The Rainbow Times' October, 2016 Issue

2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

TRT endorses pro-equality candidates Decolonizing our bodies: Humanizing queer people of color and dismantling sexualized tropes

By: TRT Editorial Staff

OPINIONS

dorsed GOP candidates in the past, have Presidential Candidates: broken such decades of tradition and have Hillary Clinton for President come in support of Hillary Clinton. RegardIt’s Hillary or Donald. Is there re- less of what is said about Clinton and her ally a choice? Of course, our pick is leadership or decisions made throughout a Clinton and we will only focus on the lifetime of being a public servant, she is simcandidates that are inclusive of every- ply unmatched and a steady hand that this one and who show a history of fightcountry needs. ing and having direct solutions Clinton has proven FORMER PRESI to advocate for her dedication to the human and equal LGBTQ, Black, rights for all Latino, immigrant, DENTS MANY Americans. women, children and marginalized NEWSPAPERS other Although there are VOTERS communities for additional candidates in countless years and the race—Jill Stein and THAT ALWAYS ENDORSED in countless ways.

Gary Johnson—there is As a U.S. senator, no one that can light a Clinton fought for CANDIDATES IN torch to anything comlegislation to address parable to what Clinton hate crimes and adTHE PAST HAVE has accomplished in her vocated for federal tenure as First Lady, non-discrimination NY Senator (who was COME OF legislation to protect in office at the time of the LGBTQ commu9/11), and most recently nity in the workILLARY LINTON as Secretary of State— place. She called for traveling the world to an end to discriminaimprove U.S. relations. tion that restricted No one else in the race for the White House members of our community from adopting has a realistic opportunity to defeat, possibly children. the most dangerous presidential candidate in As First Lady, Clinton was the initial pioU.S. history, Donald Trump, who at the neer advocating for universal healthcare for present time is in the middle of a tax disaster all under her husband’s presidency—a battle like no other seen before by a presidential she lost due to an alleged Senate filibuster. candidate. The GOP has never been so frag- This loss set the pace for ACA’s passage mented as it is today. Many former presi- under President Barack Obama, so many dents, GOP voters from all levels of the spectrum, and newspapers that always en-

...

GOP

, &

GOP

...

IN SUPPORT

H

C

.

Faith, Family & God: What’s it all about, Alfie?

By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist

A

FAITH

s of late, I keep hearing songs repeat in my head, Dionne Warwick’s “What’s It All about A l f i e ” (https://goo.gl/9gLJg3) and Julie Andrews singing “Crazy World” (https://goo.gl/n0qgQK) from Victor Victoria. It’s quite a change from the usual Italian and Wagnerian arias.

In September, Mother Teresa was elevated to sainthood despite her major doubts about God. A friend asked how to be supportive of someone living a closeted life and whether to bring it up. Personally, I’m finding myself very restless in overtaxed, politically corrupt, and extraordinarily expensive New York (yes, even in upstate).

As time passes, I increasingly believe there is such a thing as fate. Things happen and don’t for a reason. Freedom of choice is overrated. Yes, we do have limited ability to make decisions in whether we react or respond to events occurring in our lives. I’m still learning to work with the wind as it blows at my back instead of pushing against it.

Sometimes the best laid plans are derailed.

There’s also a Jewish proverb (https://goo.gl/72IOQz) about what a man or woman may want for himself or herself and

FAITH AND DEVOTION CAN EVOLVE INTO SOMETHING DEEPLY

MYSTICAL, SPIRI-

TUAL, AND UNDEFINABLE THAT IS

HOLY AND TRANSCENDENT.

God laughs. It may not be in keeping with the Creator’s grand design or lack thereof.

In realizing the universe unfolds as it will, I reluctantly accept I’ve been assigned a role.

I still haven’t quite figured out what it might be in the grand drama of life.

I’ve also discerned the need to better combine all my accumulating experiences as if they’re ingredients in a recipe. Life becomes a bit like baking bread or a slow simmering red sauce on the stove. Each event is an ingredient that needs to be mixed with the others. This is complemented by learning from the experiences of others.

A friend recently asked about someone who she had known for many years. He’s a To read the rest of this story visit: http://wp.me/p22M41-4vH

By: Mike Yepes*/TRT Guest Columnist

Disclaimer: Like any group of individuals, the Latinx community does not function as a monolithic structure. As such, the piece that reflects a common experience in my own nuanced narrative and those of other Latinx LGBTQ individuals but, certainly not a universal one. Therefore, it should not be used to generalize the experiences of other LGBTQ Latinx individuals.

F

or the majority of my adolescence, objectification was something I observed from the margins but did not experience firsthand. I was an adolescent questioning his identity while situated in a predominantly white heterosexual community and so I scarcely found myself the target of violent desire. Truthfully, I callously assumed sexual violence existed in a cisgender, heterosexual framework.

Those perceptions quickly unraveled shortly after coming out as queer during my first year of university studies. Whether I was engaging men in bars, clubs, or geo-social apps like Grindr, the same constant remained. Long before my name was asked or my eccentric quirks were identified, I was being "complimented" on my "spicy personality," my "Latin hips," or being told by white men how excited they were to use my hypersexual drive to satisfy their most carnal desires.

For a while I thought gratitude was the appropriate response to such claims. As a brown person, I knew first-hand the value the gay male gaze placed on whiteness, muscles, and lean body frames and so perhaps this was finally my community's time to shine. But the reality is that the absence of hostility is not synonymous with the presence of respect and value. This is not to say

Letters to the Editor [Update: $5K Reward Offered to turn in Hate Crime Perpetrators – Official Statement, Reclaiming Salem] Dear Editor, Have there been any arrests yet? This is discouraging and disgusting to me. My partner and I just moved out of Salem, but always felt safe and respected in our community. Sad to see things like this happen.

—Kelsea Dixon, Online Dear Kelsea, Thank you for your concern and support. We have been in communication with the Salem Police. They are still conducting their investigation of what took place. We should know more soon, we are being told. Please know that we will be here to answer questions for our readers too!

Stay tuned to TRT and we’ll definitely keep you posted.

—The Editor

that physical appreciation in of itself is harmful or that an increased sex drive is a negative behavior. Rather, it is a reminder that the impact of language is based on the experiences of the recipient and the presumptions and/or intentions of the commentator.

The fixation placed on many in the Latinx community to succumb to the sexual roles presented to us by white fetishization is harmful. Stripping us of nuanced experiences and unique identities, we become restricted to the needs of our white counterparts and our worth is contingent on our ability to satisfy those needs. If we choose to disengage from the passionate, sensual Latinx trope then we are once more relegated to our status as second class beings unworthy of affection. However, if we continue to appease the demands of the white male gaze, we still find ourselves at the nexus of physical and/or mental harm.

Pressured or coerced agreement into ...

See Queer POC on Page 23

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

Ad & Layout Design Prizm PR Webmaster Jarred Johnson Columnists/Guest* Lorelei Erisis Deja N. Greenlaw Paul P. Jesep Natalia Muñoz* Keegan O’Brien* Mike Givens Affiliations National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association NGLCC, QSyndicate Summer Intern Miguel A. Cuellar *Guest Freelancer

The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The Rainbow Times, LLC. TRT is affiliated with the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, NLGJA, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, NGLCC, and QSyndicate. The articles written by the writers, columnists, and correspondents solely express their opinion, and do not represent the endorsement or opinion of The Rainbow Times, LLC or its owners.

Send letters to the editor with your name, address and phone number to: The Rainbow Times (address shown above), or e-mail any comment/s to the editor-in-chief at: editor@therainbowtimesmass.com. All submissions will be edited according to space constraints. The Rainbow Times, LLC reserves the right not to print any or all content or advertisements for any reason at all. TRT is not responsible for advertising content. To receive The Rainbow Times at your home via regular mail, or through electronic delivery, please visit its website. The whole content and graphics (photos, etc.) are the sole property of The Rainbow Times, LLC and they cannot be reproduced at all without TRT’s written consent.

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 3

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Salem LLC hopes new MOU will curb alleged voter intimidation, discrimination at polls By: Mike Givens/TRT Assistant Editor

IN THE LIMELIGHT

SALEM, Mass.—The timeline is four-and-a-half pages long, spans 11 years, and documents a long process to ensure that Spanish-speaking residents of Salem have equitable access to polling locations without the fear of being harassed or having their rights violated.

“The complaints of voting rights violations go back as far as 2005,” said Ana Nuncio, a Salem resident and president of the Latino Leadership Coalition (LLC). “We need more bilingual poll workers at every ward in the City … ” According to the timeline co-authored by Nuncio, between April 2005 and April 2015, the LLC, in coalition with the North Shore Community Development Coalition (NSCDC), and the Point Neighborhood Association (PNA), made no less than 15 attempts via e-mails, phone calls, or letters, to discuss issues related to voter intimidation and polling location access for Spanish-speaking residents of Salem. Eleven of the 15 attempts received no response, as evidenced in the document.

A letter dated March 26, 2015 sent to Salem City Clerk Cheryl LaPointe and the Registrars of Voters alleged that on election days in both November 2012 and 2014, Spanish-speaking voters experienced significant language barriers due to a lack of bilingual poll workers, police intimidation, and requests for identification in order to vote that reportedly were not made of white vot-

ers.

“The matter that needs immediate attention and resolution is poll worker training, specifically as it relates to the violations that were committed by poll workers on Election Day, November 4, 2014,” a portion of the letter reads.

In August of 2015, an LLC member drafted two memorandums of understanding (MOU) between the City of Salem and the

coalition reiterating the voting rights of all Salem residents. The MOUs were signed in February and May of 2016 and while advocates are optimistic about their potential, there’s still a battle being waged to garner full support from a key city official.

Voting Rights in Massachusetts The Commonwealth of Massachusetts currently has a 15-point Voters’ Bill of

Rights (https://goo.gl/z43DzW) that lays out the protections afforded to registered voters in the state: 1. You have the right to vote if you are a qualified registered voter.

2. You have the right to cast your ballot in a manner that ensures privacy. You have the right to vote without any person trying to

See Voter Intimidation on Page 6

4 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

By: Mike Givens/TRT Assistant Editor

IN THE LIMELIGHT

On its surface, the photo is quite charming. A mother and son are standing in Christopher Columbus Park, a picturesque open space in Boston’s North End that looks out onto the Atlantic Ocean.

But their reason for being at the park on that day was more political than recreational. The mother holds a sign declaring, “Today’s White House Memo: Reminder: All Cabinet Members Pay Your Taxes.” The son carries a sign asking, “Mr. President, today is my birthday. May I have a stimulus check?”

It was April 15, 2009, Tax Day, and Caroline Colarusso and her young son were participating in a Tea Party demonstration in Boston. Just months earlier, the Tea Party had launched nationally and fiscal conservatives rallied around a platform advocating for a reduction in government spending and lower taxes. A series of demonstrations were held across the country and the party quickly gained media attention for its staunch conservatism and bold public tactics to crack down on big government.

The party’s main platform focused on issues of fiscal accountability and relieving the financial burdens placed on American taxpayers. However, the Tea Party, a subset of the Republican Party, also took stances on a number of social issues, in many instances espousing anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-choice views while also decrying

PHOTO: COMMITTEE TO ELECT CAROLINE COLARUSSO

In state rep. race, anti-LGBTQ allegations surface; also ties to Tea Party CATHOLIC CITIZENSHIP RELEASED LEAFLETS COMPARING BOTH CANDIDATES ON SOCIAL ISSUES AND REVEALED THAT COLARUSSO SUPPORTS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT DEFINING MARRIAGE AS BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN; OPPOSES TRANSGENDER RIGHTS LEGISLATION; WISHES TO Caroline Colarusso

government expenditures on social safety net programs such as food stamps and President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA).

More recently, the media has declared the Tea Party defunct. An October 2015 Gallup Poll reported that roughly 17 percent of Americans identify as members of the Tea Party (https://goo.gl/p59CVJ). Just a month earlier, the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights noted that though the Tea Party is not experiencing a significant increase in membership, there are still active members in every state across the country (https://goo.gl/KGSNfx).

DEFUND THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION ON

LGBTQ YOUTH; AND SUPPORTS A MANDATE THAT COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION CURRICULA NOT BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS. Colarusso is currently running to be the state representative for the 31st Middlesex District in Massachusetts, a seat that covers the towns of Stoneham and Winchester, both of which are less than 10 miles north of Boston, and evidence shows that the candidate still harbors harsh anti-LGBTQ views.

The 2014 Race Colarusso first ran for state representative in 2014 and narrowly lost the race to current State Representative Mike Day by 500 votes.

During her run for the seat, Colarusso was endorsed by Catholic Citizenship (CC), a Woburn-based conservative grassroots advocacy group. CC released leaflets comparing both candidates on social issues and revealed that Colarusso supports a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman; opposes transgender rights legislation; wishes to defund the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth; and supports a mandate that comprehensive sex education curricula not be taught in schools.

The Rainbow Times attempted to reach Colarusso for an interview, but an e-mail and phone request for comment were not returned.

“My opponent has refused to openly discuss her positions on LGBTQ issues despite multiple requests for clarification,” said Rep. Day. “The few positions I have seen from her are incompatible with the most important of our shared values and are incredibly disappointing.

“Civil rights are not issues that can or should be put up for votes. Defunding of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth when that population is struggling with an attempted suicide rate of 30 percent is unconscionable. The list, sadly, goes on

and on.”

Rep. Day—who has taken pro-LGBTQ stances on several issues including a bill providing legal protections for transgender people in public spaces; supporting the Massachusetts LGBTQ Youth Commission; and marriage equality—said if defeated by Colarusso in the November 8 election, it would be a “giant step backwards.”

The 2016 Race It started off as a typical campaign season phone call. The caller was conducting a poll on the 31st Middlesex District race and whether voters had made a decision as to whom they were voting for. When the Stoneham resident, who requested not to be named in this article but who will be identified as “Margaret,” replied that she was voting for Day, the telemarketer asked if knowing that Colarusso would lower trash and water fees in Stoneham made a difference of her opinion of the Republican candidate. When she replied with a stern “No,” the conversation took an outrageous turn, according to Margaret.

“Would it make a difference to you if you knew Rep. Day was allowing grown men to use little girl’s locker rooms and restrooms?” Margaret said the telemarketer asked.

“I can’t believe you just asked me that question,” she replied.

“It was really offensive,” Margaret continued, noting that she expressed her outrage to the telemarketer and informed her not to call her again.

The telemarketer was making a crude reference to the recently-passed public accommodations bill that provides explicit legal rights to transgender people in public spaces

See Stealth Colarusso on Page 23

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 5

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Part of the Project ECHO LGBT Team

PHOTO: THE WEITZMAN INSTITUTE

Project ECHO LGBT increases healthcare provider competency throughout US By: Christinne Nicco/TRT Reporter

LGBTQ HEALTH

BOSTON, Mass.—Collaborative efforts of the nation's leading LGBT health institutes are allowing medical providers to narrow health disparities when caring for the LGBT community, according to officials from the Weitzman Institute. Implementation of Project ECHO LGBT has begun to breach such barriers. The national initiative offers health providers the medical and cultural competency training needed in order to better care for the LGBT community in a healthcare setting, according to an official from the Weitzman Institute.

“Our primary goal is to create more sites across the country that can be a primary care health home for LGBT people, and to ensure that LGBT people anywhere in the country have access to providers who understand their cultural and medical needs,” said Dr. Wanda Montalvo, Principal Investigator and the Associate Director at the Weitzman Institute.

“Our aim is also to normalize primary care for LGBT patients.”

Project ECHO LGBT is a part of Transforming Primary Care for LGBT People, a program funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACH). The Weitzman Institute is the lead agency supporting practice transformation and Project ECHO. As health centers establish themselves to be more competent and promote welcoming environments for LGBT patients, “primary care providers have an increasing need for further training and support to address this [LGBT] population’s unique health needs,” the Weitzman Institute’s website reads.

“Twice monthly videoconference sessions offer primary care providers recommendations on challenging cases from an expert, multidisciplinary faculty.”

Boston’s Fenway Institute takes the lead as the clinical faculty expert for the Project. “[Project ECHO LGBT] allows clinicians—doctors, nurses, social workers, and

others—who are part of the care team [to] learn about issues related to the care of their patients, and ask about clinical issues they are working on,” said Dr. Harvey J. Makadon, Director of Education and Training Programs at The Fenway Institute and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “We have a team at Fenway that forms a panel and discusses these cases twice each month.”

Dr. Alicia Dodson, a Connecticut provider with the Community Health Center, Inc., is one of many benefiting from the program.

“I wanted to participate in Project LGBT ECHO because it is an opportunity to learn from experts and my colleagues across the country—information that was not really available when I did my residency training,” said Dodson. “It is rare to be able to get such a great experience and have it be directly applicable to the patients we care for every day.”

According to Makadon, many questions presented through the Project revolve around transgender patients, “including how to engage in social affirmation, begin crossgender hormone treatment, and how to care for someone who has concomitant mental health issues.”

This topic is one that brought Dodson to the table.

“One of the key learning points I wanted to glean from the project was the appropriate use of hormone therapy for transgender individuals and how to best support them during the transition because it is something I can incorporate into my practice and decrease the barriers to care created by needing to see multiple providers …” she said.

Though Makadon recognized that there are culturally accepted norms that vary throughout the country, transgender care remains a critical area of concern.

“Regardless of where you go, there are concerns about how to provide quality care to trans people,” he said.

Montalvo said other topics have included questions about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Read the rest of this story online at http://wp.me/p22M41-4vC

6 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

Voter Intimidation from page 3 influence your vote and to vote in a booth that prevents others from watching you mark your ballot.

3. You have the right to remain in the voting booth for five (5) minutes if there are other voters waiting and for ten (10) minutes if there are no other voters waiting.

4. You have the right to receive up to two (2) replacement ballots if you make a mistake and spoil your ballot.

5. You have the right to request assistance when voting from anyone of your choice. If you do not bring someone with you, you have the right to have two (2) poll workers assist you.

6. You have the right to vote if you are disabled. The polling place must be accessible, and there must be an accessible voting booth.

7. You have the right to vote if you cannot read or write or cannot read or write English.

8. You have the right to vote but must show identification if: you are a first-time voter who registered to vote by mail and did not submit identification with the voter registration form; or your name is on the inactive voter list; or your vote is being challenged; or if requested by a poll worker. Acceptable forms of identification are: Massachusetts driver’s license, other printed documentation containing your name and address such as a recent utility bill, rent receipt on landlord’s letterhead, lease, or a copy of a voter registration acknowledgment or receipt.

9. You have the right to vote by absentee ballot if: you will be absent from your city or town on Election Day; or if you have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place; or if you cannot vote at the polls due to religious belief.

10. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if you believe you are a qualified registered voter but a poll worker tells you that you are ineligible to vote.

11. You have the right to follow up any challenge to your right to vote through the complaint process.

12. You have the right to vote if you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction and have registered as a voter after your release.

13. You have the right to take this Voters’ Bill of Rights or any other papers, including a sample ballot, voter guide or campaign

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

MAYOR DRISCOLL ECHOED CORCHADO’S CONTENTION SAYING, “WHILE THE CLERK DOES NOT NEED TO

SIGN THE MOU IN ORDER

FOR IT TO BE VALID,

I HOPE THAT SHE AND THE CITY COUNCIL, TO WHOM SHE REPORTS, WILL ULTIMATELY JOIN MYSELF, SALEM POLICE CHIEF MARY BUTLER, AND THE BOARD OF REGISTRARS OF VOTERS, IN AGREEING WITH THE VALUES IN THAT DOCUMENT AND SIGNING ON TO IT.” material into the voting booth with you.

Please remember to remove all papers when you leave the booth.

14. You have the right to vote at your polling place [anytime] between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. for state and federal elections—hours may vary for local elections. If you are in line at your polling place when the polls close at 8 pm, you have the right to vote.

15. You have the right to bring your children into the voting booth with you.

The coalition lead by the LLC alleged that violations of numbers two, five, seven, and eight have occurred regularly on multiple election days for Spanish-speaking residents of Salem.

The Allegations In the Fall of 2012, Salem State University Professor Tiffany Gayle Chenault was teaching a social inequality class. Professor Chenault partnered with the NSCDC on a class project to train her students to become

poll monitors for the Tuesday, November 6 election. In a video series taped after Election Day, Professor Chenault discussed the eye-opening experience for the students who worked the polls that day in Salem’s Point Neighborhood, an area that has a high concentration of Spanish-speaking residents.

“The outrage, the disgust, the shear ‘I don’t believe this is happening’ expressions [on their faces] was priceless,” she said, noting that observing discrimination at the polls was a much more rich experience for the students than merely showing videos and assigning readings.

“I think a huge cause was the language barrier,” said an SSU student identified as “Anne,” who in the video series said she witnessed voting rights violations at the Bentley Elementary School in Salem’s Ward 1. “The poll monitors were not understanding the people from the Point [neighborhood] … they couldn’t communicate with them. They couldn’t find their names on the lists because they weren’t understanding their accents.”

Anne also reported seeing a police officer tell two people that they could not assist Spanish-speaking voters in filling out their ballots, which is a violation of the Voter’s Bill of Rights.

“I don’t think the poll workers had an idea of the laws in place,” said another student identified as “Stephanie.”

Stephanie said she witnessed poll workers asking people for their identification and then turning them away if they did not provide it.

“I noticed that there was a sense of bias as I was watching,” she said, “They would ask for IDs from everyone except the Caucasian people. They would just let them vote and give them no trouble at all.”

Salem resident Lucy Corchado, a former city councilor for Ward 1 and president of the Point Neighborhood Association, said she was startled by the amount of discrimination she’s experienced.

“Personally, I was taken aback by the attitude and questioning I received when trying to assist a voter who not only asked for my assistance, but I [had] also asked permission from the poll worker to be able to help her,” she said, noting that she had the permission of the poll worker to assist the person asking for translation help.

“Suddenly I get a tap on the shoulder by the [police] officer telling me he couldn't have me ‘hover over the voters.’ After telling him [the] voter had [every] right to request my assistance and if he needed further proof I could give him [the] … voter rights, he said it wasn't needed and that ‘he trusted me.’"

Corchado said the experience humiliated her.

“This frustration turned to anger when I was told [the] same officer took a sample ballot from a resident who was using it as a guide ... and questioned her as to where she obtained the form and proceeded to ask for her ID and then take a picture of her ID with his cell phone.”

The alleged violation of rule 13 of the Voters’ Bill of Rights was so upsetting to the woman that she vowed never to vote again after experiencing the incident, according to Corchado.

Yoleny Ynoa, a 22-year resident of Salem, said that he’s experienced discrimination at the polls also. Ynoa, who works with elderly Spanish speakers, said that he’s had experiences where he’s taken someone to vote and been confronted by poll workers about his providing assistance.

Ynoa says that in one instance, he took his 83-year-old mother to vote and asked a poll worker if he could assist her in filling out her ballot.

“No, you cannot help your mother,” the poll worker allegedly said to Ynoa and told him that she would ask another poll worker to provide assistance. According to Ynoa, a police officer was called to escort him away.

“The police officer told me ‘you cannot be here anymore,’” Ynoa said, noting that the officer told him he had to leave.

“This is breaking the law. This is not right.

I did nothing wrong. I was just trying to help my mom to vote.”

In 2014, Ynoa says that he took another elderly woman to the polls to vote. This woman took a sample ballot she completed with her and wanted to use it to fill out the ballot she would cast. Ynoa said that a poll worker confiscated the sample ballot.

“Things like that are not good for our community,” Ynoa said. “Because we’re Latino people, they think we’re doing something wrong. We’re not doing anything wrong.”

The MOUs In August 2015, an MOU was drafted to reinforce the voting rights of Salem residents, specifically Spanish-speaking residents. There were two versions of the MOU drafted, one being signed in February by Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Salem Police Department Chief Mary Butler and the members of the coalition. The other was signed in May by the Chair of the Board of Registrars and the coalition.

“It’s due to the Board’s duties and responsibilities versus the Mayor and Police Chiefs’ duties and responsibilities,” said Donald Bates, a member of the Salem Registrars of Voters, about the need for two MOUs.

See Voter Intimidation on Page 19

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 7

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Idina Menzel: Working toward LGBT icon status, a lesbian Elsa & more PHOTO: MAX VADUKUL

By: Chris Azzopardi*/Special to TRT

T

hough it arrives nearly 20 years after her debut album, the timing couldn’t be more perfect for a self-titled Idina Menzel release. Menzel’s latest is a declaration of self—of her real self, that is.

“It’s how you pronounce my name,” the Broadway star says during our recent interview about the eponymous title, idina., notso-subtly alluding to that infamous name botch at the 2014 Academy Awards.

You remember: John Travolta called her “Adele Dazeem” just before she hit the stage to perform her career-changing song “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen, during which the Tony winner voices cold-thwarting snow queen Elsa. Frozen fame took Menzel to Elphaba heights, but it was Wicked and Rent that forever made her a gay fave.

Imagine, then, what a new Beaches might do for Menzel. The Lifetime remake of the 1988 classic has the 45-year-old portraying Bette Midler’s CC Bloom, a career choice the singer-actress admits has ruffled the feathers of her loyal queer following. Menzel talked about one gay fan’s tweet that led to her almost backing out of the film altogether, how LGBT support solidified her success and why she’s “excited” that Frozen fans are pulling for a lesbian Elsa.

Q: What’s a trip to the grocery like now, after Frozen made you a household name?

A: It depends on how many little kids or gay men are there. And they certainly have been complimentary, and yeah, we take some pictures and I’ve put myself on a video for several people’s birthday wishes and bar mitzvahs.

Q: But the gay guys aren’t just singing “Let It Go” to you, I’m sure.

A: Exactly. And you know what, I’m leaving out the ladies too! Because, of course, I was Maureen in Rent, so it’s not all the gay male community. There are a lot of beautiful women that have been very supportive of me.

Q: What does your long and loyal history with the LGBT community mean to you?

A: Honestly, you said the word “loyal”—it means everything to me. All the women that I’ve revered in my life have been beloved by the gay community. So, when I was younger it was like, if I’m not in with that club, then I haven’t made it. So, as soon as I felt like I was being included and appreciated and supported (by the LGBT community), it just really meant everything to me. Not to mention, the accolades and all the compliments don’t come easy. There can be harsh critics; it’s not an easy crowd to win over, so it feels good when you feel like you’ve made friends and they are so loyal and so supportive.

Q: There’s a lot of pressure on you and Disney to make Elsa gay. Are you surprised by the #GiveElsaAGirlfriend movement?

A: Am I surprised? (Sighs) Maybe at first I was a little surprised because it’s Disney, but

Idina Menzel

I can say that I’m excited that the conversation is happening. I can’t promise anybody that that’s what’s gonna happen. I’m just a servant at a big company called Disney and I’m happy to have a role and a job. But deep down am I really happy that it’s causing people to talk about it and have these kinds of conversations? Yeah, I am.

Q: Do you think the world is ready for a lesbian Disney princess?

A: Umm… I don’t know about that, considering we’re having a hard time even getting Donald Trump out of the way. Sometimes it’s a little discouraging. But you never know. We keep making all these strides.

We’ve made a lot of strides in the last couple of years, and then all of a sudden the hate and the vitriol within our country is exposed and you’re like, “What happened? We’re in the ancient times again.”

Q: You seem to gravitate toward empowered female characters and tropes. Is there a particular reason why?

A: I have no idea! (Laughs) I swear to god, I don’t know if I find them, or they find me.

I went into the studio (for this album)—I was going through a divorce (Menzel and her former Rent co-star Taye Diggs officially divorced in late 2014 after 10 years of marriage), and I can’t tell you how many times I’d sit with these amazing writers and want to write some really upsetting, sad, dark song and it would turn out to be some upliftTo read the rest of this story visit: http://wp.me/p22M41-4vF

8 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Creep of the Week: Man who doesn’t pay taxes, hates women & immigrants By: D'Anne Witkowski*/Special to TRT

I

just finished watching the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The expectations for her were very high. The expectations for him, not so much. What I witnessed tonight was a man proving, unequivocally, that he is completely unqualified to hold any office, let alone the highest office in our country. It was, to use political science terminology, a real shit show.

LGBT issues weren't discussed in the debate, but Trump did defend his hatred of Rosie O'Donnell.

"I said very tough things to her and I think everyone would agree that she deserves it and nobody feels sorry for her," he said.

Yeah, like after O'Donnell got engaged in 2011 and he Tweeted, "I feel sorry for Rosie's new partner in love whose parents are devastated at the thought of their daughter being with @Rosie—a true loser."

Surely "everyone" agrees, but only if "everyone" is as terrible as Trump.

Here's a newsflash: LGBT voters are not particularly enamored with Trump.

According to an NBC poll released Sept.

26, a whopping 72 percent of LGBT voters support Clinton. Wait, did I say "whopping?" I meant measly. WTF, y'all? This should totally be 100 percent. Oh, wait. I almost forgot about Milo Yiannopoulos. Make that 99.9 percent.

That Clinton is ahead here is not a surprise. LGBT folks tend to vote for Democrats, which makes sense. Trump has tried reaching out to LGBT voters, but any efforts

Donald Trump speaking to supporters at an immigration policy speech at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

became null and void when he chose the notoriously anti-LGBT Mike Pence to be his running mate. And the Democrats are, after all, the only major party that acknowledges them as human beings deserving of rights and worthy of love. The Republicans, on the other hand, think that LGBT people exist

solely to make life difficult for Christian bakers, florists and website designers.

And in that spirit, Trump is vowing to sign the so-called First Amendment Defense Act, which would shield those who discriminate against LGBT people from legal repercussions. Trump and the Republicans surround-

PHOTO: GAGE SKIDMORE

ing him believe in protecting the right to discriminate, not protecting LGBT people from discrimination.

As Clinton wrote on Sept. 19, "When (Trump) talks about making America great

See Donald Trump on Page 21

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 9

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Boston College students protest homophobia and discrimination, President mum By: Chris Gilmore/TRT Reporter

ANTI-LGBT

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.—A recent gay slur incident and additional instances of alleged prejudice at Boston College prompted more than 300 students to march in solidarity and protest the silencing of their identities at the college, according to reports from a college LGBTQ+ organization. “ … as a gay student at Boston College, I understand firsthand what it feels like to be silenced,” said Dylan Lang, President, Graduate Pride Alliance, GPA. “I have spent so much of my life silent in the closet that I cannot be silent anymore.”

The silence became deafening after the letters on a parking lot sign were rearranged to spell, “no f*gs,” on Sept. 17. The incident went unaddressed by Boston College president.

“The president of a university is a role model, top decision maker, and face of the school. When an incident happens in the United States, the American people look to the President for support, guidance, and actions,” said Lang to The Rainbow Times.

“Similarly, when an incident occurs on a college campus, students look to the president to address the issue. Students want reassurance and action, and they want to hear that the president acknowledges them, supports them, and will fight for what matters most to them.”

A press release from the GPA stated “a coalition of Boston College students walked

Students walking silently across BC campus

across campus to the parking lot and shared testimonies of violence and hate that they have experienced at Boston College. Instances when racial slurs were allegedly said in passing, not feeling welcomed in class-

PHOTO: BRYN SPIELVOGEL

rooms or in dorms, and more were shared.

"It's not about the sign but the culture that allowed it to happen,” said one student, “today is [the] day that we change this culture."

Many of the protesters wore rainbow-colored duct tape across their mouths to show solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and ...

See Boston College on Page 15

10 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Pronouns: Do they really matter? Yes! Is it ok to misgender? Heck no!

By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/TRT Columnist

I

TRANS OPINION

was scrolling through my Facebook wall the other day when I noticed a post about using pronouns. One of the questions concerned whether pronouns really matter when addressing a trans person. I can tell you right now that pronouns really do matter to trans people, but to non-trans people it might not seem to matter that much. The post went on to show how they do matter and they do matter quite a bit.

Like my sister columnist, Lorelei Erisis, I too am a tall trans woman.

We are both in the neighborhood of 6'3” and we tower over most of the people who we meet. This makes us both stand out not only as trans women but also as people.

We were both tall when we presented as males and are now extremely tall presenting as females. Almost everybody we meet— male, female, those who are in-between genders, and those who are outside of genders—are much, much shorter than we are.

Lorelei and I also do not try to raise our voices to a higher, more “normal” female

pitch. Add the low voice pitch to our tallness and many folks might mistakenly view us a males rather than females and use male pronouns when talking about us. I can't say exactly how much this happens to Lorelei, but I can say that it does happen quite a bit to me. I get “sir” almost constantly on the phone and occasionally in person. Does it

sometimes I don't, therefore, does it matter what pronouns are used? Yes it does, but sometimes just to facilitate the situation I let the misgendering slide. But it still hurts; it hurts a lot. Let me explain why.

When you misgender someone you are not respecting their core identity. If you never quite understood the struggles of trans peo-

JUST THINK IF YOU WERE CONSTANTLY MISGENDERED EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? THAT'S HOW A MISGENDERED TRANS PERSON FEELS. bother me? Yes it does. Do I always speak up and correct the mis-genderers? No, not always. Sometimes I just want to get through whatever I am doing whether it concerns dealing with customer service people on the phone or in person, in stores or restaurants. Other times, I just want to get the product or food and I will let the misgendering slide, but there are times when I am not willing to let the mis-gendering slide.

It depends on the situation, how I feel at the time, and how much time I have to execute the transaction. Sometimes I take the hit,

ple, here they are. Trans people have been wrestling with their gender identity their whole lives and when they finally work through all the head work, the fear, the shame, the guilt, the pain, and the various obstacles--to finally live in their true gender-it is very important to them to be respected as their true gender. They did all this work to get this far to live as their true gender and this is an incredibly important part of their core identity. It truly is a sign of disrespect if they get misgendered and it truly hurts them emotionally. Misgendering ignores the

core identity of the trans person. Just think if you were constantly misgendered every day, day in and day out. How would you feel? That's how a misgendered trans person feels.

The post I referred to earlier in this article made a point on how using correct pronouns does matter. One of the examples discussed if a trans person misgendered a cisgender person constantly and see how long it would take the non-trans person to act on the misgendering. The first misgendering may slide by with no response and maybe even a chuckle or two. The second misgendering wouldn't be quite as humorous as wouldn't be the next few ones. By the time the tenth misgendering came around chances are that the non-trans person would become, at the very least, slightly irritated at the misgendering. When the irritation starts is when the idea of misgendering someone begins to really matter. That's when it really begins to sink in that using the proper pronouns does matter. It matters a lot.

So the next time you interact with a trans person please, please, please be aware of the pronouns that they use because, yes, pronouns really do matter. *Deja Nicole Greenlaw is a trans woman who has 3 grown children and is retired from 3M. She can be contacted at dejavudeja@sbcglobal.net.

A fight we cannot afford to stay out of because disaster is around the corner By: Lorelei Erisis*/TRT Columnist

PHOTO: DAVID MEEHAN

ASK A TRANS WOMAN

Disclaimer: As this is an advice and opinion column, it can generally be assumed that whatever you read here next to my byline comes straight from my own ideas and worldview. But just this once I’d like to be clear: The thoughts and opinions presented in this column do not necessarily reflect the thoughts and opinions of the owners, editors, or staff of this paper.

They are my own, and I will gladly bear the responsibility for them. kay, now that’s out of the way, as this is the last column I will be able to write and have published here before the upcoming national election, I felt it was important, vital even, that I say a few words to you, oh my loyal readers. So, let me get right to it.

I want to urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to get out there Tuesday, November 8, and vote. Not just that, I would like to urge, no, beg you, to vote for Hillary Clinton.

Let me be honest with you. Hillary was not my favorite choice. I have a few problems with her. Like many folks I know, I was an early Bernie Sanders supporter. I’m

O

THE RAINBOW TIMES DIVERSE............just like our team is OBJECTIVE..........someone has to be INCLUSIVE........no one is left behind .....That is HOW media should be.....

pretty left-leaning politically, and Bernie was the closest I’ve seen to a candidate who actually represents my own beliefs and concerns in a long time. I was terrified to get my hopes up, yet I unhesitatingly gave him my full support right through to the primaries.

Eventually though, the writing was on the wall. Hillary was going to be the Democratic Candidate. And when Bernie gave her his support, I gave her mine too.

than a male candidate would.

And for any criticism, Hillary is frankly excellent at all the jobs she has had. She has the experience, the skills, the intelligence, and the relationships, both domestically and internationally, to be a very effective chief executive. Hillary Clinton has the chops it takes to be the president and to do the job well.

But really, none of that is why I’m asking

SHE IS HELD TO THIS INCREDIBLE DOUBLE STANDARD. MOSTLY, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN. AS A RESULT, SHE HAS TO WORK TWICE AS HARD AND ...

Yes, although she’s a woman, which is exciting, she’s still old guard and old school, a career politician, an insider and a major player. Nonetheless, with the country in the uproar it’s in, I’ll take that over the alternative.

It’s also worth noting that Hillary is damn good at what she does. And my problems with her are not the ones I read in social media or hear repeated over and over on the news. Sure, she’s done some things we aren’t crazy about. But I do not believe for one minute that any of the things she’s been accused of are anything that any other career politician would not do or has not done if in her shoes. And yet, she is repeatedly met with this whole host of distracting accusations. She is held to this incredible double standard. Mostly, I believe, because she is a woman. As a result, she has to work twice as hard and deal with exponentially more BS

you to get out and vote. I’m asking for one simple reason.

Trump could win.

I know, we worry about it, we talk about it, we even joke about it. I also know that despite all that, there seems to be a certain cynicism that he’s not really a serious contender.

He’s an overblown and overhyped reality TV star—a jumped-up Trump. There’s an unspoken belief that he couldn’t truly, really truly and in actual reality, win.

But this is wrong. I am telling you right here, he could. We have consistently underestimated him at every step. And, at every step, he has managed to surprise us.

Further, there is a frighteningly massive groundswell of support for Donald Trump.

He has managed to tap into our worst fears and beliefs as a country, motivated the masses with hate and ignorance, and captivated us all with stellar sound bites and a

masterful sense of showmanship.

We ignore him at our peril. And we cannot assume that old guard Hillary has a lock on this.

A few years back, on a more local level, this is how Scott Brown got elected. While we were all sitting back waiting for Ted Kennedy’s “rightful heir” to ascend to his Senate seat, Scott Brown was out there whipping up the electorate, getting out the vote, and he won that fight before we even knew there was one.

For us especially, as LGBTQ people and our allies, we cannot afford to let the same thing happen with Trump. Because while we have come a long, long way in the last few years, all the progress we’ve made for gay rights and trans rights, for marriage and employment equality, for basic civil rights protections, don’t think that it can’t all be stripped away from us in an instant.

It has happened before. It can happen again.

Let’s not let it happen here.

No matter how much you loved Bernie.

No matter how little you may like Hillary.

No matter how big a joke you think Der Drumpf is. I’m pleading with you, come that second Tuesday in November, get yourself and everyone you know out to your local polling place and cast a vote for Hillary Clinton.

Unless of course the people you know are going to vote for Trump. In which case, I’d recommend perhaps engaging them in a night of really especially heavy drinking on Monday, November 7.

Our very lives may depend on it. Slainte! *Lorelei Erisis is an actor, activist, adventurer and pageant queen. Send your questions about trans issues, gender and sexuality to her personal e-mail via GMail: askatranswoman@gmail.com.

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 11

BeautY

beyond the

binary

Tuesday, October 11 is National Coming Out Day, a time for members of the LGBTQ community to embrace their identities and, most importantly, show love, compassion, and empathy towards each other.

Preferred Pronouns: They/Them & sometimes, She/Her Lives in Medford, Mass.

Q: What does having a non-binary identity mean to you?

For me, my non-binary identity is both personal and political. I do not personally identify within a binary construction of gender, where everyone must be one gender or the other. I also believe that visibility as a non-binary person and talking about the reality that not everyone is a woman or a man, or that some people may be both, is a political act of resistance against gender, binarism, and colonialism.

Q: What is one common misconception about non-binary people that you’d like to dispel?

Non-binary people may, or may not, transition medically, surgically, socially, etc. I think those are both misconceptions, that non-binary people never transition medically, and that non-binary people always transition medically. Neither is true.

Q: How can society be more inclusive of gender non-conforming people? ... By diminishing, or ideally ceasing, enforcement of gender conformance. Gender conformance doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

It happens because people reward expected gendered behavior and appearance and punish unexpected gendered behavior and appearance. It happens every time anyone tells a girl (whether she’s cisgender or trans) that having any facial or body hair is un-girl-like. It happens every time anyone tells a boy (whether he’s cisgender or trans) that painting his nails is un-boy-like ...

Andy DeStefano | Age: 27 Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His Lives in Somerville, Mass.

Q: What does having a non-binary identity mean to you?

Growing up, I always felt like I identified as masculine, but transgender and non-binary weren’t ideas I was really familiar with. Even though today I prefer him/his pronouns, in a lot of ways I am [the] same person that I’ve always been, I just use different words to describe the same person. If anything, I am a more authentic version of myself now that I can be more open with the people I know. Currently, I’m even in the process of finding what works best for me. I think having a gender identity outside of what is considered “the norm” helps to spread awareness and make others feel less alone.

It has been reported that non-binary people attempt suicide at a higher rate, even than the already ridiculously high rate for trans people in general. This is likely connected to the challenges we face for falling outside “the norm” and the lack of knowledge the general public has about non-binary people.

It’s hard to live in a world where you feel you don’t exist or matter and you are punished, silenced, or criticized for making yourself visible. Even though it can sometimes be hard, I’m happy to be part of the dialogue to break these standards and norms, hopefully so future kids who feel similarly to how I did growing up don’t feel isolated or insecure with how they feel.

Elizabeth Sanchez | Age: 24 Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/They Lives in Boston, Mass.

Q: What does having a non-binary identity mean to you?

It means that I have the freedom to express myself in whichever way I want without the confines of social constructs. Freeing myself from what everyone else recommends I look like just so that they can feel comfortable has been one of the best things I could have done for myself, including for my self-care. Plus, I’m pretty sure I look better this way.

Q: What is one common misconception about non-binary people that you’d like to dispel?

Maybe that we’re contagious or something?

People are so concerned about our visibility because they’re afraid that they will all of sudden live in a world where everything they have grown up believing to be true can be questioned or no longer exist. Our visibility is thought of as a threat, but really it’s not about right or wrong. It’s about resisting the oppression of any being, and about not having to hide in order to live just like those who feel comfortable with the binary get to do. People will always be afraid of what they don’t know, so we just have to keep being visible, teaching, and learning.

Q: How can society be more inclusive of gender non-conforming people?

Universal gender neutral bathrooms is probably a good tangible start. Visibility in all media, and not just one show on Netflix. I think even being able to talk out loud about gender nonconforming people would be an essential step to understanding.

CHeck out even more answers on beauty beyond the binary on page 18

Photos: Alex Mancini/TRT Photographer

Andi K. | Age: 32

In this three-part series, The Rainbow Times will explore transgender and non-binary identities.

This series highlights the courageous contention that beauty cannot be limited to binary identities and traditional, cisgender, heteronormative standards.

eugene massey | Age: 23 Preferred Pronouns: Flexible Lives in Somerville, Mass.

Q: What does having a non-binary identity mean to you?

For me, a non-binary identity means that I am refusing to limit how I conceptualize my gender and allowing my gender to be messy and prismatic.

Q: What is one common misconception about non-binary people that you’d like to dispel?

The concept of non-binary can be expansive and does not look like a single gender presentation or identity. It can include a huge variety of descriptor words and self-conceptualizations.

Q: How can society be more inclusive of gender non-conforming people?

A: I would love to see greater openness around gender in the workplace and “professionalism.”

So expanding what our society considers to be work appropriate ways of dressing and identifying ourselves.

Gabrielle “Gabi” Miranda Morgan | Age: 60

Jac mestel | Age: 29

Q: What does having a non-binary identity mean to you?

It’s funny, there seems to be so many new identifiers for people. I just knew that when I was younger I was absolutely different on the inside than how I looked and presented on the outside.

While I was able to act out the male part for 59 years, I finally had to be honest with myself and be who I always truly knew I should be. For the first time ever, I am sincerely happy.

Q: What does having a non-binary identity mean to you?

Having a non-binary identity to me means that you grow up feeling very different and not quite feeling like you belong in mainstream society, but not really understanding why until you’ve done a lot of soul searching.

For me, being non-binary means feeling like you have various characteristics from both genders. I feel like since I grew up being socialized as female and not male, I am perhaps more in touch with my own emotions than cis-gendered males, but I identify as feeling more masculine and am currently exploring my masculinity in terms of how I socialize and how I physically identify with my own body. I think we all grow up with certain expectations put on us by society. But being non-binary, there is a sort of rejection of those societal expectations and instead a search for the truth about who you are as a human being and why your insides don’t necessarily match your outside. And that means identifying inner traits and outward physical attributes from both genders in the combination that fits you without the perceptions and assumptions placed on you by society. It can be a super confusing, yet soulful and vulnerable journey, which is one I feel I’m on right now.

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Lives in Boston, Mass.

Q: What is one common misconception about non-binary people that you’d like to dispel?

Well, many still seem to think it is a choice (e.g., “Hey, let’s try something different”). The only choice is to finally be honest with yourself. Also, so many just assume it’s an extension of a same sex/gay preference. It might be for some, but not for me or many others I’ve met. It’s just simply being who I really am.

Parts 2 and 3 of this series will appear in the November 3 & December 8 issues.

Sterling Bishop

Preferred Pronouns: They/Them/Their Lives in Somerville, Mass.

Q: What does having a non-binary identity mean to you?

It’s different to everyone. Being non-binary just means not fitting into the two default options. It’s a chance for a conversation rather than an assumption.

Q: What is one common misconception about non-binary people that you’d like to dispel?

That non-binary folks look a certain way. That there’s a right or wrong way to look, to express your identity.

Q: How can society be more inclusive of gender non-conforming people?

Ask [for] preferred pronouns. Don’t assume too much about people based on their appearance.

Don’t just include “Male” and “Female” on forms, or in questions. [Provide] gender inclusive bathrooms.

For additional interviews and photos, visit http://alex-mancini.wixsite.com/genderseries

Preferred Pronouns: Currently unsure and exploring Lives in Somerville, Mass.

Q: What is one common misconception about non-binary people that you’d like to dispel?

A: ... That their gender identity is correlated with their sexuality. It’s actually completely unrelated. ...

14 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Boston City Council hears testimony about needs of LGBTQ youth of color In response to a report by The Fenway Institute released late last year finding that more than 15 percent of Boston’s LGBTQ youth of color had traded sex for money, food, shelter, or other resources, the Boston City Council’s Committee On Healthy Women, Families & Communities held a hearing September 27 on the needs of the city’s LGBTQ youth of color.

Called by District 8 Councilor Josh Zakim, the hearing drew approximately 35 attendees and featured testimony from youth, adults who work with youth, social scientists, academic experts, and officials from Boston Public Schools and the Boston Public Health Commission.

Kerith Conron, an Affiliated Investigator at The Fenway Institute, and the BlachfordCooper Research Director and Distinguished Scholar at The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, offered testimony from the report, titled, “Our Health Matters: Mental Health, Risk, And Resilience Among LGBTQ Youth Of Color Who Live, Work, Or Play In Boston.”

Key findings, said Conron, who co-authored the report along with Johannes Wilson, Sean Cahill, Jessica Flaherty, Mio Tamanaha, and Judith Bradford, included: • Over 40 percent of a sample of LGBTQ youth of color in greater Boston reported symptoms of clinical depression and/or anxiety.

• Nearly one in five attempted suicide within the prior 12 months.

• One in five 19-25 year old youth reported exchanging sex for a place to sleep, money,

food, drugs or other resources in the prior three months.

• Family rejection, bullying, and discrimination along multiple axes of inequality, coupled with a low minimum wage and a lack of affordable housing, are among the root causes of poor health for LGBTQ youth of color.

Zakim, along with other councilors in attendance including District 7 Councilor Tito Jackson, and Councilors-at-Large Ayanna Pressley and Michael Flaherty, expressed concern about the high number of young people exchanging sex for basic necessities.

Cahill, who is Director of Health Policy Research at The Fenway Institute, offered testimony on the high rates of HIV among young gay and bisexual men and transgender women. Citing recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control, Cahill noted that Black gay and bisexual men have a one in two lifetime chance of becoming HIV-infected, Latino gay and bisexual men a one in four chance, and White gay and bisexual men a one in 11 chance. He called for a sense of urgency to reduce these striking racial disparities among gay men.

Gary Bailey, MSW, ACSW, a Professor of Practice at Simmons College School of Social Work and at the Simmons School of Nursing and Health Sciences, testified to the mental health needs of LGBTQ youth and how critical it is for providers to be trained in the provision of cultural competent care.

Read the rest of this story at: https://goo.gl/wFhoo7

GAY TOP 10

1. The Royal Road 2. Parched 3. Margarita With A Straw 4. Orange is the New Black: Season 3 5. Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson 6. Carol 7. All About E 8. The Girl King 9. Liz in September 10. Portrait of a Serial Monogamist

Courtesy: WolfeVideo.com

LESBIAN TOP 10

TOP 10 BEST SELLER VIDEOS 1. Hurricane Bianca 2. Coming Out 3. Looking CSR (Complete Series & the Movie) 4. Fire Song 5. Shared Rooms 6. Other People 7. Women He's Undressed 8. Those People 9. Tab Hunter Confidential 10. Henry Gamble's Birthday Party

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 15

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

HBGC to hold Annual LGBTQ youth empowerment conference

Boston College from page 9 transgender students, and they held signs— including one that read “Silence = Violence,” according to a Boston Globe story (https://goo.gl/o0HMa8).

Although the Dean of Students wrote a letter about the incident, the president of the college, Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., has not addressed the issue, something that the students consider his obligation to them.

“Students are tired of the silence. We want explanations for why there is no dedicated full time LGBTQ+ staff person, or why there is no LGBTQ+ resource center, or why gender identity and gender expression are not covered in Boston College’s non-discrimination clause, or why there are no allgender bathrooms,” Lang said. “We feel it appropriate to have an explanation of why this hasn’t happened, so who better to give us those explanations than the university’s leader and president?”

The Rainbow Times made multiple phone calls and sent e-mails to Rev. Leahy and his assistant/s. No communication was returned by deadline from Rev. Leahy, or any of the administration personnel contacted for this story.

The march came after a week of tension built on campus. Although Boston Campus Police Officers, according to the GPA, quickly removed the sign, the Dean of Students only publicly condemned the act in a “weakly worded” letter to a campus newspaper The Heights (https://goo.gl/RVJRSs).

In that same publication, the GPA penned an open letter calling on Rev. Leahy (https://goo.gl/oDajzq) to address issues of

Main Silence is Violence banner leads the march across campus

violence and hate aimed at LGBTQ+ people and people of color. Following suit, the Undergraduate Government of Boston College recently passed a historic resolution to commit resources and efforts towards creating a long-overdue LGBTQ+ Resource Center on campus.

“As a world-renowned institution founded on and guided by the Jesuit ideals of compassion, service to others, and social justice, Boston College can no longer afford to be neutral and silent in the face of hate, discrimination, and oppression,” said Kevin Ferreira, an organizer with anti-racist group

PHOTO: MARK D’ANGELO

Eradicate Boston College Racism, via the organization’s press release.

According to the Boston Globe, students have “clashed with administrators over other race-related protests. In December 2014, some students faced disciplinary warnings for participating in a Black Lives Matter “die-in’ ’inside the campus residence of the Jesuit community (https://goo.gl/amq6Fc).”

To read more about the Grad Pride Alliance (https://goo.gl/l8Y1GL), its mission and to view videos of the protest, check out their Facebook page.

BOSTON, Mass.—This year marks the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition’s 6th LGBTQ Youth Empowerment Conference, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th at the MIT Tang Center, located at 70 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The conference is free to attend and food will be provided. There will also be a raffle with several prizes ranging from gift cards to a North Face jacket.

The first day of the conference will be focused on healing and community building with speakers who will discuss trauma, its effects on LGBTQ people of color and how to cope with this adversity. There will also be a resource fair providing youth with an opportunity to connect with organizations in the Boston area. The following day will have various workshops as well as this year’s keynote speaker, Rosa Clemente, a revolutionary community organizer, hip-hop activist, political commentator, and journalist who is currently on a speaking tour across the U.S. At the end of this conference, HBGC seeks to leave youth with a sense of purpose and belonging, armed with skills and resources to go back out into the world better equipped to handle and persevere through the struggles of life.

To register and learn more about the Youth Read the rest of this story at: https://goo.gl/xgLscJ

16 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016 PHOTO: FACEBOOK

The Hat Sisters, Tim O’Connor (left) & John Michael Gray (right) at work, giving back while wearing the hats that made them famous.

The Hat Sisters’ Legacy Lives On: Farewell On September 24 the LGBTQ and Allied community in eastern Mass. and beyond learned of the passing of one giving, iconic legend of the treasured duo known as “The Hat Sisters.”

John Michael Gray, a South End activist and art educator, succumbed to lung cancer in his final days. But his passing is not what made the man great; it was what he did for others with his life and his life partner Tim O’Connor.

The Rainbow Times’ team extends its deepest, heartfelt gratitude and condolences to Gray’s husband, O’Connor, their families and friends.

According to the Cape Cod Times, “O’ Connor and Gray met in the summer of 1984 at a dinner party in Boston. Both men liked to dress up.”

The iconic duo had celebrated their 33rd Provincetown Carnival together this year, according to a quote O’Connor recently gave to CCT. Their favorite hat was created in 1987 for the March on Washington, according to One New England, an online publication (https://goo.gl/wRNH9y).

“The Hat Sisters” participated in many fundraising events, locally and nationally.

Their giving extended to, and did not go unnoticed, for charitable organizations dealing with various causes they held dear to their hearts.

“Mayor Thomas Menino and his wife, Angela, attended the Hat sisters' wedding,” O’ Connor told the CCT. They were so close, they also attended Mayor Menino’s funeral.

The union, compassion, creativity and art

that came with both men cannot be replicated, many say. The remaining Hat Sister told the CCT that he could not imagine wearing fabulous hats anymore.

“It’s the end of an era, which really upsets me because we just got these heels that are really great for fall,” he joked.

A GoFundMe (https://goo.gl/8ebGzl) page was started to help The Hat Sisters’ other half cover the medical expenses and financial stress caused by Gray’s health treatments. Some of the fundraising page reads: [The Hat Sisters] “ … joyously and generously entertained people from all walks of life with their unique and artistic fashion statement. They did not walk away from controversy. They walked towards acceptance, breaking down barriers of prejudice wherever they went. Just as they walked for us then, we will walk for them now.”

Gray also left one of his last messages on that page—with special gratitude to the PTown area.

"Dearest Friends and Family, It is quite amazing to receive the daily love and support of so many as I continue my battle against cancer. I continue to believe in the medicine working within my body and the spiritual support of the extended Provincetown community. Thank you to my husband for his continued organizational skills, guidance, support and LOVE. xoxoxoxoxox" John Michael Gray” As of the closing of this story, two tributes were announced by O’Connor for Gray (https://goo.gl/77b8Rl). One to be held on October 11th in Provincetown at St. Peter’s Church, 1:00 p.m., and the other one on October 16th in Boston, at the Arlington Street Church at 1:30 p.m.

Their legacy lives on in people’s minds and hearts, in the giving, the creativity and meaning behind the hats—the very many hats that for over 25 years made them carry the famous name “The Hat Sisters.”

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 17

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Endorsements from Page 2 years later. Not turning away from healthcare coverage, she then fought for children’s insurance through the Children Health Insurance Program, CHIP. The late-Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. received much of the credit for CHIP, but in 2007 Kennedy told the Associated Press that Hillary Clinton played a critical role in it by saying it “wouldn't be in existence today if we didn't have Hillary pushing for it from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue."

As secretary of state, Clinton traveled the world and, according to many reports, rebuilt the image of the U.S. around the globe.

She championed LGBT rights at home and abroad and enforced anti-discrimination regulations within the State Department. “Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights,” she proclaimed on the world stage.

She continues to chip away at the glass ceiling, she has pioneered the efforts to pass the first-ever U.N. Resolution on LGBT Human Rights, launched the Global Equality Fund, ended State Department regulations that denied same-sex couples and their families equal rights, and helped implement LGBT-friendly workplace policies. Due to her leadership at the State Department, transgender individuals are able to carry passports that reflect their true gender identity.

Clinton recognizes that separate is not equal, that there are grave socio-economic

disparities arising from social injustice and she knows that the only way to move ahead is #strongertogether. We are looking for a candidate that is based in firm reality and comes up with creative, yet realistic solutions to the problems we face in the U.S. and abroad. Her relationships with world leaders place her in an advantageous position to continue negotiations that will serve to protect American interests, as she did as Secretary of State in the Obama Administration—all of our interests. Never has there been a better-prepared person to take on the Oval Office and never has there been a more qualified one either. In terms of relationships with Russia, we also trust Clinton to listen while holding them accountable for any possible action too.

Clinton makes it well known that her campaign platform lifts up the LGBT community and other oppressed groups. She will continue to fight for us, by our side and without diminishing our lives or struggles in the process. That is why we stand with her today.

The choice is clear. It’s Hillary Clinton for President. Plus, we like the sound of “Madame President.”

Massachusetts We are fortunate to be a part of a Democratic Commonwealth that has members of the Senate, House and U.S. Congress that advocate fiercely and relentlessly for LGBTQ rights and protections. Most re-

cently, an “Act Relative to Transgender Antidiscrimination” passed the Massachusetts legislature, protecting the rights of the transgender community in public accommodations, which was just enacted on October 1.

The fight ensues to ensure “religious freedoms” do not justify persecution against marginalized groups like the LGBTQ community. Additionally, the intersectionality of our varied identities must be protected by those we elect to hold public office too. This is not just a mainstream world any longer.

We are better because we are diverse; even better because we are inclusive.

Social justice movements throughout the country have erupted as black men are killed at grossly disproportionate numbers, immigrants and Muslims are being profiled and subjected to criminal treatment, women and children are being trafficked and transwomen of color are being killed on our streets for simply being themselves and at a higher rate than any other group. The list goes on.

We’ve examined the records of the candidates on the 2016 ballot and found several who particularly stuck out that we trust to continue to bring fight to the State House and Beacon Hill on our behalf.

Below are our top equal rights’ candidates: Congress Joe Kennedy, 4th District of Massachusetts Seth Moulton, 6th District of Massachusetts

State Senate Stan Rosenberg (Hampshire, Franklin & Worcester) Jack Patrick Lewis (7th Middlesex) Julian Cyr (Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket) House of Representatives Speaker Robert DeLeo, 19th Suffolk Paul Tucker, 7th Essex Byron Rushing, 9th Suffolk Liz Malia, 11th Suffolk Governor’s Council Eileen Duff, 5th Governor’s Council District Other Endorsees TRT has chosen are: Congress Katherine Clark, Fifth District Senate Jason Lewis, Fifth Middlesex District Jamie Eldridge, Middlesex & Worcester Linda Dorcena Forry, First Suffolk Sonia Chang-Diaz, Second Suffolk House of Representatives Dylan Fernandes, Barnstable, Duke and Nantucket* Denise Provost, Twenty-Seventh Middlesex Whomever you support in this election cycle, the most critical component is to get out and vote. We cannot afford to be complacent. Our future relies on it. *First-time candidate

18 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Beauty Beyond from pages 12-13 Andy DeStefano Q: What is one common misconception about non-binary people that you'd like to dispel?

A: Just because someone's gender identity doesn't match their gender assigned at birth, doesn't mean they will or plan to medically transition. Some people don’t experience physical dysphoria when others do. Some may not have options that suit them or have access to these treatments with our current healthcare system. Reducing people to the way you physically interpret their gender identity is a form of transphobia, and sexist in general.

Q: How can society be more inclusive of gender non-conforming people?

A: Feel free to ask questions. Whichever pronouns someone uses are an expression of who they are. Some people will use multiple pronouns and others will use none. Using "binary" pronouns (he/his or she/her) doesn't automatically imply that someone identifies as male or female, respectively. Those who use they/them on the other hand are not "ignoring grammar rules" so do not ignore their identity. It is always safer to politely ask for clarification of pronouns than make assumptions about someone's gender identity. If they are asking for certain pronouns or for you to change the pronouns you are using, it's because it makes them happier and more comfortable. Most trans* and non-binary individuals are more than happy to educate others or answer questions that are not offensive or overly invasive.

Jac Mestel Q: What is one common misconception about non-binary people that you'd like to dispel?

A: A common misconception about non-binary or transgender people is that their gender identity is correlated with their sexuality.

It's actually completely unrelated. Trans people or non-binary people can identify as being anywhere on the sexuality spectrum (straight, gay, anywhere in between or even asexual). I think of gender identity as one spectrum and sexual identity as another. You can identify anywhere on either one of them, or just on one of them, or neither of them.

It's hard for some people to conceptualize that until they meet people in real life who identify that way. For example, back in college, I was very confused about a transgender girl who transitioned from male to female and also identified herself as a lesbian. I didn't know people like her existed until I met her and I almost didn't believe someone could identify that way, but she was living her own truth. I realized that no one has the right to tell you how to self-identify and that someone's identity should be respected even if it can't be understood firsthand. She makes perfect sense when you think of her identity in terms of the two spectrums and I think more people are coming to that understanding over time.

I think another misconception is that to identify as non-binary is to have decided upon that label concretely. For me, I feel like I'm on the fence currently and have not quite landed on the labels or identity I prefer yet.

It's a little overwhelming to understand yourself completely when society has fought you every step of the way since birth. Society can't know how you feel or what you think between your ears, though it sure in-

sists that it does. Repeatedly. I'm leaning toward identifying as transgender (FtM), but haven't asked people to use different pronouns yet because I haven't decided what feels comfortable yet. My outside appearance doesn't quite match how I feel inside yet so that may play a factor in my indecision. "He," sounds strange because I'm not used to that and "she" doesn't feel right, so right now, I just want people to know me as "Jac." I've never loved conforming to labels, but society really likes them I think.

Q: How can society be more inclusive of gender non-conforming people?

A: Society can be more inclusive of gender non-conforming people by not making so many assumptions about anybody. Especially don't make assumptions about your children. I think it's important to let a child understand that they don't have to like "boy things" or "girl things" based on the gender they were born into because those things are just constructs of society and people can like whatever they want to. These things are not even a choice; you just like what you like and no one can change that about you, nor should they try. This genderized division that exists in society may be true for many people who identify within the two genders, but it is not true for all people, so we all need to wake up and try to understand those who don't fit the perfect little boxes instead of marginalizing them. People also have to be more accepting of those who don't identify with the body parts they were born with. It's hard for people to look at things from someone else's perspective, but with enough compassion and empathy, people can start to understand that we are all human and all want to live our own unique human lives and fulfill our own unique little human dreams and like what we like despite the world's unreasonable expectations. Let's all just be human beings together and accept people for who they are, no matter how they self-identify.

Gabrielle “Gabi” Miranda Morgan Q: How can society be more inclusive of gender non-conforming people?

A: I saw a Facebook post of a mom and her child walking behind what looked like a FTM young adult. The child asked, "Mommy, is that a boy or a girl?" The mom replied "Honey, that's a person." That's it right there. Just see people as people. Just because I finally live fulltime as a happily feminine woman doesn't mean I don't still have all my sports and political knowledge or ability to play shortstop or change a flat tire. Or defend myself against that poor idiot who attacked me. I am still the same person.

Just now with flawless eye makeup and killer pumps. Let people be who they are.

That simple.

The second and third parts of these series will appear on the November 3, and December 8, 2016 issues of The Rainbow Times.

For more in-depth interviews and photos, visit http://alex-mancini.wixsite.com/genderseries.

Happy Halloween

All!!

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 19

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

QPuzzle: This is not just lip service y’all

Across 1 Mary's pet 5 Tomlin and DeGeneres 9 Yellow-brick way 13 Like phone sex 14 To the ___ (how to play a pirate) 15 Garfield's sidekick 16 Hathaway of Bride Wars 17 Head output 18 Billy Elliot portrayer Jamie 19 Kate McKinnon said she is very uncomfortable with this 22 Bernstein's fifth 23 Bear necessity 24 Flow out 27 Kevin of American Beauty 30 Striped shirt wearer 33 Soft rock 35 "You want the light ___ off?"

36 Cinderella's coming-out party 37 Lot measurement 38 Rubberneck 39 Modern Family girl 40 But on the other hand... (with 58-Across) 43 Harbored ill will, with no grace 44 Monastery head 47 Homophobia and such 51 Once Upon a Mattress legume 52 1982 biopic with Ian Charleson 57 Right, to the ass 58 (See 40-Across)

61 Go down on a hill 62 Egyptian vipers 63 Historic Stonewall event 64 Business boss 65 Wear a lot of cologne, e.g.

66 Word used in dating Down 1 Mauna ___ 2 River of da Vinci's land 3 Death in Venice author Thomas 4 Billie Holiday's "God ___ the Child" 5 Water therapy devices for 3 men in a tub 6 West Wing worker 7 Fox comedy with Jane Lynch 8 Get it up and get up?

9 Batman's buddy 10 Pindaric poems 11 Has an STD, e.g.

12 Penn. neighbor 20 Trig. ratio 21 F, in the orchestra pit 24 Vowel for Socrates 25 Adriatic seaport 26 Pleasured by mouth 28 Avoid going straight 29 Harold and Maude screenwriter Higgins 30 "Don't ___ On My Parade" 31 Cousin of Jethro and Jethrine 32 Emulate Earhart 34 Site for a queen of the Nile 36 Zorro was a gay one 41 "Take your mitts off!"

42 Beverage from the land of Nureyev 44 Forbidden fruit 45 Henri's boyfriends 46 Boat with a flat bottom 48 Another time 49 Short probe 50 Take care of 53 Out and then some 54 Org. closely watched by bears 55 411 56 Corn covering 59 Dick, for short 60 Title for a man who avoids sex with women

Come Inside...

All Welcome!

SOLUTION

Voter Intimidation from page 6 Bates emphasized that the registrars cannot function as election workers because they recount votes when necessary. It would be a conflict of interest for election workers to also serve as vote counters, according to Bates. Since the Mayor and Police Chief may serve as election workers and provide support and assistance on Election Day, Bates said that he felt it was prudent to have two separate MOUs, one for those identified as election workers and the other for the registrars.

“I was also concerned that the Board not give any preferential treatment to a ‘Special Interest Group’ such as the LLC over any other special interest group or organization by signing an MOU,” Bates added. “In the future, the Board [of Registrars] may consider signing the same or similar MOU with any other special interest group that may seek such a document.”

Mayor Kim Driscoll reiterated the city’s dedication to equitable voting rights.

“The MOU itself calls for specific actions for training poll workers, providing educational materials, facilitating more bilingual assistance at polling places, and working collaboratively to ensure that Salem residents' voting rights are upheld, no matter their ethnic or racial background or their ability to speak English,” she said.

A signature missing from both MOU’s was that of Salem City Clerk, Cheryl LaPointe, who works under the supervision of the Salem City Council. When asked by The Rainbow Times about her decision to not sign either MOU, LaPointe stated: “First let me say that the MOU does not need my signature. As the City Clerk my job is to allow all eligible residents of the City of Salem to register to vote and to exercise their right to vote regardless of age, sex, race/color, disability, religion or national origin. I follow all federal and Massachusetts general laws for all elections. The MOU[s] [are] for a particular group only and as I stated elections are for all eligible residents.”

Corchado of the PNA said she was disheartened by LaPointe’s refusal to sign the MOU. “Respectfully, by signing the MOU, it would show good faith in trying to work together to ensure a much more positive voting experience for all,” she said.

Mayor Driscoll echoed Corchado’s contention saying, “While the Clerk does not need to sign the MOU in order for it to be valid, I hope that she and the City Council, to whom she reports, will ultimately join myself, Salem Police Chief Mary Butler, and the Board of Registrars of Voters, in agreeing with the values in that document and signing on to it.”

City Council President Josh Turiel agreed with LaPointe’s decision to not sign the MOUs. “I am fine with the MOU and the goals within it,” he said. “The document, though, has no legal force to back it up and seems to give one group more of a seat at the table than any other, which concerns me.

“The City Council is not a signatory to it nor were we involved in the discussions that created it. Since we have no role in elections as a body other than the appointment of the City Clerk, I don’t believe we should be a signatory to this, either.”

Allegations of Inconsistent Translation Services Nuncio of the LLC said that there are also issues of inadequate translation services for Spanish speakers. She expressed frustration with a lack of Spanish-language ballots for voters.

According to LaPointe, a proposal to provide Spanish-language ballots is in committee.

“In order to have Spanish on the ballots it requires a Home Rule Petition through the legislature, and it would only be for municipal elections, it would not be for federal or state elections,” she said.

According to the federal Voting Rights Act, if more than five percent of a municipality’s population speaks another language and is classified as “limited-English proficient,” then voting materials in that particular jurisdiction must be bilingual. LaPointe said that the next federal census in 2020 will determine how many Spanish-speakers are living in Salem and whether all voting materials will be bilingual. According to the 2010 Census, a little more than 15 percent of Salem’s population is Latino/Hispanic (https://goo.gl/3tYjEq), but it’s unclear whether enough voters in that demographic meet the “limited-English proficiency” requirement.

“We provide bilingual voting materials sent by the state law such at the Voter’s Bill of Rights and any other material that we can have translated to assist voters,” she said.

“For the City’s municipal election in 2015 I had the English specimen ballot translated into Spanish.”

LaPointe also stated that the City has made accommodations to have more bilingual poll workers.

“For language barriers we have enlisted translators and bilingual poll workers for those with limited English proficiency with the help of the Latino Coalition,” she said, also noting that the City is attempting to hire a part-time bilingual assistant in the Elections Office.

Inactive Voter List On June 2, out of the 27,894 registered voters in Salem, Nuncio said nearly 7,000 were placed on the state’s Inactive Voter List (IVL). Every year, each city and town in Massachusetts is required to compose a “street list,” also known as a census. A voter who fails to respond to the census is placed on the IVL and a notice is sent to their address asking for confirmation that they still reside there. If the confirmation is answered, the voter is taken off the list and reconfirmed as an active voter. If the confirmation is not answered, the voter is kept on the list.

On Election Day, if a voter shows up to the polls and is on the IVL, that voter must fill out an Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence, show a valid ID that contains their address, and have the affirmation signed by a warden.

Nuncio said she purchased a copy of the Salem list and approximately 1,200 Latino voters had been deactivated, including Lucy Corchado.

“I really don’t know how my name got on the list,” Corchado said. “I was pretty shocked. I did send in the census. I don’t know whether it was misplaced or lost, but I did fill it out and send it in.”

See Voter Intimidation on Page 21

20 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 21

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

El bienestar de muchos depende del voto Por: Gricel M. Ocasio*/Publicadora de TRT

N

LATINX VOICES

o ha habido otro momento en la historia de nuestras vidas y las vidas de aquellos que serán los líderes del futuro que sea más importante que las elecciones de noviembre 2016.

En estas elecciones las vidas de los immigrantes, musulmanes, mujeres, personas afroamericanas, LGBTT, latinx, y cualquier otro grupo minoritario están a la deriva. De ser electo Donald J. Trump, la vida de muchas personas que pertenecen a estos grupos no será la misma. Esta oración no tiene que ver con temor, sino con preocupación sobre lo que el candidato republicano ha dicho que hará de ser elegido.

En estas elecciones, en la página 2 de este periódico, hemos seleccionado los candidatos pro-igualdad o equidad que consideramos mantendrán y mejorarán los derechos de los grupos de menor influencia en este país. Si gusta usar esta lista como una guía para Massachusetts y para los candidatos presidenciales, le recomiendo que lo haga.

Además, de que es sumamente importante que vote, que ayude a otros a llegar a las urnas, que traduzca para aquellos quienes no entienden inglés, etc., es bueno que se informe lo más que pueda sobre lo que esos otros candidatos traen a la mesa. Además, recuerde que hay unas distinciones importantísimas sobre la pregunta de las escuelas “Charter” y las escuelas públicas. El votar sí en esta opción no le quita dinero a las escuelas públicas. Tan sólo les provee a los padres

Donald Trump from Page 8 again, it's code for taking America back to a time when many of us—women, people of color, immigrants, LGBT Americans, people with disabilities—were marginalized, ostracized and treated as less-than."

In other words, Trump and Pence represent the worst parts of America. They're appealing to straight, white men who are reeling after seeing even a modicum of their privilege slipping away. And he sure as hell isn't going to stand for a bunch of "losers" taking away what he believes rightfully belongs to men like him.

Clinton, on the other hand, has a much more inclusive vision for America. She's promised to "make sure that no special interests can get in the way of protecting and expanding civil rights, LGBT rights and all human rights."

Make no mistake that Trump represents a backsliding of progress in this country. Not

otra opción de enviar a sus hijos a una escuela que puede que le convenga más en términos educativos. Hay muchas personas que buscan amedrentar a ciertas poblaciones.

En los sistemas escolares públicos y privados actuales, no existe un éxito rotundo de las comunidades latinas, ya sea por falta de maestros latinos, que modelen una estructura y obtenibilidad disponible para todos, o por que las escuelas públicas no pueden ayudar directamente a la población de estudiantes cuyo idioma principal o materno no es el inglés. En esta pregunta votaré que “sí” pues deseo más escuelas “Charter” pues al haber más escualas “Charter”, hay más posibilidad de que maestros hispanos y de color sean los que le enseñen a sus hijos.

Lo que ahora existe en Salem, por ejemplo, es muchas distritos escolares en los que hay una super-abundancia de estudiantes latinos y muy pocos maestros latinos. Esto no es lo que ahora existe y al carecer de modelos para nuestras futuras generaciones, carecemos del poder político, social, económico, etc., pues la incidencia de deserción escolar existe más en las escuelas que no son “Charter” que en las que lo son.

Bueno, y lo más importante nuevamente es que vote con su conciencia. Usted sabe, si se ha informado, lo que debe hacer. Si no sabe, por favor infórmese antes de votar, por un candidato o por otras medidas. Estará ayudando a usted y a los suyos. ¡Hage que su voto cuente!

La publicadora tiene una Maestría en Administración de Empresas y un Bachillerato en Periodismo de la Universidad de Temple.

Escríbale a su correo electrónico en la web a: publisher@therainbowtimesnews.com.

just for LGBT people but for anyone considered a minority. The fact that so many anti-LGBT stalwarts are united behind Trump is very telling. Add that to the white supremacists who are ardent supporters and Clinton's "basket of deplorables" comment starts to look a little too kind.

There are always going to be people who support him even though he is a semi-sentient spray tan. Republicans are uniting behind him because they want to see Supreme Court nominees that would throw marriage equality and reproductive rights in the trash.

Even if that means saddling the country with a completely unstable and dangerous leader.

Vote like your future depends on it. Because it does. *D'Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter at (https://goo.gl/1zGTPp) @MamaDWitkowski.

Voter Intimidation from page 19 Corchado said she had to visit City Hall and fill out the census form to get her name off the list, but said that it may not have been that easy for others.

“For other folks, it would have been an inconvenience to come to City Hall during business hours [to fill out the census],” she said.

Meanwhile, Nuncio got to work sending notices in English and Spanish to all Latino voters on the list informing them of their inactive status and encouraging them to reregister to vote. Both Nuncio and Corchado coordinated a voter registration drive throughout the summer.

In August, a meeting between LaPointe, Salem City Solicitor Beth Rennard, and an attorney for the Elections Division of the Secretary of State was held about the IVL. After that meeting, LaPointe issued a letter to the Secretary of State’s office asking that the entire list of inactive voters in Salem be reactivated due to an “inconsistency” in amendments to the state’s IVL law in 2016.

LaPointe also noted in the letter that since a presidential election is being held in November, the city was expecting a higher than normal voter turnout.

On September 29, The Rainbow Times was informed that another inactive voter list was circulating despite the August letter to the Secretary of State asking for a full reversal.

According to Nuncio, the list contained 3,326 inactive voters, with 708 Latino voters.

The Rainbow Times also learned that on the evening of September 28, the Salem Board of Registrars met and the IVL was the subject of part of the meeting.

Nuncio, who said she attended the meeting, reported that LaPointe was using a new set of criteria for the revised IVL. According to Nuncio, that criteria included whether a Salem resident had voted in the last four years and whether that same resident had signed any nominating papers.

Attempts to reach LaPointe and other members of the Board of Registrars about the meeting and the revised criteria for the list were unsuccessful.

Moving Forward Since the signing of the MOUs, there have been relatively few complaints about discrimination against Latino people at polling locations in Salem.

“It’s a help to our community,” said Ynoa.

“It’s a fight for everybody … The MOUs encourage the city to do the right job in the right way.”

Nuncio said the city has stepped up to address the instances of discrimination and intimidation at polling locations.

“Police Chief Mary Butler has been very forthright and proactive about the reported abuses during the elections of 2014,” she said. “She was the first public official to indicate support for, and to sign, the MOU.” Donald Bates of the Board of Registrars said that at the recent primary in September he didn’t observe any instances of discrimi-

The Rainbow Times DIVERSO.........como nuestro equipo OBJECTIVO...alguien tiene que serlo INCLUSIVO....sin dejar a nadie fuera Así es como la prensa DEBE ser

nation.

“As far as the Sept. 8 election, I did not observe or have not heard of any significant problems with voting,” he said. “I was present at Precincts 1 and 2, which have significant numbers of Latino residents, for six hours during peak voting times and did not note any significant voting problems.”

Salem City Councilor Beth Gerard said that the MOUs signal a new beginning, one that will facilitate a shift in behaviors.

“The Voting Rights Act of 1965 took time and a great deal of effort to fully implement, and yet there continues to be voting rights issues 51 years later, so I expect that this is the start of changing behaviors at the polls,” she said. “As a community who is recognizing that change needs to happen—even though there are some who have yet to realize that there is a problem—this is where our starting point is.”

MOUs and Discrimination Mickey Northcutt, chief executive officer of the NSCDC, said that while the MOUs show positive movement, they by no means signal the end of voting discrimination.

“Signing the [MOUs] does not mean that we have achieved equitable access to voter participation in Salem,” he said. “It is a step in the right direction, but the parties involved actually need to take proactive steps as outlined in the MOUs and otherwise to ensure that our citizens are treated equally going forward.

“The Registrars of Voters and the City Council, who oversee city elections and the City Clerk, respectfully, also need to fulfill their obligations to do so going forward."

Ynoa, while optimistic about the MOUs and the accountability they ensure, is preparing himself for Election Day on Tuesday, November 8 and any potential problems at the polls.

“In November, we will take a lot of people to vote and we need to make sure there are no issues. If there are any problems, we are going to let the media know.”

To learn more about the LLC, visit their Facebook page at https://goo.gl/5c8z9Z. To find your polling location in Mass., visit www.wheredoivotema.com.

Anúnciate con The Rainbow Times ¡Reserva tu anuncio en la Guía Gay de Bolsillo y el Mapa de Nueva Inglaterra 2015!

La Guía y el Mapa tienen toda la

The Rainbow Times es el periódico de mayor audiencia LatinX en Boston y Nueva Inglaterra. ¡Tu anuncio aquí genera respuestas! información LGBTT de esta área. ¡No esperes más! Nuestro equipo trabaja con todos los negocios.

617-444-9618

22 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

L at i n X c e L e b r a t i O n Mas X N I L AT

Allá de la Binaria de l Gén er o

“ T H E L AT I N X LGBTQ COMMUNITY SITS I N V I S I B L E IN DISCUS S I O N S , C E L E B R AT I O N S , O R A D VOC A C Y I N THE D OMIN A N T L G B T Q C O M M U N I T Y. ” — MARICEL SHEETS, BOSTON’S HISPANIC BLACK GAY COALITION (HBGC)

Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 CHECK EVENTS HERE: https://goo.gl/8i49NY

LatinX: Breaking down the binary The Hispanic Heritage Month started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. It was then expanded

by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

Also, Columbus Day, or “Día de la Raza,” which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

Through the years, this celebration has been referred to as Latino/a, Latin@ or Hispanic Heritage month. To be more inclusive, many organizations (and The Rainbow Times joins them) have decided to update the name outside of a gender binary, which will be the Latinx Celebration. To learn more about this new terminology, read the TRT stories found here (https://goo.gl/3lhrNR).

“What is LatinX?” Gabe Gonzales at Flama (https://goo.gl/6KuAvr), explains the term this way: “Meet Latinx, a gender neu-

24

% Of ThE RaInBOw TImES’ REaDERS aRE PEOPLE Of COLOR

SOURCE: CMI, INC.(SUMMER 2016)

tral alternative to the usual gendered designation. You might have seen it used a lot lately, as gender non-conforming and trans people have become more visible and more vocal about inclusion and representation. It's usually pronounced ‘Lah-teen-ex,’ and it allows our language to move beyond antiquated binaries like "femininity" and "masculinity."

It wouldn’t be complete, the Latinx celebration that ends on October 15, without mentioning the victims of Pulse Orlando and the majority of Latinx casualties that lost their lives that infamous night in June 2016.

Check out The Rainbow Times’ Tribute to them here (https://goo.gl/zjMmy3). Also, on page 19, you can still buy the Tribute. All of the proceeds of this purchase go to the Pulse Orlando Victim’s Fund.

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 23

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016

Stealth Colarusso from Page 4 such as parks, restaurants, hospitals, and retail establishments. Conservative opponents of the legislation often referred to it as the “Bathroom Bill” and described it as a means to allow men to enter women’s restrooms and locker rooms to commit criminal acts.

Representative Day was a co-sponsor of the bill, which was signed into law on July 8, and went into effect on October 1 (https://goo.gl/t3bw3C).

A second Stoneham resident, who also asked not to be named, but will be identified as “Karen,” said she received a similar call.

“I had a lot of choice words for the man on the other line,” Karen said, stating that she expressed how offended she was by the question.

“It’s just misinformation,” she continued, noting that the call made her dislike Colarusso even more.

Both Margaret and Karen said that they received the calls on Friday, September 23.

Margaret identified the name of the telemarketer as “Advantage Consulting” and provided The Rainbow Times with the phone number that came up on her caller ID when she was called. When The Rainbow Times called the number, it received the following automated message: “Thank you. The call you received was concerning local political issues and not a sales call.”

An e-mail to Colarusso’s campaign inquiring as to whether she had hired a marketing research company to conduct the interviews was not returned.

According to the Massachusetts Office of

Queer POC from Page 2 sexual behaviors is a common experience amongst LGBTQ Latinx individuals. We find ourselves engaging in behaviors we may normally not feel comfortable exploring because the currency obtained from the transaction is long denied affection and approval by white gay men. This is not to be confused for consent. Skewed power dynamics and partner pressure often strips queer people of color of complete agency.

This leads to exacerbated rates of sexual violence and assault in QPOC communities compared to our white LGBTQ counterparts. Saying racial prejudice does not play a role in sexual interactions is quixotic at best and fatal at worst.

Similar trauma exists in the realm of mental health. Body shaming on the basis of skin color, race, and physique often leads to higher rates of depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in queer people of color, Latinx individuals not exempt. As a result, objectification along the axis of sensuality at first presents as a solution to these mental health struggles. Finally, we have have escaped the shadows and been presented as the coveted standard of desire.

Over time, though, the constant need to modify and revise behaviors and identity politics for the sake of satisfying white gay male needs erodes at mental health in a similar manner. Shredding the aspects of ourselves that do not project sex symbols status fatigues us and triggers depression. Many Latinx individuals speak to fatigue and low self-worth after white partners express frustration with their inability to regularly meet their expectations in terms of sexual drive or desire. Redefining ourselves to meet the

“THOSE EXPENSIVE FLYERS DON’T MENTION HER RABID RESISTANCE TO WOMEN’S RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE. … THEY LEAVE OUT HER VIRULENT ANTI-GAY, ANTI-MARRIAGE-EQUALITY ACTIVISM. THEY DON’T MENTION THE HARDLINE TEA PARTY BACKGROUND SHE APPARENTLY WANTS TO HIDE.” —MARK FEBLOWITZ, WINCHESTER RESIDENT Campaign and Political Finance (OFPF), a state government office providing information on candidates’ financial dealings, between January and August the Campaign to Elect Caroline Colarusso spent approximately $5,634.19 on a company named “Care of Advantage,” also known as Advantage, Inc., based out of Arlington, Va. According to its website, “Advantage, Inc. is one of the most reliable voter contact firms

used by Republican candidates and public affairs organizations. We are a creative, fastmoving company made up of personnel with decades of combined experience in political campaigns.”

A call to Advantage Inc. requesting confirmation of a relationship between the company and Colarusso was not returned.

THE FIXATION PLACED ON MANY IN THE LATINX

of the perceptions that others place on you.

You are the children of deities and a reflection of flawlessness. To my white allies—I ask that you continue to listen to queer people of color when we discuss the ways in which we are marginalized and I ask that you continue to hold your peers accountable when they engage in harmful verbal or physical violence. People of color do not exist for the purposes of white satisfaction. We are brilliant, we are powerful, and we are worthy of healthy love, respect, and appreciation.

COMMUNITY TO SUCCUMB TO THE SEXUAL ROLES PRESENTED TO US BY WHITE FETISHIZATION IS HARMFUL. standards of others reduces energy and drains us of optimism.

White individuals do not always readily acknowledge the ramifications of the language they use to address and "flatter" Latinx people and other QPOC—a tragic byproduct of the "colorblind era." But I beg the following question—when was the last time white individuals were regularly associated with sexual behaviors or certain anatomical traits in the way that POC are (i.e. "Big Black C$$k," "Latinx hips," "submissive Asians," etc.)? There is often a specific (i.e. sexual) intention when we speak to the QPOC aesthetic and it can strip us of agency and create long-term harm. In exchange for reclaiming our lands, many in white communities have instead opted to colonize our bodies, treating them as property for their own self-serving interests.

To my QPOC community, and especially my Latinx community, I want to remind you that your glory and grandeur is independent

A Stealth Campaign?

Mark Feblowitz, a resident of Winchester and ardent Mike Day supporter, co-authored a scathing letter to the editor of the Winchester Star (https://goo.gl/woxjko) accusing Colarusso of being a “Tea-Party darling” and dodging discussions around social issues. “ … her flyers are silent on Colarusso’s Tea-Party past, her radical right-wing politics and the hard-right outside advisors guiding her campaign,” a portion of the letter read. “Those expensive flyers don’t mention her rabid resistance to women’s right to reproductive choice. She has said she would vote for the unconstitutional Texas-style prohibitive restrictions on legal abortions.

They leave out her virulent anti-gay, antimarriage-equality activism. They don’t mention the hardline Tea Party background she apparently wants to hide.”

In speaking with The Rainbow Times, Feblowitz did not mince words when discussing Colarusso.

“I recall very sharply that the [2014] campaign she ran was exceptionally stealthful in terms of stating her values,” he said. “I’m seeing evidence of a similar campaign this time. I see campaign materials that say exceptionally little about her, her values, or what she’s planning on doing.”

Feblowitz ended his letter to the editor with one sentence summarizing his contention about the 31st Middlesex District election on November 8: “Be informed, before you vote!”

Learn more about Mike Day, by visiting www.electmikeday.com. More information about Caroline Colarusso can be found by visiting www.caroline4rep.com.

*Mike Yepes is a genderqueer Latinx social justice activist in the Greater Boston area. They graduated from Brown University in 2013 with a B.Sc. in Neuroscience and currently works in the realm of sexual health advocacy while applying to graduate programs to pursue a Master’s in Public Health. Their long term interests revolve around health care equity for immigrant, queer, and POC communities and those who find themselves at the intersection of these identities.

24 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

October 6, 2016 - November 2, 2016