met Rochester City Ballet Artistic Director Jamey Leverett at an event honoring both of us during a solo show of my work that was a benefit for Trillium Health in the spring of 2013. Jamey was very taken with my paintings and we instantly felt a connection on an artistic level and talked about finding a way to work together.

“The original MUSE collaboration came about in the summer of 2013 when my husband James Hansen, who is a dancer, and I were talking about art and career choices. I was looking for new ways of expression and suddenly recalled the conversation with Jamey and presented the idea of painting the RCB dancers as models in my paintings.

“I feel a connection to the art of dance and RCB because we are all artists and artists like other artists. I have always loved dance and this has certainly been heightened by being married to a dancer and seeing how many countless hours of work go into their craft through conditioning their bodies to express their art and all for only minutes on a stage. This is very similar to the years of training I have done that nobody sees, but yet I have a painting that can be framed -- the dancer only has the moment.”

Brian’s art includes both photo-realism and abstract styles.

He said, “There will be approximately 30 paintings in the show made up of both realism and abstract work, which are inspired by each other.

“The actual making of the collection has taken about eight months, the last three of which has been seven days a week, 12 hours a day -- with the odd day off here and there.

“I can’t say that I prefer one (style) more than the other, since they offer different rewards and different challenges. When I began to seriously train in realism work, I quickly discovered that it made my abstract work better. I began to see compositions and color relationships more clearly and I was able to take greater risks in both.

They also offer an opportunity to explore a broader vocabulary as an artist. The realism and abstract paintings work in tandem with each other and offer me the chance to express myself in both languages and give the viewer and collector the opportunity to choose which they listen to, and hopefully they can be touched by both.”

Brian’s paintings are also a salute to the Rochester area.

He chose the locations for each dancer’s portrait. He comments, “In the original MUSE collection I knew that I wanted to highlight Rochester’s rich and beautiful historical and architectural landmarks. For MUSE 2.0 I have included many of the same images from The George Eastman House; however, I have also included several pieces that are striking in their simplicity and drama. I gathered four of the RCB dancers in my studio in the Hungerford Building to create pieces that are a classic representation of ballet dancers, (MUSE continues page 28)

May’s Day Party Sunday: “Retro Soul & Rocknroll” Grab your vintage finery and head to 140 Alex on May 17 for this month’s Day Party Sunday: “Retro Soul & Rocknroll”.

The Party will run from 2 to 6 p.m., at 140 Alex Bar & Grill, where you can dance to music by DJ Reign. All genders, orientations and ages over 21 are welcome. It’s $3 at the door.

The kitchen will be open for food purchase. Par-tay!

“Sanctuary” 60x36 Oil on Linen. Dancer Jessie Tretter wearing the red kimono that was owned by RCB founder Timothy Draper, in the gardens of George Eastman House.

28 ( MUSE from page 27) yet the compositions are current and contemporary.”

Brian concluded, “Good art doesn’t happen by sticking to what you know and what is comfortable, it happens when you listen to your intuition and take risks and refuse to allow fear to prevent you from trying something new. Prior to MUSE and MUSE 2.0 I had done many figurative paintings; however, I hadn’t worked so closely with the models and allowed myself to be influenced by another art form so deeply. The entire experience was and continues to be very rewarding and I look forward to opening up to the next chapter of creative inspiration.”

Ten percent of the proceeds from art sold, and all proceeds from one piece in particular, will benefit the RCB.

“Beyond” features queer sci-fi/fantasy comics For a lot of LGBT-identified people comics, science fiction, and fantasy were their first experiences being transported to faraway worlds where being different

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015 meant being special.

The stories of being chosen for a greater purpose, or discovering hidden powers within, mirror the experiences so many have coming to terms with LGBTQ identities and coming out to loved ones.

As much as queer people may identify with Marvel’s Inhumans or DC’s metahumans, the number of actual gay, bi, and trans characters is relatively small.

Sfé R. Monster is working to change that one panel at a time.

Beyond is an anthology of 26 comics collected from 18 writers and illustrators all featuring queer characters whose sexualities and gender identities are as plainly stated as their super powers. In an interview with io9 Monster, who’s editing the book, explained that a shared desire to see queerness normalized in sci-fi inspired him to spearhead the project.

“Sci-fi and fantasy have infinite potential for all sorts of diversity,” he said. “It has always baffled me that these stories that accept aliens and magical dragons without question still struggle when it comes to featuring anything more than cisgender, heterosexual casts of characters.”

The stories featured in Beyond wouldn’t be the first comic books to feature queer characters travelling to fantastic lands, but Monster and his co-editor Taneka Stotts set out to do something different with the anthology. Often queer (especially trans) characters are depicted as tragic or their identities are made out to be more magical than their surroundings. Beyond, Monster explained, wasn’t interested in those stories.

“When we put out the open call for submissions for Beyond I stressed that we were looking for diverse stories, and, to my absolute joy, that is something that everyone contributing a story to the anthology embraced with verve,” said Monster. “The thing I love most about Beyond is that giving people the go-ahead to create stories about diverse genders and sexuality gave them a space to tell stories

that many of them have always wanted to tell, but felt there was no market or audience for.”

Read more: http://www.towleroad. com/#ixzz3WXDSbtpu

finest achievements is delving into the online world to explore our actual fears and desires. In that regard, Cucumber offers substantial food for thought.

The shows premiered April 13.

Cucumber runs on Logo after RuPaul’s Drag Race, at 10 p.m. ET.

dYke Picnic & Women’s Festival on May 31 seeks crafters, artists & vendors for “celebration of women”

Logo shows “Cucumber” and “Banana” depict gay male life in 21st century In Cucumber, a Channel 4 import now on Logo, Queer as Folk creator Russell T Davies returns to Manchester’s gay scene to re-examine queer life in the 21st century.

To do so, Davies has fashioned Henry Best (Vincent Franklin), a man who feels way past his prime in gay years. Middleaged and bored with his near-decadelong relationship, the conniving character detonates his unsexy, suburban life and moves into a city-center warehouse with two young gays, one of whom is his office canteen lust object, Freddie (Freddie Fox).

From its title down, Cucumber is driven by sex. But Davies uses the eightpart series — and its youth-focused companion show, Banana (also on Logo) — to paint a sprawling, state-of-theLGBT-nation picture that tackles everything from gay shame and porn to aging and digital dating. Indeed, one of its

The 4th Annual dYke Picnic & Women’s Festival will take place on Sunday, May 31, from 12 - 8:30 p.m., at the Round House Pavilion at Genesee Valley Park in Rochester.

Organizers are seeking women crafters and artists for the annual Women’s Bazaar. They say, “We want to promote and support women owned businesses and women made products. We are looking for crafters and artists from all areas: pottery, sewing, sketching, jewelry making, painting, preserves, knitting, crafting, services offered, etc. We are also accepting Direct Sales Vendors for this event. One Direct Sales Vendor per business. So first come first serve.”

Any woman interested in setting up a booth at the 2014 dYke Picnic & Women’s Festival should email Cathie Timian: ctimian@dykepicnic.org. More information is available at the website: www. dykepicnic.org.

Application fees include the $25 Monroe Country Vendor Permit Fee. A vendors permit will be given to vendors when they check in on event day. Fees: $100 Total until May 10. Last Chance: $150 Total from May 11 until May 25.

Organizers warn, “Sorry, we will NOT consider any applications for crafters/artists after May 25 -- NO EXCEPTIONS!”

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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GAY ALLIANCE NEWS FOR MAY 2015

Recently, our SAGE program has been revitalized, with a new name -- SAGE Rochester -- new leadership, and a refreshed commitment to engaging with the community. Central to that shift has been JessieLee Gibson, our Volunteer of the Month for May. Jessie has been volunteering with the Gay Alliance for three years, helping with special events like the Red Ball and Rochester Pride in addition to her hard work as the Programming Coordinator for the SAGE program.

Jessie works with SAGE Rochester weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where she has led programs like cooking workshops, games, organized events, and more for LGBTQ older adults in the Rochester community. We asked Jessie to tell us a

bit about her work with SAGE Rochester: “In SAGE Rochester we are working on health and wellness of SAGE members, assisting members with supportive, engaging and safe programming. I personally incorporate an active, fun, loving environment as we should live every day to the fullest!”

Jessie has worked closely with Anne Tischer, who says, “A real problem-solver, Jessie can find a way around the road blocks so we have quality social and educational experiences for seniors.

Seniors are often isolated, financially challenged or have physical or mental concerns that must be factored in when doing planning and Jessie goes the extra mile to try to include everyone.”

Jessie is from Bloomfield, NY, where she raises a daughter and son. Beyond her work with the Gay Alliance, Jessie also volunteers at WXXI and advocates for special education reform and the prevention of human trafficking and domestic violence. She begins each day feeding the cat and seeing her daughter off to school, and ends it seeing her son falling asleep with his music still playing. Jessie told us, “I’ve had many successful and failed journeys, but every day the sun will shine and my new day starts with wondering what it will bring.”

We are forever grateful to the Jessie for her dedication and commitment to the lives of Rochester area LGBTQ older adults -- without people like her, our work wouldn’t be possible. Congratulations to JessieLee Gibson for being selected Volunteer of the Month for May!

Bikers Maya and Ed on round two of the 50 mile bike route in Ride For Pride 2014. Photo by Owen Zacharias (who also completed the ride twice!)

Support the amazing riders of Ride For Pride 6

By Jeanne Gainsburg Last year riders Maya, Ed and Owen woke up at 4 a.m. to bike the Ride For Pride route and mark it with arrows in temporary paint to help the riders find their way. They returned

When someone in your life transitions,

just in time to set off with the group and bike the route again, completing 100 miles that day!

This year at 4 a.m., riders Maya, Ed and Owen will again be biking the Ride For Pride loop twice. If you would like to thank these wonderfully dedicated people for their amazing efforts and support of the Gay Alliance, please consider mak-

ing a donation to their Ride For Pride fundraising pages at www. gayalliance.org.

Simply click on the Ride For Pride slide and then click on the rider’s name. Your donation is tax deductible and will be added to our Ride For Pride goal of $25,000. Thank you so very much for your support!

Victor Hills Golf Club Sunday July 12, 2015, 10am start $85/person • $340/foursome Registration includes lunch, dinner and show Register at 140 Alex or contact Mike 585-734-9860 Proceeds will benefit the Gay Alliance - Roc Pride

DATE

Volunteer of the Month: JessieLee Gibson

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

SAVE

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Come share with us.

Families & Friends of Trans Adults

2nd & 4th Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 pm Equal Grounds 750 South Ave. Rochester (New Location!)

so do you.

585 244-8640 info@gayalliance.org www.gayalliance.org

GAY ALLIANCE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES Hours: Every Monday & Wednesday: 6-8 pm • 875 E. Main St. (1st floor off Prince St. lobby) • Rochester 14605 • 585 244-8640 • GayAlliance.org

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.

The Gay Alliance, 875 East Main Street, Rochester, New York 14605 • Phone: (585) 244-8640 Fax: (585) 244-8246 Website: www.gayalliance.org E-mail: Info@gayalliance.org Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm • Board President: David Zona Board Vice President: Jessica Muratore Executive Director: Scott Fearing Education Director: Jeanne Gainsburg Education Coordinator: Rowan Collins Database: Kat Wiggall Bookkeeper: Christopher Hennelly Office Administrator: Tristan Wright 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; chrisd@gayalliance.org

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

GAY ALLIANCE NEWS FOR MAY 2015

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YOUTH

Our program empowers today’s teens to meet today’s challenges! It provides a safe space to explore their identity, make friends, build community, gain life skills, become a leader and have fun!

Fabulous Fridays: 7-9pm. (Ages 13-20) Gender Identity Support Group: Tuesdays: 5:30-6:30pm. (Ages 13-18) More info: youth@gayalliance.org The Gay Alliance 875 E. Main Street, (5th Floor) Auditorium Center, Rochester, NY 14605 Phone: 585-244-8640 • Web: gayalliance.org

Speaking Engagements March 2015 • Transgender Inclusive Healthcare at Wegmans School of Pharmacy • Creating Inclusive Workplaces at CooperVision • Intersections Workshop at The MOCHA Center • Shoulder To Stand On Film and Discussion at the Multi-Use Community Cultural Center • Transgender Community Awareness at Shepherd University in West Virginia • LGBTQ Community Awareness at WXXI Connections • Creating Safe and Inclusive Schools at Pittsford Central School District • SpeakOUT Training at the Gay Alliance • LGBTQ Panel Presentation at St. John Fisher College • SafeZone Training for the Brighton Central School District’s Counseling and Mental Health Staff • Creating Safe and Inclusive Schools at Brockport Central School District • SafeZone Train-the-Trainer Certification Program at the Gay Alliance • Creating Safe and Inclusive Schools at Autumn Lane Elementary • Health and Wellness Fair at Nazareth College • Creating Safe and Inclusive Schools for the School Administrator’s Association of NY State (SAANYS) • Trans Inclusion in the Workplace for the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council • Educating With Our Personal Story at the Gay Alliance • Sexual Assault Prevention in the LGBTQ Community for the Susan B. Anthony Center at the University of Rochester Quotes from March: • “Rarely can I have an open discussion about hot topic issues with such generous and intelligent feedback.”

• “The strengths of the presenters were their honesty, their ability to ‘think on their feet,’ their logical teaching style and their personal stories. Thank you for drawing out the best in this group!”

• “Outstanding! I learned that I need to focus more on what I say in my classroom – am I saying something/anything that is discriminatory. The only thing that could have made this presentation better was more time. Love it and would love to attend more. Can we have more workshops?”

• “Rich. Great depth and breadth. Never talked at. Truly ‘facilitated’ learning. The best part was modeling how to engage questions/ comments/push-backs with affirmation and inclusion while returning to educational objectives. Valued the wisdom in the room. Best workshop I’ve attended in years.”

ON GARD

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

SAGE members enjoy the fish fry at Jay’s Diner. Photo: Brian Hurlburt.

SAGE MAY CALENDAR May 2 -10:30am-11:30am Yoga with Tom, 11:30am-12:30pm Brown bag lunch, 12:30pm Movie Day “THE GIRL RUSH 1954 w/ Rosalind Russell – not an Elvis film.” Audet as your host.

Tuesday, May 5 - 10:30-11:30 Yoga with Tom, 11:30am-12:30pm Potluck lunch with theme of “Tour of Italy”. Desserts, salads, main dishes and big appetites welcome.

1pm-2pm Fire safety talk with the Rochester City Fire Dept. “How can you prevent a fire or help others in your community with fire safety”. Hosts: Anne and Jessie Thursday, May 7, 10:30am-11:30am Yoga with Tom, no afternoon program.

May 10 - Happy Mother’s Day Tuesday May 12 -10:30am-11:30am Yoga with Tom, 11:30-12:30pm brown bag lunch, 12:30pm-1:30pm Sage Rochester food competition: Get your egg on! Dig up your best egg recipe and challenge Sage members to a taste duel. All egg dishes welcome: flan, custard, quiche, casseroles, salad, devilled eggs etc. Get ready, set…

Scramble. Hosts: Anne and Jesse (Bring a guest and get a surprise.)

Thursday May 14 - 10:30am No YOGA, Denny’s breakfast with your host Audet at 911 Jefferson Rd. Saturday May 16 -5pm-8pm Community potluck and BINGO game, Bring your friends, neighbors and family to this fun, friendly event $3.00 with token prizes.

All potluck dishes welcome, salads, dessert, main dishes and appetizers welcome.

Hosts: Jessie and Anne Tuesday May 19 – 10:30 – 11:30 Yoga w/Tom, 11:30 – 12:30 brown bag lunch, 12:30pm games & conversation.

May 25 – Happy Memorial Day Thursday May 26 - 10:30 am-11:30 Yoga with Tom, 11:30-12:30pm brown bag lunch 12:30pm to 3pm Arts and crafts with Euchre game available.

Thursday May 28, - 10:30 am-11:30am Yoga with Tom, No afternoon program Friday May 29 - 5pm- “Fish fry Friday “at our local Golden Fox Restaurant (1115 Culver Rd, Rochester, NY 14609). All welcome and please bring a friend. 585288-6687 to reach the Golden Fox for driving instructions.

Sage Rochester is a program for LGBTQI people over 50 and meets at Open Arms Community Center. (707 E. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14605). Yoga is $5 per person and every Tuesday and Thursday unless specified in calendar. All programs subject to change and all members are responsible for transportation and lunch. Please become a SAGE member today and update membership info by GAGV at 585-244-8640. All programs are open to the public and “all” are welcome.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015

Resources 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, some at Open Arms MCC 707 E. Main St. 244-8640; SAGE@gayalliance.org

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: 122 Liberty St. Box 624, Bath, NY 14810 607-776-9166. The Health Outreach Project: 416 Central Ave., Rochester, NY 14605; 585-454-5556.

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. (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-

Check our monthly and ongoing calendar as well as the community section for more groups and events. For further information, call the Gay Alliance at 244-8640 or visit: www.gayalliance.org. More SAGE and Gay Alliance Youth Group info: pages 30-31.

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

Anthony L. Jordan Health Center, Prevention and Primary Care.

HIV walk-in testing Tues. & Fri.; Hep C walk-inn treating Weds. & Fri; Meet clinician by appointment. 82 Holland St., Rochester 14605. 585-4232879; fax 585-423-2876. www,jordanhealth.org 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 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; Wanda Martinez 585-3938265 or 585-205-3360.

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.

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. Families and Friends of Trans Adults (F2TA) Support group for non-transgender people who are struggling with the transition of a transgender friend or loved one. Meets on second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, at Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. 244-8640; www.gayalliance.org; info@gayalliance.org.

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 Julia A. Sáenz, 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, jsaenz@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, bank-

ruptcy, unemployment insurance hearings, wills and advance directive documents for clients with serious illnesses.

Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Support Group Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 Gay Alliance office, 5th floor.

875 E. Main St., 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 Address: Rochester, NY; E-mail info@loragroup. org Website: www.loragroup.org; L.O.R.A Late Bloomers Group is a support group offered through L.O.R.A. (Lesbians of Rochester & Allies).

It is a coming out group for women of all ages and backgrounds! The group meets once a month in a safe private location! Come share your story and listen to others share. We will have a variety of topics to discuss about coming out and special guest speakers from time to time. Group Facilitator: Cathie Timian email: ctimian@loragroup.org or call 585.313.3037 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 840 University Ave.; 585-473-8177; www.bccr. org; email: info@bccr.org. Breast Cancer Coalition provides support services that include programs designed to help those coping with a recent breast cancer diagnosis and those coping with an advanced breast cancer diagnosis, such as the Advanced Breast Cancer Support Group to support women living with metastatic breast cancer. Information about breast cancer, lending library, a monthly educational program. All BCCR programs, support 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.

Alternatives for Battered Women 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 Fridays, 7-9 pm. Gay Alliance office, 5th floor, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640; Ages 13-20. www. gayalliance.org Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Support Group Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 Gay Alliance office, 5th floor.

875 E. Main St., Ages 13-20. 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. ■

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

33

Ongoing Calendar DAILY

WEDNESDAYS

FRIDAYS

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 David Bohnett Cyber Center Gay Alliance 5th floor lounge, Mon.-Thurs. 11am3pm, Fri. 11am-1pm, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640; www.gayalliance.org

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 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month, Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave., Rochester. 6 – 8pm. Contact Person: Kerry Cater. Email: dressyfemme@aol.com Gay Alliance Board of Directors Meets Third Wednesdays, 6pm, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640 New Freedom New Happiness AA Gay meeting, 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd. Men and women. Open.

Support Group for Parents who have lost Children First, 3rd Wednesdays, 11am-12:30pm, Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs St. Genesee Region Home Care. Free. 325-1880 COAP Come Out and Play. Wednesday game nights.

8-11 pm. Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. 7pm, woody14619@yahoo.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, Every Mon./Wed. 6-8pm. David Bohnett Cyber Center, 5:30-7:30pm, First floor, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640 Empire Bears Every Wednesday. 6pm dinner at various venues. www.empirebears.com

Gay Men’s AA meeting Fridays, 7:30-8:30pm, Closed meeting. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. Gay Alliance Youth Fridays, 7-9pm, Gay Alliance, 5th floor, 875 E. Main St., 244-8640; Ages 13-20. youth@gayalliance.org GLBTQI Motorcycle Group Second Fridays, 5:30pm, Various locations.

RochesterGLBTIQbikers@yahoo.com; 467-6456; bmdaniels@frontiernet.net.

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.

MONDAYS L.O.R.A. Coffee Social Weekly on Monday Nights, 7 pm. Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. Rochester. Family, Friends & Allies Welcome! Contact Person: Cathie Timian. More info: www.loragroup.org. Events: https://www. facebook.com/groups/L.O.R.A.14464/. Email: info@loragroup.org Rochester Historical Bowling Society 7pm. Clover Lanes Gay Alliance Library & Archives, Every Mon./Wed. 6-8pm. David Bohnett Cyber Center, 5:30-7:30pm, First floor, 875 E. Main St. 244-8640 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. Families and Friends of TransAdults (F2TA) Support group for non-transgender people who are struggling with the transition of a transgender friend or loved one. Meets on second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, at Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. 244-8640; www.gayalliance.org; info@gayalliance.org LGBT Healthy Living Veterans support. Second, fourth 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 Trans* Youth Support Group 5:30-6:30 pm, GAGV office, 5th floor, 875 E. Main St. Ages 13-20. 244-8640. Gay Alliance SAGE Rochester 50+ Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually 10:30am at venues including Open Arms Community Center, 707 E. Main St. 244-8640. (See page 31)

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 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 Open Arms Community Center, 707 E. Main St. 244-8640. (See page 31)

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 ■

ROCHESTER AA/NA MEETINGS Every week there are four regularly scheduled GLBTI AA and two inclusive NA meetings in Rochester.

ROCHESTER TUESDAYS

AA/NA MEETINGS

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.

WEDNESDAYS New Freedom/New Happiness Group 7pm. First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd. Bus riders: Take the last #18 University bus to 12 Corners. Use the stop just past the top of the hill at Hillside Ave. and before Highland Ave. Or take the #1 Park Ave. to the corner of East and Winton, then walk five minutes south (uphill) on Winton. This is an open discussion meeting. All issues – as they relate to our alcoholism/addiction and recovery – are fair game.

FRIDAYS Gay Men’s 7:30pm. Immanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. • Closed meeting, restricted to alcoholics and addicts • Men’s 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.

34

May FRIDAY 1

May Day G.R.E.A.T. 28th annual bowling tournament. Through May 3 at Clover Lanes. bowlgreat.org.

SATURDAY 2

Reception honoring Sue Cowell, 3-6 pm, Studio 180, 180 St. Paul St. $50. All proceeds to LGBTQ Scholarship Fund in Sue’s name. Presentation of Shoulders To Stand On Lifetime Achievement Award.

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. Shoulders To Stand On documentary screening, 2:30-4:30 pm, Penfield Library, 1985 Baird Rd., Penfield. Free.

“Being Transgender Today” Sunday Seminar with Ben Eshleman, R.I.T. Wolf Scholar for research into Rochester’s transgender history. Third Presbyterian Church (4 Meigs St. at East Ave.) 9:30 am; “Lunch and Learn” Panel Discussion at 12:15 pm with Ben Eshleman, Emily Henninger and Julie Acosta of Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester, Cara Wood of Trillium Health, Gay Alliance. Church office: 585-271-6513; cost is $5.

WEDNESDAY 6

Empire Bears dinner, 6 pm, Sticky Lips, Jefferson Rd.

SATURDAY 9

Free mammograms, Highland Breast Imaging Center, 500 Red Creek Drive, Suite 130, 8 am-noon. Light refreshments; a reiki practitioner will give free 10-minute sessions. For appointment call 585487-3304.

Open Arms community karaoke and potluck 5:30-8 pm. Open Arms Community Center, 707 E Main St. Empire Bears potluck, 6:30 pm, Gay Alliance, fifth floor, 875 E. Main St.

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015 Prom-I-Con. 2015 Big Gay Prom for LGBTQA youth ages 13-20, DJ Chuck Argento. 7-11 pm, Diplomat Banquet House, 1956 Lyell Ave. Sponsored by The Gay Alliance. Advance tickets $20, available at Equal=Grounds and online at www.gayalliance.org.

Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus fundraiser, “More Than Us 2”. Carey Lake, 959 Penfield Rd. (Route 441), Macedon.

Cocktails, buffet, silent auction. RGMC, Roc City Singers, Brick City Singers RIT, Concentus Women’s Chorus. Tickets $55/ person or $99/couple, www.thergmc.org or 585-423-0650.

GLAAD Media Awards, Waldorf Astoria, 301 Park Ave., NYC. Featuring Laverne Cox, Jeffrey Tambor, more. Tickets at glaad.org/mediaawards.

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

There’s Always Time for a Cocktail, starring Mrs. Kasha Davis. Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd St., NYC. Tickets $22/VIP $40; http://www.spincyclenyc.com.

WEDNESDAY 13

Empire Bears dinner, 6 pm, JB Quimby’s, S. Winton Rd.

FRIDAY 15

Empty Closet deadline for June issue. 244-9030; susanj@gayalliance.org.

SATURDAY 16

SAGE Community Potluck and Bingo. $3. Token prizes. 5-8 pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Pride Agenda Rochester Spring Dinner. Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 5:45-11 pm. Honoring Community Champions.

Emcee: Orange is the New Black star Lea DeLaria, keynote speaker NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Information, sponsorships and tickets at prideagenda. org/SpringDinner.

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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.

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 304-517-6832.

Martin Ippolito master electrician. Electrical work, telephone jacks, cable TV, burglar alarm systems, paddle fans. 585-266-6337.

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.

FOR RENT

Culver/Empire: $400/month plus 1/3 utilities. Room available, share 3BR house w/ 2 mature women, pet-friendly, female preferred. Quiet residential street. Share LR, DR, Kitchen, Washer/Dryer. Must be clean, sane, responsible, employed. Sorry, no DSS, Section 8. Mitch 585-360-5151

SUNDAY 17

SATURDAY 30

WEDNESDAY 20

SUNDAY 31

Dignity Integrity. Episcopal Mass, quiet. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. Shoulders To Stand On documentary screening, 2-4 pm, Macedon Public Library, 30 W. Main St., Macedon. Free.

Sunday Day Party: “Retro soul & rocknroll”. Day Party for the month of May, 2-6 pm, at 140 Alex. Music by DJ Reign. Everyone welcome. $3 at door.

21 +.

Empire Bears dinner, 6 pm, Carabba’s, W. Henrietta Rd.

SUNDAY 24

Dignity Integrity. Regular service to celebrate Pentecost, followed by a Picnic in the Park. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

WEDNESDAY 27

Empire Bears dinner, 6 pm, Winfield Grill, Winton Rd.

Drumming workshop, 10 am-4 pm, Carmen Clark Lodge at Brighton Town Park, 777 Westfall Rd. Workshops, Dynamic Drum Arts women drummers, Miraculous Rhythms of Sankofa Jazz Ensemble. Open to all genders, new and experienced drummers; children over 10 welcome. Lunch available for purchase or bring your own. Early bird: $25 on PayPal at Sherlea@gmail.com. $35 on May 30 if space available. ASL interpreted.

Dignity Integrity. Roman Catholic Evening Prayer. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. 4th Annual Dyke Picnic and Women’s Festival. “A celebration of women.”

Noon, Round House Pavilion, Genesee Valley Park. Live music, crafters/vendors, psychics, food vendors, Reiki healers. Presented by LORA. Free admission. ■

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!

MAY 2015 • NUMBER 489 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

The Empty Closet is published by the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500 Rochester, New York 14605 © 2015, All rights reserved.

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Editor-in-Chief: Susan Jordan Staff Reporter: Ove Overmyer Graphic Design: Jim Anderson Ad Sales: Jennie Bowker (jennieb@gayalliance.org) Chris DelConte (chrisd@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, 875 E. Main St., 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, 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14605; e-mail: emptycloset@gagv.us. The online edition of EC is available at www.gayalliance.org.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 489 • MAY 2015