TRT December, 2015 by The Rainbow Times

2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

Happy Holidays

Sheen’s HIV diagnosis puts epidemic in the crosshairs By: Mike Givens*/TRT Columnist

By: Nicole Lashomb*/TRT Editor-in-Chief

OPINIONS

appy Holidays (whistling well-known caroling songs)! Like many people, undeniably, this is my favorite time of the year. However, this past Thanksgiving, I found myself pondering something other than turkey and mistletoe. As I sat in my living room with seasonal music playing in the background, aromas of the feast we prepared circulating in the air and the twinkle of candlelight encasing me, I could not help but think of those less fortunate. Those who did not experience the same love, peace and comfort as I. There are countless individuals and families carrying on with much less this holiday season. The streets are overflowing with the homeless, children are waiting to find their forever families, some are stricken with a terminal disease and will be celebrating their last holiday this season or maybe they’ve already said goodbye. Millions live in poverty, some losing what they once had and others never being able to achieve it through no fault of their own, but by rather a systematic failure of oppression and barriers. Mostly, this holiday season, I am not thinking of what Santa will leave for me or dreaming of other material goods that I’ve wished were mine. Instead, I’m refocusing my energy on serving those who are suffering in need. I’m clear of what steps I have taken before, what steps need to be taken now, and what steps will be taken tomorrow. I hope that you will join me in the best way that you can help to reach those in need too. And, to our special late-night caller, we wish you well and happiness always, friend. Happy Holidays!

N. C. Lashomb

Reflections of a Scholar, Activist, & Theologian, Part III By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist

FAITH

ustin Tanis (http://goo.gl/Jbka hs), Managing Director at the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (http://goo.gl/IBWXqy), established at the Pacific School of Religion (http://goo.gl/TnUYXz) for gender, religion, and sexuality, answered twelve questions submitted by The Rainbow Times after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality (http://goo.gl/XBEVLN). The answers deal with marriage equality and religious liberty from a professional standpoint, in this a four-part series TRT feature story. Q. Several seminaries offer courses in gay theology or gay studies. Please explain. A. Gay or LGBTQ theology, began in the 1960s or earlier. It is related to liberation theology which emphasize God’s connection with those on the margins. LGBTQ theology reflects the lived experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people and can include the history of the community, especially as it relates to religious institutions, and an understanding of God’s movement within the community. Queer theology, related to queer studies in the wider academic world, is a methodology that “queers” theol-

Religious institutions have been a powerful force opposing LGBTQ equality around the world. ogy; [it] examines, takes apart, and creates new meanings for different concepts. A queer reading of the Bible turns commonplace meanings on their head, looking instead to the text for its affirmation of sexuality, its playfulness, and its emphasis on the liberation of marginalized people. Reading overlooked and finding new inspiration. Q. Religion has persecuted the LGBTQ community. Why should it trust or embrace religion? A. Religious institutions have been a powerful force opposing LGBTQ equality around the world. The only significant opposition to non-discrimination bills, measures to combat hate-motivated violence, and other efforts to To read the rest of this story visit: http://wp.me/p22M41-3Wu

n November 17, fading movie and television star Charlie Sheen announced publicly that he has HIV. You’re probably familiar with Sheen’s public antics, from his reported sexcapades with adult film actresses and sex workers to his alleged substance abuse. In his “TODAY” (http://goo.gl/KSXZwI) interview with journalist Matt Lauer, Sheen proceeded to relate a cringe-inducing narrative. According to the actor, blackmail attempts cost him millions of dollars. The interview featured Lauer peppering Sheen with questions about his sex life, substance abuse, and mental health issues. In a second segment, Sheen’s celebrity doctor, Robert Huizenga, appeared to clarify the fact that his client has HIV, not AIDS, contrary to earlier media reports. Huizenga’s presence in the interview alone was discomforting and forced; a staged attempt to dispel tabloid gossip. The years of substance abuse and sex addiction had clearly taken a toll on Sheen, who is only 50, but it was quite evident that he’s suffering immensely under the cultural stigma borne out of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I don’t care about Charlie Sheen’s personal life, but I do care about the discussions that his HIV status will launch in the wake of his confession. Sheen’s lifestyle will be generalized and denigrated and the dialogue around the HIV/AIDS epidemic could be set back by several years. Instead of treating those living with HIV/AIDS as lepers, we should be proactive in supporting them, by fighting the illness head on. Here are just a few ideas on how we can do that: • Changing Our Language: The English language has devolved into a colloquial catastrophe. It’s not uncommon for men who have sex with men (MSM) to ask such questions about being “clean” when discussing the possibility of sex (“clean” meaning free of HIV/AIDS and/or other sexually transmitted infections). But it’s more than just the new definitions we ascribe to words. It’s the ignorance we attach to them. The debilitating stigma accompanying an HIV/AIDS di-

Letters to the Editor [Re: Sexual Minorities Archives: Leaving Northampton] Dear Editor, The SMA also created and offers to the public a LGBTQI History Walking Tour of Northampton and is developing a similar walking tour of Amherst and the UMass Amherst campus.” This statement is factually incorrect. While the SMA is developing an Amherst/UMass walking tour (I am the author of said tour), the SMA did not create the LGBTQI History Walking Tour of Northampton. That tour was created by myself for a professor during a research fellowship while I was a student at Smith College. —Elizabeth Kent, Sunderland, MA

Instead of treating those living with HIV/AIDS as lepers, we should be proactive in supporting them, by fighting the illness head on. agnosis has grown over the years and people are terrified of discussing their status for fear of social rejection. There’s also the misconception that an HIV/AIDS diagnosis is somehow a function of promiscuity or rampant drug use. While this can be the case, it’s by no means always the case. As a society,

See HIV Diagnosis on Page 15

The Rainbow Times The Freshest LGBT Newspaper in New England—Boston Based TheRainbowTimesMass.com editor@therainbowtimesmass.com sales@therainbowtimesmass.com Phone: 617.444.9618 / 413.282.8881 Fax: 928.437.9618 Publisher Gricel M. Ocasio Editor-In-Chief Nicole Lashomb Assistant Editor Mike Givens National/Local Sales Rivendell Media Liz Johnson Lead Photographers Alex Mancini Steve Jewett** Reporters Al Gentile Christine Nicco Sara Brown Chris Gilmore Chuck Colbert Keen News Service

Ad & Layout Design Prizm PR Webmaster Jarred Johnson Columnists/Guest* Lorelei Erisis Deja N. Greenlaw Paul P. Jesep Natalia Muñoz* Francisco “Jimagua” Cartagena Mendez Keegan O’Brien* Mike Givens Affiliations National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association QSyndicate *Guest Writers

The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The Rainbow Times, LLC. TRT is affiliated with the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, NLGJA, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, NGLCC, The Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunity,CABO, and QSyndicate. The articles written by the writers, columnists, and correspondents solely express their opinion, and do not represent the endorsement or opinion of The Rainbow Times, LLC or its owners. Send letters to the editor with your name, address and phone number to: The Rainbow Times (address shown above), or e-mail any comment/s to the editor at: editor@therainbowtimesmass.com. All submissions will be edited according to space constraints. The Rainbow Times, LLC reserves the right not to print any or all content, or advertisements for any reason at all. TRT is not responsible for advertising content. To receive The Rainbow Times at your home via regular mail, or through electronic delivery, please visit its website. The whole content and graphics (photos, etc.) are the sole property of The Rainbow Times, LLC and they cannot be reproduced at all without TRT’s written consent.

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 3

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

TRT Exclusive: HBGC Executive Director, Corey Yarbrough, bids adieu By: Gricel Martínez Ocasio/TRT Publisher

IN THE LIMELIGHT

The Hispanic Black Gay Coalition of Boston (HBGC), the brainchild of Corey Yarbrough and his life partner Quincey, grew from the need to foster an environment where LGBTQ people of color could “connect without feeling excluded.” Yarbrough confronted the isolationist situation when he embarked upon a journey to create a place where people of color would feel welcomed and accepted, without bias or question. Six years ago, he had the courage to tackle the disparity head-on via the HBGC. Unbeknownst to him, the founding of the non-profit suddenly placed him on the map and thrusted him into the spotlight as one of the city’s very select gay Executive Directors of color. In delivering the HBGC, Yarbrough delivered peace, calm, and a place where others, non-mainstream LGBTQs and allies, could feel welcome and at ease to start working for what they needed—right in the middle of Boston’s mainstream LGBT “social justice” movement. Now, six years later, with a financially sound and robust HBGC, Yarbrough feels the time has come to move on. This one-onone Q&A will let you see Yarbrough’s business instincts, serene but determined resolve, his unquestionable legacy, and even his emotional goodbye to the organization that saw him rise and triumph.

In this exclusive interview, Yarbrough does not think of the self. He takes it a step beyond and focuses on the collective and the organization’s steps, without him at the helm, just this time around. And, then he focuses on what’s next for him, personally and professionally. Q. I’ll start by asking what many are interested in knowing immediately. Why are you leaving the HBGC now and not later? A. [Playfully sighs, while pausing and softly smiling] I’ve been with HBGC for a little over six amazing years, since the founding of the organization in September of 2009. During those years, words cannot express what the organization means to me, and so many others. I used to often say “someone should do an event on this” or “someone should create a program that does this” and co-founding HBGC gave me, and so many others, the power to say, “Let’s actually make all these great ideas a reality.” There is so much beauty in seeing your dreams actualize and finding that others share many of those same dreams with you. Although HBGC represented a huge dream of mine, I have many other ambitions that life is pulling me towards—ambitions that extend far beyond professional accomplishments or serving just as a leader in the LGBTQ community. Similar to how HBGC was once my life’s calling at one particular point, I feel, again, life is calling me in a different direction. Having the courage to answer that calling while trusting that you’ve

tional budget from $0 to a $250K, with numerous multi-year grants to ensure the existence of the organization for years to come. We’ve expanded from living room gatherings to signing the lease on a 1,100 square foot office in downtown Boston. We have worked with consultants to develop a strategic plan and vision for the future. We’ve cultivated a diverse and talented board of Directors—including two dedicated cochairs who have strengthened the governance and stability of the organization over the last two years. Ultimately, my departure creates space for another queer leader of color to stand in their light and grow as one of the few Executive Directors of color in the city of Boston.

PHOTO: TRT/S. JEWETT

Corey Yarbrough HBGC Co-Founder & Exec. Director

helped to create a foundation that can last beyond you, it’s scary. But, I know following those intuitions can bring the greatest rewards. I see this transition as an opportunity to engage and be a part of my own community in a different way. Now is the ideal time to begin that transition because HBGC is the strongest it has ever been. I’ve worked hard to grow the organiza-

Q. What gave you the idea to co-found the HBGC with Quincey J. Roberts? A. [Reflective pause and tone] HBGC was co-founded, literally, from a ranting session over dinner about how isolating it was to live as a Black LGBTQ person in Boston. Quincey Roberts and I, early in our romantic relationship, would always talk about our experiences going to LGBTQ events in Boston. We had a similar story of feeling excluded and disconnected from the scene— particularly the social justice and advocacy part of the LGBTQ community here. From one of our conversations came the idea to do something about it. We realized that we both had unique experiences in the non-profit field (me in program management and him in fundraising) so we combined our talents

See Yarbrough on Page 12

4 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

Dealing with coming out as Trans, the highs and the lows, the support By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/TRT Columnist

TRANS NEWS

oming out as your authentic self is most likely one of the happiest times in your life and also one of the most depressing times in your life. When I was coming out and dealing with my issues, I used to blog about my experiences and the permanent salutation on my site stated that it is both a blessing and a curse to be a trans person. I said this because you are able to partake in the world living as both genders and that can be very wonderful and very awful at the same time. When you transition to your authentic self, you experience times when you are flying high and then you are suddenly rapidly crashing to the lows. It's like an extreme roller coaster ride. Of course, everyone experiences the ups and downs of life but when you transition, I can assuredly tell you from my experience that the highs are higher and the lows are lower. The highs are the wonderful feeling of finally being who you truly are! You have worked most of the shame, the guilt, and the

self-hatred from within and now you are ready to move ahead and to resume your life. It feels so wonderful especially when you are out in public finally being who you are. You are now living your life as your true self and even the most mundane things like grocery shopping and doing laundry in a public place now become wonderful events! Meeting with friends for a cup of coffee

they may even call you out and ridicule you. Some of the things that I personally heard were that I would never, ever be a real woman, that I am delusional for even thinking about transitioning, and that no one will ever love me. They even said that I will spend the rest of my life alone and that I will die alone. It shoots you right down to the ground and begins burying you deeper and

Coming out as your authentic self is most likely one of the happiest times in your life and also one of the most depressing times in your life. takes on a new feeling as does dining out and attending public events. You are finally you in your everyday life! It's like a wonderful dream come true and you are flying high, very high! The lows are another thing. Sometimes you are flying high and, as the song “That's Life” goes, you get shot down. Sometimes a former friend, co-worker, or family member will refuse to address you as your new name, refuse to use the proper pronouns, and

deeper into the ground. Yes, the highs are higher and the lows are lower. I remember my early stages of experimenting with who I really was before I transitioned. I would work as male and when I came home I would express female. At night and on the weekends, I would go out and experience life as female and have a great time with others who were like-minded and/or were supporters. Then, I would go home and to bed, and cry myself to sleep. I would cry

because I was afraid of changing and I was afraid that I would never again have the love of former friends, co-workers, and family. I was on my own, destined to be apart from them. I remember crying every night for over two months. It hurt—it hurt very badly. After a while I began to get tough and to move on from my hurt. I learned that my life was going to be much different than before and that I needed to be tough in order to survive. I learned to not expect people to want anything to do with me. It helped that I was constantly making new friends and acquaintances. It balanced out my support system and gave me a fighting chance to survive. Today, my support system has grown and I have been accepted and supported by many old friends and relatives. I haven't gotten them all back yet, but I am still hoping that someday I will. In the meantime I am watching other trans folk deal with their issues in their transition. I wish that I could give them some help, but the only thing that I can tell them for sure is that their highs will be higher and their lows will be lower. *Deja Nicole Greenlaw is a trans woman who has 3 grown children and is retired from 3M. She can be contacted at dejavudeja@sbcglobal.net.

Ask a Trans Woman: Answering beloved readers’ questions about myself By: Lorelei Erisis*/TRT Columnist

PHOTO: DAVID MEEHAN

ello Faithful R e a d e r ! Whether you are new to reading this column or have been following since I first started writing it for the fine folks here at The Rainbow Times, you may have noticed that the actual name of the column is “Ask A Trans Woman.” This happens despite the fact that I very rarely answer actual direct questions nowadays. There are a whole lot of reasons for this. The primary one being that, once I had answered all the basic questions people had,

often several times over, I began to worry about repeating myself too often and being boring. I know that’s a radically unlikely state for my Punk-Rock-Trans-ActivistComic-Adventurer self to achieve. But it worries me, nonetheless. Also, there’s the simple fact that with my wide-ranging social media presence, I’m incredibly accessible. Many people reach out to me with questions that I feel are too pressing to wait for the time it takes to write and publish a monthly column. So mainly I just tell you folks out in reader-land, the answers I come to myself as a result of all the thinking and researching and reading that is inspired by all of these questions that people are always asking me. You get the distilled and carefully thought

Getting over my own fear of transitioning. That fear held me back for years and years and years. out answers and opinions I’ve developed from an aggregate of all the things I am asked and all the stories I hear from all the people I meet. I also try, quite simply, to anticipate the things going on that affect or are important to trans people and our community that I feel you ought to know about. Think of it like me answering the questions you haven’t yet thought to ask! One of the things I get to do as part of all this, that I really enjoy, is a workshop I call “Ask A Trans Woman: Live!” (Which you can totally book me to come to your school/conference/group/coffeehouse/churc h basement to do!) I think of it as a “Trans 201.” A lot of us who do activist-y and educational outreach type things get real tired of doing the “Trans 101” circuit real fast. Plus, I believe that with the current state of trans visibility, audiences often know the basics already. Frankly, it can be nearly impossible to know what the level of trans awareness any given group I’m speaking to is going have beforehand. Because I want to answer the questions

that people really want to know, I’ll usually do a very brief spiel and then I will answer anonymous questions that I have asked folks to write on index cards (or sometimes ripped up notebook pages) beforehand. This pretty effectively short-circuits people’s fear of, “asking the wrong question.” Surprisingly, I actually get some really interesting questions this way. Of course, I get some serious duds too. But even that gives me the opportunity for some object lessons in the things you really shouldn’t ask a trans person. Without, because of the anonymous nature of the cards, having to embarrass or humiliate the asker. And all of these questions usually lead to some great discussion and riffs into the stuff folks really need and want to know. Anyway, before this becomes just an advertorial for Lorelei Erisis, Inc., I thought it would be nice to share a random sampling of some of these very questions with you my wonderful readers! So in no particular order, and in the space remaining, here we go!! What is the biggest challenge you have faced? Short answer? Finding cute shoes that fit and I can actually wear to do all the things I do. From marching in the street to schmoozing at fancy Galas! Oy vey! Longer answer? Getting over my own fear of transitioning. That fear held me back for years and years and years. Once I got past it, even with all the difficulties of actually being trans in the world, everything else just seemed easier. Because I was me, and I wasn’t bottled up anymore. Do you feel that your identity as a trans person is a prominent part of your identity? Yes. For me, it is. I write, speak, teach and think about trans issues all the time. I’m Read the rest of this story at: http://wp.me/p22M41-3Ww

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 5

6 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

Getting to Zero: The multi-faceted solution to beating new HIV/AIDS infections feeding.

Research, prevention, and treatments of HIV and AIDS has, in the last decade, made the disease anything but a death sentence. With new treatments and fresh efforts from advocates calling for prevention, treatment, and ready availability of resources, those living with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones have found new ways to live healthy and productive lives. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that breaks down a patient’s immune system so severely which, if left untreated, can cause Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). If the virus develops into AIDS in a person, they are rendered helpless to even the most basic of infections. Patients die from AIDS by contracting infections, which their immune systems could have typically fought off, such as tuberculosis and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The U.S. government’s HIV/AIDS information website (https://goo.gl/C9VsEg) states that HIV is most commonly spread through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, where bodily fluids come in contact with tears in tissue, which allows fluids to enter the blood stream. HIV is also commonly spread through intravenous drug use through the sharing of needles. Pregnant mothers can also give HIV to their children through child-birth and breast-

Getting over the stigma Each day, thousands deal with the social impacts of HIV/AIDS. Steve Hourahan, executive director of AIDS Project Rhode Island, an advocacy group which focuses on offering services, information, and testing to HIV/AIDS-positive patients, said the stigma surrounding people living with HIV/AIDS is rooted in fear. “Years ago, there was a much stronger focus on it,” Hourahan said “People were on the streets and were dying.” Hourahan, said getting tested is an incredibly difficult undertaking. With misinformation abound, many are afraid to receive what is still known as a “death sentence” both medically and socially. “One of the things about testing is it takes absolute courage,” Hourahan said. People who live with the disease, Hourahan said, have a hard time coming to terms with informing their loved ones in fear of breaking relationships. “I know clients who are married that don’t disclose,” Hourahan said. According to him, the risk of spreading the disease becomes minimal when a patient keeps up with current anti-retroviral treatments because their “viral load (https://goo.gl/C9VsEg),” or the amount of

IN THE LIMELIGHT

By: Al Gentile/TRT Reporter

the virus in the blood, can be brought to what experts call “undetectable” levels. Carl Sciortino, executive director of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts (AAC), said the stigma becomes far more intense when it comes to gay men. “Whenever you talk about sexual health and gay men’s health, you will run into resistance,” Sciortino said. “People are just not comfortable putting all that out there.” Cindy St. George, executive director of the AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts, (AFWM) said the stigma is even, to this day, institutionalized. “It’s well documented that people who have an HIV diagnosis are more likely to spend time in jail,” St. George said. “They also tend to serve longer terms and harsher sentences.” Education, St. George said, is the most important part of fighting stigmatization. “The sooner that it starts in the public school system the better,” St. George said. A different landscape The treatment of HIV/AIDS has come to a point where people can live with the disease to be healthy, happy, and still sexually active. Fenway Health, an LGBT-centered health

research facility and advocacy center in Boston, has been working on several treatment options, which could change the game for HIV/AIDS treatment. Dwayne Stewart, Fenway Health’s community engagement coordinator, said much of their work currently is focused around Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. PrEP has been shown in studies (http://goo.gl/6wuPLl) to be over 92 percent effective when taken daily. “We’re doing a lot of work with PrEP, not only with the medication itself, but how to do better uptake with PrEP in the community,” Stewart said. Stewart said Fenway Health is currently working on an inject-based delivery system, which will allow for a single application every three months. This new approach has the potential for making HIV and AIDS prevention accessible to many in at-risk populations. Sciortino said there are many people dealing with issues such as drug addiction and homelessness, which render regular medical regiments nearly impossible. As part of what Stewart called their Antibody-Mediated Prevention study, researchers have isolated an antibody that is found in only one percent of HIV patients, which recognizes HIV and allows the body to fight the virus. “It skips a step and actually infuses antiTo read the rest of this story visit: http://wp.me/p22M41-3Wy

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 7

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

LGBTQ Health Tidbits: Why you matter Getting to Zero, Fighting HIV/AIDS Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. The pill (brand name Truvada) contains two medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine) that are used in combination with other medicines to treat HIV. When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at high risk by up to 92%. PrEP is much less effective if it is not taken consistently. Source: CDC’s website at: http://goo.gl/6wuPLl Centers for Disease Control: LGBT Health People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are members of every community. They are diverse, come from all walks of life, and include people of all races and ethnicities, all ages, all socioeconomic statuses, and from all parts of the country. The perspectives and needs of LGBT people should be routinely considered in public health efforts to improve the overall health of every person and eliminate health disparities. CDC Information on LGBT Health: http://goo.gl/3Ni5D National Coalition for LGBT Health, NCLGBTH The Coalition is committed to improving the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisex-

ual, and transgender individuals through federal and local a d v o c a c y, education, and research. The Coalition addresses the entire LGBT community, including individuals of every sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and age regardless of disability, income, education, and geography. Source: NCLGBTH on Marriage Equality: http://goo.gl/GmqMSP National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) community faces mental health conditions just like the rest of the population. However, you may experience more negative mental health outcomes due to prejudice and other biases. Knowing what challenges you may face as a member of the LGBTQ community and how to find and work with LGBTQ-inclusive providers can help ensure more positive outcomes. Source: NAMI website at https://goo.gl/Aeddh7

8 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

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Trans writer brings Danger & Eggs to Amazon, tackles issues facing youth and adults By: Mike Givens/TRT Assistant Editor

Can any lessons be learned from a rambunctious teal-haired youngster and her best friend, who just happens to be an egg? Transgender graphic artist and writer Shadi Petosky thinks so. “Part of it is definitely about managing feelings in scary situations and having a buddy to support you,” said Petosky, cofounder of Puny Entertainment and writer for “Danger & Eggs,” which recently premiered on Amazon. The show follows young DD Danger (voice of Aidy Bryant), a precocious little girl with big aspirations—and an even bigger sense of adventure—and her best friend, Phillip (voice of Eric Knobel), a highly-cautious egg who strongly matches his companions sense of impulsivity with an almost equal measure of hesitance. In the pilot episode, Danger and Phillip have a laugh-filled adventure in a large abandoned waterslide. The relationship between the two is driven by Danger’s eagerness to have fun, but Phillip’s worrying has a tendency to keep them from getting completely into trouble. “People are seeing anxiety; people are seeing deep feelings. Safety and responsibility are played out in an over-the-top fashion. It plays on kids’ anxieties in a world of really scary things,” said Petosky of the dynamic between the two characters. Coming in at just over 12 minutes, the episode is very accessible for kids, but also

contains a few laughs for adults. “The feedback that I’m getting is that people are immediately attaching to the characters,” said Mike Owens, co-founder of Puny Entertainment and the pilot episode’s director. Petosky said the personalities of the characters were largely the work of the entire creative team behind the show. “Animation is a very collaborative process. These characters come from a lot of real places and real dynamics,” she said. “There’s definitely a lot of us as creators in there.” Owens said the character of Philip was borne largely out of his own childhood experiences: “I was riddled with fear as a kid. My mother was an ER nurse, so I was always hearing the stories of people losing limbs and all of that stuff that a six-year-old shouldn’t hear.”

See Danger & Eggs on Page 15

10 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

New Year’s Resolutions: What some of our loyal community & allies wish for 2016 By: Sara Brown/TRT Reporter

he end of the year is rapidly approaching. That means a time for reflection and making New Year’s resolutions. The Rainbow Times asked activists, community members and politicians what they hope to achieve in 2016. The answers were as diverse, as the group of people who shared them. A follow-up to this Q&A will appear in the January 2016 issue of TRT. Deb Goldberg, Massachusetts State Treasurer “I did not have any resolutions last year!! I believe in challenging myself every day. ...And, that is what my staff and I do. We are never complacent and are striving to always take our work to the next level—to create opportunity, break down barriers, and assure economic stability throughout the state.” Mayor Kim Driscoll, City of Salem, Mass. “I have a professional resolution and a personal one. Professionally, I hope to continue advocating for a statewide fully inclusive public accommodations bill, to protect the rights of all our Commonwealth's residents. Personally, I'd like to e-mail less and sleep more at 2 a.m., always trying to squeeze another hour or two into the day.” Shawn Farley, Director of Marketing at UMass Fine Arts Center “I guess I would say that one of my resolutions would be to be more patient and Buddhist in all aspects of my life but especially when I'm driving. What am I in such a big hurry for? But I find myself getting so pissed off if someone is driving too slowly, or not signaling. With all the hurt that is going on in the world, being more kind, patient, tolerant and forgiving needs to begin with me. My other resolution would be to spend as much time with my friends and family as I can. My daughter was in Paris last fall as a student and spent many evenings in the area that was targeted by the terrorists. This world is so different now, more so than it was last year at this time. We can't live in fear but we need to live each day as if it were our last and extend love, tolerance and light as much as we can.” Jossie Valentin, Holyoke City Councilor “I guess I don't usually like the term ‘New

Year's Resolutions’ since it can imply that there is a specific end goal. I prefer to think of myself as constantly evolving and always being a ‘work in progress.’ One of the things that I would like to be better at is setting boundaries in terms of work and commitments. I have heard of politicians and elected officials who choose to have a ‘real day off,’ where they do not answer emails, phone calls, etc. and how this positively impacts their being able to balance their lives and responsibilities. I usually have a hard time truly disconnecting from responsibilities and work, so I think that may be something I would like to work on.” Gigi Gill, The Official Queen of Salem Massachusetts “[What] we need is peace in this old world. That is my wish for 2016.”

ize marriage for same-sex couples. There are already 18 states that fully protect transgender people from discrimination in public places—laws proven to be a tremendous help to transgender people while hurting no one's. I resolve to work to ensure that Massachusetts not fall any further behind.”

Bob Linscott, Assistant Director, LGBT Aging Project, The Fenway Institute “This year I am going to focus on finances, especially savings. I have never spent a whole year looking at savings and my goal is to develop better habits around saving money. The other area I want to focus on is allowing more creative expression in my life, specifically writing. My goal here is to also develop better habits about making room to write, creatively and professionally. How have these changed since 2015? I am more focused on process instead of outcome—i.e. developing the habits to be mindful of my finances and savings and developing a space for writing. That is different than saying my resolution is to boost my 401K or write the next great American novel.”

Amir Dixon, Program Manager of CONNECTED Boston “For 2016 my resolution is to Create! Create! Create! As an artist, I want to focus my life on creating more. In 2015, I spent the time creating and implementing programing for CONNECTED Boston, a program of the Multicultural AIDS Coalition that focuses on the health outcomes of black and Latino gay, bisexual, trans* and queer men. Developing the program was my focus of 2015 and now in 2016, I will focus in on using art to amplify the voices of queer people of color specifically.”

Kasey Suffredini, Freedom Massachusetts Campaign Co-Chair “Secure explicit protections for transgender youth, adults, seniors and families in all of Massachusetts' public places. This is my same resolution as 2015 because Massachusetts has fallen embarrassingly behind in protecting the civil rights of its transgender residents. At nearly every critical crossroads in the fight for freedom throughout American history, Massachusetts has been a leader. We served as the birthplace of the Revolutionary War. We hosted the first drafting of the United States Constitution. We were the center of the movement to end slavery, and we were the first state in the nation to legal-

Grace Sterling Stowell, Executive Director of Boston Alliance of LGBTQ Youth (BAGLY, Inc.) “My personal 2015 resolution was to spend more quality time with family and friends, but I wasn't very successful in doing that this year, and so my 2016 resolution will be to really, really spend more quality time with family and friends! While we don't usually make organizational New Year's resolutions, all of us in the BAGLY family do try to recommit each year to continue our work in collaboration with our community partners on behalf of racial, gender, and economic justice for the LGBTQ youth of all our communities!” Corey Yarbrough, Executive Director, HBGC “My resolution for 2016 is to practice more self-care and challenge myself to engage, and be present with, my community in different ways than I have been before. I also want to continue supporting the growth of the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition and the development of our staff, board, and volunteers.” John Trobaugh, Diversity Project Specialist, UMass Medical School, former Worcester Pride President “I have several. I am a husband and a dad. My first priorities are always to create a safe, nurturing environment for my son and husband. I am an artist, and I have not been able to focus on this part as much as I would like over the past year. I have a renewed my de-

termination to, at least a one night a week, creating art or drawing. I also plan to pick up my filmmaking again! My communityfocused goal is to create a 501c3 organization to begin the process of creating an LGBTQ Community Center for Central Massachusetts. It will take longer to build a center but the organization and community needs assessment can be completed in one year. My professional goal is further my diversity training and to create a more robust Art in Medicine program as well as focus on LGBT health in the UMass Worcester Academic Health Sciences Center. In January of 2014, I was really focused on making my last year as president of Worcester Pride the best year possible, since it was our 40th anniversary of Pride! I think Pride did have an excellent year and is now in excellent hands. I was less focused on my art. I will also have my son and husband at the top of the list, so I don’t think that will have changed much.” Keri Califano, Realtor at [RE] Teamwork Real Estate Group “I usually don't make "resolutions" as we typically know them. Instead I like to set my intentions for the year. So, this year I want: 1. To work smarter, which is about being more mindful and purposeful of how my time is managed and spent, juggling work and life demands more efficiently so that 2. My family can travel more. Work hard, play hard as they say! And finally 3. Add more creative outlets to my life ... writing, drawing, crafting, coloring, etc. I used to do way more of those things before our children came along, so I really need to work on carving out time for that again, and maybe even with the kids! Life changes and so must we!” Trystan Marl Greist, Writer “In 2016 I resolve to be the best husband and father I can possibly be.” Brent Wright, Co-Interim ED and Director, Programs, Family Equality Council “I have two resolutions. Now that marriage equality is here, my first resolution is to make sure the world knows we still have many fights ahead to protect LGBTQ parents. In 2016, we’ll be standing up for equal rights in cases of adoption and foster care; demanding we are treated fairly when it comes to housing, employment and public accommodations; and pushing back against all the upcoming RFRAs that will only serve to hurt our families. And my second resolution is to help find Family Equality Council an inspiring, visionary Executive Director to lead us in these battles.” Ben Power Alwin, ED, Sexual Minorities Educational Foundation, Inc. “Among my 2016 resolutions are to: change my name legally to Ben Power Alwin, and to raise funds from the LGBTQI community to purchase a wheelchair ramp for the SMA's new Archives House in Holyoke, MA. These resolutions are new for 2016 and differ from my 2015 resolutions which included: getting a mortgage and buying a new house for the SMA, and stepping up my social justice activism.”

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 11

12 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

Yarbrough from page 3 and experience to create HBGC with a small group of friends (from both Black and Latino backgrounds—many of whom became our founding Board members) who wanted to see greater representation and leadership in Boston’s LGBTQ community. Q. What is your proudest accomplishment as the HBGC’s ED? A. [Eyes widen, tilts head, thinks] Too many to name, but what first came to mind was being in a position to employ others from the community. We hear the statistics all the time about how difficult it is for LGBTQ people of color to gain and maintain employment. So, to have HBGC play a small role in employing people from our own community who can come in and express their gender however they want, speak openly about their partners, and work towards a mission that acknowledges and empowers their full being makes me proud. Q. How have you seen the organization grow under your leadership? A. [Soft smile, almost symbolic of quiet confidence] HBGC has had tremendous growth over the last 6 years. With my team, I have helped grow the organization’s annual budget from zero to $250K. We’ve garnered multi-year grants that will ensure the existence of HBGC for years to come. Our space has expanded from living room gatherings to a 1,100 square foot primary office space in downtown Boston and a secondary satellite office inside Union United Methodist Church in the South End. Quincey and I would once work full-time jobs then go home and work into the night on HBGC. Now, we employ 5 individuals with a handful of interns and volunteers. The organization has grown from hosting forums discussing disparities, to designing and implementing programs to help address those disparities. We have worked with consultants to create a strategic plan to guide the organization’s work into the future. Though there is still a long way to go, HBGC has gotten better at serving the full spectrum of our community by diversifying our staff and Board, launching HUES (HBGC’s program for queer and trans women of color), and hosting events that highlight the unique experiences of those further marginalized in our own communities.

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

Q. Is there something you wish you’d done before leaving? Can you explain? A. [Raises his eye brow, pensive, pauses] knowing my departure was on the horizon, there were many things I wanted to accomplish in 2015. I am thankful many of these things became a reality. Securing HBGC an independent office space, garnering the funds to hire a Program Director, diversifying our Board of Directors, and finalizing a succession plan are just a few. One thing I wish I could accomplish before my departure is doing more to make HBGC more linguistically accessible to monolingual Spanish speakers. Though some of HBGC’s programs and events provide simultaneous interpretation, I think it remains a major area of growth for HBGC considering the populations we serve. Thankfully, we have leadership who know the importance of making this a priority and as an organization, we have pursued funding to make this possible. Q. Can you name a few experiences that you had as the ED working with the LGBT mainstream community in Boston? What did you get/learn from such interactions? A. [Smiles] Through HBGC’s founding, I’ve had the interesting experience of watching agencies evolve in how they approach us. For example, some went from saying “Why are you trying to create this?” to “We really could use HBGC’s support and expertise!” So, over the years, I’ve learned that not only does Boston need an organization like HBGC but also the city relies on HBGC, and the many voices of Black and Latino LGBTQ people, to help address the social ills faced by the LGBTQ community. Given that need, I’ve also learned that as organizations and individuals of color, we must stand in that power and use it to the betterment of our community as opposed to being used and tokenized by it. Q. Do you have any advice for the new ED? A. Yes, don’t screw it up! [Laughs] Seriously though, I would advise them to stay rooted in the community and allow the voices of our communities to guide the work. It is so easy to get caught up in chasing grant funding or appealing to larger, more powerful organizations. Doing that may seem like the right thing to do, but it can often lead to Executive Directors losing focus on what those in the community really need or want. What makes HBGC so special is that all of our programs, events, and services (and how we execute them) have come from the brains of those we exist to serve— the power of the organization lies within that brilliance. Keeping a solid team around you who can remind you of that and hold you accountable when you forget is essential. Beyond that, I would say support yourself through self-care and proactively developing the skills of your team—investing in both will make your job a lot easier! Q. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? A. [Broad Smile] I think if you would have asked me this about a year ago, I would have rattled off my laundry

list of ideal professional accomplishments or titles. I’m entering a new phase in my life where I don’t feel a need to be defined by those accomplishments. So, I’m going to answer this a bit differently. In 5 years, I want to be closer to my family. I want to be a dedicated and loving husband and father. I want to intentionally develop and appreciate meaningful friendships. I also want to be using my experience and expertise to inspire others to chase their dreams and be able to financially invest in the community projects I care most about. Oh, and of course, I want to be able to still attend HBGC events, sit somewhere in the back and just observe with a smile. Q. What will Corey do now? For those who are interested in keeping in touch with you, where will you be or go to once you leave? A. I don’t plan to completely disappear, but do want to shift my priorities to invest more of my time into my family and others I am close to. Running an organization is a tremendous sacrifice, especially for family members and loved ones, so I am excited about catching up on missed time there. Beyond that, I look forward to having the time to properly reflect on my next step. I feel fortunate to have an opportunity to write a new chapter in life. I plan to take the lessons learned and skills gained from the past six years and seriously think about what will bring me joy and fulfillment. Individuals can stay in touch with me via LinkedIn (https://goo.gl/dQTPr7) by searching for my name. Q. Do we hear wedding bells for you in the near future? A. [Laughs] Yes, with more free time will hopefully come more time to plan for a wedding! Quincey and I definitely have plans to tie-the-knot in 2016 surrounded by the people we love most. Q. This wouldn’t be a TRT interview if we didn’t ask you to list three adjectives that describe you when you first started working at the HBGC, the first few weeks, and then 3 more that describe who you are today. A. First Started: Gullible, Focused, Unknown. Now: Seasoned, Focused, Accomplished Q. What was the most difficult moment you had to endure while being the HBGC’s ED? A. [Sighing, slightly saddened and contemplative] A particular moment doesn’t come to mind, but, in general, the most difficult moments I’ve had in this position have to be attending certain meetings and see racism on the agenda and a part of the discussion. And, I mean racism in subtle ways—from trying to exclude certain communities from decisions that will be impacted by them to degrading the communities we’re in the room to create support services for, to trying to allocate funding in ways that ignore the demographics of a particular epidemic. Constantly debating which battles to pick and loosing sleep over the ones I remained silent for represent my most difficult days. Q. What was the most rewarding moment you experienced while being the HBGC’s

ED? A. [Exuberantly replies] Seeing the growth of people who have gone through our programs! I’ve met some youth as freshmen in high school who were fearful of being seen at our events and now, years later, they are completely out, in college, and involved in their community as leaders. To see that transformation and evolution is so inspiring and reminds me the hard work and long hours aren’t in vain. Q. The interviewing of the Boston mayoral candidates was a very insightful project. Why did it only happen in that race? A. The idea of interviewing candidates in the most recent mayoral race came from a desire for HBGC to get more involved in advocacy. At the time, we had been hosting annual advocacy days, but we wanted to do something that was more accessible and useful to the average person looking to make a informed decision about who to vote for. We saw it as an opportunity to educate community members on the role of the mayor, learn about where various candidates stood, and explicitly engage candidates on LGBTQ of color issues. Going into it, I was skeptical of who would entertain the idea of being interviewed by HBGC but 11 of the 12 candidates accepted the invitation. It is still one of my favorite projects executed by HBGC. Many of the candidates still keep in touch with HBGC and attend our events. Due to capacity and funding, we didn’t continue the interview series for other elections but given the historical significance of that particular mayoral election, I am glad HBGC could play a role in voter education and mobilization. Q. What would white LGBTQ people and allies need to know or do to better serve the LGBTQ community of color? A. [Without hesitation] Nothing. White people need to “do” less and create more space for LGBTQ people of color to lead, provide, and dictate how funding and resources should be allocated for disparities that impact their own communities. Q. What is your legacy? A. It’s so weird to be asked about your legacy at the age of 29 [smirks], but it’s definitely a blessing. I want my legacy, in terms of the LGBTQ community, to be that of selfempowerment and entrepreneurship. I want folks to see HBGC and my life as an example of what is possible when you pull the resources from your own community to provide for your community with pure intentions. I want folks to see me and realize that age can’t stop you, sexual orientation can’t stop you, race can’t stop you, even being a transplant to Boston can’t stop you. Obstacles will exist, but through honoring your truth, respecting others and embracing community there is the power to overcome and create anything. I want my legacy to inspire someone else to create or build on something that inspires the next person and so on. Q. What do you take away, deep inside, from this experience?

See Yarbrough on page 15

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 13

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

Una Navidad de reivindicación LGBTT Advertiser Spotlight: Salem Dental Arts

*Escritor y activista de derechos humanos de Puerto Rico. Editado por Gricel Martínez Ocasio.

2. What is the most rewarding part of your job? I love my job! I love that I have the ability to restore a person's confidence and improve a person's quality of life. I get to know my patients as people and I love being able to help them achieve their esthetic and functional goals. I had a patient who was so unhappy with her teeth, she would barely speak at her appointments and under no circumstances would she smile. We began treatment by making a few temporary crowns for her and in a short period of time, she has become boisterous, chatty and full of smiles. Sometimes I watch her as she is speaking with me, or my assistant, and my heart is filled with pride by her transformation! 3. Tell me about the types of services you offer. I am a prosthodontist, which means that I am a specialist in all aspects of cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including crowns, bridges, veneers, dental implants and removable complete and partial dentures. I treat many people who have discolored, broken, worn or missing teeth. I am also a former dental hygienist and strongly believe in the power or preventive dentistry. We offer a full complement of preventive services, including prophylaxis, in-office whitening, laser tooth decay detection, oral cancer screenings at each visit, fluoride treatments and dental X-rays (digital X-rays to minimize radiation exposure). 4. Why should the LGBTQ and allied community choose your practice? I believe that all people deserve excellent dental care and it breaks my heart to learn that people avoid treatment due to the

¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo Mami, Papi y Patricia. Gracias por haber dicho presente y ayudarnos en el 2015.<3

¡Anúnciate con el periódico LGBT Latin@ de mayor audiencia!

617-444-9618

PHOTO: DR. PAMELA MARAGLIANO-MUNIZ

LATIN VISION

1. How long have you owned Salem Dental Arts and how many years have you been a prosthodontist? I have been a prosthodontist since 2007 and after working in a few different practices, I decided that it was the right time for me to have a practice of my own. I purchased a 33year-old dental practice in August of 2014 and named the practice Salem Dental Arts. I believe that dentistry is the perfect blend of science and art and I strive for excellence in both.

Dr. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz

prospect (and the reality) of judgment or discrimination. I have many friends and colleagues in the LGBTQ community and I want you to know that all people are considered equal in my practice and will welcome you with open arms. We offer flexible hours, so if you need to come in before work or prefer additional privacy, we can accommodate you. In addition, I pride myself in being accessible to my patients. All patients are given my email address and can reach me directly with questions or dental emergencies. 5. What is your wish for the New Year as it relates to Salem Dental Arts? I hope for Salem Dental Arts to be considered the premiere trusted, respected dental practice in the community. I am "new" to the area as a practicing dentist, and I look forward to being acquainted to more and more people. I look forward to another year of keeping my patients healthy and improving smiles. See Dr. Maragliano-Muniz’s Ad on page 9 of this issue.

Location: 20 Central Street, Suite 111 • Salem, Mass. 01970 Phone: (978) 741-1640 | Web: www.SalemDentalArtsMA.com http://bit.do/hrcspan

http://bit.do/hrcspan

comunidad sigan siendo víctimas de discrimen, así como de la homofobia y sus consecuencias; sufrimiento, rechazos, agresiones y suicidios, entre otros. Esta navidad regalemos al mundo nuestras orientaciones sexuales todas libres y nuestra dignidad humana. Obsequiemos diversidad en cada paso que demos, dejando una huella de libertad y de amor para quienes aún no comprenden lo hermoso de respetar las diferencias. Por cada armario abierto, por cada persona LGBTT que regala de su amor al prójimo, estamos combatiendo el odio, las condenas injustificadas, el discrimen y la violencia en nuestra contra. Aportamos al mundo la comprensión del verdadero significado de ‘humanidad’ y no la violencia que nos caracteriza. Una Navidad LGBTT es una navidad heterosexual, ya que todos y todas somos seres humanos con etiquetas impuestas por grupos religiosos, con el propósito de dividir y vencer la libertad del ser humano. Siendo diferentes, somos iguales, ya que todos merecemos iguales derechos y oportunidades. Amemos y vivamos libres, regalemos nuestro amor reivindicado en nuestra fuerza, de seguir amando aún cuando han intentado impedírnoslo. La equidad y el amor siempre prevalecen. Para comentarios envíele un correo electrónico al autor: eljimagua@live.com o via su cuenta de Twitter: @eljimagua (https://twitter.com/eljimagua).

Getting to know Dr. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz

http://bit.do/hrcspan

na navid a d LGBTT es aquella marcada por la felicidad de vivir tal cual somos en completa libertad, en armonía con nuestros sentimientos y en la que nos regalemos hacia nosotros/as mismos/as aceptación y amor propio. El mejor regalo para una persona gay lo es el respeto a su orientación sexual y a sus derechos humanos. Vivamos una época festiva llena de emociones únicas y verdaderas, elevando los conceptos de verdad, valentía y amor. El amor entre personas del mismo sexo es real, merece respeto y aceptación. Ser una verdad es mucho mejor que ser una mentira reprimida y sumida en el sufrimiento que causa el vivir una doble vida. La lucha por la equidad tanto en los Estados Unidos, Latinoamérica y el Caribe, incluyendo a Puerto Rico, ha avanzado enormemente. El Matrimonio Igualitario se prolifera en nuestras naciones como un grito libertario de reivindicación mundial; la equidad es inevitable. El amor gay es una realidad presente en todas las culturas y en todos los orígenes étnicos. Simplemente la homosexualidad es una identidad sexual verdadera y natural en la especie animal, y los seres humanos (como seres biológicos) tenemos una gran diversidad de identidades sexuales. Ser gay es hermoso, ya que es una orientación sexual muy innata en los seres vivos. Cuando logramos aceptarnos a nosotros mismos y comenzamos un proceso de enfrentar el discrimen social, familiar y religioso, estamos logrando que el amor prevalezca. Nuestra felicidad depende de nosotros mismos/as, por lo que no hay iglesia ni persona que tenga autoridad sobre nuestros sentimientos y deseos. Es importante erradicar las “vergüenzas” que nos crea la sociedad y el fundamentalismo en torno a ser gay. La visibilidad LGBTT en una época tan especial como lo es la navidad, le permite a la sociedad el tener una oportunidad de comprender que el amor gay es simplemente amor. El amor entre dos personas que se aman (heterosexuales, gays, transexuales, etc.,), jamás debe ser condenado o escondido, por el contrario, su expresión visible nos debe llenar a todos y todas de alegría. Cerremos este año 2015 con una idea clara de lucha, porque aún queda mucho trabajo por hacer. Los accesos a los servicios de salud para personas LGBTT, el discrimen contra las minorías, el rampante discrimen contra las personas de color, las transexuales y transgéneros, las injusticias mundiales en contra de la mujer, así como combatir el fundamentalismo religioso, son algunas batallas por ganar. Toda persona LGBTT fuera del armario tiene el deber moral de integrarse a la lucha por la equidad. Todos y todas podemos aportar de alguna manera a esta lucha, en la que se busca evitar que otras personas de nuestra

Una Navidad LGBTT es una navidad heterosexual, ya que todos y todas somos seres humanos con etiquetas impuestas por grupos religiosos, con el propósito de dividir y vencer la libertad del ser humano.

BIZ CORNER

Por: Francisco “El Jimagua” Cartagena Méndez*/Especial para TRT

http://bit.do/hrcspan

14 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

QPuzzle: Modern Family Man

Across 1 Michelangelo's David, once 5 Supporters in the bedroom 10 Mistake for Paul Taylor 14 A fireman goes down on it 15 Vietnam capital 16 Tow job 17 Barrie's getting on in years 18 "Ready ___, here I come!" 19 Linc portrayer in The Mod Squad 20 Start of a tweet to Reid Ewing of Modern Family 23 Gomer, to city slickers 24 Accessory for Wonder Woman 25 Composer Lee 28 Big manager on campus 30 End of the tweet 34 Came upon 37 First name in detective stories 38 Discharge on one's face 39 Hang one's head 40 Data transmission letters 41 Ewing's response to the tweet 43 Gift label word 44 With blood rushing to the head 45 Able to bend over 48 Ancient Mexican 51 Ewing has openly shared about this condition 56 Pass out 57 Make up 58 Funny Dick 60 Web surfer

61 Goes lickety split 62 Final Foursome org.? 63 "Not that I loved Caesar ___... " 64 Metal waste 65 Pack down Down 1 Cruising area 2 Lance of An American Family 3 Weight loss product 4 The children's hour to turn in 5 Avoided stirring Bond's martini 6 Porn director Chi Chi 7 Bit of history 8 Screwdriver, e.g. 9 Is in session 10 Condom used at Southern Cal? 11 Disney Uncle 12 Boast from a successful cross-dresser? 13 ___ Novo (Benin's capital) 21 Toy that does tricks 22 Norwegian saint 25 Cultivated pansies 26 Cather's One of ___ 27 "___ never fly!" 28 Laura of Recount 29 Showboat's "Nobody ___ But Me" 31 Bono's band, written out 32 Get juice from a fruit 33 Airline to Oslo

34 Oliver Twist request 35 Gone With the Wind was one 36 Big top, e.g. 39 Shakespeare's Antonio of Venice 41 Steamed up 42 Lincoln's Johnson 43 Earhart and others 45 Former American Idol judge Paula 46 Poke the backside 47 Screws around 48 Big name in gas 49 Some basketball defenses 50 Head lock? 52 Play area 53 It may come before 69 54 Foe of Pizarro 55 Sandler of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry 59 Toto outburst

SOLUTION

Gifts for your loved one: Holiday 2015 hot ones! EastSiders Season 2 EastSiders explores the drunken outbursts and double standards of twentysomethings living and loving in sunny California. The second season delves into the dramatic complexities of dating an ex as Cal and Thom reunite and explore opening their relationship up sexually. Some very dark topics are tackled including heartbreak, infidelity and sexually transmitted diseases. The large ensemble cast includes out actors Kit Williamson and Van Hansis, Matthew McKelligon (You’re Killing Me), Stephen Guarino (Derek on Happy Endings) and Willam Belli (RuPaul’s Drag Race).

Nexus Dance Radio

Nexus Radio is the first major radio and tv service specializing in dance music. They know what club fans want. They call it the 3Ds: the divas, the divos and the DJs. At the gym, in the car, at work, or just about anywhere fans need some adrenaline pumping tracks, they can turn to Nexus. Listen to Nexus Radio online or download the app to play on all mobile devices. Listeners can opt out of commercials with the VIP option at http://goo.gl/MNRUwG. Rainbow Brew Gay owned and operated Rainbow Brew offers gay coffee drinkers an incredible coffee that has been handled, processed, shipped, and roasted with the upmost attention— not only to the quality of the beans, but also to the quality of life surrounding it. They support the LGBT community though their Caffeinated-4-ACause shop. Visit http://rainbowbrew.com. Urban Nutcracker Tickets Take your loved one to a special LGBT viewing of the Urban Nutcracker on December 26th. This show has a special appearance by Joslyn Fox and will be held at the John Hancock Hall at the Back Bay Event’s Center in Boston. For more information, attend, or to buy tickets visit: www.urbannutcracker.com.

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 15

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016

HIV Diagnosis from Page 2 we need to refocus our dialogues to discuss prevention of HIV/AIDS and not persecuting those who have the illness. • Changing Our Laws: In several states we’re seeing lawsuits filed in criminal and civil courts against individuals who allegedly knew they were transmitting the virus during sexual contact with another person. I’ll be honest and say that I wrestle with the morality of suing or prosecuting someone for knowingly transmitting HIV/AIDS. There are heinous implications when the law can be weaponized to further stigmatize a condition that is not a death sentence. What I feel unequivocally is that each state needs to weigh the legal ramifications of penalizing sexual behaviors with the ethical implications of vilifying those living with a treatable condition. • Knowing the Resources That are Available: Since the genesis of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the late 1970s and early 1980s, there have been myriad treatments and medicines developed to treat the condition. There’s PReP (pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as Truvada), PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and a range of prescription medicines that have effectively transitioned HIV/AIDs from a life-ending disease to a manageable lifelong condition. But these measures are of no use if we aren’t educating the public about what they are and how to access them. Let’s prioritize prevention over reaction when managing our own sexual behaviors. Informative, non-judgemental resources that responsibly talk about sex should be lifted up more often in public discourse. Education is paramount to prevention and will go a long way in facilitating informed decisions that minimize risk without diminishing the rewards of an active, healthy sex life. In the more than 30 years since the discovery of HIV/AIDS, scientific advancements

have allowed many people to live long, healthy lives. However, we’re seeing rampant increase in diagnoses in communities of color because of the social stigma around same-sex relationships, which has forced many men to live on the “down low,” a troubling phenomenon of “straight” men secretly engaging in high-risk sex with other men. This stifling level of silence and repression (and oppression) is an ideal breeding ground for a lack of awareness and dialogue around safe sex practices. The battle against HIV/AIDS must be fought on two fronts: one that is scientific, the other is social. We’ve made an impressive amount of progress in managing the epidemic, producing treatments that maintain higher T cell counts and healthier immune systems. However, socially, we’re battling ignorance, prejudice, and misinformation, which can be just as deadly as the virus itself. Charlie Sheen is an actor, an alleged substance abuser and womanizer, and is notoriously portrayed by the media as difficult and uncompromising. Regardless of his reputation, the core thread that needs to run through any conversation about his HIV status, and the dialogue around the epidemic in general, is that this is a disease that affects human beings. The moment we strip away the humanity of the people living with the disease is the moment we ourselves reinforce its deadliness. *A graduate of the Boston University College of Communication, Mike Givens has been a social justice advocate for more than seven years. During that time he’s worked on a range of initiatives aimed at lifting up marginalized populations. An experienced media strategist and public relations professional, Michael currently devotes his spare time to a number of vital issues including racial justice and socioeconomic equity.

Happy New Year 2016! Danger & Eggs from page 9 Amazon is currently streaming the pilot of the show (http://goo.gl/GY7ku1) and based on user reviews, the network could option a full season of it. As of the writing of this article, the show has 361 reviews and a 4.5 out of 5 rating. There were a range of reactions to the show with one reviewer stating, “Simply stated, Danger & Eggs is smart and funny,” to not-so-positive feedback such as, “My kids (7-10) cringed and looked annoyed for most of it. There were a couple of laughs, but it is NOT something we would seek out.” User reviews aside, Petosky said she is excited about the project and the opportunity to show diversity. “I want to make a very intersectional show. I want to show diversity without calling it ‘difference.’ It’s a show that takes place in an urban park and I want it to feel like that,” she said, noting that she likes exploring themes related to the dynamics between children and their parents, friendship, fears and feelings. She also credited Amazon with giving the Puny Entertainment team the creative space they needed to produce a show that delves into the issues the cast, producers, director, and writers wanted to explore.

“ T h e Amazon shows are very auteur-driven and each of our points of view will be seen in the final product,” she n o t e d . “A m a z o n Shady Petosky is attracting all of these indie filmmakers and optioning a lot of literature. It’s a very art-driven platform. Nothing is homogenized.” Petosky said she felt deeply appreciative of Amazon for optioning the pilot and said that shows like Emmy Award-winning Transparent helped make it easier for transgender artists and entertainers to produce authentic work. “It feels empowering as a trans person to be in a building and see your culture’s name on the poster sitting behind the executive when you’re in a meeting,” she said. “Especially when I've thought for 20 years that being out as trans was a career ender.”

Yarbrough from Page 12 A. I take away a deep sense of gratitude from this experience. Not many people can say they’ve had the opportunity to essentially work for themselves by creating an organization for something that they believe in. More importantly, I am able to pass the torch to someone else who will be able to experience that joy. From this experience, I also take away a newfound confidence that I can do anything with the skills to truly make it happen. Q. What do you say to the hundreds of people who will say, “We will miss you, Corey!” A. [Sad face] To those individuals, I would say I will miss you too! I want individuals to know this was not an easy decision. It was a decision that took a whole year to definitely decide, and then an additional six months to prepare my leadership team for [it]. It is not one that was made emotionally or in haste. Instead, it is a decision that compliments the growth and exciting future of the organization. I want folks to use it as an opportunity to celebrate the founding of the organization, the history of the organization, its tremendous growth, and its future. I hope individuals show their love and support for HBGC more than ever and rally around the fresh perspectives and ideas our interim Executive Director and incoming, permanent Executive Director will bring. Q. Will you continue to be involved with the LGBTQ community of color after you leave the HBGC?

A. I will always be connected to social justice work, including the important, ongoing work to empower LGBTQ communities of color. It’s in my blood and tied to my own survival as a Black gay man. I’m looking forward to being able to connect to, and engage with, the LGBTQ community in many ways I couldn't do so before. I also plan to continue to support HBGC in any way I can and definitely be present during the executive search and transition. Q. What will be the process of selecting the new Executive Director? A. My last day as Executive Director of the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition will be February 29, 2016. Starting in December, HBGC’s Board of Directors plans to conduct an extensive and thoughtful search for our next Executive Director. In partnership with Third Sector New England, HBGC will access the leadership needs of the organization and solicit individuals to apply and interview over a 4-6 month period. The Board will be sure to keep the mission and values of the organization a priority during this process. Beginning March 1, 2016, Eli Vivas has been selected to serve as Interim Executive Director until this process is complete. I am excited to support Eli, as a former volunteer and board member of HBGC, as he temporarily transitions into this important role. Eli’s dedication to HBGC over the years and his thoughtfulness to community inclusion and empowerment, will serve the organization well during this transitional period. For more information about the HBGC visit: www.hbgc-boston.org/.

16 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 3, 2015 - January 6, 2016