The Rainbow Times' September 2021 Issue

2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

Texas: No access to safe abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, male sterilization?

By: Chris Gilmore TRT Reporter & Columnist

T

OPINION

his month I continue to feel deeply upset at what I see in this country and what many “lawmakers” allow to take place. I am in awe that we ended up with what the Republican majority (then) of Senators managed to do: put through three Supreme Court justices to basically take away people’s rights — the rights of the most marginalized amongst us, like women, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people who belong to different religions. They abused the majority power to castigate women and transgender people, as we are seeing in Texas.

It’s atrocious the way in which they (the GOP Senators and the three Justices) claim to be “Christians” but behave almighty and judge others, but it is ok when they do it. No one knows a person’s circumstances; therefore enforcing anything that has already been settled and has worked is to eviscerate our democracy, as we know it. And, that’s what they’ll try to do with Roe v.

Wade when the new case before them hits their docket soon.

To deny women abortion rights is criminal, especially to women with little to no means, who are the women who are most at peril of many cisgender men’s disgusting and sexually deviant behaviors. It is men who rape, yet it is women who pay the price.

What type of society is this? How equitable is that? It’s not at all. On top of that, the women and young girls without the resources or the network to support them are the ones that succumb as victims of these degenerate men who rob them of a life, of a future, of respect and honor. Yet, again, we don’t punish them. The Supreme Courts around the country don’t punish them. The U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t either. As it is, the Court is made up of at least 2 men (Justices Thomas and Kavanaugh) who were

... ADDING LAWS THAT PROHIBIT CISGENDER MEN FROM BUYING VIAGRA & SUBSEQUENTLY “JUSTIFYING” THEIR “LACK OF CONTROL” WHILE WEAPONIZING THAT POWER AND IN TURN LEADING TO SEXUAL ABUSE AND RAPE. accused of sexually abusing women, yet they were confirmed to the High Court and we also have legislators and presidents who’ve done the same thing and they continue to be elected, to be lauded by this gruesome society. In order to get rid of the abuse of women and other minority groups, we must start over and have new members of Congress and the Senate be in charge, not the same bunch of white, rich old men who also comprise a big number of those who assault others — through all forms of assault — around them.

Remember, the rich women will find a way to make their way to a state where there are abortion rights. Those who are not financially privileged will pay the price. The victims will pay the price. So, this is really an attempt (Texas’ governor and legislators) that hurts Texan women, but they don’t care, for it doesn’t affect the men at all.

According to Equality Texas, there have been more anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in Texas this legislative session than any other state. And that’s not something to brag about nor be proud of Texas. You are bullying marginalized communities and yet keeping the rights that the white rich man has.

No one legislates men bodies, but if women’s bodies are, why is it not equal? I firmly believe the hypocrites

in Texas should be stopped by adding laws that prohibit cisgender men from buying Viagra and subsequently “justifying” their “lack of control” while weaponizing that power and in turn leading to sexual abuse and rape. I propose the sterilization of men so that they cannot impregnate women. Does this sound unreasonable to you? This is nothing compared to the dehumanization of women and the laws used to justify ongoing abuse. It is nothing when you think about young girls who are raped by family members and family friends who are then raped again by a state legislature who refuses to provide them safe and legal abortion, imposed by misogynistic men in charge trying to deny them access to live a happy life, a life of their choosing, forcing them to have a child they cannot rear. These hypocrites are probirth, not pro-life. They don’t care about young girls’ mental anguish, nor the raising or the taking care of these truncated lives — those of the young girls, women and people of birthing ability being forced to have babies.

The bills below prohibit or tried to prohibit healthcare for trans youth in the country. Yet, these are not the legislators’ children or family members.

They do not understand the nuances and relationships that the parents have

Historic: Pennsylvania Governor recognizes Bisexual comm.

This month, a historic milestone was set for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, specifically those from the bisexual community and narrowed down even more, the bisexual community of Pennsylvania.

The state’s Governor, Tom Wolf, issued a statement recognizing September 23 as Bisexual Pride Day this year. This step marks the first time any American governor has issued a statement recognizing Bisexual Pride Day. Bi Visibility Day is the day in which the Bisexual flag is flown in Pennsylvania (and other states), on September 23. The bisexual flag flew at City Hall to commemorate this day to highlight the representation of and honor the ever-growing bisexual community in Penn. and the country.

According to many, this is the first

time a U.S. Governor has acknowl-

edged the event, which was first noted in 1999 in the USA. According to Bi Community News, the “USA and UK both have widely marked the date in recent years.”

Although former President Barack Obama’s White House hosted multiple of LGBTQ+ events and held discussions on bi health issues, that practice ended when Donald Trump succeeded him from day one, when the LGBTQ+ page was erased from the White House’s website.

Currently, the President Joe Biden’s White House has ended the transgender military ban, issued support for LGBTQ+ individuals, and asked Congress to pass the Equality Act — among many other things — and continued rights for LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals.

with their trans youth and they make statements about transgender youth and care that are not based on science.

Just as it has happened with the COVID vaccine, the same ignorance is being used to advance anti-human rights bills. If you are not being hurt, if someone you know isn’t being hurt, if families live and coexist well with trans, LGBTQ+ or non-binary youth, then what is it to you? Legislate things that can be stopped, like men raping women. Advance the hundreds of thousands of rape kits that are still sitting in so many states waiting to be processed. Advance human rights. Advance legislation that punishes those who are traitors, or terrorists (domestic and not). Advance equal rights for all, but for the God that you claim to adore and serve, do right by humanity. You are failing America and Americans.

You are what is wrong with this country and you enjoy the divide, just as Trump does. To read more about legisRead the rest of this story at TheRainbowTimesMass.com

Multiple Award Winning

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

ley Photographer Jenna Joyce Reporters Chris Gilmore Audrey Cole Ad & Layout Design Prizm PR Webmaster Jarred Johnson Columnistst Lorelei Erisis Deja N. Greenlaw Paul P. Jesep

The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The Rainbow Times, LLC. TRT is an award-winning publication that started printing in late 2006. The 1st print issue was published in Feb. 2007. 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.

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September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

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September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

Study finds limitations, opportunities as hate violence rises MAP & 16 civil rights orgs. organizations provide analysis of state and federal hate laws

IN THE LIMELIGHT

With a rise in hate violence across the country, a new report from the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and 16 leading civil rights organizations (https://bit.ly/3uK92Fg) provides a groundbreaking analysis of state and federal hate crime laws. The report features a foreword by Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and Board/Chair President of the Matthew Shephard Foundation.

• Read the report at (https://bit.ly/3uJw8fn) • See the report infographics (https://bit.ly/3AaRnru)

The report provides an unprecedented look at both the opportunities and limitations of hate crime laws as a means of preventing and addressing hate violence. While responding to hate violence is imperative, the report finds that hate crime laws across the country are inconsistent and provide complex and often incomplete methods of addressing hate violence. This analysis comes amid a spike in hate crimes in recent years— and as the country is examining racial justice and racial bias in our criminal justice system.

“At a time of rising hate violence, we need to re-examine and expand our responses. Hate crime laws serve a necessary purpose, but they are inconsistent, sometimes flawed, and can even harm the very communities they are meant to serve. We need to improve our hate crime laws and engage in broader solutions to reducing hate in our country. Like any law, hate crime laws alone won’t fix a problem as large as rising hate violence,” said Ineke Mushovic, Executive Director of

MAP. The partners releasing the report are: Anti-Defamation League, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC), Equality Federation Institute, James Byrd Jr. Center to Stop Hate at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, Lambda Legal, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Matthew Shepard Foundation, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Center for Transgender Equality, National Council of Jewish Women, National Disability Rights Network, Sikh Coalition, Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Union of Reform Judaism. (Read statements from these organizations https://bit.ly/3mr7j3X.) Hate Crime Laws Vary Widely Across the Country The report finds that federal and state governments vary widely in their responses to hate violence. This complex patchwork means that someone who experiences a hate crime may have a completely different set of protections, options, or access to resources depending on where the crime occurs.

Challenges of Addressing Hate Violence Through the Criminal Justice System Addressing hate violence when it happens is imperative. State hate crime laws provide avenues for responding to hate crimes, but they also highlight the challenges inherent in the criminal justice system. These challenges illustrate paths forward for both improving hate crime laws and responding more comprehensively to hate violence:

See Hate Violence On Page 11

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 5

September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

LGBTQ+ orgs. urge U.S. Senate to pass the Equality Act now As Senate reconvenes, over 160 LGBTQ+ leaders, statewide and locally, release letter illustrating public support for nondiscrimination protections

IN THE LIMELIGHT

WASHINGTON—A broad coalition of 160+ leaders of LGBTQ state and local organizations representing millions of LGBTQ Americans are renewing their call on the U.S. Senate to pass the Equality Act and illustrate the deep support for the legislation across lines of geography, ideology, identity, and party. The historic legislation cleared the U.S. House of Representatives for the second time with bipartisan support earlier this year, and President Joe Biden has vowed to sign it into law. The 168 state and local leaders who signed the letter, convened by Equality Federation and Freedom For All Americans, represent all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and dozens of U.S. cities. The Equality Act will be the first piece of federal legislation to explicitly and comprehensively protect LGBTQ people from discrimination on the basis of gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and will expand existing protections for people of color, women, people of faith, and other groups.

“The Equality Act has broad and deep support among Americans across

PHOTO: JOSÉ PABLO GACÍA / UNSPLASH

lines of political party, demographics, and geography,” said Kasey Suffredini, CEO and national campaign director of Freedom for All Americans.

“LGBTQ people have sought to pass federal nondiscrimination protections for nearly 50 years. Our community still faces unequal treatment every day; but we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pass historic nondiscrimination legislation with the support of Congress and the White House. America is ready to treat

LGBTQ people with dignity and respect under the law.”

“Americans from all walks of life support protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination, and we have both a president and leadership in Congress who have expressed a commitment to getting the Equality Act over the finish line. Now is the time to act,” said Fran Hutchins, the executive director of Equality Federation. “We’re emerging from one of the most anti-LGBTQ, dangerous state and local legislative

sessions in recent history — the need for uniform and explicit protections has never been clearer. There isn’t much that members of both parties in Washington agree on these days, but protecting LGBTQ people enjoys bipartisan support. It’s time for the Senate to take action and finish the job.”

A supermajority of Americans, including nearly 70 percent of conservatives (https://bit.ly/2WNCPjU), support nondiscrimination protections.

Beyond the deep support for nondiscrimination protections locally, the Equality Act has been named a legislative priority for the Biden administration and passed the U.S House of Representatives with bipartisan support earlier this year.

“Oregon proudly protects LGBTQ people from discrimination under the law, but simply crossing state lines means those protections may evaporate,” said Nancy Haque, the executive director of Basic Rights Oregon. “This patchwork of protections is unsustainable and leaves too many people behind. It’s time for members of the Senate to listen to their constituents and pass the Equality Act.” Though support for LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections is at an all-time Read the rest of this story at The Rainbow Times’ website

6 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

Rainbow PrideDoku To our readers, we hope you enjoy a little Rainbow Sudoku while Pride Season 2021 takes place (and beyond) & to de-stress a bit too! The solution is

Enjoy! —TRT

PHOTO: KYLAR BROADUS / FACEBOOK

Transgender rights trailblazer Kylar Broadus to receive GLAD’s 2021 Spirit of Justice award Honoree a trailblazing transgender rights pioneer, author, attorney and activist BOSTON—GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) recently announced that its 2021 Spirit of Justice Award will go to Kylar W. Broadus, Esq. GLAD will present the award to Broadus at the 22nd Annual Spirit of Justice Award Dinner on October 21, 2021.

After a virtual Spirit of Justice in 2020, GLAD’s annual dinner and award gala returns to Boston at a new venue, the Boston Park Plaza. Those outside Massachusetts or otherwise unable to attend in person will also be able watch a live stream of the program online.

Honoree Kylar Broadus is a trailblazing transgender rights pioneer. A Black trans man, attorney, author, professor, and founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition, his legal expertise and advocacy have advanced civil rights for transgender people over decades. Kylar, who currently sits on the board of the National Black Justice Coalition, has made substantial contributions to the work of nearly every national LGBTQ rights organization, including the National LGBTQ Task

Force, Freedom for All Americans, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and GLAD. He has published essential essays on transgender employment and family legal rights in Transgender Rights and Transgender Family Law (the latter co-edited by GLAD Transgender Rights Project Director Jennifer Levi) and has consulted on major federal civil rights legislation, including the Matthew Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act and the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (now the Equality Act), for which he was the first out transgender person to testify before the U.S. Senate in 2012. Kylar’s impact on the evolution of employment nondiscrimination law was recognized by President Barack Obama when he was invited to join the President at the 2014 signing of an executive order extending protections to LGBTQ federal employees.

“Kylar’s fingerprints are on nearly all aspects of the work done to advance legal rights for transgender people throughout the country,” said Jennifer Levi, GLAD Transgender Rights Proj-

See Kylar On Page 11

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 7

PHOTO: CHARLES DELUVIO / UNSPLASH

September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

Pet Peeves: Dumb, dangerous & disturbing things pet parents do Pet parenting comes with responsibilities; Check out Rox’s Do’s and Dont’s to help your pet’s longevity By: Mikey Rox* Special to TRT

P

et ownership – or pet parenting as we like to call it – comes with much of the same responsibility as raising a human child, at least in the beginning. There are plenty of dos and don’ts to consider, lest you want to put your animal in an early grave. That’s not a pleasant thought, of course, but neither are the things pet parents do, deliberately or innocently, that cause their dogs, cats and other household animals harm. Here’s what needs to stop right now.

Bringing home an animal you know nothing about Don’t bring home a pet until you learn everything about it, begs Nora Glover, founder and editor-in-chief of cat blog Catademy.

“Animals have needs and don’t have return policies like your new smartphone,” she says. “They may seem very independent, but it’s actually not true. Cats require quite a lot of daily care and attention from their owners to live a long and happy life. Your pet owner’s duty is to know about all your cat’s needs and learn how to satisfy them.”

Letting cats roam the neighborhood Outdoor cats pose several problems, like contributing to the feral feline population through procreation, killing wild birds that should be protected from unnecessary predators, and drawing the ire of your neighbors from doing their business in their yards. Furthermore, outdoor cats have an average life span of two years versus 12 when kept inside a loving home. That disparity in longevity alone should encourage any responsible cat owner to keep it safe indoors. If you’d like your

cat to experience the outdoors, take it on a leashed walk or build an inescapable enclosure in your backyard and call it a “catio,” because that sounds cute as hell.

Leaving dogs unattended outside Small dogs left unattended outside can become snacks for predatory animals like coyotes, hawks and alligators, depending where you live.

Being hit by moving vehicles is another, more likely cause of an outdoor dog’s untimely death. Exposing the animal to extreme heat or cold is a giant no-no as well. And then there’s the snatching, wherein criminals steal dogs to resell to an unsuspecting buyer, sell into dog-fighting rings, or hold them for ransom until your posted reward becomes high enough for the thief to pretend he or she found it wandering the streets. Happens right in pet parents’ front and backyards when they’re not watching. Don’t let yourself be a victim by being irresponsible.

Leaving an animal in the car alone If you’re popping into the convenience store for three minutes on a cool day, sure, your dog can stay in the car with the windows cracked for that length of time. But if you’re going on an hour-long Target run – because, let’s face it, even if you went in there with a list, you’re coming out no less than an hour later – leave your pet at home or take it inside with you. Most stores don’t bat an eye at a well-behaved dog in a shopping cart these days, so long as food isn’t being served in the immediate area.

Allowing dogs to ride unrestrained in the back of a pickup truck According to American Humane,

See Pet Peeves On Page 11

8 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

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September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

“America’s Next Top Model” Runner Up, Marvin Cortes, identifies as Bisexual From working as a cashier to getting the break of a lifetime in the iconic TV show By: Matthew Blanco Special to TRT

Marvin Cortes was working as a cashier at Zara when the casting director at America’s Next Top Model invited him to audition for the show’s 20th season. He would go on to win runner-up in the competition.

“That fateful meeting led to so many opportunities,” he reflects today.

It sure did. After the show, Marvin was whisked to New York, Los Angeles and Australia for photoshoots with world-class brands like Hugo Boss, Givenchy, Coca-Cola, Sears, and Samsung. He was featured in many of the world’s best fashion magazines and walked the runway for GUESS in Malaysia. He eventually even created his own male beauty line.

“I learned that a strong work ethic is the only thing that will ensure success in life,” he continues. “I saw how hard Tyra (Banks) and her producers worked, the attention to detail they paid in every big and little issue they encountered. The show taught me to approach my projects in a similar manner.”

His latest project is his most daring to date. Marvin is launching his own OnlyFans page!

“Part of the reason I wanted to create an OnlyFans page was the increasing amount of censorship on social media,” he explains. “The restrictions

ing to worry about being thrown off of a platform.”

Marvin is sharing a great deal of himself on OnlyFans, including his sexual encounters with men.

“I describe myself as a lover,” he says. “I am not a huge fan of labels but I get that it helps people understand where you lay on the spectrum. I identify as bisexual.”

Marvin describes his coming out experience as a long time coming; one he has struggled with more in his family life than in his day-to-day. He was born and raised in the South Bronx where he lived with his parents and six brothers. His mom raised the boys while his dad worked full time, often taking extra shifts on weekends.

He had multiple girlfriends in high school but recalls having a big crush on his 9th grade math teacher.

“He was smart with an infectious smile and the prettiest blue eyes,” Marvin remembers. “I didn’t think much of it at the time but even today, I have a strong fascination with blue and green eyes. I think we are always drawn to what we don’t have.”

It wasn’t until he was 21 that Marvin had his first same-sex experience and says his tastes in men today lean towards the Chris Pratt types. With the launch of his OnlyFans, he aims to

PHOTO: BRIAN JAIME

being placed on creators and photographers is bordering on censorship. I

want to be able to shoot and share all of my photos and videos without hav-

Read the rest of this story at TheRainbowTimesMass.com

10 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com

September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

“The Charm Offensive: A Novel” THE BOOKWORM

By: Terri Schlichenmeyer* Special to TRT

T

he applause is all for you this time.

It’s deafening, really – perhaps because there’s a standing ovation beneath it. All the work you did, the emoting, the emotions, you know how much your fans appreciate it. So take a bow. Drink in the love. As in the new novel, “The Charm Offensive” by Alison Cochrun, that’s one thing that’s sometimes missing in life.

Dev Deshpande was good at his job. He knew it, his colleagues knew it, it was fact. He might personally be terrible at love – case in point: he was still smarting from a three-monthsago break-up with his boyfriend, Ryan – but Dev was a pro at his job as producer for the reality TV show, Ever After. In fact, he’d been in charge of making dreams happen for six years’ worth of beautiful Ever After contestants; it helped that he believed in fairy tales.

Maybe one day, he’d find his own Prince Charming.

Just not this season.

This season, his lead director made him handle the “prince” instead of the usual “princesses,” and that was a challenge.

Charles Winshaw w a s twentyeight, devastati n g l y h a n d some, extremely wealthy, and a nervous, introverted nerd who rarely dated. Geeky, awkward, and prone to panic attacks, he sincerely had no clue how to be romantic. Truth was, he was only there because his best friend and agent put him on Ever After to counter a reputation for being weird.

Still, Charlie was weird, and it was up to Dev to make him work for the show.

Shoring up Charlie’s confidence didn’t work, and neither did a pep talk. He couldn’t seem to just perform a role without freaking out and it was becoming obvious. By the time Dev’s assistant suggested having a few practice dates, Dev was willing to try anything.

He took Charlie to dinner. He spent time doing jigsaw puzzles with him, and he got Charlie to relax a little. If

See Bookworm On Page 11

9 secrets of self-care for content creators Queer influencer & creator shares tips he uses that’ll help new and established creators By: Mathew Boudreaux, AKA Mister Domestic* / TRT Reprint Originally from: https://bit.ly/3aiA8dt

W

hether you’re a content creator full-time, part-time, or on weekends in between your regular job, being a content creator often comes with a significant emotional burden. While the topics content creators choose to focus on are usually ones they love, the nature of content creation requires us to engage through social media, which can often be toxic, dangerous, and unpredictable.

For those of us who happen to be in one or more minority groups, the emotional effort it takes just to show up can sometimes be exhausting.

As a queer influencer and creator, I have to navigate the planet differently.

I have to be on my guard because there are very real people, both on social media and in real life who want me to fail or worse. The solution for me cannot be to throw up my hands and walk away from social media. I have to find ways to be a content creator and be on social without doing harm to my spirit, my family, or myself. I have to do all this while still being mindful of maximizing the positive potential of each platform. On the plus side, we have these engaging outlets where we can reach our audiences and make meaningful connections. On the downside, we can lose everything overnight, or even our own lives.

If you’re a content creator, even though you’re making what you love, it can still be hard to carry on. I want you to know that you are not alone.

What you’re doing matters. You

matter. I want you to take care of yourself and find ways to balance your life and protect yourself so you can continue to create sustainably. Your voice is needed. Your work is valid. If you’re a minority content creator especially, I want you to succeed. We need you especially.

Here are some of my personal survival secrets and tips that have helped me continue to thrive as a creator, while keeping me firmly grounded in who I am and the life I want to live.

1. Adjust Your Mindset The first step to gaining control, (and a sense of sanity) over your social media interactions is to adjust your mindset. When it comes to your work as a creator, you have to think of social media as a tool. You can no longer afford to let social media be your daily, (hourly), dopamine fix, or hangout with mutuals. Social media, for you as a creator, is a tool. Make it work for you. If a platform is no longer working for you, either stop using it or find ways to make it work on your terms.

2. Separate Your Personal Social from Your Professional If you haven’t already done so, disconnect your public creator account personas from all of your private social media accounts. If you need to create a “public professional account” on some platforms, do it. This will make it easier for you to stay connected to IRL family and friends without getting Read the rest of this story at TheRainbowTimesMass.com

TheRainbowTimesMass.com • The Rainbow Times • 11

September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021

Hate Violence From Page 4 Failing to address root causes of violence, as current hate crime laws focus on punishing people charged with hate crimes without challenging underlying biases at the individual and broader societal levels. Additionally, harsher sentencing has not been shown to deter crime.

Widespread bias in the criminal justice system results in significant racial disparities in enforcement, as well as disparities for LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and low-income people. These are often the very communities that are targeted for hate violence. Evidence shows that, for example, even though the majority of hate crimes are committed by white people, many states’ law-enforcementrecorded hate crimes disproportionately list Black people as offenders (https://bit.ly/3Btye5m).

Flaws in hate crime data collection and reporting are widespread, and the current system of federal data collection, relies only on the voluntary participation of law enforcement. Additionally, victims of hate crimes may be wary of reporting the crime to the police if they do not trust the police.

Changing the intent of the law, for example, by attempting to add police officers – a profession – as a protected class in hate crime laws, despite the fact that all 50 states already have criminal statutes that specifically address and punish violence against a law enforcement officer.

Expanding Solutions to Address Hate Violence The MAP report highlights opportunities for both improving hate crime laws and better supporting communities affected by hate violence: Investing in communities that are harmed by hate violence, such as people of color, LGBTQ people, people of minority faiths, and disabled people. Expanding nondiscrimination protections and investing in social safety nets will help reduce the instability caused by discrimination. In turn, this reduces vulnerable communities’ exposure to potential violence.

Preventing violence through work that not only aims to reduce hate crimes, but also works to reduce hate and vio-

Bookworm From Page 10 sparks flew, well, it was one-sided: Charlie was completely straight.

Wasn’t he?

You know what’s going to happen in the end, don’t you? Of course, you do.

You’ll know it by Page Thirty, step-bystep, with virtually no surprises, which leaves a long way to the final sentence of “The Charm Offensive.”

Now, it’s true that this novel is cute.

It has its lightly humorous moments and author Alison Cochrun gives it a good cast, from contestant to show creator. It doesn’t lack details; in fact, reality dating show-watchers will feel right at home here. It even has the ubiquitous panoply of exotic locales for the “challenges” that the contestants must do.

At issue is the length of this book.

Kylar From Page 6

... HATE CRIME LAWS FOCUS ON PUNISHING PEOPLE ... WITHOUT

CHALLENGING UNDERLYING BIASES ... lence overall.

Improving law enforcement accountability and training, including addressing how law enforcement can disproportionately harm vulnerable communities.

Improving data collection can help connect people impacted by hate crimes to resources and support. More robust data can also support more tailored responses to hate violence, track potential disparities or bias in the enforcement of hate crime laws, and evaluate the efficacy of noncarceral responses to hate crime.

Shifting focus toward support and healing, such as through expanded measures to support victims and survivors of hate crimes, community education and response strategies, and non-carceral approaches to justice.

“As our country continues to grapple with racial injustice, bias in the criminal justice system, and rising hate violence against too many communities, it is critical that we reexamine our responses to hate crimes. It’s clear that additional solutions are needed to address hate violence, including a careful review of how hate crime laws in their current and potential forms fit into the work of building safe communities for everyone,” said Mushovic.

MAP's mission is to provide independent and rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all. MAP works to ensure that all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life.

There’s too much of it, too many shirts that creep up, too many mentions of vomit, too much needless drama, too many will-he-won’t-he, when we know full well he will. This extra doesn’t ratchet up the tension, it makes things slow.

And so: cute story, familiar scenes, good characters in “The Charm Offensive.” But if taut is what you want in a rom-com, leave this book and bow out.

“The Charm Offensive: A Novel” by Alison Cochrun c.2021, Atria $17.00 / $23.00 Canada 368 pages *The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a prairie in Wisconsin with two dogs, one patient man, and 17,000 books.

ect Director. “His legal insight, activism, and willingness to boldly speak truth with compassion has made a tremendous difference in the lives of transgender people everywhere. I couldn’t be more thrilled that GLAD is honoring him with the extremely welldeserved Spirit of Justice award.”

“It is wonderful to be honored by my friends at GLAD, an organization whose groundbreaking work I admire and value so highly,” said Broadus.

“GLAD’s work has for decades advanced and protected LGBTQ people’s ability to live without fear of harassment, seek work and economic opportunity free from discrimination, and access healthcare and other critical, life-saving services. We need that advocacy now more than ever. That I’ve had so many opportunities to proudly partner with GLAD in this important work makes receiving this award all the more meaningful.”

In addition to the presentation of the Spirit of Justice award to Broadus, the event will feature remarks from GLAD Senior Staff Attorney Polly Crozier and from transgender youth advocate Ashton Mota and his mother, Carmen Paulino. Hailing from Lowell, Massachusetts, Ashton is a passionate and well-respected young voice on trans-

Pet Peeves From Page 7 100,000 dogs die in accidents each year because they were riding in truck beds. These accidents don’t have to involve a collision, either. Dogs can jump out, fall out, be stolen, receive eye injuries from flying debris, have paws burned on bed liners, and suffer from hypothermia in cold weather and heat stroke in hot weather. If you wouldn’t make your human best friend ride unrestrained in your flatbed, why should your canine best friend have to?

Feeding your pets harmful foods Pet discussions usually involve dogs and cats, but what about other pets, like rabbits? Grass hay should account for 75 to 80 percent of their diet and be supplemented with fresh leafy greens and pellets, according to Sarah Logan, editor of The Bunny Hub. Foods you should never feed your rabbit include chocolate (this goes for dogs and cats, too!), walnuts, avocados, bread and grains, meat, dairy, rhubarb, iceberg lettuce, and potatoes. No matter what pet you have, always research what foods they can’t have before feeding them anything other than their usual diet. A seemingly innocuous snack treat could have deadly consequences if you’re not careful.

Blaming bad behavior on your pet’s breed Cats and dogs aren’t stupid. But many people make excuses for their pet’s bad behavior by claiming the pet is goofy, can't be trained, or has a bad temperament. Too often, poorly or untrained pets end up in high kill shelters, all because a human couldn't or didn't

gender equality. He courageously shared his story during the Yes on 3 Campaign to defend nondiscrimination protections in Massachusetts in 2018 and spoke at a White House Pride month event earlier this year, where he also introduced President Biden. Ashton’s mother, Carmen, is a fierce advocate for her son as well as for transgender youth impacted by the foster care system.

“Following an extraordinarily difficult year for everyone, we look forward to safely reconnecting as a community at October’s Spirit of Justice event,” said Janson Wu, GLAD Executive Director. “Kylar Broadus, Ashton Mota, and Carmen Paulino are incredible leaders in the ongoing fight for racial, economic, and LGBTQ justice. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to celebrate their inspiring work, and to do so among a community of supporters who have demonstrated over and over again in this challenging year their dedication to creating a more fair and just society for all.”

Previous Spirit of Justice honorees include Grace Sterling Stowell, Chai Feldblum, Jose Antonio Vargas, the Honorable Eric H. Holder Jr., Phill Wilson, Jennifer Finney Boylan, UrvaRead the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com

take the time to address and eradicate the bad behavior. If you have trouble, hire a professional.

Hoarding animals because you’re an ‘animal lover’ Hoarding animals is a mental illness and should be addressed as such unless you’re breeding pets for a living (which, in that case, you also might want to reconsider a more humane career path). The hard truth is, you can’t track the health and welfare of 20 dogs or 30 cats, and nobody wants to find your inadvertent collection of feline skeletons under a ceiling-high stack of National Enquirers five years from now.

Helicopter parenting a dog Everybody knows that one person at the dog park who spoils all the fun.

Their dog can’t lift a paw or get a sniff in before they’re scooped up and checked for injuries. Sometimes these people are judgmental, while others profusely apologize (for what, I’m not sure). Whatever the case, they just can’t seem to let dogs be dogs.

“Dogs bark, chase, and wrestle for fun; it’s in their DNA,” says Daniel Caughill, co-founder of The Dog Tale blog. “If you’re not comfortable with a little roughhousing, please stay away from the dog park, because you prevent everyone else from letting their dogs play when you start fussing.” * Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels (https://bit.ly/3lnxitS).

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September 9, 2021 - October 6, 2021