2016-2017 PAGE 2 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
ThePianoGuys YouTube sensation performs mash up of classical themes with pop songs.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Pilobolus: Shadowland Mind-boggling images with awe-inspiring athleticism. University Choir Celebrated South African choir interprets African and Western repertoire.
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26
Kathy Mattea (Wareham Opera House)
An Evening with Pat Metheny
7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14
w/ Antonio Sanchez, Linda Oh & Gwilym Simcock.
No recipes. No script. No holds barred.
7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 3
7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17
The Oak Ridge Boys
Annie
Dervish (Wareham Opera House)
One of country music’s longest running and most acclaimed acts.
The world’s best-loved musical.
7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30
The Capitol Steps: What to Expect When You’re Electing
Chef Robert Irvine Live
7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30
The Ten Tenors: Home for the Holidays
Country/Bluegrass megastar welcomes you to “The Acoustic Living Room.”
Celebrate “Fake Paddy’s Day” with magical music from Ireland!
7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11
Shaolin Warriors Remarkable skill, stunning movement and death-defying martial arts prowess.
Putting the “mock” in Democracy.
One of Australia’s most successful touring groups of all time.
7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7
7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2
Mnozil Brass
Julie Fowlis: Music of the Scottish Isles
Brian Regan
Internationally acclaimed brass gods of musical mischief, mayhem and wit!
An evening of sidesplitting laughter.
4 p.m. Sunday, April 2
4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band — Art of Time Ensemble Featuring the former lead singer for the Barenaked Ladies, Steven Page.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20
Straight No Chaser I’ll Have Another...World Tour.
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
The Havana Cuba All-Stars: Cuban Nights The Asere Friendship Tour and U.S. debut.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27
An Evening with Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen Two Texas iconic songwriters share the stage, stories and songs.
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 (NEW DATE)
Cyrus Chestnut (Wareham Opera House) Robust and soulful jazz pianist swings gospel to bebop.
Melissa Etheridge Holiday Trio The rock and roll icon performs all her hits and holiday classics.
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18
Air Supply
Trojan War: Our Warrior Chorus Classic myths of ancient Greece and Rome set against the narratives of modern war.
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 7
Bobby McFerrin His dazzling musical diversity and astonishing creativity will make you happy!
Soaring voices. Majestic songs.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19
STOMP
Mamma Mia! The hit musical based on the songs of ABBA.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24
Cinderella: Russian National Ballet Theatre 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28
Odd Squad LIVE! This time, Odd Squad needs your help.
Dance, music and theatrical performance blended together in one electrifying rhythm.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27
42nd Street Broadway’s song and dance extravaganza.
7:30 p.m. Monday, May 8
Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway
6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30
A dazzling cast of stars sings Broadway’s most celebrated show tunes.
Pippin
7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 14
The high-flying, death-defying hit musical.
7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6
Tower of Power Laying down a groove like no other band.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16
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7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14
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WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 3
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WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 5
Liberty Press
Volume 22, No. 12 • Editor: Kristi Parker • Contributors: Beacon Youth Group, Nolin Christensen, Greg Fox, Charlene Lichtenstein, Mama, Dr. Robert N. Minor, Stephanie Mott • Staff Reporters: Grayson Barnes, Emily Beckman, Annette Hope Billings, Blake Hampton, Isabella Parker, Trevor Reichle, Ciara Reid, Jeromiah Taylor • Contributing Photographers: Blake Hampton • Cover Design: Troy Dilport • Graphic Designer: Troy Dilport • Webmaster: Ren Autrey • Publisher: Liberty Press, LLC • Printer: Valley Offset Printing National Advertising: Rivendell Media, (212) 242-96863 Subscriptions are $18/year
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KANSAS NEWS......................12 MINOR DETAILS....................16 TRANS-FORMATIVE...............21 WHAT'S NEW AT THE CENTER?...............................21 NATIONAL NEWS..................22 BEACON BIT..........................26 AROUND KANSAS.................27 OUT IN THE STARS...............28 MAMA KNOWS BEST............28 LEATHER LIFE.......................29 BRIDGES................................29 KYLE'S BED & BREAKFAST...29 ON THE COVER: Wichita author delves into newterritory with gay romance novel.......................................6 Mother and son produce regional premiere of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.............................7 Bree Newsome..........................10
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PAGE 6 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
Wichita author delves into new territory with gay romance novel By Trevor Reichle WICHITA - A local writer has just released his first foray into the gay romance novel world – The Maine Painter – with hopes of telling a story of love and triumph on the east coast. L.W. Clark of Wichita is a retired university theatre professor with his Ph.D. from Kent State University. He was Chair of the School of Performing Arts at Wichita State University from 1990-2000 and has published two books on playwriting, Writing for the Stage and Practical Playwriting.
Liberty Press: What made you want to write a novel in the first place? Leroy Clark: Well, I read them all the time. I’m a playwriter and a theatre director. I’ve directed over 110 productions and I’ve written about 30-something plays. I’ve had about a dozen produced in 25 different theatre productions. Plays need a lot more work, so I thought I would try writing novels. LP: What made you choose the setting for the novel?
SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS for 2016-2017 Fall 2016
Spring 2017
Sept. 28-Oct. 2 • Two Rooms Directed by Brandi Bailey,
Film Project (Theatre) • Dramedy written & directed by Bret Jones Showing on campus TBD
Oct. 13-16 Opera • Beatrice & Benedict Directed by Carol Feiertag
Jan. 29 Dance • Children’s Dance Festival
2nd Stage Welsbacher Theatre
Miller Concert Hall, DFAC
Wilner
Feb. 15-19 • House Beautiful Original Script Directed by Jeannine Russell Welsbacher Theatre
Nov. 3-6 • Company Directed by Marie King, Music Theatre Wilner
Nov. 18-19 • Wichita Contemporary Dance Theatre Fall Concert
March 16-19 Opera • La Clemenza di Tito Directed by Marie King Miller Concert Hall, DFAC
Miller Concert Hall
March 29-April 1 • American College Dance Association (regional) Wilner
Dec. 1-4 • Other Dessert Cities Directed by John Boldenow,
April 27-30 Musical • Sister Act Directed & Choreographed by Amy Baker,
Wilner
Wilner
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS BOX OFFICE 316.978.3233 (All shows pending licensing approval.)
wichita.edu/fineartsboxoffice Single event tickets on sale three weeks prior to opening.
LC: This [novel], I set in Camden, Maine, which is a very beautiful, picturesque seaport. It has the cove and lots of sailboats and the mountains in the back. Something about the place is so appealing. I did a lot of research on the actual town – the stores, what some of the names are and so on. LP: What would you say is the overarching theme of the book? LC: Well, like – I think - a lot of people, the main character wants to become a success. He’s driven to paint and he really wants to become famous, rich and everything that is our American dream. The art dealer who signs him on as kind of his agent falls in love with him, so there’s that aspect as well. LP: When you are creating the characters, do you draw off particular people or do they just come up in your own mind? LC: Well, in this case, I think the story just came into my mind. The characters, even the main character, aren’t based on anybody. When I’m doing a play, there are often people that I know that I use as a backdrop. I felt very free writing this. LP: As far as character development goes, what sort of experiences – without giving too much away, of course - shape the main character? LC: One interesting thing about the leading character, is that when he was in college training to be an artist, the art teachers would push him to try other styles. He’s very much traditional – a realist. So he didn’t really want to try impressionism, experessionism, cubism or anything else so he just kind of took his own path and did what he wanted to do. LP: Have you ever had an interest in art yourself, like the main character? LC: I’ve been interested in painting and art all my life. Because my career was focused on theatre, I focused on that throughout college. But after I finished my Master’s, I started taking art classes. But then after I finished my Ph.D., when I was teaching at the University of Anchorage in Alaska, I took all of their drawing classes. I enjoyed doing that. The Maine Painter ($9.99) was published independently through the CreateSpace publishing platform - an Amazon company - and is only available on Amazon. l
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 7
Mother and son produce regional premiere of Hedwig and the Angry Inch
By Ciara Reid, staff reporter WICHITA - Mother-son duo Deanne and Dalton Zogleman are not just family, they are business partners who share a passion for theater. Deanne and Dalton launched DZ Productions four years ago; Deanne is coproducer and leads the business side of the company, and also provides creative input. Dalton serves as the company’s artistic director. He says the production company was a way to keep active in theater while home from college for the summer. I have always had teachers who say that the only way to constantly be working in the theatre is to create your own work, your own opportunities to work,” he says. “So my mother and I gathered some friends and produced Glory Days, a small four-guy musical about friends coming back together after their first year away at college.” Since then, Dalton says, the company has grown into an annual summer company with the mission of bringing c o n t e m p o r a r y, t h o u g h t provoking works to the Wichita stage with an emphasis on providing opportunities to college-aged young adults in the Wichita-area with a preprofessional launch pad for their careers. Hedwig and the Angry Inch will be DZ Productions’ fifth production. Their most recent production was Edges, which ran in July of this year. Deanne has been an actress, director and choreographer in the Wichita area for the past
26 years. When Dalton went into theater after high school, she was thrilled. “To be able to share your passion with your son is an incredible feeling and I consider myself so blessed to have this connection,” Deanne says. “So many special moments have come about due to this adventure of running a theater company with him. Four years ago, who could’ve imagined that we would sell out the past two years shows: Spring Awakening and Heathers: The Musical.” D e a n n e a n d D a l t o n ’s upcoming project is Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a rock musical about a queer singer from East Germany who tells her intense story through concerts. Deanne is directing the show. Dalton will play the title role of Hedwig, as well as serving as the set designer. Directing her son in the play has been an opportunity for Deanne and Dalton to grow closer. “I am thoroughly excited to work with him and this show is a collaborative effort as the characterization takes on a different persona with each actor that plays Hedwig, so it will be great to delve into this demanding role with him,” Deanne says. “Just one more beautiful memory with my son.” Dalton says they chose Hedwig and the Angry Inch because of its powerful and beautiful story. “Following the success of the recent Broadway revival, we knew now would be the perfect time to bring this story to Wichita,” he says. “Hedwig is for the strange rock ‘n’ roller in all of us, for everyone ‘who got an inch when they deserved a mile.’” Dalton says the show is especially relevant today because of the fight for equality and social justice that is happening in the U.S. “Hedwig, as a transgender woman, is fighting for that same acceptance that many in the LGBT community have been fighting for for years,” he says. “She just wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, despite all the difficulties she has faced throughout her life. I think this show transcends time and place and speaks to that universal
longing that we all Hedwig and the Angry Inch have in our hearts, show dates and times: a longing for universal love.” Thursday, Aug. 25 at 8pm Dalton believes Friday, Aug. 26 at 7pm & 10pm audiences will connect to this Saturday, Aug. 27 at 8pm show, no matter Doors will open 45 minutes before the show t h e p e r s o n ’ s Location: Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas background. “It’s Tickets sold at the door: $12 adults; $10 students a show about picking up the pieces of a broken and shattered comedic bits that work for their life and putting them back specific production. “There’s a together,” Dalton says. level of entry that I still will have Given the timeliness of to gain in order to really get into the storyline and particularly her head, but Hedwig is such a the plight of Hedwig, Dalton universal person, it’s really just has dedicated a full year to letting the story do the work.” preparing to play the character. The most daunting part of the “It’s thrilling, but equally as role, Dalton explains, will be terrifying,” Dalton said. “There’s the physicality required to pull a lot of pressure to live up to the off a solid representation of the gravity of the role and to honor character. “It’s high-octane and a the story of Hedwig to the best real stamina-drainer, and to do it of my ability.” in four-inch-heels is a tall order The real exciting part, he [pun intended],” he says. “By says, will be playing around the end of this show, I’m gonna during rehearsals and finding the have the best calves!” l
PAGE 8 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
Fair-trade/American-made gift store opens in Mulvane By Blake Hampton, staff reporter MULVANE - Two years ago Janice Smith and Michael Kasselman looked for a way to bring money to Janice’s animal sanctuary. So they decided to travel and sell different crafts around the region. They went from craft show to craft show raising money, meeting artists, and learning new tricks of the trade. After a couple of years on the road they were ready to settle into a more permanent spot. On April 15 they opened a store in downtown Mulvane, KS. “It’s different, but nice to have a store. We both like what we do and the work we do, it makes it really fun, and Janice and I like working together,”
Kasselman said. The store, named after Kasselman’s orange tabby cat, has many items. It sells Cheerful Giver candles and wax melts, jewelry, stuffed animals, and decorations. A local florist works with them to create arrangements for clients. Soon the store will have clothes to shop for as well. Kasselman is excited to add the Andrew Christian brand of clothing to the store. “Currently no one in Southeast Kansas carries them [Andrew Christian], it’s all online.” All of the products the store carries are two kinds of items: they are fair-trade and/or American-made products. Smith and Kasselman want Naughty Tiger to have a positive and supportive effect on the community. “We want to help other businesses who want to open a retail space here by showing them what is possible, and helping them find resources to help them get their business going,” Kasselman said. “We like to be involved in fundraisers too.” The city of Mulvane, especially the director of the Mulvane Chamber of Commerce, Amy Houston, has been supportive of the opening of the new store, and so they wish to give the same support to others. The store is
Naughty Tiger Gifts opened in April in Mulvane. It's already moving to a bigger, newer space. Photo by Blake Hampton
The store is named after co-owner Michael Kasselman's cat Naughty Tiger. Photo by Blake Hampton
currently at 104 W. Main, but within the month, the owners plan to move to 213 W. Main. “The building is newer and bigger than our current space. It’s also closer to Luciano’s which even now has brought in more foot traffic for us,” Kasselman explained. Smith is a military wife and has worked for several stores throughout the country, and has managed resources for military bases and families. Her passion is her animal sanctuary that takes care of cats, dogs, bunnies, and other small animals. The sanctuary provides medical care,
shelter, and food for the animals. It also provides a way for the animals to find a loving home. Kasselman studied graphic design and retail management. Many in the LGBT community might recognize his name because he was the DJ at the Fantasy Complex for many years under the tag DJ Michael K. The store is open WednesdaySaturday from 11am until the evening hours and 12pm on Sunday. To learn more about Naughty Tiger Gifts, check it out on Facebook or at naughtytigergifts.com. l
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 9
A group for gender nonconforming children: Kids Connect
By Grayson Barnes WICHITA - Morgan Beisner refers to herself, her husband, and her kids as “one of the founding families” of Kids Connect, a support and activity group for children 12 and under who are gender non-conforming, transgender, gender fluid, or who identify early as gay. “It is so good for the kids to have peers that really get their situations and they just click,” Beisner said. “It relieves a lot of stress for them because it’s like the kids say, ‘I don’t have to explain anything to you and we can just play.’” The parents also get a chance to talk and share their experiences. According to Beisner, this comes in three forms, the parents need to decompress a bit in general (because . . . PARENTING), talk about what they can do to help their kids, or mentor each other. Kids Connect began in March this past year, when another “founding family” with a transgender child went to a board meeting at Wichita’s LGBT Center (800 N. Market). They remarked to the board that there was no support group for transgender or gender nonconforming children and their families. The decision was made to start one at The Center. Beisner heard about the group and went in encouragement and because she has a gendernonconforming son, who goes
from pigtails one day to soccer shorts the next. “Initially it was just us and the other family, but our kids became instant friends.” Ultimately, one meeting had almost 20 participants. Beisner hopes the numbers grow. Since Beisner is selfemployed, she had a lot more “moveable” time, where she could step in and help where needed. She started managing the group’s Facebook page, but increasingly began doing more because of the other family’s hectic schedule. Now Beisner is the contact. She wants people to feel free to reach out and talk to her. “I would be happy to meet for coffee or whatever. This is not easy. I have had people publicly accuse me of misgendering my child (on a sparkly outfit day) when I refer to him as a boy, but that’s what he is and HE knows it. We can help people get through this – we have seen it all.” Some of the recent activities for the kids have been building Lego creations, coloring, and field trips. Beisner would like for the families to be able to go more places as a group, but that will have to wait until after additional fundraisers. “I want the kids to be involved in that. I’m thinking a bake sale or a lemonade stand,” she said. She would also like for the continued on page 21
PAGE 10 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
Bree Newsome to deliver keynote address at Wichita State’s Welcomefest
By Trevor Reichle, staff reporter WICHITA - “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently,” so goes the quote from Maya Angelou. And in the last year of racial tensions in America, one person has stood out to many as a symbol of that courage: Bree Newsome. Newsome, a political activist and filmmaker, famously climbed to the top of a 30-foot flag pole on the grounds of the South Carolina State House to remove the Confederate flag with the help of fellow activist James Tyson. The act resulted in both of their arrests, but furthermore spread a message throughout the country that symbols of hate should not be tolerated. This was not, however, the first time Newsome had made headlines as an activist. Newsome will be bringing
these experiences with her as she delivers the keynote address for Wichita State University’s Welcomefest on Aug. 30, titled “Tearing Hate from the Sky.” The event will take place at 6:45pm in the Rhatigan Student Center Beggs Ballroom. Newsome, who has also been thrust into the spotlight for fighting against restrictive voter ID laws – such as the 2013 North Carolina proposal – and for parodying Mitt Romney during the 2012 election season, said that her involvement in the political realm spans over a decade. “I have always been politically conscious and active, even from the time I was 18,” she said in a recent interview with Liberty Press. “I’ve always had a concern for social and political issues.” Going back to 2013, Newsome had a particular interest in ensuring the right to vote for all citizens, despite oppressive
Bree Newsome was arrested in 2015 in South Carolina for removing the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. She will speak at WSU on Aug. 30
voter ID laws that would prevent people from being able to do so, especially minorities. “The right for African-American people to vote in the south has always been very important,” Newsome said. “Racism itself has always been an issue, but one point of contention has been the right to vote.” As voter ID laws have come up as a central issue in previous political years, Newsome states that many people believed previously that the issue was long gone. “I was raised to believe that the Voting Rights Act was the end of the issue,” Newsome said. “But in 2013, those laws kind of gutted everything the Voting Rights Act stood for.” Beyond voting rights, Newsome has been heavily involved in recent years educating the public on racial issues. As the last few years have displayed, racial tensions are still high within the United States, but getting down to the core of the issue is the primary means of fighting it to Newsome. “One thing I think that is a
struggle to understand is the systemic issue of racism,” she said, noting that the modernday movement started for many with the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. “It didn’t start off as an issue of police brutality, it started off as a conversation about stand-your-ground laws.” Nonetheless, movements such as Black Lives Matter and various other voices, both in support and opposition, have sparked what Newsome calls “the most open conversation about race in decades. “It’s challenging us to think of these things in a historical context.” As far as how others can get involved in fighting for what they believe politically, Newsome believes the first course of action is to act at the local level: “It’s important for people to know that there is still power in non-violent direct action.” Tickets for the event are free for WSU students, $5 for the public and $1 for ages 12 and under and are available at wichita.edu/bree. l
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Kansas News Local photographer to exhibit works WICHITA - Photographer Kelsy Gossett will participate in Final Friday this August with a showing of her work at City Arts. The opening, held Aug. 26 from 6-8pm, will be in the second floor Boardroom Gallery. The show will run until Sept. 23. This is what City Arts says about the show: Woman, works by Kelsy Gossett Woman is an exploration of contemporary femininity in a collection of photographs and short videos. Gossett draws attention to the stereotypes, faults and often humorous tragedy of prescribed gender roles by using familiar objects and cultural references as metaphor. Gossett is pursuing her MFA in Photo Media at Wichita State University. After graduating from the Hallmark Institute of Photography in 2006, she moved to Wichita and opened her own independent portrait and wedding photography business.
New LGBT group starting in Lawrence LAWRENCE - The staff at Interpersonal Psychiatry is excited to announce the formation of a peer-led, openforum support group for the LGBT community in Lawrence and surrounding areas. The objective of this group is to create a safe space for open discussion of issues affecting the LGBT and queer communities and its members, such as coming out, relationships, and homophobia. This weekly group will start on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 5pm, is sponsored by Interpersonal Psychiatry, and held in their offices at 901 Kentucky, suite 303, Lawrence.
JCCC to host Light Up the Lawn concerts on four Fridays OVERLAND PARK — Johnson County Community College opens its Light Up the Lawn summer concert series on Friday, Aug. 12, with Josh Hoyer & Soul
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
Colossal, a Midwest band that combines soul, funk and rhythm and blues. Three more lawn concerts are on the way through early September: Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear on Aug. 19, Maria The Mexican on Aug. 26 and Abbey Road on Sept. 2. All of the concerts are free and open to the public. They will begin at 8:30pm on the lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets (without alcohol) are welcome. The college is located at 12345 College Blvd., and the Nerman sits near the intersection of College and Quivira Road. Madisen Ward and his mom, Ruth Ward, are the leading members of Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear, a modern soulful folk duo. The band’s sound is anchored by twin guitars and two big, booming voices. Maria Elena Cuevas and her sister, Teresa “Tess” Cuevas, began performing at the age of 11 with Mariachi Estrella, a band founded by their grandmother. Today, Maria The Mexican is a mix of traditional mariachi roots and contemporary bluesrock delivered in English and Spanish. Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, sticks true to the original music with few artistic liberties. The seven-member band, founded in 1996, plays the hits from 1962-1970. The Abbey Road concert will be preceded by the Harvest Dinner, a benefit for sustainability scholarships, using produce from the Campus Farm. Get the details at www. jccc.edu/harvest-dinner.
Tour Designers’ Digs to support symphony gigs WICHITA - The Women’s Association of the Wichita Symphony is pleased to announce Tour Designers’ Digs to Support Symphony Gigs. The homes of five of Wichita’s premier designers and decorators will be open for public tour Sept. 10-11. All five of the designers and decorators have been previously involved with a Symphony Showhouse and are now graciously allowing the community to take a peek at their own personal dwellings.
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 13
Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear will perform Aug. 19 as part of JCCC's Light Up the Lawn series. The concert is free and open to the public.
T h e To u r i n c l u d e s t h e Wichita area homes of: Pamela Fruhauf (Finishing Effects), Lizanne Guthrie (Design Studio, Ltd), Dennis Murphy (Murphy Interiors), Jerry Olson (OlsonBlackburn Interiors), Chris Volkman (Kitchen Concepts, Inc). The event will take place 10am-5pm on Saturday, Sept. 10 and 11am-5pm on Sunday, Sept. 11. The ticket price of $20 allows a one-time tour through
each residence. An opening gig will be held on Sept. 9, 6:30-9:30pm at Wichita’s historic Union Station, 701 E. Douglas. The pre-event party will feature live music, food and beverage. The $100 per person event cost will include a ticket for the Designers’ Digs Tour. For more information, contact 316-267-5259 or visit www.wso. org. l
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PAGE 14 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
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ICT Roller Girls to host 200 skaters for flat track playoffs
By Emily Beckman, staff reporter WICHITA - The ICT Roller Girls will host this year’s International Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (IWFTDA) Playoffs in August. The playoffs will be held Aug. 19-21 at the Wichita Sports Forum, located at 2668 N. Greenwich Road. Kalee Hildreth, Co-director of the ICT Roller Girls, who skates as Rachel Rage, answered questions about the event:
Bombers, Chicago Outfit Roller Derby and Carolina Rollergirls. Has this event been held in Wichita before? This is the first time for the WFTDA Playoffs to be held in Kansas.
What are the IWFTA Playoffs? The WFTDA Playoffs are a series of six playoff tournaments and a championship tournament of the top 60 roller derby teams in the world.
A re t h e re s o c i a l e v e n t s surrounding the playoffs? We’ll be hosting after parties each night for skaters and fans of the teams to hang out and get to meet each other. They will be at Club Boomerang on Friday, Deano’s Tap Room on Saturday and Jersey’s Bar and Grill on Sunday. Additional information will be posted to www.wftda. com/wichita.
How many teams will be at the event? How many skaters? There will be 10 teams and 200 skaters. They include: Jet City Rollergirls, Houston Roller Derby, Nashville Rollergirls, Brandywine Roller Derby, Kansas City Roller Warriors, Tucson Roller Derby, Blue Ridge Rollergirls, Boulder County
Where do the ICT girls rank in terms of the playoffs? ICT Roller Girls started the season at 186 and fought to climb to 102 midseason, but after two very hard tournaments we are at 124. We’re setting our goals to host the tournament this year and be playing in it next year.
How did the ICT Roller Girls get the opportunity to host? We a p p l i e d t o h o s t t h e tournament against 20 other teams throughout the world and wowed them with our Midwest charms. W h a t a re y o u r f e e l i n g s toward hosting the event? As members of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association since 2010, we’ve looked to the organization for leadership in shaping the current and future state of roller derby. We’re incredibly excited to support the WFTDA by being a host team, and for the opportunity to bring high levels of competitive play from all over the U.S. for fans
and regional teams to enjoy. What should Liberty Press readers know? Roller derby is an incredible sport and environment because the community focuses on being inclusive and a welcoming environment for the athletes, volunteers and fans. Everyone has a home in roller derby. We feel very proud to play a sport that includes and creates a safe place to exercise and get to play competitively for cisgender women, gay women, straight women, transgender women, intersex women and gender expansive participants. To purchase a three-day pass or tickets for individual days, visit www.wftda.com/wichita. l
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Burlesque workshop and show make for a sultry August By Ciara Reid, staff reporter WICHITA - August is shaping up to be one of the hottest months on record – and not just because of the weather. On Aug. 20, Jamie Rhodes, (burlesque name: Victoria Voluptuous), and Shelly Palmer (burlesque name: Chellena Star) will be hosting a burlesque performance workshop at Care to Dance in Wichita, where participants will learn the basics of the sultry art form and unleash their inner burlesque. On Aug. 27, the group will host a burlesque show centered on the theme “Disrobing the Decades” at the Scottish Rite. Liberty Press had the chance to ask Ms. Voluptuous about the workshop and performance. Liberty Press: How did the burlesque workshop and show come about, and what is your role? Victoria Voluptuous: American Rose Theater was founded in 2012 by LeBarroness Rubis, myself and Shelly Palmer. We all have performance backgrounds and found a love for the glamour and freedom that comes with performing burlesque. We’ve put on over a dozen shows.
Event Details:
www.americanrosetheater.com and wichitascottishrite.org Full workshop from 10am-3pm (approximately 15 spaces available): $60 Cost per class: $20 Burlesque show from 8-10pm at the Scottish Rite Center: $25 (general admission); $30 (balcony); $35 (VIP – includes front row table and goody bag) Wichita Scottish Rite Center: Venue 332, 332 E. First St. Care to Dance: 1019 W. Douglas Burlesque has a long and fascinating history. It has changed over the decades with new dance styles, performance varieties, and has included some great music among each decade. I chose “Disrobing the Decades” to do as a theme show for a way to give the audience a glimpse on how burlesque has evolved through the years. You will see burlesque from the 1920’s classic burlesque to the neo-burlesque of the present. I’m the current producer/ director of American Rose Theater (A.R.T.) Between the three of us, we have put together a curriculum. Chellena and I recently revised it to make it more basic and less intimidating to the beginners. My role in
the workshop is instructing the curriculum we put together, encouraging those who want to join us and having fun in the process. LP: What interest have you received so far regarding the workshop and show? VV: The show and the workshop go hand in hand. A lot of people see our show and get inspired. They want to learn the art but always say they wish they had the confidence to pull it off.
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Burlesque is about a lot of things. It’s about the love of the stage, sharing our love with an audience, entertaining, making people happy, entertaining a fantasy, loving ourselves as continued on page 23
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PAGE 16 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
Minor
Details By Bob Minor
Republicans Throw Their Gay Adorers Under the Bus Again
T
he Republican Party is in trouble and LGBT people will continue to be targeted as symbolic sufferers for it. As argued here in March (“Why ‘God, Guns and Gays’ Is Still Working”), no matter how the country is going in a more accepting direction, the right-wing is going to use discrimination as long as it works to rile up the funders and voters that make up their base. It doesn’t conform to the Republican gay group’s, the Log Cabin Republicans,’ ongoing fantasies about the Party and its presidential nominee treating LGBT people as equal human beings. Instead it provides the Log Cabiners with what they value more - the comfort of continuing their economically privileged status. So these gay loyalists must watch as their beloved Party continually rejects them in front of the world. Tellingly, in June it approved what even the Log Cabiners call “the most antiLGBT platform in the Party’s 162-year history.” In an e-mail from Log Cabin President Gregory T. Angelo, he explained - as if shocked that Republicans would do this: “Opposition to marriage e q u a l i t y, n o n s e n s e a b o u t bathrooms, an endorsement of the debunked psychological practice of “pray the gay away it’s all in there.” Angelo frames his surprise in terms of his dreamy keephope-alive belief that Trump will reject the platform’s anti-LGBT positions and thereby threaten the support from Trump’s radical right-wing base. Meanwhile, the evidence is that Trump will publicly throw anyone under the bus for his ego, including LGBT
people. He has surrounded himself with LGBT-haters and told the Christian Broadcasting Network in February: “Trust Me” to overturn the “shocking” and “massive” gay marriage decision. Angelo is willing to accept such public abuse from his candidate and party, even to deny that anyone means it. He does so even in his criticism of the Republicans’ official rejection of people Angelo claims to represent –
students to use the bathroom of their identity, approved the teaching of the Bible as history in schools, called for banning same-sex marriage, and defined marriage as only the union of one man and one woman. There’s more, and all of this is easily dismissed as if it’s the ravings of lunatics or people out of touch with where the nation is heading. And that would be partially correct. But it’s also Republican operatives’ belief that this will still work in the political arena. It does not, after all, have to work with the majority, only the majority of the social conservatives who’ll turn out and vote on the basis of these matters. And it does not ultimately even have to get the Republicans the presidency. In reality, Republicans seem to have given up on ever getting the White House back. Many realize the demographic changes that make a party of older white people less popular on a national level.
“[The Republican Party] provides the Log Cabiners with what they value more - the comfort of continuing their economically privileged status.” “This isn’t my GOP, and I know it’s not yours either. Heck, it’s not even Donald Tr u m p ’s ! W h e n g i v e n a chance to follow the lead of our presumptive presidential nominee and reach out to the LGBT community in the wake of the awful terrorist massacre in Orlando on the gay nightclub Pulse, the Platform Committee said NO.” Denial and fantasies aside, the Republicans have staked out their political positions in 2016. They now stand not only for passing a constitutional amendment - the First Amendment Defense Act to guarantee “religious freedom” to discriminate against LGBT people, but affirmed that children raised in straight (“traditional”) families are “physically and emotionally healthier” than those raised by single or same-sex parents, supported anti-LGBT brainwashing (“conversion therapy”), opposed the new guidelines allowing transgender
All the establishment Republicans’ national political moves now have as their intention is what they believe will secure for them the most effective means of maintaining real power. How, they’re plotting, can they maintain the economic strata that benefits them? On the federal level, that means holding on to at least one of the houses of Congress. While Democratic bases turn out in droves for presidential elections, Republicans are counting on these same groups staying home for the next four years. If they can convince the Democratic bases that elections and political parties don’t matter, if they can raise cynicism and hopelessness in liberals, if they can keep liberals divided without working in solidarity, focused only on single issues rather than on the broad spectrum of political connections, Republicans believe they can
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maintain the seats of power they need. So, if they can use one house to prevent progressive change, they need to accomplish little federally themselves, given what they have in place already. And since they believe that what they want to do takes place in statehouses around the country, they can focus on down ballot races. So, though Donald Trump’s con on America seems to have set Republicans back, Republican attention is focused on these other races. The immediate goal of the Republican establishment is to keep Trump’s reality show from destroying the rest of the Party. The Republicans’ most powerful elected official, House Speaker Paul Ryan seems to be setting his sights beyond Trump, cleaning up any messes Trump’s candidacy makes, and promoting the post-Trump successes. Ryan’s tepid support for Trump is really looking beyond the loss to keeping the traditional Republican bases in the Party. In the meantime, LGBT people must continue to hear the rhetoric, and economically right-wing gays must try to figure out how to relate to it. Everyone must decide whether loyalty to a political party is more important than other concerns. Since the Republicans have over and over told LGBT people that they don’t want them or their public support because the religious right-wing is more important, to continue in denial in the fantasy that it will be different any minute is to tell us that they love their money over their identity. And since the Republicans have publicly told the Log Cabiners over and over to leave them alone, one wonders if the Log Cabiners’ continual dogging of the Party can constitute a case for the Party to get a restraining order to prevent stalking. l Robert N. Minor, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of Kansas, is author of When Religion Is an Addiction; Scared Straight; and Gay & Healthy in a Sick Society. Contact him at www. FairnessProject.org.
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 17
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Songbird Juice Company reflects “real food attitude”
By Grayson Barnes, staff reporter WICHITA - On the back of Marty Spence’s business card, it reads “owner, activist, mom.” She was engaged in the throes of the final classification – spending time with her new baby – when I interviewed her about her business, Songbird Juice Company, at 1142 N. Bitting in Wichita. Songbird opened in September of last year and Spence managed to couple “owner and activist” during the festivities by also making them a fundraising event for a mother in the community who was fighting cancer. These categories continue to be combined in her business by her focus on organic ingredients, healthful and healing combinations, and the best method of juicing for optimum benefit. “If you mix something with a regular countertop juicer, you need to drink it within 45 minutes to an hour, because the vitamins and minerals will be gone,” Spence said. There is also a lot
of pulp left which means good stuff gets tossed and it’s messy. Another type of juicer is one that cuts everything up. “Even though this doesn’t compromise the nutrients, everything still gets slightly heated up, reducing the shelf-life. It will only be good for about three days,” she explained. Spence’s choice for best results is a cold-press juicing method. The machine looks like a huge shiny meat slicer, but the big round plates slowly squeeze the goodness out of Spence’s various fruit and veggie combinations. “The ingredients are chopped slightly, then we load them into a Kevlar bag, which is then pressed, rotated, and pressed,” Spence said. The result is different from home juicers in both nutrition and taste. Spence was sold on this method when she tried some cold-pressed carrot juice for the first time: “It was velvety and sweet, not the least bit bitter.” I sampled one of her recipes, called “Gratitude,” with beet, ginger, and pear. I noticed that it did not taste at all “earthy,”
which tends to be THE note for anything with beet juice in it. It was rich, round, sweet, and a smidge tangy. The decision to open a juice bar came to Spence because she had worked in corporate America and traveled a lot. “I was always visiting juice bars,” she said. “We were also taking care of mom and I was looking for doors ways to help her keep her so people weight regulated.” For Spence, can watch the a juice bar seemed perfect. process, because “It wasn’t about the trend, it Spence also wants food was about what I could offer,” to be “safe, [the processes] she says. “It’s really easy to transparent, honest, and fun.” follow the trendiness of all these Along with the premade natural things, but real food juices, Songbird offers chia doesn’t need a label – it can be pudding, acai bowls, and found in any grocery. We need to “build your own” smoothies. forgive ourselves and get some While I was visiting, a gaggle food.” of teenage girls came in and The goods that go into the ordered a variety of drinks and juices, smoothies, and “mylks” acai bowls. They sampled each reflect this “real food attitude.” other’s selections and there Songbird is stocked with as were “ooh’s” and “ah’s” all much organic and local produce around – more like what you as possible. Many of the juice would expect in an ice cream recipes do not have sweeteners store instead of a juice bar. added because Spence is This September, Songbird concerned about how the agave will celebrate its first year with might have been produced or interactive branding that Spence the honey was gathered. “The says “is secret, but it will honor proteins are all vegan and there the community, because they is no ice because it slows down have shaped the menu.” She digestion,” she said. wants the company to grow, but, T h e s t o r e f r o n t i n v i t e s she says, “we have found our relaxation, with corrugated metal niche.” Her goal is to stay local walls topped with flowers. Booths and not step into wholesaling line the walls. Spence’s recipes because that would mean are delineated on chalkboards having to adulterate her juices behind the copper-topped bar. by pasteurization to extend their At the far end is a refrigerator shelf life. M a c G y v e r e d t o d i s p e n s e For information about the Kombucha on tap. The juicer menu, look online at: www. is parked behind sliding glass songbirdjuiceco.com. l
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PAGE 20 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
College, clubs, and comfort
By Isabella Parker, staff reporter
G
oing to college is fun, exciting, and often liberating, but for some it can also be terrifying. The anticipation of a new school, new people, and a new environment is often more stressful if you don’t know where to go for a healthy community. Finding clubs and friend groups who are supportive and kind to the LGBT community is extremely important for people to feel comfortable and happy in their college environment.
For those going to state colleges, usually the larger colleges, finding clubs that fit their needs is not usually difficult because of the increase in diversity, but private and community colleges tend to have a lower variety of clubs and organizations for people to choose from. That is why it’s so important to research groups available at your college before that first day. Kansas University (KU), Kansas State University (K-State), and Wichita State University (WSU) have a large
variety of resources that can be accessed by current and incoming students. KU has a Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity that helps students find resources and information about the LGBT community. K-State has an LGBT Resource Center that supports and provides resources for students to find groups and staff members that are supportive of the LGBT community. WSU uses its Office of Diversity and Inclusion to create a healthy and safe environment for everyone, and they have support groups, resources, and events for LGBT students that can be found at the office and online. With all of these groups and resources, students hoping to go to state universities have plenty of opportunities to get involved and feel safe in their community. All of the information regarding clubs, information, and support can be found on the public college websites. Finding an environment that
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suits you isn’t just about clubs and activities, it’s also about the size and feel of the college. So for those who are looking for the small college experience, it’s important to research clubs and organizations available at the colleges. Community colleges in Kansas often have resources and clubs for LGBT students. For example, Butler, Barton, Cowley, Highland, Hutchinson, Johnson County, and Pratt Community College all have Gay Straight Alliances. Many other Kansas community colleges have clubs and organizations designed to promote acceptance and support for diversity. Private colleges often have resources available for the LGBT community as well. No matter where you go, what environment you’re comfortable in, or what you want to study, most colleges in Kansas have organizations supporting the LGBT community. So before you make a decision about where you want to go, do research on the college you’re interested in. l
Pride Weekend 2016 - September 24-25, 2016 Saturday, September 24th Community Picnic O.J. Watson Park - 11am-2pm Block Party Mid-America All-Indian Center - 5:30-9:30pm Pride Drag Show Club Boomerang – 10pm-Midnight Sunday, September 25th Worship Services - Table of Hope MCC Mid-America All-Indian Center - 10:30-11:30am Community Rally - Equality Kansas Old County Courthouse, Central & Main - Noon Pride March Old County Courthouse to Mid-America All-Indian Center - 1-1:30pm Pride Festival Mid-America All-Indian Center – Noon-6pm
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WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 21
What’s New at
W Empowering Transgender Lights to Shine
I
have longed, for a very long time, for a space on the planet where my identity - my oneand-only, true-to-my-heart, exactly-who-I-am identity is free to exist authentically. The history of America and the political disaster known as Kansas tell me the day is coming, but the wait is still substantial. Changes are many. At least as obvious as the positive changes, are the countless examples of spineless monsters who conjure up fears and destroy the lives of people who happen to be transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC). That said, there is a growing and undeniable force across America that is coming to an ever-greater understanding that this is not a discussion about transgender rights. This is a discussion about human rights for TGNC human beings. What America is still failing to see, is that this is also a discussion about the right for all people to have a space in which they are able to shine their light. What the world has failed to understand, is that lights not allowed to shine are like birds not allowed to fly; dreams that are forced to die; love that never sees the light of day. I longed for a very long time for a place to be. But what I needed was more than a place to be. What I needed was a place to belong. A place to grow my heart; fuel my spirit; heal my soul; shine my light. The cost to humanity, from denying humanity to any of the world’s inhabitants, is far greater than the horrors endured by those who are oppressed and marginalized. The cost to humanity includes the millennialong removal from the universe, of the collective light of every
soul whose light never had a chance to shine. And then we wonder why humanity never seems to be able to crawl out of the darkness. When we deny a TGNC teenager the right to live in their true identity, we deny that person’s future. We deny their hopes and dreams. We deny all the light they might have shined on the world. It affects more than their future. It affects the future of the world. Whatever brilliance that child might have gifted to humanity has been denied not only to that child. It has been denied to everyone they might have helped, to everyone who will ever love them, and ironically, to everyone who stands in the way of authenticity. A recently released study by the Williams Institute says, “An estimated 0.6% of adults, about 1.4 million, identify as transgender in the United States.” It’s not about extinguishing a single light. It’s about fully or partially extinguishing 1.4 million adult lights, as well as the just-beginning-to-shine lights of countless TGNC youth. Just to put that in perspective, the population of San Antonio, Texas is about 1.4 million. That’s like saying, “No one from San Antonio is allowed to add light to the universe. Sorry, your light is not needed here. We’re good. We have all the light we need.” Maybe we should be empowering transgender lights to shine. Maybe we should be empowering the lights of all marginalized and oppressed people to shine. Maybe we would discover an entirely different world. So, in the meantime, as society considers the place
elcome to The Center of Wichita, South Central Kansas and Wichita’s LGBT Center. From the Center Library, this month’s book review: Ceremonies Of The Heart: Celebrating Lesbian Unions by Becky Butler. Whether you are preparing a ceremony of your own or simply want to look into the lives of lesbians who have taken this affirming step Ceremonies of the Heart is the perfect book to read and study. Filled with ideas on creating unique rituals, the book describes transformative experiences of 27 lesbian couples who celebrated their relationship in various ways from gala weddings with gowns and cake to a Buddhist event
under desert skies. A book that says, “YES!” to lesbian culture and to a new definition of family. The youth group, Get Connected has just completed its summer education series where they had various LGBTQA individuals come in and share their experiences about how they knew or figured out they were either straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, or two-spirit. Kid’s Connect is still looking for more families of non-gender conforming children. This is a support group for the parents and a social group for the kids. Pre-K-5 th grade. Check them out at www.facebook.com/ KidsConnectCenterofWichita and/or see the article in this issue for more information. l
and purpose of 1.4 million Americans, there is no place for anyone’s disapproval of authenticity. There is no purpose in the destruction of 1.4 million lights. And just in case you want to tell me what it says in the Bible about this, turn to Matthew 5:1416. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put
it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your [Creator] in heaven.” Shine on, transgender lights. Shine on. l
Kids continued from page 9
Instead of making your child into who you want them to be, let them be who they are. Of course parents should be there to teach kids right from wrong, but for the rest, they are just amazing people. That’s what parents should be doing -- learning who their kids are.” Kids Connect meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at The Center from 5:30-8pm. For more info, e-mail kidsconnect@ thecenterofwichita.org, visit Twitter at #kidsconnectICT, or call The Center at 316-5222880. l
older kids group, Get Connected (13 and older), to continue their involvement and maybe eventually some would become mentors for the younger kids. “I would also like to see more parents get involved,” she said. When asked what her prominent reasons are for doing this, Beisner said, “For one thing, we want to provide resources for families and friends for their kids,” but a major inspiration was “watching the father of the other [founding] family speak at a rally at the capital in Topeka. It is motivating people to speak up for their children.
Stephanie Mott is a transgender woman from Topeka. She is the executive director of the Kansas Statewide Transgender Education Project, and a commissioner on the City of Topeka Human Relations Commission. Reach her at stephanieequality@yahoo.com.
PAGE 22 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
Meaningful. Empowering. Worship.
National News
Join us every Sunday at 10:30AM 156 S Kansas Street in Wichita Come early for fellowship, donuts, and coffee!
Everyone is welcome at the table. Visionary leader Jeff Montgomery remembered
National Night Out Tuesday, Aug. 2nd 6:00PM - 8:00PM Free Food, Haircuts, and School Supplies for kids
Sibling Rivalry Sunday, Aug. 7th 2:00PM - 3:30PM, $20 Ticket Roxy’s Downtown, Wichita KS
Junk for Jesus Sale All Day Rummage Sale Friday, August 5th 7:00AM - 6:00PM
24 Lakeside, Eastborough KS
BINGO! Friday, August 26th 6:00PM Dinner 7:00PM Games
Club Boomerang, 1400 E 1st St N Wichita
www.GodLovesYouPeriod.com
DETROIT, MI - LGBTQ leader Jeff Montgomery died of a heart attack July 19 in Detroit. He was 63. “Jeff’s work leaves a lasting legacy and imprint on the LGBTQ movement in the U.S. and beyond,” said Sue Hyde, director of the Creating Change Conference. “Jeff attended many Creating Change Conferences. He presented innumerable workshop sessions — training and educating our movement about anti-violence tactics and strategies, one of his great missions in life.” M o n t g o m e r y ’s p a r t n e r, Michael, was murdered outside a gay bar in Detroit in 1984. Jeff coped with this devastating personal tragedy and turned his anger and frustration at the lack of police investigation of the murder into a strong and durable LGBTQ movement in his home state of Michigan. Montgomery, with two others, founded the Triangle Foundation in 1991, which focused its efforts on supporting victims of hate crimes. He served as its executive director from the founding until 2007. In 2010, the Triangle Foundation evolved into Equality Michigan, f o l l o w i n g a m e rg e r w i t h Michigan Equality. How the Republican Platform stacks up for LGBT Americans CLEVELAND, OH - After they lost the 2012 presidential election, the Republican National Committee’s autopsy didn’t include a section on appealing to LGBT Americans, but did recommend that Republicans adopt a welcoming tone toward LGBT Americans as a way to make their party more palatable
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
to millennial voters. If you look at the 2016 GOP platform, it’s clear they threw that advice out the window. Post-2012 RNC Autopsy: “For the GOP to appeal to younger voters, we do not have to agree on every issue, but we do need to make sure young people do not see the Party as totally intolerant of alternative points of view. Already, there is a generational difference within the conservative movement about issues involving the treatment and the rights of gays — and for many younger voters, these issues are a gateway into whether the Party is a place they want to be. If our Party is not welcoming and inclusive, young people and increasingly other voters will continue to tune us out.”
2016 GOP Platform: The GOP platform calls for a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision, and states: “Our laws and our government’s regulations should recognize marriage as the union of one man and one woman...” The committee voted down language that would acknowledge the murders of LGBT people in the Middle East and in Orlando. The platform committee adopted an amendment endorsing widely discredited “ex-gay” conversion therapy for LGBT children. The platform endorses the so-called “First Amendment Defense Act” which would allow businesses and government employees to discriminate against LGBT people and single mothers or unmarried pregnant women. The platform condemns policies that allow transgender people to use the restroom that is in alignment with their gender identity, and states that President Obama’s measures to allow transgender students access to the correct restrooms at school “is at once illegal, dangerous, and ignores privacy issues.” Even one of its own platform committee members said, “We have a bathroom or restroom obsession in this platform.” The platform uses discredited “research” to assert that
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 23
children raised in a “two-parent household” are likelier to have healthier outcomes than those raised by same-sex couples or single parents. The New York Times said the platform “amounts to a rightward lurch even from the party’s hardline platform in 2012.” The head of the Log Cabin Republicans put Burlesque continued from page 15
a person and a performer and expressing it all. It’s a celebration of who our inner goddess is and expressing our sexual and flirty side. We have all shapes and sizes in burlesque. It doesn’t matter if you’re a size 6 or 16, everyone has a desire and need to be and feel sexy and no one should let their size come in the way of that. We want to share that feeling with those who come to our workshop. It’s not a matter of convincing others they are capable of it, it’s a matter of teaching them how to find the strength, confidence and desire to do so. LP: What can participants expect from attending the workshop? VV: You will learn how to connect to your inner burlesque through techniques of positive body image and self-confidence. You will also learn the basics of building your burlesque persona, developing a routine, costume and makeup techniques as well as the art of the strip tease. No prior dance or stage experience required. No one will be getting naked and you won’t be performing solo in front of a group.
it best, saying, “There’s no way to sugar-coat this … the Republican Party passed the most anti-LGBT Platform in the Party’s 162-year history. Opposition to marriage equality, nonsense about bathrooms, an endorsement of the debunked psychological practice of ‘pray the gay away’ — it’s all in there.” l
LP: Describe to Liberty Press readers (who may not know) what a burlesque show is like, and what readers who attend the show can look forward to. V V: We l o v e a u d i e n c e participation. We always try to get the audience involved by having them dress up based on our themes, playing games with the audience and giving away prizes. You can expect to laugh, to clap, to yell, to whistle and to have a great and sexy time. You can participate as much or as little as you want. But we are all there to encourage and respect each other. Burlesque shows are perfect for couples to attend, girl’s night out or guy’s night out. Our audience majority are usually women. It’s not like attending a regular play and it’s not going to the strip club. It’s its own genre of entertainment. Burlesque is all about the tease without delivering the goods. Some performers don’t take anything off and some do go down to a thong and pasties. The creative thought and performance that’s put into each act is what makes it exciting. We have boylesque performers as well. l
Kathy Richstatter
KS Realtor ABR, e-PRO, GRI, SRES Kathy@KansasRainbow.com www.KS.PenFedRealty.com
316 316--641 641--3954
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WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
Pear Tree Jeet Kune Do free self-defense training in September
By Grayson Barnes, staff reporter WICHITA - On Sept. 10, Pear Tree Jeet Kune Do, under the direction of 4th Degree Master Sifu Joe Hutchings, will host a free self-defense workshop for the LGBTQ community at Cavalry Chapel, 901 S. Rock Rd. This one-day training is designed to provide people with the skills to protect themselves and others from attack in various situations. Participants do not need to have previous martial arts skills or be physically fit. The techniques Sifu Hutchings and his students will share are Homeland Combatives, which are used by the military. They can be learned quickly and require simple movements, not finesse. Sifu Hutchings’ justification for organizing this event is, in his words, that, “America has become a dangerous place. Unfortunately, it has become
even more dangerous for certain groups of people. As witnessed by the recent mass murder in Orlando, as well as many lesser-publicized tragedies, the LGBTQ community is a target for some people. This seminar is open to the public, but it is my intent to specifically include the LGBTQ community. It is my opinion that no one should be a target simply because of who they are. This is my way of giving back.” Participants will learn four to six techniques, including gun disarms. To sign up, one must be 18 or older. Registration begins at 9am. The class will last from 10am-4pm and is limited to 200 students. There will be no break for lunch, so please bring a snack if you need one. Wear clothes suitable for working out. To show interest in this event or invite friends, please go to the Pear Tree Jkd Facebook page and “like” the page and/or post
your interest in the class. Master Sifu Joe Hutchings has practiced martial arts for 49 years. He began teaching in 1977. Jeet Kune Do has been his specialty since 1995. Recently, he was awarded his certification to teach Homeland Combatives. You may also review Sifu Hutchings’ credentials on his webpage at www. peartreejkd.wix.com/home, or feel free to contact him at 316-617-8384 with any questions. l
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 25
Myofascial Release and Massage Therapy
Gary Martens & Larry Bunker
120 N Santa Fe in Downtown Salina, KS
for more information and to book an appointment
www.peacefulbodywellnessretreat.com
PAGE 26 | LIBERTY PRESS | AUGUST 2016
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
The Beacon Bit: A Youth Perspective
R
"you’ve got a date Saturday, baby"
saturday
August 20
6- 930p | Northrock Lanes unlimited Bowling / Shoe rental Costume Contest | $5 white Russians lebowski-oke on the lanes Briefcase roulette | Food Specials #Dudegrass tallgrassfilmfest.com
s15 vIP tickets - online only: includes early admission, door prizes and other what-nots | s20 at the door
ecently there’s been a lot of talk online about “heterosexual pride.” Straight people seem to feel LGBTQ+ folks think we’re better than them and that Pride is a representation of this thought. With Pride Month behind us by only a couple of months and other current media and online trends pushing the oppressor vs. oppressed dynamic (think: Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter, etc.), tension is building. I think a lot of this is a simple misunderstanding. Allow me to try to explain the history of Gay Pride and why we need it (and why straight people don’t). I’ve written a previous article regarding Stonewall, more specifically the horrendous 2015 movie that I recommend you never watch, which ran in the June 2016 issue, and while I did mention some of the history of Stonewall, I didn’t go into as much detail as I think it would require to show cishets that they don’t need a pride event of their own. So let’s do that now, shall we? The year was 1969. Laws targeting gay men and women were numerous, and homophobic police officers took great pleasure in enforcing them. The Stonewall Inn was a small gay bar in Greenwich Village, and as such, it received its fair share of police raids. One night, June 28, 1969, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back. Bricks, bottles, coins, whatever could be found were hurled at officers trying to force the crowd back. Thus began what would become known as the Stonewall Riots, or, as I prefer to call it, the Stonewall Uprising. This was the launching point of the modern American gay rights movement (note
Heterosexual Pride?
that at the time, LGBTQ+ identity was much less defined, and most people who would consider themselves trans today expressed their identity through drag without using the term transgender). The Gay Liberation Front was founded, along with myriad other organizations over time. The first Pride Parade happened in Greenwich Village, New York City, right outside the Stonewall Inn, on June 28, 1970, exactly a year after the moment that changed everything. This parade wasn’t so gay folks could dress up in rainbow wigs and bras and leg warmers and march down the street so they could show how fabulous they were; the first Pride Parade happened to commemorate the Uprising that started the fire that would eventually change the lives of all LGBTQ+ Americans. N o w, I ’ m t h e f i r s t t o acknowledge that many Pride events have drifted from their original purpose and have instead become flashy shows of frilly rainbow clothing or fairs where vendors can make money off of queer people who don’t know the difference between what Pride was and what Pride has become. But Pride didn’t start this way. Pride was (and at its core, still is) a celebration of the night our people decided to fight back. The Stonewall Uprising isn’t over. It may never be over. So how can you say we should stop honoring the start of the fight, when the fight hasn’t even finished? How can you say that you need a Pride of your own, when you have no fight to be proud of? l
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 27 Jbell2@usd259.net South Central Kansas, 1407 N. Topeka, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Wichita, (316) 263-5886, director@ of Lawrence, 1263 N. 1100 Rd., (785) Wichita Northwest High School GSA, wichitapeace.org, www.wichitapeace. 842-3339, www.uufl.net, 9:30am amcdonald@usd259.net, meets every program, 11am service org Monday after school. Wichita Pride, info@wichitapride. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wichita Southeast High School GSA, org, www.wichitapride.org, annual Manhattan, 481 Zeandale Road, (785) (316) 807-2271, psychsteve2@yahoo. 537-2349, www.uufm.net, services celebration held in September. com Sundays at 10:45am. Social Wichita West High School GSA, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of astucky@usd259.net Topeka, 4775 SW 21st St., (785) 272Heart of America Men’s Chorus, 9233, www.uuft.org, services Sundays Wichita, (316) 708-4837, www.hoamc. Support at 10:30am. org Beacon Youth Group, Topeka, Junction City Teddy Bears, c/o Kevin Unity of Wichita, 2160 N. Oliver, (316) beacontopeka@gmail.com, queer Stilley, 2 Oak Valley Dr., Manhattan, 682-7511, www.unityofwichita.com, youth group for ages 12-20. Meets 10am Sunday service, activities through (785) 556-8188, trlrhouseman@webtv. Community Centers every Monday at 5:30pm at Central the week. net Congregational Church, 1248 SW The Center, 800 N. Market, Wichita, NetworQ, Lawrence, www.Kansas Student groups Buchanan St., the 1st, 4th, and 5th (316) 285-0007 www.thecenterofwichita. NetworQ.org, events are listed on Mondays and Unitarian Universalist org website and FB page. Bethel College GSA, North Newton, Fellowship of Topeka, 4775 SW 21st St., 2nd and 3rd Mondays. Kansas State University LGBT Wichita Bears, presidentwichitabears@ advisor: Gabriel Fonseca gfonseca@ bethelks.edu, President: Zachary Resource Center, 207 A/B Holton Hall, yahoo.com, www.wichitabears.org Central Plains Area Agency on Aging, Preheim zacharyrpreheim@bethelks.edu Manhattan, (785) 532-5352, lgbt@k2622 W. Central Suite 500, Wichita, Wichita Organization of Leather D e r b y H i g h S c h o o l G S A , state.edu, www.k-state-edu/lgbt (316) 660-5120, www.cpaaa.org, Fetishes, (316) 201-6242, www. tkellenbarger@usd260.com CPAAA is available to assist seniors, woolfks.com Health caregivers, and adults with disabilities F re e S t a t e H i g h S c h o o l G S A , through life’s transitions and with W i c h i t a P r i m e T i m e r s , Lawrence, sponsors: Hilary Morton E.C. Tyree Health & Dental Clinic, various levels of support. ICTPrimeTimers@aol.com, www. hmorton@usd497.org, and Kim Grinnell 1525 N. Lorraine, Wichita, (316) 681primetimersww.com/Wichita, social kgrinnell@usd497.org COMCARE Crisis Intervention 2545, www.tyreeclinic.com group for mature gay men. Services, 934 N. Water, Wichita, Highland Park High School's Parity, HIV/AIDS Client Emergency Fund (316) 660-7500 free 24/7, www. Spiritual Topeka, LGBTatHP@outlook.com, administrered by the Junction City sedgwickcounty.org facebook.com/LGBTatHP Teddy Bears, c/o Kevin Stilley, 2 Oak A Journey In The Light Ministries, Get Connected, Wichita, (316) 285Valley Dr., Manhattan, (785) 556-8188, 2231 S. Bluff, Wichita, (316) 302-6225, Hutchinson High School GSA, faculty 0007, LGBTQIA youth group for ages trlrhouseman@webtv.net, for people in advisor: Mr. Westmoreland, chairperson: Sunday Praise and Worship services at 12-21. Meets at The Center, 800 N. the Manhattan/Junction City area Kara Vaughn. 11am;Wednesday Discipleship Training Market, every Friday from 7-9pm. Hunter Health Clinic, 2318 E. Central, at 7:30pm. The Independent School GSA, GLSEN Greater Wichita, wichita@ Wichita, (316) 262-3611, FREE HIV College Hill United Methodist Church, Wichita, sponsor: Matt Hanne matt. chapters.glsen.org. confidential or anonymous testing with 2930 E. 1st, Wichita, (316) 683-4643, hanne@theindependentschool.com Spanish and Vietnamese interpreters. Headquarters Counseling Center, www.collegehillumc.org, Sunday Lawrence, (785) 841-2345 free 24/7, KU Internal Medicine-Midtown, Celebrations at 8:30, 9:40 and 11:00am. K-State LGBT & Allies, meets every Thursday at 6:30 in Willard Hall, room www.hqcc.lawrence.ks.us KU School of Medicine, 1001 N. 120. Minneapolis, Wichita, (316) 293-1840, First Congregational United Church Healthy Transitions, for heterosexually (877) 472-8227 toll-free, (316) 293-2652 of Christ, 700 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, Lawrence High School GSA, sponsors: married gay men in KC. A phone and (785) 537-7006, www.uccmanhattan. Shannon Draper SDraper@usd497.org, HIV Program face-to-face interview required, Mark org, Sunday services at 10:45am; Taize and Lindsay Buck LBuck@usd497.org McCarthy, LPC (816) 931-0011x4. LGBT Health Coalition of Sedgwick services Thursday at 7pm, An Open and County, Wichita, (316) 285-0007, www. Manhattan High School GSA, mhs_ Affirming Congregation. HIV+ Men’s Support Group, Wichita, wichitalgbthealth.org gsa@hotmail.com (316) 293-3405, mmadecky@kumc.edu First Unitarian Universalist Church Positive Connections, 1001 SW of Wichita, 7202 E. 21st St., (316) 684- Maize South High School GSA, Living Positive, a support group Garfield Ave, third floor, Topeka, (785) 3481, officemanager@firstuu.net, www. sponsor: Shelly Walston swalston@ for people living with HIV and their 232-3100, www.pcneks.org usd266.com, meets 2nd Fridays. firstuu.net. caregivers. Meets 1st Tuesdays at 6pm. Call 785-537-7006 for location. Positive Directions, 414 S. Commerce, Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Meditation Pitt State GSA, Pittsburg State Wichita, (316) 263-2214, (316) 263Center, 721 W. 13th St., Wichita. (316) University, pittstategaystraightalliance@ O n e D a y A t A Ti m e , Wi c h it a , 5214, www.pdiks.com 263-1533, weekly meditation classes, gmail.com Alcoholics Anonymous meetings held prayers and workshops. See calendar of Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8pm at First Sedgwick County Health Dept., 2716 People Respecting Individuality and events at www.MeditateInKansas.org, MCC, 156 S. Kansas. W. Central, Wichita, (316) 660-7300, Diversity in Education (P.R.I.D.E.), everyone is welcome. www.sedgwickcounty.org Emporia State University, Rochelle PFLAG Hutchinson, PO Box Lutheran Campus Ministry, 1421 W. Rowley, Box 4022, 1 Kellogg Circle, 2488, Hutchinson, (620) 899-2345, South Wind Women's Center, 5107 Emporia 66801, (620) 341-5723 19th, Lawrence, lutheran@ku.edu pflaghutch@gmail.com E. Kellogg, Wichita, (316) 260-6934, rrowley1@emporia.edu www.southwindwomenscenter.org, Metropolitan Community Church PFLAG Lawrence/Topeka, sffeist@ LGBTQIA-friendly health services. of Topeka, 4425 SW 19th, (785) 272- S p e c t r u m K U , U n i v e r s i t y o f msn.org, www.pflagnekansas.org, meets Kansas, Lawrence, (785) 864-3091, 1st Sundays, 2-4pm. Location alternates T h e S w e e t E m e r g e n c y F u n d , 1442, office@mcctopeka.org, www. rockchalkcentral.ku.edu/organization/ between Lawrence and Topeka. Check KUSM-W MPA, 1010 N. Kansas, MCCTopeka.org, services Sundays at SpectrumKU 10am. website or e-mail for location. Wichita, (316) 293-3405 Pine Valley Christian Church, 5620 S p e c t r u m : L G B T Q & A l l i e s , The Face of Trans*, www.thefaceof Politics/Activism E. 21st St., Wichita, (316) 685-2421, Wichita State University, Twitter.com/ trans.com churchoffice@pvcconline.org, www. Wsuspectrum, meets Thursdays at 7pm E q u a l i t y K a n s a s , w w w . pvcconline.org in the Lucas Room (RSC 265). Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, kansasequalitycoalition.org, chapters 355 N. Waco, Suite 100, (316) 263Prairie Unitarian Universalist Wichita East High School GSA, across the state. 0185 office, (316) 263-3002 crisis line F e l l o w s h i p , 1 8 0 9 E . 3 0 t h , CFee@fcscounseling.com 24/7, advocate@wichitasac.com, www. Flint Hills Human Rights Project, Hutchinson, (620) 663-8002, www. Wichita Heights High School GSA, wichitasac.com, free, confidential sexual fhhrp@yahoo.com prairieuufellowship.org assault services to all genders and sexual nmagoon@usd259.net orientations. Kansas Statewide Transgender Ta b l e o f H o p e M e t r o p o l i t a n Wichita North High School GSA, Education Project, (785) 215-7436, C o m m u n i t y C h u r c h , 1 5 6 S . (316) 204-5621, kellykk00@yahoo.com, Wichita Transgender Community stephanie.mott@k-step.org, www.k- Kansas, Wichita, (316) 267-1852, Network, social group meets the 1st step.org, provides transgender education w w w. m c c w i c h i t a . c o m , w w w. rhorning@usd259.net, cwidmer@ week of each month and the support meets every Wednesday at and resources. godlovesyouperiod.com, Sunday usd259.net, group meets the 3rd Thursday of each lunch in room A213. services at 10:15am. month at The Center, 800 N. Market, Peace and Social Justice Center of Wichita Northeast High School GSA, at 7pm. l
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am going to find her and she will pay. Dear Mama, What do you think of Trump’s running mate, Pence? No one to vote for Mama, Why were you absent from the last issue? Concerned Fan Well that dang Bubba ran off to Florida to go find Eunice and Ed (his parents). He could not find them and could not get back home. So, this old poor widow woman had to drive to Florida to rescue my grandson. That is why there was no column last month. If anyone sees Eunice, tell her I
Well good Lord, all I can think about is toilet paper and not the strong kind. Who the hell thought that through? Not ol’ nest-head I’m sure. Someone please wake me from this election year it is a bad dream. Mrs. Harper, When is this world going to just get along? Not signed That is the million-dollar question. We can hope someday. All this violence going on (Paris, Turkey, police shootings, and Pulse in Orlando) it is worse than a game of Sorry in the Harper
M
any retrograde planets Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Pluto and even Mercury conspire to turn our lazy dog days of August into something totally topsy-turvy. Hold onto your hats . . . and also your pants! Whoo hoo!
ARIES (MAR. 21 - APRIL 20) Your entire public persona will be on stage for a grand performance, gay Ram. That means that no matter how much you plan and rehearse, there might still be some surprises on your public stage. Don’t rely on anyone except yourself and keep your dreams practical and realistic. If you are going to get hoisted on your own petards, be sure that they are clean petards. TAURUS (APRIL 21 - MAY 21) Queer Bulls may get their hands caught in the nookie jar now. You have a wandering eye that could get you in a bit of trouble. But that’s the fun of secretive romance, isn’t it? If you want a relaxing summer, stick to the tried and true. If you want experiences that will keep you warm in the winter months, take a calculated risk with an intriguing stranger. How strange is up to you. GEMINI (MAY 22 - JUNE 21) Your lofty career dreams may fly away from you, pink Twin. Try to take one step at a time up the corporate ladder rather than trying to catapult yourself over the wall. A brief affair may briefly help your career, but may leave you with just your briefs on by the end of the summer. Friends are here today and gone tomorrow. Did they go on vacation without telling you? CANCER (JUNE 22 - JULY 23) A dream vacation may actually become a trip to the moon on gossamer wings as a spicy encounter could bring happiness or heartburn. It is hard to tell so pack a case of Pepto and see what delights and dilemmas the world has to offer you. At least your life will not be dull! And it could change the very nature of certain relationships. Is it hot or not? It is up to you, gay Crab.
house. If I could I would just yell stop, and threaten to ground everyone. Unfortunately, I am not the Mama of the world. All I can say is please stop hating and start loving one another. If we don’t this world is going to just get uglier! Now bring me a beer! Mama, What do you think of this new Pokémon Go game? Gamer Heaven I have seen it all and heard it all. Wake up and smell the coffee! Get a life! Put down your damn phones and talk to another human being; pay attention to the world around you. Do not let some game get you wrapped up in it or you will not see what is going on around you. I say to hell with this game. Just another distraction from real life. Give me a game that means something, like Beermon Go. I could go around finding beer, not imaginary cartoon characters. This world is in big trouble. Here is my recipe as promised two issues ago:
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
Mama’s Meatloaf 2 1/2 lbs lean ground beef 1 log Jimmy Dean sausage (I prefer sage) 1 onion chopped 1 cup of saltine crackers, crushed 4 eggs beaten 1 16 oz can of tomato sauce liberal sprinkle of Italian herbs (I probably use at least 2 tablespoons) Mix together all ingredients with your hands. Shape mixture into two loaves, grease two 5x9” baking pans and place loaves in pans. Bake 350 F for 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Enjoy and thanks for reading!! l Have a question for Mama? E-mail MamaTHarper@aol.com.
tinyurl.com/herscopes Charlene Lichtenstein’s groundbreaking astrology book HerScopes: A Guide To Astrology For Lesbians is the best in sun sign astrology! The secrets that are revealed about each sign continue to amaze. Makes a great gift.
LEO (JULY 24 - AUG. 23) SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 - DEC. 22) Proud Lions could go head over heels It may not be the best time to start anything for a sexy new lover. Will you follow new or crowd catching, gay Archer. Give them to the ends of the earth or capture yourself more time to strategize and figure your prey and bring them home to out all of the potholes and problems. You your den? And then what? What looks will need all of your attention for work and zesty today may become flat tomorrow. That is okay. money which needs more control and sustained efforts. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith and try Or, you can bag it all and take a refreshing vacation. Hmm, something new just to see that what you currently have what will you do? What will you do? is already wonderful. CAPRICORN (DEC. 23 - JAN. 20) VIRGO (AUG. 24 - SEPT. 23) Your plans can become undone by Spice up any humdrum relationship someone who is an unexpected pain in with some pixie dust and dreams, gay the neck. But in fact, you really know Virgin. It doesn’t matter that these dreams who they are. Plan accordingly, pink are fleeting and efforts short-term and Cap. Things will take much longer than impractical. It will make others happy expected, but that is a good thing. Cosmic barriers need and give you some zesty diversions in an otherwise extra planning to maneuver around. You will eventually intensely hard-charging month. Party hearty and see prevail. Patience is everything . . . including frustrating. who boogies by. Three may not be a crowd now. Ahem. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 - FEB. 19) LIBRA (SEPT. 24 - OCT. 23) Bosom buddies can become more trouble Promises regarding your job may not than they are worth now so you don’t pan out as you expect now, proud Libra. have to ask their advice on anything But that doesn’t mean that you have important this month. And it could be you - you may say to get surly or give up hope. In fact it is a welcome something that upturns the tables and bends some people reprieve from putting in too much effort at work. out of shape. Keep your stronger opinions to yourself for Concentrate instead on home-based projects which now, Aqueerius. There is nothing to be gained. Think really require your full attention. It goes beyond spring now. Talk much later. cleaning. Bring in the dump truck. PISCES (FEB. 20 - MAR. 20) SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) Don’t let your dreams carry you away on Money may be fleeting, splurged or clouds that will soon evaporate, Guppie. You even wasted on trivialities now. And need to be more practical and suspicious, sometime this month you might blurt out especially if your choices involve any money inappropriate things. But this is all part of schemes that can cost you now and cost you also in the the planetary conspiracy plan to get you future. Financial decisions should be delayed if possible. out of your restricting group think and expand your If you are careful and cheap with your nest egg now, you artistic talents. Your creativity hits a high note now, could feast on fluffy omelets later. queer Scorp, even if you can’t sing.
(c) 2016 THE STARRY EYE, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Lichtenstein’s blog www.thestarryeye.typepad.com covers everything new age. Her astrology book HerScopes is the best in sun sign astrology. Order now at tinyurl.com/herscopes.
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 29
Leather Life By Nolin Christensen aka Master C
Why our Historical Protocols are Needed Editor’s note: This column may contain content that is offensive to some people.
L
ast month I was at an event where a young woman approached me and called me Captain. She knew enough about the Leather community to know that I should be addressed a certain way, but not enough to know exactly what. (For those out there, it should have been Sir). But the most disturbing thing
I’m seeing is that there are some national presenters who are actively telling and teaching people that the traditions of the Leather community (often called Old Guard) didn’t happen and others are teaching that we don’t need them. By folks taking the approach that we don’t need our traditions, we lose the one thing that makes the Leather community different from the BDSM community in general. That’s our protocols (i.e. rules) that we use and adhere to. That girl who called me captain, didn’t know the protocols and therefore incorrectly addressed me. Our protocols are what make the Leather community unique and different. They have been defined and updated over many years, long before the currently living people were around. There are some of us who learned these rules from the very people who developed them. So there are two things I want to say about this: 1. Yes, traditional protocols did indeed exist, so if anyone tries to say otherwise, they are fools. And 2. We still need them. This is because it is what sets us
apart from others. Many people in the BDSM world crave those protocols. They see how they work in the Leather community and they themselves want that. They know it creates structure and a sense of order. The protocols were developed to protect us and for a way for us to establish do’s and don’ts when we negotiate our relationships and play scenes. Now I know that the old traditional protocols, some are no longer applicable (like no women), but most of the others are (like how to correctly address others). Protocols are what make the Leather scene so hot (sexually). I watch the interaction between a Sir and his boy and I still to this day think
it’s one of the hottest things to see. I love when my boy(s) are in total protocol mode. It’s a huge turn on for me and I know it is for others watching because it is the one thing that got me interested and excited about the Leather community. Watching negotiated control between two individuals is awesome. So if you want to know more about the rules and protocols of the Leather community, get with me or someone in WOOLF. We are one of the few groups who actively continue to teach these in the community. WOOLF gatherings are every fourth Saturday starting at 5pm with a munch at Club Boomerang with a class following that evening. We hope to see you there. l
bridges Died: Peggy Bowman, 75, former lobbyist for George Tiller and executive director of Planned Parenthood, from heart failure on July 7, 2016 in Wichita. She is survived by her two sons Jeffrey and Brian. Bowman was a proud lesbian and tenacious advocate for women’s rights in Kansas. If you or someone you know is having an anniversary, received a promotion or award, or a loved one has passed away, we will publish it free in Bridges. E-mail editor@libertypress.net.
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WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AUGUST 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 31
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WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.