The Rainbow Times' March 2019 Issue

2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

Trump’s Trans Military Ban ‘justification’ crumbles in front of Congress By: Nicole Lashomb*/TRT Editor-in-Chief

T

he Trump administration recently met with the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel in a designated hearing to defend its position on the transgender military ban.

And, it was a disaster.

“After stirring testimony from a panel of five out trans service members, two representatives from the administration then attempted to defend the ban—and ended up doing so by comparing being transgender to having a disease,” Think Progress reported (https://bit.ly/2XBLKR8).

James N. Stewart, from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and Vice Admiral Raquel Bono, Director of the Defense Health Agency were there to convince the subcommittee that there were health-related justifications for not allowing transgender people to serve. However, their Trump-style arguments were contradictory to each other and counterproductive. They spun out of control, to say the least.

“They claimed that the surgical procedures such a trans person would have experienced are comparable to other disqualifying surgeries, like heart surgery,” read the Think Progress report (https://bit.ly/2XBLKR8).

In their convoluted thought process, they compared a healthy, able and willing transgender service member that is qualified to serve to someone not qualified to serve and suffering from a life-debilitating disease.

The bottom line is, it was outright discrimination, just like the trans military ban has been from the very start—just like the wall that Mexico was going to pay for, according to Trump’s alternate reality.

When Trump doesn’t get what he wants, he attacks like a rabid dog until his demand

is spun enough to confuse the populace, and ultimately implodes. He is literally like a spoiled petulant child who throws tantrums time and time again until his “toy” becomes realized. The problem is that he continues to fail, just like he lost his battle for the border wall. He is motivated by money, greed, power and hate. The rules clearly don’t apply to him and he finds a

did not surrender, empathize or use any type of logic while presenting their arguments, not that any of that surprises me. As a matter of fact, the more they tried to defend the ban, the more they looked completely foolish. They continued to double down on lies, deceit and blatant discrimination, just like their boss.

Stewart repeatedly insisted that the pol-

“TRANSGENDER TRANSITION-RELATED HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $2.4 & $8.4 MILLION ANNUALLY,” READ A 2017 ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE RAINBOW TIMES. “HOWEVER, THAT EXPENDITURE PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE MASSIVE $84 MILLION SPENT IN 2014 ALONE ON ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION PRESCRIPTIONS.” way to manipulate federal law to find nearly every loophole so he can get his way. As a result of his occupancy in the White House, Congress and other legislators will be forced to scrutinize every part of the law and our Constitution to ensure that loopholes are closed and subsequent presidents do not have the ability to take down our nation and the very fabric of our collective society with them as we are experiencing today.

During the hearing, Stewart and Bono

icy is not a “‘ban,’ nor does it target ‘transgender’ people” even though trans people are the only ones the ban impacts.

Instead, he claimed the ban only impacts people who present with the condition of gender dysphoria, and was thus not discriminatory. I am grossly embarrassed for the lack of knowledge and pervasive ignorance present during this hearing. Gender dysphoria by definition applies specifically to transgender people. In other words, as long as trans people pretend to be who they

Faith, God & Family: Be one of the Creator’s prophets, be true to your creation By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist

I

FAITH

t’s not a burden anyone wants.

The Giver of Life designates persons, known or not, with a special kind of duty and responsibility. The task can be thankless because it may be met with silence and, sometimes, ridicule by the insecure, the threatened, and the ignorant.

Those chosen sometimes deserve the title of prophet; someone considered an inspired teacher, spiritual mentor, or a person who speaks about a universal, cosmological goodness. Prophets are set apart from others.

They can be religious and secular. Jesus (https://is.gd/iC1oeT), Muhammad (https://is.gd/fNrB7q), Martin Luther King Jr. (https://is.gd/JE7k8Z), were great prophets.

Pete Seeger (https://is.gd/3GvPtN), through song, poetry, and activism was a prophet.

Harvey Milk (https://is.gd/a2klFs) was an unapologetic activist for LGBTQ civil and human rights well before it had found a place in mainstream America. He, too, was a prophet.

Christel Highland (https://is.gd/IKqWbH), the daughter of Kansas Rep. Ron Highland (R), is a prophet. She spoke truth to power when her father co-sponsored anti-LGBTQ legislation. She took to social media to publicly denounce the father she loves unconditionally. Her father apologized and asked that his name be removed from the legislation.

There are three prophets at The Rainbow Times—Graysen M. Ocasio, Publisher of The Rainbow Times (TRT), Lorelei Erisis, columnist; and Mike Givens, Assistant Editor for TRT. All of whom have courageously written about and shared very personal, powerful stories that, for different yet similar reasons, plant seeds to nurture and comfort others.

I’ve read and observed Graysen’s public and courageous transformation as a trans man and ongoing activism (https://is.gd/WuSxR4), an extraordinary inspiration to others. Equally powerful is the sojourn of Lorelei (https://is.gd/Se86n4) writing about being a trans woman and issues confronting the trans-community in general. I’ve reflected on Mike’s (https://is.gd/TSHYNT) columns

sharing struggles about reconciling the past to be the man the Creator intended him to be.

Being a prophet is not about perfection.

Some would even argue Jesus wasn’t perfect since he did lose his temper with the apostles. This, however, gives prophets authenticity. It suggests there’s always room to grow and improve the world one day at a time. It gives prophets greater depth and complexity and helps us to relate to them.

They have a different perspective on the unfolding truths of the universe. I don’t believe, for example, anyone is changing the Hebrew Scriptures or the New Testament when it comes to same-gender marriage or transgender rights. A higher truth is revealed as humanity collectively grows and learns.

Look at history. At one time the Christian church believed the world was flat and men and women could turn into cats and conjure the devil. Slavery in America and serfdom in Eastern Europe was justified in the name of God. Today, no more. Did “popular culture” change the Giver of Life? Or did ...

See Prophets on Page 13

are not, they can serve—what hogwash.

“With the exception of Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS), who appeared sympathetic to allowing transgender people to serve, only Democratic members of the committee asked questions, and they all attempted to chip away at Stewart and Bono’s claims,” read the report. “Rep. Jackie Speier (DCA), who chairs the subcommittee, said she was ‘astonished’ by their arguments, and Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) noted that it costs three times as much to train a single pilot as it does to provide a year’s worth of transition-related medical services across the entire military.”

According to the Military Times and RAND Corp., “transgender transition-related health care costs are estimated to be between $2.4 and $8.4 million annually,” read a 2017 article published (https://bit.ly/2HdEOnn) in The Rainbow Times. “However, that expenditure pales in comparison to the massive $84 million spent in 2014 alone on erectile dysfunction

See Trans Military Ban On Page 16

Multiple Award Winning

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

Chris Gilmore Nicole Collins (Intern) Audrey Cole Ad & Layout Design Prizm PR Webmaster Jarred Johnson Columnists/Guest Lorelei Erisis Deja N. Greenlaw Paul P. Jesep Mike Givens Affiliations QSyndicate

The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The Rainbow Times, LLC. TRT is affiliated with the, 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 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

post Twitter anti-gay over resign to asked Commissioner Cape LGBTQIA vacation haven has an elected official that questions gay politicians ability to represent and work for all By: Chris Gilmore/TRT Reporter

IN THE LIMELIGHT

CAPE COD—A Barnstable County Commissioner’s recent post about gay politicians sparked indignation and condemnation from nearby politicians, even all the way to Beacon Hill, according to reports. As a result, a call for his resignation ensued immediately after the social media post.

“I’m calling for Commissioner [Ron] Beaty to resign, I’m that upset,” said state Rep. Timothy Whelan, R-Brewster, to CapeCod.com. “I don’t even know what else to say.”

Beaty’s Twitter post/poll asked people to weigh in on gay politicians’ ability to represent every constituent equally.

“Generally speaking, are gay politicians too self-absorbed and self-centered to adequately represent ALL of their constituents in a fair and equitable manner?” the Feb. 19 Tweet read.

The post, according to The Cape Cod Times, happened less than a week after a pair of openly gay state lawmakers, state Sen. Julian Cyr (D) and state Rep. Sarah Peake (D), were named to leadership positions.

Although reactions ensued, some considered not commenting on the post to avoid

bringing more attention to it. In the end, silence was not an option for most and a statement signed by The Cape & Islands Delegation of Massachusetts’ state senators and representatives, comprised of a group of eight individuals, was sent to the media: “Recognizing that Ronald Beaty engages in this boorish behavior to elicit reactions for his own amusement, we would prefer to simply ignore this latest example of his tone deaf rhetoric and have the press and social media do the same,” read the statement signed by Senator Vinny deMacedo, Rep. Timothy Whelan, Rep. William Crocker, Jr., Rep. David T. Vieira, Rep. Randy Hunt, and Rep. Dylan Fernandes.

“However, our silence could be interpreted to imply indifference and that would be a gross misinterpretation of how we feel about the situation.

“Instead, we defend our colleagues who were attacked and encourage Mr. Beaty to stop besmirching the reputation of everyone in county government, both elected and appointed, by resigning his office immediately. Enough is enough,” they stated.

Sen. Cyr commented on Beaty’s tweet too.

“I am disappointed to hear that Ron Beaty made such an uninformed statement regarding the value LGBTQ people bring to Cape Cod and our commonwealth," said Cyr to The Cape Cod Times. “It appears he

Ron Beaty (Right). All commissioners are elected at large on a partisan basis for four-year. Beaty made anti-LGBTQ comments via Twitter last month.

PHOTO: BARNSTABLECOUNTY.ORG

would prefer to spend his time as an elected official causing division and spreading disrespect.”

Beaty, who spent time in federal prison for threatening to kill President George H.W. Bush, Senator Edward Kennedy and Massachusetts State Senator Lois Pines, was elected to office in 2016. He has made it his own “style” to attack others via social media. In the past, as reported by Cape Cod Wave Magazine (https://bit.ly/2hQ2Had),

Beaty took to Twitter to “attack [Gov. Charlie] Baker, calling him a ‘Wimp,’ ‘Snowflake,’ and other names.”

According to The Hill (https://bit.ly/2H9DUs2), Beaty cited “President Trump’s social media practices to defend the tweet.”

In a statement sent to The Rainbow Times, Beaty stated he was not stepping ...

See Beaty On Page 23

4 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

41 retired officers call Trump Transgender ban an abuse of military judgment SAN FRANCISCO—More than three dozen retired flag officers released a statement (https://bit.ly/2XzivOP) last week calling the Trump administration’s use of “military judgment” to defend its transgender troop ban a “pretext [that] risks inflicting harms that go well beyond” the transgender service issue.

The military leaders, who range from rear admiral to four-star general, said they issued the statement “out of grave concern that attempts to defend the transgender military ban in court will undermine the integrity of United States military judgment” and “trust in the national security apparatus.” While the Pentagon has claimed its proposed ban rests on “military judgment,” it has produced no evidence demonstrating the need for a ban, and the service chiefs and other uniformed leaders have consistently expressed support for transgender service.

“We stand with the Service Chiefs of all five military branches who have testified that transgender-inclusive service—which has been policy for over 2.5 years—has succeeded, while discrimination and double standards harm combat effectiveness by wasting talent and compromising military integrity,” the statement read. “And we stand with our fellow Servicemembers currently putting their lives at risk for our security—who made the same commitment,

PHOTO: RICHARD CATABAY / UNSPLASH

Flag Officers (Admirals and Generals) Cite “Grave Concern” Over Damage to Military Integrity

and deserve the same treatment, as every American who has ever worn our nation’s uniform.”

The statement (https://bit.ly/2XzivOP), which was released by the Palm Center (https://bit.ly/2T9JMcc), comes the same week that five currently-serving transgender military members will testify (https://bit.ly/2GUqtNx) at a Congressional hearing, and as the Defense Department appears ready to reinstate a ban following a ruling by the Supreme Court that allows—but does not require—the military to do so.

Palm Center Director Aaron Belkin said, “The administration claims that its policy is based on ‘military judgment,’ but these retired generals and admirals have about 1,000 years of combined experience, and they are telling us that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ for transgender troops would harm military readiness and compromise the integrity of military judgment. Trump is trying to use the Pentagon to advance a political agenda, a dangerous abuse of executive power.”

The officers’ conclusions rest on a list of eight detailed findings, included in the statement, that they urge policymakers and the public to consider as they debate the fate of the 14,700 transgender Americans currently in uniform—and those who aspire to serve.

One of the signatories, Gen. Johnnie Wilson (https://bit.ly/2HcnqzC), is a retired four-star Army general whose service spanned from enlisted soldier to Company Commander in Vietnam to Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Com-

mand, where he oversaw 68,000 individuals in 350 locations worldwide. Inducted into the Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame, Gen. Wilson’s 39 years of service earned

... THESE RETIRED GENERALS & ADMIRALS HAVE ABOUT 1,000 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE, AND THEY ARE TELLING US THAT ‘DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL’ FOR TRANSGENDER TROOPS WOULD HARM MILITARY READINESS & COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF

MILITARY JUDGMENT. him numerous awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal, as well as a Meritorious Service Award from the NAACP.

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

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March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

State House briefing: TNLR brings LGBTQ sexual & domestic violence to the forefront By: Audrey Cole/TRT Reporter

BOSTON—A Massachusetts coalition of more than 60 organizations against sexual assault and violence, recently met with state lawmakers to brief them on key legislation and budget priorities for 2019, pulling LGBTQ+ and other marginalized survivor needs into the larger inclusive focus.

“In everything we do, Jane Doe works intentionally to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of survivors from every community,” said Maureen Gallagher, Policy Director, Jane Doe, Inc. “We understand that identity, race, immigration status, socioeconomic status, and many other factors contribute to how survivors are affected by sexual and domestic violence, and how service organizations engage with survivors.”

Sabrina Santiago, Co-Executive Director of The Network/La Red (TNLR) emphasized the impact that the legislative priorities will have on the LGBTQ community, especially bisexual and transgender members that experience higher abuse at alarming rates.

“These bills will not only support the needs of cisgender heterosexual survivors, but those from LGBQ/T communities as well,” she said. “LGBQ/T people experience partner abuse at a rate equal to or higher than straight cisgender communities—from 25-33 percent of relationships.

For bisexual women that rate is 2.6 times higher and studies show that transgender

individuals experience abuse at a rate between 31-50 percent.”

According to Gallagher, this year’s priorities reflect increased emphasis on prevention and ongoing support of survivors.

“Policies like the Healthy Relationships Grant Program, the Act Relative to Healthy Youth, and the Act Relative to Sexual Violence on Higher Education Campuses are critical to helping young people and institutions better understand and identify the root causes and precursors to gender-based violence, and to preventing future instances of sexual and domestic violence,” she explained.

In addition, funding remains a critical component.

Jane Doe has identified the need for a “significant increase in funding for the Healthy Relationships Grant Program, along with increased funding for direct services, and legislation that will address issues of sexual and domestic violence on college campuses, empower our immigrant communities, and help provide economic justice for survivors,” Gallagher said.

Although there are similarities between straight cisgender and LGBTQ+ abuse, there are also distinct differences as Santiago cited with specific examples. “ … Unique barriers that exist for LGBQ/T survivors results from the intersection of abuse and the homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia we face,” explained Santiago. “For instance, a gay male abuser might tell his newly out part-

PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM/TNLRTNLR

ner, ‘this is just how things are in gay relationships.’ And if that survivor was raised on stereotypes of gay people as violent and unhealthy, he might believe that. This is only reinforced when that survivor, say, goes to his college campus police who laugh at him and refuse to help him. Or, the abuser of a transgender individual might tell their partner, ‘If you leave, I’ll report you for child abuse, and watch how quickly your kids get taken away.’ Given the his-

no screening process. And many LGBQ/T survivors, especially those who are transgender, are still refused services outright, or, are faced with services that are not culturally competent. Police and courts are often hostile and are not a viable option for most members of our communities.”

Jane Doe has committed itself to uplift marginalized struggles within the broader community.

“We are constantly learning from our

“MORE INCLUSIVE CURRICULA NOT ONLY EDUCATE LGBQ/T YOUTH ABOUT THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIPS BUT ALSO REACH STRAIGHT AND CISGENDER YOUTH CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE LGBQ/T PEOPLE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS ARE NORMALIZED.” —SAbrinA SAntiAgo, ExEc. Dir., tnLr tory of transgender parents losing custody and visitation of their children solely based on their gender identity, that is a risk most parents won’t take.”

The LGBTQ+ community also tends to have less familial and public service support, which compounds receiving the help they need, according to Santiago.

“All batterers try to isolate their partners, but if the partner was cut off by family upon coming out, then our culture has already done that work for the abuser,” Santiago said. “A lesbian abuser can easily follow her partner into a shelter by presenting herself as a victim, if that program has

members, who serve such a diverse community of survivors, and are working to amplify culturally appropriate best practices,” Gallagher noted.

Santiago also addressed the impact of funding that the legislative priorities have on LGBTQ+ youth.

“A $1,000,000 increase in prevention funds and the Healthy Youth Act will impact programs for young people, allowing youth to learn more at a younger age about healthy/consensual relationships,” she said.

See Domestic Violence On Page 21

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

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March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

Wanda Sykes, is as puzzled as ever in this candid Q&A Comedian talks walkouts, Ellen’s interview with Kevin Hart, the role her wife plays in her career By: Chris Azzopardi/Special to TRT

B

ecause according to Trump’s America only white het men can exist, now would be a good time to rein-troduce Wanda Sykes. She is a black person and a woman and a lesbian.

And if you go to one of her Oh Well stand-up shows this year, or catch the taping of one on Netflix tentatively scheduled to stream later this year, expect a poking and probing of things affecting Americans who identity as any of those under-attack minorities. Some women who are still supporting Trump for some reason may have benefited from that very basic Wanda Sykes 101 bio above before seeing the actress-comedian-writer in New Jersey in September 2018 and walking out and then demanding a refund from the Count Basie Center for the Arts.

These are the same people who loved the 54-year-old comedian in Monster-in-Law and Evan Al-mighty and as the voice of an animated skunk in Over the Hedge. And the same people who then wondered what the problem was when Roseanne tweeted a racist tweet and why Sykes, who wrote for the Roseanne revival, jumped ship.

Not that the entertainer and mom-totwins didn’t have a loaded sched, but with recurring TV roles on Broad City and Black-ish (for which she was Emmy-nominated), and several new movies out this year, Sykes has somehow found the time and energy to rattle the privileged cages of Trump supporters.

Q: Are you unfazed by walkouts at this point in your career?

A: It cracks me up, really. Like, what were you expecting? What are the crazy ladies’ names? Diamond and whatever? The two African-American women. I forget their names. Diamond and Salt? Silk? (Editor’s note: It’s Diamond and Silk, vloggers known for supporting Donald Trump.) It’s like, no, that’s not me.

Q: Or Kanye West.

A: Right, right, right.

Q: When the fodder is ripe for comedy is it actually harder to write the joke?

A: Yeah, it’s hard to top as far as what he does, because it’s just so ridiculous. Like when he does some-thing ridiculous, it’s hard to write something where you would go, “That’s like blah blah blah,” because it’s already ridiculous. It’s hard to do a metaphor. So, really, you just have to talk about it as far as the level that it’s gotten to, and I don’t understand why we’re still putting up with it. Why aren’t we out in the streets, and you know, ready to drag him out of there, out of the White House? Because remember they got upset with Barack Obama when he wore a tan suit? I mean, this is ridiculous, the level that they’re going to.

Q: Do you remember your first walkout and what that was like?

Wanda Sykes

A: I got walkouts back under the George W. Bush administration. There were some walkouts back then. So, I’ve gotten used to it.

Q: I think I read that during one of your first shows in the late ’80s, the audience booed you.

A: That was the second one. The first one I did went great. I almost won the contest; I did really well. So that’s why I stayed with comedy. And then the second time, it didn’t go well. I just bombed (laughs). I

PHOTO: DEREK WOOD

think because I was just so confident from the first time that I maybe (got) a little too cocky. Actually, I think it was the first time being on stage and it went great, and then I started going to comedy clubs and I saw how it could actually go really poorly and just go off the rails. I watched comics bomb and then when I went back on stage again I was just really nervous because I realized they don’t have to laugh; they can actually sit here and boo. So, I think that’s what happened the next time I did the competition.

Q: What is one thing you want people to take away from Oh Well?

A: I hope they take away that I haven’t lost hope. That I still believe that people are good and that we’ll get through this, so I hope they walk away with that. Like, I’m not saying, “Hey, it’s the end of the world.”

Q: Where are you deriving that hope from?

A: Young people. They give me hope. The Parkland kids, they do, they give me hope.

See Wanda Sykes On Page 10

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

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Wanda Sykes From Page 8 Q: Through your involvement with the Ruth Ellis Center for homeless and atrisk LGBTQ youth in Detroit, you’ve met a lot of young people. What do young LGBTQ people want to know about Wanda Sykes?

A: A lot of it is career-wise, ’cause a lot of them, man, they’re so talented, they’re very creative, a lot of the kids from the center.

So a lot of them want to know how I got started and any advice career-wise, and then of course how hard was it coming out and do I think that it had an effect on my career and also advice on dealing with family members as far as having problems dealing with coming out. (Laughs) Sometimes it’s just, “Hey, what do you like to do for fun? When you get stumped creatively, what do you do to get out of it?”

Q: What do you do to get out of it?

A: You know what, I like jigsaw puzzles.

(Laughs) I know I sound like an old lady!

But every now and then if I gotta break it up and nothing is coming to me and I get stuck in a rut, I like to break out a jigsaw puzzle and maybe put some music on, something I don’t normally listen to. You just need a shift. As soon as you make a shift, it opens everything back up for you.

Q: What’s the last jigsaw puzzle you completed?

A: It was a cover from the New Yorker and it was a dog sitting on porch steps.

Q: So you’re a dog puzzle person?

A: (Laughs) Nah, it’s not a lot of abstract stuff I do. I like a piece of art, or you know, it’s usually still life.

Q: Do you do the 5,000-piece puzzles or are you more of a 300-piece puzzle person?

A: Usually it’s more like 2,500. Five-thousand, that’s a project for over the summer.

Q: Who do you test your material out on?

A: Pretty much the audience. My wife can see when something happens, and if I write it down or she sees something in my phone she’s like, “Oh boy, that’s a joke for you now.” Or something happens and she’ll say, “Oh, you should write that down! That was funny!”

Q: How were you writing your material before cell phones?

A: I always had a notebook and always wrote things down in my notebook. I have boxes and boxes of notebooks where I used to write my stuff down. Now it goes in the phone, but I still like to write by hand.

Q: Will your Netflix show be out this year?

A: I’m shooting it in February, so it’ll probably be out late spring.

Q: Will that be the Oh Well show? Will it be as anti-Trump as the show you’re currently touring now?

A: (Laughs) I would say the first 15 minutes or so – 20 minutes – is that. But then I

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

move on! The tour that I’m doing now, that will be the special I’m working on.

QPuzzle: Gay things that straight athletes do

Q: The Guardian called it a “tough antiTrump tirade.” Is it scary to talk about Trump because of what happened to Kathy Griffin?

A: No, I think we see that Kathy was right.

I think she was just a little ahead of us as far as where this was going.

Q: Right as far as her lambasting of the president?

A: Right.

Q: Do you feel you have a greater responsibility now to speak on political and social issues?

A: I talk about what interests me and what I find funny and what I like to talk about. I watch politics, I follow what’s happening in the world. I like to talk about social issues and I like to talk about my family and personal issues. To me, I’m not going out of the way to say, “Oh, I need 10 minutes on Trump, I need something on gun control.” That’s not how I write, it’s not planned. It’s what happened. And that’s the kind of comedy I like. There’s room for all types of comedy; there’s physical humor and there’s some comics who are not political at all and that’s fine. But for me, if I walked out onto a stage and didn’t say anything about this craziness that’s happening, it’d be like the elephant in the room. I think when I go on stage people are waiting for it. Like, “Oh, OK, when is she going to get there?”

Q: It’s affecting everything you stand for, so how could you not?

A: For me, I believe that’s the job for an artist. But then again, there are all types of artists and comics out there.

Q: Ellen’s recent interview with Kevin Hart upset many people in the LGBTQ community. She was criticized for making Kevin out to be the victim, while muting the voice of her own community.

Don Lemon was one of her critics.

Where do you stand on how that interview went?

A: I looked at it as two comedians who are friends and she was trying to help out her friend. Now, I agree with Don Lemon that there is a huge issue in the African-American community concerning homosexuality and the LGBTQ community. So, I think for me, you’d have to go a little deeper with discussing that. To me, to say, “Hey, I already apologized and I didn’t know about it until it came out this time around” – so, it’s like, well, we didn’t know about that and now we do, so where’s the apology? Or at least have some type of awareness as far as how your words really are affecting a lot of kids in our community. So, I always gotta come on the side of kids and our community.

Q: People, including actress-writer Lena Waithe, have been expressing a desire to see you as Oscar host. Would you be interested?

See Wanda Sykes on Page 23

Across 1 "Alone ___ Drive-in Movie" (Grease) 4 Canning tomatoes 9 Visit Barneys, e.g.

13 Ballet supporters?

15 Pass, as a law 16 Site of desirable stones 17 Prot. denomination 18 ___ music (do Britten's job) 19 Book after Joel 20 One who doubts there's a Divine Miss M? 22 Julia's pal in My Best Friend's Wedding 24 Shoulder warmers 25 Rubs the right way 27 Doesn't dine at the Rubicon, e.g.

29 Say "Bottoms up!"

33 Begin to wake up 36 Holds title to 37 When actors should come 38 Navel fetish accessory?

39 Knights' attendants 41 Pronoun for King James 42 Shaft in a straight simile 44 "Honky ___ Woman" 45 Pianist Dame Myra 46 Consider carefully 47 Matter 49 George Cukor's Dinner at ___ 51 Out in the open 55 Street in San Francisco 58 LGBT History Month, in the UK 60 Nevada neighbor 61 Drag queen Mann 63 Some Feds

64 Brought forth fruit 65 Kind of dish 66 Keep an eye on 67 Hit boxers 68 Stand next to Eakins 69 "Vox populi, vox ___"

Down 1 Son of Uranus 2 Hard to swallow, perhaps 3 Allstate rival 4 Where drivers get off 5 "That's ___ haven't heard" 6 Before the game they put on...

7 ___ UP 8 Seattle's WNBA team 9 During the game they exchange...

10 Chauffeur's order 11 Lysol target 12 Pain in the derriere 14 After the game they...

21 P. Hearst's kidnappers 23 Engaged in 26 Still waiting to go out 28 Cloth sample 30 BenGay target 31 Takes to court 32 Patty Sheehan's supporters 33 Side dish with fish 34 Rubber on a rim 35 Letters over Mary's son 40 Abscond after posting a surety 43 Spin like a top

48 Contemptible one 50 Pop one's cork 52 Unable to walk like a man 53 Cara of Fame 54 "She Bop" singer Lauper 55 Young bears 56 Lying on 57 Gilbert of The Talk 59 Verb of Verlaine 62 R. Mapplethorpe supporter

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TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 11

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

Congressman Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA),

PHOTOS: OFFICIAL PHOTOS FROM THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGNS

Kennedy, Harris, Scott re-introduce Do No Harm Act to halt discrimination By: Audrey Cole/TRT Reporter

protect the rights of religious minorities.

WASHINGTON—In an attempt to ensure that others are not discriminated against as a guise protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), two Congressmen and one Senator have re-introduced the Do No Harm Act to preserve the rights of marginalized groups often persecuted.

“The Do No Harm Act (https://bit.ly/2C0kmmK) would clarify that no one can seek religious exemption from laws guaranteeing fundamental civil and legal rights,” read a recent media release on the act. “Originally introduced in response to the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores (https://bit.ly/2ozQPcS) decision that made it possible for corporations to deny health care to female employees, the legislation would also overturn the Trump Administration’s recent waiver allowing child welfare agencies in South Carolina to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals and different religions.”

Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-04), Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, and Senator Kamala D. Harris (CA) are the trio that reintroduced legislation to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The reintroduction was widely supported by civil rights, social justice and faith communities.

“We cannot be equal or free if our government grants select Americans a license to discriminate against their neighbors under the guise of religious freedom,” said Congressman Kennedy. “By passing the Do No Harm Act, we can reestablish the sacred balance between religious liberty and the personal liberties of those who have too often had their civil rights bargained away.

I’m proud to stand with Congressman Scott, Senator Harris, and civil rights activists from around the country as we continue on our march towards a more perfect union.”

In 1993, Congress passed the RFRA to

Manipulation from the right?

“When the Religious Freedom Restoration Act became law, it wasn’t expected that it would be used to allow religiously motivated discrimination against other Americans,” said Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. “Sadly, the religious right twisted this law to create a new system of special rights for the religious to disregard important laws … Importantly, the Do No Harm Act would amend RFRA, clarifying that the original legislation cannot counteract civil rights laws, employment laws, protections against child abuse or access to health care.”

Specifically, the Do No Harm Act would limit the use of RFRA in cases involving discrimination, child labor and abuse, wages and collective bargaining, access to health care, public accommodations, and social services provided through government contract.

“The Do No Harm Act would amend RFRA to clarify that no one can cite religious belief as grounds to undermine Civil Rights Act protections, limit access to health care, and refuse service to minority populations,” said Chairman Bobby Scott, Committee on Education and Labor. “This bill would restore the original intent of RFRA, and ensure that religious freedom is only used as a shield to protect individuals from discrimination, and not a sword to cut down the rights of others.”

Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris also a zeroed in on the First Amendment and cited the LGBTQ community specifically.

“The freedom to worship is one of our nation’s most fundamental rights,” Senator Harris said. “That First Amendment guarantee should never be used to undermine other Americans’ civil rights or subject them to discrimination on the basis of race,

See Do Not Harm Act On Page 15

12 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com PHOTO: DAVID YERBY

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

Ryan Cassata

Famed trans sensation takes us to “Jupiter,” conquers addiction, offers support Artist surprises fans with remake & new song verse; pays homage to those lost By: Chris Gilmore/TRT Reporter

LOS ANGELES—For the love of his fans, he wrote. To share his life, he sang and composed. Ryan Cassata, a versatile artist, vlogger, writer and producer found solace and salvation in music and community. His single “Jupiter”, written at 18, was his key to becoming sober later in life. Like many in the LGBTQ community, the young star battled with alcohol and drug dependence early on.

Addiction has no face, no color, no gender, no sexual orientation, no ethnicity, no credo. For some communities, addiction hits them at higher rates. Members of the LGBTQ community are disproportionately affected by drug and alcohol dependence, according to studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://is.gd/bENqW5) among others.

“I wrote ‘Jupiter’, originally titled ‘Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long’ when I was in college,” Cassata said to The Rainbow Times. “I wrote it about my teenage years.

I spent a lot of them struggling with addiction and watching a lot of my friends do the same. The song is about taking things too far, not being able to communicate effectively, and feeling on the edge, not knowing if you’ll live or die. It is about the experience of ‘partying’ being fun initially, but then turning into something really frightening.”

Though most known for his music, Cassata is a humanitarian at heart. He uses his compositions to raise awareness for vulnerable people often forgotten as depicted in “Alcatraz”, a music video pertaining to mental health issues. He also openly channels his own struggles through song and hopes to help others through their darkness too.

“I want people to feel the good-vibe feelings of the music while listening, but when they dive into the meaning of the lyrics [in Jupiter] I want them to better understand those who struggle with addiction,” the music sensation said.

According to a report in Psychology Today (https://bit.ly/2S7RfDN), “Stigma can also directly affect health by encouraging ostracized individuals to avoid social encounters, shy away from healthcare professionals, reach for addictive substances to quell their anxiety and aloneness, or engage in (other) risk-taking behaviors …”.

Cassata’s public story also aligns with that narrative.

“I always felt a little bit like a misfit growing up and I think experiencing gender dysphoria, bullying at school, and having so many close friends and family dying really impacted me in a negative way,” he said. “I needed to escape and naturally I turned to drugs and alcohol to do that.”

The need to numb the pain caused by anti-LGBTQ sentiment, public discrimination, trauma from hate crimes and violence and a need for self-acceptance are just some of the culprits the CDC reported as being a catalyst for the disproportionate substance abuse in the LGBTQ community.

“Being LGBTQ does not cause substance abuse; ‘minority stress’ does,” Psychology Today reported (https://is.gd/TVpaGd). “…

Minority stress occurs when a person experiences hardship because of a socially stigmatized identity like LGBT. Raised in a culture that is not affirming, being ‘gender queer’ does not promote self-esteem.

Bullied in school, fired from jobs due to discrimination, and attacked by religious ...

See Cassata-Jupiter On Page 23

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 13

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

Prophets From Page 2 humanity learn and grow embracing a higher and greater truth?

This is the role of a prophet–to push society and individuals with civility and respect to see life and all Creation in a broader, expansive way.

I want to invite readers to ask, “Am I a prophet? Can I be a prophet?” The LGBTQ community needs persons of spiritual and intellectual integrity to be prophets. We all have the potential to set a positive example for others.

It can, however, cause loss of friends and family. Relationships in the workplace can become strained. Yet it’s an opportunity to be genuine, authentic, compassionate, and show holy kindness on earth. Speak and live your truth so others can see and hear it.

As Harvey Milk (https://is.gd/9gCsqz) said, “I know you can't live on hope alone; but without hope, life is not worth living.

So you, and you and you: you got to give them hope; you got to give them hope.”

Hope also brings a kind word and the affirmation of another’s personhood. *Paul is a personal chaplain, seminary trained priest, and lawyer in greater Albany, NY. He’s also author of “Lost Sense of Self & the Ethics Crisis (https://is.gd/YGeAGE).”

PHOTO: SHARON MCCUTCHEON/UNSPLASH

PRIDE CELEBRATIONS 2019 Northampton Pride; May 4; https://bit.ly/21ctXLB Boston Pride; June 8; https://bit.ly/1gwKt0t Pride Portland; June 15; https://bit.ly/2rUJo0a RI Pride; June 15; https://bit.ly/2JIg30S North Shore Pride; June 22; https://bit.ly/2rb8053 Worcester Pride; Sept. 7; https://bit.ly/2tMMlln Pride Vermont; Sept. 8; https://bit.ly/2SJrj0J

14 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

LGBT Elders Conference takes center stage at SSU

LGBTQ SENIORS

By: Audrey Cole/TRTReporter

SALEM, Mass.—The eighth annual _LGBT Elders in an Ever Changing World_ conference, a day-long event focusing on issues of older persons and caregivers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, is set to take place at Salem State University on March 15, according to event organizers.

“This conference is New England’s leading opportunity for anyone to begin, or continue, their learning about LGBT aging and caregiving,” said Lisa Krinsky, Director of The Fenway Institute’s LGBT Aging Project. “LGBT older adults and caregivers are a fast growing population and this conference addresses the intersection of aging and LGBT identities and lives. Elder services needs to be inclusive of LGBT older adults and the LGBT community needs to be inclusive of our elders.”

The public is encouraged to attend.

“Anyone and everyone who is interested in LGBT aging and caregiving should attend,” said Krinsky. “We see a great variety among participants—some are new to the topic and many return year after year for more advanced learning and sharing. Participants are frequently elder service professionals, social workers, care managers, nurses, academics, students, policy leaders, and of course LGBT older adults and caregivers themselves.”

Internationally acclaimed scholar, Professor Karen Fredriksen Goldsen, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s conference.

Goldsen also served as the Principal Investigator of Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender

Study, the country’s largest longitudinal study of LGBT older adults, boasting 2,500 participants.

“Our keynote speaker, Professor Karen Fredriksen Goldsen, PhD will address the challenges facing many LGBT older adults and caregivers—concerns about access to adequate health care, housing, finances, aging alone and social engagement, as well as the tremendous resilience that many LGBT people have used throughout their lives and continue to rely on as they grow older,” Krinsky said.

LGBT aging adults face a unique set of challenges riddled in a lifetime of discrimination, according to Krinsky. With that set of trials, caretakers need to understand the population they are serving.

“No matter how skilled elder care providers are, it’s important that they understand that many LGBT older adults have spent a lifetime experiencing discrimination at work, in their families of origin, faith communities, and health care and so they anticipate similar discrimination from elder care providers,” said Krinsky. “Elder service providers benefit greatly from enhancing their well-established skills by learning how to be LGBT inclusive and welcoming and conveying those messages to those for whom they care.”

More than a dozen workshops will be offered this year.

“With 14 different workshops, we offer a broad range of topics including LGBT Aging 101, LGBT friendly senior housing, HIV and Aging, LGBT public policy on the state and national level, End of Life care and the role of Allies for the LGBT aging community, just to name a few,” Krinsky noted.

See LGBT Elders on page 15

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 15

LGBT Elders From page 14 Mary Crowe, Director of Professional and Community Education for Care Dimensions explained the significance of understanding issues relating to the LGBTQ community, advanced illness and end of life.

Do Not Harm Act From Page11

“SADLY, THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT TWISTED THIS LAW TO CREATE A NEW SYSTEM OF SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR THE RELIGIOUS TO DISREGARD

IMPORTANT LAWS …” have prevented. Cases like this one aren’t rare—and they’ll only worsen if RFRA isn’t corrected.”

Although RFRA was established to reinforce the right of religious minorities to practice their religion without persecution, some activists have contorted its intent to suit their anti-equality agenda, some argue. “… Some anti-equality activists have distorted and manipulated the legislation to try and justify discrimination against others,” said Human Rights Campaign Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “The Do No Harm Act will preserve the core protections of RFRA while clarifying it cannot be used to violate essential non-discrimination protections, including for the LGBTQ community.”

Speckhardt stressed the urgency to pass the Do No Harm Act now.

“The longer we wait to restore the original purpose of RFRA, the longer that religious freedom and equality suffer,” he said. “Introducing the Do No Harm Act within the first few months of the new session of Congress is an important way for members of Congress to show that they not only care about religious freedom and opposing discrimination, but that it is a top priority.”

And, at the core, it boils down to a basic concept.

“With the passage of the Do No Harm Act, RFRA would finally do what it was intended to do—protect the religious freedom of all Americans while also protecting our civil rights and liberties,” Speckhardt added.

2.4 Million Monthly Visitors

tive care services in Massachusetts and as such, the organization ensures that advanced-illness services and programs are readily available to the LGBTQ community.

“Attendees to this conference will benefit from dozens of workshops on topics critical to practice, policy and programming focusing on the needs and strengths of LGBTQ elders,” said Crowe.

International knowledge sharing and varying expertise from around the globe enriches this year’s program to create a more inclusive world for the aging LGBT population.

“We are always so excited to connect with our colleagues from around the country and around the world to share our collective efforts to promote inclusion and community for LGBT older adults and caregivers,” Krinsky added. “Our colleagues from Canada, Scotland and India hail from countries with significantly different health care and social support systems and that adds an important layer to our discussions about the commonalities that LGBT older adults many share across the globe.”

Paul Lanzikos, Executive Director of Danvers-based North Shore Elder Services shared his thoughts with The Rainbow Times via a media release.

“The Elder LGBT Conference is a unique event bringing together human service workers, as well as LGBT elders themselves, with academic experts who have researched the issues of LGBT older adults and caregivers,” explained Lanzikos. “Our participation is a direct result of our work over the past years with The LGBT Aging Project in Boston involving outreach and programming for LGBT seniors and caregivers on the North Shore and throughout the metropolitan Boston area.”

The LGBT Elders in an Ever Changing World Conference takes place at Salem State University’s Marsh Conference Center located at 71 Loring Avenue in Salem, Mass. on March 15. The conference is sponsored by The LGBT Aging Project, North Shore Elder Services, Salem State University’s School of Social Work, Care Dimensions, and AARP Massachusetts.

“We are thrilled to partner with North Shore Elder Services, Salem State University, Care Dimensions, and AARP Massachusetts to present such a comprehensive view of so many aspects of growing older in the LGBT community,” said Krinsky.

To attend this conference, register online at this site: www.lgbteldersconference.org (https://bit.ly/2VyUvcU). For more information contact 978-406-4599 or e-mail lgbtelders2019@gmail.com.

PHOTO: AUTUMN MOTT RODEHEAVER

LGBTQ+ Family Camping Weekend, Ages 3-12 Venture Out Project’s (VOP) LGBTQ+ Family Campout (https://bit.ly/2Twa6wl) is a great way to meet other families like yours, make friends, share stories, and have some good old fashioned fun!

VOP defines an LGBTQ Family as a family where any member of the family (adult or child) identifies as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, pansexual, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, or more. This weekend is for any and all members of your family—kids, parents, grandparents, care-givers.

This will be a weekend of fun, swimming, hiking, endless play, grilling, connecting to other families, sleeping under the stars, s'mores, and so much more!

Location: Western Massachusetts (Address given upon registration) Start Date: June 28, 2018 Meeting Time: 5 p.m.

End Date: June 30, 2018 End Time: 12 p.m.

Closest Airport: Bradley International Airport Cost: $75 adult/per person; $300/family scholarships available Includes: Group campsite, stoves, food, games, toys, additional child-centered staff Doesn't Include: Transportation, tents, personal camping gear For more information visit Venture Out Project’s website: https://bit.ly/2Twa6wl. http://bit.do/hrcspan

http://bit.do/hrcspan

gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. I’m proud to reintroduce the Do No Harm Act in the Senate to more comprehensively protect the basic rights of every American.”

Congress passed the RFRA in response to a Supreme Court case undermining the rights of religious minorities. But in recent years, the misapplication of RFRA has been used to deny health care coverage for employees, claim exemptions to civil rights law, and complicate justice in child labor and abuse cases.

“In the era of the Trump administration, too many people across the country are suffering the consequences of discrimination in the name of religious freedom,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “We need to pass the Do No Harm Act now more than ever to protect people like our client Aimee Maddonna, who was turned away by a foster care agency for being the ‘wrong’ religion.”

Since Trump’s inauguration, civil rights and liberty for the LGBTQ community and any other marginalized group have been under attack at unprecedented rates.

“RFRA should be a shield for religious freedom—not a sword for discrimination,” said Ian Thompson, senior legislative representative at the ACLU. “But this administration has spent two years weaponizing religious liberty in its hostility against marginalized communities … It is now more important than ever for Congress to defend the American people from these attacks. The Do No Harm Act represents a meaningful step toward protecting individuals from discrimination, denial of health care, and other harms.”

Members of the LGBTQ community and the vast subcultures within it are common targets of RFRA, making the passage of it a critical step to living safely in the US. “In 2016, a federal judge ruled in favor of a Detroit, MI funeral home who fired a transgender employee specifically because of her gender identity,” Speckhardt said. “The decision relied on this manipulation of RFRA, stating that the legislation could be used as a defense in a sex discrimination claim under Title VIII. This is a warped interpretation of religious freedom, and one that the Do No Harm Act would

“We feel it is essential that there is increased awareness, sensitivity and understanding around the unique needs of LGBTQ individuals and families who have an advanced illness or are at end of life,” she said.

According to Crowe, Care Dimensions is the largest provider of hospice and pallia-

http://bit.do/hrcspan

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

http://bit.do/hrcspan

Get your ad seen! Advertise online at:

TheRainbowTimesMass.com

16 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

prescriptions.”

“Many of the members pointed out that every major medical organization has rejected the ban (https://bit.ly/2XDpne4), leaving Bono to claim that the military has its own data to justify it,” according to Think Progress. “But she could not in any way explain how they determined, for example, that starting hormone replacement therapy would result in 12 months of nondeployability, insisting the science was still shifting.”

As time has proven over and over again, this ban is rooted in discrimination, nothing more. Unless Trump gets his way, I fully expect the assault on our freedom fighting trans Americans to continue so long as he

has people in his corner willing to do his dirty work. I also fully expect the rest of us will not allow that to continue, just as our members of Congress called the administration out on it. Tides are shifting and 2020 is coming.

“As today’s testimony made clear, there is no question that this is a discriminatory ban on transgender people who are willing and able to serve their country,” said National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) legal director Shannon Minter in a statement. NCLR is litigating two of the four cases across the country challenging the ban in court.

Currently, 15,500 trans members (https://bit.ly/2EAVGld) are serving in ...

PHOTO: MIKE PETRUCCI/UNSPLASH

Trans Military Ban From Page 2

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

See Trans Military Ban On Page 21

6 reasons your next vacay should be a cross-country Amtrak trip By: Mikey Rox*/Special to TRT

I

Northey Street House Bed & Breakfast Inn Est. 2002

30 Northey St, Salem, MA • (978) 397-1582 TRAVEL BACK INN TIME AND STAY IN THE NORTHEY STREET HOUSE BED AND BREAKFAST INN SALEM MA. AN 1809 FEDERAL HOME BUILT FOR A FINE CABINET MAKER WHERE HIS DAUGHTER AND SEA CAPTAIN SON-IN-LAW ALSO LIVED. GIVE THE GIFT OF

ast!

reakf

yb Heart

HISTORY. DISCOVER AN UNFORGETTABLE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE.

AMENITIES • Consistently Rated 5-stars on TripAdvisor.com • Walk to waterfront, attractions, restaurants, train.

• Private baths, parking, AC, deck, garden, cable TV/DVD/VCR, hairdryers • Year-Round Packages

Commuter Rail Newburyport / Rockport line.

Bus #459 from Logan Terminal C

THE FRIVOLIST

f you haven’t experienced America the Beautiful by rail yet, hop on an Amtrak ASAP for an eye-opening experience that could have you replacing planes as your preferred mode of travel indefinitely. Here are six reasons to book right now.

1. It’s way cheaper than you think I booked my first cross-country Amtrak trip last fall after reading an article about how travel expert and blogger Derek Low designed a trip of his own, originating in San Francisco and ending in New York City, for around $200 ( https://bit.ly/2IPoESr). Impossible, I thought, so I reached out to ask if he could help me score a similar deal. He obliged, and for a $49 consulting fee he returned a reverse itinerary (New York to San Francisco) for just over $400. My trip wasn’t as cheap as Low’s because he traveled straight through on his ride and I was making a few stopovers in cities I wanted to explore (Chicago, Denver and Salt Lake) for a day or two, but it was still mind-bogglingly inexpensive. Low’s trip totaled 71 consecutive hours on the train while my on-and-off experience lasted an amazing eight days.

2. The whole experience is relaxing from start to finish Amtrak’s sightseeing routes all are aboard the national rail carrier’s Superliners, which consist of bi-level passenger cars plus dining, lounges and sleeping cars.

I slept in my coach seat during the overnights I was on the train, but private roomettes are available. Just don’t expect the same low-cost deal I’m describing if you’re booking the latter. A sleeper car will easily put your trip over a grand, sometimes much more. Coach is quiet and perfectly comfortable for the budget traveler.

No matter where you sleep, however, your trip will be relaxing from start to finish— because all you need to do is kick back and

enjoy the ride.

The biggest advantage to rail travel is that there are no long security lines, TSA bag screenings, or costly bag fees like you have at the airport, so you’re not stressed out before your vacation even begins.

After you’re settled in your permanent seat, claim a spot in the Sightseer Lounge, which features floor-to-ceiling windows so you can watch your trip unfold right before your eyes. I spent every waking hour in this car drinking wine, making friends, and watching the most dramatic scenery glide by, complete with mountain views and wildlife sightings, including elk, bald eagles, moose, coyote, and more.

3. BYO food and drink to save even more money The lack of pre-travel hassle is a major pro when traveling by rail but equally appreciated is Amtrak’s BYO food and drink policy. I packed snacks and wine for days, which saved me a bundle on refreshments.

I didn’t have enough room in my bags to cover the full trip (and I didn’t want to lug around that much weight either), but I got through at least two days without a spending a dime, money that adds up if you’re buying food and booze on the train from the jump. It’s also an opportunity to eat healthy-ish in the beginning, because once your home-packed provisions run out, your good-for-you snack options are extremely limited in the café car. Seated meals, on the other hand, are sufficiently healthy if you choose the healthy menu items. If you’re city hopping on your trip, restock your private stash while you’re off train and venture on full up.

4. You’ll see parts of the country you can’t see any other way Cars, planes, boats, and other modes of transportation can get you places, but they can’t access some of the most remote crevices of our beautiful country, like the hills and valleys of the Rocky and Sierra Nevada mountains. East Coast and

See Amtrak On Page 21

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 17

18 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

The Royals’ Gender Fluid Approach to Raising Their Child

NEWS BRIEFS

https://bit.ly/2GWJw9U Recent reports confirm that British royals, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will be rejecting gender stereotypes and embracing fluidity, when it comes to raising their child.

The Duchess and Duke of Sussex have been known for their progressive views and Vanity Fair reported that the Duchess has told one friend about their decision to raise their child “without gender-stereotyping, which means the nursery might not be filled with toy trains and cars if it is a boy. The Sussexes have already planned a gender-neutral nursery and opted for whites and grays over conventional blue and pink color ways, and this seems to be in line with Meghan’s ideas about how to raise children.”

They aren’t the only millennial parents using this child-rearing approach either. In the U.S. more and more such as Angelina Jolie, Paloma Faith, and Kate Hudson have all argued for raising their children without binary expectations regarding gender roles in interviews.

didate Joe Biden did not live up to his expectations and actions recently when he gave accolades to current homophobe Vice-President Mike Pence.

According to the Advocate, Biden made the remark while appearing with former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at Hagel’s Forum for Global Leadership at the University of Nebraska’s Omaha campus.

Enter Wall Street Journal reporter Reid J. Epstein, who tweeted about Biden’s comment and soon after social media erupted into chaos with many posts making reference to Pence’s anti-LGBTQ stance and even mentions of his endorsement of conversion therapy, something he denies (https://bit.ly/2NCOf0Q) Actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, Sex and the City, immediately denounced Biden’s comments via a Twitter post too. “.@JoeBiden you’ve just called America’s most anti-LGBT elected leader “a decent guy. Please consider how this falls on the ears of our community. @DrBiden” Biden replied to her via tweet too: “You’re right, Cynthia. I was making a point in a foreign policy context that under normal circumstances a Vice President wouldn’t be given a silent reaction on the world stage. But there is nothing decent about being anti-LGBTQ rights, and that includes the Vice President.”

Joe Biden loses its Pro-LGBTQ Transgender Troops testify on cool, praises Pence Capitol Hill; cost of health care https://bit.ly/2EHICvr Former Vice-President, pro-LGBTQ ally v. Trump’s trips to Mar-A-Lago and possible Democratic Presidential can-

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

The Advocate reported that since 2016, “the U.S. military has spent around $8 million on health care to treat the gender dysphoria and gender-confirmation procedures of roughly 1,200 transgender troops.” A new report (https://bit.ly/2TfuoLv) co-authored by current and retired professors at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey has projected the cost of discharging the military’s transgender troops at $960 million, according to the Palm Center. And, to further put it into perspective, Trump’s trips to Mar-A-Lago alone cost the federal government $3 million per trip.

According to the Palm Center, a research institute that studies LGBTQ military inclusion, approximately, 14,700 trans service members work in the U.S. military.

That number originates from the Department of Defense and the Palm Center’s own study on the Selected Reserve. What this means is that the military is the largest employer of transgender people in the U.S. Because of Trump’s military ban, these servicemembers can be fired because of it at a huge cost to the government. Trump has cited medical costs as a one of the reasons why transgender service members are a burden to the U.S. government, yet experts have refuted this statement, saying that the cost, when compared to the Pentagon's $716 billion budget, is minimal.

Trips to Mar-A-Lago To put it into perspective, every time that Trump flies to his private club in Mar-ALago, the federal government pays an estimated $3 million alone each time Trump goes there, reported NBC News (https://nbcnews.to/2h7kRjo). “It is estimated that Trump will have spent 28 percent of his term in transit to or staying at the Palm Beach resort.”

Read more at: https://bit.ly/2VxMXqy.

State Department must issue accurate passport to nonbinary Intersex citizen A U.S. District Court Judge today denied a U.S. State Department request to stay his September, 2018 order which prohibited the agency from relying upon its binaryonly gender marker policy to withhold an accurate passport from Lambda Legal client Dana Zzyym, a U.S. Navy veteran who is intersex and nonbinary, and does not identify as male or female.

The State Department denied Dana’s passport application because Dana could not accurately choose either male or female on the passport application form, and the form does not provide any other gender marker designation.

In November 2018, Dana was among the first Coloradans to obtain a driver’s license with a nonbinary “X” gender marker after the State of Colorado changed its policy in response to Dana’s federal lawsuit against the U.S. State Department.

This represents Dana’s third victory in their battle with the State Department to secure an accurate passport. In November 2016, the same district court found the State Department had violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act and ordered the department to reconsider its binaryonly gender policy. The State Department doubled-down on its discriminatory maleor-female-only policy to deny Dana a passport, leading to a second ruling last September. The State Department then sought a stay from the District Court judge on complying with his order while the agency appealed the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

“Today, a federal judge has found that there is no defensible reason to delay the issuance of Dana’s passport until after the appeal,” Lambda Legal Counsel Paul Castillo said. “The court rejected the State Department’s arguments as to security, complexity and cost related to producing an accurate passport for Dana, and instead determined that the harm to Dana of lost travel opportunities outweighed whatever Read the rest of this story at The Rainbow Times’ website

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 19

March 7, 2019 - April 3, 2019

Possible depression issues that I ignored during my transition By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/TRT Columnist

I

TRANS OPINION

was surfing the Internet the other day looking for information on depression and I found a short video, which identified and explained some of the possible issues of someone who is battling depression. To my surprise, I had experienced many of the issues I saw in the video while I was transitioning to female. I ponder: maybe I didn’t realize that I was also possibly suffering from depression as I transitioned? I never addressed these issues because I was very focused to make sure that I followed up with the basic steps of male-to-female transitioning such as obtaining hormones, getting facial hair removed, acquiring letters from doctors, etc.

Looking back, I now realize that I had more work to do.

The first issue I recognized from the video was feeling unworthy. Even though I wanted to transition, I sometimes felt like I was unworthy of even attempting to transition. Was I not worth all the effort to transition? The next issue I experienced was feeling unlovable. How could anyone love

me? Why would anyone love me? I was already dating men, but all the men I dated were afraid to be seen in public with me.

They were afraid that their friends and family would ask them, 1) If they were gay; and 2) why they didn’t go out with a cisgender woman? You see, I was out of my closet, but the men were still in their closets. This led to the next issue, feeling worthless. What kind of worth could I bring to the world? Would I even be taken seriously? I felt more connections to other issues of the video such as feeling defective, broken, stupid and ugly. I also felt like I was to blame for hurting the people in my life because I wanted to transition. This gave me a sense of shame, which is the innate sense that one is a bad person. As I look back, I find it amazing that I just simply put these issues to the side and instead, just concentrated on my transition to female.

Another issue from the video was based on validation. I did have a difficult time validating myself especially when others tried to erase my existence. I would hear, “You’re not a woman! You’re a man!”

“You’re destroying your family and alienating your friends!,” “You are a narcissist!” and other invalidating questions. It was like I was being told I shouldn’t even try to transition! The message I got was that I should just keep it in as I’ve always

I SHOULD SUCK IT UP & RESUME MY LIFE AS MALE BECAUSE I WOULD LOSE EVERYONE IN MY LIFE. done. I should suck it up and resume my life as male because I would lose everyone in my life. How could I be so stupid and so selfish? If I continued, I would ruin my life and the lives of others around me and let’s face it, no one is ever going to love me. I will die alone with no love from anyone.

Yes, I had issues with validating myself mostly because I was around people who were constantly trying to invalidate my trans existence.

Another issue on the depression video was experiencing fits of anger. I had those too. Sometimes, I became so frustrated that I would lash out at whatever/whoever was bothering me, no matter how small the incident was. Other times I felt like I was unraveling. Somehow, though, I just pushed all my troubles to the side and stayed the course to transition. My eyes were on the prize of transitioning.

Looking back now, I realized that over the years I eventually did deal with each of these issues. I’m currently in a much better

place although now and then I still might feel less than rather than equal to others.

These days I just acknowledge those emotions and feelings and go on with my life.

Maybe I haven’t quite worked through everything yet or maybe I’ve worked through everything just enough for me to get by? I don’t feel fits of anger anymore as I am at peace with myself, so I guess that perhaps I’m just not at peace sometimes with some other folks’ views of me? In any case, I made it through my transition most likely through my sheer determination rather than dealing with all my issues.

Eventually, I did work through these issues, or, at least worked through them well enough for me. I still don’t know if I was depressed or not but the video that I saw sure hit home to me in many ways. *Deja Nicole Greenlaw is retired from 3M and has 3 children and two grandchildren.

Contact her at: dejavudeja@sbcglobal.net.

How to avoid misgendering and what to do if you already have done it By: Lorelei Erisis*/TRT Columnist

I

PHOTO: DAVID MEEHAN

recently received this question from an old friend of mine: “I fear misgendering people that I don’t personally already know … like, at two stores within a year I fear I may have.

I wanted to say, “I’m sorry! Do you have a gender preference?” so that I wouldn’t do it again, but I was afraid to.

What is the socially acceptable way to handle this? Do you just not use the gender pronouns until the individual reveals them to you, or is it appropriate to ask? I have asked people I came to know over multiple occasions, and that seemed to work out great.”

Despite having addressed similar issues many times in the past, I think it’s well worth repeating my answers to questions like this. Additionally, the friend who asked this is the parent of a trans child and particularly concerned with not just being a decent person and ally, but working to make the changes that will hopefully help this trans child not to have to deal so much with these things themselves, which is something I feel is well worth supporting.

To begin I would tell this friend, if you feel so unsure of what a person’s pronouns might be that you think you might misgender them, to ask the by all means. Say exactly this: “Excuse me, but may I ask what pronouns do you use?”

Preferably, you should do this before misgendering a person. Definitely, you should do it if you feel like you may have done that already. It may feel awkward. But trust me, it’s far better for all concerned to deal with some momentary awkwardness, than it is to misgender someone. And, it’s

these things happen, and how you are simply not that kind of person, because, because, because … and you are so, so, incredibly, awfully, sorry, really very sorry, the most actually sorry, etc., etc.

We know. We’ve heard it already. Repeatedly. And we’ve probably spent any-

... GENDER IS NOT A ‘PREFERENCE.’ IT’S NOT A CHOICE WE HAVE MADE. JUST LIKE YOU, WE CONSIDER OUR GENDER TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS SIMPLY INNATE TO WHO & WHAT WE ARE. definitely less painful than being misgendered, especially if it happens repeatedly!

Let’s say you have misgendered someone already and they have either corrected you, or you suspected the misgendering on your own, and then asked. The absolutely best thing to do in that case is to apologize, as briefly and sincerely as possible, then selfcorrect to use the person’s proper pronouns, and move on with your individual lives. Do not, I repeat, do not explain why you made the mistake and all the reasons you thought to use the wrong the pronouns, and all of the social and physical reasons

where from several years to our entire lives thinking about all these things ourselves.

Some of us, literally, write a regular advice column and do training sessions about it.

Often, the apologies, and the endless “mea culpas” can end up being more painful than the actual misgendering. So just, please, don’t do that.

Now, let me address some peripheral issues raised here. The first of which is to recommend that the person asking, and any of you fine folks reading this, might attempt to use more generally gender-neutral language in your day-to-day interactions.

Particularly if you don’t already know the gender identity of the person you’re speaking to or even just referring to.

While, as a trans woman, I have some not entirely positive feelings towards my gender being neutralized, which I have discussed at more length in recent columns. I really believe it’s just best practice especially when there are increasingly so many more non-binary and gender non-conforming folks finding their own identities in recent years.

And honestly, it’s not that hard to do.

Using ‘they’ and ‘them’ as singular pronouns is something you probably already do and encounter all the time, without even consciously realizing that you do so. You will notice for instance that I have managed to go this entire column without once directly identifying the gender of anyone except myself that I’ve been referring to.

Also, the words ‘folks’ and ‘y’all’ are so useful as to be simply blessings on the English language!! Service industry people I know use them all the time. And, if you are worried about showing proper politeness without using gendered honorifics like, ‘sir’ and ‘ma’am’, let your fears rest. This glorious language we share offers centuries and entire thesauruses worth of other ways to be polite. It just takes a tiny bit of creativity and intentionality.

Finally, and I’ve saved this for last because I really don’t like correcting people on semantic things when I know their intentions are easily determined as good and true. But the phrase, “Do you have a ...

See Misgendering On Page 21

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Domestic violence From Page 6

IT’S HERE! You can now RESERVE your Space for the New England Pride Guide 2019 Reaches 125K Readers in the U.S. Inserted in The Rainbow Times Best LGBQ/T Coverage Most Trans Inclusive https://bit.ly/2UljDn9

Trans Military Ban From Page 16 serving in the military. I salute each and every one of you and thank you for your service. *Nicole is the Editor-in-Chief of The Rainbow Times and Co-Executive Director of Prorject Out, a non-profit organization that eradicates bias against the trans community while empowering trans people to live safely and authentically each day. She holds an MBA from Marylhurst University and a BM from the Crane School of Music.

Reach Nicole at editor@therainbowtimesmass.com.

Misgendering From Page 19 gender preference?” is generally not considered as best usage nowadays. This is because our gender is not a ‘preference.’

It’s not a choice we have made. Just like you, we consider our gender to be something that is simply innate to who and what we are. I have not chosen to be a woman. I simply am.

That’s why in my corrections I recommended the phrase, “What pronouns do you use?” Instead of, “What pronouns do you prefer?”

AmTrak from Page 16 Midwest legs of an Amtrak cross-country are pretty, sure, but those views aren’t in the same league as stunning scenes of snow-covered peaks, brilliant yellow aspens, winding rivers, slopes of never-ending forest, and myriad tunnels that still serve as individual feats of American engineering at its finest.

5. It’s wildly romantic What’s more romantic than cuddling up in the cozy coach seats with your partner, one head on the other’s shoulder, and falling asleep to the consistent drone of a moving locomotive after a full day of refreshments, sights and enjoyable conservation with other travelers? It doesn’t get any better than that for me. Oh, and the sublevel bathrooms are large and unattended; you can figure out the rest.

6. This is all about the journey, not the destination If you want to save the most money and

Traditionally, LGBTQ+ youth are not included in healthy relationship studies, leaving them susceptible to potential abuse.

“For LGBQ/T communities, this is crucial as so many of our young people are being left out of existing healthy relationship curricula,” Santiago explained. “Our youth need to be taught that LGBQ/T relationships exist, are valid, and how to create healthy/consensual relationships for themselves. More inclusive curricula not only educate LGBQ/T youth about their own relationships but also reach straight and cisgender youth creating an environment where LGBQ/T people and their relationships are normalized.”

Immigrant survivors, including those that are LGBTQ+ are at particular risk, making the Safe Communities Act vital, Santiago said.

“The Safe Communities Act is essential to create a separation between the police and ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement),” she said. “LGBQ/T survivors of partner abuse who are also immigrants or refugees are afraid of being detained and deported if they were to seek safety by calling the police, seeking a restraining order, or pressing charges against their abusive partner. And many LGBQ/T people have fled homo/bi/transphobic violence in their countries of origin. Survivors of partner abuse are being forced to live with one

That’s it. With a little intentionality, some decent observational skills, and perhaps just a dash of awkwardness, it’s possible to not only easily correct oneself after having misgendered someone, but to generally avoid misgendering anyone in the first place!

Slàinte! *Lorelei Erisis is an actor, activist, adventurer and pageant queen. Send your questions about trans issues, gender and sexuality to her via direct e-mail at: askatranswoman@gmail.com.

stay on the train coast to coast, you won’t regret it. These Superliner routes are designed specifically for sightseeing, and if all you do is ride the whole way, you’ll be satisfied. This trip is about the journey, not the destination. You can get off along the way to stretch your legs and have a smoke break if needed (sometimes for longer stretches if there’s a delay in service—the only time you’ll look forward to this when traveling), then you’ll hop back on and chug along. No money spent on rental cars, fuel, hotel rooms, expensive dinners and bar tabs, or activities. Your cross-country is all that rolled into one for the lowest fee that you make it. *Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He spends his time writing from the beach with his dog Jaxon.

Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyrox (https://bit.ly/2VEFiXV).

form of violence in order to escape the other.”

Communication between Jane Doe, its member organizations and legislators provided an opportunity for lawmakers to become informed by those on the front lines combating the epidemic of sexual and domestic violence within the commonwealth.

“The briefing was a wonderful opportunity for state legislators, staff, member organizations, and allies to hear from Jane Doe … and directly from some of our tremendous member organizations about the important work they are doing, and how state-level policy and funding decisions create real-world impact,” Gallagher said.

And while the current priorities and budget are critical, Santiago reminds the public that there are many more issues to tackle relating to the well-being and safety of the LGBTQ+ community.

“We will be working with Jane Doe Inc. and the rest of its member programs to push for these initiatives. It’s important to note, though, that while essential, they by no means cover all the need there is for LGBQ/T domestic and sexual assault survivors,” she said.

According to Santiago, initiatives such as police misconduct, equitable access to health care, safe schools and public spaces are also on the forefront of the work that TNLR aims to achieve, yet funding remains a struggle.

“We need to address police misconduct as well as homo/bi/transphobia in all of the systems and institutions that survivors in-

teract with and that could offer a variety of support—from health care to schools to faith communities,” Santiago said. “We need to educate staff at LGBQ/T bars and clubs, hair salons and barber shops, youth groups, and so many others to recognize and respond to partner abuse. And, we need to drastically increase LGBQ/T-specific funding.”

Over the past two years TNLR has absorbed budget cuts of over 50 percent to key education and technical assistance programs, which has drastically reduced the organization’s ability to train and assist mainstream domestic violence programs to become safer for and more welcoming of LGBQ/T survivors, according to Santiago.

“TNLR works statewide to address LGBQ/T partner abuse, and additional funding is essential to properly address that level of need,” she said.

Gallagher agrees that funding is an issue but is encouraged after the briefing.

“We are always concerned that our member organizations have the funding they need to support survivors and educate people in their communities about issues of sexual and domestic violence, but we are encouraged by the Governor's budget, and hope that the State Legislature will maintain critical increases in funding for direct services, the Healthy Relationships Grant Program, and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program,” Gallagher said.

To learn more about Jane Doe visit http://janedoe.org/. To get involved or learn more about TNLR, visit http://tnlr.org/en/.

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North Shore Pride annual Networking Event takes stage at the Cabot Theatre By: Chris Gilmore/TRT Reporter

BEVERLY, Mass.—North Shore Pride (NSP), the largest LGBTQ pride organization north of Boston, is set to launch its 6th annual Professional Networking Event at the Cabot Theatre later this month, according to organization officials.

“The annual North Shore Pride Networking event has been held for the last 5 years,” said Hope Watt-Bucci, North Shore Pride president. “The purpose of the event is to provide an opportunity for the local LGBTQ community to network with the larger North Shore community and to strengthen the bond between our community.”

This year’s event will take place at the newly renovated Cabot Theatre in Beverly, Mass.

“The Cabot Theatre is a historic icon on the North Shore,” said Watt-Bucci. “The recent renovation of this historic building was a true community effort. North Shore Pride thought it fitting that we hold our Networking event, which focuses on LGBTQ history, in a building that also shares a great history of community effort.”

NSP is expected to bring in another high profile keynote speaker this time around.

Last year was Judy Shepard (from the Matthew Shepard Foundation) and this year will be Paul Schmitz, a President Obama appointee to the White House Council for Community Solutions and CEO of Leading Inside Out. “Paul was chosen as this year’s Keynote Speaker due to his work in community leadership and social change, both topics that are paramount to the LGBTQ community,” Watt-Bucci said.

The organization, and its networking event in particular, has come a long way in the last 5 years. Watt-Bucci attributes current growth trends to an investment in inclusiveness and proactive initiatives.

“I believe we are starting to see a paradigm shift towards social action and community investment in inclusiveness in this country,” she said. “In addition, North Shore Pride works diligently to bring keynote speakers who provide both an educational and inspirational message to our community. I think the combination of those two factors, along with North Shore Pride’s consistent message of education and advocacy for LGBTQ persons is what makes North Shore Pride’s Networking event such a success.”

Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, North Shore Pride has developed its overall theme on the historic

event and has dubbed Pride 2019 as Stonewall 50: Looking Back Marching Forward, Watt-Bucci said.

“This year at our Networking event we will honor several Stonewall survivors and Paul Schmitz will review the history of the LGBTQ movement and discuss our progress towards the goal of equality and inclusion in business and in our personal lives,” she added.

Although there will not be vendor tables at this year’s networking event, attendance is expected to be vast.

“This year we are not offering business vendor tables, as the venue is not really conducive to that type of arrangement,” she explained. “Instead we welcome our North Shore community to come enjoy a truly inspirational message and a wonderful evening of networking.”

To become a sponsor of this event, e-mail president@northshorepride.org, or call 978-808-5451.

“Our goal each year with this event is to bring our community together via an educational and professional platform, and to engage with our larger community,” WattBucci said.

To learn more about this event, Pride day 2019, and future North Shore Pride events on the roster this year, visit www.northshorepride.org.

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Cassata-Jupiter From Page 12 groups, it’s no wonder the LGBT population turns to substances at a disproportionate rate.”

Through ”Jupiter”, Cassata fearlessly shines light on that harsh reality of addiction. He takes on the villain to break the shackles that bound him, the shackles that similarly claim the lives of so many within the LGBTQ community.

“I’m not really sure what caused my addiction, and that goes for other addicts and recovered addicts as well,” Cassata explained. “I think it’s something genetic that happens to some people. I don't believe that addiction is a choice.”

Cassata attributes conquering his substance abuse to those in his daily life.

“My friends are who really helped me get sober,” he said. “One of my friends from my college intervened; the music manager that I had at the time intervened. The people that saw me on a daily basis stepped in.

Luckily, I did want to get sober. When I found out how to get sober, and that I had the support of my friends, I was able to commit to it.”

Research has indicated that family and societal rejection play a substantial role in substance abuse and subsequent addiction.

“According to The Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State, “LGBT youth who experience even a moderate level of family rejection were 1.5 times more likely to use illegal substances than those who experienced little or no rejection. Youth who experienced high levels of

Wanda Sykes From Page 10 A: If they asked, yeah, I would be interested.

Q: You’re not busy doing a puzzle that night?

A: (Laughs) I got a nice gay flag puzzle that I wanna work on so, um…

Q: Wanda, bring the gay puzzle to the Oscars and work on it there.

A: (Laughs) I mean, it’s the Oscars, so I wouldn’t run away from it. But it would be cool if they made it very inclusive and made RuPaul host.

Q: Regarding your acting career: Have you had the acting career that you always desired to have?

A: Well, I never really desired to have an acting career. I just wanted to be one of the funniest comedians out there and wanted to make a living traveling all over, and film and TV is a bonus, really. I mean, come on, I got to go to Hawaii to shoot a movie with Amy (Schumer). But to me, I take it seriously, though; I also just love doing it. I love stand-up.

Q: You have several films slated for release this year, including Friendsgiving and The Wedding Year. In Friendsgiving you play what must be a dream role: the fairy gay mother. How does one get the role of the fairy gay mother?

A: You’re just blessed with a role like that. You get a call and you’re blessed

family rejection were 3.5 times more likely to use substances, particularly if they are thrown out of their homes or run away from them.”

Cassata knows all too well what it is to loose friends and close ones to the grips of addiction and has dedicated a new verse to pay homage to those lost in his reimagined remake of ”Jupiter”.

“Somehow, after losing more friends than I can count on both hands to the disease of addiction, I am still able to stay sober and not want to interact with drugs or alcohol,” he said. “I’m also able to celebrate my life and fully live my life. I thought drugs and alcohol would give my mind some freedom, but sobriety has actually been the most freeing thing for me.”

The more pervasive discrimination a person faces, the more at-risk they become to develop substance abuse, found a 2014 survey. In Boston, a partnership formed by The Fenway Institute, BAGLY Inc., and Boston GLASS was formed to gather information about the health concerns of LGBTQ youth of color and strategies to improve their health. The research survey,_Our Health Matters: Mental Health, Risk, and Resilience Among LGBTQ Youth of Color Who Live, Work, or Play in Boston (https://is.gd/N9Efq0) found jarring outcomes.

To read the rest of this story, the date when Ryan Cassata’s new “Jupiter” song/vid will be out, his take on life after conquering addiction, and more, check out TRT’s website: TheRainbowTimesMass.com

and it’s like, “Hey, you’re the fairy gay mother with Margaret Cho and Fortune Feimster.”

Q: Do you get a magic wand?

A: I’m not gonna tell you if I get a magic wand or not. But there are wings involved!

Q: If you had a magic wand, how would you use it?

A: Oh, boy. I can do a lot of things though, right?

Q: You’re like Cinderella’s fairy godmother. You just wave that wand around, and if you want you can turn Trump into a horse.

A: (Laughs) Well, he’s already a jacka$$.

Q: And you don’t even need a wand for that.

A: Don’t even need it. Wow, what would I do? I think first I would make Oprah the president, and then I’d do something about guns, and then I’ll make sure that Flint has clean water. I’ll do that. *As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also ap-peared in GQ, Vanity Fair and Billboard. Reach him via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com and on Twitter at @chrisazzopardi (https://bit.ly/2Uijcd9).

Beaty from Page 3 down from his position, nor was he apologizing about what he said either.

“Regarding the ongoing political harassment by others to shut me up by trying to force me to resign, I just want to say that if my Freedom of Speech Rights are successfully silenced by others, then your First Amendment Rights are next!” read the statement. “Once again, no, I will not apologize for anything, and certainly will not resign.”

Beaty, whose political career has survived most of his social media outbursts and scandals, lost his run for a House seat last year and some reports argue it had to do with him calling “a Parkland school shooting survivor ‘an absolute idiot.’”

Via Twitter, many responded to Beaty’s post and some, like Mary Murphy, New Bedford, were even blocked after their responses to the Commissioner.

“Generally speaking, straight men that are homophobic are incapable of representing ALL of their constituents in a fair and equitable manner,” read Murphy’s response, to Beaty. “Wake up, Ronny, you serve in the most liberal state in the union.

Maybe there is a spot for you in the Trump administration.”

Others expressed dismay via Facebook, where Beaty’s comments continue to receive condemnation from many.

“Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty’s hateful comments have no place in public discourse and are a disservice to the open and accepting community that so many have worked so hard to create on Cape Cod,” said 9th District Mass. U.S. Representative Bill Keating via his FB page.

But, Beaty believes the voters have a louder voice.

“In 2016, the voters elected me into office as one of their County Commissioners, and in November 2020, it will again be the

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION ASKING FOR BEATY’S RESIGNATION AT: HTTPS://BIT.LY/2TP5H Q8. voters who decide if I should stay or go,” his statement read.

Last week, according to The Cape Cod Times (https://bit.ly/2HcsZ0E), the largest crowd to attend a Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners took place to protest Beaty’s posts regarding gay politicians, “but the man they came to see was conspicuously absent.”

A MoveOn.org petition has started online to ask for Beaty’s resignation.

“Ron Beaty is not fit to serve as a County Commissioner and it's time for Ron Beaty to resign or be removed from office,” read the petition’s intro. “Homophobic and bigoted rhetoric has no place in Massachusetts and elected officials should represent constituents not ridicule them. Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty has perpetuated bigoted views against the LGBTQIA+ community and he should step down from public office.”

To sign the petition visit: https://bit.ly/2tP5hQ8. Beaty’s term as Commissioner ends is 2021. He can be contacted via phone at 774-994-2959 or email at ron.beaty@barnstablecounty.org.

March is Women’s History Month

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