options June/July 2018
SUMMERTIME!
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IN THIS ISSUE: 10 18 12
22 26
5 From the Editor 6 From the Board President 6 Advertisers 8 Calendar 10 News Briefs 12 RI PrideFest is Louder & Prouder 14 Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future 17 Summer Theatre in Rhody 18 Out on the Town 22 King of Queens 24 RI’s Trans Health Conference 25 Social Stigma Around LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence 26 YPI: Born This Way Prom 27 Practical Peace 28 Arts Review: Trans Views 30 TGI Network 32 Resources 39 Felicitations 39 Transosaurus Rex
Home deliver y is free! Subscribe at www.optionsri.org, email subscriptions@optionsri.org, or write to us at our PO Box. Š OPTIONS 2018. Options is published monthly except in January and July. 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 August 2018 issue must be delivered by July 13.
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Options | June/July 2018
From the Editor-in-Chief
Rhode Island’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community news source since 1982.
Dear Reader, “It feels good to be back in the saddle.” I said and heard that a lot these past six weeks as Options relaunched in May and worked to produce this June/July issue. The talented copy editing team has come out in force. Designer Reese Barzyk is back and at the top of her game.The committed Options board brings fresh focus and enthusiasm. Our nonprofit contributors haven’t skipped a beat, and former Options Editor Kim Stowell recently came on board as Calendar Editor. We’re thrilled to have these key pieces in place, but our mostly volunteer team is far from complete. For the August issue, could your name appear in the masthead as Subscriptions Manager or Distribution Coordinator? How about Advertising Coordinator? (That one comes with a paid commission.) We’re also searching for consistent writers, particularly to cover arts and culture, news briefs, politics, sports and leisure, and advice. In this issue, you’ll find part two of our interviews with local community leaders (pg. 14), offering varied perspectives and insights. The suggestions shared by Kate, Frank, Alex, and Joe regarding a successful Options’ future particularly resonated with me. They recognized this print magazine’s value as an educational resource and platform for discussion as being prized beyond its value as a news source. That’s fair. Case in point: As we went to press, the RI House of Representatives voted to end “gay or trans panic” as a defense for violent acts – an important victory, but you won’t read any more about it in this issue. Interviewees wisely urged Options to utilize online resources for the timely delivery of news, and rest assured, we aim to get there. (As mentioned earlier, it will take more hands to broaden Options’ reach.) That said, we believe you’ll still find value in our News Briefs (pg. 10). Options copy editors recently discussed this long-standing section of the magazine’s purpose, and for the foreseeable future, we’re glad to maintain it as space to mark impacting local, national, and international events, even if only as an archive, and also to remember those we’ve lost. There you’ll find our tributes to club owner Bob Thiebault and “76er” Annette Gagne, who each carried so much community history, and passed away earlier this spring. Volunteerism is as central to queer culture as drag shows and rainbows. Don’t let June pass you by without experiencing a healthy dose of all of those. Check out the Pride story (pg. 12) and our June/July Calendar (pg. 8) for opportunities to help create the magic that is PrideFest. And if you lack inspiration about the difference one person can make, check out Chris Cedroni’s story on King of Queens creator Ali Brock (pg. 22). While the Options team will take July off from publishing, we’ll be back in the saddle at The Stable on July 29 celebrating the release of the August issue, and welcoming readers to connect with us.You won’t regret hopping on for the ride! In solidarity,
options
Jen Stevens
June/July 2018, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2
Editor-in-Chief Jen Stevens jen@optionsri.org Resources Editor Myra Shays resources@optionsri.org Calendar Editor Kim Stowell Calendar@optionsri.org Copy Editors Chris Cedroni, Rex LeBeau, Maria Phillips, Myra Shays Graphic Design Theresa “Reese” Barzyk www.tibcreativestudio.com Web Master Daniella Balarezo Contributors Felicia Nemue Ackerman, Tiffany Carcieri, Chris Cedroni, Will Demers, Yaretsy Flores, Janie Ganga, Ethan Huckel, Joe Lazzerini, Rex LeBeau, TC Rogers, Jen Stevens Photographers Jen Bonin, Ryan Clarke, Melissa DaSilva, Mark Davis, Jack-Hartwein Sanchez Advertising advertising@optionsri.org
Contact Us info@optionsri.org PO Box 6406 Providence, RI 02940 (401) 724-LGBT www.optionsri.org
Cover photo by Jack Hartwein-Sanchez at RI PrideFest 2017, featuring Meghan Anchukaitis, Semi Sweet, and George Marley.
We want to hear from you. Send letters to editor@optionsri.org.
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BOARD Executive Committee Dr. TC Rogers,
Board President
Brendan Chipley Roane,
Board Vice President
Dr. Dawn Letourneau,
Recording Secretary
Dr. Mike Marrapodi, Treasurer Directors Melissa Da Silva, LICSW Ashley Delgado Kelly Faulkner Daniel Kellum, Esq. Nathan McNamara Dr. Eileen Medeiros Arthur Snow
FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT Dear Readers, It is so wonderful to write to you after the successful and exciting relaunch of Options Magazine and such a wonderful relaunch gala.Thank you to all of the attendees and all who helped make the relaunch such an impressive event. A special thank you to Governor Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza for spending so much time at the event, engaging with the crowd, their thoughtful words of support, and the citations provided to Options. Thank you to our fabulous entertainers: Master of Ceremonies Mario Hilario, drag performers Kira Stone, Viza D. Klein, and Complete Destruction, the Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts Jazz Ensemble, and DJ Julio Berroa. Thank you to those who documented the event: photographers Jen Bonin, Jack Hartwein-Sanchez, and Ryan Clarke, and our webmaster Daniella Balarezo.Thank you to the Options Board of Directors, donors, sponsors, and the RI Rebels softball team for making the event possible and assuring that it ran so smoothly. In regard to the magazine, thank you to our Editor-in-chief Jen Stevens, Designer Reese Barzyk, our creative team of contributors, and our committed team of editors. Without your consistent dedication, passion, and talent, we wouldn’t have our Options, which we know the community is eager to read each month. Moving forward, there’s still so much to do to support Options Magazine and further develop Options as an organization.Volunteers primarily run Options, and we could certainly use more of them! We especially seek a Distribution Manager to organize how we transport copies to locations, new and established, throughout the area. We are also looking for members to join the following Board committees: Community Relations, Development, Finance & Legal, and Social Media. Quite importantly, we are in need of development experts to help us organize a capital campaign to raise the funds for an Executive Director position. Also, we are hiring for one paid position: an Advertising Manager to seek new supporters and maintain relationships with our current supporting organizations and businesses. If you have any of these talents and skills and are able to dedicate some time to help Options remain sustainable and grow, please reach out to me at TC@OptionsRI.org. You may have noticed our team’s dedication to serving the greater community, as we attended and volunteered at other LGBTQ+ events this past month. We were dazzled at the Imperial Court of RI Coronation, volunteered at the Gordon School’s Day of Silence and Noise, and were a presence at the RI Trans Health Conference.We are actively planning the annual Gay 5K, which will be held September 23 – more details are soon to follow. We look forward to seeing you at RI PrideFest on June 16, as we will certainly be there, “Louder and Prouder” than ever. Cheers, Dr. TC Rogers 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 | June/July 2018
2..........AIDS Project RI 31........Beneficent Congregational Church 38........Campus Fine Wines 25........East Coast Mental Wellness 40........EGO Providence 30........Friends of Toto, Dog Care 38........JDHS Photos 31........Mott & Chace Realtors 31........Neighborhood Health Plan 29........Niko Stamatakos, Massage Therapist 30........PFLAG 30........Plumbing by Paul 7..........Providence G 4..........Rhode Island Pride 23........The Stable 7..........Thundermist Health Center 11........Trans Views
100 Dorrance Street Downtown Providence www.providenceg.com
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We care for everyBODY! Woonsocket 450 Clinton Street Woonsocket, RI 02895 Phone: (401) 767-4100
West Warwick The Cotton Shed 186 Providence Street West Warwick, RI 02893 Phone: (401) 615-2800
South County 1 River Street Wakefield, RI 02879 Phone: (401) 783-0523
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CALENDAR: June
JUNE 1,3,7, & 8 TRANS VIEWS
JUNE 12 Trans* Pizza & Game Night
Fri. 1 Trans Views, 7pm. St. Paul’s Church, 50 Park Place, Pawtucket. Play created from oral history interviews of members of the local transgender community. Free. For more info, web.uri.edu/prov/arts. Sat. 2 Becky Chace Band, 9pm. Stout Irish Pub, 50 Exchange Terrace, Providence. No cover. For more info, stoutri.com. Sun. 3 Trans Views, 7pm First Baptist Church in America 75 N. Main Street, Providence. Play created from oral history interviews of members of the local transgender community. Free. For more info, web.uri.edu/ prov/arts. Mon. 4 Rainbow Flag Raising, 4:30-5:30pm. Pawtucket City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue. Join Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebian and community representatives to welcome the RI Pride season.
JUNE 14 Sweet Little Variety Show
JUNE 16 PrideFest: Louder & Prouder
JUNE 17 After-Pride Patio Party at Freeplay Bar & Arcade 8
Fri. 1 Rainbow Flag Raising, 6-7pm. Providence City Hall steps, 25 Dorrance Street. Join Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and community representatives to officially kick off the RI Pride season.
Mon. 4, 11, 18 & 25 Free Play Arcade GAYME night, 7pm1am. Colosseum, 182 Pine Street, Providence. Over 115 vintage arcade games, pinball, and skeeball. Featuring a drag show with Kira Stone, DJ Transcendence, and Joe Lazzerini on the bar with Tommy Pistocco. All games set to free play. 18+. $4 cover to benefit RI Pride. For more info, freeplayri.com. Wed. 6, 13, 20 & 27 PrideFest Planning Meeting, 7pm. RI Pride office, 1055 Westminster Street, 2nd floor, Providence. All are welcome to help plan the 43rd Annual RI PrideFest taking place June 16. For more info, prideri.com.
Options | June/July 2018
Wed. 6 Cowfolk Auction, 9:3011:30pm.The Stable, 125 Washington Street, Providence. A Countdown to Pride event.
Thu. 7 & Fri. 8 Trans Views, 7pm. URI Providence Campus Paff Auditorium, 80 Washington Street, Providence. Play created from oral history interviews of members of the local transgender community. Free. For more info, web.uri.edu/ prov/arts. Fri. 8 Gay Pride Sabbath, 7:30pm. Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Special Guest Elana Rosenberg, Executive Director of Youth Pride Inc. For more info, visit www.templehabonim.org or call 245-6536. Fri. 8–Sun. 10 Providence Gay Men’s Chorus presents God Save the Queens, the music of the British Invasion. Fri. and Sat. 7pm, Sun. 4pm. Greenwich Odeum, 59 Main Street, East Greenwich. $25.Tickets and info at www.provgmc.org. Sat. 9 Boston Pride Parade and Festival, 11am-6pm. City Hall Plaza. Free for all ages. For more info, www. bostonpride.org. Sun. 10 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. Tue. 12 RI PrideFest Volunteer Orientation, 7pm. EGO Providence, 73 Richmond Street, Providence. Learn about and register for PrideFest 2018 volunteer opportunities. All are welcome. For more info, www. prideri.com. Tue. 12 Trans* Pizza & Game Night, 7-9pm. Roger Williams University, 1 Empire Plaza, Floor 5, Providence. Join Thundermist Health Center and TGI Network for a free night of fun and friendly competition.
Wed. 13 Mundo Bachata, 9pm-1am. Dusk, 301 Harris Avenue Providence. Social dancers experience an intimate, friendly, inclusive space. Bachata fundamentals and partnering lesson, 9-9:45pm. No partner required. Drop-ins encouraged. Free parking. $10, $15 includes class. Thu. 14 Sweet Little Variety Show, 8pm. Mirabar, 15 Elbow Street, Providence. A queer-produced potpourri of entertainment performed monthly on 2nd Thursdays. $10 includes donation to RI Pride. Featuring: Evan O’Television, comedian Rich Hite, Vatic Kuumba, Love Joy, Drum Dance Flow Jam, and more. For more info, email sweetlittleemail@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/sweetlittlevarietyshow. Fri. 15 SAGE LGBT Café, noon2pm. Church of the Transfiguration, 1665 Broad Street, Cranston. A delicious, low-cost lunch in a gayfriendly setting 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 Pauline at 351-6700. Sat. 16 43rd Annual Rhode Island PrideFest: Louder & Prouder, noon7pm. South Water Street Greenway, Providence. PrideFest features live entertainment, a Kids Zone, Youth Center, marketplace, food trucks, and a beer, wine, and spirits garden. Donations suggested. For more info or to volunteer, www.prideri.com. Sat. 16 Rhode Island Pride Illuminated Night Parade, 8:30pm. Parade travels Northwest on Dorrance Street past Providence City Hall turning left on Washington Street, left on Empire Street, and left on Weybosset Street to the Providence Performing Arts Center Reviewing Stand. Free for all ages. For more info or to volunteer, www.prideri.com.
Sun. 17 After-Pride Patio Party, 3-9pm. Freeplay Bar and Arcade, 182 Pine Street, Providence. Pop-up drag performances, raffles, special guest bartenders Joe Lazzerini and Kyle Silva. 20% of bar proceeds benefits RI Pride. Tue. 19 PrEP for Me, 6:30-8pm. Social Enterprise Greenhouse, 10 Davol Square, Unit 100, Providence. Learn how Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce your risk of HIV infection by up to 92%. This free event is hosted by Thundermist Health Center and presented by Timothy Cavanaugh, MD. Wed. 20 Queer Book Club, 7-9:30pm. Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence. Reading: Surpassing Certainty by Janet Mock. Discount on books purchased at Books on the Square. For more info, email queerbookclub@gmail.com. Wed. 20 Kathy Griffin’s Laugh Your Head Off Tour, 6:30-8:30pm. The Vets, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. Use promo code KGPRIDE for a discount and a donation to RI Pride. For tix and info, www.thevetsri.com. Thu. 21 Drag Bingo: Show us your Pride Bingo, 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+. No alcohol. Theme dress suggested. All funds raised benefit RI Pride. Reservations suggested: Email Bingo@AIDSCareoceanstate.org with name, number of people, and phone number. Sun. 24 Pride Month Swim Night, 4-6pm. McDermott Pool, 975 Sandy Lane, Warwick. Thundermist Health Center patients and guests have private use of the facility. Free. For info, ajm@thundermisthealth.org. Mon. 25 Trans* Bowling Night, 7-9pm. Lang’s Bowlarama, 225 Niantic Avenue, Cranston.
Join Thundermist Health Center and TGI Network for a night of friendly competition. Attendees will enjoy a private room and private restrooms. Free. Wed. 27 National HIV Testing Day, 9:30am-9:30pm. Thundermist Health Center QuickCare Locations: 450 Clinton Street, Woonsocket; 186 Providence Street, West Warwick; 1 River Street, Wakefield. Free testing to learn your HIV status. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in seven people in the United States with HIV don’t know it. Early detection is important to treatment and prevention. Thu. 28 How to Change Your Documents, 6-7pm.Youth Pride Inc., 743 Westminster Street, Providence. Thundermist Health Center experts help you navigate the process of changing your gender and name on documents, and provide tips and tools to make the task less burdensome. Free. Presented in partnership with YPI. Sat. 30 Ladies 80s Reunion T Dance Party, 4-9pm. The Stable, 125 Washington Street, Providence. Break out the big hair and the short shorts!
July
Mon. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Free Play Arcade GAYME night, 7pm1am. Colosseum, 182 Pine Street, Providence. Over 115 vintage arcade games, pinball, and skeeball. Featuring drag show with Kira Stone, DJ Transcendence, and Joe Lazzerini on the bar with Tommy Pistocco. All games set to free play. 18+. $4 cover to benefit RI Pride. For more info, freeplayri. com. Thu. 5 Becky Chace Band, 8pm. The Narragansett Cafe, 25 Narragansett Ave, Jamestown. Sun. 8 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 Steve at 996-3010.
or
call
Thu. 12 Sweet Little Variety Show, 8pm. Mirabar, 15 Elbow Street, Providence. A queer-produced potpourri of entertainment performed monthly on 2nd Thursdays. Featuring musical duo Jeana & Tammy, comic Julie Killian, Empress & Mike Moves, and more. $7. For more info, email sweetlittleemail@gmail. com or visit facebook.com/ sweetlittlevarietyshow.
JUNE 20 Kathy Griffin
Wed. 18 Queer Book Club, 7-9:30pm. Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence. Reading: A Year of Celibacy by Erin Judge. Discount on books purchased at Books on the Square. For more info, email queerbookclub@gmail.com.
JUNE 21 Drag Bingo
Sun. 29 Options Magazine Release Party, 3-5pm. The Stable, 125 Washington Street, Providence. Celebrate the release of the August issue. Volunteers needed for distribution.
JUNE 24 Swim Night
Regularly Scheduled Support Groups: ACOS (HIV/AIDS): youth, Tue. 4pm/gay males, Wed. 1:30pm LGBT Alcoholics Anonymous: Tue. 7pm PFLAG (parents, friends, allies): 1st & 3rd Wed. 6:45pm 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 32 for complete information
JUNE 30 80s Reunion T Dance Party
July 5 & 20 Becky Chace Band
July 18 Queer Book Club www.optionsri.org
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NEWS BRIEFS: as the first recipient of the “Myra B. Shays Making A Difference Award” by the PFLAG Greater Providence Chapter at the celebration. PFLAG was founded in 1973 to offer support to “Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays” and has grown to 400 chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Advocacy Groups Oppose Oklahoma Adoption Law
Gay Pride Sabbath at Temple Habonim June 8
All are welcome Friday evening, June 8, when Temple Habonim (165 New Meadow Road, Barrington) holds its seventh annual Gay Pride Sabbath. This is a unique worship service, designed to recognize the history, aspirations, and contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The service begins at 7:30pm, with a reception to follow. The guest speaker will be Elana Rosenberg, Executive Director of Youth Pride Inc., which is a vital agency annually serving over 700 youngsters between the ages of 9 and 23. More information and directions are available at www.templehabonim.org, or by calling 245-6536.
PFLAG Providence Chapter Celebrates 20-year Milestone
The 20th Anniversary of the founding of the PFLAG Greater Providence Chapter was celebrated on May 6 at Beneficent Congregational Church in Providence. Chapter Founder and longtime President Myra Shays was surprised to be recognized
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Options | June/July 2018
photo by WPRI
Reverend Anderson Transitioning While on Sabbatical
In a statement from the RI State Council of Churches (RISCC), Governing Board President Chontell Washington made a wholly supportive announcement that the RISCC’s Executive Minister, Reverend Dr. Don Anderson, would be taking a threemonth sabbatical while transitioning to a woman. Washington said, “This sabbatical will afford Dr. Anderson the opportunity to do that free of the day to day operations of the council. During the sabbatical Dr. Anderson will be changing her name from Donald to Donnie.” Reverend Anderson told Options Magazine, “I am so grateful to the Governing Board of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches for their love and support during this process of transition. They are living out their stated beliefs in treating all of God’s children with dignity and respect. I am also grateful to the governing board for the opportunity to have a sabbatical and prepare to come back to the struggle to ensure there is a safe and secure place for EVERYONE in Rhode Island. So many people in the Rhode Island community have reached out to me to offer their support. We live in a wonderful place. I am also thankful for an amazing family that is demonstrating the meaning of love and caring.”
LGBTQ rights groups are objecting to Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin’s having signed a bill (on May 11) that allows adoption agencies to refuse LGBTQ couples the ability to adopt a child if it “violate[s] the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies.” In response, DNC LGBTQ Media Director Lucas Acosta said in a statement: “With over 400,000 children in foster care nationwide, including more than 16,000 in Oklahoma alone, the Oklahoma legislature should be focusing on how it can attract more qualified and loving parents to the system – not rejecting potential homes based on the gender identity or sexual orientation of the parents.”
2020 Census Asks Couples: Same-sex or Opposite-sex?
In order to cut back on misreporting and an overcounting of same-sex couples, the 2020 census form will now include categories for same-sex and oppositesex married and unmarried couples. An “unmarried partner” category was added in 1990, but according to the Pew research Center, “Census Bureau research found that the majority of same-sex married
couples counted in the 2010 census and the 2010 American Community Survey were recorded as opposite-sex couples in Social Security files.” Demographers suggest that better data on LGBTQ copuples will better inform public policy affecting the LGBTQ community.
Passages: Annette Gagne
RI Schools Prepare to Implement Transgender Policies
Following an Obama-era federal guideline protecting transgender students’ right to use the restroom of their choice, the RI Department of Education (RIDE) issued its June 2016 guideline furthering protections for transgender students, particularly in the realms of privacy, name and pronoun use, physical education classes, interscholastic sports, locker room usage, and dress codes. In spite of the Trump administration rescinding the federal protection last year, RIDE’s protections will stand. All Rhode Island school districts must adopt a policy by July 1 to ensure that trans students are protected from discrimination.
According to a statement issued by a loved one, “Annette Gagne, longtime Rhode Island socialist feminist activist, passed away on March 14. She was a leader in the Queer Liberation movement historically, never ceasing toward liberatory aspirations in all aspects of society, by tabling every year at RI Pride, helping start the RI chapter of Pride at Work, showing solidarity with other struggles, and more. Annette will be missed by many, including friends and members of various social movements.” Annette Gagne was a “76er,” one of the original marchers in the first Rhode Island Pride Parade in 1976, and was among those marchers honored as Grand Marshals in the 40th Anniversary RI Pride celebration in 2016. A memorial to celebrate Annette’s life and legacy was held on April 21 at Open Table of Christ Church in Providence.
URBAN ARTS & CULTURE PROGRAM with RHODE ISLAND STATE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES PRESENT
Trans Views
Pam Padula with Bob
touring production by Frank V. Toti Jr.
May 11–June 8
Passages: Bob Thiebault
Robert L. Thibeault, owner and operator of many gay nightclubs from the 1950s through the recent past, passed away peacefully on February 17 after an illness, according to the online obituary posted by the Coelho Funeral Home. Bob’s nightclubs gave LGBT people a place to find community, often in secret and hidden from the eyes of the law. His bars included the Mirabar in Woonsocket, The Continental and the Loft in Smithfield, and The Gallery in downtown Providence. He was proud to have served in the US Air Force. He is survived by his life-partner Kenny Clauson.
Trans Views is a full length play written and directed by Frank V. Toti, Jr. Trans Views is an Oral History play with stories gathered from members of the local Transgender community told in their own words. The play shares the daily life celebrations, struggles, and triumphs of 6 transgender men and women out of the individual interviews ages 15-70. The Performance is FREE and open to the public. May 11 7:00pm Westminster Unitarian 119 Kenyon Ave East Greenwich, RI 02818 May 15, 6:30pm hosted by Community Care Alliance at the Woonsocket Depot. 1 Depot Square Woonsocket, RI 02895 June 1, 7:00pm St. Paul’s Church 50 Park Place Pawtucket, RI 02860 June 2, 7:00pm Berean Baptist Church 475 Chapel Street Harrisville, RI 02830 June 3 7:00 pm First Baptist Church in America 75 N. Main Street Providence, RI 02903 June 7 & 8, 7:00pm URI Providence Campus Paff Auditorium 80 Washington Street Providence RI 02903 80 Washington St, Providence, RI 02903 Hours M-TH 9-9, F&S 9-4 (closed Sundays & Holidays) For information call Steven Pennell 401-277-5206 uri.artsandculture@gmail.com or visit uri.edu/ceps/prov/arts
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RI PrideFest is
LOUDER & PROUDER
JUNE 16 12
Options | June/July 2018
by Joe Lazzerini, President, RI Pride
On Saturday, June 16, over 75,000 people are expected to participate in RI’s 43rd annual Pride celebration with the bold theme Louder & Prouder. The 2018 theme captures the feelings of LGBTQ+ people and their allies from Rhode Island to California and across the world. It’s a call to action: to stand up and fight for equal rights for all LGBTQ+ people no matter whom they love, the color of their skin, or their gender identity. We will be loud by protesting in the streets and taking action when we are being silenced, and we will be proud by celebrating the diversity of our community through our annual PrideFest and Illuminated Night Parade on Saturday, June 16. As Providence continues to grow as the creative capital, we are excited to welcome thousands of Loud & Proud visitors to the city. The annual PrideFest is located on South Water Street and runs from noon to 7pm. PrideFest will feature a mix of live entertainment on our main stage, a marketplace with over 200 vendors, a Kid’s Zone, food trucks, arts, Youth Center, and a beer, wine and spirits garden. A rally and speaking program will take place on the main stage at 3pm and will feature local community leaders. Entry is available from the south by Wickenden Street and from the north where Memorial Blvd meets South Water Street. The entertainment stage will be hosted by local celebrity Lulu Locks, Providence drag performer Kira Stone, and comedian John Kelley, and will feature New England-based gay dance party guru DJ Ephraim Adamz and headlining acts Monet X Change and Laila McQueen, both from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Local high energy dance rock act Jodi Jolt and The Volt will also
appear along with various acts representing diverse genres. New England’s only nighttime Pride Parade kicks off at sunset and is a festival highlight with a dazzling display of illuminated floats, performing artists, marching groups, businesses, and vibrant spectators that winds through downtown Providence. Spectators marvel as the Parade travels northwest on Dorrance Street past City Hall, and takes left turns onto Washington Street, Empire Street, and Weybosset Street, and culminates at the RI Pride Reviewing Stand under the historic marquee of the Providence Performing Arts Center. The energy in the city is electric. We send an open invitation to everyone to participate in the weekend events that transform the City of Providence into a vibrantly visible LGBTQ city. If you are interested in participating in the parade or festival, sign up online at PrideRI. org. This year’s selection of Grand Marshal and Honorary Marshals of the Pride Parade represent what it means to be Louder & Prouder in 2018. Grand Marshal Ashley Delgado served as Ms. Lesbian RI 2017 and used her platform to work on creating positive change within her community. Ashley was a leading advocate who championed Ashley Delgado the Rhode Island legislative ban on conversion therapy (the practice of licensed professionals treating youth in order to change their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender behaviors). She also delivered an impassioned speech at the Women’s March in Providence with the aim to empower disenfranchised communities. Three organizations dedicated to serving the local trans community, LGBTQ youth, and LGBTQ elders were named Honorary Marshals respectively: TGI Network of RI, Youth Pride Inc., and SAGE/RI. These organizations exemplify what it means to be Loud & Proud during this time of much-needed resistance to the status quo. There is still time for you to help make the magic of PrideFest happen! We need over 100 people to give their time to make this a safe and enjoyable festival. Please join Rhode Island Pride for our last official volunteer orientation at EGO Providence (73 Richmond Street, Providence) on June 12 at 7pm, and we welcome you to visit us at the PrideFest volunteer booth. We look forward to celebrating with you Louder & Prouder than ever this PrideFest! Rhode Island Pride is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the visibility, equality, and diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and providing a safe space to come out, express, and celebrate all sexual identities and genders. For more information, email info@prideri.com or call (401) 4672130.
www.optionsri.org
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PART II
Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future:
As Options Magazine regroups, we’re looking to various community builders and thought leaders to tell the story of where we’ve been, where we’re at, and where we need to go. The May 2018 issue featured part 1 of these interviews; readers heard from Curt Columbus, Joseph DiMaura, Ethan Huckel, Ronia “BlueAzul” Peguero, Shey Riviera, Myra Shays, and Kim Stowell.
Community Leaders Take Us Onward & Upward
Alex Gorriaran
Frank Ferri (with Tony Caparco)
Haley Star
Nika Lomazzo
Joe Redish
Timothy Cavanaugh
Kate Monteiro
This story features General Assembly candidate Nika Lamazzo, former State Representative and Marriage Equality RI Co-Chair Frank Ferri, longtime local activist Kate Monteiro, Thundermist’s Dr. Timothy Cavanaugh, RI Pride board member Alex Gorriaran, Cultural Ambassador and Drag Bingo Host Haley Star (photo by Daniel Gagnon), and RI Commission on Prejudice & Bias Chairperson Joe Redish, who is also the board chair of AIDS Care Ocean State.
What called you to serve the LGBTQ community? Frank Ferri: It started with a need to find other LGBTQ people. I loved the bars and shared the need to be accepted for who we were. I didn’t want to hide anymore so I joined a social group during the AIDS crisis and met many who were fighting for equality. I realized they were fighting for me also and decided I needed to do whatever I could to help. Alex Gorriaran: My parents had instilled in me at an early age the value and importance of volunteering and being an active member of your community. My entire life I have volunteered for many organizations and causes, and being an open, out, gay latino, I felt it was important to volunteer my time and contribute to our community in working towards creating a more open and welcoming community for all of us to celebrate who we are and our fight for equal rights. I recently came across the statement,“Service is the rent we pay to be on this earth.” This really resonated with me, and hopefully it will with others, as a call to give back to the community and the earth we all share. Joe Reddish: From early on from my grandparents, I was raised to be involved and make a difference. Within our Providence community, I had participated in many fundraisers. I recognized through that participation that I wanted to be more engaged. The first board I participated on was AIDS Project RI which was extremely rewarding. As they transitioned to Family Service, I was asked by Stephen Hartley to
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join the AIDS Care Ocean State board, in which I have been a part of for almost ten years. So many ask how I find the time. It is not finding the time; it is really about just doing, and the time somehow becomes available. Kate Monteiro: The concept of calling is probably much more theological than I’d apply. Having been raised in the shadow of the great social reform movements of the middle of the century and coming of age in the age of AIDS, it was more like “what else would I do.” Having been blessed by privilege to be out, and be vocal, and be safe, it was simply incumbent that I speak out when and where I could. Haley Star: I became part of the LGBTQ community in Rhode Island at the impressionable age of 18. I wasn’t really aware of how much charity work the community was involved in until I started attending a few events here and there. After my father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a few years later, I took it upon myself to organize a fundraiser that would benefit the treatment he was undergoing. The event was such a success that it inspired me to continue to give as much of myself to the community as possible.Volunteering is a passion of mine, and if being able to toss a dress on and grill people for donations at an event is what I need to do to help – then so be it! Nika Lomazzo: There are many reasons.The biggest one was wanting to be a voice for other trans people who didn’t necessarily have the support and validation to live their truth. I knew that I wanted to
help my community heal, flourish, and find access to empowerment. I’ve always known that I have a voice that people listen to, for better or for worse. When I transitioned I knew that as a white trans woman with access to education, normalization, and a full life, I had a responsibility to use my privilege to uplift the voices of trans people who aren’t heard, primarily trans people of color. The desire to make an impact in my community called me to serve. Tim Cavanaugh: First, I identify as a gay cisgender man. I started doing this a long time ago. I worked with the Indian Health Services for three years after my residency. That’s sort of where I came out; I was a late bloomer, although, not really for that day and age.When I came to Rhode Island, I wanted to be an out and proud gay physician. I started working at the Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP). I did a lot of community outreach focused on the LGBTQ community with them, which I really enjoy. I met and created an alliance with a good friend of mine, David Abbott, whose been a long-time gay LGBT advocate and crusader in Rhode Island. About 15 years ago, we started doing Hepatitis C vaccination clinics at Gay Bingo and other community events. Then we moved our effort into the bathhouse and started doing STD and HIV testing as well. Back at CCAP, Lauren Nocera was advocating that the trans* community is very underserved, and it should be part of our mission to provide care to this community. Patients started coming to the clinic, and I was, like most doctors, not very well prepared to care for
trans* patients. So I did a lot of research on my own and connected with people working in the field; suddenly I was “the expert” in trans* health in the area. Whom have you viewed as an inspiration for the work you do or have done? Frank Ferri: I was in San Francisco in 1978 when Harvey Milk was elected. The first RI advocate I learned of was Julia Pell. There were others. Alex Gorriaran: There are so many activists and leaders who are making a difference and have inspired so many. As it relates to the LGBTQ community, I have always been inspired by the work that Harvey Milk had done for our community. As one of the first openly gay elected officials, he stood up and refused to stay in the closet and created a new conversation around LGBTQ advocacy. The way he was able to rally the community and ultimately give hope to so many people who were in the closet at a time when hate and homophobia was rampant across the country was amazing and still inspires me to this day. Joe Reddish: I would say the roots of my drive in trying to make a difference started with my grandparents. They were farmers, but as a child I watched them. My grandmother was a cook at the local middle school. She would finish her day at the job, then go to the community center which she and my grandfather started and cook meals to take to individuals who could not cook for themselves. In addition, my grandparents would take farm products to individuals less fortunate than they. Kate Monteiro: I am inspired by activists across a spectrum not only of issues but eras. I have a deep abiding respect for the first generation of American LGBTQ activists – Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyons, Harry Hay – they cleared important space for the rest of us. As Barbara Gittings once put it: “Those of us who are lucky enough to be able to be out and active in Gay liberation have a special responsibility to those who cannot afford to come out yet. What we’re saying to them is: ‘Hang in there, people, because those of us who are out are oiling the closet hinges just as fast as we can.’ ” Nika Lomazzo: Definitely Janet Mock. When I read her memoir “redefining Realness” in a college writing workshop I started to realize that I was trans. It unlocked something in me and I knew I wanted to do the same thing for other trans people. Her honesty and unapologetic claim to womanhood continues to inspire me.
Who do you think is making the biggest impact on the local LGBTQ community? Frank Ferri: David Cicilline. His presence and advocacy impacts locally and nationally. Joe Reddish: I would say that our drag queens and transgender individuals have, in a very positive manner, continued to create the visibility and acceptance for all. Kate Monteiro: Right now I am most impressed by the important work of the Trans* community. Nika Lomazzo: I think many of us are trying to do our part, but I think that the trans women nationally and locally who are leading this movement are making the biggest impact at a time when trans visibility is more important than ever. We have been pushed aside and silenced for so long, and now that our voices are being centered in the conversation, the impact is being felt everywhere. How does Options need to evolve (and/or what traditions must Options hold on to) to be relevant in the world of social media, fake news, and the 24hour news cycle? Frank Ferri: We cannot let our guard down. I get news blogs from HRC, Victory Fund, Equality Federation and several more. We need the same thing locally. We have many heroes in our state and we need to know what is happening. Alex Gorriaran: I am excited that Options is relaunching their publication. There is a never-ending need to be able to communicate to the LGBTQ community and Options provides a platform for organizations and individuals to be able to share information and resources. Everyone likes to receive their news and information in different ways. Just like any media outlet, Options needs to be nimble to be able to communicate in different ways. Not only in print, but digitally and also being engaged with and in the community. Joe Reddish: Options is one of the last written communications that is available in the RI community. As Options navigates the new trends, they need to continue to be an anchor in educating the community on the successes and challenges in the community. Options should create a section that focuses on and captures our Millennials, either through paper or electronically through social media. Kate Monteiro: For many, Options began as essentially a note slipped under the closet door. The Internet and its myriad incarnations has replaced that function. I
suspect, though I am no expert, that Options’ future may lie not as a news source but as a locus of discussion, commentary, and education. What is the most important issue affecting LGBTQ people that is likely to come up at the RI State House this year? Frank Ferri: Conversion therapy legislation was important, and assuring that RI continues to champion the LGBTQ community. Alex Gorriaran: Take the time to learn about our LGBTQ history locally and globally. We have come a long way in our fight for equality and we need your help to protect our progress. There are still many challenges ahead of us and opportunities to unite to fight discrimination and inequalities. Joe Reddish: I believe we still have a way to go to ensure transgender rights in the schools and community. States such as Massachusetts have really made a strong statement in their policies of inclusiveness of the transgender community. Kate Monteiro: An ongoing series of changes to the law are necessary to solidify the state’s commitment to full respect for trans people. LGBTQ Action RI is advocating in particular this year for a respect in death law to assure that death certificates reflect how someone lived, not necessarily the gender a doctor arbitrarily chose for them at birth. Nika Lomazzo: I think many bills will impact our community: the bill to raise the minimum wage, the reproductive health care bill, etc. the fight for inclusion will continue at the State House, and I’m excited to help lead that battle. What advice do you have for youth who are just coming out as LGBTQ? Frank Ferri: Reach out and make friends from all generations and ethnicities. There is a lot of history and support in RI and the more you know the more life will be fulfilling. Alex Gorriaran: Don’t forget the ones that have come before us that paved the way for us to live openly and freely as LGBTQ. Joe Reddish: Know the history of your community. Embrace and respect the freedoms for us to be who we are, love who we want, but always be respectful of others’ opinions. Respect and care for one another. So often I observe in our community us not treating each other with respect. If we expect others to respect and accept, then we need to respect and accept one another.
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Kate Monteiro: My only advice remains: Always be as out as you can be and only as closeted as you must be to be safe. Haley Star: The most important thing they need to know – be yourself – no matter what anyone tells you, what you read or what you hear. You are the ONLY you there is and you should be proud of it. We are all made in a unique way and that’s what makes the world go round. Don’t change for anyone but yourself. Find the love for yourself above anything else, that is the key to true happiness. There are, of course, those who will not agree with or share in your happiness. Shift, change and adapt. Love is all around and it’s our job to find it and pass it along. Nika Lomazzo: I want them to know that even when it sounds cliche, it will get better and that they aren’t alone. I want them to know that they can find others like them even if it’s on social media. I’ve had so many young trans kids reach out on Instagram and I always want them to feel free to reach out to older LGBTQ people they may know because we are here for them. Own your truth but do it in a way that feels good for you. No one’s journey is going to be the same [as someone else’s]. We are all valid in our quest to be our authentic selves. Try to be kind to yourself and remember that you are worthy of love and acceptance. Do you think Rhode Islanders need an LGBTQ community center? Frank Ferri: We have been spending a lot of time in Wilton Manors, Florida and the pride center has an extremely busy calendar of events and support services.The community sees it as an important resource. RI would definitely benefit from a similar center. Alex Gorriaran: Over the years, there have been several endeavors to establish a LGBTQ community center. From my perspective it has been very hard to establish the infrastructure needed and the finances to support it. At the core of a community center, I feel it is an opportunity to bring our community together and providing a welcoming and safe space for individuals and organizations to develop programing. This can all happen without actually having a brick and mortar building. For those who want to develop a community center, I would recommend developing the programming that would take place in a center and host it any of the welcoming venues around the state. Evaluate the engagement and the need from the community and then from there, to determine if the LGBTQ community would support it.
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Joe Reddish: I think a community center would be great if created in a manner that provides education, collaboration, and inclusiveness for all, whether they are LGBTQ or not. We are in a time when we need to ensure that we do not create more barriers and walls. With that in mind I think a center should include a historical look at LGBTQ locally and globally and serve as a reminder of the many challenges and celebrate the many achievements within the LGBTQ community. Kate Monteiro: Any community center that could succeed in 2018 would have to be a forward-looking institution structured far differently from the image most carry in their head. I’ve yet to hear or see a vision of an institution that speaks to the needs of the future and not the absences of the past. Nika Lomazzo: Absolutely. It serves as a safe space and a space of empowerment. What health concerns most affect the LGBTQ people in your life? Frank Ferri: Aging. Aging leads to many major health concerns and we need to find health care services where we feel safe. STDs are always a concern. Alex Gorriaran: Understanding the health needs of the LGBTQ community can be very complex. Being able to have access to quality healthcare, is a neverending concern for all of us. With growing costs, limitations to access to doctors or discriminatory practices that still exist for LGBTQ patients, we must constantly be advocating for equal access, affordable and quality healthcare for all. Joe Reddish: AIDS has been the key one – the positive thing being it is managed. As much as PrEP is a great preventative, it does not stop other infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. But now I am very concerned as I observe how opioids and other drug use has spiked in our community. Another challenge has been the increased level of alcohol abuse within our community. Kate Monteiro: The questions of “Aging while Out” and “Aging while Positive” will become more salient as the postStonewall generation enters the retirement years. At the same time, the advances being made in trans health is changing the medical landscape for many in our community. Nika Lomazzo: The biggest concern that I see is the fear of going to a doctor as a trans or gender non-conforming person. There’s a real and valid fear that we won’t be understood or get the help that we need regarding our bodies.
Tim Cavanaugh: Assumptions about sexuality and gender that interfere with people developing a good therapeutic relationship with their medical provider. These assumptions destroy the trust you need to have in that kind of relationship. Education is a huge issue. We need to begin education in the medical schools and residency programs. People are talking about doing that, but it’s taking time. Two years ago, researchers interviewed the directors of medical training programs. The average number of hours devoted to LGBTQ care is seven hours in the whole four years of medical education. Any time you’re presenting a person’s case we should always be talking about not just sexuality and gender identity, but ethnicity and culture. That’s just part of a good medical education, and we’re not doing a great job of it yet. If you could ask one thing of your fellow LGBTQ community members, what would it be? Frank: We are all in this together. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings and lend a hand whenever possible. We all have to be part of the solutions. Alex Gorriaran: Knowing the growing needs that exist among the many different LGBTQ organizations serving our community, I ask those reading this to take the time to be engaged and active in our community. Volunteer, get involved and when possible, please consider making a donation to those groups, organizations or events that are moving our community forward. Joe Reddish: That is very easy – volunteer! It is our community and so many of our own community members don’t get involved; they don’t give; they don’t participate. It takes all of us working together to ensure that we continue to educate and create an equal and fair environment. Learn, remember, and respect the history of our community as it relates to the inclusiveness and rights that have been fought for by others before us. Kate Monteiro: Oil the hinges for someone else’s closet doors. Nika Lomazzo: I’d ask them to remain conscious that even in our community there is still a need for inclusivity and intersectionality. We have to pass the mic to trans people, LGBTQ people of color, and all marginalized members of our community who are still suffering even within our community.
THEATRE in Rhody
Summer
by Will Demers
As a wet spring gives way to the longawaited Rhode Island summer, the hubs of state and Broadway-style theatrical events, Trinity Repertory Company and the Providence Performing Arts Center, go dark.Trinity Rep. gears up for the fall season and PPAC limits itself to presenting a few one-off shows. Luckily, theatre fans looking for good show don’t have to go far. Rhode Island is home to some amazing smaller theatre companies. First, Woonsocket’s Stadium Theatre (www. stadiumtheatre.com) offers full scale theatrical productions all year long. Built in 1926, this majestic venue has vaudeville written all over it, and if it isn’t a cover band you want to see, there are several shows to choose from. Plus there are educational opportunities for both kids and adults, and open auditions for shows. Next, Theatre By The Sea in Wakefield has been entertaining audiences for decades (www.theatrebythesea.com). The restored barn venue just minutes from the ocean added air conditioning a few years back (it was always a rather humid experience) and despite having a smaller venue and stage, I’ve seen some incredible performances there. Last year’s The Producers and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story were fantastic. This quaint theatre has an outdoor cabana to serve you drinks
and a restaurant complete with cabaret performances. Put on your best frock and drive to the ocean! Also of note, The Sandra-Feinstein Gamm Theatre which is uprooting from its longtime home in Pawtucket to move into the space left vacant by the now defunct Ocean State Theatre Company (I’m still rather sad about that closing), will premiere the new space in the fall. For the warmer months, they offer theatre camps and other classes. Visit www.gammtheatre. org and put that nervous energy you exhibit nightly at the clubs to good use. If you need some camp and drama, Epic Theatre Company is just the thing. Founded by local Kevin Broccoli, this black box experience is second to none. I’ve seen more local talent here than anywhere else. Located mainly in Cranston, plays have been produced all over the state, and they’ll even be streaming a live show from their Facebook page, The Drag, which promises “The first ever Epic talk show about art, theater, politics, gossip, and everything you’d normally say in the comments section.” For information and locations, www.epictheatreri.org is your gateway to amazing theatre and provocative news. The Wilbury Theatre Group has bounced around a bit before recently settling in Olneyville and will premiere The
Pirates of Penzance through June in a wildly re-imagined musical experience. You can get your education on here, as well. Visit www.thewilburygroup.org to get the skinny on summer events and classes. The Burbage Theatre Company relocated from the now closed Aurora Providence nightclub to a restored Pawtucket space at 249 Roosevelt Avenue. Visit www.burbagetheatre.org and read about their new partnership with locally based TEN31 Productions, a living arts company that’s no stranger to the gay community. Burbage programming picks back up in August. The Players at Barker Playhouse are presenting a three-day Arts Festival this June which will include The Imperial Court of Rhode Island. The schedule is listed at www.playersri.org. I will definitely see you there! Hanging out at bars provides its own entertainment in the Capital City, but again, if you’re not interested in the club scene, or just want to mix things up, theatre is all around you all year long. You can watch, perform, sing, and build some sets if you’ve a mind to. Everything Arts! See you all in the audience. Photo: Beauty & The Beast, courtesy Theatre by the Sea
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OUT ON THE TOWN
RI Pride Triple Crown Pageant The Colosseum, April 29 photos by Jen Bonin
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Options Magazine Relaunch
Providence G Ballroom, May 3 photos by Jack Hartwein-Sanchez and Ryan Clarke
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King of Queens
The Colosseum, May 6 photos by Jen Bonin
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PFLAG Providence 20th Anniversary Celebration Beneficent Congregational Church, May 6 photos by Mark Davis
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Aly Brock
by Chris Cedroni, ACOS
King of Queens:
Putting the Fun in Fundraising
You may not know Alicia Brock. She’s definitely a behind the scenes kind of person. While she doesn’t crave the spotlight personally, she does a lot to shine a light on the drag community with King of Queens, an annual contest where “drag newbies” learn to strut their stuff from seasoned “drag mothers.” The event serves as the contestants’ unveiling, where they show what they’ve learned, and vie for Judges’ Favorite and Fan Favorite. Aly, as she’s known, produces, directs, and manages the spectacular event that was held at the Colosseum nightclub in downtown Providence on May 6, and raised over $40,000 for AIDS Care Ocean State. Anthony Paiva, aka
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Carmella Canswallow, was crowned Fan Favorite, making his drag mother Haley Star very proud. Heath Bish, aka Lady Dayz, was named Judges’ Favorite, who blossomed under the watchful eye of drag mother Jealousy Jonz. The event brought a phenomenal amount of energy and excitement, as twelve performers and their drag mothers lip-synched and danced to a mixture of club music and oldies. But just as impressive, though not as visible, was Aly, running around and stage managing the event that has been a constant part of her life for the past four months. She took the time to share her inside perspective on the event that has
become one of the most anticipated yearly events within the RI LGBTQ community. Chris: What’s the history of King of Queens? Was it always the powerhouse it is today? Aly: I presented the concept for King of Queens to Stephen Hartley, the then Development Director of AIDS Care Ocean State, over drinks back in 2010. I was looking for a new, out of the box way to bring money into the agency, and at the time there was nothing like this. We reached out to the amazing group of drag queens that support ACOS, and they all agreed to take on a drag “daughter.” Our first year, our goal was $5,000; we ended up making about $8,000. Then
year after year, more and more people wanted to be involved and come back again.The enthusiasm grew, and so did the fundraising. Every year it raises more and more money. Chris: How much work is involved for you personally? Aly: Certainly not as much as for the contestants and the drag mothers, but still quite a bit. There are a lot of details in putting this show together, keeping in contact with the contestants and the drag mothers, working with the venue, working through hiccups that inevitably happen. It’s something I truly love, so I don’t really consider it work. Chris: Why do you donate so much of your time and energy to the event? Aly: This event is my baby. I want every detail to be right, and for everyone who is in the show to know they are making a difference by performing and fundraising. For the people who attend, I want them to feel the energy – so much so that they want to come back year after year. I want this to be the event that everyone looks forward to. Chris: What makes a good contestant for King of Queens? Do you find them, or do they find you?
Aly: The best contestant is one who is enthusiastic, about both performing and fundraising. Both are lots of work but if you approach both of them creatively, you’ll be surprised at the impact you can make. As far as those who participate, it’s actually a little of both. In the beginning I looked for people both within and outside of the community who were willing to try something new and have some fun. Now, I’m fortunate that many people come to me once they’ve been to the event, or know someone who has, and they see how much fun it is and how much of an impact their fundraising can make for the agency. Chris: Why do you think this event is so successful? Aly: I think because it’s an event where everyone feels included. No matter what side of the stage you’re on, you’re part of the show. The energy, the support, the excitement in the room when this show is going on is like no other event I’ve ever worked on or attended. Chris: Fundraising is a large portion of King of Queens. What advice do you give the contestants? Aly: I tell my contestants to use their resources, ask their friends for support, see if they can throw a fundraiser at
their job. If you work for a company that matches nonprofit donations, take advantage of that. Think outside the traditional fundraising box when it comes to raising money for your Fan Favorite funds. To date, I’ve seen some really creative, fun ways of raising money. One past contestant walked from club to club in downtown Providence stopping people and asking them to help him raise money. He had an iPad already loaded with his Go Fund Me page so people could contribute right away. When it comes to FUNdraising, the sky truly is the limit. AIDS Care Ocean State thanks all the contestants, their drag mothers, the judges, volunteers, the owner and staff of the Colosseum, as well as the audience who all contributed to make this event such a success. AIDS Care Ocean State provides comprehensive AIDS service, supportive housing, emergency funds, and a Speakers Bureau. Located at 18 Parkis Avenue, Providence. (401) 521-3603. Appointments: (401) 781-0665. www.aidscareoceanstate.org.
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RI’S TRANS
HEALTH
CONFERENCE by Ethan Huckel photos by Melissa DaSilva
Resistance and Resilience was the theme of the 4th Annual Rhode Island Trans Health Conference, held on April 28 at Rhode Island College (RIC). Co-sponsored by Warren Alpert Medical School, RIC’s School of Social Work, and TGI Network of Rhode Island, the conference is designed to provide continuing education to medical and behavioral health providers so that they may better serve the transgender population while also providing community-building and educational space for transgender community members and their allies. Beautiful spring weather served as the backdrop for the day, as hundreds of conference attendees wandered RIC’s campus, attending sessions in four different buildings. RIC professor and conference planning committee member Dan Harvey opened the conference with a welcome to all attendees. Justice Gaines delivered a powerful keynote address that focused on providing compassionate care to all patients, even those with whom providers cannot relate nor understand. Gaines referenced the conference’s theme when ze* said that zir existence was itself an act of resistance. Ze, however,
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went on to describe zirself as the kind of transgender person that providers, and cisgender people broadly, are comfortable with, because of zir ivy-league education and manner of putting people at ease, but ze spoke largely on behalf of those who may not have the same privileges ze does. The address centered the experiences of the most marginalized, and provided allies in the room with a simple reminder to act first with compassion and then trust that transgender people know themselves best. After the keynote address, medical providers, behavioral health providers, and community members proceeded to separate tracks for the day, and convened for lunch and a mid-day poetry performance by Elias Evander, a member of the 2017 Providence National Poetry Slam team and finalist at the 2017 Capturing Fire Queer Poetry Summit. Eva Dayon, chair of the community track planning committee, explained, “The medical and behavioral health tracks and the community tracks of the conference have different goals. We know how important it is to our local community that we build a robust network of
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providers who are prepared to offer competent and affirming care, and the provider tracks are designed with that goal in mind. The community track, on the other hand, is designed to offer a variety of learning and communitybuilding opportunities to bring local community members together.” Another planning committee member noted that isolation and loneliness are ongoing problems for the transgender community, despite many recent gains in access to care, and that the conference aims to help combat that issue. Over the last four years, the conference has grown dramatically in the number of attendees and the sessions provided. In its first year, the entire conference occupied only two rooms; this year, it spanned four buildings. Conference planners say they plan on continuing to grow the conference each year to better serve community needs. Planning for the 2019 conference will begin right away and new volunteers to the planning committee are welcome. Email transhealthri@ gmail.com for more information. *Ze and zir are gender neutral pronouns used in place of she/he and her/his.
Michelle Paliotta, LICSW
Daniel Harvey, MSW, LICSW gives opening remarks
Social Stigma Around
LGBTQ+
Domestic Violence
by Yaretsy Flores
Kassie Hawkins sips hot rose tea by a sunny secondfloor window of a Victorian-style building on Smith Street in Providence. As Manager of LGBTQ+ Programs at Sojourner House, Hawkins agreed to meet onsite to discuss the types of services Sojourner House has to offer. I imagine that her smiling face helps clients feel comfortable when discussing hard topics like experiencing domestic violence. Sojourner House, started in 1976 by Brown University students and Providence residents, offers counseling and shelter services to people experiencing domestic and sexual violence. Additionally, the house manages a domestic violence hotline, a men’s shelter, immigration services, and other specialized programs, and has received accolades for creating Rhode Island’s first gay and lesbian domestic violence advocacy programs. It’s clear that domestic violence is an issue affecting tens of thousands of households in the country. However, it is less well recognized as occurring among partners of the same sex because their relationships are not viewed as equally valid – legally or culturally. “An abuser can exploit this vulnerability by forcing a person to hold hands and kiss in public or by directly telling a boss, parents, and friends that they are queer or transgender,” explains Dr. Seema Yasmin, award-winning journalist at the Dallas Morning News. A 2012 survey by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs identified transgender people as the group of people most likely to face threats/intimidation, harassment, and police violence as a result of intimate partner violence. These and other misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community play a vital role in why victims are not seeking the help that they need.That’s where Hawkins and her team come in.“There’s another layer of stigma that comes along with being gay, plus being a victim of domestic violence,” says Hawkins. Sojourner House’s LGBTQ-specific services include housing assistance, individual counseling, support groups, prevention education, youth services, free HIV testing, and sexual health advocacy. If there are culturally competent and forward-thinking organizations like Sojourner House available, why does accessing services still seem so far out of reach for some? Other issues such as drug abuse, sexual violence, and homelessness disproportionally affect LGBTQ+ people and act as barriers to help. “It’s not a perfect world, some people are going to use drugs,” says Hawkins. Acknowledging that addiction can be a victim’s coping mechanism is important when trying to help someone land on their feet. The shelters prohibit drug use on the property; however, if someone shows up intoxicated or high they will not be denied a roof and a bed. Apart from drop-ins, Sojourner House also works closely with
other shelters in the area. “We have to meet people where they’re at,” Hawkins explains. In collaboration with other organizations, Sojourner House started the mandatory LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for Providence Police officers and leads trainings for the department. Officers must first unlearn some of the language associated with same-sex relationships and gender-nonconforming identities that may have previously been deemed acceptable. Hawkins glowed when discussing this new program. “I think this will really help bridge the gap between the police department and the community, “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback on that project.” Sojourner House is also interested in discussing what sexual consent is and isn’t, and staff are leading the conversation among young adults during their sex ed program. Hawkins expresses how “some men my age don’t fully understand what consent is.” It’s important to extend the knowledge that the absence of a “no” doesn’t mean “yes.”The #metoo movement has helped people like Hawkins, whose focus is mainly on providing resources to people experiencing power-based violence, by shining a light on such a prevalent yet concealed issue and serving as a boost for those who have felt isolated. And that is cause for encouragement. “We have pride in where we work. We love and believe in the work we do,” said Hawkins. “I get paid to be a queer feminist!” Sojourner House is a comprehensive domestic violence agency committed to providing culturally sensitive support, advocacy, safety and respect to victims and survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence. Services include drop-in and residential services, a domestic violence hotline, support groups and healthy relationship/empowerment workshops, rapid HIV testing, teen dating violence prevention, community education, and training. For more info, call (401) 861-6191 or (401) 765-3232.
Appointments Available Now Individual and Couples Therapy Groups And Workshops Services in English Hypnosis and Spanish Evaluations School Based Services
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Born This Way Prom by Tiffani Carcieri, Youth Pride Inc. Staff Member
Youth Pride, Inc. (YPI) members and staff once again had the pleasure of attending the the 9th Annual Born This Way Prom hosted on April 27 at the Rotunda Ballroom at Easton’s Beach in Newport, RI. This exciting event is open to all interested students and youth, free of charge, from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The Born This Way Prom is an opportunity for students who may not feel comfortable attending their own prom to experience a night of music, dancing, and fun while being their authentic selves. Despite abstaining from publicly advertising the event, and instead allowing the news to travel by word of mouth alone for the purpose of staying within reasonable attendance limits, the prom hosted 218 youth from 31 different schools across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Drag Queen performances were presented by Miss Anita Toppings, Miss Gia Deveroux, Miss Jacqueline Dimera, and Miss Vi’let Laboss.The MC was John Kelley. All of these outstanding individuals are from the LGBTQ community in Providence. Members of the Imperial Court of RI were in attendance along with Mr. Gay RI 2017 Tim Rondeau and Ms. Lesbian RI 2017 Ashley Delgado. State Senator Dawn Euer of Jamestown and Newport has continually attended the prom since 2011. The most highly anticipated point of the night was the crowning of prom king and queen.Youth Pride Inc. youth have won the titles of King and Queen for the past two years, and this year was no different. YPI youth Aileen, age 16, was crowned King and their significant other Esme, age 14, was crowned Queen. Current YPI staff member Jesus Holguin was one of the first crowned Kings in Born This Way Prom history. Funding for the prom is attained through the generosity of several donors. Drag Queen troops, such as The Imperial Court of RI, host fundraisers throughout the
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Options | June/July 2018
Prom King Aileen, age 16 (left), with Prom Queen Esme, age 14 (right)
year and donate the proceeds to support the prom. Newport Out, a locally based travel agency that promotes Newport events and tourism to the LGBTQ community, is another active donor.This year Newport Out donated the proceeds from the opening performance of Call Me by Your Name at the Jane Pickens theater to fund several vans used to transport youth from Youth Pride Inc. to the prom. The Born This Way Prom is organized by Interweave, an inclusive group operating out of Channing Memorial Church in Newport. Interweave serves LGBTQ individuals and their allies while simultaneously upholding Unitarian Universalist values. Youth Pride Inc. has a long-standing relationship with Interweave and by extension, the Born This Way Prom. Many youth are impacted by stigma surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.These youth may not feel comfortable or safe bringing their date, or presenting in the way they
feel most themselves, at a more traditional high school prom. In some cases, bringing a same-sex date may not even be allowed. Everyone deserves to have a special prom night they can look back on fondly. YPI is excited to continue this partnership with Interweave, and to dance the night away again next year. For more information about Interweave, visit www.facebook.com/ InterweaveCMC. don’t grow up invisible
Youth Pride Inc. Youth Pride Inc. provides support, education and advocacy for LGBTQQ young people ages 13-23. Our Drop-in Center is at 473 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903. Visit www.youthprideri.org, email info@youthprideri. org, or call (401) 421-5626 for more info.
Practical Peace
on the Queer Journey
by Janie Ganga
Hair design & photo by Stacy Piccolo
Yogi Amrit Desai says, “If it doesn’t change your life, it’s not yoga.” This may sound daunting at first, but it’s actually a gradual, ongoing practice. Yogis believe that we all constantly have the potential to be transformed and revitalized – from moment to moment. To make this practical, in Amrit Yoga we use this Intention: I am at peace with myself as I am. I have to admit that around 2002 when I first heard about this Intention, I was a bit puzzled. I was an academic and an activist and felt driven to make a difference in the world. I wasn’t sure how I could be at peace with “what is, as it is,” while trying to radically change the world. But I did know that the more I could be at peace with myself as I am, the better my life would feel. So I hung in there, using what worked as a student of yoga, and just let the question marks be there in the background. In 2011, the shape of my daily life shifted completely and Amrit Yoga was there for me. Even as I was letting go of a career, a partner, and a compartmentalized life all at once, there was a community of people, strong teachers, and the Intention: I am at peace with myself as I am. I had identified as bisexual since the late 90s, but was out only selectively. Then in 2012, I was suddenly fully out as queer in all aspects of my life. All of a sudden, I didn’t have my identity as a nonprofit professional and had a lot more time on my hands. The opportunity to become a yoga teacher aligned perfectly. I graduated in April 2013, and started teaching regularly that fall. Calm, steady center Yoga has so many tools to help us remember our calm, steady center, even during times that can be challenging to the LGBTQ+ population. In June 2016, I collaborated with a friend (also a yoga student) to create an art piece out of my hair for Boston PrideFest. Really, all I did was come up with a few ideas and then sit still for six hours. She did all the amazing artistic work! She created an offset flower that was shaved in, shaded, and colored. The photo shown was taken with the glitter we added for the Pride Parade, but my head was constantly visible for weeks. I was a walking piece of art. So I got a chance to practice being at peace with myself as I am, all the time. When people asked to see the back of my head and take photos, I always agreed and explained that it was in celebration of Pride. Then the Pulse nightclub shooting happened in Orlando the night after the Boston Pride march, and my colorful art-hair was already there – a way for people to talk about and acknowledge what happened everywhere I went. I talked with my yoga students, kids, customers, and coworkers – about my hair, Boston Pride, and the violence at Pulse. Many people commented on how they were so grateful to see something hopeful. A few days later, I flew to Orlando, which I do a few times a year on my way to Salt Springs where I assist in teacher trainings at the Amrit Yoga Institute. I was aware that some people thought that my hair was dyed in nearly rainbow colors in solidarity with Pulse, and it was.That synergy in the timing was a practical expression of what I’d been practicing for years both on and off the yoga mat: I am at peace with myself as I am. Janie Ganga is an Amrit Yoga Teacher (RYT 500) at Santosha Yoga & Holistic Health Center and Swansea Yoga & Mindfulness Studio. She also works in customer service at Whole Foods on Waterman Street in Providence. For more info, janieganga.com.
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A View of
Trans Views Trigger Warning: assault, harassment, addiction, mental institutions, detainment, suicide, child rape. The play features all these elements in the true stories of six transgender people, taken verbatim from interviews conducted by producers Steven Pennell and Frank V. Toti, Jr. In the play, Steven Pennell plays the interviewer, asking the six people questions, and the audience learns their stories through their answers. The play tours this spring under the sponsorship of the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Ar ts and Culture Program and the Rhode Island State Council of Churches. Each performance includes a moderated discussion with someone from the Council of Churches, a family member of a transgender person, and a member of the trans community. As a genderqueer/non-binary member of the trans community, I agreed to be on the discussion panel following the opening night performance at Westminster Unitarian Church in East Greenwich on May 11. I saw Trans Views
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Options | June/July 2018
by Rex LeBeau
last year and was curious about the changes made to the play this year. I found a seat in the back but still stood out among the white-haired audience, who nearly filled up the room. The play opened with recordings from interviews and seven empty chairs in the front of the performance space. Steven Pennell, the interviewer, entered and introduced the interviews with each person. As he said each person’s name, that person appeared from the back of the audience as they spoke their opening lines, and settled into one of the chairs at the front. As Steven asked them questions, the stories came together. The teenage transman telling off his parents. The transwoman who grew up in Cranston in an Italian-American family. The hardcore drug dealer tearing through life on her motorcycle. The quiet transman affirmed by his redneck coworkers. The career-navy service member who loved Barbie dolls when she was little. The struggle of a former
lesbian who found out he had a buddy in his young nephew. In this year’s performance the cast memorized the entire script, whereas last year’s involved reading the script. The smoothness of this performance blew me away. The actors clearly made a huge effor t to learn each line of dialogue exactly the way the real interviewee said it. I’d imagine that was tough since the play had no interaction between characters (except the occasional question from the interviewer) and no scene changes. Though most of the time the actors remained seated, during intense emotional stories the actors left their chairs to move closer to the audience. The teenage transman came right into the center aisle as he passionately recalled telling his mom that he didn’t want to live anymore. His mom took him to Hasbro Hospital, and during his time there, the actor sat silently by the first row of chairs. In a moment of pure joy, the transwoman from Cranston stood up and gazed into the heavens as she remembered her first look in the mirror after facial feminization surgery. The bruised face, a bruised woman’s face, filled her with happiness. The audience sat in rapt attention throughout the performance, laughing, gasping, and even crying on the emotional rollercoaster of these six stories. Director and writer Frank Toti did an excellent job of weaving the narratives together so that one character’s joyful or humorous moment followed another character’s heavy moment. The themes flowed from each character’s first memories of questioning their assigned gender, the attempts to bury those feelings, and finally finding the courage to live the rest of their lives authentically. The play focused on the difficulty of coming to grips with one’s gender and the process of transition. I got the impression that most of the characters were not too far removed from transition, which meant the play did not address what it’s like to have lived many years post-transition. The people producing the play are cisgender and the people in the audience were mostly cisgender. To a cisgender person, hormones, surgeries, and violent encounters with our binary society might seem like the most titillating aspects of being transgender. It would be easy for someone not familiar with what it means to be transgender to see this play and think transgender people are likely to end up with a bullet in the brain or a stint in an institution. During the play, the interviewer interjected “facts” to explain terminology such as “transition” and “cross-dressing.” I found this disrupted the flow of the play, and it also felt somewhat patriarchal coming from the only older cisman on stage. It set up an uncomfor table power dynamic with the all-knowing cisman probing the trans people for their personal stories. I think the trans characters would have been fine telling their stories without the interviewer. I found many of the “facts” misleading and confusing. The attempt to explain being non-binary as synonymous with being agender made me, as a non-binary person, cringe. Saying they/them pronouns are plural isn’t correct since those
pronouns are being used as singular. Also, the explanation made no attempt to model their use. I’ve never heard of being transgender as an alternative gender identification itself but more a term used to describe the experience of being assigned the wrong gender at bir th. A transman would identify as male, not transgender, if asked his gender on a form at the DMV. The 49% suicide rate mentioned was also misleading as that statistic is meant to describe attempted suicide, not actual deaths, and that was not clear from the play. The 2015 National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) report listed the attempted suicide rate amongst transgender people as 40%. Still, it puts a very sad spin on being transgender. I wonder if this attempt at education would have been so garbled if the play had been produced by transgender people, or with substantial support of the trans community. Who gets to control the narrative about trans people, and is it even okay for cis people to produce and direct a play about trans people? Do trans people need cis people to tell their stories for them? Many of the actors were cisgender and they did a fantastic job playing their roles, but is this situation similar to blackface? Is less-than-ideal exposure to trans people/stories better than no exposure? If I didn’t know anything about being transgender before seeing this play, I’m not sure I’d have the most positive view of it or the knowledge to be a better advocate. It’s clear the producers intended to “help dispel fear and misunderstanding and celebrate courage and tenacity.” I don’t think the play accomplishes that. The play contains powerful stories, but it’s too tragic and misinformed to be an effective educational tool. However, the actors put heart and soul into the performance; the stories are diverse, honest, and touching; and I guarantee you will feel all the emotions with these courageous characters.
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Greater Providence Chapter
Giving Caring, Confidential Suppor� When You Need It Most
HELPLINE: (401) 307-1802
Monthly meetings held every first Wednesday of the month at The MET School, Unity Building, 325 Public Street, Providence, RI Parents, Families, Friends & Allies of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Non-conforming Community
Go to www.PFLAGprovidence.org for more information Email: PFLAGprovidence@gmail.com Like us on Facebook: PFLAG Greater Providence, RI Follow us on Twitter @PFLAGProvRI
by Ethan Huckel, Board President
RI Pride has announced that TGI Network, along with SAGE RI and Youth Pride Inc, will be an honorary marshal at this year’s RI PrideFest. We are honored to be given this distinction. As the only trans-led organization in the state focused on supporting and empowering our local transgender, gender-variant, and intersex communities, it is an honor to help lead the celebration this year. There is no doubt that we have come quite a long way in our community, when a group of trans people and their allies are not only out of the shadows and into the light, but are given a position of honor. At the same time, we are reminded that Pride is a celebration of struggle and triumph. It is a time to rekindle our spirit of community action and band together for greater change. It is easy to be complacent in the warmth of our victories, but there is a great deal of work still to be done. We at TGI Network will consider this honor a call to further action. We hope that you’ll join us on June 16 as we celebrate and come together with community. We hope that you’ll march with us in support of all of the trans people who are not able to be out. And we hope that you’ll continue to work with us to continue to make this world safer for all. 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 www.tginetwork.org.
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Options | June/July 2018
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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
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. 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 800-338-6555. 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 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
AA Brothers in Sobriety: Saturday 7:30pm. 372 Wayland Avenue, Providence. 751-9328. 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. andThurs. 12 -- 3pm. 134 Mathewson St., Providence. John Fruscella, 831-5522, Ext. 3835. 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. AIDS Quilt RI: Displays local AIDS memorial quilt panels, panelmaking programs including Anna’s Workshop, HIV/AIDS education for
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Options | June/July 2018
Planned Parenthood of So. New England: Confidential, lowcost, 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.
INFORMATION/EDUCATION 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. 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.
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. Indigo Lounge: 599 Tiogue Ave, Coventry RI 02816. Breakfast buffet, specialty pizzas, T Dances, live entertainment, karaoke Thurs. Hours vary, closed Mon. www.indigopizza.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. The Village: Downtown Providence’s newest LGBT owned and operated restaurant and live entertainment venue. Lunch & dinner Wednesday through Sunday for varying hours. 373 Richmond St. 228-7222, www.thevillageri.com
POLITICAL & LEGAL GROUPS 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.
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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. Rev. Margaret Weis. 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. 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. 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. 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. 245-
6536. 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, coming out groups and quarterly newsletter “Bi Woman 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 and social events for LGBT seniors. SAGE-RI at CareLink, 1 Virginia Ave., Providence, RI 02905. 443-4451. sageriinfo@gmail.com. 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. Smart Monkey Gay Men’s Support Group. Meets twice monthly in Cranston to learn about integrity, intimacy and male roles. Write Paul (ctripaul@yahoo.com) or Steve (43dadzone@gmail.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. 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) 227-4911. advocate@tnlr.org. Adoption Options: Non-sectarian help. Jewish Family Service, 959 North Main Street, Providence. Contact Betsy Alper. 3315437. 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.childfamilyservices.org Community Care Alliance: Stipend, assistance, training provided by Family Resources Community Action. 235-6095. www.famresri.org. Compass: FTM trans info, support and social group. Boston first Thursday 7-9pm. compassftm@gmail.com. www.compassftm.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. 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. 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: Meets regularly at Hope Hospice, 1085 No. Main St.., Providence. Rebecca Sizelove, 415-4301. 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. 5213603. New members contact Scott. 640-3108. Kathys’ Group: Free support group for lesbians with cancer or any life-threatening illness. Partners and caregivers welcome. Meets monthly in Providence. 888-5KATHYS. 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, ages 18+, and is in a relationship with a trans* person(s). 1340 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. Contact Sarah Eley, LICSW. 857-313-6551. 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 & Trans Thursdays: Space for LGBTQ and
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heterosexual youth (24 and under) of color to foster coalitionbuilding and organize to address intersections of oppressions. 6-8pm. 669 Elmwood Ave., Rm. B7, Providence. 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. Seven Hills Behavioral Health: HIV Prevention and Screening. 310 South Main Street, Fall River, MA. (508) 235-1012. 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
campus fine wines
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.
JDHS PHOTOS
Cultivating thirst
Providence’s liquor store since 1974 wine/beer/spirits www.campusfinewines.com 127 Brook Street • Providence 401-621-9650
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JDHSPHOTOS.COM 401.624.6698 JDHSPHOTOS@VERIZON.NET
Felicitations By Felicia Nimue Ackerman
A Proud American Patriot Addresses Donald Trump
You think that my gender transition Should finish my army position. My service for 21 years Does nothing to quiet your fears. You may wish that my service were through, But I’m serving my country, not you.
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