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IN THIS ISSUE
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SEPTEMBER 2018 - VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 1 COVER
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OUT IN QUEENS: 4 THIRD ANNUAL PRIDE NIGHT A HOME RUN OUT ON LI: 5 NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY IS FOR EVERYONE
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IN THE NEWS:
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8 NATIONAL 10 INTERNATIONAL OUT FRONT: 12 JUSSIE SMOLLETT’S EMPIRE STATE OF MIND
CALENDAR BE SCENE: 18 PRIDE NIGHT AT CITI FIELD
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
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LYNN MURPHY, EDITOR editor@livingoutli.org MICHAEL MURPHY, ART DIRECTOR
CONTRIBUTORS LGBT Network, Gregg Shapiro, Chris Azzopardi, Psychicdeb
OUT AND ABOUT: 20 INTERVIEW: WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT: AN INTERVIEW WITH WRITER JESSICA HOPPER
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vol 3, issue 5
SPECIAL PRIDE GUIDE EDITION!
PRIDE 25
Long Island Pride Parade and PrideFest Celebrates 25th Anniversary on Saturday, June 13th
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OUT IN QUEENS
Third Annual Pride Night a Home Run On Saturday, August 4th, Citi Field roared with the energy of thousands of LGBT and allied fans as the New York Mets shut out the Atlanta Braves 3-0 at the 3rd Annual Pride Night. “Nights like this go a long way to bringing more people together,” said LGBT Network President/CEO, David Kilmnick. “It sends a message to our young kids that they can grow up and be a pro-athlete and not have to hide who they are.” The night's festivities kicked-off early at 'Pride in the Plaza' with performances by 'Broadway Sings for Pride' and Emily Perry. A sea of rainbow flags pulsed to the music outside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda as fans of all ages were feeling the energy build. Mets great Dwight “Doc” Gooden was at the LGBT Network tent signing autographs and taking photos with the lucky fans in attendance before charging the stadium for the pregame ceremony. David Kilmnick was joined on-field by Queens Borough President, Melinda Katz, NYS Assemblymember Danny O'Donnell, NYS Assemblymember Michele Titus, NYS Assemblymember Christine Pellegrino, NYC Councilman Danny Dromm, NYC Coucilman Francisco Moya, Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman, Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, and Long Beach City Council President Anthony Eramo for a special pregame ceremony. Following the opening ceremony American Idol star Kimberley Locke's gave a breathtaking performance of the National Anthem as fans in the outfield unfurled an enormous rainbow flag setting the tone for the night. The Mets logo and the famous Coca-Cola sign were decked out in rainbow as the Mets took the field en route to a 3-0 victory. Proceeds from the night went to support the LGBT Networks anti-bullying efforts in Long Island and New York City Schools. To learn more about Pride Night at Citi Field or the numerous other professional sports Pride Nights, visit lgbtnetwork.org
See photos from these events at the LGBT Network Flickr page 4
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OUT ON LI
National Coming Out Day is for Ever yone This year we celebrate a landmark that many did not think would be possible in 1993. The LGBT Network is celebrating 25 years of groundbreaking and historic achievements, while looking ahead to the next 25 years of creating safer spaces and building a stronger and more connected Long Island community. One of the ways we are doing this is by launching one of the largest yearly community organizing efforts and campaigns in the country – National Coming Out Day (NCOD) Campaign on October 11th. Since 2002, we have been organizing the NCOD campaign in schools as a way of creating safer spaces. Throughout its 16-year history, the campaign has grown – this year, we expect more than 250,000 people to participate from all around the world. Last year, we broadened our efforts beyond schools to businesses and corporations, places of worship, senior centers, non-profit organizations, government agencies, civic associations, unions, libraries, first responders, athletic teams and other organizations. One thing that’s important to note is that when we use the term “coming out” in the context of this campaign, we are not referring to someone coming out as an LGBT person. People participate in the campaign by coming out in support of safe spaces – not about their LGBT identity. So, in this way, everyone can participate and be part of a powerful movement and change in their institutions and communities. The campaign really embodies the ethos and community organizing framework that has set the Network apart for 25 years. The LGBT Network continues to be a regional home to 6,000,000 and a nationwide voice for the LGBT community. Many people thought that when marriage equality passed our work was done. But that’s far from the reality and truth for LGBT families. Inequality still remains a troubling issue – a staggering 85% of LGBT students still report verbal harassment in schools. Many people are shocked by these statistics, but the reality is that anti-LGBT/bias incidents are on the rise over last year. 98.1% of LGBT students heard “gay” used in a negative way at school and 93.4% reported that they felt distressed because of this language. These facts, and many more like them, tell us that there is still far to go. Behind each of these statistics is a real person who is someone’s daughter, son, sister, brother, mother, father, family member, friend or co-worker. The ultimate goal of the NCOD campaign is simple. We must engage and empower the greatest number of people to take a stand against discrimination, violence, harassment, and bullying of LGBT people by coming out for safe spaces where they live, learn, work, play, and pray. Each one of the groups participating in the Campaign will receive a free, nocost campaign organizing kit with an instruction manual, posters, palm cards, rainbow ribbons, ally stickers, and pronoun stickers to distribute to friends, family and allies. They use these visual materials to show support for their LGBT friends and to help create safe spaces. Our aim is to engage everyone – not just LGBT people, but also our allies, families, and friends – so that together we can build awareness throughout our communities, create safe spaces and have a more just world for all to live in.
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IN THE NEWS
national News
By LGBT Network
U.S. WOMAN SUES RETIREMENT HOME FOR FAILING TO STOP ANTI-GAY ATTACKS New York (Thomson Reuters Foundation)—an ailing U.S. Woman is suing a retirement home, claiming it failed to protect her from other residents who harassed and assaulted her because she is gay, according to her attorneys. Staff at the home ignored and disputed claims by marsha wetzel that she was attacked and insulted by residents when they learned of her sexual orientation, according to her lawsuit filed in U.S. federal court. An appeals court on Monday ruled that her case can proceed, saying landlords can be responsible under fair housing laws for failing to protect tenants from discriminatory harassment, according to Lambda Legal, an LGBTrights group. “When you retire, and you’re gay, there’s more fear, more worry, more staying on your toes,” Wetzel, 70, said in a video prepared by Lambda Legal, which is handling her case. Wetzel moved to the Glen St. Andrew Living Community in Niles, Illinois, in 2014, after she was evicted from the house she had shared with her partner of 30 years, who had died. She is disabled by severe arthritis and other medical issues. Residents hurled insults, threatened her, spit on her and knocked her over, while staff members disputed her claims and retaliated against her for complaining, according to the lawsuit. “You’re different, and you know you’re different,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “Some people don’t care one bit, and other people, they act like you’re breaking the law or something.” In court papers filed in support of Wetzel’s case, the AARP said older LGBT people are vulnerable to discrimination and hostility in senior housing. “Both the perpetrators and victims come from a generation when rights for gays and lesbians were not accepted, making perpetrators bolder and victims unaware of or afraid to assert their current rights,” it said. The lawsuit claims Wetzel was denied an equal housing opportunity provided by law. Wetzel has since moved to an assisted living facility elsewhere. First filed in 2016, her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. It had been dismissed by a lower court but was reinstated by the Appeals Court’s ruling.
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IN THE NEWS
national News
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PEOPLE TAKING HIV-PREVENTION PILL MAY GET MORE PRIMARY CARE (Reuters Health)—When people take daily pills to minimize their chances of getting HIV, they are also more likely to get routine care like flu shots and recommended screenings for common health problems, a U.S. study suggests. So-called HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly protective against HIV, and patients taking this daily pill also tend to get tested and treated more often for hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), researchers note in the American Journal of Public Health. But many people who take PrEP have other unmet medical needs, noted lead study author Julia Marcus of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston. “Most PrEP users in the U.S. are gay and bisexual men, a community for whom experiences of discrimination contribute to a higher risk of mental health conditions, substance use and smoking,” Marcus said by email. “For this reason, PrEP users stand to benefit from the increased opportunities for non-HIV-related screening and treatment.” All 5,857 patients in the study were treated at a community clinic in Boston specializing in care for sexual and gender minorities. They were all considered at high risk for developing HIV because they had been tested for rectal STIs.
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IN THE NEWS
INTernational News
By LGBT Network
TWO MALAYSIANS CANED IN PUBLIC FOR ‘ATTEMPTING LESBIAN SEX’
Malaysia (Reuters)—Two Malaysian women convicted of attempting lesbian sex in a car were caned in court watched by dozens of people on Monday, media and a stategovernment official said, prompting an outcry from human rights activists. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is routinely persecuted in Muslim-majority Malaysia, where they are seen as a threat to conservative values. The women, aged 32 and 22, had pleaded guilty last month to attempting lesbian sex, forbidden under Islamic law. They were sentenced to a fine and six lashings of the cane. The sentence was carried out in front of about 100 people at the Sharia High Court in Terengganu, a conservative state ruled by the Islamist opposition party Pan-Malaysian Islamist Party (PAS), according to a report by English-language daily the New Straits Times.
FIRST RUSSIAN MINOR FINED UNDER ‘GAY PROPAGANDA’ LAW APPEALS
Moscow (Thomson Reuters Foundation)—The first Russian minor to be fined under a new law against so-called gay propaganda for posting pictures of shirtless men embracing has filed an appeal, his lawyer said on Monday.
Maxim Neverov, 16, was fined 50,000 rubles ($760) this month after a commission on juvenile affairs found him guilty of “promoting nontraditional sexual relationship among minors.” He was the first minor to be fined under the law, which makes any event or act regarded by the authorities as an attempt to promote homosexuality to minors illegal. It has previously been used to stop gay pride marches and detain gay rights activists. “Yesterday we mailed our appeal (to the authorities). It should be considered and ruled on within two months,” Neverov’s lawyer Artyom Lapov told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. Neverov has denied that the pictures posted on the social network VKontakte amounted to gay propaganda. “All people’s rights are being violated in Russia, not just LGBT people’s,” he said in an interview before the appeal was filed on Sunday. Russia was ranked Europe’s second least LGBT-friendly nation in 2016 by ILGAEurope, a network of European LGBT groups. Homosexuality was a criminal offence in Russia until 1993 and classed as a mental illness until 1999. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Russian gay propaganda law breached European treaty rules, violated people’s right to freedom of expression and discriminated against LGBT people - a ruling Moscow called unjust. Svetlana Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian LGBT Network, said Neverov’s prosecution was different because he was not an active campaigner for gay rights. “Usually (the authorities) prosecute people for marching in the streets with rainbow flags,” she said. 10
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PUSHING AGAINST CLOSED DOORS: LGBT ACTIVISTS DO BATTLE OVER TOILETS London (Thomson Reuters Foundation)—Who gets to use which toilet has become an unlikely flashpoint in the global battle for LGBT rights as campaigners push for equal access to single-sex spaces. The fight over changing rooms, train cabins, restrooms and any other public space segregated by gender has unleashed vitriol and sparked confrontation from Oklahoma to Australia. Access to toilets has split opinion most sharply. “There has been a backlash against LGBTI people in a number of countries and the issue of access to toilets based on how people identify has been used as a polarizing issue,” Lesly Lila, a campaigner for Amnesty International rights group, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Campaigners for gender minorities want singlesex spaces open to anyone who says they identify that way, no matter what gender was assigned to them at birth. Opponents say women could be put at risk by widening access to bathrooms. Transgender activists argue the risks run the other way.
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IN THE NEWS
INTernational News
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NEW GERMAN ‘THIRD GENDER’ OPTION EXCLUDES TRANS PEOPLE - CAMPAIGNERS LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation)—A new German third gender option does not go far enough, campaigners said on Thursday, after Berlin became the first European government to introduce the choice for intersex people. Germany’s cabinet on Wednesday voted to introduce a third category of “divers,” or various, alongside male and female on birth certificates and other official documents, complying with a federal court ruling. LGBT campaigners said the move did not go far enough and called for new laws to make it easier for people who do not identify with the gender they were born to change their sex on official documents. “For trans people, nothing has changed regarding the obstacles they face to change their registered name and gender,” Markus Ulrich, a spokesman for the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The introduction of the new third gender category came after the Federal Constitutional Court called on lawmakers last year to enact legislation to either introduce a third category or dispense with gender altogether in official documents. The ruling followed a court appeal brought by an intersex adult and said that courts and state authorities should no longer compel intersex people to choose between identifying as male or female. In 2013, Germany became the first European country to recognize indeterminate sex by allowing babies born with no clear gender-determining anatomy to be put on the birth register without a male or female classification.
CATHOLIC CONFERENCE HEARS APPEAL FOR CHURCH TO WELCOME GAY PEOPLE Dublin (Reuters)—A Catholic conference on family issues that Pope Francis is due to address this weekend heard a plea from a U.S. priest on Thursday for the Church to welcome gay members, who he said had been made to feel like lepers. At the first major speech on the issue at the World Meeting of Families, which is organized by the Vatican every three years and is being held in Dublin this year, U.S. Jesuit priest James Martin told delegates that excluding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics violated the teachings of Jesus Christ. “Let your LGBT brothers and sisters know that you stand with them... Be courageous,” Martin told about 1,000 delegates, before listing concrete steps for priests to take to welcome gay parishioners. “By excluding LGBT Catholics, you are breaking up God’s family,” he added. The Church teaches that homosexual tendencies are not sinful but homosexual acts are, and tha homosexuals should try to be chaste. A conference spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment but was quoted by The Times Ireland as saying that space was limited and preference had been given to groups that met certain criteria. Members of gay-rights groups protesting outside the conference said Martin’s speech was a hollow gesture. “There are a lot of nice words being spoken, but in reality nothing really changes on the ground,” said Jim O’Crowly, a 77-year-old gay man who said he attends Catholic Mass every week. “If they want to do something, they should start by changing the very offensive language that is in Church teaching about homosexuality, regarding it as being disordered and intrinsically evil.”
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OUT FRONT
Photos Courtesy of Tarrice Love
R
eally, aside from a fame-catapulting role on Empire and a dreamy croon so velvety you could rest your head on it at night, Jussie Smollett is just like you. Or was: He remembers going to Pride. All the rainbows and free love and free condoms and fiery ex-boyfriend drama. These days, he has shown up (to Long Beach Pride and Milwaukee Pride) as Singer Smollett, with swoon-worthy songs from his recently released debut – a contemporary R&B collection called Sum of My Music that’s as thoughtful as it is hooky – after putting it on the shelf for years because he was too busy diversifying TV. As out musician Jamal Lyon on the Fox drama Empire, Smollett, who got his start acting with 1992’s The Mighty Ducks, has crashed TV’s straight cis white party by bringing a positive depiction of a gay black man to your living room since the series premiered in 2015. Additionally, the 35-year-old multifaceted talent was featured as a celebrity correspondent during a May episode of the EPIX docu-series America Divided, exploring the horrific history of American racism. Activist, singer, game-changing actor. A no-fucks businessman. Mariah Carey’s music-publishing student. And … a cookbook scribe? As Smollett’s groundbreakingly boundless career proves, when you’ve faced Pride drama, no one - not exboyfriends, not Sony execs - can stand in your way. How have your life experiences shaped this album? Sum of My Music is the totality, pretty much, of what I’ve been dealing with over the last couple of years. The things with love, the things with my own personal insecurities, and the insecurities others put on you. And I write about my jealousy! (Laughs) You gotta work it out. I gotta work it out. I talk about a lot of personal things, and I’ve been singing (Empire) soundtracks for a couple of years now, and I’m so connected to the songs that I sing. I’ve written, like, half of the songs that I sing on the show, but it’s nice to be able to hide behind my own stories and my own lyrics that are just for me.
JUSSIE SMOLLETT’S Empire State of Mind Actor-activist on defying Hollywood limitations, using his voice for good, and Pride past and present By Chris Azzopardi 12
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You’ve been in showbiz since you were a kid. As a gay black man, what challenges have you faced in Hollywood? Umm (long pause). You know, I’d like to... let me think about it. I’ve been so focused on creating my own projects, honest to god. That’s really the message that I’m trying to get out there as much as possible: to create your own pieces, your own projects. Granted, I’m a businessman, but I kind of don’t pay attention to anything except trying to create with my people for my people and saying “fuck anything else.” I’m not interested anymore in convincing anybody that I’m valid enough or my stories are valid enough to tell. But, of course there are challenges to being openly black (laughs) and openly gay. At the same time, what else am I supposed to do? This is who I am. Am I supposed to, in 2018, not live my life now for a role? I have to just keep it moving, and I
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"when I go to pride, it's all love, it's fun" have to create with people. This is why I’m an executive producer on Giants, which is on (Insecure producer and actress) Issa Rae’s YouTube channel. It deals with everything from mental illness to homosexuality, and everything in between. Mariah Carey, who you duetted with on Empire and opened for on tour, famously pushed for her own creative control in the ’90s. And you initially had planned on releasing this album on Columbia Records, until your artistic vision didn’t align with theirs and you released the album on your own indie label, Music Of Sound. What did you learn from Mariah about creative freedom? I remember being on the phone with her for three hours and her just breaking down publishing for me. When I asked to be let out of my contract and be pulled away from my contact with Columbia, I feel like I was armed with knowledge from these types of people like her, and just different artists that I’ve met or veterans in the business that really kind of held my hand without even knowing it. Like, they thought they were just telling me something smart, but little did they know – or maybe they did know – they were really arming me with what I needed. That’s why you should always be unselfish with your knowledge, ’cause you never know if it’s gonna help somebody in the future.
As someone who’s been representing a sorely underrepresented group of people on Empire – the gay black male community – what has that meant to you? It really humbles me. And it makes me grateful. I just remember that there was nobody I could see on TV who I could identify with. The very first person that I ever saw who was gay at all, like any member of the LGBTQ community that I could somewhat identify with, was Wilson Cruz (as Rickie Vasquez) on My SoCalled Life. He was someone of color, and I grew up loving people like Elton John, but I couldn’t identify with Elton John because that’s all I saw. I didn’t put two and two together – it wasn’t representation. I loved George Michael growing up. I loved Boy George growing up. But I didn’t connect. And maybe I would’ve been able to connect more on that level had I seen more people who represented me on that level. So nothing against them. They’re wonderful.
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Politically? Literally regarding anything that is unjust. Anything that is unjust, it is your responsibility to speak up. People talk sometimes just to, like, sell something or just to be in the news or just to get likes. They’ll say something, and they’ll go to bed without even knowing what is actually being said and what is actually happening, and that’s ignorant and that’s selfish. Can you tell me about your first Pride event? Oh god. I had the best time, and then got in a major fight with my boyfriend at the time. See, this is the thing: If your shit is strong, Pride can be a real good time. If your shit is weak, Pride will tear a motherfucker apart! Oh yeah, it can be drama depending on who you see. It can be major drama, especially if it’s the city in which you live. Because you’re gonna run into ex-boyfriends. You gonna run into exes, you gonna run into their exes. I was dating someone and every single Pride we had an issue. Nowadays, I’m very calm. (Laughs)
From what I’ve heard you cry when you perform “Freedom,” off the new album. I can’t help it. What is it about that song that gets you emotional? There’s one particular part where I’m like, (sings) “and I don’t care what they say, ’cause I know who we are to each other.” I cry every single time. And maybe it’s because I have to push really hard for that note (laughs)! Or, maybe it’s just that it reminds me of how precious love is. And it reminds me of that idea of, I just – I want to love. And I think to me that’s why I put Tika (Sumpter) and Cynthia (Erivo) in the video I directed for (the song) and they played lovers, they played partners. And it was just a thing of, I just wanted to show a same-sex couple doing the things everybody does. To me, freedom is just the ability to love and the ability to not just accept. I hate that word “accept.” It’s not even about that. It’s about changing our molecular structure so we recognize love … and love. If it’s two consenting adults, if it’s two consenting teenagers, if it’s two consenting children, let these people love. Let these people love each other. How can love possibly be bad?
fuck. If the people are listening to you, you should say something worth hearing.
Elton subverted the label. Elton was just Elton. Exactly. I hope we can all get to that point. But representation is so important and the responsibility – something hit me yesterday. I was talking to someone, and I said, “I think a lot of things are debatable about me or certain people who I know who are leaders or whatever, but I think that I’m a good person.” And I don’t know if good people are supposed to say they’re a good person, but I am saying I’m a good person. I take responsibility for all that I am. But I’ve been given a platform, and I’ve worked for that platform. I’ve been doing this since I was 4. Got my SAG card in 1987. My point is we could use that platform for good, but we could also use that platform for bad, and that shit is scary. You have people looking up to you, you have people who somehow feel affected by what you do. There is a certain level of responsibility that you must take. There is no debate, I don’t give a
You have a cookbook coming out, a collaboration with your siblings; that’s how settled down you are. I have a fucking cookbook with my family – I’m very settled down. I’m in a calm, wonderful relationship. My life is just calmer, it’s more secure. So now, when I go to pride, it’s all love, it’s fun. I haven’t really been able to go to a Pride in a couple of years and Long Beach Pride was the first Pride that I’ve ever performed at because ever since Empire started I always said, “No, I don’t want to do Pride until I do it for my album. I want it to be special. I want to do it when I’m on tour,” and that’s what we ended up doing. And it’s been fun. Because I need a husband: What do you cook for your man and are those recipes in the book? Listen, everybody needs to know how to cook. You got to get your man right. What’s the right man dish? I’m good at a good stir-fry. That’s what I cook for everybody, and I can’t give away my secrets of what I throw down and how I throw down and what I throw down with in the kitchen. But it definitely goes down in the kitchen in more ways than one. LIVING OUT
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What is your Pride message for the LGBTQ community? To love yourself. Love yourself and love each other. We are literally all we got, and I say this in every single show. I turn the lights up on the audience and I just say, “Society wants us to believe that the world doesn’t really look like this, but it does. This is what the world looks like, all different races and cultures and religions and sexualities and genders and ages and body types and people standing, people sitting, people in a wheelchair, people in crutches. All of that. So my thing is, the people who are yelling hateful things are so fucking loud, and we just need to lower their volume so we can raise up ours for us who want to preach love and who want to practice love.” It’s that simple. Listen, I know it’s deeper than just that. We have to deal with policy changes, we gotta deal with law changes. We gotta deal with all of that. It’s economic. It’s all of these things. But everything starts with love. And I hate the term “minority,” but if every single so-called minority group were to raise up and join together, we would be a fierce majority that no motherfucker could take down.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS SAGE - End of Summer BBQ Tuesday, Sept. 4th, 11a.m-1p.m. Eisenhower Park, Lot 3 1899 Hempstead Tpke ,East Meadow
SAGE-LI Nassau will be celebrating the end of summer with a BBQ at Eisenhower Park! All are welcome; please RSVP to Amy Angelone, LMSW Program Manager of Community-Building & Support Services with your name as well as what side dish you are bringing by Friday, August 31st. SAGE-LI will bring the rest, so bring a tasty side dish and some fun! In the event of inclement weather, the rain date will be the following Tuesday, September 11th
Volunteer Ribbon Cutting Monday, Sept. 10th, 6 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Tuesday, Sept. 11th, 6 p.m. Q Center: 37-18 Northern Blvd, Suite 107, Long Island City Wednesday, Sept., 12th. 6 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury Thursday, Sept., 13th. 6 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor
The LGBT Network’s National Coming Out Day Campaign engages communities to COME OUT and take a stand against the discrimination, violence, harassment, and bullying of LGBT people by coming out in support of safe spaces where they LIVE, LEARN, WORK, PLAY, and PRAY. Help prepare for the LGBT Network’s biggest organizing effort ever by volunteering to cut ribbon with us! SIP & CUT will exceed your expectations for a fun volunteering event! For 2018, we will be mailing out over 250,000 rainbow ribbons–so we need your help!
LGBT Network Congressional Candidate Forum & Meet the Candidates Friday, Sept., 14th 6:30p.m -8:30 p.m. Molloy College Suffolk Center 7180 Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY Join the LGBT Network and meet candidates from across Long Island to learn more about the important issues that impact the LGBT community and where each candidate stands on these issues. The forum will feature a moderated discussion with Congressional candidates followed by a Meet-andGreet with candidates federal, state, and local office. This will be the only candidate forum in the 2018 cycle that brings together candidates from all over Long Island to discuss specific issues that impact LGBT families...so don't miss it!
SAGE-LI Eisenhower Park Mingle Tuesday, Sept 18th, 11a.m.-1p.m. Eisenhower Park, Lot 3 1899 Park Boulevard, Westbury
Join Nassau SAGE-LI in Lot 3 of Eisenhower Park for socializing and snacking with friends while enjoying summer! Drinks are provided but you’re welcome to bring outdoor chairs, snacks and any outdoor games! In the event of rain, the Mingles will be held at the Woodbury Center.
Free HIV Testing at ICON Astoria Tuesday, Sept 18th, 7p..m. - 10 p.m. Q Center: 37-18 Northern Blvd, Suite 107, Long Island City
In celebration of 'National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day" #NHAAAD the LGBT Network Queens LGBT Center will be at ICON on Tuesday 9/18 to provide FREE HIV Testing! The LGBT Network offers free, discreet, and confidential HIV testing in Queens & Long Island, in addition to PrEP enrollment assistance.
OUTdoors @ Old Bethpage Restoration Village Friday, Sept. 21st, 11 a.m. Old Bethpage Restoration Village 1303 Round Swamp Rd, Old Bethpage, NY
LGBT Karaoke Mixer Thursday, Sept. 27th, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Q Center: 37-18 Northern Blvd, Suite 107, Long Island City
Sing along to your favorite songs as the LGBT Network's Queens LGBT Center invites you to an LGBT Karaoke Mixer. COME SING YOUR HEART OUT and hang out with friends in Long Island City! Mix and mingle all night with an evening of Karaoke, drink specials, great music and more at this FREE social event. Drink specials begin at 6p and Karaoke starts at 8p! And take a tour of the LGBT Network Queens LGBT Center as COFFEED, a NYC-based, locally-sourced, charity-minded café and specialty coffee company, is our neighbor. #LIC #Pride
Boot Camp Against Bullying Saturday, Sept. 29th 10 a.m. – 12p.m. Private Residence Each year, the LGBT Network continues its antibullying work through its Safe Schools Initiative to deliver education, prevention, and outreach programs that help to create safer schools. Together, with your help, we can continue to raise funds to stop the bullying of LGBT youth in our schools through the LGBT Network’s expansive range of anti-bullying programs throughout the school year out on the East End.
David Bohnett CyberCenter Monday-Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
The David Bohnett CyberCenter at LIGALY offers hands on experience and classes in various software environments from productivity to creative design on the PC and Mac platforms. The classes range from introductory, intermediate, and advance levels.
Drop-In HIV/STD Testing: Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Thursdays, 5-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury By Appointment. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor Free and confidential testing for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Hepatitis C. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Free2be | LGBT Network & Free First Wednesdays, 4.30p.m.-6 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Free2Be is a community of adults dedicated to socialization, advocacy and education. We support a network that provides a safe environment to grow. Join other individuals for socialization and community-building. We meet every 1st Wednesday of the month from 4:30 PM-6 PM at the LGBT Network's Bay Shore Center. The group is facilitated by a licensed social worker. All you need to do to join is to show up--no RSVPs required! For more questions, please contact Amy Angelone, LMSW, Program Manager of Community-Building & Support Services at 631.665.2300 or aangelone@ lgbtnetwork.org or Claire Miller, Advocacy Coordinator of FREE (Family Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc) at 516.870.1645
Friday Night OUT 4th Fridays, 7-9 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor
Friday Night OUT is the place to be for East End LGBT youth and their allies on the Fourth Friday of every month at the Hamptons LGBT Center. Dance, play games, and have fun! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
Hampton Bays Mingle 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. Hampton Bays Senior Center, 25 Ponquogue Ave., Hampton Bays SAGE-LI’s bi-monthly social for LGBT seniors 50+ on the East End. Dinner is served on the 4th Thursday of the month. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
LIFE in Nassau 2nd Thursday, 7-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
LIFE in Nassau meets every second Thursday. Open to adults of all genders and orientations with an interest in BDSM topics.
LIGALY Advisory Board Mondays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Youth help plan new programs and events at LIGALY. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
LITE Social and Discussion Group 1st & 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
All Nassau County meetings are closed for transgender individuals only.
Wednesdays, 7:30-9 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
1st, 3rd, and 5th meetings are closed for transgender individuals only. 2nd and 4th meetings are for transgender individuals and partners, family, friends, or loved ones.
2nd & 4th Thursdays, 6:30-8 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor All East End meetings are closed for transgender individuals only. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
OUTlet Fridays, 8 p.m.-Midnight Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Friday night social program for LGBT youth and their friends ages 13-21. $2 admission, transportation available. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Parent Support Group 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 6-7 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore 1st & 3rd Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
If you workand/or have engage Discussion group for parents of LGBT children. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
PEP Teams – Suffolk Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Interactive leadership program promoting sexual health for LGBT young people. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
POZ Experience 1st Monday, 2 - 3 p.m. 3rd Monday, 6:30- 7:30 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
POZ Experience is a support group for all people living with HIV/AIDS. Facilitated by an experienced social worker, this group is designed to offer support, listen and share stories of our experience, whether individuals are newly diagnosed or have been living with HIV/AIDS for years. This group is intended to foster peer support, in an LGBT affirming space, that promotes living one’s life to the fullest and healthiest For more information, call 631.665.2300 or email poz@lgbtnetwork.org
Q Center Senior Advisory Board 2nd Thurday, 12-1p.m. Q Center: 37-18 Northern Blvd, Suite 107, Long Island City
This group provides feedback on current Q Center Senior Programming and offers ideas for future programming. All are welcome! Contact lsmith@lgbtnetwork.org www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Q Center Senior Mingle Thursdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Q Center: 37-18 Northern Blvd, Suite 107, Long Island City
Pack a lunch and join other LGBT older adults for great conversation over coffee. Contact lsmith@lgbtnetwork.org www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Safe Schools Team Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Youth leadership program for young people committed to creating safer schools on Long Island. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI Evening Mingle 3rd Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
If you workand/or have engagements during the day that limit you from attending the fabulous SAGE-LI daytime programming, this is the program for you. All are welcome! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
SAGE-LI Monday Mingle Mondays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
SAGE-LI’s weekly social for LGBT seniors 50+ at The Center at Bay Shore. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI Nassau Mingle Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
SAGE-LI Women at Nassau Wednesdays, 7:30-8:45 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
(SWAN) A social and discussion group for lesbian, bisexual, & transgender women as well as women questioning their identity. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Senior Advocate First Monday, 11a.m.-1 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
A Senior Advocate from Suffolk County Office for the Aging is on-site each month to offer SAGE-LI members benefits and entitlement counseling. From Social Security to Food Stamps to Medicare Part D and everything in between, the Senior Advocate will be available during the Mingle to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Senior Focus Discussion Group Last Monday, 12pm-1 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
Part of a monthly series of coed peer-led, issuefocused discussion groups. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
TRUE Calling Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
LIGALY is offering a great opportunity for LGBT youth and their friends to show off their skills! Sing, act, dance, or perform. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Women 2 Women Tuesdays, 7:15-8:45 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
W2W is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive space for lesbians age 40+.
You Gotta Believe Mondays, 6-9 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
The Long Island LGBT Community Center has partnered with You Gotta Believe, a non-profit organization that places teenagers into permanent adoptive homes, to provide Adoptive Parent Preparation Classes! If you are interested in participating, please call 631.665.2300. www.lgbtnetwork.org
Youth Squad Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor
All East End youth should come check out this new hot LGBT spot. Every Tuesday is a fun interactive youth group: hang out with others in the lounge. You won’t want to miss it! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
SAGE-LI’s weekly social for LGBT seniors 50+ at The Center at Woodbury. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
SAGE-LI Nassau Mingle Potluck First Tuesday, 1 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
Bring your favorite dish and enjoy lunch over light refreshments and great conversation with friends. Please let us know if you plan on joining us and what you are going to bring to share . www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Join SAGE-LI as we visit the Old Bethpage Restoration Village! We will be meeting outside the lobby of the welcome center at 11 am. The cost of entry for adults is $13 per person and for seniors, $8.00. The rain date for this OUTdoors will be the following Friday, September 28th, at the same time.
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be scene
Pride Night at Citi Field Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Citi Field The 3rd Annual Pride Night at Citi Field was nothing short of ‘amazin!’ Thousands of Pride Night fans cheered the Mets to victory over the Atlanta Braves. With over 7,000 rainbow flags flown across the ballpark and a visit by Mets great, Doc Gooden, it was an unforgettable experience for LGBT individuals and allies alike.
TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROMPRIDE NIGHT AT CITI FIELD, PLEASE VISIT FLICKR.COM/LIGLBTNETWORK 18
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be scene
SAGE - LI ‘End of Summer’ BBQ
Friday, August 31, 2018 at at Eisenhower Park
SAGE-LI celebrated the end of summer with a potluck BBQ at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. It was an afternoon of good friends, good food, sun, and fun!
TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM SAGE - LI ‘END OF SUMMER’ BBQ, PLEASE VISIT FLICKR.COM/LIGLBTNETWORK
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OUT AND ABOUT
INTERVIEW
by gregg shapiro
WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT
AN INTERVIEW WITH WRITER JESSICA HOPPER Like Carl Sandburg, Nelson Algren and Gwendolyn Brooks, the Chicago writers Jessica Hopper references in her new memoir Night Moves (University of Texas Press, 2018), she makes the “neon wilderness” of the city a main character. Divided into three sections, spanning a 15-year time period, between 2004 and 2009, Night Moves is a vivid Polaroid snapshot of an urban center in transition. I spoke with Hopper shortly before the publication of the book. GS: Jessica, I’d like to begin by asking you to say something about the purpose of dating of the pieces in Night Moves, as well as the book’s chronology. Jessica Hopper: We sort of went back and forth, my editor and I, about whether or not to include the dates. To me, I was less interested in having a kind of particular arc. I really just wanted to have it more like a mood. We went with the dates because I did want to have a sense of different spaces of progression. From dreaming of being a writer to actualizing some of that dream. GS: As a whole, Night Moves is a love letter to Chicago - as you say “seven kinds of in love with Chicago” - but never more so than in “American City, I Love You,” which is dated March 3, 2004, making it one of the oldest pieces in the book. Would it be fair to say that that piece played a part as inspiration for the book itself? JH: My falling in love with Chicago and discovering the city and having a proactive interest in discovering the city and its history a little bit better definitely orients from that time. But I think the book is a document of the span of that. GS: As a reader, I detected two distinct writer’s voices employed by you in your books, The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic and Night Moves. Of those two voices, is one more of a true representation of you as a person?
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JH: The writing that is in Night Moves is, in some ways, my natural style. The writing that you see in my critical and journalistic writing, more than in my journal writing, per se, I’m trying to make a persuasive argument to the general public [laughs]. It’s definitely a different sort of thing. I think where they meet is at an interest in fine detail. I think they overlap in how I think. Night Moves is maybe a little bit more of expression of self, whereas the criticism is more a consideration of other people’s lives and work. But they’re both very much steeped in being Midwestern, my feminism, my curiosity and my fandom. I think they’re both expressions of that. GS: The Girls’ Guide to Rocking was published in 2009 and The First Collection of Criticism by a Female Living Rock Critic was published in 2015. Were you working on Night Moves at the same time as those other books or did its genesis come later? JH: Its genesis came in the wake of The Collection… In part because I was working with my friend Alice (Merrill) to create an archive of my work. We were finding in putting together the pieces for the criticism collection, they had appeared in a dozen or more different publications. We were creating an index of all my work; whether it was fanzines or print publications or writing from blogs or one-off fanzines I was doing when I was going on tour. In the process of that, Alice noticed that I had a lot of writing about Chicago, which didn’t really fit with the collection book. We held onto that idea until after the collection book got out the door. We turned to what were other pieces of writing that were maybe in the wings that I could cull from. Revisiting that, it works as a testament to a time and that seemed important to me to capture. That’s where that came from. GS: In the “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ol’ Oak Tree” piece, you write about poetry. Do you write poetry and did any of these pieces begin as poems?
JH: I don’t write poetry with any intention of it being poetry [laughs]. As my friend Hanif (Abdurraqib) wrote in the blurb on the back cover, “It is a book of poems…”, it is also this and this. I was really flattered by his insistence [laughs]. I know that some of the shorter pieces, people have mentioned that they are maybe poetic in form, with curious line breaks in them. I am an avid reader and consumer of poetry and so anything that appears in the book that seems to be in that form is very much under the influence of it. I’m usually reading two books of poetry concurrent to anything else I’m reading. I think there have been one or two times in my life when I got interested in writing poetry, but when I did, I couldn’t judge at all that it was any good. [Laughs] in the same way that I am able to discern with my other writing, where I go, “Well, this makes an argument that I can stand behind!” I had no idea whether it was valuable or elegant or conveyed anything meaningful. I never really have pursued it. It’s such a foreign language to me. I wouldn’t rule it out for the future, but it’s not my idiom. GS: Bicycles play a prominent role in the book. Do you still ride, and if so, what are you riding these days? JH: [Big laugh] I still have my same crappy bike. I had a very beloved bike that got stolen in about 2005. Within a few weeks it had been replaced by the new bike I talk about in the book. The new bike in the book is still my old bike. It’s a little less rattly now. My husband did a good job of
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securing these rickety bike baskets on the back. It’s definitely got some new things. But it’s probably older than me! I still ride it around the mean streets of Wilmette, but I can’t tote my children to school on the back of the thing. GS: I’m glad you mentioned your children. As a mother, what do you think about the possibility of your children reading Night Moves someday? JH: Oh, you know [laughs]! I will just live in that fear. My older son has read parts of, if not most of, Girls Guide to Rocking and had a whole line of questioning for me after that. He’s eight and very precocious. He knows that Night Moves is coming out and that he’s not allowed to read it. He read the front flap. As far as I know, his curiosity hasn’t taken him further. I would maybe let him read a redacted version of the book, perhaps. There are certainly parts in there that might be a little scandalizing [laughs], until he’s in his late teens. My son is an avid reader
and a writer and an appreciator [laughs] of all sorts of different things. My hope for anybody who reads the book, whether they’re young or old, is that people who love the city can see and identify parts of the city and can connect with it. To me, it feels like it is a book about the dream of being a writer, the dream of being an artist and nursing that transitional space between the thing you’re dreaming of being and then beginning to actualize that dream. In some ways, I hope it is valuable to younger readers, but not my son who is in third grade [laughs].
that you’ll be writing a book and as you are doing it there becomes another book within you that nags rather insistently. There’re basically three other books. One of them is music historic and there’s another memoir. That’s hopefully what’s on the horizon. It’s exciting to be working on the proposal for what will hopefully be my next book, which is not in any way drawn on my own personal past. I would like to be out of my past someday [laughs].
GS: Have you started working on or thinking about your next book project? JH: I’m turning a book proposal at the end of the month. Hopefully, I’ll be able to announce book number four in the next few weeks. I have a good sense of what my next three books are which is maybe insane and ambitious. One thing about making a book – and other writers have certainly complained about this – is
HOPPER READS FROM HER NEW BOOK ON OCTOBER 4TH IN BROOKLYN AT BOOKS ARE MAGIC! CIH Ad_Layout 1 1/15/18 10:21 PM Page 1
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OUT AND ABOUT
Q-Music
by gregg shapiro
Late summer dance fling Anyone who’s familiar with the work of Róisín Murphy shouldn’t be surprised by the concept of Irish electronic dance music. Heck, even U2 has been known to dabble in electronic beats. That said, the aptly-titled Pleasure (Red River) by Irish electronic dance band Le Galaxie definitely ups the ante. The 10 dance-floor-ready tracks on Pleasure are as forward-thinking as they are nostalgia-inducing, mixing modern dance moves with a healthy respect for disco history with a splash of new wave. The merger of electronic and organic instrumentation with the shared vocal duties by May Kay Gegharty and Michael Pope also give songs such as “Can’t Stop”, “L.I.E.”, “Lock That Heart Down”, “Guy”, “Hang Fire” and the title track a kind of vigor. We already know that the Germans have a long history of making indispensable electronic dance music. Kraftwerk, anyone? Dimensional People (Thrill Jockey) by Berlin-based twosome Mouse on Mars is significant for a few reasons. First, it’s the pair’s first album in four years. Second, it reunites MoM with the hipster Thrill Jockey label for which they released a series of groundbreaking albums in the late `90s/early 2000s, including Radical Connector. Last but not least, is the impressive list of collaborators appearing on the disc, such as Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National), Spank Rock, Swamp Dogg, Lisa Hannigan, Amanda Blank and Sam Amidon. Listeners should also be prepared to dance to the stuttering clicks of “Dimensional People Part 1”, “Dimensional People Part 2”, “Daylight” and “Sidney In A Cup”. Dance music doesn’t get much dreamier than it does on Extended Versions (Smalltown Supersound), the debut album by Kelly Lee Owens. A criticsdarling right out of the gate (and rightfully so), Owens extended electronic exercises pulse and percolate like blood flowing to organs. As warm as they are spacey, these songs encourage movement as much as they do meditation. You can enjoy this album whether you’re shaking your hips or simply centering yourself on tracks such as “Anxi.”, “Bird”, “Evolution”, “C.B.M.” and “Throwing Lines”. 22
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Queer band Shopping performs on Sept. 9 in NYC at OctFest. Remember the way that UK bands such as Gang of Four and The Au Pairs found a way to effortlessly mix the politics of dancing? Railing against an assortment of societal ills, giving us something to think about while we worked up a sweat on the dance-floor. Produced by the brilliant Edwyn Collins, The Official Body (Fat Cat) by queer band Shopping picks up where the others left off, with tracks such as “Control Yourself”, “The Hype”, “Asking For A Friend”, “Shave Your Head”, “Suddenly Gone”, “My Dad’s A Dancer” and “New Values”. Don’t just sit there, go Shopping! With each recent release, Kevin Barnes has been morphing his band Of Montreal into an appealing dance act. With its six lengthy, mostly clubby tunes, White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood (Polyvinyl) is no exception. Clocking in at more than seven minutes, “Paranoiac Intervals/Body Dysmorphia” is the standout and is sure to inspire a kaleidoscope of dance steps. “If You Talk to Symbol/Hostility Voyeur” and “Sophie Calle Private Game/Every Person Is A Pussy, Every Pussy Is A Star!” glam up the glittery dance-floor. If Of Montreal occupies the glammy section of the dance club, then MGMT brings the modern psychedelia. This is especially true on the heavily danceoriented new album Little Dark Age (Columbia), co-produced by MGMT, Dave Fridmann (of Flaming Lips fame) and Chairlift’s Patrick Wimberly. With an `80s synth-sensibility that recalls Jane Fonda in a leotard and headband, “She Works Out Too Much” gets things moving. In fact, much of the dance direction of what follows, including “Me and Michael”, “James” and “One Thing Left to Try” succeeds in making the `80s sound fresh to 21st century listeners. Sounding like a male Lana Del Rey and (to a lesser degree) Lorde, the notoriously androgynous Børns (aka Garrett Borns) returns with his second album Blue Madonna (Interscope). Like MGMT, Børns sounds as if he finds most of his inspiration in the 1980s. Seriously, “Sweet Dreams” sounds like it fell out of 1983. To his credit, Børns also knows the value of getting listeners on their feet, something he does with ease on “We Don’t Care”, “Man”, “Faded Heart”, and the brief interlude “Tension”. Content (Hollywood), the title of the second album by Joywave, could have two potential meanings. It could refer to the 11 songs – the content of the disc. It may also refer to the feeling of contentment, although “Doubt”, the hardest rocking tune here might put that in question. Regardless, Joywave delivers a flood of dance tracks here, including “Rumors”, “Little Lies You’re Told”, “It’s A Trip” and “When You’re Bored”.
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Events at At Saddle Rock Ranch, located in Middle Island, we provide the perfect setting for your wedding, concert or private event. We can host functions in a variety of settings, from our rustic barn to the 14 acres of manicured land that the ranch resides on. Please contact our Director, Karen Bonne, by calling 631-345-0318 or 631-394-0681, or by emailing KBonne@FamilyRes.org if you would like to inquire about hosting your next event at Saddle Rock Ranch.
You are not alone, you are…FREE To BE FREE To BE is a community of men and women dedicated to socialization, advocacy, and education. We support a network that provides a safe environment to grow together. Socialization/Group Meetings FREE To BE provides an engaging space for LGBTQ individuals and friends, and we encourage all who are interested to come and join us. Meetings Include Inspirational guest speakers, workshops, open discussions, social events, and community involvement. Next Meeting Date: September 25th, 2018 Time: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Location: FREE, 191 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804 Fundraising Conference Room To learn more about FREE To BE or to become a member, please contact us at FREEToBE@FamilyRes.org Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.
191 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road l Old Bethpage, New York 11804 FamilyRes.org l 516-870-1637 • #FREEFamilyRes
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LIVING SMART
HOROSCOPES
September 2018
HOROSCOPES
Aries—Ruling planet in 11th house—your outgoing manner promotes special interest from someone you’ve been wanting to meet. This could be a co-worker who suddenly sees you in a new light. Explore mutual interest - you’ll find you have more in common than you thought. Witty people surround you.
Scorpio – Ruling planet in 3rd house—you’ll diversify, grow restless, and consider taking a trip this month. The focus is on law, religion, publishing, or higher education. A belief that the grass is greener beyond the next hill leads to avid socializing, questing, and searching. Don’t scatter your forces.
Taurus—Ruling planet in 7th house—go slow, don’t make waves. Extra duties that have been handed to you may seem stifling, but you’re ready to take on more than your share of burdens. Don’t spoil a family member by going overboard with help. Keep a sensible balance.
Sagittarius – Ruling planet in 12th house—
learn the rules before you break them. A sense of restriction holds you back from taking the great leap you had envisioned. You learn boundaries and can profitably work with them. A step-by-step foundation is needed for a grand project. Leo plays a key role.
Gemini—Ruling planet in 4th house—realizing
Capricorn – Ruling planet in 1st house—your
that no one is perfect helps you get through the month. Your expectations were probably too high to start with. Wthdraw from noisy crowds or stressful situations and listen to soothing music. Learn to love and be nice to yourself if others seem distant.
Cancer—Handle a partnership or the public with
better practical good sense. You’ll be dealing with executives and get along better with someone at the top more than associating with an underling. In your personal life, you envision a long-term alliance rather than a flirtation.
Leo—Ruling planet in 2nd house—universal values are accented. You’ll look beyond everyday matters to discover answers to the mysteries of life. Astrology, numerology, reincarnation, or the meaning of dreams absorbs you. A deep, transforming experience brings inspiration. Scorpio is important this month.
Virgo—Ruling planet in 1st house—a romantic, physical attraction stirs your heart and feelings. Be ready for a new way to relate - or a new person in your life. It’s time to be a bit more selfish in your desires to express yourself more fully. Your need for attention is accented. Libra—Ruling planet in 2nd house—the emphasis is
on security, joint assets, and saving for a rainy day. Your recent bold moves are eclipsed by the demands of family and remembrance of past events. The protection of loved ones seems especially important. A kindly, older woman steps forward with valid advice.
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ability to deliver a fascinating message gains you publicity and attention from many. You’ll communcate, travel, and seek adventure and romance. People at the top of the ladder want your company. Included will be a fascinating Gemini type.
Aquarius—Ruling planet in 4th house—the
influence of your family will be felt in a step upward. A parent or parent figure is likely to be generous, affectionate, and ready to grant a request. Your artistic or musical skills should be used, not hidden. Self-expression gains recognition. Libra plays a role.
Pisces—Ruling planet in 1st house—you’ll be
more sensitive to the opinions of superiors. Don’t rush off into an escapist activity. Face the music; examine your motives and ideals. You’ll realize a problem exists mainly in your own mind. A kindly Pisces type listens to your side of the story.
IF YOU KNOW YOUR RISING SIGN, CONSULT THE HOROSCOPE FOR THAT SIGN AS WELL.
Psychicdeb has been a professional astrologer for over 25 years. Self-taught, shebegan her studies in astrology when she was 8 yrs. old learning what she could from her mother’s astrology magazines. As she got older and learned geometry, she searched for books onAstrology and taught herself how to construct a chart. She teaches Astrology for a nominal fee.Psychicdeb also uses the tarot to do psychic readings channeling her spirit guide Helen. Reiki is one of her obsessions. She is a Reiki Master and loves to teach others the benefits of Reiki. Namaste. You can find her at the Original Psychic Fairs on Sundays. A listing of the Fair dates can be found on her website at: www.astro-mate.org LIVING OUT
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