Empty Closet, Sept 2016

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NUMBER 504

Pandora on the Fringe...

Page 10

A PUBLICATION OF THE GAY ALLIANCE

SEPTEMBER 2016

Sharing Our Pride of Place: LGBTQ Landmark Initiative

RISE Brunch on Sept. 25 will raise funds for Rochester LGBTQ, Susan A. Cowell youth scholarships

By Evelyn Bailey On Aug. 16, about 50–75 LGBTQ community members and allies attended The Landmark Society of Western New York’s informational meeting on its newest initiative – A Rochester LGBTQ Landmarks Survey.

The survey will identify landmarks of significance in the history of Rochester’s LGBTQ community and recognize their importance both historically and culturally.

Larry Francer, The Landmark Society’s Associate Director of Preservation, welcomed the group and shared that the Survey, the first phase of this Initiative which was funded through a grant from the LGBT Fund for Greater Rochester of Rochester Area Community Foundation, will offer a unique opportunity to educate the entire community about the history of the local LGBT movement and create a sense of pride about the place that our City occupies nationally in the fight for gay rights.

The ultimate goal is to identify places that can be placed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Those attending were asked to introduce themselves and tell why they were interested in the initiative and what landmarks they remember.

NYS Assemblymember Harry Bronson shared how important it is to remember the “Shoulders” we stand on and to preserve our history by identifying the significant places where the Rochester gay rights activists made their voices known.

Others indicated their desire to be involved because of their personal connections to LGBT history, and the desire to pass on that history to younger members of the community with visible reminders.

One of the participants, Whitey LeBlanc, shared his personal memories of being a member of the Gay Liberation Front on the U of R Campus, and the move of non-students off campus to Brown St. and the Genesee Coop, where the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley was formed. Others mentioned the need to remember the significant role that churches, various faith communities and grass roots organizations played in the LGBTQ history of Rochester.

Larry Francer requested that those present add places and events to the list of historic places in Rochester already identified and write their name and contact information down to be kept informed of the Initiative’s progress. There will be another community informational meeting, probably in the fall, inviting community members to share their memories and to become involved. If you wish to be involved please contact Larry Francer at lfrancer@landmarksociety.org.

(Landmarks continue page 3)

By Susan Jordan The Gay Alliance will host the second annual RISE (Rochester Initiative for Scholarships and Education) brunch on Sept. 25 at the Rochester Yacht Club, 5555 St. Paul Blvd., to raise funds for the Rochester LGBTQ Scholarship and Susan A. Cowell Scholarship.

The brunch will run from noon to 3 p.m., starting with drinks on the terrace overlooking the river. Tickets are $50, available at www.gayalliance. org/rise.

The scholarships provide up to $1000 to each recipient. To be eligible students must be LGBTQ-identified and attending post-secondary education in upstate New York. Deadline for applying for this year’s grants is Sept. 9. To apply or for more information, go to www.gayalliance.org/rise.

Committee chairman Scotty Ginett told The Empty Closet, “The fact that we can have this for LGBTQ youth is amazing.

“The RISE scholarship gives the Rochester community an opportunity to support generations of our LGBTQ youth in their educational aspirations.

So many of us didn’t have this unique support that we can give our youth today. I’m thrilled to be chairing the RISE Brunch

The RISE Brunch takes place at the Rochester Yacht Club. Photo: Gerry Szymanski

committee, and look forward to its success.”

The brunch will include a silent auction, a raffle and The RISE Brunch Leadership Award to the Center for Youth, to be accepted by Director Elaine Spaull. BJ Scanlon will serve as m.c.

Gay Alliance ED Scott Fearing said, “The RISE Brunch

Rev. Jim Mulcahy of MCC expelled from Russia

Rev. Jim Mulcahy

the police station demanding the same. My lawyer was never allowed to join me until the

ty in all of their programs. They have worked to ensure that their housing program is welcoming to our community members, including accommodating the needs of trans people. All of their programs are welcoming.

“They have partnered with us and Trillium Health in a wide variety of programs. Last (RISE continues page 3)

interrogation was finished.

“The police raid targeted only me, expecting to catch me performing a same-sex wedding which is illegal in Russia. They brought national as well as local news crews with them. It was clearly a political situation used for anti-gay, antiAmerican, anti-religious (except Russian Orthodox) propaganda.

The lead interrogator and film crew had come to Samara from Moscow. In fact, they caught me drinking tea and chatting with a group of about a dozen LGBT people, some of whom were my friends.

“A new law, supposedly antiterrorism, came into effect nine days after my detention. It has chilling anti-religious provisions. My detention was a vigorous indication that the State intended to prosecute any religion not Russian Orthodox. I was detained, tried, and expelled under a law that had not yet come into effect, although they said it was violation of visa by doing religious activity on a tourist visa. They found no religious activity.

“My trial was a joke with the outcome predetermined.

(Mulcahy continues page 3)

Inside

Growing Up… page 22

ERIC BELLMANN

By Susan Jordan The Reverend Jim Mulcahy, 72, formerly pastor of Open Arms MCC here in Rochester, is Eastern Europe coordinator for the U.S.-based Metropolitan Community Churches denomination. He now lives in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine.

When Rev. Mulcahy visited Russia in July he was confronted by police who said he was accused of planning to perform a same sex marriage. He was taken to the Samara police station, held for eight hours, tried without legal representation and then expelled from Russia.

Rev. Mulcahy told The Empty Closet, “A month after my expulsion, I look back on my experience and have these reactions.

“For me, it was a very unpleasant but not dangerous situation.

More importantly, our LGBT people in Russia have oppression every day of their lives and must live very carefully. In spite of this dangerous situation, many came to the police station where I was being detained and interrogated, demanding access for my attorney to join me. Many others from inside Russia and from Europe and the States called

Leadership Award goes to organizations and individuals who really step up to the plate to support LGBTQ youth. I see in the future the award going to a college, if they do something extraordinary to show their support.

“The Center for Youth has proven to be a very strong advocate for the LGBTQ communi-

Editorials....................................... 2 Interview: Trans Parent............... 7 Making the Scene......................10 Opinion: Unjust system.............15 Health: Fact sheets ..................16 LGBTQ Living: Re-locating ......17 Shoulders To Stand On ...........21 Columnists ................................22 Community ................................25 Entertainment: Fringe Fest.......27 Gay Alliance: Library ...............30 Calendar.....................................34 Classifieds..................................34 Comics........................................35 The Gay Alliance is publisher of The Empty Closet, New York State’s oldest LGBTQ newspaper.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

Perspectives The Empty Closet Editor SUSAN JORDAN

Lesbian Pride Speaking personally, I am proud to call myself a lesbian.

Cisgender or trans women who love women are certainly free to call themselves gay, queer, etc. But we woman-loving women do have a noble, ancient heritage which was erased -- and we should know and respect it, and ourselves.

Sappho of Lesbos was a priestess of Aphrodite, goddess of beauty, love and sexuality -- including lesbian sexuality: Aphrodite had a bearded, Amazon aspect, although she is depicted in patriarchal myth as a heterosexual nymphet and sex object. Worship of Aphrodite (Egyptian Isis, Semitic Ishtar/ Astarte/Asherah) goes back into the mists of pre-his-story.

Female deities are the most ancient images of the divine.

From Paleolithic figurines like the “Venus of Willendorf” to the sophisticated works of Iron Age sculptors, from the Middle East to Greece to Scandinavia, humans revered a female diety, who evolved as the Triple Goddess, Lady of Heaven and Earth.

Before the creation of cities, the primeval Goddess was a local figure, revered in each place by a different name, but still seen as a Triad—The Birth Virgin, Lady of the stars and the sea; the Midsummer Queen/ Amazon/Harvest Goddess, and the Winter Hag, Lady of the

wilderness and the underworld.

Males were her heroic sons or consorts – and they were not denied power. The name Hercules, or Greek Herakles, means “Glory of Hera” – Hera (or E-ra) being the primeval Earth Goddess -- and no one has ever accused Hercules of being less than macho.

In addition to being a priestess, Sappho was also one of the greatest poets who ever lived.

Much of her work was destroyed, but take a look at “To Aphrodite”.

Sappho was also a wife and mother in a world where gay, bi and straight were not seen as separate categories, and where women were required to be the property of males. Nonetheless, in spite of the denials over the centuries from homophobic, misogynistic scholars, she loved women both emotionally and sexually (see “Searching for Sappho” by Philip Freeman, W.W. Norton, 2016). ■ To Aphrodite You know the place: then Leave Crete and come to us waiting where the grove is pleasantest, by precincts sacred to you; incense smokes on the altar, cold streams murmur through the apple branches, a young rose thicket shades the ground and quivering leaves pour down deep sleep; in meadows where horses have grown sleek among spring flowers, dill scents the air. Queen! Cyprian!

Fill our gold cups with love stirred into clear nectar -Sappho; tr. Barnard This is why I’m proud to be a Lesbian, or Sapphic Sister!

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

THANK YOU

Volunteer Coordinator JEFF MYERS

If you enjoyed Roc Pride 2016…. thank a volunteer!

Gay Alliance Roc Pride, like all Gay Alliance events, is made possible by the volunteer efforts of our community.

Every tent, every rainbow flag, every drink ticket, the park layout, the clean-up when the day ends – every aspect of this celebration of the Rochester LGBTQ and ally community is the work of volunteers, making an impact on thousands of people each year.

Not a single person is paid for the time, energy, and passion they devote to seeing our organization and community thrive.

From Board Members to Pride Chairs, from festival ticket sales to stage crew, from information booths to even putting up the perimeter fencing, our organization is afforded invaluable talent that propels us forward.

Volunteers Make a Difference There are few opportunities within the Rochester LGBTQ community like volunteering for the week of events showcasing ROC Pride.

Volunteers get to meet new friends through mutual service and unite with old friends for a new experience. This year, more than 300 volunteers came together to bring 15 events in seven days to life. These vol-

Name

unteers built the tents attendees stood under to escape the sun; they coordinated our Pride Parade, the registration of the 5K run and Pride Games that kept the community moving and they kept everyone hydrated during the festival by selling drink tickets and bottled water.

The experience at each event was improved because of volunteers who chose to pay it forward.

Scientific research claims that giving back to the community creates a good feeling that lasts long after the music stops at the events. This feeling comes from the sense of accomplishment volunteers experience when an event is successful because of the time and passion they devoted to it.

Be a Volunteer The Pride Committee works for months to plan each event and coordinate the various moving parts. Once all of the details are finalized, The Pride Committee compiles a list of job descriptions, timelines and the number of volunteers needed for each event. This plan is given to the Pride Volunteer team, who in turn reach out to individual volunteers with volunteer needs.

I believe in volunteerism. I believe in the power of an individual to use skills that they glean from their personal and professional experiences to make non-profit organizations stronger. Our organization only exists because volunteers pick up the mantle each year making decisions that impact this community, volunteers sign up to manage events, or volunteers register online to work a shift.

We always need more volunteers to continue bringing excellence to ROC Pride. If you would like to step up to volunteer, feel free to email me at jeffreym@gayalliance.org. ■

09/16

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

Benefits: Subscription to The Empty Closet mailed to home or work, plus privileges at each level. Phone: 585 244-8640 or mail to: Gay Alliance, 100 College Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.

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

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

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

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

BRONZE 140 Alex Bar & Grill Advantage Federal Credit Union Anderson Windows Avenue Pub Bank of America, Merrill Lynch CSEA Empire North Excellus First Niagara Fred L. Emerson Foundation Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP HCR Home Care Hedonist Chocolates Jim Beam John’s Tex Mex Joseph & Irene Skalny Charitable Trust Logical Operations New York Life 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

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

PAGE ONE (RISE from page 1)

RISE Brunch chair Scotty Ginett. Photo: Gerry Szymanski

year when we didn’t have a space for youth, they opened their doors and they have continued to collaborate with us, as on this year’s prom and other special events. They also do LGBTQ cultural competency training for all their staff.

“One thing I admire is they don’t shy away from letting their donors and sponsors know they support LGBTQ issues.”

(Landmarks from page 1) Already the Landmark Society has many partners in this initiative including City of Rochester, ImageOut, Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, WXXI and The Little, Trillium Health, Out & Equal NY Finger Lakes, University of Rochester Susan B. Anthony Institute and the Q Center at RIT. The Rochester LGBTQ Landmarks Steering Committee consists of Larry Francer and Caitlin Meives, Landmark Society; Andy Rau and James Smith, City of Rochester; Evelyn Bailey and Scott Fearing, Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley; Jason Roberts, Trillium Health.

(Mulcahy from page 1) The verdict was announced on local and national TV news at 9 p.m. In fact the verdict wasn’t announced until after 11:30 p.m.

The TV media were allowed in my interrogation and in my trial which took place without my attorney and without an adequate interpreter and without my ability to call any witnesses who were present at the meeting that was raided. My attorney has filed an appeal on my behalf because the Russian Constitution was ignored in the whole procedure. We have no hope of winning the appeal but the LGBT community needs to see the fight happening. My attorney told me that it’s like water dripping on a stone. Eventually the water wins.

“The hardest part for me was that I was relentlessly personally attacked by the media. Facts were irrelevant and there were very many factual errors in the reports. But errors in the media are irrelevant in Russia because the media is an arm of state propaganda. Our LGBT people have reached out to me constantly. Each day I receive messages of support and love from our LGBT people in all parts of Russia, assuring me that they don’t believe all the lies in the media.

“All in all, my biggest regret is that I am banned for three years from entering Russia, and quite frankly, I doubt after that

time that I’ll be able to get a visa. I’ve attempted since 2009 to be a support and encouragement to our LGBT communities throughout post-soviet space. Because I live in Ukraine, my presence in the region has become an important symbol of spiritual support to our people in the region. I will have to strongly develop my virtual outreach to Russia and our people there.

“The ordinary Russian citizen is warm and welcoming. I have been very enthusiastically received and honored in every community and group I’ve visited, both spiritual and secular.”

Levi Bridges of the Associated Press wrote a story about Mulcahy’s experience, quoting Mulcahy as saying he had had no intention of performing a same sex wedding in Russia. The story was picked up by The Advocate and other LGBTQ publications.

Bridges wrote in part, “Mulcahy said that a post he made on Facebook about his trip to Russia prompted activists from the gay rights organization Avers in Samara, 760 kilometers (475 miles) southeast of Moscow, to invite him to take part in an informal question-andanswer session at their offices…

“The organization is one of the LGBT groups beleaguered

by Russia’s growing animosity toward sexual minorities.

Although homosexuality is no longer criminalized as it was in the Soviet Union, Russia in 2013 banned the spread of ‘propaganda’ about non-traditional sexual relations to minors. Even before the law was passed, officials routinely denied permission for gay-pride rallies, and those that did take place quickly exploded into attacks by anti-gay protesters who claimed to be following the line of the dominant Russian Orthodox Church.

“Another recently passed law forbids missionaries and organizations from praying outside of churches or disseminating religious material in private homes - the law exempts the Orthodox church.

“In Samara, Mulcahy said, a group of about a dozen people had just settled around a long table when four uniformed police knocked on the door.

They claimed they had received a tip that Mulcahy was performing a gay marriage.

“One officer took a teacup from Mulcahy’s hand and told him he had to come with them.

“The officers drove Mulcahy to a police station -- threatening to handcuff him if he refused to cooperate. Police interrogated Mulcahy through an interpreter, who he says spoke limited English. Mulcahy’s lawyer, who was denied entry, waited outside.

Police refused to let Mulcahy -who is diabetic and has prostate cancer -- return to his hotel to take his medication during the eight hours that they detained him.”

Bridges continued, “The Russian LGBT Network, a nongovernmental organization, posted about Mulcahy’s arrest on Facebook while police questioned him. People from around Russia, including Mulcahy’s nephew in Florida, called the Samara police station demanding Mulcahy’s release.

“Mulcahy was then taken to court, where a judge ruled that he violated the terms of his tourist visa by engaging in unspecified religious activity. He had to pay a $30 fine and was given five days to leave the country.”

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NewsFronts LOCAL AND STATE Breaking Bread and Building Bridges at Ganondagan

By Lucille Haley Nearly 100 people were present on Aug. 7 at the Seneca Art and Cultural Center in Victor as the Friends of Ganondagan hosted “Breaking Bread, Building Bridges.”

Ganondagan is a NYS Historic Site, originally an ancient Seneca (Onondowaga) town which was burned by the French in 1687. It has been preserved as a historic site and features trails, a longhouse replica and the new cultural center.

Three speakers were on hand on Aug. 7 to focus on living authentically: Mubarak Bashir, Youth President of the local chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Rochester; Gabrielle Hermosa, Transwoman and member of the LGBTQ Academy Speakers Bureau and Lauren Jimerson, art therapist and member of the Seneca Heron Clan.

As each speaker told their personal story, it became clear to the audience that, no matter how much seems different about us, there are even more similarities.

Being Muslim brought never-before-seen challenges to Mubarak Bashir after the attacks of 9/11. He continues to be challenged by the resistance and suspicions of those who don’t know him, even though he is a second generation United States-born citizen. Bashir challenged those in attendance to “get to know him and other Muslims.”

Gabrielle Hermosa’s biggest challenge in life has been growing up transgender in a world that doesn’t understand what transgender actually means and often aren’t interested in finding out. Gabrielle thanked those who came to listen and learn.

Lauren Jimerson grew up being embarrassed by her roots.

She thought she could leave it all behind each time she moved.

Ever so slowly she came to realize she couldn’t leave behind who she really was. Even more slowly she grew to embrace who she is, building on her authentic self, and becoming a success in life.

The presentation ended with each of the speakers spending time with those at each table, to literally and figuratively break bread and build bridges by enjoying food and further conservations about each other’s authentic lives.

Inqueery to present environmental symposium Are you concerned about climate change, social injustice, and what is happening on our planet?

We are all grappling with the challenging issues of our time. Where on earth are we going? And what can we do about it? What kind of world are we creating? - and will it work for everyone?

Pachamama organizers say, “Our world is facing challenges beyond anything we have expe-

rienced in our history. We face environmental degradation and social injustice, with a cultural sense of emptiness and lack of purpose.

“Many are feeling hopeless and powerless to make changes, yet most agree that we want to create a world that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, and fulfilling to all. This is a bold vision and it is up to all of us to make it happen!

“We invite you, to join us in September for the Pachamama Alliances, “Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream” Symposium. Pachamama Alliance (pachamama.org) a global community that offers people a chance to learn, connect, engage, and cherish life for the purpose of creating a sustainable future that works for all. The symposium has been given in 80 countries worldwide.

“The symposium uses inspiring multimedia, leading edge information and dynamic group interactions to explore the current state of our lives on our planet from a new perspective and to connect with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future.

It will be facilitated by Sue Staropoli and Tony Perri of Rochester Pachamama Alliance Team.

“The symposium will be given on three consecutive evenings; Sept. 15, 22, and 29 from 6:30–9 p.m. There is no charge but reservations are required. Please contact Chris at the Gay Alliance.

We hope you can join us for this important event.”

Bud Minard passes at 89 Norris E. (Bud) Minard passed on Aug. 13, age 89.

This photo was taken in 2010 at a Marriage Equality “It’s About Love” visibility walk in Marketplace Mall.

Bud was devoted to Spiritus Christi Church and Open Arms MCC, and loved and supported the arts – he underwrote the Jason & DeMarco concerts. A Celebration of Life is set for Sept.

10 at 3 p.m. at Chestnut Court in St. John’s Meadows, 1 Johnsarbor Dr. W.

Assemblymember Bronson denounces “bigoted” radio host Bob Lonsberry Assemblymember Harry Bronson has declined to debate on the Bob Lonsberry Show. Lonsberry, a conservative commentator, has in the past accused the LGBTQ community of molesting children.

Bronson stated, “It is my longstanding and strong belief that racism, homophobia, transphobia and intolerance have absolutely no place in our society. The hurtful, bigoted remarks repeatedly made by radio entertainer Bob Lonsberry in no way represent the true character of Rochester – here, folks work hard to care for their families and our communities are stronger when we’re diverse. Although we sadly hear it and witness it all too often these days, hatred and discrimination do not belong in politics. I’m running for re-election to speak out against harmful, prejudiced voices, not amplify them. That’s why I refuse to participate in Mr. Lonsberry’s show. His views in no way represent mine, or those of the majority of families whom I represent.

“My opponent, Rachel Barnhart, has agreed to take part in his show and embraces his endorsement. I urge her to reconsider. My focus is on all the families I represent and the issues that matter most to them, and I look forward to the chance to have a spirited debate on these issues in an appropriate forum. To me, appearing on Mr. Lonsberry’s show would mean supporting the bullying and intolerance he frequently spews, and that is something I simply won’t do.”

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

NewsFronts NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL

Flier for Trump’s appearance at a Sept. anti-gay conference.

Equality Florida protests Trump’s speech at the Orlando anti-gay conference.

Trump, Rubio appear at anti-gay hate rally in Orlando; 200 protest Equality Florida, faith leaders, and family members of victims of the Pulse shooting were joined by nearly 200 local progressives on Aug. 11 outside the “Rediscovering God in America” conference in Orlando, to call out Marco Rubio and Donald Trump.

Exactly two months after the Pulse Nightclub shooting, presidential candidate Donald Trump and Senator Marco Rubio were the headline attendees for the hate group conference at the Orange County Convention Center, just miles from where the shooting that shook Orlando and the nation took place.

Equality Florida stated, “The Aug 11-12th conference was hosted by the American Renewal Project, whose leader

has likened gay people to Nazis and called on Christians to ‘risk martyrdom’ to block gays from marrying. The event was sponsored by the American Family Association and features the Liberty Counsel, both notoriously anti-LGBT organizations dubbed hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In addition to their long history opposing adoption, marriage, and even basic legal protections for LGBT people, Liberty Counsel’s president drew widespread condemnation for threatening to bring a Glock .45 to the bathroom in Target in case she encountered a transgender person.”

At the Aug. 11 rally organized by Equality Florida, and joined by community partners and victims of the Pulse shooting, the community came out to peacefully and forcefully call out these two leading national Republican politicians for their reprehensible anti-LGBT message propagated by their campaigns.

Participants also called for putting the needs of the community first by passing sensible gun violence prevention measures and fully inclusive LGBTQ nondiscrimination policies.

“Donald Trump recklessly incites violence, breeding a culture of hate among his supporters. Senator Rubio cynically exploited the massacre while opposing nondiscrimination protections and common sense gun safety legislation. Now they stand together with the most antiLGBT organizations in the country to fuel the fire of home-grown bigotry,” said Carlos Guillermo Smith, government affairs manager of Equality Florida.

“In the aftermath of the Pulse massacre, thoughtful faith leaders who had not always been allies paused to reflect on how their language and messages dehumanized LGBT people and paved the way for discrimination and violence. We are proud of the nearly 700 clergy who now stand with us in support of LGBT equality. We call on all people of goodwill to denounce this hatred.”

In a statement to PinkNews, Democratic National Convention Chair Donna Brazile and LGBT Caucus Chair Earl Fowlkes said, “Instead of honoring the memory of those we lost at Pulse two months ago, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio have come to Orlando to headline a gathering of some of the nation’s most incendiary anti-gay bigots.

“We at the DNC join all people of good conscience in expressing our solidarity with the Orlando LGBT community as they continue to grieve the deadliest shooting in American history.

“We suggest Trump and Rubio disavow these anti-gay extremists who have likened gay people to Nazis and characterized HIV/AIDS as divine ‘penalties’ for being gay.

“Failing to do so will be yet another example of the utter lack of judgment that makes Trump unfit to serve.”

From JoeMyGod.com: Donald Trump proclaims himself to be a defender of the LGBT community. Which is why he agreed to appear alongside Marco Rubio at the Liberty Counsel’s hate fest in Orlando on Aug. 11. Right Wing Watch reports: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is scheduled to attend a radical anti-LGBT event in being held in Orlando this week exactly two months after the Pulse nightclub shooting, according to news reports from Jenna Browder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and Jennifer Jacobs of Bloomberg News.

As we reported last week, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and a host of anti-LGBT extremists are slated to address the “Rediscovering God in America” event, which is sponsored by the American Renewal Project.

Self-described “political operative” David Lane founded the American Renewal Project as a way to mobilize conservative Christian voters and inspire right-wing pastors to run for elected office. He told Jacobs that he intends to

quiz Trump on how he plans to fight “homosexual totalitarianism” and the gay rights “militants.”

Lane, a vocal opponent of LGBT equality, has said that “homosexuals praying at the Inauguration” in 2012 would cause “car bombs in Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Des Moines, Iowa” as a sign of God’s judgment and that the “pagan onslaught” of the LGBT rights movement will lead to the destruction of America.

Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network celebrates: “Events like this one will be crucial to Trump if he wants to beat Hillary Clinton. The reality is that evangelical pastors are a major key ingredient to mobilizing the masses. They hold great power over a captive audience every week in the pews. Trump needs them engaged. If they are, the flocks will typically follow.

The result? A bottom up approach that will affect turnout exponentially. The top down approach of receiving key endorsements won’t do squat unless the evangelicals sitting in the pews are motivated.

Trump shouldn’t assume that the antiHillary sentiment will be all he needs. No. He needs to do some work and by showing up in Orlando he’s well on his way to striking evangelical gold.”

From the National LGBTQ Task Force on Aug. 10: “Holding this event is an insult to the victims and families of those innocent people who were murdered barely two months ago. Decent people everywhere will be appalled. Stirring up homophobia and islamophobia is wrong at the best of times but to do so when the entire Orlando community is still grieving and recovering from the Pulse tragedy, is beyond distasteful.

“Donald Trump may have mentioned the LGBTQ community in his acceptance speech, which some people interpreted as a positive signal to our community — despite the vehemently anti-LGBTQ views of his running mate Mike Pence and the Republican Party platform. But now Donald Trump and Marco Rubio plan to breathe the oxygen of publicity into an openly anti-LGBTQ event, joining some of the most notorious antiLGBTQ people out there. Haven’t the people of Orlando had enough?” said Russell Roybal, Deputy Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

Among the speakers... at the event: Mat Staver, who has represented Kim Davis and Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and has denounced memorial gatherings for the victims of the Orlando massacre as “homosexual love fests;” … (and) Maine pastor Ken Graves who claims that LGBTQ people can’t raise happy families because they are “depressed”….

The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund is also calling out Senator Marco Rubio for using a quote, at the hate conference alongside anti-LGBTQ advocates, from Task Force staffer Victoria Kirby York to shroud his inaction on LGBTQ rights and the proliferation

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET of guns.

The quote was taken from a testimonial given by Kirby York, a native Floridian, at First Baptist Church of Orlando soon after the shooting at the Pulse nightclub that killed 49 people and injured 53. The service mainly with conservative Christians had been described as “transformational,” with many expressing regret for their anti-LGBTQ views and their impact on the LGBTQ community.

“While it’s always flattering to be quoted by a United States Senator, I’m shocked that Senator Rubio used my words in Orlando exactly two months after the Pulse night club tragedy, alongside people whose actions have caused considerable harm to the people whose lives were lost and many others still living with injuries and trauma. If his words represent a change of heart that is translated into actions that support LGBTQ freedom, justice and equality then we wholeheartedly welcome it and the actions that must therefore follow.

“However, his record and lack of action thus far show a politician who opposes marriage equality for me and my wife, rejects meaningful legislation to help create a nation free from gun violence, and voted against the Equality Act, comprehensive federal legislation that would protect LGBTQ people from discrimination.

He may talk about loving thy neighbor, but when it comes to showing moral and political courage with that love, he has been nowhere to be found. Instead our community has been left with mere words and more grief, pain, and heartache.

“As a person of faith, I know, that words without action is not faith. I would rather the Senator really listen to what I said as a Christian than use my words to justify sharing a stage with some of the most virulently anti-LGBTQ voices in our country. I invite Senator Rubio to a real conversation that may help him translate the words he invoked into actions that sincerely honor the memory of the victims of Orlando,” said Victoria Kirby York, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith stated: “Two months ago 49 people were murdered by yet another angry young man embracing a hateful ideology who targeted an LGBT nightclub. Our gun laws are so appalling (that) this madman was able to purchase weapons capable of mass slaughter. Rubio wants to invoke the names of the victims to deflect criticism of him sharing the stage with notorious bigots. He used this platform to gin up antiMuslim hatred while opposing the most basic LGBT protections and gun safety measures that have been shown to dramatically reduce gun deaths. His hypocrisy is appalling.

“If Rubio truly wanted to make discrimination against LGBT people a thing of the past, he would support the passage of state and federal legislation that prohibits discrimination against LGBT people. If Rubio truly represented Florida’s constituents, he would have voted for legislation

requiring universal background checks on all gun purchases, instead of voting it down just a few weeks after the Pulse massacre. If Rubio truly wanted the American church to ‘abandon the spirit of judgment,’ he would not share a stage with those who use hate speech as a weapon and call on people to martyr themselves to oppose equal protection for LGBT people. He supports laws that treat LGBT people as his inferiors and deny us the same protections he demands for himself and his family. His statement at today’s extremist conference was tonedeaf and spineless, and we do not need his hollow thoughts and prayers. His cruel actions, not his pandering words, define his character.”

Another month, another hate rally This month Trump is scheduled to speak at an event hosted by the KKKaffiliated Family Research Council, Sept.

9-11 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. FRC Action’s Values Voter Summit is co-sponsored by AFA Action, American Values, First Liberty Institute, The D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship, United in Purpose, 2nd Vote, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and Family Research Council.

– JoeMyGod.com

Trump’s new advisors have long history of antigay activism Sean Mandell posted on towleroad. com: The new leaders of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign have a long history of fomenting anti-LGBT hatred, further underscoring that Trump is anything but a “friend to the gays.”

On Aug. 17, Donald Trump hired former Breitbart editor Steve Bannon to be his campaign CEO and former National Organization for Marriage (NOM) pollster Kellyanne Conway to be his campaign manager.

NBC news reports on the staff reshuffling: The moves were first reported by The Wall Street Journal early Wednesday and mark yet another round of internal shakeups for a campaign struggling to find consistent footing just 82 days ahead of the election.

They also represent what is widely seen as a demotion for Manafort, who has come under scrutiny for his ties to ousted Ukrainian Prime Minister Victor Yanukovich.

More on the anti-LGBT skeletons in Bannon and Conway’s respective closets via The Human Rights Campaign blog: Bannon, who was named CEO of the Trump campaign today, launched a vile smear against transgender people during a May interview with the American Family Association while he was at the helm of Breitbart News. Bannon attacked nondiscrimination protections that ensure transgender people are able to use facilities that match their gender identity.”

Meanwhile, Kellyanne Conway is a former pollster for the anti-LGBTQ National Organization for Marriage and

Bowlers RHBS (Rochester Historical Bowling Society)

New season starting!!! (our 34th year) Monday nights at Empire Lanes in Webster beginning Sept. 12 at 7pm.

Come have some fun and meet new people.

This is a gay bowling league but you do not have to be gay to bowl in this league.

All are welcome!

Contact: rct101869@yahoo.com or text to 585-230-0975

has railed against the inclusion of open LGBTQ figures in pop culture and entertainment.

“Donald Trump’s staff shakeup is a disturbing preview of what a TrumpPence administration would look like,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Trump has stocked his inner circle with anti-equality activists who share his commitment to rolling back the rights and protections of LGBTQ Americans.

His hiring decisions, including the selection of Mike Pence as his running mate, have left no doubt that Trump is the biggest threat the LGBTQ community has ever faced in a presidential election.”

Back in 2014 Conway accused liberals of trying to “redefine” the term “family” to mean “whatever feels cool,” as Right Wing Watch reported. She also bemoaned the “assault on religious liberty in so many parts of our culture,” a not-so-subtle antiLGBT dog whistle popular among the homophobic right.

As for Bannon’s previous job at Breitbart, that right-wing blog currently employs homocon Milo Yannipoulos, and, as Mediaite points out, regularly “uses anti-LGBT slurs, pedals anti-gay conspiracy theories, and features articles by anti-LGBT hate group leaders”….

Breitbart.com regularly publishes articles with anti-LGBT slurs “trannies” and “faggot” in headlines. Breitbart contributor Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM) — an organization designated as an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center — is largely the face of Breitbart’s anti-LGBT coverage.

In the past, Ruse used his perch at Breitbart to peddle conspiracy theories about the hate-crime murder of gay teen Matthew Shepard. He described Shepard as a “winsome young homosexual,” “achingly handsome,” and “delicately chiseled,” and blasted “Matthew Shepard Inc.” for promoting the “lie” that homophobia contributed to his murder. More recently, Ruse headlined a post about HIV rates in the transgender community with the antitransgender slur “trannies,” accompanied by an image of 15 year-old transgender activist Jazz Jennings….

-See the full story on towleroad.com

Erykah Tijerina

Trans woman murdered in El Paso, Texas Mathew Rodriguez wrote on Identities.Mic: Transgender woman Erykah Tijerina was found dead in her apartment

5 in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 8, KFOX14 reports.

Tijerina was 36.

Police discovered Tijerina’s body and identified her by her gender and name assigned at birth, Eric, but family told KFOX14 that Tijerina went by Erykah.

A police officer who entered the apartment discovered “obvious signs of foul play,” according to KFOX14.

In July, three transgender women were reportedly killed in the United States: Washington, D.C.’s Deeniquia Dodds, Mississippi’s Dee Whigham and Cleveland’s Skye Mockabee.

Of the 24 reported hate violence homicides of LGBTQ people in 2015, 67 percent were transgender or gender nonconforming, according to the NYCAVP’s annual report on hate violence. Thirteen of the 24 — 54 percent of those killed — were trans women of color.

Mathew Rodriguez is a Staff Writer at Mic. He is a queer Latino New Yorker who enjoys female rappers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Flannery O’Connor. He is a former editor at TheBody.com and he is working on a memoir about his father, HIV and heroin on New York City’s Lower East Side.

Email him at mathew@mic.com.

Uganda Pride canceled after government threatens violence A Pride parade celebration scheduled to take place in Uganda was cancelled after a government minister threatened to organize a mob to beat up anyone who participated in the parade.

This came just a day after police raided a pre-pride event and arrested several leading activists in the Ugandan LGBT community.

From Towleroad.com: Leading Ugandan LGBTQ activists including Frank Mugisha and Pepe Julian Onziema were arrested last night during the Mr. and Miss Pride Uganda 2016 at Venom Club in Kabalaggala, an event taking place during Pride week. Organizers had permission for the event, according to ABC Australia: One young man jumped from the fourth floor of the building in fear and was hospitalized, according to the Kuchu Times, an African news platform focusing on LGBTIQ issues.

Many Twitter users alleged police even beat some of the guests at the event and confiscated people’s phones to delete photos.

Senior researcher in the Africa division of Human Rights Watch Maria Burnett (Uganda continues page 6)

6

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Uganda from page 5) also said some of those detained were beaten and “police [were] clearly violating rights”.

Ugandan human rights lawyer Adrian Jjuuko said this was the fourth time in three years that Ugandan police had stopped LGBTIQ events.

BuzzFeed reports: Saturday’s parade was scheduled to be held in a private space in Munyonyo, outside of Kampala, the country’s capital.

But police raided the Mr. and Miss Pride pageant on Thursday night (Aug. 4) at the Venom nightclub and detained several of Uganda’s most visible LGBT activists for several hours.

On Friday, lawyer Nick Opiyo of Chapter 4 Uganda met with Ethics Minister Simon Lokodo to discuss the raid. Following the meeting, Opiyo told BuzzFeed News that Lokodo had threatened to bring opposition to the event to the streets, so organizers decided it should be canceled.

Opiyo added, “We decided to suspend it because of the risks to personal safety. The minister threatened to mobilize a mob and a large police group to beat up anyone who shows up for pride tomorrow.

We will engage the government next week with a view of holding the pride parade at another date soon.”

The actions of the Ugandan government are reportedly in violation of agreements it has made with both the US and the UK, which state that Uganda must allow pride parades to take place without government intervention.

Greg Hernandez at gaystarnews.com reports: Uganda’s Pride Parade scheduled for Saturday (6 August) has been canceled a day after police raided a Pride fashion show.

During the raid, LGBTI people were beaten, brutalized, arrested, sexually assaulted, trans women’s hair was forcibly cut and trans men were fondled.

The parade was to take place in Munyonyo which is outside the country’s capital of Kampala.

Ugandan LGBTI rights activist Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera wrote on Twitter: “It is a with a bleeding heart sad news: @ Prideuganda2016 postponed as Minister vows to arrest anyone who takes part and equates us to terrorists.”

The parade’s cancellation took place after organizers met with a government official and a human rights lawyer.

“We decided to suspend it because of the risks to personal safety,” Frank Mugisha of Sexual Minorities Uganda tells BuzzFeed News….

Mugisha was among those arrested at the fashion show and on Friday said on Twitter that the Thursday police raid “won’t break us but make us strong.”

- Read more at: http://scl.io/9hiTq2G#gs.O_iioQU

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

Federal court rejects N.C. discriminatory voting law

Wyo. judge who refused to marry gay couples could be sacked

On July 29 the United States Appeals Court for the Fourth Circuit struck down a North Carolina voter identification requirement in state law. In its decision, the three-judge panel invalidated a lower court’s ruling that upheld the law passed by the state legislature with “discriminatory intent.”

“The federal appeals court ruling is a huge win for democracy and voting rights.

All across America, state lawmakers are passing voter ID laws with the intent of disenfranchising Black, Latino, transgender, and low-income voters. Instead of denying people’s access to the ballot box, lawmakers should be pushing to reinstate critical protections previously available under the 1965 Voting Rights Act and work to ensure that everyone regardless of who they are, where they live, or their social economic status is able to exercise their right to vote,” said Russell Roybal, Deputy Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

Last year, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund published a Voting Rights Tool Kit for advocates working to advance voting rights. The organization has joined 102 national, state and local groups in calling on Congress to the Voting Rights Advancement Act by taking part in marches, rallies, and lobbying efforts.

Bobby Rae posts on pinknews.co.uk: A judge from the US State of Wyoming could be removed from the bench after she refused to marry same-sex couples.

Ruth Neely was placed under investigation by the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics after she told reporters that she wouldn’t perform samesex marriages.

The commission has recommended that she be stripped of her roles as a municipal judge and circuit court magistrate, something she now plans to challenge in the state’s Supreme Court.

She has claimed that no same-sex couples have ever asked her to marry them and that she has a constitutional right to voice her concerns.

In the legal petition, her lawyers stated: “In a chilling forecast, the Commission leaves no doubt that if it has its way, no judge who holds Judge Neely’s religious beliefs about marriage can remain on the bench once the public learns of those beliefs.”

Counsel for the Commission stated that this was about enforcing the Code of Judicial Conduct and not about interfering with the judge’s right to practice her religion or have free speech.

“What Judge Neely did and said is a violation of that Code,” they said. “Given her unwillingness to even acknowledge the ethical implications, she cannot remain in office.”

-Read the full story on pinknews.co.uk

Trans woman found dead in Cleveland; said to be 17th 2016 victim Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley

Dustin Lance Black is proud of fiancé Tom Daley’s bronze medal Nigel Tan posted on gaystarnews.com: Dustin Lance Black shared a heart-melting picture of him and his fiancé Tom Daley to celebrate the Team GB diver’s success in the pool.

Daley, 22, took home a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics with his synchronised diving partner, Daniel Goodfellow, on Aug. 8.

The pair was in a tight race against Germany’s divers for third place at the 10 metre synchro event.

The win was especially satisfying for Daley after coming in fourth at the same event at the London Olympics in 2012.

“So happy for you. So proud,” wrote Black for the couple pic he posted on Instagram.

- Read more at: http://scl. io/2DJDDPNn#gs.bxHWs1g

Mari Brighe posted on The Advocate on Aug. 2: Skye Mockabee was found unresponsive in a parking lot around 8 a.m. on July 30 in Cleveland, Ohio, reports Cleveland.com.

Mockabee had an apparent headwound, and the individuals who found her called EMS. She was declared dead at the scene. She was 26 years old.

Police are providing few details about Mockabee’s death; no suspects have been arrested, and no possible motive for her murder has been given.

Initial reports of Mockabee’s death from police, the medical examiner, and local media all misgendered Mockabee and referred to her by her dead name, a situation that is all-too-common when the victims of violence are trans women.

It was not released until Monday, Aug. 1 that Mockabee was trans.

Friends and family of Mockabee held a vigil on that night to honor her memory.

Skye is the 17th trans person known to have been murdered in the United States so far this year, with the vast majority of them black trans women. Her murder comes less than a week after another black trans woman, Dee Whigham, was murdered in Mississippi.

EMPTY CLOSET UPDATE: Transgender woman Erykah Tijerina was found dead in her apartment in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 8. (See article in this section) Cleveland made news last month when, just before the opening of the Republican National Convention, it approved a local ordinance allowing trans people to use restrooms and other public facilities in concordance with their gender identity.

Trans women of color face incredible levels of homicide in the U.S., and the

number of trans women of color murdered has been rising at a terrifying rate over the last several years. More than half of anti-LGBT hate murders are trans woman of color, specifically black trans women.

It is believed that many more trans women of color are murdered than are reported in the media each year, as many police departments and media outlets fail to identify victims as transgender. Still, the overall rate of anti-trans hate crimes rose by 13 percent between 2013 and 2014, according to the most recent statistics from the FBI. -Read the full article on The Advocate

Rea’Lynn Thomas is 18th trans woman of color killed this year NCAVP mourns the Aug. 10 homicide of Rae’Lynn Thomas, a transgender woman of color killed in Columbus, Ohio; the 18th reported killing of a transgender/gender non-conforming person NCAVP has responded to in 2016.

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the homicide of Rae’Lynn Thomas, a Black transgender woman, in Columbus, Ohio. According to media reports, Rae’Lynn was shot and killed by her mother’s ex-boyfriend, James Allen Byrd, who was living with her family at the time of the homicide.

According to Rae’Lynn’s family members, Byrd was transphobic, and referred to Rae’Lynn as “the devil” before killing her. Rae’Lynn’s family is asking police to investigate this as a hate crime, and Shannon Thomas, Rae’Lynn’s aunt, told reporters: “He took a light away from all of us that we can’t get back.” An additional media report in the Columbus Dispatch, which misnames and misgenders Rae’Lynn, reports that the homicide occurred on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

“Our hearts, minds and condolences are with the family, friends, and community of Rae’Lynn in this time of tragedy.

As all of us are still mourning and reeling from the death of Skye Mockabee just about two weeks ago, all of us at BRAVO are saddened and outraged as our communities continue to be repeatedly targeted and we remain steadfast in providing services to the LGBTQI communities of Ohio,” said Aaron Eckhardt, Training and Technical Assistance Director of BRAVO. “We must continue to come together as a broad community of support to say hate has no home in Ohio, hate has no home anywhere,” Eckhardt added.

“This is the fifth homicide of a transgender woman of color that NCAVP has responded to this summer and the third this week, said Emily Waters, Senior Manager of National Research and Policy at the New York City Anti-Violence Project. “We know that these homicides are rooted in the racism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia that exist in our everyday environments and lead (Rea’Lynn continues page 11)

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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Interview

Bonnie Sacko. Photo: Susan Jordan

Bonnie Sacko of TransParent

By Susan Jordan Bonnie Sacko RN, the mother of a trans man, has started a Rochester chapter of TransParent, which will be meeting the

third Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8 p.m. at the LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. The first meeting will be Sept. 20.

TransParent is a national non-profit support group, based in St. Louis, and founded by the

mother of an FTM trans child.

There are now several chapters around the country, including in Pennsylvania, Florida and New Jersey. The group is open to the parents of FTM, MTF, gender fluid and gender expansive children. Its motto is “Empowering out children to live authentically.”

Bonnie said, “TransParent is a support group, a way for families to connect with other families who have a trans or gender fluid child. It’s non-faith-based – a totally neutral environment where people can come together, no matter where they are in their journey. It doesn’t matter what ages their children are. Parents can bring friends or other family members for support if they wish – but not their trans children.”

The Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Social/Support Group, for gender expansive youth, meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the LGBTQ Resource Center.

Bonnie said, “TransParent is a place where parents can share their journeys and resources. My own goal is to collect resources for parents.

“My son Hunter came out to me two years ago at age 24. It was a lot to take in. All I could say was, ‘I will always support you 100 percent.’ I reached out to my sister—we’re really close and I got support from her.”

Bonnie feels that gender identity issues are innate, not

MY REAL HOPE AND HEART’S DESIRE IN STARTING THIS CHAPTER IS TO GUIDE FAMILIES SO THEY BECOME CLOSER AND STRONGER, MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CHILD. WHAT I’VE SEEN THAT BREAKS MY HEART IS TRANS YOUTH WHOSE PARENTS WON’T TALK TO THEM ANYMORE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DISCONNECT DOESN’T HAPPEN. something that is chosen. “You are born with that,” she said.

“When I look back on Hunter’s life as Heather – it all makes so much sense now that I look back.

“We started with Hunter’s transition and two years later he’s doing fantastic. I’ve never seen him happier. He wants to be a mentor, and we’re both interested in becoming educators in the community.

“My real hope and heart’s desire in starting this chapter is

to guide families so they become closer and stronger, more understanding of their child. What I’ve seen that breaks my heart is trans youth whose parents won’t talk to them anymore. We want to make sure that disconnect doesn’t happen.

“One thing I’ve learned is that being a parent is about unconditional love. Loving and accepting them for who they are.”

TransParent seeks to “affirm, love, advocate”. Parents wanting more information can go to the national website at transparentusa.org, and can email Bonnie at Rochester.ny@transparent.org.

They do not have to register to join the group – they can email Bonnie or simply show up. A Facebook page is coming up in the future.

More resources for parents of trans youth National Children’s Medical Center-Gender Center: ChildrensNational.org Gender Spectrum: GenderSpectrum.org TYFA- Trans Youth Family Allies: imatyfa.org

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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10

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

Making the Scene Scenemaker of the Month

OUT & EQUAL AT THE FORUM: Out & Equal’s Second Thursday Networking took place at the Bachelor Forum on Aug. 11. Photos: Jill Frier

PHOTO: WDPHOTO INC

Pandora Boxx Pandora Olivia Boxx is Rochester’s own superstar queen, who appeared on RuPauls’ Drag Race and now performs at clubs all over the country.

She is bringing her latest show, “The Worst Show Ever,” to Rochester this month as part of the Fringe Festival.

See page 27 for more information!

What is your favorite color?

Blue What can we expect from your show this month?

Gorgeous frocks, light singing and some supposed comedy.

What are your special interests/ hobbies/obsessions?

I like peas, Christmas lights and men.

Hometown and current home?

I was born in Jamestown, NY but hometown is Rochester, NY and I currently reside in Los Angeles.

Pets?

Two dogs: Bugsy Butterbeer Beagle and Fletcher (JB Fletcher).

TV show you’re addicted to?

Stranger Things, 30 Rock, Lady Dynamite, Grace and Frankie and Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt Favorite film/director?

This is always a hard question because I have so many favorites but some of them are The Color Purple, Coraline, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Bridesmaids, The Goonies… I could go on. I really love almost all

of Tim Burton’s films. He’s an amazing visionary director.

Halloween costume?

I live Halloween every week so I don’t know if I could pick a favorite costume.

Signature dance move?

The splat. I fall down. Lay there and hope people give me pity tips.

Death Row meal?

Really good sushi and a lot of nonshitty vodka.

Music you’re listening to right now?

I’m loving Kat Robichaud and the Misfits, Christine and the Kings, Elle King, Adele, Grace Potter and always Madonna Dream vacation?

A beautiful island with some preselected gays, a bar and really good food.

Worst nightmare?

An empty calendar Worst habit?

Procrastination and self-doubt Phrase or word you over-use?

I’m sorry I’m late.

What makes you laugh?

Well-written comedy, bad horror movies and well-timed farts.

What super power would you want?

Telekinesis Motto?

You can’t please everyone and trying to just gives you sore knees.

PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE: Board member Bruce Gorman in the Gay Alliance contingent at the Puerto Rico Day Parade. The Gay Alliance marchers carried pictures of the 49 Orlando massacre victims, many of whom were Puerto Rican.

Photo: Bess Watts

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Rea’Lynn from page 6) to increased violence against Transgender people of color. We are calling on everyone to challenge transphobia and racism when they hear it or see it.”

NCAVP’s most recent hate violence report, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Hate Violence in 2015, recorded 24 reported hate violence homicides of LGBTQ people, a 20% increase from the 20 reported antiLGBTQ homicides in 2014. Of the 24 reported homicides, 62% of the victims were people of color. Sixteen (67%) of the 24 reported homicide victims were transgender and gender non-conforming. Of the total number of homicides, thirteen (54%) of the victims were transgender women of color.

This is the eighteenth* reported killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person that NCAVP has responded to this year. Along with Rae’Lynn Thomas we have lost Erykah Tijerina, a Latinx transgender woman (El Paso, TX), Skye Mockabee, a Black transgender woman (Cleveland, OH) Dee Whigham, a Black transgender woman (St. Martin. Mississippi), Deeniquia Dodds, a Black transgender woman (Washington, DC) Goddess Diamond, a black transgender woman (New Orleans, LA), Amos Beede, a white transgender man (Burlington, VT), Mercedes Successful, a Black transgender woman (Haines City, FLA), Reese Walker, a Black Transgender Women (Wichita, KS), Keyonna Blakeney, a Black transgender woman (Rockville, MD), Shante Thompson, a Black transgender woman (Houston, TX), Jasmine Sierra, a Latin@ transgender woman (Bakersfield, CA), Monica Loera, a Latina transgender woman (Austin, TX), Kayden Clarke, a white transgender man (Mesa, AZ), Maya Young, a Black transgender woman (Philadelphia, PA), Demarkis Stamsberry, a Black transgender man (Baton Rouge, LA), and Kedarie/Kandicee Johnson, a Black, gender-fluid 16-yearold (Burlington, IA) and Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum, a Black transgender woman (Los Angeles, CA). *NCAVP is also looking into the death of Veronica Cano, a Black transgender woman, in San Antonio Texas. “As of now there is no known cause of death, however, we are continuing to monitor.”

Illinois Supreme Court ruling harms unmarried couples, common law In a 5-2 decision with a strong dissent, the Illinois Supreme Court held on Aug. 18 that unmarried couples are barred from bringing common law claims to divide their property when they break up.

The decision affirms the discriminatory policy established in 1979 by the Illinois Supreme Court in Hewitt v. Hewitt, 77 Ill.2d 49, at a time when Illinois still criminalized intimate relationships outside of marriage. Hewitt barred the state’s courthouse doors to unmarried couples, holding that permitting unmarried partners to bring property claims would condone “meretricious” relationships and “weaken marriage.”

Today’s decision in Blumenthal v.

Brewer, written by Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, held that Hewitt “remains good law.” The court rejected the argument that Hewitt is outdated and conflicts both with the constitutional protection now given to unmarried relationships and with current Illinois legislative policies mandating equal treatment of all families.

According to the majority, Illinois law still “disfavor[s] the grant of mutually enforceable property rights to knowingly unmarried cohabitants.”

In a strong dissent, Justice Theis, joined by Justice Burke, said that Hewitt should be overturned: “The court’s decision in that case was clouded by an inappropriate and moralistic view of domestic partners who cohabit and founded upon legal principles that have changed significantly.” The dissent criticized the majority opinion for disregarding major changes in Illinois law, including the elimination of any criminal penalties for non-marital intimacy, and for relying on Hewitt’s “near-defamatory” condemnation of unmarried couples.

As the dissent also noted: “Illinois is a clear outlier on this issue . . . Hewitt must be overruled because it is outmoded and out of touch with contemporary experience and opinions on cohabitation.”

The overwhelming majority of states allow property-division claims between unmarried partners. Today’s decision leaves Illinois among only three states that do not recognize such claims.

The lawsuit began in 2010, when Eileen Brewer’s former partner Jane sought to retain an unfair portion of their shared home and assets. Although the couple had built a life together, inter-

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twining their finances, sharing a home, and raising three children, the trial court applied the Hewitt decision to rule that Eileen could not bring a lawsuit for her fair share of their property because the couple had not been married. The Aug. 18 opinion affirms the trial court’s ruling.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Chicago Attorney Angelika Keuhn represented Eileen Brewer.

Professor Nancy Polikoff, Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, and the ACLU of Illinois filed an amicus brief urging reversal of Hewitt.

On December 19, 2014, the Court of Appeals for the First District had ruled that courts could not discriminate against unmarried couples by preventing them from enforcing property claims against one another when they break up.

In the unanimous decision, written by Justice Margaret Stanton McBride, the court had held that Illinois’ “public policy to treat unmarried partnerships as illicit no longer exists” and that Brewer could “proceed with her claims against her former domestic partner” regarding the shared property they built up during their 26 years together. The Aug. 18 decision reversed the Court of Appeals.

Said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter, “The Court’s ruling today is a devastating blow to unmarried couples and their families. As the dissent points out, the majority’s opinion ignores the reality of families and will cause serious harms to countless individuals who are barred from bringing the same common law claims available to all other people in Illinois, solely because they were in a nonmarital relationship. Whether a couple decides to marry or not, all of us are equal before the law. Today’s decision is a huge step backward for Illinois, which is now dramatically out of step with the rest of the country and with basic principles of fairness and equal access to the courts.”

Added American University Washington College of Law Professor Nancy Polikoff, one of the nation’s leading family law experts, “Unmarried couples can pool resources and make decisions for the good of their family unit. It’s shocking that five justices on the Illinois Supreme Court in 2016 refuse to see what almost every other state acknowledges: that one partner may have a legitimate claim for a share of assets that happen to be solely in the other partner’s name.”

-National Center for Lesbian Rights

Target to install singlestall bathrooms; cost over $20 million Joseph Patrick McCormick posts on pinknews.co.uk: Target has announced plans to introduce single-stall bathrooms in all of its stores which don’t already have one.

Despite a campaign started earlier this year to boycott the brand over its commitment to trans bathroom rights, the company is now investing more than $20 million to roll out single-stall bathrooms across the US. The company’s chief financial officer Cathy Smith made the announcement on Aug. 17.

A spokesperson for Target, Katie Boylan, told reporters that the brand already has single-stall bathrooms available to use by anyone in 1,400 out of 1,800 stores.

Announced earlier this year, the big box brand’s bathroom policy allows people to “use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”

Over 1.2 million people across the US threatened to boycott Target over the policy.

Boyland said the brand had received mixed feedback from its customers, some “very, very supportive” and others “who are not”.

“The impact to the business is not material at this time,” she added.

Boylan went on to say that the decision to install lockable single-stall bathrooms

11 in all of its stores came “because we’re listening”.

“We get it. Some like it, some don’t.

We’re committed”.

Justin Trudeau to apologize for Canada’s persecution of gays Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is to issue a far-reaching apology to those convicted of historic gay sex offences.

Mr Trudeau, as soon as this autumn, will issue the apology on behalf of all Canadians, reports the Globe and Mail.

The director of Egale, Helen Kenney, celebrated the upcoming apology.

She said: “This is a long-awaited moment and a very emotional moment, to be honest.

“For the government to recognize the damage that it caused, the harm that it caused, to thousands and thousands of Canadians is a historic moment for our communities.”

The Globe and Mail today revealed the reforms from sources around and within the government.

A report, “The Just Society”, submitted to government by Egale in June, will see most of its recommendations taken on board in the reforms.

The apology and the reforms will represent one of the largest single steps forward for gay rights in Canadian history.

-Read more on pinknews.co.uk

SF gay bartender’s jaw broken in brutal attack Greg Hernandez posts on gaystarnews. com: Thomas Castellani says his spirit has not been broken by a brutal attack in San Francisco’s Castro District that left him with a fractured jaw and other injuries.

“You can bash my face but you will not get my spirit,” Castellani says on a GoFundMe page launched to help pay for his medical expenses.

Castellani works at the gay bar Badlands but the attack …(took place) as he was leaving The Cafe, a popular karaoke bar nearby.

In four days, more than $7,000 has been raised for Castellani, nearly all of the $7,500 goal.

Castellani has this message to his attacker: “You can not take the love that has been given to me from all of you. I am unafraid. I only feel blessings. I will heal and I will still be beautiful.

“You have done nothing but brought bad karma and the promise of a long stay in hell. Your hatred and evil have only wrapped me in so much love from all around me, you have only increased my spiritual wealth.”

The funding page was started by Castellani’s sister, Julia DePetrillo, who writes: “He is the most self sufficient person I know and would never ask for help from anyone so here I am, asking for him.”

DePetrillo believes her brother was attacked “for being his beautiful queer self.”

Castellani is not sure why he was attacked.

“One of the ideas is that it might be revenge from someone who I may have had to ask to leave [Badlands] previously,” he tells Hoodline.com. “Or it could be a random gay bashing. The only facts are it was brutal and nothing was stolen from me. I am currently trying to piece together info.”

(Newsfronts continues on page 12)

12

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Newsfronts continued from page 11)

Belize Supreme Court rules anti-gay law unconstitutional J. Lester Feder posts on buzzfeed. com: The Belize Supreme Court ruled (Aug. 10) that a law punishing homosexuality is unconstitutional.

The decision was announced on the LGBT rights group Unibam’s Twitter account soon after the ruling was made.

Unibam which first brought the challenge against the law back in 2010.

Belize, a country of around 350,000 people on the Caribbean coast neighboring Mexico and Guatemala, has had the law in place since its days as a British colony. LGBT advocates are hopeful that the ruling could bolster efforts to eliminate similar laws in 10 other English-speaking countries in the Caribbean, which also have roots in their colonial past.

The written judgment in the case was not immediately available.

Another closely watched challenge in the region is in Jamaica, where attorney Maurice Tomlinson brought suit against the country’s law criminalizing homosexuality in December. Tomlinson has accused the country’s Supreme Court of “stack[ing] the deck” against his litigation by granting standing to conservative groups supporting the provision.

Tomlinson recently won a partial victory in a separate suit challenging laws in Belize and the country of Trinidad and Tobago that barred gay people from entering the country. The Caribbean Court of Justice, which has jurisdiction over the countries in the Caribbean Community, held that the laws were discriminatory and there-

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016 fore unenforceable. But the court dismissed the suit as unnecessary because the countries weren’t actually blocking anyone from entry under the provision.

Speaking before the ruling on Belize’s homosexuality law was issued, Tomlinson told BuzzFeed News that a decision to strike down the provision could be “highly persuasive” to courts in other Caribbean nations where similar suits could be filed, and “the reasoning would be very important for my ongoing challenge to the Jamaican antisodomy law.”

Daily Beast pulls article outing gay Olympians, apologizes for harm Andy Towle posts on Towleroad. com: The Daily Beast late on Thursday (Aug. 11) removed a heavily edited and redacted article written by Nico Hines in which the reporter used Grindr to out gay athletes in the Rio Olympic village, some of whom came from countries where anti-LGBT laws could place them in harm.

The article caused understandable widespread outrage.

The DB called the removal of the article “unprecedented but necessary.”

Its full statement: The Daily Beast does not do this lightly. As shared in our editor’s note earlier today, we initially thought swift removal of any identifying characteristics and better clarification of our intent was the adequate way to address this.

Our initial reaction was that the entire removal of the piece was not necessary.

We were wrong. We’re sorry. And we apologize to the athletes who may have been inadvertently compromised by our story.

Today we did not uphold a deep set of The Daily Beast’s values. These values—which include standing up to bullies and bigots, and specifically being a

proudly, steadfastly supportive voice for LGBT people all over the world—are core to our commitment to journalism and to our commitment to serving our readers.

As a newsroom, we succeed together and we fail together, and this was a failure on The Daily Beast as a whole, not a single individual. The article was not intended to do harm or degrade members of the LGBT community, but intent doesn’t matter, impact does.

Our hope is that removing an article that is in conflict with both our values and what we aspire to as journalists will demonstrate how seriously we take our error.

We were wrong. We will do better.

Many are still calling for the DB to fire Hines. (He was pulled from Rio.) -Read more on Towleroad.com

Pride at Work backs teachers’ resolution protecting LGBTQ students Following the recent passage of a resolution focused on LGBTQ students at the American Federations of Teachers convention, Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis issued the following statement: “In Minneapolis this week, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) passed a resolution that stands up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ students in all schools, but focused heavily on transgender students’ rights.

“In this resolution, titled “School Safety and Educational Opportunity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) Students”, the 1.6 million members of AFT recognized that providing transgender and other LGBQ students with necessary support will create a safer and more productive educational environment for all children.

“It also affirms AFT affiliates will support the implementation of LGBTQ safety guidance established by both the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the Michigan State Board of Education. Both encourage schools to be inclusive of LGBTQ students, appropriately address transgender and gender non-conforming students by their chosen names and pronouns, and provide them access to the gendered facilities they identify with, among other suggestions.

“AFT has long been a supporter of the LGBTQ movement, going back to 1970, when their executive council passed a resolution denouncing discrimination against gay and lesbian teachers. This week’s resolution only confirms the important social justice work they have been doing since its beginning.”

To read the full text of the resolution, visit AFT’s website: http://www. aft.org/resolution/school-safety-andeducational-opportunity-lesbian-gaybisexual-transgende

Haters want to block Obama trans student protections in 13 states Five leading national civil and LGBT rights organizations urged the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to reject an effort to block the Obama administration’s interpretations of several federal laws pending trial in Texas v. United States, including federal guidance advising public school districts across the country that the federal Departments of Justice and Education believe that transgender students should be allowed to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

Texas and 12 other states or governors or agencies of those states argued in court Aug. 12 for a preliminary injunction enjoining these federal agencies’ interpretations from having any effect while the lawsuit proceeds.

The five organizations – Lambda Legal; American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and ACLU of Texas; Transgender Law Center; National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR); and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) – issued the following joint statement in response to the hearing on a preliminary injunction: “Texas and 12 other states, governors of states and political jurisdictions have filed a meritless lawsuit against multiple federal agencies seeking to preserve the ability to discriminate against a highly vulnerable population – transgender elementary and high school students and transgender employees. We are urging this court to protect transgender students and workers and allow them to enjoy a safe and discrimination-free education and workplace. We filed an amicus brief in this case because we oppose the efforts of state officials to manipulate the federal court system in order to skirt well-established law in their home circuits that affirms and respects the rights of transgender students and employees. We urge the court to deny the states’ request for a preliminary injunction.”

In addition to Texas, the other plaintiffs in Texas v. United States include: Harrold Independent School District in Texas; the Arizona Department of Education; the Heber-Overgaard Unified School District in Arizona; Wisconsin; Maine Governor Paul LePage; Kentucky; Mississippi; Oklahoma; Louisiana; Alabama; Georgia; Tennessee; West Virginia; and Utah. Named defendants include: the United States of America, the Departments of Justice, Education and Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and numerous federal officials.

The lawsuit targets various federal letters, guides, memos, and statements regarding Title IX of the Education Amendments, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) that conclude that federal bans on sex discrimination

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET encompass gender identity discrimination and that individuals should be allowed to access single-sex, multi-user facilities consistent with their gender identity. The lawsuit seeks to have those letters, guides, memos and statements declared to be in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution and enjoined nationwide. UPDATE: The Court temporarily blocked the trans student protections on Aug. 18.

Philippines president calls US Ambassador “gay son of a bitch” Sean Mandell posts on Towleroad. com: The president of the Philippines has called the United States’ ambassador to the country a “gay” “son of a bitch” (or in some versions: “son of a whore”) that “pissed” him off.

Reportedly intending the remark as an insult, Rodrigo Duterte lashed out at Ambassador Phillip Goldberg in an address to his nation’s troops.

International Business Times reports: Duterte told the soldiers he and Goldberg disagreed during the campaign after Duterte made a joke about the rape and murder of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill during a 1989 Davao City prison riot. “I am OK with him,” Duterte said of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, before adding, “I quarreled with his gay ambassador. I am pissed with him. He meddled during the election, giving statements here and there. He was not supposed to do that.”

He also added, according to Yonhap news agency: “That son of a bitch really annoyed me.”

The State Department responded, none too pleased with Duterte’s most recent remarks. Via Inquirer.net: Department of State press director Elizabeth Trudeau told US reporters on Monday that they had asked Filipino charge d’affaires Patrick Chuasoto to visit and clarify those remarks. […]

Trudeau confirmed that the State Department was aware of the Philippine President’s remarks.

“We’ve seen those inappropriate comments made about Ambassador Goldberg,” she said. “He’s a multi-time ambassador, one of our most senior US diplomats.”

As IB Times noted before, the remark that Duterte made to set off the war of words between him and Goldberg was about the rape and murder of an Australian missionary. Said Duterte of the rape: “What a pity. What came to my mind was, ‘They raped her, lined up for her.’ I was mad because she was raped? Yes. That’s one reason. But she was so beautiful. The mayor should have been first.”

Duterte was the mayor of the city where the woman was raped.

Goldberg condemned those remarks at the time, saying, “I can only agree with the colleague from the Australian Embassy. Any statements by anyone, anywhere that either degrade women or trivialize

issues so serious as rape or murder, are not ones that we condone.”

Goldberg’s response incensed Duterte, who said Goldberg “should not interfere with our national election.”

Egyptian diplomat boycotts UN anti-gay violence monitor From UN Watch: A five-member UN human rights committee announced that a Thai law professor is its choice to be the UN’s first monitor against anti-gay violence, yet an Egyptian diplomat on the panel is boycotting the mandate.

In a report circulated by the president of the UN human rights council (UNHRC), its Consultative Group — comprised of five diplomats who evaluate candidates for UNHRC expert positions — named Vitit Muntarbhorn, a Bangkok law professor who has held prior UN rights posts, as the world body’s first expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

However, the UN report reveals that Amr Ramadan, Egypt’s ambassador to the UNHRC, refused to participate in the selection process. He detailed his reasons to the council president, in a letter obtained by UN Watch.

According to the Egyptian representative, a mandate on protecting gays from violence and discrimination is “contrary to my convictions and the values I stand for,” “beyond universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms,” and shows “utter disregard to the principle of universality of internationally agreed human rights.”

Ramadan reaffirmed that the OIC — the powerful Islamic bloc comprised of 56 UN member states and the Palestinian Authority—”shall boycott this mandate and shall not recognize its creation nor cooperate or interact with it in any form.”

Human rights activists decried the OIC’s boycott.

“The Islamic states’ boycott of a mandate to protect gays from being attacked or killed is morally indefensible,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based human rights group.

“Moreover, for those states which are members of the Human Rights Council — like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE — their refusal to cooperate with the mandate is an express breach of their obligations.

“If Egypt is officially boycotting a UN human rights expert, it should fully resign from the committee that selects them,” said Neuer.

Ky. official evicts “faggot” couple; allegedly assaults one man A gay Kentucky couple alleges that a city official called them “faggots” and assaulted one of them while she was evicting them due to their sexual orientation.

Joshua Melton and his husband James Feltner had lived in a townhouse owned by Manchester City Councilwoman Esther Thompson for nine months when they were evicted in June.

“She said she should have never rented to the faggots,” Melton told WYMT. Melton, who went to the emergency room after Thompson allegedly struck him in the head, has filed a criminal complaint against her for assault. Thompson told the couple she “owned the police,” who illegally took part in the eviction, according to the Kentucky Equality Federation, which is assisting the couple.

The Equality Federation also alleges that the county attorney, who serves as Thompson’s private lawyer, violated ethics rules in handling Melton’s assault complaint because he has a conflict of interest. In addition, Thompson is accused of using a fictitious corporation on the couple’s lease and illegally mishandling their security deposit.

The Equality Federation has asked federal prosecutors to get involved, saying the state attorney general refused to investigate “if local officials declined.” The group is seeking Thompson’s resignation, disciplinary action against police officers, and an investigation of the county attorney.

-Read the full story on towleroad.com

Italian Olympic swimmer dedicates medal to her supportive girlfriend Joe Morgan posts on gaystarnews. com: Olympic swimmer Rachele Bruni has won silver in the 10km marathon, and she decided to come out by dedicating the medal to her supportive girlfriend.

She thanked her “beloved,” Diletta Faina, who had accompanied Bruni to Rio, after her second place finish.

“I dedicate his victory to my family, my coach and my beloved, who have followed and supported me,” Bruni said.

13

Rachele Bruni

When people questioned who her “beloved” was, Bruni spoke to reporters that it was indeed in reference to her girlfriend.

“I’ve always lived naturally, without problems,” she added.

“I’ve never done a big coming out.

Undoubtedly there are people who have too many prejudices, but I live peacefully.

I do not think about the prejudices, I live for myself, for my passion for swimming and for the people who love me.”

This is the swimmer’s first Olympic medal, and she is the only out LGBTI Olympian in Italy.

This means there were a record 51 openly LGBTI athletes competing in the Rio Olympics.

- Read more at: http://scl.io/s74Qp_ vg#gs.gekuVVg

Navy names ship after Harvey Milk on Aug. 16 On Aug. 16 the Navy named a Military Sealift Command fleet oiler “USNS Harvey Milk” after the pioneering gay leader, at Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The ship is the second of the next generation of fleet replenishment oilers named USNS John Lewis after civil rights activist and congressman Rep. John Lewis, which are being built by General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego.

(Harvey Milk continues page 14)

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL (Harvey Milk continued from page 13) On July 28, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation’s largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military families, praised the news.

“Harvey Milk is an American hero and an icon for LGBT equality, and it’s phenomenal that the U.S. Navy is going to honor his legacy by naming a ship after him,” said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. “Harvey Milk’s incredible leadership in the face of adversity continues to inspire all of us in our ongoing fight for full LGBT equality. By breaking down barriers and fighting for the dignity and worth of all Americans, he left behind an example for all of us in his service to our nation, both in and out of uniform.”

As reported by USNI News: “Milk came from a Navy family and commissioned in the service in 1951. He served as a diving officer in San Diego during the Korean War and on the submarine rescue ship Kittiwake as a diving officer until 1955. Milk was honorably discharged from the service as a lieutenant junior grade. Following his service, Milk was elected to the San Francisco board of supervisors and was the first openly gay California politician to be elected to office. He was killed in office in 1978.

When Milk was shot he was wearing his U.S. Navy Master Diver belt buckle.”

In the last several years, California lawmakers have been pushing for a ship to be named after Milk, following the repeal of the Department of Defense’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in 2011.

Stuart Milk, Milk’s nephew and cofounder of the Harvey Milk Foundation, said in 2012 that naming a ship after Milk would boost a sense of esteem among the military’s gay, lesbian and bisexual members.

“This action by the secretary of the Navy will further send a green light to all the brave men and women who serve our nation that honesty, acceptance and authenticity are held up among the highest ideals of our military,” Milk said in a statement to San Diego LGBT Weekly.

He said on Aug. 10, “Uncle Harvey knew that our individual actions of open authenticity would be the key to changing the lives of LGBT people everywhere. And it was his belief in the power of that visibility which gave him the courage to face those bullets that he … anticipated… would ultimately take his life. As a proud Navy veteran, Uncle Harvey was committed to public service, aided by courage, persistence, and the belief that our shared journey is enriched, and not weakened, by our diversity.”

“I am honored to be attending the naming ceremony of the first US Navy Ship named for an LGBT rights leader and LGBT Navy veteran,” said Nancy G. Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen, Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and member of the Harvey Milk Foun-

dation’s leadership and advisory board.

“All the men and women regardless of their sexual orientation, race, color, religion or background who will serve aboard the USNS Harvey Milk will all have the same mission and that is to keep America safe, sound and secure. And, in doing so they will represent and uphold our most

precious constitutional principle: Equal Protection.”

“The USNS Harvey Milk will inspire our nation’s brave service men and women to reach their full potential proudly and unmasked. It will serve as a reminder, at every ‘port of call’ the USNS Harvey Milk enters across the world, that together we can create a world that embraces our human diversity,” Milk added.

Harvey Milk became one of the first openly gay men elected to public office in the U.S. when he won a seat on San Francisco’s board of supervisors in 1977.

A disgruntled former city supervisor assassinated him and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone at City Hall in 1978.

Supporters say he set the tone for the modern gay rights movement.

The activist’s life was memorialized in the Oscar-winning 2008 movie “Milk,” and he also has been honored with a commemorative stamp and a posthumous Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. In April, the Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously to name a street after Milk. Signs bearing his name were added to parts of 900 South, near thoroughfares honoring civil rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez. ■

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SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

From our readers

Opinion An Unjust System: Demand Justice Now for LGBTQ People of Color

By Isaiah Wilson on The Advocate.com The summer of 2016 has shined a painful light on so many of the inadequacies and injustices entrenched in our nation’s criminal justice system. Our collective attention has been fixed on cell phone footage showing the deaths of Alton Sterling of Baton Rouge, La., and Philando Castile of Falcon Heights, Minn., at the hands of police, followed by the tragic murders of five police officers by gun violence in Dallas. And (last month), prosecutors in Baltimore dropped all charges against the three remaining police officers accused in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray in 2015.

As the prolific James Baldwin put so eloquently decades ago, “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.”

This sentiment sadly remains true today. Our nation’s criminal justice system seems to consistently treat communities of color one way and provides a separate, more sympathetic system for law enforcement officials when they are accused of using excessive force against civilians.

For me, a proud black gay man working to empower black LGBT people and families at the National Black Justice Coalition, these tragedies hit close to home. In addition to the systemic wrongs that continue to plague our justice system, we also witnessed this summer the horrific shooting massacre at Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June during Pride Month. LGBTQ people and allies, many Latinx, were targeted and murdered.

As an organization dedicated to bridging the gaps between the movements for racial justice and LGBT equality, we recognize that these incidents are not unrelated, but rather they speak to the violence and discrimination our community faces at the intersections of our sexual orientation and gender identity, and the systemic devaluing of black lives. As a nation, we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and do nothing about these injustices that are both structural and embedded in our society.

The Facts In 2016 alone, 515 people have been shot and killed by police, one-quarter of whom were black. While we don’t know the sexual orientation or gender identity of many of them, of complaints filed by LGBTQ people with the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, 49 percent were filed by black LGBTQ people, compared to just 6 percent by white LGBTQ people.

This is further complicated by the stories of black LGBTQ youth in Chicago and New York City who tell of being singled out in gay neighborhoods by police because they do not look like they belong. Black transgender women are assumed to be engaged in sex work because they were “walking while trans.” Changing the culture of policing and reestablishing trust

between communities and police must include black LGBT people, as we continue to bear the brunt of these negative encounters with law enforcement.

Mass incarceration of black people, men in particular, has devastated black families and communities. While there is a lack of comprehensive data about LGBT people, particularly black LGBT people in prisons and jails, there is emerging evidence that we are disproportionately impacted by disciplinary policies, laws, and bias and discrimination in the justice system, which may mean we are overrepresented in America’s jails and prisons. At the same time, our nation’s schools funnel black youth into the school-to-prison pipeline, and research shows that black LGBT youth are disproportionately disciplined. New analysis of GLSEN’s 2013 School Climate Survey finds that 31 percent of black LGBTQ youth were suspended compared to 20 percent of all LGBTQ youth. Further research suggests that black girls, particularly those who are gender-nonconforming, are more likely to be disciplined at school.

From statistics about drug laws, we know that black people face increased risk of arrest and conviction and greater sentences for drug charges. However, black gay and bisexual men are also more likely to be charged under HIV criminalization laws that ignore science about HIV; in one study, two-thirds of individuals charged in 19 states were black. Black transgender people report higher rates of lifetime incarceration compared to their trans peers (47 percent versus 12 percent for white transgender people) — that’s nearly four times the rate. And 85 percent of LGBT or gender-nonconforming youth in juvenile facilities identify as youth of color.

Demand Action Now All of these facts paint a dismal picture of our nation’s criminal justice system and the negative impact it has on too many LGBT people of color.

Because of these facts LGBT people of color, especially black LGBT people, are more likely than the broader population to be living with a criminal record, which creates major challenges to rebuild their lives. We must take action to hold accountable those in authority to do something about the systemic oppression and the injustices that plague our nation. The time is now to hold accountable all of those with influence over our nation’s laws and policies to reform and dismantle this system by our voices and votes. Our very lives and the stability of our nation depend on it.

(In August) NBJC and eight other organizations released a report titled “Unjust: How the Broken Criminal Justice System Fails LGBT People of Color.” Read more here: www.lgbtmap. org/criminal-justice-poc

Wildlife Educators had a great time at Pride 2016; will be back

a great deal of time at our house.

I met Jim Moran at the festival. He is, as some of you know, a big time animal lover. He has generously offered to help us in various ways to build our brand and get our message out. We believe that every citizen of the planet deserves respect – regardless of species. We bring our exotic pets to events like yours to connect people with wildlife in an up close and personal way.

WEC is a serious education group, but we do enjoy our work and love our animals. I think a lot of people at the festival also enjoyed our work and loved meeting the animals.

Thanks for the experience. We will be happy to donate our time again next year.

Karin Fires, Executive Director, Wildlife Educators ■

To the Editor: My organization – Wildlife Educators Coalition – donated an exhibit for the Gay Pride Festival. Three of our members participated in the parade as well, Donna and Mike with Baby, the very large snake in a car. Then Howler, our wolf mascot walked the parade.

WEC exhibited a few of our exotic animals up on the hill in the trees. It was probably the most fun all of us had at a public event because all the people who came to see us were unusually nice and very respectful. Also, I got to see my old friend Darienne Lake. She and my daughter grew up together and she spent

ISAIAH WILSON is the external affairs manager of the National Black Justice Coalition, a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering black LGBT people.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken two important steps. First, Medicare has begun covering Gender Reassignment Surgery but has not issued detailed coverage rules.

Second, new HHS regulations will help protect transgender older adults from sex discrimination in healthcare. Here’s what you need to know now and what is coming down the road.

Medicare now covers Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS). In 2013, Medicare changed its policy and began covering medically necessary Gender Reassign-

ment Surgery. Though GRS coverage has been available since 2013, there have not been clear guidelines on who should get coverage. So far, few people have actually gotten covered.

Gender designation on a Medicare card does not determine whether care is covered. Medicare will not deny coverage for procedures that are sex-specific just because your Medicare card or other identification reflects a different gender identity. A Medicare card identifying you as male, for example, cannot be the basis for denying coverage of a pelvic examination if it is medically appropriate for you. If you are denied coverage, you should appeal the denial. You can also file a complaint with the HHS Office of Civil Rights, www.hhs.gov/civil-rights, about actions by providers or by Medicare Advantage plans.

Medicare does not cover many transition-related drugs. Many drugs prescribed for use in gender transition are prescribed “off label,” which means that the specific use has not been approved by FDA. Medicare covers off label uses of prescription drugs in only limited circumstances, so you cannot get Medicare coverage for many transition-related drugs.

Healthcare entities or providers who receive federal funds, either directly or indirectly cannot discriminate based on sex. In May of 2016, the federal government released regulations interpreting Section 1557. These rules specifically state that sex discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of gender identity. The rules cover all health providers receiving federal funds, not just Medicare.

Changes are coming in Medicaid too.

Right now, fewer than half of state Medicaid programs cover GRS. Medicaid programs, however, frequently decide to cover the same procedures as Medicare.

Also, Section 1557 applies to Medicaid programs and provides new protections from discrimination. So, some limits that state Medicaid programs now have for healthcare for transgender beneficiaries— including limits on GRS—may be discriminatory.

Watch for how your state responds to these developments.

For more or updated information, visit: GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders: www.glad.org; Justice in Aging: www. justiceinaging.org; Lambda Legal: www. lambdalegal.org; National Center for Lesbian Rights: www.nclrights.org; National Center for Transgender

ad from their locations along Interstate 95 and Interstate 595, near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, on Aug. 16.

“They felt, I guess, that they could impact tourism,” said Michael Kahane. “I find it completely disgusting.”

The Mayor’s office told 7News they had no part in bringing down the billboards. However, tourism officials are telling a different story. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau said a member of their advi-

sory board found the billboard inaccurate because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said condoms can only reduce the risk of Zika transmission.

Moreover, they said they don’t have the power to bring down the billboard, adding it was the signage company’s call.

In a statement issued on Aug. 17, the bureau’s president and CEO, Stacy Ritter, said, “We relayed that concern to the billboard company. To my knowledge, that is the extent of our involvement.”

Read more on JoeMyGod.com

Health HIV drug Atripla may be effective at low doses Savas Abadsidis posts on The Advocate: New research presented at the recent American Society for Microbiology conference offered good news: when HIVpositive people who were undetectable switched their dose of Atripla from every day to every other weekday, they were able to maintain viral suppression.

This is great news for users, as Atripla comes with prevalent side effects including insomnia, unusual dreams, loss of bone density, and kidney function impairment. Fixed dose pills have made HIV treatment convenient, but reducing the frequency could lower costs, fight pill fatigue, and reduce harmful side effects.

In fact, those on the reduced frequency showed better bone density and kidney function than daily users.

However, cholesterol levels were higher, likely because reducing tenofovir reduces the drug’s cholesterol-lowering effect. Fears that a non-daily pill regimen might make it harder for people to remember to take them consistently proved unfounded. According to AIDSmap, adherence was good. Adherence was assessed by both patient questionnaires and pill counts.

-Read the full story on The Advocate

Fact sheet: Marriage, Medicare and Medicaid Married same-sex couples can get coverage under the same Medicare and Medicaid rules as married opposite-sex couples

Fla. county removes Zika billboard with condom Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: Two billboards designed to bring awareness to the spread of the Zika virus have been removed in Broward County after their depiction of an unrolled condom stirred controversy. A spokesperson with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation said pressure from the Fort Lauderdale Mayor’s office and the Tourism Board caused their signage company to pull the

in all states. Where the couple lives or where they were married makes no difference. How long you have been married can affect your right to benefits, but this is true for opposite-sex couples as well.

Medicare and Medicaid rules for samesex couples changed dramatically after two Supreme Court decisions. The first decision, United States v. Windsor (2013), overturned the Defense of Marriage Act, opening the door for coverage for some, but coverage depended on whether your state recognized same-sex marriage.

The second Supreme Court decision, Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), made same-sex marriage legal in every state. Now, married same-sex couples can get coverage under the same Medicare and Medicaid rules as married opposite-sex couples in all states. Where the couple lives or when or where they were married makes no difference.

Qualifying for Medicare Part A coverage based on your spouse’s work history.

Medicare Part A is the health benefit that covers hospital care. To qualify for free Medicare Part A, you must have 40 “quarters” of work history, roughly 10 years, based either on your own work record, or your spouse’s work record. If you or your spouse do not have a qualifying work history, the cost of Part A benefits can be over $400 per month.

Fact sheet: Medicare changes for transgender older adults

Equality: www.transequality.org; National Resource Center on LGBT Aging: www.lgbtagingcenter.org Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders: www.sageusa.org Transgender Law Center: www.transgenderlawcenter.org

Task Force, Trans Lifeline announce first Transgender Mental Health Survey Transgender people face incredible obstacles in many aspects of life; chief among them is accessing affordable, affirming, and competent healthcare. The National LGBTQ Task Force and Trans Lifeline are joining forces to help identify the unique barriers that transgender people face in accessing mental health care by conducting the most comprehensive survey of mental health in the transgender community. The survey’s ultimate goal is to collect data that informs mental health practitioners so that they can develop policies that improve support systems for this vulnerable population.

LGBTQ people are almost three times more likely than others to experience a mental health condition such as major depression or generalized anxiety disorder than their straight counterparts.

Many factors contribute to this, such as the fear of coming out, facing discrimination, being targeted for violence, and struggling to access healthcare. Results from the largest survey of the trans community, Injustice at Every Turn, indicate that transgender people are more impacted by all of these factors, yet transgender people are more likely to live in poverty, to experience discrimination in healthcare settings, and to experience violence due to their identities than others in the gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities.

Victoria Rodríguez-Roldán of the Task Force says, “We know that 41% of trans people attempt suicide but we have no idea what happens after. Do people get the care they need? Do they experience discrimination when accessing health care? Do they make future attempts? We are missing a lot of information that can help us address the issue.”

Earlier this year a transgender man with Asperger’s was killed by the police in Mesa, Arizona. The police responded after Kayden Clarke reached out for help during a suicidal episode. According to a survey Trans Lifeline conducted, about a third of trans people experiencing a crisis will not seek out help out of fear that they will be mistreated by first responders or that they will be committed to a psychiatric facility where many trans people face conditions that are humiliating at best and dangerous at worst. Greta Martela, Executive Director of the Trans Lifeline, adds, “Many of our callers perceive the Trans Lifeline as the only safe place they can turn to. That’s a huge problem because short-term crisis support doesn’t address deeper mental health issues, and we have many repeat callers who are consistently in crisis because they can’t access the ongoing mental health care they need.”

At the same time that LGBTQ people confront stigma and prejudice based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, they also face societal bias against mental health conditions. Some people report having to hide their gender identity or sexual orientation from those in the mental health system for fear of being ridiculed or rejected. Some hide their mental health conditions from others in the LGBTQ community. Martela adds, “Based on our lived experiences, Trans Lifeline operators are working to change the social dynamics within our community and offer peer support. Results of this survey will help shape psychiatric hospital policies, mental health professional standards, and public health policy so that we can improve trans people’s mental health outcomes.”

-National LGBTQ Task Force, Trans Lifeline

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

17

LGBTQ Living

Robyn Shepard. Photo: Susan Jordan

Re-locating

By Susan Jordan Gay Alliance volunteer Robyn Shepard moved to Seattle last month.

Re-locating from upstate New York to the Pacific Northwest was easier for Robyn and her wife Stacey because Robyn had lived there before and they have family in the area. But it’s a big uprooting nonetheless, and a big project to reorganize one’s life.

Before her retirement Robyn worked in computer tech support for “a major corporation that will remain nameless”.

She has volunteered as a receptionist at the Gay Alliance since April 2015. Her transition began in 2008, while she was still living in Everett, Washington.

She was able to find plenty of support there. Robyn said, “The Washington Gender Alliance meets every Wednesday night. While Seattle is officially named The Emerald City, it is unofficially known as The Transgender Capital of the U.S. It is to the trans community what San Francisco is to the gay community. And it also has a vibrant and active LGB community.

“It’s a progressive city with a lot of

universities and colleges. And in the past year Seattle has raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour.

“But the main reason to move is I have two daughters and three grandchildren there. I was outed to my family seven years ago and both daughters stopped speaking to me. However, over the years, via Facebook and phone calls, we have reconciled and it was about this time last year that my daughter asked when I was coming back to Seattle –‘You have three grandchildren here’.”

Robyn noted that last February she was in Maryland for her father’s funeral and at that time, her other daughter and she were also reconciled. Both daughters and the three grandchildren – the eldest is a high school senior – are living in the Seattle area.

One major part of the re-location is discarding things the couple no longer needs – although for a computer tech person, discarding electronic items might be difficult! Robyn said, “So I’m going to be with my family. Stacey, my wife, and I have decided we’re going minimalist – anything we don’t need for survival we will do without. We’ll spend the next few months figuring out what that is.” The couple will be looking for an inexpensive apartment – probably outside the city – as they create a new life for themselves.

She does have some regrets about the big move. “I’m going to miss Rochester,” she said. “First and foremost among the things I’ll miss is the Gay Alliance. Also I’ll miss the medical facilities we have here, although they

have good facilities in Seattle too.

“I like the water and I have lived so long by the mountains – the hardest part about adjusting to Rochester was that you don’t see mountains. I told Stacey I’ll miss Wegmans – but she reminded me that in Seattle there’s a Trader Joe’s on practically every block, and also the Pike Place Market.

“I’ll be keeping in touch with Rochester friends via social media.” ■

WHILE SEATTLE IS OFFICIALLY NAMED THE EMERALD CITY, IT IS UNOFFICIALLY KNOWN AS THE TRANSGENDER CAPITAL OF THE U.S. IT IS TO THE TRANS COMMUNITY WHAT SAN FRANCISCO IS TO THE GAY COMMUNITY. AND IT ALSO HAS A VIBRANT AND ACTIVE LGB COMMUNITY.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

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SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Appreciation & Gratitude 2016

ROC

PRIDE

You made it Magical

Trillium Health

Americana Vineyards • Bachelor Forum • City of Rochester • Harris Corporation • Thomson Reuters

ABSOLUT • CSEA • Rochester Labor Council • Lake Beverage • MALIBU • MightySpark Design • Pride at Work Print ROC • Prudential Insurance • 98 PXY • Thompson Reuters • Three Olives • YELP

384 east ave inn • New York Life Insurance Company • Rochester Victory Alliance • St. John Fisher College University of Rochester • VanBortel Auto group • Wegmans

Avenue Pub • Barilla • Brown Hutchinson LLP • Comella Orthodontics • Eastman Kodak Company Harter Secrest & Emery, LLP • Rochester Institute of Technology • Rochester Travel Group • Skyy Vodka • VisitRochester

Canandaigua National Bank & Trust • Gilead Sciences • First Niagara Bank • Orange Theory Fitness Park Ave Merchants Association

Thank you

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

Legal name change?

Birth certificate amendment?

You’ll need those forms notarized!

Our Notary can help!

Schedule a free appointment today!

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

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Shoulders to Stand On Impact of AIDS on Students in American Schools In 1985 AIDS cases were reported in 51 countries. Here in the United States at the end of 1985 there were 20,740 AIDS cases nationwide.

There were 24 cases in Monroe County, and the first four cases were reported in eight non-urban counties. In November of 1985 five of the 93 tests done so far in 1985 were positive. In August of 1985, now four years after HIV/AIDS was identified, the CDC reported that the results of two Gallup Polls on AIDS indicated that 95 percent of the US population had heard of AIDS. In August, 1985 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued guidelines indicating school-aged children infected with the AIDS virus should be allowed to attend school, and school officials should do their best to protect pupils’ privacy.

The CDC guidelines did say each case should be decided on an individual basis.

It also said there appeared to be no danger of infection from casual contact. However, the guidelines recommended that that children with AIDS not attend kindergarten or day-care centers because children of that age sometimes bite each other, and that preschoolers and handicapped children be kept out of the school until more is known about how the disease is transmitted. The CDC also recommended that adoption and foster care agencies administer AIDS antibody tests to children whose parents were in high-risk groups, or whose parents’ histories were not known.

In September 1985 in Queens, NY parents in two community school districts organized a boycott to protest the city’s decision to allow a second grader with AIDS to attend regular classes.

11,000 students stayed home on the first day; 9,000 did so on the second day. On September 8, 1985 the Orlando Sentinel reported the question of whether children who have AIDS should be allowed to attend public schools had sparked heated debate in some states.

At the same time Orange County, Florida barred a five-year-old with AIDS from kindergarten despite the recommendation by the Florida Medical Association that students and teachers who have AIDS should not be denied access to public schools. The Orlando Sentinel also reported that until Swansea, Mass., had admitted an AIDS victim recently, no public school system had done so. Parents were fearful of infection and skeptical of the reassurances of medical experts.

Also in September 1985 in Los Angeles a 3-year-old boy with AIDS was barred from class for handicapped children. It was decided that he would receive private instruction at home if he was accepted into the county special education program.

In October 1985 New York City Schools Chancellor Nathan Quinones reveals that three children were removed from classes because their mothers’ boyfriends were suspected of having AIDS. The National Education Association suggested that districts decide on a case-bycase basis whether children with AIDS should attend regular classes. In December, 1985 a school district in Hazelwood, MO dropped training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation because of fear that high school students might be exposed to AIDS. In August 1986 six of 13 children in New York City known to have AIDS or AIDS-related complex were allowed to attend public schools. In March, 1987 many schools throughout New York’s metropolitan region begin to teach students about AIDS, its transmission and methods of prevention.

In June 1986 the American Medical

about HIV/AIDS. - 20 states require that if provided, sex and/or HIV education must be medically, factually or technically accurate.

Many states define parents’ rights concerning sexual education: - 38 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to allow parental involvement in sexual education programs.

- Four states require parental consent before a child can receive instruction.

- 35 states and the District of Columbia allow parents to opt-out on behalf of their children.

Shoulders To Stand On is in awe of all of school-aged children who have AIDS. Attitudes toward “handicapped” persons have changed, but these youth are still not embraced with openness and acceptance. STSO is proud of all those students who stand tall with dignity and pride.

Next month we will begin to look at AIDS research and treatment.

History Corner

Association maintained public schools should be open to children with AIDS, except for pre-schoolers and handicapped children. In August 1986 New York City officials allowed six of 13 children known to have AIDS, or a less severe disorder, IDS-related complex, will be allowed to attend public schools. The identities of the children and schools were not disclosed.

In February 1987 the Reagan administration issued an AIDS education plan that called for specific information to be made available to Americans on how to prevent the spread of the disease, and included the use of condoms for sexually active people. California approved AIDS education in high school.

In April, 1987 Ronald Reagan announced, “We have declared AIDS public health enemy number one.” The passage of the “Helms amendment” prevented federal funding of any AIDS education efforts that “encouraged or promoted homosexual activity”. The Monroe County legislature approved $100,000 for funding community based programs and in February 1988 Monroe county school districts began implementing the AIDS curriculum developed by the “Minority Committee” in December, 1986. AIDS and the Education of Our Children: A Guide for Parents and Children, written in October 1987 primarily by Education Secretary William J. Bennett, urged all parents and teachers to stress “appropriate moral and social conduct” as the first line of defense against the spread of the AIDS virus.

As of October 2015, the US Dept. of Education policy on the placement of children with AIDS attending school comes from policies developed in 1991 and updated on a regular basis: http:// www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ hq53e9.html.

The law of which Section 504 is a part defines a handicapped person as one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is perceived as having such an impairment. For example, while some individuals with AIDS are substantially impaired physically, virtually all individuals with AIDS are regarded as having an impairment. Children with AIDS are identified as qualified handicapped persons, and therefore are eligible to receive any and all benefits allowed under law.

In terms of AIDS education all states are somehow involved in sex education for public schoolchildren. As of March 1, 2016: - 24 states and the District of Columbia require public schools teach sex education (21 of which mandate sex education and HIV education).

- 33 states and the District of Columbia require students receive instruction

Empty Closet A Monthly Publication By and For the Gay Community of Rochester. July - August, 1977 ISSUE NO 74 Focus: This newspaper is going to press, perhaps just for the sake of going to press.

Our current and past policies have been viewed by some as sexist, agist and/or racist. Our act will be cleaned up. We will get our staff together. We will become a monthly newspaper published by and for the gay (female and male) community of Rochester. Our advertisers, writers, contributors, and staff will be notified of our policy and our expectations of them. We hope you will help us through this transition period so we will reach our goal of a newspaper we can be proud to have in our homes and not feel we should hide it

21 from family, friends, and neighbors.

You can contribute your time, talents, and efforts in helping us achieve our goals. Be a part of our new look! Join us.

Dates to Remember: —Gay Brotherhood Sunday Meetings 8 p. m .: September 18 – “Coming Out to your Optometrist” “Being Half In, Half Out” (Rap Session) September 25— Movement Happenings Report on Coalition For Change (CFC) October 2nd - Pot Luck supper October 9th - “The Manly Art of Gay Self-Defense (the quiet Queer Syndrome) —Lesbian Resource Center—meetings the 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 8: 00 p.m.

September 21st – Speaker for National Organization for Women (NOW) October 5th – Meeting ---Dignity – Integrity September 16th – Meeting 7:30pm Report on Dignity – Integrity National Convention September 18th – Mass at 6:00 p.m.

September 20th – Deadline for buying tickets for 2nd Anniversary Dinner September 23rd – Public lecture – 6:00 p.m. St. Lukes “Gay Lifestyles and the Church” by Father Paul Shanley September 24th – Second Anniversary Celebration Mass 4:00 PM Dinner 6:00 PM Do you want to read this issue of the Empty Closet?

Here is Link: http://www.library.rochester.edu/rbscp/EmptyCloset \On that page click on: Browse the Empty Closet issues Go to 1977 – September

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

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

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

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

Columnists

friendship. He has repaired my heart without any awareness of his charm or my ache. He ain’t my child. But he is more than just the agent of a creative breakthrough. He is special and I like him a lot.

So I think I’ll have a shot at crying when he splits. At least I hope so.

Email: EricLBellmann@gmail.com

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.

ERIC BELLMANN

Cleaning My Closet ON MY MIND

Growing Up MOM SHOT

By Eric Bellmann When I left for college not a tear was shed. I sailed off to what I achingly hoped was a fresh start, eager to forget the turbulence of my adolescence. The last years of high school were at best messy. I was exploring my sexual identity in a style that can only be called reckless.

I’m pretty sure my mother was relieved to have the prospect of peace and quiet.

We needed a break from one another. So I was caught off guard and interested when many years later a friend recounted taking her daughter to college at Cornell.

She told me that as she drove back to Rochester, she pulled over to the side of the road and cried. And cried. And cried.

That story came back to me recently.

Yesterday, chatting with Sally, I asked her what it was like when she dropped her daughter off. Sally told me she’s amazed she didn’t crack up her car as she cried for two solid hours on her way home.

Every gay person these days knows folks who have become parents, such is our choice and delight as we have moved beyond marriage equality. I have good friends who clog Facebook with hourly posts of their adorable, gaily-dressed twin girls. Do these people have any idea what’s in store? Of course all the joys of parenthood: dating, condoms, horrible music blaring from sealed off do-not-enter bedrooms and then, as another friend once observed, just as the kid gets civil and interesting and fun to be around, they take off for college. Then you sit by the side of the road and weep.

Maybe I have a Mom shot coming my way.

This summer has been just another summer with one singular exception.

God in her infinite wisdom has sent me the best drawing model in eons. Not only does he do all the requisite things -- show up on time, sit still, evidence some curiosity about my work -- but there have been bonuses galore. He confirms appointments in clear readable English. He asks interesting questions about Art. He hangs around. He shares what’s going on in his life and he is utterly cool about me being gay. He’s from Los Angeles, need I say more? He’s been to Gay Pride in L.A.

I can’t remember all the things we’ve talked about over the summer, but I said to a friend, when recounting my friendship with this kid, that the only thing he doesn’t know about me is my shoe size.

He’s not exactly a kid. He decided not to go to college after high school but traveled the country for three years. Here’s where it gets interesting. He’s a hockey player, ice hockey. I cannot fathom this enthusiasm since I cringe at the sight of a single snowflake. Far be it from me to say I understand the heterosexual male mind.

Anyway the kid is good at it, very good, and has played hockey for various semi pro teams all across Canada and that has made him now an attractive prospect for colleges with strong teams. They are bidding on him. Far cry from when I begged any college to be charitable enough to let me enroll.

So we talk and I draw and most of the work has turned out nicely. But one drawing was dreadful and I told the kid that when I taught drawing I used to advise students that if you had a crap drawing why not just work it, push it with any means possible, treat it rough and be wild, smear and erase and redraw and see if you can discover a new image?

I took my own advice. I rubbed oil crayons on it, smeared them with turpentine staining the paper and then reworked the image with colored pencils. I obliterated the clumsy parts, emphasized the more appealing elements. I surprised myself.

The experience was exhilarating. The kid became the agent for a whole new direction in my work. I posted the work on Facebook and people hit the “like” icon and I was happy.

In a recent New York Times magazine profile the artist Chuck Close talks about “late life” artists’ work. Close is 76. I’m no spring chicken. Close talks about how Picasso and Matisse created work in their later years that was radically different and not especially admired, at least not right away. I think I’m having a late life creative spurt. So I’ve doubled up on the time with the kid, cranking out reams of work.

Here’s the rub. He’s leaving for college soon. It’s a small school several states away.

He has no real ties to Rochester. Will he fly back to L.A. for holidays? Maybe, maybe not. He says he has extended family in Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Will he pass through Rochester on his way from New Hampshire? Oh, fool am I to dream.

The kid has been much more than agreeable and punctual. He has come into my life about a year after a bitter, failed

By Meredith Elizabeth Reiniger Daily Doings of Septuagenarian Me: I open my eyes.

I sing Good Morning, etcetera, to Vegas. That chant puts My Self in mind of my Very-Busy-Day-Musts: wash and dress and pill and caffeine My Self. Eventually and frequently, Stair Me: descend; ascend; descend; ascend; descend; ascend. I like to call it Exercise.

"Time to start another day, little graying Vegas." Silent, he stands, stretches, plops his red-self upon his pillows. Recurls and shimmies into cozy. He likes to call that doggercise.

I don’t mind admitting that my conversations with my dog are an essential part of my day, a significant, mentalhealth-care option. I am of the mind that hearing my own voice confirms my existence. You. Are. Here. Stop. Look. Listen.

So hear this. I am in training.

I do not, mind you, put my old-self through training that requires dreadfullyrevealing spandex, or necessitates mingling with buff gym-dwellers. I absent myself from any training that induces unsightly perspiration which, gone rogue, streams stinky-sticky-sweat down my various cracks.

Just to be on the safe side, I quit flamenco dancing and resigned from Webster’s luge team; consequently, I need no physical therapy routines: no unnatural roll-your-pained-muscles over torturetubes; no arm-strength yikes-stretching of color-coded rubber-band-whatchamadoolies; no knee clenching of big pink or bigger green torture-spheres.

Yes, I am training. Survival training.

No second amendment weapons needed.

No expensive, threatening pedals, pulleys, or weights. On the contrary, my training simply requires me to keep my mind on my work. Indeed, my life-enhancing training requires mindfulness. (For the uninitiated: “mindfulness” means staying conscious for long periods of time. It is a new-fangled word for a widely recommended state-of-being.)

Mindfulness #1 - Strategy: I have made up my mind to notice all sturdy frames of every doorway . . . right side and, especially, left side. I have promised My Body that, when I walk about in my house, I will be aware of door jambs. Thus informed, I will glide gaily through open space, always and evermore abstaining from my former habit of Jamming-MyBody-into-Wood.

(Vegas Dog, watching my first successful passage, gave me an enthusiastic tail-wag. “Good girl, Mommidith! My circus-dog pals soar through hoops, so I had faith that you too were trainable.”)

Mindfulness #2 - Tactic: My brain and my body must be of one mind. Thus teamed, they will orchestrate Careful Stair Climbing. Up Climbing as well as Down Climbing. One hand must execute Railing Clutching. Go team!

Ah, the concept of teamwork brings to mind my once-upon-a-time Carefree Youth-full Days when using stairs involved automatic full-body-involvement, feet landing firmly and wholly on each tread even while my whirling-dervish mind triple-tasked on Really Important Things to Think. Alas, in my Care-filled Elderliness Days, taking stairs is an Activity. Truth be told, I require on-duty mindfulness for every single item on my list of Maintenance Activity. Like brushing my teeth.

This blows my mind. Okay, here’s a thing. Three of my teeth had to be resurfaced. [$$] I had worn away the enamel because I suffered mind-empty-ness. It seems that, often or even usually, after ramming my electric toothbrush into my mouth, I walked around doing modest chores. Absent-mindedly abandoning that vibrating tool planted at left-front-bottom quadrant. Consequently, explained Dentist David, “... the weight of your arm put [a lot, a whole lot of] pressure on the surface.” Oh, no, I need Dental Mindfulness?

This mindfulness stuff sure is demanding.

It is a matter of fact that I experienced where-is-your-mind challenges long before I became old-ish and thus prone to every-day mind-meandering.

Early-Onset-Mindless-ness: helping mother make cranberry relish. (During her James Beard Period, she rejected old-timey, ridged-like-the-can, cranberry jelly.) While she blenderized fresh cranberries and zested an orange rind, souschef I measured a cup of sugar and stirred it in.

At table, when her sacred red-ruby relish hit her palate, a shriek burst from her quivering lips: “MEREDITH! SUGAR! Sugar, not salt. Couldn’t you SEE the difference?”

Flabbergasted, I watched my red-faced mother-hostess jerk the contaminated dish off her festive Thanksgiving table. She mumbled away.

In a slight tick of a moment, I considered giving her a piece of my mind, an opportunity, perchance, to explore vocabulary: see versus look… accident or intent… deep-thinking or wide-daydreaming. Was I out of my mind! As I prayed for a bolt of invisibility, I could see, clearly see that Intense Silence was my best option.

In my own defense, I must resort to tattling: There is a tad of pollution in My Gene Pool.

Once upon a moment, aforementioned mother hurried to meet her husband’s imminent Need to eat dinner. Simultaneously she scurried from pot to dish, also eager to satisfy her Samantha-dog’s moanfor-a-meal. Mind-boggled mother tossed a cup of something into her simmering stew.

Her “MEREDITH!” was, that time, not a reprimand. It was HELP: “Grab a spoon snatch out Sam’s dog food. Hurry before those brown bits Gravy-Train themselves into my stew.” We scooped and giggled.

“Don’t tell your father.”

At table, I did, as I was wont to do, play with her mind. “Hey, Mom, your stew is really good tonight. Add anything special?” Quickly her smirk sealed our conspiracy.

Mindfulness #3 - Supplemental visual clues: I use my hands to alert me as I navigate through the maze of my objectsfilled-house. With arms extended 11.2 inches from my hips and hands perpendicular to my wrist-bones and my fingers spread-apart, I can safely curb my bangand-bruise habit, thus eliminating smacking into counters, couches, chairs, and other pointed, potentially painful protuberances measuring 34.3 inches from the floor.

While developing this safety-walk, I was most fortunate to unearth an image in my 1950’s Memory Cloud: car whiskers! I simply adapted the touch-warning system of vintage curb-feelers.

Mindfulness #4 - Methodology: brain boost. Concrete objects serve me better than short-lived mental-notes A.) Establish back-up. I leave Vegas Dog’s breakfast bowl on the floor in front of his EatingPlace-Bed until I serve his dinner. Both bowls remain on the floor until I head to bed, assuring My Mind that I have served him two meals, not one, not three. B) Create rituals. I hang my car keys on the doorknob into the garage.

C.) Employ a menagerie. My darkgreen, rubber Ms. Or-e-Gon O’Duck perches on my wallet atop my go-out-andabout satchel. On the bathroom counter, my duck-assistant’s alligator-clip-bill clenches my daily appointment cards.

Mindfulness bliss rewards. I watched Rapunzel stretch-out into loll mode. She

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET draped her elegantly long, thin squirreltail behind her, stretched her back paws over the edge of the railing, leaned on her little squirrel-elbows, turned, and stared at me. I blink-blinked in hopes of establishing harmony.

Oh yes, then I observed Mini Minnie.

She has a mind of her own. She wiggles her two-inch-wide, brown-garden-toadself into a 3 inch flower pot. Oh no, I utter. So I ... Oops, that’s a too-long tale, so I’ll bear that in mind for another tellall.

Lessons learned: Slow down. Unintended blindness, multitasking, and speed-worship are dreadful dis-eases.

Embrace amazement-full-nesses of Mindfulness. Be aware.

Here-and-Now is quite a pleasant place to be. Keep that in mind.

MeredithReiniger@gmail.com

Faith Matters STAYING HIGH IN THESE DAYS OF GOING LOW

By Rev. Irene Monroe When we see hate speech and injustice, we must hold tight to Michelle Obama’s words.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention rocked, and her words and advice about hate speech resonated especially for many LGBTQ people.

In a surprisingly personal speech, Obama shared how she and Barack advise their daughters, Malia and Sasha, on how not to let name-calling, nastiness, and negativity ensnare them by remaining above the fray.

“We don’t stoop to their level. Our motto is ‘When they go low, we go high,’” Obama said.

In this 2016 presidential campaign season, which has many parents scratching their heads as to how to explain Trump to their children, Obama depicted the presidential race as simply choosing an appropriate role model.

In expressing her enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton’s nomination, Obama brought civility back into the public discourse.

And in Michelle’s inimitable classy and cool style, she took down Trump in the most elegant way: she criticized the Republican presidential candidate without once uttering his name.

“I want someone with the proven strength to persevere. Somebody who knows this job and takes it seriously.

Somebody who understands that the issues of our nation are not black or white. It cannot be boiled down to 140 characters.”

When Michelle Obama uttered those words we immediately thought of Trump, because he is our omnipresent Twitter bully.

What comes with Twitter bullying is hate speech, and Trump has normalized hate speech in the public sphere.

One of the signs of an intolerant society is demeaning language, whether used jokingly or in earnest, aimed at specific groups of people. When this form of verbal abuse becomes part and parcel of the everyday parlance, we have created a society characterized by zero tolerance of inclusion and diversity, and in which name-calling becomes an accepted norm.

I remember a 2006 interview with Ann Coulter, the conservative “pundit,” on MSNBC’s Hardball, where Coulter called former Vice President Al Gore “a fag” and hinted that Bill Clinton might be gay.

“How do you know that Bill Clinton is gay?” host Chris Matthews asked.

“He may not be gay, but Al Gore, total fag. No, I’m just kidding,” Coulter spat. And in referring to Clinton, Coulter continued, “I mean, everyone has always known wildly promiscuous heterosexual men have, as I say, a whiff of the bathhouse about them.”

Perhaps Coulter intended to be funny or satirical, but her remarks were directed not only toward Gore and Clinton, but also toward LGBTQ people. Coulter took a swipe at Gore, Clinton, and the entire LGBTQ community in one fell swoop and with just one word.

Gay Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was bludgeoned and left for dead in near-freezing temperatures while tethered to a rough-hewn wooden fence, because he was considered a “fag.”

Racial slurs are such a mainstay in the American lexicon that their broad-based appeal to both blacks and whites has anesthetized us not only to the damaging and destructive use of epithets, but also to our ignorance of their historical origins.

The Obamas have lived up to the advice they give their girls. Barack has been compared to the monkey Curious George, and shown wearing a feather headdress and a bone through his nose on Tea Party protest placards. Michelle has not avoided the perceptions and stereotypes of African-American women — combative, mouthy, not deferential enough, and the typical “angry black woman.” The July 21, 2008, cover of The New Yorker satirically depicted then-presidential hopeful Barack Obama robed in Muslim garb fistbumping his Angela Davis Afro-wearing, machine-gun-toting wife, Michelle. Eight years later, Trump still thinks Obama is not an American-born citizen and is conspiratorially a Manchurian Muslim.

Language is a representation of culture, and it perpetuates ideas and assumptions about race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity that we consciously — and unconsciously — articulate in our everyday conversations about ourselves, and the rest of the world, and consequently transmit generationally.

The liberation of people is also rooted in the liberation of abusive language.

Using slurs, especially jokingly, does not eradicate their historical baggage and

its existing social relations among us.

Instead, using them dislodges these epithets from their historical context and makes us insensitive and arrogant regarding the historical injustices done to specific groups. They allow all Americans to become numb to the power of hate speech and thwart the daily struggle of trying to live in harmony.

This election year we have a candidate who has turned hate speech into a campaign platform. In response, I’m taking Michelle’s advice and directing it toward another first lady. They can go low, but I’m going “with her.”

A Few Bricks Short A GAY OLD TIME

By David Hull Straight people are funny sometimes. I was talking to a couple of them the other day; we were chatting about what we enjoy watching on TV. I’ll admit the subject of television viewing is an awkward topic for me, especially when I have to confess my two favorite TV programs are The Rachel Maddow Show and reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond – OK, so I’m a news junkie who relates to stories about an irritatingly dysfunctional family – I can’t help it.

But what was really embarrassing is that these heterosexuals were talking about Orange Is the New Black and RuPaul’s Drag Race like they were some brand-new, cutting edge shows. Those shows are old gay news, people!

I know it’s not nice to make fun of people who are different than we are, but I had to roll my eyes when one of the heterosexuals mentioned how things had really changed on TV ever since Ellen DeGeneres’ character, Ellen Morgan on the series Ellen, came out as the first gay TV character ever. Oh, straight people, you make me laugh! That is so not true.

Not to downplay the importance of Ellen’s coming out in 1997; it was a big deal, but I remember the gay stuff had been going on in the boob tube years earlier.

Way back in 1971, All in the Family had an episode where Archie Bunker’s friend who hangs out at Kelsey’s bar, Steve (played by Phillip Carey), came out as gay.

On The Mary Tyler Moore Show Phyllis’ brother, Ben (played by Robert Moore) was revealed to be gay in 1973.

The gang at the Sunshine Cab Company on Taxi had a gay-themed episode in 1980.

Cheers had two episodes that dealt with individuals in the bar facing coming out and homophobia, one titled “The Boys in the Bar” (1983) and another called “Rebecca’s Lover – Not” (1992).

In the late ‘80s the Showtime series Brothers featured two regular gay characters, Cliff (played by Paul Regina) and

23 Donald (played by Philip Charles McKenzie).

And in the fifth season of an early 1990s show called Northern Exposure, two gay characters were married – years before legalizing same-sex marriage was even talked about in the US. Also in the early ‘90s, the show Roseanne introduced a lesbian character, Nancy, played by Sandra Bernhard.

And I’m sure there are many other examples that I’m forgetting, but after all, one gay man can only waste so much time sitting in front of the television.

But, over the years it wasn’t just the gay characters on TV – there were lots of gay people “playing straight” on popular shows and apparently no heterosexual person ever suspected they were gay and somehow no one, not even The National Enquirer, managed to out them. I mean, our people were all over television for years.

For starters, we all know gay icon George Takei piloted the Starship Enterprise as Mr. Sulu on Star Trek for three seasons.

On Bewitched, Dick Sargent, who played the second version of Darren Stevens, was gay.

So was Paul Lynde who played Uncle Arthur on Bewitched and then went on to inhabit the center space on Hollywood Squares for years.

Robert Reed, the guy who played Mike Brady, the ever-patient and understanding father of the Brady Bunch, was homosexual.

Did you know that little old Mayberry had its own gay? Jim Nabors, who played gas station attendant Gomer Pyle, is gay.

He even went on to star in his own spinoff, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Barbara Stanwyck, who played Victoria Barkley, matriarch of the wealthy Barkley clan on The Big Valley, was a lesbian. And although none of the actors who played her three sons were gay, they were totally hot!

John-Boy and Jim-Bob never discussed it, but the gentleman who played Grandpa on The Waltons, Will Geer, was gay.

Tommy Kirk, who appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club and in numerous 1960s Disney movies and has been inducted as a Disney Legend, is gay.

Law and medicine weren’t safe havens from the gays. Raymond Burr who played Perry Mason (and later the wheelchairbound TV detective Ironside) was gay and so is Richard Chamberlin who portrayed Dr. Kildare.

Nancy Kulp, Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies, was a lesbian.

Charles Nelson Reilly was gay. He starred in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and then the long-running game show, Match Game.

Even T-Rex couldn’t scare the gay away – Wesley Eure, who played Will Marshall on Saturday morning’s dinosaur adventure, Land of the Lost, is gay.

So, the next time some straight person tries to tell you that television was a realm populated by only heterosexuals until (Columnists continue on page 24)

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

(Columnists continued from page 23) 1997, you can assure them that they are incorrect. We’re here! We’re queer! We’ve always been on TV, my dear!

You can contact David at Davidhull59@aol.com

Safer Computing DEATH AND TAXES

By David Frier Death and Taxes. With enough lawyers you can avoid most of the taxes, but as sure as I am typing these words, and you are reading them, every one of us is going

to die.

While we each have a will to cover our possessions and assets, how many of us include in that document what to do about digital assets? More to the point - if someone dies and leaves no will, the law is reasonably straightforward about what to with their possessions and finances. But our legal system has not yet really begun to address consistently what to do with the dear departed’s Facebook or Twitter accounts, their email, websites, and so on.

These are digital assets but there’s not necessarily a physical item that corresponds to any of them. To make sure these are handled according to my wishes after I die, I have made a “data will.” Note: I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. If you want your “data will” to be enforceable as part of your actual last will and testament, you must consult a lawyer.

What’s in a data will? This will differ in the details for everyone but I think these major sections are a good starting point. First and foremost, passwords.

If you are using some kind of password management tool as I suggested in last month’s column, this will be easy.

You will only need to tell your survivors

where the password data resides, and what is the master password to gain access to it.

If there’s no password manager wrangling all your individual passwords, you’ll have to list them all in this document, or an attachment. The password list or manager also provides a map of where you had an online presence and business or personal relationships, which will help in other ways.

If some of your online accounts have two-factor authentication such as an app on your phone that generates a 6-digit code when logging in from a new device, etc., make sure the document details where to find that, and how to use it.

Also, include information on how to unlock your phone!

Email is still a fundamental service in the online world, and especially so when it’s the focal point for most sites’ password-reset processes. So make sure your document includes an abundance of information as to where your email is delivered, how to log into it, and pointers to the password manager entries for the email password (or the email password itself).

You may wish some of your online accounts and services to continue running. For example, you may host a family website, or use a backup service that includes your spouse’s or other family members’ data. Instructions as to what should be kept going vs. what can safely be shut down will be useful here. Also consider that any auto-pay arrangements, such as monthly or annual billing to a certain credit card or via PayPal, might not be obvious to your loved ones. Make these arrangements explicit in this document.

Finally, how to notify online friends and colleagues of your death. Many of us are members of virtual communities that might not have visibility to other more traditional ways our death would be communicated, such as local obituaries or even Facebook pages. If you are a member of professional mailing lists or other such niches of cyberspace, make

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sure your survivors will know how to send a notification to those communities. You may have been working on a joint project at the time of your death: it’s only polite to let the team know you won’t be at the next meeting.

Once you have completed this awesome document, you have two main things to worry about: How to make sure it has the desired effect once it’s needed, and how to keep it safe, meanwhile. I mentioned above that if you want it to be legally enforceable, then you need to consult with a lawyer as to how to make it part of, or an attachment to, your will.

Be sure to confirm whether or not it will become part of the public record -- if so, you will want to work with your lawyer to conceal the passwords and other sensitive information in your document.

As for the security of the document while you’re still alive, I refer back to the three most basic concepts of information security: Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability. All three of those apply here, with very high stakes. You need to be sure the document is not disclosed to anyone unauthorized, that it is not altered without your knowledge, and that your survivors can get to it after your death without serious obstacles. There are a lot of ways to accomplish each of these three things, but what I will delve into in next month’s column is document storage “in the Cloud”, and how that can address all three of these concerns.

Reader Letter of the Month: Rob H writes, I have heard that email cannot be considered confidential, yet I have to log in and provide a password to read or send it, and so do my correspondents. So aside from that time I made the mistake of cc’ing the whole softball team on a… private… note to my boyfriend, is this really a problem? And if so, what can I do about it?

Oh, Rob - who among us has not realized, mere seconds after sending, that we hit Reply-All when we really should have hit Reply. Hopefully if your suggestions were more explicit, at least the softball team were all adults. And adult about it.

But you do illustrate with this example a basic problem we all struggle with when it comes to email. The original design of the “email” messaging standard simply did not have much about security among its starting requirements. Its mission was to get a block of text from point A to point B or report back some possibly-helpful error condition if it could not. Maybe you don’t think of 1982 as a kinder, simpler time but that’s what it was.

All of the security aspects of email that we see now were added on, and it all doesn’t necessarily work seamlessly.

If I want to send my friend Don an email and I want the content encrypted as it travels between my PC and Don’s, I have to do that differently depending on whether we’re using a corporate email system such as Exchange or Lotus Notes, straight Internet email protocols like SMTP, POP3 or IMAP, or webmail such RoadRunner, Yahoo or GMail. For some combinations of my mailbox and Don’s, it might not even be possible to encrypt the message end-to-end because at some point in the string of hand-offs, one encryption scheme simply doesn’t talk to the next one.

Accordingly, the safest course is to consider email to be like mailing paper postcards: anyone who wants to can probably read yours, without trying too hard.

Please continue send your awesome questions to questions@safer-computing. com and I will try to answer at least one every month. No question is silly!

One final note: on Sept. 20, I will be teaching an InQueery session on Safer Email. Come out and learn how not to be taken in by the great variety of email scams and spams. 6:30 p.m. at the LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave.

What’s Bothering Brandon?

ADOLESCENCE DIES ON SATURN

By Brandon W. Brooks This September will mark the beginning of my last year as a 20-something.

I have dreaded this 29th year, it being the official end to my youth, and the beginning of my actual adulthood. And what a world I shall be inheriting – I can’t wait.

If my writing fails to convey my feelings on this birthday, allow me to clarify that I am being entirely sarcastic. I am all but an old person now – I see the rift between young and late 20-somethingyear-olds widening. I see the youngsters wanting to party and get drunk, while all I want to do is stay in or go to the RPO. No getting drunk for me.

Despite not being able to indelicately consume alcohol any longer (I was never a drinker anyway), I do see an upside to turning 29 years old. This year will be my Return of Saturn. Cosmologists have asserted that it takes the planet Saturn roughly 29-30 years to make a full orbit around the sun. As we turn 29 or 30 years old, Saturn will be in this same approximate position within the solar system as it was at our births, effectively “restarting” our lives, or at least marking the transition from childhood to adulthood. Even the planets insult my age these days.

Now, before you assume that I am some sort of astronomic dilettante (or worse – an astrologist), allow me to be rightly understood. I do not believe in nor do I put any real faith in astrology or the zodiac. In my own opinion, astrology is a centuries-old hack based on a now disused calendar system. I mean, our beloved Miss Cleo died this summer – shouldn’t she have known?

However, despite my skepticism I am able to see the value in at least acknowledging one’s Return of Saturn as a time of change, or rather, a time to change. I understand that I can be rather, shall we say “Old World” at times, but I do in fact cherish my age as a 20-something, shamelessly. My consistent readers will know that I am a bit starched and crotchety as it is – I can only imagine how this will progress with more age. Indeed I have heard that there are only two types of people in this world: people who were meant to be children, and those who were not meant to be children. I am of course from the latter camp.

I wonder: should the change that my Return of Saturn brings be a change towards being less rigid? In other words, as I grow older, would I benefit from learning to be a little less controlling, and allow life to “take its course?” Most of me responds in the affirmative, while still another small portion tells me that allowing life to “take its course” is just the mantra of those who lack any control at all.

Perhaps I must learn to walk the middle line, instead of viewing life through lenses of extremes.

I have heard people say that they thank God that their 20s are over, and that once they reached 30 years of age, all the pressure to conform to the high standards of youth simply became obsolete.

I still can’t decide whether this mindset is true or rather a comforting lie. A lie we tell ourselves once we reach 30 in an attempt to deny that yes, we all die at 30 years old, and the world is no longer relevant to us. Or worse – we are no longer relevant to the world.

Either way, I’ll be packing on the antiwrinkle cream and relishing my last year as a 20-something. I’ll be relaxing in orbit around Saturn. For my birthday, feel free to buy me some rings. Platinum, in a blue box.

Questions, comment, or critique?

Feel free to e-mail the author at: brandonbrooks@mail.adelphi.edu ■

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

Community DIGNITY-INTEGRITY Since March, 1975, Dignity-Integrity Rochester has been welcoming all who come through our doors, worshiping every week at 5 p.m. at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St., at the corner of Broad St. We have the following services and activities for the month of September, 2016.

1st Sunday: Episcopal Mass/Healing Service, with music 2nd Sunday: Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word, with music 3rd Sunday: Episcopal Mass, quiet 4th Sunday: Prayers to start the Week, followed by a Potluck The theme for the September potluck is “September Stews”. Bring your favorite stew or a loaf of bread and enjoy a wonderful potluck supper. There is always plenty to share, so don’t worry if you’ve no time to shop or cook. 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!

REMINDER: D-I Labor Day Picnic will be on Saturday, Sept. 3… two days before Labor Day! All are welcome. Bring a dish to pass and whatever you may want to grill. We’ll provide paper goods and beverages. Call the Hotline or check our website for directions and further details.

SAVE THE DATES: We’ve got some special events coming up, so be sure you’ve got them on your calendar!

Sunday, Oct. 9: 41st Anniversary Liturgy, celebrated with a Catholic service and followed by a dinner at a local restaurant.

Sunday, Dec. 18: The Annual Christmas Hymn Sing is being planned. This is one of the best ways to enjoy the holiday season. Sit back, sing along and join us afterwards for a scrumptious reception of punch and cookies. Don’t miss it!!

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

EMPIRE BEARS Bears in the woods, fields, and trailers. Woof! It’s been a hot summer. Great weather and more fun weekends to come at camp. The Empire Bears want to meet you there.

We’re also out for supper every Wednesday at 6. Join us 9/7 at Yummy Hot Pot, 9/14 at Sticky Lips on Jefferson, 9/21 at Carrabbas and 9/28 at the Winfield Grill.

Potlucks are on hold ‘til the fall. Hope to see you at camp or supper.

OPEN ARMS MCC Please join us on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. for an exciting and vibrant worship experience!

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

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

Here’s what’s happening at Open Arms for the month of September: Sunday School for Teens & Tweens is on the second Sunday of each month during the

service and refreshments are served.

On Wednesday, Sept. 14; 7 p.m. at Open Arms -- we are starting a monthly New Christian Life Study program, “The Story of God”, with the question “Who is God?” We will watch the Morgan Freeman Television program of the same name followed by discussion. This study program will continue throughout the fall and is open to the public.

We are also starting a new ministry “Giving Arms” and this will be a “housewares & clothing closet” for those in need.

Bible Study will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays.

Our TRANSformative Ministry is now entering its second year. Through this ministry, we support and respect people of all gender identities and gender expressions. We create ties by linking people of diverse gender identities and expressions, and their allies, through stewardship, education, and social justice. Contact us to learn more and check our Facebook page for the dates and time of up-coming meetings.

We host a number of community groups in our Community Center: AFTY (Adult Families with Trans Youth) meets the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, and Questioning) meets on the third Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. TAGR, Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester meets on the third Saturday of each month from 3-5:30 p.m.

We have a bin in the Community Center for recycling items like empty ink cartridges, empty toner cartridges, cell phones, chargers, batteries, cords.

You can also drop off your scrap metal to be recycled at Metalico Rochester and you will earn money for Open Arms. Days will be arranged for drop off at church as well. Let your neighbors and friends know they can drop off recyclable metal, too.

Just mention that it is for the Open Arms MCC account and the proceeds of the recyclables will come to us.

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

Some ideas for contributions are toiletries, including toothpaste, soap, paper towels, toilet paper, tampons, sanitary pads, and baby wipes. Non-perishable food items that require little preparation including pasta meals, canned meat/tuna, vegetables, and beans, also dry food items such as cereal, pasta and mixes. Pop-top cans are also appreciated as many homeless persons

25

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

do not have access to can openers. Pet food is also needed. We also have some clothing available -- socks, shoes, sneakers and shirts.

Our facilities are also available for rental by any community groups or individuals needing a safe and flexible meeting space. You can see our ad with pictures and rental fees on Craigslist.

At Open Arms MCC we are committed to Building Bridges and Changing Lives. You are welcome, regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or your religious beliefs. We are located at 707 East Main St., across from the Delta Sonic Car Wash. There is plenty of free parking in front and to the side of our building. For updated information on coming events and to view our facilities, check our website: openarmsmcc.org.

Our provisional pastoral leader, Brae Adams, has office hours on Thursdays, from 10 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 p.m. to 4 p.m. Our phone number is (585) 2718478.

ROCHESTER WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CHORUS RWCC is excited for our new season to begin. We are looking for singers and non-singing volunteers for our winter concert. All women age 18 and older are welcome and encouraged to sing with us regardless of any prior musical training or experience. We also have numerous opportunities for people of all genders to join us with non-singing tasks such as concert production, publicity, etc.

Our first rehearsal is Tuesday, Sept.

6. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday night from 6:30-8:45 p.m. with a short break for socializing and announcements. New singers are encouraged to arrive at their first rehearsal between 6-6:15 for voice placement with the music director. Current members are also encouraged to arrive early for registration and music distribution. Please do come early, grab your music and visit with your friends before rehearsal starts.

New singers are accepted through the third week of rehearsals. Dues range from $50-$90 per semester. However we do not turn singers away due to financial considerations – we can work something out.

The chorus rehearses at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N.

Fitzhugh St., Rochester, NY 14614. We will be performing a diverse program of holiday music at our winter concert on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

For more chorus information, visit our web site at www.therwcc.org Our email is RWCCSings@gmail.com or call us and leave a message 585-234-4441. We can also be found on Facebook.

ROMANS ROMANS (Rochester Male Naturists) is a social club for gay and gayfriendly male naturists over 21.

In August, some of our members visited Jones Pond Campground in Angelica to network with the nude members of Buffalo’s In-the-Buff. Some went to join over 500 naked men from around the world at a camp resort in the Pocono mountains for a week of sun and fun. The Gathering was organized by the Gay Naturists International.

In September we will return to our regular monthly meeting and in October we look forward to joining Rochester Naturist once again at their indoor nude swims.

To promote nudism among the younger generations as a healthy lifestyle, ROMANS is offering special discounted membership rate for students with proper ID. Currently our regular membership dues are only $12 per year.

Please check out our website at www. wnyromans.com for more information about the club and our activities. If you are interested in becoming a member, contact us via email at wnyromans@ yahoo.com, or by regular mail at PO Box 92293, Rochester, NY 14692 or call us at our message line 585-281-4964.

TRANSPARENT TransParent will meet the third Tuesday of each month at the LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., from 6:30-8 p.m.

TransParent is a grassroots 501c3 notfor-profit that provides connection and support to parents raising a gender independent or transgender child of any age.

“We envision a world that honors this natural human experience and our aim is to empower children to live authentically through the love and support of their family.

“We are growing through national chapter start-ups! Visit our website transparentusa.org to learn more about the gender independent experience.”

Email: Rochesterny@transparent.org

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

InQueery is back this fall with a whole host of new classes!

Inquiring minds want to know...

Join us at the Gay Alliance’s LGBTQ Resource Center this fall for fun new learning opportunities through InQueery.

There’s something for everyone at InQueery and we invite participants experienced and new to come and enjoy these classes and community workshops.

Check out our exciting fall line-up below!

SEPTEMBER brings a three-part multimedia workshop Pachamama Symposium. The Awakening the Dreamer Symposium is a dynamic multimedia workshop that uses video, personal reflection, and group activities to engage attendees as co-creators of an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling world.

This transformative learning experience features insights from inspiring philosophers, scientists, community leaders, and more. By interweaving indigenous wisdom with modern knowledge, the Symposium takes participants through four key questions to reveal how our modern worldview, economic, and political systems are preventing us from creating the world in which we want to live.

(Thursdays 9/15, 9/22, 9/29 from 6:30-9pm) Safer Email with David Frier Also in September is another opportunity to learn more about safe-guarding your internet experience.

Join David Frier as he takes you through the steps of Safer Email and avoiding a variety of scams and spams! (Tuesday 9/20 from 6:30-8pm) OCTOBER sees InQueery bringing in a great

selection of classes and meetings!

Fistful of Stories with Miss Rickey Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from October onwards will see the triumphant re-imagining of Pride’s beloved transgender series Fistful of Stories.

Hosted by Miss Rickey, this program will offer an open mic session to the community for sharing coming out stories or stories relevant to our LGBTQ community.

We will discuss issues that are relevant under our LGBTQ Spectrum. The 4th Sunday of the month will also include a potluck dinner! (Tuesday 10/4, 10/18 and so forth from 6:30-8pm) Other October offerings include: Homosexuality and the Bible with Dr. Lon Berry LGBTQ people face discrimination because of societal attitudes. Unfortunately, these attitudes are often taught by churches and, sadly, the Bible is frequently used as a weapon to “bash” LGBTQ people.

It is important to remember that such hurtful things are not a reflection of Christ, or the way God wants the church to be, or even what the Bible really says.

Dr. Lon Berry will be discussing the topics of homosexuality in Hebrew Scripture as well as in the New Testament. He will also introduce to suspected LGBTQ person in the bible and how they were celebrated.

Geocaching Geocaching could easily be called a worldwide treasure hunt. With a handheld gps or an app on your smart phone and an observant inquisitive mind, you can easily be on your way to finding treasure.

Everywhere you go becomes new adventure in exploration. Part sleuthing and part technology, this hobby captivates more than 10 million people worldwide. This class will enable you to: Understand the basic concepts, lingo, and etiquette of geocaching. Access and navigate a geocaching website and app. Find and log a geocache.

Flat Tire and Beginner Bike Clinic with The Bike Zone Learning to fix a flat tire is quick and easy. The Bike Zone will teach you the skills you need, the tools to take on your ride, and make sure you leave the class feeling confident about riding. You’ll learn all the tips and tricks that make flat tire repair simple and easy!

NOVEMBER allows us to delve deeper into

our understanding of ourselves and others with two dynamic workshops on sexuality and communication that you won’t want to miss!

Human Sexuality with Damiene Denner Damiene offers an interdisciplinary social-scientific approach to analyzing past and current research and historical and cultural perspectives on contemporary American sexuality. This workshop will examine the broad range of attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, practices, and myths pertaining to sexuality.

Interpersonal Communication with Shira May, MCC Professor Some of the many topics Shira can cover include assertiveness, listening skills, responding to criticism, and conflict resolution. If you’ve ever wondered if your communication style or skills were holding you back, could use a brush-up, or are simply curious about building better communication – this class is for you!

Keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, and The Empty Closet for details on each class as the fall progresses. Sign-ups for each class will be available on our website (www.gayalliance.org). Any questions or concerns please send to: jeffm@gayalliance.org or call 585-244-8640.

Come one, come all to InQueery – learn and grow together in community!

Rochester LGBTQ Resource Center

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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Arts & Entertainment

Pandora Boxx. Photo: WD Photo Inc.

Pandora Boxx returns to Rochester for Fringe Festival; over 500 events scheduled (next to 1 East Avenue). Instead of performing only at Friday on the Fringe, STREB will present four performances of bodies careening through, around and above invented hardware, during two nights at this year’s Friday & Saturday on the Fringe (Friday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, Sept. 17 at 5, 7:30 & 10 p.m.), all backed by a live DJ and tunes from some of today’s best beat producers.

Turning Saturday’s festivities into one giant dance party will be the debut of Fringe Street Beat, an all-style breakdancing and hip hop dance battle showcasing some of the region’s best dance crews. Alternating with STREB performances, they’ll compete onstage for bragging rights and a $1,500 prize. (Enter at rochesterfringe.com.) Both days will offer additional free entertainment including live music by KOPPS, The Buddhahood, The Demos, the UR YellowJackets and more, from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, and from 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Comedian, actor and bestselling author Patton Oswalt, who played the very first Fringe, returns for a rare 2016 performance in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $35-$80.

Remote Rochester, the sellout, smash hit from last year’s Fringe, is also back – by true popular demand. This site-specific, immersive theatre piece by Berlin’s ground-breaking Rimini Protokoll will once again guide audiences on a tour of Rochester like no other. Tickets are $33.

The Spiegeltent will also reappear at One Fringe Place (corner of Gibbs and Main streets). Last year’s Cabinet of Wonders show was such a success that Fringe is bringing back its creator – renowned comedian, actor and circus artist Matthew Morgan – with another world-premiere show called Cirque du Fringe: MIRACLE CURE. The intimate, theatre-in-the-round vari-

ety show will be co-hosted by Morgan and fellow comedian Mark Gindick in the style of an old-time Wild West traveling medicine show. All-new featured acts include highwire artist Ariele Ebacher and juggler/rolo bolo artist Jan Damm, among others.

Tickets are $24-$36, see website

while audience members walk among them. This year’s show, “Grimms’ Mad Tales”, is based on Grimms’ Fairy Tales, and interested parties can find out more – and cast themselves – at grimmsmadtales.com.

“The City of Rochester has been a proud supporter of this festival since its debut,” said Mayor Warren, who also performed in Spoon River Rochester. “Events like this improve the quality of life here, which in turn helps us to create more jobs, safer and more vibrant streets, and better educational opportunities for our citizens.”

Following the Edinburgh Fringe model, the Fringe curates its headliners and all free outdoor entertainment, but the vast majority of the 2016 shows were submitted by artists to Fringe venues in the spring, then programmed by those venues. This allows for the artistic freedom integral to a fringe festival. The multi-genre arts festival includes Children’s, Comedy, Dance, Multidisciplinary, Music, Spoken Word, Theatre, and Visual Arts & Film, and takes place in Rochester’s East End as well as the Fringe’s “satellite” location, Neighborhood of the Arts.

This year’s venues are: Bernunzio Uptown Music, Blackfriars Theatre, the Central Library, Eastman School of Music’s Kilbourn Hall and Sproull Atrium, Gallery r, Garth Fagan (Fringe continues page 28)

PHOTO: JOAN MARCUS, 2014

It’s time to get on the Fringe again. For 10 days from Thursday, Sept. 15 through Saturday, Sept. 24, the 2016 First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival will draw thousands of visitors to downtown Rochester to celebrate artistic expression in all of its forms.

There will be more than 500 performances and events – over 100 of which are free – at over 20 venues. The full schedule is available and all tickets are on sale at rochesterfringe.com.

World-famous drag queen (100K Twitter followers can’t be wrong!), RuPaul’s Drag Race favorite and Rochester native Pandora Boxx will bring her bawdy, one-“woman” cabaret show, “The Worst Show Ever”, to the Spiegeltent for two performances: Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24 at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $25, see website for VIP Booth pricing). See page 10 for more Pandora.

Dance performances will include James Hansen and Heather Roffe in Merged IV and PUSH Physical Theatre (see articles this section). Mrs. Kasha Davis and Aggy Dune present “Big Wigs” on Sept. 14, 15, 18, 22, 23 and 24 at Theater Roc's stage.

Fringe’s 2016 free outdoor spectacle will be worldrenowned STREB EXTREME ACTION COMPANY, founded by Rochester native Elizabeth Streb, who celebrates the company’s 30th anniversary with this special homecoming.

With performance credits that include the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, STREB has been widely documented in films, books and by international news media. Rochester audiences will be blown away by its latest breathtaking show, SEA (Singular Extreme Actions), a fusion of slam dancing, wild action sport, and falling from height on three stages at this year’s new location: Parcel 5

for VIP Booth pricing).

A total sell-out since it debuted at Fringe 2013, Silent Disco – the quietest, coolest dance club in town – returns to the Spiegeltent all four weekend nights from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Tickets are $9 (increasing to $11 on 9/1). New this year: Disco Kids on Saturday, Sept. 24 at noon.

That urban oasis adjacent to the Spiegeltent, the Spiegelgarden, will again host free activities such as Pedestrian Drive-In as well as the new Green Room, a lounge created by Rochester Mini Maker Faire from recycled materials including more than 4,000 milk and water jugs.

Gibbs Street will close to vehicle traffic for free entertainment – including bands (Campbell Brothers, The Demos, Castle Creek, Gigantosaurus Rex, and many others), chalk art, street entertainers, food trucks and more – during the Fringe’s final weekend: Friday, Sept. 23 from 5-11 p.m.; and Saturday the 24th from noon to 11 p.m.

Closing weekend will also feature a giant, free, community theatre piece by Method Machine and Artistic Director David Henderson (à la 2014 Fringe’s Spoon River Rochester) from 6 to 6:40 p.m. on Sept.

23 and 24. It will involve 200 area participants – including Mayor Lovely A. Warren – performing all along Gibbs Street,

The National Theatre production of “The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time.” .

RBTL’s Albert Nocciolino talks about the upcoming season, beginning Sept. 27

By Susan Jordan Albert Nocciolino of the Rochester Broadway Theatre League talked to The Empty Closet about the 2016-2017 RBTL season at the Auditorium Theatre -- first up is the British and Broadway hit, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, here Sept. 27-Oct. 2.

The National Theatre production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time is the Tony Award-winning new play by Simon Stephens,

adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel. Directed by Tony winner Marianne Elliott (Tony winner for War Horse and Curious Incident), the critically acclaimed production will come to Rochester, direct from Broadway, to launch the North American tour.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time comes to RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre as part of the 20162017 M&T Bank Broadway Season presented by RBTL and Albert Nocciolino. Tickets

are available via ticketmaster. com, 800.745.3000 and the Box Office. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 585-277-3325.

“My co-producer Tim Levy and I are thrilled to be taking the show on tour and opening it in Rochester with our good friend Albert Nocciolino,” says producer Stuart Thompson. He adds, “Rochester is a great stop on any tour and now the New York State Theatre Tax incentive has made it too compelling to (RBTL continues page 28)

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

ImageOut Festival Fair is Sept. 7 ImageOut Festival Fair 2016 will take place at the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m. on Weds., Sept. 7. This will be the first opportunity to purchase Festival tickets. The Fair will include Programmer’s Preview of the Festival’s “don’t miss” films; Preview Festival films in the “Trailer Park”; complimentary snacks and a cash bar and a free feature film screening, 8:30 p.m.

(Fringe from page 27)

Dance Studio, George Eastman Museum’s Dryden Theatre, Java’s Café, The Little, Lyric Theatre, MuCCC, RAPA @ SOTA, Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo), RMSC’s Strasenburgh Planetarium, The Strong, TheatreROCS Stage, and Writers & Books. Additional Fringe-curated venues include Parcel 5, Gibbs Street, the Spiegeltent, the Spiegelgarden, Kodak Hall, and the City of Rochester itself (Remote Rochester).

Tickets are available at rochesterfringe. com, (585) 957-9837 (phone fees apply), and at the Spiegeltent Box Office (One Fringe Place, corner of Gibbs & Main) starting Sunday, Sept. 1. Remaining tickets will also be available at venues starting one hour prior to performance.

(RBTL from page 27)

resist the opportunity to launch our tour at RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre.”

The play transfered to London’s West End, following a sold-out run at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre in 2012.

The production received seven 2013 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play and continues to play to sold-out houses at the Gielgud Theatre in London.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time on Broadway was the recipient of five Tony Awards including Best Play, six Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Play, five Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Broadway Play, and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play.

Fifteen-year old Christopher has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever.

Mr. Nocciolino said, “The 2016-2017 M&T Bank Broadway Season is full of exciting new Broadway shows and some of the classics. We feel as though it is important to find that balance in order to be accommodating to our wide range of audiences. We’re bringing them the best of Broadway. We’re so excited about launching the National Tour of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This is an opportunity that Rochester hasn’t had before.

“Season Specials include Tony awardwinning Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and the 20th anniversary tour of Riverdance, the international Irish dance phenomenon.”

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is opening its national tour here. What does it mean to open a national tour? How did Rochester get selected for this opportunity? What will the cast and crew be doing in the weeks prior to their performances here at the Auditorium?

“It means a great deal to open a national tour, and Rochester is excited to get its first opportunity to do so thanks to the New York Tax Incentive program, which offers a 25 percent tax credit to producers who tech their show in the state.

The creative staff, cast and crew for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime will be in Rochester for a few weeks prior to their performance dates (September 27- October 2.)

“Opening a national tour and having that many people here for an extended period of time brings income for the theatre and jobs in the community such as labor, stage hands and wardrobe. Hotels and restaurants are also going to benefit

from the economic impact that will be huge, for sure.”

Season tickets can be purchased at the box office. Mr. Nocciolino said, “Some benefits of being a subscriber: You can reserve the best seat(s) in the house when purchasing the six-show Season Ticket Package and never hear the words ‘sold out’. Subscribers have the option to purchase additional tickets to Season Shows and Specials in advance of the general public for themselves or friends and family. Also, as a Season Ticket holder, you are getting the lowest price possible.

“We are excited to kick off the Season. Once again, we do our very best and truly believe that it is crucial to listen our subscribers and accommodate subscribers both seasoned and new. Launching the national tour of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time allows our patrons to see this show direct from Broadway. From the new shows like Finding Neverland, Curious, and Cirque, to the classics like The Sound of Music, Cabaret and Wicked, there is something for everyone in the 2016-2017 M&T Bank Broadway Season.”

James Hansen, Heather Roffe to perform Merged IV at Fringe Festival

Lady Gaga takes the lead in next year’s remake of “A Star Is Born” Sean Mandell posts on Towleroad. com: Lady Gaga is to take on the iconic starring role once played by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland in what will be the fourth remake of A Star Is Born.

Actor Bradley Cooper will direct the feature in his directorial debut. Cooper will also star alongside Gaga as the washed-up star who discovers and falls in love with Gaga’s character.

Though often thought of as the original, Judy Garland’s Oscar-nominated 1954 iteration of A Star is Born was in fact a remake of a non-musical 1937 film of the same name produced by David O. Selznick. This original film is often forgotten, as it didn’t include a musical powerhouse in the title role.

Deadline reports: Production begins early next year in California, marking the directorial debut of Bradley Cooper, who’ll also star alongside Lady Gaga. Latter gets her first studio starring role, as the ingenue singer whose star rises as quickly as her troubled lover/ mentor’s star is falling. Deals have been closed by Warner Bros president of Creative Development and WW Production Greg Silverman, and Gaga will compose and perform new music for the film. This picture has been a long time coming for Cooper, who is teaming on the script with Will Fetters.

-Read the full story on towleroad.com

After three years of critically acclaimed “Critic’s Picks” performances in the Rochester Fringe Festival, international choreographers Heather Roffe and James Hansen will present MERGED IV at Eastman’s Kilbourn Hall.

City Newspaper wrote of MERGED: It “seemed new and fresh, yet it was still accessible and, at times, even poignant”; “I was flat out amazed”; “I was captivated by...some very exciting dancing”; “I was moved nearly to tears” and “It was a work of art in motion.”

Merged IV blends physically exciting dance and theatricality to produce a concert that is simultaneously thought provoking to seasoned dance viewers and accessible to first time audience members.

This year’s concert will premiere cutting edge choreography performed by Rochester’s most celebrated dancers and national guest artists. Highlights will include live music and video projection.

Heather Roffe has had her work performed nationally and internationally in the Caribbean, UK, and NYC, and has danced with Garth Fagan Dance Company, FuturPointe Dance and Bill Evans Dance. Roffe has been described as “One of the most dramatic and exciting dancers in our region.” (Democrat and Chronicle), “Cutting Edge” (City Newspaper) and “Striking” (npr.org). Roffe’s Continuum of Solace, which recently premiered in NYC, will be on the program, featuring an original score played live.

James Hansen had a 15-year career in NYC dancing with the Eglevsky Ballet and Sean Curran Dance Company. His choreography has received rave reviews including, “A wonderful example of how much the human body can communi-

cate.” (Backstage NY), “A thoughtful meditation on group dynamics.” (NY Times) “Breathtaking” (Richmond Times Dispatch) and “mesmerizing” (Norfolk’s Portfolio Weekly). He has been produced by some of the most prestigious dance festivals including two years at Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival. Hansen will premiere a new dance quartet to Phillip Glass’ Metamorphosis, which connects the core elements of personal, cultural, and geopolitical conflict. Movement themes were partially inspired by photographs of police and protester confrontations from recent global events.

Performances are Sept. 16, 19, and 20 at 7 p.m. at Kilbourn Hall on Gibbs Street and are appropriate for all ages.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at http://www.rochesterfringe.com/ticketsand-shows/merged-iv or at the door.

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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Ellen Page, Kate Mara to star in lesbian drama Joe Morgan posts on gaystarnews. com: Ellen Page and Kate Mara are to star in lesbian romantic drama “Mercy”.

Directed by Israeli filmmaker Tali Shalom Ezer, the script is by Joe Barton – a British writer best known for hit series Humans.

Page is Lucy, the daughter of a man on death row, falling in love with Mara’s Mercy, a woman on the opposing side of her family’s political cause. And as a result of their growing love, Lucy’s world unravels.

Both stars will co-produce the film, along with Killer Films which helped to make the critical hit “Carol”.

Page first revealed “Mercy” last year during a news conference at the Zurich

Film Festival when asked about future projects.

“I’m focusing mostly on stories that are meaningful to me and stories for women and supporting more gay characters,” she said, according to Variety.

Shooting is set to begin in Cincinnati this September.

- Read more at: http://scl.io/ nz897xmC#gs.MhKJS8U

Travel PUSH Physical Theatre presents three all-ages performances at Fringe Festival Award-winning PUSH Physical Theatre returns to the First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival (Thursday, Sept. 15 – Saturday, Sept. 24) for its fifth time in five years.

PUSH will present three, all-ages performances at RAPA @ SOTA’s Allen Main Stage Theatre (45 Prince St.): Saturday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m.; Friday, Sept.

23 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18 and available now at rochesterfringe.com or 585-957-9837 (phone fees apply), or starting Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Fringe Box Office (corner of Main & Gibbs Sts.), or at the venue door one hour before show time. (PUSH shows tend to sell out, so advance sale is suggested).

All three performances will feature works culled from PUSH’s 16 years of intense athleticism, gravity-defying acrobatics, and soulful artistry. In addition, Fringe audiences will see the world premiere of “0’s and 1’s,” an exploration of “us versus them” that is one of PUSH’s more ambitious projects to date – both artistically and physically.

“Dealing with carrying and operating portable video projectors and flashlights while being trapped inside bags

has forced us to create new methods of communicating with each other just to get through rehearsals,” explains PUSH Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director Darren Stevenson. “It’s comforting to know that we’ll be sharing this piece with our hometown audience first.”

PUSH has had a very busy summer of teaching – between its PUSH Pins Camp for kids, its PUSH Teen Training, and its Summer Intensive for adults from all over the world – and the company will continue in that mode with its first Fringe PUSH Workshop, on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. As part of RAPA @ SOTA’s Day of Dance, the company’s introductory, fun workshop will allow participants to challenge themselves at their own pace.

Whether an actor, dancer, athlete or artist, a complete beginner or a professional, PUSH’s system of training will help participants control their bodies, first through posture, breath, etc. Then, students will try lifting, climbing, throwing and experimenting together safely using basic PUSH techniques that include “listening” with your body. Tickets are $8 (same availability as above).

More information about PUSH is available at www.pushtheatre.org.

Caitlyn Jenner’s show is canceled after two years US Weekly reports: It’s time for a new chapter. Caitlyn Jenner’s unscripted E! series I Am Cait has been canceled after two seasons, with the show’s star announcing the news on Twitter on Aug. 16.

An E! spokesperson confirmed the news to Us Weekly, and also praised the show for shedding light on the trans experience. “We are incredibly proud of the two seasons of I Am Cait, a groundbreaking docuseries that sparked an important and unprecedented global conversation about transgender people, their struggles and triumphs,” the rep said.

An Annual Event: Mushrooms in Kennett Square, Pa.

By Merle Exit Walk along State Street in Kennett Square, Pa. and you may find owner Kathi Lafferty busily working at The Mushroom Cap. A little bit of history and a whole lot of mushroom goodies await you. Perhaps that is why she is in charge of the annual Mushroom Festival as it goes into its 31st year, held the weekend after Labor Day. “Many of the same events are returning but there’s a few new twists,” said Lafferty. “The Amateur Mushroom Cooking is now a PreQualifying event of the World Food Championship. The winner of our contest will then compete in the World Food Championships in November. Our National Fried Mushroom Eating Championship has a new promoter and emcee, Moe Train. It should be a really fun event and have more of a focus on local amateur eaters as they try to break the 11.5 pound in eight minutes world record. Our car show will feature a huge gathering of electric cars, as the Saturday of our Festival is the start of Drive Electric Week.”

How far do people come for this event?

“A majority of our guests come from the quad-state area of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey,” Lafferty continued. “We find many that travel from the Virginia and Washington DC area as well as New York. However we do have people who come from all across the country because they’ve heard of the Festival. International guests, touring the

area, are known to spend time here too.”

Although many of Kennett Square’s merchants will have a booth along the Street Festival, all the restaurants will be at the Street Festival with some creative mushroom dishes. Expect about 250 vendors coming from around the country selling their unique creations.

One of the major mushroom farms, Phillips, is in the area and perhaps you may be able to take a tour to see how mushrooms are grown. “One of the best parts of coming to the Mushroom Festival is you can take home mushrooms basically straight from the farm. Our Mushroom Sales Booths are staffed by local mushroom growers and they can tell you about all the varieties of mushrooms. People can bring home white button, crimini, portabella, shiitake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms. You purchase the mushrooms at the Sales Booths any time during the day. They will be kept fresh in refrigerated mushroom trucks until you are ready to pick them up on your way home. The local farmers donate the mushrooms to the Festival for sale. The proceeds benefit local nonprofits through our grant program.”

The dates are Sept. 10 and 11. Take part in the Mushroom Stroll down Mushroom Boulevard. Add in the parade, dining and dancing in the streets. Attend the Classic Car Show on the 10th along Broad Street. Start Sunday morning at the Mushroom Run and Fun Gus Walk along the Red Clay Creek. Vote for the best mushroom soup and sample the local wines at the Special Events Tent. All of the information can be gotten by going to www.mushroomfestival.org

GAY ALLIANCE NEWS – SEPTEMBER 2016

THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

PHOTO: BOB PEASE

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Gerry Szymanski, lead librarian, with David Kramer and his father Carol Kramer and Gay Alliance Board member Colleen Raimond.

Gay Alliance Library receives historic donation The Gay Alliance Library recently received a very special donation to its collection from Mr. Carol Kramer. The donation was a first edition of Volumes 1 and 2 of Magnus Hirschfeld’s 1930 landmark publication, Sittengeschichte Des Weltkrieges.

Hirschfeld’s Institute of Sexuality Research opened in Berlin,

Volunteer of the Month: Liz Doyle We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers at the Gay Alliance who step up to the plate and take on any tasks no matter how large or small.

Our September Volunteer of the month Liz Doyle is such a volunteer.

Liz is always ready to help out wherever there is a need.

Liz works tirelessly throughout Pride week, organizing the

events leading up to the Parade and Pride Festival. Liz is the first to show up to work at the Pride Festival and the last person to leave. Liz makes herself available by showing up and helping with events throughout the year. Thank you, Liz, for all that you do for all of us at the Gay Alliance, you deserve this recognition as our September Volunteer of the Month.

Liz said: Except for a few years in North Carolina, I’ve lived in the Rochester area most of my life. I have an identical twin sister people sometimes mistake for me if they don’t know us well. I grew up in Gates and got my bachelor’s degree in sociology from SUNY Brockport, which was the perfect major for me because I’m a people person. I’ve worked in human services most of my life, with infants and toddlers, students and adults with special needs, and senior citizens.

When I moved back from North Carolina, I sought out the reconnecting with the LGBT community here.

I found friends and family through Upstate LesConnect, Equal Grounds, LORA, Dignity Integrity and the Gay Alliance. I volunteered to help with any event I could in whatever

Germany in 1919 and strongly advocated for the rights of women, “homosexuals” and gender variant people. His extensive library and archive of sexuality related items were burned and destroyed by the Nazi party in 1933.

way was needed. For many years I’ve helped build floats and marched in the Pride Parade; coordinated volunteers for the gate and helped with setup and teardown at the Pride Picnic; sold tickets and helped with setup, food, and cleanup for the Red Ball and Big Gay Proms; and helped with other Pride Week and Sage events. One of the highlights was coordinating volunteers dressed as Wizard of Oz characters to greet people at the Pride Picnic.

I just like to volunteer and do things for the community.

I would not be the person I am without the people I have met in all the places I reached out to. My community is everything to me, so I do all I can to be a part of it. Will you become a part of it too?

one at InQueery and we invite participants experienced and new to come and enjoy these classes and community workshops. Check out our exciting fall line-up below!

SEPTEMBER brings a three-part multimedia workshop – Pachamama Symposium.

The Awakening the Dreamer Symposium is a dynamic multimedia workshop that uses video, personal reflection, and group activities to engage attendees as co-creators of an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling world.

This transformative learning experience features insights from inspiring philosophers, scientists, community leaders, and more. By interweaving indigenous wisdom with modern knowledge, the Symposium takes participants through four key questions to reveal how our modern worldview, economic, and political systems are preventing us from creating the world in which we want to live.

(Thursdays 9/15, 9/22, 9/29 from 6:30-9pm) Also coming in September is another opportunity to learn more about safe-guarding your internet experience. Join David Frier as he takes you through the steps of Safer Email and avoiding a variety of scams and spams! (Tuesday 9/20 from 6:30-8pm) OCTOBER: October sees InQueery bringing in a great selection of classes and meetings! Every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from October onwards will see the triumphant re-imagining of Pride’s beloved Fistful of Stories. Hosted by Miss Rickey, this program will offer an open

InQueery is back this fall with a whole host of new classes

By Rowan Collins Join us at the Gay Alliance’s LGBTQ Resource Center this fall for fun new learning opportunities through InQueery.

There’s something for every-

RAFFLE WINNER: Neil Gray won the raffle for the electric bike.

The drawing took place during Pride Week. Photo: Susan Jordan

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

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

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

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

GAY ALLIANCE NEWS – SEPTEMBER 2016

mic session to the community for sharing coming out stories or stories relevant to our LGBTQ community. We will discuss issues that are relevant under our LGBTQ Spectrum.

The 4th Sunday of the month will also include a potluck dinner! (Tuesday 10/4, 10/18 and so forth from 6:30-8pm) Other October offerings include: Homosexuality and the Bible with Dr. Lon Berry LGBTQ people face discrimination because of societal attitudes. Unfortunately, these attitudes are often taught by churches and, sadly, the Bible is frequently used as a weapon to “bash” LGBTQ people. It is important to remember that such hurtful things are not a reflection of Christ, or the way God wants the church to be, or even what the Bible really says.

Dr. Lon Berry will be discussing the topics of homosexuality in Hebrew Scripture as well as in the New Testament.

He will also introduce LGBTQ persons in the Bible and how they were celebrated.

Geocaching - Geocaching could easily be called a worldwide treasure hunt. With a handheld gps or an app on your smart phone and an observant inquisitive mind, you can easily be on your way to finding treasure. Everywhere you go becomes a new adventure in exploration. Part sleuthing and part technology, this hobby captivates more than 10 million people worldwide.

This class will enable you to: Understand the basic concepts, lingo, and etiquette of geocaching; Access and navigate a geocaching website and app; Find and log a geocache.

Flat Tire and Beginner Bike Clinic with The Bike ZoneLearning to fix a flat tire is quick and easy. The Bike Zone will teach you the skills you need, the tools to take on your ride, and make sure you leave the class feeling confident about riding. You’ll learn all the tips and tricks that make flat tire repair simple and easy!

November allows us to delve deeper into our understanding of ourselves and others with two dynamic workshops on sexuality and communication that you won’t want to miss Human Sexuality with Damiene Denner – Damiene offers an interdisciplinary socialscientific approach to analyzing past and current research and historical and cultural perspectives on contemporary American sexuality. This workshop will examine the broad range of attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, practices, and myths pertaining to sexuality.

Interpersonal Communication with Shira May, MCC Professor – Some of the many topics Shira can cover include assertiveness, listening skills, responding to criticism, and conflict resolution. If you’ve ever wondered if your communication style or skills were holding you back, could use a brush-up, or are simply curious about building better communication – this class is for you!

Keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, and The Empty Closet for details on each class as the fall progresses.

Sign-ups for each class will be available on our website (www. gayalliance.org). Any questions or concerns please send to: jeffm@gayalliance.org or call 585-244-8640. ■

July Speaking Engagements and Events • SafeZone Train-The-Trainer Certification Program at Indiana State University • Meeting the Mental Health Needs of the LGBTQ Client at East House • Creating LGBTQ Inclusive Schools at Pittsford Central School District • Shoulders To Stand On Film and Discussion at Roc Pride • Creating Transgender Inclusive Workplaces at the Genesee Center for the Arts and Education • Communicating Respectfully with LGBTQ Individuals for the Roc Pride Security Team • Shoulders To Stand On Film and Discussion at the University of Rochester Campus Libraries • Barney Frank Film and Discussion at the Dryden Theater • LGBTQ 101 at the Greater Rochester Collaborative MSW Program • LGBTQ Identities and Respectful Communication at the NYS Work-Life Services • Employee Assistance Program • Safe Summer Event at Ibero-American Action League • Creating Inclusive Faith Communities at West Bloomfield Congregational United Church of Christ

Feedback from our July Trainings: • “Presenters were fantastic. From knowledge and ability to articulate. Time flew by.”

• “A+, perfect 10. Bravo. Moving and informative.

Mission accomplished. I would absolutely recommend this to friends and co-workers.”

• “Best presentation I’ve ever been to at our school!!

Please make this mandatory for all teachers in our district!”

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SAGE SEPTEMBER

At SAGE’s catered lunch on Aug. 2. Photo: Anne Tischer

Thursday September 1: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom in LGBTQ Resource Center. 6pm free showing of the award-winning film PRIDE hosted by Pride at Work AFL-CIO. Closed captioned and snacks. All are welcome, LGBTQ Resource Center.

Tuesday September 6: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom; 11:30am-2pm, “Cake Day” celebration of September birthdays, catered lunch, “Tell your story” discussion. $3.00 donation. Hosted by Jessie & Anne.

Wednesday September 7: 5:30-7pm SAGE Leadership Council, LGBTQ Resource Center Thursday September 8: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom in LGBTQ Resource Center; 10am-noon. Breakfast Club at Denny’s (911 Jefferson Rd, Henrietta). RSVP to Gerry at (585) 730-8772 gkraus@rochester.rr.com no later than September 5.

Sunday September 11: 2–5pm Euchre Social at the LGBTQ Resource Center. All players welcome. We’ll teach you to play! $3. donation.

Monday September 12: 1:30pm – Monday Movie Meet Up at the Dryden. “Baby Doll”. Free to seniors. Contact Roger & Dave by email: rcfdjm@gmail.com Schedule: https://eastman.org/film-series/senior-matinees Tuesday September 13: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom; Catered lunch $3.00 donation, 12:30pm speaker: Barb Montagne presents “Multiple Approaches to Addiction Recovery”.

Thursday September 15: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom; 11:30am-2pm, Brown bag lunch & a movie – viewers choice! LGBTQ Resource Center, hosted by Gerry.

Saturday September 17: 5-8pm Pot Luck & Bingo Bash. All are welcome, LGBTQ Resource Center, $3.00 donation toward token prizes.

Monday September 19: 1:30pm – Monday Movie Meet Up at the Dryden. “Night of the Iguana”. Free to seniors. Contact Roger & Dave by email: rcfdjm@gmail.com Schedule: https://eastman.org/film-series/senior-matinees Tuesday September 20: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom; 11:30am – 2:pm: Catered lunch, Games & hand crafts $3.00 donation. LGBTQ Resource Center Thursday September 22: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom, LGBTQ Resource Center Monday September 26: 1:30pm – Monday Movie Meet Up at the Dryden. “Sweet Bird of Youth”. Free to seniors. Contact Roger & Dave by email: rcfdjm@gmail.com Schedule: https://eastman.org/film-series/senior-matinees Tuesday September 27: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom; 11:30am-2pm: Catered lunch, Games & hand crafts $3. donation.

Wednesday September 28: 5-7pm SAGE Happy Hour at 140 Alex, 140 Alexander St. Food & drink specials.

Thursday September 29: 10:30-11:30am Yoga with Tom, LGBTQ Resource Center Friday September 30: 5–7pm - Back by popular demand! “Backyard Fish Fry”.

Contact Audet at (585) 287-2958. Email aprice002@aol.com for further information and location.

SAGE Rochester is a program of the Gay Alliance designed for LGBTQI people over 50. SAGE operates out of the Gay Alliance LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Avenue 14607. All programs are open to the public and all are welcome. Yoga is $5. per person and is offered every Tuesday and Thursday unless specified in calendar.

All programs are subject to change and all members are responsible for their own transportation and meals. Become a SAGE member or get information at sage@ gayalliance.org or 585-244-8640 x23. We are also on Facebook as “SAGE Rochester a program of the Gay Alliance”.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

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

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

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

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

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

271-8478.

DEAF SERVICES Deaf Rainbow Network of Rochester See Facebook.

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

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

FAMILY Adoption Place at JFS Jewish Family Service of Rochester 441 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607. You can adopt! Adoption Place at Jewish Family Service of Rochester provides adoption consultation, home studies and post-placement supervision to the entire community regardless of race, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity. Laura Glasner, LCSW-R, Adoption Director, 585-461-0110; lglasner@jfsrochester. org; www.jfsrochester.org Open Arms Community Center Open Arms Community Center available for parties, events and meetings; 707 East Main St. Plenty of parking. We are inclusive, actively accepting, welcoming of all people. 271-8478 openarmsmcc.org CNY Fertility Center Integrative Fertility Care. Support meetings, webinars, workshops. Information: cbriel@cnyfertility. com; www.cnyhealingarts.com Rochester Gay Moms’ Group Support group for lesbian mommies and wannabe mommies in Rochester and surrounding areas.

Subscribe: RochesterGayMoms-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Action Front Center (Action for a Better Community.) Provides HIV, STD, viral hepatitis prevention counseling, risk reduction counseling. Tailored programs available to incarcerated, ex-offender individuals.

Services for people living with HIV; case management, peer support groups, United Colors support group for MSM of color, educational groups, peer educator training and leadership development, multicultural, bilingual staff. 33 Chestnut St., 2nd floor, Rochester 14604. Office hours M-F 8:30 am-5 pm. 585-262-4330.

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

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

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

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

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

Westside Health Services Brown Square Health Center, 175 Lyell Ave. (254-6480); Woodward Health Center, 480 Genesee St. (436-3040). HIV/AIDS services, support, more.

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

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

LGBT HEALTH Huther Doyle Healthcare, chemical dependency treatment.

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

Matt Cokely 585-393-7115.

HCR Home Care We provide a full multidisciplinary team consisting of nursing, social work, physical, occupational, and speech therapies as well as home health aides who have completed the eight-hour cultural competency program provided by the Gay Alliance. For more information, contact us at 585-272-1930 or visit us online at HCRhealth. com.

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

CNY Youth Group Bi-Polar Support.

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

TRANSGENDER Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester (TAGR) Support/educational group for gender variant people and allies. Last Saturday, 3-5:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Adult Families of Trans Youth (AFTY) First Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St.

Trans Lifeline Hotline for transgender people experiencing crisis.

Staffed by transgender people for transgender people. (877) 565-8860. Additional info is available at www.translifeline.org.

TransParent Support group for parents of trans children. Third Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Empire Justice Center Milo Primeaux, Esq., Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellow, Empire Justice Center, LGBT Rights Project, Telesca Center for Justice, 1 West Main Street, Suite 200, Rochester, NY 14614. (585) 295-5721 Fax (585) 454-2518, mprimeaux@ empirejustice.org, www.empirejustice.org.

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

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

WOMEN L.O.R.A Late Bloomers Group E-mail info@loragroup.org Website: www.loragroup.org; L.O.R.A (Lesbians of Rochester & Highland Hospital Breast Imaging Center 500 Red Creek Drive, Rochester 14623; 585487-3341. Specializing in breast health, diagnostic breast imaging and treatment and mammography outreach and education.

Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester 1048 University Ave., Rochester NY 14607 585-473-8177; www.bccr.org; info@bccr.org Programs and services for those diagnosed with breast or GYN cancer. Programs include support and networking groups, Healing Arts classes, book club, writing workshop, monthly evening seminars and a group for those living with metastatic breast cancer. Comprehensive lending library. All programs and services FREE. Center for Community Health (585) 224-3050. Comprehensive breast cancer screening services for uninsured and underinsured women.

Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic 170 Sawgrass Drive. 442-8432. Mammograms.

Self Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer (SHARE) Breast: 866-891-2392; Ovarian: 866-537-4273.

Willow Domestic Violence Center 232-7353; TTY 232-1741. Shelter (women only), counseling. Lesbians, gay men welcome.

Victim Resource Center of Wayne County Newark N.Y. Hotline 800-456-1172; office (315)331-1171; fax (315)331-1189.

Mary Magdalene House Women’s outreach center for HIV positive women and women at risk. 291 Lyell Ave. Open Mon-Fri. 6:30-9:30pm.

Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/ Syracuse Region 114 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14605; Toll-free Helpline: 1-866-600-6886. Planned Parenthood has led the way in providing high quality, affordable reproductive health care since 1916. All services are confidential. Accept most insurances; including Medicaid. You may qualify for low- to no-cost family planning services. When you make your appointment, ask about our sliding scale fees. No one turned away for lack of ability to pay.

Women’s Shelter YWCA, 175 N. Clinton Ave. 546-5820.

YOUTH Gay Alliance Youth Group Monthly Special Events 100 College Ave. 2448640; Ages 13-20. www.gayalliance.org. Check Facebook.com/GayAllianceYouth Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Social/Support Group First Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., Ages 13-18. 244-8640 Trevor Project The Trevor Project offers 24/7 Lifeline with trained counselors, 1-866-488-7386; Trevor Chat, instant messaging; TrevorSpace online where youth can talk to each other, and Trevor Text with text trained counselors for support and crisis intervention.

CNY Youth Group Bi-Polar Support.

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

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

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

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

Rochester Historical Bowling Society 7pm. Empire Lanes Born That Way Formerly 3rd Presbyterian LGBT Support Group.

First, 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm, 34 Meigs St. Carol, 482-3832 or Kaara, 654-7516.

Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Mondays, 6pm, George Eastman House parking lot. www.rochesterfrontrunners.org.

Steps Beyond Stems Crack Support Group, Mondays, 7-8pm, 289 Monroe Ave.

TUESDAYS The Social Grind 10am-12noon and again 7:30-9pm at Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. Email: DHutch457@aol. com for information Adult Families of Trans Youth (AFTY) First Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30, Open Arms MCC Community Center, 707 E. Main St. 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, 5-8 pm. 585-545-7200 Women’s Community Chorus Rehearsals each Tuesday, 6:30-9pm, Downtown United Pres. Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street. 2344441, www.therwcc.org Gay Alliance Youth Gender Identity Support Group 5:30-6:30pm, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Ages 13-20. 244-8640.

SAGE Rochester 50+ Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually 10:30am at venues including LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. 244-8640. (See page 31)

WEDNESDAYS Identity Group The Identity Group is for LGBT identified individuals who have a developmental disability diagnosis. The group meets Wednesdays 3-4 pm at ARC Health Services (2060 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Rd. 14623). The goal of the group is to provide a safe space to discuss identity issues, share personal experiences and increase selfesteem. The group is facilitated by Delaina Fico.

LMSW. For more information, please contact Delaina Fico at dfico@arcmonroe.org or 585271-0661 ext. 1552.

LORA Knitting Group 6:00pm, Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. L.O.R.A. Knitting group meets the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month from Equal Grounds Coffee House. Join Us! Bring your supplies and a sense of adventure! For more info visit www.loragroup.org or Contact Kerry Cater: dressyfemme@ aol.com or email us at info@loragroup.org Lifetime Care LGBT Bereavement Support Group For loss associated with any type of relationship.

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

Gay Alliance Board of Directors Meets Third Wednesdays, 6pm, 100 College Ave., 244-8640

New Freedom New Happiness AA Gay meeting, 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd. Men and women. Open.

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

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

Gay Alliance Library & Archives 100 College Ave. 6-8pm.

Empire Bears Every Wednesday. 6pm dinner at various venues. www.empirebears.com

THURSDAYS Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns 6:30pm, first Thursday. Ralph, 271-7649 Pride at Work & AFL CIO First Thursdays, 5:30pm. 1354 Buffalo Road, Rochester 14624, 426-0862.

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. 6:30-9pm, 423-0650 NLIST Transgenger Support Group 5-6:15pm, Trillium Health. Must pre-register.

LORA Late Bloomers Group 4th/Last Thursday of the month. Coming out group for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women of all ages and backgrounds! Last Thursday of each month in a safe private location. For more info visit: www.loragroup.org or contact Jessica Cohen at LGBTHealth@trilliumhealth.org or email us at info@loragroup.org Out & Equal Second Thursdays Social/business networking, 5:30-7:30pm.

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

FRIDAYS Gay Men’s AA meeting Fridays, 7:30-8:30pm, Closed meeting. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Ave.

Gay Alliance Youth Monthly Special Event, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave., 244-8640; Ages 13-20. youth@gayalliance.org. Check Facebook.com/ GayAllianceYouth GLBTQI Motorcycle Group Second Fridays, 5:30pm, Various locations.

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

Boyz Night Out Drag king revue. First Fridays, The Firehouse Saloon, 814 S. Clinton Ave. LORA GaYmes Night Meets 4th Friday of the Month, 7-10pm, Equal Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. Rochester. Contact Person: Christine O’Reilly. Email: irishfemmerochester@yahoo.com. Phone: 585.943.1320. More Info: www.loragroup.org.

Events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ L.O.R.A.14464/ Monthly LBTQ Womyns Bingo Night Third Fridays, 7 pm, at Empire Bingo. Contact: Christine, IrishFemmeRochester@yahoo.com; 585-943-1320 text/talk.

SATURDAYS Rochester Rams Bar Night Third Saturdays, 8pm-2am, Bachelor Forum, 670 University Ave. 271-6930 Sapphic Singles – Professional Women’s Group http://www.meetup.com/Sapphic-Singles-Rochester/. Contact: Patty: Email: pattyrdn11@gmail. com. Phone: 585.223.6743. 3rd Saturday of each month. Monthly Dinner Socials for single professional women at various locations in and around Rochester NY area! Join us!

Trans Alliance of Greater Rochester Support/educational group for gender-variant people, allies. Last Saturdays, 3-5:30pm, Open Arms MCC, 707 E. Main St. Frontrunners/Frontwalkers 9am, George Eastman House parking lot.www. rochesterfrontrunners.org.

Guys Night Out GNO, social group for transmen, now meets on the second Saturday of the month, @ 1pm @ Equal Grounds, 750 South Ave. Saturday Night Special Gay AA 7pm, Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd., S. Men and women. Open meeting.

Sophia’s Supper Club First, third Saturdays, 25 Bernie Lane, 6:30 pm.

Men’s Cooking Group Third, fourth Saturdays. 585-355-7664; mcgofrochester@aol.com.

SUNDAYS PFLAG (Parents Families & Friends of Lesbians And Gays) 585 993-3297; rochesterpflag@gmail.com.

Dignity-Integrity 1st Sunday: 5pm Episcopal Eucharist with music; 2nd Sunday: 5pm Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word with music; 3rd Sunday: 5pm Episcopal Eucharist (quiet); 4th Sunday: 5pm Prayers to start the week, followed by potluck supper.

Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church 707 E. Main St. Rochester, Services at: 10:30am.

271-8478.

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

Closed meeting ■

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ROCHESTER AA/NA MEETINGS

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

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

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

SATURDAYS Saturday Night Special 7pm. First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd. Bus riders: The #18 University Ave. bus does not go by the church on weekend evenings. Take the #1 Park Ave. bus to the corner of East and Winton, then walk five minutes south (uphill) on Winton.

• Open meeting, all are welcome, “straight friendly” • Mixed men and women • Handicapped accessible, take elevator to basement Meeting begins with a speaker, followed by open discussion.

SUNDAYS Step in the Right Direction 7:30-9pm. 1275 Spencerport Road (Trinity Alliance Church) This is an NA meeting that is open to all addicts who have a desire to stop using.

Although it is not specifically a gay-oriented meeting, it is welcoming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Each week features a reading from NA literature, followed by discussion.

Rochester Gay Men 8pm. St. Luke/St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh Street. Bus riders use the Fitzhugh Street stop on Main Street at the County Office Building and walk south one block.

• Closed meeting, restricted to alcoholics and addicts • Men’s meeting • NOT handicapped accessible Meeting begins with a speaker, followed by open discussion. ■

GAY ALLIANCE LIBRARY & ARCHIVES Now open at its new location at 100 College Avenue, 9am-5pm and on Wednesday evenings, 6-8pm.

Check out our ten thousand-volume library, along with the Bohnett Cyber Center.

Contact us: library@gayalliance.org or at 585-244-8640.

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016

September 2016 THURSDAY 1

SAGE screening. 6 pm free screening of the award-winning film PRIDE, hosted by Pride at Work AFL-CIO. Closed captioned and snacks. All are welcome, LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. Sankofa Fest. My People Perish by Jahaka Mindstorm. 7:30 pm at Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC), 142 Atlantic Ave. Nightly admission $12 in advance and $16 at door. Group rates for five or more available through Mood Makers Books.

FRIDAY 2

First Friday opening of “Diptych”

by Nigel Maister, at Gallery Q and Lumiere Gallery, 100 College Ave. 6-9 pm.

Exhibit runs through Sept. 30.

Sankofa Fest. Spectrum by DC Taylor; Now and Then by Grace Flores; and Snitch by Karen Culley. 7:30 pm at the Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC), 142 Atlantic Ave. Nightly admission $12 in advance and $16 at door.

Group rates for five or more available through Mood Makers Books.

ImageOut hosts UNITS featuring Greg Climer. 5 pm artist discussion; 6-9 pm, opening reception. Visual Studies Workshop, 31 Prince St. Show through Oct. 22.

SATURDAY 3

Dignity Integrity Labor Day picnic. Lima. For location, time, see www. di-rochester.org or call hotline at 585-2345092.

Sankofa Fest. Enough Is Enough by Jacquetta A. Harris; Dancer: The Cholly Atkins Story by Michael Avent and Far from Grace by Laura A. Thomas. 7:30 pm at Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC), 142 Atlantic Ave. Nightly admission $12 in advance and $16 at door.

Group rates for five or more available through Mood Makers Books.

SUNDAY 4

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

TUESDAY 6

Rochester Women’s Community Chorus. First rehearsal of season.

Rehearsals every Tuesday night 6:308:45 pm. Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St. Web site at www.therwcc.org. Email: RWCCSings@ gmail.com or leave a message: 585-2344441.

WEDNESDAY 7

Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) will participate in a Voice of the Voter debate organized by WXXI Radio/TV, The Democrat & Chronicle, WDKX 103 FM and 13 WHAM TV. 8 pm.

ImageOut Festival Fair. Rochester Museum & Science Center Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Ave. Doors open 6 pm. First opportunity to purchase Festival tickets. Programmer’s Preview of the Festival’s “don’t miss” films; Preview Festival films in the Trailer Park; complimentary snacks, cash bar, free feature film screening, at 8:30 pm.

THURSDAY 8

Out & Equal Second Thursday Networking. Information at oenyfl@googlegroups.com

SUNDAY 11

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

MONDAY 12

Rochester Historical Bowling Society. New season, 7 pm Empire Lanes, Webster.

Classified ads are $5 for the first 30 words; each additional 10 words is another $1. We do not bill for classifieds, so please send or bring ad and payment to: The Empty Closet, 100 College Ave., Rochester, New York 14607.

Paying by check: checks must be made out to Gay Alliance. The deadline is the 15th of the month, for the following month’s issue. We cannot accept ads over the phone. Pay when you place your ad. We will accept only ads accompanied by name and phone number. Neither will be published, but we must be able to confirm placement.

The Empty Closet is not responsible for financial loss or physical injury that may result from any contact with an advertiser. Advertisers must use their own box number, voice mail, e-mail or phone number. No personal home addresses or names allowed. Classified ads are not published on The Empty Closet page of our website. However, each issue of the paper is reproduced online in its entirety at ww.gayalliance.org

Children’s Ministry thriving at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church for toddlers to ‘tweens. Join us for vibrant, inclusive, progressive worship on Sundays at 10:30 am, 707 E. Main St. info@openarmsmcc.org; (585) 271-8478.

PERSONALS

White male would like to meet white male. Call Don, 585-353-4732.

HELP WANTED

Sell ads for The Empty Closet. Must be energetic and reliable. 30 percent commission. 244-9030.

SERVICES

Rochester’s Best Man to Man Rubdown. Unwind with this degreed, employed, fit, friendly, healthy, Italian GWM. Middle aged, 5’8”, 165 lbs., 32”

Open Arms MCC starts monthly New Christian Life Study program, “The Story of God,” with the question “Who is God?” Viewing of Morgan Freeman TV program of the same name followed by discussion. Program will continue throughout the fall; open to the public.

Big Wigs at the Fringe Festival. Mrs. Kasha Davis and Aggy Dune will present their Big Wigs show on Sept. 14, 15, 18, 22, 23 and 24 at the Theatre Rocs stage.

THURSDAY 15

“Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream”. Inqueery Environmental Symposium, on climate change and social justice. Facilitated by Sue Staropoli and Tony Perri of Rochester Pachamama Alliance Team. Symposium will be given on Sept. 15, 22, and 29, 6:30–9 pm at LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave. No charge but reservations required.

Contact Chris at the Gay Alliance, 2448640.

MERGED IV with James Hansen, Heather Roffe at Fringe Festival. 7 pm, Kilbourn Hall; also Sept. 19, 20. Tickets $10; can be purchased at http://www. rochesterfringe.com/tickets-and-shows/ merged-iv or at the door.

SUNDAY 18

Dignity Integrity. Episcopal Mass, quiet. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

MONDAY 19

ImageOut screening of Two 4 One. Fringe Festival Pedestrian Drive In (Spiegelgarden). “Bittersweet comedic drama” with trans hero.7:30 pm, free.

TUESDAY 20

Autumn equinox.

TransParent. First meeting of support group for parents of trans and gender fluid children. 6:30-8 pm, 100 College Ave. Facilitated by Bonnie Sacko RN. Email: rochester.ny@transparentusa.org InQueery session on Safer Email.

David Frier shows how not to be taken in by the great variety of email scams and spams. 6:30 pm at the LGBTQ Resource Center, 100 College Ave.

FRIDAY 23

Pandora Boxx in “The Worst Show Ever” at Fringe Festival Spiegeltent for two performances: Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24 at 9:30 pm.

SATURDAY 24

RISE Brunch. Gay Alliance fundraiser for Rochester LGBTQ and Susan A. Cowell Scholarships. Noon-3 pm, Rochester Yacht Club, 5555 St. Paul Blvd. Silent auction, raffle. Award to Center for Youth. Tickets $50: www. gayalliance.org East Coast Two Spirit Society pow wow, Alleghany State Park near Salamanca. Events Sept. 23 and 25 are for ECTSS members and family only. Pow wow is open to “all who come with a good heart”.

SUNDAY 25

Dignity Integrity. Prayers to start the week, followed by a potluck. 5 pm at St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s Church, 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

FRIDAY 30

Classifieds ANNOUNCEMENTS

WEDNESDAY 14

FRIDAY 16

waist, nonsmoker, d & d free, HIV negative. My 10-plus years experience guarantees your relaxation and satisfaction.

Hotel visit, in call in my home or out call in your residence. Reasonable rates. Discretion appreciated and practiced. Don’t delay, call me today at 585-773-2410 (cell) or 585-235-6688 (home).

Martin Ippolito master electrician.

Electrical work, telephone jacks, cable TV, burglar alarm systems, paddle fans.

585-266-6337.

TL’s Home Repair Service. Electric, plumbing, home remodeling. Cell: 585224-6279; office: 585-473-7205.

Wedding Space and clergy services available. Celebrate your special day at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church, 707 E. Main St. info@ openarmsmcc.org (585) 271-8478.

SAGE Backyard Fish Fry. 7 pm.

Contact Audet at (585) 287-2958.

Email aprice002@aol.com for further information and location.

SEPTEMBER 2016 • NUMBER 504 • THE GAY ALLIANCE • THE EMPTY CLOSET

The Empty Closet is published by the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley 100 College Avenue Rochester, New York 14607 © 2016, All rights reserved.

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

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

Submissions: For publication, submit news items, ads, photos, letters, stories, poetry, ads, photographs or art by mail or in person to The Empty Closet office by the 15th of the month. Design services for non-camera ready ads are available for a fee.

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

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

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

The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. The Empty Closet shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the publication (whether correctly or incorrectly) or omission of an ad.

In the event of non-payment, your account may be assigned to a collection agency or an attorney, and will be liable for the charges paid by us to such collection agency or attorney.

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

Bed & Breakfast

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THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE • NUMBER 504 • SEPTEMBER 2016