2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
LGBTQs & women members hit record numbers in the 116th Congress By: Nicole Lashomb*/TRT Editor-in-Chief
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arlier this month, the social media stratosphere flooded with images and sentiment of hope and change, a change created at the polls in the November 2018 midterm elections. This year was unlike any other, which led to a record number of women and LGBTQ members being sworn in to serve in the 116th Congress. Though such a political upheaval was inevitable at some point, there could not have been a more appropriate time in our nation’s history as abusive, prejudiced, misogynistic, and anti-LGBTQ sentiments held the ideals of freedom hostage from within the walls of the White House. Undoubtedly, Trump has been the most publicly vile president in modern American politics, rooted in his discriminatory actions and remarks to numerous allegations of sexual abuse of women, to the attempt of stripping away civil rights from our LGBTQ community, etc., and the country isn’t having any more of it. A New Era of Governing The new Congress sworn in on Jan. 3 includes 125 women—18 more than the preceding Congress. The nearly 20 percent jump of women Congressional leaders are virtually all pro-choice, Democratic women who support policies to empower women and marginalized people. This is the most female representation we’ve seen to date. Likewise, 10 openly LGBTQ people were also sworn in earlier this month making the results of the November elections historical. The outcome, thus, makes a clear distinction in the values and beliefs of the modern day American people. The good ole boys club is “out” and diversity and inclusion is “in.”
“In the U.S. Senate, those opposed to the Equality Act will now need to look to openly LGBTQ Senators in the eyes and tell them their lives are not worth protecting. In the U.S. House, Speaker Pelosi will have eight LGBTQ Representatives to consult about how various healthcare or criminal justice reform policies uniquely affect our community. The relationships these LGBTQ lawmakers will build with their colleagues on Capitol Hill are transformative, and with an unprecedented number of women and people of color also joining the 116th Congress, equality issues will finally
CHEERS TO ALL THE WOMEN & PEOPLE FROM OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS WHO RAN FOR CONGRESS IN 2018 AND HAD THE AUDACITY TO DARE, TO CHALLENGE, TO ENVISION, TO DREAM AND … TO WIN. receive the attention they deserve,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute. Half of the 10 LGBTQ members are women and two are people of color. This also gives rise to the importance of intersectionality and honoring individual and collective experiences to equal a greater whole, a more responsible one, rooted in authenticity of identities. Given the iron fist strong hold of the current presidential administration, the elected representation says something—loudly. The weeks and months ahead will prove just how effectively women & other marginalized groups problem solve and strate-
Getting to know all about yourself & others By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist
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FAITH
ometimes I wake in the morning with a song in my head. There’s usually a reason for it. On one December morning last month, I concluded the song was sent to ease my mind. It had something to do with the advances made by the LGBTQ community while offering hope for the New Year. The December song that banged around in my skull, “Getting to Know You,” is from “The King and I” (https://is.gd/0WfHYi) by Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers. “Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you, Getting to like you, Getting to hope you like me …” If you’re only familiar with works like “Rent,” “Wicked,” “Evita,” “Hamilton,” or “Kinky Boots,” you’ve missed out on one of the all-time great Broadway musicals. And, it probably means I’m getting old. The Broadway song in my head was probably because of the stories appearing about straight persons or families with gay acquaintances in the workplace or living in
gize when compared to those who held in those very seats before them. And, thankfully so. Critical issues like healthcare, education, and gun reform have largely been ignored by many in the Republican-led, white, cisgender male-dominated Congress in the past years. Instead, a focus has been placed on issues that are riddled in flexing military power with a refusal to compromise, which has lead to numerous government shutdowns, causing millions of Americans to suffer. Xenophobic initiatives like the border wall, stripping women of reproductive
the neighborhood. Contact can change hearts and minds. “Contact theory” (https://is.gd/0SmF1S) is the basis of a recent sociological study documenting the more straight folks interacts with someone who is LGBTQ, the less likely they oppose expanding civil and human rights. In some cases, they’ll be advocates for it. Gwen Aviles, (https://is.gd/0SmF1S) writing for NBC News, highlighted the study, “In 2006, about 45 percent of people with a gay or lesbian acquaintance supported same-sex marriage.” Only four years later the percentage exceeded 60 percent. “Of the respondents who did not have a gay or lesbian acquaintance, only 22 percent approved of same-sex marriage in 2008 and 2010.” The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN; https://is.gd/xf8iMW), yep the Rev. Pat Robertson source for all things antiLGBTQ, posted an interview with Christian singer, Lauren Daigle. She said, on the Ellen Show and reposted by CBN, “I have too many people that I love that they are Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
health rights, dishonoring LGBTQ service members, and stripping away LGBTQ rights grounded in caveman-like ideals have been on an ever-swinging pendulum. Though a long time coming, unequivocally, this is the most diverse Congress ever to join the governing ranks. The 116th Congress has 125 women, more than 50 black members, 39 Hispanic members, two Muslim and two Native American women. Finally, it is starting to shape up to be the United States where we should all have a voice and a seat at the table—“we the people,” as it should have always been. Women in Congress
Letters to the Editor
[Re: Older Trans Women And Their Search For Cis Partners] Dear Editor, My best solution is to date other trans people. All the acceptance in the world can’t compare to even a short time of being understood. —Drew, Online
[Re: Salvation Army makes headlines again for alleged LGBTQ mistreatment] Dear Editor, I agree with you about the Salvation Army and went ahead and gave to other places because it’s true, their LGBT guidelines aren’t clear to me at all. —Georgina Reyetts, Jamaica Plain 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 pub‐ lish a letter for any reason at all.
Scrolling through my own social media feeds have left me with a great sense of pride. Seeing so many women uplifting each other with words and actions rippled an inexplicable sense of solidarity through me, catapulted by what I’m witnessing now. For the first time, it actually feels like “yes, we can” and, we did. Perhaps that sentiment is most explained through the concept of sisterhood. Though it has always been of great importance in my personal life, women, especially progressive women, have rarely been represented in powerful government positions. That chance to govern was often stripped from our potential. But, the tide has changed. More women than ever before ran for office in 2018 and won. “We” won all across the county and we won in spades. Last year was dubbed the “year of the woman.” This year is version 2.0! I’m in awe and inspired by these fierce Congresswomen who came out swinging with full force. And, I know I am not the only one who shares this feeling of liberation. Locally, as municipal races heat up, I learn of more and more women ...
See 116th Congress on Page 6
The Rainbow Times The Freshest LGBT 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 Reporters Mike Givens Jenna Spinelle Chris Gilmore
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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, 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-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.
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Health centers ramp up efforts to provide quality healthcare to trans folks New England health organizations at work providing gender/pronoun-affirming services to the community By: Mike Givens/TRT Assistant Editor
IN THE LIMELIGHT
Like many transgender people, Terry often found themself at a loss when accessing high-quality healthcare services that recognized and affirmed their identity. Terry, who asked not to be identified by their legal name, uses plural pronouns (they, them, and their) and said that culturally competent care for trans people is often lacking. “My experience receiving healthcare services in Massachusetts has been … mixed,” they said. “I would say that most of my providers have not been outwardly transphobic, but they have not been trans-informed or educated about trans issues. “By that I mean they seem to not have any info about transition-related issues, did not ask for my pronouns, and did not think through how my being trans has affected my mental or physical health. I would not call them prejudiced, but consciously uninformed about trans issues and concerns. And this is with relatively good, private health insurance and regular access to specialists of all kinds.” Regardless of the quality of health insurance, many trans people’s experiences when entering the doctor’s office can often be jarring, to say the least. According to the
VA Providence Medical Center staff members Ardsley P. Congdon, PharmD, BCPS; Lauren Schlanger, MD; and Dawna Blake, MD of the VA Providence Medical Center
National Center for Transgender Equality (https://bit.ly/2Ac7yu0) 2015 Transgender Survey, roughly one third of respondents reported having a negative experience with a healthcare provider (https://bit.ly/2Fhneve). Sometimes compounded by inade-
PHOTO: HEATHER OBERG
quate insurance access—or no insurance at all—trans people often have to navigate a system that provides little comfort or specialized care for those who don’t identify as cisgender, a term used to denote someone whose gender identity corresponds to
their sex assigned at birth. “I think the main challenge [I’ve encountered in entering a doctor's office] is doctors not thinking through how being trans might affect whatever kind of care I'm hoping to access—how being trans might affect my mental health, or how my needs for gynecology might be different as a result of my gender identity,” Terry said. “I don't expect doctors to be experts in trans health issues, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect them to have a basic understanding of how gender affects healthcare in a broad way.” Sabrina Santiago, co-director of The Network/La Red (https://bit.ly/2OfVufl), a nonprofit serving the LGBTQ community that advocates for an end to domestic partner abuse, provided a troubling example of the type of challenge a trans person can face when seeking care. “What we hear from transgender survivors is the experience of being misgendered with doctors, nurses, [and] social workers not using the name or pronouns that the patient has asked to be used,” she said. We have worked with survivors whose doctor’s ask about the patient’s safety at home or how they received a particular injury right in front of their abusive partner. We hear of this experience from not only transgender survivors but also ...
See Health Centers on Page 10
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January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
Framingham, Massachusetts offers support, resources for LGBTQ community By: Nicole Collins/TRT Intern
COMMUNITY PERISCOPE
Framingham, a small city of about 72,000 residents situated in the MetroWest region of the Massachusetts Bay Area, offers an inclusive and supportive environment for its LGBTQ community, according to various sources. Dr. Yvonne Spicer, the city’s mayor, emphasized her commitment to equality and inclusion. “Becoming mayor in January, one of the things I made a point of during my campaign was to talk about making our city welcome for all,” Spicer said. “Personally, I’ve always been a very strong advocate for the LGBTQ community. … Certainly, from this platform as mayor, it’s important for me to make sure that everyone feels safe and welcome here in the City of Framingham.” The Rainbow Times reached out to the Framingham City Hall Finance Division but was not able to get a comment. The Framingham City Council has also made LGBTQ inclusion efforts. For example, earlier this year, the group declared June Pride Month (http://bit.ly/2LdklPP) for the city. Dennis Giombetti, Framingham City Council Chair, explained that the city government has recently added a new position: the Citizen Participation Officer. “Its purpose is to increase engagement
Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer (left) and City Hall employee Jenni Curtis PHOTO: FRAMINGHAM CITY HALL
across our community … especially for people who are not represented,” he said. “We have [an] LGBTQ population we want to engage.” The City Council approved Alaa Abusalah for the position (http://bit.ly/2zTjuiz) on December 5, according to a Framingham Source article. The Framingham City Hall is also sup-
portive of transgender individuals, according to Jenni Curtis, a trans woman who works for the City Hall’s Parks and Recreation Department. “My experience has been phenomenal. Nothing but the best,” she said. “At first, I was really nervous, that’s why it took me so many years hiding. When I came out, everyone embraced me with open arms.
From the mayor’s office all the way down to my department, they respect my name [and] my pronouns.” Framingham is also the headquarters of the Staples Corporation (among other businesses), and, on the 2018 HRC Corporate Equality Index (CEI; http://bit.ly/2zMcCn6), which measures LGBTQ representation and equality of certain businesses, the business scored a perfect 100 points—the same score as the CEI from the year before. Earlier this month, Framingham State University (FSU) organized a “Day of Understanding” (http://bit.ly/2ruze7a), a conversation day regarding diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It was a part of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion (http://bit.ly/2QlBrk8) organization. Framingham High School (FHS) (http://bit.ly/2EkVAk3) has also taken steps to be more LGBTQ-inclusive—specifically in its Athletic Department, according to Athletic Director Paul Spear. “As Athletic Director,” he said, “I have had frequent meetings with the [Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA)], [I/we] have engaged with experts in the LGBTQ community to focus on inclusion and we have held events to promote diversity and inclusion.” FHS is also a participant in the You Can Play program (http://bit.ly/2PtLsXg), an initiative to increase LGBTQ participation in school-sponsored sports teams. Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
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The difficult and emotional “coming out” process; family’s reactions By: Phyllis L. Cohen*/Special to TRT
LGBT MIDLIFE
When the parents of Natalie Perry and her sister sat their girls down for a family meeting, Perry learned that their father, a chief judge for the Court of Appeals in Boise, Idaho, was gay. The next day he moved out of the house and kept his secret in their primarily fundamentalist Christian community for 20 years, only to share it with immediate family and their church pastor. Questions loomed in Perry’s mind, including about whether her close relationship with her dad would remain. In retrospect, Perry sees the process more clearly. “When a parent comes out, the child’s experience and feelings are valid. I needed to embrace the process: the confusion, the questions, the anger and shame,” said the 34 year-old artist and writer, who eventually self-published a book about her experience, Dad #1, Dad
#2: A Queerspawn View from the Closet (https://is.gd/EbybEy). “Take the time and space to work through it and find community. Some children will process it more privately, introspectively, and that’s okay, too.” Coming Out in Midlife: A Difficult and Emotional Task It’s a difficult and emotional task for middle-aged parents to come out to their children. Boomers have lived through the AIDS crisis and don’t have to look too far back to remember when announcing your sexuality might have put you in jail or in a mental institution, or at the very least alienated you from family and friends, and losing housing or job opportunities. Now, social media and pop culture shine a spotlight on high-profile individuals who come out late in life like Barry Manilow, George Takei and Richard Chamberlain. It certainly has become a more socially acceptable topic to discuss in some communities, yet a stigma remains for many, if not, most people coming out in midlife. There will always be family members who alienate, of course, yet most parents who come out do not regret liberating
116 Congress from page 2 announcing their candidacy. Perhaps, I will not see eye-toeye with some of them. That is perfectly fine too. But, what I do see eye-toeye with is a reflection of sisterhood; of not being held back politically according to gender, and of knowing it is not only possible, but also plausible. Cheers to all the women and people from other marginalized groups who ran for Congress in 2018 and had the audacity to dare, to challenge, to envision, to dream and … to win. We are all witnessing her-stories and it’s a grand view from where I am standing. *Nicole Lashomb is the Editor-in-Chief Read the rest of this story at TRT’s Site
PHOTO: STEVE JOHNSON /UNSPLASH
How to navigate tough conversations surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity; and a new family model
themselves despite the risk of isolation. So how do you start a conversation about your sexuality with your child in his or her teens, 20s or 30s? Fortunately, among non-LGBTQ people, polls say, millennials are the most accepting generation; that’s a common age group of the children of late boomer parents. It’s life-changing to transition to a different identity in middle age when your persona has been shaped by the relationships you have built over a lifetime, especially as a parent. Middle-aged adults in this scenario can be reluctant to bring on the pain or discomfort they faced themselves when
they came to terms with their own sexual identity. Coming out can often be easier when it is not done with every family member at once. And when it’s time to share the news with your older children, it’s crucial to be clear on the message you want to convey to them. Setting the Tone for Adult Children One Gallup Poll indicated that LGBTQ parents are at an even greater risk for anxiety, suicidal behavior and eating disorders
See “Coming Out” on Page 15
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Wide Awake: Classical music phenom jumps right into pop Yanni Burton holds a bachelor's and master’s degree in orchestral performance from Juilliard By: Tom Tietjen/Special to TRT
Y
anni Burton describes his life as a “gay thirty-something in New York City.” A graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School in Manhattan, he holds a bachelor's and master’s degree in orchestral performance and is producer and general manager of the Salome Chamber Orchestra, where he has performed alongside a long list of celebrated artists including John Legend, Michelle Williams, Natasha Beddingfield and Rufus Wainwright. In fact, John Legend and Rufus Wainwright were instrumental in helping Yanni to obtain an artist green card. Both graciously agreed to write letters of support for his US residency. It’s allowed the Aussie born double bassist to stay in NYC and create his first album, but surprisingly, it’s not in the instrumental genre he’s become known for. Same Old Love is a pop album and his brand new single, “Awake” is a broody song that brilliantly combines his passions for both classical and pop music. Q: Tell us about your new song, “Awake”. Yanni Burton: The song is a reflection of a stagnant relationship I found myself in a few years back.It was my first long-term relationship and the first man I really fell for. However, somewhere along the road we lost the passion and fire we once shared. The song explores the ideas of feeling alone and stuck in a relationship and the desire for wanting something more. Q: Has your ex heard the song? A: I have no idea. I hope not! I mean, I don’t say his name in the song. I clearly don’t have the balls of Ariana Grande. Looking back, I really do think he knew how I felt and he was also probably struggling with the same issues, so in the end, it was best for both that we parted ways. Q: What’s your message to people looking for love this Valentine’s Day? A: Go for it! The more you give, the more you get. Q: Have you found a new love yet? A: Yes, I have! My family visited from Australia last month and they got to meet my fiancé’s family! Q: Fiancé?!? So you’re taken? A: Sorry, boys! A lucky guy already claimed all this. (Laughing) Maybe he’s not so lucky. I almost gave him a heart attack last Pride weekend. Q: Please elaborate. A: Every year, his birthday falls around pride, and we usually celebrate it at the festivities. However, this year, I decided to step it up. I told him I booked a dinner at our favorite club and invited friends to come. So, we’re all dressed up in suits. We get in the Uber and five minutes down the road, he freaks out and is like, “We’re in
Yanni Burton
the wrong Uber. This is going to JFK!” I just smile, and he realizes dinner isn’t going to be in New York. We’re going to London for the week! He had a panic attack about work, toothbrushes, his contact lenses and the overall spontaneity of the event. He’s not that kinda guy. But after I showed him his bag had all of his essentials, he began breathing again. That reaction was priceless! Q: We’ve been nice so far in this interview… let’s get a little naughty! A: Haha, cheeky! Q: You’re not shy about showing off
PHOTO: CHARLES QUILES
your body on Instagram. Is that to show off your Barry’s Boot Camp results or is it a way to get more followers? A: If I’m totally honest, it’s a bit of both but Barry's and thirst trap photos seem to be the perfect combination. I've been pretty keen on fitness for the past couple of years, but it was only when I started doing Barry’s earlier this year that I found the confidence to show off the results. It has helped my follow count, too. Q: We sure appreciate the bikini and brief photos! A: I was the fat Greek boy growing up. Up
until 22, I was a big boy; almost double the weight that I am now. Once I started working out, I noticed my lifestyle change drastically. Not only did I find confidence in my body, but in my social and work life. Q; How do you feel about nudity today? A: I’m all for it! In fact, I just completed my first nude photo shoot for my next single. They should be out in the next month. The human body is a beautiful thing and comes in all shapes and sizes. There’s no reason to shame it. Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
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January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
Miz Diamond Wigfall brings amped up benefit drag show to the North Shore By: Audrey Cole/TRT Reporter
SALEM, Mass.—Salem-born turned NYC drag star (https://is.gd/dlBjmw) debuts her monthly party, #Yaasss, at Brother’s Taverna on March 2 to provide a safe and celebratory space for the North Shore LGBTQ+ community, according to the event producer. “The LGBTQIA+ community of the north shore needs a place to boogie and Miz Diamond Wigfall is here to bring it to you,” said the notorious drag queen & #Yaasss event producer. “This a place for everyone on the spectrum of gender or sexuality to feel loved, safe, and celebrated. It will be an extravaganza of queer culture; with drag shows, burlesque performers, and singers from all over the country.” According to Miz Diamond Wigfall, the community can expect “new guests” and brand “new performances” every couple of months. #Yaasss will be hosted by Salem native and staunch ally to the LGBTQ+ community, Devon Cormier, she added. An important part of the work Wigfall
partakes in involves giving back to local non-profit organizations. The #Yaasss debut will benefit Project Out, a Salembased 501(c)3 pending organization that provides services and financial assistance to transgender and gender non-binary individuals to allow for authentic living. “Each month we will raffle off fun prizes with proceeds going to a local charity,” she said. “This month our raffle proceeds will be donated to Project Out!” Catch Miz Diamond Wigfall at Brother’s Taverna on March 2 from 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. Shows begin at 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. With signing, choreography and comedy, there is no medium she’ll neglect to tell a story. For more information on Miz Diamond Wigfall, check out her Instagram and Facebook profiles by searching Miz Diamond Wigfall or e-mail her for all of your “queenly” needs at MizDiamondWigfall@gmail.com. To learn more about Project Out, visit www.ProjectOut.org.
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Health Centers from Page 3 lesbian, gay, and bisexual survivors as well. I believe that because of homophobia and transphobia, doctors, nurses, and social workers are often still not even registering that LGBQ/T relationships exist and that their patient might not be straight and cisgender.” This erasure or denial of identities can often signal a severe safety issue for those seeking care. “Too often the safety concerns that transgender survivors may be facing from partner abuse go unaddressed,” she continued. “Medical staff know not to ask someone they perceive as a cisgender, straight woman whether she is safe at home in front of her husband or boyfriend. There needs to be an understanding that you cannot always know who a patient’s partner might be. Questions like this in front of abusive partners at the very least won’t get accurate information and at the worst put the patient at risk of further harm.” Not a Trivial Matter In Boston, Fenway Community Health (https://bit.ly/2Szde79) has long been considered a resource for members of the trans community to seek care. In recent years, Boston Medical Center (https://bmc.org/) has also gained notoriety for its increasing provision of healthcare coverage for transgender people. But how does the rest of New England shape up? According to the Human Rights Campaign’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI; https://bit.ly/2Aqzg4U), New England is progressing steadily with efforts to equip facilities to not only serve the trans population, but serve the trans population equitably. “As the director of LGBTQ Services, I provide training to various areas of the hospital, as well as the outpatient facilities,” said Aleah Nesteby of Cooley Dickinson Hospital (https://bit.ly/2Q9E5Fq) in Northampton, Massachusetts, which received recognition from HRC for its LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare program. “We are currently developing a more explicitly trans-inclusive training for all new hires, as well as discussing the ongoing training and education needs of long-term staff and clinical providers.” Nesteby says that the hospital is aspiring
Dr. Robert Goldstein MD, PhD; Medical Director, MGH Transgender Health Program of the Massachusetts PHOTO: MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE
to standardize the program so that all 1,500 staff members will receive cultural competency training. “Clinicians and care providers can also participate in a voluntary continuing education program through the Healthcare Equality Index,” she said. “Providers who complete the continuing education hours are designated with a special rainbow icon in our online directory.” Cooley Dickinson is one of 13 healthcare facilities in Massachusetts acknowledged as providing LGBTQ-inclusive care. “One of our patients said the following to her provider recently, ‘I am very appreciative of the care I receive ... and particularly the women's health center’,” said Dr. Lauren Schlanger, a primary care physician at the VA Providence Medical Center (https://bit.ly/2r3VMKw) in Providence, Rhode Island. She reported feeling very comfortable with the staff and getting her care here; she feels she is always treated kindly. She expressed she is grateful to have somewhere to feel comfortable enough to receive her health care, with regards to being transgender. 'It's not a trivial matter. [F]or some of us it's life or death’.” The center stands out for its healthcare leadership in Rhode Island.
“Our medical center not only received leader designation but was also the only medical center in the state of Rhode Island to receive a perfect score on the [HEI] survey,” Schlanger continued. “The aforementioned speaks to our endless efforts, advocacy, and commitment to diversity and inclusion, breaking barriers, and rising to the standard of promoting equitable and inclusive care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer patients and their families.” Training is Key to Competent Care Salissa Wahlers is a licensed clinical social worker and LGBTQ veteran care coordinator at the VA White River Junction Memorial Center (https://bit.ly/2BUny2b) in White River Junction, Vermont. Given the state’s rural nature, she’s said she often sees veterans who forgo care due to embarrassment around their identities. “Stigma in small, rural environments often plays a role in veterans not seeking all the available services,” she said. “My specific role is to help ensure knowledge about and access to all the services [the] VA offers. This includes education to our staff and providers, as well as the veterans we serve.” The center runs a support group and has seen the group’s numbers evolve. “Traditionally, referrals to the group were made by a clinician or provider to provide additional assistance and support as a transgender individual and as a veteran,” she said. “Today, most of our referrals come from peers already in the group and they
encourage others to join. The group helps provide peer-support through experiences.” Similar to other facilities, training has proven key to providing top-notch services at the center, which was also recognized by the HEI as providing quality, inclusive care. “Our VA staff are provided several options for increasing their knowledge of transgender-specific care,” she said. “The VA has a national education system with several trainings that range from ‘Providing Cross-Sex Hormones’ to ‘Transgender Mental Health Care.’ Even though we are a small, rural healthcare site, we have access to consultation from an interdisciplinary team of experts on transgender care for veterans. “Our facility also has had numerous clinicians from various disciplines from all over the state take a more intensive, 12month training program called Trans ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), which provides more indepth training.” Renee LaForce, director of programs at Health Quarters (https://healthq.org) in Beverly, Massachusetts, another HEI survey leader, said that the entire healthcare team has taken courses to increase cultural competency and have partnered with Fenway Health, Providence’s Center for Sexual Health and Pleasure, and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation on a series of trainings. Moreso, the center is seeking to make sure its staff and board are reflective of the LGBTQ community. “We have hired a family practice physician from the LGBTQ community who has experience and expertise in providing trans health care services,” she said. “Our health care teams will participate in Brown University’s trans health care training in March 2019, and we are recruiting a transgender person for our Board of Directors.” Dr. Dawna Blake of the Providence VA Medical Center has been a pioneer and advocate for trans patient care for 20 years and played a leading role in the center’s training efforts. “She participated in a pilot program to review and assess the training that the VA gives to all providers who work with transgender patients,” said Schlanger, her colleague at the center. Healthcare as a Social Justice Mission Though health centers may tout their accolades and programs, those programs are only as effective in as much as people like Terry are aware of them and use them, but they also need to be in every health center, not just in New England, but across the nation. “I think the key to addressing issues in trans healthcare [is] really in education for medical professionals—from the paperwork and intake aspects, to the care, to the language used, medical professionals should have a basic understanding of gender identity, dysphoria, etc.,” they said.
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January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
LGBT Congressional Staff Assoc. praises new LGBTQ staff employment protections WASHINGTON–The Board of Directors of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Congressional Staff Association (LGBT CSA; https://www.lgbtcsa.org/) released the following statement regarding the LGBTQ employment protections enacted in the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the 116th Congress House rules package: “The Board of Directors of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association praises the provision within the new House rules package that provides sexual orientation and gender identity workplace protections for Congressional staff in the 116th Congress. This historic addition to the House rules will provide crucial job security for LGBTQ staff in the House of Representatives. “This move also sends a powerful message about the importance of diversity within the institution we serve, saying that LGBTQ individuals are welcome on Capitol Hill and that the House of Representatives values and respects the identity and dignity of all LGBTQ people.” About the LGBT CSA The LGBT Congressional Staff Association is a non-partisan, officially sanctioned organization in the U.S. House of Representatives whose mission is to advance the interests and promote professional development opportunities of current and prospective LGBTQ Congressional staff.
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12 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
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January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
What is your Transgender narrative? This is a reflection of mine By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/TRT Columnist
I
TRANS OPINION
n November 2018, Andrea Chu, a transgender woman, wrote an opinion in the New York Times, which stirred a lot of controversy within the transgender community. Chu touched on some sensitive topics with opinions that were oppositional from those held by many in the community. I read some discussions about the Chu opinion and in the discussions, someone brought up the possibility of “false narratives” being told by many transgender people about knowing they were the opposite gender when they were young. I never heard anyone question those narratives before and I have personally heard many trans people say they knew at an early age that they were the opposite gender. I can’t say though, when I was a child, that I knew that I was female. I didn’t even think that was even possible. I just accepted that I was a boy even though I did know that I wanted to express female. Yes, I knew that I was different early in my life. I remember at age six, putting on
dresses, looking in a mirror and feeling that it felt right but at the same time, that it felt very, very wrong. You see, I was born in the early 1950s and by the mid to late 1950s I was attending grammar school. Back in the 1950s, gays and lesbians were called homosexuals or queers and they were thought of as very mentally sick people. If anyone was suspected or rumored to be homosexual or queer they were regarded as sick, demented people and as people to avoid, even shun. I didn’t identify as homosexual or queer back then and the word, transgender, wasn’t even coined yet, however, a male who wore women’s clothing was lumped into the homosexual and queer categories. Those individuals who cross-dressed back then were also regarded as crazy and sinful. I did not want to be labeled homosexual, queer, crazy, or sinful, so I kept my narrative to myself. So, what was my narrative? I would say that I was simply a child who wanted to express as female. The thought that I really could be a girl never even crossed my mind. I just accepted that I was different from everybody else. I knew that I couldn’t talk to my parents or friends about wanting to express female. I knew that it would be trouble, so I kept my narrative to myself. Another narrative I’ve heard from some trans people is that they would pray to God every night to change them into the other
THERE WAS NO WAY THAT I WAS GOING TO PRAY TO THAT GOD TO ASK FOR ANYTHING, LET ALONE TO ASK HIM TO CHANGE ME INTO A GIRL. gender when they awoke the next day. I never prayed to God to ask for that. As a matter of fact, I never prayed to God to ask for anything. That thought never even crossed my mind. You see, I attended a Catholic school from first grade to eighth grade and I was taught that God, the Father, was an angry man who always wanted to punish humans for their sins. I remember one nun told us that God was ready to destroy the whole earth because he was so angry about people sinning but that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was holding God the Father back from destroying the earth. There was no way that I was going to pray to that God to ask for anything, let alone to ask him to change me into a girl. I wanted nothing to do with God, and I wanted to keep off his radar.
So, to recap, I knew that I was very different from everyone else when I was a child. I also got the message that I was a very sick person who deserved nothing but to be scorned and shunned because I was viewed as a male who wanted to express female. That was my narrative and back then it was buried very deep in my closet covered by my shame, guilt, self-hatred, and knowing that I was not a normal, good, and deserving person. That’s a pretty tough narrative for a six-year-old child to carry all alone, wouldn’t you say? What’s your narrative? *Deja Nicole Greenlaw is retired from 3M and has 3 children and two grandchildren. She can be contacted at dejavudeja@sbcglobal.net.
Ask A Trans Woman: Thoughts from a gender-affirming vacation in FL By: Lorelei Erisis*/TRT Columnist
T
PHOTO: DAVID MEEHAN
his column isn’t about anything, necessarily or rather, I’m not trying to make a particular point. Anyway, part of this whole gig, and everything else I do, is that my job is to think about all things trans. Fortunately, I’m pretty much endlessly fascinated with the world and with the experience of being trans in it. I also have a tendency to notice little details, and to overthink things. Just ask my girlfriend. As I write this, I’m in Florida with her, visiting my Mom and stepfather for Christmas. At this point, my parents have lived down here for some years and I’ve spent enough time here to notice recurring themes—ways that people pretty consistently react to me, and to my trans-ness. Florida, as you may have heard, is a strange place. And, the Gulf Coast where my Mom lives is a weird mix of The South and the Southerners you’d expect, with a lot of people from The Midwest, New England, and New York along with a smattering of Amish folks, just to keep things interesting. It’s still Southern culture at its core and that’s where things get interesting for me as a very, very out trans woman. Because you see, despite the feeling that I might get myself killed if I go too far away from the coast, or into the wrong bar,
people are unfailingly polite to me. And, even if I’m in a store, and everyone there is staring at me out of the corners of their eyes, giving me the, “Oh my Lord, it’s a giant transsexual!” look, they will all still, unfailingly, call me, “ma’am” and refer to me with female pronouns and honorifics. I have a lot of theories about why this is.
proper feminine forms of address for me. I have also noticed that when I am around cultures with perhaps more misogyny embedded in them, there’s this effect where, even though I am, again, recognizable as a transgender woman, they will unfailingly gender me using female forms. Because, as the reasoning seems to go, no “man” would
THE PRACTICAL UPSHOT OF ALL THIS IS THAT I END UP LOOKING FORWARD TO VISITING MY MOM IN FLORIDA BECAUSE IT’S ONE OF THE FEW TIMES ALL YEAR WHEN I KNOW I WILL NOT HAVE TO DEAL MUCH WITH CONSTANT MISGENDERING. … I DO GET WORN DOWN BY ALL THE MISGENDERING I EXPERIENCE IN THE MORE “LIBERAL” AREAS THAT I USUALLY LIVE AND TRAVEL IN. They may be wrong, or right. I don’t really know. Maybe I should ask a proper sociologist. One theory I have though, is that it’s because Southern culture is often very focused on politeness and certain social norms. So although many of them can tell I’m trans, I’m still presenting myself in a manner they recognize as feminine and, therefore, politeness dictates that they use
present himself like this. So, even though they may not completely accept me as female, I couldn’t possibly (by their misogynistic norms) be a “real” man. Therefore, the default ends up being female forms of address and association. Again, who knows, maybe I’m completely wrong. Maybe I’ve hung out with too many drunken sociologists; and not
taken enough sociology classes, or any sociology classes for that matter. But, this is what I have observed. The practical upshot of all this is that I end up looking forward to visiting my mom in Florida because it’s one of the few times all year when I know I will not have to deal much with constant misgendering. More than that, it’s like a little mini-gender-affirmation-vacay!! Not only do I almost never get misgendered, at least not to my face, but when I sit down at a restaurant with my mom, my girlfriend, or any group of female presenting people, inevitably when the server comes over they will say, “Hello ladies!” And, they will continue to pepper their speech with all manner of very female-specific honorifics and terms of endearment. It’s honestly really wonderful! Not only am I not being actively misgendered. But my gender is being constantly affirmed! It’s such an incredible balm for my dysphoria. I know I’m lucky in that my gender identity is pretty much binary female and that I also identify as femme. Perhaps not “highfemme” but at least what I think of as, “Yankee femme.” Plus, I go out of my way to present in ways that I hope will telegraph that. I’m sure this same set of circumstances must seriously suck for my trans gendernonconforming and non-binary siblings. I have heard many terrible stories about how Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
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PHOTO: RAWPIXEL/UNSPLASH
January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
11 items in your attic that might be worth big bucks By: Mikey Rox*/Special to TRT
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ttic treasures are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Many of us are living more efficiently with less clutter lying around the house and barely any room for additional storage anyway. I’ve never even opened the hatch to the attic in my house—mostly because that horror-movie-waiting-tohappen can stay locked away for eternity for all I care. Yet while younger generations don’t have a need or desire to take advantage of attic space—if they even have it—our parents and grandparents were basically functioning hoarders who stuffed the rafters to the gills will potential treasures. What sort of bounty is tucked away up there? Take a look at these 11 items in your attic that might be worth big bucks.
1. Sterling Silver and Enameled Metal Pieces While silver and gold fluctuate in price on the markets, they’ll never not be valuable. And since sterling was relatively cheap back in the day, it’s feasible that your family could have a few pieces that demand a pretty penny. “For pieces that retain their value over time, look to precious metal antiques including sterling silver flatware, tea sets, and also enameled metal pieces like Cloisonné and Champleve,” advises Michael de Bondt, an antique buyer and estate sales dealer in Sarasota, Florida. (https://is.gd/FtibXn). “Because of the workmanship and level of quality in these items, they can be worth money for decades or longer and remain more stable than trending antiques and collectibles.” 2. Far East Antiques De Bondt adds that Far East antiques also hold their value for a long time. “The hottest items now that people might have lurking in attics from grandma’s parlor are Asian pieces,” he says. “We espe-
cially like Chinese snuff bottles, antique urns and bronze pieces.” 3. Musical Instruments “Any musical instrument can have huge value, but especially guitars,” explains David Kalt, founder and CEO of Reverb.com, an online marketplace for guitars and gear. He says, for instance, that popular guitars from the 1960s could be attic treasures, including vintage Fender (https://is.gd/vZQDFi), Gibson (https://is.gd/RiXnzo) and acoustic (https://is.gd/sJ2ny5) guitars. 4. Obsolete Electronics As reported by Mashable, even the most outdated electronic devices are sought after, like the Imagination Machine that pulled in $900 on eBay. But even if you don’t have little-known vintage electronics, you can still cop a decent amount of green with your old Nintendo items, like a 20-year-old Super Nintendo game that sold for $81; dusty and totally defunct Betamaxes; and Apple products, like the Apple II+, which commanded $102 at eBay auction. 5. Childhood Toys and Games Kevin Bernhard, owner of Rust-andShine vintage and handmade market (https://is.gd/C80ECZ) in Baltimore, reveals that sales for vintage toys and game boxes are especially healthy. “Most people think they are trash, but people buy them to reunite a toy with its original packaging, or just use it as art,” he says. Another decent moneymaker is the fast food and cartoon character collector glassware from the 1980s. “With ’80s kids now having disposable income, they are being bought up like crazy. There’s just something fun about drinking an adult beverage out of a glass that you used to sip apple juice out of,” Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
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January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019
Health Centers from page 10 While several centers are evolving to meet the needs of trans patients, not all of them are, and there still needs to be a comprehensive effort to incorporate competent care into healthcare practices. Internationally renowned Massachusetts General Hospital (https://massgeneral.org) has recently started its on Trans Health program, and according to Dr. Robert Goldstein, the medical director for the program, the services it provides are wide-ranging. “The MGH Transgender Health Program offers comprehensive primary care, hormone management, case managements, and links to behavioral health and surgical services for adult patients,” he said in an interview with The Rainbow Times. “The clinic provides a safe, affirming, and inclusive environment for transgender patients and their families, utilizing ‘wrap-around’ services linked to and invested in the community. “In collaboration with the Departments of Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynecology, the Transgender Health Program helps patients navigate gender affirming procedures, including top surgeries, bottoms surgeries, and facial feminization procedures.” MGH’s program provides social work services also and opportunities for clients to navigate legal resources, the larger hospital system, and explore mental healthcare services, Goldstein added. With five sites across Peabody, Salem, and Gloucester, North Shore Community Health (NSCH; https://www.nschi.org/) is
“Coming Out” from page 6 than heterosexual parents. A predisposition for depression in middle-aged LGBTQ people may depend on whether the adults come out on their own or if doing so is imposed by family members or someone else. Coming out and living openly can offer mental health benefits to the parent, as long as it is shared with the family on the individual’s own terms. A parent who comes out should remind his or her children that it is not the child’s
ramping up its efforts to become a comprehensive healthcare facility, and that includes building its trans health program. “As part of our mission to provide comprehensive primary health care to all of our patients, we decided to begin the important work of enhancing our transgender health services by giving dedicated training through the Fenway Institute to a team of primary care providers across all of our sites in Salem, Peabody and Gloucester as well as at the two high schools, Peabody Veteran Memorial High School and Salem High School, to competently address the specific needs of our current and future transgender patients,” said Damian Archer, chief medical officer at NSCH. According to Archer, NSCH has completed two years of clinical training through Trans ECHO to prepare clinicians to serve trans patients and a curricula is being developed to train clinical and administrative staff to provide stigma-free and inclusive care to patients. NSCH even reached out to the LGBTQ community for mentorship and advice on how to best roll out the program and incorporate the training into its work. Most notably, Archer said, “North Shore Community Health stands-out in the medical community of the North Shore as a federally qualified community health center because we are part of a movement to deliver social justice through the provision of equitable, high-quality health care.” Perhaps NSCH’s work will signal healthcare best practices for the future, both locally and nationally. job to protect, or, for that matter, advocate on behalf of the mother’s or father’s sexual identity, whether by keeping it a secret, evading labels or by foisting the news onto the outside community. Most important, by setting an example of showing comfort in their own sexual identity, if it is safe to do so, the parent can set the tone for the parent-child relationship moving forward. Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
New Year’s QPuzzle from abroad: Lady of Spain
Across 1 One of the Three Bears 5 Sites for three men in a tub 9 Dave Pallone and others 13 Hertz competitor 14 "A" in radio lingo 15 Witty Coward 16 Lairs of bears 17 Petty of A League of Their Own 18 Claim innocence of 19 Miss Spain in this year's 34-Across pageant 22 Prefix with media 23 Scare the pants off of 27 Deems necessary 30 Twin city of Mary Richards' Minneapolis. 31 Bus. school course 33 Tom of Philadelphia 34 Beauty pageant that recently had its first 50-Across contestant 38 Campbell of Martin 39 Practice boxing 40 Like Fiennes's Shakespeare 42 With petticoat exposed? 47 49 Language of Leif 50 Like 19-Across 53 Royal threesome 56 Fly like a falcon 57 Men behaving badly 58 Second fruit eater 59 Columnist Bombeck 60 Sexologist Shere 61 Choice for Hamlet 62 A Scout may do a good
one 63 ___ about
Down 1 Brothel bosses 2 Q, in a theater 3 4 Nice buns, e.g.? 5 Room for Frida 6 Plunk down 7 Kinky coifs 8 Peter and Mary 9 Like an eagle, for Sheehan 10 Howard of a comic threesome 11 Whitman's tool 12 20 It has a hole and you put it in your mouth 21 Keener of Capote 24 South Beach mementos 25 26 Dottermans of Antonia's Line 28 Hosp. ward 29 Loads 32 They may show through a wet T-shirt 34 35 Man or Lesbos 36 The L Word channel 37 Kilmer of The Doors 38 7th notes in "Do-Re-Mi" 41 Used rubbers 43 Something to save for a rainy day 44 Make like Mychal Judge, e.g.
45 46 Less likely to use the tongue 48 Make noise in bed 51 ___-sex marriage 52 New alum 53 Where wrestlers lie together 54 Much ___ About Nothing 55 Gift of Ellen
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019! FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS! SOLUTION
16 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
January 10, 2019 - February 6, 2019