Options Magazine April/May 2019

options April / May 2019

OPTIONS has gone Digital

GAY DAY TRIPS DISCOVER QUEER NEWPORT YOUTH WANDERLUST 1 Rhode Island and Southern New England's LGBTQ Communitywww.optionsri.org Magazine Since 1982

IN THIS ISSUE: 12 20 14 22

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From the Editor

6 From the Board President 6 Advertisers 8 Calendar 10

News Briefs

12

Discover Queer Newport

14

Get Out There!: A Springtime Guide to Adventures in New Places

17

TGI Network

18

Out on the Town

20

YPI: Environmentalism Inspires Youth Wanderlust

21

I am Racist!

22

APRI: Striding for Pride & Saving HIV Services

24

News from SAGE/RI

26

Raising Awareness: Trans Community Challenges

28 Resources

26

35 Felicitations 35

Transosaurus Rex

For our free online edition or to subscribe for home delivery ($35/year suggested donation) visit optionsri.org, email subscriptions@optionsri.org, or write to: Options Magazine, PO Box 6406, Providence, RI 02940. (c) OPTIONS 2019. Options is published bimonthly. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the volunteers or staff. Listings are provided as a resource and do not imply endorsement. Submissions to Options must include a phone number or email address. Names may be withheld on request. Submissions, ads, calendar, or resource listings for the June/July 2019 issue must be delivered by May 10.

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Saturday

June 1

2019

AIDS Run/Walk for Life

Stride for

Pr id e

& S h ow Yo u

Colors! e u r rT

Roger Williams Park Carousel Registration 8 a.m. | Kick-off 9 a.m.

Prizes for Top Runners, Fundraisers, & Most Vibrant Costumes Free HIV Testing, Community Exhibitors & Much More!

Register to Run or Walk at AidsWalkForLife.org

From the Editor-in-Chief

options

Rhode Island’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community news source since 1982.

Dear Reader,

April/May 2019

As I write this, I realize that one year ago today I was packing my bags for a family trip to Spain. I was three months pregnant and starting to joke that this was the last such trip I’d be taking for a decade. It had been years since I’d spent more than a long weekend away from work, and I was feeling it. I could hardly wait to get away.

Getaways got their name for a reason; they’re an escape from everyday realities – job stress, chores, and the same old people and scenery that all can seem to drain our energy. Day trips, excursions, vacations, long weekends – whatever your preferred getaway – I think the goal is the same: have some stimulating experiences, make some good memories, and replenish your life force. We thought this issue should push you to do just that.

We’re not encouraging you to board a flight, which will be appreciated by the environmentally conscious, frugal, and phobic among us. Luckily, there are fabulously gay-friendly experiences to enjoy and sights to behold in the region (p. 14). Provincetown, Ogunquit, and Fire Island are featured in a piece

by Options intern Charlotte Abotsi, whose research has culminated in some beauty-filled, tasty, and adventurous suggestions for a day trip or overnight jaunt.

With all the nightclubs and restaurants that Providence has to offer, it’s easy for us mainlanders to overlook Aquidneck Island. Learn how our friends at NewportOUT are working to make the LGBTQ community more visible in the city they love (p. 12). Newport’s second annual Pride Weekend will be celebrated end of May/early June. See the Calendar for details (p. 9).

The Youth Pride kids sure look like they’re having a blast, partnering with the Sierra Club. See photos and read about their nature-based expeditions as part of their new Inspiring Connections Outdoors initiative (p. 20).

After more than 30 years, this year’s AIDS Run/Walk for Life is an excursion with a renewed purpose, as our local HIV/AIDS organizations face devastating State budget cuts. Join a fundraising team and be prepared to dust off your sneakers June 1 (p. 22).

Options has cut way back on the printed copies it mails to homes, and as we work to bring our website up to 2019 news outlet standards, we’re encouraging people to visit our website for current and past stories. In case you missed it, Ethan Huckel of the TGI Network offered a story about barriers and challenges to traveling while trans in our August 2018 edition (p. 25). This and other editions can be found at optionsri.org/digital-issues.

Happy trails!

Jen and family at Aquarium Barcelona, March 2018

Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1

Editor-in-Chief Jen Stevens jen@optionsri.org Resources Editor Myra Shays resources@optionsri.org Copy Editors Charlotte Abotsi, Rex LeBeau, Carson Pavao, Myra Shays Graphic Design Theresa “Reese” Barzyk www.tibcreativestudio.com Intern Charlotte Abotsi Contributors Charlotte Abotsi, Felicia Nimue Ackerman, Steve Ahlquist, Guillaume Bagal,Yael Bat-Shimon, Tiffani Carcieri, Cathy Gorman, Ethan Huckel, Rex LeBeau, Sean O'Connor,TC Rogers, Myra Shays, Jen Stevens, Mikel Wadewitz Photographers Jen Bonin, James Turner Advertising Emma Montague advertising@optionsri.org

Contact Us info@optionsri.org PO Box 6406 Providence, RI 02940 401-217-3939 www.optionsri.org Cover: NewportOUT Drag Cruise September 2018 photo by Sean O'Connor

Jen Stevens

We want to hear from you. Send letters to editor@optionsri.org.

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FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT Board of Directors

Dear Readers,

Executive Committee

I hope that you have had a wonderful winter and are excited to enter the spring season. I sure am! As the temperatures outside rise, our minds wander toward notions of outdoor activities that require far fewer layers of clothing and long awaited vacations. Let this fabulous issue focused on travel and leisure further inspire your planning. In addition to bringing forth this publication, the Options team has been as busy as ever, continuing our work as an innovative resource on which our local LGBTQ+ community can depend.

As promised, we’ve taken many steps over the past two months to make this wonderful resource more accessible online. You may have noticed that we are in the process of adding more content to our website and are restructuring it for ease of use. This is a work in process and we will continue to streamline how Options shares information over the course of the next few issues. We are now offering digital advertising options in addition to print advertisements. Please reach out to our wonderful new advertising manager, Emma Montague, with any questions or suggestions for advertisers: advertising@optionsri.org.

We hope you have noticed that we have steadily increased our support of other local LGBTQ organizations, especially by attending events and sharing their news and announcements across our social media. We’re also honored to serve on the important Complete Count Committee, established by Governor Raimondo to assure an accurate count in the 2020 Census. Options will work to ensure that our community is fully represented in the census so that national funding for LGBTQ+ services remains robust, and that the breadth of our beautiful community is properly represented.

Dr. TC Rogers President Melissa DaSilva, LICSW

Vice President Dr. Mike Marrapodi Treasurer Directors Joty Allison Brendan Chipley Roane Ashley Delgado Dr. Jamie Hagan Kay Martinez Arthur Snow

Cheers, Dr. TC Rogers Options Board President

ADVERTISER

LIST Show that your organization or business supports the local LGBTQ+ community!

Contact advertise@optionsri.org today.

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Options | April/May 2019

4 Aids Project RI

23 Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island

16 Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI

7 NewportOUT/Discover Newport

25 Butler Hospital

27 Patriot Subaru

27 East Coast Mental Wellness

34 Plumbing by Paul

36 FirstWorks & PPAC: Complexions Ballet

2 Providence G

11 Friends of Toto

7 RI Legal Services LGBTQ Protection Project

25 The Grace School

17 RISD Drag Show

25 Insperiors: Inspired Interiors

23 The Stable

27 Michael Merolla, Interior Painting

27 Stephen S. Muggeo, LICSW

The LGBTQ Protection Project A project of Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.  Are you the victim of domestic violence or another type of violence?  Have you been discriminated against by an employer, school, or landlord?  Do you consider yourself a victim of financial exploitation?  Do you believe that you have been victimized in another way because of your LGBTQ status?  Is your LGBTQ child being bullied or otherwise mistreated in an educational setting?

Call Rhode Island Legal Services at 401-633-9129

Kick off

PRIDE

MONTH inNewport May 31-June 2, 2019

Photos: Jen Bonin

Come experience the many gems of our welcoming city. Check out NewportOut.com/Events for more info.

NewportOut.com

DiscoverNewport.org

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CALENDAR: April

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 GAYme Night April 7 RI Pride Pageant

Mon. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Free Play Arcade GAYme night, 7pm1am. Colosseum, 182 Pine Street, Providence. Over 115 vintage arcade games, pinball, skee ball, and drag show. All games set to free play. 18+. $4 cover to benefit RI Pride. For more info, freeplayri.com.

Fri. 5 Becky Chace and Brian Minisce, 5pm. Linden Place, 500 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. Roots rockers perform live in this concert series. $20. For info, beckychace. com.

Sun. 7 Drag Brunch, 12-2pm.

Massimo Restaurant, 134 Atwells Avenue, Providence. Glitz, glam, and humor with Drag in RI girls Jacqueline DiMera, LaDiva Jonz, and Vi’let. Reservations encouraged at 273-0650.

April 17 From Bach to Bowie

April 26 Born This Way Prom

April 27 Coronation

Sun. 7 RI Pride Pageant: A Night of Magic and Mystery, 6-10pm.

The Colosseum, 180 Pine Street, Providence. $15 to benefit RI Pride.

Contestants showcase talents in this annual competition to represent RI’s LGBTQIA+ community. For tix and info: www.prideri.org.

Thu. 11 Sweet Little Variety Show, 8pm. Askew, 150 Chestnut Street, Providence.

A queer-produced potpourri of entertainment performed monthly on second Thursdays. $7 to pay the artists. Food menu available. For info, facebook. com/sweetlittlevarietyshow and sweetlittlevarietyshow.com.

Fri. 12 Auditions for The Laramie Project, 4-9pm. JDP Theatre rehearsal space, 81 Warren Avenue, East Providence. Schedule in advance at jdptheatreco.com.

Sun. 14 RI Prime Timers, 4:307pm. Social, dinner, and networking

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Options | April/May 2019

group for older gay and bi men on second Sundays. For more info, www.riprimetimers.org or call Steve at 996-3010.

Wed. 17 Queer Book Club, 7-9:30pm. Reading: The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon.Third Wednesdays at Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence. For more info, email queerbookclub@gmail.com or join the Providence Queer Book Club Facebook group.

Wed. 17 FirstWorks and PPAC present Complexions Contemporary Ballet: From Bach to Bowie, 7:30pm. Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset Street. Tix $25-$75 at ppac.evenue.net.

Thu. 18 Drag Bingo: Easter Parade, 6-9pm. Riviera Bingo Palace, 1612 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston.

Hosted by Haley Star and LaDiva Jonz. $20 gets you in all games with over $2,000 in cash and prizes awarded monthly. 18+. $100 cash for the best Easter bonnet. No alcohol. All funds raised benefit AIDS Care Ocean State and AIDS Project RI. For reservations, email bingo@aidscareoceanstate.org with name, number of people, and phone number.

Fri. 19 SAGE LGBT Café, noon2pm. Church of the Transfiguration, 1665 Broad Street, Cranston. A delicious, low-cost lunch in a gayfriendly setting on third Fridays sponsored by Meals on Wheels, the Department of Elderly Affairs, and SAGE-RI. $3 donation suggested for LGBT people 60+ and people with disabilities; $6 donation suggested for all others. Reservations required.

Call Diane at 351-6700 x105.

Sun. 21 Surge Tea Dance, 4-9pm.

Rooftop at the Providence G, 100 Dorrance Street, Providence.

Featuring DJ Jake, host Ninny

Nothin, and 50/50 raffle to benefit Options Magazine.

Fri. 26 BornThis Way Prom, 6:3010:30pm. Newport Beach Rotunda & Carousel. Free to all LGBTQ high school students and their allies/$10 adults 18+. Proceeds benefit Youth Pride Inc. and Interweave at Channing Church. For more info, interweave@channingchurch.org.

Sat. 27 Imperial Court of RI Coronation Ball, 6pm cocktails/7pm dinner and show. Providence Biltmore Hotel, 10 Dorrance Street.

For tickets and info, icriprov.org.

Sat. 27 RI Women’s Association Dance, 6:30-11:30pm. The Nelson, 225 Niantic Avenue, Cranston.

DJ Karen, cash bar, food menu.

Members free/guests $12. For info, riwa.net.

Sat. 27 Womxn's Night: Queer Spring Fling, 8pm-midnight. Askew, 150 Chestnut Street, Providence. A cabaret and club night for womxn and their partners, friends, and allies. 21+. $10 cover. For more info, facebook.com/WomxnsNight.

Sat. 27 Newport Pride Fundraiser, time TBA. Stoneacre Brasserie, Newport. Fishnets 2.0 after party. For info, NewportOut. com/Events.

Sun. 28 Chris Pureka with Lisa Bastoni, 7pm. Askew, 150 Chestnut Street, Providence. $15 advance/$20 door. For tix and info, Eventbrite.com.

May Thu. 2 Drag Bingo: Stranger in Paradise Tropical Beach Party.

Riviera Bingo Palace, 1612 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston. Hosted by Haley Star and LaDiva Jonz. $20 gets you in all games with over $2,000 in

cash and prizes awarded monthly.

18+. No alcohol. Theme dress encouraged. All funds raised benefit AIDS Care Ocean State and AIDS Project RI. For reservations, email bingo@aidscareoceanstate.org with name, number of people, and phone number.

Sun. 5 Drag Brunch, 12-2pm.

Massimo Restaurant, 134 Atwells Avenue, Providence. Glitz, glam, and humor with Drag in RI girls Jacqueline DiMera, LaDiva Jonz, and Vi’let. Reservations encouraged at 273-0650.

Mon. 6, 13, 20, 27 Free Play Arcade GAYme night, 7pm1am. Colosseum, 182 Pine Street, Providence. Over 115 vintage arcade games, pinball, skee ball, and drag show. All games set to free play. 18+. $4 cover to benefit RI Pride. For more info, freeplayri.com.

Sun. 12 Mother's Day Drag Brunch with the Trailer Park Girls, 11:30am and 1:15pm seatings.

Parlor Bar & Kitchen, 200 Broadway, Newport. Tickets and info at www. newportout.com/events.

Sun. 12 RI Prime Timers, 4:307pm. Social, dinner, and networking group for older gay and bi men on second Sundays. For more info, www.riprimetimers.org or call Steve at 996-3010.

Wed. 15 Queer Book Club, 7-9:30pm.Third Wednesdays at Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence. Reading: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Discount on books purchased at Books on the Square.

For more info, email queerbookclub@ gmail.com.

Thu. 16 Drag Bingo: Pride Edition.

Riviera Bingo Palace, 1612 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston. Hosted by Haley Star and LaDiva Jonz. $20 gets you in all games with over $2,000 in cash and prizes awarded monthly. 18+.

No alcohol.Theme dress encouraged.

All funds raised benefit RI Pride.

For reservations, email bingo@ aidscareoceanstate.org with name, number of people, and phone number.

Thu. 16 Sweet Little Variety Show, 8pm. Askew, 150 Chestnut Street, Providence.

A queer-produced potpourri of entertainment performed monthly on second Thursdays with host Eva Destruction. $7 to pay the artists. For info, facebook. com/sweetlittlevarietyshow and sweetlittlevarietyshow.com.

Fri. 17 SAGE LGBT Café, noon2pm. Church of the Transfiguration, 1665 Broad Street, Cranston. A delicious, low-cost lunch in a gayfriendly setting on third Fridays sponsored by Meals on Wheels, the Department of Elderly Affairs, and SAGE-RI. $3 donation suggested for LGBT people 60+ and people with disabilities; $6 donation suggested for all others. Reservations required.

Diane at 351-6700 x105.

Sat. 18 Trans Health Conference, 7:30am-5pm. Rhode Island College, Roberts Auditorium, 600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Providence.

TGI Network of RI and Rhode Island College's School of Social Work present this popular annual conference with community and provider tracks available.

For information and registration: Eventbrite.com.

Sat. 18 Womxn's Night: May-be You’ll Meet Someone Queer Party, 8pm-midnight.Askew, 150 Chestnut Street, Providence. A cabaret and club night for womxn featuring queer performance. Partners, friends, and allies welcome. 21+. $10 cover. For more info, facebook. com/WomxnsNight.

Sun. 19 Surge Tea Dance, 4-9pm.

Rooftop at the Providence G, 100 Dorrance Street, Providence.

Featuring DJ Jake, host Ninny

Nothin, and 50/50 raffle to benefit Options Magazine.

Sun. 19 Interweave potluck and programming, 5:30pm. Parish Hall of Channing Memorial Church, 135 Pelham Street, Newport. All welcome. Bring a dish to share.

Interweave is Channing's group for LGBTQ people and allies. For more information, contact Rex at interweave@channingmemorial. org.

Fri. 31-Sun. 2 Newport Pride Weekend. Friday: flag raising, 4:30pm; beach yoga, 6pm. Saturday: schooner ride, 4pm; party 8pm12am. Sunday: bike ride, 10am; festival 11am-4pm. For more info, newportout.com.

May 2 & 16 Drag Bingo

May 5 Drag Brunch

SAVE THE DATE: Sat. June 1 - AIDS Run/Walk for Life Sat. June 1 - RI Women’s Association Dance Sat. June 15 - RI PrideFest & Parade Regularly Scheduled Support Groups: ACOS (HIV/AIDS): youth,Tue. 4pm/gay males, Wed. 1:30pm Grief: Usually 3rd Wed. 3:30pm LGBT Alcoholics Anonymous: Tue. 7pm PFLAG (parents, friends, allies): Providence, Attleboro, Newport TGI Network (trans,partner, and non-binary groups): 1st & 3rd Tue. 7pm/Sat. 1pm

TransFamily New England: 2nd Mon. 6:30pm YPI (youth): Way Out,Thu. 4pm/Gender Spectrum,Tue. 4pm/youth 13 and under:Thu. 5pm See Resources on page 28 for complete information

May 18 Trans Health Conference

May 18 Womxn’s Night

May 31 Newport Pride Weekend

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NEWS BRIEFS:

by Myra Shays

RI Cuts HIV/AIDS Funding

In January, the State Office of Health & Human Services unexpectedly told AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS) that over $1 million would be cut this year from the grants the state provides.

These funds enable ACOS to provide housing, case management, and medical care for people with or at risk for HIV/ AIDS. The loss of about $842,000 went into effect immediately, with an additional $219,000 cut to come in July.

Program Manager Jill Sabatine said two of six staff positions must be eliminated, and a full-timer has been reduced to part-time. Only 38 housing units now remain of the 65 that were in the COEXIST program. Sunrise House, the state's only licensed assisted living facility for this population, is also at risk.

Said Sabatine, "These are people living among us. It's in everybody's interest for people with HIV to have access to the best medical care."

LGBTQ Vets May Benefit from Proposed RI Law

A retired U.S. Naval officer, who is now a representative to the RI General Assembly, introduced a bill on March 14 that would benefit some gay military veterans. Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson (D-Warwick) introduced H-5443, “An Act Relating to

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Options | April/May 2019

Military Affairs and Defense – Veterans' Benefits," to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. This bill would permit the state to give benefits and housing and employment preferences to former service members who received "less than honorable" discharges based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Rep. Arthur Corvese

Same-sex Marriage Discrimination Persists at RI State House Story and photo by Steve Ahlquist, UpriseRI

On Tuesday, March 5, Rhode Island State Representative Robert Craven (D-North Kingstown) rose to recommend passage of a routine solemnization of marriage bill that would allow Daniel Baker to officiate the marriage of Christy Caroline Baker and Amber Lynn Stewart. Sixtysix representatives voted in favor of the legislation. Four representatives – Samuel Azzinaro (D-Westerly), Arthur Corvese (D-North Providence), Robert Phillips (D-Woonsocket) and Sherry Roberts (R-Coventry) – voted against the bill… because two women wanted to be married.

Since the passage of marriage equality in Rhode Island, certain General Assembly members have continued to vote against same-sex marriages, both in committees and during floor votes.

During a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee earlier this year, to possibly reform this practice, Ange Storm-Weber testified that she would not seek a solemnization of marriage from the General Assembly. “One

reason is that the current practice of separating the gay solemnizations from the straight ones is degrading. And like any bride in the world, I just want my wedding to be perfect – not separate but equal, because separate is never really equal.”

Methodists Continue Ban on Gay Ministers

At a closely-watched meeting on February 26, the governing body of the United Methodist Church, one of the largest denominations in the country, voted to continue its ban on same-gender marriages and on LGBT ministers. The vote reflected the growing clout of Methodists from outside the United States. The ban was backed by members from Africa, plus American evangelicals. About 30 percent of the church's members are from African nations, which typically have conservative views; in many of them, homosexuality is a crime.

Soon after the vote, protests erupted in the arena, and spontaneous hymn-singing. Methodism has been a major force in American religious life since before the Revolutionary War. It has split about a dozen times, mostly over slavery and race. Now some leaders think there may be another split in the offing, this time to recognize that six in ten American Methodists believe homosexuality should be accepted, and that a large number of Methodist churches already have LGBT pastors and/or perform same-sex weddings.

The deans of two major Methodist seminaries worried that the bans will dissuade young Americans, who increasingly support gay rights, from going into ministry with the church.

U.S. Envoy Leads Bid for Gay & Transgender Rights

The American ambassador to Germany plans to lead what he calls a new and "specific push" to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide, according to The NY Times.

Ambassador Richard Grenell, the most prominent openly gay diplomat in the current administration, invited about a dozen European gay and trans activists to dinner in late February to discuss the effort. Some of the guests thanked him on social media, but the U.S. State Department raised questions about the official status of the plan, saying it seems to be simply a continuation of a long-standing American policy.

In an interview with NBC News, Grenell said, "This is about 71 countries, including Iran," and that each country would need a different strategy. He also said he had spoken to several senators (without naming them) supportive of using American foreign aid as leverage. Several European LGBTrights groups learned about the "push" only by reading news reports; they had not been consulted nor invited. Five years ago, The U.N. Human Rights Council passed a resolution calling LGBT rights human rights.

Two Proposed Laws Would Benefit RI LGBTQ Parents

RI Rep. Carol McEntee (D-South Kingstown) introduced two bills to the General Assembly in March that would smooth the path to parenthood for gays and lesbians.

One, the Rhode Island Parentage Act, provides for these legal paths: birth, adoption, assisted reproduction, acknowledgment, adjudication, genetics, surrogacy, de facto parentage, and presumptions. It is based on the nationwide Uniform Parentage Act of 2017, a model law that advises all states to ensure that their parentage statutes apply equally to LGBTQ families.

The RI Confirmatory Adoption Act would streamline the process for co-parent adoptions by LGBTQ couples, eliminating the home study, the six-month waiting period, and other requirements that are not appropriate in these circumstances. The current slow, hard-to-navigate system creates expensive barriers and delays for families securing their children.

Check out RI’s newest comprehensive facility offering dog daycare, boarding, and grooming.

Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act

On February 14, Michigan Representative Andy Levin (D-MI) introduced to Congress the “Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act,” also being dubbed the "Valentine's Day Bill."

The act seeks to amend the language in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make it more inclusive to everyone who pays taxes. Levin is calling to amend clauses such as "husband or wife who file” to “married individuals who file," and scratching “either the husband or wife” for “either spouse.”

Ultimately the goal is to remove gender-based language from the code because it currently inaccurately represents a part of the population filing taxes. It is important to note that Congress, not the IRS, writes the laws that become the official tax code.

10,000 sq.ft. of interior play space and 5,000 sq.ft. of exterior play space.

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A place like home: safe, clean, & fun!

Mention this ad and get 10% off your first stay.

245 Esten Avenue, Pawtucket 401-722-TOTO - www.friendsoftoto.com

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Newport Pride Cruise 2018, by Jen Bonin

DISCOVER

by Sean O’Connor

QUEER NEWPORT It’s not a widely used emblem, but the symbols used on the flag of the city of Newport are worth talking about. They include a depiction of Newport Tower in Touro Park and most notably the Latin phrase “Amor Vincet Omnia,” which translates to “Love Conquers All.” I’ve been really interested in the emblem. Entire books exist on how it came to appear on our city flag, but I’m most interested in what that phrase means today, and how it is a sentiment that we can bring forward in the way we build our community.

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Options | April/May 2019

I grew up in Tiverton, not far from Newport. The Newport Children’s Theater was my refuge in middle school, where I could perform and be with other queer kids.

Newport had a special place in my heart and I was drawn to its beauty, but I reached a point within my own development where I had to get out. It was integral to my growth and journey towards self acceptance. But over a span of 15 or so years, Newport kept knocking on my heart’s door. So when my fiancé and I spent time here in August 2017, we decided to call it home.We married.We

got involved with NewportOUT, whose mission is to promote the Newport area to LGBTQ visitors. We work to make our city welcoming, safe, and accessible to LGBTQ residents and visitors from near and far. We work to build community and produce events.

Last year, we established Newport’s first ever Pride weekend and, based on the feedback we got, it was a great success and long overdue. We partnered with the nonprofit Bike Newport, and organized a bike parade, held a festival at the aptly named

NewportOUT organizers Sean O'Connor and Daniel Cano Restrepo at Newport’s Daffodil Days festival

Equality Park, and hosted a drag brunch with Providence’s Trailer Park Girls. We brought 45 beautiful souls sailing on one of Newport’s impressive wooden schooners.

There was more, and it was a lot for our first go, but we’re ready to do it all again in 2019 (May 31-June 2).

Newport has always been the oceanside sister of Providence, with a decidedly less queer and more buttoned-up vibe, with a bit of a drunken sailor reputation during peak tourist season. People often arrive and wonder, “Where are the gay people?!” Mostly everyone can appreciate Newport’s natural and architectural beauty, enticing folk and jazz festivals, beautiful boats and beaches (on par with South County and the Cape), oyster and seafood festivals, breweries, biking, bird sanctuaries, and nature walks. If you dig a little deeper, you can find LGBT-specific activities within mainstream Newport hot spots. NewportFILM's free outdoor documentary series is always a nice time to connect with other LGBTQ community members. Events put on by Bike Newport draw a great queer crowd. The Jane Pickens Theater is a local gem, and one

City of Newport flag, courtesy Newport Flag Company

of RI's only two remaining independent art house theaters; it's fabulous for a date night.

While it’s true that the last bar specifically geared toward LGBTQ clientele closed its doors in 2006, NewportOUT’s energetic team is filling that void by persistently creating and highlighting new events for the LGBTQ community, so keep your eyes peeled.

For a small city of 25,000, we have a lot of LGBTQ people in town, and a diverse population in terms of age and gender. We have many gay and lesbian couples and singles in their retirement years. We have younger LGBTQ families. We have queer people here for multi-year assignments with the Navy. It is only fitting that Newport recently elected its first out lesbian city council member, who also happens to be a person of color. Her name is Angela McCalla.

She lives in town with her wife and son and represents Newport’s 1st Ward. It’s thrilling to have an LGBTQ-identifying person on the council, especially when she is flanked by allied colleagues, including Newport’s new mayor, Jamie Bova. It’s exciting to imagine what we can create as a community over the coming months and years, like an LGBTQ equity coalition that our Newport Health Equity Zone organization is spearheading, led by your very own Options copy editor and contributor Rex LeBeau.

Nobody knows for sure how many LGBTQ weddings we’ve had in Newport in the last couple of years. It turns out, it’s a tricky number to pin down. But if you just browse through the NewportOUT Instagram, you’ll see many heart-warming ceremonies and receptions involving LGBTQ people. There are big, elaborate weddings at Newport’s Gilded Age mansions; weddings at Newport Vineyards and the International Tennis Hall of Fame; on boats and on docks; or small, intimate weddings like mine in a wildlife refuge in nearby Middletown.

Our organizational vision for Newport is one in which love trumps hate and people feel truly safe and welcome to be themselves, in all the beautiful ways that a human can express oneself. In many ways, this is right in line with the founding values of our city and state.

Rhode Island was founded on the principle of religious freedom. Founder RogerWilliams,expelled from Massachusetts Bay Colony for his non-conformance with

rigid Puritanical ways, believed in freedom of religious expression, and generally thought that people should live freely according to their own beliefs. However, Rhode Island’s colonial founding is rife with human flaw and oppression. Newport in particular played a major role in the transatlantic slave trade.Yet, as wantonly contemptible as the early white residents were toward people of color, the value of religious freedom persisted and spread. In 1658, Jews facing persecution in Portugal and Spain were welcomed here.

Quakers came, too, escaping oppression and disdain. (Their Great Friends Meeting House, built in 1699, is the oldest surviving house of worship in the state.) African Americans worshiped freely in integrated as well as independent churches. And this separation of church and state became part of our country’s Constitution.

We at NewportOUT take inspiration from this founding value and reinterpret it more broadly for today as: the freedom to express yourself openly and fearlessly, whether that expresses who you love, your gender, your style, or your culture.

We aim to bring this value to the forefront and see what more we can do to embody it as a community. We believe that love conquers all, and while we’re happy and appreciative that many LGBTQ couples choose Newport in which to wed, we hope all queer Rhode Islanders and visitors will enjoy this place that we are so fond of, while feeling empowered and safe to be completely themselves. In celebration of that, please join us in Newport May 31-June 2 as we kick off Pride month. Find out more at NewportOut.com/events, Facebook. com/newportout, and Instagram @nptout.

RI travel blogger Chantel Loura from Voyaging Vagabond and girlfriend Stephanie at Rough Point mansion

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13

Get Out There!:

by Charlotte Abotsi

A Springtime Guide to New Adventures in New Places The ground is thawing, the sun is shining longer, and the breeze is finally not bitter.

These are the welcome signs that warmer days are ahead of us. But with winter anguish comes post-winter anguish, which mainly occurs when we can’t figure out exactly how those days basking in the sun will actually be spent.

As Rhode Islanders, we know that nowhere beats New England in the springtime. Spring weather calls for exploration, so why not treat yourself to a new adventure? Whether you’re traveling with family, a partner, or even solo, here are some great regional spots to hit for a quick day-trip, weekend getaway, or spring vacation.

We’ll start this list with the premiere New England getaway spot for LGBTQ people…

PROVINCETOWN, MA

Provincetown, affectionately called "Ptown" by locals and visitors alike, sits at the tip of Cape Cod and has a vibrant queer community. So vibrant, in fact, it is often heralded as the perfect gay getaway.

Ptown’s queer roots go back to the early 20th century, when eccentric artists used to congregate together on the Cape. Today, thousands of queer people visit Ptown, eager for community, cruising, or both.

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THINGS TO DO IN PROVINCETOWN

Tis the season for early beaching! In Provincetown, locals start beaching as early as March. Ptown’s two major beaches are Race Point Beach and Herring Cove. The former is widely known as the straight beach and the latter is affectionately regarded as the gay beach. Race Point prides itself on its classic Cape Cod views and notable sand dunes. Tourists love Herring Cove for its warm waters and picturesque view of the the sunset. (Tip: For privacy, or just solitude, a remote section of the cove is the gay beach.)

For dining and drinks, there are numerous famed options. The Nor’East Beer Garden has been heralded as the best bar on the entire Cape. The garden blossoms with an extensive and everchanging collection of craft beers (like the Cape Cod Blonde), wines (Italian prosecco “Ruffino”), and cocktails (Arugula Mojito, anyone?). There’s food here too, made from fresh local ingredients, which pair well with drinks on the menu. If you would rather keep it homemade and embody a local tradition, head to Connie’s Bakery for baked goods made fresh, in-house. Connie’s is more than your average bakery: they offer a full breakfast and lunch menu featuring dishes like the Land & Sea salad. Be sure to order a Street Pie on your way out.Traveling with a group? Head to The Canteen, a hip eatery with a menu full of options for the

whole group. Try the “Crispy Cod” for that authentic New England seafood restaurant experience, or the “Falafel Plate” if seafood isn't your thing.

For a family-friendly activity, consider exploring Provincetown by sea. The Provincetown Harbor has charter tours that go from the harbor to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This could be the opportunity for a chance encounter with marine wildlife. Came to party? Go to the Atlantic House, Ptown’s (and arguably to some, the nation’s) first gay dance club.

A gem of Provincetown, Crown & Anchor is the town’s largest entertainment venue.

Complete with a waterfront nightclub and the Cabaret Room, Crown & Anchor never disappoints.

Find adventure exploring Ptown by bike.

Bring your own or rent from the numerous bike shops, like Ptown Bikes, Arnold’s Bikes, Gale Force Bikes, and Provincetown Bike Rentals. Bike along the notable town bike trails that traverse the 5.4 mile Province Lands path, which rewards you with shortcuts to the beaches and Bennett Pond for a cool-down.

Ptown’s artistic atmosphere is part of its history. Take a chill stroll down Commercial Street and visit the numerous art galleries.

Get to know the local and visiting artists and walk out with a new adornment for your living room.

Are you a woman heading out solo?

Too good to miss this spring is Ptown’s Single Women’s Weekend, May 17-19.

Single Women’s Weekend is, you guessed it, a weekend for women who love women, featuring events like speed dating, dune tours, and nightly dance parties. If you’re looking to build community in Ptown, attend the Womxn of Color Weekend, May 30 – June 2. The weekend is a four-day Pride to celebrate and strengthen LBTQIA women of color, non-binary people of color, gender fluid people of color, and allies.

your family to a show at the Ogunquit Playhouse for a special night of musical theater. Jersey Boys plays for a month starting May 15. What’s gayer and more wholesome than that?

If you came to party, Options has your back. Start on Maine Street, the gay epicenter of Ogunquit brims with options for everyone. Check out The Front Porch for a sleek, fine-dining experience featuring a modern piano bar. At The Old Village Inn, mingle and dine with locals while enjoying live entertainment. The town shuts down at 1am though, so make sure to head out early.

Seeking exploration and pretty views?

Looking for a good place for an Instagram pic? Or both? Go to the Nubble Lighthouse, because could you ever go to Maine without visiting a lighthouse? For another type of pretty view, catch a film at the famed Levitt Theatre, which has stood independently for almost 100 years.

OGUNQUIT, ME

FIRE ISLAND, NY

Belvedere Guest House

Who said Massachusetts had dibs on gay resort towns? Behold! Ogunquit is Maine’s sexiest response to Massachusetts’ Provincetown. Ogunquit is a four-mile town with sandy beaches and stunning sights of evergreens, cliffs, and sunrise at the Ogunquit Beach. The town is comprised of two sections: Perkins Cove, bustling with restaurants and shops; and the Village, where the gay-friendly bed & breakfast inns are, and of course, the parties.

Ogunquit boasts beautiful natural views, but it’s not in the middle of nowhere. Only 30 minutes from Portland and 90 minutes from Boston, the neighboring LGBTQ community treats Ogunquit as the perfect getaway.

THINGS TO DO IN OGUNQUIT

For a beautiful beach experience, head to Ogunquit Beach, complete with its own gay area.This sandy beach is ideal for picnics, sunset viewing, and night beaching. (Just be out by 11pm.) Nearby at Jackie’s Too, dine on fresh seafood like their “Fresh Broiled Haddock” or the “Pasta Primavera” while surrounded by unforgettable ocean views.

For a laid-back local meal, head to Bessie’s, a town staple, which is always busy with hungry locals and queer travelers.

Looking for classic seafood quick eats?

Barnacle Billy's is a town favorite.Two words: Lobstah. Roll. And for your sweet tooth, head to the famed Bread and Roses Bakery, because everyone deserves a good pie.

Ogunquit is great for families too! Treat

I know, I know. Popular to contrary belief, New York is not Rhode Island, therefore strictly not a “New England getaway” as mentioned earlier. But it goes without saying that a major destination for a queer vacation is the historic and unique Fire Island, which sits pretty off the south coast of Long Island, NY. Fire Island is unlike anywhere else. Going to the island is often described as a queer pilgrimage. Have you made the journey yet?

Fire Island’s most popular LGBTQ villages areThe Pines and Cherry Grove. Each village has its own distinct welcoming vibe.

The Pines is popular with gay professionals and party boys, while the Grove attracts a more diverse crowd, in all aspects. Both communities are joined by a strip of forest known as “the Meat Rack,” for the exact frisky reasons you are thinking. Both villages are full of outstanding views, decadent food, and a strong and supportive LGBTQ scene.

On Fire Island, visiting a state park is necessary to see the mesmerizing sights of the island. Hike the trails in the sunshine at the Sunken Forest State Park, discover the different varieties of plants and animal life at the National Shore. If you’re traveling as a family, the Robert Moses State Park is perfect for beach picnics. It also has a playground and pitch-and-putt golf for a fun afternoon for the whole family.

Fire Island has many notable restaurants to choose from. For elegant and upscale island dining, the Pines Bistro & Martini Bar is your place to go. If you prefer a meal outdoors, Island Breeze is for you. The Blue Whale is a Fire Island food destination you can’t miss. A casual spot with a eclectic menu, the restaurant is a frequent spot for parties, too, as it turns into a club at nighttime.

The club and bar options on Fire Island are endless. After restaurant hours, The Blue Whale opens up for its notable Low Tea, where it holds themed parties and serves cheap drinks. Other party spots are Ice Palace and the Pavillion. Ice Palace has been a famed Fire Island staple since the 1950s. Equally great for dancing and people watching, Ice Palace is endlessly popular.

Pavillion is a sleek party spot that hosts a variety of parties, featuring a host of famous DJs. Maybe you’ve already conquered Provincetown, Ogunquit, and Fire Island.

Fortunately there are plenty of LGBTQfriendly towns in our the region. Explore the lesbian mecca that is Northampton, the bumping nightclubs of Boston, or the general queer-friendliness of Portland, ME. Whether you stick with New England, or make the venture out to Long Island, explore out of your comfort zone and get out there!

Nubble Lighthouse

by Barbara McDevitt

THINGS TO DO ON FIRE ISLAND

It’s unlikely you’d want to stay on Fire Island for less than a day, so it is wise to plan ahead for a hotel. Stay at the Fire Island Hotel and Resort near Ocean Bay Park.This resort dates back to the 1900s and is a favorite among visitors to Fire Island. Complete with a pool and cafe, it’s perfect for iced coffees and sunbathing. If nudity is more your thing, Cherry Grove’s Belvedere Guest House is the only clothing-optional resort on the island. Exclusively for men, this guest house is large, and it boasts rooftop terraces and a deck by the ocean for mingling with other guests.

Charlotte Abotsi is Options Magazine’s intern and a senior at Rhode Island College where she serves as senior copy editor for The Anchor. She leads Providence Poetry Slam twice monthly at AS220.

www.optionsri.org

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When you could use a little face time with your health plan.

Introducing Your Blue Store.SM A place to talk local with a local team, in English or Spanish. A place where you can learn about your health plan options, take a fitness class, or even make a payment.

When you come to one of our three stores, you’ll also find a warm local welcome – just like at our network providers that proudly display our Safe Zone logo as LGBTQ-friendly offices.

It’s not what you’d expect from a health plan, but maybe you should. Visit bcbsri.com/yourbluestore

Look into our Safe Zone program to find a growing list of health providers who deliver safe, affirming, and inclusive care to the LGBTQ community.

Safe Zone Committed to providing a supportive environment for LGBTQ individuals.

Call (401) 459-2200 or just come by: Cowesett Corners 300 Quaker Lane Warwick

Highland Commons 71 Highland Avenue East Providence

Lincoln Mall 622 George Washington Hwy. Lincoln

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

7/18

HR-264723

by Ethan Huckel

On March 30, at this year’s Empowerment Breakfast in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, we were excited to present the annual Empowerment Awards to two deserving honorees. Mandy LeComte, a Burrillville school social worker, has committed herself to ensuring that the Burrillville school system is a safe and

affirming place for gender diverse youth.

Justice Gaines’ work as an outspoken advocate for justice and equality has been a beacon to the transgender community.

These honorees represent the ongoing fight for equity and access, the themes of our movement for decades, shaped by the tireless work of advocates.

We’re still grieving the loss of our good friend Belle Pellegrino, who passed away in December. While we honor the work being done to uplift our community today, it’s important to remember where that path began and the people who laid the groundwork for our current victories. As a plaintiff in the lawsuit that brought about Rhode Island’s first Pride March, Belle’s commitment helped advance the cause.

On May 18, the Rhode Island Trans Health Conference will provide education to extend the network of knowledgeable and affirming providers in Rhode Island as well as space for connection and community

building for our trans and gender diverse community.

On June 12, we will host our LGBTQ Interfaith Service in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riot and the five decades of activism it birthed. We will come together with our community for RI Pride to honor that legacy once more.

TGI Network of Rhode Island is the only statewide organization providing support, advocacy and education for the transgender, gender-variant, and intersex community (aka trans community). Incorporated in 2011, our mission is to be a resource for TGI people navigating their lives and the medical and legal systems; to serve as a resource for professionals working with TGI people; and to serve as a liaison between the TGI and LGB communities and the community at large.

Visit us at tginetwork.org and facebook.com/ TGINetwork.

April 5th • 7PM (doors open 6:30) • RISD Auditorium reserve your tickets @ tinyurl.com/RISDDRAG2019 www.optionsri.org

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OUT ON THE TOWN

Love Yourself 2.0 Dark Lady, Providence, February 10 Photos by Jen Bonin

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Chris Harris Tribute Fund Fundraiser EGO Providence, March 13 Photos by James Turner

www.optionsri.org

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M S I L A T N E M N ENVIRO OUTH

by Tiffani Carcieri, YPI Staff Member

INSPIRES Y

T S U L R E D WAN

Youth Pride, Inc.’s (YPI) craving for wanderlust has skyrocketed since our partnership with The Sierra Club began last summer. The Sierra Club is a nationwide environmental organization that aims to celebrate and protect the environment. YPI was approached by the Rhode Island Chapter for the opportunity to partner with them on a new initiative, Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO).

ICO is a sub-chapter that works exclusively on providing outdoor experiences and leadership opportunities to underserved and marginalized youth in RI. The goal is to establish relationships with agencies and organizations that provide services to these youth populations and bring them closer to nature. YPI is one of the first organizations to participate in the new chapter's activities and we’ve been tremendously successful in getting our youth out and traveling.

Kyle McCurdy, Outings Chair for the RI Chapter, has planned and facilitated monthly trips for our youth that are both physically and mentally engaging. Our inaugural outing was a trip to Narrow

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River Kayaks in Narragansett where youth, while in tandem kayaks, learned about the surrounding marshland ecosystem.

Our follow-up trip was to Barden Family Orchard in North Scituate where youth picked Pink Lady, Granny Smith, and Fuji apples to bring back to the center to be baked into pies. More locally, the Sierra Club rented part of the Providence Ice Skating Rink for a relaxing skate complimented by background holiday music. Most recently, Kyle took YPI staff and youth to Mystic Aquarium, where everyone especially enjoyed the 4D interactive film on sharks and the chance to feed anchovies to various aquatic inhabitants. We look forward to furthering our partnership with The Sierra Club and are excited at the endless possibilities for future outings.

Youth Pride Inc. provides support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQQ young people ages 9-23. Our Drop-in Center is at 473 Westminster Street, Providence, RI. Visit www.youthprideri.org, email info@ youthprideri.org, or call (401) 421-5626 for more info.

I am

Racist!

by Yael Bat-Shimon, LMHC

These days in America, we are bombarded daily with images, words, and attitudes, sometimes coded and sometimes blatant, that undermine and steal from Black folks and other people of color their dignity, humanity, safety, and even their lives. It is easy for me as a white woman to think that this is something new – the resurgence of racism and white supremacy that offends and disgusts me – and therefore, to express my outrage. I am outraged. I am sickened. But it is not new. It’s only since the election of our current president that I have woken up to how deeply wounded our nation is by racism and its traumatic legacy in our collective psyche and soul.

It makes me question why it took me so long to see. And by extension, what is going on with so many of us white folks that we collectively go to sleep in the face of the suffering of people of color?

Having Obama as president was soothing to many of us liberal white folks because we didn’t have to confront our own whiteness. We could live under a veneer of equality and equity—after all, a Black man was leader of the free world. This is not to undermine the extraordinary progress we have made, because we have made progress. LGBTQ people experienced a rapid series of legislative victories that affirmed our rights, and brought us closer to full equality than ever before. Same-sex marriage was passed under Obama’s administration. So when President Trump was elected, many of us white folks were shocked and outraged. It was like a slap in

the face. How was it possible? Who were the people who voted for him? What had happened to our country? When did white supremacy become so acceptable?

These questions show how naïve I was and how much we lived within the walls of our white privilege, blind to the daily assaults against people of color, committing them ourselves out of our ignorance. Although we may not have voted for Trump, those who supported him were and still are us: white folks. And yet we don’t like what we see in the Oval Office. We don’t like hearing the blatant racism and assaults against people of color in the news, in our work spaces, our communities, and even in our own families. We don’t like feeling divided on a daily basis. It’s painful and it’s humiliating.

Yet, we still cannot see that this daily horror, a horror that we are all a part of is the effect of America’s four-hundred year-old sin: institutional racism and the economic disenfranchisement of people of color.

I don’t want to see it either, but we have to. We white folks have to look because we pay a price, and the price we pay for not examining our own racist attitudes and beliefs is that we remain hostage to it. The price we pay is that we live defensively guilty, cut off from love, divided, divested of our own wholeness and humanity – the best of what we have to offer the world, while passively or actively robbing others of their dignity and humanity. As Booker T. Washington said, “You can't hold a man down without staying down with him.”

Looking into the face of my own racist heart has been gut-wrenching, and it’s been transformational. What helped me was to be able to both experience and understand the horrors of racism, and to face my own privilege and personal complicity in that horror. When we do that with an open heart, the pain we experience becomes bearable, and we become free. So next time we find ourselves saying something racially hurtful, we will have learned something – the consequences of our own behavior.

Then we can change.

We also have to recognize how much our white privilege blinds us to our own ignorance; that it’s not enough to continue to distract and numb ourselves, and say things like, “I didn’t mean it like that,” or otherwise deny or minimize our racist behavior. That is dangerous! The question is not whether we are racist.

Of course, we are racist. The question is what are we going to do to be part of dismantling this destructive system of whiteness and white privilege. I believe it is time for us white folks to wake up, step up, speak up, listen, be brave, and stand with our kin of color so that we may all begin the long journey of healing – together.

Yael Bat-Shimon, MA, LMHC, is a Certified Imago Relationship therapists in private practice in RI. They offer weekend workshops for couples, relationship training for single individuals, and couples therapy.

Write to Yael and Paula with your questions at yaelandpaula@optionsri.org.

www.optionsri.org

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by Mikel Wadewitz, AIDS Project RI Ryan White Director

STRIDING FOR PRIDE & SAVING HIV SERVICES

by Mikel Wadewitz, AIDS Project Rhode Island Ryan White Director

In light of major budget cuts across the state, the upcoming AIDS Run/ Walk for Life is more vital than ever.

By now, many in our community have heard about the major budget cuts affecting HIV/AIDS service programs and organizations across Rhode Island. These devastating decreases in state funding have made us who work in this field have to do the unthinkable—scale back or cut certain services we provide to people living with HIV/AIDS. This is, of course, not something we want to happen. And as we prepare for our upcoming annual AIDS Run/Walk for Life fundraiser on Saturday, June 1 at Roger Williams Park, we are issuing an urgent call to the community to help us ensure we can continue providing the services on which so many of our clients living with HIV depend, such as our food pantry and hot meal program, emergency financial assistance, housing support, mental health and substance use services, and case management services, to name just a few.

While the current budget picture looks grim, we chose a hopeful theme for this year’s Run/Walk for Life: “Stride for Pride & Show Your True Colors.” The 2019 event unofficially kicks off Pride

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Month and takes place just two weeks before Rhode Island Pride. In addition, June marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which ushered in the modern-day fight for LGBTQ equal rights. In that spirit, we encourage you to run or walk in your most colorful, vibrant costumes, the most eye-catching of which we will award a special prize.

Nearly 2,700 people are currently living with HIV/AIDS in the Ocean State, and HIV continues to disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities, especially young gay and bisexual men. On a brighter note, many tools are helping further the goal of zero new HIV infections. “Undetectable = Untransmittable,” for example, is a campaign teaching the public that a person with HIV who is on medication and achieves an undetectable viral level cannot pass HIV to a partner. In addition, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is up to 99% effective in preventing transmission in HIV-negative individuals. We will also be offering free HIV testing at the Run/ Walk, and will be joined by many other organizations who will have tables set up to provide attendees information about the important work they do. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please

contact me, Mikel Wadewitz, at 6596038.

After all, this is what community is about: unity.Together, we are stronger and can support those vulnerable individuals who need a helping hand. Thank you in advance for standing with us to make sure we can continue providing these critically important services.

The AIDS Run/Walk for Life takes place Saturday, June 1 (8am registration/9am kick-off), at the Roger Williams Park Carousel Village. Runners receive a T-shirt and medal; walkers raising $25+ receive an event T-shirt.

Register at www.aidswalkforlife.org.

APRI is dedicated to providing a compassionate, nonjudgmental, and collaborative response to the needs of people living with, affected by, and at risk for acquiring HIV. APRI currently provides the largest number of support services in the state for individuals living with HIV/ AIDS, as well as comprehensive prevention and testing services. APRI is a division of Family Service of Rhode Island. For more information, please visit aidsprojectri.org, facebook.com/AIDSProjectRhodeIsland, or twitter.com/AIDSProjectRI.

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NEWS FROM SAGE/RI

by Cathy Gorman, SAGE-RI Steering Committee

SAGE-RI is committed to expanding resources for training to ensure LGBT cultural competence on the part of RI health care and social service providers. This has involved a series of meetings to discuss initiatives currently underway involving SAGECare training, a program of SAGE/USA. It has also meant a commitment on the part of our steering committee to increase its own understanding of key challenges facing LGBT elders. Fortunately, resources provided by the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging offer a wealth of information from current surveys and reports: www.lgbtagingcenter. org. As we plan for the future, SAGE-RI invites anyone interested in LGBT elder cultural competence training, and especially those who are currently engaged in training on LGBT issues, to email sageriinfo@ gmail.com for information on how to be more involved.

Representatives from SAGE-RI attended the annual SAGENet Conference in Washington DC held March 12-14. The conference, funded by SAGE/USA, brings affiliate members together to share their experiences and to learn about innovative programs, current research, and resources. While there, we participated in the National Day of Advocacy and met with RI Senator Jack Reed, which provided an opportunity to advocate for passage of the Equality Act (see photo). This federal legislation would provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.

A SAGE-RI representative attended the 8th Annual LGBT Elders in an Ever Changing World conference at Salem State University in Massachusetts. This conference addressed a range of topics from innovative housing models to policies related to aging under the Trump-Pence administration. It was especially valuable to hear from the experienced trainers at the National LGBT Health Education Center, based at Boston’s Fenway Institute.

SAGE-RI is happy to be working with the Rhode Island Health Care Association on a conference scheduled for mid-May entitled Caring for LGBT Elders in Long Term Care Settings.This effort to relay critical information will reach a substantial number of Rhode Island’s skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities.

On March 5, SAGE-RI co-sponsored the Senior Agenda Coalition Legislative Forum.This annual event affords RI seniors an opportunity to present legislative leaders with a list of their priorities, and an effective strategy for achieving the goal of an “age-friendly RI.” SAGE-RI is looking forward to the April 27 Imperial Court Coronation. The Imperial Court plays a vital role fundraising for local LGBT organizations and this year SAGE-RI is a beneficiary! We invite all of our members and friends to join us for what promises to be a fabulous evening (info at icriprov.org).

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The LGBT Café sponsored by SAGE-RI, in cooperation with Meals on Wheels of RI and the Division of Elderly Affairs, is held on the third Friday of each month and offers a nutritious meal for a donation of only $3 for those age 60+ ($6 for those under 60).

Participation simply requires a reservation with Diane at 325-6700 x105 (a week in advance is encouraged). Spring cafes are April 19, May 17, and June 14.The location is the Church of the Transfiguration (1665 Broad Street, Cranston), a pleasant, accessible setting on a bus line and with ample parking.This program is supported by the Older Americans Act, and is one of the few examples of an elder service program directed toward the LGBT community. SAGE-RI welcomes new participants and volunteers to help with setting up, serving, and brainstorming program ideas. This informal, friendly gathering is a great way to strengthen connections. Additionally, our semi-regular intergenerational dinner event, SAGE-Table, will be held in May. SAGETables promote understanding and solidarity among our diverse community. Stay tuned for further details.

SAGE-RI steering committee meetings are held the first Saturday of each month at 11am at the Church of the Transfiguration. Although these are business meetings, often with a busy agenda, all members and friends are welcome to attend.

SAGE-RI (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) addresses issues of concern to LGBT elders and is an organization of diverse people of all ages. For information on programs or to join SAGE-RI, drop us a line at sageriinfo@gmail.com; find us on Facebook as SAGE-Rhode Island; or send correspondence to our address SAGE-RI c/o Church of the Transfiguration, 1665 Broad Street, Cranston, RI 02905.

Life can be overwhelming, especially if you’re struggling with depression or anxiety. That’s why Butler Hospital created True Self - a new outpatient program for young people from 18 to 26 years old in the LGBTQ+ communities. A safe place where you’ll be with other young adults taking part in group and individual therapy sessions—all in an inclusive and accepting environment.

You are not alone. Find out more at butler.org/trueself or call 1 (844) 401-0111.

345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI Butler is the major affiliated teaching hospital for psychiatry and behavioral health of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

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TRANS

COMMUNITY CHALLENGES

by Guillaume Bagal, Lead Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island

On March 31, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) observed International Transgender Day of Visibility as a time to celebrate the transgender community around the globe and the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also raising awareness of the discrimination and violence trans people still face.

DID YOU KNOW?: • 30 percent of transgender people report being fired, denied a promotion or experiencing some other form of mistreatment in the workplace due to their gender identity or expression.

• 31 percent of transgender people report that a healthcare provider has refused to treat them because they are transgender.

• Transgender people who were out or perceived to be transgender in school (K-12) report being verbally harassed (54 percent), physically attacked (24 percent) and sexually assaulted (13 percent).

• 19 percent of transgender people who were once a part of a spiritual

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Options | April/May 2019

or religious community left because of rejection.

These statistics reinforce BCBSRI’s commitment to partnering with local LGBTQ support groups, and promoting events, in an effort to create safe spaces for all. One such group, the TGI Network of Rhode Island, established in 2011, is an organization providing support and advocacy for the TGI community (transgender, gender diverse, and intersex) in Rhode Island and surrounding areas, and is a frequent contributor to Options Magazine. Their mission is to serve the needs of this community through support, advocacy, and education. For the past two years, BCBSRI has supported the work of the TGI Network as a sponsor of the group’s Empowerment Breakfasts.

In addition, BCBSRI has committed to provide charitable funding to support the Transgender Inclusion Institute’s RI Trans Health Conference, a comprehensive, dynamic learning opportunity for local professionals, educators, and clergy.

BCBSRI will lead a session at this conference on navigating trans-affirming healthcare benefits. The conference will be held on the Rhode Island College

campus on May 18. (See Eventbrite. com for info.) The Transgender Inclusion Institute strives to: • Increase understanding of transgender identities and gender diversity; • Build cultural competency so you can better engage with transgender clients, customers, and students; and • Expand workplace inclusion for transgender employees.

As we continue to support our friends, neighbors, and colleagues in the LGBTQ community, we encourage others to celebrate diversity, get involved and offer any support they can as we work toward total understanding, acceptance and inclusion.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is the state’s leading health insurer and covers more than 450,000 members.

The company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

For more information, visit www.bcbsri.com, follow us on Twitter @BCBSRI, and like us on Facebook at fb.com/bcbsri. To learn more about Safe Zones, visit bcbsri.com/ safezones.

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RESOURCES Options originated in 1982 as the offical newsletter of the Rhode Island Gay Task Force. Editor Jos Fayette explained, “The RIGTF wants to make the homosexual community aware of their options as gay men and women in Rhode Island. And it’s only because we live, work, love, and play in this state that there are such a large number of options available to all of us.” Options has always, and will continue to print LGBTQ resources so that

you can, as Fayette went on to say, “Exercise your OPTIONS today to make positive changes in your life tomorrow.”

Help us help you! Email info@optionsri.org if you come across a resource listing that needs updating. New, updated, and featured resources are highlighted. Phone numbers are in the 401 area code and addresses are in Rhode Island, unless otherwise indicated.

ADDICTION SUPPORT GROUPS

AIDS Quilt RI: Displays local AIDS memorial quilt panels, panelmaking programs including Anna’s Workshop, HIV/AIDS education for young people. PO Box 2591, Newport. 434-4880. admin@ aidsquiltri.org. www.aidsquiltri.org.

Brown University AIDS Program: Clinical trials, public policy, research, lectures, conferences, patient and community education. 121 South Main Street, Second Floor, Providence. 863-6790. brunap@ brown.edu. brown.edu/Departments/BRUNAP. Community Care Alliance: Case management, support, personal care items for people living with HIV/AIDS in northern Rhode Island.

245 Main Street, Woonsocket. 235-6092. lcohen@famresri.org.

Community Care Alliance-Agape Providence: Transitional housing, drop-in center, testing, intensive case management, counseling, peer support for people living with HIV/AIDS. 292 Elmwood Ave, Providence. 572-3800. www.communitycareri.org.

Comprehensive Community Action Programs: Medical, mental health, dental, social services, LGBT outreach. 311 Doric Avenue, Cranston. Also Coventry, Pawtucket, and Warwick. 467-9610.

Gabriel Care, LLC: Nursing/social worker case management and financial compensation for assistance and supervision for those living with HIV. MassHealth funded for MA residents. 376 South Main Street, Fall River, MA. Contact Jenn, (508) 678-1002.

HIV Antibody Testing: Anonymous. Free or sliding scale. RI Department of Health. Providence, Newport and other locations.

222-2320.

Home and Hospice Care of RI: Medical care management for HIV/AIDS. 24hr nursing staff for treatment. 1085 North Main Street, Providence. Referrals: 782-0725. Bereavement groups: Contact John Charette, 727-7079. Main Office: 415-4200 or toll-free 800-3386555. www.hhcri.org.

House of Compassion: HIV/AIDS housing. 2510 Mendon Road, Cumberland. 658-3992.

LGBT Caregiver Online Support Group: For LGBTs caring for someone with chronic health problems. www.caregiver.org.

Luis E. Martinez House CHS, Inc.: Supportive, permanent housing for 10 adults living with HIV/AIDS and/or substance abuse.

New Bedford, MA. Contact Joe Taylor. (508) 984-7514.

Miriam Hospital HIV & STD Testing Clinic: For gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, Hep C, and trichomoniasis. Linking to

AA Brothers in Sobriety: Gay men's open meeting -- all welcome. Saturdays 7:30 -- 8:30 pm. 296 Angell St., Providence, basement, 2nd door on side street (Diman Place). 419-0051 AddictionCenter.com: Web information guide for addiction resources nationwide. Or call 1-877-830-2915.

Alcohol/Drug Helpline: RI Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence. 24hr. (866) 252-3784.

RI LGBT AA Group: Tuesdays 7 -- 8 pm Bell Street Chapel, 5 Bell St., Providence, 273-5678. All are welcome.

Seven Hills Behavioral Health: Addiction support services and Narcan. 1173 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA, 508999-4159. 310 S. Main Street, Fall River, MA, 508-235-1012.

Leonard Amaral, Program Manager, lamaral@sevenhills.org.

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous: 12-step program. Fridays at 7pm. Providence Presbyterian Church, 500 Hope Street, Providence, side entrance, downstairs to the left. Gay, but all are welcome.

YPTQ (Young People, Queer, Trans) meeting of AA: Wednesdays 7:30 -- 8:30pm, “common room” of Brown University Alumni Hall, 194 Meeting Street, Providence.

AIDS/HEALTH RESOURCES Afia Center for Health & Wholeness: Meals, food pantry, HIV support groups, recreational and social activities. Sponsored by AIDS Project RI. Free to clients.. Wed. and Thurs. 12 -- 3pm. 134 Mathewson St., Providence. Info: Kim Clohecy, 831-5522, Ext. 2299.

AIDS Action Hotline: MA only. (800) 235-2331. www.aac.org.

AIDS Care Ocean State: Confidential HIV & Hep C testing, safersex supplies, case management, emergency funds, clinical services, assisted and supportive housing for people living with HIV/AIDS, street outreach, ENCORE, HIV+ support groups. Speaker’s Bureau, 18 Parkis Ave., Providence. 521-3603 (call 781-0665 to schedule an appointment). www.aidscareos.org.

AIDS Project RI: Division of Family Service of RI. Case management, buddies, COBRA and dental services, emergency fund, mental health counseling, nutrition support, assessment and referral, wellness programs, advocacy, strength training, prevention education, HIV testing.

9 Pleasant Street, Providence. 831-5522 www.aidsprojectri.org.

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physicians for PrEP. Wed. -- Fri. 12:30 -- 3:30. 1125 N. Main St., Providence (rear of building). 793-4715.

Partners in Learning About AIDS: Outreach to minorities, women of color, and LGBT community at clubs and other locations.

North Providence office provides free condoms and information about STIs and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. 1006 Charles Street, Suite 5, North Providence. 484-7523. info@plaidsproject.org. www.plaidsproject.org.

Planned Parenthood of So. New England: Confidential, low-cost, same-day & walk-in STD and HIV testing. Commonsense approach to health. 175 Broad Street. 800-230-7526. www.ppsne.org.

Prima CARE Transgender Clinic: Fall River, MA. Counseling, hormonal reassignment, referrals for surgery. Kishore Lakshman, MD. 508-235-0481.

Seven Hills HIV Prevention & Screening: TWIST program, HIV and STI prevention and testing, partner care. 1173 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA, 508-999-4159. 310 S. Main Street, Fall River, MA, 508-235-1012. Contact Leonard Amaral, lamaral@sevenhills.org.

SSTAR (Stanley Street Treatment & Resources): Counseling, drug treatment, detox, domestic violence programs, free and confidential HIV, HEP C, and STD testing, education, case management and support. MA and RI locations. 386 Stanley Street, Fall River, MA. (508) 679-5222. Project Aware (HIV/HCV); (508) 324-3561. Family Healthcare Center; (508) 675-1054. www.sstar.org.

Steppingstone, Inc.: Welcome Home Medical case management program. One-on-one peer support in Somerset to Wareham area. HIV support groups available. Free and open to any HIV+ person 18+. 5 Dover Street, New Bedford, MA. (508) 984-7514. www.steppingstoneinc.org.

Tranquil Mind & Wellness: Counseling, alternative healing, yoga, Pilates, meditation.109 Rhode Island Road, Lakeville, MA. (508) 9471683. www.tranquilmind.net.

Thundermist Health Center: Provides HIV/AIDS services including medical care and treatment by an HIV specialist, dental care, behavioral health counseling, nutritional assessment and counseling, pharmacy consultation, free and confidential HIV testing. 450 Clinton Street, Woonsocket. Contact Philip Kane. 767-4100 ext. 3516.

RILGBT-News: Low-volume email distribution list for LGBT & AIDS news from RI. Not a discussion list. To subscribe: tinawood@cox.net.

South Coast LGBTQ Network: Information & advocacy network for individuals of all ages. 774-371-0711. info@ sclgbtqnetwork.org. www.sclgbtqnetwork.org.

United Way of RI Referral Line: 2-1-1 on your telephone.

INFORMATION/EDUCATION

POLITICAL & LEGAL GROUPS

The Center for Sexual Pleasure & Health: Education, pleasure, health, advocacy. Tues. -- Sat. 12 -- 6 and by appointment. 250 Main Street, Unit 1, Pawtucket. 489-5513. www.thecsph.org.

Fenway Community Center LGBT Helpline: Support, information and referrals. Fenway Community Health Center, Boston. Open daily 6-11pm. (617) 267-9001 or 888-340-452 GLBT National Help Center Hotline: Local resources nationwide provided by social services agency. 888-843-4564. www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org.

Newport Out: LGBT website for Newport. www.newportout.com.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): 128 Dorrance Street, Suite 400, Providence. 831-7171. riaclu.org.

Amnesty International OUTfront: Program to campaign globally for LGBTQ human rights. (212)807-8400. Cvohs18904@ yahoo.com. www.amnestyusa.org.

Brown University Queer Alliance: Student advocacy and support organization. queer@brown.edu.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD): LGBT/HIV legal info hotline. Weekdays 1:30-4:30pm. 30 Winter Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA. (617) 436-1350 or (800) 455-GLAD. gladlaw@ glad.org www.GLAD.org.

Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund: 120 Wall Street, Suite 1500, NY. (212) 809-8585. www.lambdalegal.org.

Lawyers for Equality and Diversity (LEAD): Advocates for LGBT causes. lawyersforequality@gmail.com.

NIGHTLIFE The Alley Cat Providence: Downtown neighborhood bar.

Monday-Thursday 3pm-1am, Friday 3pm-2am, Saturday 2pm2am, Sunday 2pm-1am. 19 Snow Street, Providence. 272-6369.

Bobby’s Place: Dancing, pool, video lounge, karaoke. SundayWednesday 5pm-1am, Thursday-Saturday 5pm-2am. 62 Weir Street, Taunton, MA. (508) 824-9997. www.bobbysplacema.com.

Brooklyn Coffee Tea House: 209 Douglas Ave., Providence: public/private venue for music, art, film screenings, weddings, showers, etc. RHODYWOOD@yahoo.com; 359-0192.

Club Body Center: Gay men’s sauna. Membership required.

One-day pass available. Open 24hr. 257 Weybosset Street, Providence. 274-0298. www.cbcresorts.com.

The Dark Lady: Downtown bar and nightclub. TuesdayThursday 9pm-1am, Friday & Saturday 9pm-3am, Sunday 9pm1am. 17 Snow Street, Providence. 272-6369.

EGO: Providence’s newest gay nightlife performance/event space. Sunday and Thursday 9pm-1am, Friday and Saturday 10pm-3am, 73 Richmond St, Providence. 383-1208. www.egopvd.com.

Mirabar: Downtown bar and nightclub. Monday-Thursday 3pm-1am, Friday and Saturday 3pm-2am, Sunday 3pm-1am.

15 Elbow Street, Providence. 331-6761. www.mirabar.com.

Providence Eagle: Leather, Levi, bear cruise bar. MondayThursday 2pm-1am, Friday 2pm-2am, Saturday-Sunday 12pm2am. 124 Snow Street, Providence. 421-1447.

The Stable: Downtown video bar. No cover. Monday-Thursday 2pm-1am, Friday 2pm-2am, Saturday 12pm-2am, Sunday 12pm1am. 125 Washington Street, Providence. 272-6950.

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National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Assoc./New England: Works for fair and accurate media coverage of LGBT issues. info@ nlgja.org, www.nlgja.org.

The Next Thing (TNT): Political and support group for queer people of color located at Brown University. 863-3062. tnt@ brown.edu.

RI Commission on Prejudice and Bias: Hate crime awareness training program. www.hatecrimeri.org.

RI Socialist Action: 952-5385, adgagneri@gmail.com. Spanish: 351-3514, walsil@cox.net.

RI Human Rights Commission: Anti-discrimination law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit. 180 Westminster Street, 3rd floor, Providence. 222-2662 TTY: 222-2664, richr.ri.gov.

Scouts for Equality: An organization composed largely of Boy Scouts of America alumni dedicated to ending the BSA’s ban on gay members and leaders. Contact Carol Crowther. ccrowther1@ gmail.com. Facebook.com/riscoutsforequality.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network: Serving LGBT military personnel and veterans. PO Box 65301, Washington DC. (202) 328-3244. or (800) 538-7418. sldn@sldn.org. www.sldn.org.

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL

All Saints Memorial Church: 674 Westminster Street, Providence.

751-1747. asmcri@verizon.net. www.allsaintsmemorial.org.

Amicable Congregational Church: UCC. Open & Affirming.

Pastor William Sterrett. Sunday 10am. 3736 Main Road, Tiverton.

624-4611. amicablechurch@aol.com, www.amicablechurch.org.

Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists: robin@awab.org, www.awab.org.

Barrington Congregational Church: UCC. “The white church.” Sundays 10am. 461 County Road, Barrington. 246-0111. office@bccucc.org, www.bccucc.org.

Bell Street Chapel: Unitarian Universalist. A Welcoming Congregation. Sundays 10am. 5 Bell Street, Providence. 273-5678. www.bellstreetchapel.org.

Beneficent Congregational Church: UCC.An Open & Affirming congregation in the heart of Providence. Sundays 10am. 300 Weybosset Street, Providence. 331-9844. BeneficentChurchUCC@ gmail.com, www.beneficentchurch.org.

Berean Baptist Church: A safe and welcoming place for all God’s children. Sunday 10am. 474 Chapel Street, Harrisville. 568-5411. bereanbaptist@verizon.net. www.bereanri.net.

Calvary United Methodist Church of Middletown: LGBTQ early dementia support group. Contact Amy. Sundays 10:30am. 200 Turner Road, Middletown. 847-6181, www.middletownmethodist.com.

Central Congregational Church: UCC. An Opening & Affirming Congregation. Sundays 10:30am. 296 Angell Street, Providence.

331-1960. www.centralchurch.us.

Channing Memorial Church: Unitarian Universalist. A Welcoming Congregation. Sundays 10am. 135 Pelham Street, Newport.

846-0643. administrator@channingchurch.org. www.channingchurch.org.

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit: Independent Old Catholic.

Fr. Jakob Lazarus. Sunday 9am and 6pm. 155 Douglas Avenue, Providence. 413-4821. www.holyparaclete.org.

Chapel Street Congregational Church UCC: Open & Affirming.

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185 Chapel St., Lincoln, RI. 722-7934. www.chapelstreetucc.com.

Charter Oak Grove ADF: An Open and Welcoming Congregation of Neo-pagan Druids in CT. charteroakadf@gmail.com, www.charteroakadf.org.

Christ Church in Lonsdale: 1643 Lonsdale Avenue, Lincoln.

Services 8am and 10:30am.725-1920.office@christchurchlincoln.org. www.christchurchlincoln.org.

Church of the Ascension, 390 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, RI 02910.

Sundays at 10am. 461-5811. www.ascensioncranston.org.

Church of the Epiphany: A diverse Open & Affirming Episcopal congregation. 1336 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence. 434-5012. info@epiphanyep.org, www.epiphanyep.org.

Church of the Redeemer, a Welcoming Episcopal church. 655 Hope St., Providence. www.redeemerprovidence.org. office@ redeemerprovidence.org. Rev. Patrick Campbell, 331-0678.

Concordia Center for Spiritual Living: A diverse community welcoming all spiritual paths to God. Sunday Celebration 9:15am.

292 W. Shore Rd., Warwick. Rev. Ian Taylor, 732-1552. info@concordiachurchri.com. www.ConcordiaCSL.com.

Edgewood Congregational Church: UCC. Open & Affirming.

Service 10am. 1788 Broad Street, Cranston. 461-1344. office@edgewoodchurchri.org. www.edgewoodchurchri.org.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Sundays 8 and 9:30am. 120 Nate Whipple Highway, Cumberland. 658-1506. office@emmanuelri.org. www.emmanuelri.org.

First Unitarian Church: A welcoming congregation.

Sunday 10:30am. 1 Benevolent Street, Providence. 421-7970. admin@firstunitarianprov.org, www.firstunitarianprov.org.

First Unitarian Church: Service 11am. 71 8th Street, New Bedford, MA. (508) 994-9686. admin@uunewbedford.org, www.uunewbedford.org.

First Universalist Society: UU. Welcoming congregation. Samegender weddings. 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA. (508) 5285348. fusf@verizon.net, www.fusf.org.

Foxboro Universalist Church: UUA. Service 10am. 6 Bird Street, Foxboro, MA. 508-543-4002. chair@uufoxborough.org. www. uufoxborough.org.

Grace Episcopal Church in Providence: 175 Mathewson Street, Providence. 331-3225. hello@gracechurchprovidence.org. www. gracechurchprovidence.org.

Hopedale Unitarian Parish: Sundays 10:30 am. 65 Hopedale St., Hopedale, MA. www.hopedaleunitarian.org, 508-473-0745. Rev. Tony Lorenzen.

Immanuel Lutheran Church: A Reconciling in Christ congregation. Pastor Sandra Demmler D’Amico. 647 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA. (508) 222-2898. www.immanuellc.org.

Interweave at Channing Memorial UU Church: Organization for the spiritual, political and social well-being of LGBTQ persons, and their allies, confronting oppression. 135 Pelham Street, Newport.

846-0643.

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd: A “Reconciling in Christ” congregation (Welcoming). 3383 Old North Rd., Kingston, RI. Sundays 9 am. Pastor Mary Hansen-Joyce. 789-7776; office@ goodshepherdri.org.

Mathewson St. Church: United Methodist. 134 Mathewson Street, Providence. 331-8900. MathewsonStUMC@gmail.com.

Mercy of God Community: Christian, inclusive religious order. mercycomm@yahoo.com, www.mgc.org.

Murray Unitarian Universalist Church: Marriage and commitment ceremonies for all. Rev. Bob McKetchnie.

505 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA. (508) 222-0505 www.murrayuuchurch.org.

Newman Congregational Church: Open & Affirming. 100 Newman Avenue, Rumford. 434-4742. www.newmanucc.org.

Newport Congregational Church: UCC. Open & Affirming.

Rev. Hayes and Rev. Baker. 73 Pelham Street, Newport. 849-2238.

Park Place Congregational Church: 71 Park Place, Pawtucket.

726-2800. office@ppucc.necoxmail.com, www.parkplaceucc.com.

Pilgrim Lutheran Church: An inclusive congregation. Sundays 8 and 9:30am. 1817 Warwick Avenue, Warwick. 739-2937. parishasst@pilgrimlutheranri.org, pilgrimlutheranri.jimdo.com.

Pilgrim United Church of Christ: Open and Affirming. 635 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA. (508)-997-9086.

Providence Presbyterian Church: 500 Hope St., Providence.

Service 10 am. 861-1136. www.provpresri.org. provpresri@ verizon.net.

The Pub Church: An Open & Affirming church that meets in a pub. Location may change. Saturday 5pm. The Dugout, 722 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA. thepubchurch@gmail.com.

Riverside Church: UCC.15 Oak Avenue, Riverside. Service 10am.

433-2039. www.rcc-ucc.com.

St. Augustine’s Church and Episcopal Center at URI: 15 Lower College Road, Kingston. 783-2153. Sundays 8am and 10am.

StAugustinesChurch@necoxmail.com, www.staugustineuri.org.

St. James Church: Episcopal. 474 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence. 353-2079.

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church: Sundays 8 and 10am. 50 Orchard Avenue, Providence. 751-2141. StMartinsNB.Secretary@gmail.com, www.stmartinsprov.org.

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church: Welcoming Church. Monthly LGBT Eucharist. 136 Rivet Street, New Bedford, MA. (508)9948972. stmartins1887@comcast.com, www.stmartinsma.org.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Sundays 9am. 50 Park Place, Pawtucket. 728-4300. office@stpaulspawtucket.org, www.stpaulspawtucket.org.

St. Paul’s Church: A welcoming Episcopal church. Sundays 9am.

2679 East Main Street, Portsmouth. 683-1164. stpaulsportsmouthri. org.

St. Peter & St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church: 25 Pomona Avenue, Providence. 272-9649.stpanda25@verizon.net. www.stpeters-standrews.org.

Saint Therese Old Catholic Church: Open & Affirming. Fr. David Martins. Sunday 10:30am. 1500 Main St., W. Warwick, RI 02893. 680-9076. stocc134@gmail.com, www.saintthereseocc.org.

Second Congregational Church of Attleboro: UCC. Open & Affirming. 50 Park Street, Attleboro, MA. Sunday 10am. (508) 2224677. office2nd@verizon.net. www.attleborosecondchurch.org.

Seekonk Congregational Church: Open & Affirming. Sundays 9 and 10:30am. Rev. Joy Utter, 600 Fall River Ave., Seekonk, MA. (508) 336-9355. sccucc@verizon.net. www.scc-ucc.com.

Soka Gakkai: Buddhist association for peace, culture, and education.

Contact for weekly meetings in Providence. 930 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. (617) 264-2000. www.sgi-usa.org.

Temple Agudas Achim: Reconstructionist congregation.

901 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA. (508) 222-2243. office@agudasma.org, www.agudasma.org.

Temple Beth-El: Rabbi Sarah E. Mack. 70 Orchard Avenue, Providence. 331-6070. info@temple-beth-el.org, www.temple-beth-el.org.

Temple Emanu-El: A welcoming Conservative congregation.

Rabbi Wayne Franklin. 99 Taft Avenue, Providence. 331-1616. info@teprov.org, www.teprov.org.

Temple Habonim: A warm, Welcoming Reform congregation.

Rabbi Andrew Klein. 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. 2456536. office@templehabonim.org, www.templehabonim.org.

Temple Sinai: A Welcoming Reform temple. Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser, 30 Hagen Avenue, Cranston. 942-8350. webmaster@templesinairi.org, www.templesinairi.org.

Unitarian Church in Fall River: Sunday 10:30am. 309 North Main Street, Fall River, MA. 508-678-9700. office@unitarianchurchfr.org, www.unitarianchurchfr.org.

Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven: Service 10:30am.

102 Green Street, Fairhaven, MA. (508) 992-7081. www.uufairhaven. org.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County: 27 North Road, Peace Dale. 783-4170 or Val 789-7282. uucscri@ yahoo.com. www.uusouthcountyri.org.

United Congregational Church, 524 Valley Rd., Middletown RI 02842. A Welcoming congregation. Sunday, 10 am. www.UCCMiddletown.org. 849-5444.

Westminster Unitarian Universalist Church: A UUA Welcoming Congregation. 119 Kenyon Avenue, East Greenwich.

884-5933. www.westminsteruu.org.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS Bisexual Resource Center: PO Box 170796, Boston, MA. (617) 4249595. brc@bicresource.net www.biresource.net.

Biversity Boston: Mixed-gender social events for Boston and the surrounding area. (617) 424-9595. biversity-subscribe@biversity.org, www.biversity.org.

Boston Bisexual Women’s Network: Social activities including monthly brunches and quarterly publication, Bi Women Quarterly. www.biwomenboston.org.

Cape and Islands Gay & Straight Youth Alliance (CIGSYA): 56 Barnstable Road, Hyannis, MA. (508) 778-7744. info@cisgsya.org, www.cigsya.org.

Communisong: For unity through song. Non-performance monthly singing session. www.communisong.net.

Gay Men’s Social Group: FirstTuesdays,6 -- 9pm,Seven Hills Behavioral Health, 1177 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford, MA. Refreshments. Info: Lenny Amaral, 508-999-4159 or lamaral@sevenhills.org.

Imperial Court of RI at Providence: Drag and non-drag performers raise funds for local charities. All welcome to general membership meetings on first Monday at Dark Lady, 17 Snow Street, Providence. icri.prov@gmail.com. www.icriprov.org.

Mixed Borders Gardening Group: Gardening and more. Monthly meetings, all welcome. Mixedborders@cox.net. www.mixedborders.com.

Opera Club: Enjoy hearing and attending. Last Sunday of each month at 1pm. BrettCornellpi4@aol.com.

Providence Gay Men’s Chorus: New season rehearsals begin in January and August. Singers and non-singing volunteers welcome.

Monday 7-9:30pm. Beneficent Church, 300 Weybosset Street, Providence. www.provgmc.org.

Queer Book Club: 3rd Wednesday, 7pm. Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence, queerbookclub@gmail.com.

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RI Association of Gay Professionals: Networking and philanthropy. www.riagp.com.

RI Parents Pride: Gay parents socializing together with their children.

Contact Melanie. 464-2288. saphicangel120@yahoo.com.

RI Pride: Open house 4th Wednesdays. Festival & Parade 3rd Saturday in June. Office: 1055 Westminster St., Providence 02903. Mail: PO Box 1082, Providence, 02903. 467-2130. info@prideri.com, www.prideri.com.

RI Prime Timers: Social and networking group for older gay and bi men. Second Sunday. Call Steve, 996-3010. www.riprimetimers.org.

RI Skeptics Society: Yearning to talk with someone rational? Refreshing discussion. Fourth Saturday. East Providence restaurant location. www. meetup.com/skeptics-133/.

RI Women’s Association: Lesbian social group. 21+. Dances & events. www.riwa.net.

SAGE/RI (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders): Advocacy, education, social events for LGBT seniors. Steering Committee meets first Saturdays at Church of theTransfiguration, 1665 Broad St., Cranston 02905. All members and friends welcome. Write us at the church or sageriinfo@gmail.com. Facebook: SAGERhode-Island. www.sage-ri.org. .SEMASSMEN: Social group for GBQ men of southeastern MA & RI to foster strong friendships. Semassmen-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com. rlevass@yahoo.com.

South Coast Social Club for Gay & Bisexual Men: Social and networking opportunities for gay & bisexual men in S.E. Mass. www. southeastsocialclub.com.

Yankee Lambda Car Club: Regional club for GLBT vintage and specialty car enthusiasts. www.yankeelcc.com.

SPORTS & RECREATION PrideSports Boston: Network of twenty-plus gay sports leagues/teams in Boston area. www.pridesportsboston.com.

Boston Gay BASKETBALL League: ksg.bgbl@gmail.com, www.bgbl.com.

BOATING: Yankee Cruising Club, New England’s club for LGBTQ boaters. www.yankeecruising.org. yankeecruisingclub@ gmail.com. Keith (508) 423-6123.

Big Gay Al’s Duckpin BOWLING League: Proceeds benefit AIDS causes. Tuesday 6:30pm. 1463 Atwood Avenue, Town Hall Lanes, Johnston. Contact Frank Ferri. 831-6940.www. bgalbowling.com. www.townhalllanes.com.

FIELD HOCKEY: Teamworks Somerset, 732 Lee’s River Ave., Somerset, MA. New season every 10 weeks. (508-676-3956) info@teamworkssomerset.com.

GALA Bowling League: Sundays 5:50 p.m., E. Providence Lanes, 80 Newport Ave., E. Providence. Season begins in Aug. View us on Facebook or email galabowling1990@gmail.com.

FLAG (For Lesbians And Gays) FOOTBALL: Bostonbased recreational football club. All skill levels are encouraged to participate. Saturday mornings in the fall and spring. www. flagflagfootball.com.

Boston Pride HOCKEY: www.bostonpridehockey.org.

Providence Gay Flag Football League: Registration opens Feb. 4, season starts April. Visit www.pvdgffl.org or write dgosley@gmail.com.

Rondeaus KICKBOXING: 272-5425. www. rondeauskickboxing.com.

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Main Street MARTIAL ARTS: Non-profit. Welcoming dojo and community center. 1282 North Main Street, Providence.

274-7672.www.mainstma.org.

Chiltern Mountain Club: OUTDOOR recreation club in New England. events@chiltern.org. www.chiltern.org.

Boston Gay ROWERS: Worldwide online community for gay and lesbian rowers, coxies, coaches, and race officials. www.glrf.org.

Boston Ironsides RUGBY Football: www.bostonironsides.org.

Providence Women’s RUGBY Club: Competitive and recreational. www.providencerugby.com.

Frontrunners Rhode Island RUNNING Group: Running and walking group. Newcomers welcome. Meet at the end of Blackstone Boulevard at Hope Street, Providence.

Thursday 6pm. Contact Brian. 751-7643. bripm@cox.net, frontrunnersri@gmail.com.

Frontrunners Boston RUNNING Group: Morning walk/ run along the Charles River. Saturdays,10am. Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA. www.frontrunnersboston.org.

OutRyders SKIING: New England’s largest gay and lesbian ski and snowboard club. www.outryders.org.

Boston Strikers SOCCER Club: Non-profit social organization to learn and improve soccer skills in a relaxed, congenial environment. www.bostonstrikers.com.

Renaissance City SOFTBALL League: New players and boosters always welcome. www.providencesoftball.org.

Beantown SOFTBALL League: Friendly competition. 27 teams in four divisions of play: competitive, intermediate, and recreational. (617) 297-7490. www.beantownsoftball.com.

LANES (Liquid Assets New England SWIMMING): Fitness and/or competition. (617) 937-5858. www.swim-lanes.org.

TENNIS-4-All: Boston area tennis organization. www. tennis4all.org.

Cambridge Boston VOLLEYBALL Association: Players of all skill levels welcome. secretary@cbvolleyball.net www.gayvolleyball.net.

Ocean State Pride VOLLEYBALL League: Adult coed indoor league following USVBA rules. No try-outs. Fee applies. Kent County YMCA, 900 Centerville Road, Warwick. ospvolleyball@gmail.com.

East Coast WRESTLING Club: (617)937.5858 x6. ecwc@juno.com. www.eastcoastwrestlingclub.org.

STUDENTS & YOUTH Bristol Community College The Lambda Connection: (TLC@ BCC) Robert Delaleu, Advisor; BCC-G118, 777 Elsbree St., Fall River, MA (774)357-4056.

Brown University Queer Alliance: Umbrella organization at Brown University for LGBTQ groups. 863-3062. queer@brown.edu or lgbtq@brown.edu.

CCRI Gender Equity Initiative: SafeZone & Trans* 101 training.

Support, info for LGBTQ people and allies. www.ccri.edu/genderequity.

CCRI Triangle Alliance: an LGBTQQ student-run group at CCRI, on the Flanagan, Liston, and Knight campuses. www.ccri.edu/triangle/.

Home to Hope: Support for housing-insecure LGBT youth 13 -- 24. Crisis intervention, medical and other services. At YPI (743 Westminster St., Prov.) and Mathewson St. Church (134 Mathewson St., Prov.) varying days and times. For info/appointments: ayanna@ rihomeless.org or 484-7720.

LGBT National Youth Talkline: 800-246-7743. Private one-to-one chat and info on local resources.

Peer Listening Line: Youth-staffed hotline for GLBT youth. Support, info and referrals. 5-10pm. Fenway Community Health Center, Boston, MA. (617) 267-9001 or (800) 399-PEER. www.fenwayhealth.org.

Queer & Trans Thursdays: 6-8pm. Space for LGBTQ and heterosexual youth (24 and under) of color to foster coalition-building and organize to address intersections of oppressions. 669 Elmwood Ave., Rm. B7, Providence. www.prysm.us. 383-7450.

Rhode Island College LGBTQ+ Office: works towards inclusion of gender, gender identity/expression and sexual orientation in all appropriate aspects of campus life. 401-456-9033 www.ric.edu/lgbtq Salve Regina University – The Alliance: 100 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport. Contact: Benjamin Mead, benjamin.mead@salve.edu S.H.E.P.A.R.D. (Stopping Homophobia, Eliminating Prejudices and Restoring Dignity): Providence College, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence. 865-1631. shepard@providence.edu.

The Trevor Project: The only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBT youth. Also offers social networks. (866)4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386). thetrevorproject.org.

University of RI LGBTIQ2: Alumni association. 874-5808. gsimonelli@uri.edu.

URI LGBTQ Center: A cultural department for students, faculty and staff. Florence Badejo. 874-2894.

Youth Pride Inc.: Support, education & advocacy for LGBTQQ young people ages 13--23. Tues. -- Fri. 2 -- 8pm. The Way Out peer support group Thurs. 4pm. Gender Spectrum support group Tues. 4pm. Visit our website for full calendar of events. 743 Westminster St., Providence. 421-5626. info@youthprideri.org. www.youthprideri.org.

SUPPORT GROUPS & SOCIAL SERVICES

Abuse Victims and Survivors: Support on phone for LGBTQ victims & survivors of partner abuse. Confidential peer-led groups. Hotline: (617) 742-4911. TTY: (617) 2274911. advocate@tnlr.org.

Adoption Options: Non-sectarian help. Jewish Family Service, 959 North Main Street, Providence. Contact Betsy Alper. 331-5437. www.adoptionoptions.org.

Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center: Offering resources for victims of domestic violence. 723-3057. www.bvadvocacycenter.org.

Child & Family Services: Counseling, young parent support, adoption, more. LGBT groups beginning July.

Open six days. 66 Troy St., Fall River, MA. (508) 676-5708. www.child-familyservices.org Community Care Alliance: Stipend, assistance, training provided by Family Resources Community Action. 2356095. www.famresri.org.

Community Care Alliance-Agape Providence: Transitional housing, drop-in center, testing, intensive case management, counseling, peer support for people living with HIV/AIDS. 292 Elmwood Ave, Providence. 572-3800. www.communitycareri.org Compass: FTM trans info, support and social group.

Boston first Thursday 7-9pm. compassftm@gmail.com. www.compassftm.org.

Crossroads RI Hotline: (800) 367-2700.

Day One: Counseling & legal aid for victims of sexual assault/

abuse & incest. 24hr hotline. (800) 494-8100. 421-4100. www.dayoneri.org.

Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County: Support, court advocacy, counseling, safe home, info for women and men in abusive or controlling relationships.

24hr free and confidential helpline. 782-3990 or toll free 800-494-8100, www.dvrcsc.org.

Family Service of RI: Training, stipend, support provided for nurturing adoptive families. Family Service of RI. Contact Gregary Wright. 331-1350 ext. 3305. www.familyserviceri. org.

Foster parents needed: For newborn to age six. 276-4300. www.childrensfriendri.org.

Foster Parents wanted: Devereux Therapeutic Foster Care offers generous tax-free stipend, free comprehensive training, 24-hour support. To make a difference, call 734-9680. www.devereuxri.org.

Gay Fathers of Greater Boston: Support. 738 Main St. #323, Waltham, MA. (781) 333-8429. info@ gayfathersboston.org, www.gayfathersboston.org.

Gay Men’s HIV+ Social Group: Third Tuesdays, 6 -9pm. Refreshments. Seven Hills Behavioral Health, 1177 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford, MA. Info: Lenny Amaral, 508-999-4159 or email lamaral@sevenhills.org.

Gay Officers Action League (GOAL)/New England: Law enforcement officers (sworn & civilian), fire, rescue & publicly employed EMS. Confidential. P.O. Box 171587, Boston, MA 02117. www.newenglandgoal.org.

On Facebook at NewEnglandGOAL. Gay Share: Coming Out? Gay men’s support group. No fee. Wednesday 7:30pm. Contact Tom or Mike. 369-9448. info@gayshare.org, www.gayshare.org.

LGBT Grief Support: Monthly meetings, usually 3rd Wed. 3:330 -- 5pm at Hope Hospice, 1085 No. Main St., Providence. Center for Hope & Healing (888-528-9077).

Helpline for LGBT Youth: Trevor Helpline and social networks for crisis and suicide prevention. 24/7. (866) 4-U-Trevor.

HIV+ Gay Men’s Support Group: Refreshments served.

AIDS Care Ocean State, 18 Parkis Avenue, Providence.

521-3603. New members contact Scott. 640-3108.

LGBTQ+ Pregnancy & Parenting Group: Free support group for people (partnered or not) parenting or considering it. First Saturdays at Open Circle in East Providence. Visit Facebook or email LGBTQpregnancyandparenting@gmail. com.

Mantalk of S.E. Mass: Thurs. eves. in Taunton, MA. Social support for gay, bi, and questioning men from Mass. and RI. Confidential, drug- and alcohol-free. Find us on Facebook and MeetUp. MentalHelp.net: National directory of inpatient treatment options for those with substance abuse problems. www. mentalhelp.net/care/substance-abuse/ri/.

Partner Support Group at Fenway Health: A ten-week support group with the purpose of building community and connections for anyone who identifies as non-trans,

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ages 18+, and is in a relationship with a trans* person(s). 1340 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. Contact Sarah Eley, LICSW. 857313-6551. seley@fenwayhealth.org.

PFLAG (Parents, & Friends of Lesbians & Gays): Attleboro Chapter serves Southeast Mass. Third Wednesday 6:45 p.m., Second Congregational Church, 50 Park St. (side door). email pflagattleboro@gmail.com. Greater Providence Chapter serves all R.I. First Wednesday at 6:45 p.m., Met School, 325 Public St., Providence. 751-7571. PFLAGprovidence@gmail.com. www. pflagprovidence.org.

Project RENEW: Support, employment services, HIV prevention for male and female sex workers. Amos House, 415 Friendship St., Providence. 272-0220.Trans support group meets Thurs. Info: transoutreachpwr@gmail.com.

Queer Transformative Roots (QTR): Queer & trans people of color organize campaigns to support stability for our communities. 669 Elmwood Ave., Suite B13, Providence 02907. www.prysm.us. 383-7450.

Rape Crisis Center for S.E. Mass: New Hope, Inc. Advocacy, shelter, services for domestic abuse survivors.

Hotline (800) 323-HOPE. Office (508)226-4015.

RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 24hr helpline: (800) 494-8100. 467-9940.

RI Rainbow Support Group: For people with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ. Last Tuesday. 98 Rolfe Street, Cranston.

6-7:30pm. Contact Ken Renaud. 785-2100.

Samaritans: 24hr hotline for suicidal, lonely, despairing, depressed. (800) 365-4044. 272-4044 (RI only). www. samaritansri.org.

Is your organization listed in Options’ Resources section?

If not, why not?

If yes, please review your listing for accuracy.

Send your current info to resources@optionsri.org.

A $25 donation to Options per year is suggested.

www.optionsri.org/donate-1 34

Options | April/May 2019

Seven Hills Behavioral Health: HIV Prevention and Screening. 310 South Main Street, Fall River, MA. (508) 2351012. T.W.I.S.T. (508) 672-0378.

Sexual Health Education & Advocacy Program: HIV, sexual wellness, domestic violence risk reduction. Free, confidential, bilingual (Spanish). No caller ID used. Calls blocked for safety. 861-6191 ext. 121.

Sojourner House: Call for confidential support group.

Support, shelter, advocacy and information for people in abusive relationships. Including specific LGBT services.

No caller ID used. Outgoing calls blocked for safety. 24hr helpline. 765-3232. 861-6191. Office 861-6191. www. sojournerri.org.

St. Mary’s Home for Children: Sexual abuse treatment for children. 450 Fruit Hill Ave., No. Providence. www. smhfc.org. Adam Cable, 353-3900.

Straight Spouses: Groups and online support. www.straightspouse.org.

TGI Network of RI: Support, advocacy for transgender, transsexual, gender-variant and/or intersex people.

Borderlands peer group 1st & 3d Tues. and 1st & 3d Sat. of the month. Location & information: 441-5058. info@ tginetwork.org. www.tginetwork.org.

Trans* Partners New England: Gives romantic partners of transgender people a confidential, safe space to explore the impact of a loved one’s gender identity on their relationships, and to connect with other loved ones of transgender people. First Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm.

Providence. Location unpublished for privacy. partners@ tginetwork.org.

Trans* Youth Family Allies: Support for gender-variant and transgender children ages 3-18. info@imatyfa.org, www.imatyfa.org.

Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA): Growing organization to address the concerns of fair treatment of transgender veterans and active duty service members. www.tavausa.org.

Women’s Resource Center of Newport and Bristol Counties: Offering services to victims of domestic violence. 846-5263. www.wrcnbc.org.

Felicitations

By Felicia Nimue Ackerman

Trump vs. Transgender People So now Trump wants us all to think Transgender people don’t exist.

If only that were true of him, We strongly doubt he would be missed.

Memo to Politicians on LGBTQ Progress The glass is half empty, so fill it.

The glass is half full, so don’t spill it!

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APRIL 17, 2019

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