2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
Women’s month: FGM, the oxymoron Scalia’s death: Political landscape in precarious predicament By: Nicole Lashomb*/TRT Editor-in-Chief
E
OPINIONS
ach year in the U.S., March is dedicated to women’s history month. I’ve never been an avid fan of such recognized months like these because it implies, and certainly indicates, that the suffrage movement is far from over. Although our vote is no longer a denied right per se, women are still under attack—our bodies, our thoughts, our education, and our voice. Each day thousands of women in the very country that “honors” them this month, are being raped and tortured physically, psychologically, and socio-economically, at the perils of a misogynistic society and culture, often disguised in religious contexts. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), a woman is assaulted or beaten every 9 seconds in the U.S. while 1 in 5 women in the have been raped and 94 percent of murder-suicide victims are female. It doesn’t stop there—not even close. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the cultural practice of removing part or all of women and girls’ genitalia for non-medical reasons. Sounds barbaric? It is—and it’s happening right here in our backyard.
tal organs for non-medical reasons (it’s worth repeating), which means they have no health benefits for girls and women, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). “Procedures can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths,” their website reads. “More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries around the globe” and it is often carried out without the use of anesthesia or pain medication. Last month, Newsweek reported “more than half a million women and girls in the U.S. are at risk of undergoing FGM in the U.S. or abroad, or have already undergone the procedure, including 166,173 under the age of 18.” WHO stipulates that FGM is an international violation of the human rights of girls and women. “It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women,” explained the organization on its website. “It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice
This month, as every other month, I am in solidarity with my sisters locally, nationally and abroad. This is for you—for us.
FGM includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female geni-
See Women on Page 10
The Lord’s Prayer for LGBTQ people of faith By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist
FAITH
“Our Father [Creator] in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6: 9-13; https://goo.gl/YLigYW). Your kingdom come. The Holy Author’s kingdom is now! Every LGBTQ person is empowered to help nurture it. The expansion of civil and human rights are part of the Lord’s ever-unfolding kingdom of inclusion and greater love. In this moment each person, LGBTQ and straight, can be a co¬-creator bringing about a better world. Social activism, for example, is about challenges facing the whole community, all of it, not just LGBTQ men and women. Each LGBTQ person can be an example of leadership and compassion. Every LGBTQ person has the ability to be a holy light for others, gay and straight.
Popular culture isn’t changing God’s will. LGBTQ rights are part of greater cosmological truths. You are a co-creator. How will you help build people up, even the misguided, the misinformed, the downtrodden, or the homophobic? A smile, kind word, a genuine expression of empathy to a stranger, regardless of his or her sexuality, helps to bring about the kingdom. Reaffirm the personhood of the individual against marriage equality. It’s vital the LGBTQ community continues to respectfully engage with and listen to marriage equality opponents. The kingdom cannot come without supporters of traditional marriage. The kingdom is everyone. Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.
See Our Father on page 10
By: Mike Givens*/TRT Assistant Editor
U
nited States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death is poised to shake up the political arena in the coming months and stir up both liberal and conservative rivalries in what is already shaping up to be a tumultuous election year. Supreme Court justices are appointed for life, and with the high court’s 5-4 conservative majority prior to Scalia’s death, President Obama is primed to nominate a successor that could tip the balance in favor of a more progressive panel of judges. My reaction to Scalia’s death was similar to the one I had for Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps in March of 2014: I’m deeply sorry for his loved ones and those who cared for him, but I cannot, and will not, mourn the death of a virulently hateful person. Now, comparing Scalia to Phelps would be akin to likening apples to baseballs. Phelps was a vitriolic Kansas preacher who travelled the country with his minions blaming the nation’s problems, from mass shootings to floods, on LGBTQ people and their increasing acceptance across the country. Scalia was a New York-raised jurist appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1986 by former President Ronald Reagan, who also was no friend to LGBTQ people. As the longest-serving justice on the current Supreme Court, Scalia made a reputation for himself as a literalist who skirted away from any modern interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. Scalia made a range of offensive comments about LGBTQ people and made it clear he condemned marriage equality and same-sex relations (http://goo.gl/FSUuLB). Stubbornly refusing to dip his toes into the waters of judicial activism, Scalia was notorious for referencing the Constitution as not a living document, but a centuries-old, never-evolving template for how the nation should be governed. And with his death came the conspiracies. Conservative pundits nationwide tossed out a range of unsubstantiated theories concerning Scalia’s death, from accusing President
Letters to the Editor [Re: Op-Ed: Veterans for Peace Left Out of St. Patrick’s Day Parade Again] Dear Editor, As coordinator of VFP Chapt. 9, the Smedley Butler Bde, I’d like to congratulate you on your inclusion in the St. Pat’s parade. Slowly but surely, the AWVC is realizing it cannot survive without accepting all aspects of society. I will state that the AWVC reneged on their word by bringing individuals from a seperate unit to sway the vote against us. This prompted Brian Mahoney to resign his post in the AWVC. Regardless of his past decisions, I have to say ...
See Letters on Page 10
...I’m deeply sorry for his loved ones and those who cared for him, but I cannot, and will not, mourn the death of a virulently hateful person. Obama of the jurist’s assassination to engaging in brainless discussions around whether or not Scalia, who reportedly died of natural causes, had a pillow over his head (or face, depending on who you listen to) when his body was discovered. For the record, Scalia was nearly 80-yearsold and his own doctors confirmed that he
See Justice Scalia on Page 15
The Rainbow Times The Freshest LGBT Newspaper in New England—Boston Based TheRainbowTimesMass.com editor@therainbowtimesmass.com sales@therainbowtimesmass.com Phone: 617.444.9618 / 413.282.8881 Fax: 928.437.9618 Publisher Gricel M. Ocasio Editor-In-Chief Nicole Lashomb Assistant Editor Mike Givens National/Local Sales Rivendell Media Liz Johnson Lead Photographers Alex Mancini Steve Jewett Reporters John Paul Stapleton Christine Nicco Sara Brown Luke Sherman Chuck Colbert Keen News Service
Ad & Layout Design Prizm PR Webmaster Jarred Johnson Columnists/Guest* Lorelei Erisis Deja N. Greenlaw Paul P. Jesep Natalia Muñoz* Francisco “Jimagua” Cartagena Mendez Keegan O’Brien* Mike Givens Affiliations National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association NGLCC, QSyndicate *Guest Freelancer
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.
TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 3
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
Abuse, discrimination experienced by LGBTQ people within the criminal system By: Mike Givens/TRT Assistant Editor
IN THE LIMELIGHT
A new report co-authored by the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) highlights several severe disparities faced by LGBTQ people within the criminal justice system. “Every day, we are filling our correctional facilities with people who wouldn’t be there if not for their economic status, color of their skin, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression,” said Naomi Golberg, a researcher for the Movement Advancement Project. “Then, within the system, they can experience abuse, sexual assault, and other forms of violence.” Unjust: How the Broken Criminal Justice System Fails LGBT People was released in late February and identifies patterns of discrimination that not only force LGBTQ people into prisons and jails, but also contributes to abuses and disparities while incarcerated and after release (http://goo.gl/RcS6A8). Discrimination placing individuals into the criminal justice system The report noted three systemic problems that increase the likelihood of LGBTQ being arrested and funneled into prisons and jails. The stigma surrounding differences in sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression have created a culture of discrimination at work, school, within the home,
ple of color, are targeted for criminalization.” A second observation the report made involved unfair policing practices that hone in on “undesirable behavior,” such as sex work. The study noted that LGBTQ people and people of color have suffered disproportionately under these practices and have experienced physical and sexual abuse and even death.
and in the larger community. LGBTQ youth experience disproportionately high rates of family rejection and school expulsion that lead to homelessness and, quite often, sex work. Even LGBTQ adults in many states experience homelessness, unemployment, lack of affordable healthcare and severe income instability, all of which can force these populations into survival work that increases their chances of arrest and prosecution. State laws that criminalize LGBTQ people and their behaviors have become rampant across the country. For example, 25 states have HIV-specific criminal laws, according to a 2015 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (http://goo.gl/1xkkam). Several states also
criminalize consensual sex between LGBTQ people and drug enforcement statutes in many states disproportionately target low income communities and people of color. Reverend Jason Lydon, national director of Black and Pink (www.blackandpink.org), a nationally networked grassroots organization serving LGBTQ prisoners, noted the severity of police practices that punish LGBTQ people and people of color. “The criminalization of poverty, homelessness, sex work, and drugs are some of the key systemic attacks that lead to disproportionate incarceration of LGBTQ people,” he said. “The survival strategies of poor LGBTQ people, particularly youth and peo-
Harsh and abusive practices experienced by LGBTQ in jails and prisons Due to high levels of discrimination in the court system on behalf of judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, the LGBTQ population is overrepresented in prison and jails, according to the Unjust report. “...we have lawyers who fail to appropriately represent their clients and judges who give disproportionately long sentences,” said Reverend Lydon. According to the National Inmate Survey (NIM), in 2011 and 2012, 7.9% of inmates in state and federal prisons identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, while 7.1 percent in city and county jails identified as LGB (http://goo.gl/FXeHPx). The 2012 Gallup poll identified 3.4 percent of American adults as LGBT across the country (http://goo.gl/aCHZYr). While incarcerated, LGBTQ inmates are more likely to experience abuse and discrimination at the hands of prison officials. LGBTQ people frequently end up in solitary
See Unjust on Page 15
4 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
AIDS Action Committee Director, Carl Sciortino.
PHOTO: AAC
Getting to Zero coalition determines strategy to reduce HIV diagnoses in Mass. By: Luke Sherman/TRTContributor
BOSTON, Mass.—Advocacy organizations, public health officials, and concerned community members came together for the first time in late February to discuss the strategy of the Getting to Zero campaign, an initiative targeting populations where new HIV diagnoses remain particularly high. “It's going to be a messy process–a good messy process,” said Dr. Ken Mayer, research director for Fenway Community Health in Boston. “But in other words, there are a lot of different priorities that people have. If we're going to really engage the community, we have to hear them. It can't be one person saying, 'Oh, well, I know what's best for Massachusetts and this is the way to do it.'” The campaign seeks to eradicate the spread of the virus in Massachusetts by increasing the percentage of infected individuals who know their status and receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, while ensuring that a greater proportion of those receiving treatment reach viral suppression. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), the number of annual HIV diagnoses in the state fell by 44 percent between 2000 and 2011, with just under 700 new individuals testing positive for the virus five years ago. On the national level, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that doctors diagnose approximately 50,000 new patients with the infection every year (http://goo.gl/MzeYHb). Aids Action Committee of Massachusetts (AAC) announced the formation of the campaign on World AIDS Day late last year. The recent meeting, which took place at Fenway Health, represented its first official gathering. Three committees will focus on prevention, treatment, and data analysis and will involve community members throughout the process, according to AAC Executive Director Carl Sciortino and Dr. Mayer.
“So everything we're doing, from the beginning of the process, has to be data-driven, has to be based on metrics, has to be based on the reality of who's getting infected, why they're getting infected, how they're getting infected… In a sense, it's a challenge of overcoming people's innate cynicism about something like this,” said Sciortino. While Getting to Zero takes inspiration from similar campaigns such as those in New York State and San Francisco, Dr. Mayer said that it will not directly model any other initiative. “I think each state is different. A big chunk of the epidemic is in Boston, but we realize that plenty of people who interact in Boston live in Cambridge, live in Somerville, come into town from other parts of the state, and then there are places–Worcester, Springfield, the South Coast–where there are also fairly significant epidemics,” he said. “So the thought of having only a Boston coalition didn't make sense. New York State is a bigger state [with a] different dynamic. Washington State is different. I don't think one size fits all.” Each committee will draft its own document featuring recommendations about how to achieve its respective objectives. The coalition will then seek feedback from community members and aims to release the final report on December 1, World AIDS Day 2016. Sciortino said that the coalition may face skepticism from community members about its ability to achieve its stated objectives. “I think the first challenge in talking about Getting to Zero is that people don't think it's a realistic conversation. There's inherent resistance to something that might seem like it's too idealistic and not grounded in reality,” he said. Nevertheless, Sciortino remains confident that the coalition will succeed in its efforts.
See Getting to Zero on Page 15
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 5
6 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
Kate Bornstein: Her 2016 views, news on gender and the non-binary By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/TRT Columnist
I
TRANS NEWS
n late January, I saw Kate Bornstein at Real Art Ways in Hartford, Conn. If you don't know Kate, she is a trans woman who is a gender theorist and author of several books on gender. Kate has been writing and doing presentations about gender since the early 1990s and her work is always quite thought-provoking. Kate began her presentation by commenting on the "tipping point" for transgender people. She observed that trans people have become mainstream and now she wants to move towards a new "tipping point" of non-binary and genderqueer people. Kate defined non-binary as not subscribing to either the male or female gender while genderqueer was similar, but different because genderqueer is more outside of the box and very noticeable. Think of non-binary as rather subtle and genderqueer as "feathers and spurs," as she described. She also told us that the word “transgender” has come to mean what it did back when it was first coined by Virginia Prince in the early 1980s. To be a transgender person was originally meant to have the need to
live your life in the gender opposite of your gender assigned at birth. Kate said that she and the late Leslie Feinberg changed the meaning of transgender to be an umbrella term to include anyone who challenged gender norms at any level whether it was occasional crossdressing, living full-time as the gender opposite to the one assigned at birth and all of the other variations in between and
"tranny." To be a tranny made everyone become part of the family. She was very sad to see it turn into a pejorative and now she wants to restore that word to its original intended meaning. Kate also talked about being a cast member in season two of "I am Cait," the Caitlyn Jenner reality series. She said that Caitlyn is one of her best friends and a wonderful per-
Think of non-binary as rather subtle and genderqueer as “feathers and spurs,” as she described. outside of the two groups. Today the word “transgender” has returned to its original Virginia Prince meaning, according to Kate. She then shared her thoughts on the word, "tranny." She prefaced by saying that she fully realizes that the majority of trans people find the word greatly offensive but that the origin of this word came from within the community back in the 70s and 80s. Back then, there were different variations in the community such as queens who live full time, drag queens and cross-dressers, etc., and they all disagreed with each other regarding their views of gender but they came up with a word that united them all,
son who is a good sport and a champion for trans people. She also told us of a difference of opinion that she had with Caitlyn. Kate told us that in episode two, while the whole group of trans women were riding on the bus, Kate was feeling a bit mischievous so she suddenly and without warning blurted out the question "Hillary or Trump?" Caitlyn immediately went into this anti-Hillary, antiObama, anti-democrat tirade and the other girls just watched her rant. Kate said that Caitlyn sounded like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News all wrapped up into one! Kate further shared that Caitlyn is a right-wing nut job and that all the other gals are left-wing
nut jobs so they all decided that whenever the discussion of politics gets too heated that they all would break into singing "God bless America" to diffuse the tension. I'm thinking they may have sung a lot! Most likely, because of her brush with death in her fight with two cancers, lung and leukemia, Kate has softened over the years with her actions. She said that she used to be more "in your face" with her “outlaw” ideas of gender but now she is more peaceful and she uses humor to get her ideas across. She mentioned that we should learn our opponent's views, understand them and then use humor to win them over to our side because it works much better than yelling at your opponent, deriding their views, and calling them names. Kate also said that she is now using humor in working on her new book, which will be titled "Trans! For the Fun of It!" In it she aims to further educate folks about gender and to bring the trans community together as a family again. Wrapping it up, it was a great and very thought-provoking night. I love it when you see someone who opens your eyes to new thoughts and makes your head spin. I heartily recommend that everyone see her. You won't regret it! *Deja Nicole Greenlaw is a trans woman who has 3 grown children and is retired from 3M. She can be contacted at dejavudeja@sbcglobal.net.
Ask a Trans Woman: A question from a co-worker and a bit of trans basics PHOTO: DAVID MEEHAN
By: Lorelei Erisis*/TRT Columnist
L
ast night at work I was asked a question. I get asked a lot of questions, frankly, and this was not a notable or strange question. I’d barely even mention it if not for the fact that I thought it was the right question, asked
in the right way. The person who asked me was someone I have come to know well enough through some months of working with them. Restaurant work tends to breed a particularly close and rough intimacy. I won’t say it’s like a war zone, but it is a high-stress environment that absolutely requires a high level of cooperation and synchronization to function efficiently, or even, just to function at all. Also, what you should know about me is that I have varying levels of filters that I employ depending on the people I am with, the situation, and the context. I have to consciously employ these filters because left to my own default settings; I actually have very few filters. Being in a high-stress environment with people I need to trust tends to lower those filters dramatically. So much that I sometimes worry about my tendency to “story tell” when it’s slow at work. I have a lot of stories, many of which are decidedly
THE RAINBOW TIMES DIVERSE............just like our team is OBJECTIVE..........someone has to be INCLUSIVE........no one is left behind .....That is HOW media should be.....
Never tell a trans person that you could totally tell they were trans before they told you, even if you genuinely feel like you could and did know. It’s just rude and it sometimes hurts. not suitable for work. Anyway, all of that is to explain that it was entirely within the bounds of contextual reason for this person to ask me questions about trans stuff. The question asked, which I’d like to share with you here, was (paraphrasing), “Is it appropriate for me to ask a trans person about their experiences being trans?” To be clear, this wasn’t asking permission of me personally, that permission was already implied by the context explained above. This was in reference to other trans people this co-worker knows. It’s kind of a 101-y question, which I usually avoid here in my search for deeper complexities. But basics are still important to remember sometimes. So I’d like to share my answer to them, as well as to the small crowd of co-workers gathered around this exchange, with you. What I told them was that it depends on several factors, which must be taken into account. Are you friends? Acquaintances? Coworkers? Family? Most importantly, how close are you to this trans person? Do you have a relationship where you share personal things? Would you feel comfortable asking them about personal, or even intimate, de-
tails? More importantly, would they be comfortable being asked about personal, intimate things? Are they comfortable asking these sorts of things of you? If the answer to these last couple of questions is yes, or even maybe, then you might be on solid footing asking a trans person about their experiences. There are also a few other factors worth taking into account, however. Where are you? Are you chilling together on the couch at home? Hanging out at the bar? Or, are you at work? Are you alone, or is there a larger group? To answer these additional questions, consider what you yourself might feel comfortable being asked about and talking about in these situations. Would you be comfortable sharing an intimate and very personal story, one that opens you up and makes you potentially quite vulnerable? You have to consider all of these things. It’s a flow chart of context and consideration. Of course, if you’re playing the home game, you will realize by now that even this fairly 101-y topic ends up becoming quite complex. There is no, “Yes, it is appropriate.” Or “No, it is not appropriate.”
That’s why I’m always encouraging people to think for themselves. Because as much as we’d like to live in a simple world; the world we actually inhabit is not. People are not. Of course, in the context of closing the night down at a restaurant, I conveyed all this in a more condensed and slightly bawdier fashion. I also threw in a couple of anecdotes and expansions. I mentioned how often people will ask me about the state of my genitalia before we have even been introduced; something which the gathered crowd immediately connected with as incredibly inappropriate. Thus bolstering my previous point. I’m nothing if not a skilled polemicist. I also threw in a couple of things to never do, things that are worth sharing here. Never tell a trans person that you could totally tell they were trans before they told you. Even if you genuinely feel like you could and did know. It’s just rude and it sometimes hurts. On the flip side, never tell a trans person that you totally couldn’t tell that weren’t a “real boy” or a “real girl” as the case may be. We are real boys and girls. Period. Additionally, it’s very poor form to say to a non-binary trans person, “Yeah, but which are you more? A boy or a girl?” Just don’t. Okay, before I finish, one last thing. Go back and see how I managed to avoid unnecessarily gendering anyone I was talking about in this column. See how easy that was? Slainte! *Lorelei Erisis is an actor, activist, adventurer and pageant queen. Send your questions to her at her online e-mail: askatranswoman@gmail.com.
TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 7
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
Gay candidate seeks State Rep. seat By: Christinne Nicco/TRT Reporter
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.—Jack Patrick Lewis is no stranger to the LGBTQ community. Widely known as the Executive Director of OUT MetroWest, an organization dedicated to supporting the well-being of LGBTQ teens in the Boston MetroWest area, the social justice advocate is now seeking the 7th Middlesex District’s State Representative seat this year. In an exclusive interview with The Rainbow Times (TRT), Lewis explains his positions on the issues to move MetroWest ahead, particularly addressing what he says are the critical needs of this diverse community. TRT: You’re quoted as saying “We need progressive leadership to make bold investments in our communities, to create and promote innovation in our schools, and to represent the diverse needs of MetroWest.” What types of bold investments are you referring to? What are the diverse needs? JPL: My husband and I made the intentional choice to move to Framingham because it was the kind of community we wanted to raise a family. Framingham, and the larger MetroWest region, is racially, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse and exists as a truly global community. Our hope is to raise our son to be a global citizen, understanding the complexities and beauty of living in a diverse world. We also need a state representative who will fight to innovate our schools, invest in our communities, and ensure a common and promising future for the district. Too many children in our schools face discrimination and public accommodations protections need to be passed immediately. It's impossible to innovate education if children do not first feel safe. If last winter showed us anything, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) needs 21st century renovations and not 20th century Band-Aids. Some trains still in operation are older than me, and the residents of our Commonwealth deserve to have dependable a public transportation network that works rain or shine, in the snow or heat. Trains run on time in Shanghai, Tokyo, and Paris, and Massachusetts can't be caught treading water in yesterday while the rest of the world is driving full-speed into tomorrow. Massachusetts leads the way on green energy production and Beacon Hill must continue to incentivize solar and wind energy production. The solar industry alone in Massachusetts employs 15,000 residents, making it an essential component of our green energy success. As a state representative, I will fight for sustained [energy] and new incentives for families and businesses to become more energy efficient and independent. Lastly, I will continue Rep. Tom Sannicandro's fight to ensuring that our state budget fully funds our Commonwealth's programs for the disability community. We should not balance the state's budget at the expense of any community, and the disability community deserves a
Lewis (right) husband Brent (left) and their son Josiah pose together at their adoption ceremony.
State Representative that will advocate with them on Beacon Hill. Q: How has being the executive director of OUT MetroWest prepared you to be a state representative? A: I have had the opportunity to connect with area community leaders, work with local teachers, and serve hundreds of the areas youth. I will represent the needs of all my constituents, and for towns like Framingham and Ashland, that means understanding that our towns’ diversity should be celebrated, not ignored, or worse— subjugated. Q: You were also an ordained minister for the UU, of which you advocated on social justice issues. What social justice issues are important to you? A: I am an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ but have served in a Unitarian Universalist context. Social and economic justice is a cornerstone of each community's faith. My background in ministry influences my decision-making and impassions me to work towards a world where everyone can thrive and no one gets left behind. There is a great intersectionality between all social and economic justice issues. At this time, I am most committed to fighting for equality under the law and celebration of diversity, the expansion of renewable energy production, and preservation and ex-
See Gay Candidate on Page 11
8 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
Denzel Washington, ‘Ladies Almanack,’ Viola Davis, Manolo Blahnik, ‘Model Wars’ By: Romeo San Vicente*/Special to TRT
DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD
Denzel hires Tony Kushner for Fences Denzel Washington is directing the film adaptation of the late August Wilson’s 1985 play, Fences. This makes sense, as the 2010 Broadway revival starring Washington and Viola Davis earned the pair Tony Awards. Washington—and probably Davis, too—will also star in the film, which concerns race relations examined in the context of one black man’s dream deferred: He wanted a career in baseball and wound up collecting trash. Wilson’s work is more than ripe for the screen, and now his original, notquite-finished screenplay draft is getting the Tony Kushner treatment. The Tony-winning playwright wrote Angels in America and is working closely with Washington on the final product, which means it has prestige picture written all over it. And true to the subject matter, there’s been some criticism over Kushner’s inclusion (he is white, and Wilson was often critical of white directors and writers taking “custody” of black stories), but when you’re chosen by Denzel Washington you tend not to refuse. Expect more conversation on this subject as the project rolls toward completion.
Sex creator Candace Bushnell. When it’s ready you’ll want to walk, not run, to see it, lest you break a heel.
Ladies Almanack: Parisian Lesbian Chic Famed writer Djuna Barnes’s 1928 novel Ladies Almanack told the true-to-life-yetthinly-veiled story of a lesbian circle of writers and artists in Jazz Age Paris. Its characters were stand-ins for Barnes’ woman-centered world, including her lover Natalie Barney, and writers like Radclyffe Hall. It’s a vital piece of history from nearly 100 years ago, but its relevance remains timeless. So it’s welcome news that filmmaker Daviel Shy is working on an independent film version. Shot in Chicago and Paris on a shoestring budget, with tons of community effort behind it, Almanack the movie boasts familiar names like Guinevere Turner and Eileen Myles alongside non-actors, and expands its narrative reach to include historical figures like Colette and Gertrude Stein. It’s a tough film distribution world out there for aesthetically adventurous lesbian dramas with this much ambition, which makes the project feel all the more vital. In post-production now, prepping for the film festival circuit, keep your eyes open for this one when it finally comes around. They’re making a documentary about Manolo Blahnik’s shoes “Hello, lover,” said Carrie Bradshaw, famously, to a pink, feathery pair of what were probably Manolo Blahnik shoes. And if they weren’t they should have been. More than any other pop culture branding device, Sex and the City raised the profile of Blahniks’ sky-high heels, well, sky-high. And though Louboutin has stolen a bit of the maker’s
Viola Davis, star of How to Get Away With Murder
thunder in recent years, that isn’t stopping filmmaker Michael Roberts from working on a much-needed documentary on the legendary designer. Its awesome title is Manolo (The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards), and it will feature some of the biggest names in fashion and entertainment to sing the man’s praises, from Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Paloma Picasso, Iman, Rihanno, Naomi Campbell, and Isaac Mizrahi, to, yes,
It’s time to enlist in Model Wars You miss America’s Next Top Model. You know you do. So what do you do to console yourself besides watching endless runway shows on Apple TV’s M2M channel? You chant and pray for Model Wars to make it past the pilot stage, that’s what. Now, normally, pilots are not all that newsworthy. You may, in fact, never see them, since they can be killed in the quiet confines of a TV development executive’s office. But sometimes that pilot goes to series. And just from a conceptual standpoint we want this one to make it. It’s from Reality Bites screenwriter Helen Childress and based on Robert Lacey’s book Model Woman: Eileen Ford and The Business of Beauty. Ford began as a model, then founded the Ford modeling agency, and this nighttime soap would be set in a world very much like the one she built. In the late 1970s. Let that float around your fashionbrain for a moment: Jerry Hall, Lauren Hutton, Studio 54, Andy Warhol, severe outfits, Bianca Jagger, Eyes of Laura Mars, everything that was great about that era and none of the horrible Reagan aftermath. It has the potential to be a very shiny, glamorous Mad (Wo)Men. And we need that now. More than ever. *Romeo San Vicente shakes his little tush on the catwalk. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
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10 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
Women from page 2 also violates a person's rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.” These are only some examples of how women are actively persecuted around the globe and part of that is largely due to a lack of female leadership in positions of power. If the men in power were forced to endure the atrocities that women face—I’m sure you can draw your own conclusion. No one can advocate more effectively for marginalized groups than the members of that same marginalized group themselves. No man, no matter how educated and advanced in understanding women rights issues, can fully grasp what it is to live in a female’s shoes, while overcoming the plights that are faced by women worldwide every day. Why, you ask? Because they themselves have been taught and trained their place in society—the patriarchal helm that hangs over the heads of women throughout the globe. Because of this learned behavior, even the fiercest advocate has likely violated a woman at some point in his life, whether it is as subtle as an unwanted sexual look or an outright brutality. That is not to undermine the role of male allies. They are critical in the struggles that lie ahead. But, being simply an ally and saying so is not enough. Men cannot lead this effort because they cannot speak the absolute truth of a woman's experience without them, themselves, being women. This holds true for virtually every marginalized group. Instead, it's about solidarity as an ally, standing by the sides of women and other
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the cultural practice of removing part or all of women and girls’ genitalia for non-medical reasons. Sounds barbaric? It is. disenfranchised groups to unite against a culture of oppression and misogyny. Standing up and stopping or denouncing a behavior that takes place against a woman, against many women, and doing something about it. Women have an obligation to lead and men have an obligation to be supportive, to speak out, to take action, not through societally taught patriarchal ideals, but through a leveled playing field. Perhaps when that is the majority thought and when crimes against women are not left unpunished, as they have been, brutalities against women will begin to cease. This month, as every other month, I am in solidarity with my sisters locally, nationally and abroad. This is for you—for us. To learn more about FGM, visit WHO at (http://goo.gl/z2L3QU).
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
Letters from page 2 that his resignation gained my respect. I wish Boston Pride well, and congratulations on being in the parade! Have a great time, and don’t forget, we at VFP will always be there pressing home the need for equal rights for all individuals. [NOTE: The letter to the editor was
Our Father from page 2 Popular culture isn’t changing God’s will. LGBTQ rights are part of greater cosmological truths. The universe unfolds. Humanity grows and matures. No political correctness can be forced upon the Eternal Architect. Is God so weak human beings can change the “natural order of things?” No. Patiently, listen to those most concerned about God’s laws being challenged. Assure them the Creator’s will is not being undermined, but revealed. Do not be arrogant and think you’ve won some war or battle. God is on no one’s side. Let everyone be right with God. Focus on healing. All are made by the same Holy Maker and everyone must realize they’re part of the same family. Give us this day our daily bread. Gratefulness is too often taken for granted. How grateful are you for marriage equality? How will you protect it? Sadly, religious liberty battles are on the horizon. Don’t take your eyesight for granted when experiencing a snowfall or the majesty of autumn. Everything is a gift. Be grateful. No matter
pasted before the event below took place. The text below has been edited to show timeliness.] On 2-27 we had a meeting at ISBCC, 100 Malcolm X Blvd from 11-1 to stand up against bigotry against our Muslim brothers and sisters. —Bob Funke, Online how challenged your life is at this moment, be thankful for something that helps sustain you. Sharing holy, sacred daily bread is spiritual sustenance intended for anyone who you encounter. Offer a meal. Engage in conversation. Sharing daily bread, broadly defined, as a LGBTQ person, with someone like Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who denied marriage licenses to same-gender couples, is a gift to break down barriers. A Ukrainian mystic once said, “All things necessary are easy and all things difficult are unnecessary.” In an age where status and consumerism is aggressively pursued, the mystic’s teaching is a reminder of the importance of freedom, individualism, and nurturing a sense of self. The mystic teaches about daily bread in the context of humility, simplicity, perspective, and nurturing positive energy where everyone benefits, even those who condemn you. *Paul is a corporate chaplain, seminary trained priest, and attorney in greater Albany, NY. Reach him through his website www.CorporateChaplaincy.biz.
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Pride Toronto ’16: Trudeau’s historical move TORONTO, ON—Pride Toronto recently unveiled its 2016 Pride Month theme, announcing to the world that this June, “You Can Sit With Us.” The campaign for Canada’s first-ever Pride Month, kicking off in 100 days, features Canada’s top political leaders: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and partner Jane Rounthewaite and Toronto Mayor John Tory who will all participate in this year’s festivities. This year’s Parade will make Canadian history, with Justin Trudeau participating as the first ever sitting Prime Minister to march. To celebrate the power and beauty of its diverse community, Pride Toronto held an open photo shoot for community members, artists and city leaders to show their Pride. The event was met with an overwhelming response, enabling the campaign to showcase over 300 community members of all ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and ethnicities. Watch the video at: http://goo.gl/2OTdOm. “If a picture is worth 1,000 words, maybe 1,000 pictures has the potential to give a true face to our community. And what a truly diverse and beautiful community we have,’” said Mathieu Chantelois, Pride Toronto Executive Director. “By striking a pose for our camera crew, hundreds took a stand for Pride Toronto, they are telling the world that it’s ok to sit with us, but also to rally, march, celebrate, love and change the world with us.” Noted personalities in the campaign include: • Pride Toronto’s 2016 Honoured Group, Black Lives Matter – Toronto • Ministers of Parliament, Hon. Carolyn Bennett (Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs), Julie Dabrusin and Hon. Bill Morneau (Minister of Finance) • Toronto City Councillors, Ana Bailao, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Joe Cressy, Sarah Doucette, Paula Fletcher, Norm Kelly, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Joe Mihevc, Gord Perks and Kristyn Wong-Tam • Toronto Police Service Chief of Police, Mark Saunders • Trans activists, Alex Abramovich and Susan Gapka • President Cineplex Media, Salah Bachir • Guinness World Record Holder for Oldest Performing Drag Queen, Michelle DuBarry • DJs, Deko-ze, Jeremy Khamkeo and Ticky Ty, and Burlesque and Drag performers,
Gay Candidate from page 7 pansion of services for the disabilities community. Q: Is the 7th Middlesex District ready for an openly gay man to fill the vacant seat left by Rep. Tom Sannicandro? A: I am happily married to my husband whom I met eight years ago. Two years ago, we adopted our son through the DCF foster care system. Our family is very much like many families in the district and our values mirror those of our diverse neighbors. It is 2016 and the world has changed a great deal in the last decade. Our state has had out state representatives from both parties and our state's attorney general is also out. I am confident that the gender of my spouse is not something that will prevent me from being elected. Instead, I feel that my family only contributes to the celebrated diversity that exists within our towns.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will march in Pride Toronto’s Parade on July 3, 2016.
Belle Jumelles, Sofonda Cox and Judy Virago This year’s theme is a play on, and response to, the infamous line from the 2004 cult-classic film Mean Girls. ‘You Can Sit With Us’ conveys a strong message of belonging and inclusion—a sentiment that was heard in consultations with community members. Canada’s first-ever Pride Month will launch on June 1, featuring extended programming and provocative events throughout the city, culminating in the much-anticipated Pride Parade on July 3. ABOUT PRIDE TORONTO Pride Toronto is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to bring people together to celebrate the history, courage and diversity of our community. Uniting and empowering people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, the annual Pride Toronto festival has become a major Canadian arts and cultural event and the largest Pride celebration in North America. Pride showcases Toronto on the world stage with diversity, inclusion and vibrant creativity. June 2016 features Toronto’s first-ever Pride Month, culminating with the 36th annual Pride Parade on Sunday, July 3. For information, visit www.PrideToronto.com and follow @PrideToronto on Twitter (https://twitter.com/PrideToronto).
Q. What is the most pressing issue right now for the district? A. Among the pressing issues facing the district and Commonwealth is the opioid crisis. This crisis is not new and I am grateful that the conversation on this topic is shifting. This crisis is not something that only affects a small group of people, and we as a society have a responsibility to respond with compassion. I am fully in favor of revisiting mandatory sentences so that the focus can be redefined around treatment and care. I am also in favor of limiting access to narcotics to a limited day prescription and [having] greater access to the lifesaving drug, Narcan, in our schools and greater community. As
If last winter showed us anything, the Mass. Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) needs 21st century renovations and not 20th century Band-Aids. many of us know firsthand, that crisis also affects the LGBTQ community disproportionately. As a state representative, I will fight the stigma that comes with conversations surrounding drug use. Q. Why are you the right choice for the residents of the 7th Middlesex District? A. It would be an honor to be elected to represent the residents of the 7th Middlesex District. As their representative, I pledge to make sure that their voices are heard every day on Beacon Hill. In my experiences as a local non-profit leader, ordained minister, and parent, I have had the opportunity to interact with the larger community, and I feel I am the most qualified candidate to ensure that Framingham and Ashland continue to thrive. Lewis resides with his husband Brent and their son Josiah in Framingham. The Democratic primary will take place on Sept. 8, leading to the general election on November 8. For more information on Jack Patrick Lewis and his campaign, connect on FaceBook at https://goo.gl/kYn4po.
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March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
GAY TOP 10
1. Portrait of a Serial Monogamist 2. Carol 3. Grandma 4. All About E 5. Lost Girl Seasons 5 & 6: The Final Chapters 6. Freeheld 7. The Girl King 8. Liz in September 9. Breathe 10. Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson
Courtesy: WolfeVideo.com
LESBIAN TOP 10
TOP 10 BEST SELLER VIDEOS 1. How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) 2. Naz & Maalik 3. You're Killing Me 4. The Danish Girl 5. Henry Gamble's Birthday Party 6. STONEWALL 7. London Spy 8. In the Grayscale 9. Boy Meets Girl 10. Grace & Frankie Season 1
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Película ‘Pink’ con su distorsión anti-gay de los fundamentalistas religiosos latinos Por: Francisco “El Jimagua” Cartagena Méndez*/Especial para TRT
E
LATIN VISION
l discurso fundamentalista religioso como motor opresor y creador de confusiones en nuestras sociedades y entornos familiares, constantemente realiza expresiones en las que se condena la homosexualidad. Estas condenas totalmente equivocadas fomentan una distorsión sobre lo que verdaderamente representa ser gay, lesbiana, bisexual, transgénero o transexual. Recientemente se anunció el estreno de la película mexicana “Pink” la cual abiertamente se ha proclamado como una cinta que va en contra de la adopción en matrimonios igualitarios. Esta película, totalmente homofóbica, presenta la historia de dos gays alcohólicos y drogadictos que deciden adoptar a un niño, el cual “sufre” de “bullying” porque no tiene una madre. El primer error de esta película es hablar del sufrimiento de un niño por ser adoptado por dos gays y no tener una madre. Al escritor de la película se le olvidó resaltar que si hay niños siendo adoptados por parejas gays es porque sus familias tradicionales (papá y mamá) les abandonaron. El título de la cinta “Pink” comienza a denotar los prejuicios mediante la cual se caracteriza, ya que asocia a los gays con el color rosa. Dicho color (el rosa) ha sido catalogado como uno que representa a la mujer, como el azul desde el prejuicio de género representa a los hombres o a lo masculino. Es así también la cinta prehistórica en que ignora la evolución del uso de dichos colores
bajo el concepto cerrado del binario sexual: azul para los hombres, rosa para las mujeres. Este concepto ha mostrado una profunda evolución en países más avanzados. Recientemente Target (https://goo.gl/kOHS90), una tienda por departamentos de los E.U., decidió romper con los protocolos de colores asignados a niños y a niñas, finalmente cambiando lo que representarán en el futuro, no tanto para los gays, sino que para los niños y niñas heterosexuales también. “Pink” además fomenta una idea de que todos los homosexuales son drogadictos, alcohólicos y disfuncionales en sus relaciones de matrimonio y en las crianzas parentales. Otro asunto se relaciona al hecho que la película busca perpetuar un mensaje de que los niños adoptados por parejas gays sufren por causa de la orientación sexual de éstos, lo cual es falso y así lo demuestra la Asociación Psicológica Americana, entre muchas otras organizaciones profesionales que han llegado a la misma conclusión (http://goo.gl/dQt8qw). En esto también erra “Pink”. Los niños y niñas adoptados (as) por matrimonios igualitarios viven una vida normal llena amor y respeto, pero pueden llegar a sufrir por causa del discurso de odio que protagonizan los propios religiosos fundamentalistas. Este discurso eclesiástico secuestra a nuestras familias y se reproduce en nuestras sociedades promoviendo violencia contra la comunidad LGBTT. La película “Pink” concluye con uno de los gays abrazando la religión y “curándose” (“gay coversion therapy”, en inglés) de su homosexualidad, lo cual es altamente condenado por el gobierno de muchos estados de la nación americana (http://goo.gl/c7e9jr). Pero el golpe homofóbico más triste de esta película lo es que ambos gays terminan padeciendo de
Al escritor de la película se le olvidó resaltar que si hay niños siendo adoptados por parejas gays es porque sus familias tradicionales (papá y mamá) les abandonaron. SIDA, un estereotipo más que explotan los irresponsables creadores de esta cinta. Recordemos que el VIH y el SIDA han sido asociados a los gays desde que la enfermedad se conociera mundialmente hace varias décadas atrás, aunque no es una enfermedad gay según muchos estudios han comprobado, uno de ellos por el “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences”. El peligro de la película “Pink” es que fomenta la distorsión gay, los prejuicios en contra de nuestras orientaciones sexuales, así como violencia, agresiones y odio en contra de toda la comunidad LGBTT. Los seres humanos somos seres biológicos diversos, sin embargo, muchas religiones han optado por privilegiar la heterosexualidad sobre las demás orientaciones sexuales, tal como lo hicieron en el pasado (y todavía
lo hacen) sobre los derechos de la mujer y el discrimen racial contra los negros. Estas condenas solo buscan dominar la libertad del ser humano, unido a la realidad de que los líderes fundamentalistas tienen como fin lucrarse económicamente del temor que proyectan. En los últimos años, la comunidad LGBTT a nivel mundial ha logrado avances a favor del reconocimiento de varios derechos legales y protecciones por parte de los gobiernos de sus países. Sin embargo, con cada batalla vencida, el fundamentalismo recrudece su discurso de odio, proliferando una distorsión sobre lo que verdaderamente es ser gay y lo que verdaderamente implica ser “cristiano”. En las adopciones de niños y niñas por parejas heterosexuales o gays se debe tener en cuenta la capacidad económica y los antecedentes familiares, sociales, penales y laborales de quienes aspiran a dicha adopción. Jamás la orientación sexual de una persona debe ser motivo para discriminar o para negarles un hogar cálido, de amor y protección a los niños y niñas en hogares sustitutos o en custodia del estado. Hay millones de parejas gays funcionales en todo el mundo, parejas del mismo sexo que son profesionales y estables, que pueden ofrecerle un hogar seguro a esos niños y niñas que lamentablemente fueron abandonados o abusados por sus propios padres heterosexuales. Esta realidad no la discute, por supuesto, la película “Pink”. Para comentarios envíele un correo electrónico al autor: eljimagua@live.com | o vía Twitter: https://twitter.com/eljimagua. *Escritor y activista de derechos humanos de Puerto Rico. Editado por Gricel Martínez Ocasio.
Op-Ed: Veterans for Peace left out of St. Patrick’s Day Parade again, other groups in The Allied War Veterans Council (AWVC), the organizers of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, has voted to disallow the application of the Smedley D. Butler Brigade Veterans for Peace to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. They also voted to rescind Boston Pride‘s accepted application to march, but caved under political pressure from the city and backed off that vote. This is political pressure that is not being used to make the AWVC run an inclusive parade. In what world does the Smedley D. Butler Brigade Veterans for Peace message of inclusion and peace not fit into the narrative around St. Patrick? The AWVC does not represent the people of South Boston. In an effort to have the Veterans For Peace, VFP, walk honorably on March 20th, it was proposed that a small unit of VFP march in front of the traditional parade. The Mayor does not want us to march in front of the parade because of political considerations, but we refuse to march behind this parade again. In reality it is too late for us to organize a respectable 2nd parade at this point anyways. The Smedley D. Butler Brigade finds the AWVC to be disrespectful of our message of peace and inclusion. Since when has this message ever been something not to celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day. Aren’t we all Irish on this day? Isn’t that the message? We are all one people!
They also voted to rescind Boston Pride’s accepted application to march, but caved under political pressure from the city and backed off that vote. This is political pressure that is not being used to make the AWVC run an inclusive parade. We agreed to and met all of AWVC’s requirements to be included in this parade and hashed out an agreement with them and Police Commissioner Bill Evans. VFP’s application clearly states that we would abide by all the parade’s rules and regulations. The Commissioner has been very supportive of this process and to help create an inclusive
parade for the inclusive people of Boston. The Smedley D. Butler Brigade would like to thank him for this support and express our gratitude that he understands our underlying message of Peace and Inclusion.
The Smedley D. Butler Brigade will continue our work to support Peace and IncluTo read the rest of this story visit: http://goo.gl/g0iZ2A
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016
QPuzzle: The Peace of Zion
Across 1 Tennis stadium in Queens 5 Out and then some 9 Vaulted church area 13 She played gay in Silkwood 14 Signorile's column, with "The" 15 Tallulah Bankhead's home, for short 16 ___ Square (Zion Square's new name in honor of Shira Banki) 18 "Like ___ not" 19 Get behind 20 Spread it and lick it 21 Leather band 22 Like the Seven Dwarfs 24 It makes watching porn harder 26 First person in Berlin 27 Practice for a boxing match 28 Flynn role opposite Davis 29 Comedienne Margaret 30 Highly competent 32 Painter Freud 34 Event at which Banki was murdered 38 Flees to become wife and wife 39 Trust (with "on") 40 Pre-Epstein Beatle Sutcliffe 41 Out in front 43 Throw rocks at
47 It comes before Jack 48 Cameron and Mitchell, to Lily 49 You can use it to go down 50 First indications of orientation 52 Eats without one's dentures 54 Horny African animal 55 San ___ of the Italian Riviera 56 Location of 16-Across 58 Richard of A Summer Place 59 Deity on Xena 60 Rowlands of film 61 Roos and others 62 "Hey, over here!" 63 The A in GLARP (abbr.) Down 1 Rupert Everett and Simon Callow 2 Make an appearance 3 All's Well That Ends Well heroine 4 Before, once 5 It gets a gel hard 6 Handled tactfully 7 Foppish neckwear 8 No. 6 to P-town 9 Some 10 The Price of Salt author Highsmith 11 Pleasured orally 12 Stick it in an orifice 17 Siegfried's partner
21 Like some relations 23 The Sound of Music name 25 Cried like a bitch 28 Inventor Otis 31 Coats with crumbs 33 Where one may be laid in the grave 34 Flipped off, perhaps 35 Bruce Wayne, for Batman 36 Chicken hawk's target 37 Evidence of rubber usage 42 They can cut leaves of grass 44 Two under scores for Sheehan 45 They come out of the closet when beds are made 46 Breakfast at Tiffany's author Capote 49 Sound a snake makes 51 Many, many moons 53 Can't help but 56 Tokyo's nation (abbr.) 57 Khan's title
SOLUTION
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Justice Scalia from page 2 had several chronic health problems. A death by natural causes is not surprising. Accompanying paranoid theories spewing from the right and plenty of celebrations on the left, there’s still the lingering question of “what’s next?” for the Supreme Court. Conservatives prefer for Obama to defer to the next president to make the nomination, obviously with the the hopes that a Republican will be in the Oval Office a year from now. And Democrats would love to have a progressive, left-leaning judge in the Supreme Court to tip the balance in their favor. With U.S. Senate Republicans threatening to refuse voting if Obama selects Scalia’s successor, this year is primed to be not only a contentious presidential election year, but also a tumultuous one for judicial activism, particularly in three cases currently before the Supreme Court. On March 2, the court is scheduled to hear arguments in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a case calling into question several harsh mandates conservative policymakers in Texas implemented to reduce the number of abortion clinics in the state (http://goo.gl/9UjNQO). On March 23, the high court will take on the case of Zubik v. Burwell, a headlinegrabbing case that calls into question the rights of religious nonprofits to deny contraceptive coverage in their health insurance plans (http://goo.gl/fdaQyu). This has been a hotly contested issue for some time now as many conservative nonprofits have argued their rights to forgo offering contraceptive coverage on religious grounds. The court will also hear arguments in the case of the United States v. Texas, a challenge to Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA), an executive order issued by President Obama allowing for the parents of children born in the United States to receive a three-year work permit and exemption from deportation (http://goo.gl/zgIDpp). The case also affects
Getting to Zero from page 4 “I think we saw a lot of really good energy in the room tonight and passion about ways people think this should unfold or who should be at the table, and I think that's actually a really promising sign that there's willingness to maybe skip the initial cynicism and engage in the process, which is what it's going to take to actually have a successful outcome,” he said. The meeting featured presentations from a number of federal, municipal, and state officials and researchers, who discussed similar initiatives in other parts of the country as well as background information on HIV transmission both in Massachusetts and nationwide. Speakers at the gathering included Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy Douglas Brooks; Director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS at the CDC Jonathan Mermin; Hyman Scott, researcher at the San Francisco Department of Public Health; Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS for the MDPH Dawn Fakuda; and Christopher Brennan, AAC's Getting to Zero coordinator. Funding for the initiative comes from the CDC, which awarded AAC, the Multicultural AIDS Coalition, and Fenway Health $3.78 million dollars for a five-year partnership focusing specifically on men who have
Scalia made a range of offensive comments about LGBTQ people and made it clear he condemned marriage equality and same-sex relations. another immigration policy, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a similar law that allows for young adults who entered the country prior to their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. Twenty-six states filed a joint lawsuit against the U.S. government and the case will surely be a controversy as the high court hears arguments. These court cases all impact LGBTQ people in some way, and in the coming months I suspect that pundits from both the left and the right will be sounding off on the legalities of abortions, contraceptive coverage and immigration status. Having followed politics for quite some time, I’m not optimistic about a new Supreme Court justice being appointed anytime soon. As the presidential election draws near and these cases come to a head, the political landscape will get uglier. Here’s hoping we live in a country that has the fortitude (and basic sense of decency) to overcome the landmines we’re sure to run into as we count down to Tuesday, November 8. *A graduate of the Boston University College of Communication, Mike Givens has been a social justice advocate for more than seven years. During that time he’s worked on a range of initiatives aimed at lifting up marginalized populations. An experienced media strategist and public relations professional, Michael currently devotes his spare time to a number of vital issues including racial justice and socioeconomic equity.
Funding for the initiative comes from the CDC, which awarded AAC, the Multicultural AIDS Coalition, and Fenway Health $3.78 million dollars for a five-year partnership focusing specifically on men who have sex with men and transgender women. sex with men and transgender women. HIV plagues these groups more than any other nationwide, with African-American gay and bisexual men and transgender women of color bearing a disproportionate burden of HIV diagnoses. Massachusetts residents can sign up to serve on any of the three committees, with each committee determining its next steps. For more information, visit their website: www.gettingtozeroma.org.
Unjust from page 3 confinement and transgender inmates are often misgendered and placed in units that do not conform to their gender identity, according to the report. According to Reverend Lydon, in November, a female transgender inmate at a Boston correctional facility refused to be stripped search by a male guard at the facility, and requested that a female guard conduct the search. When she resisted, the male guards continued the strip search and she was forcibly held down while her clothing was cut off. She was then placed in solitary confinement, where she will spend 23 hours a day until April. A 2014 study released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates purported that 24 percent of transgender people in prisons reported being sexually assaulted by another inmate (http://goo.gl/3CL8Iw). Post-conviction challenges Problems with housing access, employment, and financial stability are all significant barriers for LGBTQ people once released from prison or jail, the Unjust report concluded. After release, LGBTQ people often experience a lack social and financial support that can often lead to higher recidivism rates, similar to their straight and/or cisgender counterparts. “Because the system is punitive, rather than rehabilitative, three quarters of those released are rearrested within five5 years,” said Goldberg. “Much of this is unnecessary, it’s inhumane, it’s costly, and it ruins people’s lives.” Overcoming the cycle of discrimination and incarceration The Unjust report offered several recommendations for combating the disparities and abuses highlighted in the study. Dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline; repealing HIV criminalization laws; banning police profiling; improving prison conditions for LGBTQ people; and incorporating non-discrimination provisions in re-entry programs post-incarceration were just a few of the changes the report suggested.
Unjust: How the Broken Criminal Justice System Fails LGBT People was released in late February and identifies patterns of discrimination that not only force LGBTQ people into prisons and jails, but also contributes to abuses and disparities while incarcerated and after release. “Reforms at the federal, state, and local level are needed to ensure the safety and dignity of LGBT people—as they interact with law enforcement, to reduce criminalization, when incarcerated, and when they are trying to rebuild their lives,” said Goldberg, noting that policy change usally comes through lawsuits being filed by inmates. “A few immediate campaigns we endorse include all efforts to abolish the use of solitary confinement...eliminate the sentence [of] life without parole...forbid the practice of strip searching any prisoners...decriminalize the sex trade...and end all mandatory minimum sentences, not just for drugs,” said Reverend Lydon of Black and Pink’s national efforts. This summer, Black and Pink is slated to release part two of a national survey of LGBTQ prisoners, Coming Out of Concrete Closets: A Report on Black & Pink’s National LGBTQ Prisoner Survey. Part one of the survey can be found at www.blackandpink.org/survey/.
16 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
March 3, 2016 - April 6, 2016