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In THis Issue October 2015 - Volume 3, Issue 8 1 Cover 3 In this issue in the news: 6 national 7 interNational Out on LI: 8 20th Annual long island lgbt conference Calendar Out front: 12 Leona Lewis Out and about: 16 Q-music: Electronic diva music 17 Q-music: Listening to LGBT History 18 interview with ronald emmerich 21 BE scene: Boot Camp Against Bullying Living healthy: 22 wellness: Eating healthy doesn't mean going broke 23 positive thoughts: viral fatigue Living smart: 24 Halloween treats 26 Finance: Saving money during the holidays Points of view:
Living Out is produced by the LGBT Network.
livingout 20 Crossways Park Dr. N., Suite 110 Woodbury, NY 11797 516.323.0011
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David Kilmnick, Publisher info@livingoutli.org alexis capitini, Editor/Art Director editor@livingoutli.org art@livingoutli.org Eliscia Distefano, Editor Jonathan Chenkin, Advertising advertising@livingoutli.org
29 The stonewall i remember wasn't just white 30 trans-mission: A costume controversy
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
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Contributors Rev. Irene Monroe, Jennifer Nyx, Rachel Roth, Gregg Shapiro, Gwendolyn Ann Smith
Cover Photo Catie Laffoon
apply to be a contributor Email editor@livingoutli.org! LIVING OUT
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In the news
national News
By Rachel Roth
tenn. couple refused divorce, judge cites gay marriage
Two Tennessee residents are being forced to stay married by a judge who appears to be unhappy with the US Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The couple filed for divorce in 2014, but Judge Jeffrey Atherton refused to grant the split for a number of cited reasons, including the following: “Tennesseans have been deemed
by the US Supreme Court to be incompetent to define and address such keystone/central institutions such as marriage, and, thereby, at minimum, contested divorces.” Artherton went on to argue that because the Supreme Court redefined marriage in its decision, he wants it to now also define “when a marriage is no longer a marriage.”
trans woman denied new driver’s license sparks review of louisiana policy The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles will review its photograph policy after a trans woman said she was turned away for a driver’s license for not looking male. 21-year-old Alexandra Glover (right) had filmed an employee telling her that she couldn’t present as a woman if she was listed as a man. The incident spurred an investigation on a rule barring people from “misrepresenting” their gender in identification pictures. Two days later the OMV announced they would allow trans people to get their photo taken as they appear in their day-to-day lives, The Advocate reported.
Judge won’t perform same-sex marriages A judge in Oregon is refusing to perform same-sex marriages because of “deeply held religious beliefs.” Judge Vance Day (above) – former chairman of the state’s Republican Party – created a legal defense fund yesterday, apparently to pay for expenses he expects to incur fighting allegations he’s violating the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct as well as its constitution, reports Oregon Live.
Day hasn’t performed any same-sex marriages since becoming a judge in 2011, telling his clerks to send gay couples elsewhere. He stopped performing marriages entirely this past spring. Oregon law does not require judges to perform marriages, and there are apparently six other judges in Day’s county available to perform them.
Ky. clerk jailed, still won’t sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples The Kentucky clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples spent some time in jail for her failure to comply with the law. Kim Davis of Rowan County spent five days in jail. She announced on her first day back at work that she will not personally issue any marriage licenses that go against her religious
beliefs, but she left the door open for her deputies to continue giving out marriage licenses to same-sex couples as long as those documents do not have Davis’ name or title on them. According to CNN, ten couples were issued licenses while Davis was in jail, and one couple received one on her first day back at work.
Pope francis meets with kim davis Adding a surprise twist to the Pope's first visit to the United States, Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk jailed for failing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples met privately with Pope Francis. The 10-minute meeting took place at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, September 24th. The Pope, Davis, and her husband Joe were the only ones in attendance and it is rumored that pictures of the meeting will be released at some point, according to CNN.
In a statement on the Liberty Counsel website Davis said, "Pope Francis was kind, genuinely caring, and very personable. He even asked me to pray for him. Pope Francis thanked me for my courage and told me to 'stay strong.'" Speaking with reporters on board the Papal plane to Rome, Pope Francis stated, "conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right. It is a right." He continued, "it is a human right and if a government official is a human person, he has that right."
History made in nashville elections For the first time, Nashville will have two openly LGBT councilmembers. Nancy VanReece (left) won a seat on the Nashville Metro Council, representing District 8 in a runoff election on Sept. 10. She will join Brett Withers who in an earlier
election gained enough votes to oust the incumbent councilmember representing District 6. Before this year’s elections, there were three openly LGBT candidates in the entire state. There are presently five with a possibility of a sixth, depending on the outcome of the Memphis City Council election on Nov. 3, where Victory-endorsed candidate Charles “Chooch” Pickard is running to represent District 5.
Woman granted sex surgery parents fought gay veterans seek upgrade ‘dishonorable’ discharges to ‘honorable’ A 48-year-old transgender woman is free to undergo gender-reassignment surgery after a judge rejected her parents’ effort to block the operation. Christine Kitzler’s parents alleged she was mentally incompetent and asked a judge to appoint her a legal guardian, as well as subject her to an independent medical exam. 6
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After testifying on her behalf at an emergency hearing, Judge C. Theodore Fritsch Jr. ruled that Kitzler “showed a clear understanding of the three-hour procedure and its risks.” Kitzler, who lives in Myrtle Beach, SC, had the surgery in Philadelphia, where the surgeon offered to cover the expense.
Aging veterans who were discharged between World War II and 2011 for being gay are fighting to repeal their dishonorable discharges. According to the New York Times, an estimated 100,000 service members
are eligible to apply for an “upgrade” to an honorable discharge – unless there were contributing factors such as misconduct – thanks to the 2011 decision to overturn a ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military.
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In the news
international News
By Rachel Roth
new australian pm insists on public vote for marriage equality
The newly appointed Australian Prime Minister has announced that he plans to go ahead with a public vote on same-sex marriage. Malcolm Turnbull’s (right) announcement signals a change from his predecessor, Tony Abbott, who staunchly opposed marriage equality. Turnbull’s plan to go through with a plebiscite, or public vote, on marriage equality, is not without criticism. Opponents of the plebiscite argue that it will be expensive, lament its long time scales, as well as the fact that it is not legally binding.
Thai university introduces mandatory class on transgender issues
Anglican Church of Kenya conducts anti-gay purge, suspends priests The Anglican Church of Kenya has suspended five priests suspected of engaging in homosexual activity. Mt. Kenya West diocesan Bishop Joseph Kagunda said the clergymen were found guilty by an appointed tribunal, but they still have a right of appeal. If the five priests do not appeal, they will be excommunicated, according to the
Daily Nation. Rev. Kenneth Changes, Nairobi-based director of Changing Attitude Kenya, an organization that seeks acceptance of LGBTI people in the church, criticized the decision, saying “from where I stand, it is unchristian to discriminate against others in church.”
Bangkok’s Thammasat University has made a Social Life Skills class mandatory for its incoming freshman. Among music, arts and sports, the course will also include a three-hour session on sexuality, with part of the
focus on gender identity issues. Kritipat (Jimmy) Chotidhanitsakul, president of the Transmen Alliance of Thailand, is among the guest lecturers, Asian Correspondent reported.
European parliament demands action on lgbti rights
The European Parliament adopted a new report on fundamental rights in the EU, which includes an extensive section on the situation for LGBTI people. For the first time, a parliament report condemns medically unnecessary genital surgery on intersex infants. It also
speaks out in favor of making legal gender recognition procedures easier for transgender people, highlights that same-sex couples everywhere should have access to marriage or registered partnerships and demands for a comprehensive strategy against homophobia.
uber driver allegedly calls cops on men kissing in london Two gay men in London claim an Uber driver booted them out of his car and called the police after they exchanged a “peck on the lips” in the backseat. According to Metro the driver allegedly said “man should not kiss man,” and told them to get out of the car. When the men refused, the driver called the police. Metro reported that when the officers arrived, the driver was making kissing noises and pointing at the two men. Police calmed the situation and helped the two men order another
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ride. One of the men, Sam Simons, took to Twitter to vent about the situation. The car service took swift action, and in a statement to the Evening Standard an Uber spokesperson said: “As a company we do not tolerate any form of discrimination whatsoever, and we have been in contact with this rider to offer our support. In any incident, such as this, we suspend the driver in question while we investigate.” LIVING OUT
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The LGBT Network will be holding the 20th Annual Long Island LGBT Conference on Tuesday, November 17th at the Stony Brook University Charles B. Wang Center. The annual Long Island LGBT Conference is Long Island's only LGBT-specific conference that seeks to educate and empower students, educators, health and human service providers, and other members of the community to address the needs of LGBT people throughout the lifespan in their schools and communities.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS The LGBT Network is seeking proposals for presentations. Each presentation will be an hour in length and can include one or more of the following interest areas: LGBT Youth LGBT Families LGBT Older Adults
Hundreds of participants attend the event every year to learn about our communities issues and obstacles. Participants also discuss ideas and potential solutions to those challenges.
LGBT People of Color
The Long Island LGBT Conference offers attendees a broad range of workshops with topics of interest to students, educators, activists, professionals, and community members.
LGBT Movement
LGBT Issues in Higher Education LGBT History
School and Campus Organizing Advocacy/Activism Public Policy Spirituality & Inclusion Health and Human Services HIV/AIDS
CONFERENCE PROGRAM 8:30-9:00am
Registration/ Breakfast
9:00-9:40am
Opening Session
9:50-10:50am
Workshop I
11:00am-12:00pm
Workshop II
12:00-12:45pm
Lunch
12:50-1:50pm
Workshop III
WANT TO BE A SPONSOR THE CONFERENCE?
CALL 516.323.0011 OR 631.665.2300 TODAY!
Community Organizing
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CONFERENCE, TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL, OR TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT, VISIT LGBTNETWORK.ORG/CONFERENCE
The 20th Annual Long Island Exciting Career Opportunities!
LGBT Conference Grow at the LGBT Network and make a difference in the lives of LGBT Long Islanders Open Positions
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Linkage to Care Coordinator (F/T)
LGBT Community Educator (F/T)
Graphic Designer (F/T)
Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY) has an immediate opening for a Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Outreach and Education Specialist. The principal roles of the PrEP Outreach and Education Specialist are to engage high risk young gay and bi-sexual men and adult transgender women and provide them with information about the medication Truvada (PrEP) with the aim of connecting candidates for this medication to clinicians for PrEP prescription and medication management; provide informational sessions to clinicians aimed at increasing their knowledge about the utility of PrEP in lowering the risk of HIV infection with the aim to facilitate more clinicians to prescribe the medication to high risk candidates. Bachelors degree required in public health, social work, education or related field; 3 years of focused experience providing outreach and HIV/STD prevention education to individuals at high risk for HIV/STDs; Please see website for full description & requirements.
Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY) has an immediate opening for a LGBT Community Educator to deliver Community Education and Training Services to create safer, more supportive affirming spaces for LGBT people. Deliver a variety of anti-bullying and LGBT cultural competency workshops and trainings to a variety of audiences, including: students, educators, law enforcement, parents and foster parents, child welfare agencies, and other health and human service providers; Assist with curriculum development; Conduct outreach to a range of health and human service providers to establish and/or develop relationships. Qualifications: Bachelors degree required, in social work, education or related field preferred; minimum of 1 year experience working in the human services field; commitment to and knowledge of the LGBT community; strong presentation skills a must; excellent written and oral communication skills. Please see website for full description & requirements.
The LGBT Network is seeking a full-time Graphic Designer at the Center at Woodbury to be the lead Communications Team member in the design and technical production of a wide variety of print/web materials, publications and projects related to video production. Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Art and Design or similar degree, or 2 years of relevant job experience; Extensive knowledge of graphic design programs including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and After Effects; Organized approach to projects with sharp detail; Ability to work in fast-paced environment, under extremely tight deadlines, and simultaneously manage multiple projects; A high level of energy and initiative, along with a sense of humor. Please see website for full description & requirements.
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LIVING OUT
Apply Online at: lgbtnetwork.org/careers
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WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A FAMILY. WE HELP BUILD THEM EVERY DAY. At Long Island IVF, our team of fertility specialists are proud to help the LGBT community build the family of their dreams. When you are ready to start, Long Island IVF is here to help. Please contact us to learn more.
Melville Phone 631-752-0606
West Islip Phone 631-661-5437
Brooklyn Phone 718-375-6400
Stony Brook Phone 631-331-7575
Lake Success Phone 516-358-6363
East Patchogue Phone 631-687-2229
www.longislandivf.com
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show your pride
calendar of events Sexual Negotiation and Prevention (SNAP) Saturday, Oct. 17th,10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Not happy with issues in your community, especially ones involving HIV/STI's? Want to help change them? Come join us for our next cycle of SNAP! Learn the tools for having successful HIV risk-reduction conversations and how to combat different attitudes revolving around this serious issue in our community while also socializing with your friends. Free Pizza! Everyone who completes the session will receive a $50 gift card. Van transportation available, but seats are limited, so sign up now! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Fall Family Fun: Lost in the Pumpkin Patch Saturday, Oct. 17th, 12 p.m. Farview Farm 19 Horsemill Lane Bridgehampton, NY 11932 Meet us at 12 pm at the entrance of Farview Farm in Bridgehampton for a corn maze and pumpkin picking! Next, we will head over to the Hamptons LGBT Center to carve our pumpkins and enjoy some candy, music, and good company! The cost of admission is $10 per person (Children 3 and under are free). Price includes the corn maze and carving materials. Please be prepared to pay for your own pumpkins and any additional treats you would like to purchase at Farview Farms. Costs of pumpkins are $.75 per pound. To register, please go to: lgbtnetwork.org/pumpkinpicking www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI Gayloween Spooktacular Saturday, Oct. 17th, 6 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore SAGE-LI is hosting a Halloween Dance! This is a costume party, so get out those witch's caps, cat ears, or superhero capes! If you don't have a costume, you can still party with us! There is a $10 admission fee to cover the cost of food and beverages. RSVP with payment required by Wednesday, October 14th. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Long Island Gay PTSA Meeting Monday, Oct. 19th, 7 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury The Long Island Gay PTSA is open to all Long Island Parents, educators, and students who want to create safer and more supportive schools on Long Island for LGBT youth. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI Health Series: Legal & Financial Planning Monday, Oct. 19th, 11 a.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Monday, Oct. 20th, 11 a.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury The Long Island Alzheimer's Association is facilitating a workshop on the importance of legal and financial planning as we age. Through an interactive program, you will learn about important legal and financial issues, how to put plans in placed, and how to access resources near you. Lunch will be provided for all attendees. Note: There are no Mingles on these days. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI OUTdoors Trip & Restaurant OUTing: Oktoberfest Sunday, Oct. 25th, 12 p.m. The Garden of Eve 4558 Sound Avenue Riverhead, NY 11901 Can't make it to Europe for the Oktoberfest celebration? Not to worry! Join us as we enjoy a day full of German style food, live entertainment, craft beer, farm tours, pumpkin picking, and vendors. The Garden of Eve is hosting the East End Oktoberfest, with performances by The Welldiggers, Bryan Gallo, and Gene Casey & the Lone Sharks Trio. Admission cost $15 per person and includes one free tasting from each brewery. Leashed dogs are allowed on the grounds so feel free to bring your furry friend. RSVP required by Friday, October 23rd to Chris Polistena at 631. 899.4950. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
Advisory Board (SAGE-LI) Monday, Nov. 2nd, 1-2 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Tuesday, Nov. 3rd 1-2 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
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
Interactive leadership program promoting sexual health for LGBT young LIGALY is offering a great opportunity for people. LGBT youth and their friends to show off www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300 their skills! Sing, act, dance, or perform. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011 Safe Schools Team
LITE Social and Discussion Group 1st & 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Suite 110, Woodbury Youth leadership program for young Wednesdays, 7:30-9 p.m. people committed to creating safer Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, schools on Long Island. 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
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+.
Alcoholics Anonymous Tuesdays, 8-9 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
Closed group for all ages. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
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 Free and confidential testing for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Hepatitis C. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Hampton Bays Mingle 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. Hampton Bays Senior Center, 25 Ponquogue Ave., Hampton Bays SAGE-LI’s bi-monthly social for LGBT seniors 50+ on the East End. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
LIFE in Nassau meets every second Thursday. Open to adults of all genders and orientations with an interest in BDSM topics.
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
LIPSA Tuesday Night Tease Bowling League Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. Bowl Long Island, 138 West Rd., Patchogue Friendliest co-ed/mixed LGBT Bowling League. LIPSAbowling@optonline.net, 516.375.9473
Sag Harbor
20 Crossways Park Dr. North,
A closed discussion group for transgender Suite 110, Woodbury If you workand/or have engagements people and their friends and family. during the day that limit you from www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300 attending the fabulous SAGE-LI daytime programming, this is the program for Living PositHIVly you. All are welcome! 1st & 3rd Mondays, 12 - 1 p.m. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011 Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore,
34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
A support group for LGBT and allies living with HIV/AIDS. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Long Island LGBT Bereavement Group 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
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 Wednesday, October 21st. This group provides a safe and supportive www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011 environment for those who have Senior Focus Discussion experienced the loss of a loved one or friend while offering help and guidence Group Last Monday, 1-2 p.m. with the grieving process. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
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. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Nassau County 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
OUTlet Fridays, 8 p.m.-Midnight Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
You Gotta Believe Mondays, 6-9 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
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! Themes for October include: GAYME Night (10/13); Dance Night (10/20); LGBT Movie Night (10/27). www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Last Tuesday, 1-2 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
Part of a monthly series of coed peer-led, issue-focused discussion groups. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
UPCOMING EVENTS TOWN HALL: 2015 LGBT NEW YORKERS SURVEY RESULTS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND 6:00 - 8:00 PM CENTER AT BAY SHORE 34 PARK AVENUE, BAY SHORE LGBTNETWORK.ORG/TOWNHALL
Friday night social program for LGBT youth and their friends ages 13-21. Themes for October include: Dance Lounge (10/16); Pretty Little Liars (10/23); Zombie Ball (10/30). $2 admission, transportation available. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
ENDING THE EPIDEMIC TASK FORCE REGIONAL MEETING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH
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
LGBTNETWORK.ORG/ENDINGTHEEPIDEMIC
If you workand/or have engag Discussion group for parents of LGBT children. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
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TRUE Calling Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
We want to hear your voice! This group www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300 1st, 3rd, 5th Wednesdays are closed. provides feedback on current SAGE-LI programming, offers ideas for additional 2nd & 4th Wednesdays are open. 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 6:30-8 p.m. SAGE-LI Evening Mingle programming, and helps plan future 3rd Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. East End: The Hamptons events. All are welcome! Nassau: Center at Woodbury, LGBT Center, 44 Union St., www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
East End GSA Mixer Wednesday, Oct. 28th, 5-7p.m. East End: The Hamptons LIFE in Nassau LGBT Center, 44 Union St., 2nd Thursday, 7-9 p.m. Sag Harbor Nassau: Center at Woodbury, Join us to meet students and advisors 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury from other GSAs on the East End. You'll get the chance to network and exchange ideas for making positive change in your school. There will be a workshop on bystander bullying and refreshments will be provided. Advisors are welcome to attend. Please call 631.899.4950 or e-mail programs@ligaly.org to RSVP by Monday, October 26th. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
PEP Teams – Suffolk Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM CENTER AT BAY SHORE 34 PARK AVENUE, BAY SHORE
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out FRONT
Leona Lewis, Free & Unfiltered
Singer opens up about her influential gay uncle, talks ‘gay husbands‘ and drag queen bingo
An interview by Chris Azzopardi Photos courtesy of Catie Laffoon
Leona Lewis is having a Mariah Carey moment. She’s singing, mimicking the ascending whistle notes that close out Carey’s early-’90s hit “Emotions.” It’s not much – just a few notes, sung as the song comes up casually in our conversation – but this “moment” entails more than an impromptu Lewis performance via cellphone.
bingo? Or how growing up around her gay uncle helped her learn to be herself? And that she has “gay husbands” in major cities across the world? Well, now we do.
Lewis mirrors Carey not just vocally – both have voices strong enough to knock you over. But the “Bleeding Love” belter’s career is soaring with the same wings that Carey once spread back in 1997, when the legend emancipated herself personally and professionally. The U.K. X Factor star walked away from her label of seven years, Simon Cowell’s Syco, in 2014, citing creative differences; now signed to Def Jam, Lewis’ first studio album, I Am, flaunts her newfound independence.
Oh my god. Doing G-A-Y is one of the funnest shows I get to do, and that’s why I always go back whenever there’s an album. Literally – you can just do whatever you want. The more flamboyant, the more fun it is and the more the audience gives you so much energy. So yeah, there’s always so much love and support there.
Liberation certainly looks good on Lewis. The 30-year-old Londoner has never seemed more free… and fun. Who knew she played drag queen 12
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You’ve played a lot of gigs in your life. Been on a lot of stages. What was it like being on the G-A-Y stage in the U.K. recently?
Are you used to being around that many gays in your everyday life? I mean, yeah. I obviously have so many gay husbands. What constitutes a “gay husband”– and how many gay husbands do you have?!
I have my L.A. gay husband, and I have my U.K. gay husbands. I’ve got a few there, and that just constitutes as my gay best friend. If I don’t get married, then clearly we’ll end up getting married. (Laughs) I wonder, though: Can one gay husband get jealous over another gay husband? Sometimes they do. I definitely split my time equally. And I get jealous over my gay husbands with their straight wives! So they have to split their time with them for me. It’s a partnership. When were you first aware of your gay following? When I was doing The X Factor every week we’d have people coming down to the show, and I found myself with a huge gay following. Again, just so much love. People were waiting for me after the shows, and I’d go and sign stuff, so it was really early on that I became aware of that. In 2007, “Bleeding Love” elevated you in so many ways, including within the
gay community. You know how we love our big, belty voices. I can’t imagine what that song did for your gaggle of gay husbands. (Laughs) They were loving it. And they’re always giving me opinions on what I am to wear on stage and what I am to do on stage. I’m like, “All right, guys; calm down.” How often do you take their advice? I mean, it depends on who it’s coming from. I have my stylist – a very close friend of mine – who’s an amazing stylist. He has suggestions on wardrobe and stuff like that. And I listen. But some of them are crazy. Sometimes I’m like, “Yeah, no; you wear that.” How do you think your gay fans will relate to I Am? I have a lot of fans who are younger and haven’t even come out to their families yet. I do this campaign called “I Am Empowered” to share stories, mantras and affirmations, and I got one guy who wrote me saying he gets bullied a
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It’s very hard and it’s a very difficult time, and you need to be empowered in that. You need to have the strength to stand true in what you are and who you are. Which line on the album means the most to you? On “I Am” it says, “Thought I would never rise again. But I am, I am.” It’s about going through times and thinking it’s the hardest time and not
lot in school because he’s gay. He says he just wants me to empower him to get through that and get through the torment, and so I know that it definitely is a very, very strong message to the gay community, especially being young and coming out and being open. It’s very hard and it’s a very difficult time, and you need to be empowered in that. You need to have the strength to stand true in what you are and who you are. And it’s a very prevalent message on the album.
to know that you can be whatever you want to be.
How did you end up with a drag queen in the video for “Fire Under My Feet”?
What does it mean to you to know that your songs are being fiercely lipped by drag queens?
It was my idea. My uncle actually is gay, and when I was younger I remember he would wear makeup and eyeliner. It was the ’80s, so you know – people were all out there. And it was always so normal to me; it was never something I questioned, never something that I found anything other than normal. So I had that experience growing up. And even though he’s not a drag queen, I wanted to put that in the video. I wanted people
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What did you learn from your uncle about being yourself? He taught me a lot. When I was younger, it was to be accepting of anything; however people want to express themselves or present themselves is up to them. It’s not something to look at weirdly or that should be shunned. And self-expression – he taught me that. Not being afraid to show who you are.
I love it! A couple of months ago I actually went to drag queen bingo and they were commenting on the (“Fire Under My Feet”) video saying, “I love that you have a drag queen in there.” Did you win at bingo? I didn’t, unfortunately. But I did get to call out some numbers, which was kind of cool!
I feel like it has to be during “I Will Always Love You” – the long-held note that Whitney does, and you’re like, “What is she doing right now!? She’s killing my soul.”
seeing the forest through the trees but knowing that time is such a big healer and a big factor in so many situations. I feel like so many people give up just as they’re about to have a breakthrough, and sometimes you have to go through that. The line “I am, I am” is, I feel, a powerful affirmation to put out there when you’re going through those times.
PETA named you Sexiest Vegetarian in 2008. Where does that rank on your list of career achievements?
Your vocal abilities often draw comparisons to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. What songs of theirs would you be most apt to sing at karaoke?
That came to you a lot quicker than I thought it would.
With Whitney, definitely “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” I mean, everyone does that song at one point or another! Mariah… it would have to be “Heartbreaker.” It’s just so cool and I love the video – she was in the movie theater, and I remember she had the pink top and her little denim jeans. And Celine: probably “All By Myself” or “My Heart Will Go On.” What’s your favorite note that’s ever been sung?
Uhh. Quite high! Sexiest anything! I will take what I can get, soooo... that ranks very high. In your opinion, what’s the sexiest vegetable or fruit? A peach.
Right?! I surprised myself even. Now that the album is finished, how are you feeling about the label changes you made in order to honor who you are as an artist? I feel amazing about it. I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I made that leap of faith and then, luckily, there were people at the other side to catch me and help me do what I wanted to do. I really count myself blessed because it does take a lot to walk away from such a big situation. But, again, I knew what I needed to change and that I needed to LIVING OUT
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do me and be very authentic to me, and so, this is it. I just feel lucky that I can do it; a lot of people don’t get that opportunity. You say you had to “do me.” Did you ever feel like you’d strayed from your authentic self? I feel like I’ve definitely always been true to myself, but sometimes I feel like myself, as well as other people, get a bit lost by everything that goes on within music. The heart of what we do in music is to connect with people and express ourselves and share that with people. But I feel like the hair and the makeup and the designer clothes takes over everything. The fame, the notoriety and letting that get to your head is so dangerous. My dad’s always told me don’t believe the hype. That’s something that’s always stayed with me. When you look out at the pop scene, do you see a lot of authenticity?
You know what I see a lot of? Amazing artists. And I also see a lot of (them) seem to be a bit lost. But again, it’s all part of an individual’s journey and it’s all part of learning about ourselves. You have to go through that learning process sometimes. There’s a lot of very young people in the industry, and being so young and vulnerable and subject to… I don’t know… a lot of impressions, sometimes you can just get lost in it. “Bleeding Love” was a colossal success, so I have to imagine it set the bar high for you. How much pressure have you felt to match the success of that song and what it did for your career? Definitely in the beginning I felt pressure. There’s definitely been a lot less pressure the past few years, but for my second album (2009’s Echo), I felt a lot of pressure then. When I was first recording my (new) album, even before I had a deal, there was never
any pressure on me. It was just like, I’m recording music; this is what I do. With my first album, again, there really wasn’t any expectations, so I didn’t really have a lot of pressure. But then after the album blew up and went massive, there definitely was a bit of pressure. I was like, “Oh
my gosh, this is happening; I’ve got to step up my game. I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to match it.” I’ve learned over the past few years that that is definitely not conducive to creativity. You have to just go down a new path and blaze a new trail.
Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. Reach him via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com and on Twitter (@chrisazzopardi).
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out and about
Q-Music
by gregg shapiro
Electronic Diva Music KIESZA
SOUND OF A WOMAN
LA ROUX
TROUBLE IN PARADISE
Fiercely forelocked electro goddess Elly Jackson of La Roux took a risk waiting almost five years to release her second album, the aptly named Trouble In Paradise (Cherry Tree/Interscope). Regardless, few second albums have been worth the wait and the payoff with this one is substantial. “Upright Downtown” is the hottest 80s Bowie homage ever recorded. “Kiss and Not Tell” is so infectious it may as well be the flu. “Cruel Sexuality” makes being cruel to be kind of an inviting option. “Sexotheque” is the soundtrack to horizontal dance instruction and “The Feeling” feels good all over.
Kiesza wails and belts like an old-school house music diva on her aptly titled fulllength debut Sound of a Woman (Island/4th & Broadway). “Hideaway” is the kind of house music jam that has been missing from DJ booths and airwaves for years and we have Kiesza to thank for, well, bringing it out of hiding. “No Enemiesz” is another directto-the-dance-club cut that qualifies Kiesza for instant disco diva status. But instead of maintaining the momentum, Kiesza takes a few detours that lack the same firepower. One that is surprisingly effective, however, is her reinvention of Haddaway’s “What Is Love” as a dramatic ballad. Thankfully, she gets back to the business at hand on “The Love,” “Giant In My Heart” and “Over Myself.”
CHARLI XCX
LIGHTS
LITTLE MACHINES
The female version of Owl City, electro evangelist Lights (aka Canadian-born Valerie Poxleitner) is about as subtle as Pat Robertson. On “Portal,” the opening track of Little Machines (WB), she rhymes “immortal” with “your portal.” Can you guess whose portal she’s singing about? The daughter of missionaries (oy vey), Lights doesn’t hesitate to preach to both the converted and uncoverted on songs such as “Same Sea,” “Don’t Go Home Without Me,” “Slow Down” and “How We Do It.” Queer heathens may also dig “Running With The Boys,” “Speeding” and “Muscle Memory.”
JESSIE WARE
SUCKER
TOUGH LOVE
Charli XCX has been perfecting her trademark brat-pop on her own records (her 2013 fulllength debut True Romance, for instance) as well as via her collaborations with others (including Iggy Azalea and Icona Pop). Kicking things up, while not losing her sneering edge on Sucker (Atlantic), Charli collaborated with Rostam Batmanglij (the gay member of Vampire Weekend) on the solid album closer “Need Ur Love” as well as Rivers Cuomo of Weezer on “Hanging Around.” The Charli we’ve come to know and love can be heard loud and clear on slamming dance numbers such as “Break The Rules,” “Sucker,” the bombastic “Boom Clap” and the new wavy “London Queen.”
If you had never heard Devotion, Jessie Ware’s strong 2013 debut album, then her second disc, Tough Love (Interscope), is perfectly serviceable. But the trouble with the disappointing Tough Love, aside from the fact that it’s so low energy that it’s virtually comatose, is that Ware not only doesn’t live up to expectations, it’s as if she didn’t even bother trying. Ware was by no means expected to replicate the mastery of her first album, but nothing on Tough Love comes close to the vigor and spirit of songs such as “Wildest Moments” or “Imagine It Was Us.” However, Ware does make good use of electronic elements on “Keep On Lying,” “Want Your Feeling” and “Cruel.”
TOVE LO
QUEEN OF THE CLOUDS As Swedish dance divas go, Tove Lo is no Robyn. But those are some big and funky shoes to fill. Nevertheless, Tove Lo holds her own on her full-length debut album Queen of the Clouds (Island). Some of the songs are too repetitive, but “Timebomb,” “My Gun,” “Got Love,” “Not On Drugs” and the QOTC Edit of “Run On Love,” manage to hover over the rest.
For a complete list of artists, please visit livingoutli.org. 16
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out and about
Q-Music
by gregg shapiro
LISTENING TO LGBT HISTORY Reissues, on CD and vinyl (and, in some cases, cassette) are a common occurrence when it comes to mainstream music. There are entire record labels, such as Rhino, Light In the Attic, Legacy and Real Gone Music, among others, devoted to rereleasing albums by popular and obscure artists, often in remastered and expanded editions. Over the years, some of these labels have also included work by LGBT artists on their roster. One of the most thrilling queer reissues of 2015 is How Far Will You Go? (Chapter Music), the first of its kind CD and vinyl compilation by “stonerpunk-disco-glam-gay” pioneers Smokey. Subtitled The S&M Recordings 1973-81, the CD collects 16 of Smokey’s selfreleased singles produced by Smokey’s partner EJ Emmons. What’s more, Smokey recorded and performed with stellar musicians such as the late Randy Rhoads (of Ozzy Osbourne fame), James Williamson (of The Stooges) and Tin Machine men Hunt and Tony Sales. Smoldering lead singer John “Smokey” Condon, who looked great in leather, filled his songs with queer content. Just take your pick from “Miss Ray,” “Leather,” “Strong Love,” “Hot Hard & Ready,” the doo wop of “Ballad of Butchie & Claudine,” the fiery funk of “How Far Will You Go…?,” the vintage disco of “Piss Slave” and “DTNA”(which stands for dance the night away), and the new wave cover “I’ll Always Love You.” A must-have for music lovers, gay and straight. (The
LP contains 11 tracks as well as a card with a code to download five digital bonus tracks.)
Gay men of a certain age (or perhaps any age) swoon at the mere mention of the name Johnny Mathis. So you can imagine the pearls and hankies being clutched when he sings. The four disc set The Singles (Columbia/Legacy), released to coincide with Mathis’ 80th (!) birthday, compiles all 87 of the timeless crooner’s non-LP singles, from 1956 to 1981, including “Wonderful! Wonderful,” “Chances Are,” “Wild Is The Wind,” “When Sunny Gets Blue” and “The Twelfth of Never,” as well as numerous Christmas favorites. If you didn’t know better, you might think that somewhere there is an endless supply of Dusty Springfield musical ephemera. It seems that way because in the last few years there have been a rash of reissues and compilations. Like the aforementioned Smokey disc, Dusty’s Come For A Dream: The U.K. Sessions 1970-1971 (Real Gone/ Atlantic/ Rhino) collects “long-lost” recordings from British recording sessions that were meant to be “a complete album.” The missing piece from Atlantic Records period, the songs here were supposed to become See All Her Faces, an album that was released in the UK, but not in the US. The good news is that now everyone has a chance to hear Dusty’s renditions of songs including “A Song For You,” “Wasn’t Born To
Follow,” “Yesterday When I Was Young,” “How Can I Be Sure,” “What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?” and “O-o-h Child,” to name a few. In her lifetime, Lesley Gore, who died in early 2015, topped the Billboard charts, appeared on Batman, was nominated for an Oscar and came out as a lesbian. In the midst of all that activity, she continued to write and record and the CD reissue of her 1972 MoWest album Someplace Else Now (Real Gone/ Motown/Universal) is one such example. Definitely an album of its time, more Helen Reddy than Joni Mitchell, the songs deal with serious subjects such as suicide (“She Said That”) and relationship trouble (“What Did I Do Wrong”). There is also a breeziness to tunes including the title cut and “Don’t Wanna Be One.” Jack Curtis Dubowsky is one of those queer musicians who seem to have his hand in almost every pot. Dubowsky, who has made his name in the world of film score composition as well as contemporary classical music, was also the creative force behind the trio Diazepam Nights on its 1989 self-titled queer chamber pop De Stijl debut. Add to that the fact the he owns and operates the De Stijl Records label, reissuing the Diazepam Nights album and you have the makings of a mogul. Helot Revolt, Dubowsky’s other musical project from around that time, released a four song EP, In Your Face/Up Your Butt (De Stijl) which captured “the world’s greatest faggot heavy metal band” at its transgressive best in a song such as “I Like Marines.”
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out and about
Q-music
by gregg shapiro
Like a Roland Stone(wall) An interview with director Roland Emmerich
by Gregg Shapiro
R
oland Emmerich, known for action-packed blockbusters such as Independence Day, might not be the first name that comes to mind to direct a movie about the Stonewall riots, which marked the launch of the modern day LGBT rights movement as we know it. However, that didn’t prevent the openly gay filmmaker from trying his hand at making such a film. Featuring a screenplay by gay playwright Jon Robin Baitz, Stonewall (Roadside Attractions), tells the story of corn-fed Midwestern boy Danny (Jeremy Irvine), arriving in New York in June of 1969. Befriended by trans hustler Ray (Jonny Beauchamp), aka Ramona, Danny undergoes a personal transformation to become not only an openly gay man, but one who takes part in the famous Stonewall uprising. I spoke with Roland Emmerich about Stonewall shortly before it opened in theaters. Gregg Shapiro: Do you remember when it was that you first became aware of the Stonewall Riots? Roland Emmerich: It was (when I was) in Germany. Everybody talked about the Stonewall Riots. I knew quite a lot about it because I was interested in history. GS: If there is a target audience for Stonewall, who do you see that to be? 18
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RE: I made this movie, like all of my movies, for the biggest possible audience. I don’t think there’s a target audience. It’s just for people who are interested. When we tested the film, it was relatively balanced (in regards to) who liked the film and who didn’t like it. GS: Parts of Stonewall are set in smalltown Indiana, where the lead character Danny is from. With the recent anti-gay kerfuffle in Indiana, was it intentional or coincidental that Danny was from that state? RE: That’s coincidental. The lead character is actually based on a friend of a friend. GS: Has that friend of a friend seen the movie? RE: Yes, he has seen the movie. And he likes it. Basically, what we did first was show it to one or two advisors that we had from the Stonewall veterans. When they liked it, approved of it, I was very happy. They said that what we show and how we showed it is very accurate. GS: Would you like to see Stonewall do for the advancement of LGBT rights awareness what Selma did to renew awareness and advancement of civil rights? RE: Sure, absolutely. That’s why we did the movie. Because there are a lot of young people who have no idea that the
Stonewall uprising/riots spawned all these gay marches. GS: I’m glad you mentioned young people, because a number of the cast members were born long after the Stonewall riots occurred. Did any of them have an awareness of the events of June 28, 1969 and its significance to contemporary LGBT culture? RE: Some of them had and some didn’t. Most of the time it’s shocking for me that LGBT kids don’t know about it. In general, we had a smart cast, although one or the other had no clue that this event took place. GS: Were there books or other resources that you recommended to them so that they could become more familiar with the subject? RE: Yes, we gave everybody a reading list. It’s one thing to read a book. We also found one or two or three Stonewall veterans and we asked them to help us. Some talked (to cast members) by phone, some in person, to tell them about the times, what music they listened to, how they felt. Just to get a little bit of a feel that you can’t get out of books. GS: Who were some of the veterans? RE: One was Martin Boyce. There were several.
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out and about GS: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who plays activist Trevor, has previously played gay onscreen, in Todd Haines’ Velvet Goldmine, for example. What was it like to work with him? RE: I have always been a fan of him. [Laughs] It always starts like that. I loved him in Velvet Goldmine. When you cast a movie, you probe around. You have a list and he was very high on the list. We were fortunate that he wanted to do it.
When you talk about Stonewall, you can’t not talk about Marsha P. Johnson or Bob Kohler or Frank Kameny or Ed Murphy. -Roland Emmerich, on choosing characters for Stonewall GS: The characters in the film are a blend of real (such as Marsha P. Johnson, Bob Kohler and Frank Kameny) and fictional people. Please say something about the choice to blend those stories. RE: That’s the peculiar thing about the Stonewall riots. A lot of people take credit, but it’s very murky. One thing is very clear – it was a lot of the homeless kids that did it. And they’re nameless. It’s all very vague. That was one of the difficulties in
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getting the movie made, Normally, when you do a movie such as Milk, you can go to someone such as Sean Penn to play Harvey Milk and you have it much easier. (With Stonewall) you just have these kids. On top of it, I didn’t want to make it a star-driven movie. I was set on telling the stories of these unsung heroes. Naturally, we realized that we had to have some historical characters. When you talk about Stonewall, you can’t not talk about Marsha P. Johnson or Bob Kohler or Frank Kameny or Ed Murphy. We even based some of our fictional characters on famous people such as Sylvia Rivera. It was cool, in a way, for us to mix historical facts with fictional ones. GS: You have a long, creative history of directing special effects-laden films. Did you feel like you had to dial it back for Stonewall and, if so, what was involved in that process? RE: My big movies helped me a lot to make this film. We realized very fast that this movie is only possible if we build a big set. Another director might have said, “I don’t know how to do that.” But I know how to do these things. Everybody was really surprised how real it all looked. The whole movie was shot indoors. GS: Wow, really? RE: You didn’t realize that?
GS: No, I didn’t. RE: [Laughs] Then we did it right! It’s very dangerous to do that, but it was the only way. At first we wanted to do it in New York, in the Village. But there was too much red tape and it would have been too expensive and it would have taken way too long. Also, there’s not much left (of the original streetscape). A lot of the housing is totally different. We went for what I know from my movies, where you say, “Let’s build it, and build it in a way that nobody will know (the difference).” We had to build the club interior anyway. It was kind of cool to come out of the club and be in the street. GS: Before the closing credits run, there are some current facts about the current state of gay life around the world that flash onscreen. Closer to home, we are dealing with the county clerk in Kentucky who was recently jailed for her refusal to issue marriage licenses based on her extremist religious beliefs. Do you think this story would make an interesting movie? RE: I’m already looking for other stories. It’s an interesting subject. I think there are at least two or three more Stonewall movies to be made. I hope that our movie is successful enough to spawn more movies. GS: Gay films have a history of controversy not just amongst straight people but also within the gay community itself. I’m thinking specifically of The Boys In the Band and Cruising. Were you prepared for the controversy that arose around Stonewall? RE: Not really [laughs]. I’ve always said that it will be interesting to see what happens. The amount of controversy, based on a trailer, when nobody had seen the film, was strange and funny to me. But what can you do? It would have been different if they reacted that way after having seen the movie [laughs], not based on the trailer. GS: Finally, Roland, have you started working on or thinking about your next film? RE: I’ve already shot my next film. It’s called Independence Day: Resurgence. It’s a sequel to Independence Day. It comes out next summer.
To read more about the Stonewall riots, turn to page 29
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Out and About
Boot Camp Against bullying Saturday, September 19th, at the east hampton home of Dr. Robert moraru and steve barnes Dozens of Long Island residents joined the LGBT Network for the Second Annual Boot Camp Against Bullying event held at the East Hampton home of Dr. Robert Moraru and Steve Barnes. Participants were led by personal trainers in a 45-minute boot camp style workout. Proceeds from the event benefit the LGBT Network’s Hamptons LGBT Center and the programs it provides to help prevent bullying in school. The LGBT Network continues to fight against anti-LGBT bullying every year.
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living healthy
Wellness
by jennifer nyx
Eating Healthy Doesn’t Mean Going Broke Pound for pound, generally speaking, it’s cheaper to eat poorly. A few packages of factory farmed meat, a gallon of commercially produced milk, butter, white bread, potato chips, cereal, chocolate chip cookies, instant potatoes, minuterice, frozen lasagna and pizza, ice cream and soda on sale…yep, it’s cheap.
Add up what you’re NOT buying. If you’re cutting back on meat, even if when you do eat meat you buy the more expensive and healthy cuts, you will save money. All the processed, packaged foods you don’t put in your cart add up. Do a calculation of how much all the food you don’t need to eat and won’t be buying will save you. It’s a mental thing, but a great exercise on the way to eating healthy and saving money.
Buy your produce at your local farmer’s market. When you can, it’s worth the trip. The produce is not only considerably less expensive, but it tastes better, and it’s healthier! The food isn’t shipped a long distance, which means it’s fresher and retains more of its nutrients and flavor. Plus, you are supporting your local economy – a financial win-win for all involved. Take some time to go to the farms and orchards themselves. You can get a steal on peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn and blueberries if you buy them directly from the farmers. Plus, you’ll feel more connected to your food and the people who bring it to you. Explore the farm, learn a little about the process. Many times, farmers will also sell their foods at little roadside stands and small markets, not just the farmer’s markets. So find out where they are and go to them to get the freshest, best foods possible.
And you do get what you pay for. But when you change your eating habits from bad to good, by swapping certain foods for others, you’ll find it isn’t actually much more expensive. Sometimes, it’s even less so. Here are a few tips to keep your waistline slim, and your wallet…not so much.
Organic is better, but not always necessary. Again, local produce can be just as, if not more, healthy. Some of it even is organically grown – the farms just have to meet very expensive government standards in order to officially make the claim. And there are certain foods that make little sense to spend the extra money, because the benefits of their being organically cultivated are negligible.
Some healthy foods are very easy on the wallet. Buy a large bag of whole grain brown rice – it won’t set you back at all, and it’s much less expensive than the processed instant side dishes. The same goes for oatmeal – ounce for ounce, you’d be hard pressed to find a more economical and filling meal. Kale is perhaps the healthiest food on the planet, and it will cost you about a dollar per bunch. The same goes for lots of leafy greens, and we all need to eat more of those. Learn to love the healthy foods that are already in your budget.
Frozen fruits and vegetables make Beans are cheap! sense. When you make the
Stock up on frozen versions of your fruits and vegetables. As long as no sweeteners or preservatives have been added, frozen fruits and vegetables are just as, and often more, full of nutrients as the fresh stuff. They are often not just less expensive at the point of purchase, but also cost effective for the long haul, because they don’t go bad and you won’t ever find yourself having to throw the excess away. You can also manage portions better this way – while the amount of peppers and onions in the fajita mix might be less per ounce than the actual peppers and onions in the produce section, that amount might be all you need at this particular time. The best way to use these foods are in your smoothies, because cooking can kill the nutrients. So when you cook, make sure you steam at a low heat, and for a short time.
Learn to make a few things from scratch. This can admittedly be a challenge for some, but if you want to save money, you can do it by spending a little more time in the kitchen. Eating healthy and saving money aren’t mutually exclusive activities! We just have to get a little bit beyond our love of convenience, and embrace
decision to switch a lot of your meat based dishes to beans, you will literally save a fortune. Beans are possibly the best food deal on the planet; when it comes to eating healthy and saving money, you simply cannot do better than beans! They are super dense in nutrients and a host of health benefits, they are filling, and they cost cents on the meat dollar. Plus, there is such a variety of different beans out there, it’s hard to get bored. To really save money, buy them in bags and make the commitment to soaking them and preparing them all naturally. However, you can still get deals on your beans if you buy them in cans, admittedly more convenient. Just make sure they are low in sodium and you rinse them before preparing.
Grow your own herbs & vegetables. Start a garden! It’s not that difficult. Herbs in particular can be expensive, but they add so much to your foods, especially when you are trying to eat healthfully. They are easy to cultivate on your window sill. instead a love for wellness. If you truly do that, in the end, the costs will even out, but the benefits will be priceless.
About the author: Jennifer Nyx is a Holistic Health Coach and Personal Trainer dedicated to support her clients with their health goals and empower them to make lasting changes in their behavior and lifestyle. you can find her at nyxwellness.com 22
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living healthy
by jeff berry
health
Positive Thoughts: Viral Fatigue I recently attended the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association’s 25th National Convention in San Francisco. NLGJA’s first convention took place in the city by the bay in 1990, so this year’s conference was aptly called Coming Home. The four-day meeting was filled with workshops, plenaries and programs for LGBT journalists looking to sharpen their skills, network and meet up with old friends.
for me because it’s not HIV-specific, and it allows me to break out of my “HIV bubble” and gain a renewed perspective. When you’ve worked in the same field and organization for 23 years like I have, you can easily become siloed in your work and vision myopic. Everything is seen through the lens of HIV, and you stand in danger of suffering from what I call “viral fatigue.” Those of us in the broader LGBT community can undergo viral fatigue as well. If you’ve made it this far in reading this column, whether you’re HIV-negative or not, congratulations. People often get tired of hearing or talking about HIV – I know I do! “Isn’t that manageable now?” I often hear. Or, “Is that really a big deal anymore?” In this age of successful treatment of HIV to an undetectable viral load (which nearly eliminates the chance of transmitting the virus to others), and now PrEP, a one-pill-a-day medication that prevents those who are negative from acquiring the virus, maybe it’s time for us to just move on?
I’ve worked in the HIV field for over 23 years, and participate in dozens of meetings, conferences and activities throughout the year and around the country, but all of them are related to HIV. This conference is refreshing
Know Your Status for you and your partners Free HIV and STD/STI Testing Available during drop-in hours and by appointment at all locations of The Long Island LGBT Community Center.
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Free, quick, and confidential testing for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the HIV/STD Outreach and Testing Program at testing@lgbtnetwork.org or 631.665.2300 Nassau Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. N., Suite 110 Woodbury, NY 11797 T 516.323.0011 F 516.750.4715
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Suffolk West Center at Bay Shore 34 Park Avenue Bay Shore, NY 11706 T 631.665.2300 F 631.665.7874
Suffolk East The Hamptons LGBT Center 44 Union Street Sag Harbor, NY 11963 T 631.899.4950 F 631.665.7874
Queens Center at Little Neck 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy. Little Neck, NY 11362 T 516.323.0011 F 516.750.4715
I admit I get a little viral fatigue now and then. But I never get tired of learning new things, gaining insight or a new perspective, and helping someone to look at something in a new and different way. Jeff Berry is the editor in chief of Positively Aware magazine and Director of Publications at Test Positive Aware Network in Chicago. Find him on Twitter @PAEditor. This column is a project of Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, TheBody. com and Q Syndicate, the LGBT wire service. Visit their websites – http:// hivplusmag.com, http://positivelyaware. com, http://poz.com and http://thebody. com – for the latest updates on HIV/AIDS.
We have a unique opportunity in our community to change the narrative, and steer the conversation in a new direction. It’s no longer enough to say “use a condom every time.” By having candid, open and honest conversations with our partners, our healthcare providers, and most of all with others in our community, we can gain a fresh perspective and a new outlook.
Editor’s Note: The LGBT Network offers a wide range of programs and services to help prevent HIV, get tested and linakge to care. For more information please visit lgbtnetwork.org.
If we take the time to learn about new prevention modalities, and understand that there is no “one size
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fits all” when it comes to preventing HIV, then maybe we’ll be a little less “judgy” about the choices of others.
It would be nice to think so, but sadly, no. New HIV infections are increasing at alarming rates in certain subgroups, including young, gay black men and trans women. And it’s not necessarily because they are taking more risks – a recent study showed that young, gay, black men actually took fewer risks than their white counterparts, but saw more infections, because the sexual networks they interacted with had more people who were HIVpositive, and they therefore had more exposure to the virus.
PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is one pill, that when taken for 30 days, can prevent HIV infection!
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If you are interested in finding out more on PEP, please contact an HIV/STI Specialist at 631.665.2300, e-mail testing@lgbtnetwork.org, or visit lgbtnetwork.org. Nassau Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. N., Suite 110 Woodbury, NY 11797 T 516.323.0011 F 516.750.4715
Suffolk West Center at Bay Shore 34 Park Avenue Bay Shore, NY 11706 T 631.665.2300 F 631.665.7874
Suffolk East The Hamptons LGBT Center 44 Union Street Sag Harbor, NY 11963 T 631.899.4950 F 631.665.7874
Queens Center at Little Neck 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy. Little Neck, NY 11362 T 516.323.0011 F 516.750.4715
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1440203
2015 Bullying
.75x11.25
ving Out
I’m safe being me. I’m free to be out, without having to drop out.
Inspiring confidence in LGBT youth Last year, 8 out of 10 LGBT students reported being harassed or intimidated at school. And many will see no other option but to drop out due to low self-esteem and fearing for their safety. But making small changes, such as helping students identify supportive educators, can have a huge impact. In 2014, we helped GLSEN reach its goal of putting a Safe Space Kit in every middle school and high school across the country. With the simple guide, poster, and stickers found inside, teachers are creating spaces where students feel empowered, safe to be themselves, and free to reach their maximum potential. Little by little, we can all do a lot to improve the lives of LGBT students. Small is Huge.SM Learn more about our continued support of the LGBT community at wellsfargo.com/lgbt. And remember to join us in wearing purple on Spirit Day, October 15.
© 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. ECG-1440203
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living smart
recipes
Halloween Treats
Mummified Candy Corn Cake
Spooky Witches’ Fingers
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups cake flour 1 1/2 tbsps baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup plus 2 tbsp whole milk 2 tsps vanilla extract 1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, room temp Directions: 1.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment; mist again with cooking spray.
2.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Combine milk and vanilla in a measuring cup. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl.
3.
Reduce speed to low and alternate adding flour and milk mixtures to butter (begin and end with flour), until just combined. In a clean medium bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold egg whites into batter in 3 additions.
4.
Divide batter in 3 medium bowls (2 cups each). Add 1 1/2 tsp. yellow coloring to 1 bowl; stir. Add red coloring and 1 tsp. yellow coloring to second bowl; stir. Leave third bowl white. Spread batter into pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove to rack to cool completely.
5.
6.
1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 3/4 cup whole almonds (1) .75 oz. tube red decorating gel
1 cup butter, softened 1 cup confectioners sugar 1 egg 1 tsp almond extract 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour Directions:
1 1/4 cups sugar 5 large egg whites 2 1/2 tsps yellow gel food coloring 1/4 tsp red gel food coloring (2) 16-oz. cans vanilla frosting 2.5 oz. large marshmallows
Level tops of cake layers with a serrated knife, if necessary. Dab small amount of frosting in center of cake stand and top with orange layer. Spread 1 cup frosting on top; add yellow layer and align sides. Spread 1 cup frosting over yellow layer, then top with white layer and align. Spread remaining frosting around sides, then over top. Smooth with a knife or spatula. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave marshmallows on high for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth and just warm to the touch. Pull off a piece about the size of 1 marshmallow and stretch between thumb and forefinger of both hands until thin. Drape strand over and around cake. Repeat until you reach desired “mummy” effect. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Tip: Rub butter on your fingers to keep the marshmallow from sticking to your hands.
1.
Combine the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder, and salt, continually beating; refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
2.
Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
3.
Remove dough from refrigerator in small amounts. Scoop 1 heaping teaspoon at a time onto a piece of waxed paper. Use the waxed paper to roll the dough into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give the appearance of a long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near the tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You can also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance. Arrange the shaped cookies on the baking sheets.
4.
Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are slightly golden in color, 20 to 25 minutes.
5.
Remove the almond from the end of each cookie; squeeze a small amount of red decorating gel into the cavity; replace the almond to cause the gel to ooze out around the tip of the cookie.
Tip: Make these treats extra spooky by adding green food coloring to the batter.
Caramelized Spicy Pumpkin Seeds Ingredients:
Directions:
5 tbsps white sugar 1/4 tsp cumin 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1 pinch cayenne, or to taste 2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds, washed & dried 2 tsps salt, or to taste 1 tbsp olive oil cooking spray
1.
Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2.
In a large bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons of sugar, the cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne pepper, and set aside.
3.
Place the pumpkin seeds on the prepared baking sheet, spray them with cooking spray, and sprinkle with salt to taste. Bake the seeds until lightly golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
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4.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and stir in the toasted pumpkin seeds along with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Cook and stir the seeds until the sugar forms a coating on the seeds, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir the caramelized seeds into the bowl of sugar-spice mixture, toss to coat, and let cool.
Tip: Up the spice factor by coating the seeds in Sriracha before baking. LIVING OUT
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living smart
finance
saving for the
Holidays Do-It-Yourself
With school back in session, the leaves falling, and the summer behind us, the holidays are coming up! Here are ten tips on how you can save money while enjoying the holiday season over the next few months:
Create a Budget
Black Friday/Cyber Monday
The biggest and most important tip for saving money during the holidays is setting up a limit on how much you’re willing to spend. By setting a limit, you will have X amount of money to spend across X amount of people you need to purchase gifts for.
The best deals for holiday shopping are usually on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you are one of the brave willing to attempt Black Friday holiday shopping, check out blackfriday.com to find out where the best deals are for the items on your holiday shopping list.
You would then have to allocate how much you want to spend on each person accordingly, be it friends, family, co-workers, or your significant other.
In addition, Cyber Monday has continuously become more and more popular every year, and cybermonday.com has online shopping deals with many retailers year-round. Usually, shopping online during the holiday season comes with free shipping, but be sure to browse through multiple retail websites to be sure you’re getting the best deal.
Do Your Homework Start Saving Early The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is the time of the year when most US Consumers spend the most money, be it shopping for others or even for themselves with all the sales and deals retail stores have. The earlier you can start saving for the holidays, the better.
Secret Santa Have a large circle of friends? It might be more beneficial for everyone to do a Secret Santa to exchange gifts, that way you only have to buy for one person and not everyone.
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Before making purchases, make sure you’re paying the best price possible for each item. There will be deals that pop up during any time of the year for particular items, but you can save additional money by researching ahead of time.
If you’re creative and/or artistic, you might be able to make something yourself for a gift for someone special. You might be able to knit a sweater or hat for someone, or make a great painting, or write and perform a song. In the end, it’s the thought that counts with holiday gift-giving, and this is a great heartfelt way to both show someone you care and also save.
Cut Back on Extras During the holiday season, we generally tend to spend more on everything as consumers, which includes getting that extra cup of coffee or going out to eat more. Keep in mind that doing this often does add up and could be a big chunk of change through the entire holiday season.
Spend on Yourself While holiday shopping, you might see something nice that you really want for yourself- don’t be afraid to treat yourself! Be sure to set aside money for yourself to spend while you are shopping when you make your budget. If you know ahead of time that you want something, put it on your shopping list as well.
Make a Shopping List Clean Out Your Closet Some people may find leftover wrapping paper, bows, and gift bags in their closets from last year that were unused – use it so you don’t have to spend on the same materials this year.
After you figure out how much you are spending and who you need to buy for, make a shopping list. By making a list, you can cross or check off items as you buy them, and it’ll also keep you from impulse buying while you’re at the store.
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points of view
op-ed
by rev. irene monroe
The Stonewall I Remember Wasn’t Just White This lesbian minister remembers the famous uprising and says it had as much to do with race as with sexual orientation.
*The names in the story has been changed to protect identities.
and shooting the breeze. Some were in heated discussion of Black revolutionary politics, while the Holy Rollers were competing with each other over Scripture. The Jenkins boys were drumming softly on their congas to the hot breezy mood of
“By institutionalizing memory, resisting the onset of oblivion, recalling the memory of tragedy that for long years remained hidden or unrecognized and by assigning its proper place in the human conscience, we respond to our duty to remember.” – UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura1 I am disturbed by Roland Emmerich’s historical drama “Stonewall,” because of its whitewashing of a historic moment turned movement. When I look back at the first night of the Stonewall Inn riots, I could have never imagined its future importance. The first night played out no differently from previous riots with Black Americans and White Policemen. And so too, it being under reported. But I was there. Friday, June 27th, was the last day of school that year. And with school out, my middle-school cronies and I looked forward to a summer reprieve from rioting against Italian, Irish and Jewish public school kids for being bussed into their neighborhoods. However, the summer months in Brooklyn’s African American enclaves only escalated rioting between New York’s finest – the New York Police Department – and us. During this tumultuous decade of Black rage and White Police raids, knee-jerk responses to each other’s slights easily set the stage for a conflagration, creating both instantaneous and momentary fighting alliances in these Black communitiesacross gangs, class, age, ethnicity and sexual orientations – against police brutality. That night of June 27th started out no differently than any hot and humid summer Friday night in my neighborhood. Past midnight, folks with no AC or working fans in their homes were just hanging out. Some lounged on the fire escapes while others were on the stoops of their brownstones laughing
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the night air. And directly under the street lamp was an old beatup folding card table where the Fletchers and the Andersons, lifelong friends and neighbors, were shouting over a game of bid whist. The sight of Dupree galloping up the block toward us abruptly interrupted the calm of the first hour of Saturday, June 28th. Dupree stopped in front of the gaming table and yelled out, “The pigs across the bridge are beating up on Black faggots – right now!” Cissy Anderson, who was just moments from throwing in her hand
to go to bed, let out a bloodcurdling scream that shook us and brought a momentary halt to everything. Nate Anderson grabbed his wife to comfort her and said, “Cissy, calm down.” Greenwich Village in the 1800s had housed the largest population for former slaves in the country. But gentrification forced racial relocation and led to Harlem becoming the Mecca of Black America. When Dupree stopped in front of Mr. Fletcher’s game table, he was signaling to his aunt and uncle that their son Birdie, who sang like a
beautiful songbird, was more than likely in the melee across the bridge. Everyone knew Birdie was gay, and we wondered where he and his “brother-girls,” as he dubbed them, had gone on the weekends when they laughed and spoke in code on Sundays about their exploits while robing-up for choir. Cissy detested that her eldest, Nate Turner “Birdie” Anderson, Jr., went outside the community to a White neighborhood to be himself. Nate, Sr., too, worried about his eldest son. When Birdie told his dad he was gay, his father asked him if he understood that he didn’t know how to keep him safe, especially if his son wandered out of his purview. When his voice rose above Dupree’s and the crowd, we were as shocked to silence as we were by Cissy’s bloodcurdling scream. “My son is somewhere there and I need you all to help me find him and bring him home safely to his mother and me.” Coming out of the subway station at Christopher Street we could hear the commotion. The shoving and pushing by both protestors and police yanked three of us away from the core group; we were left to fend for ourselves. As the momentum of the crowd pushed my small group to Waverly Place, a block away from the Stonewall, we witnessed two White cops pummeling a Black drag queen. “I should shove this stick up your ass,” said one of the cops as he pulled up her dress with a nightstick in his hand. The taller of the two cops yanked off her wig and laughingly tossed it to the other
cop. In spotting us, the cop who caught the wig threw it at us yelling, “You n*gger fags get away!” The wig missed and landed about a foot away from us, but the cop’s words hit, striking fear. On the first night of the Stonewall Inn riots, African Americans and Latinos were the largest percentage of the protestors because we heavily frequented the bar. For Black and Latino homeless youth and young adults, who slept in nearby Christopher Park, the Stonewall Inn was their stable domicile. The Stonewall Inn being raided was nothing new. In the 1960s gay bars in the Village were routinely raided, but, “Race is said to have been another factor. The decision by the police to raid the bar in the manner they did may have been influenced by the fact that most of the ‘homosexuals’ they would encounter were of color, and therefore even more objectionable.” The Stonewall Riot of June 27-29, 1969 in Greenwich Village started on the backs of working class African American and Latino queers who patronized that bar. Those Brown and Black LGBTQ people are not only absent from the photos of that night, but have been bleached from its written history. Many LGBTQ Blacks and Latinos argue that one of the reasons for the gulf between whites and themselves is about how the dominant queer community rewrote and continues to control the narrative of Stonewall. 1 The UNESCO Slave Route Project,”Lest We Forget: The Triumph Over Slavery,” that marked the United Nations General Assembly’s resolution proclaiming 2004 “The International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition.”
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by gwendolyn Ann smith
points of view
trans-missions
Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve seen Halloween change dramatically. Sure, the shift was slow, but like water carving the Grand Canyon, it was seemingly inevitable.
cemetery, dungeon, or haunted house. It’s amazing to see just how many different spooky things they pack into these hastily assembled storefronts.
In my youth, it was a holiday where kids ruled the night. The streets were ours. We’d trot out into the darkness wearing anything from store bought plastic masks and smocks to hastily assembled “hobo” costumes of tattered old clothing and ratted hair. It was a magical time, when we would be allowed more leeway than any other night, and explore our wild characters under the moon and stars.
Amongst these are celebrity costumes. They’ll sell you rubber masks of the president and his would-be replacements. You can find the cast of “Duck Dynasty” shoehorned in.
A Costume Controversy
As you can guess, I have a lot of fondness for that time. Yet things changed. Fears – largely unfounded – of razor blades and other contaminants in the holiday candy haul led to more chaperoned Halloween events at local schools and community centers, sucking the life out of the night. Today, the ritual of trick or treating seems to be turning into a memory of my generation. Something else changed since then, too. While costume parties for adults certainly existed, they were less common than one might imagine. The holiday was relegated to the kids, and the adults were more likely to be lurking behind their home’s door with a bucket of Smarties, Starbursts, and those awful circus peanuts. Much like Cinco De Mayo has become “the day we mock Hispanic culture and get drunk” and St. Patrick’s Day has become “the day we mock Irish culture and get drunk,” Halloween has extended similarly. It’s become a time when the adults don the costumes and hit the clubs. I sound cranky, but I do have a point. There is a big business in costumes, and the real money is not in kids’ costumes, but ones for adults. We’ll pay a premium for a cool costume that you will only wear once. You’ll find them for sale at your local big box stores as well as a chain store that crops up each Halloween in otherwise derelict storefronts across the country. They sell all sorts of Halloween gear that I would have given my eyeteeth for back in the day. Not only super detailed costumes and accessories, but all the making of an ersatz 30
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(left) Spirit Halloween’s Caitlyn Jenner costume (below) Another retailer’s “Call Me Caitlyn” costume
Yet there’s another topical costume of note: that of Caitlyn Jenner. Now it makes sense, in a way, that they would opt to make a Caitlyn Jenner costume. They are in the business to make money, and what better way than a costume that features a member of the Kardashian clan, particularly at a time when she is probably the most marketable.
A person who opts to mock Caitlyn Jenner with a illgendered costume says far more about themselves than they ever say about her.
difference between the two: a stocky male with an arm tattoo and 5 o’ clock shadow is modeling the latter. While Spirit’s costume is presented in a much more attractive fashion – and with a feminine-appearing model – both are problematic. The latter even much more so. I mentioned earlier about how Halloween has increasingly become an adult holiday. With that in mind, the costumes have become far more over the top, reveling in far more adult themes than one might have seen in the past. Zombies are far more rotten and bloody, most gear for women are presented in a “sexy” version, and some costumes are meant to be mean-spirited and controversial.
The news initially broke via the New York Daily News, who called the idea “creepy.” Spirit Halloween PR disagreed, saying that Jenner “has proven to be the most important real-life superhero of the year,” and claimed the costume would be one that “celebrates her.”
We live in a year when transgender people are gaining a visibly like we haven’t seen before. We’re also living in a time when our deaths are being reported in very high numbers, likely as a backlash to this visibility. Do we need to see this sort of mockery on Halloween? We’re not talking about a lighthearted jest here – but with people’s real lives. One might say that Jenner is a public figure, and this is simply what happens. There’s some truth to that. This isn’t about Jenner though; so much as it is about Jenner being transgender. More than that, it’s about Jenner having presented as male in the past, and now being female – and trying to point out what the costume wearer feels about Jenner’s gender. Halloween when I was a kid was transformative, allowing us to share our desires and interests. With that in mind, I suggest this: A person who opts to mock Caitlyn Jenner with a ill-gendered costume says far more about themselves than they ever say about her.
Spirit Halloween has both a Caitlyn Jenner wig and Corset, similar to the now-famed Vanity Fair cover. It’s nicely done, all things considered. Others have been less forgiving: another retailer – selling through a number of websites* such as wholesalehalloweencostumes.com – released their own. It too features the “Vanity Fair” look, but adds a parade sash emblazoned with “Call Me Caitlyn.” Here’s the big
to be used to support The Donald. While Spirit has attempted to show the costume worn in an “appropriate” fashion, it seems obvious to me that their audience is going to be the same sort of schlub shown by that other retailer.
Gwen Smith never had a Reneé Richards costume. You can find her on Twitter at @gwenners The Caitlyn Jenner costume is not likely to be worn to ‘celebrate” Jenner, any more than a rubber Donald Trump mask is likely going
*Editor’s Note: wholesalehalloweencostumes.com is not currently carrying the costume in question.
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