The Unleashed Voice 2018 May - June Health & Wellness Issue

MAY + JUNE 2018 VISIT TUVMAG.COM

MLK 50 YEARS LATER:

EXCLUSIVE FEATURE

BRANDON KARSON

ONE DREAM, OUR DREAM PASTOR DARNELL GOOCH, JR

HIM

TC CARSON

RAYCEEN PENDARVIS HRH

BEYOND LIVING SINGLE

IS

LOVE & LUST IN THE TIME OF PRIDE

TALKS

HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE

TRISTATE PRIDE IN MEMPHIS

A little bit of wisdom from my cat /

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JULY|AUG

CONTENTS

2018

06

Special Opinion

By Dr. Darnell Gooch, Jr.

07

Editor’s Letter

By Dr. Davin D. Clemons. DMin

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Spirituality

By Beth Trouy

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Entertainment News P Kash

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Sheri Johnson, SVTV Network & Indie Artist Royce Hall

22

Community Culture Philadelphia Film Festival

23 T rans-Youth

By Giovanni Santiago

25

Fashion Herron Hats

26

TransMovement

By TUV Transgender Correspondents

28

Special Feature Monika Pickett

30

Community Advocacy Ariana Balbuena

31 Reproductive Justice

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Branon Karson

HIM is

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TC Carson Talks

Beyond Living Single

Dr Darnell Gooch

By Rayceen Pendarvis, HRH

Love & Lust One Dream, in the time Our Dream of PRIDE

MLK: 50

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Special Contributor

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Spirituality

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Cover Feature

Community Events TriState Black Pride Memphis, TN

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Shawn M. Clemons Administration/ Fashion Director

Gregory Graphics Philadelphia

Eddie Wiley AIDS/ HIV

Monick Monell New York

Whitney Johnson Chief Editor

Renae Taylor Ravell Slayton Transgender Project Manager Correspondent

THE EDITOR’S PAGE |

T

he Black Church often avoids the elephant in the room when it comes to mental illness, especially concerning people of color and the African American LGBTQ community. When it has been addressed, more often than not it has been from a position of bias and embedded theological values at the pulpit. Being LGBTQ is NOT a mental illness. However, many LGBTQ individuals are prone to mental illness due to the emotional and psychological challenges unique to this community and its respective identities within an otherwise heteronormative society. The DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) notes: “… it must be admitted that no definition adequately specifies precise boundaries for the concept of ‘mental disorder.’

Mental disorders have also been defined by a variety of concepts (e.g., distress, dyscontrol, disadvantage, disability, inflexibility, irrationality, syndromal pattern, etiology, and statistical deviation).

Each is a useful indicator for a mental disorder, but none is equivalent to the concept, and different situations call for different definitions.”

Some individuals try to steal LGBTQ individuals’ sexual identities which denote our freedom -- a freedom that is therefore

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Mental Health

often attached to emotional reactions and medical conditions that ultimately result in mental health conditions altering our thoughts, feelings, and moods. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, “Research suggests that LGBTQ individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights. Discrimination against LGBTQ persons has been associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse and suicide.”

Anyone can develop mental health challenges. Still, according to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious thealth problems than the general population. Common mental health disorders among African Americans include major depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideations which sometimes lead to homelessness and violence. In fact, “LGBT individuals that keep their sexuality hidden are at an increased risk of psychological distress. This also prevents them from accessing group-based coping resources that buffer against the negative effects of stigma.”

So not only must the Black Church consider our faith, spirituality, and community. The Black Church must also employ considerations for preventing individuals from being blinded by their mental illness. As the Black Church, we must address the stigma and point LGBTQ individuals toward treatment

and recovery by seeing health care professionals, psychologists, and psychiatrists rather than relying solely on prayer, faith and spirituality. We must acknowledge the realities of these mental health conditions enough to help individuals identify the problem and pursue, rather than resist, the treatment they need to be freed of their mental struggles. We must use our voice, power, influence and resources to help individuals take back their mental health. These conditions are a part of our truth, and we must not shy away. Let’s do less to contribute to mental demise, and more to contribute to healthier living and freer minds.

Dan J. Stein, Katharine A. Phillips, Derek Bolton, K.W.M.

Fulford, John Z. Sadler, and Kenneth S. Kendler, “What is

a Mental /Psychiatric Disorder? From DSM-IV to DSM-V,” accessed April 27, 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3101504/#idm140675832723008title.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

(2016). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health.

Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/

topics-objectives/topic/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-health.

National Alliance on Mental Illness, accessed April 27,

2018, https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Diverse-Communities/African-American-Mental-Health.

McLaughlin, K.A. Hatzenbuehler, M.L. & Keyes, K.M.

(2010). Responses to Discrimination and Psychiatric

Disorders Among Black, Hispanic, Female, and Lesbian,

Gay, and Bisexual Individuals. American Journal of Public Health. 100(8). 1477-1484. http://doi.org/10.2105/ AJPH.2009.181586.

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Taking Back Your

By Dr. Darnell Gooch, Jr., Cathedral of Praise Church of Memphis, Inc. Overseer-Designate/Pastor

THE EDITOR’S LETTER |

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COME AGAIN COME AGAIN By: Dr. Davin D. Clemons, DMin I recently watched the movie Come Sunday, a 2018 American drama film based on Bishop Carlton Pearson’s excommunication from his own church.

Pearson was declared a heretic after he started preaching that there is no Hell and that everyone might be saved by God, despite their religious beliefs. His message was about God’s unconditional love, questioning what’s accepted as normal, the conviction to always support what’s right, and rebelling against authority when it’s necessary. The movie uplifts inclusion and the courage to challenge traditionalism and religion so that no one is ever overlooked, diminished, or alienated, even if it means that you yourself will be ostracized. It reminds us to stare our every oppressor right in the face and demand, “NOW COME AGAIN!” the next time anyone dares to challenge our worth and our value in the eyes of our Creator.

These days, our society claims to promote acceptance, yet LGBT individuals still face outrageous and systemic oppression. Internalized homophobia, or acceptance of society’s homophobic attitudes, continues to systematically weaken the self-esteem of LGBT individuals, many of whom are still battling with acceptance regarding their sexual orientation from family, pastors, friends and beyond. Over 1 in 4 LGBT youth who come out to their parents are forced to leave home (National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2006).

These ongoing realities contribute to the PTSD that we are already considered to be at such high risk for. NOW COME AGAIN! One of our greatest challenges in the church is being able to experience reformation, especially the reformation of our minds. To reform means to change! Supposedly everyone desires change, but the reality is that there are some individuals who really do not want to endure the efforts that change truly requires. T. D. Jakes says, “The hardest person in the world to help is a dysfunctional person.” COME AGAIN! If you bake a cake and it doesn’t turn out the way you want, you can blame the oven all day long… but that won’t change the outcome of your next cake. If you want to change the outcome of the next cake… change the recipe! COME AGAIN! We’ve got to try harder, and then we’ve got to keep trying. Today, our LGBT sisters and brothers must experience some true Liberation Theology, which includes ultimately freeing oneself of any concern about the opinions, approval, or affirmation of others -- and just being happy in the embodiment that God created for you!

R.I.P. to Dr. James Cone, the father of black theology and black liberation theology, who said, “You were black first before you were Christian.” Now, let that one sit! Now, come again!

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Hookups =

Visit www.squirt.org to hook up today

| COVER FEATURE

TUV Magazine caught up with fan favorite Brandon Karson to see what he’s been up to.

By TUV Staff

Brandon is an actor, model, and brand ambassador from Atlanta, GA who rose to stardom as Damien in the web series entitled About Him. As LGBTQ YouTube web series become the preferred platform of shows for the Black LGBTQ community, Brandon is our pick for 2018’s “One to Watch” blogger and breakout male LGBTQ Actor. Move over, Lena Waithe!

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COVER FEATURE |

Brandon Karson is

HIM

Q. What are your newest ventures?

A. My newest ventures, I’m writing and creating my own content. I’m also doing modeling work and studying musical theatre to spread my horizons as an actor. Myself along with some other great web stars are creating magic both on and off screen, so definitely stay tuned for that. I’m also working on my own flesh-toned clothing line. I am working to establish myself as a brand ambassador for some amazing fashion brands, both indie and mainstream.

Q. What brand has captured you to be the face of their products?

A. I’m currently a brand ambassador for the newest gay dating mobile app based in London, England called the

Chappy app, which you can download on Apple’s App Store or the Google Play store.

Q. Where can your fans find you and your web series?

A. H.I.M., the series where I play the role of Damien, is on HereTV Network and will be filming its second installment later this year. I’m also in a feature film called District, by BawnTV. And the second season of BRTBTV’s Triangle: Secret Storm, where I play the role of Harris, is also going to be in production this coming summer.

Follow Brandon on IG @BrandonKarson Follow Brandon on Facebook @ BrandonKarson

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NEWS CELEBRITY |

| CELEBRITY NEWS

TC Carson: Beyond Living Single Q: How true is this prospect of a Living Single reboot -- any word on a date, a network, who’s in, who’s out, any of that?

A: No, no, no, and no. I don’t have any information. I think they are thinking about it, trying to figure it out. But that information hasn’t really trickled down to us yet.

I’d love to go back and work with my friends again. That’s my family. We have a really good time together.

Q: What do you think it was about the show that had such a profound impact and retains such relevance for so many of us to look forward to a reboot two decades later?

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A: I think there were a couple of things that came together to make the show what it was. We hadn’t seen that group of young, black professionals together on TV. We hadn’t seen that type of friendship between people of that age group.

And we dealt with things that age group dealt with -- sexuality, race, culture, a lot of things that were current. I think that’s what made it work, and the fact that you could tell the friendship was real. The friendship, the love we had for each other,

kind of jumped off the screen. And it’s kind of those same things that keep it current today. People want to see what happened to them. We saw them when they were in their early twenties and early thirties. What are they doing now?

How have they moved forward? How are they handling the climate that exists today? How are they dealing with the political situation today? How are the brothers dealing with the fact that black men seem to be hunted right now? All those things, and still keeping the friendship, still keeping that family bond together. I think people want to see that.

being behind a microphone. It’s motion capture, so you’re in costume and you’re onstage, and you’re going through movements. And Kratos was a big guy.

I’m not a big guy. The guy they got, Judge, he’s a big guy. So his physicality fits the character better. But this is only my take on it. They didn’t really tell me why. I just looked up, and someone else

Q: What would Kyle be up to at this point?

A: Kyle would probably have made a lot of money on the stock exchange, and he’d be doing his music and traveling with his daughter and still trying to deal with Maxine.

Q: You’ve maintained a pretty active career beyond Living Single -- tell us what you’ve been up to since.

A: I say this all the time. People can do what they want to do with their property.

The God of War game is a Sony property.

They don’t have to use me. Even though I was a person who helped to make the game popular in the first five or six games, that doesn’t mean they have to continue with me. We as actors and singers, we’re all disposable. So when they want to go in a new direction, they let you go, and they get someone else.

What has been great has been to hear the fans cry and say, “What happened?

Why did you do that?” I think Sony went in a different direction because now voiceover work is more than just

Q: How did you know that this was the career for you?

A: I’ve been singing and dancing and acting since grade school.

We had a program come to my school when I was in sixth grade, called the Title 6 Chicago, and they brought theater and music and dance to inner city kids. From that point, I was hooked. I sang with several bands in grade school, high school, college, and did theater. We had our own theater group in high school. We wrote plays, and we traveled to other schools and performed our own plays. I did theater and music in college, and then just continued.

Q: What are your thoughts on the state of Black Hollywood as far as progress made, opportunities available, and what strides still need to be made?

A: There’s been a lot of things since then. There’s been several movies, and you’ll see me on some upcoming episodes of The Quad and Black Lightning. And we just went into the studio and finished my recording CD, so we’re working on editing that with the video, and we’re going to start rolling those out this summer. The CD should be available this fall, called Livin’ Large, Livin’ Single, Livin’ It. Q: As far as you know, what was behind the decision to use a voice other than yours for Kratos in the last release of God of War?

else. Be a doctor. But if you’re going to do this business, then really love what you do so that whatever money you make, it’ll be okay.

was doing the game. But what I’ve done in those previous games is something they’ll never be able to take away. They can put anybody else in, but the fact that I was the first Kratos, the original Kratos, and I’m the person who coined that character and made him who he is -- everybody else has to fit into that mold after that.

Q: Any advice for any aspiring screen actors and/or voice actors?

A: Make sure you study. Go and actually learn the craft. Take classes to see if you can actually do it, and to see if you like doing it. Don’t do it if you don’t love to do it… because you may never be famous.

If you’re just trying to be famous and make a lot of money, go do something

A: We all see that we are moving forward. There’s more black programming on TV, there’s more movies coming out. We’re writing more, we’re directing more, and we’re producing more.

It’s definitely moving in the right direction. But if we don’t service us, who will? If we don’t tell our stories, how can we be mad at somebody for telling them the way they want to tell them? We have to tell our stories the way we want to tell them. We have to show the images that we want to see. We have to show how we want to be seen. And we’re doing that, but there’s a long way to go.

We’re still not greenlighting enough projects. We still don’t have studios like we need to have. We have Tyler Perry Studios, but where else? I’m sure there are some smaller studios out there, and there are a lot of producers here in Atlanta that are creating things. So, again I say that it is are moving forward, but we’ve still got a long way to go.

Be sure to follow TC Carson on Instagram and Facebook @...

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SPIRITUALITY |

| SPIRITUALITY

MLK50: one dream,OUR DREAM So Dr. King organized nonviolent protests, which led to the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In his speech, Dr. King said, “…the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile on his own land.”

By Dr. Darnell Gooch, Jr. Cathedral of Praise Church of Memphis, Inc. Pastor/Founder

I

t’s a New Year. The year 2018. 156 years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation -- a presidential proclamation and executive order not passed by congress but made by presidential authority -- to mandate the freedom of more than 3 million slaves in the South. This outraged some white Southerners, but this was the hope and dream of millions of Negros who wanted an end to the race war. Almost a century later, during the Civil Rights Movement, a young black American Baptist minister and activist named Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. refused to let the Negro’s hope and dream die. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, racial inequality, segregation and poverty still existed.

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Even in a postmodern world, we are fighting this same fight. Blacks, people of color, women, LGBTQ and DACA immigrants in America still find themselves being exiled on their own land. “Making America Great Again” refers to the Trump-Pence administration’s strategy of painting a dream of America that erases the progress of those who have continued to dream of equality. Poor Americans dream of access to affordable healthcare. LGBTQ Americans dream of marriage equality.

Trans Americans dream of access to the appropriate restroom. DACA immigrants dream of access to a better world. The FF15 dream of access to better wages. Dreamers should be able to blow their trumpets against abuse, oppression, dictatorship and what the Rev. Starsky Wilson, Senior Pastor of St. John’s Church (The Beloved Community) in St. Louis, MO, calls “Trash theology telling them that the Lord sent the locust” -- words he spoke in his sermon during the 2018 Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference’s “Beautiful Are Their Feet: Celebrating Ministries and Gifts” banquet honoring the prophets, activists, scholars,

De Clutter your

writers and preachers who continue to carry the torch of the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. But the Trump-Pence Administration is the dream of individuals who instead take on an Anglo-American, evangelical, white supremacist viewpoint rather than the dream of freed people. In the words of Rev. Wilson as he quotes the late Rev. Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor, an African American minister, educator, humanitarian and Civil Rights activist: “How much communion wine we’ve wasted.”

The promissory note by the Constitution and Declaration of Independence guarantees that every American is endowed by their Creator the unalienable rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. If this is the guarantee made by our ancestors, then it seems that some people are confused about what dream freed people are to seek and live out. We must live out “One Dream, Our Dream” -- a dream of equality and progression that refuses to allow the status quo to compromise our beloved community.

In this 50th anniversary year of Dr. King’s legacy, his dream has become “One Dream, Our Dream.”

By Beth Trouy “The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.”

Sounds easy on the surface. The hard part is letting go of the things I think I might need later. Then there’s that blurred line between things I want and things I really need. Letting go of those things I “might need someday” can land me in a bog of indecision. Sometimes the best way for me to see more clearly is to stop looking from my viewpoint and see from the perspective of others.

In other words, I must step out of my world and walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

“I once complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.”

Walking alongside people with infinitely less than I will ever have, clarifies for me what I really need and what I can do without. It also makes me profoundly aware of my own spiritual needs. I see how rich I am in material things and yet so poor in other ways. Have you ever noticed that many people with the fewest material goods are the richest in happiness, peace, and serenity? It’s

Life

often those with the least who give first and give the most. I’ve learned some of the hardest life lessons from those with the least formal education.

After spending a day in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, I usually have no trouble clearing out my closets and downsizing my wardrobe. My perspective becomes much clearer.

“One is rich not through one’s possessions, but through that which, with dignity, one can do without.”

Before I declutter, I need to detach from the things I don’t need. Decluttering is a physical exercise and detachment, an emotional one. I have to ask myself, “What are my priorities? Where do I want to spend my time and energy?

Decluttering then becomes less a matter of moving “stuff” and more a spiritual exercise. I must also confront the intangible clutter in my life – endless emails, meetings, social media and news – everything that eats up my free time and attention. Freedom from clutter means freedom for what I love -- an open schedule, spontaneity, time with friends. I learn from those who possess few material goods that my real wealth lies not in things, but in friends. I

am happiest when I am surrounded not by the things I love, but by the people I love.

If you want to declutter your house, call a company, pay a fee for their advice and follow it. If you want to declutter your life, consider going to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Learn about detachment from things and attachment to loving people. Oh, and the advice is free.

“All things are passing away. In the end, only love remains.”

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Do not take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: ``dofetilide

Brief Summary of Patient Information about BIKTARVY® BIKTARVY (bik-TAR-vee) (bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide) tablets

WHAT’S YOUR STORY GOING TO BE? INTRODUCING BIKTARVY® Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with BIKTARVY. For more information, see “What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking BIKTARVY?”

What is the most important information I should know about BIKTARVY? BIKTARVY can cause serious side effects, including: ``Worsening of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

If you have an HBV infection and take BIKTARVY, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking BIKTARVY. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before.

``have liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection ``have kidney problems ``are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not

known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during treatment with BIKTARVY. Pregnancy Registry: There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry. ``are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not

• Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider. If you stop taking BIKTARVY, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking BIKTARVY.

• At least one of the medicines in BIKTARVY can pass to your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in BIKTARVY can pass into your breast milk.

BIKTARVY is a prescription medicine that is used without other anti-HIV-1 medicines to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) in adults: ``who have not received anti-HIV-1 medicines in

Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the adjacent pages.

Before taking BIKTARVY, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

breastfeed if you take BIKTARVY.

What is BIKTARVY?

BIKTARVY.com

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking BIKTARVY?

• Do not run out of BIKTARVY. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your BIKTARVY is all gone.

For more information about side effects, see “What are the possible side effects of BIKTARVY?”

To learn more, visit

``rifampin

the past, or ``to replace their current anti-HIV-1 medicines for

people whose healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements.

HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

• You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may interact with BIKTARVY. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. ``You can ask your healthcare provider or

pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with BIKTARVY. ``Do not start a new medicine without telling your

healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with other medicines.

Continued on next page.

BIKTARVY contains the prescription medicines bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide.

It is not known if BIKTARVY is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

BIKTARVY.com

FEATURE | COLUMNIST those, a combination, or something else, conduct yourself accordingly and be consistent.

Continued from previous page.

How should I take BIKTARVY? ``Take BIKTARVY exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. BIKTARVY is taken by itself (not with other HIV-1 medicines) to treat HIV-1 infection. ``Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food. ``Do not change your dose or stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking with your healthcare provider. Stay under a healthcare provider’s care during treatment with BIKTARVY. ``If you take antacids that contain aluminum, magnesium, or calcium, take BIKTARVY on an empty stomach 2 hours before you take these antacids. ``If you take supplements that contain iron or calcium, take these supplements with food at the same time that you take BIKTARVY. ``Do not miss a dose of BIKTARVY. ``If you take too much BIKTARVY, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. ``When your BIKTARVY supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to BIKTARVY and become harder to treat.

What are the possible side effects of BIKTARVY? BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: ``See “What is the most important information I should know about BIKTARVY?” ``Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. ``New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys when starting and during treatment with BIKTARVY. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY if you develop new or worse kidney problems.

What are the possible side effects of BIKTARVY? (continued) ``Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Too much lactic acid is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

It is imperative to communicate what you want. I say honesty is the best policy.

Don’t play mind games with people. Be clear about your intentions. Let people know what you’re open to doing, whether that’s a friendship, dating, a relationship, a one night stand, or some kinky new thing you want to experience. Dishonesty only leads to conflict, confusion, and hurt feelings.

``Severe liver problems. In rare cases, severe liver problems can happen that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, lightcolored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

Do your best to be as kind, courteous, and polite as possible. You will inevitably interact with belligerent people who are mentally unstable, intoxicated, on drugs, or some combination of those. If conflicts arise, there’s no shame in retreat. Don’t let your personal pride be the reason you don’t make it home safely from the Pride celebration.

The most common side effects of BIKTARVY are diarrhea (6%), nausea (5%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

General information about the safe and effective use of BIKTARVY. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use BIKTARVY for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give BIKTARVY to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.

This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about BIKTARVY. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider.

You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about BIKTARVY that is written for health professionals. For more information, call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.BIKTARVY.com.

Keep BIKTARVY and all medicines out of reach of children.

Issued: February 2018 BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2018 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved.

BVYC0004 02/18

BIKTARVY.com

This summer, like the one before and the next one, Tmany of you will meet new people at various LGBTQ Pride events.

Some of you will travel and some of you will walk around the corner to attend parades, performances, film screenings, cookouts, workshops, and parties of various types. Even those who don’t make a point to attend Pride events may meet new people when their cities are inundated with revelers from nearby suburbs and across the country.

Meeting new people is fraught with possibilities – both good and bad. You could meet your new best friend or your next worst enemy. I want to make some suggestions about how to find more of the former and fewer of the latter.

It is important to be honest with yourself.

What is your agenda? Do you want to network or socialize? Are you trying to meet your future spouse or seeking sexual adventures? Whether it’s one of

You may also meet people to whom you are attracted. You have to decide if you want it to be a fling or a serious thing. If you don’t have the same agenda, it won’t work. Also, don’t assume exclusivity; that requires a conversation. If someone does seem possessive right away, you probably should move on.

If you want something serious, take it slow. Don’t rush into anything. Take the time to evaluate if you are feeling infatuation, lust, or a genuine emotional connection. Be realistic about if you are truly compatible. If it would be a long distance relationship, be honest about if that would really work for you. Text and video chat makes it easier than ever for many people. For others, casually keeping in touch to see where it might eventually go is better than stubbornly trying to make something impractical work.

If you just want to have fun, be cautious.

Take plenty of condoms, lube, and consider getting on PrEP far in advance of your activities. If having a rendezvous with someone new, text the name and address to let your friends know where you are going. Most importantly, be aware

of your surroundings; the dangers of sexual intimacy with a new acquaintance goes beyond physical safety and STIs. Be aware of cell phones and open laptops, because your sexual activity might be recorded or streamed online without your consent. Keep an eye on your cash, credit cards, and jewelry too.

Hopefully, you will avoid the pitfalls and have a wonderful summer, whatever you choose to do. Have fun and enjoy the excitement, but be ready for reality when you go home. Jobs, school, housework, and all your responsibilities will be waiting for you. Life has its ups and downs, so be present in the good times and create precious memories.

If you see me out this summer, be sure to take a photo with me and post it on social media. I will be out amongst everyone in their short-shorts, mini-skirts, tanktops, halter-tops, crop-tops, bikinis, jumpsuits, and those like me, in kaftans and muumuus. Whatever you wear, make sure you keep your friends close and your wallet even closer!

I will leave you with several things to keep in mind during Pride and beyond: 1. Be direct: Say what you mean and mean what you say.

2. Whatever you do, be sure that you have consent and that you are clear about giving it.

3. Once a photo or video is posted online, anyone can see it.

4. If a venue or situation seems unsafe, just leave.

5. Be cautious but optimistic when meeting new people.

Rayceen Pendarvis is an activist, emcee, social media personality, and host of The Ask Rayceen Show, a free monthly event on first Wednesdays, March through November, in Washington, DC. For more information, follow Rayceen on social media and visit AskRayceen.com

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| ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT |

Born in the West Indies and now living in Brooklyn, P-Kash has generated plenty of buzz throughout battle rap media.

Besides performing in the Unsigned Artist Tour, he has also defied all odds to open shows for such legendary artists as 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, Juicy J, and Cory Gunz. In 2016, he won Best Rap Artist at the New England Urban Awards and was also nominated in the Best Producer category after dominating iTunes and the Billboard charts. He is now CEO of P-Kash Entertainment and working on his widely anticipated two-part mixtape entitled “No More Talking”.

In addition to linking his brand with fashion and launching his Fliy Boiz and Fliy Girls clothing line, P-kash is the brand ambassador for Kas’tell Vodka and also devotes himself to Please Lend a Helping Hand, a charity he launched to uplift suicidal teens.

SVTV Network CEO Sheri Johnson fights to bring LGBTQ equality to television.

As the creator and Executive Producer of the hit web series StudvilleTV -- with no formal training in the industry and a drive to bring her vision to fruition -Johnson entered the television industry as an amateur and cultivated amateur actresses to create something that

ROYCE

As an artist who is creating his own lane in the game we know as hip-hop, P-Kash is definitely one to watch!

close to ten million viewers could relate to. The series had a successful three year run on YouTube and amassed a huge following as fans raved that the series was relatable, fun, serious, and ironically true. Based on the lives of Johnson and her three best friends, the series explored their experiences as lesbians dating, juggling careers, and maneuvering through life together.

After the show’s fourth and final season, along with a slew of YouTube regulation changes, Johnson noticed how sparsely represented the LGBTQ community is portrayed on national television -- and from there, a network was born.

With the launch of the SVTV Network, which stands for “Strong Voices Television”, Johnson quickly found out that she was fighting for much more than LGBTQ equality in

HALL

http://pkashent.wix.com/p-kash

Royce Hall, born Chinyelu Alimayu, is a genre-bending Afro-futuristic soul/funk/hip-hop music recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, MC, vocalist, actor, photographer, sketch artist, keynote speaker and alum of Florida A & M University who currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Pag/Num

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Of his reason for making music, he says, “I create music in order to bridge gaps. My experiences are the catalysts for dialogue that may even be uncomfortable for some to witness,

acknowledge or attempt to understand.

I create music because it is my first language, transparency, purpose and passion. I use it to speak to the world in hopes of healing, restoring, birthing positive change, shedding light on, elevating, liberating and inspiring.”

Musically, he is currently finalizing material for his sophomore EP entitled Alimayu & Olu: The Love Revival. Author of ‘Rioting At Dawn’ and a featured poet in the Bklyn Boihood global anthology ‘Outside the XY’, his matrimony with words is riveting as he utilizes his

television. Besides the feat of funding the network on a teacher’s salary for the past four years, Johnson is African American, female, lesbian, and competing in a male-dominated tech and entertainment industry. Yet even as obstacles have mounted due to Johnson’s race, gender, and sexual orientation -- with its take no prisoners attitude, the company has continued to grow exponentially with partnerships and opportunities.

Johnson continues to move the company forward with the introduction of live streaming directly from its platform offering shows, sports and events -- with plans of gaming, animation and digital magazines next on the horizon -- making the platform a tech company, and making Johnson the first African American lesbian CEO running a start-up tech company and television network. platform for merging art and social justice, and is just as compelling in his verbal stimulation as an erotic poet. As an actor, he has appeared on The Haves and the Have Nots, The Originals, Love Thy Neighbor, Refracted Reflections, See Me, Moods and Moments, Stealth, Eden’s Garden and more. Off-screen, his love for theatre has also afforded him lead roles in hit stage-plays including Lying In Bed, Beyond Betrayal, and Zora! Let The People Sing.

In 2016, his work earned him the Black Trans Advocacy Award. In 2017, he was the guest speaker for FAMU’s Spring 2017 Lavender Cord ceremony, which honors graduating members of Spectrum, the university’s LGBTQIA organization. Most recently, he is the 2017 recipient of the GA Voice Best of Atlanta award for Best Live/Visual Performance.

“These talents are my service to the world,” he shares. “My journey is the canvas on which I create art, provide voice and visibility for conversations to all that listen to or read my work.”

TRANSYOUTH |

| CULTURE Floyd Marshall Jr, CEO Gazelle Films, Founder, Philadelphia Independent Film Awards Floyd Marshall, Jr. began his career as an aspiring fitness model and actor, going on to do various print ads and voiceovers in addition to numerous independent films. In 2007, after attending the American Black Film Festival in Miami, he decided to start his own film company, Gazelle Films and went on to make three short films, one feature film and two stage plays, while also writing for other filmmakers. His latest endeavor is the Philadelphia Independent Film Awards, devoted to rewarding the indepen-

dent filmmaker. His recently launched non-profit, the Independent Film Association of Philadelphia (IFAP), focuses

on charitable contributions, scholarship programs and mentoring for young filmmakers, as well as looking to give young people a viable alternative to the traditional four year college degree. Along with partnering with organizations to bring more awareness to filmmaking as a business, IFAP also conducts charity drives specifically geared toward helping youth. “We want to help kids explore their artistic talents and hope to give lower income kids choices when it comes to their selection of career,” he shares. “We’re always looking to partner with people interested in furthering and enhancing the arts as well as building towards children’s futures.”

Activate Your Most Effective Self By: Giovonni Santiago Spring is a time when we start to clean out our lives. When we think about how we want to de-clutter, most of the time, the process starts with what personal belongings we want to get rid of. We think about things that no longer serve their purpose or that are just taking up space. But de-cluttering doesn’t just apply to physical possessions. I challenge you to think about how you can take that same approach to cleaning out what occupies your time and energy.

As an activist, I am constantly pulled in so many directions. If I am not being interviewed for the local news last minute, I am writing a testimony for an upcoming legislative hearing or speaking to a group of students at a university. In addition to working full-time and going to school, I run my own non-profit for transgender youth, META Center Inc. At one point, I sat on four different steering committees and boards for other organizations on top of all of this.

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As much as I love what I do and am passionate about creating social change for the LGBTQ community, I realized that I wasn’t helping anyone if I wasn’t taking

care of me first. As I went from meeting to meeting, I realized that I couldn’t keep up with this pace and still be an effective leader. I had to take a step back and de-clutter my priorities.

Now, deciding what causes and organizations to give your energy to isn’t quite as easy as deciding which old clothes need to go in the donation pile, but I think the thought process is similar. I had to be honest with myself. I had to think about how working on each cause made me feel. I had to ask myself if I was able to create change within that organization that I couldn’t make elsewhere. I had to check my ego and think about where I do the most good rather than which boards looked best on my resume. And most importantly, I challenged myself to think about whether my time spent around a boardroom table was actually helping to better the daily lives of the individuals I aimed to serve.

Instead of each commitment being an obligation, I had to think of each of them as a choice and it was up to me to decide if the energy put in resulted in the impact I intended. I thought about which experiences left me feeling energized

and which made me feel drained. Even with a strong passion to help people, working as an activist can sometimes result in compassion fatigue.

I decided if sitting on one less steering committee meant I had more time to talk to a transgender student being bullied at school, then that was worth it to me. I decided if I made time for self care, I had more energy to be compassionate towards the struggles of others. Being an activist doesn’t mean you sacrifice everything for the cause you’re fighting for; rather, it means that you work on finding a balance that allows you to be the best leader you can be.

So this Spring, take a look through your commitments and ask yourself what is no longer serving you. Learn to say no to people and things that don’t feed your greater purpose. Make time to alone. Spend quality time with your family and friends. It’s not selfish to prioritize your own self care as an activist; it’s necessary.

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Guide yourself trough this february /

PPM-Focus-QuarterPgAd-mech.pdf

@AskRayceen #AskRayceen AskRayceen.com Team Rayceen presents

THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW Monthly variety program and community festival

FIRST WEDNESDAYS MARCH THROUGH NOVEMBER

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Hosted by Rayceen Pendarvis

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Venue:

HRC Equality Center 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW Washington, DC

FREE

open to the public Doors open at 6pm Showtime: 7pm

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Herron Hats Inspired by young professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, and divergent thinkers willing to push the envelope, Herron Hats:

Unorthodox Tops was created for the fashion forward who dare to think beyond the brim. Trends are ever changing, but through centuries, the classic dress hat has withstood the test of time.

Today, Herron Hats blurs the lines of professionalism and creativity to bring to you timeless pieces that can be worn for work or play. With each handcrafted hat, Herron presents a novel twist to an ageless design.

Markia Herron is the sole designer, creative mind, and maker for Herron Hats. She first decided to create her own business when faced with the daunting task of finding an accessory that paired

By Marika Herron

well with her unique style. When this proved unsuccessful, she set out to make her own.

Self-taught, Herron dedicated countless hours watching tutorials, disassembling old hats in order to understand the lost art. Her shop has become her sanctuary, filled with hat blocks of various sizes, felts of different colors, and tools that the greatest of craftsmen would be proud of.

Today, Herron has created many designs of diverse colors and styles ranging from bold yellows to muted neutrals, each topped off with her signature penny.

Her love of fashion paired with the art of the timeless craft has allowed Herron Hats: Unorthodox Tops to construct an eclectic spin on a classic design that transcends generations.

By Renae Taylor

Self Care

Self-Care is all about maintaining your personal wellbeing and recharging your battery. Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent -- it’s necessary. Self-care is especially important when everyday you’re faced with someone or other trying to take away our individual freedoms. And yet, self-care is practically a revolutionary act in today’s present atmosphere of constant distraction and stimulation. Don’t forget that it’s okay to silence that phone call or ignore Facebook.

I’d been so busy organizing and attending trainings, consumed at every waking moment with thinking about Black Liberation and Trans Liberation. Then last month, after having a colonoscopy and EGD, I found out that I have stomach ulcers and stomach bacteria. I had to take a heavy round of antibiotics and acid reducers to heal my stomach. I’ve

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Simple ideas for self care: • • • • • •

Take a hot bath with some bath bombs.

Just kick back and read a book.

Meditate about the positive things in your life.

Hang out with a few good friends.

Get a nice massage.

Burn some incense.

had to change my eating habits to avoid my food triggers. I have even started limiting my meetings and my interactions with people unless it’s important to my activism.

Now that I understand I’m no good to

anyone if I’m not whole -- and that I’m not whole unless I’m taking some time for me -- I’m just trying to heal and take better care of myself than I had been.

And I’m suggesting the same for you.

So I’m going share with you a few things you can do to relieve some stress in your life.

These are just a few things you can do to ease your mind, body and spirit -and let this only be the start. It’s never too much to love on yourself at any given opportunity, before seeking love from any other source. I want to leave you with some words of wisdom, from author, feminist and activist Bell Hooks: “Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.”

This time of year, nature is blossoming and blooming, so why not also change things in life? Spring brings the change of weather from cold to warm, so let’s warm up things everywhere.

First look at your professional life. Are you where you need to be? Do you have the job you want? Are you making the money you think you should be making?

Do you have the degree you want?

Well, if you answered “no” to any of these questions, now is the time to make a change. Don’t let anything stop you. There are so many outlets you can choose from to get what you want and need.

Never let anything keep you from following your dreams. You have total control of your life, so just go for it.

Now let’s start spring cleaning within your friendships. Who’s bringing down?

Who has a negative spirit within your circle? Who is in your life that serves

no purpose? When you get to a certain point in life, you will lose some of your childhood friends you have been around for years. In life, you can outgrow people just like you outgrow clothes. When you start to better yourself, you will hear people say, “you are changing,” “you are acting funny,” and, “you act like you are better than us.”

Just know that these are not bad things. When you start to better yourself, you need to change your environment. When you are on your come up, only people who are happy for you some be in your circle. To have a real friendship with people, you need support, respect, honesty and love. So if your friends are not helping you reach your dreams, then they don’t need to be within arm’s reach.

Now let’s look at love. Are you dating? Do you have a lover? Are you in a serious relationship? I bet, again, some

of these answers are “no.” Well, let’s change that. The weather is great, so get out and live. Start going to new places and meeting new people. Spring cleaning is good for all parts of your life.

Sit and think, “what have i been doing wrong within my past relationships?”

And change it. Clean out all the old baggage and issues. Don’t think about how bad, dishonest or crazy the last person was. Just look at the brightness of spring and say, “i want today to be better than yesterday.”

Remember, the main way to make sure everything works is to make sure you stay focused, stay aware and stay positive.

Live, love & learn Kyra bonet st. James cassadine

Overcoming the Taboo of Dating Bisexual Women It felt odd being single after fifteen years in a committed relationship.

Author Activist

Monika Pickett Special Contributor It feels odd being single after fifteen years in a committed relationship. am guarded yet excited about the possibility of one day being in a new relationship where I won’t have to dim my light. And yet, I don’t know where to begin when it comes to dating. I have always been attracted to feminine lesbians. During my younger years, I met feminine lesbians who preferred dominant partners. Thus, I found myself pursuing straight women who were feminine and bi-curious. It is unspoken within the lesbian community, but dating a bi-curious or bisexual woman was and still may be frowned upon, almost taboo.

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I have my own painful memories of dating bi-curious and bisexual women. Today, individuals who don’t fit the cisgender heterosexual box are described with the acronym, LGBTQ, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer. Obviously, we are not all the same, and bisexual individuals within the LGBTQ community often get a bad rap based on societal norms and assumptions of promiscuity.

When I flash back to my younger years and the bisexual women I had dated, I recall how I constantly struggled with insecurities. I was consumed

with thoughts of them cheating on me with men. I was naïve in thinking that infidelity was the foundation of bisexuality. To protect myself from being hurt, I pursued women who were unhappy in their relationships with men. They couldn’t hurt me because I knew they were in it half-heartedly. I rationalized my dysfunctional behavior by leaving them before they left me.

It was the perfect situation, for a while. They felt safe in exploring the unthinkable because I did not fit the stereotypical image of what a lesbian looked like. They could take me home, introduce me to their parents or friends,

and no one would know we were dating.

They could hide me and their feelings for as long as I allowed it. But soon the loneliness I felt became overwhelming.

I could no longer ignore reality. They wanted a husband and I wanted a wife. I vowed to never date another bi-curious or bisexual woman again. I decided to love myself as much as I loved others.

It is amazing what you will attract when you know your worth.

Years later, and to my surprise, I fell in love with a bisexual woman. In the most loving way, she explained her definition of bisexuality. She said, “I only want to

be with you. When I am with you, I am with you. I have no desire to be with a man. But, I have the capacity to love and fall in love with a man. When I am with a man, I enjoy him sexually, just as when I am with a woman, I enjoy her.”

I’d never conformed to societal norms, so her definition made all the sense in the world to me. Who was I to judge anyone?

I had dated a few bisexual women who refused to be labeled. I was the only woman they had ever dated. I found myself defending them to my friends when our relationship was questioned.

If she is dating a woman, isn’t she gay or bisexual? I couldn’t date a woman who is dating a man! My friends were right, though. At those moments, those women were technically bisexual. But I understood the concept better when a straight woman I dated said, “I’m not gay or bisexual. I just love you, Monika. I’m not attracted to women. I’m attracted to you.” In that moment, I began to value the notion that love comes in many forms. You just have to be open to receive it.

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Submitted By Orisha Bowers SisterReach

By Ariana Balbuena

United Against Hate started way before I even knew I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others.

I went through many hardships and hit rock bottom many times before my tribulations ultimately molded my inspiration and drive.

Although Los Angeles is huge and, for the most part, forward thinking with the LGBTQ movement, when I was 22 years old I found myself alone, rejected, and lost when I came out to my mom. I had a rough time like most people, but my mother’s heart was touched in an undeniable way when she saw me through a broken heart from the hands of another woman.

The feelings I experienced before my acceptance were awful, gut wrenching and traumatizing, but in a big way they helped create the strong lesbian I am today.

I did the usual partying up, clubbing, bar hopping and day drinking at gay and lesbian clubs. But after years of this, I started to lose drive and had no real passion for anything that didn’t have to do with drinking. Drinking began to consume me and put a strain on my personal

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relationships. The more depressed I got, the more I drank. It was a vicious cycle that led to a rock bottom landing. Enough was enough. I stopped drinking and attended AA. Admitting to myself that I had lost control and couldn’t get it back without help wasn’t an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. It was life or death for me. My first time at AA, I was nervous and embarrassed. I didn’t even want to speak, and just walking in made me want to leave.

well as volunteered countless hours to feed, provide, and put some love into people’s lives. With help from friends and family, we have been able to network and touch so many people that we are in process of expanding in Memphis, Tennessee. My hope is that we can eventually have active groups all over the United States. There is no financial profit to be made; the only profit that comes to my team and I is soul-filling that one can only gain by working for others in need.

When the meeting started, something amazing happened. I connected with the attendees, and I listened to each one of their stories. I’ve now been sober for a little over a year (455 days, as I write this) and I am a continuing participant of AA. The welcoming and judgementless atmosphere pulled me out of a hole and let me finally realize my passion of bringing people together to do good for others.

Single voices can be heard, but when a group of people are behind you and carrying the same message, a difference can be made. People who are discriminated against for all types of reasons need a voice and a helping hand.

I’m privileged to have the resources, friends, family and community to be able to make a difference. United Against Hate will continue to grow, learn, expand, and strive to make real changes by taking action and spreading the word about taking a stand against discrimination, violence, homelessness, and other inequities that plague socio-economically disadvantaged families and those just trying to keep their heads above water.

My life’s work, my passion, and my goals are now completely dedicated to being of service to those in need.

I got together with my cousin Sami and made a plan. We started small and just rounded up some buddies to volunteer at different places. I couldn’t get enough.

I wanted to assist people in all kinds of ways, but I knew we needed to go bigger.

Since the initial plan, we have raised money for poverty-stricken families, as

A proposal by State Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown,TN) and State Representative Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis,TN), to prohibit Tennessee judges from offering defendants reduced jail time in exchange for temporary birth control and/or sterilization, whether voluntary or involuntarily, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 8-0 on February 14, 2018.

HB2520/SB2133 prohibits a sentencing court from making a sentencing determination based on any defendant’s consent or refusal of any form of temporary or permanent birth control, sterilization, or family planning services, regardless of whether the defendant’s consent is given voluntarily.

“This bill is a prime example of what reproductive justice is intended to do for the most marginalized women, girls and people we serve,” Cherisse Scott, CEO & Founder of SisterReach said. “One of its tenets is that women, girls and people have the human right to parent and to do so without fear or violence from individuals or the government. Judges offering people in vulnerable positions the choice of serving out their jail time or receiving a reduced sentence instead is not only an abuse of power, but a violation of their human rights. Further, Tennessee and the deep south has a troubled history of eugenics which span back to slavery.

Not only has this offensive abuse of power affected black women and men for hundreds of years in this country, but incarcerated women and men of all races and class here in Tennessee.

We also recognize that this tactic was in response to the state’s defeat of its

mandated fetal assault law (2014-2016).

However, instead of expanding behavioral health clinics across the state and making them accessible to women and people struggling with drug addiction -- and instead of making comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education, which focuses on risky behavior methods like the combination of unprotected sex and drug or alcohol usage, available to teens and adults -- Tennessee judges and district attorneys chose to remove and ignore the reproductive autonomy of incarcerated people and insert this unethical practice.”

Sen. Kelsey and Rep. Akbari filed the bill in response to a White County judge offering reduced jail time to defendants who volunteered for birth control or sterilization. Judge Sam Benningfield said his goal was to break a “vicious cycle” of repeat drug offenders with children.

The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct found that Benningfield violated rules regarding judicial independence, integrity, and propriety.

“We applaud the efforts of Representative Akbari and Senator Kelsey. We look forward to the full support of the Tennessee Senate to protect the reproductive justice and rights of incarcerated people in Tennessee.” said Scott.

In a brief interview with Dave Detling, Reporter for Local 24/CW 30, Orisha Bowers, SisterReach’s Programs Director, said, “Folks who are making decisions about their body should make informed

decisions first and foremost. They should be in control of these decisions. No one else should be able to decide that for them. Thirty days in exchange for your ability to have a child seems like an uneven exchange.”

These coercive tactics are evidence of how important it is for every single registered voter to get out to vote in the primary elections as well as the Presidential election. It is also equally important that members of marginalized communities, specifically the LGBT community, let their voices be heard by electing representatives who respect their full humanity. The time is now for change.

SisterReach, founded October 2011, is a Memphis, TN based grassroots 501c3 non-profit supporting the reproductive autonomy of women, teens of color, poor women, rural women, gender nonconforming people and their families through the framework of Reproductive Justice. Our mission is to empower our base to lead healthy lives, raise healthy families and live in healthy communities. www.sisterreach.org

Works Cited

http://www.localmemphis.com/news/local-news/ mid-south-lawmakers-introduce-bill-prohibitingjudges-from-incentivizing-sterilization/974401529 SisterReach (2018). SisterReach Applauds Legislators Passing Anti-Sterilization Bill HB2520/ SB2133

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