The Rainbow Times' December 2019 Issue

2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

The Holidays and self care, family estrangement, or divorce occurring or affecting your family, then there is the likeliHappy Holidays! Although for many, this hood that you will have to manage the is the “most wonderful time of the year,” emotions that are related to these issues.”

The holiday season also sends most peofor others, it is a period of sadness, loneliple into a period of overdrive that elicits atness depression or anxiety, often referred tempts to meet unrealistic expectations. to as the holiday This can easily be obblues. served by the number This time of year events we are excan be painful reHE SEASON of pected to attend or minder of loss— host. partners, children, ALSO SENDS MOST PEOPLE “During the holiparents, and other days, there is an indear and loved ones crease in the number of that are no longer a INTO A OF activities, tasks, and part of the physical social events that peoworld. For others, TO MEET UN ple must manage,” there is an array of Sanz wrote. “Shopping stressors and degift-buying can REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS and pressive triggers cause financial and like the burden of emotional stress and financial pressure to buy gifts even when they can’t be afforded. In the LGBTQ+ can create a need to manage crowds, trafcommunity, family get-togethers can be a fic, and malls or large stores. Family, trigger when dysfunction is at its highest school, neighborhood, and work celebraand at the core of deeply rooted psycholog- tions and parties create social, time, and enical traumas. This is especially true when ergy demands.”

On top of emotion, psychological and fifamilies do not accept the sexual orientanancial burdens, the holiday season serves tion or gender identity of their family memas a catalyst to not provide self-care—like ber.

According to psychologist Anita Sanz in getting enough sleep, eating well, partician article published by Forbes pating in exercise and other daily routines (https://bit.ly/363laDN), “… any issues that provide stability and normalcy to our that a person has with their family will lives. come to the forefront during this time,” the See Holidays On Page 9 article read. “If there is loss, dysfunction, addiction, abuse, disconnection, separation, By: Nicole Lashomb* The Rainbow Times’ Editor

T

HOLIDAY

PERIOD OVERDRIVE

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.

What does it mean to be LGBTQ+?

INNER BEAUTY IS T ETERNAL. EXTERNAL BEAUTY, WHICH IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, IS NICE WHILE IT LASTS.

FAITH, GOD & FAMILY

By: Paul P. Jesep* TRT Columnist

he Amsterdam Lowlanders (https://bit.ly/2QPsXRc), the only LGBT+ rugby team in the Netherlands, are fundraising with a naked calendar (https://bit.ly/2OKyCWj) for 2020. Happy holidays!

The calendar has two goals. Raise money to support a trip to the 2020 Bingham Cup (https://bit.ly/2OkhKXe), the biennial world championships of gay and inclusive rugby. Approximately seventy teams from 5 continents are expected to compete in Ottawa next year.

The second goal is to teach acceptance of “diversity in a world dominated by stereotypes.” It’s a beautiful message as a season of joy, peace, gratitude, meaningfulness, and new beginnings is celebrated.

According to the group’s website, “The Lowlanders calendar (https://bit.ly/34wHzJz) is a reference to the inclusiveness of sport and rugby culture where there is room for everyone without pursuing a body idealized by today’s society.”

It’s an important message about inner wellbeing, emotional intelli-

gence, and mature, grounded spirituality.

In my sojourn, I’ve dated folks who ranged from tall to short, stocky to athletic, and degreed to intuitively bright without formal education. What always drew me to the person were values, energy, and personality. Physical beauty was a benefit, but the main attraction was the individual’s aura followed by values and personality.

Suppose I married because of physical beauty. If the person was badly disfigured in an accident and intimacy was limited, would I move on?

See LGBTQ+ On Page 12

Op-Ed: Face Surveillance tech erases Trans & non-binary people; Time to press pause It’s 2019, but gender classification technologies are stuck in the 1890s By: Tre’Andre Valentine* Special to TRT

I

n May, San Francisco became the first city in the world to ban the municipal government’s use of face surveillance technology. Days later, Somerville, Massachusetts became the first city on the east coast to do the same. Now—thanks to a movement led by dozens of civil rights organizations nationwide—municipalities and states across the country are debating the government’s use of a technology that poses unprecedented threats to our civil rights and civil liberties.

Face recognition systems use computer algorithms paired with databases to analyze and classify images of human faces in order to identify or track people. The technology is currently entirely unregulated in the United States, but police departments and other government agencies are nonetheless using it—too often in secret.

But it’s not like what you’ve seen on cop shows like CSI; face recognition doesn’t always work. And the inaccuracies are particularly damaging for certain groups of people, namely Black women and trans and non-binary people.

A study conducted by MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini, for example, found significant racial and gender bias in facial recognition algorithms. Buolamwini found that face recognition algorithms can misclassify Black women’s faces nearly 35 percent of the time. These same algorithms almost always get it right when classifying

Letters to the Editor [Re: Mayors Against LGBTQ Discrimination: 350 Mayors From 50 States] Dear Editor, Our founding fathers provided the the final word in their Bill of Rights. All American citizens require equal protection under the law.

—Richard, Online [Re: Transgender Day Of Remembrance & Its Future] Dear Editor (replying to the author herself), Thank you for providing so much food for thought, Lorelei.

—Robyn Ochs, Online Please send Letters to the Editor to: editor@therainbowtimesmass.com.

NOTE: All letters to the editor must be ac‐ companied by a phone # and an e‐mail ad‐ dress to verify your identity prior to its publication. We reserve the right not to publish a letter for any reason at all.

white men’s faces.

But moreover, this technology too often fails to take into account transgender and non-binary people. Studies show face recognition products sold by Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft consistently misclassify people in our community.

A critical shortcoming of this technology is that it has been programmed to read people as either male or female—a technological assertion that the gender binary is immovable, fixed, and here to stay.

Even within the confines of this rigid binary, the tech has an extremely retrograde view of what “male” and “female” look like. For example, systems can be programmed to recognize short hair as a ...

See Tech On Page 11

Multiple Award Winning

The Rainbow Times The Largest LGBTQ Newspaper in New England—Boston Based TheRainbowTimesMass.com editor@therainbowtimesmass.com sales@therainbowtimesmass.com Phone: 617.444.9618 Fax: 928.437.9618 Publisher Graysen M. Ocasio Editor-In-Chief Nicole Lashomb Assistant Editor Mike Givens National/Local Sales Rivendell Media Liz Johnson Lead Photographers Steve Jewett Christine M. Hurley Photographer Jenna Joyce

Reporters Mike Givens Jenna Spinelle Chris Gilmore Audrey Cole Ad & Layout Design Prizm PR Webmaster Jarred Johnson Columnists/Guest Lorelei Erisis Deja N. Greenlaw Paul P. Jesep Mike Givens Keegan O’Brien Affiliations QSyndicate

The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The Rainbow Times, LLC. TRT is an award-winning publication affiliated with 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-in-chief 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.

The appearance of names or photographic representations in TRT does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation or gender identity of the named or depicted individuals.

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 3

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

Chick-fil-A allegedly ceases anti-LGBTQ donations; backtracks after backlash?

By:Chris Gilmore TRT Reporter

IN THE LIMELIGHT

BOSTON—Late last month, Chickfil-A released a statement declaring that it was ceasing all anti-LGBTQ organization donations, according to a release from the company foundation’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Tim Tassopoulos. Shortly thereafter, however, conservative Christian leader Franklin Graham said that the fried-chicken company was not going to stop its funding to anti-LGBTQ companies, an official comment he made after allegedly speaking to Chick-Fil-A’s president.

“I picked up the phone and called Dan Cathy. Dan was very clear that they have not bowed down to anyone’s demands, including the LGBTQ community,” read Graham’s FB post (https://bit.ly/34jC4h5), who is also a Trump ally. “They will continue to support whoever they want to support. They haven’t changed who they are or what they believe.

Chick-fil-A remains committed to Christian values. Dan Cathy assured me that this isn’t going to change. I hope all those who jumped to the wrong conclusion about them read this.”

According to Pink News, Graham is so

anti-LGBTQ that he previously praised Putin’s anti-gay laws (https://bit.ly/2QRfmsG) in Russia. Out Online reported that he claimed gay people were causing a rise in STIs (https://bit.ly/35BBUSC) and said that presidential candidate Pete Buttigeig faces “eternal damnation” for being gay (https://bit.ly/37AxPzJ).

As the initial news broke, many in the LGBTQ and allied community were instantaneously skeptical of the company’s release and its “intentions” not to fund antiLGBTQ organizations any longer.

“It’s about money. There was no moral conversion,” said Scott Bailey via Facebook. And, many more shared Bailey’s view.

“Too late … still won’t step foot in this establishment ever again” read Tasha Hanley-Palmer’s FB post.

Liberal markets Chick-fil-A’s intent—in terms of expansion—is to open more locations in liberal markets such as Boston, according to the recent press release. Boston Mayor Marty J. Walsh, according to a statement sent directly to The Rainbow Times continues to listen to community reactions regarding the opening of a possible Chick-fil-A store in the city.

PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA/WALKER KINSLER

Allegations that the company will not stop anti-LGBTQ donations; only seeking to enter key markets

“The role of the Mayor's Office is to help facilitate this ongoing process, as we would with any business, which allows the community to decide whether there is a need for this business in their district,” said City Officials to The Rainbow Times. “Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston will continue to pay close attention to community feedback as this moves forward.”

Trying to open stores in more progressive areas has not been easy for the company due to its past actions against the LGBTQ community.

“There’s no question we know that, as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are,” said Tassopoulos to Bisnow (https://bit.ly/2rnrZ4c) recently.

“There are lots of articles and newscasts about Chick-fil-A, and we thought we needed to be clear about our message.”

Funding Anti-LGBTQ organizations But, the Atlanta-based company’s foun-

See Chick-Fil-A On Page 10

4 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

Jennifer Beals walks the walk, hikes the hike; The L-Word revival By: Chris Azzopardi* Special to TRT

W

hen Jennifer Beals speaks to the universe, the universe listens. Or at least it did this one time while the 55-year-old actress was on a hike. She can’t recall the exact year, but it was sometime between 1999 and 2002 when she got down on her knees in the middle of a trail and asked for a “great love story.”

Beals got that love story. Granted, she also got fighting and cheating and custody battles, but the universe still delivered her a great love, which just so happened to be a lesbian love. And the show, The L Word, which ran from 2004-2009 for six seasons, changed the landscape for lesbian women in mainstream culture with a show dedicated to their lives for the first time ever.

The series took on important LGBTQ topics such as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” same-sex adoption and coming out as transgender.

And in 2012, Beals, one of the series’ leading stars, was presented with the Human Rights Campaign’s Ally for Equality Award for her support of the LGBTQ community.

Ten years after it wrapped, The L Word returns to Showtime with an extended title, The L Word: Generation Q, and a new, more diverse cast who are starring along-

side original cast members and current executive producers Katherine Moennig, Leisha Hailey and Beals. For the eightepisode revival, Beals reprises her role as Bette Porter, now running for mayor of LA. When Beals, who has been called an icon, a dykon and an honorary lesbian, calls me one recent afternoon, I acknowledge her zen disposition in the interview clips I’ve watched in preparation for our talk. How does she manage to keep so calm? “It’s so funny because I just got finished with a two-hour hike,” she says, breaking into a laugh. “But I think hiking is really helpful.”

Indeed, it seems to be doing the trick.

Q: You went into the original L Word hoping that maybe you’d reach someone who needed to see themselves reflected on screen. For this revival, what was the driving force to get these characters back on TV? A: Quite early on, as early as, gosh, 2012, Kate, Leisha and I became aware that The L Word was still being discussed on social media and in chat rooms, and that there was still a hunger for these stories but perhaps in a newer form because there was a paradigm shift happening within the queer community where a whole new generation was refusing to let other people define them, and those definitions were outgrow-

ing any kind of lexicon that we had. And so it was at that time that we approached (series creator) Ilene Chaiken about resurrecting the show in a new form, and she was busy with a little show called Empire (laughs) but was very excited about the idea. And the more we learned about the stories of this newer generation, the more excited we became about being able to tell those stories and making our cast more inclusive and more diverse.

PHOTO: KHAREN HILL

‘The L Word’ star on returning to the series, diversifying the revival and being the ‘most square’ cast member

Q: Despite breaking ground, the original show was criticized for not being inclusive.

A: And, honestly, there will be criticism of this version, because the community is outpacing pop culture in exponential ways.

That criticism is important to hear and to take in and to figure out how and where we can do better.

Q: How did the criticism from the original show shape the revival?

A: I think the most important things were to have trans actors playing trans roles and to make it more inclusive racially.

Q: The bisexual community also felt like they weren’t fairly represented.

A: Right. And the fact is it’s not humanly possible to tell everyone’s story right away.

But we hope as the years go on that we will be able to be as inclusive as possible. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to write their story and try to get it made. I think that’s also really important.

Q: Going back, what was your experience with the LGBTQ community before The L Word?

A: Oh my gosh, I knew nothing! I knew nothing! I am still by far the most square cast member. Like, Kate still makes fun of me because my playlists are so square.

Q: Your music playlists?

A: Yeah. Because I stay with her sometimes and she’s an amazing DJ and my playlists have, admittedly, some Top 40 influences in there (laughs), and she just cringes when she hears them. So I have to get permission to play my playlist.

(Laughs.)

Q: She’s queering your playlist then?

A: She hasn’t yet (laughs). I should ask her to do it, that would be a good thing. And it’s not even queering the playlist; it’s just making it a little bit more robust. It’s either stuff from the ’40s or chants or, all of a sudden, it’s Post Malone. It’s sort of just crazy, with a healthy dose of Joni Mitchell.

Q: I mean, you could say Joni Mitchell has some lesbian currency.

A: OK! All right! I feel better now. I do feel better. What about Rickie Lee Jones?

Q: Rickie Lee Jones is not on my radar, so I’m sorry, I cannot qualify that.

A: (Laughs.) OK, I’ll pretend I never

asked.

Q: While we’re on this topic: Having learned about dental dams during the original L Word, are you still learning new things about the LGBTQ community with this latest iteration?

A: I always am learning, frankly. And the language is changing so fast that I’m trying to keep up with it. It’s important, not necessarily that certain labels or sayings or qualifications will remain, but sometimes it feels like language is an inadequate repository for things that are so fluid and so fast-moving. It’s like trying to quantify a stream that’s flowing by you so quickly.

Q: Jennifer, that’s so poetic.

A: I was just hiking, so you know, that’s where that comes from. (Laughs) Q: I agree with you, and I think that that’s the direction the queer community has moved into: into a more fluid environment.

A: Yes, and it’s incredibly exciting to me.

It’s incredibly exciting to me when language can’t keep up. It tells you that we’re at a fulcrum of change that’s tremendously Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

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December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

Carols for a Cure album includes eighteen newly recorded singles Broadway Cares/Equity fights AIDS, releases spirited new Holiday Album in 2019 By: Larry Olsen Special to TRT

For over twenty years, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ holiday CD, Broadway’s Carols for a Cure, has been a staple of every theatre-lover’s wish list.

The beloved series pairs casts from awardwinning Broadway musicals—including Hadestown, Beetlejuice, Ain't Too Proud, Freestyle Love Supreme, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!—with seasonal songs that are both classic and new.

“This year’s 21st anniversary edition features eighteen newly recorded singles, creatively arranged and performed by the incredibly talented performers and musicians from the 2019 Broadway season,” explains producer Lynn Pinto. Once again, she has collaborated with engineer Andros Rodriguez on the album.

“Several of the casts really made their song sound like it could be a song from

their show!”

With over twenty years of creating Broadway’s Carols for a Cure, Lynn Pinto has developed a recipe that works. She allows each company ample freedom in choosing the material and the style of their arrangement. She also works with their demanding Broadway schedules.

“We record the musicians and singers in layers, utilizing isolation booths for a higher quality recording,” Pinto explained.

“It gives our holiday album a unique sound from most cast albums and allows us to properly showcase these amazing voices and instrumentalists.”

The first Broadway’s Carols for a Cure album debuted in 1999. Recorded at St. John's Church in Greenwich Village, it featured carols from the casts of Cabaret, Fosse, Chicago and Swing!, as well as from Phantom of the Opera who also appear on the 21st anniversary edition. Fans of today’s Great White Way will be over-

joyed to hear original recordings from today’s top productions, including the cast of Hamilton with a sweeping rendition of “What Child is This?,” the cast of Frozen performing “O Holy Night,” and the cast of Tootsie singing an all-new, frolicking version of “Jingle Bells.”

Additionally, this year's album includes two unique Chanukah songs. The cast of Dear Evan Hansen performs “Hine Ma Tov/Together” and the cast of Fiddler on

the Roof presents “Drey Dreydele,” sung in Yiddish!

This year’s Broadway’s Carols for a Cure Volume 21 CD comes with its own digital download card inside the packaging so that listeners can access the music even if without a CD player! In addition, downloaded music also features incredible bonus content including behind the scenes videos of the making of the album.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is a non-profit organization that helps individuals with AIDS and other serious illnesses receive the health care and support they need. In addition, they provide financial support in the form of grants to AIDS and family service organizations throughout the country.

“No town is more festive than New York City for the holidays and no street here is as magical as Broadway! Broadway’s Carols for a Cure Volume 21 is sure to be a favorite for all,” promises Lynn Pinto.

Broadway’s Carols for a Cure Volume 21 exclusively benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and can be purchased (along with Volumes 1 through 20) at https://bit.ly/362w7FK or by calling Broadway Cares at 212-840-0770. The new album is also available at participating New York City theaters.

PHOTO: THE FOOD NETWORK

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December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

Openly gay Bostonian lands spot on the Holiday Baking Championship An exclusive interview with this Food Network star By: Audrey Cole TRT Reporter BOSTON—What initially began as a festive family tradition to “go all out” for the holiday season, turned into Bostonian Kobe Doan landing a coveted spot as one of ten bakers vying for a $25,000 grand prize on The Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship.

A local dental office insurance professional by day, and a baking connoisseur by night, Doan hopes he makes the LGBTQ+ community he belongs to proud by being out on a national TV platform. As someone who did not grow up celebrating the holidays, Doan is basking in the magic of the season.

In this exclusive interview with The Rainbow Times, Doan shared his inspiration for baking and how competing on the show has helped to expand his family, and his skillset. He delves into a world of passion and pride, of strength and adversity, and explains why macaroons will never be fool proof.

Q: What did it mean to be selected for the Holiday Baking Championship on the Food Network?

A: I grew up watching Food Network. I chose watching it over watching cartoons (or any other channels, for that matter).

Doing so, my passion for food grew into an obsession! It meant the world to me. It was a dream come true.

Q: When did you first start baking? Do you do it professionally?

A: I've started baking here and there for quite some time. It has only become more serious the past 2 years. Baking is now my stress relief. The outcome of your creations is just so satisfying! I do not do it professionally; I am a home-baker who thrives to become better over time. Hopefully I'll be able to pursue it as a full-time career, which is my goal.

Q: What do you think it represents to

have a member of the LGBTQ+ community as a contestant on the show? Are you “out” on the show?

A: I am out on the show, and pretty proud of it. It's hard to judge what it represents, but I hope I set an example for those who are struggling to be themselves. I hope they can use me as a means to be who they are without being afraid to do so. Life throws many challenges at you. It'll be hard ... very hard at times ... but it does get better. I hope the audience can see past that I am [a member] of the LGBTQ+ community, and instead focus on how happy I am being who I am. I hope to do the LGBTQ+ community proud.

Q: What is your favorite thing to bake when you aren’t competing?

A: My favorite thing to bake is macaroons—I have spent countless hours, days, weeks, months to perfect a recipe of my own. These cookies will never be fool proof! Temperature, weather, ingredients ... anything can ruin your batch. I've had countless occasions where I'm crouched beside the kitchen cabinet having a Julie & Julia moment basically crying hysterically! (laughs) Q: Why is holiday baking particularly important to you?

A: Holiday baking is important because it’s a season my husband and I choose to celebrate all out. We invite all our friends and family to come celebrate with us. I was not fortunate enough to grow up celebrating holidays, so I promised myself once I have a family of my own it is a must! Now that I have a family, the holiday celebrations are another dream come true.

Q: What is the grand prize from the show?

A: The grand prize is $25,000 and the winner will give a live cooking class on The Food Network Kitchen app!

See Doan on page 12

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December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

GET TICKETS AT: HTTPS://MEZZONICOLE.YAPSODY.COM

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 9

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

Boston Gay Men’s Chorus brings “A Super Gay Christmas” to Jordan Hall Concert to feature camp, pop, and traditional music BOSTON―Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) is proud to present “A Super Gay Christmas,” to kick off the holiday season!

Performances are on Dec. 7 as part of Holly Folly in Provincetown, and on Dec. 15, 20, 21, and 22 at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall in Boston.

The title of the show comes from “Super Gay Christmas,” which was written and recorded by the comedian Kevin Yee. With lines likes, “I’ll be flexing by the mistletoe” and “Santa, I’ve been good, bring me a cute boy,” it lives up to its super gay title.

The show opens with “Funky That Hall,” which is a variation of “Deck the Halls” inspired by RuPaul's “Sissy That Walk.” It includes raucous holiday pop favorites such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Up On The Housetop,” and “Mistletoe and Holly” as well as the Christmas classics “Here We Come A Wassailing,” “The First Noel,” and “Alleluia.”

The concert will also feature “Silent Night” performed in American Sign Language by the Chorus in honor of long-time interpreter LeWana Clark, Ph.D, who is marking her 30th anniversary with the Chorus this year.

“If you’re not in the Christmas spirit at the start of the show, you will be by the end,” said BGMC Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds, III. “We’re going to have so much fun with all of the classics be they camp, pop, or traditional. This show has something for everyone.”

“A Super Gay Christmas” features more than 200 Chorus members, 16 dancers, twinkling lights, and “A Disco Santa,” the Village People’s version of “Noel.”

“A Super Gay Christmas celebrates the fun of the season and really does put the merry and gay in Christmas,” said BGMC Executive Director Craig Coogan.

To purchase tickets visit www.bgmc.org or call 617-542-SING (7464)

About the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is one of New England’s largest and most successful community-based choruses. Founded in 1982, the 200-voice ensemble is celebrated for its outstanding musicianship, creative programming, and groundbreaking community outreach. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds III, the BGMC sings a wide spectrum of classical and popular music and creates social change by providing a positive, affirming image of the gay and lesbian community. The Chorus is heard live by more than 10,000 people each season and thousands more through recording, television and internet broadcasts. CBS-WBZ named the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus one of the “top 5” choruses in the city of Boston. The Boston Business Journal in 2018 and 2019 named BGMC one of the top 10 best performing arts organizations in the city. BGMC is a Cultural Ambassador — being the first LGBT chorus to perform in Poland in 2005, the Middle East in 2015 and in South Africa in June 2018.

Holidays From Page 2 From all of us at The Rainbow Times, we wish you the happiest Holiday season— whatever that means at this place in your time and life—whether you are currently struggling or can’t wait to ring in the New Year. We see you, support you and are grateful for you. Thank you for your support and loyalty as we say goodbye to 2019 and start a New Year and decade with you.

Happy Holidays! *Nicole Lashomb is the Editor-in-Chief of The Rainbow Times. She holds an MBA from Mayrlhurst University and a BM from the esteemed Crane School of Music.

Nicole can be reached at editor@therainbowtimesmass.com.

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December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

Chick-Fil-A from Page 3 dation has donated millions of dollars to groups such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Salvation Army in the past—organizations that have been known to openly discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community.

In 2018 alone, the company foundation donated $1.65 million to the FCA and $115,000 to the Salvation Army, the company revealed recently (https://bit.ly/2s984pR).

“Cautious Optimism” GLAAD said in a statement released by WCVB Boston (https://bit.ly/2pTfs8e) that Chick-fil-A customers and employees should “greet today’s announcement with cautious optimism” stating that the company still has a checkered policy when it comes to LGBTQ rights.

“In addition to refraining from financially supporting anti-LGBTQ organizations, Chick-fil-A still lacks policies to ensure safe workplaces for LGBTQ employees and should unequivocally speak out against the anti-LGBTQ reputation that their brand represents,” said Drew Anderson, GLAAD’s director of campaigns and rapid response.

“Biblical principles” in Boston Although the company currently operates 16 locations in Massachusetts, it has no store in Boston, something they’ve been trying to land since 2012.

In 2012, Cathy vowed to operate “the

“ ... NO PROGRESSIVE CITY SHOULD LET THEM DO BUSINESS WITH BLOOD MONEY ON THEIR HANDS.” company with Biblical principles and whose story is the true American success story.” The late Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, in a letter to Cathy that same year (as reported by The Rainbow Times; https://bit.ly/37DWvam), immediately repudiated his stance and double-downed on his support for same-sex marriage.

“There is no place for discrimination on Boston’s Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it,” firmly stated the then Mayor in his letter to Cathy.

In March 2012, The Rainbow Times (https://bit.ly/35qrogO) also reported that,

in response to the mounting opposition, the undergraduate Student Government Association (SGA) at [Boston’s] Northeastern University (NU) voted down a proposal to bring Chick-fil-A to campus.

“When you are a university in one of America’s most progressive cities, you cannot ignore the queer community and put a symbol of discrimination in public display,” said then first-year sociology major Devon Branin of East Greenwich, RI, a spokesperson for NU Pride, the school’s LGBT student group.

Out of the U.K. The company’s first U.K. location at the Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading was forced to close its store that had opened only 8 days prior, due to protests, according to the New York Times (https://nyti.ms/2QLnKtT).

The store closed, read the report, after pressure from local gay rights groups among others. The Oracle Shopping Centre said it would not renew its lease and that it “was the right thing to do.”

In Boston, according to an official statement sent to The Rainbow Times, ChickFil-A has received ZBA approval with both business association and neighborhood association support.

“The company is continuing through the process. Their next step is to go before the Licensing Board,” the statement read.

Blood money?

Although the foundation publicly shared

the names of anti-LGBTQ organizations it funded in 2018 and the amounts given to them, it did not apologize for the damage caused to the LGBTQ community through its actions.

“Why can’t they issue an apology to widely and openly speak about how wrong it was to do what they did and how they look forward to doing exactly the opposite in the future,” said Mike Laramie Johnson, a former supporter of the company and ally of the LGBTQ community. “They can become LGBTQ-oriented in each facet of their business. But I won’t go back unless that happens and no progressive city should let them do business with blood money on their hands.”

Instead, the foundation clarified its new focus (https://bit.ly/33jFPlk) and intent to fund other causes. The company looks forward to being open to everybody, according to an officer.

“We want our restaurants to be welcoming to all people and a safe place for every person who walks through the doors,” read Rodney Bullard, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Chick-fil-A, Inc., and Executive Director of the Chickfil-A Foundation, online statement (https://bit.ly/2OhnLUw).

“Moving forward, with a continued eye on nourishing the potential in every child, we are narrowing our corporate giving to three critical needs facing children in our communities: education, homelessness, and hunger.”

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 11

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

Love to All Project zones in on LGBTQ+ youth, education & homelessness Queer students launched clothing brand and publication in support of LGBTQ+ youth EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE—Love to All Project (LTA), a queer-student-run charitable organization, does more than express support of LGBTQ+ youth—they live it by providing thousands of dollars to LGBTQ+ charitable organizations and educating queer youth along the way.

“Love to All Project, Inc. is a charitable clothing brand and publication, noted Justin Li, Founder and Executive Director of LTA. “We donate all profits to charities and organizations like shelters for homeless youth.”

Homeless LGBTQ+ youth are still reportedly affected at highly disproportionate rates when compared to counter parts, according to a report published (https://bit.ly/33jt4ap) by The Rainbow Times in 2017, making the mission of LTA all the more critical. As of September 2019, the organization has provided approximately $10,000 to LGBTQ+ organizations and has donated more than 300 shirts to homeless queer youth.

“We donate both funds and clothing to

Tech From Page 2 “male” trait, or makeup as a “female” characteristic. These outcomes reflect choices made by computer programmers about which images they will use to train algorithms, as well as how those training data are classified.

A recent study revealed that face recognition technology can only accurately guess the genders of cisgender women and cisgender men. On average, the study showed the technology gets it right for cisgender women 98.3 percent of the time, and cisgender men 97.6 percent of the time.

But the same system consistently performed worse on transgender individuals, and universally was unable to classify nonbinary genders. The effects of this are already proving to be harmful. For example, a report in 2018 stated that some transgender individuals who drove for Uber had

efforts among LGBTQ+ youth,” Li said.

“Profits from our second collection will be going towards Waltham House, a LGBTQ+ homeless youth shelter in Massachusetts.”

PHOTO: LOVETOALL.COM

By: Audrey Cole TRT Reporter

Juston Li, Founder, Love to All Project

organizations; we are planning to connect with a homeless youth shelter in Massachusetts to personally deliver over 300 shirts,” said Morgan Lee, Director of Outreach and Managing Editor of The Love Club, LTA’s online publication.

Serving LGBTQ+ youth organizations across the country, the LTA’s founder noted that Massachusetts is on their radar.

“For our first collection, we donated all of our profits to The Trevor Project, an organization focused on suicide prevention their accounts suspended because the company uses face recognition software as a built-in security feature, and the software was unable to recognize the faces of individuals who were transitioning.

That’s why the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition is an active part of a coalition calling for the Massachusetts state legislature to press pause on government use of face surveillance. The need to bring these technologies under democratic control is particularly urgent for my community: trans people of color.

Face surveillance technology mistakes can pose serious problems for anyone who does not conform to the traditional aesthetic of binary gender options, and for trans folks. When governments use these systems, trans and non-binary people are at risk of being misgendered or even rendered invisible. That’s the last thing we need for communities that already face serious stigma and high rates of homelessness and

Diversity and Inclusion Diversity and inclusion are at the core of LTA’s vision, providing a seat at the table for much more than the status quo as love transcends all—all races, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, socioeconomic status, sexual orientations and gender identity, amongst others. LTA was originally founded at New Hampshire’s Phillips Exeter Academy and has expanded ever since.

“Love To All is an incredibly diverse organization run by members from a variety of states, not just one particular region,” said Jeffery Jin, LTA’s Social Media Manager. “Although the organization started at Exeter [Phillips Exeter Academy], members can be found in Vancouver, Maryland, New York, Texas—the list goes on! The organization is also run online, which comes Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com

... FACE RECOGNITION DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK. ... INACCURACIES ARE PARTICULARLY

DAMAGING FOR CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE, NAMELY BLACK WOMEN AND TRANS AND NON-BINARY PEOPLE. incarceration—and for Black trans women, the highest murder rate in the country.

Transgender and non-binary members of the LGBTQ+ community already face significantly increased risks of depression, anxiety, victimization, and decreased gender affirmation and social support from family members and others. A number of studies, including one led by Boston University School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, show there are devastating disparities in mental health issues and suicidal ideation in transgender and non-binary students. Social denial of gender identity, cyberbullying, social isolation, and discrimination can all contribute to these issues. LGBTQ youth who are coming to terms with their own identities and gender expression are often deeply affected by these factors, and are constantly bombarded by social systems and infrastructure reinforcing how they identify as a person is "incorrect."

Face surveillance technology’s rigid adherence to traditional gender norms threatens to exacerbate these existing health

PHOTO: LUMA PIMENTEL / UNSPLASH

Breakthrough: UK lesbian couple welcomes world's first 2-womb baby A British lesbian couple has become the first to benefit from a brand new “shared motherhood” procedure using a fertilized egg incubated in both women’s wombs during the course of their pregnancy.

IVF experts at the London Women’s Clinic initially launched the concept of “shared motherhood” in 2011, with one partner contributing the egg while the other partner carried the pregnancy. More than 100 babies have been born to lesbian couples using this approach, which involves artificial incubation prior to the transfer of the embryo into the womb.

The Clinic can now report that Britain's first baby born as a result of this intrauterine incubation approach was born in July.

Both partners, Donna and Jasmine FrancisSmith, were thus involved in creating the embryo during the first days of its development, before the capsule was removed from the uterus, the embryo grown into a "blastocyst," transferred back to the uterus to implant and a pregnancy began.

“The procedure really made me and Donna feel quite equal in the whole process," said Jasmine, "and has emotionally brought us closer together. Now with baby Otis born safe and well, we feel a true family. If we had to go through the process Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com

risks, and erase the 21st century existence of anyone who does not conform. On a systemic level, the use of these technologies underscores—rather than challenges—the notion that transgender and gender nonconforming persons are not part of “normal” society.

We cannot allow technology to be used in areas like government services, policing, or border control if it excludes and alienates or otherwise ignores an entire class of people. Unfortunately, absent regulation, that’s exactly what’s happening.

Today, face recognition systems consistently fail to identify transgender and nonbinary people, meaning millions of human beings are at risk of being rendered invisible in our increasingly digital world. But we won’t return to 1950s, whether by the Trump administration trying to reverse anti-discrimination protections or through an automated enforcement of outdated gender norms.

We must press pause on the government’s use of face surveillance technology—in the Bay State and beyond.

Winning this fight, and getting this right, is critical to the welfare of transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and agender members of the LGBTQ community. *Tre’Andre Valentine is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition.

12 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

Of course not! Why? There better be something else going on transcending an idealized sense of outward beauty. Inner beauty is eternal. External beauty, which is in the eye of the beholder, is nice while it lasts.

At one time, I taught workshops on inner wellbeing and would frequently start each class with photos of a cemetery. Death puts things into perspective. U.S. President?

Super model? New York Times Best-selling author? It doesn’t matter. We all end up in the same place.

Death, though we should not be obsessed with it, is a reminder to live each day as best we can, no matter the challenges.

Death is always around the corner. Don’t fear it. Respect it. Live life with the expectation of it. If you believe in a higher power, the Maker of the Cosmos won’t be impressed if you were president or a bestselling author. If you don’t believe in the Divine Maker, then you’ll be fertilizer never knowing you existed.

At these same workshops I asked attendees to think about how they introduce

themselves at a social function or what’s the first question asked of someone they’ve just met. Usually, it’s about a job, profession, or education. Instead, how about asking where they’re from or their volunteer work? Degrees and social status are as superficial as body types. In the end, they don’t mean much.

It’s interesting how we want others to see us. Take away degrees, fancy car, and nice house and what’s left? Too often we determine our worth by social status set by external measures of success. This includes how we dress and our perceptions of body image.

Gratefulness, the experience of being alive, and cultural and natural beauty should sustain and propel us forward. The inevitability of death can be feared, or challenge us to be better today, than yesterday.

Being LGBTQ+ transcends the sexual and idealized body. There is a spiritual and emotional foundation to being who the Creator intended each person to be. Our divine creation is eternal and connected with cosmological mystery.

It brings us back to the Amsterdam Lowlanders calendar (https://bit.ly/2OEzwDq). It challenges every person who identifies as LGBTQ+ to ask what it means to be part of the community. How do you experience your LGBTQ+ identity in a deeper, meaningful way? *Paul is a personal chaplain, seminary trained priest, and

lawyer in greater Albany, NY. He’s also author of “Lost Sense of Self & the Ethics Crisis (https://amzn.to/33hCbIN).”

Doan From Page 7 Q: We are in suspense. When will we know if you’ve won?

A: You'll have to tune in to the Food Network: Holiday Baking Championship to find out! It airs at 8 CST/9 EST time. However, I've already won the experience of a lifetime! I've made friends for life with the contestants. We chat nearly every day and I miss them so much! My dream of being on [the] Food Network also came true. The experience alone is worth more than the prize itself! (laughs) And, just maybe that grand prize will go to Doan.

To find out more, tune in to the Holiday Baking Championship on the Food Network (https://bit.ly/2DbIN0q). The entire season schedule can be viewed online at https://bit.ly/37BE7yS.

HAPPY

HOLIDAYS!

LGBTQ+ from page 2

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

FROM ALL OF US AT THE RAINBOW TIMES

W

F

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

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14 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

Queer Puzzle December: Atypical Actress

Across 1 Put it in your mouth, enjoy 5 What kissers do with spit 9 Ancient erection 14 "___ lay me ..."

15 Comedic actor James 16 "Ready ___, here I come!"

17 Foster role 18 Nicky portrayer, in Funny Girl 19 Former hotelier Helmsley 20 Start of a self-description by recently out non-binary actress Brigette Lundy-Paine 23 Noel of Blithe Spirit 26 Homophobia or gay-bashing 27 Miner concern 28 Make an emotional discharge 31 Seasonal serving 36 More of the self-description 39 One way to have one's meat 40 Williams of The Birdcage 41 "Yoo-__!"

42 Use your butt to demonstrate 43 Six Feet Under creator Ball 44 End of the self-description 46 Frida's wrap 48 Menu option 49 Request to Sajak 50 Michelangelo's output 52 Circuit parties, for example 54 Character played by Brigette Lundy-Paine on the Netflix series Atypical 60 Hayes of South Park

61 Roz portrayer on Frasier 62 Woolf wrote about one of her own 66 Houston ballplayer 67 Bowie married her 68 Vegas line 69 Erect 70 Diana of The Avengers 71 Red-ink figure

Down 1 Anderson Cooper's network 2 Gardener's long tool 3 Night stalker 4 Novelist Cather 5 Albert to Armand, in The Birdcage 6 Prebirth berth 7 Anti-oxidant berry 8 Stops for pirates 9 Vague chat room boast?

10 Deuce taker 11 Carbon compound 12 My Life in High Heels writer Anderson 13 And others, for Nero 21 Novelist Shaw 22 Jessica of I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry 23 Phallic shaped creatures 24 Diamond bird 25 Potation location?

29 K-12 30 Vidal's story lines, e.g.

32 Small corn serving for Gomer?

33 Lane of Modern Family 34 Set straight 35 Gay mag and others?

37 Lollobrigida of film 38 New York college 42 One with a holey bottom 44 It made the Titanic go down 45 "Some Enchanted ___" 47 Give money to UPS 51 Jaguar's prey 53 Flynn with dashing roles 54 "See ya!"

55 The A in GLARP (abbr.)

56 Satisfy and then some 57 Make money 58 Maria's "Do-___" 59 Mrs. Doubtfire attire 63 Rene Auberjonois role 64 Takes too much, for short 65 Papers of D.H. Lawrence, e.g.

SOLUTION

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 15

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020

’Tis the Season to Be Jolly, Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la ... Not Always By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw* TRT Columnist

I

TRANS OPINION

t's the holiday season again and tis the season to be jolly, well, in many cases it may be, but not in all cases. This time of year can be a trying time of year, especially if you are a transgender person. After a hot summer and a refreshing fall, the weather in New England, anyway, turns rather gloomy. The skies are often cloudy and grey and it seems to precipitate more frequently during this time of year. It can be cold, wet, and dreary.

It's as if nature has gone to sleep and the feeling of the quality of life has been decimated. The lack of sun and the grey, rainy, snowy, icy days can be depressing alone.

Add to that the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance in November when we bring awareness of transgender people who have perished the past year. We may also hold memories of transgender friends who have passed in previous years.

This will definitely add to the depressing time. The coup de grace, though, is the hol-

iday season, especially the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/etc., which are family holidays centered on family gatherings. When you are excluded from holiday family gatherings the depression that comes along is exacerbated too. Have you ever spent a family holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas alone? If you

but I think it may be a combination of them not having an open mind, not knowing and practicing unconditional love, and/or being afraid of what others might say or think.

Too many times I've heard of stories where the transgender person was not invited to family gatherings or that a cisgender person is told by their family not to bring their transgender significant other to

WHY DON'T PEOPLE ACCEPT AND SUPPORT YOU WHEN YOU TRANSITION TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY? have, then you may understand the heartbreaking feeling these days can bring you.

If you've never been excluded, it may feel like the whole world is celebrating together but you are all alone and not wanted nor loved at all.

Why might you be excluded from these holiday family gatherings? There may be various reasons for it, but I want to concentrate on the ones dealing with lack of acceptance and support. Why don't people accept and support you when you transition to live authentically? I can't say for sure,

the family gatherings. This puts everyone in a tough spot and there are going to be bad feelings. What can you do? Actually, nothing can really be done but to wait--year after year--until a time comes when you may finally be invited to holiday family gatherings. It is my opinion that you, as the rejected family member, might think about taking the high road and try not to lash out at the family, even if you want to or if it might feel good to do so. The fact is that they don't want you at their gatherings this time. It is also my opinion that the rejected

member might consider expressing deep disappointment of the exclusion to the excluder and to express hope for an invite for future holidays. Yes, it can be tough to take the high road but, really, what else can you do?

It's ironic that these are family holidays, which are meant to bring families together don’t accomplish just that. Instead, just being a family member is not always enough to deserve an invite for the holidays. Nevertheless, always keep the door open. You never know who, what, when, where, or why something might reach them and change their minds.

I wish everyone the best this holiday season. Please be jolly as much as you can and please keep love and hope in your heart.

Someday it might all change and maybe you will be welcomed to family holiday gatherings in the future. If you are presently welcomed to holiday family gatherings, please enjoy them but don’t forget to be grateful and please remember that too many transgender people are not welcomed in their families for the holidays. *Deja Nicole Greenlaw is retired from 3M and has 3 children and two grandchildren.

She can be contacted via e-mail at: dejavudeja@sbcglobal.net.

It’s meal time: 6 reasons to eat out this year for your Holiday suppers

THE FRIVOLIST

By: Mikey Rox* TRT Columnist

S

pending time with family stuffing your face is grand— until it isn’t. Ditch the drama this holiday season and eat out for a happier holiday.

1. It’s hard to overeat I’ve never been one to pile my plate high with turkey and sides— I’m one of those who can’t have his food touch lest you want me to gag while you’re happily masticating— but I have housed an entire sweet potato pie in one sitting because it was first time tasting it—and Oh. My. God. That’s not my norm though. Considering my aversion to neighboring foodstuffs co-mingling, I can fit about three items on my plate, maybe have a second helping of turkey, and call it an afternoon.

It’s hard to overeat at a holiday meal at a nice restaurant, too. Usually there’s a preset menu that include the holiday staples, and when it’s gone it’s gone. Of course, all bets are off if you’re setting up shop at a holiday buffet. I’ve done that a couple times and required a handcart to carry me out.

2. It’s something different If you always spend your holiday dinner at the same house, switch it up this year.

Changing a routine every now and again is refreshing, and dining out for Thanksgiving or Christmas is an easy way to do it. Plenty

of chain and local restaurants are open for dinner on those days, either with special seasonal menus or their regular fare.

3. It’s far less expensive—if you’re the one who usually cooks I haven’t spent less than $200 on a Thanksgiving meal that I’ve prepared for family and friends in the past. Mains, sides, and their respective (and exhaustive) list of ingredients, plus drinks (soft and hard), ice, and desserts will set you back. Guests usually will bring dishes of their own, but you can never count on that, so it’s best to be prepared. There are a fair amount of leftovers, but that’s just a parting gift I like to offer. Good to have new plastic containers around that guests can take home and never return because you know they’re not going to anyway.

4. Everybody acts like normal people in public—hopefully Racists grandpas, criticizing moms, creepy uncles, and badass cousins can turn docile family dinners into a WWE smack down, but people tend to mind their behavior when seated at a restaurant. Your uppity sister and brother-in-law will probably let their kids run wild, but that’s nothing a sweeping foot can’t solve.

5. There’s no cleanup Washing a kitchen full of dirty dishes after a holiday meal is a chore, even when you have help. Skip that step and tip the restaurant bussers instead. They deserve a kickback the same as your server, and your kitchen gets to stay fully intact.

6. Everybody departs after dinner—and you’re free at last Guests linger after a family dinner, but even if you get along with them it can be an annoyance when all you want to do is

open your parts, have a fart, and nap on the couch. That dream can come true for your this year. Pay the restaurant bill, say your goodbyes, and go your separate ways until the next family reunion or funeral. *Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He spends his time writing from the beach with his dog Jaxon.

Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels.

16 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

December 5, 2019 - January 8, 2020