2
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
IN THIS ISSUE
1
SEPTEMBER 2016 - VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7 1 COVER
2
3
4
5
6
3 IN THIS ISSUE
7
OUT ON LI: 7 NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY IN THE NEWS: 8 NATIONAL 11 INTERNATIONAL
8
9
OUT FRONT:
10 11 12 13 14 15
12 PRIDE NIGHT AT CITI FIELD BE SCENE: 15 PRIDE NIGHT 17 SUNSET ON THE HARBOR
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
18 CALENDER OF EVENTS OUT AND ABOUT: 19 SCREEN SAVOR: LITTLE GIRLS BLUE AND COLORFUL
24 25 26 27
20 WHY HE STYX
Living Out is produced by the
WITH IT: AN INTERVIEW WITH
28
CHUCK PANOZZO OF STYX 22 EAST VILLAGE VOICE: AN INTERVIEW WITH GAY WRITER TIM MURPHY LIVING SMART: 25 RECIPES: FAVORITES FALL RECIPES 27 HOROSCOPES: SEPTEMBER 2016
LIVINGOUT 20 Crossways Park Dr. N., Suite 110 Woodbury, NY 11797 516.323.0011
FOLLOW OUR LEAD Become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/livingoutli or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/livingoutli
STAY IN THE KNOW Keep connected at livingoutli.org
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
DAVID KILMNICK, PUBLISHER info@livingoutli.org LYNN MURPHY, EDITOR editor@livingoutli.org MICHAEL MURPHY, ART DIRECTOR JONATHAN CHENKIN, ADVERTISING advertising@livingoutli.org CONTRIBUTORS
GET PUBLISHED! WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM AS A MONTHLY CONTRIBUTOR? WE’RE LOOKING FOR TALENTED WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS TO GET INVOLVED IN LONG ISLAND’S NEWEST LGBT PUBLICATION!
long island life LGbt culture
june 2015
vol 3, issue 5
SPECIAL PRIDE GUIDE EDITION!
PRIDE 25
Long Island Pride Parade and PrideFest Celebrates 25th Anniversary on Saturday, June 13th
facebook.com/livingoutli
connect with us
twitter.com/livingoutli livingoutli.org
LGBT Network, Gregg Shapiro, Psychicdeb
APPLY TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR EMAIL EDITOR@LIVINGOUTLI.ORG! LIVING OUT
•
3
You’ve put a lot into your home. Isn’t it time it paid you back? HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT
Fixed for one year. Prime for life, thereafter.
For more information, or to apply today, contact:
Kyle Caravousanos 516-349-6870 kcaravousanos@bethpagefcu.com
*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates and terms accurate as of 03/15/2016 and are subject to change without notice. Membership conditions apply. $5.00 minimum share account required. All offers of credit are subject to credit approval; applicants may be offered credit at higher rates and other terms. Loan-to-value restrictions may apply. Hazard Insurance is required on all loans secured by real property; flood insurance may also be required. Home Equity products are not offered in TX. Bethpage will pay all closing costs for credit lines up to $500,000.** Closing costs paid by Bethpage must be repaid by the borrower(s) if the line is paid in full and closed within the first 36 months. HELOC is a variable rate product with a maximum APR of 18%. The introductory rate for HELOC is 2.99% APR for one year for borrower(s) who take an initial draw of $25,000 and maintain this balance for 1 year and have automatic transfers from any Bethpage account for monthly payment on the account. The rate after the introductory period is prime, currently 3.25% (if qualified). Borrower(s) who do not take the initial draw of $25,000 at closing will not be eligible for the introductory rate. The introductory rate only applies to loans that have not had an introductory rate within the past five years. Introductory rate can be obtained at any time if the borrower pays a modification fee and meets qualifying criteria. Consult your tax advisor regarding deductibility of mortgage interest. Prime rate as of 12/14/2015 = 3.25%. **Loan amounts over $500,000 may be available on a case-by-case basis to qualified applicants and are not eligible for the discounted introductory rate at any time and the borrower(s) will be responsible for all closing costs related to loan value over $500,000.
4
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING OUT
•
5
6
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
OUT ON LI
National Coming Out Day October 11th
On Tuesday, October 11th, LIGALY and the LGBT Network will be coordinating its largest National Coming Out Day (NCOD) Campaign yet, with schools participating across Long Island and Queens. This one-day campaign engages entire school communities to take a stand against anti-LGBT bullying by wearing rainbow ribbons, displaying “Ally” stickers, organizing educational activities and coordinating informative presentations. During last year’s NCOD campaign, 83 schools participated, engaging more than 87,000 students and educators. LIGALY also conducted 22 training workshops to build youth leadership and help coordinate the campaign at schools.
To sign up your school for this year’s National Coming Out Day Campaign, please go to lgbtnetwork.org/ncod2016registration >>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING OUT
•
7
IN THE NEWS
national News
By LGBT Network
Texas LGBT Students Feeling Unsafe Now That People Can Carry Guns On Campus Buzzfeed — Many LGBT students at the University of Houston say they feel like they can no longer express themselves safely now that a law allowing people to carry concealed weapons on campus is in effect and classes have begun. “I feel like I can’t speak up for myself anymore,” Robyn Foley, 22, a transgender and intersex student who majors in anthropology, told BuzzFeed News. “I can’t correct someone on my pronouns” — Robyn’s pronoun is “they” — “I can’t stand up for my transgender friends, because if I do and someone gets pissed off all they have to do is pull out a gun.”
Florida Hospitals Forgive Bill for Pulse Shooting Victims Orlando Sentinel - Orlando Health and Florida Hospital will not bill survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre for out-of-pocket medical expenses, officials announced Wednesday. Instead, the hospitals will write off an estimated $5.5 million or more in care. "The pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families and our entire community," Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong said. "During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward."
City Steps Up Support for LGBT Newspaper After Bomb Explosion LGBTQ Nation — Rainbow flags are being flown in one New England city to support an LGBT publication after one of its newspaper boxes was destroyed in a possible hate crime. City and community leaders plan to unveil a new box for The Rainbow Times on Sunday after the explosion in Salem, Massachusetts. The Rainbow Times calls itself New England’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender newspaper. Police are investigating it as a hate crime.
Heartless Pastor who said Pulse nightclub victims 'got what they deserved' arrested for molesting children DAILY KOS- Pastor Ken Adkins runs three congregations in Georgia. He’s a well-known figure in the area, in no small part because of his outspoken dislike and outright phobia of the LGBT community. Here is the Lord’s chosen one talking about the massacre of 49 people at the Pulse club in Orlando. “Been through so much with these Jacksonville Homosexuals that I don’t see none of them as victims. I see them as getting what they deserve!” Mr. Adkins is facing two charges of child molestation now. One of the two charges against the 56-year-old is aggravated child molestation, said Stacy Carson, special agent in charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Kingsland office. 8
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
IN THE NEWS
national News
By LGBT Network
Huge Victory for Same-Sex Parents in New York Huffington Post - New York state’s highest court ruled in late August that nonbiological, nonadoptive parents can seek custody or visitation rights, expanding the definition of what it means to be a parent. The New York State Court of Appeals overturned a 1991 decision that defined a parent as a biological or adoptive relative, noting that relationship and family structures have changed dramatically in the 25 years since that ruling was handed down. Nonbiological, nonadoptive parents, the ruling reads, can seek custody if “a partner shows by clear and convincing evidence that the parties agreed to conceive a child and to raise the child together.” The case marks a major victory for people, including many in same-sex relationships, who have elected to raise children they are not biologically related to.
South Florida LGBTQ bars on high alert after threat of Pulse-style massacre LGBTQ Nation- Police in a Fort Lauderdale, Fla. suburb are looking for a man with an extensive criminal record who posted a frightening threat on Facebook: “It’s time to clean up Wilton Manors from all you AIDS-infested losers,” and “None of you deserve to live. If you losers thought the Pulse Nightclub shooting was bad, wait ’til you see what I’m planning for Labor Day.” WTVJ-TV identified the man as Craig Jungwirth, and reported his profile on social media is that of a different man. Jungwirth is accused by blogger Tim Peacock of being a scam artist, and the TV station revealed Jungiwirth has a number of restraining orders against him and had previously faced charges of stalking.
Two Gay Bashing Men Sentenced to 150 Hours Community Service OUT- Two Brooklyn men who plead guilty to assaulting a gay student are dodging some of the requirements of their light sentencing. Pinchas Braver and Abrahama Winkler took a plea deal of 150 hours of community service and $1,400 in restitution for the 2013 beating of Taj Patterson, an openly gay fashion student in New York. Braver and Winkler are required to volunteer at a “culturally diverse” organization for their 150 hours of service.
Atlanta Man Who Poured Boiling Water on Same-Sex Couple Found Guilty New Civil Rights Movement - Martin Blackwell in February went into his girlfriend's home, boiled water, then poured it on her son and her son's boyfriend as they slept, in a horrific crime. The 48-year old Atlanta area man was found guilty on all 10 counts, including aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
To the BIG SOLAR Companies, you’re just a number.
To us, you’re a neighbor.
SUNation
The #1 “Best of Long Island” Solar Company 7 years running!
Call us today!
(631) 750-9454 info@sunationsolarsystems.com facebook.com/SUNationSolar twitter.com/SUNationSolar
LIVING OUT
•
9
BUILDING FAMILIES IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY THINKING ABOUT BECOMING PARENTS? PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR TO LEARN ABOUT THE MANY OPTIONS LONG ISLAND IVF HAS TO OFFER.
10
•
This Seminar, which is being held in
DATE: Tuesday, October 25, 2016
conjunction with the Lesbian, Gay,
TIME: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Bisexual and Transgender Network
WHERE: Long Island IVF Melville Office
(LGBT Network), will feature the
8 Corporate Center Drive
following speakers:
Melville, NY 11747
LIVING OUT
Melville
West Islip
Phone 631-752-0606
Phone 631-661-5437
Brooklyn
Stony Brook
Phone 718-375-6400
Phone 631-331-7575
For more info visit
Lake Success
East Patchogue
http://bit.ly/liivflgbtevent
Phone 516-358-6363
Phone 631-687-2229
www.longislandivf.com
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
IN THE NEWS
INTernational News
By LGBT Network
Vatican Investigation Uncovers Hundreds of Priests on Grindr Looking to Hookup
First-ever Triplets Born with Both Their Dads’ DNA South Africa - History has just been made with the birth of one set of triplets in South Africa. A surrogate was used for the gay couple. Sperm from each of the dads was used to fertilize two eggs from the same woman. Then one of the eggs split. This was made possible as both dads gave sperm to fertilize two eggs from the surrogate, who gave birth to three babies–one set of identical twins, and a third triplet.
Australia Same-Sex Marriage Vote Hits Stumbling Block Australia - The government's plan to hold a popular vote on whether Australia should allow same-sex marriage suffered a setback Monday when a political party announced it would not support the proposed plebiscite. Some background: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will not allow lawmakers to vote on marriage equality until a national referendum – sending voters to the polls to register their opinions – is held. But this month a small but influential centrist party joined the country’s third-biggest political force, the Australian Greens, in opposing a popular vote despite supporting legalization of marriage equality. A national referendum would not only be expensive, it would be divisive. And studies show when civil rights are put up to a public vote, they are much less-likely to pass. So clearly, the majority of Australians want equality, but one person in particular, Australia's conservative Prime Minister, refuses to allow it, writes ThinkProgress.
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
Ireland - The archbishop of Dublin will no longer be sending his student priests to Ireland’s largest seminary over allegations of widespread use of the gay sex app Grindr and the failure of the authorities to properly investigate it, according to Reuters. The move is the latest scandal to hit the Catholic Church in Ireland, once the defining influence on public life, but now humbled by reports of child sex abuse stretching back decades and of church leaders’ complicity in covering them up.
Swedish Vandals Record Themselves Stealing Rainbow Flags and Lighting Them on Fire Sweden vandals have posted a video of stealing rainbow Pride flags and setting them on fire. Officials in Sodertalje first raised the rainbow flags outside Sodertalje city hall in support of the Pride festival in neighboring Stockholm on Monday 25 July. The morning after, the flagpole ropes had been cut and the flags were gone. But now a video has emerged online of the vandals stealing the flags, dousing them in gasoline, and lighting them on fire. Their faces blurred, it shows a group of men cutting down the rainbow flags and gathering them in a nearby valley. Police are investigating. New flags were immediately installed but later removed to prevent another incident, according to authorities.
Man charged for filling lube dispenser with acid in gay club Australia - A 62-year-old man has been charged with filling a lube dispenser with hydrochloric acid at a gay and bisexual sex club in Sydney, Australia. The suspect allegedly tampered with the dispenser fitted to the wall in a room at the Aarows club in Bridge Street, Rydalmere. Alarms were installed to alert management of any forms of tampering. Security detained the man. Hydrochloric acid is a clear, pungent chemical that is corrosive to the eyes, skin, and mucous membrane.. No injuries have been reported. LIVING OUT
•
11
OUT FRONT
Photos Courtesy of John Lennon
PRIDE NIGHT AT CITI FIELD
NEW YORK METS AND LGBT NETWORK TEAM UP TO STRIKE OUT BULLYING AND MAKE HISTORY Queens, NY - On Saturday, August 13, 2016, Citi Field roared with the energy of thousands of LGBT and allied fans as the New York Mets defeated the San Diego Padres at the very first Pride Night held by any of the four major professional sports leagues in New York! This historic event was the culmination of months of preparation in a major partnership between the LGBT Network and the New York Mets. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the New York Mets, Major League Baseball and the LGBT Network, the first Pride Night at Citi Field was a home run,” said David Kilmnick, CEO of the LGBT Network. “The fact that the Mets, in working with the LGBT Network, selected a Saturday night in the middle of the summer for the first ever Pride Night clearly shows the generosity of The Mets. This was not a gimmick to sell tickets. This was something that the Mets organization has truly embraced to be fully inclusive of their LGBT fans.” The evening began with a special “Pride in the Plaza” celebration, featuring knockout performances by the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band, the original Weather Girl Martha Wash, and pianist Sara Buechner. Once inside, in a special pre-game ceremony, 12
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
the Mets organization presented a check for $12,000 to the LGBT Network to support anti-bullying efforts in Long Island and New York City schools. Elvis Duran of the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show program on Z100 and iHeartRadio then added to the already generous contribution with another $10,000 donation to help strikeout bullying. To close out the presentation and signal the beginning of the game, former major league baseball player Billy Bean, currently the VP for Social Responsibility and Inclusion for Major League Baseball, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. At the close of the third inning, Army Staff Sgt. Joshua B. Gravett, an out, gay veteran who served two combat tours in Afghanistan and is currently an Army Recruitment Officer, took the field in his Army uniform to be honored for his service. This was the first time an openly LGBT veteran has been honored at a major league sports event. Additionally, numerous stadium elements were amended to promote an inclusive and affirming atmosphere for the duration of the game. The Mets logo and the gigantic Coca Cola sign were aglow in rainbow colors as a show of support. The “Kiss Cam” featured numerous same-sex couples on the jumbotron to thunderous applause from the crowd. “Nights like this go a long way to bringing more people together,” said Kilmnick. “It sends a message to our young kids that they can grow up and be a pro-athlete and not have to hide who they are.”
"
This was not a gimmick to sell tickets. This was something that the Mets organization has truly embraced to be fully inclusive of their LGBT fans.
"
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING OUT
•
13
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRIDE NIGHT! 14
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
be scene Pride Night at Citi Field Saturday, August 13th, at The Citi Field in Queens
the LGBT Network hosted the 1st ever Pride Night in New York Baseball where the National League Champion New York Mets defeated the San Diego Padres at Citi Field. Thousands of LGBT people and their families and friends filled Citi Field for this historic event. Pride Night included many special activities including a pre-game Pride in the Plaza show and much more. The Mets presented the LGBT Network with a check for $12,000 to support the LGBT Network’s anti-bullying programs in Long Island and NYC schools. Photo Credit: John Lennon
TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM PRIDE NIGHT, PLEASE VISIT FLICKR.COM/LIGLBTNETWORK
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING OUT
•
15
Quality Healthcare Services for Individuals with Special Needs and the Community at Large
Audiology *Dental *Dermatology *Endocrinology *Gynecology *Neurology Occupational Therapy *Optometry *Rehabilitative Medicine *Physical Therapy Podiatry *Primary Care *Psychiatry *Psychotherapy *Speech Therapy
Comprehensive and Caring Medical Services Lunchtime, Evening & Weekend Hours Medicare, Medicaid, and Some Major Health Insurance Plans Accepted Sliding Scale Available for those Eligible Most Credit Cards Accepted
Family Wellness Center
120 Plant Avenue Hauppauge, NY 11788 Appointments: (631) 851-3810 www.familyres.org fwcinfo@familyres.org
You are not alone, you are…FREE To BE FREE To BE is a community of men and women dedicated to socialization, advocacy, and education. We support a network that provides a safe environment to grow together. Socialization/Group Meetings FREE To BE provides an engaging space for LGBTQ individuals and friends, and we encourage all who are interested to come and join us. Meetings Include Inspirational guest speakers, workshops, open discussions, social events, and community involvement. Next Meeting Date: September 27, 2016 Time: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Location: FREE, 191 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804 Fundraising Conference Room To learn more about FREE To BE or to become a member, please contact us at FREEToBE@FamilyRes.org Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.
191 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road l Old Bethpage, New York 11804 FamilyRes.org l 516-870-1637 16
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
be scene
sunset on the harbor
saturday, July 23 at the breakwater yacht club in sag harbor
hundreds of supporters enjoyed the sunset with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Breakwater Yacht Club in Sag Harbor. Proceeds support the LGBT Network’s Hamptons LGBT Center in Sag Harbor that provides services and a safe space for LGBT youth, adults, older adults, and LGBT-headed families of the East End throughout the year. Photo Credit: CHUCK GOSLINE
TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM SUNSET ON THE HARBOR, PLEASE VISIT FLICKR.COM/LIGLBTNETWORK
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING OUT
•
17
SHOW YOUR PRIDE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Restaurant OUTing: Trattoria 35 Monday, September 12th, 7pm 213-15 35th Avenue, Bayside Come out and enjoy traditional “oldstyle” Italian dining, exceptional food and friendly service! RSVP by Friday, September 9th.
picnic tables are uncomfortable for you! There is an RSVP sign-up with items that are needed for the picnic – RSVP with your item reservation by Friday, September 16th. (rain date 9/27)
Health Series: Health Chat for Seniors: How to Stay Young - A Guide for the Health Series: National HIV Perplexed Wednesday, September 21st, Aging Awareness Day Monday, Sept. 12th, 11am-1pm 2:00pm-4:00pm 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, Oaks 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Penny Stern, Northwell Health Tuesday, Sept. 13th, 11am-1pm Dr. System discusses how to set goals, keep Nassau: Center at Woodbury, optimistic, get moving (exercise), eat 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, “the right diet,” get enough sleep, etc. as part of this month’s health talk for older Suite 110, Woodbury In honor of National HIV Aging Awareness Day, we are offering our free and confidential HIV/STD testing services during our Mingles. HIV does not discriminate against age- Come down to know your status and learn about safer sex practices. Lunch is provided. For more information, please contact development@lgbtnetwork.org or call 516-323-0011
adults presented by Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Without Walls (NORC WOW). A question-and-answer session will be part of the presentation, and blood pressure screenings will be available from 1:30-1:45PM. RSVP by Monday, September 19th.
End of Summer Celebration OUTdoors Trip: Nature Walk Sunday, Sept. 25th, 5-7pm East End: The Hamptons at Alley Pond Park LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Saturday, Sept. 17th, 10am Harbor 22806 Northern Blvd, Little Neck Sag As summer comes to a bittersweet end, Join us for exercise, fresh air and great company right here in our own back yard! Alley Pond Park is just a 5 miunute drive from the Q Center in Douglaston, and offers trails of various lengths so there’s something for everyone. Meet us at the Alley Park Environmental Center (parking lot is onsite). RSVP by Thursday, September 15th
Be Proud! Be Responsible! Saturday, Sept. 17th, 12-6pm Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Get the sex ed you won’t get in health class! “Be Proud! Be Responsible!” is a fun, full-day workshop dedicated to providing LGBT youth and their allies with the power to make proud and responsible choices concerning their sexual health. Upon completion, all participants will receive a $20 gift card! Free pizza and prizes for participating! Free van transportation will be available. For more information, to RSVP contact us @ 631665-2300 or programs@lgbtnetwork.org
POL Sunday, Sept. 18th, 10am-4pm Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
we invite you to join us for an East End celebration that you won’t want to miss! The evening will include a full Italian buffet from a local favorite, music, dancing, and dessert. Admission is $15 per person. RSVP and payment required by Thursday, September 22nd to Chris Polistena at 631.899.4950 or cpolistena@lgbtnetwork.org.
Nassau Mingle @ Eisenhower Park Field 3 Tuesday, Sept. 27th, 11am1pm Eisenhower Park: 1899 Hempstead Turnpike East Meadow
We are enjoying the outdoors! Eisenhower Park is located at 1899 Hempstead Turnpike and Field 3 is directly next to the Security Building. Picnic tables are available but feel free to bring your own lawn chair. If you plan on attending, contact Alyssa Cottone 24 hours in advance to confirm in case of poor weather conditions. Please note, when Nassau Mingles are held at Eisenhower Park, there is no Mingle held at the Woodbury Center on those days.
20 Something 2nd & 4th Fridays, 7:30-9 p.m Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
Discussion and support group for LGBT people in their 20’s. A safe and affirming space to share their experiences. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Alcoholics Anonymous Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Closed group for all ages. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
LIGALY Advisory Board Mondays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Youth help plan new programs and events at LIGALY. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
LITE Social and Discussion Group 1st & 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury All Nassau County meetings are closed for transgender individuals only.
(There is no meeting on 9/5.)
David Bohnett CyberCenter Wednesdays, 7:30-9 p.m. Monday-Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 1st, 3rd, and 5th meetings are closed for 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore The David Bohnett CyberCenter at LIGALY offers hands on experience and classes in various software environments from productivity to creative design on the PC and Mac platforms. The classes range from introductory, intermediate, and advance levels. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
transgender individuals only. 2nd and 4th meetings are for transgender individuals and partners, family, friends, or loved ones. 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 6:30-8 p.m.
Drop-In HIV/STD Testing: Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Thursdays, 5-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury By Appointment. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor
All East End meetings are closed for transgender individuals only. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Free and confidential testing for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Hepatitis C. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Friday Night OUT 4th Fridays, 7-9 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor
Friday Night OUT is the place to be for East End LGBT youth and their allies on the Fourth Friday of every month at the Hamptons LGBT Center. Dance, play games, and have fun! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor
OUTlet Fridays, 8 p.m.-Midnight Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Friday night social program for LGBT youth and their friends ages 13-21. $2 admission, transportation available. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Parent Support Group 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 6-7 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore 1st & 3rd Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury If you workand/or have engage Discussion group for parents of LGBT children. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
PEP Teams – Suffolk Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Hampton Bays Mingle 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. Interactive leadership program Sexual Negotiation and Prevention is a Hampton Bays Senior Center, promoting sexual health for LGBT young Volunteer Event: Older group about friends (both old and new) people. talking about sexual health and everyday Adult Day at Queens Public 25 Ponquogue Ave., www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300 Hampton Bays issues that impact our communities, Library at Glen Oaks: SAGE-LI’s bi-monthly social for LGBT especially stopping HIV/AIDS. This Wed., Sept. 28th, 10am-3pm program is for LGBT individuals and their 50+ on the East End. Dinner is POZ Experience 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen seniors allies up to age 29. The group will meet served on the 4th Thursday of the month. 1st Monday, 2 - 3 p.m. up for one all-day session at the Center at Oaks www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300 3rd Monday, 6:30- 7:30 p.m. Bay Shore and all graduates get a $50 gift Join us for Older Adult Day at the Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, card. RSVPs are required, space is limited Queens Public Library! Over 20 senior34 Park Ave., Bay Shore LIFE in Nassau serving organizations will be present POZ Experience is a support group for all with health screenings, information 2nd Thursday, 7-9 p.m. OUTdoors Trip: Eisenhower about social services, local resources, Nassau: Center at Woodbury, people living with HIV/AIDS. Potluck Picnic and more! In addition, LGBT Network 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Facilitated by an experienced social Tuesday, Sept. 20th, 11am-1pm will have a table, and we need a few worker, this group is designed to offer Suite 110, Woodbury support, listen and share stories of our individuals to join us to help spread the LIFE in Nassau meets every second Eisenhower Park: experience, whether individuals are word about Q Center Senior Programs! Thursday. Open to adults of all genders 1899 Hempstead Turnpike newly diagnosed or have been living All are invited to attend; please contact and orientations with an interest in East Meadow Join us for a fun afternoon potluck at Eisenhower Park (1899 Hempstead Tnpk in East Meadow). We are picnicking (and BBQing) at Parking Field 3. Parking is free. Please note that there is no Mingle on this day. Rain date scheduled for Tuesday, September 27th. Bring a comfy chair if
18
•
LIVING OUT
Lyndsay @ lsmith@lgbtnetwork.org or 646-784-9112 if you’d like to volunteer some time at our table. There will be a concert from 2-3 pm. RSVP by Monday, September 26th.
BDSM topics.
with HIV/AIDS for years. This group is intended to foster peer support, in an LGBT affirming space, that promotes living one’s life to the fullest and healthiest For more information, call 631.665.2300 or email poz@ lgbtnetwork.org
Q Center Senior Advisory Board 2nd Thurday, 12-1p.m. Q Center : 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY
This group provides feedback on current Q Center Senior Programming and offers ideas for future programming. All are welcome! Contact lsmith@lgbtnetwork.org www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Q Center Senior Mingle Thursdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Q Center - 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY
Pack a lunch and join other LGBT older adults for great conversation over coffee. Contact lsmith@lgbtnetwork.org www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Safe Schools Team Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Youth leadership program for young people committed to creating safer schools on Long Island. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI Evening Mingle 3rd Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
If you workand/or have engagements during the day that limit you from attending the fabulous SAGE-LI daytime programming, this is the program for you. All are welcome! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
SAGE-LI Monday Mingle Mondays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
SAGE-LI’s weekly social for LGBT seniors 50+ at The Center at Bay Shore. (There
is no mingle on 9/5.)
www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI Nassau Mingle Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury SAGE-LI’s weekly social for LGBT seniors 50+ at The Center at Woodbury. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
SAGE-LI Nassau Mingle Potluck First Tuesday, 1 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
Bring your favorite dish and enjoy lunch over light refreshments and great conversation with friends. Please let us know if you plan on joining us and what you are going to bring to share . www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Senior Advocate First Monday, 11a.m.-1 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
A Senior Advocate from Suffolk County Office for the Aging is on-site each month to offer SAGE-LI members benefits and entitlement counseling. From Social Security to Food Stamps to Medicare Part D and everything in between, the Senior Advocate will be available during the Mingle to answer your questions and point you in the right direction.
(The advocate this month is onsite on 9/12.) www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Senior Focus Discussion Group Last Monday, 12pm-1 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Part of a monthly series of coed peerled, issue-focused discussion groups. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
TRUE Calling Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury LIGALY is offering a great opportunity for LGBT youth and their friends to show off their skills! Sing, act, dance, or perform. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Women 2 Women Tuesdays, 7:15-8:45 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore W2W is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive space for lesbians age 40+.
You Gotta Believe Mondays, 6-9 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
The Long Island LGBT Community Center has partnered with You Gotta Believe, a non-profit organization that places teenagers into permanent adoptive homes, to provide Adoptive Parent Preparation Classes! If you are interested in participating, please call 631.665.2300. www.lgbtnetwork.org
Youth Group Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor
All East End youth should come check out this new hot LGBT spot. Every Tuesday is a fun interactive youth group: hang out with others in the lounge. You won’t want to miss it! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
SAGE-LI Women at Nassau Wednesdays, 7:30-8:45 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
(SWAN) A social and discussion group for lesbian, bisexual, & transgender women as well as women questioning their identity. (There is no SWAN on 9/21.) www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
OUT AND ABOUT
Screen Savor
by gregg shapiro
Little Girls Blue and Colorful
Originally airing at Christmastime 2015 and now available on DVD, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (Warner Brothers Home Entertainment) is a “family-oriented, faith-based” dramatization of Parton’s beloved song, one that she considers to be her favorite. In many ways, Coat of Many Colors is exactly what you might expect it to be considering its genesis and that it’s a prime-time network TV movie. Although safe and sanitized, sensitive queer viewers will no doubt feel a stirring while watching the early stages of what would go on to be a lifelong friendship between Dolly and her close childhood friend Judy. Parton’s story begins in 1955, around the time she was nine years old. Outspoken and self-assured Dolly (Alyvia Alyn Lind) was the middle child of eight siblings (there were more to follow). A gifted singer, Dolly regularly soloed at the church where her maternal grandfather Jake (Gerald McRaney) was pastor. Dolly’s deeply religious mother Avie (singer Jennifer Nettles proving her mettle as an actress) was often at odds with Dolly’s father Robert (Ricky Schroder), who would drive the family to church but would never set foot inside. The movie, with its simplistic and lazy script, details the many tragedies and few triumphs that befell the Partons at the time that Avie sewed the infamous patchwork coat for Dolly. Religion is lost and found, bullies are bested and friendships and relationships survive all kinds of tests. Heartfelt, but hokey, and bursting with old and new testament references (see Joseph and his Technicolor “dreamcoat”), the movie is almost saved by the strong performances by Nettles, Schroder and Lind. DVD bonus features include an “alternate version,” deleted scenes and a featurette. How’s this for an interesting fact? Janis Joplin was born on the same day as Dolly Parton, three years earlier. Stop and think about that for a moment, won’t you? Released, as it was, shortly after the Oscar-winning Amy Winehouse doc Amy, Janis: Little Girl Blue (MVD Visual), written and directed by Amy J. Berg, is another cautionary tale about musicians, substance abuse and a tragic death at the age of 27. Narrated by musician Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power), who gives voice to notorious letterwriter Joplin’s missives, Janis: Little Girl Blue utilizes vintage concert and interview footage and other source material to remind us of Joplin’s stunning talent as well as the hardships and triumphs she endured.
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
Including interviews with Joplin’s sister Laura and brother Michael, childhood friend Karleen, high school friend J. Dave, Rolling Stone Magazine’s David Dalton, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, music impresario Clive Davis, filmmaker D A Pennebaker (Monterey Pop), Dick Cavett, former boyfriend David Niehas, and ex-girlfriend Jae Whitaker, among others, Little Girl Blue paints an intimate portrait of the talented but troubled artist. Covering her outsider status in Port Arthur, Texas (both at home and at school) to Joplin finding herself in the Austin music scene of the early 1960s and relocating to San Francisco in 1963 where she began a lesbian relationship with Whitaker, director Davis illuminates Joplin’s tough exterior but sensitive interior. Seeking solace in alcohol and drugs, and in need of constant stroking, Joplin was conflicted about her sexuality. Most fully alive when performing, we follow Joplin as she begins to sing with Big Brother & The Holding Company in San Francisco’s counterculture revolutionary music scene. From there it’s a short ride to her breakthrough performance in June 1967 at the Monterey Pop Fest. Before 25- year-old Janis surpassed her band members, they signed with Columbia Records where its debut album Cheap Thrills went achieved gold status in three days. Dividing her time between New York’s Chelsea Hotel and Los Angeles, and dealing with the band’s complicated reaction to her fame, Janis goes solo, and in the process became a caricature of what she was. The negative press she received and the huge pressure to succeed was almost more than she could bear. But a successful European tour momentarily raised her spirits. Nevertheless, her increased drug use, described as “out of hand,” and her somewhat incoherent performance at Woodstock led to another dark period. Regardless, Janis kicked heroin while in Brazil, where she also fell in love. Attending her 10 year high school class reunion in Texas, we still see her pain when she talks about how she “felt apart” from her classmates. Clean and comfortable about life, Joplin went into the studio to record what would be her final album, Pearl, containing “Me and Bobby McGee,” which would become her biggest hit single. As we know, she wouldn’t life to enjoy that good fortune, dying of a “one last hurrah” drug overdose in October 1970. DVD special features include deleted and extended scenes, as well as a few featurettes. LIVING OUT
•
19
OUT AND ABOUT
INTERVIEW
by gregg shapiro
Photos Credit Rick Diamond
Why he Styx with it:
an interview with Chuck Panozzo of Styx Prog-rock legends Styx recently got a taste of what it’s like to be trending when, on the Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd recreated, shot-for-shot, the band’s 1981 “Too Much Time On My Hands” music video. These days there’s almost no higher compliment than being paid tribute by Fallon and his guests. Styx, the band behind hits such as “Lady,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Come Sail Away” and “Babe,” is still going strong with many original band members, maintaining a rigorous tour schedule and this year is no exception. Co-founding member and bass player Chuck Panozzo, who came out as an HIV+ gay man in 2001, sat down with me to discuss his musical career, as well as Styx and his longtime membership in the band. Gregg Shapiro: Next year, 2017, will be the 45th anniversary of the release of the first Styx album. What does it mean to you to still be performing and touring with American prog-rock legends Styx, the band you co-founded? Chuck Panozzo: We played our first real show on New Year’s Eve in 1962 (as Tradewinds). I had been taking music lessons for seven years and had the confidence to perform in front of people. I could never have imagined a career this long in anything, let alone music. I was an art teacher. I picked two great occupations – art and music. Your parents go, “Oh...” GS: Right! How will my child survive? CP: “…he’ll be living in poverty forever!” Why did I pick art? Because I was pretty good at it! 20
•
LIVING OUT
GS: Do you still create visual art? CP: Not anymore. I will, sometimes, for a benefit. I was able to influence some of (the covers of) our albums. The Grand Illusion is a famous one. I’ll take credit for that. Most rock and roll bands are around for a few years and then it’s over. We were blessed with great singers and songwriters. GS: As one of the founding members of Styx, is there a style of music that you enjoy and listen to regularly that might come as a surprise to your fans? CP: I was raised a good little Catholic. What’s more theatrical than the ritual of the Catholic church? All of the incense and learning a foreign language and all of the music – it’s very theatrical. That impacted me as a young kid.
GS: Are you saying you like to listen to liturgical music? CP: Yes, I listen to that. I like to get away from noise, although I will play noisy music in my car to keep myself awake. But my ears need a rest sometimes. I do enjoy listening to classical music. GS: Who do you consider to be your own personal music influences? CP: I always say that Yes was a huge influence; The Rolling Stones and the Beatles, of course. But I went away to seminary when I was 14, the year that President Kennedy was assassinated, and we were devoid of all sorts of outside influence. No records, no TV, nothing. It was a true liturgical experience. It was near Douglas, Michigan. I kind of lost my sense of organized religion and became more spiritual from the experience. I would
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
walk in the woods and to the sand dunes and the lake every day. That spoke to me more than getting up at six and the morning and saying some prayers. That had nothing to do with religion to me. GS: Every year it seems that there are more and more rock musicians coming out as gay, but back in the early days of Styx, that was not as common. What was the experience of coming out to your band-mates like for you? CP: I would say that it amounted to career suicide. Rock and roll is based on pretty boys who look like little girls. The girls love them because they’re not threatening. As someone who is dark and kind of hairy and whatever, I said, “I don’t have a chance with that.” Luckily [laughs]! The other aspect, in the early days I wasn’t quite ready for it. Around the time we became successful, I felt bitter. I couldn’t be myself. I was living this miserable life of hell. I also felt like I had a huge responsibility to the band. If it was just my career, that would be one thing, but there were four other members. I think the guys were always aware that I was gay, it just wasn’t in their vocabulary. It still isn’t in their vocabulary. GS: Really? Even today? CP: They understand it; but to have a conversation like this? Maybe one band member would be cool about it. But the rest, they skirt the issue. GS: What about the reaction from the fans? CP: Everything bad that I thought was going to happen didn’t. The best part is that when I came out (at the annual Human Rights Campaign dinner), it was in front of a thousand people, in front of friends. Living my life as an openly gay man…as you know…the weight it takes off of your shoulders. That’s something that I should have gotten from religion, which I never did. It was total liberation. It’s not that I’m anti-religion. I’m anti any religion that doesn’t practice the core, which is love. I also find it reprehensible that parents will turn away from their
children and use a religious excuse. Shaming and blaming your kid isn’t going to make them change. You can’t change yourself. Would I love to be tall and blonde? Yes, but that’s not going to happen. I’m always going to be short and dark-haired, maybe grayhaired now [laugh]. GS: When it comes to eternal `70s anthems, Lynyrd Skynyrd had “Free Bird,” Neil Diamond had “Sweet Caroline” and Styx had “Come Sail Away.” What does that song mean to you? CP: I think “Come Sail Away” was written by Tommy (Shaw) and Dennis (DeYoung). They still have great voices even to this day. They can’t collaborate together [laughs], but they write wonderful songs and make beautiful music. When I’m onstage and the singer sings, “I think about childhood friends and the dreams we had” and “on board I’m the captain, so climb aboard and we’ll search for tomorrow forever more.”My head is down because I’m trying to keep the beat. I’ll turn and look at the audience and my eyes will scan the entire space. This is a transcendent moment. I can’t explain it. It has a lot of meaning to me GS: Of all the songs in the Styx songbook, is there one that you identify with most?
GS: “Too Much Time On My Hands,” with its near-disco beat and handclaps, sounded like Styx’s entry into the new wave dance music scene that was popular at the time. Does that sound like an accurate description? CP: What I remember about it is that Tommy walks into the studio and asks, “Can you play this?” And he plays, (sings) “da-da da-da da-da da-da.” I said, “Let the synthesizer play it, it’ll be more accurate.” Then I go to the corner and I play the part, and I think, “You idiot! You can play this!” I told Tommy that I’d play it for him. I learned something there. Never say no to a part because you almost gave away one of the greatest parts anybody could want to play. It was a fun song and different and catchy. GS: Music biopics are very popular this season, with Hank Williams, Miles Davis and Chet Baker, being among the subjects. If there was a movie version of your 2007 memoir The Grand Illusion, who would you want to portray you? CP: He’d have to be really good looking, of course [laughs]. The actor would also have to portray my twin brother (original Styx drummer John, who died in 1996).
CP: Tommy wrote this song called “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man).” It’s a song about young people. We all feel angry and there’s something wrong. I was an angry young man, standing on the stage in front of all these people. I was making a lot of money at the time, but who could I share it with? Nobody. When I’m onstage, and Tommy introduces me and people stand and applaud -- I never got a standing ovation when I was teaching unless I said, “I won’t be in tomorrow” [laughs]. (The lyrics) “Why must you be such an angry you man? Your future looks quite bright to me.” These are words that young people who lack self-esteem, who have experienced a lot of blame and shame, that they should be hearing at a young age, that they have a wonderful life ahead of them.
Styx performs on Sept. 22 in Newark at Prudential Hall >>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING OUT
•
21
OUT AND ABOUT
INTERVIEW
by gregg shapiro
East Village Voice an interview with gay writer Tim Murphy Gay writer Tim Murphy’s epic third novel Christodora is the queer book of the summer, perhaps the year. Spanning 30 years, from the early 1980s to the early 2020s, Murphy takes readers back to the early days of the AIDS crisis in New York giving us a perspective from deep inside the trenches, while also shining a radiant light on the possibilities of the near future. Fully realized and authentic characters, including artist couple Milly and Jared, adopted son Mateo, Milly’s activist/scientist mother Ava, Milly’s writer friend Drew, Mateo’s mother Issy and AIDS activist Hector, give the novel its energy and soul. No doubt readers will find themselves immediately invested in the lives of these affectionately drawn characters, shedding more than a few tears as they read. I spoke with Murphy about the book and more in August 2016. Gregg Shapiro: Tim, we met in August 2016 at the OutWrite Literary Festival. What was your experience of the fest? Tim Murphy: I really enjoyed it because it was quite low-key and a chance to meet some LGBTQ writers I’d never met before, or heard of but never met, like you, Joe Okonkwo, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan and some others. The A/C was a little lacking though for D.C. in August [laughs]. GS: As someone with a background as a journalist, why did you choose to tell the story of Christodora in the novel format? TM: Well, I had considered for many years trying to write a narrative nonfiction account of AIDS activism and treatment research and development because I had reported on it for a long time and because I really think it is one of the great undertold stories of ingenuity and heroism on the part of a marginalized community. The activists who took that on in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s showed incredible grace and nerve under pressure, and most of them were so young at the time, in their 20s and 30s! Such a great story full of strong personalities, heartbreak, bravado, disappointments, grit, sex, love, siblinghood and, ultimately, victory amid a lot of grief and loss. But then I heard that David France, who made the wonderful documentary How to Survive a Plague about ACT UP, was working on a nonfiction book companion to the film, so that shot that idea. I decided instead to fold it into a very sprawling NYC novel that would have the AIDS fight as its historical spine but that would also weave in and out of many different kinds of lives and allow for a lot of interiority and character-building and a very sweeping canvas of the city. Honestly, it wasn’t even that planned out when I started. The idea of making it a full-blooded fictional account of the AIDS activist timeline kind of evolved with every passing chapter. I have had this real-life chronology in my head and my heart for so many years. I started as a novelist in my 20s. It just felt exciting and very much worth it as a kind of historical-fiction project to try to weave it all into 22
•
LIVING OUT
a saga that also delved into family, friendship, drugs, sex, art, mental illness, the ever-changing city. The landscape of my life the past 25 years here in Gotham [laughs]. GS: Christodora spans about 30 years and is told in a non-linear chronology. Why did you choose to do that? TM: The idea of telling this story chronologically kind of bored me. To me, there is something heart-stopping about seeing the present through the lens of the past, and vice versa. I am a very nostalgic person, obsessed with the past, obsessed with ghosts and memories and how time tempers and twists our recollection of things. I wanted Christodora to feel full of ghosts and reverberations and echoes of the 1980s and 1990s and even the 2000s, to keep layering years upon one another to create a kind of palimpsest, so that you weren’t reading just from suspense but also from a kind of regret and empathy of knowing what characters have been through, or what they’ll go through, and you can only do that if you’re going back as well as forward in time. GS: Some of the 30 years of the novel reach into the near future, as far as 2021. TM: I did it mainly to push the story forward, not to do a science-fiction thing. I tried to take a very light hand with the New York of 2021. I did not want it to be quite as intensely future-heavy as, say, the final chapter of Jenny Egan’s A Visit to the Goon Squad. I was doing it primarily to serve the story but I also had to make some realistic guesses about what the city would be like then. Something that really solidified those final chapters for me was the heat, global warming, the idea of the temperature being freakishly up in the 70s or even 80s in the first months of the year. That really set the tone for me in the final chapter of Milly feeling that life as she’s long known it has gone out of whack. GS: What is the significance of the characters Ava, Milly and Jared being Jewish? TM: I grew up in a very white, mostly Irish or Italian Catholic town in Massachusetts. I barely knew any Jews, blacks, Latinos or gay people until college, and then, especially, New York. Classic New York to me is Jews, blacks, Latinos and gay people, and the overlap in those groups. Most of my friends of the past 25 years fall into at least one of those categories. The Heymans and the Traums remind me of families of some of my best friends from college and later on, especially the ones who grew up in New York. I guess I wanted to try to paint the feel of that sort of bourgeois but liberal New York family, the same way I wanted to paint the Dominican family and neighborhood in Queens that Issy is from. GS: With so many characters from which to choose, is there one to whom you feel especially close? TM: There is a huge strain of my experience in every one of the main characters. They are all combinations of composites of people I’ve known and my own inner life, even Jared and his raging youthful ambition that
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
gets tempered by time and circumstances. I feel weirdly close to all of them. I think Mateo reflects a lot of my adolescent pain and rage and my own very bumpy experiences trying to quit drugs when I was in my early 30s. Drew is some sort of affluent aspirational alpha version of myself as an adult making my living as a writer after a messy start in life. Milly is a blend of the women I have loved most in my life, and in many ways, Ava is too. Issy is an homage to so many good-hearted and brave women living with HIV/AIDS I’ve written about or worked with, befriended, and she is also my own story of coming out of secrecy and shame about being HIV-positive and trying to put that experience toward the greater good politically. And Hector is based on a lot of older gay men that I have dated, had sex with or been infatuated with [laughs]. GS: Milly, Jared and Mateo are visual artists. Why did you choose this form of creative expression for these characters?
TM: I love his directing style. It is so muted and offhand, with so much emotion and tension bursting right beneath the surface. I always tell him, “Your films are so French!” In his new film, Little Men, there is a scene near the beginning where Greg Kinnear breaks down crying while taking out the garbage and you don’t even see his face. Ira shoots him partially obscured by a wall. He is so good at capturing the rhythms and tics of a certain kind of bourgåeois-bohemian downtown New York life. When I saw Love is Strange, I thought, “This is what I’d want Christodora to feel like if it were on film,” so I asked him to read it shortly after Grove bought the book, and thankfully our feelings about having the same emotional DNA were mutual.
To me, there is “something heart-
stopping about seeing the present through the lens of the past, and vice versa.
TM: Visual artists are romantic to me because I am so not one, I’m a verbal person, and also because I know a lot of artists and my two main relationships have been with visual artists. New York is the kind of place where it is really not unusual for there to be a whole middle-class household of artists, and most of them are not some storybook picture of artists but kind of average New Yorkers who also teach, juggle appointments and commitments and errands, raise and struggle with kids, health insurance, all that everyday stuff. So I wanted the Traum family to be privileged but also kind of normal by New York standards at the same time. And though this is a bit of a cliché, art is also a redemptive force in the book for a few of the characters.
”
GS: Drugs play a prominent role in the book - from anti-depressants and HIV/AIDS meds to crystal meth and heroin. TM: I have a long history with both prescription drugs and illegal drugs, even though I’ve now been in recovery for many years. I originally thought of Christodora as a collection of loosely linked short stories called Doing Drugs. So this book and all of its intricate connections really emerged for me chapter for chapter, which is why the first several chapters have a very disconnected feel and then everything slowly knits and locks into place, which is a structure I really love. I thought a lot about the (Robert Altman) film Gosford Park when writing this book. There are so many characters swirling all around you and you are like, how can they all possibly connect? Then when you learn how, it is so devastating. It is like being taken right down to the heart of a vortex of secrets and inner regrets. I kept that in mind while writing this book. GS: In chapter 14, you write about Hillary Clinton. Have you sent or do you plan to send a copy of the book to her? TM: No. I was a Berner. I have very mixed feelings about Hillary though I am going to get out there and campaign for her because she’s far better than Toxic Orange, as I refer to it. I would much rather Elizabeth Warren be our first woman president.
GS: Have you started working on or thinking about your next book project? TM: I have. I started something shortly after Grove bought Christodora, because I learned after writing my two novels in my twenties, Getting Off Clean and The Breeders Box, that a writer who puts all their emotional energy into a finished book and not some of it into a new book is an unhappy writer. The new project is very different from Christodora--an entirely different world and milieu. But very much about family, and also about larger events outside of personal family life.
GS: Finally, I know that you are one of the founders of Gays Against Guns (GAG). What can you tell me about the organization? TM: Well, GAG is the main reason I have barely worked on the new book in the past two months! We formed in NYC a few days after Orlando and we had about 150 people to the first meeting and we’ve had about that many at every meeting since, with chapters already up and running also in NJ, DC, Los Angeles and Massachusetts, and more underway. Speaking personally, and not for anyone else in the group although I think most would agree, I am so angry at the gun industry and their lobby in this country. I don’t think people know how much they have actually calculatedly crafted the gun landscape we have today and how they bank on and profit from every new mass shooting. We have already pulled off about half a dozen truly gutsy, confrontational actions on them, with more to come. One of the best things about GAG so far is the number of ACT UP and AIDS veterans who’ve jumped in – men and women, gay and straight. They went up against institutions and a culture that hated them and ultimately they changed the culture, so they are some pretty fearless characters. I thought this would be my summer of promoting a novel about mostly bygone activism and now I find myself many evenings a week in meetings in the same building in NYC where ACT UP met, so it has been a very art-imitating-lifeimitating-art summer for me so far and I have to say that I am exhausted but also having a blast. Take a look around.
GS: You also write about Elizabeth Taylor in the novel. Did you ever have the opportunity to meet her? TM: No, sadly. I loved writing that section. What Liz Taylor did for people with AIDS makes me very weepy. I fucking love that woman, like a typical gay man of a certain age. She was a dame in every sense of the word. When I saw the pics of her going and hanging out at the Abbey in L.A. in her final years in her wheelchair – I just lost it. She knew who she loved and who loved her back. I am tearing up right now just thinking about it. That was a woman who truly earned her love from the gays, way more than these so-called “Sasha Fierce” divas today who take gay money but basically do nothing for the LGBTQ community. Beyoncé could not even speak out against repealing the LGBTQ protection law in her own hometown of Houston? Lame.
Murphy is reading in Brooklyn on Sept. 18 at Brooklyn Book Festival and in NYC on Oct. 12 at Center Talks/LGBT Center.
GS: Gay filmmaker Ira Sachs is working on a limited series adaptation of Christodora for Paramount. What does that mean to you?
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING OUT
•
23
TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER MOST.
Robin Barrack MS, DAPA
At MassMutual Long Island Metro, we understand the unique financial needs of the LGBT community and can help you build financial strategies to ensure your loved ones are protected. For more than 160 years, MassMutual has helped policyowners on their quest for financial freedom.
moresanity@verizon.net
Natalia M. Zimnoch Financial Services Representative MassMutual Long Island Metro 631-579-9469 nzimnoch@financialguide.com www.financialguide.com/Natalia-Zimnoch
Gestalt Psychotherapist
631-513-2772 Huntington
Individuals, Couples, Groups Successfully serving the LGBT community + allies for decades
‘SANE RATES’ FREE CONSULT ALL ISSUES ADDRESSED + LIFE MANAGEMENT NEW GROUP FORMING
Offices in both Nassau & Suffolk.
LIFE INSURANCE + RETIREMENT/401(K) PLAN SERVICES + DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE + ANNUITIES
MassMutual Financial Group refers to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual), its affiliated companies and sales representatives. Local sales agencies are not subsidiaries of MassMutual or its affiliated companies. As of May 18, 2015, MassMutual received a 100% score on the Human Rights Commission’s Corporate Equality Index and was named a Best Places to Work. Insurance products are issued by MassMutual, Springfield, MA 01111, and its subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Company and MML Bay State Life Insurance Company, Enfield, CT 06082. CRN201706-173276 24
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
T
LIVING SMART
recipes
Favorite Fall Recipes
Pumpkin Pancakes
INGREDIENTS: • 1 1/2 cups milk • 1 cup pumpkin puree • 1 egg • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 2 tablespoons vinegar • 2 cups all-purpose flour
• • • • • • •
3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt
Prep 20 minutes | Cook 20 minutes | Ready In 40 minutes DIRECTIONS:
In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
Butternut Squash Soup INGREDIENTS: • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter • 1/2 onion, sliced • 2 cloves garlic • 1/2 butternut squash peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
• • • • • •
Beef Pot Roast
INGREDIENTS: • 1 (5 lb. bone-in beef pot roast • salt and pepper to taste • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 8 ounces sliced mushrooms • 1 medium onion, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tablespoon butter
• • • • • •
1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 3 medium carrots, cut into chunks 2 stalks celery, cut into chunks 1 sprig fresh rosemary 2 sprigs fresh thyme
Prep 20 min. | Cook 6 hr. 30 min. | Ready In 6 hr. 50 min. DIRECTIONS:
Generously season both sides of roast with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over the top until well coated, and pat it into the meat. Shake off any excess. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Sear the roast on both sides for 5-6 minutes each, until well browned. Remove from the skillet and set aside. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in mushrooms and butter; cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir in onion; cook for 5 minutes, until onions are translucent and begin to brown. Add garlic, stir for about a minute.
2 sprigs fresh thyme 4 cups chicken stock 1/2 cube chicken bouillon 1 pinch ground cumin 1 pinch ground allspice salt and ground black pepper to taste
Prep 10 minutes | Cook 15 minutes | Ready In 25 minutes DIRECTIONS:
In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat; cook the onion, garlic, and thyme in the hot butter until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes. Add the squash and chicken stock; bring to a simmer and cook until the squash is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Crumble the bouillon into the soup; season with cumin, allspice, salt, and pepper; remove from heat.
Stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons flour; cook and stir for about 1 minute. Add tomato paste, and cook for another minute. Slowly add chicken stock, stir to combine, and return to a simmer. Remove skillet from the heat. Place carrots and celery in the slow cooker. Place roast over the vegetables and pour in any accumulated juices. Add rosemary and thyme. Pour onion and mushroom mixture over the top of the roast. Cover slow cooker, turn to high and cook the roast for 5-6 hours, until the meat is fork tender. Skim off any fat from the surface and remove the bones. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway. Hold the lid of the blender in place with a kitchen towel and carefully start the blender using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a serving bowl. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup in the pot.
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING OUT
•
25
Fall is upon us... Fall into a new career? Professionalism, teamwork, excellence and innovation AXA Advisors is a client-focused financial services leader offering financial protection, wealth management and estate planning services to individual and businesses through customized strategies, investment services and disciplined risk management.
David Halstead Vice President - Northeast Region Tel: (631) 385-5331 david.halstead@axa-advisors.com www.davehalstead.com
AXA Advisors has been supporting the LGBT communities for decades.
AXA Advisors, LLC 1000 Woodbury Road, Suite 300 Woodbury, NY 11797
If selected, you can look forward to: • • • • •
High earnings potential Extensive training and support Rewarding long-term relationship Competitive and comprehensive wealth building and benefits package Advancement and management opportunities
AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member SIPC, is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. GE-107778 (10/15) (Exp. 10/17) G36517
Our 76-bed Stately Mansion offers:
Short-‐Term Our 76-bed Stately Mansion offers: Rehabilitation Services Subacute Rehabilitation | Long-Term Care Our 76-bed Stately Mansion offers: Subacute R ehabilitation | Long-‐ T erm C are • Physical, O ccupational and Speech Therapy • Intensive Physical Occupational and Speech Therapy
Short-Term Short-‐Term Rehabilitation Services • Cardiac M onitoring and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services • Intensive Physical O ccupational and Speech Therapy • Orthopedic Rehabilitation • Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Subacute R ehabilitation | Long-‐ T erm C are • Physical, O ccupational and Speech Therapy • Respiratory S ervices • N eurorehabilitiation • Orthopedic Rehabilitation • Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant • Cardiac Monitoring and Rehabilitation • IV T herapy • D iabetic E ducation a nd M anagement • Cardiac M onitoring and Rehabilitation • Nurse P ractitioner a nd P hysician A ssistant • Intensive P hysical O ccupational a nd S peech T herapy • Discharge Planning / Family Support • Respiratory Services • Neurorehabilitiation • Discharge P lanning / F amily Support • Wound Care / V ACs • Respiratory Services • N eurorehabilitiation • Orthopedic Rehabilitation • IV Therapy • Diabetic Education and Management • Psychological Services / Counseling • Psychological Services / C ounseling Long-‐ T erm S killed N ursing C are • IV Therapy • D iabetic Education and M anagement • Nurse Practitioner and Physician A ssistant • Wound Care / VACs • Complex Medical Management • Complex M edical M anagement Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care • 24-‐Hour S killed N ursing C are • M edically Complex Care / VACs • Discharge Planning / Family Support • Wound • Stroke / Neurorehabilitation • Stroke / N eurorehabilitation • 24-Hour Skilled Nursing Care • Medically Complex • Alzheimer’s / D ementia C are • H ospice & P alliative Care • Psychological Services / Counseling Long-‐ Term Skilled Nursing Care • Cognitive Therapy • Balance Disorders • IV Therapy • Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care • Hospice & Palliative Care • Cognitive Therapy • Balance D isorders • I V T herapy • Pain M anagement • Complex M edical M anagement • Secured Alzheimer’s / Dementia Unit • 24-‐Hour S killed Nursing Care • Medically Complex • Pain Management • Secured A lzheimer’s / D ementia U nit • Wound Care / Wound VACs • Stroke / Neurorehabilitation Senior Living Services • Alzheimer’s / D ementia Care • H ospice & Palliative Ca Senior Living Services • Wound Care / Wound VACs Supported assisted living-‐like environment with 24-‐hour • Customized Treatment Plans • Cognitive Therapy • Balance D isorders • IV Supported assisted living-like environment with 24Therapy • Pain M anagement hour skilled • Customized Treatment Plans skilled nursing services. A llowing individuals to live active • Cardiopulmonary Management • Pain Management • Secured A lzheimer’s / D ementia U nit Senior Living Services nursing services. Allowing individuals to live active and • Cardiopulmonary M anagement • Pain M anagement and independent lives. • Prosthetic Training, Education and Management • Wound C are / W ound V ACs Supported assisted living-‐like environment with 24-‐hou independent lives. • Prosthetic Training, Education and M anagement We accept most insurance plans. • Customized Treatment Plans We accept most insuranceskilled plans.n ursing services. A llowing individuals to live activ
• Cardiopulmonary ain anagement and independent lives. 100 Southern Blvd. • Nesconset, NY 11767 M anagement • P9 HM ilaire Dr. • Huntington, NY 11743 100 Southern Blvd. • Nesconset, NY 11767 9 Hilaire Dr. • Huntington, NY 11743 • Prosthetic Training, Education and M anagement We accept most insurance plans. 631.361.8800 • info@ncnrehab.com • ncnrehab.com 631.427.0254 • info@hilaireRN.com • hilaireRN.com 631.361.8800 • info@ncnrehab.com • ncnrehab.com 631.427.0254 • info@hilaireRN.com • hilaireRN.com
100 Southern Blvd. • Nesconset, NY 11767 9 Hilaire Dr. • Huntington, NY 11743 631.361.8800 info@ncnrehab.com ncnrehab.com All NCN and Hilaire• staff are trained by•the LGBT Network.631.427.0254 • info@hilaireRN.com • hilaireRN.c
26
•
LIVING OUT
>>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
LIVING SMART
HOROSCOPES
September 2016
HOROSCOPES
Aries – Mars in Sagittarius - don’t be too sensitive
BY PSYCHICDEB
to remarks made by a good pal. You’re probably reading meaning into that persons words. Your vivid imagination is better used this month in visualizing goals, improving skills and getting to know yourself better. Meditate. Number 7 is lucky for you.
Scorpio – Pluto in Capricorn - beautify your surroundings, make room for new acquisitions. A special celebration is called for to show your appreciation. Treat others, especially relatives to a gourmet dinner or other festive occassion. Taurus is in the picture. The lucky number is 6.
Taurus – Venus in Libra - you’ll be impressionable
Sagittarius – Jupiter in Libra - you surge into
to the moods and needs of a loved one. Keep calm, cool and collected. Give logic equal time. A nostalgic type of entertainment will be enjoyed; former pleasures may be revived. Spend time with Cancer and Capricorn.people.
a high lunar cycle. The accent is on going places, doing things and meeting someone who has just returned from a long journey. A question will be answered ; be bold in going after the information you need. Your personal popularity is heightened.
Gemini – Mercury in Virgo - now that you have the facts you need; its time to organized them. Focus on personal business and paperwork that requires detailed scrutiny. Don’t delegate tasks; someone you have in mind cannot handle them as you would. Be disciplined. Play it safe with number 4.
Cancer – Moon in Pisces - this month’s accent is on money, possessions, and purchases. Exciting news comes your way about a wonderful bargain. You may have to change plans at the last moment in order to take advantage of this sale. Someone shows affection by assisting you with this..
Leo –the Sun in Virgo - your domestic surroundings are highlighted. A parent or parental figure is touchy and needs reassuring. The money situation will be eased and a gift to help you in your work will be provided. Show relatives and neighbors your appreciation for recent help. Include a Libra.
Capricorn – Saturn in Sagittarius - a brief trip in your local area adds to your prestige. You’ll meet someone with real clout who can help you climb the ladder of success. A signed and sealed agreement can be reached. Your romantic partner will begin to see you in a new light. The lucky number is 8.
Aquarius – Uranus in Aries - a universal bighearted viewpoint is needed. Your hopes and wishes may have to give way to the good of all concerned. A relationship - or some phase of it - is concluding, but this is no cause for gloom. View the larger picture. Count on number 9 this month. Pisces – Neptune in your sign - a romantic aura surrounds your home base. Personal magnetism is increased; renewed vitality makes you glow with sex appeal. A new start can be made in a dramatic manner. A Leo will be involved; so will be your marital status. Number 1 is lucky for you this month.
Virgo – Mercury in your sign - you’ll learn the inside story about a Pisces associate. Be sensitive to the words and feelings of others; you’ll be able to calm your fears and bring peace of mind to a loved one. Artistic expression is also encouraged. Your imagination works overtime..
Libra – Venus in your sign - a serious commitment is on the agenda. You’ll see where you are going and who you want to take along. Someone who is reliable, ambitious and a long time associate plays an important role. If you make promises, be sure you are ready to honor those promises. >>
READ MORE AT LIVINGOUTLI.ORG
IF YOU KNOW YOUR RISING SIGN, CONSULT THE HOROSCOPE FOR THAT SIGN AS WELL. Psychicdeb has been a professional astrologer for over 25 yrs. Self-taught, shebegan her studies in astrology when she was 8 yrs. old learning what she could from her mother’s astrology magazines. As she got older and learned geometry, she searched for books onAstrology and taught herself how to construct a chart. She teaches Astrology for a nominal fee.Psychicdeb also uses the tarot to do psychic readings channeling her spirit guide Helen. Reiki is one of her obsessions. She is a Reiki Master and loves to teach others the benefits of Reiki. Namaste. You can find her at the Original Psychic Fairs on Sundays. A listing of the Fair dates can be found on her website at: www.astro-mate.org LIVING OUT
•
27