MAY + JUNE 2020 VISIT TUVMAG.COM
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
DJ Sedrick
AN EMPOWERING CONVERSATION With
TUV Editors
Drayton The GOAT of Gospel House Music!
REAL TALK WITH DR. TONYKA MCKINNEY, DRPH(C), MPH THE SOCIAL DETERMINATES OF COVID-19 & BLACK AMERICA
ABIDEMI O. KAYODE MEET JEVON MARTIN,
Pandering to the COVID19 Pandemic
Executive Director of Princess Janae Place in New York
An Empowering Conversation with TUV Editors
VIBRATE HIGHER
“PURPOSEFUL LIVING”
| PUBLIC HEALTH
Dr. Tonyka McKinney DrPH(c), MPH Q: Can you discuss some of the social determinate that contribute to the high rate of COVID19 infections in the Black Community? A: COVID-19 is amplifying preexisting social inequities tied to race, class, and access to the health care system. Anyone can be infected with coronavirus, but certain populations are more vulnerable to both contracting and experiencing severe complications from it. This is mainly because exposure to the spread of the virus and the ability to cope with it are a direct result of things like access to health care as well as access to types of employment tend to vary based on race. People of color are being put at more risk in their day-to-day lives. They tend to have service-oriented careers and to be lower wage earners. Only 1 in 6 black Americans reported that they had the ability to work from home. These factors along with the fact that black Americans lead the nation in rates of preexisting conditions that may contribute to the severity of Coronavirus morbidity and mortality such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and HIV disease. Q: Please explain your role as a Public Health Scientist. A: I earned my bachelors degree in Biochemistry, masters degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and my doctoral degree in Public Health. As a trained epidemiologist and Public Health Scientist, I specialize in the surveillance and
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collection of disease incidence data and the use of the data to prevent and control the spread of disease. Lately I’ve worked exclusively on the data collection and analysis of COVID-19 specific public health data. Q: Please address the challenges of listening to science and medical based information as opposed to lay people such as (Politicians, Clergy, etc). A: One thing this pandemic has solidified for me is the fact that clergy definitely need some basic public health training. Leaders and clergy in particular are very influential in the black community. Their voices are sometimes valued above scientists and doctors trained in the area of public health. If these pastors have the ear of our people, it is imperative that we as public health professionals ensure that they are imparting facts and following public health practices among the people in their charge. Though we as black people value our leaders we must be extremely mindful to be educated about issues of importance ourselves. If something your political or religious leader tells you to do is in direct opposition to what scientists and doctors are advising you to do, it would behoove you to pay attention to the people who are trained to save your life. I’ll leave you with these questions, if you or someone you love breaks their arm, would your first stop be to your church or the hospital? The hospital I hope. Why should Coronavirus be any different?
Be prepared. Your lung cancer can spread to your brain. Rose, age 59, Texas
Smoking caused Rose’s lung cancer. She had to move from the small town she loved to get the treatment she needed, including chemo, radiation and having part of her lung removed. Recently, her cancer spread to her brain. You can quit.
CALL 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
#CDCTips
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VIBRATE HIGHER “PURPOSEFUL LIVING”
CONTENTS
10 Sedrick Drayton DJ House Music
16 Cynthia Jones Cyn The Model
18 Jevon Martin
Princess Janae House
22
Abidemi O. Kayode Pandering to the COVID19 Pandemic
02 | Public Health Dr. Tonyka McKinney, DrPH(c), MPH
06 | Editor’s Letter Gwendolyn D. Clemons
07 | Editor’s Letter Dr. Davin D. Clemons, DMin
08 | Health & Wellness Monika M. Pickett
14 | Spirituality Pastor Jim Rigby | Minister, Writer, Activist
15 | Spirituality Beth Trouy | Losing and Winning
20 | LOVING OUR LGBTQ CHILDREN A Mother’s Day Tribute
23 |Community News
In Remembrance of Kim Boyd
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| EDITOR’S LETTER
Keeping Sane in this Crazy World W
hat in the world is going on? I had so many plans for 2020, and now I’m battling cabin fever. I’m confined to only work, home, and an occasional quick grocery run! It’s easy to get discouraged by the sad and depressing news, but I am encouraged by the resilience I see from ordinary people. I have witnessed an outpouring of love to individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19. I’ve seen communities band together and support strangers with random acts of kindness. How do we keep from losing our minds in these crazy times? In these crazy times, this is when we have to activate our higher powers and rise above the insanity. One thing I know for sure is that you have to lean on your faith to help navigate these unchartered waters. COVID-19 may be with us for a while. Public Health experts suggest that it may be with us for the rest of our lives, and we have to learn - quickly - how to survive it! I encourage anyone struggling with situational anxiety to start channeling positive affirmations. One of my favorite affirmations is: “FAITH OVER FEAR.” Chanting “faith over fear” gives me the energy I need to rise and flex above whatever I am facing, such as monitoring my negative self-talk and staying in the present moment. We can’t allow ourselves to become victims of anxiety about forces beyond our control. RELEASE IT! Yes, COVID-19 is here! Yes, our government is failing us! Yes, things seem out of control! Yes, I’m scared! These are all valid feelings. However, in the fullness of my current situation, I am charged with controlling what I can and releasing what I can’t. Employ faith to fight your fear and the unnecessary trappings of your mind. Remember, feelings are not facts. They are merely a way that your mind processes emotions; some are healthy, and some are not! In the coming months, and maybe years, I encourage you to become proactive as opposed to reactive about your mental health. We know that there is an invisible enemy lurking. We know that the virus does not discriminate. We also have been given valuable knowledge about how to best protect ourselves. Lean in to the public health experts, not your local or nationally elected official, to help you make the best decisions regarding your life This issue is dedicated to our “Unsung Heroes”. We salute the individuals whom society once deemed unworthy of paying a $15.00 hourly wage, the health care professionals, the public servants, the grocery store workers, the delivery people, the farmers, the volunteers, the transportation industry, and all of those categorized as “essential workers”! For the last six Sunday’s, DJ’s from around the country have used their gifts to vicariously offer us a sense of normalcy. TUV Magazine obtained an exclusive interview with DJ Sedrick the “House Mother” from Washington, DC. DJ Sedrick’s career spans 30+ years, and he is a staple in the Black LGBTQ community. Do you like house music? If you do, make sure you are on Facebook Live on Sundays at 7pm EST to get your fix on Sedrick Drayton’s page. Afterwards, you can proclaim with me, “A DJ saved our lives!” Be Well & Stay Safe, Fam…
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Gwendolyn D. Clemons, MBA, MSM, Editor-in-Chief
CORONA VIRUS!!!!
EDITOR’S LETTER |
BY: Dr. Davin D. Clemons, DMin.
T
he Bible declares in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Add to that, as Dr. Oliver Brooks reminded us recently, “It is oft stated in the black community that ‘When the country gets a cold, we get pneumonia.’” As I sit here in aggravation over our nation’s lack of cultural responsiveness to the Black folks in America, I just scratch my head thinking about the spiritual warfare we are currently facing. There are so many things I could address within the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the: lack of responsible and reliable information regarding the virus, hoax theory, social determinants for black folks contracting the virus, disproportionate percentage of Black folks’ ability to work from home, over-working and inadequate safety considerations for essential workers, Small Business Administration running out of monies, states re-opening ahead of expert guidance, number of deaths in the United States and worldwide, number of military veteran deaths, persisting lack of access to coronavirus testing, trauma and anxiety induced by COVID-19, and so much more. The list could go on and on until the break of dawn, but what I really want to address is the dismal response and the lack of exertion from the Black community at large. It really baffles me that we, as the Black community, would rather quarrel about Dwyane Wade (retired NBA star) and his daughter Zaya’s personal life instead of working together trying to figure out some of the loopholes with the Small Business Administration so that we can LIBERATE ourselves and become like the 43,000 millionaires across the country who profited off the loopholes adapted from the Republicans’ 2017 tax code overhaul - which, by the way, is allowing the wealthiest Americans to receive about $1.7 million each in coronavirus relief, NOT $1,200. (GOOGLE IT!) This coronavirus is “BLACK” and we as Black Folks must stick together no matter what our differences are that we may have or encounter with each other. We must put our resources together and purchase our own coronavirus tests, ventilators, masks, healthcare, and other necessities for our survival because Donald Trump does not give a damn about Black Folks. Now is the time for wealthy black celebrities, black athletes, black politicians, black preachers, other black folks of privilege, and whomever else is willing to go into highways and byways to put up or shut up! So let’s not reject the concrete data and facts that are currently being disseminated about the COVID-19 pandemic. We as Black Folks have overcome so many adversities in our time here on earth, so I know we can achieve finally coming together as the family that God intended us to be: “We Are One”. My question to you, and to us all, is, “Who will win this most recent battle of spiritual warfare, after all is said and done: Donald Trump and the coronavirus - or the Black Family?”
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HEALTH & WELLNESS || RELATIONSHIP CORNER
Coronavirus: The Psychological, Physical and Spiritual Impact on My Life
by Monica M. Pickett
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RELATIONSHIP CORNER || HEALTH & WELLNESS
I. AM. TERRIFIED. The novel coronavirus has forever impacted our lives as we know them. For many of us, the impact will linger long after a cure is found. Yet, for those of us with an existing autoimmune condition, the need to take every precaution to guard against this disease is much higher than it is for the general population. Because we are more vulnerable, the difference between life and death is much narrower. In the face of this reality, I refuse to deny the gloominess that sets in. I don’t want to die. There is so much more I want to do … that I must do. I must create a legacy, not only for myself but for my grandchildren. Anxiety takes over as I take extreme measures to avoid public places. My anxiety heightens as I worry about my mother, who also falls into a high-risk category. I cannot thank her enough for sacrificing her own safety for mine. I wait in the car with my rubber gloves and mask as she goes into the grocery store. As I said, I avoid public places at all costs. I try to spoil my mother as much as possible by ordering her favorite take-out or delivery meals so she won’t have to cook as much.
I. AM. TERRIFIED. I was on the verge of a relapse right before the onset of the pandemic in this country. My rheumatologist recommended I immediately resume a regimen of the highest dose of steroids since my stroke. My MRI showed new developments in my brain. Once again, my immune system is highly compromised. My body cannot produce the white blood cells needed to fight infections. My immune system must work harder to keep my body healthy and protected from day-to-day germs. A common cold or exposure to the coronavirus from a family member can result in certain death for me.
imposed stay-at-home order. I jokingly tell my sister that I will undoubtedly be able to audition for the reality show My 600-lb Life once it is all said and done. Luckily, I am on the road to having my steroids decreased to a lower dose. This new regimen will ultimately strengthen my immune system. Until then, I will enjoy being able to eat what I want, when I want. And besides, I think about how all the women on My 600-lb Life have a man! There is hope as I prepare myself for my future wife … whenever God sends her to me.
I. AM. FAITHFUL. I remain steadfast in my faith. My health issues during this pandemic have taught me how precious life is to me. Social distancing may be uncomfortable and inconvenient and yet, with each day, I become more grateful. I realize how resilient the human spirit is. I’ve learned to do so much with so little. I am going to be telling a different story soon, one of healing, success, strength, abundance, love, happiness, peace, and great joy. I am going to be stronger, wiser. The power of not giving up is profound. God has seen what I’ve been through. He has seen every tear I’ve shed. He knows the disappointment and the heartache I’ve felt and this is not the end of my story. It is the beginning. I am not going to come out of this barely surviving. I ain’t got time to die, so I will stay inside! I know that God is going to bring me out of this pandemic, better than I was before.
I broke down in tears at first, but then I switched into survival mode. No matter what challenges life throws at me, I give myself twenty-four hours to have a nervous breakdown … twenty-four hours, no more, no less! I followed my doctor’s instructions to specifically go to an academic teaching hospital. Even amid chaos, I am grateful for the smallest blessings. I breathed a sigh of relief when my insurance was accepted at MedStar Georgetown University, one of the best private academic teaching hospitals in the country. A calm came over me as a team of specialists diagnosed my new developments. I was grateful for the immediate treatment plan and yet, I am human. I was not looking forward to my face swelling to three times its regular size. Again, I try to laugh to keep from crying. The increased steroids fuel my appetite, a challenge coupled with the state-
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| COVER FEATURE
ht e GOAT of GOSPEL MUSIC Based in Washington, DC, DJ Sedrick Drayton has spent the past three decades spinning music at clubs all over the world. While stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has instead been giving life on Facebook Live every Sunday at 7 p.m. EST through the gospel-infused house music he now plays for the worldwide audience that looks to him for help staying inspired.
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COVER FEATURE | be 57 in July, had never gone live before. It just hadn’t been my thing because I always played in clubs. But you just never know whose lives you’re touching. So it has been a blessing to me. It has blessed the world. Literally, people have tuned in from Amsterdam, Brazil, London. I’ve met people and other DJs that I probably would never have met, and have still never actually met. Being that the pandemic is bad, it has still also been a blessing for me in some ways because this has put me in places, and will put me in places, that I probably wouldn’t have known about if this pandemic hadn’t happened. This has opened so many doors that probably wouldn’t have been opened otherwise.
How long have you been DJ’ing, and when did you first get started? I have been doing this for quite some time, for 30 years. I started off, believe it or not, as a voice jock. You know what the guys are doing to hip hop, the hype man? I’m the one who created the hype, but it was to house music. There was no hip-hop in the gay club back then. There was none of that. So before there was hype music in the club, I did that to house music. An old deacon brought a cordless mic to church, and I said to him, “Oooh, I would like to use that microphone tonight.” I took the microphone to Tracks, and the DJ hooked it up. I walked down with that cordless microphone, wiped the entire club out, and the rest was history. That was my first job as an MC. Then I could basically work with anybody, so I went around the world MC’ing to house music before I became a DJ.
How was it that you got started with the show you’re giving now on Sundays via Facebook Live? In March, one of my Facebook friends from Baltimore put on Facebook, “It sure would be nice to hear DJ Sed spin for us during this pandemic.” Well, I’d never thought about it. My equipment is locked up because I travel so much. But people started commenting, hundreds and hundreds and people. So I said, “Hmm. Spin for them?” I called my play son, who’s a DJ, and I said, “Everybody’s telling me to go Live. I don’t know nothing about going no Live.” He said, “Daddy, I’ll show you. Why don’t you do it? People will enjoy it. We’ll put your CashApp up, and you never know.” And the first time I did it, I had over 30,000 viewers. So that’s why all of this is coming to fruition. It was just her idea. I’d never thought about it.
How had you been passing your time before this idea came along? I was depressed because this is my livelihood. This is how I make my money. This is how I eat. This is how bills are paid. So closing clubs, boom, just imagine. I had no idea how I was going to spend this time, until this lady said something. I hadn’t been doing anything but just out here laying around. Everything happened so abruptly that we didn’t get a chance to think about it. I was on my way to Atlanta, to a gig. By the time I got to Charlotte, they called me and told me not to come since they hadn’t had a crowd that weekend. So I had to turn around and drive back to DC. We didn’t know what was going on. And then everything just closed up cold turkey. Then just one lady put that on Facebook, and look what has happened. I had no history, didn’t know what I was doing. I’ll
How has it felt for you to be able to deliver this gift to people during such bleak times as we’ve all been dealing with during the pandemic? It feels good to reach the masses. Because, you have to realize, we took something for granted that has never happened, ever, and that’s with church. But nobody ever dreamed that the church doors would close, and we wouldn’t be able to go to church. That’s why I chose Sundays for live DJ’ing during the pandemic, and because I’m usually playing house at Club Mixx in Atlanta on Sunday nights. So what I did was, through my house music, I brought church to the people, and brought a feeling to people who are depressed. People are sick from COVID, losing family members. People are feeling hopeless. So this is what I’m doing, is trying to bring hope. We’re all in this together. That’s what this is all about. Somebody long ago gave me a handle and named me the District House Mother because it was house music, and I was that mother/father figure to so many of the gay kids who didn’t have mothers or fathers. But I actually call myself The Minister of Music because I want people to feel good through music. God is the creator of all music. It’s just how we deliver it. And yes, I do hip-hop. I do it all. But house music is a feeling. You get something from house music that’s the next closest thing to being in church, when you hear a gospel song that’s been re-made with a beat. That’s going to be your closest thing you’re going to get. So my job as a DJ, and what inspires me, is I’m bringing hope to people through the song, whatever it is. While I’m going Live on Sundays during the pandemic, I still do regular house music, but I add in what they call gospel house music. On Easter Sunday, I gave them some new gospel house, a Yolanda Adams remix, an Anita Wilson remix. I closed out with a house mix to You Brought the Sunshine by The Clark Sisters, and people just went bananas. Easter Sunday was completely off the rocks. I think that was probably the best one. Normally I do a two hour set, and I did a three hour set that night. I really felt something that I hadn’t felt the whole time I’ve DJ’ed.
Are there any other projects or endeavors coming up from you that we should be looking out for? I am also a choir director for the One Accord Community Choir of Washington, DC. The fourth Sunday in April was our seventh anniversary, but I’ve been directing choirs now for over 30 years. Aside from that, it’s always been my dream to be in a movie and to travel more overseas. That’s my prayer before I leave this earth. I would love that.
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| SPIRITUALITY
WHAT THIS PASTOR owes to the
LGBTQAI+ COMMUNITY by Pastor Jim Rigby
Jim Rigby is a Presbyterian minister in Austin, Texas. He is also a writer and activist on issues of race, gender, economic and reproductive justice. He was named “Texas Public Citizen of the Year” by the National Association of Social Workers.
I
am a Presbyterian Pastor in Austin, Texas. I was raised in conservative Dallas way back in the days of “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best.” While my parents really wanted to teach me a religion of love, racism, homophobia and patriarchy were unexamined backdrops in my education. As a Christian, I was taught to love everyone, of course, but that “love” had curious holes in it when it came to some people. Like most other young boys in my day, I was taught to numb myself to my insecurities and to project an image of masculine confidence and control. Of course, the masculinity I was taught was a mask, and I secretly feared others would see through it. I did get afraid and confused at times, but I had learned not to let anyone see that side of me. I became very good at looking masculine, which meant numbing myself those parts of me that did not fit the stereotype. The first crack in my cultural trance came when I was in chaplaincy training for my seminary degree. While interning at a hospital, I saw a huge book in the doctors’ reference library. The book seemed twelve inches across. The topic of the book surprised me. This enormous book consisted of surgery techniques for infants “born in between the genders.” A few minutes of leafing through that book shook up everything I had been taught about human beings being created either male or female. At some profound level I realized I had been taught a basic falsehood by my culture, and by my religion. Human beings were not simply born into the clear dichotomy of male or female. And if our external bodies are not organized into clear binary genders, then I certainly could not know what was happening inside other people. I had no place in my worldview to file the new information, but I realized I had no right to judge other people based on how they appeared to me.
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My real awakening from my heteronormative trance began after seminary when I began to meet wonderful people from the LGBTQAI+ community whose character was beyond question and whose loves were as faithful and sacred as any from my own experience. And then, I took a fateful trip to Houston where I ran into gay rights
activists who had just been beaten by the Houston police during a demonstration at the Republican convention. It was at that fateful encounter where I realized it wasn’t enough for me to be nice to people who were different from me, simply by hiding behind my male heterosexual privilege I was part of what made the world dangerous for some other people. In an instant I lost the myth that I was an innocent bystander to other peoples’ oppressions. I realized I had to either join in their struggle for justice or I was a part of their oppression. It was amazing how quickly I got in trouble in the Presbyterian Church after that. I had preached on justice for the LGBTQAI+ community for some time, but my conservative church knew my support was rudderless when it came to real action. Then one day I told them I was casting my fate and that my new family of choice included the LGBTQAI+ members of our human family. Soon there were church court hearings, a huge split in our church, lots of money out the window. But for the first time I could look at myself in the mirror and see my real human face. Feminists and LGBTQAI+ activists had led me to my own humanity, which was no longer just a mask the culture gave me. I almost feel guilty remembering how much fun the struggle has been. In addition to tears and fears I have had the honor of being in the room with some of the most remarkable people on the planet. Rev. Janie Spahr, lesbian evangelist to the Presbyterian Church, became a friend and soulmate. The wonderful Diane Hardy-Garcia invited me to go with her to Jasper, Texas to talk to the mother of the late James Byrd, Jr. about giving his name to the Texas hate crimes bill. And I often think of Bettie Naylor who was a bright cheerful light at the Texas Capitol not only for her trailblazing work on behalf of LGBTQAI+ rights, but also for the children of Texas, and for women’s rights. Because I have been graced with spending time with some of humanity’s brightest lighthouses I have learned such people live in their character not their fate, and also that they live in the longer story of humanity’s struggle for universal human rights, not just their own brief span. They have taught me we can struggle through the bleakest of times and still find love and joy. When I talk to other heterosexual clergy who have risked their callings for this cause, every one of them says the same thing I have. They were all just grateful to have been in the same room with such wonderful people struggling for such an important cause. Like me, they all feel they were give parts of their own soul by the wonderful activists of the LGBTQAI+ community.
Losing and Winning
SPIRITUALITY || ENTERTAINMENT
by Beth Trouy
“F
or what profits a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?” We have all been taking a long hard look at life these days and feeling the visceral fragility of existence. At various times lately, we have felt anxious, afraid, and even helpless. In one colossal sweep from the hand of fate, our lives have been upended. The world pandemic has impacted all of humanity. We are grappling with the fact that life as we once knew it, is gone. To be honest, maybe it’s not such a bad thing. We have been granted a “pause” to slow down and re-evaluate our priorities. It’s a wake-up call for us all to do some soulsearching in finding meaning and peace amidst the unknown. Where do we go from here? This state of unease is all too familiar for those of us who experienced it nearly twenty years ago. What is this teaching us then, and now? As I sit with this confinement, I recall the events of September 11 known as the “Miracle in Stairwell B.” The South Tower had just collapsed and the frantic evacuation order was given to the rescue workers in the remaining North Tower. Captain Jonas and the firefighters of Station 6 had just ascended over 60 flights of stairs in full gear and were now headed back down. They caught up to Josephine Harris, who was moving very slowly due to a recent injury. They slowed their pace and helped her continue, resting as often as she needed. By the 5th floor,
she could go no further and she begged them to save themselves and hurry out. Captain Jonas answered her saying, “We are not leaving you Ma’am.” They picked her up and began taking turns carrying her down step by step. Then they heard the rumbling like an earthquake above them. The whoosh of air lifted them off their feet as the pressure of the building collapsing above them rushed downward. In terror, they crouched closely together in the darkness praying. It remains an unexplained mystery to this day how the exact spot they all huddled is the only intact piece of stairwell from both buildings. Had they given in to fear and ran, they would have been on the lower stairs that were crushed. By staying with Josephine and moving at her pace, they were right where they needed to be to survive. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall surely find it.” We have all been gifted an opportunity to start over. We may all be much poorer in money and material wealth but we can put stock in the riches of our community and work together to survive. Perhaps slowing down and making more time to take care of each other is the best gift the Pandemic can give to the world. In putting others first at the cost of our own comfort, the life we may save in the end may be our own.
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| ENTERTAINMENT
ONE TO WATCH
Cynthia Jones
C
ynthia Jones also known as Cyn the Model is an Androgynous Black Model and a Creative Director. Cyn currently resides in Baltimore, MD. Cyn’s artistry involves being creative with models by directing their style along with designers. The creative aspect of their work involves bringing the vision of the concept seen to light through photography. In Cyn’s own words, “I’m sensitive about my art,” is the climax to her dedication to her craft. In late 2019, Cyn team up with one of their favorite photographers Atiya. The collaboration was formed to align their creativeness by bringing forth the Andro Mini Fashion Showcases. Cyn is also honored to be on the team of “Lesbian Alliance” in Baltimore, Md. Cyn credits the Creator and Founder, Shakti Kefi of Lesbian Alliance with bringing forth events this year and years to come. As a Black woman, Model and Creative Director, Cyn feels empowered to provide a safe space for women more specifically to express themselves in ways they could have never imagined. Much of the events she is involved with coincide with other Pride events and with good intentions for the community. She also promotes events outside of Pride because of the vast majority of different artists to work with. Cyn believes it is important to promote Self-Love, and Pride but more importantly LOVE. Cyn has found that the LGBTQ community can be celebrated by offering a refreshing approach through Fashion, Poetry, Dance, Kick-backs, Therapy, etc. Cyn believes her events are a whole Mood, Wave, and Vibe. Get Ready Folks because Cyn is bringing something refreshing and interesting to the City. This is why she is our “One To Watch” in Baltimore, Md.
Follow Cynthia Jones on her social media handles: @cyn.jones
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Cynthia Jones
SOCIAL NEWS |
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| HEALTH & WELLNESS
| COMMUNITY NEWS
PRINCESS JANAE PLACE
Meet Jevon Martin 18
COMMUNITY NEWS |
Helps Transgender Individuals
OVERCOME HOMELESSNESS by TUV STAFF
P
rincess Janae Place was established in 2015 to support the transgender/gender nonconforming (TGNC) and transgender/ gender non-binary (TGNB) community, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual (LGB) and many of whom experience homelessness and housing insecurity. Princess Janae Place is New York State’s first and only community based housing organization led by, and for, people of trans experience. Princess Janae Place offers a community-based, safe and accessible place for these individuals to connect to critical services and support. In late 2019, Princess Janae Place began to expand its services following a $200,000 donation from Gilead’s TRANScend Community Impact Fund. The new program, called Housing At-Risk Trans-People (HART), includes enhanced housing outreach, case management and ongoing supportive services. In this issue TUV Magazine highlights Jevon Martin and the dynamic work he is doing. Jevon Martin, the founder and Executive Director of Princess Janae Place, a New York-based nonprofit that helps transgender individuals transitioning out of homelessness access supportive housing, find work, and become part of a community. Jevon was raised with the philosophy that if you have a room to spare, you invite someone in. Jevon adapted this philosophy at an early age by following in the footsteps of his father. Jevon’s is candid about his early struggles with his gender identity. After attending college and giving birth to a daughter Jevon knew something wasn’t working for him. In the early 2000s, Jevon began taking hormones to transition physically from female to male, and eventually had gender reassignment surgery. The transition brought with it a newfound sense of community. Jevon joined the underground house and ballroom scene, campaigned for marriage
equality and the New York Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, and volunteered at St. Vincent’s Hospital and the GMHC Center. He continued his lifelong effort of hosting people in need of housing, and through this, identified a huge gap in services for transgender individuals. Existing housing programs in New York were difficult to navigate, and rarely transaffirming. People were being evicted or denied housing because of stigma, and experienced discrimination at every turn. During this time, Jevon wasn’t the only one taking people in. His mentor Janae Banks, a trans woman active in the ballroom scene, was a pillar of the community. Once homeless herself, she made it a point to open her home to people without a place to live. When Janae died of cancer in 2013, Jevon took on her mission of housing gender non-conforming and trans people to the next level, launching Princess Janae Place in 2015. Princess Janae Place is a successful intermediary between existing housing programs and the trans community. It’s staff has helped hundreds of trans people transitioning out of homelessness access supportive housing, find work and become part of a community. Through this work, Jevon has seen the positive impact that transformation housing can have on people’s lives. “Safe and low-income housing is critical to one’s overall well-being and security, and is a fundamental right,” he says. “We believe that people who have a safe space to lay their heads can then access the tools they need to be productive members of society.” Jevon credits Janae Banks with instilling the qualities he have today about offering safe housing space and serving his community.
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| COMMUNITY NEWS
LOVING OUR LGBTQ CHILDREN
Barbara Wright and Glen Kimbrel-Allen
Q: Why is it important as a mother for you to love your LGBTQ child? A: It’s important for me to love my LGBTQ Child is because before there was ever a decision, a thought, or even an idea he was my Child the love of my life. I loved him then and I love him even more now because he lives in his TRUTH!
Thelma Ward & Faye Wilson Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Teach your child to Love God First! Themselves and others. Love shapes their character, and self-esteem. As a mother your child is a representative of you. Therefore, whoever they become in life; you should not be ashamed to own who your child is. You must love your child unconditionally, the way that God loves us. Have A Blessed Day On Purpose!
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COMMUNITY NEWS NEWS || COMMUNITY it was my responsibility to provide a nurturing, nonjudgmental environment to prepare him for the challenges ahead. A foundation of emotional support, respect, attention, validation and love was required to prepare him for adulthood. It was important to convey to him and peers in similar situations that sexual orientation should not stop them from becoming contributing members of society.
Suzette Elrod & Kevin Williamson
When my son came out to me, I was afraid and felt the need to protect him from the harshness and dangers he could potentially face from family members and the general public. I had to develop thick skin and help him to do the same so that we could stand firm in the face of prejudice, bullying, fear and other forms of mistreatment. I also had to be forgiving, open minded and compassionate with a willingness to listen, learn and possess the strength to stand up for him. I was prepared to make any necessary adjustment for the love of my son.
My relationship with my son has been strengthened by all that “Why Is It Important For Mothers To Love Their we have gone through. Lots of prayers and love were essential. Children Regardless Of Sexual Orientation?” We have overcome and sacrificed so much together. I could not imagine my life without him. If my son requires my assistance Love is the universal language we all desire and under any circumstances, I am only a phone call away. A encompasses every situation including my child’s Mother’s love, My Love for him, is deep, pure, unconditional, sexual orientation. As the Mother of a gay son, I knew accepting, and crucial, and it will remain for a lifetime.
Q: Why is it important for a mother to love their child regardless of their sexual orientation? A: As a mother you always want the best for your children. There was a time in our relationship that I didn’t know how to love my daughter. But with God’s help I eventually learned that I should love her regardless of her sexual orientation. The number one reason for me was that love never fails. Secondly, Shuria is my daughter, why wouldn’t I love her? I brought her into this world and she’s the love of my life. Lastly, children need their parents. They need us emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Even when our children become adults we should be there for them. It is important to maintain a loving relationship with them to help with their life changes.
Shuria Holmes & Yolanda Chambers
I’ve watched my daughter strive to do and be the best she could be. Watching her strive made be love her even more regardless of what she does and who she is. As a mother I will always support her because I would want people to treat me the same way. It’s important to sometimes put yourself in a person’s shoes to understand the importance of needing to feel loved. Shuria is my best friend and she’s the best daughter a mother could ask for. The love for my daughter is in my heart forever. I love Shuria.
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| COMMUNITY NEWS
Pandering to the Pandemic climbed to the top of the ranks in numbers relatively quickly. Unfortunately, we have seen an uptick in black people succumbing to this virus. Disparity in access to health care to the impoverished and those with pre-existing conditions has played a devastating role here. The pandemic is thrashing the have-nots very disproportionately. Most marginalized communities know that it is has been an uphill battle trying to be seen and heard when it comes to parity and equity. The black LGBTQIAP community definitely understands the mistreatment from a society that promotes an American Dream, but delivers an American Nightmare.
By Abidemi O. Kayode
W
hen 2020 arrived, we all had a glint of hope in our eyes and we made resolutions to cleanse our minds and hearts, to focus on our health, and to augment our wealth. Even though the tragic death of Kobe Bryant rocked us to our cores, we persevered. Then March of 2020 came in like a wrecking ball. It ushered in a fell swoop of uncertainty and before we knew it, we had to swallow the pill of a pandemic. When it first hit, there was a mass entrance of misinformation that both compounded and confounded everyone around the globe. No one had any assurance of how this particular novel Coronavirus would affect us here in the United States. Then the world stopped and Beyoncé had nothing to do with it this time. For many people, this caused a great deal of fear of the unknown. The world went from having a few thousand known cases to over 1 million cases. The U.S.
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Single black gay men are finding it particularly hard to cope during these times of social distancing. This group of individuals no longer has the outlets of going to the club, having kee-kee sessions, ballroom culture, and using dating apps. Of all of these egresses, the most impactful is the “physical distancing” from the dating apps. Dating apps provide a means by which to fill a void albeit superfluous and superficial to some. To a great deal of single gay men, the dating apps have proffered a way for them to get what they need, want, and desire in a self-styled, safe manner. Apps such as Grindr, Jack’d and Tinder gave men a way to fulfill urges as well as meet new people, especially if they are new to an area. Many of my single friends have cited having cabin fever, anxiety, and depression because they really want to be able to touch and be touched. Though it is not always sexual it is necessary that we as humans need human interaction that is not marred by restriction. The guidelines of shelter-in-home have decreed it virtually impossible to have dates and hookups. This type of behavior
is the new “risky”. Since we don’t know enough about the virus to understand the ramifications of asymptomatic carriers, it has been imperative that we adhere to the physical distancing most commonly referred to as social distancing. We can all still be moderately social; it is the physical part of distancing that is rendering us all helpless and hopeless at times. It is my fear that the helpless and hopelessness will prevail and leave us all worse for wear. Some of my friends who are in committed relationships or even married too are finding it increasingly difficult to be stuck in the house and be limited to just work, the grocery store, and food runs. It is my sincere hope that as time waxes and wanes that we continue to be mindful and wakeful. During this pandemic, we should be seeing the best of ourselves flourishing and seeking innovative ways to be emboldened. We should be making it a point to work on our life’s work and work on our next steps. The way to clearly be our most authentic and truest self is to stay in the present and focus on the now. Do the things that you want to do and do those things with vigor. Get your life and finances in order. Do not become stagnate. Reassess your goals and ambitions. Reach even further for your purpose. Be intentional in all areas of your life, health, wealth, and growth. Remember to love yourself intensely and never falter in that area. Love your family, friends, neighbors, and all living creatures, flora and fauna. As you work internally to readjust, just know that Mother Nature and the universe are tirelessly working externally in order to reorder things so that when we reemerge into the world, we will all be working in tandem. We will see the world differently and the world we see us differently. We all will be seen in a new light and that new light will shine on the pathway to health, wealth, and prosperity.
In Loving Memory of
KIM BOYD By Gwendolyn D. Clemons
I can confidently write that the words on this page represents a consensus sentiment about the beloved Kim Boyd. I am reminded about a scripture in 3 John 1:2 where John speaks about his friend Gaius, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” As Kim battled her invader, she knew that her community prayed feverishly for her health and for her life to be prolonged with us. As God’s will is always done, despite our understanding and objections Kim was called home. This tribute is to celebrate the life of a remarkable young lady who touched so many lives with her pure heart and love for others.
RIL Kim
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TUV SUPPORTS
Tips The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger. 1. TAKE BREAKS FROM WATCHING, READING OR LISTENING TO NEWS STORIES, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA. HEARING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC REPEATEDLY CAN BE UPSETTING. 2. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. Take deep breaths, stretch, or mediate, eat well balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, avoid alcohol, and drugs. 3. MAKE TIME TO UNWIND. Try to do some other activities you enjoy. 4. CONNECT WITH OTHERS. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. 5. KNOW WHEN TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP. If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others. Call 911. Visit the Disaster Distress Helpline call 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746, Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224 6. TALK WITH YOUR CHILD OR TEEN about the COVID19 outbreak. TUV MISSION
The Unleashed Voice Magazine will cultivate the stories of LGBTQ people with engaging and empowering conversation to people of the world about the multicultural LGBTQ Community.
TUV VISION
The Unleashed Voice Magazine (TUV Magazine) will aid the LGBTQ Community and its allies in redefining how the diverse LGBTQ person wishes to be viewed or spoken about. TUV Magazine will be the optimal print and media hub for the affluent LGBTQ consumer and those who want to be included in the “Unleashing” movement.
7. ANSWER QUESTIONS AND SHARE FACTS about COVID19 in a way your child or teen will understand. 8. REASSURE YOUR CHILD OR TEEN that they are safe. Let them know it is okay if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you. 9. LIMIT YOUR FAMILY’S EXPOSURE TO NEWS COVERAGE of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand. 10. TRY TO KEEP UP WITH REGULAR ROUTINES. Since schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
