Equal november 2013 issuu

1year

Anniversary Issue!

NOV 2013

Our

o s l A

Turkey and all the “FIXES” Raising the bar with CAREY CUMMINGS A conversation with ally TOM MURPHY What exactly is a HATE CRIME in PA? GAY THANKSGIVING fun facts to share with the family

NEW

MAYOR His vision for liberty and justice for all

PITTSBURGH SKYLINE TURNS (RED) CHECK OUT THE HIGHMARK SPIRE, THE GULF TOWER, AND THE BNY MELLON SIGN AS THEY GO (RED) FOR WORLD AIDS DAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Pre-World AIDS Day Event

1-3 pm East Hills Community Center HIV Testing, education, and treats!

Sponsored by R.A.P.H.A. Program (AIDS Ministry) Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church & Bonacile Enterprises For more information call 412-204-7182 or email bonacileenterprises@gmail.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25 Free HIV Testing at Pitt

11 am - 3 pm 4200 Fifth Ave, Oakland Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force will be offering free HIV testing in the Central Outreach mobile tbv\45esting van outside the Pitt Student Union www.patf.org, 412-345-0597

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 (PITTSBURGH)RED Bar Night Various locations Sponsored by Belvedere Vodka

Garden of Peace Project “Red Light Special” Variety Show 9 pm: $5 cover to benefit (PITTSBURGH)RED Cruze Bar 1600 Smallman Street, Strip District

Free HIV Testing at Cruze Bar

9 pm - midnight Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force will be offering free HIV testing. www.patf.org, 412-345-0597

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1

World AIDS Day Interfaith Celebration of Hope

4 - 6pm Come together in FAITH (Fighting AIDS Inspires the Heart) to show your support for those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. The event will feature speakers, music, fellowship, a cookie bar, education resources, free hiv testing, and a floating lantern release at dusk.

East Liberty Presbyterian Church 116 S Highland Ave, East Liberty

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 (PITTSBURGH) Event

RED

/ World AIDS Day

Market Square, downtown Join us as we remember those who are infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. A large, inflatable red ribbon will be displayed and participating bars and restaurants will feature “red plate” specials and will donate a portion of proceeds to (PITTSBURGH)RED. An event at noon will feature Mayor Ravenshtahl, and a number of local politicians and supporters.

26th Annual World AIDS Day Ceremony

7:30 pm, Heinz Chapel 4200 Fifth Ave, Oakland reception to follow in Reconciliation hall sponsored by the Pitt Men’s Study 412-624-2008

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4

Update in the Care of HIV Prevention

7:30 am - 4:30 pm George G. McGovern Conference Center Allegheny General Hospital Presented by AGH’s Positive Health Clinic, Pittsburgh AIDS Center for Treatment, UPMC, and PA/MidAtlantic AIDS Education & Training Center pamaaetc.org

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7

The Pittsburgh Honors Ball: Galaxy

8 pm - 2 am Stars converge from across the galaxy to earn their place in the Intergalactic Court.

Andy Warhol Museum 117 Sandusky Street, Northside Presented by Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force www.patf.org, 412-345-0583

On Wednesday, November 27 stop by these participating bars and restaurants for (PITTSBURGH)RED specials and giveaways!

5801 941 Saloon August Henrys Blue Moon Bossa Nova Brewer’s Hotel Buckhead Casey’s Draft House Cattivo Cruze Bar Donny’s Place Excuses Harris Grill Images Olive or Twist P-town Real Luck Café Señor Frogs Shenanigans Spin Bartini and There Video Lounge

CONTRIBUTORS & THANK YOU’S

G. Michael Beigay is a freelance photographer and special education professional for Allegheny Intermediate Unit. His photography has provided educational tools to aid students with cognitive disabilities. He also has worked with a media specialist at his LGBT-friendly church to develop various multi-media productions.

Michael has shot for Cue, Whirl, and now Equal.

He is one of the hosts for G2H2 and he is also the main photographer.

Jack Bellas is Partner of Revive Marketing Group and resides in Pittsburgh’s South Side. Jack’s love of the city is rooted in its culture, growing restaurant scene, and continuously evolving nightlife.

Mike Buzzelli is a standup comedian and author. His book, Below Average Genius, a collection of humor pieces culled from his weekly humor column at the ObserverReporter newspaper, is available at Amazon.com.

Philip Ezzo, one of the tallest men in Pittsburgh, is currently a pastry cook at the Duquesne Club downtown. He has been a writer and columnist in LGBT publications for over four years. He is known for his sense of humor and charming personality. In his spare time Philip is a chapter leader with Gay for Good, Pittsburgh chapter, where he is an outreach coordinator.

Stacey Federoff is a Sutersville, PA native, Penn State alumna, and reporter living in Park Place near Regent Square. She has written for The Daily Collegian, The Chautauquan Daily, Trib Total Media. She loves music, vinyl records, coffee, running, and volunteerism.

Jonathan Fobear is a native of Cass City, MI. For 12 years he has been an art director branding nonprofits, corporations, destinations, and city festivals. He has worked with clients as big as The Dept of Agriculture and NASA and as small as his mom & dad. Jonathan has presented branding workshops both in Pennsylvania and New York and currently resides in Pittsburgh’s South Side.

Mara Rago specializes in portraits, fine art, pets, events, model portfolios, legal, and corporate photography. She has a studio in the East End of Pittsburgh and shoots in-studio as well as on location. Photography is Mara’s life. It’s a passion. Capturing visions in her little black box is a gift and, every day, she is grateful.

Jay P. Obertance BS, CES, FNS, NASM-CPT, PES. A personal trainer/ nutrition advisor and self proclaimed gourmand. Attended and graduated Franciscan University and the National Academy of Sports Medicine receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology, licensure, and multiple certifications. Although still residing in his hometown of Toronto, OH; he considers Pittsburgh, PA his home.

Guest contributors: Joe Corcoran Chrissy Costa Jonathan Fobear Lisa Florian Johnna Pro

Special thanks to Dan Gilman.

Cover photo by John Altdorfer

Are YOU interested in writing for Equal Magazine?

Email joek@equalmagazine.com 4

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Discover your inner elf.

TM ©

NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 1 • BENEDUM CENTER TrustArts.org • Box Office at Theater Square 412-456-4800 • Groups 10+ Tickets 412-471-6930

www.ELFtheMusicalontour.com PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

TM & © New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. Illustration by Hugh Syme. Photo by Amy Boyle.

The Broadway Musical

WITH LOVE

Dear Friends This holiday season, as we gather family, friends, and our family of choice together to celebrate Thanksgiving, Equal Magazine would like to raise a glass and toast you, Pittsburgh. We give thanks to you for allowing Equal Magazine the opportunity to share the stories of our community and the issues that are important to you and your loved ones. We share a milestone with our community with this: Our one-year anniversary issue.

This issue is stuffed with a cornucopia of fresh new articles and a few traditions that you have come to know and love. We celebrate our new Mayor-elect Bill Peduto with a cover story on page 12 to help welcome him to his place at the proverbial “family table.

Taking a cue from a recent incident in our community, we take a serious look on page 18 at the definition of a hate crime as we all struggle to understand how the law affects our community.

Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy is highlighted in this issue as our ally, and his reasons for championing LGBT equality hit close to home with an inspiring story about real family values on page 30.

Hungry for more? We also share with you on page 34 some Thanksgiving fixes that may help turn your dinner “oops” into an “ahhh.” And we’ve got some little known gay facts surrounding Thanksgiving on page 40 that you may want to share with your entire family as you gather to give thanks. For dessert, we tease you with a fun read on page 38 that explores a radical idea on if gays planned the first Thanksgiving.

There is so much more to be found within this issue and even more that we’re working on for the future. The best way to ensure that you don’t miss a single issue is to subscribe (page 8), and Equal Magazine will arrive in your mailbox for less than a cup of coffee. You can also send Equal Magazine as a gift to your family of choice to keep them up to date on all things gay and Pittsburgh.

Correction:

In the October issue, “Meet Nyxon,” we neglected to give photographic credit to Kenny Lee Photography and Scott Church. We regret the error.

We hope you enjoy this issue and keep coming back for more.

LGBT visibility everywhere.

With love,

Joe King Editor-in-Chief 6

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WHAT PAGE IS THAT ON?

18 30

photo via Flickr

FEATURES 12

Mayor-elect Bill Peduto talks to Equal Magazine

18

A Time for Healing

30

A look back at gay rights with former Mayor Tom Murphy

November

12

IN (ALMOST) EVERY ISSUE 10 Calendar of Events: What’s happening in November 16 Hot Guy Reads a Book 22 PA’s Hate Crime History 24 Gay and Goin’ On: Out and About 26 Travel: Chicago…my kind of town 28 Out at Work with Carey Cummings 34 Thanksgiving “fixes”—say goodbye to dry 36 Humor: Dating via iPhone 38 If Gays Ran the First Thanksgiving 40 Table Talk: 6 Gay Tidbits about Turkey Day

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Subscriptions start as low as

73¢

per issue

Publisher: The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh Board Members Gary A. Van Horn Jr. President Louise F. Stutler Vice President Brian J. Stankavich Secretary Peter J. Karlovich Treasurer Samuel C. Badger Michael G. Bartley Daniel M. Catanzaro Steven R. Herforth Jim Sheppard Emeritus Board Members Charles W. Honse William R. Kaelin Donnie R. Thinnes

A subscription to Equal Magazine would make the perfect gift for you or someone in your life.

Plus it’s the only way to guarantee that you’ll get it every month!

$10 = 11 issues ($0.91 an issue) $18 = 22 issues ($0.82 an issue) $24 = 33 issues ($0.73 an issue) Subscribe today at

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Editor-in-Chief Joe King Art Director Jonathan Fobear Director of Marketing and Development Christine Bryan Emotional Support

Mark Coffee Ice Cream

For questions, comments, and advertising inquiries, please email info@ equalmagazine.com EQUAL Magazine PO Box 100057 Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Charles P. Tierney

The mission of the Delta Foundation is to be a vigilant catalyst for change that produces increased opportunities and a high quality of life for the LGBT community.

Opinions and claims made by advertisers are those of the advertisers ONLY. Equal accepts no liability for claims made by advertisers. All rights reserved. ©2013 Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh.

Nov STAY BUSY

Nov 7 -

Dec 8

True West

8 PM Pittsburgh Public Theater ppt.org

9

1-3

Sat

Fri

Benedum Center trustarts.org

9

Sat

HEALING THE HURT:

Tammie

Brown

Overcoming Our Areas of Brokenness

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary healingthehurt.net

16 Sat

10 Sun

Mr. & Miss Tri-State All-Star Pageant Cabaret at Theater Square $25 in advance; $30 at the door

Alyssa Edwards Cattivo, Lawrenceville brownpapertickets.com

$10 in advance; $15 at the door The Link, Hermanie

22

Fri

Trans* Voices Pittsburgh 7 PM Chatham College gardenofpeaceproject.org

27 Wed Garden of Peace Project

Red Light Special Variety Show

images courtesy of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Logo TV 10

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Proceeds benefit (PITTSBURGH)RED 9 PM Cruze Bar, Strip District

1

1

Fri

Dana Goldberg: Crossing the Line Comedy Tour

Fri

First Friday with Kierra Darshell

10 Sun

Sat

Sun

GIVING THANKS A day to give back.

Sponsored by Bill Chisnell Productions Strip District

28

Thurs

....get out and vote because every vote counts!

11 PM Cruze Bar, Strip District

Doors open at 6 PM; early bird specials start at 7:15 PM Proceeds benefit the Steel City Roller Derby Pittsburgh Opera pittsburghpride.org/tickets

24

Tues

Election Day

Miss Tri-State All-Star Sasha Nolan’s Farewell Show

Cruze Bar, Strip District

9

5

HAPPY Thanksgiving!

Persad Center 5K Run & Fun Walk North Park Boathouse, Wexford persadcenter.org

27 Wed

Bar Night Sponsored by Belvedere Vodka Various locations pittsburghred.org

Dec 1 Sun

World AIDS Day Inter-Faith Service East Liberty Presbyterian Church 4 PM pittsburghred.org

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GOVERNMENT

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The Pride of

Pittsburgh

By Johnna A. Pro Photos by John Altdorfer, and Richena Brockinson

Mayor-elect Bill Peduto talks to Equal Magazine It is Monday night, just 15 days before he officially becomes Mayor-elect, and Bill Peduto is hanging out at the Regent Square Theater where in a celebration of its 10th season barebones productions has just screened the cult classic, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” with a host of notable Pittsburgh characters performing scenes along with the film.

Peduto is no stranger to the politics of gay rights in Pittsburgh, having started his career with former Councilman Dan Cohen, a champion for the LGBT community. As Cohen’s Chief of Staff, Peduto was in the middle of the fray in the 1990s when council members had be pushed and prodded to offer benefits to same-sex couples.

At 49, Peduto is old enough to remember the movie from the days of the old King’s Court Theater in Oakland where a midnight showing was a rite of passage for a generation who got its first taste of the rock-n-roll musical with its gender-bending themes.

The process began pre-Peduto when Cohen and his colleagues broadened the city’s diversity policy to include sexual orientation. Former Mayor Tom Murphy and his administration supported domestic partner benefits and then worked to provide them to union employees.

Finally after several failed attempts, city council members agreed that all employees were entitled to the benefits.

That the city’s most visible elected official attended the event last month, smiling broadly in pictures while hobnobbing with the character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the transsexual from Transylvania, and welcomed Facebook postings shouldn’t surprise anyone. And that is precisely Peduto’s objective if Pittsburgh wants to finally and forever shed its image as a city functioning in a time warp.

“Having a Mayor who is not afraid to be in those situations – at arts events, at social events - that helps to break down the barriers,” Peduto said. “In a town that’s been socially conservative, we’ve been slow to open our hearts to everyone. But once you get to know people, it’s hard to hate.”

“It took years to get to five [votes],” Peduto said, recalling efforts to get the legislation to pass. “But we had to be a city that recognized people should be treated equally.”

Relations commissions but a practical reality at every level of city government, including its boards, authorities and commissions.

What’s more, Peduto sees the LGBT community and the work it has already done as a tool in his economic development arsenal when talking to the business community, labor leaders and citizens. He talks of “opening minds beyond city government and government programs,” and he is practical and schooled enough to know that on the issue of gay rights there are those whose hearts and minds may never change.

But it’s hard to argue with success, and anyone who needs tangible proof that the gay community can be transformative need only to look to neighborhoods such as Lawrenceville with its remodeled homes, thriving Butler Street Corridor, and developing arts scene to see positive change.

These days much of the debate about LGBT rights is happening at the state and federal levels, and in courts around the country.

Nonetheless, Peduto sees specific areas in which he can make a mark as Mayor once he takes office in January.

Finally, there are the visible efforts of support, and Peduto is no newcomer in that regard. He has a long association with Pittsburgh Pride dating back to its days on Ellsworth Avenue.

Also several years ago, when other politicians skirted the issue of gay marriage, Peduto publicly offered his support.

Foremost is making certain that diversity and fairness aren’t just concepts addressed by the Equal Opportunity Commission or the Human

For Peduto it’s a simple matter: justice and equality for everyone is a guiding philosophy that fits perfectly with his broader strategy to

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FOOD

“WE’RE GOING TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW MODEL OF HOW CITY GOVERNMENT IS RUN,” HE SAYS. “FOR DECADES WE’VE OPERATED UNDER AN OLD POLITICAL MACHINE AND WE’RE GOING TO DISMANTLE IT BOLT BY BOLT.” remake the city.

“We’re going to create a whole new model of how city government is run,” he says. “For decades we’ve operated under an old political machine and we’re going to dismantle it bolt by bolt.”

Peduto envisions a “talent city,” one in which the best and brightest are welcomed to the community to create a new Pittsburgh where the existing government structure isn’t improved, but rebuilt from the bottom up and driven by active engaged citizens.

The challenge, as he sees it, will be to transform Pittsburgh for years to come while maintaining the quirky character of its past and present. One only needs to look to the Peduto campaign commercial featuring Gus and Yiayia’s Ice Ball Stand and the Sax Man to know he has a deep understanding of the city and its love for tradition.

“Growing up is important. But how we grow up is more important.”

Above all else Peduto is an idea man, one ready to put into practice all that he’s learned over 30 years in government and politics. There is a steely resolve in his voice and his vision is clear as he has at stands at the precipice of his future and of the city’s.

“I’m not scared of what’s ahead, but I am anxious to get there.”

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KARAOKE Every Thursday

Underwear

KARAOKE 1st Thursday of the month

SHOT BOYS Every Tuesday & Friday

gobble,gobble (412) 391-9990 965 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Open 2 PM to 2 AM 365 days a year!

HOT GUY READS A BOOK

Desmond

Blanding on Who Asked You by Terry McMillan Photo by Mara Rago Photography

“If you loved “Waiting to Exhale” by Terry McMillan, I highly recommend you read “Who Asked You?” This book took me on an unpredictable roller-coaster of emotions. I could relate with many of the same struggles the characters, especially Betty, had. My mother also has a big heart and works hard to provide for her family, even when that sometimes means concerning herself with matters beyond her control. Things I enjoyed most were the believable dinner table banter, the fight for what’s right, and the spotlight on social stigma of being a minority. Terry McMillan touched the depths of my soul. She shines a bright light on love, life, and family struggle and this book was quite frankly, amazing!”

Desmond Blanding, 21, is from Pittsburgh. He describes himself as a charismatic black male with many interests that include creating music, singing, acting, modeling, dancing and writing, Desmond is currently enrolled at community college with plans to study performing arts afterwards. A graduate of Gateway High School, Desmond at times was bullied and teased, while also dealing with the sudden death of his brother.

He has a wonderful, headstrong mother full of wisdom and good advice, an older brother who is a hard working go-getter, and a younger sister who just graduated from high school. Currently employed with Starbucks, his life goal is to become an entertainer.

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A Time

REAL LIFE

for Healing

By Michael Buzzelli Photos by Jonathan Fobear

On October 6, a violent incident sent shockwaves through the LGBT community when five young men committed an assault in Lawrenceville. The suspects ruthlessly beat two unarmed men for being affectionate to one another in public. Benjamin Stoviak, 26, of Squirrel Hill, and his boyfriend, Aaron MacLachlan, 22, were leaving the Blue Moon, a gay bar in Lawrenceville, on early Sunday morning when they were attacked by aforementioned perpetrators who shouted homophobic slurs at them. Stoviak refused to deny his sexuality, and the alleged attackers pummeled him for it.

The men, leaving the Remedy Bar, a block away from the Blue Moon, assaulted the couple. The suspects punched Stoviak and kicked him in the

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head, leaving a boot print on the left side of his face. MacLachlan ran for help, and, luckily, local residents responded.

there I knew I had to take them to the hospital.

Aaron had a welt on his head, but Ben was pretty roughed up.”

When police arrived on Butler Street shortly after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Stoviak’s face was bloody and bruised. Stoviak declined medical attention on the scene, but was later taken to the hospital by his friend, Kyle Fischer.

One of the attackers, Vincent Happ, 24, claimed that he and his friends were leaving Remedy Bar and were slinging the homophobic epithets at each other. They claim that Stoviak misheard them (no reason was given for why the couple was then assaulted for simply hearing them wrong). Police charged Happ with simple assault. The other perpetrators are in custody.

Fischer recounted the events that led up to the fateful night. He said, “The bar hadn’t closed yet, but it was pretty close to closing (1:30 a.m. approximately). They normally come back to my place to hang out after a late night, but I lost track of them. So, I went home. Sometime later, Ben called and said, “Can we come to your house?” I said yes. And when they got

Penalties for hate crimes are much more severe, but, according to Pittsburgh police Commander Eric Holmes from Zone 2 (the Lawrenceville area), “This case does not fit the criteria for prosecution.” Commander Holmes

MAKE SOME NOISE

WORLD PATF is a proud sponsor of (Pittsburgh)RED

COME OUT AND SUPPORT HIV/AIDS AWARENESS FOR WORLD AIDS DAY. For a list of (Pittsburgh)

RED

events visit:

www.pittsburghred.org www.patf.org

AIDS

DAY

DEC 1, 2013

is working with the Allegheny County district attorney’s office to determine whether additional charges should be filed.

Attorney Charles Gallo, legal representation for the prime suspect said, “We vehemently deny that this is a hate crime, This has nothing to do with anyone being gay.”

He claimed the incident was between “A bunch of drunk guys at two o’clock in the morning who got into a fight.”

At a rally Wednesday night, October 9, residents were outraged by the slap-on-the-wrist charge. Lawrenceville residents, LGBT activists and friends gathered at 51st and Butler, several yards away from where the attack took place. Over a hundred people poured out on to the street to support Ben and Aaron. Many of them held signs which read, “Gay, Straight, Black, White, Same Struggle, Same Fight.”

Lauren Jurysta stood up and said, “When once of us is gay bashed, we are all gay bashed.”

Janet Granite stood up for couple at the rally and said, “Ben and Aaron, you are not alone.”

Tim Crawford from the Blue Moon said, “We are proud. We are gay and we are human beings. You have a whole gay family.”

Deb Gross, a local Democrat running for city council, was touched by the outpouring of love for Ben and Aaron. Gross said, “This is a beautiful response to a terrible event. You [LGBT residents] belong here. This is our neighborhood and we want you here.”

Mel Packer, a self-identified sixtyeight year-old straight man, stood up for the couple and said, “We 20

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must all stand together. We are not afraid and no one should have to go back [into the closet].”

Lynn Wakefield, self-identified as a proud lesbian, was outraged to learn that the police were not charging the suspects with a hate crime.

After the rally, people stood around demanding justice and got very few answers.

Jason Clark, a Lawrenceville resident, said, “I am six blocks away from where [Ben and Aaron] were attacked. I moved to Pittsburgh nine years ago, and I have never had an issue.

It really sucks that this happens.

I have been walking around Lawrenceville and it makes me smile when I see LGBT people holding hands while they walk around the neighborhood in broad daylight. [In my experience] no one has given looks or said anything. I have a lot of gay friends in Lawrenceville and I have never heard of anyone having any issues. This is such a shame.”

Timothy Denham, a Lawrenceville resident, said, “My first reaction was surprise. I couldn’t believe it happened in Lawrenceville. I just don’t want people to judge the neighborhood by a few closed-minded deeply-seated homophobic people.”

We’re all in this together.

We work better when all of us work together. Inclusion means every person is valued, and all contributions are welcomed. At UPMC, inclusion begins with a core belief that everyone deserves dignity and respect.

UPMC Center for Inclusion inspires a culture of collaboration throughout our company and within the communities we serve, all based on the simple idea that inclusion matters — to all of us, every day.

Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s top 10 hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

HATE and the LAW On February 7, 2003, Pennsylvania enacted a statue defining hate crimes. Pennsylvania lawmakers called it Ethnic Intimidation: “A person commits the offense of ethnic intimidation if, with malicious intention toward race, color, religion or national origin of another individual or group of individuals.”

The statute classified the offense as a misdemeanor of the third degree.

In 2005, 2710 of Title 18 was amended in Act 143 to include acts of malicious intention toward the “actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity,” However, in an appellate brief filed March 17, 2008, the amendment was overturned.

Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and attorneys for the Foundation for Moral Law were instrumental in overturning the amendment. They claimed that the state legislature violated the Pennsylvania Constitution when it added language about sexual orientation and gender identity to the Ethnic Intimidation statute during a crop-dusting bill (3310, Agricultural crop destruction).

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The Foundation for Moral Law claimed to be a non-profit, religious liberties organization located in Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated to restoring the knowledge of God in law and government through litigation and education relating to moral issues and religious liberty.

The group was defending its members when they were arrested and charged with the ethnic intimidation law for proselytizing at a Philadelphia Pride Parade. Although the charges were eventually dismissed, the Christian evangelists sued the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth Court agreed that the law was unconstitutional and struck it down. The petitioners (Marcavage, the Foundation, et al.) asserted that they intended to engage in the same type of activity (proselytizing at LGBT events) in the future and feared that they would be criminally charged again under Act 143.

Moore said, “We are very happy that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled in our favor to stop the Governor and a group of corrupt politicians from sneaking a ‘hate crimes’ bill through the Pennsylvania legislature.

Preaching to homosexuals about the sin of sodomy should not be made a ‘thought crime’ in Pennsylvania or any other state.”

By Michael Buzzelli & Ryan Vandegrift Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America, petitioned for the Foundation of Moral Law. He claimed, “The methods used by the Pennsylvania legislature in passing the ‘hate crimes’ bill were extremely devious and yet another chilling example as to how far politicians are willing to go to silence Christian speech that they would violate our own state Constitution to do it.”

Marcavage added, “In a nation that is becoming increasingly hostile toward Biblical Christianity, we remain vigilant as the Pennsylvania legislature will most likely attempt to pass another ‘hate crimes’ bill and are continuing to educate the American people on the significant dangers of such laws.”

While Pennsylvania laws struck down the amendment, Federal laws have sought to uphold hate crime legislation. On October 28, 2009 President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded existing United States federal hate crime law to apply to crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

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Walnut Wealth Management Group UBS Financial Services Inc. 5600 Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 ubs.com/team/walnut Lee Oleinick has been recognized

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EVENTS

What’s Gay and Goin’ on?

Anti-Hate Rally @ Lawrenceville

Photos by G. Michael Beigay, John Altdorfer & Jonathan Fobear

Equal Launch Party @ Wyndham Downtown

Jason & DeMarko @ Community House

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Witches and Warlocks @ Cattivo

G2H2 @ Cruze Bar

Xtreme Bingo @ Pittsburgh Opera Out for Equality @ Market Square

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TRAVEL

Chicago: It’s not just Boystown….It’s a town for boys….AND girls!

By Jack Bellas I get asked regularly, “What is your favorite city?” The truth is that I do not have just one……but, I do have my favorites. And one of them is Chicago.

The primary reason I love Chicago so much is that it has everything I look for in a destination, all wrapped into one city. Beaches, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife, just to name a few of my “must haves” when traveling.

The Windy City has all of the obvious thrills that 26

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anyone can find in a travel book: Lakeshore Drive, the beach, seeing “The Bean,” shopping on Michigan Avenue and grabbing a Chicago deep dish pizza at one of the renown pizza joints that are on any “top ten” list of things to do in Chicago. But unless you hit the following hot spots, you are missing out!

A cocktail is a must on any trip and the place that should be priority #1 for a visit to Chicago is The Aviary (theaviary.com). This chic and exclusive bar takes the word cocktail to a whole new level. Reservations are hard to come by… so hard to come by that you can only secure

one by e-mailing them day of with your request and hope that you are selected. You must be flexible, but believe me it is worth it! The experience is something not to be missed.

In the event that you do not get in, you can attempt to have a little taste of their fabulously infused cocktail by using the same device the mixologists at The Aviary use by purchasing the Porthole (crucialdetail.com/work/porthole.html) developed by Martin Kastner of Crucial Detail.

It is a must to wow guests at a dinner party as it is both esthetically pleasing and creates infused cocktails that are second to none.

THE PRIMARY REASON I LOVE CHICAGO SO MUCH IS THAT IT HAS EVERYTHING I LOOK FOR IN A DESTINATION, ALL WRAPPED INTO ONE CITY. BEACHES, RESTAURANTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF MY “MUST HAVES” WHEN TRAVELING.

Shopping in Chicago is a weeklong commitment, at minimum if done correctly. The big names that we all know and love can all be found on Michigan Avenue, but don’t forget about the boutique stores in Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park is a fabulous little gem of a neighborhood Chicago.

There are too many stores and restaurants to mention, but there is something for everyone, no matter what your taste.

eating and drinking? Halsted is a little slice of gay heaven, with everything you could ask for at your fingertips as much as I love something new and now, there is nothing like a staple spot in the community to cap the night off.

Roscoe’s (roscoes.com) may not be the trendiest spot on Halsted, but it is the place that everyone seems to filter into cap the evening off on the right note!

Although Chicago is not just Boystown, what would a trip be without hitting Halsted Street for a well deserved night out after shopping,

When you are in Chicago, follow my lead and maybe I will see you at Roscoe’s!

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OUT AT WORK

Raising

Bar the

By Lisa Florian Photo by John Altdorfer

When University of Pittsburgh School of Law grad Carey Cummings accepted a position in May 2013 with Mintzer, Sarowitz, Zeris, Levda and Meyers LLP, a regional insurance defense law firm, little did she know how supportive they would be of her. The firm, with an office in downtown Pittsburgh, not only supports LGBT rights but more importantly encourages Carey’s involvement and leadership with the LGBT committee at the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA).

The LGBT committee of the ACBA includes 20-30 lawyers who came together in order to form the committee. While a number of bar associations across the country already had LGBT committees in place, she was pleased that its formation in Pittsburgh wasn’t met with any opposition. The committee was accepted by the Board of Governors in April of 2012.

While Carey may lead the LGBT committee at the ACBA, she wasn’t always open about her sexuality at work. Being out wasn’t always an option, but thankfully her fellow attorneys pushed to have diverse attorneys. “I had to do a lot of thinking, and it took some time, but when I made the decision to come out at work, I was surprised and humbled by the response.” She added “I’m in great company as the Pittsburgh legal community has numerous men and women

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WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF DIVERSE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE HONEST, OPEN AND OUT WHO WILL SPEAK TO THEIR OWN LEVEL OF COMFORT WHICH MAY HELP THEM BE TRUE TO THEMSELVES. who have helped to make it easier”.

The LGBT committee at the ACBA is very politically active and follows legislations and court decisions to advance LGBT equality.

Currently, while there is a lawyer referral service available to consumers, there is no category for the LGBT community. This is something that Carey and the board are working on to create in addition to mentoring and outreach for current law students. “We have a great group of diverse attorneys that are honest, open and out who will speak to their own level of comfort which may help them be true to themselves.”

But, it is important to note that Carey doesn’t judge those who aren’t comfortable coming

out. It is a choice, a personal decision and she respects their decision.

Carey said “For those literally coming out into the workforce, if you know you want to be out, an important question to ask to a prospective employer is if they offer domestic partnership benefits. If so, it may be easier to open up.

Be not committed to the response, but the purpose.”

embarrassed by the fact that he has two moms…he is a typical teenager embarrassed of anything mom related.

Thank you Carey for your involvement and leadership with the LGBT Committee of the ACBA, and for being true and honest to yourself while passing the wisdom on to others. You’ve certainly raised the bar for your predecessors!

In addition to being a lawyer and an LGBT activist, Carey is also a wife and mother to a 13 year old son. She has been with her wife since 2006 and they married in Massachusetts in 2010. Both of their families attended the wedding ceremony, and their son isn’t

2013-2014 season

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents

t e r a b T a S C U R T 4 Intimate Evenings at the Cabaret at Theater Square

TrustArts.org/CabaretSeries Single Tickets: 412-456-6666

Season Tickets: 412-456-1390 Groups 10+ Tickets: 412-471-6930

ACCESSIBLE

SERVICES AVAILABLE

Maureen McGovern

November 4, 2013

Carol Woods March 3, 2014

Liz Callaway April 7, 2014

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Clint Holmes May 12, 2014

Equa lMa ga z ine.org

Politics,

ALLY

Policy

and the

Deeply Personal Ally and former Mayor Tom Murphy looks back on gay rights in Pittsburgh

By Johnna A. Pro Photos by Mara Rago Photography Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy wasn’t at all surprised when labor representatives first approached his administration about offering health benefits to city workers in same-sex relationships.

It was the Mayor himself who engineered the request. Working behind the scenes and without fanfare Murphy urged gay union members to press their leaders about asking for the benefits at the negotiating table. The strategy worked. AFSCME union officials, cognizant of their members’ priorities, pushed the issue in contract discussions with the city.

Murphy readily agreed to the request, thus setting the stage for the city’s other unions to ask for the benefit and for city council to subsequently change the policy for non-union employees.

“We orchestrated all of this,” Murphy recalls. “We figured out a way to do it.”

That was back in the mid to late 1990s, a time when the issue of gay rights was finally gaining a foothold in the public consciousness. Still, providing health benefits to same-sex couples had the potential to be explosive and divisive even though the Mayor

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and some members of City Council wanted to make it happen. The city already had a fullblown fight over gay rights in 1990 well before Murphy was elected mayor. That was the year then-Councilmen Daniel S. Cohen and Jim Ferlo proposed adding the words “and sexual orientation” to the city’s existing nondiscrimination policy which covered race, age, gender, religion and origin.

“The entire bill was three words. Those were three words that caused a lot of drama in city council,” Cohen said. “The city prohibited discrimination against everyone except gays and lesbians. There were over 100 speakers at the public hearing. It was by no means certain the bill would pass. It was a very different time.”

Ultimately the legislation did pass, providing the crack in the glass which Murphy could shatter after he took office several years later.

“Once Mayor Murphy took that step with

AFCSME, it gave everyone on Council the green light to provide same-sex benefits to all city employees, not just that one union,” said Doug Shields, a top council aide at the time.

“Once that happened the wall broke down.”

As of June 10, 1999, Pittsburgh recognized “domestic partnerships and common law marriage relationships within the context of city employment.”

“When I had the opportunity to make a difference, I decided to do that,” Murphy said.

“It affects people in the most personal way. I thought we needed to lead. I thought it was about basic fairness.”

Few people today would see the Murphy administration’s legacy as one in which the rainbow flag waved high and proud. Murphy’s tenure as mayor from 1994 through 2006 is typically associated with Downtown development, building stadiums and moving the city into its third Renaissance with signature

projects including the construction of a new “green” convention center and opening access to the three rivers.

Still, those who worked closely with Murphy say he set a tone from the onset that equality for women, minorities and gays would be a hallmark of his administration, a move welcomed by a network of young public servants. What’s more, Murphy’s resolute stance on equality created an environment where discussions about diversity and providing opportunity were now part of the conversation in areas such as city purchasing and contracting which for decades had been activities largely dominated by white men whose connections to city hall were familial or long-standing.

“It was understood that the time had come.

It was the right thing to do and he was very insistent about that,” recalls former Deputy Mayor Sal Sirabella. “He led the directors and senior staff that way and if you didn’t understand, he’d tell you about it.”

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Today Murphy’s support for LGBT issues is deeply personal as his son, T.J., is gay. But long before T.J. was born, even before Murphy married his wife, Mona, the former Mayor sensed that the politics and policy of gay rights had to change.

Murphy can pinpoint the moment he realized discrimination over sexual orientation was simply wrong. As student government president at John Carroll University in the late 1960s, Murphy developed a friendship with an underclassman whom he saw as a future campus leader, a smart talented young man who could win the presidency Murphy was about to leave. But his friend declined to take on the challenge fearing that such a public role would expose his very private life as a gay man.

“That was the first recognition I had of the incredible trauma people go through, people who are in the closet. I just thought it was unfortunate people had to make choices like that,” Murphy said.

A few years later, that former college friend was living and working in New York City. He and his circle of friends embraced Murphy and Mona who had just moved to the city after a stint in the 32

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Peace Corps. Murphy soon realized that although New York was a melting pot, like most of America in the early 1970s, it was still a melting pot not accepting of the gay community.

“I watched the ugliness they faced and all of that had an impression on me. I just felt that society should not persecute people.”

That sentiment was reinforced in the coming years when as a Pittsburgh neighborhood activist and political candidate Murphy found himself on what was then an uncommon approach to campaigning: the gay bar tour.

“Well before T.J. was born there were just an astounding number of gay bars in Pittsburgh and the number of people who went to them was incredible. There were thousands and thousands of people but it was an invisible population.”

That invisible population found a friend in Murphy who wasn’t afraid to defend the rights of others even in the hallowed halls of the very maledominated and conservative state legislature where he would serve as from 1979 through 1993.

To that end, Murphy can still recall one particular floor speech among hundreds he made over

ON THIS DAY, THE LEGISLATURE WAS DEBATING A NONDISCRIMINATION BILL. MURPHY HAD NOT PLANNED TO TAKE THE MICROPHONE, BUT INSIDIOUS BEHIND-THE-SCENES REMARKS FROM COLLEAGUES WHO WENT SO FAR AS TO THREATEN “TO SHOOT FAGGOTS” DROVE HIM TO HIS FEET.

his tenure. On this day, the legislature was debating a non-discrimination bill. Murphy had not planned to take the microphone, but insidious behind-the-scenes remarks from colleagues who went so far as to threaten “to shoot faggots” drove him to his feet. Every legislative and government office throughout the Capitol had a “squawk” box which provided a broadcast from the House floor so hundreds of employees in the complex heard his speech.

Murphy apparently struck a nerve with an impassioned plea for equality in an institution where gay employees toiled in fear of being “outed” and lived daily with the indignities heaped upon them by good-old-boy lawmakers whose private remarks were unkind at best, threatening at worst.

“For days afterward I would be walking down the hall and people would walk by me and just whisper ‘Thank you.’”

By the time he reached the Mayor’s office in 1994, Murphy knew he wanted the city to be more welcoming, and he wanted the gay community to feel protected inside and outside of City Hall. That stance didn’t always make him popular.

State leaders were quick to call Murphy and threaten to strip him of his power if he continued his efforts to offer health benefits to same-sex couples, threats he chose to ignore.

When the American Civil Liberties Union sued the University of Pittsburgh over policies it claimed violated the city’s anti-discrimination law, Murphy ended up in the middle of the fray which had dragged on for years. It was the city’s Law Department which criticized Pitt in a supporting legal brief with the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission where the suit originated. There was little doubt the order to file the brief had come directly from Murphy who had no qualms about taking on Pitt, once an unthinkable act for the city’s Mayor.

it was an idea whose time had not yet come.

“It really colored our relationship with Pitt,” Murphy said. “You kind of expected a university would be more open-minded in its thinking.”

Interestingly, Murphy says that while he was mayor, the issue of gay rights was always simply a matter of treating people equally. “It wasn’t my big issue. But it was an issue of fairness. Never would I have imagined we would have gotten this far in my lifetime.”

In looking back on his administration’s record, Murphy believes he moved the issue of gay rights forward as much as he could by setting a tone that the administration wanted to be inclusive; by offering health benefits to employees in same-sex relationships and by speaking publicly when necessary. In his own mind, Murphy even toyed briefly with thoughts of marriage for same-sex couples, but he knew

“As Mayor, I could have married people and the thought crossed my mind. But talk about poking the dragon in the eye. I don’t know that we could have gone further than we did.”

From his current vantage point as a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute, Murphy travels the country sharing his passion for building vibrant communities. He has little doubt that cities, governments, institutions and businesses which practice policies of inclusiveness ultimately will have a competitive advantage from trying to attract and retain talented employees to growing a tax base.

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FOOD

Gobble

Gobble

By Jay Obertance

In my best Estelle Getty impression, “Picture it, Thanksgiving, last year.”

This probably brings back multiple emotions of the holiday. This could include smiles from the family being together and sharing stories, to the horror of uncles and screaming children. Regardless of what emotional chord Thanksgiving may have for you, there is no denying the “big feast” is a huge part of the day. Thanksgiving is no easy meal to prepare, and impressing your relatives with boxed up mashed potatoes simply won’t cut it. But before you tackle the meal, here are five common mistakes and easy fixes to not only make your kitchen journey easier but that much more delicious.

Mistake #1: Dry turkey

QUICK FIX: Ever hear of brining? The most flavor filled and tender juicy

pieces of meat are almost always brined. A brine is code for a salt water mixture that you soak a cut of meat in for a period of time. The salt allows the tissues in the meat to absorb water, so if you add more flavor to your brine, more flavor is absorbed. The heavy dose of salt will also help break down some of the proteins, so no tough meat here.

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Turkey Brine

1 large bucket or large stock pot (big enough for turkey and roughly 2 gallons of water) 2 large bags of ice 4 cups of orange juice 2 cups of water 1½ cups kosher salt 1 cup brown sugar 1 cinnamon stick 6 bay leaves ½ tsp. whole allspice 1 lemon, sliced 1 orange, sliced 3 cloves garlic, skin removed, whole 3 cups honey (24 oz)

Combine the orange, lemon, brown sugar, water, honey, cinnamon, bay leaves, allspice, garlic, honey and salt in a sauce pan. Cook mixture at medium heat and stir just until all the salt, sugar, and honey are dissolved.

Add one bag of ice to bucket or pot then pour your cooked mixture over it so the ice begins to melt. Submerge your turkey into the liquid and pour the other bag of ice on top of it. Store in the refrigerator overnight.

Before cooking, drain off all the liquid and spices.

Mistake #2:

Mistake #4:

QUICK FIX: To avoid the overcooked or undercooked turkey, be sure to

QUICK FIX: Keep your table setting simple and casual. Have one dinner

Overcooked/undercooked turkey read the directions and cook it to the recommended temperature or just slightly below it. When it’s done, remove it from the oven and allow it time to rest. Wrap some aluminum foil over top of it and allow the juices to redistribute. Another popular trick is to cook a fresh turkey instead of a frozen one, which is also helpful if you don’t have the time or space to allow a frozen turkey to properly thaw. And go ahead and rub some butter under the turkey skin because butter always makes everything taste better!

Mistake #3:

Lumpy mashed potatoes QUICK FIX: The key to serving a delicious bowl of mashed potatoes is

as easy as making sure your potatoes are boiling in salted water and switching a utensil. In this case, salt is your friend so don’t forget to salt the water. And use a fork, not a knife, to make sure the potatoes are fork tender. To add even more richness, add a dollop of sour cream to the potatoes along with your butter and milk. Amazing!

A complicated table setting and too many wine glasses plate, and one or two smaller plates for every guest. You don’t need a plate for every course! As far as the wine, choose a medium bodied and crisp white wine to pair with everything such as a New-Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Washington Riesling.

Mistake #5:

I really want to make Thanksgiving feel special but I don’t know what to do!

QUICK FIX: Start by greeting your guests with some Prosecco in fluted

glasses. Prosecco is a light, crisp, slightly dry Italian wine. It’s bubbly like champagne, but won’t break the bank.

While these are just a few suggestions that will help you create a delicious Thanksgiving meal, the most important advice is not to lose the importance of being with friends and family. Coming together to be thankful for the good in your life no matter what opposition we might face, or small problems we take on each day, is what will make your Thanksgiving truly unforgettable.

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DATING

So call me... Maybe?

By Chrissy Costa

There I was gathering my things, preparing to leave after a late-night comedy show when I was approached by a pretty girl attempting to hand me a drink. Being a fan of free things, I accepted. We made small talk for a few minutes and I could tell almost instantly that she was a special girl; the kind of girl who shaves above the knees and also behind the thighs for when you know you’ll be seeing each other. So when she slipped me her phone number I knew what I had to do: I went home and “stalked” her Facebook page for three days and then I almost called her. I had the phone to my ear ready to hit the send key, but realized I had no idea what to say to her. I almost never talk to anyone on the phone anymore and if life has taught me anything it’s that the more words I speak, the more trouble I get myself into. So I did what any normal thirty-something girl with good hair would do: I texted her, “’Sup?” As the tiny word left my fingers I cringed. Much to my surprise, however, she quickly responded with a, “What up?” It was if we had our own language and it felt awkward. As some time passed we eventually eased into adult conversation and it wasn’t long before our quick-witted text banter turned into all-day intense lesbian dialogue. She shared intimate stories of her life in great detail and I, just as in school, tried to make her laugh so that she’d like me. The bigger her LOL the

better I felt about my life. My heart would skip a beat when I saw her thought bubble come up in our text thread as I anxiously awaited the arrival of her words. We were iPhone compatible! I found comfort in her early “morning babe!” messages even though I had kind of forgotten what she looked like. She must have felt the same because after almost a month she finally asked me out on a date.

We met at a cozy little restaurant where we could converse freely. She revealed that she texts me first thing when she wakes up, before she checks her Facebook page. It was so endearing, like the modern day equivalent to making someone breakfast in bed or willingly paying child support. I told her that it was a huge turn on that she could spell and use proper punctuation. At one point I pretended to listen to her ramble on about her job or something and she pretended not to notice me taking a selfie as she quietly grabbed her phone and posted a picture on Instagram. One thing was clear: one of us loved our phone and the other had ADHD. Or both. It felt perfect. (Is soul mate one word

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or two?) I allowed her to take me home as if there was any doubt how the night would end. In the morning when we awoke instead of reaching for our phones to see what we may have missed the night before, we reached for each other. It’s as if the world had shifted and we saw in that instant what was real.

Our work schedules didn’t grant us much face time though so we had to rely on our phones to keep us in touch. With lack of physical contact we slowly began disconnecting and eventually she was accusing me of never being serious.

While I tried to be understanding of her feelings I was also trying to watch Dexter on my new Showtime phone app.

Reading all those words became overwhelming yet neither of us seemed to remember we could use the call button

on our phones and we fell into a web of miscommunication. There were times we were talking about two completely different topics and hadn’t realized it until we were in a battle of heated words. Autocorrect is not our friend, people. My humor got me nowhere as I tried to cheer her up with an eggplant emoji that sort of resembled a strap-on. Her words became shorter and shorter until there were no more words to read. This made me sad but instead of calling her to tell her that I decided to wait for her to call so that I could ignore her and then she would know I was hurting. It begs the ageold question: How do you ignore someone who’s already ignoring you? She wouldn’t respond to me but I knew she was alive because I could see all of her activity on social media. I found myself lost in the game-playing while hiding my true emotions. Although technology was meant to bring us all closer it has inevitably torn us apart. Getting to know someone is all about the little treasures of recognizing things one doesn’t even see within themselves; the way their mouth moves when they speak. The way they smirk when they’re holding back a smile. The way they relax when you act like you’re paying the check. What?

I’m left wondering where we’d be now if I had told just her I was falling in love with the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her family. Or that I was becoming addicted to the sound of her laughter, so much that I would have worked hard to make sure she always had a reason to laugh. I’d love to go back to a time where people were so into the moment they forgot phones existed. I’m aware that if I want to find a girl who doesn’t text I’d have to date my Grandmother’s friends. And that’s fine for cuddling purposes but ultimately it would never work out as I’m not an early riser, nor do I enjoy soft foods. Perhaps it’s time to go back to what we first learned as children: say what you mean and mean what you say. And that will keep us from wondering, who’s her “babe” now?

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FUN FACTS

If

Gays Ran the

First

Thanksgiving

By Philip Ezzo The holiday season has begun, and Thanksgiving is the first of many celebrations to come. And while Thanksgiving started from humble beginnings, it is now a bountiful feast, known for its excesses. Imagine how different the history books would be if a gaggle of gays traveled back in time to plan the first feast, equipped with all the foods and trappings we are used to today.

First of all, the wardrobe would be entirely different! Puritan uniforms don’t really feel 3 8

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very festive, and although Native American garb is a bit more “air-conditioned,” it’s on the opposite end of the spectrum. I’d imagine it would be somewhere in the middle: Tasteful ties, shirts, and slacks, all in earth tones. We want everyone to look alike but feel unique at the same time. Pewter jewelry would be the perfect accent, especially if it tied in with the silverware, and other table settings.

The décor would have to be as bountiful as the feast. Start with an overflowing cornucopia, atop a jacquard table linen, surrounded by fresh gourds, Indian corn, ripe fruits and vegetables.

Candelabras would line the center of a very long table, complete with a seating arrangement.

Native Americans and colonists would be seated every other person, providing an “allinclusive” atmosphere. The ambiance is even more important, and no celebration would be complete without some dancing. Maybe they should take Lady Gaga back with them. I’m sure she would craft a bevy of Thanksgiving Carols, which would go down in history. It’s always been a bit disappointing that one of the most celebrated American holidays has no catalogue of music.

Food is an entirely controversial subject, because out of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is so identifiable by its menu. Does a gay dare change that? The beauty of time travel is that if they did change it, no one would be the wiser! Everything was “organic” back then, so that wouldn’t be an issue, but imagine what the feast would be like with tofu as the main event, or if rice replaced mashed potatoes. If anything, I think the foods would stay the same, but the preparations would be different. Molecular gastronomy would make the turkey into the texture of cranberry sauce, and the cranberry sauce would probably be shaped like a bird.

No one can deny that gays know how to throw a party. We’ve seen entire television shows devoted to the subject. Although it is unfair to assume that all of us are gifted

with such talents, it’s safe to assume that all of us do know how to enjoy the results! Sometimes, we like to be different for the sake of being different, and pushing the envelope can sometimes be a good thing. Traditions are traditions because we’ve shared them with each other. It’s the time spent together that counts, not the details.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Twenty-Sixth Annual

  Monday, December 2, 2013

7:30 pm at Heinz Chapel (next to the Cathedral of Learning) Reception to follow at the Community of Reconciliation Sponsored by the Pitt Men’s Study

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6 Gay Tidbits about Turkey Day

By Joe Corcoran

Thanksgiving is all about food, family and giving thanks for little things like pumpkin spice lattes, college Thursdays at Cruze and Cher’s Twitter feed. In the spirit of giving, here are six deliciously gay tidbits about turkey day. Feel free to bring these up at the dinner table!

1.

Gay Santas! In 2003, Broadway performer and playwright Harvey Fierstein, best known for his Tony award winning dragtastic play, Torch Song Trilogy, wrote an Op-Ed in the New York Times in which he said he would dress in drag as Mrs. Claus during that year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The piece ignited controversy and prompted the department store to release a statement clarifying Fierstein’s remarks: “The Parade has never and will never be a platform for political

and social issues and opinions. Its mission is to spread joy as well as to kick off the holiday season.”

2.

Gay Parades! There was no shortage of queens in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. The year featured a performance by the cast of the Broadway musical Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, a show which celebrates the art of drag performance.

3.

Gay Compacts! Although Plymouth Rock gets street cred for being the birthplace of the first Thanksgiving, the Mayflower Compact – the document which started it all – was signed in Provincetown, Mass., the popular gay resort town on Cape Cod.

4.

Gay Pilgrims! According to a 2009 Boston.com article, in 1637 John Alexander and Thomas Roberts, a gay couple, were convicted of crimes against morality simply because of their same-sex relationship. Alexander was banished, but at least P-Town wasn’t too far away!

5.

Gay Dinners! Picture Norman Rockwell’s refined, heteronormative portrait of the perfect Thanksgiving dinner. Now imagine one of the guests standing up to affirm that he indeed is gay. A 2012 gaydating.com poll revealed that 55% of its users planned to come out to their families during their Thanksgiving feasts. Will you ruffle some turkey feathers this year by coming out loud and proud?

6.

Last, but not least, Gay Turkeys! If Uncle Charlie confronts you with skepticism as to whether or not your gay relationship goes against nature this Thanksgiving, tell him to look no further than his own plate! After all, turkeys, among other species of birds, have been found to exhibit homosexual behavior! If he can pardon that warm, tender goodness for Thanksgiving, why can’t he accept you?

PERSAD CENTER SECOND ANNUAL

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2013 RUN / WALK / SPONSOR • PERSADCENTER.ORG BENEFITS PERSAD LGBTQ YOUTH PROGRAMS NORTH PARK BOAT HOUSE

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MAP

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Sixth Prebyterian Church 1688 Murray Ave

Square Cafe 1137 S Braddock Ave

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First United Methodist Church 5401 Centre Ave

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SHAD S ADYSIDE YSID

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City Theatre Arlington Ave 1300 Bingham St.

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Pittsburgh Opera 2425 Liberty Ave.

Pittsburgh Public Theater 621 Penn Ave

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941 & Tilden 941 Liberty Ave

The Warhol 117 Sandusky St

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Real Luck Cafe 1519 Penn Ave

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Equ a lMa ga z ine.org

FEATURE

University of

EXCLUSION Higher Learning Institutions with Higher than Average Intolerance

By Stacey Federoff Just 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, one of the country’s most conservative colleges has been ranked the most LGBT-unfriendly in the country by the Princeton Review.

Grove City College was ranked at the top of a list compiled by student’s survey answers and published in the company’s book, “The Best 378 Colleges.”

In the last ten years, the conservative Christian college has been in the top five most unfriendly list seven times and at the very top of the list three times.

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David Soto, co-author of the book, says the private school with an enrollment of 2,483, is a “usual suspect” on this particular list, one of 62 determined from survey responses. The ranking is based on one particular question in the survey: “Students treat all persons equally regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.”

Low scoring responses put Grove City College at the top of the list, ahead of schools like University of Notre Dame at No. 5, Brigham Young University at No. 6 and the Catholic University of America at No. 18.

Mary DelBuono, a spokeswoman for Grove City College, says the college continues to be

“baffled” by the low marks in regard to campus attitudes every year. “We don’t feel the ranking is based on reality,” she says. “The reality is one of friendship and non-discrimination.”

The college doesn’t offer any student organizations or resources for LGBT students, only because there are none based on sexual orientation – gay or straight, she says.

Licensed counselors are available, who “deal with all kinds of issues that students deal with, inside the classroom and outside the classroom,” DelBuono says.

The Princeton Review, however, wants readers to use this and other rankings to make informed

decisions about each college, Soto says.

“We think the more informed, the better,” he says. “You’re going to be spending four years on this college campus, maybe more.”

THE COLLEGE DOESN’T OFFER ANY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS OR RESOURCES FOR LGBT STUDENTS, ONLY BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION – GAY OR STRAIGHT, SHE SAYS.

About 126,000 students across the country take the surveys every three years when official totals are ranked with an average of about 300 from each school relative to the size of the student population.

“We go directly to the people we consider experts … currently enrolled students,” Soto says.

Grove City College holds students to a code of conduct, says DelBuono, including “embracing everyone with the love of Christ. We’re a Christian community that is very welcoming and accepting of others and we hold all our students, regardless of sexual orientation, to the same code of conduct,” she says.

Oftentimes, when a school appears on an “unfavorable” list, it prompts action or reflection upon a label like “party school” or “LGBT-unfriendly,” Soto says.

In 2011, a lesbian senior at Grove City started an unofficial organization called “Rainbow Bridge” that now seems inactive. The group participated in the Pittsburgh PrideMarch that June.

But the college itself, no stranger to controversy when it comes to defending its conservative values, won’t assess its needs based only on a student survey, DelBuono says.

“We are not going to create programs and initiatives based on a ranking,” she says.

The only other Pennsylvania college to make the 20 ranked on the LGBTfriendly list was Bryn Mawr College in Montgomery County.

RIVERSIDE

DESIGN GROUP’S

12TH annual

warehouse sale

to benefit Persad Center

JUST IN TIME FOR HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING & GIFT GIVING! SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 9AM - 4PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 9AM - 1PM

AT RIVERSIDE’S WAREHOUSE 3441 BUTLER STREET PITTSBURGH, PA 15201

50% OF SALES BENEFIT PERSAD

Thank You!

LGBT-Unfriendly Colleges

in 2014 Edition of Princeton Review’s “The Best 378 Colleges” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

for voting our B*tches Ball as City Paper’s Best of Pittsburgh’s

BEST LOCAL FUNDRAISER!

B*tches Ball He

ds lp u s celebrate worl

y da pay

February 25, 2014 in honor of World Spay Day!

Stay

tune

@AnimalRescueLg #ARLSavesLives

412-345-7300 • www.animalrescue.org

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PA VA MO IL IN UT NC MI RI TX TX TX CT AL NY SC MI DC CA WY

in 2014 Edition of Princeton Review’s “The Best 378 Colleges”

SAVE THE DATE!

Facebook: facebook.com/AnimalRescueLg

Grove City Hampden-Sydney Point Lookout Wheaton South Bend Provo Winston-Salem Grand Rapids Kingston Irving College Station Waco Hartford Auburn Hamilton Spartanburg Hillsdale Washington Malibu Laramie

LGBT-Friendly Colleges

www.animalrescue.org Twitter:

Grove City College Hampden-Sydney College College of the Ozarks Wheaton College Univ. of Notre Dame Brigham Young Univ.

Wake Forest Univ.

Calvin College Univ. of Rhode Island Univ. of Dallas Texas A & M Univ.-College Station Baylor Univ.

Trinity College (CT) Auburn Univ.

Colgate Univ.

Wofford College Hillsdale College Catholic Univ. of America Pepperdine Univ.

Univ. of Wyoming

d!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Emerson College Boston Warren Wilson College Asheville New College of Florida Sarasota Stanford Univ.

Stanford Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Oberlin College Oberlin Franklin W. Olin Col. of Engineering Needham Smith College Northampton New York Univ.

New York Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr Wellesley College (MA) Wellesley Bennington College Bennington Univ. of Chicago Chicago Yale Univ.

New Haven Carleton College Northfield Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville Macalester College St. Paul Pitzer College Claremont Marlboro College Marlboro Grinnell College Grinnell

MA NC FL CA WI OH MA MA NY PA MA VT IL CT MN NY MN CA VT IA

TOGETHER, LET’S

PAINT THE TOWN RED

...and ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, and PURPLE.

BRINGING PITTSBURGH OUT 911 Galveston Ave. Pittsburgh, PA, 15233 412-322-2800 info@deltafoundation.us deltafoundation.us

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Equa lMa ga z ine.org

WHAT A WHIRLWIND YEAR FOR EQUAL MAGAZINE!

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Putting together a monthly magazine takes a lot of work, but we’re proud of what we publish each and every month. Whether you are a subscriber, or picked up the magazine around town, our hope is that we showcase the best the LGBT community in Pittsburgh has to offer.

Thanks for your support and we can’t wait for year #2!