Empty Closet, May 2017

The Empty Closet NUMBER 511

ONE OF THE FIRST LGBTQ PUBLICATIONS IN UNITED STATES

MAY 2017

ROC Pride 2017

Summer of Love Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair…

Rochester’s 2017 ROC Pride will be a weekend of love and fun and LGBTQ solidarity.

Organizer Sam Brett said, “We are very excited to bring ROC Pride back to Cobbs Hill Park this summer. Last year proved very successful with over seven thousand people attending the festival over the course of the weekend, and with over 100 units in the parade. We are planning on having more centralized areas; for example, the kids’ area will be more centralized and located near the playground in the park. The food trucks will be located closer to one another, to create a food court atmosphere. We are expanding and improving on the second stage area, with entertainment all weekend long but also with the addition of a second beer garden so people can have the amenities of the main stage (food and drink) in a more relaxed environment. (Continued on page 25)

Bus Trips: Albany on May 2; DC on June 11 – See Page 4

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... a community is known by the company it keeps ...

We appreciate the continuing partnership of community businesses who support our community mission and vision.

GOLD Bachelor Forum City of Rochester SWS Charitable Foundation, Inc Trillium Health SILVER Constellation Brands Empire Merchants Lake Beverage Nixon Peabody, LLP Southern Wine & Spirits Victory Alliance Waddell & Reed BRONZE 140 Alex Bar & Grill Advantage Federal Credit Union Anderson Windows Avenue Pub Bank of America, Merrill Lynch CSEA Empire North Excellus First Niagara Fred L. Emerson Foundation Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP HCR Home Care Hedonist Chocolates Jim Beam John’s Tex Mex Joseph & Irene Skalny Charitable Trust Logical Operations New York Life 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

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Contents

Book Art • Chocolate • Nina LaCour • Big Wigs • CampusOut • Stronger Together • The Scene • TransAmericans • NYS Prides • We Exist • And More!

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WOW

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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.

100 College Avenue • Rochester , New York

Benefits: Your annual Gay Alliance membership, aside from the good feelings, entitles you to a free subscription to New York state’s first gay publication: The Empty Closet – mailed to your home or work. There are also exciting privileges at each level. Phone: 585-244-8640 or mail to: The Gay Alliance, 100 College Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607.

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Gay Alliance Board of Trustees Colleen Raimond, President Jennifer Matthews, Secretary Jason Barnecut-Kearns, Treasurer Paul Birkby, Sady Fischer, Jeff Lambert, Martin Murphy, Milo Primeaux, Louis Rosario-McCabe, David Zona

Perspective Looking forward

The Empty Closet is published by the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley 100 College Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607 © 2017, All rights reserved.

Editor-in-Chief: Susan Jordan Graphic Design: Jim Anderson Ad Sales: Jennie Bowker, jennieb@gayalliance.org Advertising policy: The Empty Closet does not print advertisements that contain nude drawings or photographs, nor does it print advertising that states that the person pictured in the ad is for sale, or that you will “get” that particular person if you patronize the establishment advertised. Advertisements that are explicitly racist, sexist, ageist, ableist or homophobic will be refused; advertisements from organizations that are sexist, racist, ageist, ableist or anti-gay will also be refused.

All political advertisements must contain information about who placed them and a method of contact.

Additionally, The Empty Closet does not print negative or “attack” advertisements, whether they relate to a product or politics and no matter in whose interest the ad is being produced. A negative advertisement is defined as one that focuses upon a rival product, or in the political area, a rival election candidate or party, in order to point out supposed flaws and to persuade the public not to buy it (or vote for him or her). The Empty Closet maintains, within legal boundaries, neutrality regarding products, political candidates and parties. However, “attack” ads that fail to provide undisputable evidence that the information in the ad is true do not further in any way the objectives and policies of the Gay Alliance or The Empty Closet, including the primary tenet that The Empty Closet’s purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community and to provide an impartial forum for ideas.

Submissions: For publication, submit news items, ads, photos, letters, stories, poetry, ads, photographs or art by mail or in person to The Empty Closet office by the 15th of the month. Design services for non-camera ready ads are available for a fee. 244-9030, susanj@gayalliance.org Publication Information: The Empty Closet is published 11 times a year (December and January combined) by The Empty Closet Press for the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc. Approximately 5000 copies of each issue are distributed during the first week of the month, some by mail in a plain sealed envelope. The publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles is not an indication of the sexual or affectional orientation of that person or the members of that organization. For further information, please write to The Empty Closet, 100 College Avenue, Rochester NY. 14605, call (585) 244-9030 or e-mail emptycloset@gagv.us.

The Empty Closet is the official publication of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc., as stated in the bylaws of that organization. Its purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community about local and national gay-related news and events; to provide a forum for ideas and creative work from the local gay community; to help promote leadership within the community, and to be a part of a national network of lesbian and gay publications that exchange ideas and seek to educate.

Part of our purpose is to maintain a middle position with respect to the entire community. We must be careful to present all viewpoints in a way that takes into consideration the views of all – women, men, gender expansive people, people of color, young and old, and those from various walks of life.

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

The Empty Closet shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the publication (whether correctly or incorrectly) or omission of an ad. In the event of non-payment, your account may be assigned to a collection agency or an attorney, and will be liable for the charges paid by us to such collection agency or attorney.

Letters to the editor: The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. We will print letters at the editor’s discretion and on a space available basis. Only one letter by the same writer in a six-month period is allowed. We will not print personal attacks on individuals, nor will we be a forum for ongoing disputes between individuals. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. We will print anonymous letters if the name and phone number are provided to the Editor; confidentiality will be respected. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month at: The Empty Closet, 100 College Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607; e-mail: susanj@gayalliance.org. The online edition of EC is available at www.gayalliance.org.

SUSAN JORDAN EMPTY CLOSET EDITOR Coming up in June, we’ll see Prides in NYC and Washington D.C.; it’s possible that there will be a resistance march rather than the usual parade in both cities, and a rally here in Rochester. D.C.’s event is set for June 11, and the Gay Alliance will be providing a bus – details below and in the June Empty Closet. Stay tuned!

July is, of course, Rochester’s Pride Month, and this year the theme is “Summer of Love”. As someone old enough to remember the original summer of love, I’m hoping that this will draw a line between our LGBTQ

community’s love and the hate preached by the bigots and ideologues of the far right.

One of the worst, most dehumanizing stereotypes pushed on LGBTQ people, especially gay men, is that we are merely sexual predators, incapable of love and commitment. The victorious national campaign for marriage equality has helped to banish that stereotype, as we made clear that many millions of loving LGBTQ couples and families exist – both biological and extended, non-biological families. Apparently most Americans now oppose the erasure of marriage equality and the return of legal discrimination against us.

But the fanatics who are in power are still determined to permit discrimination, to hamper or even remove our civil and human rights and to destroy our families. Republicans in state legislatures have proposed over 132 bills to attack our rights in one way or another. While the North Carolina House Speaker last month refused the hearing of a bill to defy the Supreme Court ruling and make same sex marriage illegal, every Republican in the Texas legislature has voted to give clerks the right to deny marriage licenses to same sex couples on the grounds of their “sincerely held religious beliefs”.

Conservatives claim that Americans can’t have “religious free-

dom” until they are free to hurt and discriminate against the people they hate. We must keep on organizing and working for justice and equity, and we can look forward to continuing that struggle over the next four years and more.

However, we are struggling together. Our unity gives us strength, and so does our love. Let’s set our love against the haters. Let’s set our compassion for everyone who has experienced discrimination against the hatred that betrays the teachings of Jesus. Real religious freedom is the freedom to act with compassion rather than prejudice, love rather than fear and politicized hatred. Let’s look forward to creating a summer of love. ■

You’re Invited

Gay Alliance State of the Center Annual Meeting Wednesday, May 17 5:30-7:30pm LGBTQ Resource Center 100 College Avenue Please RSVP to: rsvp@gayalliance.org or 585-244-8640, ext. 29

Don’t miss the bus!

This month and in June: to Albany or D.C. May 2, 2017: New York State Advocacy Day Bus trip to Albany from Gay Alliance to meet and interact with legislators who will make the decision on the passage of GENDA (Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act) This WILL be the year that GENDA passes! To reserve a seat on the bus: Seats are $30. Leaving from the Gay Alliance, 100 College Ave., at 6 am. Scholarships available. Check

out Gay Alliance events page on Facebook for registration link.

June 11: National Pride March, Washington DC. We will be meeting with Louise Slaughter as well as participating in the Pride March. To reserve a seat on the bus to D.C. see the June Empty Closet.

HRC 2nd Thursday Event May 11: Nox Cocktail Lounge, benefiting Planned Parenthood.

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The Scene

SECOND THURSDAY NETWORKING: HRC hosted the April gathering at Record Archive.

MEET THE MAYOR: Mayor Lovely Warren held a coffee chat at Equal=Grounds on April 15. Second photo with Police Chief Michael Ciminelli. Photos: Doug Meszler

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE: Marge Sharick, Ron Matter and Jessie Gibson wish Joe Termotto a Happy 87th Birthday at SAGE on April 10. Photo: Anne Tischer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MALIK: Pastor Malik McFarleySamples of New Beginnings Christian Church (left) with Bishop M. Maurice Garland, at Open Arms MCC on April 2. The other photo shows Malik with his father, and guests at his birthday party, including his partner Malik Samples-McFarley.

GALLERY Q FIRST FRIDAY: Artists Dan Larkin and Cory Fitzgerald at the opening of their show “The Dichotomy of Juxtaposition,” at Gallery Q on April 7.

Photo: Doug Meszler

THANK YOU!: Steve Lovi and Scott Fearing. Steve donated to the Gay Alliance his files about the community effort to create the three University Avenue community sculptures that sit in front of the Bachelor Forum.

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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

You can adopt!

Adoption Information Seminar Presented by Adoption Place of Jewish Family Service of Rochester

Tuesday, April 25, 6-8pm The Gay Alliance 100 College Avenue Rochester, New York 14607

RSVP: lglasner@jfsrochester.org, 585-461-0110

NYS authorized adoption agency Made possible by

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Interview

Carol Ebersole Weiss, WNY Coordinator for the D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign, says, “Everybody has to find some way to get involved: letters, donations, going to rallies – but the bottom line is, stay calm and respectful. Trump pushes buttons to get people emotional and even violent.”

Carol held two events at the LGBTQ Resource Center last month.

On April 20 a letter-writing campaign produced thank you letters to NYS Assembly members and senators who have supported passage of GENDA, which would give full civil rights to trans and gender expansive people in New York State.

She told The Empty Closet that these letter-writing events will continue for the rest of the legislative session; issues will include HIV care.

Last month the topic was GENDA, passed by the Assembly for the 10th year, while the Republican-controlled Senate again kept the bill from coming to a vote.

She said, “The letters, in addition to saying thank you, also urge them to convince their colleagues to support GENDA. The other part of the event asked constituents of Sen. Robach and other upstate NYS lawmakers to write to them asking for their support for GENDA. We asked people to include as much of their personal stories as possible.”

The other HRC event at the Resource Center last month was “First 100 Days” on April 30, featuring updates on how the Trump administration’s first 100 days have affected the LGBTQ community in New York. Carol said, “It was about the executive orders, the appointments Trump has made, and the attempts to erase us from history. The event ended with dialogue on what lies ahead and where we go from here.”

State hate The threat to LGBTQ Americans’ rights, Carol said, is not reserved to federal actions. As of April 10, HRC had tracked 132 anti-gay bills proposed in state legislatures across the country. She said that in 2015-2016, there were 106 such bills, and in the months since the inauguration, that has increased to at least 132.

“Six bills have made it through both houses and to the governors of those states,” she said. “Kentucky,

North Carolina, South Dakota and Utah each had one bill, while Virginia had two, both of which were vetoed

by Virginia’s governor. The worst bill that passed was in North Carolina, but to HRC the scariest pending bill is in Texas, SB6, which is even more extreme than North Carolina’s HB2. We’ve set up two field offices in Texas, with small staffs, so there can be 24-hour focus on the issue.

“Of the 132 bills, 55 died without passage because they didn’t make it out of committee, or the legislature had adjourned for the year. That still leaves a heck of a lot!”

Stronger together With a coordinated national effort to erase our civil and human rights, unity between the different groups within the diverse LGBTQ community is needed more than ever, Carol said. Issues of class and race and other sources of horizontal hostility among us must be addressed, rejecting the conservative attempt to divide Americans on race or class or gender or sexuality lines.

“The easiest way to combat that is communication and telling the truth,” Carol said. “We need to educate our friends and families. Chad Griffin (HRC leader) has said ‘We are Muslim, we are women, disabled, minorities….’ We need to intercede nationally and join forces with the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NAACP, religious groups and others. It’s important for us within the community not to give in to the dirt they’re kicking up. We need all groups affected by executive orders or law changes to come together. If we unite, we’re not just a special interest group. It’s all of us together saying, ‘We’re people and taxpayers and we deserve the same treatment as everyone else – anything less is discrimination.’”

New York does not have pending anti-gay legislation; the big issue now is GENDA – passing pro-trans legislation. However, Carol said, “The one thing that would affect New York eventually is if Trump does an executive order to enact ‘religious freedom’ to discriminate. Federal orders could impact NYS, in that anyone could refuse marriage licenses or refuse to recognize anti-discrimination laws.

Already Trump’s executive order has erased the rights of trans students.

Also, NYS gays are exposed to discrimination if they have to travel to a state with anti-LGBTQ laws. Already people are turning down jobs or deciding not to go to schools in states that discriminate.” ■

INTERVIEW AND PHOTO

BY SUSAN JORDAN

Carol Ebersole Weiss of HRC. As of April 10, HRC had tracked 132 anti-gay bills proposed in state legislatures across the country.

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News to use

Mayor Warren salutes 2016 Shoulders Heroes

The NYC Pride Grand Marshals for 2017: the ACLU; Geng Le, a leader in the movement for LGBT equality in the People’s Republic of China; trans activist Brooke Guinan; Krishna Stone, Director of Community Relations at Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC).

ACLU to lead NYC Pride in June; activists to be Grand Marshals The American Civil Liberties Union, which has led much of the legal resistance to the Trump administration, will head up New York’s Pride parade this year.

A number of Pride events across the US have announced they will adopt a more serious tone this summer in response to the federal government’s shifting anti-LGBT stances.

The organization behind New York Pride had already confirmed it would adopt a more protest-led stance in June’s parade – and it followed through with the announcement of the Grand Marshals.

Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union, which has already filed several challenges to the Trump administration, will lead the parade.

NYC Pride explained: “The American Civil Liberties Union has been the United States’ uncompromising defender of individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution for nearly 100 years.

“The ACLU brought its first LGBT rights case in 1936, brought the first case seeking the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in 1970, litigated the Supreme Court cases that took down the Defense of Marriage Act that won marriage equality nationwide, and represented transgender student Gavin Grimm before the Supreme Court.”

Three other activists were named as Grand Marshals.

-Read more on pinknews.co.uk Andy Towle posts on Towleroad. com: Four Grand Marshals have been named for the 2017 NYC Pride March. The ACLU, Brooke Guinan, Krishna Stone, and Geng Le have been chosen to lead the 48th annual march.

More from NYC Pride on the honorees: The American Civil Liberties Union has been the United States’ uncompromising defender of individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution for nearly 100 years.

The ACLU brought its first LGBT rights case in 1936, brought the first case seeking the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in 1970, litigated the Supreme Court cases that took down the Defense of Marriage Act that won marriage equality nationwide, and represented transgender student Gavin Grimm before the Supreme Court.

Brooke Guinan is a 29-year-old trans woman; an advocate, civil servant, firefighter, and native New Yorker. Guinan has been honored by the New York City Comptroller’s office, the Public Advocate’s office, the Metropolitan Community Church of New York, and the FDNY for her service to the LGBTQ community.

Krishna Stone is the Director of Community Relations at Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC). She originally connected with GMHC in 1986 as a walker in the first annual AIDS Walk New York and became a staff member in 1993. In 2014, Stone received an award from the NYC Health Department for outstanding dedication to combating the spread of HIV. Geng Le is a leader in the burgeoning movement for LGBT equality in the People’s Republic of China.

Geng set up one of the earliest gay social websites in China—Danlan. org in 2002. In 2012, he created Blued—a gay men social networking app after quitting his job working as a policeman for 16 years. On World AIDS Day 2016, Geng donated 1 million RMB to China AIDS Fund to support Chinese non-governmental organizations for HIV prevention.

The March is set to kick off at noon on June 25, at 5th Avenue and 36th Street in Manhattan and proceed down 5th Avenue to Christopher and Greenwich Streets.

In March, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren sent letters of congratulation to each individual named as “2016 Shoulders To Stand On Heroes”.

Her letters said in part, “We are grateful for the efforts of those, like yourself, who work diligently to positively affect the lives of those within the LGBTQ community. Your efforts have rightly earned this ‘Hero’ recognition.

“On behalf of the city of Rochester, I would like to thank you for all that you do. In changing and often tumultuous times, it’s a pleasure to know that individuals such as yourself work toward a better understanding of one another.”

The 2016 heroes are Anne Tischer/ We Are Orlando; Sam Brett and Lora Thody, 2016 Pride organizers; Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Scott Fearing Executive Director; Jim Mulcahy; Peter Mohr; Elaine Spaull; James R. Moran; Jason Robert Ballard; Shauna O’Toole and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

We Exist Coalition presents The Good, the Bad and the Funny in Seneca Falls, May 20 The We Exist Coalition of the Finger Lakes will partner with Women’s Rights National Historical Park, FLX Pride Festival 2017, and the LGBTQ Services at the Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes, to present an event called “The Good, the Bad, and the Funny” on Saturday May 20 at 2 p.m. in the Wesleyan Chapel at Women’s Rights National Historical Park (136 Fall St., Seneca Falls, 13148).

This event will feature several members of the Transgender Community who will be sharing their stories.

Shauna Marie O’Toole, Director of the We Exist Coalition of the

Finger Lakes, states, “Coming out as Transgender or Gender Expansive is a tough gig. Everything about you changes! Your name, appearance, pronouns. Every social interaction is changed. The expectations that society puts on all of us change! It’s a tough journey and worth the price we pay to be authentic! There are stories that come with every journey. Come hear our stories about the GOOD, the BAD, and the FUNNY!” Ami Ghazala, Superintendent of Women’s Rights National Historical Park, states, “The National Park Service has a mission to tell all Americans’ stories. The recently released LGBTQ Heritage Theme study and the opening of Stonewall National Monument in New York City are a few of the numerous examples of how the agency fulfills this mission.”

National and International News Headlines Read the breaking national and international LGBTQ news five days a week on gayalliance.org – click on Empty Closet (don’t scroll down!)

Human Rights Watch confirms torture, murders of gay men in Chechnya Major victory: Appeals court rules federal discrimination laws include sexual orientation Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacates ruling against Gavin Grimm Gilbert Baker, creator of rainbow flag, passes at 65 Hate group protests nomination of “ungodly” lesbian to head Air Force Academy

For additional resources please go to our Resource Directory at: gayalliance.org/gard/ And below are some of our favorite blogs and websites for national and international LGBTQ news:

Towleroad.com JoeMyGod.com TheAdvocate.com gaystarnews.com

pinknews.co.uk queerty.com GayCityNews.com LGBTQnation.com

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Health

HIV-resistant cells. Scientists were able to tether HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells, which created an entire cell population resistant to the virus. These new and improved cells are able to replace HIV-infected cells.

Scientists discover way to create HIVresistant cells David Artavia posts on The Advocate: It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but the best discoveries always do don’t they?

Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego found a way to make cells resistant to HIV. The team of scientists were able to tether HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells, which created an entire cell population resistant to the virus.

These new and improved cells are able to replace HIV-infected cells.

The TSRI team plans to collaborate with investigators at City Hope’s Center for Gene Therapy to further test the therapy under federal regulations. Once they get approval, they hope to start human trials.

So, how did they do it? Obviously it sounds like the kind of news we’ve been waiting for. Perhaps this is the key to curing HIV altogether — one can hope.

First, you have to look at what happens to cells once they’ve been attacked

by HIV. When a cell is diseased, they

eventually die off. But these new “protected” cells end up spreading the protective gene to other cells, and they end up copying themselves over and over again, thus making a population that are resistant to the virus.

The team first tested their theory against rhinovirus, a virus found in many cases of the common cold.

Using a vector called lentivirus, they delivered a whole new kind of gene to human cells. From there, they had the cells synthesize antibodies that bind with the kind of receptors rhinovirus needs in order to corrupt them.

And while the antibodies were monopolizing, they discovered that it prohibited the virus from entering the cell.

Meanwhile, the cells without the antibody protection were dying off, leaving only the protected cells to multiply and pass along the improved gene to a new population of cells.

Now, HIV is obviously different from rhinovirus. In order for it to have the same results, all strains of HIV need to bind with a cell surface receptor called CD4.

After the team introduced cells to the virus, they were pleased to see a new population of HIV-resistant cells.

Turns out, the antibodies recognized the CD4 binding site, which ended

up allowing them to block HIV from corrupting the receptor.

But why does it work so well?

While today’s therapies allow antibodies to float freely in the bloodstream at low level concentrations, this new strategy, which has been dubbed the “neighbor effect” by senior staff scientist at TSRI Dr. Jia Xie, allows antibodies to stick nearby.

Xie and their team confirm that the tethered antibodies blocked HIV more effectively than free-floating soluble antibodies. The long-term goal is to be able to control the virus in HIV-positive people without needing them to take a cocktail of additional medicines.

The next step is to engineer antibodies to protect a different receptor on the cell surface, but other scientists seem to think this kind of research is too good to be true.

“HIV is notorious for generating large variations and what will happen is that some population of the virus will not bind to the antibody so you’ll kill off sensitive cells but the virus will continue to grow,” Dr. Carl Dieffenback of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease questioned to Daily Mail. “With antiretroviral drugs, we have to use a three drug cocktail because of the virus’s many variations so you would have to use a similar cocktail of antibodies.

We have amazing therapy and really effective therapies, very good tools.

But we’re not at the point yet where we can make better tools, like a cure or a vaccine.”

–Read more on The Advocate

Celebrate National Nurses Week 2017

By HCR Home Care The American Nurses Association has declared 2017 the “Year of The Healthy Nurse,” and we celebrate all nurses during the week of May 6-12.

With a focus on the Healthy Nurse, let’s revisit a central figure in nursing history whose contribution to the health and wellbeing of individuals is the foundation of what is known today as the field of Community Health Nursing. What’s more, this renowned nurse grew up in Rochester.

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Lillian Wald was born in 1867 to Jewish scholars and moved to Rochester as a young child. Very bright, she completed her private schooling here before enrolling at New York City Hospital School of Nursing. She then entered Women’s Medical College to become a doctor. During this time she taught hygiene classes to the immigrants on New York’s Lower East Side.

It was here that she witnessed terrible poverty and ill health born of communicable disease, overcrowded and substandard housing, and poor sanitation. Of particular concern to Wald were the condition of women and children and the high rates of mortality for the most vulnerable.

Destiny found Wald, and she withdrew from Medical School, committing her life’s purpose to improving the health of the poor as a nurse.

Wald was an excellent fundraiser and relied on the donations of her parents’ wealthy circle to provide for the staff and supplies to execute her mission. With a few other nurses, Wald moved to the neighborhood where she found her vocation and lived among the immigrant poor, providing care and health education while fighting for reforms in sanitation, child labor, women’s rights and public health.

As the ranks of Wald’s nursing team grew, so did the myriad of programs to address health, housing, education and social needs. The house where Wald’s mission grew became the Henry Street Settlement House, which grew to be the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the nation’s first community health nursing agency.

Today, Wald rests in Mt. Hope Cemetery where her grave is annually visited by many nurses during National Nurses Week. Nurses from HCR Home Care have been the honored caretakers of Wald’s grave for 20 years, paying homage to the mother of community health nursing, whose leadership is the beacon for their own mission. Community health nurses align themselves with Wald’s guiding principle, “Nursing is love in action; there is no finer manifestation of it than the care of the poor and disabled in their own homes.” ■

Come worship among Friends…

Rochester Friends Meeting (Quakers) 84 Scio Street (downtown)

Sunday worship, 11:00 am (10:00 am from Memorial Day to Labor Day) Child care, Free parking, Wheelchair access www.rochesterquakers.org • 325-7260

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Opinion Welcome to the We Exist Coalition of the Finger Lakes!

BY SHAUNA MARIE O’TOOLE

I want to take a moment and share why this organization started.

As a Transgender woman, I had no federal protections of any sort until 2012. That meant I could be fired, evicted, denied medical treatment and countless other denials of civil liberties simply because I wear a skirt instead of slacks nowadays.

June 23, 2012. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that the Transgender Community was protected under Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Law. This ruling was embraced by then-President Obama, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Education.

Suddenly, we were Free! Free to have “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” As it says in the Declaration of Independence, governments are instituted to secure these rights. There were challenges ahead to be sure, but we were finally protected.

The years ahead hummed and glowed with promise!

Then, the 2016 election cycle happened.

Suddenly, the Department of Justice will no longer support the Transgender Community in any legal action. Protections for Transgender and Gender Expansive students have been stripped away. Across the nation, discriminatory state laws are being passed at record numbers. Even our right to marry the person of our choice could be in jeopardy.

This is what happens when protections are by regulation instead of legal code. What one pen can bring to life, another pen can kill.

Once again, the fight is on. This time, it is a fight for more

than just our civil rights.

This is a fight to secure our right to live our lives as we see fit.

Should we lose this fight, what group will be next?

Muslims?

People of Color?

Native Americans/First Nation?

Physically/Mentally Challenged?

Who? The battle for our civil liberties truly is a battle for everyone. We didn’t ask for this fight, but it’s ours. With it, everyone who does not match the present idea of “Normal” is also in grave jeopardy.

To paraphrase a line from Shakespeare’s Henry V: “The sum of our answer is but this. We would not seek battle such as we are.

Yet, as we are, we will not

Shauna O’Toole. “Suddenly, the Department of Justice will no longer support the Transgender Community in any legal action.

Protections for Transgender and Gender Expansive students have been stripped away. Across the nation, discriminatory state laws are being passed at record numbers.”

shun it!”

The We Exist Coalition of the Finger Lakes is one such battlefront.

There are other organizations being formed by a loose coalition of Transgender Activists around the country.

Some are focused solely on having a Civil Rights Rally on June 23 of this year – the fifth anniversary of being given our rights.

I can tell you this.

We Exist Coalition of the Finger Lakes is planning to

be around for a long time.

I want this organization to become a Regional Resource Center for the Transgender/ Gender Expansive Community. I want to work in concert with other organizations, not in opposition.

All of us have skills. Let’s bring them together to better serve our Community. Our People. ■ Follow us on Facebook @ WeExistCoalitionFLX. Twitter @WeExistFLX

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Alliance

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Pick a Rider for Pride to support

Volunteer of the Month: Shira May Shira May is an adjunct Instructor of Interpersonal Communication at Monroe Community College, as well as a private communication coach. She is also mom to her son Evan and spouse to Mick Behan, whom she married in June 2016. Their family has one dog, Ruby, and two cats, Elvis and Bettie Page.

Shira started volunteering for the Alliance in 2012, helping to put up flyers for Pride and working as a Pride volunteer.

After taking the SpeakOut training, Shira joined the Speakers Bureau and has facilitated over 20 presentations at local schools and other organizations. She is now a certified SafeZone facilitator and a contract-based LGBTQ trainer with the Alliance.

Shira also attended the PRIDE in Leadership training and is a former Alliance board member.

Shira says, “The Alliance has been a source of support for me in so many ways. It gave me strength in my own coming out journey, and it helped me grow into a proud speaker and advocate on behalf of the entire LGBTQ community. I can’t say enough about how grateful I am for what the Alliance has done for me, and I am truly honored to give back in any way I can.”

Bikers Deborah Trubatch and Ed Freedman share why they ride in Ride For Pride.

Our goal this year is $50,000! Won’t you help us get there? Any amount is appreciated by so many.

Pick a rider...any rider at: www.gayalliance.org/ ride-for-pride

Where We’ve Been in March The Gay Alliance’s Education Program (the LGBTQ Academy) travels all over the country now, but still does multiple trainings and presentations each month in the Rochester area and upstate New York. Here are a few of the places we were in March.

• Wegmans School of Pharmacy • East Rochester Schools • Connections with Evan Dawson • GSA Consortium • SUNY Brockport • Webster Thomas High School GSA • New York State Middle Level Liaisons Conference • Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (Wisconsin) • BOCES Transportation Department • Fairport United Methodist Church • Attica Central Schools • Canandaigua City Schools • Coast Community College District (California) • First Unitarian Church of Rochester • Akron High School • West Irondequoit School District • E Health Technologies • URMC Dept. of Psychiatry • Arcadia High School • YMCA • Gates Chili High School GSA • Penfield Central School District

Meet the Board: Luis Rosario-McCabe Luis Rosario-McCabe says: I am a women’s health nurse practitioner at The UR Medicine in the Women’s Health Center at Lattimore and a professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing.

In March 2017, I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation: Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating an Interprofessional Transgender Cultural Education Program for Licensed and Non-licensed Staff in an Ambulatory Women’s Health Center.

Originally from southern California, I now live in Churchville with my husband and son, where we have an alpaca/chicken farm. In my spare time (what’s that?) I enjoy gardening.

I first became involved with the Gay Alliance in 1987 when first coming out. The support I was provided was instrumental in my process of self-acceptance. I was re-introduced

to the Gay Alliance during my doctoral work.

I was reminded of the help I received in my early 20s and that inspired me to continue the ripple effect of paying it forward.

As a new member, I am still figuring out my role on the Board. I am presently on the development and finance committee.

The Gay Alliance’s education program and education staff are nationally renowned.

I envision expansion of these services and the staff who provide these services. I also believe it would be great to partner with local universities to do LGBTQ educational research projects that foster cultural humility.

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, to get involved with LGBT activities that matter to you, to make a difference in our community, and it is a great way to pay it forward.

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CREATE THE LIFE YOU WANT Reiki Healing * Meditation | Laws of Attraction | Mind, Body, Spirit Balance | Setting Intentions

Rochester Light & Learning Wellness Center Paula Morisey, Spiritual Coaching 1790 NY RTE 441, Penfield | Roclightandlearning.com | Schedule a session: 585-857-7163

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OUT & about

By Ross D. Levi

Planning a New York getaway Vacationing with Pride When LGBT New Yorkers think about Pride season, they most likely think of activism and/or fun with friends and neighbors. But New York State has literally dozens of Pride events across the state, running from May through July, and each of them provides an excellent opportunity to plan a getaway to a region of the state that you always wanted to visit.

Many Upstaters have done the required LGBT bucket-list pilgrimage to the mother of all Prides, New York City, and it is certainly worth the trip. The “official” Pride events include a march, rally, street festival and no fewer than eight dance events from rooftop parties to the famous pier dance – expanded to three nights this year with performers like Patti Labelle, Deborah Cox and Tegan and Sara! Plus there are independent parties and events all over town throughout late June.

Pride in New York City extends well beyond lower Manhattan, with celebrations kicking off on Staten Island in May, and continuing into June in Queens, Brooklyn and Harlem. Even with all that Pride, there is the chance to catch some of the year-round activities that make NYC great, like world class shopping, museums and restaurants – even a Broadway show!

Just north of New York City, the Hudson Valley features Pride events in New Paltz, Rockland County (Nyack), Orange County (Warwick) and Hudson. In between attending parades and festivals, there is the opportunity to see historic homes, like Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill retreat at the only national historic site dedicated to a first lady, or stroll along the Walkway Over the Hudson, the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.

On the other side of the city, Long Island’s Pride event moves to the beach – Long Beach to be precise – with concerts, sporting events, family activities and more. All that and the chance to visit the LGBT beach communities of Cherry Grove and The Pines on Fire Island, tour the historical Gold Coast mansions that inspired The Great Gatsby and shop and dine in the posh Hamptons.

The Capital-Saratoga region has one of the largest Pride events outside of New York City, with Black and Latino Gay Pride (featuring headliner Robin S.) and Capital Pride taking place over the same weekend in June.

In Albany, visitors can also take in the history of the NYS Capital and Museum, and Colonial homes like Schuyler Mansion and Historic Cherry Hill. Guests can also indulge in the historic Roosevelt Baths, part of

Rockland County Pride. Photo courtesy of Rockland Co. More info on planning a NYS LGBT vacation is available at iloveny.com/lgbt

the luxurious Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Spa State Park.

Besides Rochester’s own Pride festivities July 17-19, the Finger Lakes region hosts Pride events in Syracuse and Geneva. A great staycation can be had by staying in a beautiful resort, inn or B&B, celebrating at Pride and catching those local attractions you never seem to get around to enjoying, from the Corning Museum of Glass to the Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls (celebrating the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage) to scenic wine trails.

The trip can also be regionally extended, with excursions to sip craft brews at sites like Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown and Saranac Brewery in Utica, shopping at the flagship store of the Fabulous Beekman Boys and dining in the American Hotel in historic Sharon Springs or strolling down the yellow brick road as part of the Oz-Stravaganza Festival in Chittenango, hometown of Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum.

Western New York’s giant Pride celebration takes place in Buffalo.

Make a weekend (or more!) out of it by sampling Buffalo wings in the Anchor Bar, where they were invented, or touring the great works of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with special celebrations surrounding his 150th birthday this year. Not far away is Niagara Falls, a vacation unto itself, with opportunities to experience the falls up close, whether on board the Maid of the Mist or standing on the Hurricane Deck at the

Mother of all Prides: NYC Pride at the Stonewall Inn.

Cave of the Winds.

For LGBT travelers who take Pride in history, the first of two 2017 Path Through History Weekends takes place during Pride month, June 17 and 18, with literally hundreds of events at historical sites all across the state.

Of course, Pride can also serve as the anchor for a real New York State vacation. Pride in the Capital-Saratoga region can extend into outdoor adventures in The Adirondacks or Thousand Islands, Hudson Valley celebrations can lead to the natural beauty of The Catskills and Buffalo Pride might include a visit to the

Chautauqua Institution arts village or the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz National Center for Comedy.

The time is right to plan a vacation to be proud of: The Pride events and other wonders of New York State await you! ■ Ross D. Levi is Vice President Marketing Initiatives, Empire State Development / NYS Division of Tourism, and coordinator of I LOVE NEW YORK LGBT. More information on planning a NYS LGBT vacation is available at iloveny.com/lgbt

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Shoulders

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By Evelyn Bailey

Shoulders To Stand On The Long Road To Wellness – Where Did It Begin?

B

efore we look at the treatments of the mid to late ‘80’s that were being researched or approved by the FDA, the question – WHERE DID AIDS COME FROM – not how it was transmitted or who the first carriers were – needs to be looked at.

Many theories have arisen to speculate about the origins of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The origin of AIDS was regarded as a key factor in the search for a cause and a cure. In November 1985, controversial research results pointed both to and against Africa being the origin of AIDS. Also at issue was the question as to whether the disease was truly new or merely newly recognized. In 1985, some American and European scientists said that AIDS was so widespread in Central Africa that they doubted that it was introduced there recently.

In February 1988 a report in the journal Science indicated that a Harvard research team, that apparently worked with contaminated samples, was studying a virus that came from rhesus monkeys, not from humans, as had originally been thought. The findings weakened the link thought to exist between AIDS-like viruses in monkeys and those in humans.

In March 1988, Peter Duesberg, a biologist at the University of California, reported in the March issue of the journal Cancer Research that he believed that exposure to the human

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

We invite you to celebrate 40 years of LGBT history in Rochester with your very own DVD/BluRay of this powerful film.

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

In 1999, an international team of researchers reported that they had discovered the origins of HIV-1, the predominant strain of HIV in the developed world. A subspecies of chimpanzees native to west equatorial Africa had been identified as the original source of the virus.

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was not the precipitating factor for contracting AIDS. Rather, he postulated that a lifestyle of substance abuse and sexual promiscuity brought about the syndrome. The scientific community contended that Duesberg’s argument was the result of cherry-picking predominantly outdated scientific data and selectively ignoring evidence in favor of HIV’s role in AIDS. The scientific consensus was that the Duesberg hypothesis is incorrect and that HIV is the cause of AIDS. In June, 1988 Japanese researchers reported in the journal Nature that after analyzing the genetic structure of the AIDS-causing virus, they believed the virus did not cross from African green monkeys to humans.

This “monkey connection” had been considered to be a possible source of the AIDS epidemic in humans.

In 1999, an international team of researchers reported that they had discovered the origins of HIV-1, the predominant strain of HIV in the developed world. A subspecies of chimpanzees native to west equatorial Africa had been identified as the original source of the virus.

In 1999, researchers found a strain of SIV (called SIVcpz) in a chimpanzee that was almost identical to HIV in humans. Through further research they discovered that the chimps had hunted and eaten two smaller species of monkeys (red-capped mangabeys and greater spot-nosed monkeys).

These smaller monkeys infected the chimps with two different strains of SIV. The two different SIV strains then joined together to form a third virus (SIVcpz) that could be passed on to other chimps. This is the strain that

can also infect humans.

In May, 2011 Mary Carmichael, a Boston based science writer, wrote How It Began: HIV Before the Age of AIDS for FRONTLINE, which presents investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world. In her article, Carmichael says that the theory rests on facts, and at least a few of them are undisputed -including, most significantly, HIV’s family tree. There are two species of the virus, HIV-1 and HIV-2. The first evolved from a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) found in chimpanzees, while the second came from an SIV in a type of monkey called the sooty mangabey.

In 2006, an international team of scientists led by the universities of Oxford in Britain and Leuven in Belgium reconstructed the history of the HIV pandemic using historical records and DNA samples of the virus dating back to the late 1950s. The

research group analysed mutations in HIV’s genetic code. The DNA allowed them to draw up a family tree of the virus that traced its ancestry through time and space. Using statistical models they could push farther back than the 1950s and locate the origin of the pandemic in 1920s Kinshasa, formerly Leopoldville, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“You can see the footprints of history in today’s genomes, it has left a record, a mutation mark in the HIV genome that can’t be eradicated,” Prof Oliver Pybus from the University of Oxford told the BBC. HIV is a mutated version of a chimpanzee virus, known as simian immunodeficiency virus, which probably made the species-jump through contact with infected blood while handling bush meat.

Shoulders To Stand On applauds with gratitude the tenacious efforts or researchers to discover the origins of the AIDS virus. Next month we will look at the theories of how this virus “jumped” to humans, and its apparently fast dissemination through Africa and beyond. ■

HistoryCorner The Empty Closet May, 1975 Number 50 A Monthly Newspaper of The Gay Brotherhood of Rochester, 713 Monroe Avenue, Room 4, Rochester, NY 14607 • (716) 244-8640 This is the 50th issue. The Closet first appeared in March 1971 at the U of R in magazine style. This month, we focus on the parks, featuring an article by a man arrested in last year’s massive arrests Cruise With Care, page 2 Want to read more? http://www.library.rochester.edu/rbscp/EmptyCloset Click on: Browse the Empty Closet issues – go to 1975 – April

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Columnist Letters

Eric Bellmann

Growing Up

By Eric Bellmann Talking to Patrick Patrick is gorgeous. A great smile, beautiful teeth, tousled strawberry blond hair. He has strong shoulders, a broad chest. He looks like the older brother or pal I wish I had had when I was growing up.

I think all this staring at a photograph. The 11 x 14 picture is propped up on an easel set on a small altar in a meditation room.

The photograph is part of a memorial celebration. Patrick is dead.

Later that day I learn some details. I learn his full name, his age: 34 and that the death was not a natural one. Thirty-four! Half my age. Anger and sorrow mix.

Young people think they are invincible. When I was young I was reckless. I drank with no awareness of the possible consequences. I paid a price. I survived. Now it’s drugs.

Patrick paid the price. In an email, a friend says, “Such a pity no one knew he was suffering” and I am ashamed of blaming Patrick. People do not self-medicate, despite what they may say, without there being pain. I said I liked to drink, that it gave me energy, made me happy.

I was self-deceiving, wrong in the long run. The anger I feel towards Patrick dissolves into a deepening sorrow. I weep for Patrick, a man I never met.

When my sister died and I went back to rural Georgia for her memorial service and to clean out her house to the degree that I could, I spent five days in the home she lived in for 30 years. I sat in her chair. I fed the birds she loved. I packed up odds and ends that I could take back to Rochester. And then I began to talk with her. Sometimes in my head, but more often out loud. It was a lovely time of leave taking. She loved me without condition. I had no idea then how I would miss her as the years passed.

In Buddhist theology one hears of a place called the Bardo. I am, for better or less than better, a Buddhist. What I know about the Bardo is just hearsay. It is a time and space where beings exist before

they are born and after they die.

They are near. It’s a time to reach out to them. I like the concept.

Relationships don’t end with death. They continue and they change. I have become much more considerate and compassionate with my mother, dead now 22 years. Our relationship was a war with few ceasefires. I was not the child she wanted. She loved me despite being appalled at who I became.

With the passage of time I understand her struggles. I like realizing the characteristics we share, good and not so hot: frugality, industriousness, love of language, a need for privacy, a quick-to-ignite temper, the propensity to judge and blame. I am my mother’s child.

My life is turning out better than hers. I have support, people to process issues with. She was all alone with her demons and longings. At any rate, she and I get along better now than we did when she was alive. That sounds like a cheap joke.

It isn’t.

So I talk to Patrick.

I also talk to people about Patrick. That wasn’t planned. I fell into that. First I told the people in one meditation group the details that I had learned. Then I told another group of people. Then I told another friend. Patrick now exists in their consciousness, maybe not accurately or in full dimension, but he is known, not forgotten. That seems important to me. I feel so bad that he died. What else can I do? What was amazing to me was that once I brought up this odd topic, several people told me that they had similar habits.

A bond was created among us that no one expected. Talking about something people don’t talk about is thrilling. It’s like dropping a stone into a pool and watching the ripples expand, ring after ring. In the process we know one another in a new way, tender and sweet.

In the Unitarian Universalist community that I am part of there is a saying, which I’ll get wrong, to the effect that people who live in our hearts are not gone. No argument. I think of teachers who changed my life, therapists I fought with who cared for me, long gone boyfriends. Rather a crowd, welcome company.

As I continued talking to Patrick and talking about Patrick I grew quite pleased with myself, so loving, so creative, so cool. Oh Patrick, look what I am doing for you. And then I thought: No: Patrick, look what you are doing for me. ■ ‑ All Empty Closet columnists are published monthly on our website at gayalliance.org. Click on Empty Closet (don’t scroll down.)

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 or the Empty Closet.

Deaf community videos need actors To the Editor: Hi everyone! My name is Jackie Pransky, I am an advocate with IGNITE. We provide resources and services to Deaf and hard of hearing survivors of abuse and domestic violence here in Rochester NY. I am working with Tristan Wright on a project to make eight short videos to show different forms of abuse that may happen in the Deaf LGBTIQ community based on real experiences. There are too few videos out there that demonstrate these issues in American Sign Language and even fewer focused on the Deaf LGBTIQ community. Often abuse is a taboo subject and we want to change that! This project is a collaboration between the Gay Alliance and IGNITE and is funded through the federal Office for Violence Against Women.

We have scripts and a videographer ready and are looking for actors to work on this project.

We would love to hear from y’all if you live in Rochester NY and are interested in becoming an actor for our video. All actors will be paid and the filming will take no longer than two hours.

Please email us at Jackie@deafignite.org if you are interested in acting. Thanks so much Jackie Pransky and Tristan Wright

Diversity as an American principle To the Editor: Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, our family resembled the model TV families of the time (Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, Here Come the Nelsons).

At the time, this was the “ideal” American family: all-white, Protestant, with a British-sounding last name, solidly Middle Class, and 100 percent heterosexual.

At that time, it was virtually inconceivable for a “real” American to be anything but all those things. Back then, of course, the most anti-American thing to be was a Communist (or a “Red” as they were called). People of color, people with “ethnic” last names, non-Christians, poor people, and most certainly gay and lesbian people did not fit this cutout and were all suspected of being somewhat un-American or (perish the thought) “Reds”.

Nowadays I like to think we have moved beyond those archaic and infantile ideas of what it means to be an American.

For example, last year my spouse and I visited my family in Virginia. It was delightful to find we are now probably one of the most diverse families I know. Besides me and my spouse, I have a nephew who has been married to his husband for over 10 years. My great niece and her wife have been married for five years and have two beautiful children. Another niece and her African-American husband have been married for more than 10 years and have five beautiful daughters. One of those daughters just married an immigrant Pakistani Muslim man and they are expecting their first child.

And another nephew is the son of a Mexican-American man (now deceased) and has three beautiful children. And I myself lost a brother in 2013 who had Down Syndrome.

We have certainly traveled a long way since the 1950s and 1960s. It has been a rough but worthwhile journey. But since the words and phrases “LGBT” and “minority” and “Muslim” and “immigrant” and “disabled” have an up-close and personal meaning for me today, it’s hard to imagine a more “American” family than ours.

Unfortunately, our Republican leaders in Washington seem to be stuck back in the 1950s and 1960s in terms of their thinking.

Both my own family and the country have moved light years beyond those days and that archaic mindset. Perhaps the Republicans should pay closer attention to what the U.S. Census Bureau is saying: we ARE a diverse nation with various types of families and households.

The idea that an Executive Order or a Supreme Court choice can someone undo this is like saying that President Trump can somehow order the sky to stop being blue... the idea is ludicrous.

To quote a favorite phrase of mine, with regards to diversity, it is what it is and the Republicans should learn to adapt and accommodate just like every other living creature on the planet does -- for its own survival!

Phil Darrow

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Community Dignity-Integrity Since March, 1975, Dignity-Integrity Rochester has been welcoming all who come through our doors, worshiping every week at 5pm 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 2017.

April Services: 1st Sunday: Episcopal Mass/Healing Service, with music 2nd Sunday: Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word, with music 3rd Sunday: Quiet Episcopal Mass 4th Sunday: Prayers to start the Week followed by potluck.

The theme for the May potluck is “Picnic in the Park”. After our service on the 4th Sunday this month, we’ll go to a nearby local park for a Memorial Day Picnic. Bring your favorite dish to pass, something to grill if you wish, and a camp chair if you have one. We’ll provide paper goods, beverages, and fire-making supplies.

There is always plenty to share, so don’t worry if you’ve no time to shop or cook. All are welcome! After each service during the remainder of the month we’ll be gathering for fellowship around a tasty coffee hour and going out to a local restaurant for dinner. Join us anytime!

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

Open Arms MCC Open Arms MCC is a vibrant, boldly inclusive church that seeks to live the message that “God loves you just the way you are.” Our goals are: 1) do justice, show kindness, and live humbly with God; 2) explore life’s questions with open hearts and minds; 3) raise our voices in sacred defiance against religious (and political or systemic) exclusion, and 4) reach out to those with no hope.

Here are some of the things going on at Open Arms in May: Our weekly Bible study is every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Friday, May 5 and Friday, May 26 we will be at the Mamma Mittsy’s pizza concession stand at Frontier Field for our premiere fund raiser.

We will be assembling at 5:30 p.m. at the stand. Sunday school for Teens & Tweens is on May 7 during the service and refreshments are served.

We also host a number of community groups in our Community Center: AFTY (Adult Families with Trans Youth, a program of the Gay Alliance) meets the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm; PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, and Questioning) meets on the third Sunday of each month at 1:00 pm; TAGR Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester meets on the third Satur-

day of each month from 3:00 pm 5:30 pm; New Beginnings Christian Fellowship is having their services in the sanctuary on the first and third Sundays of each month from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Our “Giving Arms” ministry works with several community organizations to provide a variety of small household items to people in need. We are now accepting donations of new or gently used household items. If you know of someone in need or have items to donate, please contact the church at 271-8478.

Our provisional pastoral leader, Brae Adams, has office hours on Wednesdays, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and by appointment. (Please call first to make sure she’s available.)

Open Arms regular office hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 12- 4 p.m. and our phone number is (585) 271-8478.

ROMANS Rochester Male Naturists (ROMANS) had a lot of fun in the month of April. Our members had a great time networking with other local male nudists at the last nude swim of the season that happened on the first Saturday.

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

Following weekend we had our own meeting at a member’s home in Rochester. The meal was Italian and the massage had a comforting personal touch. Everyone enjoyed himself while sharing nude comradeship. Our members then went on to support the Rochester Erotic Arts Festival and attended a private underwear party near Syracuse.

It’s never too late to enjoy nudism and ROMANS provides the environment and friendly male bonding that will help first timers ease into this unique lifestyle. Our members come from all walks of life and live in or near Rochester.

ROMANS is a social club for gay and gay-friendly male nudists over 21. More information is available on our website at www.wnyromans. com. Contact us at message line 585354-8979, by E-mail wnyromans@ yahoo.com or via regular mail at PO Box 92293, Rochester, NY 14692.

Genesee Valley Gender Variants Business Genre: Support and Social Activities, Support and Social Activities Genesee Valley Gender Variants

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is a meetup group for gender variant people in the Genesee Valley area of upstate NY and our allies. We meet every Thursday at Equal=Grounds coffee shop from 7-9pm.

You can find us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ GVGenderVariants/

Flower City Pride Band Business Genre: Arts, Entertainment and Family Fun We are Flower City Pride Band, the LGBT community band of Rochester, NY. Formed in 1994, and formerly known as BASSically TREBLEmakers, Flower City Pride Band is comprised of musicians, twirlers, flag corps and color guard members from greater Rochester, and the upstate New York area. While the band is predominantly lesbian and gay, we welcome musicians and performers, regardless of sexual orientation.

Join Flower City Pride Band as a musician, twirler, flag corps member or member of the color guard, regardless of experience. Flower City Pride Band requires no auditions, just an interest in performing and representing the LGBT community with pride.

To join, just send us an e-mail and we’ll get right back to you with information about our upcoming schedule and performances. http://flowercitypride.com/ Flower City Pride Band is proud to be a member of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA).

The Rochester Women’s Community Chorus is a non-auditioned chorus, creating harmony by singing music dedicated to using music for peace, hope, understanding, and cooperation within the global community. ~ Since 1978 ~

Save the date: June 3 RWCC Concert “Pure Imagination” Treat yourself to an evening of “Pure Imagination” as the Rochester Women’s Community Chorus performs its spring concert on Saturday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harley School, 1981 Clover St. RWCC says, “Come and escape for just a little while… allow yourself to be transported by the music… travel to Neverland with ‘Lost Boy,’ to Oz with ‘Defying Gravity’ and ‘Over the Rainbow,’ to Wonderland with ‘The Lobster Quadrille,’ out to the sea with ‘The Mermaid’s Lament and ‘The Seal Lullaby,’ to the darker side with ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and, of course, to Willy Wonka’s delicious Chocolate Factory! Then let this joyous group of women pose the question, ‘What’s Keeping You From Singing?’ with their signature piece, commissioned exclusively for them by renowned composer Elizabeth Alexander.”

The Rochester Women’s Community Chorus (RWCC), a not-for-profit, non-auditioned chorus, has been creating harmony by singing music of all genres since 1978. It provides a creative and safe environment for women of various levels of musical expertise to sing together. The chorus embraces women of many cultural and ethnic backgrounds, life experiences and sexual orientations. The RWCC is dedicated to using music as the vehicle for messages of peace, hope, understanding, and cooperation within the global community. If you’re interested in joining them, or just finding out more, please visit their website: therwcc.org or call (585) 376-7464.

Tickets for the June 3 concert may be purchased in advance at a discount at: rwcc.ticketleap.com ($12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $6 children) or at the door ($15 adults, $12 seniors and students, $6 children).

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CampusOUT Showing up for advocacy on campus and beyond On a beautiful Saturday morning in early April student leaders and faculty from eight area colleges convened on St John Fisher College’s campus to kick off the CampusOut Summit.

The summit aimed to bring together leaders of college pride groups to meet, network, collaborate, and learn together in a day of community. St John Fisher, Nazareth, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Brockport, Alfred, MCC, FLCC, and RIT were all represented throughout the day’s proceedings.

Opening remarks were given by Dr. Lisa Cunningham, the key organizer of the summit and advisor to Fisher’s pride group. The Gay Alliance and the LGBTQ Academy had a strong presence, lending remarks and breakout sessions during the day. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to address the full group in the morning as the keynote. As a Nazareth alum and former president of Lambda – Naz’s pride group – I so value the commitment, boldness, and determination it takes to be an advocate on a campus.

I was joined for the day by Scott Fearing, Gay Alliance Executive Director, and Board Chair Colleen Raimond. We took in various conversations with students as they shared their experiences, unique challenges, and needs with each other in the morning roundtable discussions. The focus on intersectional programming, system upheaval, and collaboration was absolutely fantastic and the opportunity for conversation was clearly appreciated and taken full advantage of by the student leaders.

The afternoon saw further conversation as the student leaders and faculty advisors split up into separate breakout sessions. Once again I had the opportunity to speak with partici-

pants as I worked to share some of my experiences as a campus advocate and how that has translated into my work as a community advocate.

We led a great discussion about fears, challenges, barriers, and burnout in both campus and community advocacy. It is so important that we foster our young leaders and help them see how to translate their valuable skills and experiences from campus to their communities and beyond. The work they are doing is tremendous and what they were able to share and learn from each other was humbling.

The day also saw an opportunity for volunteerism as Scott and Colleen presented several options for

Photos: Lisa Cunningham

getting involved with the Alliance to the students, including options in journalism, art, communications, administration, and Roc Pride. The afternoon was closed with a touching presentation from Tim Buchanan and Shai Ben-Dor, the subject and filmmaker of a brand new documentary The Long Trail Out, detailing the “epic journey of perseverance and

PFLAG MEETS 3RD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH

1-3pm, Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church 707 E. Main Street, Rochester, New York 14605 Phone: 585-993-3297 ~ Email: rochesterpflag@gmail.com

BY ROWAN COLLINS, LGBTQ ACADEMY EDUCATION COORDINATOR

acceptance” that Tim and the crew took (more info can be found at: www.thelongtrailout.com).

All in all it was an invigorating Saturday to spend in solidarity. Connecting student leaders and faculty, sharing resources and experiences, and finding new opportunities to continue to advocate, celebrate, and educate about our communities was the goal of the day and it far exceeded expectations. We look forward to the next CampusOut Summit! ■

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May Calendar

MONDAY 1 May Day

SAGE Monday Movie Meet-up 1:30pm Dryden Theater 900 East Ave 14607. Free to seniors. Please arrive early to sit together in the right balcony. Contact Roger and David @ rcfdjm@gmail.com.

Lambda Legal Liberty Awards, 5-9pm NYC. Honoring Larry Kramer, Javier Munoz.

8th Annual Laugh Out Loud with SIS. Information at gevatheatre.org

TUESDAY 2

NYS Advocacy Day in Albany.

Sponsored by the Alliance and HRC. Bus trip to Albany from Gay Alliance to meet and interact with legislators who will make the decision on the passage of GENDA (Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act). Seats are $30. Leaving from the Gay Alliance, 100 College Ave. at 4am. Scholarships are available. Check out the Gay Alliance events page on Facebook for the registration link or call 2448640 to reserve your seat.

Trans Youth Support and Discussion 5:30-6:30pm @ LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. New Ground Poetry Night 7:309:30pm @ Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave.

WEDNESDAY 3

STIX “Winging It” 6pm OUT in the Sticks Alliance rural OUTreach program. Dinner meetup at Batavia Original 500 East Main Street Batavia14020. All are welcome.

Empire Bears supper. 6-8pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave.

FRIDAY 5

LORA Quest 6pm beginning @ Gallery Q 100 College Ave 14607 First Friday Art Gallery Tour call 244-8640 ex. 23 Gallery Q First Friday opening.

6-9pm TransAmericans, photographs

by Errol Daniels. Reception with artist’s talk at 7pm. Gallery Q is located at 100 College Ave. @ LGBTQ Resource Center.

Open Arms MCC 5:30pm at Mamma Mittsy’s Pizza Connection, Frontier Field, for fundraiser, Also May 26.

SATURDAY 6

LORA OUTdoors 10am Kayak at Canandaigua Outlet Lyons NY call 244-8640 ex. 23 for details or email LORA@gayalliance.org Mother Dahling. 3pm Take your Mama to MAC at Scott Miller in Pittsford. Admission is $50, which includes makeup demo, drag show, refreshments; $25 of ticket price redeemable for MAC Cosmetics (instore only; see store for detail). Call 585-264-9940 to reserve space.

Alliance STIX Easy two mile hike & picnic 10am at Rattlesnake Hill, Ebert Rd. and Walsworth Rd., Dalton 14836. Long pants & socks suggested. Pack a lunch & bring a chair.

Check Meetup or call for parking site. Alliance Out in the Sticks Rural OUTreach program 244-8640 ext. 23 LORA Coffee Chat 6pm @ Equal Grounds South Ave

SUNDAY 7

Dignity Integrity 5pm Episcopal Mass/Healing Service, with music. St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

TUESDAY 9

WXXI Second Opinion. 10am Transgender health episode featuring two women from Sodus Point telling their story. To reserve free tickets for the live studio audience, go to: http://interactive.wxxi.org/secondopiniontickets Alliance Youth Craft Night Out: 6:30-8pm. We will be crafting for the stars as we will be creating costumes and props for the Big Queer Prom

WEDNESDAY 10

SAGEVets Movie and Discussion.

6-8pm “Yossi and Jagger” 2003 film about the relationship between 2 soldiers in an Israeli outpost on the Lebanese border. Discussion and SAGEVets Pride planning. All are welcome!

THURSDAY 11

Second Thursdays Networking.

5:30-7:30pm Hosted by HRC at Nox Cocktail Lounge, in Village Gate, N. Goodman St. Benefitting Planned Parenthood.

SAGE Breakfast Club at Denny’s 10:30-11:30am Join the SAGE group for a fun filled breakfast. 911 Jefferson Road Henrietta. RSVP by 5/9 to 244-8640 ext. 12

WEDNESDAY 17

Alliance State of the Center Annual Meeting 5:30-7:30pm @ LGBTQ Resource Center 100 College Ave 14607 RSVP@rsvp@gayalliance.org or call 244-8640 ext.

LORA Quest 7-8pm Rochester Central Library Kate Gleason Auditorium “Votes for Women Songs for Women.” A song filled talk about suffrage and women around 1917.

LORA@gayalliance.org or call 2448640 ex. 23

THURSDAY 18

LORA OUTdoors. 6pm Hike the Brickyard. 2300 Elmwood Ave. LORA@gayalliance.org 244-8640 ex.

23 SAGE Pizza and a Movie. 11:30am Join in community and enjoy a delicious pizza as we view the movie “Dante’s Inferno (1935) starring Spencer Tracey. Hosted by Gerry K. Alliance SAGETable. 6pm SAGE launches nationwide movement to build intergenerational connections in LGBT community. “Break bread with your LGBT family at the LGBTQ Resource Center.” 100 College Ave 14607 585-244-8640 SAGE

FRIDAY 19

LORA Quest Lilac Festival Meetup 6pm. Main entrance at the circular drive. LORA@gayalliance.org or call 244-8640 ex.23

SATURDAY 13

Alliance STIX Easy 1.5 mile hike 10am in beautiful “Swallow Hollow”, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge near Medina. Long pants & socks suggested.

Pack your lunch & bring a chair. Alliance OUT in the Stick rural OUTreach program. Check Meetup or call for parking site, 244-8640.

Guys’ Night Out – 1-2pm Trans men at Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. Alliance Queer as Folk screening, 3-5:30pm, @ LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave.

SUNDAY 14

Dignity Integrity 5pm Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word, with music. St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

TUESDAY 16

SAGE Lifespan Care Manager 11am @ LGBTQ Resource Center.

Mara from Lifespan is available to assist caregivers or patients suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia Meet and Greet with Susan Larson 7-8pm founder of Susan’s Place Transgender Resources. Long before Facebook and MySpace, Susan Larson was providing a safe place for members of the Transgender and Gender Expansive Community to meet virtually, and do so safely. Her website still is serving the community. She will be at Equal Grounds Coffee House.

SAGE Men’s Discussion Group. 7 pm we will begin a journaling experience of sharing and discussing “My Gay Life” facilitated by Tony

21

Alliance “STIX” Potluck & Karaoke 3-6pm Fearless Hook & Ladder Fire Hall, 26 Clara Barton St, Dansville 14437. Intergenerational, all are welcome. This is a program of Out in the Sticks, Gay Alliance Rural Outreach. 244 8640 ex. 23

WEDNESDAY 24

LORA Women’s Coffee House Variety Night 6:30-8:30pm @ LGBTQ Resource Center 100 College Ave 14607. Karaoke, Yarncrafts with Kerry, Comedy, Storytelling and more. As always good food and fun. $3. Donation LORA@gayalliance.org or call 244-8640 ex. 23

FRIDAY 26

SAGE Fabulous Fish Fry 5:30pm @ Kennan’s Restaurant 1010 East Ridge Rd Irondequoit. Join the SAGE bunch for a fun filled fish fry. RSVP by 5/22 to 585-244-8640 ext. 23

SUNDAY 28

Dignity Integrity. 5pm Prayers to start the Week followed by potluck.

St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. Potluck: “Picnic in the Park”. After service, to nearby local park for Memorial Day Picnic. Bring favorite dish to pass, something to grill if you wish, camp chair. DI will provide paper goods, beverages, and fire-making supplies.

MONDAY 29

MEMORIAL DAY “Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the armed services make to defend our way of life.” — Robin Hayes

WEDNESDAY 31

SAGE Happy Hour 5-7pm @ Bachelor Forum 670 University Ave 14607 Pizza and Drink Specials

JUNE SATURDAY 3

Big Queer Prom “Out and Prouder Space” 7–10pm Martin Luther King Pavilion 353 Court St, Rochester, NY 14607. You must register for this event. Look on our Facebook page for registration link. https://www. facebook.com/GayAllianceYouth/ Nina LaCour, May 20, Teen Book Festival

SATURDAY 20

Nazareth Teen Book Festival.

8:30am-5pm at 4245 East Ave. No admission fee; open to the public.

Featuring Nina LaCour, author of several books about LGBTQ youth.

Alliance Queer as Folk Screening 3-5:30pm @ LGBTQ Resource Center 100 College Ave. The Good, the Bad and the Funny. 2pm Trans open mic hosted by We Exist Coalition. Wesleyan Chapel at Women’s Rights National Historical Park, 136 Fall St., Seneca Falls, 13148.

For full listings of Gay Alliance and other community events, go to www.gayalliance.org/calendar.

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES

SUNDAY 21

Dignity Integrity. Quiet Episcopal Mass. 5pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. LORA Brunch 10am-Noon Pixley Restaurant in Gates LORA@gayalliance.org or call 244-8640 ex.23

100 College Avenue, 9am-5pm and on Tues., Wed. & Thurs. evenings, 6:30-8:30pm.

Check out our 10,000-volume library, along with the Bohnett Cyber Center. Contact us: library@gayalliance.org or at 585-244-8640.

22

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Ongoing Calendar DAILY

Free confidential walk-in HIV testing M/W 9am-5pm, T/Th 9am-7pm, F 9am-12:30pm Trillium Health 259 Monroe Ave. 585-545-7200 Gay Alliance Library & Archives 9am-5pm. Tues./Wed./Thurs. 6:30-8:30pm 100 College Ave. Walk-in HIV testing At all Anthony Jordan health center sites including 82 Holland St. (See Resources)

MONDAYS

Women’s Coffee Social Equal Grounds Coffee House 750 South Ave. Monday evenings. 7 pm. Contact: Regina Altizer: reginaaltizer@gmail.com Crystal Meth Anonymous Meeting Every Monday 12-1pm. Huther Doyle, 360 East Ave., Rochester. Starting Monday Oct. 5.

Rochester Historical Bowling Society 7pm. Empire Lanes SAGE Monday Movie Meet-up 1:30 pm Dryden Theater 900 East Ave 14607.

Free to seniors. Please arrive early to sit together in the right balcony. SAGE@gayalliance.org or call 244-8640 ext. 23 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

SAGE Senior Chair Yoga w/ Thomas Somerville 10:30 am @ LGBTQ Resource Center 100 College Ave 14607 SAGE Lunch and Learn 11:30 Catered Lunch $3.00 donation @ LGBTQ Resource Center 100 College Ave 14607 Alliance Yoga with Tom 5:30 pm Multi level yoga for all ages. $15.00 @ LGBTQ Resource Center 100 College Ave 14607 Craft Night Third Tuesday, 6:30-8pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 244-8640.

Just Poets workshop Third Tuesdays thru May, 6:30-8:30pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 244-8640.

The Social Grind 10am-12noon and again 7:30-9pm at Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. Email: DHutch457@aol. com for information Teen Clinic at Planned Parenthood 114 University Avenue Rochester. Birth control, condoms, HIV testing, counseling. Weekly, Tuesdays 3-7pm.

Adult Families of Trans Youth (AFTY) A program of the Gay Alliance. First Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30, Open Arms MCC Community Center, 707 E. Main St. TransParent Support group for parents of trans youth. Third Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. LGBT Healthy Living Veterans support. 2nd, 4th Tuesdays, 10-11am Canandaigua VA, bldg. 9, room 8, Library conference room. 585 463-2731, 585 205-3360.

Testing Tuesdays at Trillium Health FREE HIV Testing for everyone, STI/STD testing FREE for women and MSM. Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave, 5-8pm. 585-545-7200 Women’s Community Chorus Rehearsals each Tuesday, 6:30-9pm, Downtown United Pres. Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street. 2344441, www.therwcc.org Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Support Group First Tuesday. 5:30-6:30pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Ages 13-20. 244-8640.

SAGE Rochester 50+ Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually 10:30am at venues including LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 244-8640. (See page 31) SAGE Men’s Group 50+ 7pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 1st, 3rd Tuesdays. rtony13@aol.com

WEDNESDAYS

Alliance SAFE Journey.

A path to spiritual wellness 6:30 pm @ LGBTQ Resource Center. People of all faiths, traditions and spiritual paths are welcome to join in harmony, breathe in silence and connect across lines of faith. Held 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month.

Contact 244-8640 for more information.

Identity Group 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 is to provide a safe space to discuss identity issues, share personal experiences and increase self-esteem. Facilitated by Delaina Fico.

LMSW. Contact Delaina Fico at dfico@arcmonroe.org or 585-271-0661 ext. 1552.

Line Dancing at 140 Alex Weekly on Wednesday, 7– 9pm. 140 Alex Bar & Grill, 140 Alexander St. Line dancing lessons upstairs. All types of music, relaxed group, beginners welcome! $2 a person suggested donation.

Lifetime Care LGBT Bereavement Support Group For loss associated with any type of relationship.

Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month from 5:30-7pm at Center for Compassion and Healing (3111 Winton Rd S). No fee. Please call 475-8800 for more details.

Gay Alliance Board of Directors Meets Third Wednesdays, 6pm, 100 College Ave., 244-8640 New Freedom New Happiness AA Gay meeting, 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd. Men and women. Open.

COAP Come Out and Play Wednesday game nights. 7-10pm.

Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. coap.rochester@ gmail.com Rochester Rams General Meeting 2nd Wednesdays, 7:30pm, Bachelor Forum, 670 University Ave. www.rochesterrams.com Positive Warriors Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm. Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. Positive Divas Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm. Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. Frontrunners/Frontwalkers 6pm, Eastman House parking lot. www.rochesterfrontrunners.org.

Gay Alliance Library & Archives 6:30-8:30pm (Also Tues. and Thurs.) 100 College Ave. Empire Bears Every Wednesday. 6pm dinner at various venues.

See Empire Bears Inc. on Facebook.

THURSDAYS

SAGE Senior Chair Yoga w/ Thomas Somerville 10:30 am @ LGBTQ Resource Center 100 College Ave 14607 Throw Down Thursdays Euchre 6:30-9:30 pm. LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. $5.00 donation. Good food, good drinks and lots of prizes.

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.

Depression Bipolar Support Alliance Youth and young adults. LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. dbsa.monroecounty@gmail.com 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. 7-9:30pm, 423-0650 NLIST Transgender Support Group 5-6:15pm, Trillium Health. Must pre-register.

Out & Equal Second Thursdays

Social/business networking, 5:30-7:30pm.

Changing venues. E-mail: fingerlakes@outandequal.org Genesee Valley Gender Variants 7-9pm, Equal=Grounds, 750 South Ave. GV GenderVariants@yahoogroups.com SAGE Rochester 50+ Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually 10:30am at venues including LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave, 244-8640. (See page 31)

FRIDAYS

LGBT AA meeting Fridays, 7:30-8:30pm, Closed meeting. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. Gay Alliance Youth Monthly Special Event, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., 244-8640; Ages 13-20. youth@gayalliance.org. Check Facebook.com/ GayAllianceYouth GLBTQI Motorcycle Group Second Fridays, 5:30pm, Various locations.

RochesterGLBTIQbikers@yahoo.com; 467-6456; bmdaniels@frontiernet.net.

Boyz Night Out Drag king revue. First Fridays, The Firehouse Saloon, 814 S. Clinton Ave.

SATURDAYS

The Repair Shop AA meeting at the LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 5:30-6:30 pm, Saturdays. 2448640.

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.

LORA brunch Third Sundays. For location, time contact Kerry at DressyFemme@aol.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., Services at: 10:30am. 271-8478.

Gay Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous St. Luke’s/St. Simon Cyrene Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St. 8pm, 232-6720, Weekly.

Closed meeting ■

Resources page online at www.gayalliance.org

ROCHESTER AA/NA MEETINGS

Every week there are three regularly scheduled GLBTI AA and two inclusive NA meetings in Rochester.

TUESDAYS

Narcotics Anonymous 6-7:30pm. AIDS and Recovery 1124 Culver Road (Covenant United Methodist Church) This is an NA meeting that is open to all addicts who have a desire to stop using. Although it is not specifically a gay-oriented meeting, it is welcoming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as to anyone who is affected by HIV and AIDS.

FRIDAYS

LGBT 7:30pm. Immanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave. • Open meeting • Handicapped accessible This is a round-robin discussion meeting. If you are shy about meeting people or speaking up in a group, you will find this meeting particularly warm and inviting because everyone gets their turn to speak (or pass). As a result, this meeting often runs long, so plan on more than the usual hour.

SATURDAYS

The Repair Shop AA meeting at the LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 5:30-6:30pm, Saturdays. 244-8640.

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. ■

Legal name change?

Birth certificate amendment?

You’ll need those forms notarized!

Our notary can help! Schedule a free appointment !

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

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Culture

23

Gallery Q presents TransAmericans, photographs by Errol Daniels Gallery Q will exhibit TransAmericans, photographs by Errol Daniels.

The opening reception is Friday, May 6 from 6-9 p.m. with an artist’s talk at 7 p.m. Gallery Q is located at 100 College Ave. As a social documentary photographer, Daniels focuses his camera on complex subjects, often covering individuals who are challenged by physical, social, mental, or political disadvantages. In his series, TransAmericans, he creates honest and intimate portraits of transgender individuals during various stages of transition, which are shown along with interviews with the sitters. His hope is to pull the audience into the lives of his sitters—not just to learn about their distinctive experiences, but to also see the human similarities that transcend boundaries.

Daniels states, “For transgender individuals, the time before, during and after physical transformation comes with many challenges. Even after they have made their transition and discovered more comfort in their self- expression and identity, transgender individuals still experience alarmingly high rates of violence, assault, abuse, and discrimination.” Citing the U.S. Office for Victims of Crime statistic that an estimated 50 percent of transgender individuals are sexually abused or assaulted at some point in their lives, Daniels says, “My goal is to chisel through these statistics and show the humanity behind them.”

Jasper. Photo: Errol Daniels

Daniels is an accomplished photographer having studied with Amy Arbus and John Goodman. He has exhibited in Spartanburg SC, Colorado Springs CO, Washington DC, Havana Cuba, Buffalo NY, and Athens Greece. His photographs are in the collection of the George Eastman Museum, The Spartanburg County Museum of Art in South Carolina, The Burchfield-Penney Art Center in Buffalo NY, as well as in private collections.

Gallery Q is open Monday and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., as well as Tuesday Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. The exhibition closes May 26. ■

Ortensia de Loren. Photos: Susan Jordan

Mother Dahling takes place at Scott Miller May 7 Take Your Mama to MAC on Sunday, May 7 at Scott Miller in Pittsford.

Attend makeup demos with MAC Cosmetics/Scott Miller artists and shop at the Rochester’s only MAC store. View the latest Spring beauty trends, enjoy some delectable refreshments, and watch Rochester’s own drag performers.

Admission is $50, which includes Makeup Demo, Drag Show, and Refreshments; $25 of ticket price redeemable for MAC Cosmetics (in-store only; see store for detail). Seats are limited, so call 585.264.9940 to reserve your space.

Organizer Ortensia de Loren told The Empty Closet, “I studied performance at Brockport and how the body can be constructed to perform an identity. My first performance took place at 140 Alex three years ago, in their weekly amateur show.

“Most queens lipsynch but I actually do it live. I love the old school, vintage music like 1940s. I love that style – there’s something chic about it; the Christian Dior New Look, and Balenciaga.”

Also performing on May 7 will be Wednesday Westwood, Jenna Vixen and Miss Deelicious. Ortensia said, “I organized the May 7 event – I love organizing events and last year at MAG I did a drag brunch.” She will host another drag brunch this July at Havana Cabana the weekend before Pride, with part of the proceeds going to the Gay Alliance.

Ortensia added, “Scott Miller is a salon and spa in Pittsford; one of the performers works there. We are going to promote the Viva Glam line with MAC Cosmetics. MAC makes contributions to HIV/AIDS research.” ■

Scott McCarney book art.

Local artist’s work appears in Brazilian art book encyclopedia O Livro de Artista e a Enciclopédia Visual Amir Brito Cadôr, Published by EDITORA ufmg, Belo Horizonte, 2016, (656 pps, 23 x 16 x 3.5 cm.)

Scott McCarney posts on his SmARTnews blog: “I was flattered to be included in this Brazilian encyclopedia of artists books. The text is Portuguese, but even without knowing the language I’m finding it interesting to ‘read.’ It is well illustrated and

organized by subject categories such as ‘archeology of knowing,’ ‘the art of memory,’ ‘reading allegories,’ and ‘a world of paper.’

“My book, ‘INDEX,’ appears in the ‘Technologies of Reproduction’ chapter. Although there is a healthy representation of Europeans (Tom Phillips, Joan Fontcuberta, Dieter Roth) and Americans (Clifton Meador, Buzz Spector, Sol LeWitt), there are many works by Latin American artists (mostly unknown to me outside of León Ferrari). Because of its encyclopedia format (and my lack of Portuguese), the illustrations are a bit of a tease but do whet the appetite for more research.” ■ See scottmccarney.blogspot.com.

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Blackfriars plans new season; Aggy and Kasha will be Big Wigs in residence One production still remains in Blackfriars Theatre’s 67th Season: Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller’s classic American drama about Willy Loman, the aging, failing salesman who makes his living riding on a smile and a shoeshine.

The 2016-2017 Season saw unprecedented growth with the addition of Mary Tiballi Hoffman as Blackfriars’ new Development Manager, the launch of the Blackfriars Theatre Summer Intensive training program for high school and college theatre artists, and upgrades to the theatre with brand new seats and a new sound system.

The 2017-2018 Season plans to build on that momentum with the Theatre’s biggest season yet, with three musicals, a Shakespearean comedy, an original collaboration with PUSH Physical Theatre, and two riveting American dramas; this season has something for everyone. Blackfriars says, “We’re also partnering with local organizations and charities on each production in order to expand the Theatre’s reach while giving back to the Rochester community. From post-show panel discussions to book drives to free tickets for charity organizations, we’ll be engaging the community and our patrons in new and meaningful ways.

“We will continue our artistic, educational and community partnerships with Nazareth College’s Visual Communications Design Program, showcasing the work of two new student designers this season: David DiPrimo (17-18 Season Designer) and Kristopher Kodweis (17-18 Special Events Designer). Our technical internship program with RIT’s Theatre Department continues to offer students professional training in stage craft and stage management. Unleashed!

Improv and Canary in a Coal Mine remain as the Blackfriars Comedy Series and Writers and Books will co-produce the 24-Hour Musical Theatre Festival next season. PUSH Physical Theatre is back at Blackfriars this Halloween with a new spin on a classic tale of horror and the Hourglass Play Reading Series continues to offer five challenging and important new plays.

“New in the year ahead, Blackfriars will welcome Mrs. Kasha Davis and Aggy Dune – The Big Wigs! – to the Theatre for a full-year residence. The 17-18 Season will also feature a strong focus on female artists and storytelling, as well as new partnerships with community and cultural organizations as a way to support and promote diversity and creativity and strengthen empathy and humanity across our region. As the year unfolds, Blackfriars will announce more details on the growing partnerships and programs.”

“As a female artist, I am thrilled that we’re focusing on female stories and artists next season,” said Development Manager Mary Tiballi Hoffman. “It’s vitally important to celebrate and support women in this industry, from actors and directors to designers, technicians and playwrights.”

“Over the past two years Blackfriars has broadened its relationship with the Rochester community – continuing to provide challenging, engaging and quality theatre for our patrons and artists as well as championing local educational, community and artistic organizations with our new partnerships,” adds Artistic and Managing Director Danny Hoskins. “By increasing our cultural and artistic opportunities with more community outreach, more diverse local artistry and a continual dedication to important, bold and immediate storytelling, Blackfriars continues to be a key player, invigorating the cultural landscape of downtown Rochester.”

The theatre has launched a few new initiatives as well. Blackfriars recently launched the Triple Threat Raffle, a fun new way to generate additional income for the Theatre while offering patrons the chance to walk away with some pretty incredible prizes. The 1st prize is $3,000. Second prize is two lifetime subscriptions to Blackfriars Theatre. Third prize is a luxurious overnight in a suite at East Ave Inn & Suites, complete with wine, restaurant gift cards, and theatre tickets. Raffle tickets are $50 and Blackfriars is only selling 200. The winners will be chosen at the final performance of Death of a Salesman on Sunday, May 2 and it is not necessary to be present to win. Tickets are also available via the website, blackfriars.org.

Blackfriars Theatre is a professional, not-for-profit theatre located on Rochester, NY’s “Theatre Row”. Free parking is available on site. Handicapped seating is available. For more information regarding Blackfriars Theatre, please visit their website at www.blackfriars.org. ■

Aggy Dune and Kasha Davis – Big Wigs in residence at Blackfriars.

Carole King is Queen of Broadway

By Merle Exit At many times Manhattan can seem so far away. I feel the earth move under my feet and so I will go to the theatre hoping to see a beautiful show. I asked my neighbor to feed and pet my cat. “Take good care of my baby,” I said, as I didn’t know how long it would be before I got back home.

Hoping to attend one fine day, rain is in the air so it might as well rain until September. Got to the Sondheim Theatre and realized it was some kind of wonderful going on, especially with the political atmosphere being so negative.

I wanted to grab a bite from a restaurant across the street. I looked at my watch and I realized that it’s too late. The doors opened and the night was simply stupendous. It was all about the life of singer and composer Carole King.

When Beautiful first appeared on Broadway, Jessie Mueller portrayed Carole. This run has her sister Abby taking the part. Abby was not new to the role as she had been on tour and now is her first time doing it on Broadway. This is also my first time seeing this show.

Carole attended Queens College at the age of 16. Same for me but not the same year. Her mom, Genie Klein (Liz Larsen), would rather see a teaching career. It is at Queens College that she meets Gerry Griffin (Evan Todd) where they team up, with Carole being the lyricist, Gerry, the com-

Nazareth hosts Teen Book Fest on May 20 Nazareth College will once again be hosting the Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival (TBF) on Saturday, May 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 4245 East Ave. There is no admission fee for TBF and it is open to the public.

TBF is able to host an additional author at the 2017 Festival, thanks to a $1,730 grant from the LGBT Giving Circle at Rochester Area Community Foundation. The grant has underwritten the costs to bring award-winning author Nina LaCour from California to participate as one of the 28 featured authors.

Nina LaCour has written three critically acclaimed young adult novels: Hold Still, The Disenchantments, and Everything Leads to You. LaCour recently collaborated with David Lev-

poser. Music is submitted and Don Kirshner (Paul Anthony Stuart) is so interested that he winds up running their career.

Carole and Gerry marry, she’s pregnant…or was it the other way around? Enter another couple who have been vying for backing and number one hit spots as well. Cynthia Weil (Jessica Keenan Wynn) is the lyricist, Barry Mann (Ben Jacoby) the composer. They all become friends.

Intertwined are other groups or solos such as the Drifters, The Righteous Brothers, The Shirelles and Neil Sedaka. Songs include: “Up On the Roof”, “Downtown”, “Uptown”, “Oh, Carole” and “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”. Funniest is when Carole writes “The Locomotion” and Eva, who recorded the song, was actually Carole’s baby sitter. In other words, songs are being made famous by the artists, most written by either one of these teams.

There are plenty of life’s ups and downs in this musical, including a split with a “life undecided” Jerry.

Suggestion? Carole should sing and record her own creations.

Eventually, everyone was going their own way and the song “You’ve Got a Friend” is a gift from Carole to her friends. As the show ends, the final two songs are “Natural Woman” and “Beautiful”. Then comes the curtain call when she sings, “I Feel the Earth Move” with the audience joining in. What drew me throughout the show was that, regardless of what song and who sang, I knew all the words. Younger Carole King fans might only know her songs and that’s OK. ■

ithan to write a novel entitled You Know Me Well. Her novels have been selected for the Junior Library Guild and ALA Best Books for Young Adults lists. LaCour won the 2009 Northern California Book Award for Children’s Literature. LaCour will visit Gay Straight Alliance groups in two local school districts.

Founder and President of the Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival Stephanie Squicciarini thanks the LGBT Giving Circle for their support “on behalf of the thousands of teens who have come to know TBF as a safe place to be a reader and to share that enjoyment with everyone across all backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and dreams.”

Catherine Lewis, Chair of the Grant Making Committee of the LGBT Giving Circle, stated grants totaling over $27,000 were awarded to 19 nonprofit organizations across an eight-county region in 2016 to support a broad array of social service, cultural, and LGBT rights projects. A

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Author Nina LaCour

crucial priority is reaching youth and celebrating the varied culture of the LGBT community.

Bringing in an author whose work includes LGBT characters and themes will “help make a real difference in the quality of life for LGBT individuals and the community at large,” said Angela Bonazinga, co-chair of the Giving Circle. The Giving Circle was established at the Community Foundation by a group of LGBT people and allies. In just five years, the Circle has distributed over $100,000 in grants and raised more than $100,000 for its endowment.

Each spring the Teen Book Festival brings together over 2,500 teens and adults. TBF has doubled its attendance over the past five years.

The goals of the Festival are to con-

nect teen readers to award-winning authors, enhance students’ reading and literacy skills, and help youth develop their potential by encouraging interaction between aspiring teen writers and established authors.

In 2016, over 1,700 students and chaperones arrived at the Fest by bus, representing 43 school districts from across Central and Western New York and the Southern Tier. With the assistance of over 300 adult and teen volunteers from area school districts and the community, there is no direct cost to the participants to attend.

The Teen Book Fest kicks off with a panel including all authors and then continues with special breakout sessions designed to promote interaction with readers and writers. Teens will also have the chance to attend an autographing session. Information on all the featured authors and the day’s schedule of activities can be found on the Teen Book Festival website, www. teenbookfest.org.

Books for the festival authors are available at local public or school libraries and for purchase from Barnes and Noble at the event. Special Festival t-shirts and other merchandise are for sale during the event. ■

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ROC Pride 2017

Summer of Love (Continued from the cover)

“The kick-off beach party, organized by the Rochester Victory Alliance, has moved from Friday evening to all-day Sunday July 9; This will have a tea-dance feel to it, bring people to the beach, and add the party element to the Volleyball Tournament taking place at Ontario Beach Park, organized by the ROC Pride Games.

“We continue to strive to make the Pride celebrations be diverse, accessible and affordable to all the members of our community. And in order to do that, we are engaging with hundreds of volunteers, collaborating with other community organizations and groups, and are seeking out contribution from our many sponsors and partners. If you want to donate time or money to make Pride happen, sign up in our volunteer page on the website at www. rochesterpride.com.

“We wanted to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love for several reasons. The movement meant a lot of different things to different people.

We really want

Jamaican singer Diana King performs at Roc Pride 2016. Photo: Anthony George

to promote Peace, Love and Harmony in this unstable environment we have faced this year. We also want people to become more involved in the community and that everyone can be an activist, an ally, a fighter. And we want people to have a good time!

Come to the parade and festival have a good time, be free, be present, be yourself, be alive!” ■

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LGBTQ Life Hedonist Artisan Chocolates and Ice Cream, oh my!

Chocaholics delight! Hedonist Artisan Chocolates and Ice Cream is celebrating its tenth year of serving sweet-toothed aficionados throughout Rochester and across the country. From humble beginnings down a small South Avenue alley in 2007, Hedonist has grown its walk-up, online, corporate and wholesale business over the years.

The shop was put on the national stage in 2013 when The New York Times reviewed its dark chocolate salted caramel, naming it one of the 10 best in the country.

Hedonist is a Fine Chocolatier: ingredient sources are closely monitored for premium quality, and the production practices of every product rest heavily on artistry and presentation. The chocolate is created in the French-Amer-

ican style, focusing on the quality of French Chocolate and the innovation of the American melting pot.

There are four basic categorizations for chocolate: French, American, Belgian and French-American. The French have been processing the finest blends of chocolate for years, with subtle notes of flavors. In America the focus tends to favor the paired-flavor; a Reese’s cup features a stronger flavor of peanut butter, rather than the chocolate. Owner Jennifer Posey says, “We’re considered a French-American company. We use fine French chocolate, but we also wow you with big flavors.”

Jennifer also explains that chocolate makers — otherwise known as chocolatiers — refer to their confections as chocolates.

Candy makers have their own title and their own primary ingredient,

Madelyn and Jennifer Posey at Hedonist. Photo: Susan Jordan

which is usually sugar. A chocolatier’s first ingredient is chocolate.

Hedonist sources ingredients locally whenever possible, including Pittsford Farms Dairy, Hurd Orchards, Coffee Connection, Leaf Tea Bar, Lively Run Dairy Farm, and local farmers markets. When local products aren’t available, ingredients are gathered from the highest-quality sources: orange peels from Italy and pecans from Texas.

While Hedonist prides itself on a diverse range of customers, take note for moms and dads: limitedtime chocolate collections will soon be hitting shelves for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. According to Jennifer, “We usually make special pieces of caramel for the mothers, since our salted caramels are nationally known.

And we have a Bacon Week for dads — a week before Father’s Day we make bacon-caramel ice cream and bacon-peanut bark.”

Jennifer concocts the recipes and flavor profiles, while letterpress printer Madelyn Posey and creative director Matt DeTurck design the tags and packaging. Madelyn owns Posey Letterpress and specializes in creating designs that are both personal and attractive. “We can do wedding invitations, baby showers, business cards, corporate events; pretty much any event you can think of, we can create custom prints for it,” she says. In addition to the packaging, Hedonist also offers custom-made chocolates for special events.

Ice cream season is returning and Hedonist is rolling out some of its

By Matt De Turck

most classic flavors — like a strawberry ice cream and a rich chocolate sorbet — as well as some of its most-requested, like baklava with fillo dough and nuts. The shop has eight flavors available every day, including two dairy-free options. Jennifer notes, “In the summer we make ice cream five days a week; we’re making, making, making! And we make our own waffle cones to boot.”

“Salted caramel ice cream is our all-time favorite flavor. People get upset if we run out of that,” says Jennifer, whose personal favorite is Cookie Dough; Madelyn’s favorite is Concord Grape sorbet.

Hedonist Artisan Chocolates and Ice Cream is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. every day; the ice cream shop remains open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The shops are located at 674 South Ave., in the heart of the South Wedge Neighborhood. ■

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The Gay Alliance works to be champions for LGBTQ life and culture. We strive to ensure that all members of the LGBTQ communities, at all stages of their lives, are free to be fully participating citizens, living lives in which they are safe, stable and fully respected.

Board President Colleen Raimond Executive Director Scott Fearing Managing Director Jeffrey Myers Development Director Josh Stapf Education Director Jeannie Gainsburg Education Coordinator Rowan Collins SAGE Program Coordinator Anne Tischer Database Kat Wiggall Bookkeeper Christopher Hennelly The Empty Closet Editor Susan Jordan susanj@gayalliance.org Phone: (585) 244-9030 Fax: (585) 244-8246 Graphic Design Jim Anderson jimandersondesign@me.com Advertising Jennie Bowker jennieb@gayalliance.org.

(585) 244-9030 The Gay Alliance 100 College Avenue Rochester, New York 14607 Mon. & Fri., 9am-5pm Tues., Wed., Thurs. 9am-8pm Phone: (585) 244-8640 Fax: (585) 244-8246 info@gayalliance.org www.gayalliance.org

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Bed & Breakfast

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