NOV - DEC 2021
The LGBTQ Community
& T H E B L AC K CHURCH Why One Woman Refuses to Normalize Church Hurt
E XC LU S I V E INTERVIEW!
Dr. Marye Bernard & Dr. Marshe Turner Charting a new way to care for patients
Meet “The New Doctors On The Block” who are creating a paradigm shift in patient care in Memphis, TN. Spirit Health Center delivers Primary Health Care to individuals living with and without HIV in a diverse and respectable atmosphere.
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My Mother Died F R O M C OV I D - 1 9 A Story to Hopefully Encourage How We Need To Better Protect Our Elderly
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THE NORMAL A N O M A LY – Project Liberation Doing the work of liberation and reimagining a better, more equitable future
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T R A N S G E N D E R D AY of Remembrance How To Become Involved and Why It is Important To Show Up For The Transgender Community
The World AIDS Day Issue
VISIT TUVMAG.COM
“We Are Bigger Than HIV”
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(bik-TAR-vee)
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: � Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. � Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. � Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. � Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which 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. � Severe liver problems, which in rare cases 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, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. � The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).
� Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your
healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.
ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: � dofetilide � rifampin � any other medicines to treat HIV-1
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: � Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,
including hepatitis infection. � Have any other health 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 while taking BIKTARVY. � Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: � Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-
counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.
� BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.
Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.
These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.
GET MORE INFORMATION � This is only a brief summary of important information
about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.
� Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 � If you need help paying for your medicine,
visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP ASPIRING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0370 04/21
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| THE UNLEASHED VOICE
DIMITRI LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT
KEEP ASPIRING.
Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.
BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you. See Dimitri’s story at BIKTARVY.com. Featured patient compensated by Gilead.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com. THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
3
CON TEN TS
Ad Deadline December 12, 2021
Next Issue January | February 2022
10Cover & Story 11 Spirit Health Dr. Marye Bernard & Dr. Marshe Turner 06 | Editor’s Letter Gwendolyn D. Clemons
07 | Community News TUV Staff Transgender Day of Remembrance
12 | Health & Wellness Diandra Marie Black Women Need Rest, Not Strength
13 | Community News Tyrone Wells Walking In My Truth
15 | Spirituality Beth Trouy Standing For Something
14
Advocacy News Normal Anomaly Project Liberate
16 | Entrepreneurship Angel Lovelace One To Watch
19 | World AIDS Day NAESM Conference
20 | Health & Wellness Dr. Orisha Bowers A Personal Journey to Healing & Wellness
22 | Special Contributor
08 & 09 17 Spirituality
4
Brodderick Roary Why I Still Believe in Love | CONTENTS
Entertainment News Androgynous Model Contest Nikki Eason
Monika M. Pickett Church Hurt
23 | Commentary TUV Staff World AIDS Day
Shawn M. Clemons Administration/ Fashion Director
Gregory Graphics Layout/Design
Diandra Marie Guest Contributor
Monick Monell Talent Director & New York Correspondent
Whitney Johnson Chief Editor
Renae Taylor Transgender Correspondent
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CONTENTS |
5
My Mother Died From Covid I am writing about this personal experience because as a Community Advocate that’s
what we do. We use transparency, sometimes our own to make social issue more relatable remember vividly watching CNN in January of 2020
and hearing the news from
Wuhan China about a very
contagious virus. This deadly
virus was purportedly making
people very sick and causing
an alarming number of deaths in that region. As I watched
with sorrow and fear I had a
leery vision of what if this virus spreads to the U.S. would we be prepared? How would life
be different for us if we were thrust into this
pandemic? Well, by March 2020, I got answers quickly because the entire world was battling an invisible enemy and we entered into what
then came the Anti-Vaxxers with a myriad of
conspiracy theories about the vaccine and #45 sitting at President didn’t help the matter.
My mother was fully inoculated in March of
2021 and based on early reporting ensured
that she was safe perhaps from COVID-19. By the Summer of 2021 things were beginning to get strange because people who were
vaccinated were suddenly contracting COVID, these cases were called “breakthrough
cases.” Nevertheless, we still felt safe due
COVID-19 in June of 2020. As a First
Responder we were on the front line basically in environments that was ripe for COVID
exposures. I spent the latter 6 months of 2020 seeing specialist after specialist seeking
us some protections against COVID-19. And,
6
| EDITOR’S LETTER
vaccinated against the coronavirus, wearing a mask in their presence, or limiting your physical interactions with them.
gather important FACTS about COVID-19 so that visit cdc.gov or your local health department to connect with a COVID-19 specialist.
from COVID-19. Trust me you do not want to
in May. As the time passed, we felt more
comfortable allowing visitors over considering
we stressed the importance of being vaccinated
play in protecting ourselves and those we love have to tell a story like mine because you failed to protect a person you loved.
or wearing a mask in her presence. However,
ON THE COVER:
everyone would follow the rules considering all
are honored to feature Dr. Marye Bernard & Dr.
we failed to take into consideration that not
In our 6th Annual World AIDS Day Issue we
the conflicting information floating around.
Marshe Turner Co-Founders of Spirit Health
wreaked havoc on Mother Clemons fragile body.
vaccine was being reported that could offer
Protecting them may perhaps include getting
made it through Mother’s Day and her Birthday
COVID because of the safeguards we had in Then came the end of 2020 and a potential
power to protect them from the coronavirus!
I personally believe that we all have a hand to
In August 2021, the Delta Variant of COVID-19
place due to her high-risk health conditions.
it is important that you do everything in your
as a family and mother was happy because she
answers about a host of conditions that I was battling. My mother, however, was safe from
compromised people that you love and care for
well informed decisions can be made. Please
to the unvaccinated.
loved her company, especially her family. We
I was the first in the family to contract
those of you who have elder or immune
greater chance of surviving it as opposed
daily to keep abreast of what was happening anyone else who would listen.
and a series of myths about COVID-19. For
The CDC has plenty of information available to
contracted COVID-19 they would have a
Finally, we felt safe and comfortable to gather
so she could pass on the news to us and
death reflects misinformation, miseducation,
to all reporting that if the vaccinate person
is now called a ‘Global Pandemic.’ My mother who was also a news buff watched CNN
to people we are trying to reach. My mother’s
made a stop at our Matriarch home. COVID-19
Her heart and lungs were no match for this alien that had invaded her body. Mother Clemons
fought 2 weeks before finally succumbing to
COVID-19 Complications on August 20, 2021.
Medical Center in Memphis, TN. These ladies are exemplary in providing services for individuals living with and without HIV in a holistic and therapeutic environment.
Gwendolyn D. Clemons,
MBA, MSM
Editor in Chief of TUV Media
TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE T
ransgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November
0th that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
Additionally, the week before TDOR, people and organizations around the country
participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise visibility for transgender people and address issues the community faces.
WHAT IS TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE? Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR)
was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor
the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil
commemorated all the transgender people
We remember the names of the transgender people whose lives have been lost to antitransgender violence over the years and
continue to demand increased and accurate media coverage of transgender people in
their lives and in death. These are the names of transgender people we know of whose
lives have been taken due to anti-transgender violence but should be noted that these
crimes often are misreported, go underreported, or are not reported at all.
More than 40 transgender people were killed in 2020, according to information gathered by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group. And this year, there have
By TUV Staff
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IN THE TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE? Participate in Transgender Day of
Remembrance by attending and/or organizing a vigil on November 20 to honor all those
transgender people whose lives were lost
to anti-transgender violence that year and learning about the violence affecting the
transgender community. Vigils are typically hosted by local transgender advocates r LGBTQ organizations, and held at
community centers, parks, places of worship, and other venues.
been at least 33 transgender people killed in the United States. 2021 is on track to
be the deadliest year of violence against transgender people in the US.
lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death and
began an important tradition that has become
the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.
THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
7
Why I Still Believe in LOVE I
By Brodderick Roary
have had my fair share of heartbreak. I’ve been emotionally abused, cheated on, and treated
as less than I deserve over the years. But I still
believe in love more now than ever, after all this heartbreak. Love is everything. Love is beauty and chaos mixed into one. Love is something I refuse to give up on, no matter what.
expect it. I’ll continue to focus on myself and
the ones around me that I love. I’ll continue to better myself and create the future I want, so
when the right one comes along, there will be no hesitation that I’m ready.
I won’t give up on love, because although it
one of those people. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve
damn lucky if you even get to experience it
tried to give love a bad name and pretended to be heartless, but that usually lasts about three hours before I realize I can’t. I always have
been, and always will be, a hopeless romantic. It is as simple and complicated as that.
Some people see that as a flaw in me because it means I’m more susceptible to heartbreak,
and maybe they are right. But I choose to see it as a strength and a blessing. It means that no matter how badly I get hurt I will always
believe in more, I’ll always believe in love, and I’ll always pick up the pieces and come back
strong. To me, that’s an amazing blessing. It is part of what makes me who I am.
The most strength I’ve attained in life is
from the relationships that didn’t work. If
there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s how to recover from a broken heart with more of an appreciation for love.
I realize that being the hopeless romantic I am, there is a chance I could get my heart broken again. And yes, I understand it might be a
while till I find my “happily ever after.” But I’m
okay with that because I know it’ll be worth it. | SPECIAL FEATURE
know the greatest love will come when I least
Most people after all the heartbreak would
give love a bad name, but I have never been
8
I won’t look and search for love because I
doesn’t always last, I still believe that you’re at all. So, appreciate it while it lasts, and even when it ends, never stop believing in love. The thing is love does exist and giving up on it isn’t going to make you feel better.
Don’t believe me? Spend some time around people who haven’t given up hope just yet. They’re much happier, take more risks and just enjoy life more. Kind of makes you want to believe too, doesn’t it?
Here are 6 reasons You should never give up on love…
1.
YOU KNOW LOVE EXISTS.
Where there is LOVE there is life
If you loved before, then love obviously exists. Just because it didn’t work out this time
doesn’t mean it won’t work out with someone
else. It’d be great if everything worked out like a movie, but it doesn’t. You loved, you lost and you know you’ll love again
2.
LOVING AND BEING LOVED MAKES LIFE WORTHWHILE.
What’s the one thing everyone wants most in life? To love and be loved. It’s a shared goal
throughout the world. The relationships we
have are what make life worthwhile. Whether it’s from family, friends or significant other, love is what makes our lives complete.
3.
THERE ARE ALREADY PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU.
Love isn’t exclusive to dating or marriage.
You love your parents, siblings, and friends.
They love you, too. If that love exists, then it’s easy to believe in love with a partner. Love is already all around you.
4.
YOU’RE STILL CAPABLE OF LOVE.
– Mahatma Gandhi
If you’re still able to love others, then others can love you. If you still feel it, you still have a good reason to believe in love. Just keep believing that others will love you too.
5.
YOU KNOW SEVERAL HAPPY COUPLES.
So, what if it hasn’t happened to you just yet? All the happy couples around you are proof
enough that love is alive and well. It’s hard not to believe when you see couples who’ve been
happily married for 50 or 60 years or even that new couple that can’t stand to be apart.
6.
TRUE LOVE MEANS HARD WORK.
Many people push love to the side when it
doesn’t immediately work out. You believe
because you know love isn’t easy. It takes hard work. You’re more than willing to put in the
effort. You’re just waiting for the right person who’ll put in just as much work as you.
SPECIAL FEATURE |
9
Spirit Health M
eet “The New Doctors On The Block” who are creating a paradigm shift in
patient care in Memphis, TN. Spirit Health Center delivers Primary Health Care to
individuals living with and without HIV in a diverse and respectable atmosphere.
Q: What are the most common myths about HIV/AIDS that continue to prevail in 2021?
Q: How has opening yourown medical practice changed the way you provide services to your patience?
A: There is still emphasis placed on and
A: Clients are offered excellent professional
suspicion related to not having a cure for HIV. There is no cure for many chronic diseases
like Hypertension, diabetes, seizures, however we know how to treat them. Same with
HIV. While there is no cure, there are many effective treatments for HIV. Additionally,
the treatments for HIV are easy to select, prescribe and manage.
People continue to believe that a diagnosis of HIV is a death sentence. It is not. This is a chronic disease that can be effectively managed with prescribed therapy.
care in a setting that is not stigmatized. Since Spirit Health Medical is a Primary Care office, anonymity about HIV status is offered. We
now provide medical care to the families and partners of many HIV clients.
Prior to opening Spirit Health Medical, we
offered primary care services only to individuals living with HIV. Now we offer primary care
services to the entire community. In addition to primary care, we perform school and athletic physicals, acute care visits and COVID-19
testing. We are now able to listen and respond to the needs of the community. In the past we would hear the desire of patients to be
treated in an environment where they did not
feel stigmatized, but we were not able to be a
10
| COVER STORY
change-agent until now.
Dr. Marshe Turner
Dr. Marye Bernard
Q: Why do you believe education about issues of sexual health are so elusive in African Americans communities? A: Talk about sexual health has been characterized as taboo, although there are many learning
opportunities in discussing sex. Prevention, Family Planning, and disease management can all be
improved by discussing topics surrounding sex. Throughout the years it has been ingrained in
us not to discuss sex. This is an act only to be
not be discussed in public. In reality, people
Q: What can the State of Tennessee do about HIV Criminalization?
Education should meet people where we are as
A: Criminalization of HIV in the state of
schools and in the church.
advances. Undetectable viral loads mean that it is
experienced by married couples and what is
done in private between married folks should have sex outside of bounds of marriage.
a society. Education should occur in the home,
Tennessee should be updated to reflect scientific
virtually impossible to transmit HIV sexually. For a person who has been undetectable for at least 6 months, criminalization should not exist.
COVER STORY |
11
Black Women
Need Rest, Not Strength By Diandra Marie
What about the moments where we want to be vulnerable, cry, and ask for help?
My response to those questions are: rest Sis. We owe it to ourselves to take a step
H
ave you ever been tired? I’m not talking about the type of tired that comes
from lack of sleep. I’m talking about that
old Negro spiritual, exhausted because the weight of the world is on your shoulders
type tired. The tired that comes with having a 9-5 job to make ends meet while also
pursuing your own passions, showing up
as a partner, parent, friend, and sister, while simultaneously dealing with the frustration
and hurdles that come simply by living. There is something in the air and it’s not just the
smoke from the West Coast’s forest fires, air pollution, or the Delta variant. Black people – Black women & femmes specifically – are tired and we don’t need “more” strength to keep us going. We need to rest.
As I first started writing this article, I was embarking on a day off. A mental health
day off. I woke up with a feeling of immense anxiety. All of my responsibilities and tasks
flooded to my mind, and I felt like I couldn’t get to everything. Truth is, I was right. I couldn’t be a high performing employee, a BOSS
entrepreneur, a nurturing friend, a loving
daughter, and hold the underlying weight of being a Black Queer woman all at the same time. The more titles and duties continued
to add to my plate, the more dispassionate
I became, and I procrastinated doing things that once brought me joy. I wanted to (and
did) self-medicate at times so I didn’t have the feel the pressure of all the things I had to do
12
| HEALTH & WELLNESS
and all of the people I needed to be. But then
the self-medicating stops “working”, and alas here I was, in my bed dreading the full day of things I needed to do.
I needed a break from being anyone other
than my true self. I didn’t feel like answering emails and calls pretending I wasn’t on the brink of a mental break down. I didn’t want
to dig deep for “more strength”, so I didn’t. I told my manager I needed a sick day
and surrendered to rest. The type of rest
that I and so many of my Black sisters and femme siblings yearn for but find hard to
come by. For centuries, Black women have
been taken advantage of, belittled, abused, beaten, and murdered while still having to endure poverty, racism, colorism, sexism,
homophobia, transphobia, just to name a few. Let’s not forget that we are also expected to
back from our everyday life duties and
responsibilities to fully see and embrace ourselves. Even if we have a wonderful
support system, we can’t depend on anyone else to take care of us the way we can take care of us. I know we’ve heard “you can’t
pour from an empty cup”, but seriously think about it. Before you even “pour” into others,
wouldn’t you want to be filled so you can bask in the glory of your own fullness? There’s
power in being filled. There’s restoration in
being filled. Being filled allows us to connect with our purpose, with ourselves. Resting gives us the time and space (and quiet)
to be still and check in with what’s really been going on with us. Rest allows us to
think clearer, allowing us to identify what
adjustments need to be made in our lives. We have the opportunity to celebrate ourselves
for simply making it this far in the first place.
bear & raise children (at times, by ourselves),
Resting is radical. Black women rarely feel
provide for ourselves and our families, while
constantly working to prove we are just as
advocate for ourselves, work so we can
also taking on the responsibility of having to
be the “strong Black woman”. Just think about the backlash Naomi Osaka received when
she dropped out of the French Open because she was focused on her own mental well-
being. She continues to be criticized for not
doing what people are considering “her job”
of talking to the media after tennis matches.
I find that these critics aren’t considering the times where we don’t want to be “strong” so
we can complete our jobs or responsibilities.
like we earn the “opportunity” to rest. We are good as our Black male, White woman, and White male counterparts. We consistently put others before ourselves, even when
we’re in harms way, so when can we take
time to relax when there’s so much at stake? Today. Start now by scheduling time, any time, to decompress and focus on your
needs. It is not selfish, but self-love to say
“I need to help myself today”. Let go of this
idea of having to be strong so you can bask in the glory of your fullness.
Walking In My Truth By Tyron Wells
T
here are two words that are trending all over the place that I want to touch on
in my story These words are ‘Transparency’ and’Walk in your truth.’ These 2 terms are
apparently helping people discovering who they really are and can be comparable to the latest fashion trend.
Just for a moment I would like to share my journey of self-discovery and how these
two words were instrumental in helping me find and walk in my truth. I now stand for
complete transparency; however, I wasn’t
always at that point. Today we live in an era
Filters were designed to remove impurities
coming out of the gate, than to pretend to be
an individual, a filter does not remove,
be resourceful, strong-willed, and self-reliant
or to strain unwanted materials. Regarding but instead covers or changes something from its original state. As a person who
once lived a life of filters, or should I say
masks to cover up, it caused others to form
perceptions of me as being unapproachable, uncaring, or guarded. While that may have been their perception, it was not how I
perceived myself. Humbly, I admit, it taught me a valuable lesson that first impression is always a lasting impression.
where as humans, we tend to apply filters
I am a 40-year-old black gay male, soon to
sometimes breathe. These filters allow us to
the energies I send out into the universe. I
to reimagine how we look, live, think, and
create alter egos that was never designed to be a part of our destiny, and strangely
enough it consumes us, and we take on that
identity of someone other than our true self!
be 41, and at this milestone of my life and am very intentional about the footprints I
leave whether it’s by networking, creating memorable experiences or intimate
relationships. For me to receive what is
destined for me, I must show up as my true self, unfiltered, and transparent. To some
that may be offensive, but I have learned as a creative thinker, it’s better to be yourself
someone you are not! This has allowed me to in pursuing my goals. Even more, I have high expectations for myself so that I can be a
reflection of my less than perfect self. To keep living and breathing to me means, I am still
evolving and growing into the person God is
molding me to be. Walking in my truth allows me to show understanding toward other
people to better help and support them in pursuing their goals.
Recent experiences have taught me that filters eventually must be removed, and authenticity will eventually reveal itself
voluntarily or involuntarily. That results in
consequences that we can avoid if we love ourselves, accept our flaws, and work to
be our best selves. I ran across this quote
on Instagram, “You have to release yourself
from the version of you that you created for
survival.” That created survival version brings so much unhappiness that is self-inflicted and the end result is self-oppression.
The reality is that we live in a changing world
that influence and determines how we should move throughout life, at times that is scary
and dangerous because we react quickly to what we see and hear! I confess that I have fallen into this category BUT I have also
recognized that those experiences are not what is destined for me. I recognize that in
my humanness, I don’t always get the recipe
just right in creating standards and narratives that reflects who I really am. But trust, I am
learning that self-care is the main ingredient
in the recipe. So, I am making time to love me, live with me, and letting no one dim the light I was creatively meant to be in this world!
Follow Tyron Wells on Instagram @wellsevents
THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
13
Normal
Anomaly
PROJEC T LIBERATE W orld AIDS Day 2021’s theme of Equitable Access shows our
perseverance to see the end of HIV in our
lifetime; The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc. is committed to this vision. Thinking back
to starting The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc. as a blog in 2016 with no clear ideas on its place or how it would impact its
community, we knew we wanted to focus on the disparities at the intersection
of Blackness and queerness such as HIV but didn’t know how.
We have come a long way since our
inception. Beginning with acknowledging the need specifically in our community in
Houston where there wasn’t enough support, services or work being done for Black, queer people by people that looked like them. Now, honoured to provide both direct services and advocacy to our community, we still
recognized that wielding and creating power means we must dismantle the systems
of oppression and concurrently build an infrastructure of mobility. Still, though,
we have just begun to build sustainability in recent history through community,
connection and resources developed to
meet our needs. We know that what took us 5 years doesn’t have to take that long.
So, we have created a project that takes all
our lessons, opportunity, and community gifts to teach what we have learned while bringing in thought leaders to empower community in the right direction. We are so proud to
officially launch Project Liberate: a 6-month
14
| THE UNLEASHED VOICE
community development project supported through the ViiV Accelerate Initiative.
Joelle Bayaa-Uzuri Espeut, Director of
Project Liberate, says, “In doing the work
of liberation and reimagining a better, more equitable future, it is imperative that those most marginalized are the ones creating, redefining, and rebuilding our society.
Project Liberate, at its core, is us building and providing tools and opportunities to
our community that helps them in the quest of sustainability and forward mobility.” This project will launch, re-launch and
build up to 20 brands, organizations, and businesses in the Black, queer space in
and around Houston, Texas. This 6-month program will feature a 3-month intensive with premiere capacity building and
development organizations of VisionQue! led by Ms. Jacqueline Coleman, Life
Mission Project Network led by Mr. Paul Cain, and LEAD360 led by Mr. J. Albert
Nicklos II; this cohort will learn the
foundational elements of businesses and
organizations, financial planning, pitching,
and develop business relationships. In the final 3 months, they will participate in a
capstone project to launch or re-launch
their business amongst community, family, and the city of Houston.
Titan Capri an applicant to Project
Liberate and the owner of the brand
Thought 2 Ponder says, “As a person living
with HIV, Project Liberate will grant me the opportunity to build and expand my brand encompassing my HIV status.”
This is a paramount moment for the Black, queer community as we launch this to the public on World AIDS Day 2021. Though
a non-traditional program to highlight on World AIDS Day, we recognize that HIV
impacts are felt far beyond HIV and that
socioeconomic and sociocultural factors
play a significant part in the transmissibility of HIV in our communities. We are using
this as a preliminary step in doing our part to end the epidemic through empowering the possibility of ownership, autonomy,
and a greater grasp on the control of the community ecosystem in which we live. If you are looking to see how our
community innovates, look no further than Project Liberate.
Ian L. Haddock serves as the Executive Director of The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc. in Houston, Texas. Find out more information about The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc. at normalanomaly.org
A PURPOSEFUL LIFE By Beth Trouy
O
ne of my favorite books growing up was “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by
John Irving. Written in 1989, it’s the story
of an odd-ball child, teased and ignored by most, who nonetheless, feels he has been born for a special purpose, predestined in fact. (There was also a movie, Simon Burch, based loosely on this novel). I
loved little Owen Meany. His purity of faith was inspiring and his acceptance of his
oddness helped me with my own. He also
held a fierce loyalty to his one true friend,
John. I could relate to Owen. But it was his selfless act of saving others in the end, at
the cost of his own life, that moved me the most. The book changed me. As a young
adult, it made me think about the deepness of “why are we here?” and “what is my contribution to the world?”
As a closeted gay person, it was an escape for me to read books and get lost in the
characters. Owen was special in that he
readily accepted being different and stayed faithful to his purpose to the end. I didn’t
really like being different and unlike Owen, I wanted to fit in. I was lost growing up;
trying to be someone I wasn’t. Looking
back, it’s no surprise that I felt my suffering had no purpose, no meaning. It took me
many years to accept and embrace myself
and only then, did I also finally begin to see a path toward a purposeful life.
What is our gift, our contribution to the
When I think of what I stand for, and why, I
and it can only be found when we also
your life matters, all of it, and you also have
world? Finding that answer is a journey “find ourselves.” You see, it is our life
experiences, our daily trials, our struggles and our most vulnerable secrets that
forge us into the person and the purpose we are to fulfill. We cannot separate
ourselves from the parts we don’t like, or
are too embarrassed to share, without also separating ourselves from our destined path. Besides, it’s that very path that
presents us opportunities to share our true selves with others.
How do we contribute? Maybe it’s the simple act of reminding one another that each of
will tell you I stand for reminding you that
a purpose. You are priceless in your value regardless of your stature and history.
Each one of us, in our own way, from our own life experience, has something to bring to the world, to each other. Like
George Bailey found out in It’s a Wonderful Life, you cannot underestimate your role which is intricately intertwined with the
people around you. We each form a piece of thread in the tapestry of humanity and without each individual piece, we will be
incomplete. Sometimes, like Clarence did
for George, we need someone to remind us.
us, in our uniqueness, our oddball existence,
We probably won’t sacrifice our lives saving
the power to bring hope to those who see
also doubtful an angel will come down and
is precious. Each of us also possesses
nothing but despair. We can remind one
another that there is meaning for each cross we bear and we start with loving ourselves as we are. We know that it does get better but maybe someone else needs to hear
those words. Our gift to the world might be
as simple as showing up and being present in our authentic humanness.
a group of children like Owen Meany. It’s show us how wonderful our life really is
and how our absence affects others. We
may also forget from time to time that we do have purpose and our suffering has
meaning. And when that happens, I hope you think of me reminding you of your
precious value in this world. Your struggles have not been in vain and your life, all of it, has purpose. Own it. Share it.
SPIRITUALITY |
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By Angel Lovelace
STAND FOR SOMETHING H
ello, I’m Angel Lovelace, owner and
founder of Innervated Life Coaching and
The Truckers Assistant.
When pondering the title Stand For
Something, I had to do some soul searching
that experience to push me to a greater
my life’s journey. It has allowed me to go places I
being in a pulpit. It was about allowing The
thought possible. I’ve spoken at conferences
understanding of the call. It was never about God in me to shine so that the people who are called by his name will hear his voice.
thought I’d never see. Doors opened that I never with some top names in the speaking industry.
Even on platforms with prominent organizations in business such as The Florida’s Women’s
as I stand for many things and causes. The
Honestly, I didn’t know this at that time. I was
I stand for doing my part to empower, uplift,
much time getting to know God and to have
I guess it’s safe to say I’m serving my way
was God’s way of drawing me closer, allowing
an even greater level of evolving. Every day I
one thing that wouldn’t leave me alone is that and serve humanity regardless of race, creed, origin, or sexual orientation.
For as long as I can remember, God has given me this unsettling inspiration to inspire,
hurt; I was lost because I had dedicated so
man tell me NO; it crushed me. Now, I know that me to get a deeper understanding and develop a more intimate relationship with him.
uplift, encourage, help, and serve for the
As I’ve grown, I continue to share my gifts,
those things I can do all day and never get tired
greater unfoldment and enrichment of people
advancement of the greater good. It’s one of of. Especially when talking about the creator
(God). I get excited, bubbling over with joy. I can relate to the saying; It’s like fire shut up in my
bones. I get happy; it’s as if God has taken over. As I allow God to lead me, I’ve realized that I always end up in the right place at the right
time, saying the right thing to the person it’s
talents, and skills with humanity for God’s
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inspiration or encouragement? And daily, the duty is fulfilled. As you may know, when we
ask of the universe, it must return an answer.
and logistics services, I’m here to serve in
serving in Ministry. Yet, my response to this is I operate in my gift daily. With every interaction throughout the day. Even in my professional
career as a trucking and logistics consultant.
is committed to service. So, as an individual
he denied me, little did I know God used
I serve today? Who can I uplift? Who needs
capacity in their eyes or how they view
or simply a good morning with a smile.
announce my calling to minister. Even though
wake, my question to the universe is How can
In closing, if you are searching for a personal
my calling because I’m not serving in a higher
How does the operating in my gift equate to
You see, at 16, I went to my pastor to
to success, and I will continue to perform to
and businesses. Some have told me I missed
intended for. The crazy thing is sometimes it’s
nothing to do with God. It’s advice, information,
Business Center and FLDOT.
trucking and logistics? The trucking industry
development life coach or need trucking
any way possible. You can visit my website, where there are a ton of resources and
tools available. You can also Schedule a consultation there as well.
May God (The Universe) bless each of you.
committed to serving for the greater good,
I salute the divinity in all of you.
encourage and inspire has been the pinnacle of
Website: thetruckerassistant.com
it all mesh perfectly. Serving with the gift to
Introducing… Official Season
The Androgynous Model T
he Androgynous Model (TAM), an intentional non scripted modeling
competition show that encourages others to be brave in their journey
to authenticity. The show is gearing up for Season 3 with a new set of contestants ready to take on life altering challenges in pursuit of becoming The Androgynous Model.
The Androgynous Model was created to serve as a platform for education about androgyny, instilling confidence and creating opportunities for
the androgynous community. Often, there is a lack of representation of
androgynous individuals within the fashion, technology, and entertainment industry. We built this platform to change that by providing space for androgynous individuals to share their stories and showcase their
expertise and talents to the world. At TAM, we believe the only difference
between androgynous individuals and others is opportunity. We found this early on and decided to create the opportunities in efforts to make it easier for the generations to come.
The Season 3 Contestants are Daffne Cruz, Antoinette Beeks, and Candace Williams. The show creator is Nikki Eason. ─The Androgynous Model can be viewed on the TAM YouTube channel.
Follow TAM and Vote for the winner on our social media channels @theandromodeltv
The Androgynous Model
ENTERTAINMENT |
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18| CONTENTS
NAESM, Inc. Heeds the Call to End the HIV Pandemic
By Brodderick D. Roary
T
he NAESM African American Leadership Conference on Health Disparities and
Social Justice will be held on January 13-
16, 2022, at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport at 5711 W Century Blvd. Los Angeles,
California. This conference is the nation’s largest annual convening dedicated to
exploring HIV prevention, care, treatment, policy, and research advances related to
Black gay/bisexual, /same-gender-loving men and other Black men who have sex with men (Black MSM). The conference
provides an opportunity for Black MSMserving organizations and individuals to
share best practices and methodologies. It serves as a think tank and clearing house for Black MSM-related HIV research. It
provides opportunities for showcasing effective grass roots initiatives and
interventions. More recently, the conference has contextualized the Black MSM HIV
epidemic within broader health disparities,
social justice, and human rights frameworka recognition that getting ahead of this disease requires addressing the social
determinants and social context of health. In addition to its usual offerings of plenaries, posters, and workshops, this conference
will call the question on how we were able to develop three FDA approved vaccines for
COVID-19 in a year, but none for the forty-
year-old HIV virus. Says Dr. Alvan Quamina, the Executive Director of NAESM, Inc. the
organizer of this annual conference, “It is clear that what we have lacked is not the technical capacity to fast track an HIV vaccine, but the
political and societal will to get this done.” Dr. Quamina added “While it is true that COVID vaccines built on decades of research,
including vitally, HIV vaccine research, the
gay and bisexual men with leadership training
getting an HIV vaccine on the streets.”
Fellows will attend the national conference
tine is now to get it done with regard to
Dr. Quamina knows of what he speaks, having worked in the HIV field for three decades. Now he leads NAESM, Inc. a national non-
profit community-based organization based in Atlanta, GA. NAESM was founded in
1990 to address the lack of HIV prevention services being provided to Black gay and bisexual men in the late 1980’s and early
1990’s. NAESM was one of the first African American community based non-profit
organizations to stand on the frontlines in
and mentoring support. Selected CRIBB where they will attend workshops and
institutes on leadership and professional development. Thereafter, fellows will
participate in hands on activities and
complete required assignments throughout
the year. Upon successful completion of the
program, fellows will be honored at the 2023 national conference at a “Rite of Passage” ceremony celebrating their successful
graduation. During the year, fellows will receive a monthly stipend.
the fight against HIV/AIDS. Today, NAESM provides a wide range of social services
including housing assistance, mental health
○ For more information about NAESM, visit naesminc.org
navigation services, and HIV and other
○ For more information on the coming conference, please visit naesminc.org/leadership conference/about-the-conference
and substance abuse counseling, health
sexually transmitted infections prevention, testing and linkage to care. NAESM also provides a drop-in center and LGBTQ
○ For more information about the C.R.I.B.B Fellowship, visit naesminc.org/da-cribb/overview
community center and more recently,
COVID-19 outreach, education and access
assistance, specifically prioritizing the Black
LGBTQ community in the metro Atlanta area. And of course, the organization hosts the annual national conference.
The coming conference will also see the re-launch of the C.R.I.B.B. Fellowship—a
year-long leadership development fellowship for Black cis-gender and transgender MSM between the ages of 19 to 30, who are
actively involved in HIV/AIDS services, other
health disparities or social justice issues that affect Black MSM, or who wish to become
involved with these challenges. The purpose
of the fellowship program is to provide Black THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
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MINDFUL: PERSONAL SOUL JOURNEY TO HEALING AND WELLNESS By Orisha A Bowers, Ph.D.
The final movement milestone would come one a midsummer afternoon after I walked
Caring for myself is not self- indulgence, it is self -preservation, and that is an act of political warfare. – Audre Lorde
I
was about 16 years old the first time I felt the euphoric release that followed an
outpouring of improvisational dance and
creative expression. It took very little effort to move myself from the thoughts and fears of the notification of my beloved mother’s
cancer diagnosis and mentions of surgery
and chemotherapy to the warmth and solitude of the movement of my body. I was stone cold in my mind, but my body was keenly aware
of what my inner feminine energy needed to reconcile and heal in truth. In those early
days it was scary to be transported to this
place of peace. I lacked the lexicon to name this bodily out of body experience.
My next muscle memory of my journey came with the second cancer diagnosis of mother.
Again I was thwarted into the numb and dark pit of ice-cold fear. The dance would again
save me and give me transformative power to move from a deep place of pain into a
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place of peace and acceptance. | HEALTH & WELLNESS
into my home following a visit to the doctor’s office. I had been suffering with a continual headache. I will never forget the way the
words seemed to spill out of her mouth and on to my ears. She said, “You have two choices.
You can take a leave from work starting today or I can admit you to the hospital now. Your blood pressure is at stroke level. Whatever you are doing is about to kill you and you
need to stop it today.” I was paralyzed with fear and angry that I had fallen in to the
same behaviours of overworking and lack of
self-care that I firmly believe exacerbated my mother’s illnesses and led to her early death. Like myself there are great numbers of black women who suffer from these same habits
and fail to provide a fragment of the level of self care that we need to live healthy lives.
For many the failure to pause and pour back
into the self can mean the difference between life and death. So if you add any other health disparities or issues such as the identity of
LGBT the health outcomes are critically lower.
A 2018, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University conducted a study that reported,
“LGBT individuals reported an average of 7.8 poor mental health days, defined as any day
they struggled with mental health issues like
stress, depression, anxiety and other emotional problems. Those who identified as transgender reported even more days - individuals born
female who currently identify as male reported 15.4 days and individuals born male who
currently identify as female reported 12.4 days.” For myself the key to saving my life and building
a bridge to wellness was the practice of dancing
mindfulness. Mindfulness is the ancient practice of living in the present moment, a practice so
simple, yet so often neglected in our fast-paced, modern lives. Dancing mindfulness invokes the
art of dance as the primary medium for practicing mindful awareness. It can be a gateway to higher spiritual growth, a path to more balanced living
and a healing experience. Dancing Mindfulness, guides practitioners through seven primary
elements of mindfulness: breath, sound, body,
story, mind, spirit and fusion. By dancing through the elements, one is better able to: access
their body’s own healing resources through
informal dance, Realize the transformative power of their personal creativity, Strengthen their
abilities to exercise non-judgment, patience, a
sense of play, trust, acceptance, and letting go, practice mindfulness even if they’ve struggled with traditional sitting meditation, and share
healing dances with others to build on their own strengths, resources, and experiences.
Tips that you can use to care for yourself during the holiday season:
outside into your sacred space. Say your
I became a Dancing Mindfulness facilitator in 2015 and an affiliate trainer in 2016. I have practiced and taught dancing mindfulness all across the country and watched individuals with mental and physical disabilities, various substance use disorders, a myriad of chronic illnesses, persons who identify as LGBTQAI, youth, seniors, sex workers, persons who have had abortions, doulas, midwives, elders and many other identities and lived experiences go through my classes and find that same path to healing and joy that I experienced at a young age. At 46, I’m still moving and I am still healing.
them under the moon light.
● Learn more about Dancing Mindfulness by
● Spiritual bath: Fill the tub to your hips and add sea salt or Epsom salt, two drops of
lavender oil, flower petals, and your favorite bath bubbles. Speak your intentions over your bath. Then enjoy your bath.
● Have a moon ceremony. One the next full
moon cycle, when the moon is highest, step intentions or write them down and burn
● Light a white candle and commune with your loved ones to gain clarity, strength, and be in their presence.
visiting dancingmindfulness.com
● Learn more about “Dancing Mindfulness
with Orixa” by following me on Facebook
● Schedule a free consultation or one on one session by visiting orixawellness.com
Photo Credits: The APT Foundation and The Urban Collective in New Haven, Connecticut HEALTH & WELLNESS |
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CHURCH HURT: WHY I LEFT THE BLACK CHURCH By Monika M. Pickett All that changed as I got older, when I began to
I soon realized that clergy members often
“chosen family.” In the LGBTQIA community,
Bible. They twist and mold Scripture to fit
attend non-denominational churches with my one’s chosen family is their family of choice. When members of the LGBTQIA community are rejected by their parents and biological
family members, they seek to fill that void. My teachers and gay men became my chosen
family when my biological family no longer chose me. They fueled a part of me that I didn’t know existed… my faith. The non-
denominational churches accepted me as I was.
I
awareness at an early age. At five years old,
I knew that I was different from other little
girls. I liked girls and not boys. For most of
my adolescence, I hid a dirty little secret, and it wasn’t that. I was ashamed of not being raised in the church.
At first, I was too young to understand the rhetoric of the pastor’s sermons
on “abomination.” The words “gay” and
“homosexual” were never spoken when he preached that “a man should not lie with a
man as with a woman.” I cringe as I recall the
whispers about “those people: who lived in the projects where I grew up. Over time, I realized that I was one of those people.
As a result, I stopped going to church. I
questioned my self worth. Was my faith not
enough? Did my parents love me? Did anyone love me? Most importantly, did God love me? I had grown wary of religious fanaticism. I began to question everything I had been taught regarding religion. I felt confused
and rejected. I began a downward emotional
spiral into self-mutilation. Did anyone see me? Would anyone care if I were no longer here? I had no desire to end my life and yet, I needed to know that I could feel.
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their personal agendas. Like a lost flock, the
congregation blindly follows. As a result, many African American LGBTQIA members struggle with coming out. I’ve had many late-night
conversations with friends about leaving the beloved churches they were raised in. The
fear of being ostracized or dishonoring their
families plays a vital role in their decisions not to reveal their truth.
Later in life I dated a few Southern Belles. I was
I don’t envy my closeted friends who rise
Southern Baptist church homes. Although I
tolerated or ignored. The church values
in awe whenever we attended services at their was blessed with a strong sense of self-
cherry-pick sins from what is written in the
never felt accepted there, those experiences made me miss worshipping in the house of
the Lord. There is an indescribable difference
between being raised in the church down South versus anywhere else in the world. Something
moved through me as the choir hummed about
the struggles of our ancestors meshed with the spirit of God. I flashed back to my childhood
when my aunts, uncles and I gathered around the TV to watch “The Ten Commandments” during
Christmas. I naively wondered: What happened
to the sanctity of God’s commands? If I followed those tenets, then surely that was enough to be worthy of God’s grace and mercy.
But what about the doctrines of the clergy who condemned me and the LGBTQIA community
to hell? The hypocrisy was mind-boggling. Did
anyone judge the pastor who had been married
to the first lady for two decades but had another family across town? (Thou shalt not commit
adultery.) Whatever happened to the pastor
who stepped down from the pulpit before being indicted for embezzlement? (Thou shalt not
steal.) What about the pastor who had multiple affairs with married parishioners? (Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbour’s wife.) How long would the congregation remain tone deaf to rumours of the bishop’s affairs with choir boys simply because he was the bishop? (Thou shalt not have strange Gods before me.)
through the church ranks while simply being fragments of the LGBTQIA community so long
as we conform to religious norms. We are often viewed and used as pawns. What congregation doesn’t appreciate a gay choir director? Sadly,
that appreciation is often replaced with disdain whenever he speaks of his significant other.
When AIDS became a global epidemic in the early 1980s, the widespread labeling of it as a disease only of gay men was unshakable, earning them more condemnation and
discrimination. And yet, members of the clergy hand-picked LGBTQIA parishioners to lead the HIV/AIDS ministry due to fear and stigma.
Clergy leaders are mere men and women, not God. I remain steadfast in knowing that God
loves me, although some church leaders may
not. I miss attending church, feeling the power of communal worship. I’ve yet to find a church home where all of who I am is welcomed. Until
then, I will continue to attend “Bedside Baptist”
services with my mother every Sunday morning. She brews our coffee while I make her favorite breakfast. No matter what I’m going through,
there is nothing like hearing her quote Scripture and remind me that “God is not going to give you more than you can bear.”
It is then that I remember one of my
favorite commandments. Honor thy father and thy mother.
W
orld AIDS Day takes place on 1 December each year. It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in
the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an
AIDS-related illness. Each year, organizations and individuals
n
R
e R h t i b k b c o o across the world bring attention to the HIV epidemic,
endeavour to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, speak
out against HIV stigma, and call for an increased response to move toward Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S.
World AIDS Day was the first observed in 1988 and has now expanded into a global health day.
The theme for the 2021 observance is “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.”
WORLD AIDS DAY DECEMBER 01, 2021 THE UNLEASHED VOICE |
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