Lavender Magazine 758

Volume 30, Issue 758 • June 13-26, 2024

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Randy Stern 612-461-8723

Editorial Assistant Linda Raines 612-436-4660

Editor Emeritus Ethan Boatner

Contributors Lakey Bridge, Buer Carlie, Natasha DeLion, Alyssa Homeier, Terrance Griep, Elise Maren, Jen PeeblesHampton, Linda Raines, Alexander Reed, Madison Roth, Jamez L. Smith, Susan Swavely, Carla Waldemar, Todd P. Walker, Emma Walytka, Spencer White

ADVERTISING

Vice President of Sales & Advertising

Barry Leavitt 612-436-4690

Account Executives

Nathan Johnson 612-436-4695

Richard Kranz 612-436-4675

Sales & Event Administration

Linda Raines 612-436-4660

National Sales Representatives Rivendell Media 212-242-6863

CREATIVE

Creative/Digital Director Mike Hnida 612-436-4679

Photographer Sophia Hantzes

ADMINISTRATION

Publisher Lavender Media, Inc.

President & CEO Stephen Rocheford 612-436-4665

Chief Financial Officer Doug Starkebaum 612-436-4664

Administrative Assistant Michael Winikoff 612-436-4660

Distribution Metro Periodical Partners 612-281-3249

Founders George Holdgrafer, Stephen Rocheford

Inspiration Steven W. Anderson (1954-1994), Timothy J. Lee (1968-2002), Russell Berg (1957-2005), Kathryn Rocheford (1914-2006), Jonathan Halverson (1974-2010), Adam Houghtaling (1984-2012), Walker Pearce (1946-2013), Tim Campbell (1939-2015), John Townsend (1959-2019), George Holdgrafer (1951-2024)

Letters are subject to editing for grammar, punctuation, space, and libel. They should be no more than 300 words. Letters must include name, address, and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Priority will be given to letters that refer to material previously published in Lavender Magazine. Submit letters to Lavender Magazine, Letters to the Editor, 5100 Eden Ave, Suite 107, Edina, MN 55436 or e-mail editor@lavendermagazine.com.

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George Holdgrafer 1951 – 2024

BY LINDA RAINES

The Twin Cities is, and has been, home to many notable names in the LGBTQ+ community, but one that has long stood out is George Holdgrafer, one of the founders of Lavender Magazine. Sadly, George passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, and his loss has left a gaping hole in the fabric of the community here.

George was born in Austin, MN in 1951, the only child to Harold and Adeline (née Watkins) Holdgrafer. A 1969 graduate of Austin High School and member of the debate team, George then made his way to the University of Minnesota where he graduated as Salutatorian in the class of 1973.

In a 2018 interview with Lavender writer Terrance Griep, George stated that “I was a late bloomer. I finally decided to come out of the closet because I was tired of being in it. Besides, all of my friends already knew.”

Once out of that closet, though, George began to quickly make his mark on the LGBTQ scene in Minnesota and in the Twin Cities.

In the 2018 Griep interview, George remarked that “I served on the local Pride board from 1988 to 1995,” as well as being involved with publications such as Equal Time and GLC Voice. He was also the editor of GAZE magazine before the publication folded.

It was then that George decided to go into business with Stephen Rocheford, who he had met in 1985 at A Brother’s Touch, a gay bookstore owned by a mutual friend. They founded a new LGBTQ magazine in 1995, agreeing upon George’s suggestion of the name “Lavender” as a way of taking back a word that had previously been seen as a slur against the gay community decades earlier.

During his tenure at Lavender, George wore many hats—founder, editor, writer, editorial associate. He covered the bar beat for many years, and regularly wrote about the latest happenings and new and noteworthy events at places such as the Townhouse, the 19 Bar, the Gay 90’s, the Saloon, the Brass Rail, the Bolt, the Bolt Underground, the Minneapolis Eagle, Over the Rainbow, and others in his “Barometer” column each issue. George also consistently covered the events of the Imperial Court of Minnesota. He was invaluable to the Lavender editorial staff with his almost photographic memory of nearly every article, feature, photo and story within the pages of the magazine since its beginnings. One only had to mention a long-past story or photograph, wondering which issue it may have appeared in, and George would immediately pipe up with not only the issue and page, but oftentimes, even the location on said page.

As Rocheford commented, he and George “recognized each other’s strengths and weaknesses in the business”. Working together as a team, with George helming the journalistic portion of Lavender and Stephen taking care of the business side of things, the two men saw their dream flourish and blossom into a powerhouse that would eventually see the magazine consistently publishing the largest Pride edition in the nation yearly since 2001, as well as having the reputation for being the largest LGBTQ publication to never be forced to file for bankruptcy in an increasingly difficult market for printed periodicals.

George also served as a mentor and historian of the Twin Cities’ LGBTQ scene for a number of writers who looked to him for advice. Steve Lenius, one of Lavender’s earliest writers who wrote the Leather Life column, reminisced that “he knew our community’s history before the changes brought about by the Stonewall rebellion in New York, and he and I had many conversations about these changes and this history. I also remember several articles about early Twin Cities gay and lesbian history that George wrote for the magazine. When I read those articles, I always learned something. I’ve been around and involved a long time, but George had been around and involved longer.”

With George’s guidance, along with the dedication and hard work of the magazine’s staff, Lavender Media garnered awards from the Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association (MMPA) over a hundred times, which culminated with it winning its top honor—Magazine of the Year—in 2016.

In addition to being a consummate journalist, George was also a great friend to many. His dry wit and razor-sharp sense of humor were legendary, and as Rocheford commented, “George was the funniest man that I ever met; he made me laugh more than other in my life. He was extremely witty, and no man ever spoke a barb that was faster or more funny than George.” This was a comment that came up whenever George’s name was spoken. Lenius concurred, saying “there were times I turned in a column with a title I had created, and when I saw the column in print the title was different. It was better, and it was something I never would have thought of. I knew it was George’s work, and it always made me smile in appreciation of his sense of humor.”

George Holdgrafer’s memory will long live within the Twin Cities LGBTQ+ community and beyond, not only for what he accomplished in his chosen profession, but also because of his innate ability to make friends and put people at ease in his presence with his wit and humor, as well as his conviction that equality and acceptance of all should be paramount. Perhaps Stephen Rocheford puts it best when he says that “George’s legacy is that of a never tiring Editor and writer who pursued the communities’ mission of equality for all, in a manner that portrayed our community honestly, fairly, and with compassion. He fervently believed that we could all live together and respect everyone in the community, even if we sometimes disagreed. George was a peaceful and honorable man who put his community first, himself second. George Holdgrafer is missed, already.” 

Photo by Sophia Hantzes

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Alert Number: I-051024-PSA

May 10, 2024

Foreign Terrorist Organizations and their Supporters Likely Heighten Threat Environment during 2024 Pride Month

SUMMARY

The FBI and DHS are issuing this Public Service Announcement to provide awareness to the public of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOS) or their supporters potential targeting of LGBTQIA+-related events and venues. Foreign terrorist organizations or supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month.

THREAT

FTO efforts to commit or inspire violence against holiday celebrations, including Pride celebrations or LGBTQIA+-related venues, are compounded by the current heightened threat environment in the United States and other western countries. FTOs and their supporters have previously promoted anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and targeted LGBTQIA+ related events or venues for attacks.

• In February 2023, English language ISIS messaging featured an article focused on anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and rallied against the growth and promotion of the LGBTQIA+ community. The same issue called for followers to conduct attacks on unidentified soft targets, although the attacks and targets were not specific to LGBTQIA+ venues.

12 June 2024 marks the eighth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub Orlando shooting, during which the attacker killed 49 and wounded 53 people. After the Pulse shooting, pro-ISIS messaging praised this attack as one of the high-profile attacks in Western countries, and FTO supporters celebrated it.

In June 2023, three alleged ISIS sympathizers were arrested for attempting to attack a Pride parade in Vienna, Austria, using knives and a vehicle as part of the attack, per open-source reporting.

Possible Indicators of Potential Threat Activity:

Violent threats made online, in person, or via mail.

• Unusual or prolonged testing or probing of security measures at events or venues.

• Photography of security related equipment, personnel, or access points consistent with pre-operational surveillance without a reasonable alternative explanation.

• Unusual surveillance or interest in buildings, gatherings, or events.

• Attempts to gain access to restricted areas, bypass security, or impersonate law enforcement officials.

• Observation of or questions about facility security measures, including barriers, restricted areas, cameras, and intrusion detection systems without a reasonable alternative explanation.

• Eliciting information from facility personnel regarding the nature of upcoming events, crowd sizes, busiest times of day, etc. without a reasonable alternative explanation.

Attempts to enter a restricted area, bypass security, or impersonate law enforcement officials.

Please visit the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI) website for additional information, resources, and training for community partners (https://www.dhs.gov/nationwide-suspicious-activity-reporting-initiative).

RECOMMENDATIONS

If there is an emergency, contact local law enforcement or 911 immediately.

To report a threat, contact your local FBI field office (https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices) or closest international office (https:// www.fbi.gov/contact-us/international-offices) or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324)

Or report suspicious activity to: How to Report Suspicious Activity | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

Be aware of your surrounding at all times and report suspicious activities to the authorities.

One Thread in a Gordian Knot

I’ve not seen Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, but I read Martin J. Sherwin and Kai Bird’s compelling biography, American Prometheus, from which the film was sourced. Its subtitle, The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, gives but an inkling of the breadth and depth of that chasm.

It required a quarter century’s research to write the book, some 40 percent of Oppenheimer’s 62-year lifespan. His legacy as “Father of the Atom Bomb” was freighted; Director of the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, Oppenheimer was among the witnesses at 5:30 A.M, Monday, July 16, 1945 when Trinity’s ignition vaporized its tower and turned the base to green sand as nuclear dawn mushroomed above the New Mexico desert.

Like others born with extremes of one talent or another, Oppie was not “well-rounded,” though magnetic and compelling. His biographers describe his speech as soft, measured, emerging in sentences, paragraphs, and chapters, complete as though reading from an internal prompter. (Hear him on YouTube.)

Oppenheimer irritated those who noted–accurately–that he rarely “finished” things, angered that one glance at a complex issue often sufficed to com-

BY E.B. BOATNER

prehend, then he was flitting away, a bee seeking the next fragrant blossom. On the other hand, many interviewees praised Oppenheimer’s ability to discuss a problem in such a way that the listener–or group, if addressing an audience–would be led to discover the solution themselves.

One who never could abide Oppenheimer and who spent years dreaming of his ruin, was Lewis Strauss. They’d met before and there were major issues at hand–Oppenheimer, after witnessing Trinity, then learning the fates of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was loath to endorse the even more lethal Super (i.e., Hydrogen) bomb, favored by Strauss specifically and the military machine in general.

A verbal strike to an ego’s flint lit the fuse. In June, 1949, Oppenheimer testified before an open session of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. The AEC had approved (4-1) the export of radioisotopes to foreign labs for research purposes. Strauss was the sole dissenter.

Oppenheimer disagreed; “No one can force me to say that you cannot use these isotopes for atomic energy. You can use a shovel for atomic energy; in fact, you do. You can use a bottle of beer for atomic energy. In fact, you do,” adding, “My own rating

of the importance of isotopes in this broad sense is that they are far less important than electronic devices, but far more important than, let us say, vitamins, somewhere in between.”

Ego-stricken and enraged, this was the hill upon which Strauss chose to die. The time was ripe; J. Edgar Hoover and Joseph McCarthy were abroad in the land, seeing communists behind every arras. Strauss joined forces and–look it up–orchestrated a kangaroo court that stripped Oppenheimer of his security clearance.

American Prometheus reads like Greek tragedy, working the theme of hate; its weight and freight; its squandering of human energy–of life–in its service. And, always, there’s hubris.

Strauss’s squirrel-like gathering of (often false) evidence, the records of use of illegal FBI wire-taps, false allegations; his meticulous retention of the lot, left a formidable case against him. He had “defrocked” Oppenheimer, but in 1959, the Senate rejected his nomination for Secretary of Commerce.

In 1963, President Johnson awarded Oppie the $50,000 Fermi Prize, but did not reinstate his security clearance. 

Q&A Suzanne Blum Grundyson

BY JOEY PEÑA

Stonewall Sports, Inc., a national nonprofit, didn’t have to look far last year when it started to recruit someone new to lead its annual national tournament and summit.

Suzanne Blum Grundyson – a Minnesotan who has been active every season with the Stonewall Sports Twin Cities chapter since 2016 – was the perfect fit.

She has volunteered for the national Stonewall board since 2020 representing the Twin Cities chapter, and helped lead the kickball committee for the 2022 and 2023 national tournaments.

She’s also an enthusiastic ambassador for the Twin Cities, quick with a recommendation for a restaurant or a spot off the beaten path, and eager to extol Minnesota's diverse, inclusive communities and progressive support for LGBTQIA+ people.

Now, Suzanne is the first woman to serve as national tournament director – just in time for the annual event to make its first-ever stop in the Twin Cities, July 18-21.

We talked with Suzanne about her new role and about the 10th Annual Stonewall Sports National Tournament & Summit. Here’s what she had to say.

Q. You’re the first woman to serve as the national tournament director. What does that mean to you? And, what does it mean broadly for the organization?

A. Female athletes will tell you that we have been here all along. The country is just waking up to the realization that being in sports develops leadership skills and produces strong, decisive women. As for Stonewall Sports, we are a very young organization that was founded by gay men. Lesbians and queer women were all playing softball and other sports together for my

entire lifetime, and I have had the privilege to carry their wisdom and legacy of community into this arena and into more recreational and lifelong sports opportunities.

Q. How is Stonewall Sports prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion? And how is that reflected in the national tournament and summit?

A. We always want more folks at the table and on the courts experiencing the joy in queer communities. I will highlight our affinity groups on Friday with many local leaders across venues as a chance for individuals to connect with each other and bring more strength, ideas, and varied leadership to our organization.

We also continue to work on adding and creating ways that our community can connect in competition that is accessible. Currently, bocce, bowling, and billiards are very accessible and adaptable sports we offer. Many chapters have added trivia and e-sports. We are working to improve offerings for the sober and recovery communities as well as those with disabilities and sensory needs. We also offer player assistance and scholarships to those with financial needs.

Q. Tell us more about the national tournament and summit –what’s its purpose, who competes, and what skill levels are required?

A. This tournament exists to bring together Stonewall players from around the country in the pursuit of fun, play, competition, friendship, and community. It’s like a mini summer camp for (wannabe) athletes and our friends. If you didn’t register already, get an event pass and come check us out! Then play with us locally throughout the year and at our national tournament in Columbus next summer.

Q. What can attendees expect at the 10th Annual National Tournament & Summit in the Twin Cities?

A. Great athletic and event facilities, spirited competition, fabulous parties, and a call to action and advocacy.

Q. What’s next for the national tournament and summit? What do you hope to achieve in your role?

A. It’s always a balancing act of how much we can pack into three days. We want to do it all but realistically want to be responsive to our players and community. We pay attention to the feedback, and try to grow what folks love and improve areas that need more attention. We want players and participants to have a great experience and feel like they don’t want to miss it in the future. My biggest hope for this summer is that visitors coming to the Twin Cities feel the love, joy, and vibrancy that exists in our queer community, and the beauty of our parks, lakes, and downtown offerings. 

10th Annual Stonewall Sports National Tournament & Summit

Learn more about the 10th Annual Stonewall Sports National Tournament & Summit or purchase an event pass at StonewallTournament.org.

Photos courtesy of Stonewall Sports

Our Mission is to End Veteran Homelessness in Minnesota

Dutch Treat

BY CARLA WALDEMAR

Haarlem was calling my name—no, not the Big Apple version, but the one with the extra A in Holland. I never tire of visiting Amsterdam, its close neighbor, but the prospect of settling down in this smaller, less-visited sidekick, with few cars, trams and battalions of bikers keen on ending my life, Haarlem seemed just the ticket.

To clinch the deal, Smithsonian Journeys advertised a week-long, small-group tour centered on Dutch art: no experience necessary. Even if you cannot tell a Renoir from a Rembrandt, it’s a relaxed and easygoing way to up your game. After a couple of slideshows by guest lecturer Lisa Baumann, who considers these artists “my Golden Age boyfriends,” you’re an instant insider.

We first met painter Frans Hal, who lived right here in Haarlem back in the 1600s, when we visited the intimate almshouse-turned-museum that today showcases his works. He’s the guy who humanized those stiff group portraits of, say, the weavers’ guild or charity board, bestowing individual personalities on what others painted like a yearbook’s class photo.

Wandering the main square a block from our hotel, I came across a Frans Hals satellite museum, saluting The Art of Drag, showcasing painting of those who “turned expectations on their head.” It stands virtually in the shadow of venerable St. Bavo Church, anchoring the site since the 14th century—all soaring white walls and brass chandeliers. It’s where our dear Frans is buried. Haydn played its organ, and so did Mozart, at age 10. Time then to settle in at a sunny outdoor café for a slice of the country’s culinary icon, Dutch apple pie, studded with raisins and frosted with whipped cream.

That held me until dinner. The group visited neighboring Café Colette for shrimp-filled ravioli and roast chicken. Six of us singles, who immediately bonded to dine together on free nights, returned for an asparagus feast later in the week. We also discovered Thrill, where plush burgers reign, and Nolita, serving Italian fare (excellent eggplant Parm). Dining there on May 4, we joined the national moment of silence at 8 PM honoring those killed by the Nazis in World War II. Our favorite dinner discovery was nearby Moustique, boasting a Michelin star and offering three-course nouvelle-style dinners—tonight starring duck breast—with perfect, relaxed service.

Mornings, after a second cappuccino crowning the hotel’s bounteous breakfast buffet, we boarded our bus to head off to other nearby towns, with art on our minds. Passing tulip fields, canals aplenty and a windmill or two, we headed for a day in Amsterdam, leading off with the iconic Rijksmuseum, hosting a special Frans Hals exhibition, plus a guided meander through its galleries, where Rembrandt’s famed Night Watch came vividly to life.

We then enjoyed a canal cruise, winding our way under bridges aside the slender gabled mansions of the rich and famous of the Golden Age, past the behemoth train station, the Opera House and, finally, the house of Rembrandt himself, now a museum. We trooped from the kitchen up the winding staircase to the very attic, where the great man taught Dutch masters in the making.

Another day, we steered straight for Gouda, home of the famed Dutch cheese, for a mini tutorial on how and why it’s wonderful, underscored by tasting samples and, of course, a shopping op. A visit to St. John’s Church, dating back to the 1300s, awed us with its towering stained glass windows—Catholic Rotterdam, Netherlands. Photo courtesy of Bigstock/Julia700702

before the Reformation, but allowed to retain its legion of tinted saints, earning it the title of “the most beautiful church in Holland.”

Rotterdam, another day, jolted us into the present. The harbor city was bombed to dust during World War II but rebuilt as a showcase of arresting Dutch architecture. A rollicking harbor tour floated us past the many shipping containers that earned it the title of the busiest harbor in Europe.

A vast market hall plump with food stalls kept us from fainting before dinner, back in Haarlem, at a rijsttafel restaurant—a Dutch favorite, which borrows from the East Indies islands the country once owned. It mirrors their classic feast of rice surrounded by scads of condiment dishes—beef to tofu to whatever, yours to spoon atop. Another day’s run-out to the seaside thrilled us with a view of the lashing ocean just outside the windows of our restaurant, which seduced us with an addictively delicious, sweet-spicy curry.

Delft is the famous town where for decades the famous blue-patterned chinaware was made. In its heyday, the city sported 32 factories, but today only one remains, and it welcomed our group to view the process and, ahem, shop. The town itself boasts a classic market square supporting a centuries-old church where the Dutch royals are buried. A tangle of boutique-filled streets surrounding it are laced together by more camera-ready bridges and canals.

The Hague, our next destination, is famed for its world courts of justice, but our goal was the equally illustrious Mauritshuis—a smaller museum whose halls harbor three precious Vermeer paintings of the 56 their homeboy painted. In one of the best gift shops of the trip, his “Girl with the Pearl Earring” appears on everything from socks and aprons to chopsticks and playing cards. Don’t miss Rembrandt’s spectacular “The Anatomy Lesson” while you’re in the building.

We return to Amsterdam and Vincent in all his wild and brushy glory at the Van Gogh Museum; thanks to Smithsonian’s planning, we always head right to the start of the line with our pre-ordered tickets. We encounter the mad artist a final time at the Kroller-Mueller Museum, a drive to middle of nowhere to marvel at his notorious self-portrait with bandaged ear, the Starry Night, those iconic Sunflowers, the dark Potato Eaters. Just as the artist was about to make the big time, he killed himself.

The enchanting museum is set in a breathtaking nature park punctuated by modern sculptures and a pavilion which served us a classic Dutch lunch: fish croquettes, salmon with potatoes and cucumber salad, and—yesss!—a slice of apple cake.

Time (sob!) to pack for our return—bought our cheese, bought our Vincent magnets—but wait! Where are the tulips? At the Keukenhof Gardens, by the millions—so off we sped to ogle its broad avenues shimmering with color—red, yellow, pink, white, striped, fringed, scalloped. It’s like a massage for the spirits. Now we can go home happy.

Eager to plan a Dutch treat for yourself? Visit www.SmithsonianJourneys.org. 

Your unique vision for the future requires a more personalized approach to financial advice. From growing your family to planning for retirement, I can help you navigate your financial journey. Ready to work toward your financial goals? Let’s plan for them together.

Amie Burnett, JD, CFP® Financial Advisor

952.921.3371

7101 York Ave S, Ste 330, Edina, MN 55435 marie.a.burnett@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/marie.a.burnett

Suor Angelica An Unmissable Immersive Opera Experience

BY BUER CARLIE

This June 26-29, Out of the Box Opera (OOTB) will present a limited run of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Suor Angelica in a breathtaking location: the Basilica of Saint Mary. These four performances represent a unique opportunity to experience a one act opera in a venue that offers an unmatched sense of both intimacy and grandeur.

Earlier this year, David Lefkowich, artistic director of OOTB and director of Suor Angelica, joined the rest of the creative team at the Basilica of Saint Mary to discuss OOTB’s mission to make opera accessible for audiences of all kinds and what makes Suor Angelica so special.

OOTB is a Minnesota non-profit dedicated to making opera more accessible for a modern audience. In the past it has held “Diva Cage Matches” in which opera divas literally face off in a boxing ring. Yes, there are ballgowns. Yes, there are boxing gloves. Yes, there are arias. OOTB also hosts concerts that fuse opera with other musical stylings like gospel and jazz. This production of Suor Angelica roves the halls of the Basilica of Saint Mary, inviting the audience to imagine that this basilica is home to the sisters of the opera.

“The opera moves through three spaces in the Basilica,” says Lefkowich. The audience follows the performers through the Teresa of Calcutta room and the Chapel, finally culminating in the Nave, which is visually stunning and an acoustic dream for the soaring music of Suor Angelica

Getting permission to perform Suor Angelica in the Basilica of Saint Mary was not easy, but

thanks to the work of Johan Van Parys and Patrick Schneider, the production was approved. Although the themes of the opera are difficult, the overarching message and beauty of the music made this a worthy collaboration.

Because OOTB offers an out of the box opera experience, expect a deviation from the usual theater guidelines. A typical theater environment might chastise audience members into silencing their phones and keeping them out of sight for the duration of the performance, but

OOTB encourages its audience to take photos and videos when they feel so moved. “We want people to share this experience on their social media,” Lefkowich explains. “Hopefully their friends see those snippets and will be inspired to attend, too.”

The creative team behind the production of Suor Angelica is robust. The Basilica of Saint Mary is co-producing Suor Angelica alongside OOTB, which is reflected in the creative leadership. Both Johan Van Parys – who is the Basilica’s director of liturgy and sacred arts – and Patrick Schneider, who is the Basilica’s director of music, are involved in the production. Carson Rose-Schneider (no relation to Patrick) is the chorus master for OOTB. Christopher Verdosci is the stylist for the production and Stephen Hargreaves is the music director and conductor.

Although Puccini is a beloved composer (in fact, there are multiple Puccini operas being produced in Minnesota in 2024), Suor Angelica is one of his rarer pieces. “When I heard we were doing Suor Angelica I thought, well, it’s still Puccini,” Patrick Schneider said. The rest of the panel laughed with him, although Schneider and other members of the panel were quick to list off some of their favorite arias and moments from Suor Angelica, of which there are many.

Part of the reason why Suor Angelica is a lesser-known part of Puccini’s repertoire is because it is part of his triptych, Il trittico. This collection of three one-act operas also includes Il tabarro (“The Cloak”) and Gianni Schicchi. Most audiences did not have the patience for the full triptych and Gianni Schicchi, a dark comedy, quickly overshadowed the more serious Suor Angelica and Il tabarro.

Tangentially, for anyone interested in experiencing more of Puccini’s triptych, Johnny Skeeky (a reimagination of Gianni Schicchi that keeps Puccini’s score and adds a contemporary libretto), has its world premiere at Theatre Latte Da this summer. Performances run from May 29-July 7.

One of the unique elements of Suor Angelica is that the entire cast is composed of women. The opera is a glimpse into the life of Sister Angelica, a young woman from a wealthy family who was forced to become a nun after giving birth to an illegitimate child. After seven years in the convent, Sister Angelica is finally visited by one of her family members – La Zia Principessa (or “The Aunt Princess”) – who tells her that not only must she waive her share of the inheritance, but also that her son is dead. Sister Angelica is grief stricken and chooses to drink poison to be reunited with her son. Too late, she realizes that suicide is also a sin, and though she fears that she has condemned herself to hell, the Virgin Mary appears in her final moments and offers her one last kindness.

The tragic role of Suor Angelica will be sung by Alexandra Loutsian, who has gained a reputation as a fearless and masterful opera singer. Mezzo-soprano Alice Chung, who has found acclaim for her glamorous, powerful singing, will be the haughty La Zia Principessa. The remainder of the cast is Minnesotan talent, with Lucy Thrasher as La Badessa (the Abbess), Jennifer Eckes as La Zelatrice (the Monitor), and Natalia Harrison as Suor Genovieffa (Sister Genevieve).

OOTB has been creating innovative opera experiences for quite some time, leaning deep into the belief that opera can and should be fun for a modern audience. Suor Angelica is a perfect addition to OOTB’s existing catalogue. Whether you are a longtime lover of opera, a curious newbie, or just a person who likes impressive acoustics and gorgeous architecture, this is an unmissable production. OOTB’s Suor Angelica is certain to be one of the highlights of Minneapolis’ performance arts scene this summer.

Tickets are on sale now and available through the OOTB website, listed below. 

Puccini’s Suor Angelica

June 26, 27, and 28 at 7 PM

June 29 at 2 PM

Basilica of Saint Mary, 88 N. 17th St, Mpls www.outoftheboxopera.org

You Better “Aca-believe it,” Ben Platt’s Honeymind Tour Coming To The Twin Cities

BY EMMA WALYTKA

From playing the magic-obsessed, dorky and beloved roommate in Pitch Perfect, to starring in the musical winner of six Tony Awards, Dear Evan Hansen, to recently releasing Honeymind with an accompanying tour- Ben Platt is finally coming on tour to Minneapolis Minnesota on June 29, 2024.

The person behind the stages and screens

As a devotee to routine, normalcy and repetition, choosing a career in the entertainment industry was a jump in the opposite direction, Platt said. Having days to nest with his fiance, Noah Galvin, and soak up the feeling of calamity and cohesion are periods of life Platt craves.

“I would say I’m very anxious and a little bit fearful, but generally, I consider myself a pretty kind person,” Platt said. “I think as a queer person, I particularly feel lucky to have my chosen family of friends that I’ve had since high school.”

Photo by Vince Aung

Outside of performing, Platt said he loves to dance (high emphasis on socially, not professionally, added Platt). Assisting “Chef” Gavin as the Souschef in the kitchen, Platt said they dream of having their own food-travel show showcasing the couple eating at restaurants around the world.

“Most of my hobbies are tangentially related to what I do just because of singing and theater- it’s my greatest love, joy and passion,” Platt said. “My favorite activity is to simply be in the audience of a piece of theater.”

A queer album rooted in pride: Here’s to love!

Celebrating love and queer relationships at the show speaks to what a special time in the music industry it is, Platt said. The tour celebrates what makes queer love not only equal, but special and even better.

“Much of this new album, HoneyMind is about my relationship with Noah, so it’s very inherently queer, just because that’s me,” Platt said.

There is always a challenge in being as honest as possible throughout the creative process, Platt said. It can be scary when sharing intimate details with other songwriters and co-writers, but exploring things in new ways allows love songs to stray from their typical generalness.

“I know I dipped my toe in a lot of different pools as a performer and artist, ” Platt said. “But, being in process of writing an album is one of my favorites, because it’s so much just about the process itself, as everyday is just full of trying to make something, and even if you make 10 songs that you never want to see the light of day and get one that you love, it’s it feels so satisfying.”

The fourth song on the album, “Before I Knew You,” is among one of Platt’s favorite songs that he wrote for Galvin. Singing this song live will create a “living room moment,” one that feels intimate and homey.

“I had it in my head to wait till the end and then play him the whole album,” Platt added. “But of course, Noah is an artist that I really respect, so I always wanted him to weigh in on the process.”

When a demo for a song was recorded, Platt said he would send it straight to Galvin, a person who likes to be the “Belle of the ball,” but had trouble accepting compliments and getting mushy, according to Platt.

“My queerness always informs the way I view love, connection and relationships,” Platt said. “I think there’s an added level of responsibility and privilege that comes with representing a queer relationship.”

When it comes to Industry representation, Platt said he feels an extra wave of motivation to be as transparent and authentic as possible with his experience as a queer person. When a gay person plays a gay character, or a queer artist writes about a queer relationship with the proper pronouns, those acts go a long way.

Looking back and moving forward

The 2012 comedy, Pitch Perfect was an amazing first “crash course” in film because it had musical elements and was a place to learn about the process of filmmaking and exercise creative freedom, Platt said.

“When we did it, we had absolutely no idea that the movie would be anything like what it has become,” Platt said. “It was very tiny, about as small as a movie can be for a studio film, and it did not scream franchise.”

Pressure to choose a lane and devote to either film or music when others in the industry are devoted to one or the other can be difficult, Platt added. When devoting to one avenue there is great merit. but there is also beauty in using joy as an indicator of success.

“ A huge part of what fulfills me is the variety,” Platt said. “When I spend time making a film that allows me to miss and appreciate the experience of touring, and when I perform as myself I miss and appreciate being in a theater piece where I get to play a character.”

After his six week tour, Platt plans on continuing to write music and collaborating with Galvin more on songwriting. Playing George in Sunday in the Park with George is a long-term dream, as being in a film within a grounded universe and as a character that resembles himself is something Platt would love to do.

“As a songwriter, producer, or as a screenwriter, I can really be open to the universe, kind of putting whatever you know is meant for me in front of me and just like chasing the things that feel exciting,” Platt said. “But, if nothing ever comes, and I just hang out with Noah in our house for the rest of my life, I would be happy.” 

Ben Platt: The Honeymind Tour

June 29, 8:00 PM

Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis

Tickets Start from $39.50, VIP Packages up to $404.00 https://hennepintheatretrust.org/events/benplatt-the-honeymind-tour-tickest-orpheumtheatre-minneapolis-mn-2024/

“A Chorus of Choruses” The Gay and Lesbian Chorus Association Brings Harmony to the Mill City…and the World

BY TERRANCE GRIEP

It’s not like they’re an especially ambitious group, or anything: their mission merely compels them “to create equity and harmony for all.” The Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses further describes itself as “an international association of LGBT choruses.” In other words, it’s a megachorus, a meta-chorus, a chorusy chorus of nearly two hundred chorusy choruses—male, female, and mixed—containing 15,000 vocalists—male, female, and mixed—within the nations of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Adds GALA Choruses artistic director Jane Ramseyer-Miller, “We offer resources, networking and programming for member choruses in addition to the quadrennial festival.”

That quadrennial festival is GALA Choruses’ showiest means to the end of creating equity and harmony for all which, according to the group’s website, “is five days of singing, connecting, and creating. It’s the largest LGBTQ choral event in the world. It’s you with thousands of your peers taking over a city and filling it with song.”

It’s called the GALA Choruses Festival, and the city being willingly taken over in 2024 is our own beloved City of Lakes.

“Minneapolis was chosen for the excellent performance halls at Orchestra Hall, the Minneapolis Convention Center, Central Lutheran Church –and for the proximity of these venues that allow us to create a ‘Festival Village,’” explains Ramseyer-Miller. “The city is also partnering with businesses and hotels to create space of welcome for our queer delegates. In selecting a city, we also look at hotel and restaurant availability, community engagement opportunities, and financial support.”

Cities bid for the privilege of hosting the GALA Festival Chorus…and if such bidding were a basketball game, the Mini Apple’s current success might be considered catching its own rebound. “The city of Minneapolis actually bid on the GALA Festival for the past sixteen years and was selected in 2020,” recounts Ramseyer-Miller, “but, we all know what happened then. Happily, we’re back for 2024 and the city is going all out to welcome our 7,000 singers.”

Any chorus festival will, naturally, feature music, but the GALA Chorus Festival doesn’t just feature music. It’s stuffed to the lyrical gills with tunes, it’s jammed with jamming, starting with presentations for songbirds who are also early birds. “Each day offers two morning Coffee Concerts performed by a single chorus often featuring a new commission or special choral work,” says Ramseyer-Miller. The website elaborates that “Festival 2024 hosts seven morning Coffee Concerts representing GALA choruses across the spectrum. These concerts feature multi-disciplinary performances, new commissions and some very unique programming.”

As the sun moves past the sky’s midpoint, the jamming persists. “The afternoons showcase all choirs performing in thirty minutes sets,” predicts Ramseyer-Miller. “The evenings offer two themed Blockbuster concerts with anywhere from ten to twelve choirs and guest artists performing.”

Twin Citizens longing to contribute to worldwide equity and harmony have numerous options at their disposal. “Twin Cities fans should start on the ‘Festival for Locals’ web page www.GalaChoruses.org,” the artistic director directs. “This page outlines free events each day, volunteer opportunities, info about ticket sales, and live stream options.”

Of course, a chorus with an audience is just practicing. “Individual tickets can be purchased to enjoy concerts in person,” offers former GALA

Choruses president Michael Tate. “A live stream pass can be purchased to view the concerts in real-time from any location. One can also watch the recordings of all the performances even after the Festival is over.”

And, some might long to contribute some equity and harmony personally. “You may still register as a delegate and sing in a Festival Chorus up until June 15, but sign up now,” instructs Ramseyer-Miller. “You’ll have four weeks to memorize your music and you’ll get to work with a fabulous guest conductor.”

Harmony can enjoy less scale-dependent expression, according to Ramseyer-Miller. “Volunteer!” she trumpets. “This is a fabulous way to experience the Festival, meet folks from around the world and hear some great music at the same time!”

This year’s GALA Chorus Festival will move outside its normal domain of the Western Hemisphere, making this year’s harmony truly worldwide. “Most of the choirs attending Festival 2024 are from North America, but we also have choirs attending from China, Estonia, Finland, Ukraine, Taiwan, and Mexico,” the artistic director promises. “You can hear them all perform at the July 13 Harmonies of the Sphere Blockbuster concert.”

All of these musical doings are, ultimately, the current manifestation of the mission—“to create equity and harmony for all” – that came to life when GALA Choruses came to life…way back in 1982. “I believe that GALA Choruses has evolved with the changing times,” Tate affirms. “While the core mission of supporting new and existing LGBTQ+ and allied choruses has not changed, we have continued to expand and recognize the many colors of our amazing rainbow community.”

The “for all” part of the mission is particularly relevant these days, and that’s no accident. Continues the former GALA president, “Providing better visibility for and with trans and non-binary individuals has been an exciting and deliberate expansion of our work.”

As goals go, worldwide equity and harmony for all are as ambitious as goals get…but sometimes even the most ambitious goals are realized in the tiniest of increments. “As a queer cisgendered Black man, it has been my thrill and honor to be a leader both of my local chorus and at the national level,” proclaims Tate. “I love GALA Choruses and the space it provides choruses to help change the world for the better, one song at a time.” 

GALA Choruses

www.galachoruses.org www.galachoruses.org/minneapolis www.galachoruses.org/resource/festival-locals

Photo courtesy of GALA Choruses

Ryan Weyandt

BY LAVENDER

In any transactional business, we always want to do business with people we feel comfortable with; people who have common traits and lives like ourselves.

The establishment of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance is one way where home sellers and buyers can connect with people from their own community towards facilitating one of the biggest transactions one can make in their lifetime.

As Chief Executive Officer of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, Ryan Weyandt has 4,000 real estate professionals that are a part of this organization. His work began locally, yet it has taken him beyond his home base, as he is now working on an international scale.

Under Weyandt, the Alliance has been on the forefront in changing our notion of home ownership as an LGBTQ+ community. That includes being comfortable in where they live, how to be financially literate, and making the home transaction process a positive one for our community.

Weyandt also understands the challenges his organization faces in this field. That includes turning discrimination into a positive home transaction experience, even in the face of new legal challenges against our community. He has put himself out front in helping the Alliance overcome those challenges for both consumers and real estate professionals.

Weyandt’s said he was “flattered” and “humbled” to be named for this award. “It’s a surreal honor because so many of my friends and the people that I’ve looked up to get me here have had that same honor, have had the spread, have had the cover, have received awards from Lavender,” Weyandt reflected. “It’s just surreal, and I don’t know that the gravity will really sink in until I see it.”

For taking the lead in bringing LGBTQ+ real estate professionals together, Lavender Magazine congratulates Ryan Weyandt for his Community Pride Award this year. 

Photo courtesy of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance

Nicki Hangsleben

BY LAVENDER

The LGBTQ+ community needs mentors. It was a need that was seen as a key element to bring our next generation forward.

That was the reason why QUEERSPACE Collective was established – to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to be mentored by our own community.

It was the vision of QUEERSPACE Collective’s Executive Director, Nicki Hangsleben to create this network of mentors and mentees. The results have been resonating and inspirational. “In the last three years, we have matched 75 LGBTQ+ youths with 75 LGBTQ+ mentors in our 1-on-1 mentorship program, which is really exciting,” explained Hangsleben. “That was kind of where we started in our beginnings. We also, in 2022, built a training institute, because we heard from other youth orgs that they needed training on how they can better support queer and trans youth, and since then, we’ve worked with over 100 organizations and 5 that trained over 5,000 people on how they can show up more inclusively for our queer and trans youth.”

In addition, QUEERSPACE Collective added a Saint Cloud-based program last year. They are not stopping there. They are about to open an LGBTQ+ Youth Center in Uptown Minneapolis in October, along with the release of a virtual mentorship app in the near future.

In response to being named as one of our Community Pride Award, Hangsleben said, “I just feel like it’s such an honor. There’s so many amazing community leaders doing such great work, so I just feel really honored. I get to do this work as a leader, and give this back to young people, and provide spaces where they can show up as their authentic selves, and it’s an honor to be recognized, but, honestly, even more of an honor to be able to do this work. To be honored in it, it’s just such a deep honor.”

For being a true leader through mentoring our next generation, Lavender Magazine congratulates Nicki Hangsleben for their Community Pride Award this year. 

Photo by Randy Stern

Hildie Edwards

BY LAVENDER

Imagine being just 13 years old…going on 14…and being a voice for those who are searching for one.

Hildie Edwards became one of our local voices for trans youth. More specifically, in her own words: “I am an activist for trans rights, specifically for trans youth in schools, and testifying and doing speeches at the Capitol. I’ve generally just been advocating for my rights, considering the legislature. I also do some acting and performing. I was just in a play at the Children’s Theater called Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress.”

Through her work as an activist and performer, Hildie inspires so many young LGBTQ+ to be their authentic selves – unapologetically.

“I am beyond honored and so happy and excited, and I cannot thank Lavender enough for this award” said Edwards. “I feel like I’d like to thank my community a lot because I feel like without my community, I probably wouldn’t be going anywhere. And my parents are great.”

Hildie’s mother Hannah, the Executive Director for Transforming Families, also stated that “just we’re super proud of Hildie. She’s always been herself through and through since she could talk. She’s always loved performing and sharing her story. Dave and I tried to tell our part of the story for a long while and protect her. And then as she got older and she saw what was happening across the nation, really, and she became friends with trans kids from all over the United States, she wanted to be active more and more. So, we’ve supported her in telling her story and sharing to make the world a better place.”

With the work she continues to do, Lavender Magazine congratulates Hildie Edwards for their Community Pride Award this year. 

Photo courtesy of Hannah Edwards

Matthew Greco

BY LAVENDER

Back in January, the University of Minnesota Dance Team took home their 22nd national title at the College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships. They did so with a routine set to Aerosmith’s hit “Dream On” that went viral across social media.

What was significant about this championship is the makeup of the Dance Team itself. Out of 24 roster members on the dance team, there is only one male – Matthew Greco.

Greco made a name for himself as not only participating in this championship, but as an out LGBTQ+ male in a sport that is dominated by women. The New Jersey native began dancing at eight years old. “After that, it kind of just took over my life and I realized that this was something that I wanted to pursue,” explained Greco.

As a Sophomore at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus, Greco is now living his dream. While it not common to see male dancers on collegiate Dance teams, Greco has found a place at the University of Minnesota. “The University of Minnesota has a very inclusive environment, so it’s really easy to find myself being myself on campus and I don’t really feel like pressured in any way to kind of change who I am,” said Greco.

When Greco was informed of his honor, he stated that he was “super excited. It’s really an honor…just get more recognition out there for male dancers. Because, seriously, it is like times are changing for male dancers and it really makes me happy to see that and it makes me proud to be a part of that.”

For representing our next generation by living his dream, Lavender Magazine congratulates Matthew Greco for their Community Pride Award this year. 

Photo courtesy of Matthew Greco

Ryan Fouts

BY LAVENDER

Reclaim is one of our most essential organizations that serve our state and region. What they do is critical to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are served by, as its Executive Director Ryan Fouts states, “providing financially accessible, specialized mental health care to queer and trans youth. We serve ages 12 to 25 and their families.” LGBTQ+ youth are essential for our community’s growth and stability. Reclaim sets out to protect these youth through the services they offer. Under Fouts’ leadership, the results last year have been phenomenal. “In 2023, we served about 211 youth and young adults, which was about an 8% increase from the year before,” Fouts explained. “Last year in 2023 we did almost 3,500 sessions of individual therapy, which was like a 25% increase from the year before. And we did about 200 sessions of family therapy, which was almost a 60% increase from the year before.”

In response to being named for the award, Fouts reflects on his role with Reclaim and what they have achieved through their work – and continue to achieve with future projects on the horizon. “I think just feeling really appreciated in that acknowledgement and kind of excited about the awareness that that will continue to bring to support Reclaim,” Fouts said. “Really just any and every opportunity to get information about Reclaim out to the broader community is an amazing opportunity for us. Hopefully this can be a conduit where more youth, more parents learn about our services, might be able to reach out, get connected. So just any of those opportunities to reach more young people are just a really huge opportunity for us.”

For being out front in helping LGBTQ+ youth across our state and region, Lavender Magazine congratulates Ryan Fouts for his Community Pride Award this year. 

by Sophia Hantzes

Photo

Michelle Gunderson Bahr

BY LAVENDER

Volunteerism is a key pillar when it comes to supporting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, which is why we selected Michelle Gunderson Bahr as one of our Lavender Magazine Community Pride Award recipients.

Volunteerism runs deep in Gunderson Bahr’s soul. She has been a part of Twin Cities Pride’s volunteer corps for the past 15 years. “I was just this suburban mom…thinking I should maybe probably get involved,” Gunderson Bahr explained. “[I was] completely clueless. All I knew about Pride was what I had seen on TV.” All she did was signed up for a shift. Then, picked up the lead banner to start the Ashley Rukes parade her first year as a volunteer. The rest was history.

Aside from volunteering with Twin Cities Pride, Gunderson Bahr is also on the board of The Aliveness Project. Her capacity of volunteering stretches across her involvement with these two organizations. That includes being a Dining Out for Life Ambassador and out on the Red Ribbon Ride. That also includes the speaking engagements she makes at churches across the Twin Cities. She does all of this as a proud ally to the LGBTQ+ community

“It’s one of the biggest things here in my life,” Gunderson Bahr responded when she was informed of this award. “I do this just as much as the air that I breathe. I found my voice and I found my voice by carrying that banner in that Pride parade so many years ago. It’s led to a million different ways that I’ve been involved.”

For being the consummate volunteer, Lavender Magazine congratulates Michelle Gunderson Bahr for their Community Pride Award this year. 

Photo by Randy Stern

Rainbow Health

BY LAVENDER

How do you build on a legacy that has stretched over four decades?

According to Jeremy Hanson Willis, the Chief Executive Officer of Rainbow Health, the LGBTQ+-focused health organization had to be “relevant to the needs of our community.” The evolution in the past five years included going beyond HIV/AIDS. Hanson Willis’ pointed out they, Rainbow Health, needed to “address other health issues in LGBTQ communities” – including mental health.

The past five years saw this transformation take place at Rainbow Health. This included last year’s relocation to a new space in downtown Minneapolis, back to where this organization began four decades ago. Hanson Willis points out that the new office is “just across the street from the Hennepin County Government Center. Not only is the space much more accessible to all forms of transportation and transit, but the space is beautiful. It’s welcoming, it’s inviting, and we hope it will provide the kind of high-quality experience so that everyone that we serve feels welcome and supported when they walk in the door.”

In receiving this award, Hanson Willis reflected that “what this award means to us is that we are fulfilling that mission, that the services and programs that we have to offer really are responding to the most important health issues in our community, from substance use to mental health, to HIV, to housing, homelessness, and financial need. So, it says to us that the wide array of services that we’re offering to our community really is responding to the health needs and making the impact that we hope to make.”

As they continue to be at the forefront for health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, Lavender Magazine congratulates the team at the Rainbow Health for their Community Pride Award in the Non-Profit category. 

Photo courtesy of Rainbow Health

Seward Community Co-Op

BY LAVENDER

You immediately think of Seward Community Co-Op as a grocery store. We should remind ourselves that they are much more than that.

As Natalia Mendez, the Marketing and Communications Manager at the Seward Community Co-op explains: “Seward Co-op is a community-owned grocery store. Anybody can shop there. So, it’s not like a club, like a Sam’s Club or a Costco. So anyone can shop there but we do encourage people to buy ownership into it because so much of the work we do ends up giving back to local business, local communities and working locally and also inclusively and small-scale and sustainable is very important to us.”

Important to an entire community just east of downtown Minneapolis. More important to us. “We are a space that has always been welcome for queer families, queer staff, employees, queer trans folks to shop, to work, to feel comfortable and to go into a space that feels like it does belong to us because it does,” explained Mendez.

In receiving this accolade, Mendez stated that the Seward Community Co-Op is “elated…just because it’s nice to see that we are being recognized a community member.”

“We’re very excited to feel like a place that has been seen and chosen as a place to represent our community,” Mendez continued. “Again, because so many of us that work here are within the queer community, LGBTQ+ community, that it’s nice to have that be recognized because it is such a haven to go to a place where you feel like you could just go to work and be yourself. We’re very excited that Lavender is recognizing us and that hopefully in the future when we’re hiring, more folks will come from our community to be a part of that as well.”

For being a beacon of sustainability and providing opportunities for their LGBTQ+ employees and partners, Lavender Magazine congratulates the team at the Seward Community Co-Op for their Community Pride Award in the Small Business category. 

PROUD TO CARE

Photo courtesy of Seward Community Co-Op

Ryan Companies

BY LAVENDER

They are a major player in one of the few industries you will find LGBTQ+ employees thriving proudly. You see their name at construction sites, on their trucks, and even at pride events.

That is why we are giving the spotlight to Ryan Companies.

What does Ryan Companies do? As Bryce Tache, the lead for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Ryan Companies, explained: “We’re more than a construction company. We are a full-service commercial real estate company, that has been around for 85 years. And we do everything that you can think of related to construction, or real estate. We have an architecture and engineering team. We have a building services [team], and a property management team as well. Really, if you think about almost the life cycle of a building, we can support it from conception, all the way through the design, and the build, and the management of that, for as long as that building stands.”

More importantly, Ryan Companies has an active Employee Resource Group – Building Pride. Founded in 2021, it now has “100 formal members,” according to Tache. They also welcome other Ryan employees from across the company at the ERG’s events. Building Pride was present at the Twin Cities Pride festival, as well as putting on events for the ERG, such as during National Coming Out Day.

“At Ryan, we deeply care about our communities, and the diversity of our communities as well,” Tache said. “And for some of our actions to have resonated with community members, that’s humbling. And we’re grateful for that honor, for sure.”

In building a network of LGBTQ+ employees within their structures and being out there for our community, Lavender Magazine congratulates the team at Ryan Companies for their Community Pride Award in the Corporate category. 

Photo by Randy Stern

Taking PRIDE in Volunteering

BY SUSAN SWAVELY

Hosting an entire Pride event is definitely not an easy undertaking. It requires resources, planning, and of course, the hard work and dedication of tons of amazing volunteers. Too often, volunteers don’t get the praise and recognition they deserve, so this year, we’re showing allllll the love to the volunteers that make Pride festivals, events, and so much more into a reality!

Twin Cities Pride has a wonderful team of volunteers, both yearround volunteers who have worked with TC Pride for years, and newer, event volunteers who help run and organize incredible events like the Twin Cities Pride Festival! Volunteer Coordinator Anne Kraus (she/ her), says, “At Twin Cities Pride, we cannot function without our volunteers. Volunteers are the whole reason we are able to do the work that we do. We have year-round volunteers and volunteers who come here and there for various events. Both groups of volunteers are essential to the organization.” She elaborates, saying that volunteers help with a plethora of tasks, “Tabling events, running events, helping out at the office, organizing the entire festival, making sure the festival runs!” Basically, everything that happens at the festival… you can thank the volunteers for! Ann? Kraus sums it up perfectly when she says, “Our volunteers do everything!”

Volunteers are also deeply fulfilled by working with Twin Cities Pride; the feeling of gratitude is mutual. Kraus says, “Providing volunteers opportunities to support the organization also provides them with an opportunity to not only support the LGBTQ+ community but also find a place within the community. Volunteering with us provides a sense of community for folks volunteering as well as those attending the events. It is truly a full circle experience.” By creating a community that encourages us to lean on each other for support, we create even stronger bonds. Volunteers find community, friendship, passion and a place in the community, and organizations and attendees benefit greatly from all of the hard work of the volunteers. With this truly symbiotic relationship in effect, everyone feels supported and loved. And that is the foundation for a strong, long-lasting community.

Twin Cities Pride’s volunteers work so hard to bring all of their events together, especially the festival, which is one of the biggest undertakings of the year. The community aspect of volunteering makes all the hard work worth it, and creates an atmosphere of love all around. Darcie Baumann, who has volunteered with TC Pride since 2008 and has held positions such as VIP Manager, Sponsorship/Social Media Manager, Board Chair, as well as her current role as the Entertainment Director, says “The feeling I had after my very first pride is what inspired me to volunteer. When my first pride weekend came to an end, I didn’t want to leave—I didn’t want that feeling of community to end. Growing up in a rural community I didn’t know this feeling of acceptance was possible, and I started volunteering because I wanted to be a part of making that feeling happen for others.”

Another TC Pride volunteer, Michael Kroeger, who has volunteered with Twin Cities Pride since 2012 and has held positions such as Board Secretary, Operations and IT Manager adds, “It takes a lot of time and effort to put together our largest event, but seeing the large crowds of people finding joy and happiness coming together and providing spaces to be their true authentic selves and find others that are like them is what keeps me doing it. I encounter people who it is their first time and they

are in awe of the vibrant and diverse community we have and that they also fit into it. It’s the best feeling to be able to create these spaces and activities.” And the community appreciates all this devotion to Pride events as well. Baumann says “Every year we get the most amazing emails from folks thanking us for creating the space and what it means to them. Being a part of the team that creates these impactful moments for folks is the best feeling.”

So if you’re looking for your cosmic sign to volunteer with Twin Cities Pride, let it be Darcie Baumann, who says, “DO IT! Twin Cities Pride is a unique volunteering experience. Folks really have the opportunity to thrive here. If you volunteer for one thing but see something else you’re interested in you’ll be encouraged to try it.” And if that isn’t enough to persuade you, Baumann adds, “I’ve met some of my best friends and chosen family through this experience.” Pride is a celebration of who we are as a community, and what better way to celebrate all the love in the LGBTQ+ community than to support and applaud each other? So thank you, to all of the incredible Twin Cities volunteers—none of this would be possible without you!

Learn more about volunteering with Twin Cities Pride at www. tcpride.org/volunteer. 

Michael Kroeger. Photo courtesy of Twin Cities Pride

Which Vendors and Sponsors Will Be at Pride?

BY SUSAN SWAVELY

Pride Month is a time for celebration, for promoting positive change for the LGBTQ+ community, for talking about queer issues, and of course, it’s a time to remember the fearless members of our community, especially the queer Women of Color who paved the way for the rights so many of us enjoy as a part of the LGBTQ+ community today. But, in a less positive way, Pride is also a time when corporations who don’t otherwise support any LGBTQ+ issues… turn all their logos rainbow in what activists call rainbow-washing. Because of this, it might feel uncomfortable to see corporations at Pride events and festivals, but it really isn’t that simple.

Twin Cities Pride commented on the fact that they’ve got corporations at their Pride Festival. Rina Heisel (she/her), the Executive Assistant of Twin Cities Pride, says, “Every year, over one weekend in June, the team at Twin Cities Pride constructs a small city of tents, booths, and performance stages meticulously positioned across Loring Park to allow for the most artists, the most makers, the most musicians, the most non-profits, healthcare organizations, and yes—sponsor corporations, to have a space to fulfill their mission, whatever that may be.”

But just because there are corporate sponsors at the event doesn’t mean that Twin Cities Pride itself is a corporate event. In fact, Heisel points out, “corporate sponsors make up a surprisingly small percentage of booth participants. [While] it may feel like sponsors—such as Wells Fargo, Target, and Delta, to name a few—have a large presence, the percentages for the 2024 Festival break down a bit differently.” This means that even if the most recognizable names are the corporate ones, that does not mean they’re the biggest players at Pride or that the percentage of corporate sponsors even comes close to touching the small businesses and non-profits present. In fact, Otto released the numbers for this year’s Twin Cities Pride Festival booth occupancy, which you can see here:

• 46% of booths are Business-Level, and out of those, 39% are actually small businesses, like Artists, Makers, Goods providers, Food vendors, etc.

• 27% of booths are Non-Profit Level, which includes Queerspace Collective, Rainbow Health, etc.

• 15% of booths are Sponsors (MN Timberwolves, General Mills, M Health Fairview, etc.)

• 12% of booths are actually Twin Cities Pride Operations, which means they’re Info booths, First Aid booths, Family Services booths, and more.

Even with such a small number of corporations at the Twin Cities Pride festival, some might still be wondering: why? Heisel answers truthfully, “Why, when Pride is a tradition grown out of Stonewall and a history of civil disobedience, are corporate entities allowed into such a sacred space? The short answer: corporate sponsors bring much needed funds, as a festival with FREE admission that attracts over 500,000 attendees is very expensive.”

She adds, “Remember: Twin Cities Pride is a non-profit organization that aims to break even financially with the festival, it is by no means the cash-cow some believe it to be.” The need for corporate sponsors at Pride boils down to what everything in the United States boils down to essentially: the need for money, which is, in this case, the need for money to provide the crucial services offered by Twin Cities Pride.

Otto sums it up by saying, “Pride is more than a party. It is a place to find resources to help you live your most authentic life all year round because we deserve that. Festival goers can find resources for both physical and mental health care in the Living Well Park area of our festival. Last year a few attendees who participated in a free cancer screening were alerted to an issue they needed to address immediately. You really can’t put a price on that.” And how can a non-profit provide these sometimes lifesaving services to the community for no cost to them? Corporate sponsorship.

Otto continues, “Without sponsorship, we can’t continue to grow, and we can’t continue to be free. Last year alone we were able to put over $75,000 back into the community by sponsoring small prides like Golden Valley and POC Pride, sponsor events like Day of the Transgender Child with Transforming families, hold Rainbow Feast which fed 150 people a free holiday meal, and support our amazing community artists with support of a Prince fashion show. I am hoping this year it’s an even bigger number that we get to give back to the community. The more I raise the more I get to put back into the community.” And TC Pride provides services to the LGBTQ+ community year-round as well, which is funded by the Pride Festival.

And while it’s important to know where the money is coming from, it’s also important that the people running Twin Cities Pride are extremely mindful of “keeping the festival emphasis on a weekend of LGBTQ+ joy and authenticity.” That’s why, while there is corporate sponsorship at Pride, it’s only the necessary amount, and not too much. Attendees can rest assured that Twin Cities Pride isn’t a corporate event, and truly, it benefits the community all year round. 

ROAD CLOSED

Twin Cities LGBTQ+

History Tours

The Twin Cities LGBTQ+ History Tours are an ongoing collaboration between Twin Cities Pride and the Minnesota Historical Society. The tours comprise fifty-eight sites across the Twin Cities (thirty-eight in Minneapolis, including Loring Park, and twenty in St. Paul). The sites can be explored from anywhere, via tablet, desktop computer, or smartphone. Users can enable location services on their smart devices to understand their current location in proximity to any given site listed on the map. Users can explore beyond the maps by following the external links to MNopedia, online essays, and newspaper articles. TC Pride and MNHS welcome suggestions for future sites and have included a suggestion form with the maps for community members to make their voices heard.

TWIN CITIES PRIDE BOOTH VENDORS

587 ArtCrusher

Artifacts of Joy

256 Asian encounters

Asmodee

Atomic Polish

Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute

Avenues for Youth

Awesome Industries

Awohali Designs

254 Baby Alpaca

588 Baby Kat Aesthetic 626 Ballet Co.Laboratory 10, 9 Baraka Jewelry 643 Beauty Through Chaos 524 Becoming Together Therapy and Wellness

T-E, T-F beezwax 120 Begin Anew

530 Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities

100, 99 Bisexual Organizing Project

blacksheepmosaics

Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota

380 Blue Valley Clay

BluePearl Pet Hospital

541 2D Con 577, 578 2Dudes1Dream 219, 218 3M

561 5th Congressional District Green Party

590 651 Mayday 600 A Fink & Ink 125 A Kindness Co 495 AARP 634, 635 ABCbyKarla

ACLU of Minnesota

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union

Affirming Lutherans of Northeast

AFSP Minnesota

Agate Housing and Services

AiriAviAnna

Alexander Exteriors

All God's Children MCC

ALL IN Therapy Clinic

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

Always Funday

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Ampact

Amy's Heartfelt Art

Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota

Animal Humane Society

Animal Rights Coalition

Annex Teen Clinic

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Anti-War Committee

Apothecary 19

Archie Bongiovanni

170 Body Techs Wellness Cryo & Recovery

Bondesque 509, 509B, 509C Boston Scientific

Bottle Cap Retro

Bottoms Up

569 Boudoir Belle Reproductions

48 Brenna M & Co 108 Bridging

103 Brighter Days Family Grief Center

354, 355 Burnsville Massage, LLC 636 Burton Art Studios

660B Button Poetry

674 Calliope Women's Chorus 156 Candy Claws

Canopy

36 First Christian Church Minneapolis 671 Fittonia Co

274 Flip the Script Queer Film Festival

470 Flourish Wellness Collaborative 177 Focused Clothing

398 Folly Lolly 515, 516 Fragmented Nostalgia 391 Francesca Miguieles

443 Free Hugs 358 Free Mom Hugs 397 FREE SPIRIT NY

Friends of Loring Park/CLPC

382 Fryed Candy : Connecting The World Through Design

359 Fulbright Association Minnesota Chapter 413, 414 Fuzzbutt Boutique

96 Gay & Bi Father's Support Group 178 GayMortgage.com 267 Geek Partnership Society 316 Gender Inclusive Schools 313 Gender Justice 383 Ghost Tabby Creations 128, 565 Gift House

Gifts By Reeree 560 Glamazon 55 Glitter and Real Matte Tattoos

402 god glam it 98 Goodwill Easter Seals MN 664 Grainy Brain Wood Creations

Great Clips Crazy Hair! 361 Great MN Schools 88 Greater Twin Cities United Way T-H Green Goods

209, 210 Grinkie Photography 403 Guardian ad Litem

Guelaguetza Designs

Guthrie Theatre

Guys&Ties 605 Hail Mary Piercing and Tattoo

Hamline University

206 Hazelden Betty Ford

Health Care for All Minnesota

HealthPartners

Hennepin County Attorney's Office

Hennepin County Foster Care Licensing

669, 670 Indigo Sun Jewelry

338 It Takes A Village MN 63 J-Pride (JFCS)

557 James Ballentine Uptown VFW #246

216 Jesse Arvidson, AgentLivingLocal Realty

650, 651 Jewels By Xaviea 526 Joycoast

222, 223 Junque In thy Trunk

158B KDWB 101.3

390 Keener Creations

564 Keep It Kute Kit 633 Kemps

633B Kemps

30 Kim's Kaleidoscope

602 Kindred Souls Crystals and Healing

562 Kink on the Scene#ConsensuallyKinky Enamel Pins 627 Kobi Co. 607, 608 Ladies of the Lakes 592 LeafFilter Gutter Protection 554, 555 Legacy Glassworks T-I Legacy Glassworks

235 Let Them Stim! 611, 612 Lettering Unlimited/BEHYR GEAR

502 LGBTQ+ Alliance Minnesota Chapter

596 Liberation Strategies

43 Libertarian Party of Minnesota 479 Life Recharged BEMER

295, 295B LifeTime Fitness

27 Lily of the Light

249 LINC Permanent Jewelry 639 Linda Clayton

448, 449 Long Dog Apparel

135 Looking Forward Life Coaching T-L Looner 81 Lutheran Social Service of MN 95 LynLake Centers for Wellbeing 462 M Health Fariview 72 Macalester College 487 MACV

231 Mada Mehndi | Natural Henna Art 350 Magic Moot’s House of Sparkles 73 Magnetic Originals 35 Maji Designs Jewelry 628 Mandy by Mandy 599 Maple & Hickory Woodworking

Marathon Petroleum Company St. Paul Park Refinery 585, 586 MARQUIS LEO COLLECTION 517 MaryJane Healthcare 463, 464 Masonic Cancer Center

Massad Real Estate

Matthew Corey

485 Memorial Blood

and

324,

Clinic

Medica 531, 532 Medtronic

Meet Minneapolis

Meierding Made

Melrose Center

MELSA Twin Cities Metro Public Libraries

TWIN CITIES PRIDE BOOTH VENDORS

59 Move Minnesota

134 Music City Creative

435 Must be Ruff 106 MUUSJA

428, 429 My Pit Bull is Family & Mobile Pet Resource Center

196 Mystic Healing Stones

41, 42 Mystic Treasures

574, 575 NAKED MINNESOTA

76 NAMI Minnesota

362 Narcotics Anonymous

179 Natalie Lyon Agency- Farmers Insurance

512 NATURAL ROOTS T-SHIRTS & ACCESSORIES

576 Nauti Daddy Sailing Copmany 491 NE 1 Dental

215 Neighborship Mortgage 482 NMDP

224 Normandale Community College

456, 455 North Memorial Health

168 North Star Roller Derby

298 Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District

341 Northwest Passage Charter School

595 Northwestern Mutual 102, 101 NPR

161 NSGRA

T-J NUQANNA

493 NUWAY Alliance

476 Nystrom & Associates

8 Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison

314 One Heartland Camp True Colors

252 One Voice Mixed Chorus

652, 653

One world boutique

85 Open Arms of Minnesota

269 Orangetheory Fitness

677 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

393 OSMOFOLIA

204 Ostri(chi)zed Brewing Company

308, 309 OutFront Minnesota

566 Pallay craft

434 Paw & Order - Twin Cities

129 Pawstar

364 Peace Corps

466 Peak Behavioral Health

200B Pearlie B Tshirts & Accessories

340 People for PSEO

534 People Incorporated

433 Pet Haven inc of Minnesota 425, 426 PetCo

318 PFund Foundation

615 Photographic Narratives

293, 291, 292 Pickleball Tournament - Just Pickles

259 Pin daddies

421 Pink Cloud Foundation

285 Planned Parenthood

672 Plantidote Designs

640 Pluto's Authentic Witching Service

613 Ponderosa Sky Designs

459 Prairie Care

658 Prettys N Paws

594, 409, 300B, 139, 112, 1

Pride Festival Information Booth

288 Pride Ft Lauderdale Flags and Fans

300 Pride Merchandise

160C Pride Ride

553 Prime Therapeutics

250 Prime Timers - Minneapolis - St. Paul

105 Pro-Choice Minnesota

406 ProSkin Esthetics and Laser

618, 619 PT Rocks and Gems

427 Purina

160 PWHL

207, 207B Quatrefoil Library

660B Queen of Swords Press

374, 655 Queen On The SceneInappropriately Awesome Pins

244 Queer Birth Project

660B Queer Writers Zone

268 Queerencia

217 Queerly Beloved Events

198B Queermunity

328 QUEERSPACE collective

508 Quorum

467, 468 Rainbow Health

322, 237B Rainbow Wardrobe

623 Rajine the Queen Artistry

195 Ramsey County Social Services

197 Raymond James - Riverdale (Danielle Anderson)

155 Re-Bath Minneapolis

312 RECLAIM

123, 124 Red Door Clinic

245 Remembrance Garden

377 Renee Boynton Art

260, 261 Renewal by Andersen

499 Residential Transitions

262 ReSound

5, 6 Resurrected Journals

439 Retrieve A Golden of the Midwest

248 Revival Candle Studio

593 Revolution Deck Systems

345 Richfield Public Schools

676 Ritual & Union / GayHaus

450 Riverrun Acreage LLC

678 RJ Collection

498 RMIA

551, 552 RUFFLECT DOG BANDANAS

400 Saintly Sisters

641, 642 Sand + Rose Co

497 Sankalpa Therapy And Wellness Center

533 Sarah Jane's Makery

461, 461B Save The Bottoms!!! Foundation

472 Save-A-Bull

659, 659B Scribble Lady

389 Sebastian Stickers + Art

396 Secret Garden Spa

647 see carrie color

199 Selcouth Artistry

500 Sensible Mental Health

567 ServeMinnesota 22 Set Adrift Art

430 Sew Doggy Boutique

660B Sewn Together Reflections

284 Sexual Violence Center

417 Shanai Henna

21, 522 Shangri-La Crafts and Gifts

622 Shawn Lohse Art

581

Shellucinations Art 86 Shiros African Boutique 16 Shout Out Loud - Suicide Prevention

91 Skirtcraft: Unisex Skirts w/ Large Pockets

87 Small Batch Henna & Craft

392 smallkims art 25 Sneaky Link Permanent Jewelry 120 Sober Pride 579, 580 spacecase.cafe 167 Spanish with Caiden 371 St. Cloud State University 58 St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church 663 stace of spades 444, 445 State of Minnesota, MNclusive ERG 93 Steve Rummler HOPE Network

Stonewall Sports - Twin Cities

for Socialist Revolution

Sunshine Collective By Lola

Sweet Leaves: A Cannabis Company

Sweetie-Pie Collars

Mpls

234

TRE Neurogenic Tremoring for Wellbeing

598 Trellis Management

632 Trixi's Twisted Wonders

388 Tryst Trigger Artworks

194 Tubman

523 Twin Cities Con

180 Twin Cities DSA

370 Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus

189 Twin Cities In Motion 53, 54 Twin Cities Pagan Pridw

376 Twin Cities Pride - Artist In Residence

120 Twin Cities Recovery Project Inc 510, 511 Twin Cities Reiki Master

489

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Benefits

Administration

480, 481 UCare

299 underDARE

18 Unicorn Muscle

154 UniQueen Creationz 452, 451 United Health Group

198 United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities 352, 353 University of Minnesota

418 Upper Midwest Great Dane Rescue 536, 537 US Bank

183 USTA Northern 304, 305 Verizon

460 ViiV Healthcare

387 Waabooz Beading

614 Walker Art Center

535 Walser Automotive Group 453, 454 War Forged Printing 437, 438 We the People

616 Wenonah Body Lab 617 Westfield Crochet

228 White Bear Mitsubishi 668 Wildly Connected Photography 384, 385 WyntersEnd Workshop 301, 302, 303 Xcel Energy 661, 662 Yarnival

589 Yinglong Kung Fu

T-G You Betcha Cannabis Company

601 Your Home Improvement Company

BLUE FOOD COURT

B-BEV Beverages by UPS

B-G Cheese Curd Tacos

B-F Cloud 9 Energy Bowls

B-ICE Ice Booth

B-L Jerry's Cherry Lemonade and Shaved Ice

B-H KRAZD FOODNATIK MN

B-K Miamor Catering

B-I Outlaw Roasted Corn 3

B-M Pronto Pups

B-E Quality Food Internationalseafood market

B-C, B-D SCHRODER CONCESSIONS, Inc

B-A Taqueria Espartaco

B-J Tom Thumb Donut Corp.

B-B Unbakeable

PINK FOOD COURT

L-A Agave Express

L-F B-Lo Zero Sno Cones & Minnie Donuts

L-BEV Beverages by UPS

L-G Bubble Tea House

L-C El Burrito Mercado

L-B Fire It Up Concessions

L-ICE Ice Booth

L-D La La Homemade Ice Cream

L-E Ting Tea & dessert

PURPLE FOOD COURT

P-F Amish Annie Donuts & Lemonade

P-D Best Way

P-BEV Beverages by UPS

P-E Boki Food Service

P-P Caribou Coffee

P-N Carnival Concessions

P-M El Burrito Mercado

P-ICE Ice Booth

P-H Infuzn Foods LLC

P-A Jerry's Cherry Lemonade and Shaved Ice

P-K Juicebox Inc

P-L Just The Meats

P-J Minnesnowii Shave Ice

P-B Pharaohs Gyros

P-G Philicious Phillys

P-O Red's Savoy Pizza

P-I SCHRODER CONCESSIONS, Inc

P-C Taulelle Concessions

YELLOW FOOD COURT

Y-L Best Way

Y-BEV Beverages by UPS

Y-G Boki Food Service

Y-J Boki Food Service

Y-K Cheese Curd Tacos

Y-D El Burrito Mercado

Y-ICE Ice Booth

Y-B Jerry's Cherry Lemonade and Shaved Ice

Y-E PIEROGI2GOGI

Y-C Quality Food Internationalseafood market

Y-H, Y-I Taulelle Concessions

Y-A The American Dream Machine

Y-F Tom Thumb Donut Corp.

TWIN CITIES PRIDE PARADE LINE-UP

Twin Cities Pride

Dykes on Bykes

Rainbow Flag

Bisexual Flag

Trans Flag

Unity Flag

Leather Pride

Grand Marshal Carley Knox

MN Timberwolves & Lynx

Walz for Govenor

Mpls Mayor Frey

City of Saint Paul

Minneapolis City Council

White Bear Mitsubishi

Metro Transit

KTMY-FM / myTalk 107.1

Target

101.3 KDWB

Delta Air Lines

US Bank

Transforming Families

QUEERSPACE collective

Children's Minnesota

General Mills

Great Northern Region Car Club

Minnesota Wild

Cub

RBC Wealth Management

Angie Craig for Congress

Klobuchar For Minnesota

Hennepin County Attorney's Office

Queer Caucus of the Minnesota

Legislature

Minnesota Twins

Medtronic

KS95

North Star Roller Derby

OutFront Minnesota

Minnesota Vikings

The Dive Sports Bar and Grill

Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League

Minneapolis Mayhem Rugby

Football Club

University of Minnesota

Free Geek Twin Cities

Chewy, Inc

The Bond Between Rockford Road Animal

Hospital

Allied Emergency Veterinary Service, (Minnesota) LLC

Saint Mark's Episcopal

Cathedral

St Paul Saints Baseball Club

St Patricks Association

Audi Minneapolis and St. Paul

Consulate General of Canada

J-Pride (JFCS)

North Star Gay Rodeo Assn

Imperial Court of Minnesota

Twin Cities Country Dancers

Goodwill-Easter Seals

Minnesota

Ballet Company Laboratory

Aveda Arts and Sciences

Institute Minneapolis

Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus

MnDOT Office of Equity and Diversity

MNclusive Employee

Resources Group

The Aliveness Project

Foster Adopt Minnesota

Sun Country Airlines

Xcel Energy

Alive & Kickin

Greater Twin Cities United Way

Women's Drum Center

Clare Housing

Minnesota Zoo

Hazelden Betty Ford

Foundation

The Minnesota Freedom Band

Minnesota United Methodist

Reconciling Congregations

Hennepin Healthcare

Radio K - Real College Radio

Annex Teen Clinic

Noodles & Company

Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates

Greater Minneapolis Hotel Association

M Health Fairview

Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota AFL-CIO

Centro Restaurant Group

CenterPoint Energy

Minnesota Deaf Queers

Open Arms of Minnesota

Pizza Luce

Carmichael Lynch

Emerson's LGBTQ+Allies

Employee Resource Group

HealthPartners

SPS Commerce

3M Company

Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy

Shout Out Loud - Suicide Prevention

Pink Cloud Foundation

American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota

Minnesota Atheists

Life Time

Ecolab

Mayo Clinic

Marriott International

Wells Fargo

WTW

Roxy's Cabaret

AEO Real Pride Network

(LGBTQIA+ ERG)

KARE 11 News

NBC Sports Next OUT ERG

Travelers Insurance

Minneapolis Public Schools

Cargill

Deluxe Corporation

Andersen Corporation

Metro Meals on Wheels

Lathrop GPM

CLA

BAE Systems

Punch Bowl Social

Ameriprise Financial

Taft

IKEA Minneapolis

Pentair

Liz Peter with Luminate Home

Loans and Michael Kaslow

Team

Deloitte

Progressive Insurance

Sleep Number

Abbott Employee Network

nVent

MCN6

Best Buy

CH Robinson

DROP OFF/PICK UP LOCATION

Gay 90s

The Saloon

Minneapolis Firefighters

PUB CRAWL

Local 82

Twin Cities Pride’s Rainbow Wardrobe Takes The Community Somewhere Over The Rainbow

BY SUSAN SWAVELY

When it comes to expressing yourself, no matter what your gender or sexuality, everyone can agree the easiest and most noticeable way to do it is in your style. Because of this, it can feel crushing if you don’t have the ability to express yourself, especially to accurately express and celebrate your gender identity or sexuality.

That’s where Twin Cities Pride’s Rainbow Wardrobe program comes to the clothing rescue, by offering a wonderful selection of affirming clothing, accessories, toiletries, and so much more to the LGBTQ+ community. And the best part about it? It’s totally free.

What exactly is the Rainbow Wardrobe program at Twin Cities Pride? Maddy Loch (they/she), the Programming Coordinator for Twin Cities Pride says, “The Rainbow Wardrobe is a zero cost, gender affirming wardrobe program that is hosted at the Pride office year-round… The Rainbow Wardrobe offers individuals a safe space to come and look

through clothes and accessories that make them feel safe, confident, and 100% like their authentic self.”

The Rainbow Wardrobe is a wonderful celebration of queerness, and a great tool for people who, without it, might not be able to dress in ways that make them feel confident in who they are.

Loch says that the Rainbow Wardrobe started out a lot smaller than it is today. They explain, “The idea was to host it at our 2023 Pride Festival as a clothing swap in the park. After the festival, we realized how needed this resource was, so it became a year-round program that we have in the Pride office.” She continues, “Throughout the past year, the wardrobe has expanded greatly. Instead of just clothing, we now have toiletries, makeup, undergarments, gender affirming undergarments such as binders, tucking garments, breast forms, and so much more. Our wardrobe is size and style inclusive and has something for everyone, whether that’s a sparkly top for an event, or a pair of jeans for every day.”

In a world where so much is outside of our control, it’s so refreshing to know that there’s a place our community can go to find clothes that make them feel unique, loved, and celebrated. There’s nothing quite like

Continued on page 42

the gender euphoria of putting on an outfit that feels right, and helping someone in our community experience pure queer joy like this is a truly priceless act of love. Twin Cities Pride’s decision to keep the Rainbow Wardrobe program going year-round also shows how much dedication and care they have for the community.

As we all know, especially in the LGBTQ+ community, clothes aren’t just clothes. They’re expression, they’re acceptance; clothing is an incredibly important cultural tool, and wearing what you want can be both a beautiful rebellion, and a radical act of homage to those who fought for the rights we have today. In short, clothing is deeply important, and the Rainbow Wardrobe celebrates that.

If you want to help out with the Rainbow Wardrobe program, you’re in luck! They’re always looking for donations. Loch explains, that they’re looking for, “clothing, toiletries, and monetary donations so that we can continue to provide this space for individuals in need. Clothing donations can be dropped off at the Twin Cities Pride office, Monday – Friday and monetary donations can be made on our website.”

They continue, “For any questions regarding the Rainbow Wardrobe, please email us at rainbowcircle@tcpride.org.”

Loch also makes a point to thank all of the wonderful community members who have already lent their time, donations and money to the Rainbow Wardrobe. She says, “we’re so grateful for all the individuals who have stepped up and provided the program with items such as toiletries, monetary donations for gender affirming undergarments, specific clothing sizes, etc. We’re also immensely grateful for individuals who have donated their time to volunteering for wardrobe events and ensuring the program continues to provide individuals with a safe and welcoming place.”

Summer hours for the Rainbow Wardrobe will be a little different, as the organization prepares for Pride, so make sure to check in on their website for dates and times! Loch notes that, as always, “If anyone is urgently in need of gender affirming undergarments, toiletries, clothing, etc. during our closure, please reach out to us at rainbowcircle@tcpride.org.”

This Pride, celebrate your style, your gender, your sexuality and yourself by wearing exactly what you want… and helping someone else do exactly the same. Support Twin Cities Pride’s Rainbow Wardrobe, and serve! 

Twin Cities Pride Rainbow Wardrobe www.tcpride.org/rainbow-wardrobe

Photo courtesy of Bigstock/Mihailo K

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Month of the Military Spouse Minnesota National Guard Spouse Shares Glimpse Into Military Life

BY CRISTINA OXTRA

Every year in May, the United States Department of Defense recognizes the strength and contributions of the nation’s nearly one million military spouses.

In Minnesota, there are almost 9,500 National Guard and Reserve spouses. This includes Elizabeth Bradshaw, spouse of Minnesota National Guard Army Maj. Justin Bradshaw, 34th Infantry Division. The Bradshaws have three children: Piper, 9; Arlo, 3; and Estelle, who passed away as an infant six years ago.

Month of the Military Spouse holds special meaning for Elizabeth.

“There is a lot of sacrifices that families have to make in order to support their soldiers,” she said. “Knowing that there is a month to honor what we do to ensure our service members can complete their missions makes me feel proud of our role.”

And with that role comes many challenges.

“Since we are parents, the hardest part for me is solo parenting when he is gone. It is an incredible mental load to carry, and all the day-to-day tasks fall to the spouse at home,” Elizabeth said. “It is also challenging to not have your person around to talk to about anything and everything. You have to get creative to find ways to connect, especially while they are away.”

Therefore, a strong support system is a necessity.

“Luckily, we have an incredible support system through family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors, but it is still tough,” said Elizabeth, who volunteers with the Minnesota National Guard Soldier and Family Readiness Specialists team. She manages its social media and provides information to families.

Elizabeth and her family also appreciate all the organizations, like Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, that support service members and their families. The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program provides a support network that connects and coordinates agencies, organizations, and resources to meet the needs of Minnesota’s veterans, service members, and families in all military branches.

“It’s comforting to know so many communities and businesses have our back and are thankful for what we do,” she said.

Elizabeth asks employers and others in the community to be patient, flexible, and supportive of their service member employees, friends, and neighbors.

“Don’t put the burden on them by asking what you can do to help them. Sometimes we don’t know, and it changes day by day. Instead, ask if Wednesday or Thursday would be better to drop off a meal. Offer to take their dog on a walk on a Saturday morning or mow their lawn,” Elizabeth said. “Take it upon yourself to do something for them, within reason, without overwhelming them, crossing a boundary, or having them expend any energy to figure it out.”

Military life is far from easy, and Elizabeth encourages spouses to “hang on tight,” “take a deep breath,” and remember they are not alone.

“Your spouse, your marriage, and your family are worth it,” Elizabeth said. “Seek out other military spouses to connect with. Don’t try to do it alone. Having someone to go to who gets it is priceless.”

For Elizabeth, the positives and numerous points of pride outweigh the difficulties of being a military spouse.

“I think the most positive thing about being a military spouse is the community that can come along with it. It isn’t always automatic, and you sometimes have to seek it out, but I’ve met some wonderful people through my husband’s military service,” Elizabeth said. “I’m also proud of what our family has weathered together and the service we have provided to our country.” 

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon

To learn more about Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, visit www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil/btyr or follow on Facebook or X. For information on the Solider and Family Readiness Specialists team, visit www.minnesotanationalguard.ng.mil/minnesota-soldier-and-family-readiness.

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota National Guard

Why We Serve Maj. Melissa Spencer

BY AMY M. LOVGREN

At the beginning of their military careers, U.S. Air Force Maj. Melissa Spencer and Maj. Stephanie Servi had their own reasons for joining. Spencer enlisted with the Alaska National Guard as a personnel specialist, while Servi went the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps route, joining as a cadet at the University of Minnesota’s ROTC Detachment 415. However, after meeting and eventually getting married, their reasons for joining evolved into their reasons for staying. Despite the challenges of being service members and a dual-military family, their purpose for serving is what bonds them together.

“I remember sitting on the stairs with my dad and talking about my reasons for wanting to serve my senior year of high school,” said Spencer. “He told me it was a very serious decision and I needed to think about it. I was looking for some direction, and honestly, the college funding was part of it. The other part was that I always wanted to do a job with purpose versus focusing on compensation. I wanted to serve to protect people and contribute to my community.”

“When I attended my first week with ROTC at the University of Minnesota, I realized giving back was part of my purpose,” said Servi. “Much like Melissa, I wanted to protect people. I also believe in being a contributing member of society. It just felt right when I became part of Detachment 415. I was drawn to the structure and the purpose of the military.”

Spencer and Servi met at Keesler Air Force Base. They felt an instant connection during their basic personnel officer school, and their bond grew stronger. After graduation, Servi had a four-year commitment to serve on active duty while Spencer was going to go back to her National Guard unit. In 2017, they got married and have been able to travel the world thanks to their service. Their success, both in the military and as a couple, comes from a shared understanding of their responsibility to protect their communities.

“Part of the reason that we are successful in the military, and as a couple, is because of our desire to protect our communities and contribute in a positive way to humanity,” said Servi.

“We share that purpose, and we share that value,” added Spencer. “I think that’s why we can tolerate separation and potential deployments. We know we can’t walk away because it’s our responsibility, and we’re capable.”

Both Spencer and Servi now call Minnesota home. Spencer is an equal opportunity director with the Minnesota National Guard’s Saint Paul-based 133rd Airlift Wing, and Servi has been instructing at the University of Minnesota ROTC unit, where she was a cadet herself. Both women have goals for their family and ongoing military careers.

“The military brought us together and has kept us together,” said Spencer. “Who you love and where you come from doesn’t matter. We wouldn’t be who we are or where we are in our lives without the opportunity to serve a greater purpose.” 

Photos courtesy of the Minnesota National Guard

Sweet Leaves Offers a New Approach to Cannabis Dispensaries in Minnesota

BY MADISON ROTH

Sweet Leaves owner Adam Hoffman knew he didn’t want his cannabis dispensary to be like the others in Minnesota. He wanted his dispensary to stand out from the rest.

Hoffman and others involved in starting Sweet Leaves took to other dispensaries around the country to figure out what they wanted their own business to look like to customers. Los Angeles and New York City were among these stops.

This is how Sweet Leaves was brought to life, changing the game for cannabis dispensaries.

“It’s a personal accomplishment to have this but also to be able to deliver a place that people in the community can come to that they don’t feel guilty about going to because it’s a happy place to go to,” Hoffman said. “It’s a place where people can forget about reality for the 10 to 15 minutes they’re in here.”

Products range from edibles to cannabis beverages to accessories like bongs and pipes. Hoffman said Sweet Leaves offers an exclusive beverage called Floral, the only dispensary in Minnesota to offer these.

Sweet Leaves offers their own organic edibles with plenty of different flavors for customers to try. Hoffman said people have come to him in the past saying edibles they had taken didn’t feel “clean” to them, so he wanted to make sure people were getting the healthiest experience possible.

Photo courtesy of Adam Hoffman

Sweet Leaves also sells artwork that is able to be purchased. Along with paintings on the walls, ceramic ashtrays and bongs are also able to be purchased.

Hoffman stressed the importance of education since it’s been less than a year since cannabis was legalized in Minnesota. He said there is a lack of education around cannabis, so he wants people to be able to come into Sweet Leaves and be able to ask questions about the products they’re purchasing.

“Education around this space is lacking, and my biggest thing starting this was education first,” Hoffman said. “We want to educate our customers and people who are wondering about different aspects of the cannabis industry.”

Hoffman added that, while Sweet Leaves did not run into any legal issues with cannabis being so new to the Twin Cities area, his business is dedicated to keeping up with policies the state continues to regulate for cannabis dispensaries.

Another factor making Sweet Leaves stand out from other Minnesota dispensaries is the welcoming environment of the store. Although people cannot consume the products on site, Hoffman said anybody from any background of life is welcomed at the store.

“This place needs to be a place for everyone no matter how you identify or what gender you are, how old you are,” Hoffman said. “People ask what my target market is and I say ‘I want everybody.’”

Hoffman said there is stigma around cannabis but doesn’t think there should be since many adults enjoy an alcoholic beverage after work. He said people should be able to do the same with cannabis by taking an edible or having a THC drink without judgment.

Opening an independent business never goes as according to plan entirely, and Hoffman said Sweet Leaves faced its own challenges when going through this process. Construction didn’t always go as planned and delays in products halted the original opening date.

“With a lot of hard work and a lot of great minds behind the business, we were able to solve a lot of problems along the way really quickly,” Hoffman said.

You can find Sweet Leaves located in the North Loop of Minneapolis, an iconic location with several other cool shops and stops in the Minneapolis area. Hoffman said he is excited to have his shop be in the North Loop because of it being in the heart of Minneapolis.

Hoffman opened Sweet Leaves with his brother, David, and said he has had an abundance of support from friends and family when going out on his own to make this dream come to life.

Hoffman wants people in Minnesota to enjoy the high they get from cannabis no matter what form they consume it in as he understands himself what the plant can do for those who want to give it a try.

“The birds chirp louder, the leaves turn greener, your smile is a little bit bigger, and that’s what I love about the plant,” Hoffman said. “It turns on that other part of my brain that can’t be opened until I consume cannabis.”

Part of the reason Sweet Leaves came to fruition was because Hoffman wanted to share his passion for cannabis with those around him. He said he believes it can help people in several different ways.

“I’m really passionate about the plant and what it can do for people but also what it did and still does for me as well is the biggest thing that keeps me passionate about this business and the product that I sell,” Hoffman said. 

Sweet Leaves

905 N. Washington Ave., Minneapolis www.sweetleavesnorthloop.com

Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Associates

Dr. Madeline Stead Dr. Megan Mulligan

Dr. Thorp’s Legacy As a Trailblazer in Gender Health Services and LGBTQ+ Care

BY JEN PEEPLES

As Dr. Thorp’s illustrious career prepares to transition out of the role of direct patient care at Park Nicollet/Health Partners, her impact on gender health services and LGBTQ+ care shines brighter than ever. After more than three decades of unwavering dedication, she leaves behind a legacy that has transformed the landscape of healthcare, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, compassion, and an unyielding commitment to serving those who have long been marginalized.

A Childhood Immersed in Healthcare

Dr. Thorp’s journey into the medical field was deeply rooted in her upbringing. With a mother at the helm of a local family medicine clinic, she grew up surrounded by the rhythms of healthcare, absorbing the nuances of patient care from an early age. The sounds of ringing phones, the shuffle of charts, and the gentle murmurs of compassionate consultations painted a vivid picture of what it meant to be a healer.

Coming Out and Finding Her Purpose

However, it wasn’t until later in life that her true calling emerged, guided by a personal revelation that would shape her life’s work. As a medical student, Dr. Thorp courageously embraced her identity as a lesbian, a pivotal moment that ignited a fire within her to serve underrepresented communities, particularly the LGBTQ+ population. This personal experience fueled her commitment to ensuring that no one felt marginalized or overlooked when seeking essential healthcare services.

Planting the Seeds of Change

When Dr. Thorp joined Park Nicollet, her vision was clear: to expand education and access to care for those who had long been neglected. Inspired by the pioneering efforts of a senior partner in the late ’70s and ’80s, she seized the opportunity to provide gender-affirming care, gradually nurturing a dedicated clinic to meet the growing demand. With each patient she treated, she planted the seeds of change, cultivating a space where individuals could authentically and safely express their identity.

Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers

Through strategic partnerships and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, Dr. Thorp played a pivotal role in the expansion of gender services across the organization. Her advocacy extended beyond the clinic walls, as she spearheaded initiatives to enhance LGBTQ+ health equity within the practice. Key among these efforts was the implementation of a care navigator program, designed to address the barriers that too often hindered access to essential services, such as lack of insurance coverage, stigma, and a dearth of knowledgeable providers.

A Beacon of Compassionate Care

As Dr. Thorp prepares to transition from direct patient care to a leadership role, her impact on the lives of countless individuals remains indelible. Her compassionate approach, rooted in a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, has provided solace and healing to those who have long felt unseen or misunderstood. In the warm embrace of her care, patients found not only medical expertise but also a haven, a space where they could breathe freely and embrace their authentic selves without fear of judgment or rejection.

Overcoming Obstacles: A Testament to Resilience

Dr. Thorp’s journey was not without its challenges. From insurance barriers to a shortage of knowledgeable therapists, each obstacle served as a reminder of the work still to be done. Yet, through her persever-

zealous advocates

WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN LGBTQ+ EQUALITY.

Dorsey understands that fairness, equality, and respect are not just fundamental to the law. They are fundamental to productive workplaces and peaceful communities. Dorsey is committed to being an inclusive organization that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and contributions. Learn more at www.dorsey.com/diversity.

ance and unwavering advocacy, significant strides were made. Insurance coverage expanded, and awareness grew within the medical community, gradually dismantling the barriers that once stood in the way of comprehensive care.

In the face of adversity, Dr. Thorp remained steadfast, her determination fueled by the countless stories of individuals who had been denied access to essential services or treated with indifference. She became a voice for the voiceless, a champion for those who had been pushed to the fringes of the healthcare system, tirelessly advocating for their right to receive compassionate, affirming care.

A Legacy of Inclusivity and Excellence

As we bid farewell to this remarkable clinician and advocate, we celebrate her achievements and the indelible mark she has left on the field of gender health services and LGBTQ+ care. Dr. Thorp’s unwavering dedication to equity and inclusivity serves as an inspiration to all, embodying the true essence of healthcare leadership. She will be transitioning into a director role that focuses on policies as well as physician’s clinical training that focuses on patients’ direct needs.

Through her tireless efforts, she has reshaped the narrative by redefining what it means to provide comprehensive care that acknowledges and celebrates the diversity of human experience. Her legacy transcends the walls of Health Partners, rippling outward to touch the lives of countless individuals who have found solace and empowerment in her firm commitment to creating a more just and equitable world.

In the years to come, her legacy will be known to the LGBTQ+ community as the ‘Excalibur’, the hand of hope and progress that guides the next generation of healthcare professionals toward a future where every individual, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, can access the care they deserve with dignity and respect. Dr. Thorp’s impact is woven into the fabric of the healthcare system, a tapestry of resilience, compassion, and an unshakable belief in the inherent worth of every human being.

By her brave personal mission to set such a standard of medical excellence, she has been recognized and received on multiple awards on various occasions for her service and yet has stated that her most accomplishing moments were, “meeting my patients where they are so that I can give them the best and safe medical options that I’m comfortable with them having based on their goals, is the biggest accomplishment yet.”

Dr. Thorpe, thank you for your selfless service to the community and to the future of LGBTQ+ medical care. 

Community Connection brings visibility to local LGBTQ-friendly non-profit organizations. To reserve your listing in Community Connection, email advertising@lavendermagazine. com.

ANIMAL RESCUE

Second Chance Animal Rescue

Dedicated to rescuing, fostering, caring for, and adopting out dogs and cats into forever homes. P.O. Box 10533 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651) 771-5662 www.secondchancerescue.org

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS

Quorum

Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce working to build, connect, and strengthen for a diverse business community. 2446 University Ave. W., Ste 112 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 460-8153 www.twincitiesquorum.com

CASINOS

Mystic Lake Casino Hotel

Nonstop gaming excitement with slots, blackjack, bingo and more plus distinctive bars and restaurants. 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. Prior Lake, MN 55372 (800) 262-7799 www.mysticlake.com

ENVIRONMENT

The Nature Conservancy

TNC is an environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive. 1101 W. River Pkwy., Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1291 (612) 331-0700 minnesota@tnc.org www.nature.org/minnesota

EVENT VENUES

Landmark Center

A classic venue, with a grand cortile and beautiful courtrooms, accommodates celebrations of all sizes. 75 W. 5th St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 292-3228 www.landmarkcenter.org

GRANTMAKERS/FUNDERS

PFund Foundation

PFund is the LGBTQ+ community foundation that provides grants to students and grants to non-profits. PO Box 3640 Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-870-1806 www.pfundfoundation.org

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Aliveness Project

Community Center for individuals living with HIV/AIDS – on-site meals, food shelf, and supportive service. 3808 Nicollet Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55102 (612) 824-LIFE (5433) www.aliveness.org

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Family Tree Clinic

We're a sliding fee sexual health clinic and education center, now in Minneapolis. 1919 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis MN 55403 (612) 473-0800 www.familytreeclinic.org

Keane Sense of Rhythm

Celebrate your true self with Tap dance! 1st week free, Join us now!

2161 University Avenue W., Ste. 117 St. Paul, MN. 55114 (612) 251-4744 info@tapcompany.org www.tapcompany.org

NAMI Minnesota

(National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Providing free classes and peer support groups for people affected by mental illnesses.

1919 University Ave. W., Ste. 400 St. Paul, MN 55104 (651) 645-2948 www.namimn.org

Red Door Clinic

HIV and STI screening, treatment, education, and referrals. Doxy PEP, nPEP, PrEP, and Reproductive Health. 525 Portland Ave., 4th Fl. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 543-5555 reddoor@hennepin.us www.reddoorclinic.org

LIBRARIES

Quatrefoil Library

Your LGBTQ+ library and community center. Free membership, events, and e-books/audiobooks. Check us out!

1220 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 729-2543 www.qlibrary.org

MEDIA

Radio K

&

COMMUNICATIONS

Radio K is the award-winning studentrun radio station of the University of Minnesota. 330 21st. Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 625-3500 www.radiok.org

MUSEUM

Minnesota Historical Society

Create your own adventure at MNHS historic sites and museums around Minnesota. mnhs.org Walker Art Center

Showcasing the fresh, innovative art of today and tomorrow through exhibitions, performances, and film screenings. 725 Vineland Pl. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 375-7600 www.walkerart.org

PERFORMING ARTS

Chanhassen Dinner Theaters

The nation's largest professional dinner theater and Minnesota's own entertainment destination.

501 W. 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317 (952) 934-1525 www.ChanhassenDT.com

Children’s Theatre Company

Children’s Theatre Company excites the imagination with world-class familyfriendly theatre for kids, teens, and adults. 2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 874-0400 www.childrenstheatre.org

Guthrie Theater

Open to the public year-round, the Guthrie produces classic and contemporary plays on three stages. 818 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 377-2224 www.guthrietheater.org

Lyric Arts Main Street Stage Theater with character. Comedies, musicals, & dramas in a professional, intimate setting where all are welcomed.

420 E. Main St. Anoka, MN 55303 (763) 422-1838 info@lyricarts.org www.lyricarts.org

Minnesota Opera

World-class opera draws you into a synthesis of beauty; breathtaking music, stunning costumes & extraordinary sets. Performances at the Ordway Music Theater - 345 Washington St., St. Paul, MN 55102 (612) 333-6669 www.mnopera.org

Minnesota Orchestra

Led by Music Director Designate Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra, one of America’s leading symphony orchestras. 1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 371-5656, (800) 292-4141 www.minnesotaorchestra.org

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Leading performing arts center with two stages presenting Broadway musicals, concerts & educational programs that enrich diverse audiences. 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 224-4222 info@ordway.org www.ordway.org Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

An award-winning chorus building community through music and offers entertainment worth coming out for! 1430 W. 28th St., Ste. B Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 339-SONG (7664) chorus@tcgmc.org www.tcgmc.org

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL

All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church

A welcoming, inclusive, safe place to explore and discover God’s love for ALL God’s children. 3100 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 824-2673 www.agcmcc.org

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

Everyone is welcome at Hennepin Church! Vibrant Worship. Authentic Community. Bold Outreach. 511 Groveland Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-5303 www.hennepinchurch.org

Plymouth Congregational Church

Many Hearts, One Song; Many Hands, One Church. Find us on Facebook and Twitter. 1900 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-7400 www.plymouth.org

St. Philip's Lutheran Church

We invite and welcome those of every spiritual background, ethnicity, gender orientation, or economic situation. 6180 Hwy 65 Fridley, MN 55432 (763) 571-1500 www.splcmn.org

Westminster Presbyterian Church

An open and affirming congregation, welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. 1200 Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 332-3421 www.westminstermpls.org

SENIOR LIVING

Friends & Co

Fostering meaningful connections for older adults for 50+ years. Offering quick drop-in chat line, phone & visiting companionship services.

2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 260-S St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 721-1400 www.friendsco.org

Senior Community Services

Providing non-medical services that meet the changing needs of older adults & support their caregivers. 10201 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 335 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 541-1019 www.seniorcommunity.org/lav

SOCIAL SERVICES

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

Serving all Minnesotans with personcentered services that promote full and abundant lives.

lssmn.org | (651) 642-5990 | (800) 582-5260 Employment Opportunities | lssmn.org/careers PICS (Partners in Community Supports) | picsmn.org

Pooled Trust | (888) 806-6844

Supported Decision-Making | (888) 806-6844

TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

Discover St. Louis Park

Minnesota’s Sweet Spot! Visit us for exceptional dining, attractions, shopping, hotels and event space.

1660 Hwy 100 S., Ste. 501 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 426-4047 www.DiscoverStLouisPark.com

Tea Time Offers Trans Feminine Individuals A Space To Build Community And Access Resources

Tea Time at The Aliveness Project is a peer support network for trans femme-identifying individuals that offers a safe space, resources, and ways to build community. This program started in March, 2022 after many organizations and meeting places were either shut down or severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Amber Muhm (She/Her), Tea Time co-facilitator and HIV outreach and prevention specialist.

“There were all these trans femmes who had come out during quarantine who had nowhere to go,” she said. “Then [Tea Time] was started, not only for the community aspect because we needed it, but also because trans women are the number one group that are affected by HIV, specifically Black trans women.”

Through The Aliveness Project, they offer access to PrEP, HIV care, HRT injection kits, PrEP referrals, and safe sex supplies at every meeting along with having a space for trans feminine people to access supportive services and talk with each other about issues their community faces.

Aliveness will soon offer a pharmacy in their building that will offer HIV-positive and PrEP care as well as HRT for those who choose to pursue that as part of their transition, according to Muhm.

Beyond HIV and HRT resources, Tea Time fosters an environment for connection. Muhm began attending meetings in May 2022 and has been going ever since, now running the program alongside Sainte Lopez (She/Her).

“I went from having literally zero trans friends, let alone trans feminine friends, to going to every meeting to being a volunteer lead to working for aliveness and running the program,” she said.

The meetings are every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Aliveness Project, located at 3808 Nicollet Ave. There are also monthly online discussions through their Discord server, consisting of about 300 members from the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.

Muhm said the meetings are 18+ and are a mix of informative and fun. Meetings range from an HIV clinic with the Minnesota Department of Health and trans femme-centered self-defense clinics with Atlas Defense to bra fittings at Aerie and nature walks in the summer. Meetings are free to attend and food is provided at every meeting.

“It’s a really good way to get into the community and to make social connections,” Muhm said. “You go there to meet other trans feminine people and to get some support and resources and then kind of branch off and find your own way.”

BY NATASHA DELION

She said people use the Discord server, Instagram, and the networking aspect of Tea Time to make plans and connections outside of meetings, which is the goal of the program. The best way to keep up with Tea Time’s meeting schedule is through their Instagram @teatimeataliveness.

Muhm said trans women in particular don’t have a space to meet where it’s just them. Tea Time provides a safe and understanding space to talk about trans feminine-specific issues.

“I love being in a community with trans people but there’s something to be said about being in that exact part of the gender spectrum, in that you’re in the same solar system in the universe of gender, to be able to talk to other people and to be able to access services that are specific to our demographic,” she said.

Muhm said during her transition she felt like she had to do everything on her own because of the lack of an organized trans community in St. Cloud, let alone one for trans femme individuals.

“It’s been interesting as a lead to see people who come to Tea Time that are brand new to transition and see, even within the first six months or a year that they keep coming back, how much they flourish and then I kind of compare it to where I was before and it’s night and day,” she said.

The program has been hugely successful with 35 to 40 people at every meeting and constantly growing with new members, according to Muhm. She added that now is an important time for Tea Time to exist as more trans people are coming to Minnesota who will need support.

“Since trans refuge hit, we’ve been getting five to 10 new people every single meeting, so a good third to fourth of the people coming are brand new members either because they moved here or because they’re new to transition,” she said.

Tea Time also creates a shared pool of knowledge for trans women to access making their experiences less isolating and alienating. It’s difficult to figure everything out on your own and

navigate trying to get various services, which is where having a community comes into play.

Whether trying to find a good surgeon, understand estrogen levels, or find feminine clothing in sizes that will fit, people at Tea Time are willing to help each other navigate the various issues trans women may come across.

“Having other people to bounce off of, having people that have done it or who have connections or can find you the answer to who can do it is just incredible for people’s transition on their gender journey,” Muhm said.

Beyond meetings, Tea Time hosts events for the community every year such as a potluck at the end of May and their annual trans prom in July.

This year the prom is on July 20 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Neu Neu in Minneapolis. The prom is open to all trans people and is 18+, free with a suggested donation, and is a sober event. Muhm said there would be live DJs and food from Centro, a Mexican cuisine restaurant.

She said since the event is sober, there will be an official after-party at Eagle Minneapolis from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. with four trans DJs and a cover charge that will be set at a later date, which will serve as a fundraiser for Tea Time.

“That’s our big event of the year that we do for the community and both events are open to all trans people, their partners, and their friends to show up, have fun, and dress however you want,” Muhm said.

Beyond the annual prom, you can get involved with Tea Time at any of their meetings, their Discord server, or utilize all of the HIV support resources at Aliveness.

“I urge all trans feminine people and all trans women to show up at least once, go on the [Discord] server, or contact us,” she said. “Every trans feminine person that I know who has gone to Tea Time, Tea Time has left an impact on their life.” 

Photo courtesy of Amber Muhm