Unite Virginia | Election 2016

2 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

CONTENTS Volume 2 | Election 2016 04 05 06 08

Letter from the Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Opinion – Not Safe at Work: Transgender Workers of Color Editorial – Ralph Northam: Anti-LGBT Laws Threaten VA’s Economy Foreword – Rita McClenny, President & CEO of the VA Tourism Corporation

INFORM 10 Victoria: America’s First Female Presidential Candidate 12 Animal Farm: How Donkeys & Elephants Became Symbols of America’s Political Parties 13 44 Presidential Facts about America’s 44 Presidents 14 Meet the Candidates: Hillary Clinton 16 44 Presidential Facts about America’s 44 Presidents 18 Meet the Candidates: Gary Johnson 19 Meet the Candidates: Jill Stein 20 What are the Log Cabin Republicans?

21 44 Presidential Facts about America’s 44 Presidents 22 Meet the Candidates: Donald Trump 24 The Electoral College: What the Hell?

25 44 Presidential Facts about America’s 44 Presidents

CONNECT 28 30 31 33 34 35 36 38

Embracing Joy U.S. Navy Names a Ship After Gay Rights Icon Harvey Milk LGBT Elders: Challenges & Hope Georgie Porgie: Virginia Pride Meets Craft Beer The FBI Meets with Community Leaders in Hampton Roads Conversion Therapy: A Student Essay The Marriage Myth Private Albert D.J. Cashier: America’s First Transgender Patriot?

ENGAGE 40 A History of Halloween 42 World Wrestling Entertainment to Incorporate LGBT Characters into Future Storylines 43 Stories Can Change the World 44 Tennessee Williams: Mutilations 45 Love is All You Need? – A Film that Turns the World Upside Down 46 James Buchanan: America’s First Gay President?

UNITE VIRGINIA STAFF PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Justin Ayars, JD EDITOR & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jesse LaVancher ART DIRECTOR Christopher Murphy / Digital Empire Graphic Design WEB DESIGNER Michael Romano LOGO DESIGNER Umbrella Management Group, LLC ADVERTISING MANAGER Kimberly Nikole Welsh / sales@unitevamag.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media INTERNATIONAL FELLOW Kenny Schmidt COLLEGIATE FELLOWS Yasir Afzal, Ariell Branson, Kevin G. Costanzo, Maxwell Manchester, Saria M. Maryn, Christian Meade, Charlie Williamson CONTRIBUTORS Anonymous High School Student Justin Ayars, JD Ariell Branson Nicole Evelina Meredith Jenkins Leland Kiang, LICSW Jesse LaVancher Rita McClenny Saria M. Maryn Benjamin W. Mason Christian Meade Tony Narducci The Honorable Ralph P. Northam Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Rayceen Pendarvis, HRH Michele Zehr, M.A., M.Ed. PUBLISHING PAGEOFFICE 46 Stay Flynn UnitedRoad | L’Opossum Ad The Brookwood |1342 | Richmond, VA 23225

Stay United! www.unitevamag.com Keep up-to-date on the latest news, join the conversation and share your stories w

/uniteva www.unitevamag.com @unitevamag

www.facebook.com/uniteva

unitevamag @unitevamag

http://unitevamag.com/blog justin@unitevamag.com info@unitevamag.com Q pages: Virginia’s Official Statewide LGBT-Inclusive Want to Advertise in Unite Virginia?

Business Directory

Unite Virginia promotes equality through storytelling. We provide the LGBTQ community and its allies a unified voice in Virginia’s evolving cultural, economic and social narrative.

Are you looking for access to a lucrative and untapped demographic? Would yo like to engage new markets? Do you want unparalleled opportunities to diversify Unite VirginiaLook is published Unite LLC. your B2B or B2C commerce? no furtherby than UniteVirginia, Virginia—Virginia’s L All rights reserved.

Company. Email sales@unitevamag.com for more information, ad specs (both print and our Media Kit.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 3

letter

from the Publisher & Editor-in-Chief It’s that time of year again. Election fever has swept the nation and, soon, we’ll be voting for the next leader of the United States. Given that presidential elections only occur every four years, we decided to make this issue a special Election Issue to commemorate the occasion.

As many of you know, we are an apolitical company. We don’t encourage our readers or those who attend our events to vote for any particular party or candidate. However, we do strongly encourage that everyone takes the time to educate themselves about the candidates and the issues at play in this, and every, election. Most importantly, when Election Day comes, it is imperative that you go out and VOTE. I shouldn’t have to remind you that Virginia is a BIG swing state this year, so every vote truly will count.

Voting is not something to be taken lightly. It is our responsibility as Americans to partake in the sacred political process that our Founding Fathers created. Throughout our nation’s checkered history, many groups of people have been silenced because of systemic discrimination and inequitable disenfranchisement laws. Over the centuries, voting rights movements led by courageous men and women have brought near universal suffrage to American citizens.

This election year, it is our duty to honor the countless Americans who have fought to defend our nation and those who have worked to expand our political freedoms. We can honor those brave men and women by participating in the most important process of our constitutionally limited representative democratic republic—the right to vote.

I want to take this opportunity to encourage our readers to do more than just vote—I want you to make your vote a truly educated one. We live in a deeply polarized nation where, sadly, compromise has become a four-letter word and civility in the political sphere has gone the way of the dinosaur. I bet that you, like most Americans, surround yourself with like-minded people who will most likely vote for the same candidate that you will this November; that you read news stories that appeal to your own political sensibilities; and, that you actively distance yourself 4 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

from any source (person, newspaper, website) that espouses political views that differ from your own. If you do this, you’re being lazy.

When learning about the issues, I encourage—no, I implore you to read newspapers that have a political slant that is not your own; to visit websites that tell stories in a manner that does not comport with your political belief system; and, to listen to radio programs and/or watch TV shows that report the news in an overtly political tone that makes you uncomfortable. I also encourage you to obtain news about this election from dispassionate, foreign media sources. In short, I want you to listen to the other side and try to understand why people who do not share your political views believe what they do. Go outside of your comfort zone. Challenge your own beliefs. Question everything. If you do this, by the time Election Day rolls around, when you cast your vote for the candidate of your choice, you’ll know exactly WHY you’re doing so.

No matter who you vote for this November, by educating yourself about the issues and stepping into the shoes of the “other side,” hopefully, you’ll gain a greater respect for our nation’s political system and for those with whom you disagree. When you go to the polls, make sure that your political beliefs are based on facts and that you have a clear understanding as to why others see things differently than you. There is nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree. Just be sure that when you do, you come from a place of civility, knowledge and compassion. No matter how nasty this election gets in the coming weeks, never forget that we are ALL Americans and that we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Cheers,

Justin Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Opinion: Not Safe at Work By, Aria Maryn

Despite the advances that have been made for LGBTQ equality in the last few years, the world can still be a very difficult place for people who identify as transgender. These difficulties are especially apparent in the working world where trans people consistently struggle to obtain and maintain employment. Though it’s tough for all trans people, the deck seems to be particularly stacked against trans people of color.

A new report from Colorlines (an online magazine) sheds more light on this issue. One article, “How to Get Away with Harassing, Firing, or Never Even Hiring a Trans Worker of Color,” begins with the story of Chance Lombardi, a transgender man of color who faced discrimination at the hands of the U.S. Postal Service. He lost his job, was harassed about his gender identity and race, and even discovered a noose in the back room of his second U.S.P.S. job – the one he took to get away from the discrimination he faced at his first job.

Colorlines reminds us that discrimination against transgender people in the workplace is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled that that discrimination against a transgender individual because that person is transgender “is, by definition, discrimination ‘based on . . . sex,’ and such discrimination therefore violates Title VII.” In other words, anti-transgender discrimination is per se sex discrimination. However, based on the way many employers act, it’s easy to forget that the protections of Title VII extend to the transgender community.

When people try to take discriminatory employers to court for their actions, they often wait years for their cases to go to trial.

Colorlines discusses the case of Patricia Dawson, a trans woman who was fired from her job as an electrician. She tried to file a Title VII complaint in early 2013, but the case wasn’t approved until the summer of 2014.

So what are we supposed to do? The first thing is to become educated. Colorlines has a companion article called “8 Ways to Fight Anti-Trans Bias on the Job” that all transgender and gender non-conforming people should read. There’s also a lot of work that can be done by allies and others who don’t identify as transgender or gender non-conforming.

Chances are, you’ve seen transphobia in action at your workplace. Whether it’s an off-hand comment about a customer, a joke at the water cooler, or the sharing of transphobic videos or articles. Instances like these are chances for you to make a difference. If you see transphobia at your place at work, don’t be afraid to stand up and call it out. The LGBTQ community is working hard, but achieving equality without the help of our allies is much more difficult than if our allies support us.

Our community is calling on our government executives, our court systems, and our citizens in general to make the world a safer place for LGBTQ people. Trans people of color are valuable workers with unique and outstanding insights that cannot be found elsewhere. Employers should listen to and appreciate their voices, rather than working so hard to silence them.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 5

Editorial: Virginia’s Economic Case for Equality By, Ralph Northam

A governor’s priorities and values make an enormous difference in the direction of a state. Recent events have shown us that having the right governor can make all the difference.

Earlier this year, Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed Senate Bill 41.

The bill would discriminate against thousands of Virginians and send the absolute wrong message to current and prospective employers who want their employees and their families to live in a welcoming and inclusive commonwealth.

Earlier this year, North Carolina’s Republican governor signed that state’s House Bill 2, one of the most anti-LGBT laws in the country, and an upsetting response to a non-discrimination law passed in the city of Charlotte.

The negative response has been overwhelming, with more than 90 major employers calling on Gov. Pat McCrory to repeal the bill.

The response has already caused McCrory to backpedal, signing an executive order to prevent state employees from being fired for being gay or transgender. His action, however, stops far short of correcting the ills of HB2.

Indiana’s governor Mike Pence, the Republican Party’s Vice Presidential candidate, signed similar legislation in 2015, and the outcry damaged the state’s reputation throughout the United States.

Since then, the city of Indianapolis alone has lost $60 million in tourism.

I cannot imagine how any member of the LGBT community in North Carolina or Indiana could feel welcome in their own home state.

Even further, I cannot imagine why any member of the LGBT community would want to visit a state with such backwards legislation.

Why does this matter in Virginia? As a member of McAuliffe’s Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Tourism Corporation, I work hard to make sure that Virginia is business-friendly and welcoming to all. The passage of SB41 through our General Assembly earlier this year sends a signal to major companies, CEOs, and talented workers that Virginia could be the next North Carolina if we’re not careful.

In recent commentary for CNBC, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson said, “As a global hospitality leader and multistate employer, these legislative skirmishes can be frustrating and costly. We still see a patchwork of gaps in state and local nondiscrimination laws that add complications and uncertainty for our people and local managers. It dismays many of us that, in 29 states, people are still at risk of losing their job just for being gay or transgender.

Predictability in nondiscrimination laws would be welcome.”

I am a cofounder and now co-owner of our Norfolk-based pediatric neurology practice, and as a small business owner I know that stability and predictability are attractive traits when planning the growth of your organization. Businesses should be interested in serving the most customers the best product possible, not figuring out the gender or relationship status of people who walk in the door. When Virginia offers a pro-business, all-are-welcome environment, we are better able to compete with other states.

Especially in light of federal budget cuts and sequestration, we have to continue to be innovative and forward thinking to grow our economy. This type of legislation hurts our efforts to attract new businesses and increase jobs, and that is why inclusion will continue to be one of my top priorities.

In my role as lieutenant governor and working with McAuliffe, my priority is to create an environment that best serves all Virginians. That means recruiting new businesses and supporting current businesses in order to bring good-paying jobs and top talent. That means providing basic services that every citizen needs in order to contribute to our common good. And that means ensuring that every Virginian has a fair shot to reach their full potential.

I will fight to keep Virginia focused on these priorities so that companies, families and the entire country knows that Virginia is open for business and welcoming to all. *Unite Virginia wishes to thank The Virginian-Pilot for running this story and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for sharing it with us.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 7

FOREWORD

Autumn in Virginia Connects Unparalleled Experiences with Welcoming Businesses By, Rita McClenny

It’s AUTUMN in Virginia! A favorite time of the year when so many vacationers leave their daily grind and make Virginia their home away from home. Virginia’s tourism industry and communities are excited and ready to host our adrenaline junkies, culinary explorers, front-row fanatics, foliage seekers and history buffs. This includes hosting LGBT families, couples and friends, and connecting them with authentic and welcoming businesses and experiences.

A reflection of this is a new way for visitors and locals hosting friends and family to find LGBT-inclusive businesses and experiences — Unite Virginia’s Q pages! Virginia’s creative and diverse economy has always included LGBTowned and friendly business owners and staff working hard to provide unique products, memorable experiences and exemplary customer service. Q pages is a welcomed addition to the tourism family and strengthens Virginia’s network of organizations and businesses focused on inclusive and LGBT-friendly travel.

Tourism represents Virginia’s top industries, generating $23 billion in visitor spending, supporting 222,000 jobs and adding $1.6 billion in state and local revenue in 2015. This includes travel for leisure, business, sports, military, wedding, educational, religious and fraternal group travel.

Q pages and Unite Virginia assist in maximizing Virginia’s tourism potential by sharing the personalities, stories, locations and experiences with all travelers of like-minded interests in all aspect of life, culture and adventure.

8 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

Making this connection is also an important business decision. LGBT travelers vacation more often, stay longer and spend more money on travel in the U.S., an estimated $57 billion. LGBT consumers make up 5-10% of the U.S. market, and the overall LGBT spending power in the U.S. is estimated to be worth $917 billion, according to the latest, annual analysis by Arlington, Virginia LGBT marketing firm Witeck Communications. Another reason Q pages and Unite Virginia are so important is that articles on LGBT websites and in print magazines have the most influence in research and making destination selections by LGBT travelers. Combined with the family and friends who are not LGBT, and may travel with LGBT vacationers or want to independently support LGBT-inclusive businesses, this spending grows even larger.

Connecting people with the Virginia experiences they with the businesses who can supply that experience is what Virginia Tourism is all about. Unite Virginia and Q pages are valued partners in making that important connection. Enjoy your autumn, and start planning your next vacation at www.

Virginia.org!

Congratulations to the team at Unite Virginia for producing another fantastic issue!

unitevamag.com

: a i r o t c Vi America’s First Female Presidential Candidate By, Nicole Evelina

Since Hillary Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee for President in early June, many people have noted that she’s not the first woman to run for President.

I’m not sure if she actually claimed to be or not, or if that was an error in the media – she’s actually the first woman to run for President on a major party ticket – but the general sentiment is true. Our nation’s first female presidential candidate was Victoria Woodhull who ran as part of the Equal Rights Party, a party she founded in 1872.

This relatively unknown woman who doesn’t appear in most history books obviously wasn’t elected and may have faded into oblivion but for Mrs. Clinton’s success. While we may not know how many votes she garnered in 1872 (they either weren’t counted or were destroyed), we do know a fair amount about the woman who made Hillary’s historic run possible. But unlike her modern counterpart, Victoria wasn’t bred for a life in politics. In fact, she was just about the least likely candidate you could imagine.

The Female Sex

Victoria Woodhull was female in an age when women had little authority. Women couldn’t vote or serve on juries. Personal ambition in a woman was considered evil and there were social taboos against women speaking in public. To call attention to oneself in public was thought

10 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

unladylike and considered a form of treachery to one’s husband or father because when a woman strayed from her proper place in the home, she caused him shame. The one exception to this were Spiritualist mediums who could speak freely because it was the spirits speaking through them, not their own opinions being expressed.

Of course, many women’s suffrage leaders ignored these rules. Victoria happened to be a Spiritualist medium and she did couch many of her words in the context of conversations with the spirits. But, she wasn’t afraid to speak her own mind and even advocated that women should overthrow the government and start a new one that would not only listen to them, but give them equal rights. Yet at that time, it was still unthinkable for a woman to run for office, let alone the highest office in the land.

Fun fact: Victoria’s sister, Tennie, ran for a Congressional seat in 1872; she didn’t win. (The first woman wouldn’t be elected to the House until 1916 and the Senate in 1922.)

Age

Victoria Woodhull was only 32 when she declared her candidacy and 34 when the election took place. According to the Constitution, one has to be at least 35 to serve as president. Whether or not Victoria or anyone else realized she was in violation of this requirement is up for debate.

It’s likely that having a woman run for president was considered so controversial that no one bothered to check her age.

Humble Beginnings

Nowadays, we tend to think of politicians coming from wealth families. But Victoria was not born to a rich family; she grew up in a small shack in Homer, Ohio, with a father who was at best down on his luck and unemployed, and at worst, a con man who broke laws in several states. Her mother was a religious zealot some called insane. The fifth of seven children (or 10 depending on who you ask) with two out-of-work parents, Victoria learned early to earn her keep. She started working when she was a young girl as a clairvoyant and healer alongside her sister, Tennie, a job which she continued until she was married at 14. Her husband’s drinking kept them poor, and Victoria took a job as a seamstress and actress before returning to life as a magnetic healer and medium. A second marriage brought her a more stable living, but not what you would expect from a presidential candidate.

Experience

Victoria Woodhull certainly didn’t have the experience to become president, never having held any kind of public office. According to her own recollection, Victoria had at most three years of formal education.

How she went from that to being a self-made millionaire by the age of 33 is anyone’s guess. After moving to New York in 1868 she was employed by Cornelius Vanderbilt as his medium; it may have been from him that she and Tennie learned the ins and outs of Wall Street, but that has not been proven.

Whatever the source of their financial skill, Victoria and Tennie opened the first female-run (and owned) stock brokerage on Wall Street in 1870. Hailed as the “Bewitching Brokers” and the “Queens of Finance,” their firm was a hit despite being extremely controversial. Victoria made a fortune from the Black Friday crash of 1869 and continued amassing funds. As her firm prospered, she began her run for the White House.

Her strongest credentials were the success of her brokerage firm and her business acumen (which sounds a lot like Donald Trump).

In late 1871, Victoria became the first woman to testify before a sitting House committee. She unsuccessfully argued that the wording of the Fourteenth Amendment already gave women the right to vote. This launched a successful speaking career that carried her to the 1872 election and beyond, even though she had little directly applicable experience.

Will 2016 Be the Year?

This is a story where we have the benefit of hindsight. We all know the ending. Prophetically, Victoria wrote in The New York Herald on November 20, 1872, only weeks after her failed election, “They may succeed in crushing me out, even to the loss of my life, but let me warn you that from the ashes of my body, a thousand Victorias will spring to avenge my death by seizing the work laid down by me and carrying it forward to victory.”

She lived to see women get the right to vote in 1920 and a string of women have followed in Victoria’s footsteps, hoping to become president. Perhaps in 2016, Hillary Clinton will successfully finish what Victoria began 144 years ago.

Nicole Evelina is an award-winning historical fiction and romantic comedy novelist based in St. Louis, MO. Her most recent novel, Madame Presidentess, based on Victoria Woodhull, is the first-place winner in the Women’s U.S. History category of the 2015 Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction. Connect with Evelina on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and via her website www.nicoleevelina.com.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 11

L A M I N A M R FA rlie By, Cha

on

Williams

How Donkeys and Elephants Became Symbols of America’s Two Major Political Parties Most Americans know that the symbol for the Democratic Party is the donkey and that the symbol for the Republican Party (Grand Old Party) is the elephant. Although these symbols have become a staple in our modern day political diet, most people don’t know that these enduring symbols arose out of early “shade throwing.” Let’s take a journey back to the days of early American politics and explore the origins of these dueling animals.

What do the donkey and the elephant actually represent?

Modern day politicians will tell you that the donkey represents intelligence and bravery, whereas the elephant represents strength and dignity. But, back in the day these animals had an entirely different symbolism. The presidential election of 1828 between Democrat Andrew Jackson and Republican John Quincy Adams was one of the dirtiest in American history. Adams attacked Jackson’s military record while Jackson accused Adams of lacking “moral restraint.” Can you imagine how great this would have been on RuPaul’s Drag Race today?

Now here’s how the donkey came into play. Jackson’s opponents had a fondness for calling him a “jackass,” comparing him to a stupid, dumb donkey. Rather than let this insult get the best of him, Jackson was actually amused by the comparison. He even began featuring an image of a donkey in his campaign materials. Turning the initially negative comparison into something positive, Jackson pointed out that a jackass has, “persistence, loyalty and the ability to carry a heavy load.”

Moreover, because the donkey represented simple values and 12 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

humble beginnings, Jackson used it to show that he represented the common man. Jackson went on to defeat Adams and the donkey faded into the background until the 1870’s.

The elephant didn’t make its political debut until 1864. The term “seeing the elephant” was a term used by soldiers during the Civil War when engaging in combat. The elephant first appeared in a political cartoon featured in the pro-Lincoln newspaper, Father Abraham, during his presidential campaign as a symbolic way to celebrate Union victories in the war. It was around this time that Thomas Nast was rising to fame as wartime illustrator for Harpers Weekly. Eventually, Nast began using images of the elephant and donkey in his political cartoons to represent the Republican and Democratic parties and, in so doing, made political history.

Considered the father of the modern political cartoon, Nast first used the donkey in 1870 in his cartoon “A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion” to represent the “Copperhead Democrats,” a faction of the northern Democrats. A year later, Nast used an elephant to signify the Republican Party in his cartoon “Third Party Panic,” which attacked the Republicans’ intra-party fighting. Over the years, Nast continued using these images in his cartoons to represent the nation’s two major political parties. By the 1880’s, cartoonists across the country were using the donkey and the elephant to represent the Democratic and Republican parties. Their symbolism became so powerful in American politics that eventually the political parties embraced the animals as their own. The rest, as they say, is history.

r

che e LaVan By, Jess

1.

2.

3.

George Washington had bank.

Our first president was also the wealthiest. Research from Wall Street 24/7 listed Washington as the wealthiest president of all time, with assets worth more than $500 million.

John Adams died on the same day as his archrival (and best friend). Adams died on the same day as his staunch rival, Thomas Jefferson. They both passed away on July 4, 1826.

Thomas Jefferson had cold feet.

TJ believed that soaking your feet in a bucket of cold water would keep you from catching “catarrhs,” also known as the common cold.

facts 44 About America’s 44 Presidents Madison weighed less 4. James than the average teenage girl.

Madison was only 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed under 100 pounds.

Monroe has an African 5. James capital named after him.

The capital of Liberia, Monrovia, was named after Monroe when he worked with the American Colonization Society to help create a state where freed slaves could live.

Quincy Adams was a free 6. John spirit. Adams was a fan of early

morning skinny dipping sessions during his presidency.

7.

8.

Andrew Jackson’s bird had the mouth of a sailor. Jackson taught his parrot to curse to the extent that the bird was removed from the president’s funeral because of its foul mouth.

Martin Van Buren may have started a popular phrase.

Van Buren was raised in Kinderhook, N.Y., and his nickname was “Old Kinderhook.” The popular colloquial saying “OK” stems from the OK clubs that began in support of his election campaign.

14 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

Hillary Clinton By, Ariell Branson

Hillary Clinton was born in Chicago in 1947 to a Methodist family. She attended Wellesley College for her undergraduate degree and then earned a JD from Yale Law School. In 1975, she married Bill Clinton with whom she later had a daughter, Chelsea. She served as a U.S. Senator for the state of New York and also as Secretary of State during the Obama administration. Clinton loves reading mystery novels, hot sauce and has two dogs, Maisie and Tally.

The Issues Taxation: Clinton is committed to creating a fairer tax code and ensuring that the wealthiest Americans and large corporations pay their share, while providing tax relief to working families. Clinton believes, “It’s outrageous that multi-millionaires and billionaires are allowed to play by a different set of rules than hardworking families, especially when it comes to paying their fair share of taxes.” She also wants to cut taxes for small businesses in order to foster economic growth.

Immigration: Clinton believes that we should introduce comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to full citizenship. She also wants to end the “three and ten year bars,” which are provisions of current immigration law that prohibit applicants for permanent residency to return to the U.S. if they were previously in the country illegally. Clinton thinks, “If we claim we are for family, then we have to pull together and resolve the outstanding issues around our broken immigration system. The American people support comprehensive immigration reform not just because it’s the right thing to do—and it is—but because they know it strengthens families, strengthens our economy, and strengthens our country. . . . We can’t wait any longer for a path to full and equal citizenship.”

Healthcare: Clinton believes that we should defend the Affordable Care Act, bring down out-of-pocket costs, reduce the cost of prescription drugs and protect consumers from unjustified price increases. As president she wants to “build on the progress we’ve made.”

Specifically, she has stated, “I’ll do more to bring down health care costs for families, ease burdens on small businesses, and make sure consumers have the choices they deserve. And frankly, it is finally time for us to deal with the skyrocketing out-of-pocket health costs, and particularly runaway prescription drug prices.”

Education: Clinton wants to launch a national campaign to modernize the teaching profession, rebuild American schools and dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. Clinton believes that, “Education should be the great door opener, and yet we know it often doesn’t turn out that way. I think every child in this country deserves a good teacher in a good school, regardless of the ZIP code you live in.”

LGBT Rights: Clinton wants to fight for full equality for LGBT Americans by passing the Equality Act. She also intends to end conversion therapy for minors and combat youth homelessness. She also wants to protect transgender individuals from violence and make it easier for them to change their gender marker on their birth certificates and other methods of identification. She says, “There are still too many places where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans are targeted for harassment and violence. There are still too many young people out there feeling hopeless and alone.”

The Environment: Clinton wants to keep public lands public and combat international wildlife trafficking. She also intends to defend, implement and extend smart pollution and efficiency standards. As president, she would launch a $60 billion Clean Energy Challenge to cut carbon pollution and expand clean energy. Clinton assures voters, “I won’t let anyone take us backward, deny our economy the benefits of harnessing a clean energy future, or force our children to endure the catastrophe that would result from unchecked climate change.”

Trade: When it comes to trade, Clinton’s stance is slightly less consistent. As Secretary of State Clinton called the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) the “gold standard in trade agreements.” However, now she has stated that “she will be watching closely to see what is being done to crack down on currency manipulation, improve labor rights, protect the environment and health, promote transparency and open new opportunities for our small businesses to export overseas.”

Abortion: Hillary Clinton has expressed support for abortion rights, funding Planned Parenthood and reconsidering the 1973 Helms Amendment, which prohibits the use of foreign assistance funds for abortion. She will “make sure that a woman’s right to make her own health decisions remains as permanent as all of the other values we hold dear.” She wrote that she will always fund and support Planned Parenthood, “fight to protect access to safe and legal abortion,” and “support comprehensive, inclusive sex education.”

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 15

By, Jesse LaVancher

facts 44 About America’s 44 Presidents Lincoln would have been a WWE 16. Abraham champion. Honest Abe apparently knew how to

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

William Henry Harrison had a pet goat.

Harrison had a pet billy goat at the White House.

John Tyler was really unpopular.

His 1862 The New York Times obituary stated Tyler was “the most unpopular public man that had ever held any office in the United States.”

James Polk had stones.

When he was 17, Polk underwent surgery for urinary stones. The only pain killer used: whiskey.

Zachary Taylor died in a weird way.

What exactly was Taylor’s legacy? We’re not exactly sure. But we do know that his sudden death had something to do with eating cherries and milk. Apparently, life is not a bowl full of cherries.

Millard Fillmore had teen spirit.

Fillmore’s first wife was actually his teacher when he was a 19-year-old student at New Home Academy.

Franklin Pierce may have led the charge.

Pierce was once arrested for running over an old woman with his horse. The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.

James Buchanan was an eternal bachelor.

Buchanan was the only president never to marry, but some historians argue that he maintained a long homosexual relationship with politician William R. King.

16 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

handle himself in the ring. As a young wrestler, Lincoln was defeated only once out of approximately 300 matches.

Johnson had tee-many martoonies.

17. Andrew After drinking too much whiskey on Inauguration Day, Johnson was noticeably drunk during the inauguration ceremony.

S. Grant was a gifted writer.

18. Ulysses Grant’s autobiography is considered to be

the best-written presidential autobiography.

B. Hayes’ bell rang.

19. Rutherford Alexander Graham Bell installed the first telephone in the White House during Hayes’ presidency.

What was Hayes’ phone number? 1. Talk about a coveted phone number!

A. Garfield was ambidextrous.

20. James Garfield was ambidextrous and could write Latin with one hand and Greek with other… at the same time.

A. Arthur was a mall walking clothes horse.

21. Chester Arthur owned 80 pairs of pants and was known for taking late night strolls around D.C. with his friends and sauntering back at three in the morning.

Cleveland killed it in dreary Erie.

22. Grover Before becoming president, Cleveland served as an

executioner when he was sheriff in Erie County, New York.

Harrison was the 1st president to have electrophobia. Harrison was the first 23. Benjamin president to have electricity in the White House but he was so terrified of getting electrocuted that he would never turn on the switches himself.

Cleveland (elected for a second, non-consecutive term) was one unhealthy man.

24. Grover Cleveland was named Fitness Magazine’s least-healthiest president due to the fact that he loved drinking beer, smoking cigars and clocked in at 250 pounds.

McKinley had a lucky charm.

25. William McKinley wore a red carnation on his lapel every day for good luck. In 1901, he

removed the carnation for the first time and gave it to a little girl. Immediately after, he was shot by an assassin and died eight days later.

Roosevelt’s brought new meaning to the phrase, “the show must go on.”

26. Teddy While delivering a speech in Milwaukee, Roosevelt was shot in an assassination

attempt. “I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot,” he told the stunned audience. “I give you my word, I do not care a rap about being shot; not a rap.” He went on to finish the hour and a half speech with a bullet lodged in his chest.

Taft was larger than life.

27. William Taft was the largest president in American history. He once got himself stuck in the White House bathtub and had to call for help to get himself out.

Wilson was the eternal student.

28. Woodrow Wilson is the only president to have earned a Ph.D., which he obtained from John Hopkins University in political science and history.

G. Harding didn’t have the best poker face.

29. Warren In a poker game gone wrong, Harding lost the White House’s china collection.

Coolidge was pretty chill.

30. Calvin Coolidge woke up in a hotel room to find a burglar going through his things. Coolidge

found out the man was a student who needed money to pay for college. Coolidge gave him the $32 that was in his wallet and told the student it was a loan. He then instructed him to leave the way he came in to avoid being caught by the Secret Service.

Hoover had a thing for reptiles.

31. Herbert Hoover’s son had two pet alligators that were sometimes permitted to run around the White House. Watch your step!

D. Roosevelt bent gender norms.

32. Franklin FDR wore dresses until the age of six or seven.

S. Truman didn’t have a real middle name.

33. Harry The “S” in Truman’s name did not stand for anything because his parents couldn’t

agree on a middle name for him. As a compromise, his parents settled on the letter “S,” which refers to the names of both of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young.

Eisenhower was quite the artist.

34. Dwight Eisenhower painted over 250 known pieces of art.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 17

Gary Johnson By, Ariell Branson

Gary Johnson was born in North Dakota in 1953 but attended high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he was a member of his high school’s track team. He served as the Governor of New Mexico for two terms as a Republican. Johnson is very athletic and climbed Mount Everest in 2003.

The Issues Taxation: Johnson has proposed eliminating income and corporate taxes and replacing them with a federal consumption tax. The federal consumption tax is called the “fair-tax.” He has said that as president he would eliminate the IRS and other federal agencies if Congress sent him legislation to do so.

Immigration: Johnson would make it as easy as possible for individuals without criminal records who want to come to the U.S. to work to get work visas. He also supports comprehensive immigration reform. He said, “[Americans] know that the only realistic and . . . humane policy is to find a fair and safe way to allow non-criminal, undocumented immigrants to get right with the law and go about their lives, paying taxes, having a valid Social Security number, and earning a legal status. No cutting the line. No ‘special’ path to citizenship. Just a common sense way for undocumented immigrants with jobs, families, and a clean record to come forward and live by the same rules as the rest of us.”

Healthcare: Johnson opposes government-mandated health insurance.

He has called the Affordable Care Act, “a torpedo in a sinking ship.”

Education: Johnson believes the states should control public education and encourages competition between schools to drive improvement in public education. “Most importantly,” Johnson has said, “state and local governments should have more control over education policy. Decisions that affect our children should be made closer to home, not by bureaucrats and politicians in Washington, D.C. That is why we should eliminate the federal Department of Education. Common Core and other attempts to impose national standards and requirements on local schools are costly, overly bureaucratic, and actually compromise our ability to provide our children with a good education.”

LGBT Rights: Johnson supported legalizing same-sex marriage and advocated for ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Trade: Johnson supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). He stated, “Free trade needs to be promoted in a really big way.

Diplomacy, that’s what we ought to be engaged in. I reject the fact that Libertarians are isolationists.” Johnson’s running mate, Bill Weld, has asserted “We’re the only free trade ticket in the race.”

Abortion: Johnson has expressed support for abortion rights and called Texas House Bill 2, which effectively made it extremely difficult for women to obtain legal abortions, “an affront to women’s rights.” This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the restrictive provisions of Texas House Bill 2 saying that the law placed an undue burden on a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion.

Jill Stein By, Ariell Branson

Jill Stein was born in Chicago in 1950 to a Jewish family. Stein is a physician and activist.

She ran for Governor of Massachusetts in 2002 and 2010, but has never held public office. She identifies as an agnostic and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1973.

The Issues Taxation: Stein wants a more progressive tax system and supports tax reform that helps create jobs, economic efficiencies and innovation within the small business community.

She also supports reforms that eliminates loopholes and other exemptions that favor corporate and wealthy interests over tax justice. She has stated that she supports making “Wall Street, big corporations, and the rich pay their fair share of taxes.”

Immigration: Stein opposes deportation, supports the DREAM Act and supports the creation of a legal status and path to citizenship. She says, “Our nation of immigrants needs a just immigration system that won’t allow the ruling elite to divide working people. That means halting deportations, passing the DREAM Act, and creating legal status and a path to citizenship for hard-working, law-abiding undocumented immigrants. The U.S. government shouldn’t be deporting innocent families who are fleeing violence, starvation and persecution in their home countries. Forcing them to return puts them at risk of rape, torture, and death. Many have already had family members murdered or actively threatened with murder.”

Healthcare: Stein supports a “Medicare for All” single-payer public health insurance program and believes healthcare should be a human right. She said, “When you shut down the endless stream of pollution into our air, our water, our consumer products, etc., that derive from fossil fuels, we get so much healthier that it massively reduces our health care costs. And this is not just a hypothetical. This actually happened in the country of Cuba when their oil pipeline went down, so we know this is really true.”

Education: Stein supports a “student bailout” to cancel student loan debt, advocates for tuition-free education and opposes high-stakes testing and the privatization of public schools. Stein says, “We will bail out millennials and others in student debt. We did it for the crooks on Wall Street – it’s about time to do it for the millennials and the generation held hostage in debt.”

LGBT Rights: Stein is a longtime advocate for marriage equality and calls for greater protections against discrimination for the LGBT community.

Trade: Stein rejects the expansion of free trade agreements. Stein said, “A free trade agreement is free if you’re a corporation. But if you’re a human being, it’s extremely costly because it undermines wages here and also in the countries that we’re in agreement here with.”

Abortion: Stein is pro-abortion rights and opposed Texas House Bill 2, the restrictive abortion law, which, among other things, required doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges at a facility within 30 miles of where an abortion was performed.

Who Are the Log Cabin Republicans?

By, Ariell Branson

Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) are not a bunch of guys who live in log cabins, nor are they descendants of Paul Bunyan. They are members of the Republican Party who advocate for equal rights for queer people in the United States and are largely gay conservatives. They support “fairness, freedom, and equality for all Americans.” LCR act as a response to a common critique of the current Republican platform – that opposing gay rights is not consistent with the GOP’s core principals of small government and maintaining personal freedoms. They think that it’s important to educate rank-and-file Republicans about why it is necessary to promote legislation that preserves the rights of gay and lesbian Americans.

LCR have a close link to Ronald Reagan, who opposed the discriminatory Brigg’s Initiative. The Brigg’s Initiative attempted to prevent homosexuals from teaching in public schools and would make it legal to fire teachers who supported homosexuality. Reagan’s condemnation of the bill played a huge roll in its defeat and inspired gay conservatives to create the group. Abraham Lincoln, whom they believe promoted an inclusive Republican Party, inspired the name.

LCR also played a crucial role in challenging the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which excluded homosexuals from serving openly in the military. They argued that the policy violated the rights to free speech, due process and open association. It was eventually found that the policy violated the First and Fifth Amendments.

As of the time this article went to press, LCR have not endorsed a presidential candidate for the 2016 election. Their president, Gregory Angelo, has said, “Any inclinations I have right now would be pure conjecture at this point.” However, this summer Angelo wrote a letter which said, in part, “the Republican Party passed the most anti-LGBT Platform in the Party’s 162-year history. Opposition to marriage equality, nonsense about bath-

20 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

rooms, an endorsement of the debunked psychological practice of ‘pray the gay away’ — it’s all in there. This isn’t my GOP, and I know it’s not yours either.” The LCR plan to make (or withhold) their official endorsement sometime in September after a private meeting and a survey of 48 local chapters.

Donald Trump’s selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate for the GOP ticket has created some heated debates within the LCR. Pence has a history of anti-LGBT rhetoric.

In fact, many call him the most openly anti-LGBT person to ever run on the GOP ticket. In recent history Pence has: supported a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality, signed a bill to jail same-sex couples for applying for a marriage license and attempted to divert funding from HIV prevention to conversion therapy. This makes it extremely difficult for the LCR to endorse Trump. However, they are unable to endorse Gary Johnson or a different Trump alternative. “We won’t do that because we can’t do that,” Angelo said. “Per our bylaws, we can only endorse or withhold an endorsement for a Republican candidate for office, so the only decision this board will be making is to endorse Donald Trump or to withhold our endorsement from Donald Trump.”

Several prominent pro-LGBT rights Republicans, including Representative Richard Hanna, have denounced Trump and announced they will be voting for Hillary Clinton in November.

The LCR are in a tough spot when it comes to endorsing Trump.

Perhaps they will choose to withhold their endorsement altogether as they did for George W. Bush in 2004 when he supported a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Whatever the LCR do, this is certainly an interesting election cycle for LGBT Americans and the electorate at large.

facts 44 About America’s 44 Presidents

By, Jesse LaVancher

35.

John F. Kennedy was a slacker.

When writing a recommendation letter to Harvard for his son, JFK’s father said he was “careless” and “lacks application.” Kennedy was still admitted.

36.

Lyndon B. Johnson was a womanizer.

Johnson had so many extramarital affairs during his presidency that his aides referred to the girls he had affairs with as his harem.

37.

Richard Nixon was a card shark.

While in the Navy, Nixon realized that his friends were winning money at poker games. Nixon had someone teach him poker and within a few months he won around $6,000. He used that money to fund his first congressional campaign.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 21

Donald Trump By, Ariell Branson

Donald Trump was born in New York City in 1946 to businessman Fred Trump and Mary Trump. He attended both Fordham University and the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. He is married to Melania Trump and has five children. He is the chairman of The Trump Organization and has reportedly amassed a fortune of more than $4 billion. Trump is a germophobe who dislikes shaking hands, has never smoked cigarettes, drank or done drugs. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Issues Taxation: Trump wants to simplify taxes for everyone and streamline deductions. He also plans to dramatically reduce the income tax and reduce it from seven brackets to three. Lastly, he would make our corporate tax globally competitive and the United States the most attractive place to invest in the world. According to Trump, “Reducing taxes on our workers and businesses, means that our workers can sell their products more cheaply here and around the world – meaning more factories, more hiring, and higher wages.

It’s time to stop punishing people for doing business in America.”

Immigration: Trump has three core principles for his immigration reform: 1. First, he believes that a nation is not a nation without strong borders. Because of this, he believes there must be a wall across America’s southern border. Trump wants to deploy 25,000 additional border agents, utilize Predator drones and make Mexico pay for the construction of an impregnable border wall. Until Mexico agrees to pay for the wall, the United States will, among other things, “impound all remittance payments derived from illegal wages; increase fees on all temporary visas issued to Mexican CEOs and diplomats (and if necessary cancel them); increase fees on all border crossing cards – of which we issue about 1 million to Mexican nationals each year (a major source of visa overstays); increase fees on all NAFTA worker visas from Mexico (another major source of overstays); and increase fees at ports of entry to the United States from Mexico [tariffs and foreign aid cuts are also options].”

2. Secondly, Trump believes a nation without laws is not a nation. Accordingly, he asserts that laws passed in accordance with our Constitutional system of government must be enforced. Criticizing Obama for not enforcing America’s strict immigration laws, Trump says that, if elected, he will enforce them to the letter. This includes deporting all illegal aliens immediately and closing detention centers. Trump also opposes the DREAM Act. 3. Lastly, Trump believes that a nation that does not serve its citizens is not a nation. This means that any immigration plan must improve jobs, wages and security for all Americans. He also won’t give any future tuition benefits for illegal aliens.

Healthcare: Trump believes that we should repeal the Affordable Care Act. He thinks that doing so will “broaden healthcare access, make healthcare more affordable and improve the quality of the care available to all Americans.” He also wants to modify existing law that inhibits the sale of health insurance across state lines, allow individuals to fully deduct health insurance premium payments from their tax returns, allow individuals to use Health Savings Accounts and require price transparency from all providers.

Education: Trump believes that the federal government should stop profiting from student loans because it contributes to the rising cost of tuition. He also wants to let schools compete with charters, vouchers and magnet schools to increase competition within the school system. Lastly, he wants to eliminate the Department of Education. He believes that Common Core, No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top are programs that take decisions away from parents and local school boards. Trump has said, “I think that education should be local, absolutely. I think that for people in Washington to be setting curriculum and to be setting all sorts of standards for people living in Iowa and other places is ridiculous.”

LGBT Rights: Trump believes that the states should decide whether transgender people may use restrooms matching their gender identity and opposes same-sex marriage. However, he has been inconsistent as far as LGBT rights go and has changed his position over the years.

The Environment: Trump supports rescinding the Climate Action Plan and Waters of the U.S. rule, renewing the Keystone XL Pipeline project, canceling the Paris Climate Agreement and reforming the regulatory environment. Trump claims global warming is a “hoax.”

Trade: Trump advocates immediately reforming our interactions with China. He wants to declare China a currency manipulator, protect American ingenuity and investment by forcing China to uphold intellectual property laws, reclaim millions of American jobs and revive American manufacturing by putting an end to China’s illegal export subsidies and lax labor and environmental standards.

Abortion: Donald Trump is opposed to abortion except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother’s life. His running mate, Mike Pence, has asserted that when Trump is elected, “We’ll see Roe v. Wade consigned to the ash heap of history where it belongs.”

What’s the Electoral College and Why Should We Care?

By, Ariell Branson

Contrary to popular belief, the United States is not a direct democracy. Rather, it is a republic, which is by definition, “A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.” The Electoral College exemplifies this principle. Established in 1787, the Electoral College is made up of representatives called “electors” who pledge to vote for a particular presidential candidate.

In every state besides Maine and Nebraska, electors are chosen on a “winner-take-all” basis. This means that all the pledged electors for whatever candidate wins the popular vote (for the most part) will become the state’s electors. In Nebraska three of the five electoral votes are awarded to the winner of the popular vote in each of its three congressional districts and the other two are given to the statewide winner of the popular vote. Maine has a comparable system—two votes are awarded to the statewide winner and its other two votes are given to the winners in each congressional district.

Shrouded in mystery and somewhat confusing, the Electoral College is an institution that many people are clueless about how it functions. But amongst those who know its inner workings, there is a great deal of controversy. The main criticism stems from the fact that it is not always determinative. This is exemplified by the three instances where no candidate has received the plurality of the popular vote. Critics assert that this is counterintuitive to how a democracy ought to function because elections aren’t decided by the one-person one-vote principle. This is worsened, critics claim, because there are no laws forcing electors to vote for the candidate for whom they pledged to vote.

24 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

In the 2000 election, elector Barbara Lett-Simmons decided not to vote for Al Gore regardless of the fact that he won the popular vote. While she did this as an act of protest, there is the very real possibility that an elector can change the course of an election and subsequently cost the candidate chosen by the popular vote the election. Why do we continue to let some voices ring louder than others? Are we not violating the sacred principles of democracy we like to claim this nation was founded upon?

Some also argue that the Electoral College decreases voter turnout by placing emphasis on large swing states. According to these critics, if we had a universal popular vote, every vote would influence who is elected. This would mean that Democrats in predominantly Republican states and Republicans in predominantly Democratic states would feel more inclined to cast a vote because they would feel that their vote actually mattered. In theory, this would foster greater political participation, which is proven by the greater voter turnout in known swing states.

As elections become more contentious, disillusionment with the Electoral College continues to grow. In 2013, a Gallup poll found that 63% of American adults supported doing away with it. This is largely because the more our society progresses, the more citizens seem to question why they are unable to influence political change. While there are good arguments for both a direct democracy and a republic, it seems that public opinion favors traditional democracy. That said, transitioning a nation as large and diverse as the United States from a republic to a direct democracy is likely an insurmountable challenge—a challenge that, if attempted, has the potential to create more problems than our current system has. For the time being, the American electorate would do well to wiseup about the Electoral College so that on Election Day there are no surprises as to how our next president is selected. Oh, and in case you’ve been living under a rock, Virginia is a BIG swing state so, yes, your vote really does matter . . . even with the Electoral College in place. So on Election Day, be sure to cast your ballot!

By, Jesse LaVancher

38.

39.

40.

facts 44 About America’s 44 Presidents

Gerald Ford had had looks and brawns.

Ford worked as a fashion model while he was a student at the University of Michigan and appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan. Ford also played football during college.

After winning the national championship and being named MVP during his senior year in 1934, he received offers to play for the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, then president Johnson said that Rep. Ford “had played too much football without a helmet.”

Jimmy Carter believed in UFOs. While serving as Governor of Georgia, in 1973 Carter filed a report for a UFO sighting.

Ronald Regan did stand-up.

In 1954, when his acting career was taking a turn for the worse, Regan did a stand-up gig in Las Vegas for a few weeks.

41.

George H.W. Bush inspired Japan to add a word to its dictionary.

In Japanese “Bushusuru” means “to do the Bush thing.” It’s used when someone publicly vomits, as Bush did on the Japanese Prime Minister in 1992. Classy.

42.

43.

Bill Clinton knows a thing or two about princess ponies.

Bill Clinton once aced a My Little Pony quiz on a NPR show.

44.

Barack Obama is a comic book nerd.

Obama is a huge collector of comics, particularly Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian.

George W. Bush had school spirit.

Bush was the head cheerleader during his senior year at boarding school.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 25

unitevamag.com

RAYCEEN

PENDARVIS 28 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

EMBRACING JOY By, Rayceen Pendarvis, HRH To many people, it seems we are living in perilous times. Tensions are high due to war, terrorism, mass shootings, allegations of police misconduct, social injustice, and a contentious U.S. presidential election. Whether something in the zeitgeist has changed or merely our perceptions of the world around us have, the feelings are real. What should not be lost in the chaos of tragedy and political unrest is our ability to find and experience joy.

For LGBTQ people, this has often been a challenge. We have been degraded, maligned, scapegoated, and ostracized, often by family, friends, religious leaders, and members of our own communities. Homophobia, transphobia, bigotry, and prejudice has been internalized by many of us.

We are survivors. Not only have we faced discrimination and violence, but many of us have overcome addiction, homelessness, depression, and self-loathing. Life isn’t always easy; that’s why embracing joy is important. But how do we embrace joy?

The first step is to define yourself. Many of us have been told that we’re too fem, too butch, too gay, too flamboyant, too much. While it is sometimes prudent to adjust one’s behavior for purposes of decorum, professionalism, or personal safety, the emotional hang-ups of others are not your problem. Do not dim your light because other people don’t want to see you shine. Keep in mind the words of Youth Pride emcee, burlesque performer, and entertainer extraordinaire Private Tails: “The only person who is 100% on your side is yourself. Go beyond being who you are; be who you want to be and all that you can be!”

The second step is to define your joy. What works for others may not work for you.

Be honest with yourself. Find what makes you happy, and as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else, pursue it. This may mean you will pursue things that do not interest your friends, but if they are truly your friends, they will encourage you. Sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone is necessary.

Once you find your joy, hold onto it. Wear it as a protective cloak against this harsh, cruel world. Don’t allow the next report of tragedy or anti-LGBTQ legislation overwhelm you. Remember that there is beauty in the world, and you are part of it.

I LEAVE YOU WITH FIVE SUGGESTIONS: 1. Look at yourself in the mirror every day and say, “I love you.”

2. If you are struggling with something, look into getting therapy. Whether it’s through private insurance, Obamacare, or a community organization . . . there are many places where professionals are available to help.

3. Invest in supportive friendships. We should all have a set of “Golden Girls.”

4. Treat yourself to something nice, fun, or extravagant, because you’re worth it!

5. Remember the words from The Help: “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.”

Rayceen Pendarvis is an emcee, entertainer, activist, and host of The Ask Rayceen Show, a monthly live event in Washington, DC. In 2016, Rayceen was a recipient of the Capital Pride Heroes Award. Rayceen Pendarvis, Team Rayceen, and The Ask Rayceen Show are on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 29

The USNS Harvey Milk: THE UNITED STATES NAVY PAYS TRIBUTE TO A DECORATED NAVAL OFFICER AND HISTORIC LGBTQ ICON By, Aria Maryn In a historic landmark occasion, the U.S. Navy will name a Military Sealift Command fleet oiler after politician and famous gay-rights activist, Harvey Milk. U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, announced that the USNS Harvey Milk will be the first of six ships in the class named after famous civil and human rights leaders.

Milk wasn’t just a politician and activist. As a young man, Milk served in the Navy as a diving officer during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged at the rank of lieutenant in 1955.

In 1977, Milk became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Tragically, he was assassinated a year later by Dan White, a colleague on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Harvey Milk was (and still is) an important figure for the LGBTQ community. His success in being elected while being an openly gay man cannot be understated. His bravery is especially relevant now that LGBTQ people are allowed to serve openly in the military. Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk and co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation, said, “Uncle Harvey knew that our individual actions of open authenticity would be the key to changing the lives of LGBT people everywhere. And it was his belief in the power of that visibility which gave him the courage to face those bullets that he both anticipated and would ultimately take his life.”

30 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

As with any news, there are quite a few people who aren’t happy about the USNS Harvey Milk becoming a part of the fleet. Some question the sincerity of this major announcement during an election year as nothing other than a way to reach out to the LGBTQ community. Others cite criticisms found in The Mayor of Castro Street, a book written by journalist Randy Shilts. In some passages Shilts describes Milk as a predatory gay man. Conservatives like Matt Barber have been more than happy to jump on the anti-Milk bandwagon calling him a “pederast” and someone who had a “deviant sexual appetite for underage, drug-addicted, runaway boys.” While Milk’s romantic life may have been more complex than either conservatives or liberals will ever comprehend, the fact that the United States Navy is naming a major ship after a gay rights icon is truly a historic occasion.

Regardless of the controversy surrounding this announcement, this is a moment in history that we as a community can be proud of. Given the fact that Milk served honorably in the U.S. Navy and remains a revered gay rights icon years after his untimely death, the naming of the USNS Harvey Milk is a tremendous step forward for our community and, indeed, our nation.

LGBT Elders: Challenges and Hope By, Leland Kiang

their roots to the same discriminatory government policies, which impacted LGBT elders’ social and economic outcomes.

Public prejudice and violence also play a part. 82% of LGBT elders have been attacked, at least once in their lifetime, due to their sexual orientation.

They protested at Stonewall and marched in the first Pride parades. They joined the Daughters of Bilitis and the Mattachine Society. They watched the rise and fall of DOMA and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. They are 2.7 million strong. They are who we were, and who we hope to become. They are LGBT older adults.

Born from the early part of the last century through the 1960’s, LGBT elders are a diverse group. They represent three generations and come from every race and religion. Collectively, they witnessed great changes in our society’s treatment of LGBT people. Many remember when the American Psychiatric Association (APA), in 1952, described homosexuality as a “sociopathic personality disorder.” The APA did not reverse this label until 1973. Others lost their careers when President Eisenhower banned LGBT people from holding federal jobs or working for federal contractors. Still others were arrested (for being themselves) under state sodomy laws.

This shared history of persecution took its toll in social, economic and health-related ways. Legally barred from marriage (LGBT people only gained this right in 2015), and still barred in many states from adopting children, LGBT elders are “twice as likely” (than their heterosexual counterparts) “to live alone … and three to four times less likely to have children to support them.” In fact, while most heterosexual elders rely on care from children and spouses, most LGBT elders receive help from friends—many of whom are the same age and face the same challenges.

Economically, today’s LGBT elders have been handicapped by decades of policies, which have allowed employers to discriminate against them, made it more difficult for them to access employment-related benefits like health care and pensions, and barred them from Social Security and Medicaid spousal benefits. (The Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling on LGBT marriage rights reversed these trends with regards to Social Security and Medicaid). In contrast to the larger older adult population, LGBT elders report greater financial need and less financial security.

Health disparities also exist within the community. LGBT elders experience higher rates of disability, certain cancers, HIV, and cardiovascular disease. They also experience a higher incidence of “mental distress” and substance abuse. Many disparities trace

These discriminatory government policies, along with public prejudices, have fueled a certain distrust in the LGBT community against government agencies and mainstream healthcare providers. 15% of LGBT elders, in fact, are reluctant to see a doctor who is not part of the LGBT community. One in five elders have not shared their sexual orientation with their physician. One in three LGBT Baby Boomers (the youngest members of today’s elders) fear discrimination as they age. When compared to their heterosexual counterparts, LGBT elders are “five times less likely” to seek help from mainstream aging service providers. It’s ironic. While they are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to benefit from government and healthcare services, they are less likely (due to a history of discrimination) to seek it.

Even so, times are changing. Interest in helping LGBT elders has grown among diverse organizations. Among government (and pseudo-government) agencies, the federal Administration on Aging, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Department of Health & Human Services and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging all have sought to improve the care they offer. Mainstream non-government agencies seeking to connect with the LGBT community include AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Geriatrics Society, Leading Age (a senior housing association), the Family Caregiver Alliance, the National Council on Aging, Justice in Aging and the American Psychiatric Association. Familiar LGBT organizations also have stepped up their outreach to elders. These include SAGE (and its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging), the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal and Center Link.

What can you do to help LGBT elders? If you are an elder, learn about your rights and available assistance from the resources listed above. If you are healthcare or senior service provider, take steps to learn about the needs of LGBT older adults or get trained in LGBT cultural competency. If you’re a younger LGBT person, seek friendship with elders or volunteer for an agency serving LGBT elders.

Leland Kiang, LICSW is the Manager of Information & Referral at Iona Senior Services in Washington, DC, a nonprofit social services agency that supports people as they experience the challenge and opportunities of aging. Learn more at www.iona.org.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 31

32 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

GEORGIE PORGIE By, Charlie Williamson

Many words come to mind when it comes to gay pride: rainbows, drag queens, LGBTQ families and music. But what about craft beer? Well if two local breweries have their say in the matter, things will soon change.

Local breweries Ardent Craft Ales and Center of the Universe have teamed up with OutRVA and Virginia Pride to brew two specialty beers to celebrate Virginia Pridefest.

The Georgie and the Porgie, named after the nursery rhyme, are two halves of a whole that when combined create a whole new beer.

Ardent’s “Georgie” is a light, mixed berry pale ale with hints of blackberries and raspberries. “We wanted something that would be very approachable to a large amount of people,” said Dominic Finney, a sales associate for Ardent. “We know that there’s thousands of people that come to Pridefest and with it being in September, it’s still a little bit warm so we wanted to make something they could enjoy and would be able to drink more than one of.”

On the other end of the craft been spectrum, Center of the Universe has created the “Porgie,” a smooth, chocolate pudding porter. The initial plan for the “Porgie” was for the beer to taste like a graham cracker crust, creating a fruit pie flavor when the two beers were mixed. During the process though, Chris Ray, co-owner of Center of the Universe, said they realized that they couldn’t go the crust route without adding extra extracts, so they decided to take the beer in a new direction.

Ray got involved with Pridefest this year after being approached by James Millner, President of Virginia Pride, about creating a beer for the festival. They jumped at the chance to get involved with the community, believing the local aspect of craft beer is what makes it stand apart from the more readily available beers in the market. For Finney, it was a chance to show the world that craft beer isn’t just for “white men with beards.” Finney explained, “One of the things that makes us most excited about this is the opportunity to open up the craft beer world to the LGBT community and be able to support and serve the LGBT community, especially during pride.” He is excited about the idea of showing the community that while the beer community “looks very homogenized, it’s one of the most inclusive industries I’ve ever worked in. There’s really no discrimination at all.” When asked if this would be a new trend with Pridefest, Finney said, “If we’re approached for it, we’d love to do it.”

With the wonderful success of the “Georgie” and “Porgie” release at the Pride Kickoff party at the beautiful Quirk hotel rooftop, the excitement over the beers was palpable.

Gays and craft beer fans alike flooded the rooftop to try the beers and donate to the upcoming PrideFest. Attendees like Katherine O’Donnell, from Richmond Region Tourism, raved about the beers, many unable to decide which they liked better. Others that tasted the dual products, described the beers as an “amazing mix.” This palate-pleasing partnership is effectively bringing two diverse worlds together for a great cause. In a way, these beers really represent what pride is all about—bringing people together to celebrate diversity.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 33

By, Justin Ayars, JD

FBI Officials Meet with Leaders of Hampton Roads’ LGBTQ Community at Tysinger Automotive This year has seen a surge of challenging conversations between law enforcement and citizens. Minority communities, including the LGBTQ community, have long criticized police and other law enforcement agencies for fostering a culture of discrimination against minorities. After 49 people were killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the safety and security of the LGBTQ community moved into the national spotlight and became a political talking point. Even Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, promised “to protect our LGBT citizens” during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.

Given that the LGBTQ Rights Movement emerged out of a violent battle against police at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, many LGBTQ citizens have had a natural, and sometimes justified, fear about law enforcement. NPR has reported that a “2012 survey by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs of LGBT survivors of violence found that 48% of those who’d had contact with police reported they’d experienced some form of misconduct during those interactions including excessive force, unjustified arrest, entrapment [or] . . . ‘misgender[ing]’ trans victims of crimes in the media. . . .” NPR also reported that in 2011, the Department of Justice found that LGBT people in New Orleans were subject to “harassment and disrespectful treatment” by New Orleans police.

Sgt. Brett Parson, an openly gay officer in Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, told NPR that “Police officers right now are feeling highly scrutinized, misunderstood, and at a bit of a loss” as to how to change the perception that LGBTQ people have towards law enforcement. He wants the LGBT community to know that the police are there not just to show support, but to provide protection for that community. Washington, D.C.’s Capital Pride Parade came the day after the Orlando shooting. Parsons told NPR that he thought that the beefed up police presence at that event made people feel safe.

However, he cautioned, “we have to acknowledge that there are going to be people in the community that don’t feel safe around us and we need to work our butts off to figure out why.”

In an effort to change perceptions the LGBTQ community has towards law enforcement, this summer FBI officials met with LGBTQ leaders from Hampton Roads at Tysinger Automotive. Vanessa Torres, the Community Outreach Specialist for the FBI’s Norfolk Division, said that she wanted the LGBT community to learn more about the FBI’s mission, priorities and its attempt to diversify its re34 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

cruitment process. Moreover, she said that the FBI wanted to hear the concerns that LGBT citizens had when it came to safety, security and everyday interactions with law enforcement. “You are the pulse of the community. We want to work with you and hear from you on these important issues,” Torres said at the meeting. “Let’s have the conversation before a tragedy occurs.”

The 90-minute conversation included discussing the fact that because Virginia does not have a hate crime bill, crimes that would normally fall under such a statute are prosecuted as aggravated assaults. However, when appropriate, individuals can still be prosecuted under the federal hate crimes statute. When asked about the agency’s efforts to become more inclusive, Torres noted that FBI Director James Comey (William & Mary Class of 1982) took a major step forward by adding “diversity” to the FBI’s core values—a sacred set of values that has not changed for many years. One breakthrough occurred during the meeting when FBI officials admitted that their agency’s relationship with colleges and universities across Virginia is a “work in progress.”

The group agreed that because educating young people is a critical part of changing public perception, the agency needs to actively connect with LGBTQ groups on campuses across Hampton Roads and beyond.

The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding that LGBTQ citizens and the FBI need to open the lines of communication and keep them open. Aware of the LGBTQ community’s possible stigma against the FBI, Torres told the group, “We are one of you. We live in the same communities. Some officers have LGBT members in our families or networks of friends. We hope you don’t place stereotypes on us. Not all law enforcement officers are bad. Underneath our titles we’re human beings and we do care. A lot of people forget our humanness.”

In the wake of the Orlando massacre and all of the violence across America today, it is imperative that the LGBTQ community work with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies so that they can do their jobs and keep us safe. Similarly, law enforcement agencies must be willing to listen to the concerns of the communities they serve.

The meeting that took place this summer at Tysinger Automotive is a wonderful first step towards creating an ongoing dialogue that can build trust and mutual respect between law enforcement officials and the LGBTQ community.

Conversion Therapy THE HEART-WRENCHING TALE OF AN ANONYMOUS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT “The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say “that’s f***ed up” and fix it. Fix society. Please.

Goodbye, (Leelah) Josh Alcorn.”

I’m the faggot people love to laugh at, the punchline at the end of a gay joke told a billion times over. I’m the dyke my cousins are embarrassed to bring around their friends because I’m just “different.” I don’t know how to dress the way they do, or think and feel the way they do. I never have and I never will. Not even when my cousin plasters makeup on my face despite the fact that I’m desperately pushing her hands away. Not even when she berates me for taking the chance to scrub the lipstick off my mouth when she turns her back.

I’m the abomination my Sunday school teacher spoke against nearly every class. I’m told to always remember one thing: there is no such thing as a gay Muslim. Homosexuality follows murder on the hierarchy of sins. We’re taught to repent, to ask God to cure us of this mental illness. Back home, these crimes are punishable by death.

I’m sick, mislead, uneducated, morally corrupt, and I’m my mother’s worst nightmare. When I ask her if she still loves me, I get no reply. I curse myself for being such an idiot, for letting something like that slip. Now, terrified of the idea of never hearing my mom tell me she loves me ever again, I try to cover up. I say it was a panicked confession. I say I didn’t mean it, she was asking so many questions and I couldn’t tell what I was answering to. She tells me she’s going to fix me. Soon, she’s going to be able to look me in the eyes and find her daughter again.

After weeks of searching, she finally settles on her favorite. A devout, hijabi, Arab-Muslim woman, married traditionally to a godly, working man. She’s established now in her new townhouse with a toddler at home and another baby on the way. My new therapist is everything my mother wants to watch me grow up to be, but I don’t trust this stranger. I tell her as little as possible. I didn’t want to be “fixed” when I had never been broken to begin with. I refused to be altered in such a way that would appeal to close minded, hateful individuals. Instead, I played pretend.

I went through the motions. My mother believes I’ve changed, and I start to believe that certain secrets are okay to keep.

Conversion therapy, otherwise known as reparative therapy, is a sexual orientation change treatment used on the LGBTQ+ community that was built off of extreme religious beliefs and the false conclusion that homosexuality and gender identities other than the assigned gender at birth are mental illnesses that can be cured. This view is rejected by all major mental and medical health professions, and in the early 1970s, homosexuality was cleared from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Treatment includes institutionalization, psychoanalytic therapies, castration, electroconvulsive shock therapy, and other forms of torture-like techniques accompanied by homoerotic images. Reparative therapies are incredibly harmful to those who are placed, or forced, into these sessions. Because homosexuality has not been considered a mental illness since 1973, conversion therapy is obsolete and therefore should not be allowed to be practiced.

The nature of conversion therapy is ultimately heinous, specifically in cases where a minor is forced to undergo these treatments against their will. The “professionals” that practice conversion therapy are biased and typically allow their religious beliefs to have way too much influence on their research. These groups that use religion in an attempt to rid people of their homosexuality are known as the Ex-gay ministry. Ex-gay ministry came about as a result of religious, gay Christians that were conflicted between their sexuality and religion, and were looking for a cure through prayer.

To read the rest of this story, visit www.unitevamag.com.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 35

The Ma

MY

My partner and I recently performed music at

the wedding of two dear friends who—after 17 years—were legally married. I imagine same-sex couples across the U.S. holding sacred ceremonies, honoring their commitment and love for one another, and enjoying new legal rights. I truly appreciate the tremendous amounts of energy and resources it took to secure this right for the LGBTIQ community. With that said, I want to explore the aspect of relationship that even legal marriage can’t seem to touch with a ten-foot pole—the messiness of growth.

According to the American Psychological Association, 90% of people marry by the age of 50, but 40-50% of marriages end in divorce. We’ve all heard these statistics, and same-sex couples aren’t immune to them, but somehow they have become normalized. It’s not even shocking anymore, and I’m personally not ok with just accepting this phenomenon as “normal” without digging a little deeper.

Maybe it’s that we aren’t wired psychologically to withstand a long-term relationship? If so, are we trying to force ourselves into a culturally-created institution called “marriage” that actually doesn’t work with our psychological makeup? What force exactly could be so powerful that it can undo half of committed relationships that have had the magical wand of legal marriage waved over them?

36 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

How do we explain those couples who somehow found a way to make it work for the long haul? Were they all secretly miserable and living in a state of denial (some yes), or did they discover this tiny little nugget of wisdom—that even within the sanctity of marriage there exists a myth that is often represented as fact. Taking a myth and deeming it “the truth” is a dangerous game to play and usually results in some form of suffering. The myth: If we’re married, it’s forever.

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but the truth is that no matter what ceremony we participate in, no matter what legal system acknowledges our relationship, no matter what vows are spoken from our lips, we still aren’t guaranteed a healthy “forever” relationship. I realize this may sound blatantly obvious at best or horribly cynical at worst, but knowing this wisdom and living this wisdom are two very different things.

Marriage, or any type of relationship “status” for that matter, was never meant to be our Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee or Your Money Back deal. When we are taught that marriage = forever, that is the moment we turn a myth into a “truth.” Till death do we part—words that may or may not appear in everyone’s vows, but the cultural implication of “getting married” is that once we tie the knot, “we” are supposed to last “forever,” and yet up to half of marriages don’t last forever. Hmm…I spy a major disconnect.

So I ask again, what force could be so powerful that it can undo half of committed relationships? The answer leads us into the hopeful part of this exploration, and it is quite simple—growth.

arriage

YTH

By, Michele Zehr, M.A., M.Ed.

Demands for growth combined with a refusal to act upon those demands is powerful enough to undo any relationship in existence.

Think about who you were when you first met your partner. Have you both changed over the years? Did growth sometimes cause discomfort and conflict? Did you find a way to meet that while discovering more about your capacity to navigate life’s challenges together? Maybe you felt the tug of growth pulling at your heart but ignored it out of fear of throwing off the equilibrium of your relationship? For what it’s worth, there is nothing wrong with any of these choices, but growth is a persistent force that is not easily ignored. It usually catches up to us at some point.

As cliché as it sounds, the only constant in life is that everything constantly changes, even if we can’t perceive it while it’s happening.

In fact, we take it for granted and become blind to this constant.

Turn on your faucet and try making the water “look exactly the same” as it did 5 seconds ago. It’s impossible because it’s always changing. We are no different; we just change at a slower—yet perceivable over time—rate than running water.

I believe marriage can serve as the most amazing ‘container’ for a full, loving, life-long relationship. However, until both people challenge the notion of “forever”—thereby debunking the myth— and instead choose to commit the energy required for meeting one another from moment-to-moment at every growth point that presents itself throughout the span of the relationship, the ‘container’ we call marriage can just as easily remain empty. We literally aren’t pouring ourselves into the process of growth, and believe me, a relationship will demand that you grow.

Next thing we know, we wake up and ask the person sharing our bed, “Who are you?” If we can’t answer that question—or even worse—if we can’t answer, “Who am I?”, then I think we’ve just identified the birthplace of those divorce statistics. The exception is any violent or abusive relationship, which must not be confused with healthy growth.

I think the queer community is in a unique position to offer much wisdom on this entire topic. Until now, our reality was that nothing reinforced the bonds of our relationships other than our own personal choice to continue meeting one another at every single place where growth was asking to happen. Couples like my friends have not lasted this long because they stayed the same. They lasted this long because they continued to “show up” through all of the growth periods that were inevitably going to demand that they figure out another way to make it work.

It is our commitment to going into the messy places of growth— over and over again—that is our best hope for redefining “normal.”

I personally believe the queer community is full of role models who could benefit greater society if only it were to pay attention, because we’ve sort of “been there done that” for years.

Michele Zehr, M.A., M.Ed., is the founder of We2 LLC: Women’s Experiential Empowerment. She custom-designs and facilitates empowerment workshops for a wide-range of professionals, offers one-onone Soul Weaving coaching, teaches R.A.D. Self-Defense for Women, and gives Transformational Talks by invitation. To learn more about Michele’s other services, please visit her website at: www.we2empower.com or contact her via email at: info@we2empower.com or by phone at 434-218-2462.

UNITE UNITEVirginia Virginia| |unitevamag.com unitevamag.com| |37 37

PRIVATE ALBERT D.J. CASHIER: AMERICA’S FIRST TRANSGENDER PATRIOT? By, Christian Meade

A

lbert D.J. Cashier was born “Jennie Hodgers” on Christmas Day, 1843 in the tiny village of Clogherhead, Ireland.

It is believed that Jennie and her family migrated to America during the Potato Famine in Ireland in the late 1840s. After arriving in America, she moved to Belvidere, Illinois and was raised by an uncle. Shortly after arriving in this industrial town, Jennie decided to identify as a male, so she cut her hair, began wearing trousers and managed to get a job in a shoe factory that only employed male workers.

After mustering out of the Union Army in 1865, Albert headed back north and resided in Saunemin, Illinois—a sleepy, little farming community where he continued to identify as a male for the next 45 years. He was wellliked by the townspeople and did simple jobs as a handy man and farmer. Albert continued a comfortable civilian life, undetected, until an automobile accidentally backed over him in 1911, breaking his leg. Soon the town physician discovered Albert’s true biological gender, but out of respect, kept his secret from the townspeople. His secret, however, was exposed two years later when he retired

When Lincoln called for more people to join the Union Army during the Civil War, Jennie decided to continue her masquerade and enlisted on August 6, 1862 as Private Albert D.J. Cashier in the newly formed 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. She easily slipped through the physical, as typical military inspections at the time focused only on hands for shouldering weapons and feet for marching. Although she stood just five feet three inches tall, had no facial hair, and kept her collar high—often tying a scarf around her neck to hide the fact that she had no Adam’s apple—she was successful in her guise and was quickly accepted as one of the boys.

As self-identifying male, Albert fought for three years in over 40 skirmishes and battles in the Western Theater of the Civil war, including Vicksburg where his regiment made two devastating charges on the rebel ramparts in May of 1863. It has been documented by secondary sources that during this campaign, when a Union flag was shot off a flagstaff near Albert, he quickly picked up the fallen banner and climbed a tall tree and fastened “Old Glory” to the highest point while Confederate sniper bullets zipped closely by his ears! Because of this bold act of bravery on the front lines, Albert became a household name and a favorite of the 95th Illinois Infantry.

38 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

without any doubt, their messmate Private Albert D.J. Cashier. They also confirmed that they had absolutely no knowledge of his true biological gender.

By 1914, perhaps due to the events described above, Albert suffered severe dementia and was transferred to Watertown State Hospital for the insane. His advanced condition took its toll and he died on October 10, 1915. As burial preparations were made, the men of the 95th Illinois returned to Albert’s side again. This time they made sure he was buried with full military honors. So, on a cool, crisp Autumn day, he was laid to rest with full military honors wearing his old uniform with a flag draped over his coffin.

His headstone was appropriately inscribed, “Albert D.J. Cashier Co. G 95 ILL Inf,” just as he wanted.

Private Albert D.J. Cashier’s life story now begs the question, “If it was not for his unfortunate car accident, would Albert’s secret have gone to the grave with him?”

If so, another important question remains outstanding, “How many other transgender Civil War soldiers were buried in battlefield trenches or survived the war and now lie in quiet cemeteries across America?” Perhaps we will never know.

to the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Quincy, Illinois to recuperate from his nagging leg injury. When word of Albert’s true gender leaked, it immediately became regional and national news. Soon, the federal government stepped in and accused Albert of fraudulent activity, i.e. pretending to be a veteran who falsified pension documents. Fortunately, during subsequent inquiry and depositions, many of Albert’s former comrades of the 95th Illinois came to the rescue. One by one, they unanimously testified that Albert was,

What we do know is that Private D.J. Cashier was a true American patriot—one who just happened to have been born a female, but who heroically served his country as a male.

May he rest in peace.

Learn more about Private D.J. Cashier in the new historical fiction novel Friends of the Wigwam: A Civil War Story by John William Huelskamp.

culture. style. stuff. unitevamag.com

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 39

The History of Halloween By, Meredith Jenkins

Halloween is a magical, mystical celebration of life, death and superstition. While the modern holiday brings to mind candy, costumes and parties, the origins of Halloween actually date back over 2,000 years! Over the centuries, the holiday has had some interesting and downright strange evolutions.

Celtic Origins

Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated over 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and parts of northern France. The holiday was a celebration of the Celtic New Year (November 1), which marked the end of the summer harvest and the beginning of the dark cold winter—a time of year that was associated with death. The Celts believed that on the night before their New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. In fact, the Celts believed that on October 31, the night they celebrated Samhain, spirits of the deceased roamed the earth to cause trouble, damage crops and also provide inspiration for their priests, the Druids, who would make predictions about the future.

To celebrate the otherworldliness of the Samhain festival, Druids built huge bonfires where Celts gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to their gods. When surrounding the massive bonfires, the Celts adorned their bodies with animal heads and skins and made efforts to tell each other’s fortunes. After the celebration, the Celts relit their hearth fires at home with flames from the sacred bonfire, which they believed would provide protection during the coming winter. As predicted in Game of Thrones, winter was coming.

The Romans

By 43 A.D., the Romans had expanded their empire into most of the Celtic territory (if you haven’t been to Bath, England… you really need to go). While the Romans ruled the Celtic lands, two Roman festivals were combined with the Celtic festival of Samhain. The first was Feralia, which was a day in late October when the Romans commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day in which the Romans honored Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees.

40 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

DID YOU KNOW: The symbol of Pomona is the apple. Once this Roman holiday was incorporated into the Celtic festival of Samhain, the tradition of bobbing for apples was born.

The Catholic Church

As Christianity spread throughout Western Europe, Roman structures, holidays and traditions were incorporated into the Christian faith. Pope Gregory III (731 – 741 A.D.) expanded the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day (created in 609 A.D. by Pope Boniface IV) to include all saints and moved the holiday from the middle of May to November 1st where the holiday was renamed All Saints Day. As Christianity spread into Celtic lands, the new faith began to blend with and overtake Celtic traditions. In 1000 A.D., in an attempt to replace the Celtic festival of the dead, the church made November 2nd All Souls’ Day to honor the dead. Strangely, the church celebrated All Souls’ Day just like the Celts celebrated Samhain—with bonfires, costumes and parades. All Saints Day was also called All-hallows and the night before was called All-hallows eve, which was eventually shortened to Halloween.

Colonial America

Let’s fast forward several centuries to when the Puritans landed in Massachusetts in 1620. Remember, the Puritans were the hyper conservative Christians who were too, well, puritanical for the Church of England. Thanks to the Puritans’ rigid Protestant belief system, Halloween was not really celebrated in the northern colonies; however, the festival was widely celebrated in the southern colonies. As different Europeans migrated to the British colonies and the colonists embraced some native American traditions, a new and distinctly American version of Halloween was born.

Colonial Halloween festivals featured “play parties”—public events where people celebrated the harvest, told stories of the dead and told each other’s fortunes—ghost stories and even mischief-making.

By the mid-1800s, America saw a flood of new immigrants, in particular Irish immigrants who were fleeing the great potato famine of 1846. When the Irish came to America, the celebration of Halloween became more mainstream. Amer-

icans adopted the Irish Halloween customs and started dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door asking for money, which is where the modern day tradition of “trick-or treating” originated. Harkening back to the fortune telling prowess of the Druid priests, some women believed they could see who their future husband would be by conjuring tricks with yarn, apples and mirrors.

DID YOU KNOW: Halloween as we know it can be attributed to the potato. If it weren’t for the great potato famine of 1846 in Ireland, the Irish would not have emigrated to the U.S. in such large numbers and they would not have brought their Celtic Halloween traditions with them.

Halloween Becomes Family-Friendly

By the end of the 1800s, there was a push by parents and newspapers to make Halloween a more family-friendly holiday that focused more on community gatherings rather than ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. By 1900, Halloween parties focused on games, seasonal foods and festive costumes. By the early 1900s, Halloween had lost most all of its superstitious and religious overtones and become more of a town festival. Despite the more family-friendly, secular Halloween parties that neighbors and towns held, vandalism began to break out during Halloween celebrations. By the 1950s, vandalism had become less of an issue and evolved into a holiday marketed towards children, largely due to the baby boom after WWII. With the creation of suburbs and the increased number of children, the 1950s saw a return to more family and neighborhood-centric celebrations as well as the revival of trick-or-treating. It was hoped that by providing children with small treats, adults could avoid the mischief that was historically associated with Halloween celebrations.

DID YOU KNOW: ¼ of all the candy sold in the U.S. is

DID YOU KNOW: During the 1700s in Ireland, a mystical

matchmaking cook would bury a ring in her mashed potatoes on Halloween night hoping that it would lure her future lover to her dining room table where he would find it.

HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS: Trick-or-Treating

Trick-or-treating dates back to the All Souls’ Day parades in England where poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the giving family’s dead relatives.

The church encouraged this practice because it was an effective way to erode the polytheistic tradition of leaving food and wine out for roaming spirits. Children eventually took up this practice, which was then called “going a-souling” and they would go door-to-door asking for ale, food and money.

DID YOU KNOW: In Scotland, fortune-tellers used to suggest

that young women name a hazelnut for each of her suitors and toss each nut into the fireplace on Halloween night.

The nut that burned to ashes, rather than exploding, would represent that woman’s future husband.

HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS: Superstitions

Avoiding crossing paths with black cats: This superstition dates back to the Middle Ages when people believed witches avoided detection by turning themselves into cats.

Avoiding walking under ladders. This superstition comes from the ancient Egyptians who believed that triangles were sacred and crossing over a triangle spelled certain doom for anyone who dared make that mistake.

purchased for Halloween.

DID YOU KNOW: Americans spend $6 billion annual on Hal-

HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS: Costumes

No matter how you spend Halloween this year, we at Unite Virginia wish you happy, safe and ghoulish time!

Winter was a dark and scary time for the Celts. In addition to food shortages, they believed that on Halloween ghosts would roam the earth. In order to avoid being recognized as living humans, Celts would wear masks when leaving their homes after dark on Halloween so that spirits would mistake them for fellow ghosts. People would also leave bowls of food outside their homes to prevent roaming ghosts from entering their homes.

loween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday after Christmas.

This story could not have been possible without the help of www.history.com and A&E Television Networks, LLC.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 41

World Wrestling Entertainment Wants to Incorporate LGBT Characters into Future Storylines

By, Christian Meade

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Chief Brand Officer, Stephanie McMahon, has recently shared her ideas on making the sport more inclusive by introducing new LGBT characters and story lines in its weekly programming in the “near future.”

“Throughout my life I have grown up knowing gay [WWE] superstars and executives. It’s always been accepted, but now it’s about getting that message out there.” She added, “when it makes sense . . . absolutely, we will integrate LGBT storylines into our programming.”

And to make sure that the LGBT community is portrayed fairly and accurately, the WWE has partnered with Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD). “We’ve had GLAAD come in and speak to our entire writing team and give a whole tutorial on sensitivities, the right words, the wrong words [and] why those words matters. I think that with their guidance and support, we will be able to portray that [LGBT storyline] appropriately.”

McMahon also spoke on wrestling icon Pat Patterson’s book Accepted, in which he talks about his experience being gay in the wrestling world. Patterson made headlines for being the first wrestler to openly come out on the WWE Network show, Legends’ House. “It’s about his life as a gay wrestler and how from the beginning of his career he had to hide that,” McMahon explained. “He first came out . . . on a show on WWE Network called Legends’ House. It was a reality show with a bunch of our legends, and he had such a positive response. It was so warm and supportive that he then decided to tell his story.”

WWE has taken a pro-LGBT stance before when in May they encouraged their fans to voice their disapproval of House Bill 2 in North Carolina with the hashtag #RepealHB2. GLAAD CEO & President Sarah Kate Ellis commended the stance WWE had taken saying, “WWE is a strong partner for the LGBT community, and we are so pleased to see the company standing up for LGBT North Carolinians and against this discriminatory law. It’s time for Governor McCrory and the state’s leaders to heed the calls of citizens, as well as the business and entertainment industries, and abandon this misguided decision to write hate into law.”

Stay tuned to see how the WWE incorporates LGBT characters and story lines into its future programming.

42 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

“Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE”

by Pat Patterson with Bertrand Hebert, foreword by Vincent K. McMahon | 258 pages c.2016, ECW Press | $25.95 / $27.95 Canada

You are the champion of all-time.

Nobody can beat you; nobody can even tie your record. When it comes to thumb-wresting, you know all the moves and you really throw your arm into it for the win. Hands-down, you’re the best. So now read Accepted by Pat Patterson (with Bertrand Hebert) and take it to the mat.

S E I R O T S E G N A H C N A C D L R O W THE son W. Ma in m enja

By, B

Imagine a world where everything is identical. People are the same height, have the same hair colour, wear

the same clothes. Where every pair of shoes fits perfectly and every meal tastes the same. Sure, this reality might have some conveniences and save some time here and there, but overall I would bet the farm (if I had one) it would get boring pretty quickly.

The differences between us are what makes this world so refreshing.

The sheer variety of people and all the associated customs, habits, beliefs and other influences that have made them the individual they are. But of course, we are all bound by the common thread of humanity, all sharing in the very thing which is life. It is this commonality which can bring about compassion and understanding to the complex human puzzle.

This is why it is difficult to comprehend the influences which give rise to individuals who feel compelled to perform acts of violence, as in Orlando in June. This goes against both the common humanity we all share and surely the influence of society. What makes it harder to comprehend is that it may have been triggered by an intense self-loathing.

“Know thyself ” was written over the Oracle at Delphi. This remains wise advice and is particularly resonant within the LGBTQ community, where coming to terms with yourself and same-sex attraction - at whatever stage of life - can be a difficult realization for some.

What can compound this realization yet engender even stronger ‘internalized homophobia’ is being unable to identify with depictions or portrayals of LGBTQ people as regularly seen on popular TV or movies. This can add to the internal conflict, which occasionally manifests in such supreme tragedies as we witnessed in Florida.

While unfathomable to most of us, this railing against the perceived ‘other’ could be addressed to some measure by including a more diverse representation in media. Not all LGBTQ people like drag, leather, Madonna or brunch. I personally cannot stand shopping and would rather down a pint of lager in a pool hall before going to a dubstep night or sipping a martini on the roof terrace before a house set. Somewhat paradoxically, if someone who has difficulties accepting themselves saw more of themselves being authentically represented, perhaps this would go some small way towards helping internal reconciliation and healing.

Empathy and compassion are the fruits of our shared humanity, not fear and hate. By being exposed to a greater variety of individuals we can learn to be more accepting and tolerant, perhaps even finding peace within ourselves. This philosophy is why I chose to join REVRY, a platform which offers a diverse but actually authentic selection of voices and experiences from the global LGBTQ community.

Every friend you have started off as a stranger. As we learn more about some group or someone we lose the fear and the ‘otherness’ and see them as they are – just another person like you and me. Let’s embrace our similarities and celebrate our differences: there is no conflict here.

Find more stories at revry.tv Benjamin W. Mason is the Head of Business Development at REVRY. UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 43

Tennessee Williams: Mutilations By, Tony Narducci

TW was xenophobic. People frightened him and he didn’t trust them. He often thought there were conspiracies surrounding him, and he’d be afraid to go out in fear of being kidnapped or killed. His genius didn’t insulate him from the onslaught of a cruel world. After his mother, he hated critics most. He felt they fed off him and when finished tossed away the carcass.

Tennessee Williams

For Tennessee Williams (TW), success was his calling card, that is until his welcome Tony Narducci wore off in the mid-sixties after Frank, his former lover, died.. His later work is, in general, somewhat abstract and difficult to comprehend for some people. This is partly the reason audience interest and critic reviews were disappointing by then. Those works that dealt openly with homosexuality were rewritten to meet standards of the day. “They destroyed my poetry,” he would say. Sensors were the hardest pill to swallow. He would be told he’d have to entirely re-write some characters and themes in order to see the play performed on stage. TW referred to their required edits as “mutilations” of his poetry. The mutilations made him feel isolated from the world.

He never liked to talk about his work; his later plays are seldom performed. I have read and seen some of that later work, and it’s good. It wouldn’t be as controversial if performed today. I recently saw a production of The Mutilated (an ironic title). The language was exquisite, like fine lace. It intricately weaves two characters into one entity of women living alone after their prime. It was compelling and filled with TW’s poetry.

TW was massively depressed by the late 60’s and probably had been since Frank died in 1963. With no psychotropic drugs available, he had to rely on sedatives and alcohol to calm his anxiety. As his body became resistant to the drugs he would drink more white wine until he would become a somnambulist walking through life only half alive.

Often he’d burst into tears for no apparent reason, but might add a comment, “it’s all my mother’s fault.” At times I was embarrassed for him, and at times I would want to comfort him, like a mother would a child—but like a child, he would manipulate to get what he wanted. He once told me he had a slight stroke, something Violet Venable would say to cover up the truth, just before we were to leave for Italy. Another time he insisted we leave a party thrown in his honor shortly after we arrived, but for no apparent reason. He would ask to change seats with me if there were an attractive man he could sit next to. Always unpredictable, but always intriguing.

44 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com

Suddenly Last Summer deals with this theme head on. Sebastian gets eaten alive by a tribe of predatory children he had “played with.” Everyone wants a piece of Shannon, the defrocked minister in Night of the Iguana. He’s consumed by society. Predatory creatures devour both Sebastian and Shannon. TW was also paranoid of death.

In Night of the Iguana, Grandpa has spent the last year of his life writing his last poem before he dies. The last stanza of his poem:

Oh courage could you not as well Find a second place to dwell, Not only in the golden tree, But in the frightened heart of me.

I took the last line of the poem for the title of my book, In The Frightened Heart of Me: Tennessee Williams’s Last Year. TW was a paradox, able to dissect human nature with the precision of a surgeon to understand how it works and, at the same time, be vulnerable to its vicissitudes. Loveless, frightened by a devouring world and alone, he still forged on, writing every day.

I met TW in a bar. He was intoxicated, but drank more; he was in despair, but had a smiling face; jealous and easily angered, but also kind and generous. He was 71, I was 33. He wanted me to love him; I wanted to know him. He was paranoid, afraid of dying alone, unloved. He argued with Eugene O’Neil in his sleep over who was the greater playwright, and I believe he was in love with me, at least he wrote those words to me, but he never said them. I had great admiration for him, but I wasn’t in love with him.

Tragically, his greatest fear came true . . . he died alone and with no loved one beside him.

The hardest thing for me was my angst over not being able to give him what he wanted and needed – to love and be loved in return. It should have come easily for him to have that which he most desired, after all, he was Tennessee Williams, the poet who interpreted all the ways love could be expressed. He told me Frank never said the words; “I love you” to him, but perhaps he never said them to Frank either. In the end, I was like the others whom he wanted to love him; however, he never heard those words from me as well. Sometimes great genius brings great tragedy.

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED?

By, Ariell Branson

Kim Rocco Shield’s groundbreaking film, Love is All You Need?, asks a simple, yet perplexing question – is love really all a person needs? In a world in which people face persecution for whom they choose to share their lives with, we are often told that love conquers all and that any challenge is surmountable. Shields recognizes that isn’t true, especially for homosexual teenagers. She sheds light on this by explaining, “We are in the middle of a bullying epidemic. 3.2 million school aged children will be bullied each year and 10% will attempt suicide.” Romantic love isn’t all these kids require; what they are in desperate need of is acceptance. This is what inspired Shields, whose self-proclaimed mission is “to use media for social change,” to create the film.

The film is available to stream at http://www.loveisallyouneedthemovie.com/. As the movie is screened in select theatres across the country, half of all proceeds will go towards anti-bullying legislation and another portion will go towards creating a fund to support teachers who face backlash from showing the film. Shields even commented that the first special screening took place in Topeka, Kansas, across from the Westboro Baptist Church. Love may not be all you need, but in concert with the work advocates like Shields are doing, it can make all the difference in the world.

Love is All You Need? takes place in an alternate version of the United States in which being homosexual is the default and heterosexuals are openly persecuted, mocked and referred to as “heteros” or “breeders.” The film follows a star quarterback, Jude Klein, and her secret affair with sports journalist Ryan Morris. The couple is eventually exposed and faces extreme prejudice within their community, especially from priest Rachel Duncan. We are also shown the life of 11-year-old Emily who develops a crush on a male classmate, Ian. By flipping the default gender preference in the film, Shields is able to make it clear to the audience how absurd it is to discriminate against someone because of their romantic feelings for another person. The film is a perfect opportunity for heterosexual viewers to put themselves in the queer community’s shoes and see the emotional challenges that accompany being ostracized for sexual preference.

However, it has been met with a great deal of controversy and regarded by many as “anti-religion.” Shields, who is Catholic, blatantly rejects this classification asserting, “The film isn’t anti-religion, it’s anti- misuse of religion.” In fact, it uses direct quotes from the Westboro Baptist Church, which is widely regarded as a hate group. Shields further elaborates that what truly upsets critics is the fact that it normalizes gay culture, something that many people still find unsettling. This discomfort is part of the cause for debate over educators showing the original short film to their students.

Several teachers have faced repercussions (including being fired) for screening it, but Shields has intervened in each instance and gotten the affected teachers cleared and reinstated. She is a staunch advocate for the film being shown to students and thinks that it will help to mitigate bullying. In fact, many students have written her saying that Love is All You Need? changed their lives.

UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com | 45

We live in an age of great change. In 2009 we elected the first black president of the United States. In 2016 we have two women running for the White House. Many are wondering when we will have our first openly gay president. But, perhaps, that milestone has already been achieved. According to historian James W. Loewen, President James Buchanan (1857-1861) was America’s first openly gay president.

The idea of Buchanan’s homosexuality began to take hold after Loewen published his book Lies Across America in 1999. The book focuses on the inaccuracies, myths and lies that can be found at national landmarks and historical sites all across America. One such myth is that Buchanan was heterosexual. But what evidence is there to back up this accusation?

Gay rumors are nothing new and President Buchanan certainly is not the first president rumored to be gay. However, Loewen’s deep research into Buchanan’s personal life may just hold the key to the rainbow Oval Office. For starters, Buchanan was the only president to remain a lifelong bachelor—something that was extremely rare during the middle of the 19th century. During his time in office, his niece, Harriet Lane, performed the social duties of the First Lady and became a popular figure in her own right. While lifelong bachelordom doesn’t prove his homosexuality, his relationship with William Rufus King may be the most convincing piece of evidence in Loewen’s book.

King was a democratic senator from Alabama, Vice President under Buchanan’s predecessor, Franklin Pierce and, if Loewen is correct, Buchanan’s lover. The two men shared a home in Washington D.C. for ten years (yes, ten years) and were viewed by many as a couple. Aaron Brown, a prominent Democrat at the time referred to King as Buchanan’s “wife” and “better half.”

Scandalous right?

America’s First Gay President ?

By, Charlie Williamson

The pair only ceased living together when King was appointed to serve as Minister to France in 1844. In a letter King wrote to Buchanan after leaving he stated, “I am selfish enough to hope you will not be able to procure an associate who will cause you to feel no regret at our separation.” This was obviously upsetting for Buchanan. Buchanan later wrote to a friend, “I am now solitary and alone, having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. I feel that it is not good for man to be alone; and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when I am sick, provide good dinners for me when I am well, and not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection.” Loewen believes that though they separated, their relationship didn’t truly end until King’s death in 1853.

Although many view Buchanan’s presidency as one of the least successful in U.S. history, there’s something beautiful about the relationship he shared with King. While we may never know the truth about Buchanan’s sexual orientation, the evidence demonstrates that he and King were in a loving homosexual relationship—long before homosexuality became a word in the English language (1892) and LGBT rights became a political issue in presidential elections.

46 | UNITE Virginia | unitevamag.com