Liberty Press October 2012 by Liberty Press Kansas

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LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

OCTOBER 2012

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

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LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

OCTOBER 2012

Liberty Press

Volume 19, No. 2 • Editor: Kristi Parker • Contributors: Nolin Christensen, Sheryl LeSage, Charlene Lichtenstein, Mama, Audrey McQueen, Dr. Robert N. Minor, Stephanie Mott • Staff Reporters: Cole Anneberg, Helen Barnes, Amanda Barr, Angie Combs, Alisha Petersen, Ciara Reid • Contributing Photographers: Amanda Barr, Rebecah Cross, Michelle Heyden, Scott Hollander, Rui Soares • Cover Design: Troy Dilport • Graphic Designer: Troy Dilport • Webmaster: Ren Autrey • Publisher: The Liberty Press Subscriptions are $18/year

The “Liberty Press” and its contents may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher. All rights reserved. Unsolicited material may not necessarily be acknowledged or returned, is assumed intended for publication unless otherwise stated, and becomes the sole property of the Liberty Press. Letters to the editor and bylined columns reflect the views and opinions of the authors only and are not necessarily those of the Liberty Press, LLC or its staff. The Liberty Press reserves the right to refuse or restrict advertisements at the editor’s discretion. Advertisers and agencies assume liability for claims arising from the content of their ads. Publication of the name, photograph or likeness of any persons, organization or business in articles or advertisements in the Liberty Press in no way indicates or reflects their sexual orientation. First copy free, additional copies may be obtained for a nominal fee from the publisher.

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

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On the Cover:

LGBT films highlighted at 10th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival

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Tallgrass Film Festival celebrates 10th anniversary Page 29

CONTENTS WSU RECOGNIZES Anti-Hate and Respect Week 2012.............................. 8 NEWLY FORMED HEALTH COALITION launches website...........................9 PITT STATE Gay Straight Alliance thriving..............................................14 A PORTRAIT OF PROFESSIONALS: The grand opening of Light and Sound Spa......................................................................................21 LAWRENCE BAND, GRENADINA, shines on debut EP............................21 LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER opens in Hays.............................................25

Regulars OP/ED Letters, Comments from the Web............................................ 6-7 THE JOYS OF RAISING JACK Wandering Off..............................................6 MINOR DETAILS What’s Love Worth, After All?......................................13 PICTURE PAGE Shakespeare in the Park, A Sweet A’fair, Miss Gay Wichita Newcomer............................................................................................16 LEATHER LIFE Leather History...............................................................17 BOOKENDS Wax and A Question of Ghosts..........................................18 TRANS-FORMATIVE Trans-Surgery: Part Eight.......................................24 AUDREY ASKS Audrey McQueen...........................................................28

IN EVERY ISSUE POINTS OF INTEREST................ 10 MAMA KNOWS BEST.................. 20 NEWS BRIEFS.......................26-27 BRIDGES..................................... 32 CLASSIFIEDS.............................. 33 OUT IN THE STARS.................... 33

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OP/ED

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

A Monthly Collection of Opinions and Editorials.

The opinions represented here do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Liberty Press. We reserve the right to edit and cut submissions for space and grammatical content.

Letters HIV-negative AIDS? Dear editor: Allied government is hiding HIV-Negative AIDS cases (like mine) under the “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)” ICDcode. Why isn’t CFIDS a reportable illness overseen by our public health department? Why are CFS and ME (i.e., the same exact disorder) suspiciously categorized as two separate illnesses on a worldwide level (i.e., by ICD codes)? Doesn’t anyone else but me very clearly see the catastrophic cover-up going on here? Why are we not reading about NON-HIV AIDS cases (and/or the AIDS-like nature of CFIDS) on the front pages of every newspaper in the world? And if CFS and ME are NON-HIV AIDS, then, depending on who you believe, there are anywhere between 500,000-28,000,000 Americans out there with a transmissible illness. If that is what it truly is, our new form of AIDS dwarfs the “original” AIDS epidemic . . . TENFOLD. I am not afraid to say that I have AIDS (without HIV). I am equally as unafraid of saying the

most obvious thing about CFS/ ME: IT SURE DOES LOOK LIKE AIDS TO ME. If it takes courage to think and to say the things that I do, I hope that there will be a miraculous outbreak of bravery from coast-to-coast, and across the pond. To learn more about NONHIV AIDS, please visit: www. cfsstraighttalk.blogspot.com (or simply Google “non-HIV AIDS”). Join me on Facebook: HIVNegative AIDS? My federal testimony about NON HIV AIDS from the recent CFS advisory committee meeting (Washington, D.C.) posted this week. Watch the first five minutes here: www. youtube.com/watch?v=ubjGm 5dILpY&list=PL600CB03819 4B4593&index=11&feature=pl pp_video. Karen Lambert

Political differences Dear editor: The Republican Party just voted to oppress LGBT Americans in 12 ways, and the Democratic Party voted not to. Here’s what both parties decided, in a side-by-side comparison: www.marriageequality.org/ platforms.

OCTOBER 2012

“Mom . . .” “Jack look at me. Where. Were. You?” “In the back yard. I was going in the back way.” “We don’t EVER go in the back way, do we? You didn’t leave the gate open did you? Skeeter will . . .” Out of the corner of my eye I see Skeeter tootling down the driveway. “SKEETER stop!” He makes a left turn at the sidewalk and away he goes. Fast little booger.

Wandering Off By Kristi Parker “Jaaaaccckkkk. Jack.” Aw cripes, how can you lose your son on the way from the car to the house? It’s all of 15 feet. “Jack, where’d you go? Jack?” Panic starts to set in. The kind of panic only a parent knows. Like when you turn around in a store and your child is suddenly . . . gone. “Jack! It’s not funny. Where are you? Answer me!” Could a kidnapper really have pulled up, come up the driveway and gotten him without me seeing? What the hell? About that time Jack comes wandering onto the porch. “Mom! Guess what?” “Where were you?? You scared the crap out of me!”

Jack is a gorgeous little boy. Well, he isn’t exactly little. He’s 52” tall and 78 lbs. at age 7. A sack of rocks. Always has been. He has dark brown eyes, dark thick brown wavy hair and olive skin like his mommy, my ex, Vinnie, who gave birth to him. I’m mom, she’s mommy. Vinnie is a Philadelphia Jew with Mediterranean features and Jack has been described by my cousin as a little Greek god. VERY handsome. The longest eyelashes you’ve ever seen on a boy, with long dark eyebrows. He’s also autistic. Not severely, it’s called “highfunctioning” in therapy-speak, but diagnosed with a form of autism called PDD-NOS – Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, a category under the autism spectrum disorders umbrella. He was “officially” diagnosed when he was 4 ½, but Vinnie and I knew way before then. . . . to be continued

Ned Flaherty

Political Party Plans Affecting LGBTs

marriage couples

human rights

jobs

scouts

weddings taxes adoption immigration civil rights religion bullying civilian benefits job protection military pay & benefits membership

17 September 2012

Democratic Platform

Republican Platform

Adopted 5 September 2012. 32 pages Allow marriage regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity (page 18). Allow weddings on military bases for all legally married couples (18). Tax all legally married couples the same way (18). Allow adoption by all legally married couples (14). Allow immigration for all legally married couples (17). Ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity (17). Grant equal public protection to all, regardless of religious belief (17). Protect all students from bullying (17). For federal civilian workers, grant benefits to all LGBT families (17). Pass ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (17). Issue the same pay and benefits to all legally married active / reserve / retired / veteran personnel (14, 18).

Adopted 28 August 2012. 62 pages

Keep scouting open to everyone (17).

Amend U.S. Constitution to ban marriage for same-gender couples (page 10). Ban weddings on military bases for same-gender couples (10). Deny tax breaks to same-gender couples (2, 10). Allow faith-based adoption offices to discriminate against LGBT families (12). Allow immigration only for opposite-gender spouses (10). Allow discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity (9). Allow public discrimination against LGBT people based on religious belief (12). Party is silent on bullying, and opposes “political correctness” on campus (12). For federal civilian workers, deny benefits to LGBT families (10). Reduce the number of laws protecting employees at work (9, 38). Pay full compensation to military personnel and veterans with opposite-gender spouses, but pay those with same-gender spouses up to 40% less* (43). Continue excluding LGBT people from American Boy Scouts, scouting volunteers, and scouting employees (12).

Source: http://assets.dstatic.org/dnc-platform/2012-National-Platform.pdf Source: www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012GOPPlatform.pdf * Service Members Legal Defense Network, 17 October 2011, www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/17/gay-military-benefits-sldn_n_1011874.html

www.MarriageEquality.org/Platforms

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LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

Comments from the Web “In June of 1993 I opened my Straw Bales out here in SW Kansas. I invited anyone and everyone into my place with open arms. I practice tolerance and acceptance to all because I want to be accepted by all. It does not always have a win-win but by far and large I am proud to say acceptance is winning more and more. I was proud to learn a few years later of your paper and glad I was insightful enough to place monthly ads with you. I was for a while the furthest west business to place an ad and offer your paper a location in which it could be acquired. I was prouder still the first month I looked inside to see someone west of me had finally placed an ad and then to see locals offer you shelf space too. I did have to close 10 years ago, but still keep a subscription just to see the community growth and yours too. So glad you have stuck it out I know it isn’t easy but it is very much worth it. Every now and then someone who needs the contact is put in touch. BELIEVE. I do. Thank you, Mark” --Spearville, KS “Congratulations on becoming voting age -- many more!! All of you are doing a good job for the movement and community” -- no location given

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OCTOBER 2012

WSU recognizes Anti-Hate and Respect Week 2012 By Alisha Peterson WICHITA - In celebration of Anti-Hate and Respect Week (Oct. 29-Nov. 2) Wichita State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) will be hosting daily activities geared towards educating participants about discrimination. Students, faculty, staff and community members are all invited, free of charge. The OMA has even

Linwood Sexton was inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Athletics Hall of Fame on Mar. 4, 2011. He will speak following the showing of The Express.

teamed up with the Student Activities Council, That Gay Group (TGG), the Sociology Department, the Social Work Department, and the Office of Human Resources to bring Lt. Dan Choi back to Wichita as a featured speaker. Readers might remember Lt. Choi from his presence in last year’s Wichita Pride parade and rally, and for his outstanding work as he fights for GLBTQ rights nationwide. His presentation, titled “Truths and Consequences,” will take place at 7pm in Hubbard Hall 208 on Oct. 30. Attendees will hear him speak about the discrimination he faced once he came out as gay while in the military and about his efforts to gain equal rights for GLBTQ people. Another exciting speaker presenting at Anti-Hate and Respect Week is Linwood Sexton. He can be seen on campus Oct. 29 in Hubbard Hall 211 at 6pm. This man was the first African-American to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Education from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).

A Journey In The Light Ministries Living, Reaching, Teaching, Preaching the Word of God in Unity

Pastor Danny L. Medell

A full gospel ministry that still teaches Christ, Him crucified and the message of the cross.

2231 S Bluff Wichita, KS 67218 Pastor’s Phone: (316) 925-1102 www.journeyinthelightministries.com

We are a church that accepts everyone regardless of their race, color, social status, sexual orientation, where they are or where they have been in life.

We invite you to join us for worship every Sunday at 11:00 am

He was also the first AfricanAmerican to be named three times to the MVC AllConference team in the 1940s while playing football for WSU. The activity will begin with a viewing of the film The Express. This picture shows viewers the life of Ernie Davis, who becomes the first AfricanAmerican football player to win the Heisman Trophy. Afterward Sexton will share his stories about the prejudice he faced as a student athlete in the 1940s. Participants who would like to weigh in their opinion on prejudice there will be a Community Dialogue Oct. 31 in Lindquist Hall 111 at 1:30pm. There, participants will discuss “Isms”: Racism, sexism, as well as religious discrimination, homophobia, prejudice based on physical ability, etc. Natalie Toney, Program Coordinator of OMA, says it is an opportunity to “look at our differences as uniqueness.” According to information put out by the OMA this program is “aimed toward raising awareness, abolishing false ideologies, and engaging dialogue on diversity and inclusion.” Attendees of last year’s event, which had about 400 participants throughout the week, will be seeing a few popular activities again. OMA is bringing back the Hate Wall for the week’s opening and closing ceremonies. Oct. 29 in the Lindquist Hall lobby from 11am-1pm participants can write words on the wall they’d like to see erased from the community’s language. Keep in mind that many of these words will be considered

Lt. Dan Choi, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell activist, will speak Oct. 30 in Hubbard Hall 208.

‘adult’ in nature. This may not be an event that is appropriate for all age groups. However, there is a lot to be learned from this event. Those words used to hurt or degrade others create an emotional wall between the users and the victims. At the Closing Ceremony Nov. 2 in Lindquist Hall 100 at 6pm, the Hate Wall will be symbolically burned to show how through personal commitment people can break down those walls. Another familiar event will be the Tunnel of Oppression, held on Nov. 1 in the Miller Concert Hall lobby from 11am-2pm. Student groups will once again be invited to set up displays or reenact scenes where prejudice takes its toll. Steve Haneveld, President of TGG, says he hopes that in the future WSU will become a Safe Zone all day, every day for attending students and visitors. Find out more about Anti-Hate and Respect Week at www. wichita.edu/oma. l

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Newly formed health coalition launches website WICHITA - With the launch of the Sedgwick County LGBT Health website, the newly formed LGBT Health Coalition of Sedgwick County is making great strides in improving healthcare access and resources in the LGBT community. The coalition is comprised of health professionals, community advocates and organizations that are interested in expanding and improving healthcare resources that are LGBT-friendly in Sedgwick County. The idea for organizing a local group to address these issues was conceived in 2010 after the Pride Health Assessment was completed. More than 400 Pride participants completed the extensive health survey to provide baseline data and information on the health behaviors of the local LGBT community, instead of solely relying on national data. Local organizations and partners began to discuss the many health issues facing the community and what can be done to solve them.

Several partners kept emphasizing that many people, especially newer residents, are unaware of where they can get local healthcare services that are LGBT-friendly. Kristi Parker, Liberty Press editor, is part of the coalition and continues to receive frequent requests from readers who are trying to find healthcare services that are friendly. “We’re excited to bring a researched, curated, and quality centralized resource focused on healthcare to the Wichita area LGBTQ community,” Bert Pearce, Positive Directions Prevention Coordinator and LGBT Health Coalition member, said. Last May, the group officially met to begin discussing how to tackle these important issues. Access to services seemed to be one of the primary concerns members are hearing repeatedly, so the coalition focused efforts on developing a current database of LGBT-friendly providers that will be available online

for residents, organizations and providers to utilize. Two primary functions of the website are to provide an updated listing of all the LGBT-friendly healthcare resources in Sedgwick County and to provide resources and educational materials for local physicians, nurses and healthcare providers on serving the LGBT community. Many physicians have stated that they are very open to providing services to the LGBT community, but are unaware of the specific health issues facing many in the community. The website plans to address this issue by providing resources, online trainings and local advocates that can help educate them in specific health areas. In celebration of Pride, the website went live at the end of September. The website is still a work in progress. During the past six months, the goal was to develop the site and start contacting local providers so that they can be listed on the site. Since this is a website for the

community, the coalition needs the community to help fill the database. If you know LGBTfriendly providers, pass along this article at your next visit or submit their contact information online and the coalition will follow up with them. The coalition is looking for providers in all areas of health including specialists, dentists and anyone who is providing health services in Sedgwick County. Anyone interested in joining this initiative, contact the LGBT Health Coalition at its website www.SedgwickCountyLGBT. org or at 316-285-0007. l

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ArtAID celebrates 18 years with move to Century II WICHITA – This year’s ArtAID on Oct. 13 moves to Wichita’s Century II Convention Hall. Known as one of the area’s most fun parties of the year, ArtAID combines silent and live art auctions with a dance-infused runway fashion fundraiser. “The move to Century II was a no-brainer,” Graham Ross of Planet Hair, one of the event organizers, said. “To make the show even bigger and better than

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012 CENTURY II before, a bigger $65 IN ADVANCEwe $75 AT THEneed DOOR FOR RESERVED TABLE CALL 316.263.2214stage. EXT. 108 TABLES AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF PRICE RANGES TO BENEFIT POSITIVE DIRECTIONS We’re also to DIRECTIONS have more TICKETS AVAILABLE AT PLANETexcited HAIR, BLUEBIRD ARTHOUSE, POSITIVE AND PDIKS.COM 7:30 DOORS OPEN 8:30 LIVE ART AUCTION 9:30 THE RUNWAY SHOW tickets available this year, since ART PREVIEW PARTY WED. OCTOBER 10, 5 - 9 PM DIVER, 424 S. COMMERCE ourCASH event was selling out the BAR AND CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE previous location.” Proceeds from the event go to Positive Directions. ArtAID 18, themed “Hollywood Lights,” will start at 7:30pm with a cocktail reception in two lounges. Tickets for the event are $65 in advance at Positive Directions, Planet Hair and Bluebird Arthouse, or $75 at the door. VIP table reservations may be made by contacting Cody Patton at cody@pdiks.com or 316-263-2214, ext. 108. •

•

OCTOBER 2012

Pointsof Interest Compiled by Kristi Parker

The free Art Preview Party will be Wednesday, Oct. 10 from 5-9pm at Diver’s Studio, 424 S. Commerce. Guests will help create a painting to be auctioned off during the live auction. Refreshments will be provided by Taste and See Restaurant.

Mr. Midwest Leather Contest looking for good men ST. LOUIS - The 2012 Mr. Midwest Leather Contest, held Oct. 5-7 in St. Louis, represents 13 Midwestern states and is open to Leathermen from IL, IA, WI, IN, MO, MN, MI, OH, ND, SD, KS, NE and KY. The producer of the contest is looking for men interested in participating and contributing to the community through outreach, fundraising and education through the platform of the Mr. Midwest Leather title. For qualifications, check out www.MrMidwestLeather.com. The contest will be the weekend of Oct. 5-7 at Bad Dog Bar & Grill. It is part of the Midwest Leather Weekend, including the Midwest Puppy Contest, the Puppy Mosh Pit Party and the Midwest LeatherBall. For more info, visit www. MidwestLeatherWeekend.com.

K-State Tailgate Pride Party MANHATTAN - The Flint Hills Human Rights Project (FHHRP) is hosting a Tailgate Pride Party at the Texas Tech football game on Oct. 27. “We wanted to have

a fun event for LGBT alumni, friends and family,” Michael Bidwell, chair of the FHHRP board, said. “We also wanted to do something visible in the community. Our rainbow flag flapping in the wind is going to be hard to miss.” The tailgate party will be in stalls 464 and 465 on the The Wanton Looks with Susie Q., Meg Thomas, west side of the stadium. The Traci Trouble and Inga Olson. Photo by Michelle location is very near the west Heyden entrance of Bill Snyder Family Queer girl band show Stadium. The stalls are being coming up in Lawrence donated by the Levin family, owners of Varney’s Bookstore, Able Printing and Premier Car LAWRENCE - Catch the Wanton and Dog Wash. “The Levin Looks with The Cave Girls and family is a great supporter of Wick & The Tricks at the Replay the LGBT community and we Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St., thank them for loaning us this on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 10pm. prime location for the tailgate,” There’s a $3 cover and this is a 21 and over event. Bidwell said. FHHRP will be supplying T h e W a n t o n L o o k s all the food and drink. Tentative - w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / plans are for the tailgate to TheWantonLooks start two hours before kickoff, “Bad-girl harmonies (think continue during halftime and Shangri-La’s) meet fuzzed-up then an hour after the end of guitar and relentless tempos.” the game. This is subject to --Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune The Cave Girls - www. change depending on kick-off time. Tickets to the game are facebook.com/TheCaveGirlsKC not required. There is a free “Enter The Cave Girls, an allgirl trio that sounds like they shuttle from Aggieville and no charge to enter the tailgating area. Additional details will be available at www. fhhrp.com and on the FHHRP Facebook page closer to the date.

LGBT History Month 2012 Icons on LP website Equality Forum, a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus, coordinates LGBT History Month worldwide. It recently announced the 31 Icons for LGBT History Month 2012. Icons are selected for their accomplishments in their field of endeavor, their status as a national hero or their significant contributions to LGBT equality. Visit www.libertypress.net in October, where a new Icon video will be featured each day throughout the month.

highjacked a time machine from prehistory to the late 1970s and happened to time jump right into CBGBs while The Ramones were playing.” --Mike Tipton, The Deli Magazine KC W i c k & T h e Tr i c k s - w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / WickAndTheTricks “Aching for some queercore, punk, fast-paced, slap-yourdirty-fragile-face style music? … The drums are fast, the guitar is gritty, the bass is sexy, and the vocals are screaming at you to take those mainstream plugs out of your ears.” --Monica Soto, Camp Kansas City magazine l

OCTOBER 2012

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HALLOWEEN DANCE!

Saturday-October 27th We are based in Lawrence, Kansas. Our mission is to support, educate and serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans communities, their families and allies.

8:30 PM - Until you go home!

Maceliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1031 New Hampshire Featuring DJ Kelly

$10 door/$5 for students Snacks and Cash Bar Costume Contest with Prizes!

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OCTOBER 2012

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

Minor

Details By Bob Minor

What’s Love Worth, After All?

he government of the United States has no right to tell two consenting adults whom they can and cannot love. That’s the essence of the argument for marriage equality. Religions can believe anything they want, but love is none of the government’s business. Let religions fight with each other over this, for there are religious people everywhere disagreeing over who people should or shouldn’t love. When a society is built on fear and hate, whether religiously or otherwise inspired, those who dare to love whom they want are seen as subversive. They’re the ones willing to fight society’s fear and hate so they can live as people who love another. Groups that want to limit the definition of love so it fits nicely within their stifling boundaries get scared by love that knows no bounds. They visit their fears of what it would mean if they themselves loved boldly on those who don’t fit what feels safe to them. It doesn’t matter that real loving never always feels “safe.” It feels vulnerable, fears being unrequited, and fears that it is never more than temporary. There’s a real basis for those feelings, for the nature of loving is that one will eventually lose what one loves. It’s inevitable - whether that be one’s pet, a friend, or a life partner, death always interferes, even if love itself is intended to last “forever.” And there are reasons love feels fragile. One is always risking when one loves that now or in the future it will be spurned. That means, then, that love is not only a risk but an important act of human affirmation. We need every act of love all the more because it is so human to love what can be taken away.

We love because it’s worth the heartbreak. We love because it’s a force for change not only in our personal lives, but in the world. Love isn’t just between two people who commit to it. Real love can’t keep to itself. It might start with one other, but the loving between two lovers can’t contain itself from becoming a force for good.

enemies. They don’t have to go off to a battlefield far away to kill or be killed by another man. And that is so radical because it challenges our whole warrior culture and all the money made by sending men off to battle to destroy other men. Same-sex love is subversive. Every open loving relationship between two women will say to women of all sexual orientations that women do not have to find their fulfillment in a man. It will say that feeling like half a person without the other sex is not inherent in women. Women are whole and complete themselves. Women do not have to give up any of their inherent qualities to be subordinate in a marriage. They can take care of themselves, love themselves, and protect themselves. And that is so radical because

“LGBT people provide a real model of the sacrificial love that ought to be a religious parable.” That’s why it’s a total misunderstanding for a couple to attempt to huddle away from the world out there to be caught up in each other. That’s fear fear of being lonely, being hurt, losing, not being loveable. Love must change the world out there or it is mere neediness. Love is actually a force for liberation. To ask same-sex love to hide, keep to itself, not share itself with family and friends, is to ask a couple to feel phony, illegitimate, and lacking. The concealing of samesex love by our society keeps love from changing our culture. And no matter how LGBT people want to act as if nothing will change if they have equal marriage rights, the fact is: much will. And it should. Every open loving relationship between two men will say to men of all sexual orientations that men do not have to beat, defeat, or kill each other. It will say that this is not inherent in men, but that men can share vulnerabilities, nurture each other, and find comfort in one another. Men do not have to be in competition. They don’t have to view each other as rivals or

it challenges all the sexism in our culture and all the money being made by convincing women they must do everything to attract men. Same-sex love is subversive. It’s so subversive that many don’t want to see it. They prefer to think that it must be only sex; and in a society so sick with self-imposed ignorance about all sexuality, that confuses what love means all the more. Love is subversive enough to be costly. But it’s worth the price because it changes ourselves and society. Love’s costliness makes it easy to get distracted with less dangerous relationships that fit

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nicely in the patterns dictated by our consumer-oriented society. Patterned relationships called “love” are peddled all around us. And same-sex love, whether that be deep friendships or romantic partnerships, costs even more. LGBT people have learned that it can be a great price as prejudice, law, religion, national boundaries, and cultural norms must be fought in order to love. In fact, LGBT people provide a real model of the sacrificial love that ought to be a religious parable. If love is the goal of religion and love is costly – costly enough in Christian beliefs to say that it brought a crucial death on a cross – then there remains no group that has taken up the cause of such love more sacrificially. Throughout history LGBT people have been tortured and killed for their love, have been fired for their love, have been rejected by their families and friends for their love, have been ridiculed and humiliated for their love. And their loving itself has been defamed, desecrated, and denied. Truly they are models of the importance of love. And so, in the middle of this Gay and Lesbian History month, we remember the history of sacrificial love. While in this fear-based society, we must champion all attempts at love, no matter how inelegant. They should be celebrated. 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.

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OCTOBER 2012

Pitt State Gay Straight Alliance thriving

By Helen Barnes PITTSBURG - The Pitt State Gay Straight Alliance (PSGSA) is an official campus organization registered through the Student Activities Council of Pittsburg State University. It exists to provide a safe and welcoming environment for LGBT students, their friends and families, and all students attending the university. PSGSA also keeps close contact with community supporters, educates members about issues regarding the LGBT community both socially

and politically, and sets up events where members of the organization can have fun, make friends, raise awareness, and learn to be proud of who they are. One of the major events for PSGSA this school year is Pride Week, which is April 8-12. On Monday the 8th, Theo Hines, Pride Week Coordinator, is planning to have a variety of married couples – gay, straight, transsexual, and perhaps others – share their experiences as an opening ceremony. Later that week, PSGSA will host a drag show. Local drag queens and kings will be performing in the

U-Club, in the basement of the Overman Student Center. According to Hines, the drag event has been drawing bigger and bigger crowds each year. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees has encouraged the PSGSA to make this show a tradition. Pride Week will close with a dance on Friday, open to anyone who wants to enjoy an evening out in a space where couples or individuals can feel safe and accepted no matter how they present or who they bring as a date. The Crimson and

Gold Ballroom in the Overman Student Center is the proposed venue. Whether or not the dance will have a “prom” feel is still being decided, along with other planning considerations. Festivities for the remaining two days of Pride Week change every year and are still being decided. Jennifer Katzer, President of PSGSA, is proud of the work the group has done and looks forward to the future. “We are getting much larger and more active this year,” she said. “We are gaining members rapidly, and these members are continued on page 33

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OCTOBER 2012

A Sweet A’fair Sept. 18, 2012

Shakespeare in the Park Julius Caesar WICHITA - A new take on the old classic, local director Mark Anderson chose an entirely female cast, which in turn created several same-sex couples. Pictured above: Portia and Brutus played by Darian Leatherman and Vonda Schuster respectively. Top right: Decius Brutus, Julius Caesar and Calpurnia played by Teri Mott, Beth Wise and Crystal Meek. respectively. Photos by Kristi Parker at a performance in Riverside Park

WICHITA - The 18th annual backyard fundraiser to benefit the Sweet Emergency Fund was a rousing success. Lots and lots of silent auction items, a performance by the men’s ensemble Diversity and food by Popeye’s. Pictured above: Attendees relax outside the tents in the gorgeous fall weather. Photo by Scott Hollander

Miss Gay Wichita Newcomer Aug. 24, 2012 WICHITA - Barbie D’Lovely, Ginger Rose and Jessica Maddox vied for the crown at the Fantasy Complex. Hosted by Jamie Ray Downes, the pageant featured guests Audrey McQueen and Adina Ronee. Pictured far left: JuJu Noir, Miss Newcomer 2011. Left: Ginger Rose is crowned Miss Newcomer 2012. Photos by Rebecah Cross

OCTOBER 2012

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

Leather Life By Nolin Christensen aka Master C

This column is dedicated to explaining to others what the Leather lifestyle is about and what we do.

ince October is Gay History Month, I thought I’d talk about the history of the gay Leather life. Gay Leather in America owes its existence to the military men returning from WWII. Prior to WWII, gay leather existed in various places in Europe, but it wasn’t until after the war that gay Leather took hold here in America. When gay men came home from the war they migrated to the large cities of San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. They sought out other like minds; masculine men looking for masculine men. Originally it wasn’t leather; it was based on what they had experienced while in the service. Male masculine camaraderie and military discipline. Since they came from the military, they adopted many military standards within their culture. Hierarchy and military discipline was the penchant of their life. Shortly thereafter, these military men started forming motorcycle clubs. Here is where they adopted leather as the uniform. These clubs were very secretive and not known to even the general gay community. You had to know someone in order to get invited into their circle. It was a very tight-knit group adhering to leather, bikes, masculinity and protocols. They would go on “runs” to various countryside retreats where they would enjoy sex and each other’s company. Soon, they created places within the city where they could

gather. These were not the leather bars, but private secluded places down dark alleys where you had to know the location, the secret knock and code words in order to get in. These places frequently moved around in order to avoid detection from “outsiders” and police. Because of the masculine nature of the Leather community, their play was rough. Rough sex and rough play was their fun. It was their way of living on the edge which they had experienced throughout the war. It was an adrenaline rush and high. This was where the term “leathersex” originated. During the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Leather bars came on to the scene. These bars had strict dress codes of Levi and leather attire, no shorts, no business dress, no cologne, no deodorant. The bar was dark. You could hear the sounds of sex in various hidden crevices within the bar. Leather bars continued to exist with these rules until the late 1970’s. Starting in the 70’s the Leather subculture came out of the darkness and into the mainstream gay community. Much of this was due to the gay revolution that was sweeping the nation. Stonewall had occurred in 1969 and in the early 1970’s the first gay pride parades were held. And Leathermen joined the ranks. The late 1970’s were the heyday of the Leather and gay lifestyles. In the 1980’s everything came screeching to a halt. AIDS had attacked and started its devastation of the gay community. AIDS hit the Leather community extremely hard. Because these men had played hard, they had engaged in more risky sex than the mainstream g a y c o m m u n i t y. B e c a u s e Leathermen had freestyle sex amongst each other, they quickly spread the AIDS virus. During the 1980’s and t h r o u g h o u t t h e 9 0 ’s g a y Leathermen were dying at an alarming rate. During this time, it was nothing in the larger cities to attend 10-20 funerals per week. Thousands and thousands of men across the country died. In the 1990’s here in Wichita, I

attended one funeral per week for six straight months. After a while, you just became numb. As the men became sick, blood families abandoned them and the straight community was afraid to help. It was the blessing of our drag queen brothers and lesbian sisters that came to the rescue. They came and cared for the dying. Without them, many of the Leather and gay men would have died with no one at their side. Nothing bonded together the feminine and masculine gay communities more than the AIDS crisis. Today we in the gay and Leather communities can live in the open. Although there are

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those that want us to go back into the closet, we have become a force to be reckoned with. Those living with AIDS are living longer and healthier lives. We all have become empowered. All thanks to those brave men and women who forged forward, who had the courage to say “no, we’ve had enough,” and to fight for our rights as human beings. But let us not forget, even though we have made great strides, we still have a long way to go. There is work still to be done. And we cannot let down those who came before us. We must continue to make this world a better place for those still to come once we are gone. l

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By Sheryl LeSage

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

WWII fiction and nerdy sciency love

ou’d think t h e r e would be more fiction set in the WWII era, when women poured into the factories to become “Rosie the Riveters,” and then promptly

marched home after the war and gave the jobs back to their menfolk. I’ve always wondered what that was like for them: did they go willingly? Did they hate working and see returning home as a relief? Were they angry that the skills they had developed would now go to waste? So I welcomed Therese Ambrosi Smith’s Wax ($13.95, Blue Star Books). It has all the elements of a good story: adventurous young

OCTOBER 2012

women thrown together in a common cause, the difficulties of learning to weld inside a combat ship, the personal struggles involved in learning to get along with a variety of personalities, family scandal—even arson, and yes, lesbians. Unfortunately, the book seems somehow shallow. I was carried along by the narrative, but what seemed pretty important to me—one character figuring out that she was gay long before that was understood, let alone acceptable—is given only an occasional mention. There is far, far too much about the particulars of setting up a candle factory, too much build-up to a shocking revelation that isn’t really all that shocking to a careful reader, and not nearly enough about the book’s supposed subject. We never really do learn what these women felt about having to give up their working lives and move back home. They just . . . do, and that’s that. I wanted more. Cate Culpepper’s A Question of Ghosts ($16.95, Bold Strokes Books) has been out for a couple of months, but she’s a reliable romance writer— she isn’t going to say anything that makes you want to stab yourself in the side of the head with an ice pick, and I value that in a writer. This is a good read, too: the writer is bold enough to give us a character who is, to say the least, introverted. But nerdy sciency types need love too, if they can figure out what it is and what to do about it— or at least that’s the case here, where Joanne, who holds two Ph.D.s but has never had a friend, is about to fall in love for the first time. Her lover-to-be is Becca, an extremely empathic social worker, orphan, and Xena fan. But wait: this is not a run-of-the-mill romance, because there is also a ghost. Becca’s mother seems to be speaking from the grave, through any electronic transmitter she can find. The book builds suspense nicely, both in the romance and in the mystery. It’s even a bit scary in parts. The characters are just prickly enough to make a reader mutter under her breath at first, but they warm to each other at a good pace, and the story hurtles on to a conclusion you won’t want to miss. Check it out, and I promise, all your ice picks will stay comfortably in the kitchen drawer. l

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OCTOBER 2012

Mama (For President?) Knows Best

H Wichita State University Departments Present...

Lieutenant Dan Choi

Truths and Consequences October 30, 2012 | Wichita State University Hubbard Hall 208 | 7:00 P.M.

Lt. Dan Choi is one of the most powerful and nationally known individuals in the fight for LGBT rights. While serving in the military, Lt. Choi was discharged from the military after publicly announcing three words, “I am gay.” From that point on, Lt. Choi’s life changed forever. Choi began to be vocal about his views on the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy as co-chair for the March on Washington for LGBT Equality and the leader of other initiatives for equal rights. Much of his work contributed to the repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. As the Anti-Hate and Respect Week’s speaker, he will talk about the discrimination he faced once coming out in the military, and how he overcame it. Lt. Choi continues to advocate for full LGBT civil rights and veteran's health. This event is cosponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Activities Council, That Gay Group, Sociology Department, Social Work Department, and Office of Human Resources. Contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs for more information at 978-3034 or www.wichita.edu/oma.

ello Wichita! This month instead of answering questions I am going enlighten you folks on my campaign agenda. You heard right! Mama for President! I certainly can do better than some of the other boobs that have been in office! Besides I’m sick and tired of hearing all those other candidates blowing hot air. So here goes! Education will be a priority when I am elected. If you educate people they won’t be irritating! If the American people are better educated they won’t spend money on stupid things, like potpourri. It is a bag of sticks and dirt for God’s sake! I know immigration is a problem as well. I will build senior living centers along the border on the American side. No one sees more than a nosy old lady looking out her window. Those people will not get across the border without those old broads seeing them! Consumer issues should be addressed that no other candidates are concerned with. We need to watch advertisements closely. Who the hell came up with the “Hamburglar” for McDonald’s? That is not a good role model for kids. What is next Big and Tasty the Flasher?! I do not want to see those set of McNuggets! This next issue is important

to Americans and myself. I will do all I can to get our healthcare system fixed. The problem is all the healthcare laws are being made by healthy people. If Congress had more coughing, wheezing, aches and pains, better laws would be passed. This next one is a very touchy subject so stay calm until I am done. We need some new taxes! Oh, stop yelling and let me finish. I’m talking about taxes that will help America look and feel better and get rid of that debt we are in. These are a few of my new taxes: Quit tailgating me you idiot tax Hearing your life story as you talk on your cell phone while standing by you at the QuikTrip tax Crying baby on crowded plane tax Texting and driving and weaving all over the road tax This is just a few of my ideas for taxes. I just want to say, I would be the best choice to run this country! I can save us so much money by cutting a lot of extras at the White House. I will do all the cleaning and cooking myself. I will also make sure if no one is in the room the lights are off. When I have a state dinner it will be buffet- style, needing no servants. We will have a keg instead of a bar. I can tap it and you can pump it to get your own beer. The other countries will listen to me. I am very stern when mad! America is considered the mother of all countries so why not have President Mama! Vote for me or wake up and smell the damn coffee! l

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OCTOBER 2012

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A portrait of professionals: The grand opening of Light and Sound Spa By Amanda Barr WICHITA – With a broad smile, Brad Thomison hosted the grand opening of his massage practice, Light and Sound Spa, located at 4605 E. Kellogg, on Aug. 31. The event also unveiled work from photographer Kelsy Gossett, whose collection of portraits flaunted a decadent array of masks. A sample of Gossett’s display includes: a man wearing a superhero mask while reading; a woman donning a horse head mask while receiving a facial piercing; and a mother nursing her baby, whose zombie mask renders this intimate scene grotesque. Attendee Bill Brittendall, depicted in the first photo, reflects that this picture actually conveys more about him than a traditional family portrait hanging at home. “I always have a book on me,” he comments, pointing, “This is ME, in my grandfather’s chair.” Gossett’s inspiration springs from the daily challenges of

photography, which she has done professionally since 2004. “I really try to capture who people are,” she shares, “but they tend to put up a façade.” Gossett’s current work addresses this issue, opening up a dialogue around philosophical inquiries, like: “What’s important to share with people and what’s important to keep to yourself – or SHOULD you [hide aspects of yourself from others]?” As Gossett discussed pretense, self-perception, and “snap judgments” made at a glance, Thomison attempted to impress the identity of his massage practice, arising naturally as a projection of his own identity. Thomison demonstrates an affinity for the helping professions, leadership, and business. He earned a degree in Music Education from WSU to administer music therapy to children, after which he dedicated himself to non-profit work at Hope Street Youth Development. Later, a call to ministry compelled Thomison

Lawrence band, Grenadina, shines on debut EP By Ciara Reid, staff reporter LAWRENCE - The momentum surrounding the Lawrence-based band Grenadina just keeps on building. Formed during the summer of 2011, the all-girl band, which includes vocalist Katie Ford, guitarist Steph Castor, bassist Mia Morrow, and drummer Stefanie Petrozz, has just released their debut EP

Pretend for Me in August of this year. Their writing process is collaborative; everybody’s got a role. The group’s collaboration results in a batch of songs that surge with energy. Lyrically, the songs are sharp and direct in their message – in Don’t Flatter Yourself, Ford writes: “But you try so hard/And you talk so

sweet/And you look so good/ When you pretend for me.” Castor, Morrow and Petrozz craft the melodies, while Ford pens the lyrics. “They jam things out for a while until a structure begins to emerge. After listening to it a couple times, I disappear for a bit to write the lyrics,” Ford says. “Throughout the entire process, we toss in our own ideas and comments

on the specific parts until the end product is something each member is happy with. The girls are very good-natured about letting me release all of my pent up frustration in my lyrics, but I try to let the music dictate the nature of the song.” Though it can be hard for continued on page 32

Masks provided by Kelsy Gossett lie on a table during the opening. Photo by Amanda Barr

to pursue the Master of Divinity program, which he tried to juggle with his role as Project Manager at the Coleman Company. When Coleman laid him off, Thomison enrolled in Body and Soul Therapeutic Massage School with a dream of creating a unique business. With his new set of skills, he offers specialty massages ranging from Hawaiian LomiLomi and Hot Stone to Sports. He continues to pursue advanced coursework at Body and Soul and even reaches beyond its scope by weaving his background in music therapy with light therapy. Sound and light therapy serve as the pivotal aspects of Thomison’s business image (and account for its name!). The light therapy Thomison provides falls under “chromotherapy,” the use of colors to affect body, mind, and spirit. The scientific basis of this approach lies in the analogous nature of light and sound waves. Colors also correspond to “chakras,” a concept central to Reiki healing, which Thomison plans to study at Body and Soul and then perform at Light and Sound. Thomison contends that the principles of color therapy are self-evident to all: “We have

favorite colors and un-favorite colors, we know when colors match or don’t, we paint our walls in specific ways ... They affect our moods and our ways of thinking.” To provide these therapies synchronously, Thomison times his lights, music, and massage routine to align. Coordinating every detail, Thomison predicts his business will thrive and boom. His ultimate goal is to transform his business into a downtown destination spa. Thomison elaborates: “I have drawn sketches of what I want this place to look like. I have a very vivid image of this vision. I’m very excited to be started ... I believe we’ll get there.” Thomison also has big expectations for Wichita. “We’re Wichitasome, right?!” he laughs, and states sincerely, “I believe it’s one of those cities that’s going to just get bigger and better as time goes on, and I want to be a part of the momentum that makes that happen.” To throw your weight behind these creative professionals, you can easily book and view comprehensive lists of their respective services by visiting Gossett at www.imagesbykelsy. com, or Thomison at www. lightandsoundspa.com. l

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LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

OCTOBER 2012

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OCTOBER 2012

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

I didn’t survive...

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Breast Cancer Treatment

Depression & Suicide Attempts

Coming Out & High School Bullying

...to die early from smoking. When you’re ready, we’re here to help.

take in your health Stop by the PRIDE Health Fair for a Last Drag Quit Kit

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LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

Transformative

By Stephanie Mott

Trans-Surgery: Part Eight

am 163 centimeters tall. I did not know that I would need to know that when I arrived in Bangkok. It is just one of the dozens of things I did not know. This is the piece I need to write about the surgery itself. This is the piece I hope illuminates the path a bit for others who will be on the same journey. Before my surgery, I was taken to a hospital where I was given an EKG and also met a young female psychiatrist who

filled out the certificate required by the government for me to have my surgery. She didn’t ask me any questions about why I wanted the surgery, she did, however, want to know how tall I was. I am five feet four inches, but she wanted to know in centimeters. When we got back to Bangkok Plastic Surgery (BPS), I was prepped for surgery, which included a UA. Of course, I had to pee before we left the hotel and I was told not to have any food or water the day of the surgery so that turned out to be an event. Next was the required cleaning of my bowels, which is not pleasant and probably does not require graphic illustration. Finally they took me into the operating room which was busy, busy, busy. No less than ten women were all tending to individual preparations

The anesthesiologist wanted to know how tall I was – in centimeters. As we talked, he noticed the scars from my hip replacement surgeries. He asked me about my anesthesiology from those operations and I shared that I had been given a spinal block and then kept sleeping during the operation. Then he asked if that was what I wanted to do, and I said yes. It is much easier to recover from than general anesthesia. I faded off looking into the faces of the scurrying angels busy at work for the purpose of my care, each of whom seemed to glance up at just the right time and offer a kind smile. Kindness is of the eyes, and although I could not see the smiles beneath the angels’ green face masks, I knew that they were there. Warning – Skip the next two paragraphs if you don’t want to know what they do during the surgery. The surgery is called a vaginoplasty (Scrotal Skin Graft Technique). First, an incision is made along the penis, from the base of the scrotum to the tip. Scrotal skin and the testicles are removed, and the skin of the penis is carefully separated from the erectile tissue and removed. The erectile tissue is then removed. In the meantime, the scrotal skin is reshaped into a closed tube which is grafted to the penile skin, to increase the depth of the vagina to be created, and the glans of the penis is reshaped and sewn into position to form the clitoris. The skin of the lower abdomen is carefully lifted away, and the process of creating the vagina begins. The penile skin, with the attached graft, is inverted, and placed inside the cavity made by lifting away the skin. The penile skin is then carefully sewn into place. The

OCTOBER 2012

urethra is also rerouted at this time. The remaining scrotal skin is trimmed to make the labia. Packing is placed into the vagina to help hold the shape during initial healing, and final stitching and cleaning up is done. The preceding was taken from a post by “Saige” and closely matches the description I was given by Dr. Pichet. There was never a moment when I thought about not going through with the surgery. I have waited a lifetime for this moment. When I woke up, my friend was with me and much of the next day was pretty blurry. I didn’t like being on the morphine and asked within the first 24 hours to be switched to Tramadol. I was pleased to know that there was WiFi in my room and being able to get online was so much appreciated. For three days, the many kind attendants swept in and out of the room and check my vitals and urine output and dumped an occasional does of antibiotics into my IV. I was amazed that they allowed me to eat the next day, and even let me have coffee. Every few hours there were doses of medicine for swelling and pain, and more antibiotics. On the second day after the surgery, the got me up so I could walk around a bit. Of all the moments of pain I have experienced in the journey so far, the getting up was by far the most painful. An inch and a half of padding was covering the surgical area, and when I began to sit up, that padding pushed down on the bed and up on the surgical area and my exact words were, “ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, and oh, my God.” l Stephanie Mott is the executive director of the Kansas Statewide Transgender Education Project and Topeka Chapter Chair/Kansas Vice-Chair of the Kansas Equality Coalition. She can be reached at stephtopeka@yahoo.com.

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LGBT Community Center opens in Hays

By Angie Combs HAYS - Western Kansas, home to numerous towns and cities and endless fields and open roads, is a part of the U.S. that holds a beauty all its own. From the famous “amber waves of grain” to the explosive sunsets, the beauty of the flatlands is undeniable. In the heart of this region, one open road is adding more color to the rural lifestyle of the Kansas farmland. Meet Natalie McCall. A young, vibrant, and determined young lesbian, who, while sporting her dreads, has brought the rainbow flag to Hays, Kans. After struggling to come out over a three-year period, she found a community of acceptance, one she never dreamed of, while living in Wichita. After moving to Hays, she longed for that community in her rural environment. She began piecing the idea together in 2010, and in July of this year, founded Open Roads, an LGBT Community Center. “Out here, that’s what we see, open roads. I chose the word “open” because that is the general nature of the organization, open and accepting,” McCall said. Currently meeting in a local church, Open Roads hosts three different monthly group chat sessions. “The first Wednesday of the month is for LGBT folks, the second Wednesday is for anyone questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. The third Wednesday is for friends and family members of LGBT people,” McCall explained. After quitting her job earlier this summer, she has committed all of her time to getting her dream off the ground. The Center is only weeks old, and McCall said, “We are currently working to become a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and I am currently working on establishing a board of directors.” The mission of Open Roads: “To foster (an) LGBT community in rural areas … (by) creating this community by providing resources and education for the LGBT population and through community awareness initiatives. In addition, Open

Roads will provide education and support for local businesses, institutions and organizations. Our vision is to be the primary provider of LGBT education and resources for Western Kansas and surrounding rural areas.” McCall wants people in rural Kansas, and eventually eastern Colorado and southern Nebraska to know “that they are not alone in regard to LGBTQA issues.” Western Kansas isn’t a place where differences are accepted easily and currently, no place exists for LGBT people to connect. “There is this understanding that you have to go to a city to be yourself and I want to change that. People shouldn’t have to move away or live their life on the internet in order to feel accepted as their true self,” she said. “From the general population, I have been met with

questions as to why this is an issue, but those same people don’t know how to talk about LGBT issues with me. Several companies in town list sexual orientation on their anti-discrimination policies, but don’t offer training to their employees. It is not enough for it to be down on paper, it needs to be part of the culture of the business or organization. I hope to give them a starting place to make that happen.” In the future, McCall hopes to have Open Roads in its own building, sponsoring seminars and classes, Safe Zone training for business employers and local organizations, as well as an “Open Roads” vehicle, to bring the message out into the most

rural communities. McCall has big dreams, saying, “In 10 years, I would like for the community to embrace the importance of the organization and keep it alive and growing. Eventually, I would like Open Roads to have sub-offices and a place to house displaced youth.” For now, until their nonprofit status is approved and they can begin applying for grants, Open Roads is funded solely on donations and the hard work of an ambitious young woman. For more information on Open Roads, to attend a monthly group chat, or to donate, visit Open Roads online at www.openroadslgbt.org, e-mail openroadslgbt@gmail. com, call 785-259-6526, on Facebook (Open Roads LGBT Community Center) or Twitter (@OpenRoadsLGBT), or mail PO Box 1820, Hays, KS 67601. l

Win tickets at www.libertypress.net!

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News Briefs Over five hours of uncensored Kathy Available Oct. 30, The Kathy Griffin Collection: Red, White & Raw includes uncensored and unaired bonus footage. The twodisc set comes complete with the comedy specials Pants Off and Tired Hooker as well as five shows never before available on DVD: Gurrl Down, 50 & Not Pregnant, Whores on Crutches, Kathy Griffin Does the Bible Belt and Balls of Steel.

Azores Islands, Portugal holds first Pride March More than 2,000 people participated in the first-ever Pride March Sept. 1 and Festival Pride Azores. “A tremendous success,” says Terry Costa, the president of the only LGBT

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

organization on the Atlantic islands. The festival included a conference on the issues, a showcase of short films, poetry readings, and a party showcasing artists after the March. The events happened at the Public Library and an artsy bar gallery called Arco 8. The main event was the March and Festival Photo courtesy Rui Soares at Portas do Mar, a fairly new area of in Catholicism and rarely do Azores largest city you see people marching on of Ponta Delgada the streets outside of religious that is already used festivals. “When I answered to dock some of to her that it had nothing to do the world’s major with a saint, but it was all about cruises that pass human rights for all citizens by the picturesque including LGBT, she called her island of São Miguel. friend that was sitting at a café, T h e M a r c h grabbed her purse and joined was an incredible right in. A moment that I will success with over 150 official never forget, and makes all the participants walking the streets hard work, all the fights against of the city, but with over 2,000 many that pressed for the event spectators many joined in or not to happen, all worth it.” started a parallel march in Visit www.prideazores.com. support, on the sidewalks. “It was incredible to see Hot new swimsuit line available this happen,” adds Costa. “Because I had a megaphone, a lady approached me to ask Vanwolff, (www.vanwolff.com) which saint was the march a new Los Angeles-based men’s about.” Azores is very rooted swim, underwear and apparel

OCTOBER 2012

company, just revealed its first swimwear collections: “Prey” and “Essentials” to a packed house at the Abbey in West Hollywood. The company’s premium line, “Prey,” includes 14 aquatic animal designs specially engineered and embedded into the fabric; while the c o m p a n y ’s m o r e b a s i c swimwear line, “Essentials,” offers a selection of four vibrant colors using the same sleek, innovative styles. Available in briefs and trunks, both lines boast Vanwolff ’s signature “woven-in-cording,” meaning each suit comes adorned with an original clever quote (i.e. “I Promise To Behave This Summer,” “Looking for Trouble,” etc.) expertly woven into the drawstring cording. The swimsuit material is made of high-end, fade-resistant polynylon, and all pieces have lining throughout the entire suit.

Who is more fit to raise a child: a convicted killer or a lesbian? The Documentary UNFIT: Ward vs. Ward, by Miami

OCTOBER 2012

filmmakers Edwin Scharlau and Katie Carmichael, examines the unparalleled custody case that took place in Pensacola, FL in 1995. The case revolved around Mary Ward, a divorced lesbian, who simply requested an increase in child support payments from her ex-husband John Ward who had murdered his first wife several years earlier, also over a custody battle. John then turned the tables on Mary and sought full custody of their daughter. John exploited Mary in court, using the fact that she was a lesbian as his defense, though Mary’s sexual orientation had never been an issue between the two. Without hesitation, Judge Joseph Q. Tarbuck stated that their daughter should have the ability to “grow up in a

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

non-lesbian world” and granted full custody to John. A year after the verdict, a remorseless John Wa r d a p p e a r e d in a television interview with Geraldo Rivera elaborating on the premeditated murder of his first wife Judy. Recreating his murderous actions for the viewers, Ward described how he shot Judy three times, watched her beg for her life, shot her three more times, then reloaded and shot her six more times at point blank range. He pled guilty to second degree murder and served only 8½ years out of his 20 year sentence. Upon the appeals court’s decision to uphold the original judge’s decision, Mary focused on taking the case to the Florida Supreme Court. Unfortunately, Mary died of a heart attack before she had the opportunity to continue fighting for her daughter. Visit www.unfit-themovie. com. l

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 THE SELLING Doors Open at 7 p.m. Movie Starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: $8 (The Selling only) $12 (The Selling & Rocky Horror)

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ello Kansas! This month is the first issue to have the new column entitled Audrey Asks, where I will be interviewing a different drag entertainer in the community. This month I decided to interview myself so that readers can get to know the person who will be conducting the interviews each month! (Sounds crazy I know, I promise I don’t usually talk to myself!) How did you think of your drag name? Audrey McQueen: Before my first show a friend and I were sitting around panicking about all the things we had to get done before my first show and then we thought, “Oh crap, we haven’t thought of a name!” So after a long five minutes, I thought I have always loved Audrey Hepburn and also loved the character of Audrey in Little

LIBERTY PRESS - WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

money for First MCC, the HIV community, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and any entertainer on their way to national pageants! Oh yeah, I also got to be a part of The Man and Woman of The Year ceremony at the Hyatt!

Shop of Horrors, so Audrey would be the first part, and the McQueen part came from the fabulous designer Alexander McQueen. So yeah, that’s how Audrey McQueen came about! How long have you been doing drag? AM: I started on July 15, 2010, so it’s been just over two years! What titles or awards you have earned in your career? AM: My first title was Miss Xcalibur 2010 in Junction City and Miss Gay Wichita 2012. Have you done any exciting events? AM: I was involved with Art For Life in 2011, that was exciting, Bitchy Bingo, Queens Are Wild! and I also co-hosted the Wichita State Drag Show with Divinity Masters this year. I also love doing any benefits raising

Who are your inspirations in drag? AM: The question is who isn’t? I love Dolly Parton, Reba, RuPaul, Chad Michaels, The Lady Bunny, and all the girls on Toddlers and Tiaras. What are your future goals? AM: I want to be Miss Gay America, raise as much money as I can for any organization that needs it, and have my own Wikipedia page! I have so many goals, and also have a lot of projects I’m currently working on. Where can readers come and see you perform? AM: I am currently on cast at Fantasy on Fridays at 10pm and Sundays at 11pm. You can find me on Facebook to find out where I will be next and also on Twitter @audreymcqueen.

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Do you have any advice for new people who are interested in performing and doing drag? AM: Always be yourself and stay humble. Treat everyone with respect, and always wear lashes, hip pads, and nails! Thank you all for reading this month’s edition of Audrey Asks. Be sure to check it out next month as we interview a new entertainer! l

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LGBT films highlighted at 10 Annual Tallgrass Film Festival By Ciara Reid, staff reporter WICHITA - The 10th annual Tallgrass Film Festival will feature a wide array of films dispersed over 15 categories, including the LGBT category, which includes films with a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender theme. This year’s crop of LGBT films covers it all: a documentary about an allAmerican family’s right to love, a drama-comedy with an all-star cast about family dysfunction, and a heartbreaking love story centered around two men in New York City – just to name a few. Whether you’re attending the broader festival or not, these films are must-sees: Petunia is a film that features an all-star cast, including Thora

Birch, Christine Lahti, Michael Urie, Brittany Snow and Eddie Kaye Thomas. The film focuses on the complicated relationships of a New York family. Two characters in the film, Charlie and George, are gay and were inspired by director Ash Christian’s real life experience of breaking up with his first love. For him, making the film was a form of therapy to get over his first love. “I needed to get off my chest - my first love and breakup and how terrible it was,” Christian says. “I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit around, so I wrote about it.” At first, Christian, along with writing partner Theresa Bennett, wrote the movie based on his relationship. Then they added a family of colorful characters to widen the film’s appeal. “It’s a really messed up family, but it was a lot of fun to create,” he says. And apparently, writing a film based on heartache is an effective healing process. “I’m totally good now!” Christian

says. Though the film features two gay characters, Christian doesn’t necessarily call it a gay film. “It’s not a gay film at all,

it just happens to have one gay relationship and a gay couple,” he explains. The more often gay characters are included in films, he says, the more normal these relationships will appear to people who have misconceptions about gay people. “I try to open everyone’s minds a little bit about gay culture and relationships, and to show that they’re not that different from every other relationship.” Thora Birch, who plays Vivian in the film, agrees with the notion that it’s not a ‘gay’ film. “Personally, I don’t view Petunia as an LGBT film or not an LGBT film, because that would imply that there is something inherently abnormal about LGBT films or the LGBT experience; which is a notion I don’t agree with,” she explains. “I think the film is about life in the 21st century, it’s about a modern family that has a lot of quirks…I can’t think of anything more normal than that.” Birch, whose previous films include Now and Then, Ghost World, and American Beauty, also served as one of film’s producers. “I was drawn to the multiple storyline structure of the script, and the tone in the writing,” she says of what attracted her to the project. “I felt that beyond some of the kookiness of the stories, there was a heartwarming core there that a broad audience can relate to.” Christian’s films are no strangers to the Tallgrass Film Festival. Both Fat Girls and Mangus were screened at previous festivals. This year,

the director will be attending. Petunia is up for the Stubbornly Independent Award. This will be Christian’s first visit to Kansas and to the Tallgrass Film Festival. “I love the mission, and they’ve been so supportive,” he says of the event organizers. Keep the Lights On, directed by Ira Sachs, focuses on the complicated and passionate decadelong relationship of two men who meet in New York City. “Forget Brokeback Mountain. This is the most heartbreaking gay love story of our times,” says Dan Heching in his review for Next Magazine. That alone should draw anyone into seeing the film, which has garnered several awards since its release, including the Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival 2012, a n d Wi n n e r – Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature

at Outfest 2012. Call Me Kuchu, directed by Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall, is a documentary about the extreme anti-homosexuality that exists in Uganda, a country in which a new bill could make homosexuality punishable by death. “If this bill passes, they say within 24 hours, someone should report the person he knows to be gay,” explains one person featured in the documentary. The film features several gay and lesbian Ugandans, including Uganda’s first openly gay man David Kato, as they fight for acceptance, freedom and safety. Curious about the meaning of the film’s continued on page 32

Tallgrass Film Festival celebrates 10th anniversary By Ciara Reid, staff reporter

W I C H I TA - F o u r d a y s . Over 15 film categories. And so many films that it is impossible for one person to see them all. Showcasing more than 120 films from around the world, the festival is the largest independent film festival in Kansas. This is what the Tallgrass Film Festival is about, and as the festival enters its 10th year, the momentum and buzz keeps building. “This year we are celebrating our roots and the independent filmmakers who make Tallgrass possible,” says Lela Meadow-Conner, executive director of the f e s t i v a l . T h i s y e a r, t h e organizers of the festival have added a new event called

The Stubbornly Independent Gala, which will highlight many of the filmmakers who are creating truly independent films (Ash Christian’s film Petunia, which is in the LGBT film category, is up for this award). Meadow-Conner says that while the festival has changed over the years, mainly in its growth and recognition, the core remains the same. “I think we are still all about showcasing the best of indie film from around the world, to Wichita audiences,” she says. The LGBT category is just one example of the diverse array of films the festival aims to include. So how does a film get selected for the festival? Meadow-Conner explains the rigorous selection process. “We continued on page 33

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Kansas City

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any band to pick a favorite song, Grenadina unanimously chose Glamour Angst as their favorite on the record. For Ford, the lyrics came to her more quickly and organically than the other songs. For Petrozz, it’s the emotion of the song that attracts her. “There are a lot of feelings behind that song, especially when we play it live. The emotion seems to pour out,” she says. The song is also exciting to play live, says Marrow. “The simplicity of matching each other rhythmically and melodically makes the song a real joy to play.” As far as Castor’s favorite song to play live, Eight Up wins. “Instrumentally, it’s one of our oldest songs, and there is just a lot of dynamic to it when we play live,” she says. The work hasn’t stopped since the release of the EP. The band works tirelessly to promote the record as much as possible. “Steph Castor is the promotional genius of the group,” says Ford. “Any publicity or attention we get is largely due to her tireless efforts and extreme dedication.” “Really, it’s just about

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constant talk,” Castor adds. “Our main tool is to never stop talking about the album.” Fans will notice that the band’s EP is available for free, with the option to donate any amount when downloaded. Doing it all themselves isn’t easy, Castor says, but it’s worth it. “What makes it so special to us is that we know everything is authentic. No one influenced us to do one particular thing. It’s all uniquely Grenadina.” Grenadina will be playing at the Replay Lounge in Lawrence on Oct. 3 at 10pm, and hope to book more shows in the late fall or winter. While the band wants to tour regionally in the coming months, they all agree that Lawrence is a great place to hone their sound as a band. “I think it’s a total feeding ground for new and upcoming talents,” Petrozz says. “Anything seems to go, and anyone willing to bring something fresh or different to the table can get noticed.” Castor says the city has a music scene that never really dies. “Lawrence is such an amalgam of different cultures,

yet somehow it is so tightly knit into one little pocket in the Midwest,” she says. When the time comes to hit the road to support their EP and grow their fan base, the girls who make up Grenadina will no doubt know they’ve worked hard for it. “For me, touring has always been a distant dream, but through working with Katie, Stef and Steph, it seems that it might just come true,” Marrow says. l Download Grenadina’s EP Pretend for Me at grenadina.bandcamp.com. www.facebook.com/grenadinamusic www.twitter.com/GrenadinaBand www.youtube.com/GrenadinaTV Tallgrass Films continued from page 29

title? In Uganda, the word kuchu is a synonym for gay. Kiss Me, a Swedish film directed by Alexandra Therese-Keining, tells the story of Mia and Frida, who first meet at an engagement party. Though Mia is about to marry her boyfriend, she develops strong feelings for Frida as the two dive into a

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of a married gay couple and their two adopted kids, and their struggle for acceptance in the midst of the national debate on marriage equality. Directed by Cassie Jaye, along with her sister Christina Clack and mother Nena Jaye, the film has received several awards since its Feb. 4 debut at the Castro Theater in San Francisco, including one Silver and three Bronze awards at the 33rd Annual Telly Awards. For up-to-the-minute information about showtimes, venues and other LGBT films added to the line-up, visit www. tallgrassfilmfest.com. l

Win a DVD of Kiss Me following the screening courtesy of Wolfe Video and Liberty Press!

bridges relationship. The trailer gushes with emotion and drama, and the story may remind viewers of another lesbian film, Imagine Me & You, which is definitely not a bad thing. The Right to Love: An American Family, is a documentary about the Leffew family, comprised

Died: Jessie Tyson, 66, school psychologist, suddenly on September 12, 2012 in Wichita. Anniversary: Nolin Christensen (aka Master C), John Tovar, and Mike Lang celebrated their anniversaries at the end of September. Nolin and John for ten years, and all three of them for eight years. Anniversary: Bron Greenfeather and John J. are celebrating their 20th anniversary on October 18, 2012. Anniversary: Deborah Davis and Staci Steddum are celebrating their 14th anniversary on October 24, 2012. 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.

OCTOBER 2012

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more eager than ever to get our message out there and raise awareness. “We are also focusing on diversity this semester: diversity of the different colors and ethnic backgrounds of our members and the diversity in our identities and sexualities.” PSGSA plans on having some kind of activity about every month, if not more often. The group wants to gain increased recognition because they have discovered that most students on campus do not know the organization exists. To get involved with PSGSA, check meeting times or minutes, or simply to learn about Pride Week events or other happenings, join the Facebook group at www. facebook.com/groups/psgsa/. PSGSA welcomes comments, opinions, or offers of assistance on Facebook as well. l

tinyurl.com/herscopes Charlene Lichtenstein’s ground-breaking astrology book HerScopes: A Guide To Astrology For Lesbians is celebrating its 10th anniversary! The secrets that are revealed about each sign continue to amaze. Makes a great gift.

Help Wanted VOLUNTEER DRUMMER for Praise Band on Sunday mornings. Two services weekly and one rehearsal. Drums provided. Reply to: mcc_pastor@sbcglobal.net. Classifieds are available for $5 for the first 15 words. E-mail editor@libertypress.net for other options, and pricing.

have a 40+ person pre-screening and programming committee made up of Wichitans from all walks of life … we do look to show a wide array of subjects and genres, as Wichita is a multi-faceted city and we want our program to reflect its diversity.” Meadow-Conner says that the films are always judged on the storytelling and cinematic quality. The quality of the submitted films are so good, she explains, that there are always films that they wish they could put in if they just had one more time slot. “Maybe in the future we’ll be able to extend the festival so that we have time to show all of the films we want to,” she said. The festival will be announcing the full line-up of films on Sept. 28. “We’re all very proud of this year’s lineup which is very independent,” she says. “We also have some

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wonderful world cinema selections, which we are always excited to showcase - it’s a little known secret, but Wichitans love foreign film! We’re also excited about all of the visiting filmmakers who will be attending the festival this year - they are truly the stars of the show.” If the first 10 years of the Tallgrass Film Festival are any indicator, the festival will continue its growth and popularity throughout the next decade. “We are excited to continue on this trajectory going forward,” says Meadow-Conner. “We will definitely continue to keep our focus on quality, and creating new and exciting experiences for the moviegoer.” The 10th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival is Oct. 18-21. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning in October. For more information, visit: www. tallgrassfilmfest.com, www. facebook.com/tallgrassfilm, www.twitter.com/tallgrass. l

OUT IN THE STARS by Charlene Lichtenstein

Happy National Coming Out Month! Get the party going as Pluto bumps and jostles Venus, Mercury and Saturn. We feel our oats as well as the oats of others and can unleash our personal oomph to take us forward and up, up, up. Go for it, whatever “it” is. ARIES (MAR. 21 - APRIL 20) Months of hard work and suave political maneuverings around the office suddenly pay off with a bang. So big shot, where do you go from here? What do you do for an encore? Chart your course carefully all through October, gay Ram. There is the temptation to take detours and excursions, but you can’t U-turn on the professional highway. And avoid rest stops.

LEO (JULY 24 - AUG. 23) SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 - DEC. 22) Work hard this October to tie up any Ka ching! Your long-term plans finally loose ends. Monetary rewards are begin to gel and take off . . . and not just waiting to be reaped for a job well done monetarily. Prepare for a power grab. There . . . or even half baked. But you have to were those, possibly in a prior corporate do it all yourself - don’t delegate and sit life, who tried to suppress you and thwart back, proud Lion, even if it seems tempting. The fates your progress. Now you have the upper hand. Use it. They seem to know if you are the master of your fate or just say that revenge is a dish best eaten cold. Aren’t we headed a bystander and will reward accordingly. into the winter months soon . . .?

TAURUS (APRIL 21 - MAY 21) October is a great month to expand your horizons, seek knowledge on arcane topics, test some legal waters and have some fun in the process. Don’t sit at home and wait for the inspiration to strike. There are places to go, people to meet, greet, sweep off their feet and worlds to change. Queer Bulls feel that they are on a grand-scale personal quest. And they would be right. GEMINI (MAY 22 - JUNE 21) Sexy and flirty pink Twins can turn their blah lair into a perfect rendezvous romp house. Heh heh. So check out your surroundings objectively. Efforts may involve a slight redecoration or a complete renovation with an eye towards comfort combined with a dash of uber-luxury. Weave your web and lure a few unsuspecting flies. Err is that flyboys or flygirls?

VIRGO (AUG. 24 - SEPT. 23) CAPRICORN (DEC. 23 - JAN. 20) Not only are you the toast of the town, Prepare to meet a bevy of unusual of you do it in style and with panache. even exotic acquaintances who manage Find ways to maneuver yourself into the to help you launch any personal project epicenter of all the action and in the right that has been cooking for a while on crowds. It won’t be hard. Queer Virgos the backburner. The secret is a mix of are often content to toil helpfully in the background different perspectives. Showcase your creativity and for scraps, but now even a Cinderella gets to go to the sociability by forming groups or committees that impact ball. So get the ball (and bon temps) rolling. your surroundings. Today Main Street. Tomorrow the World, pink Cap! LIBRA (SEPT. 24 - OCT. 23) Your family not only gives you AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 - FEB. 19) monetary support (if needed) they A secret admirer may make themselves also give you a psychic lift which is known to you. Be ready to be surprised strengthening. In fact you have many adoring admirers and abashed. And they seem to arrive at and supporters right now working behind the scenes just the right time and when they are needed. No matter for you. Be cognizant of their influence and help. You how you might feel, listen carefully to their message and, will have the opportunity to offer some payback this if need be, pretend to be fascinated. You never know how winter. Or will you pay it forward instead? much they can help you until you hear them out.

CANCER (JUNE 22 - JULY 23) October focuses on one-to-one relationships which can be strengthened or severed, as you decide, with a few well chosen words. You seem to innately know who is worth the effort and who is not. And yet, if you are in any doubt, remember that sweet nothings can pay dividends with little risk or cost. So pile on the sugar and develop a cavity or two.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) PISCES (FEB. 20 - MAR. 20) Your words move mountains. So think Friends and acquaintances can turn your life carefully before you speak, craft your into a much more sensuous journey. Platonic message with extra care and you can pals can turn passionate if you allow yourself have friends eating out of your hand. to be swept up in emotion. Of course, it can (If that is really what you want.) Queer complicate certain relationships, Guppie. So think first and Scorps can gab their way into any act second. Some friendships are best kept on a low flame select powerful cadre and exert their special brand of to simmer. Others can be pot-boilers that singe the palate. influence on it. Is it time to run for political office? I say yes you can. But get going!

(c) 2012 THE STARRY EYE, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Can’t get enough? Join the blog: www.thestarryeye.typepad.com/newage Lichtenstein’s astrology book HerScopes is an international sensation. Buy it and feel the vibration. Order now at tinyurl.com/Herscopes

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