Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 34, No. 2

Still Marching To A Fabulously Different Drummer

CREATING A MORE POSITIVE REHOBOTH

March 15, 2024

Volume 34, Number 2 camprehoboth.com

inside

THIS ISSUE

4 In Brief

6 From the Executive Director

KIM LEISEY, PHD

8 President’s View WES COMBS

10 CAMP News

12 Women’s FEST Headliners

NANCY SAKADUSKI

14 The Writing Life

FAY JACOBS

16 Reading Is FUNdamental

NANCY SAKADUSKI

24 Community News

27 STI Awareness Week

What’s Gone Up Must Come Down

STEPHEN RASKAUSKAS

28 Out & About Planet Barbra

ERIC PETERSON

30 Wedding Planning Politics

A More Perfect Union

CHRISTOPHER MOORE

32 Six -word Memoirs

34 Sea Salt Table Crab Cakes

ED CASTELLI

VOLUME 34, NUMBER 2 • MARCH 15, 2024

See page 38.

38 Young at Art March Is Youth Art Month

A Room with a View

Deciding When

TARA LYNN JOHNSON

Historical Headliners

Unsettled Passion: Marguerite Yourcenar

ANN APTAKER

50 Transgender Day of Visibility

Am I a Man

JULIAN HARBAUGH

We See You

MARJ SHANNON

54 First Fridays in Lewes

MARY JO TARALLO

58 The Real Dirt

Welcome Spring Equinox

ERIC WAHL

60 CAMPshots

MARCHing to the Beat of a Different Drum!

64 Celebrity Interview

Pod Save the Queen

MICHAEL COOK

66 CAMP Arts

LESLIE SINCLAIR

68 Booked Solid TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

70 Celebrity Profile

Geraldine Visawanathan

CHRIS AZZOPARDI

74 View Point

Closing the Ruthlessness Gap

RICHARD ROSENDALL

80 Deep Inside

Hollywood

ROMEO SAN VICENTE

82 We Remember

Letters from CAMP Rehoboth welcomes submissions. Email editor@camprehoboth.com. Photographs must be high resolution (300 dpi). Documents should be sent as attachments in Microsoft Word®. Deadline for submissions is two weeks prior to the issue release date. Letters to the Editor (up to 300 words) are published at the discretion of the Editor on a space-available basis. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

ee page 50

EDITOR Marj Shannon

EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE Matty Brown

DESIGN AND LAYOUT Mary Beth Ramsey

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Tricia Massella

DISTRIBUTION Mark Wolf

CONTRIBUTORS: Ann Aptaker, Rich Barnett, Matty Brown, Ed Castelli, Wes Combs, Michael Cook, Clarence Fluker, Michael Thomas Ford, Julian Harbaugh, Fay Jacobs, Tara Lynn Johnson, Kim Leisey, Tricia Massella, Christopher Moore, Sharon Morgan, Eric Peterson, Mary Beth Ramsey, Stephen Raskauskas, Richard Rosendall, Nancy Sakaduski, Romeo San Vicente, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Marj Shannon, Beth Shockley, Leslie Sinclair, Mary Jo Tarallo, Eric Wahl

ON THE COVER

Way Over the Rainbow

Illustration by Murray Archibald

Letters from CAMP Rehoboth is published 11 times per year, between February and December, as a program of CAMP Rehoboth Inc., a non-profit community service organization. CAMP Rehoboth seeks to create a more positive environment of cooperation and understanding among all people. Revenue generated by advertisements supports CAMP Rehoboth’s purpose as outlined in our mission statement.

The inclusion or mention of any person, group, or business in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth does not, nor is it intended in any way, to imply sexual orientation or gender identity. The content of the columns are the views and opinions of the writers and may not indicate the position of CAMP Rehoboth, Inc.

© 2024 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved by CAMP Rehoboth. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the editor.

CAMP REHOBOTH MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE

MISSION

CAMP Rehoboth is an LGBTQ+ community center which aims to Create A M ore Positive (CAMP) environment that is inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Southern Delaware and beyond. CAMP Rehoboth seeks to promote cooperation, well-being, and understanding among all people, as it continues working to build a safer community with room for all.

VISION

CAMP Rehoboth envisions communities in Southern Delaware and beyond where all LGBTQ+ people thrive.

PURPOSE

Promoting the health and wellness of our community through a variety of programs including HIV testing and counseling, mental health support, fitness classes, mindfulness classes, support for LGBTQ youth, and building community and support.

Promoting artistic expressions and creative thinking, and giving aid to artists and craftspeople with an emphasis on the works of LGBTQ people.

Advocating for our community to build a safe and inclusive community through voter information, education, and registration; and analysis of issues and candidates.

Education and outreach to the larger community, including sensitivity training seminars, and printed materials to promote positive images of LGBTQ people and our allies.

Networking resources and information by publishing a newsletter, and functioning as an alternative tourist bureau and information center.

Finally!

From the Editor

BY MARJ SHANNON, EDITOR

January and February are in the rear view and the rush toward all-thingsspring is underway. And CAMP Rehoboth is ready: Women’s FEST kicks off April 25 with fun, entertainment, sports, an expo, and more.

Read about this year’s headliners—Lea DeLaria and Crys Matthews—on page 12, and about a pop-up bookstore, filled with books sure to appeal to FEST-goers, on page 14. And (if you haven’t already) get those tickets and come on down! We can’t wait to see you.

Of course, there’s lots else to read about in this issue, too. March is Women’s History Month, and Clarence Fluker has something to say about feminism. Ann Aptaker introduces us to an extraordinary writer (and woman), Marguerite Yourcenar.

March also is Youth Art Month—see Mary Jo Tarallo’s piece for more on that. Both CAMP Rehoboth and the Rehoboth Art League celebrate youth in the arts this month; you can get a glimpse of a few of the entries in CAMP Rehoboth’s exhibit on page 66. Do find time to come by the Gallery to enjoy the full show.

Soon, you can visit CAMP Rehoboth’s library, relocated to the first floor. For a preview—and an introduction to CAMP Library Coordinator Glenn Lash—see Nancy Sakaduski’s piece on page 16.

Transgender Day of Visibility is March 31; Julian Harbaugh has some important things to say about that, on page 50.

Looking ahead—April is STI Awareness Month; Stephen Raskauskas underscores the importance of prevention, testing, and treatment in his column. It’s a timely reminder, given that in spring, a young (or not-so-young) person’s fancy turns to….

Speaking of love, Christopher Moore already finds himself with six weddings to attend this year. He shares some thoughts on the politics surrounding those joyful (and sometimes fraught) celebrations.

And glancing back—Tara Lynn Johnson lobbies for moving Leap Day to a month she’d prefer was longer; see page 46.

PRESIDENT Wesley Combs

VICE PRESIDENT Leslie Ledogar

SECRETARY Pat Catanzariti

TREASURER Polly Donaldson

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS

Amanda Mahony Albanese, Lewis Dawley, Mike DeFlavia, David Garrett, Jenn Harpel, Kim Leisey (non-voting), Michelle Manfredi, and Teri Seaton

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kim Leisey

CAMP REHOBOTH

37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 tel 302-227-5620 | email editor@camprehoboth.com www.camprehoboth.com

CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to CAMP Rehoboth are considered charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes and may be deducted to the fullest extent of the law. A copy of our exemption document is available for public inspection.

This year’s Leap Day—February 29—was the deadline for 2024’s Six Word Memoir contest (SixWordMemoirs.com, if you’re not familiar). In honor of the day, we invited Letters’ contributors to submit to us a six-word memoir of their own—and they delivered! See the fun results on page 32.

We think you just might be inspired to write your own six-word memoir and are holding space in the April issue for readers’ submissions. Just send those to me at editor@camprehoboth.com.

There’s yet more between these covers—browse, read, enjoy, repeat. ▼

Women’s FEST Passes and Tickets on Sale

They’re here! Women’s FEST 2024 FEST Passes and tickets are now available to purchase online at camprehoboth. com/womensfest.

FEST Passes are $99 and include admission to the Lea DeLaria and Crys Matthews shows at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, admission to the Saturday night FEST Premier Dance featuring GirlsRoom and DJ Peggy Castle, and a commemorative FEST t-shirt with custom artwork by Geri Dibiase.

There are several events outside of the FEST Pass new to this year’s festivities, including Songwriters in the Round, Bingo events, a multi-day Pop-Up Bookstore (see page 14), and returning favorites Christine Havrilla, Regina Sayles, and Fay Jacobs. Check out the Women’s FEST webpage for the full FEST schedule and event details.

GET YOUR FEST RAFFLE TICKETS

Don’t forget to get your FEST raffle tickets! As part of its upcoming Women’s FEST event, CAMP Rehoboth will be raffling off “A Taste of France,” a luxurious Olivia riverboat cruise for two to Burgundy and Provence.

Olivia Travel is a Diamond Sponsor of Women’s FEST; its vacations offer signature programming and entertainment. Raffle tickets are $25 each or five for $100. The raffle drawing will be held at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, April 28, at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, where participants will gather for the Broadwalk on the Boardwalk. Ticket holders need not be present to win.

The cruise will take place August 27-September 3, and offers unforgettable gastronomic encounters with fine

SUNFESTIVAL

End the unofficial beach season with your friends by joining CAMP Rehoboth at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center for a night of entertainment and a night of dancing over Labor Day weekend. We’re excited and honored to once again welcome world-renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and Joe Gauthreaux for six hours of dancing and celebrating on Sunday, September 1. Stay tuned for announcements about the Saturday, August 31 entertainment and ticket sales.

We look forward to getting together with everyone for a weekend of fun, all the while supporting CAMP Rehoboth! ▼

winemaking, true chocolate, and regional specialties. Options include a culinary walk, cooking class, kayak excursion, ghost tour, guided bike ride, and wine tasting in an underground cave. Sightseeing and relaxing activities will be available at each destination, along with a choice of arts and culture excursions, such as a painting workshop in Arles, a visit to an oyster farm, or a bike ride through Camargue Regional Nature Park to spot flamingos.

Kim Smitas, a 2024 Women’s FEST co-chair, said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lucky ticket holder to go on a dream cruise. I am thrilled that Olivia generously donated this wonderful opportunity—but you need a ticket to win!”▼

BROLO Returns to CAMP Rehoboth

Mark calendars now for two upcoming shows by a select ensemble of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus (PGMC) at CAMP Rehoboth’s Elkins-Archibald Atrium on May 4. The ensemble, Brotherly Love (aka BROLO), is made up of 19 PGMC members. The ensemble enables PGMC to fulfill high-volume booking requests and to maintain LGBTQ+ visibility in the community. They perform at various special events, other concerts, and community outreach events throughout the year.

BROLO’s repertoire includes a broad range of styles, including music from classical to contemporary—spirituals, sacred music, holiday tunes, love ballads, comic pieces, pop and rock songs, Broadway and Hollywood tunes, opera choruses, folk songs from around the world, and the latest LGBTQ+ empowerment music. The show runs 75 minutes with no intermission.

Tickets are available at camprehoboth.com. ▼

DJ Robbie Leslie

DJ Joe Gauthreaux

Elder Law Workshop CAMP

Rehoboth will host a complimentary presentation by PWW Law on April 9. Join to learn more about estate planning and elder law. This area of the law helps guide any adult through lifetime planning, end-of-life planning, and asset protection planning. Conversation will focus on legal strategies to plan in advance and shelter assets from being depleted by the cost of long-term care. This discussion also will be helpful for participants who have a current need for long-term care.

Register at camprehoboth.com. ▼

An Intimate Evening with Mama’s Black Sheep

OnWednesday, April 24, CAMP Rehoboth will host “An Intimate Evening with Mama’s Black Sheep’’ at the Top of the Pines. This hugely popular local band covers all the bases, from country to soul and from pop to blues. A collaboration of singer-songwriters Ashland Miller (guitar/vocals) and Laura Cerulli (drums/vocals), this duo creates a blend of hit-worthy originals and covers with a unique spin.

This is a fundraiser for CAMP Rehoboth. Tickets are $25 and are available to purchase online at camprehoboth. com/events. Please note that this venue is on the second floor with no elevator access. ▼

LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week

The National Coalition for LGBTQ Health announced the theme for the 22nd National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week as “Vital Vibrant Voices.” The week kicks off March 18, 2024.

According to the Coalition, “This year’s theme speaks to the vital need for vibrant and diverse voices to address LGBTQ health issues through awareness, education, and advocacy during this week. The Coalition and its members will lend voice to LGBTQ health issues through a variety of perspectives from LGBTQ health care providers, consumers, and advocates— all towards advancing and improving LGBTQ health.”

Celebrate this week with CAMP Rehoboth by participating in any number of our free, ongoing, open-tothe-public health programs:

• Daily yoga with Sue McCarthy

• Tuesday Tai Chi with Marianne Walch

• Chair yoga and meditation with Erin Shivone

• Men’s yoga with Tim Rennick. Additionally, take advantage of CAMPsafe’s daily walk-in HIV testing opportunities at the center and in western Sussex County. Visit camprehoboth.com/ health for more on these resources. ▼

Nuts About Letters

Spotted! This CAMP critter was caught on camera by Letters distribution volunteer Glenn Lash.

– TRAVELS WITH LETTERS –

PERU

AUSTRALIA

L-R: Jim Mease, Phil Vehslage, Mark Eubanks, Doug Sellers, Martin Thomas, Walt Welsh, Cindy Myers, Jane Knaus, Bonnie Mann, David Mann, Ida Rowe, Jeffrey Rowe, Murray Archibald.

EGYPT

Joe Zuber, Monica Parr, Emilie Paternoster, and Darryl Ciarlante

Carlos Prugue and Peter Pizzolongo

From the Executive Director

The Shoulders of Giants

The quote by Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” is one that I think about often as it relates to the giants of CAMP Rehoboth—founders, donors, staff, volunteers, and advocates. I know that today our team is only able to do what we do because of those who came before us.

Today’s CAMP Rehoboth team is acutely aware that we are standing on shoulders that invited acts of love, inclusion, and belonging. Together these shoulders created a culture in our town and surrounding communities where people can feel safe to be fully themselves. Today’s CAMP Rehoboth team must attend to our own shoulders to ensure that those who come after us are able to express similar sentiments.

Creating shoulders upon which others can stand means we must lend a hand up, teach, include others, and develop humility as a strength. The ability to listen, demonstrate empathy, and readily accept responsibility for successes and failures is crucial to the future of CAMP Rehoboth.

Recognizing that you don’t know or don’t have the answer is an admirable trait. My dad often reminded me of humility when he would say to me, “Kim, be kind and fair to those you meet on the way up because they will be there

The ability to listen, demonstrate empathy, and readily accept responsibility for successes and failures is crucial to the future of CAMP Rehoboth.

to meet you on your way down.” He was always one to point out the possibilities of reality.

When I met with Murray Archibald before assuming my responsibilities as Executive Director, he said to me, “CAMP Rehoboth is like creating a

BY KIM LEISEY, PHD

piece of art, there must be a design before you start executing. Failure to design will cause problems.” Murray is absolutely right and I appreciate his analogy.

In the coming weeks the staff team at CAMP Rehoboth will begin working on “operationalizing” the 2024-2028 strategic plan. In other words, we’ll be planning to execute the plan. This plan will help us build our shoulders for those who will stand on them.

I know that as we build our collective shoulders, we will be in community together—learning and growing both as individuals and as an organization. We aren’t and won’t be perfect. We will, however, be lending a hand up and making the shoulders we stand upon glad that we have increased their impact and reach into southern Delaware and beyond. ▼

Kim Leisey, PhD, is Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth.

CAMP REHOBOTH THANKS OUR 2024 ANNUAL SPONSORS

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President’s View

When You Understand Your Purpose…

The Possibilities Are Endless.

As a personal coach, my role is helping clients navigate a career transition, set and achieve specific goals, and have accountability and support while making change a reality. Speaking personally, I have always been the happiest when my time is spent leveraging my strengths as well as being in situations (personal and professional) with people who share my values.

One technique I use is life purpose coaching, which is designed to help an individual uncover their purpose and establish a life path that aligns with their dreams, goals, and desires. Here is mine: Helping people place an intentional focus on making impact through purpose.

Like the headline says, “when you understand your purpose, the possibilities are endless.” For those who read this and know me, it explains why I am passionate about giving back and being a diversity, equity, and inclusion advocate. I often tell others, “it is just how I am wired.”

The same approach is used when a nonprofit organization like CAMP Rehoboth is created. It is a best practice to define its mission (the reason it exists and the need it is meeting in the community), and its vision (an aspirational statement that describes CAMP Rehoboth’s goals for the future and the impact it aims to make on the world).

In Board Vice President Leslie Ledogar’s February 2 column, she highlighted the work of Dr. Peter Boyle from Yale University, who teaches a course on connected leadership. She noted Boyle’s belief that [when engaging in] “…connected leadership, one is anchored to one’s individual purpose, and works from one’s personal values in service of the greater world. Daring and transformative leaders share power with others and empower and inspire people to develop their own ‘power within.’ They know their ‘why’ and lead from that position.”

The next step in CAMP Rehoboth’s strategic planning process is setting core values which articulate what we stand

for; what behaviors we value over all else. At the February Board meeting, I asked each Board member to state five to eight values they believe represent the essence of what CAMP Rehoboth stands for. The word COMMUNITY was at the top of the list.

What excited me about this consensus is its alignment with one of our four strategic goals: Making CAMP Rehoboth an even more active and engaged member

The word COMMUNITY was at the top of the list.

of the southern Delaware community and beyond. A perfect example of how we hope to achieve this objective was our February 23 Young Professionals Happy Hour, designed for young professionals (and those young at heart) to meet other like-minded professionals, network, and support each other.

Thanks to the leadership of Board Member Michelle Manfredi, Communications Manager Matty Brown, community member Kasey Gonzalez-Cruz, and Executive Director Kim Leisey, more than 50 people attended the event. Based on feedback, it was a huge success. Attendees represented professions ranging from the arts to education, public relations, and hospitality.

“I was so excited to see such a diverse group of young professionals at the kickoff happy hour. Southern Delaware hosts such a variety of professional backgrounds—we look forward to providing a space for folks to connect and support each other through socials, networking events, and development opportunities,” said Brown.

Manfredi summed up the event like this, “People networked and were amazed that so many people interested in CAMP Rehoboth came together to learn about each other’s lives, find common ground, and make new connections.”

Community member Dennis Diaz, who

BY WESLEY COMBS

co-hosted the last Young Professionals event in 2021, addressed the group and said, “Networking hit a whole new level at CAMP Rehoboth Community Center’s Young Professionals event! CAMP really did a great job creating an event that proved that you don’t have to go it alone.”

More events are planned so sign up for CAMP Rehoboth’s newsletter to get the latest information when available.

Meanwhile, it seems the LGBTQ+ people in Lewes were looking for alternative gatherings where they could meet new people while staying somewhat close to home. So, Kevin McDonald and Barry Dunkin decided to do something about it. The Lewes Rainbow Social Club (LRSC) was the answer—it’s a group that hosts monthly happy hours. LRSC attracted more than 200 people to its February event.

Steering Committee member Ruth Kloetzli got involved because LRSC was a social group—not just women or just men. The only requirements to join the Facebook Group are that you are of the LGTBQ+ community, and that you live in our area.

“That’s the beauty of this group and it shows at our events! It’s certainly like CAMP Rehoboth in that way of inclusions. I believe when we met about offering sponsorships and CAMP was brought up, we all said, ‘if it weren’t for CAMP, half of us wouldn’t be living here!’ LRSC is happy to partner with CAMP Rehoboth in the future.”

Executive Director Kim Leisey tells me CAMP Rehoboth will be sponsoring LRSC events in May and June, creating broader community via this new partnership. Make sure to check out LRSC’s Facebook page to learn more.

When you understand your purpose, the possibilities are endless. ▼

Wesley Combs is CAMP Rehoboth Board President.

Conversation with Sacha Lamb: When the Angels Left the Old Country

OnWednesday, May 22, at 5:00 p.m., CAMP Rehoboth is partnering with the Lewes Public Library, Browseabout Books, and Seaside Jewish Community to present a “Conversation with Sacha Lamb.” The event will be a hybrid set-up from the Lewes Public Library, and registration is available at camprehoboth.com/events.

Lamb will be in conversation with Marty Rosensweig.

Lamb is the author of When the Angels Left the Old Country.

About the book, which has been described as being “…for fans of Good Omens. When the Angels is a queer immigrant fairytale about individual purpose, the fluid nature of identity, and the power of love to change and endure.”

people from their village to America. When one of those young emigrants goes missing, Uriel and Little Ash set off to find her.

Along the way the angel and demon encounter humans in need of their help, including Rose Cohen, whose best friend (and the love of her life) has abandoned her to marry a man, and Malke Shulman, whose father died mysteriously on his way to America. But there are obstacles ahead as difficult as those they’ve left behind. Medical exams (and demons) at Ellis Island, corrupt officials, cruel mob bosses, murderers, poverty—the streets are far from paved with gold.

Ushering at the British Invasion

Uriel the angel and Little Ash (short for Ashmedai) are the only two supernatural creatures in their shtetl (which is so tiny, it doesn’t have a name other than Shtetl). The angel and the demon have been studying together for centuries, but pogroms and the search for a new life have drawn all the young

SAVE THE DATE!

When Angels Left the Old Country has received considerable critical acclaim, winning the Stonewall Book Award, the Sydney Taylor Award, and the AudioFile Earphones Award. It was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book and was a Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. It was included on “Best of Year” lists by NPR, the New York Public Library, and Kirkus. ▼

CAMP Rehoboth Is Going to NYC Pride

On June 30, join CAMP Rehoboth on a bus trip to the NYC Pride March. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. CAMP Rehoboth last made a trip to NYC Pride for the 50th anniversary, back in 2019.

The Jolly Trolley Bus will begin boarding passengers at 7:40 a.m. at the Home Depot in Lewes, and will plan to arrive at Pride at 12:30 p.m. The return to Delaware will be at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets are $85 and will be available exclusively to CAMP Rehoboth members for a limited time before they are available to the general public in late March.▼

CAMP Rehoboth volunteers ushered for the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus’s President’s Day weekend run of shows, “The British Are Coming,” from February 16-18. Donning their signature vests and bowties, ushers assisted attendees at Epworth United Methodist Church, and had a blast enhancing the experience for concert-goers.

Fans of the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus won’t have to wait long for its next appearance: its June concert, “On the Road Again,” hits the stage June 1416. Stay tuned for more information and tickets on the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus Facebook page and online at camprehoboth.com. ▼

Pictured, L-R: Donna Dolce, Kim Leisey, Shawn Mettugh,

This Month in Queer History

CAMP Rehoboth has a podcast! This Month in Queer History is a short-form podcast about LGBTQ history with a focus on the United States and the 20th century. Listen to the first episode at camprehoboth.com. ▼

LAUGH!

Lea DeLaria at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center!

PLAY!

Golf, pickleball, bike ride, cornhole, bowling, and more!

DANCE!

Thursday Georgette Krenkel’s Kick Off Party, and Saturday night danceboth at the RB Convention Center!

EXPERIENCE!

The beloved speaker series returns.

DISCOVER!

Popular craft expo, bingo, singles mixer, art show, and more!

REMEMBER!

Honor loved ones and fight cancer: Bayhealth Broadwalk on the Boardwalk.

STAY!

Check out CAMPrehoboth.com for exclusive rates for your Women’s FEST stay.

Photo by Tina Turnbow

Lea DeLaria Crys Matthews

WOMENS’ FEST ✼ Headliners

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

Let Them Entertain You!

LEA DELARIA: Don’t Judge a Butch by Its Cover

There’s a scene in Orange Is the New Black when Big Boo, played by Lea DeLaria, comes to visit her sick mother, only to have her father stop her at the hospital door and suggest that her appearance will upset her mother, referring to her identity as a “costume.” Boo tries to explain how hard it’s been for her to get to a point where she could be herself. “I refuse to be invisible,” she says. “Not for you, not for Mom, not for anybody.” She turns and leaves. It’s a heartbreaking scene, and one that resonates for many. The title of the episode? “Finger in the Dyke.” And it’s that contrast of hilarity and significance that defines Lea DeLaria.

Born in Belleville, Illinois, Stove Capital of the World and the town that also produced Buddy Ebsen, Lea took to the stage early as both a singer (her father was a jazz musician) and an actor. When she appeared on Arsenio Hall in 1993, she became the first gay comic on TV. Producer Fred Silverman signed her immediately.

What followed was a decade on One Life to Live and a string of appearances on sitcoms, usually playing the lesbian who inappropriately hits on straight women, until she started saying no. “I was sick of the joke,” she says.

In the early 2000s, she made a series of highly regarded jazz recordings, showing off her remarkable talent and range. (The lucky audience at Women’s FEST will be treated not only to her tremendous vocal skills, but also to the “band of magnificent women musicians” she brings with her.)

Then, in 2013, she was cast as Carrie “Big Boo” Black, a lesbian inmate on the Netflix hit Orange Is the New Black “Everything changed with Orange,” Lea

says. “I had done lots of interesting work before that, it’s just that Orange was such a worldwide phenomenon, and still is. I can’t go anywhere on the planet without someone screaming ‘Big Boo’ or my actual name and wanting to get a selfie with me.”

But even with that, she understands the greater significance. “When grandmothers shove their teenage granddaughters next to me to get a picture taken, that’s amazing. They used to cross

“I refuse to be invisible.”

to the other side of the street when they saw me coming.”

Her talents seem limitless. She’s done comic recordings, vocal recordings, movies, TV, voiceovers, theater, podcasts, and a video game. And her fame is cemented as the originator of the famous

joke: What does a lesbian bring on a second date? Answer: A U-Haul. She’s even joined the Marvel Universe, playing the lesbian shape-shifter Raven on podcasts.

She is encouraged by the progress, if slow, toward equity. “After all the years I spent watching the roles that were written for lesbians being done by straight women, it’s really nice now that they sometimes give it to a dyke.” She recalls when all the roles that were written for lesbians were not written, directed, or acted by lesbians. “We were being erased from our own narrative,” she says.

Now, she’s appearing in an off-Broadway production of The Night of the Iguana. The characters are an eclectic group: the defrocked Reverend Shannon, the lusty hotel owner Maxine, the butch vocal teacher Judith, the 16-year-old Charlotte, the spinster Hannah, and her 97-year-old grandfather Nonno, a poet (I’ll leave it to readers to guess which part Lea plays). It’s yet another affirmation, for as Lea confirms, “You don’t get cast in a Tennessee Williams play if they’re not taking you seriously as an actor.”

Meanwhile, she has used her platform to advocate for food security, voting, and (closest to her heart), gay youth. They’re “very, very, important to me, especially with what’s going on in our country right now,” she says. She worries that homelessness among queer youth is rising. “I get very upset about it…I’m a very proud atheist…but I can still say that nobody has the right to tell you God doesn’t love you.”

Meanwhile, “I refuse to be invisible” has become a battle cry. “I feel like that made butches far more visible,” says Lea. “We’ve had issues, even within our own community as butches…it was very important to me that I could be a part of the world seeing us in a different light.”

What can we expect from Lea at Women’s FEST? “I’m loud, I’m vulgar, I’m funny, I’m in your face, rapid fire, I talk about what’s going on in the world—it’s very improvisational.” She’ll be offering a

Headliners ✼ WOMENS’ FEST

“For too long, people who look like me and love like me have been told country music wasn’t for us, but times are truly changing.”

nice mix of comedy and music. “I found out very early in my career that I’m so loud, I’m so fast, and I’m so vulgar, that people can take about five minutes of it and they’re like ‘Mommie, make it stop!’ so I started bringing musicians with me and singing because it allowed people a break.”

Expect a Broadway tune or a jazz number from one of her records, perhaps even a sneak preview of her upcoming album of love gone wrong songs (F*** Love). Political content? “Oh, of course. It’s an election year. There’s lunacy everywhere. It needs to be discussed.” One promise: “You guys are going to get a fantastic show. I’m gonna kick some butt for y’all.”

CRYS MATTHEWS:

Lifting Spirits with Songs of Compassionate Dissent

For singer/songwriter Crys Matthews, “y’all” means all. “For too long, people who look like me and love like me have been told country music wasn’t for us, but times are truly changing.” She explains, “We’re as country as we want to be, without all the hate and the bigotry. It’s time that we try something new.”

Her goal is to “amplify the voices of the unheard, to shed light on the unseen, and to be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice.” And when I say “goal,” this is her mission statement, posted on her website and central to her music. She explores everyday life and love and social justice issues like Black Lives Matter, immigration, and gun violence. “It’s always centering on empathy,” she says, “it’s always centering on the human stories behind these topics.”

Matthews is inspiring audiences, and her star is rising—upcoming performances

at the Lincoln Center and South by Southwest, comparisons to Woody Guthrie, and multiple awards, including the acclaimed International Folk Music Song of the Year in 2022 for her song “Changemakers”. ASCAP VP & Creative Director Eric Philbrook says, “By wrapping honest emotions around her socially conscious messages and dynamically delivering them with a warm heart and a strong voice, she lifts our spirits just when we need it most in these troubled times.”

When Crys Matthews grew up in Richlands, North Carolina, (population 3,000), life revolved around church and family. So, when she was outed in high school (Matthews refers to it as “the night the lights went out in Georgia”) things didn’t go well. Fortunately, she found a supportive environment at Appalachian State University, and she was able to spread her wings.

Matthews’s roots run deep, and she calls herself a proud southerner. “It’s getting more imperative to say that,” she says, defending southerners as great folks for the most part. “So often, in moments like this one, we find that the loud-

est voice in the room often gets mistaken for the most prevalent, and that’s rarely the case.”

With her tenth album on the horizon (the first one recorded in Nashville), Matthews is thinking more about the kids than the kudos. “I hope it encourages young people. I hope it inspires them. I hope it reminds them of their history and the history of this country…. I hope it helps them feel seen and not alone. I hope that it is everything for that little Black lesbian in the rural South that I needed music to be for me when I was that.”

As to what the FEST audience can expect, she says, “They will laugh; they will cry; they will sing, and their wells will hopefully be filled up pretty heartily by the time we’re done.”

CAMP Rehoboth’s Women’s FEST strives to create and maintain an inclusive and accessible environment that empowers all persons, including persons with disabilities. If you or your companion have any needs related to accessibility, please contact Hope at Hope@phoenixaccessibilityteam.com.

The Writing Life

BY FAY JACOBS

They Write Our Stories—Come Meet Them!

About 20 writers, some of them the hottest sellers in the biz, will host a Pop-Up Bookstore at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center throughout all of FEST.

For me, March used to mean frantic activity prepping Women’s FEST with dedicated co-chairs Dottie Cirelli and Nancy Hewish plus dozens of volunteers.

Since I stepped back and extricated myself from that dizzying loop I’ve watched with delight as the FEST has only gotten bigger and better.

The current FEST co-chairs are Teri Seaton, Kim Smitas, Michelle Manfredi, and Lisa Evans. They have completed most of the meetings and are now working on the Rubik’s Cube of a schedule and waiting to welcome hundreds—even thousands!—of women to the April 25-28 events. Bravo, gals!

But something made me utter YES when I planned to say NO to taking initial responsibility for what I hope will be a big bonus at FEST.

Thanks to Bywater Books and a group of cool authors calling themselves Sapphic Lit Pop-Up Bookstore, we will again have award-winning lesbian authors at FEST.

And not just a few! About 20 writers, some of them the hottest sellers in the biz, will host a Pop-Up Bookstore at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center throughout all of FEST.

You can meet the authors, hear them read (romance, literary fiction, humor, erotica, mystery, memoir), buy (buy! buy!) books, and have them signed.

My part in this deal was brief. I encouraged my pals at Bywater Books to take part, then stepped away as Bywater’s Christel Cogneau and PopUp’s Tagan Shepherd put the whole SHEbang together.

I must admit that there are some younger authors in the mix who I do not know but cannot wait to meet—and read.

But some of my favorites will be here, like the remarkable Ann McMan, author of the classic Jericho Series and recently, Dead Letters from Paradise Then there will be acclaimed novelist

Cheryl Head, whose hot new book, Time’s Undoing, is a break-out hit. This acclaimed book has won multiple awards and is available in the wild at airports!

Then there’s Lynn Ames, whose biography of softball superstar Dot Wilkinson (Out at the Plate) is another big success. It’s a great story of this pioneering athlete and Lynn will be in town to talk about it. She’s scheduled to talk about Dot and her glorious softball history at CAMP Rehoboth’s ElkinsArchibald Atrium on Saturday of FEST from 1:00-2:00 p.m.

I’m very excited that Penny Micklebury, the much-lauded AfricanAmerican novelist and playwright, will be at FEST. Look up her work and you will see a ground-breaking pioneer in lesbian literature.

The list of authors coming to town is stellar.

And now, a completely shameless plug: another FEST literary event will be the launch of my sixth and final book in the Frying Series at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Convention Center. The new book, Big Girls Don’t Fry—Rehoboth Beach Wrap-U p, has been in the works since 2016, and I’ve had a lot to say. It will be available at the Pop-Up bookstore in the Convention Center. Come see me! Come see these fantastic authors! Treat yourself to some great Sapphic literature.▼

Fay Jacobs is the author of five (soon to be six!) published books and tours with her one-woman sit-down comedy show, Aging Gracelessly.

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Reading Is FUNdamental

CAMP Library: A Place of Discovery

“I discovered me in the library.”

-RAY BRADBURY

The love of books began early for CAMP Library Coordinator Glenn Lash. “My grandmom gave my brother and me a book for every birthday and Christmas. I have continued the tradition with my nieces and nephews.”

As a library aide in both junior and senior high school, Glenn learned how to keep a library organized and run it efficiently. His fellow students came to rely on him to speed their research in those pre-internet days.

Then he discovered Giovanni’s Room, the legendary LGBTQ bookstore in Philadelphia. Glenn recalled the experience on The Rainbow Minute, produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns for Richmond Independent Radio (WRIR). “My entering the gay community was through the doors of Giovanni’s Room. In 1981, at age 19, all I knew was that I was gay and alone. Beyond the books, Giovanni’s gave me a family.”

In March 2022, Glenn tapped into his love of books and libraries to help with CAMP Rehoboth’s library.

Library With a Pedigree

In the late 1980s and early ’90s, you couldn’t just pop on the internet and download a book. “Which is why,” according to CAMP Rehoboth cofounder Murray Archibald, “when we created CAMP Rehoboth, we worked to bring a branch of the DC bookstore Lambda Rising to the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard.”

Initially, CAMP Rehoboth relied on donated LGBTQ books. But as CAMP developed into a full-service community center, plans included a lending library of LGBTQ resources. “Once we moved into the present space at 37 Baltimore,” says Murray, “a room was designated as the CAMP Rehoboth library, and volunteers worked to keep it organized and usable.”

In 2010, Tony Burns provided the funding to build the library shelves and donated his entire photo collection. Tony

had been taking photos since the late 1970s, documenting social life in Rehoboth. (More on this to come in a future issue of Letters.)

Over time, the internet made access to LGBTQ resources easier, but volunteers kept the CAMP Rehoboth library alive. Kathy Weir looked after the library while she was an administrative assistant at CAMP, and Kim Nelson, a CAMPcierge, tended to the library in late 2021.

“The voices of your brothers and sisters are waiting for you to listen to their tales.”

CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey’s goal was to make the library more accessible and easier to use. “I love to read, and…if I were a young person, just coming out, I’d want to be able to go right to my area of interest, rather than spend hours looking through tons of books. I wanted to make it easier for people to use and know about.”

The library is also a vital resource in a time when book bans are increasing. “In 2023,” Glenn says, “LGBTQ titles and authors composed over 40 percent of the banned. It is vital that an LGBTQ library exist. This is something to take pride in!”

The New CAMP Library—Practically Perfect in Every Way

One of the great things about the “new” library is its location—just inside the Elkins-Archibald Atrium. A visible, groundfloor location where visitors are likely to see it and frequent flyers can come and go easily. The move was part of CAMP’s recent renovation activities. As Glenn says, “With the move to a room on the first floor by the atrium, I will never have to hear anyone say, ‘I didn’t know CAMP had a library.’”

With Glenn at the helm, the collection will be organized to enable users to easily

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

find what they’re looking for. And there are treasures galore. Whether you’re searching for something specific, want to browse for something to read, or just want to while away a few hours steeped in books, a visit to the CAMP library is in order. As Glenn says, “The voices of your brothers and sisters are waiting for you to listen to their tales.”

Speaking of treasures, in the coming months, Glenn will select a special something from the CAMP Library to feature in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. He says, “It’s as though CAMP Rehoboth is Horton (from Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss), and the library is the flower he holds. Each book is a speck of dust resting upon that flower, shouting, “We are here! We are here!”

Want to Make a Donation?

Of course, financial donations are always welcome, but so are books. Well, some books. No dusty textbooks or Granny’s National Geographics, please. Here are some guidelines:

• LGBTQ+ titles and/or authors ONLY

• Paperbacks/hardcovers, new or used, but in good condition

• Other media (photographs, magazines, electronic media) only after review and approval

• No pornography

Place donations in the labeled bin in the library with a note containing your name and contact information (so they can thank you!).

Visit the CAMP Library

The library will be open (once renovations are complete) when CAMP is open (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). What will you discover? ▼

Nancy Sakaduski is an award-winning writer and editor who owns Cat & Mouse Press in Lewes, Delaware.

Words Matter

Feminism Is for All of Us

Afew weeks ago, I attended a very nice Sunday evening social at the home a dear friend and his husband. I always enjoy gatherings at their home. Their guest lists are forever dynamic, the food is great, the wines are delicious, and without fail, I discover a piece of artwork on their walls that I hadn’t paid attention to before that makes me smile or think. At this most recent get together, I also spotted something else that made me both smile and think—a name.

In addition to a selection of red and white wines, they had two pre-made signature cocktails. As a nod to it being Black History Month, one was named after Alain LeRoy Locke, the scholar and patron of the arts who some considered the “Dean of the Harlem Renaissance.” The other was a nod to Pauli Murray.

Reading their names made me smile, but seeing the name Pauli Murray is what made me think. I thought about just how much I didn’t know about Murray and why. In the host’s thank you message to everyone who attended that night, he encouraged anyone who hadn’t to watch the documentary about Murray’s life on a streaming platform or pick up a book to learn about this great American. The next day, I found the film My Name Is Pauli Murray on Amazon Prime and pressed play.

I had heard the name Pauli Murray before, but until watching the documentary, I didn’t know just how influential Murray had been in laying the intellectual groundwork for the litigation arm of the Civil Rights Movement, nor Murray’s contribution to women’s rights. In 1944 Murray graduated at the top of the Howard University Law School class. However, she was denied the opportunity to pursue a fellowship at Harvard Law School that had traditionally been offered to other top Howard grads, because of sexism. It was then that Murray coined the term “Jane Crow.”

Of course, this setback didn’t stop

Murray from pressing forward despite the discrimination they faced because of their gender at birth. Murray went on to get a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of California Boalt School of Law and pressed forward. Murray continued

When women are given the opportunity to compete and lead, we know that they rise to the occasion. We must create a world where that’s the case.

to persevere and built a remarkable career as an attorney and author, inspiring the thinking and approaches to historic legal cases argued by Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Beyond law, Murray was a professor and later an Episcopal priest.

Why isn’t the story of Murray told as much as the story of so many men? During their lifetime, Murray was perceived as a woman, though in today’s world, may have chosen to use other terms. Nevertheless, Murray’s name should be just as known as other icons of the human rights movement. The contributions to society by and stories about girls, women, and gender expansive peo-

BY CLARENCE FLUKER

ple must be acknowledged and shared. Not only do we need to increase the number of stories told about the accomplishments of girls, women, and gender expansive people, we need to increase the opportunities for them and change the policies, programs, and practices that continue to try to limit them.

I participated in a professional development training that focused on leadership a while back. At one point in the session the facilitator asked everyone to write down the names of the three supervisors that have made the most impact on their careers. Once everyone presented their list and explained why they had chosen those people, small conversations peppered the room.

A woman at my table was verbally processing the fact that all three of her names were men—and that in her career to date, she’d never had a woman as supervisor. I pointed out that maybe it’s because she’s always worked in information technology, which most people think of as a male-dominated field, and perhaps conscious or unconscious gender bias has played a role in why women didn’t have as many opportunities for advancement and to hold leadership roles.

When women are given the opportunity to compete and lead, we know that they rise to the occasion. We must create a world where that’s the case.

As we recognize Women’s History Month, may the words of bell hooks ring true in our daily lives, at work, school, and social settings, “feminism is for everybody.” Do your part. ▼

Clarence J. Fluker is a public affairs and social impact strategist. Since 2008, he’s also been a contributing writer for Swerv, a lifestyle periodical celebrating African American LGBTQ+ culture and community. Follow him on Instagram: @Mr_CJFluker

Photo credit: Pauli Murray, Carolina Digital Library and Archives, CC BY-SA 3.0

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It’s My Life

ouncil President?”

BY MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

That’s Mr. Council President to You “C

“Council President Ford? Your thoughts?”

It took me a second to realize everyone around the table was looking at me. And they were waiting for an answer.

I managed to give them one, and they moved on to the next person while I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d gotten away with it. Again.

I’ve been on my village council for three years, first appointed to fill a vacancy and then elected for a second term. Recently, I became council president. Along with that, I’ve started attending events with our mayor, since should something happen to him, I’ll be his replacement. I’ve also taken on some additional duties, one of which currently involves being on a committee focused on solid waste management. In other words, trash.

None of this is quite as impressive as it might seem. We are a village of just over 200 residents, not a major metropolis. However, we are also unusually active in local politics. Our current mayor serves on multiple boards and committees, we have a reputation as being a very progressive village, and for a number of reasons we often find ourselves at the forefront of various undertakings.

All of which is why earlier this week I found myself seated at a table with representatives from much larger municipalities, including mayors and city managers of these cities. And this time not only was I representing our village on my own I was doing so as a key player in a Very Big Plan.

Council President Ford. It sounds so weird. I don’t even go by Michael, except on book covers, because it sounds so formal to me. Most friends just call me Ford. Now it’s Council President Ford. Whenever anyone says it, it takes me a minute to remember that they’re addressing me.

When I was first invited to join council, I thought the most pressing items of business would be setting the hours for Halloween trick-or-treating, choosing the musical entertainment for the monthly

summer cookouts, or maybe dealing with the occasional complaint about wayward chickens. And we do all those things. But I’ve also learned way more than I ever thought I would know about state laws on everything from how to conduct public meetings to how to prepare for the annual audit.

Listen. If I can buy a pair of pants and hang out with mayors long enough to convince them that I’m one of them, anyone can do this.

Have you ever wondered where everything goes when you flush your toilet? I didn’t. But now I can tell you in excruciating detail where it goes, and what happens when that process doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to, and what rules you need to follow to fix it. I can also tell you exactly how much it costs to replace the aging water pipes in a rural village ($1.4 million), how you go about finding that money, and which people higher up on the food chain you need to call to help you get it.

But I still don’t feel like an adult. I feel like someone playing an adult. When, a few weeks ago, the mayor took me to a monthly gathering of other mayors, I had to go buy pants to wear because nothing in my closet was even remotely suitable. When a friend mentioned recently that he’d heard me interviewed on the local radio, I thought he must be mistaken, until I remembered the reporter who asked me a few questions after a public forum we held so residents could voice their opinions on a traffic flow problem we’re trying to solve.

Traffic. Flow. Problem. It all feels very strange.

It’s also made me rethink how I view what I consider real politicians. You know, these people who are cattle farmers or

bartenders one day and in the House of Representatives the next. For years I naively assumed politicians actually knew something about politics, or at least knew more than I did. Now I know most of them are just making it up as they go along.

This is distressing, for obvious reasons. But it’s also oddly reassuring. If someone like me can learn, fairly quickly, how this stuff works, then others can too. The two biggest obstacles to effecting change are believing that you can’t do it and believing the people already in power who don’t want you to know you can.

We’ve all seen what happens when ignorant yet determined people decide they want to be the ones to make decisions for the rest of us. And we’ve all seen what happens when people who do get in figure out how to stay there long enough to cause damage. Well, the only way to keep this from happening over and over again is to get them out and get good people in. And sometimes those good people need to be us.

Listen. If I can buy a pair of pants and hang out with mayors long enough to convince them that I’m one of them, anyone can do this. For too long I waited for other people to do it. Now that I’m doing it myself, even in my very small way, I see how it’s done. And I want more of us to do it.

Village councils. Library boards. School boards. Boards of directors of all kinds. These are the entry points. So, please, look for them. Raise your hands. Run. The more good people we have in places like these, the more we get into even bigger roles.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go put on my council president pants and get to work. ▼

BY SHARON MORGAN

Too Much of a Good Thing

Everything in excess is opposed to nature. –HIPPOCRATES.

The discovery of antibiotics in the early 20th century dramatically altered how infectious diseases impacted humanity worldwide, but particularly in developed countries. Prior to the 20th century, disease-causing organisms were the leading cause of death and average life expectancy at birth was about 47 years. Because of antibiotics, the average life expectancy in the US is now around 78 years and non-communicable diseases—cardiovascular disease, cancer—now are the leading causes of death.

Unfortunately, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has kept pace, setting the stage for potentially multi-drug resistant superbugs that simply cannot be treated. Antimicrobial resistance happens when organisms develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to mitigate them.

The terms “antibiotic” and “antimicrobial” may appear to be used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of certain pathogens to resist targeted drugs meant to kill them or disrupt their growth. Microbes encompass not only bacteria, for which antibiotics are the targeted drugs, but other organisms, such as viruses, fungi, and parasites. All microbes can become drug resistant, which is only the organism’s desire to survive.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers antibiotic resistance to be one of the largest health threats. It cautions that an increasing number of infections are getting harder to treat as antibiotics, over time, become less effective.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than two million illnesses occur annually in the US due to antimicrobial resistance, resulting in approximately 35,000 deaths. In addition, patients who have been hospitalized and receive antibiotics are more vulnerable to develop potentially lethal infections, such as Clostridium difficile.

Antimicrobials are invaluable tools. However, the overuse and misuse of

these medications is accelerating resistance. The CDC estimates that five out of six Americans are prescribed an antibiotic annually, but one-third of those prescriptions are not necessary.

The use of antibiotics that the WHO deems critically important for human health increased 91 percent worldwide and 165 percent among low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) between 2000 and 2015. Of note, many of these countries allow access to these medicines without a prescription.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than two million illnesses occur annually in the US due to antimicrobial resistance…

Antimicrobial use in farming has enabled the growth of intensive animal production to meet global protein demand. However, studies indicate approximately three-quarters of all antimicrobials prescribed globally are used for animals raised for food. Of the top five countries reporting animal husbandry antimicrobial usage in 2017, China was number one, accounting for 45 percent of the medicines utilized.

Here in the US—number four on the antimicrobial usage list—up to 80 percent of the antibiotics given to livestock are administered to healthy animals to compensate for crowded and unsanitary conditions, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data indicates not only are vast amounts of antimicrobials being used, but they are also being prescribed at much higher doses, even adjusting for the weight differentiation between animals and humans.

Human activity can contaminate the environment, exacerbating antimicrobial resistance. Fecal waste, even when treated, often contains trace amounts of antibi-

otics, as well as drug-resistant organisms. In many LMICs, human waste enters the watershed without treatment. Like human waste, manure from antibiotic-treated animals carries residue. Manure is often used as fertilizer, expanding opportunities for resistant organisms to spread among food sources.

Several pesticides are similar in chemical structure to certain antimicrobials. Their use contributes to antimicrobial resistance. Like humans, animals have active internal germ biomes. When slaughtered, antimicrobial resistant organisms can pass to humans if not processed or cooked correctly.

Launched in October 2015, WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) provides a standardized approach to the collecting, analyzing, and sharing of antimicrobial resistance data among participating countries. GLASS is focused on eight priority bacterial pathogens in humans, considered the greatest threats globally. GLASS is also collecting information on participating countries’ progress in establishing national surveillance systems. WHO hopes to expand the data collection system to include other types of resistance-related surveillance, such as in the food chain and in the environment.

In 2013, the CDC published Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, a first-ever snapshot of the risks posed by antibiotic-resistant organisms. Following the CDC’s 2013 seminal work, the Obama Administration issued Executive Order 13676: a national action plan which outlined steps for implementing the National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. Since then, the CDC and other national policy and regulatory bodies have outlined core elements for mitigating resistance through antibiotic stewardship programs across all levels of healthcare.

Whatever progress made by these think tanks was halted and ground was lost during COVID. The CDC estimates in the first year of the pandemic, close to 30,000 individuals with COVID died from antimicrobial resistant organisms.

Moreover, CDC data indicates that the pandemic resulted in more resistant infections, increased and unwarranted antibiotic use, and less data and fewer prevention actions. These points also have been reinforced internationally through WHO and Pan-American Health Organization reporting.

We all play a part in fighting antimicrobial resistance. Individually, take stock of your health and routinely use preventive health strategies: wash hands, know the sources of your food and cook food properly, and get vaccinated to minimize acquiring preventable diseases.

Healthcare providers play an essential role in preventing and managing infections. They must:

• Know community vulnerabilities to disease outbreaks, and ensure patient care is evidence-based, promptly delivered, and changed based on current conditions.

• Question patients and visitors about current health status and recent travel.

• Be judicious about prescribing antimicrobials and ensure patients fully understand how to take them.

• Know when and how to promptly forward information on communicable diseases into national databases.

Livestock and poultry producers are also key in helping to reduce the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Key points:

• Use antimicrobials only to treat sick

animals, not to increase profit margin.

• Implement bio-security practices, techniques to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases.

• Adhere to evidenced-based animal welfare and waste management practices.

If COVID has taught anything, it is that we all must do our part to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, functioning world. It’s the only one we have.▼

Sharon A. Morgan is a retired advanced practice nurse with over 30 years of clinical and healthcare policy background.

CAMP Rehoboth Partnering with Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Inititiative

Increasing the number of LGBTQ+ affirming mental healthcare providers for all ages in Sussex County and throughout Delaware is a health advocacy issue that is receiving support from CAMP Rehoboth and Yale University. CAMP Rehoboth Community Center and the Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative, in partnership with CenterLink, will participate in federally-funded research regarding a training program in LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CAMP Rehoboth has identified mental healthcare providers in Sussex County who have agreed to participate in this training and research. (A mental healthcare provider is defined as a person who is qualified to provide counseling services intended to alleviate distress or improve behavior.) This training will be led by Yale’s expert trainers, all of whom are licensed psychologists and nationally recognized developers of LGBTQ-affirmative CBT training. Once the training and research are complete, CAMP Rehoboth will have a longer

referral list of LGBTQ affirming mental healthcare providers serving the LGBTQ community.

In June 2023, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a report, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Behavioral Health: Results from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. Survey results indicated that lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are more likely than straight adults to use substances, experience mental health conditions including major depressive episodes, and experience serious thoughts of suicide. The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health demonstrated that rates of suicidal thoughts had trended upward among LGBTQ young people the previous three years.

CBT helps people:

• Learn techniques for coping with stressful life situations

• Identify ways to manage emotions

• Resolve relationship conflicts and

LET’S STAY CONNECTED!

learn better ways to communicate

• Cope with grief or loss

• Overcome emotional trauma related to abuse or violence

• Cope with a medical illness

• Manage chronic physical symptoms

More information on the Yale University LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative can be found here: medicine.yale.edu/ lgbtqmentalhealth/

Youth Crisis Support: Crisis intervention services for children under 18. Parents and caregivers are connected to a crisis clinician. Available 24/7. Call 800-9694357 or text DE to 741-741.

988: Free, confidential support and resources for anyone in distress. Available 24/7. Call 988.

Delaware Hope Line: Free coaching and support. Links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services. Available 24/7. Call 833-9-HOPEDE (833-946-7333).

All of CAMP Rehoboth’s programs, services, and events are listed here: camprehoboth.com/community-calendar. Please visit the site often to ensure you have up-to-date information on what is being offered—and when. ▼

Epworth Hosts Pulitzer Winner John Archibald

Kicking off its new series, Learning Community @ Epworth, Epworth UMC will host John Archibald, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize in journalism, on March 23 at 7:00 p.m. Archibald’s 2021 book, Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights Revolution, explores his father’s seeming lack of engagement with the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, where he was a pastor. Archibald shares also his father’s acceptance of his queer son, Murray Archibald, and his husband, Steve Elkins— but his failure to use his pulpit to speak for LGBTQ justice.

Archibald’s book struggles with his image of his father and wrestles with the sin of silence. A panel discussion will follow Archibald’s presentation.

Everyone is invited to attend the event as the church works to “shake the gates of hell,” one relationship at a time. ▼

It’s the 2024 Easter Bonnet Bar Crawl!

The third annual Easter Bonnet Bar Crawl in Rehoboth Beach will take place on Saturday, March 30, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.. The event is free and open to everyone 21 and older.

At 1:00 p.m., all participants will gather for a group photo in front of the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand. The group will then ‘hop’ all over downtown Rehoboth Beach to spread cheer and indulge in food and beverage specials from over 15 participating bars and restaurants.

This event will benefit the Rehoboth Beach Bears’ High School Scholarship Program. It is produced by the same crazy crew responsible for last year’s “Mrs. Roper Romp,” so you know it’s going to be amazing!

More detailed information, including a complete list of participating businesses, can be found at rbeasterbarcrawl.com. ▼

2024 New York Cat—and Dog—Film Festivals

On Saturday, March 16, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society will screen The 2024 NY Cat Film Festival (2:00) and The 2024 NY Dog Film Festival (5:00) at the Cinema Art Theater, Lewes. The Festivals are one-time Special Events; the Film Society will donate 10 percent of ticket sales to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, bringing community awareness and support for our feline and canine friends.

The 2024 NY Cat Film Festival is an exploration through film of the fascinating felines who share our lives. It creates a shared audience experience that inspires, educates, and entertains. Cats have their own unique and indescribable bond with people—even when living independently as community cats.

The 2024 NY Dog Film Festival exists to celebrate the bond between dogs and people around the world, as seen through the work of brilliant filmmakers. At the same time, it raises awareness of the life-saving work being done at small rescues and large shelters right here in our community.

More information and tickets: rehobothfilm.com/special-events. ▼

More Community News on page 71.

GET BACK TO COMFORT

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CAMPsafe Serves Our Community

PREVENT HIV & Mpox

FREE Condoms—Protect Yourself!

FREE condoms (internal, external, non-latex) and dental dams are ALWAYS available at CAMP Rehoboth and other locations, including Diego’s, Freddie’s, Aqua, and all free walk-in HIV testing sites.

Mpox: YOU can stop the spread!

Mpox can spread through skin-to-skin contact with a person with mpox, or contact with their saliva, upper respiratory secretions, and areas around the genitals. Find the latest information on mpox and where to get vaccines at cdc.gov/poxvirus/ mpox/

PrEP, HIV PEP, and Mpox PEP

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medication taken daily that can reduce your chance of getting HIV. HIV PEP (postexposure prophylaxis) is a medication that must be taken within 72 hours after a possible exposure to prevent HIV. Mpox PEP reduces your chances of getting mpox after possible exposure to the mpox virus. To find out more, visit cdc.gov/hiv/default.html

FREE WALK-IN HIV TESTING

Free, rapid, walk-in HIV testing and counseling is available at CAMP Rehoboth and in western Sussex County. Testing days/times are subject to change; please call ahead to verify the current testing schedule.

CAMP Rehoboth

37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE Tel: 302-227-5620

Mondays 10 AM-1 PM

Tuesdays .................................... 2:30-4:30 PM

Wednesdays 1-4 PM

Thursdays 1-3 PM

Fridays 9 AM-12 PM

ACE Peer Resource Center - Georgetown 20707 Dupont Blvd., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-585-4963

ACE Peer Resource Center - Seaford 547 N. Bradford St., Seaford, DE Tel: 302-628-3016

Addiction Medical Facility - Seaford 1309 Bridgeville Hwy., Seaford, DE Tel: 302-629-2300

Higher Ground Outreach

12 E. Pine St., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-470-7497

Laurel State Service Center 31039 N. Poplar St., Laurel, DE Tel: 302-227-5620*

*Call CAMP Rehoboth to schedule an HIV test at the Laurel State Service Center.

Springboard Village

411 Kimmey St., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-253-8246

STI AWARENESS WEEK

What’s Gone Up Must Come Down S

TI Awareness Week falls annually during the second full week of April, as declared by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and this year is from April 14-20. With rising infection rates, especially among LGBTQ+ folks, learning more about prevention, testing, and treatment—as well as ending stigma—could hardly be more urgent. When we protect ourselves, we protect our communities.

Rates of STIs have been rising rapidly in the years post-pandemic. Syphilis, for example, was nearly eradicated by the year 2000 in the US, but since has been surging. In fact, today, rates are the highest they have been since the 1950s, according to a 2024 CDC report.

But it’s not just syphilis which is spreading more. When looking at trends over the last five years, chlamydia and gonorrhea infections are also climbing. A 2018 CDC report mentions that at least 20 percent of all US citizens have an STI, though this number is likely far higher. Since 2021, half of new infections have been among people aged 15-24.

How did we get here? While the reasons are many and complex, a few include: desire to connect after long periods of isolation during the pandemic, expanded networks of sexual partners that come from online dating networks, and the perception that STIs are no longer a threat.

Another contributing factor: Sex education throughout the US is inconsistent, incomplete, and, in some places, non-existent. Moreover, where resources may once have existed, they are now disappearing due to lack of funding and/or local legislation, preventing people from receiving adequate health education and health care.

LGBTQ+ individuals may be at higher risk for STIs, and lack of sex education is one factor. Traditional sex education, when it is available, often focuses almost exclusively on heterosexual relationships. Until all sex ed curricula

and STI awareness campaigns address the unique needs and concerns of the queer community, we need to do a little bit extra to make sure we are equipped to make informed decisions about our health.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are also more likely to face stigma and discrimination when seeking healthcare services, which can discourage folks from getting tested or treated for STIs in the first place.

Rates of STIs have been rising rapidly in the years post-pandemic.

Of course, these are two just reasons STIs affect LGBTQ+ communities more. But, the impact of these factors and others has caused dramatic discrepancies in infection rates between LGBTQ+ subcommunities and their cisgendered heterosexual counterparts.

For example, though gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) only compose an estimated four percent of the male population in the US, they make up more than a third of syphilis cases (cdc.gov). The same group constituted approximately 70 percent of all new HIV infections in 2021, compared to 22 percent of new infections among heterosexuals, and eight percent from drug use (hiv.gov).

What can we do to protect ourselves and our communities?

Prevention is the cornerstone of maintaining optimum health, including your sexual health. Recent medical advances have made prevention against some STIs easier than ever.

Did you know that you can now get vaccinated for HPV? Nearly all sexually active adults have HPV; it is the most common STI in the US. Most who have HPV never show symptoms, and so infections are often disregarded as harmless, though complications can be

BY STEPHEN RASKAUSKAS

serious and even lead to death. But with vaccines, maybe one day what’s now the most common STI could be virtually eliminated.

Another major advancement in prevention is PrEP, a once-daily pill that is 99 percent effective against preventing HIV transmission. While PrEP has been available in the US for years, many still don’t know about it or don’t think they can get it easily. However, under the Affordable Care Act, PrEP must be free for almost everyone with health insurance. Services like mistr can even provide discrete, at-home testing and medication delivery to make taking PrEP easier than ever.

Testing is also important to living your best life. Every sexually active adult should get tested at least annually. Many services are available in communities across the US to help you get the testing you need. A quick Google search can help you find nearby testing services, many of which are free.

Treatment is the last component to protecting yourself and your community against the further spread of STIs. Treatment has also changed dramatically in recent years. For instance, those living with HIV can now take a single daily pill, compared to what was an average of 13 pills per day for people with HIV 25 years ago, according to a study published In the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Learning about your body and your health is important—and actually, pretty interesting and fun! STI Awareness Week reminds us to educate ourselves so that we can discover the latest information to optimize our own health, build healthier communities, and destigmatize the topic of STIs. ▼

Stephen Raskauskas is a Sussex County native who has produced content for radio, TV, digital, and print.

Planet Barbra

Like many other homosexuals of a certain age, I was overjoyed when I learned that legendary superstar, gay icon, and notoriously private Barbra Streisand would be publishing her memoir last year. I was thrilled to discover that there would be an audiobook version read by La Streisand herself. Believing that there would be no better way to immerse myself in her world, I quickly pre-ordered a copy. I had mixed feelings (namely elation, admiration, and dread, in that order) when the book appeared on my phone and I learned that it was 48 hours long.

Hopefully, that explains why I’m only now writing about the experience, a full four months after I began listening. You see, listening to an audiobook is something I usually do only in the car, and as I didn’t have any road trips to Alaska scheduled over the holidays, I typically listened for a half-hour at a time, in fits and starts. Thankfully, I discovered that Barbra narrates rather slowly, and found that I could adjust the reading speed to about 1.3x, which still sounded like a normal rate of speech but cut the time down to a mere 37 hours.

But, when not in my car, I couldn’t help but give a rewatch to Funny Girl, Hello, Dolly!, The Way We Were, What’s Up, Doc?, Yentl, and The Prince of Tides while reading. And sometimes while working, I might have instructed Alexa to play The Broadway Album, the Guilty album, and the newly released Barbra Streisand Live at the Bon Soir many, many (many) times. So, I’m pretty sure I made up for those 11 saved hours, and then some.

And in the final analysis, do I recommend it? I mean…sure, I guess. But I know full well that there are many people in my life for whom a celebrity memoir that could play without stopping for two solid days is simply a non-starter, and a few others who will read the book (and have probably already done so) no matter what anyone says. And everyone

has probably made the right decision for themselves. But if you’re in the former camp and will likely never read My Name is Barbra but you’re curious enough to spend approximately four minutes with me, read on.

What I principally loved about the book is that it’s mostly about her work. There’s very little kissing and telling. Sure, she goes into some details about her well-known relationships with Elliott

If you admire Barbra as an artist already, your esteem could only grow after reading about nearly every creative choice she ever made.

Gould and Jon Peters, James Brolin, and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, which I had somehow missed.

But those get fleeting mentions when compared with the meticulous detail with which she describes her most famous performances, and especially the films she directed. The men in her life that got my attention were Sydney Chaplin (trash), William Wyler (brilliant, kind), Walter Matthau (also trash), Sydney Pollack (great but ultimately disappointing), and Mandy Patinkin (yet again, more trash), because these were working relationships and if there’s one thing Barbra likes to talk about, it’s the work.

If you admire Barbra as an artist already, your esteem could only grow after reading about nearly every creative choice she ever made. I knew she was a brilliant singer, but I learned that she considers herself an actress who can also sing (and has also recorded 36 studio albums, but okay). I knew she

BY ERIC C. PETERSON

never went back to Broadway after Funny Girl, and had an inkling that it had something to do with stage fright (which is true), but learned that it’s also because she finds theatre interminably boring, doing the same show with the same blocking, night after night.

The book falters somewhat when she wants to convince the reader that she’s still a skinny kid from Brooklyn as opposed to the diva she has undoubtedly become. At one point, she told a succession of stories about people who had an idea but immediately capitulated when she had another idea, and how refreshing it was to work with people who didn’t have egos. Ah, the irony.

And yes, I could absolutely relate to the heartbreak she felt when her beloved dog died. That’s a pain that I and many others have faced. But no, there’s simply no way to write about getting your dearly departed dog cloned while making it sound like a reasonable, rational choice that any one of us might make on planet Earth. That’s something that you do when you live on Planet Barbra.

But I didn’t sign up for a book written by someone I felt I knew, but someone I had always admired, from a very long distance. And in the final analysis, she’s a star, which is even better than a planet, because stars make their own light. Viva la diva. ▼

Eric Peterson is Interim Managing Editor of Amble Press, a novelist (Loyalty, Love & Vermouth), and a diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner. In his spare time, he hosts a podcast, The Rewind Project.

WEDDING PLANNING POLITICS

A More Perfect Union

I’m surrounded by people getting married. These weddings run the gamut from a summer soirée on a rooftop in Toronto, to a pre-Thanksgiving ceremony in a fun, old cork factory in Lancaster. I am thrilled to go, no matter where they are. You see, I made a promise to myself a few months into the COVID-19 lockdown, that I would accept any invitation I received. This year, with six weddings already on the calendar, I am keeping my word.

My feelings about weddings, though, are complex. As a child of divorce, I’m prone to think every marriage will crash and burn. As a subversive, queer-identified person, I sometimes feel they are performative and archaic. As an eternal romantic, I can’t help but believe weddings fill the universe with hope, and as a pragmatic thinker, I realize they support the fabric and order of modern society. They also end up being a good time and a great excuse to consume large quantities of carbs, drink buckets of prosecco, and get stupid on the dance floor.

There’s one thing I can’t quite rationalize: the politics of weddings. In this world where almost everything political taints much of our discourse, is anything safe? Apparently not.

There are low-key wedding politics. There’s stress over menu options and meeting the dietary restrictions of guests. There’s fussing over flowers and table decorations. There’s the politics of music and finding the right ratio of slow jams and bangers. There’s the worry that no one will show up, which is something I’ve heard endlessly, dating back to the first wedding I was in as a young adult. There’s also the pressure to document every moment on social media, from the engagement to the honeymoon. These posts never capture the icky moments. They only feature a filtered version of the truth.

Then there’s the higher-risk politics. The pre-wedding celebrations, which have become expensive, destination events. Say so long to straight girls in gay bars with phallic-shaped earrings, and

hello to weekend trips to Ibiza complete with outfit itineraries and customized Stanley mugs. There’s the reception seating chart which was likely developed with the precision of a general mapping out a

This left me thunderstruck: was this a wedding, or a corporate event?

battle strategy. There’s the line-up of the wedding party and the toasts, which can affirm or offend.

There’s the controversial decision to make a wedding kid-free. While this sounds like a no-brainer to me, it seems to upset parents. There’s also the cost, who’s paying, and what that investment means. I recently learned that if someone helps pay for a wedding, they may feel emboldened to make special requests or add names to a guest list. This left me thunderstruck: was this a wedding, or a corporate event?

For LGBTQ+ folks, weddings can be complicated. While it has been almost a decade since the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, the detractors persist and remain vocal. Some may even be within a couple’s family. For some, this type of rejection is an extension of life-long experiences

BY CHRISTOPHER MOORE

and can re-traumatize those who lived through rejection before.

Now, in the wake of the Dobbs decision, there’s concern the high court has gay marriage in its crosshairs. This has left many in the community feeling pensive and worried for the future. Fortunately, groups like Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign remain alert to the changing landscape and are poised to act should this challenge come to pass.

On the lighter end of the gay wedding political spectrum, there’s the complicated nature of weddings themselves: how can you queer-up something so rooted in tradition? Some succeed brilliantly; others choose a more conventional path.

All these politics cast a shadow over something which should be beautiful. I used to think I was lucky. Even as an empathetic observer and seasoned wedding guest, I never had to deal with any of it. Then, I fell in love. Now, I am experiencing the low-key pressure to propose, as if everything is suddenly on a timeline.

Recently, though, I experienced something more troubling. I had a casual conversation with a relative who is strong in their faith. While they love my partner and me, they were unable to say if they support us getting married. While it stung, it also made me realize I was not exempt from the politics, either.

I am grateful to be surrounded by so many good people getting married. While my feelings about weddings continue to be complex, I do know that love has softened the edges of my cynical heart. I plan to be present for all six weddings and will appreciate the sweat, tears, and politics which went into making each day so special. Like all things political, I hope it leads everyone—myself included—to a more perfect union. ▼

Christopher Moore is Interim Executive Director of AIDS Delaware. He loves NPR, naughty jokes, and a man who lives in Toronto. Email him at moore.cc@gmail.com.

Photo: Sandy Millar on Unsplash.

Six-word Memoirs

—

TELL US A STORY — Keep It Short.

February 29 was the deadline for this year’s Six Word Memoir contest. Maybe you never heard of the contest? Here’s just a bit of history: Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” In November 2006, Larry Smith, founder of what was then called SMITH Magazine, gave the six-word novel a personal twist by asking his readers to describe their lives in exactly six words. He called these brief life stories Six-Word Memoirs.

The stories arrived in droves, and the Six-Word Memoir project was born. More than 1.5 million people have shared their six-word memoirs on SixWordMemoirs.com.

And here, over two dozen of Letters’ regular contributors share theirs.

Inspired to write your own? We’d love to see them! Just send your six words to editor@camprehoboth.com. Help us keep the fun alive in the April issue. ▼

Blue, sunny skies are for me!

LESLIE LEDOGAR

He was. That was his gift.

CLARENCE FLUKER

I was happiest simply being myself.

CHRISTOPHER MOORE

Woman who lives to feel free.

PATTI CINELLI GOT MAD, GOT ACTIVE, FOUND WORDS.

RICHARD ROSENDALL

‘TWAS MY WORK THAT SAVED ME

MARJ SHANNON

Guncle Schedulina making impact through purpose.

WES COMBS

I’m still growing. And that’s okay.

STEPHEN RASKAUSKAS

He didn’t drink nearly enough wine.

ERIC PETERSON

Crawl, run, run, run, run, run .

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

PEOPLE, PLACES, EXPERIENCES I HAVE RELISHED!

... [ ...

MARY JO TARALLO

When in doubt always choose kindness.

LAURIE THOMPSON

I look for you daily. Still. ...

TARA LYNN JOHNSON

Paris honeymoon over 9/11–scary, somber.

... [ ...

DAVID GARRETT

Perfectly Normal. No, really, I am.

BETH SHOCKLEY

New York writer dyke. Loves bagels.

ANN APTAKER

Indentured, war, music, farming

informs identity.

KIM LEISEY

Boys, beaches, bars: the gay trifecta.

... [ ...

ROBERT DOMINIC

WRITER, PRODUCER, PROVOCATEUR, POP CULTURE AFICIONADO

Six-word Memoirs

Above average with flashes of brilliance.

SHARON MORGAN

BORN OF LIBRARIANS, I RELISHED WORDS.

NANCY SAKADUSKI

Kindness never prevails, unless it’s reciprocated

ERIC WAHL

Coast to coast, community, heart fulfilled.

...

LESLIE SINCLAIR

Still doubting that I’ve done enough.

... [ ...

JEFF DANNIS

MICHAEL COOK

Where I couldn’t walk, I ran.

ED CASTELLI

Of course I embellish. I’m Southern.

RICH BARNETT

Confused, OUT! Joyous, Bonnie, Rehoboth, Heaven!

FAY JACOBS

STILL FIGURING OUT WHO I AM.

MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

It was only me I needed.

...

MIKEY ROX

The Sea Salt Table

Crab Cakes

We’re having work done around our “not the beach house.” Reluctantly, these are big-ticket maintenance projects. It is painful, but it’s the ongoing cost of owning an older home.

They don’t tell you on closing day, but if you live somewhere long enough, you’ll address some of the same updates two and three times over. It seems like yesterday that we put in a new furnace. And now we’re doing it again?!

Besides the hit to our finances, we’re not looking forward to the upheaval. Moving out of certain rooms, construction workers in and out all day long, and a yard torn up by heavy equipment.

At least we don’t have to clean for a while. I imagine when it’s all over we’ll be chomping at the bit to scrub every nook and cranny. Spring cleaning if you will.

The definition of spring cleaning has changed over the course of my lifetime. Growing up, it was all-skate. Not just Mom and Dad; my brother, sisters, and I each had assignments. Everything, and I mean everything, was dismantled, cleaned, and put back exactly as it was. Curtains and drapes were washed and pressed. Walls were swabbed. Carpets were steamed.

I can’t say we’re quite that thorough these days. Although we do occasionally move furniture and take beds apart. It’s not unlike us to scream “we live like pigs” when we see a fluffle of dust bunnies lurking behind a headboard.

People compliment us on how clean our house is, for which I take no credit. My husband is amazing. I’m more of a clean-adjacent kind of guy. The essence is all that matters to me. I guess you could say my technique is literally sweep it under the carpet. Which is another reason I love to entertain by candlelight. It’s not just about softening wrinkles.

I do rock cleaning of my car. One of the best tips I ever learned was to not only vacuum, but to first blow your car out with a leaf blower! It’s a crazy good thing. It pushes out a ton of dust, dog hair, and sand.

This month I’m highlighting a simple but delicious recipe you can pop in the oven when you’re done with your day of spring cleaning...my crab cakes. Put your feet up with a glass of wine and enjoy. Just be sure you’ve shed your dirty shoes.

Everyone in Delmarva has a favorite crab cake recipe. I’ve tried many. This is my riff on the best of them. They are consistently tender and decadent.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Everyone in Delmarva has a favorite crab cake recipe. I’ve tried many. This is my riff on the best of them.

BY ED CASTELLI

STEPS

 Mix the following in a medium bowl:

• one large egg

• ¼ cup mayonnaise

• 1 Tbl fresh parsley, chopped

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard

• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

• ⅛ tsp salt

• 1-2 green onions chopped, both white and some green parts

• 1 tsp seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay (optional)

 Gently fold in 1 pound of fresh lump crabmeat and ⅔ cup crumbs made from buttery crackers, such as Ritz (approximately 17).

Ž Using a half-cup measure, make six mounds on a greased baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least eight hours, or preferably overnight.

 Bring cakes to room temperature for 30 minutes and heat your oven to 450°.

 Brush cakes with 2 Tbl melted butter.

 Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until edges are browned and cakes register 165°. If desired, sprinkle with fresh lemon juice before serving with tartar sauce.

TIPS

• Add Old Bay sparingly. Too much will hide the other wonderful, but subtle flavors. I skip it altogether.

• You needn’t buy crab any bigger than lump. In fact, I find that size just right for the proportions of the other ingredients.

• Don’t skip the 8-to-24-hour chilling. It sets up the cakes and melds their flavors.

• Don’t skip brushing with butter. It adds the rich restaurant-style finish. ▼

Ed and his husband Jerry split their time between homes near Harrisburg Pennsylvania and Bethany Beach. Ed builds websites to pay the bills but loves to cook, garden, hike, and dote on their dog Atticus. Recipe requests and feedback welcome: ed@ seasalttable.com.

J. CONN SCOTT

100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SALE

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Lee Industries - Hickory Chair - Chaddock - Century - Lillian August - Chelsea House

MT Company - Lexington - Modern History - Hickory Chair - Highland House - EJVictor Summer Classics - Woodbridge - Baker

Rehoboth Beach, DE 302-227-1850

Selbyville, DE 302-436-8205

CAMP Stories

The Gym and I

It occurred to me recently that I’ve been in a relationship with “the gym” now for 40 years, which is kind of wild considering it’s a longer period than I’ve been with my partner. Of course, it’s not a committed relationship. There have been many gyms over those four decades. Using the modest financial figure of $70 per month, I estimate I’ve spent more than $33,000 over the years on gym memberships. When I look at myself in the mirror, however, I sometimes wonder if it’s been worth it.

As with any relationship, my rapport with the gym has evolved over the years as my motivations for going have changed. As a young 20-something arriving in Washington in the 1980s to begin a new life, I quickly realized one of my first priorities was to join a gym. Back then, the gym represented a kind of rite of passage, helping me transition from a closet case to an out gay man. The gym enabled me to build up my body and attract attention from other males. It led to friendships, dates, and sex. The gym was erotic, exhilarating, and addicting. It provided a sense of purpose and a place to belong.

In my 30s and 40s, going to the gym was still about looking good, but it was just as much about competition and keeping up with the Joneses. A fit, attractive body was just part of the package for the trendy urbane GWM in the 1990s. Were you also sporting the right haircut, watch, sneakers, and even underwear? The gym was a great place to pick up personal style tips and trends. Writing about it now in retrospect, it feels rather petty. But that era, at least in DC, wasn’t about touting one’s uniqueness or authenticity, but about assimilation, fitting in, and showing society that gay men weren’t so different than our straight brothers and as such should have the same rights.

When I hit 50 and 60, my motivations began to change again. Going to the gym was more about staying healthy

and figuring out how to age well. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it was still at its core about looking good. I’m deadly afraid of man boobs. In some ways, I find the gym more comfortable now than at any other time in my life. I’m there to focus on me and not to

In some ways, I find the gym more comfortable now than at any other time in my life.

attract attention. As if a 63-year-old man wearing a Tommy Copper adjustable back supporter is going to impress.

Here’s a funny story about that. My current gym relationship in Rehoboth is with Rise Fitness on Airport Road. I enjoy the mix of machines and free weights as well as the mix of people. A lot of young people work out at Rise, many of whom seem to be current or former athletes at Cape Henlopen High.

To this crowd, a man my age is

BY RICH BARNETT

invisible unless he creepily leers at them, which I absolutely do not. I have perfected over the years a more subtle gaze.… Anyhow, one day I wore an old UVA 1999 national championship lacrosse t-shirt when I went to work out. Well, you wouldn’t believe the approving looks I received from the young athletic crowd. One handsome fella in a Salisbury University lacrosse t-shirt even asked who we’d beaten in the finals. Luckily, I knew it was Syracuse and the score was 12-10. I received his grunt of approval and nod of the head. Thank goodness he didn’t ask what position I’d played….

Here in Key West where I’m wintering for a few months, gym options are limited. I checked out a new facility near the harbor, but the crowd was a bit old for my tastes. I noted a lot of them arriving in golf carts. I prefer a place called Old Island Fitness where most people arrive on bicycles. The gym is old and worn and full of classic barbells and dumbbells. There are open air windows, and no AC. Guys exercise shirtless. People bring their dogs. It’s kind of irreverent and hard core and it attracts a badass clientele serious about exercising. All of this is a bit out of my comfort zone, but that’s why I’m doing it. I might even go shirtless on a hot day when nobody is around. Just don’t expect to see a photo. ▼

Rich Barnett is the author of The Discreet Charms of a Bourgeois Beach Town, and Fun with Dick and James.

YOUNG AT ART

March Is Youth Art Month

You know that phrase “young at heart”? In a clever play on words, the Rehoboth Art League (RAL) tweaked the popular saying for its annual Young at ART children’s exhibit during the month of March—also known as Youth Art Month. It is one of many visual arts projects taking place in March (including one at CAMP Rehoboth) and one of the most extensive. The evolution of Youth in Art Month is impressive but a bit complicated.

The Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) organized “Children’s Art Month” in 1961 as an event that celebrates and promotes the arts and art education across the country. Members of this trade association produce art materials so it was in their best interest, but it prompted a worthy endeavor.

In 1984, ACMI created the non-profit organization called the Council for Art Education (CFAE) to advocate for visual art education. CFAE coordinates Youth Art Month nationally to encourage support for quality school art programs. It provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences that enhance other curriculum subjects, including problem solving, creativity, observation, and communication.

The Delaware Art Education Association (DAEA) is heavily involved with the promotion of Youth Art Month throughout the state with a program called March for the Arts. It encompasses visual and performing arts in K-12 schools in Delaware. Art shows, special exhibits, fundraisers, and school and community activities take place annually,

Association President Liz Long says a virtual exhibit of children’s art will be on display on the DAEA web site, and the association is participating in a national flag display under the guidance of program director Jennifer Boland.

“Teachers submit digital images of two works of art for a month-long social media campaign focusing on the benefits of visual arts for K through 12 students,” explains Boland. “We are also using these images to advocate for Youth Art Month

at the legislative level, all in conjunction with the Delaware Arts Alliance.” The group also selects a student-made flag to be flown at the National Art Education Conference which, this year, is being held in Minneapolis.

“Visual arts tap into a different range of ability levels for students, compared to science or math, we need to nourish them to help kids grow.”

The RAL’s Young at Art exhibit is a major endeavor. Education Programs Director Paula Holloway sends out a blanket invitation for the show and it is up to school art teachers to decide if they will include their students in the program. Typically, 300 students from 30 elementary, middle, and high schools, primarily throughout Sussex County, participate. One of the schools is Beacon Middle School in Lewes where Alexander Louvis has been the art teacher for 17 years. His big challenge is to select 10 art entries from a pool of about 700 students. His classroom is filled with thought-provoking reasons why art is important, and he frets that art has been cut back from curricula at schools. “Visual arts tap into a different range of ability levels for students, compared to science or math,” he says. “We need to nourish

BY MARY JO TARALLO

them to help kids grow.”

This year, the Young at Art exhibit runs from March 16 to March 30 in the Corkran and Tubbs Galleries on the League’s campus at 12 Dobbs Lane. “Everyone is a winner in the Young at Art Exhibit,” Holloway says. “It is an honor to be one of only 10 students to be chosen to exhibit from each school. Every child receives a ribbon.” Some of the high school students, says Holloway, go on to attend art school.

The forerunner to Young at Art took place in 1959 when RAL hosted an exhibit entitled Delaware Festival of the Arts. It highlighted student fine and industrial art from Sussex County schools. The Young at Art exhibit debuted in 1996.

Ganter says that she hears from many people who visit RAL and mention that, when they were young, they got into the Young at Art show, and they have fond memories of coming into the gallery with their parents to see their art on the wall.

CAMP Rehoboth’s youth art exhibit during March is called ART4Change: Youth Art for a Greener Earth. It is targeted to developing artists aged 16-21 and it runs from March 16 to April 20 at the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery on Baltimore Avenue.

On-going youth art programs are also offered by local Boys and Girls Clubs and the Lewes Public Library. Library programs are held on the third Wednesday of each month from September through May. Classes for kids K-second grade are 5:00-5:45 p.m., and for “tweens”—third through the fifth grade—from 6:00-6:45 p.m.

RAL’s Summer Camp program is wildly popular with several of the class offerings already filled. Learn more at rehobothartleague.org. ▼

Mary Jo Tarallo is a former journalist and public relations professional for various non-profits including a ski industry trade association. She won a Gold Award for a United Way TV program starring Oprah Winfrey.

Photo: Alexander Louvis; credit: Mary Jo Tarallo

Room With a View

Having a view is one of the best and most unsung gifts I’ve enjoyed since I retired in 2022. What surprises me is that it took me almost 50 years of working to realize it.

Right now, one of my favorite things to do is to write at my kitchen table which provides a fabulous view of the back deck through sliding glass doors, and into the woods of the nature preserve beyond. It is beautiful and peaceful, especially in these colder months.

When I was still working, I set up my home office in the den during the pandemic. I got a desk that fit in the space and looked out toward the front of the house. Not much of a view there— mostly just the rest of the den. In my last job, for over 15 years, my office window looked out into a doorway vestibule. To feel less like a zoo exhibit that everyone peered at as they passed by, I closed the blinds. Hence, no view.

With my current view of the deck, I see so much nature. We have a bird feeder on the deck, so we are visited by all kinds of wonderful feathered friends—nuthatches, chickadees, finches, wrens with their sticky-

uppy tails, red-bellied woodpeckers, cardinals, blue jays, and countless other bird species grace our feeder. We even had an appearance recently from a great crested flycatcher, and a flyby from a vulture who needed a rest on the deck rail. And, of course, the antics of the inevitable squirrels—who are delightfully fun to watch doing gymnastics to get a meal. We seem to have gained at least one resident possum. That’s in addition to the deer, fox, turkeys, and other incredible wildlife we see at the edge of our yard.

There is a downside, even though it is rare. Sometimes birds will accidentally fly into the glass doors. None that I know of in the 17 years we have lived here has ever died; they’re usually just stunned. We put pane dividers on the doors, intending to make it easier for the birds to avoid the glass. There are numerous other solutions available via Google.

A couple of weeks ago, I heard an unusually loud thump—one so loud that it startled me. My heart sank when I realized what it probably was. As I got up from the table, I was seized with sadness as I spotted the victim, a little sparrow who was out cold on his back. Of course, our three kitty boys—all indoor cats—like

It took retirement to realize the need for having a view of nature while I write or read.

BY BETH SHOCKLEY

the view too, and they were very excited, eyes glued to the drama unfolding on the other side of the glass.

I watched the bird for a little while and he or she did not move. Her little eyes were closed and she didn’t appear to be breathing. Tears came to my eyes; I didn’t want it to be true. But apparently it was. It had been about five, maybe 10 minutes, and there was no movement. I said a prayer hoping the bird’s soul was welcomed into the afterlife. Resigned, I went to the garage to get a shovel. I would place the bird’s body in the woods, where at least it would feed the cycle of life.

I took my time, having to dig under things in the garage to locate the shovel. I found the shovel and brought it into the kitchen. When I reached the glass doors, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The little sparrow was gone. So either a really swift hawk swept in and grabbed the sparrow’s body from the deck, or my little buddy had finally come to his senses and flown away home. I was overjoyed. The cats would say nothing about the bird’s seemingly miraculous resurrection.

Sometimes, the gift of a view is a distraction from my work—a minute to breathe. Other times I feel a profound sense of connection—to the season, to the other living beings I share the planet with. Most of all it’s a connection to the rhythm of life around me. It’s something beautiful and free and it’s not clamoring for my attention.

The goings-on in nature, for the many years I spent living in one big city or another, had become a mystery to me; even unimportant. It took retirement to realize the need for having a view of nature while I write or read. It makes a huge difference, and if you can find or create one, I highly recommend it for the year ahead. ▼

Photo:Daniil Komov on Unsplash.

CAMP REHOBOTH BEACH GUIDE

Visit the Beach Guide Directory on the CAMP Rehoboth website to find links to these area businesses in BOLD. The Guide includes: Food and Wine, Shopping, Lodging, and Services—all at camprehoboth.com.

REHOBOTH RETAIL SHOPS

BEACH AREA LODGING

Stars Guest Suites, 44 Delaware Ave 302-226-2742

Summer Place Hotel, 1st St & Olive Ave 302-226-0766

The Avenue Inn & Spa, 33 Wilmington Ave 302-226-2900

LEWES FOOD & DRINK

OTHER AREA FOOD & DRINK

Bluecoast Seafood, 30904 Coastal Hwy, Bethany 302-539-7111

Catch 54, 38931 Madison Ave, Selbyville 302-436-8600

Matt’s Fish Camp, 28635 Coastal Hwy, Bethany 302-539-2267

SERVICES AT THE BEACH

REHOBOTH ART | GALLERIES | MUSEUMS

REHOBOTH FOOD

DRINK

Goolee’s

Just

Lori’s

Loves

Lupo

Purple

Rigby’s,

Shorebreak

The

A.G. Renovations

bsd, 35603 South St 302-684-8588

CHURCHES/SYNAGOGUES

All Saints’ Episcopal, 18 Olive Ave 302-227-7202

Epworth UMC, 19285 Holland Glade Rd 302-227-7743

Grace of God Lutheran, ELCA, 26089 Shoppes at Long Neck 302-947-1044

M.C.C. of Rehoboth, 19369 Plantation Rd 302-645-4945

Seaside Jewish Community, 18970 Holland Glade Rd 302-226-8977

St. George’s Episcopal, 20271 Beaver Dam Rd, Harbeson 302-227-7202

St. Peter’s Episcopal, 2nd & Market Sts, Lewes 302-645-8479

Unitarian Universalist, 30486 Lewes-G’Town Hwy 302-313-5838

Unity of Rehoboth, 98 Rudder Rd, Millsboro 302-945-5253

Westminster Presbyterian, 301 King Charles Ave 302-227-2109

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

AARP of Delaware (age 50+) 866-227-7441

ACLU of DE—Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights Project 302-654-5326

CAMP Rehoboth Chorus—Program of CAMP Rehoboth 302-227-5620

CAMP Rehoboth—LGBTQ Community Service Org 302-227-5620

CAMP Rehoboth Families—LGBTQ parents connect 302-227-5620

CAMP Rehoboth Parents of Transgender & Gender Non-conforming Children 302-227-5620

Cape Henlopen Senior Center—Rehoboth (age 50+) 302-227-2055

CHEER Centers of Sussex County (age 50+) 302-515-3040

Delaware Aging & Disability Resource Center 800-223-9074

Delaware Human Relations Commission Housing & public accommodation 877-544-8626

Delaware Information Line 2-1-1

Delaware Pride—Community events, annual Pride Festival 302-265-3020

Gay/Lesbian Alcoholics Anonymous—add’l schedules

302-856-6452

Saturdays 6 pm: Epworth UMC, 19285 Holland Glade Rd (step meeting)

Saturdays 7:30 pm: All Saints’ Church, 18 Olive Ave (step meeting)

Tuesdays noon: St. Peter’s Church, 211 Mulberry St, Lewes (step meeting)

Lewes Senior Activity Center (age 50+) 302-645-9293

Meals

PFLAG-Rehoboth—3rd Tuesdays, Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes

Social Security Administration—Lewes office

PEST CONTROL

Activ Pest Solutions, 16803 New Rd, Lewes 302-645-1502

PET RETAIL

Critter Beach, 156 Rehoboth Ave

800-772-1213

TransLiance of DE—Rehoboth—3rd Mondays at 6 pm, MCC of Rehoboth; contact: TransLiance@gmail.com

PWW

1519 Savannah Rd, Lewes 302-628-4140

Steven Falcone CPA, Taxes & Planning

MASSAGE

Midway

Reiki

302-226-2690

Pet Portraits by Monique 717-650-4626

PET SERVICES

Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd, G’twn 302-856-6361

Humane Animal Partners (formerly Delaware Humane Association & Delaware SPCA) 302-200-7159

Little Landmines Pet Waste Removal. littlelandmines.com 302-521-3983

Parsell Pet Crematorium, 16961 Kings Hwy, Lewes 302-645-7445

REAL ESTATE

Allen Jarmon, NextHome Tomorrow Realty 302-745-5122

Chris Beagle, Compass 302-273-4998

Donna Whiteside, Berkshire Hathaway, 16712 Kings Hwy 302-381-4871

Hugh Fuller, Realtor 302-745-1866

John Black, Patterson Schwartz, 18958 Coastal Hwy 302-703-6987

Lana Warfield, Berkshire Hathaway, 37230 Rehoboth Ave 302-236-2430

Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, 16698 Kings Hwy 302-645-6664

Lingo Realty, 246 Rehoboth Ave 302-227-3883

McWilliams Ballard, Kevin McDuffie kmcduffie@mcwb.com

McWilliams Ballard, Justin Orr jorr@mcwb.com

Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Lingo Realty 302-227-3883

Sea Bova Associates, 20250 Coastal Hwy .......................... 302-227-1222

The Joe Maggio Group, 37169 Rehoboth Ave Ext., #11 ...... 302-226-3770

Troy Roberts, Mann & Sons, 414 Rehoboth Ave 302-228-7422

Springpoint Choice, 17028 Cadbury Cir, Lewes 302-313-6658

The Lodge at Truitt Homestead, 36233 Farm Ln 302-232-6372

Travel 800-631-6277 ext. 696

POPULAR LGBTQ BEACHES

Poodle Beach, south end of the Rehoboth Boardwalk

Cape Henlopen State Park, Ocean Dr north to Cape Henlopen State Park. Daily parking rate in effect March-November.

DECIDING WHEN TO LEAP

31 Days Has—September?

Did you all enjoy that extra February day? It’s just so useful having an extra 24 hours in what is often the coldest time of the year.

I was so disappointed when I remembered it was a leap year (thanks to my paper calendar, which I have to check daily because the pandemic killed my innate sense of time, days, and dates). That led me to question: Who decided this whole leap year thing?

Off to Google!

As I already knew, leap years happen in years divisible by four. But I didn’t know that’s true unless they are 00 years—they need to be divisible by 400 (so 2000 yes; 1900 no).

Does math ever stop? I thought I left it in high school.

Also, science says, according to the Smithsonian Institution, we have to leap because the “common year” is 365 days, but Earth takes a wee bit longer to revolve around the sun—more than five hours, actually—hence the need for an extra day every now and again to compensate. Then, they tell me the leap day actually makes the year too long by 44 minutes (oy) and so that’s why it only happens in years divisible by four.

All this jockeying is so the seasons don’t “begin to drift.” The Farmer’s Almanac online tells me it would take 100 years to significantly disturb the status quo, with February and March ending up as summer in the Northern Hemisphere by then.

And? That’s a bad thing?

The seasons would still happen— Mother Nature does what she does. We’d be the ones who’d have to flex, changing names of things as needed and what not. You know this is all made up, right? We can do whatever we want! And, as Rust Cohle from the only really good season of True Detective said, “time is a flat circle.” Things come and go and come around again. It’s all the same ride with different views from time to time. So why not add some fun and eventually have spring in fall and vice versa?

OK, several websites mention practical things like harvesting and growing seasons, and that makes sense. I like eating as much as the next person, so if we need stability for those things, that’s OK with me. But can we tack an extra day on a month we might enjoy more? It has been added as a chilly day to the end of February since Caesar. He won’t mind.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who would prefer that it be added to a month in a warmer season—for sun, sand, and ocean purposes.

Let’s add it to September, the best month at the beach, IMHO. Imagine, 31 glorious late summer/early fall days on the sand instead of just 30. That sounds better to me than another day of winter, and I say this as someone who loves winter. But I love the ocean more. And I hate listening to the winter haters complain about an extra day of frigid temps in February. It happens all month long every year, and for an extra day in leap years. Thanks, Caesar.

Of course, someone has suggested leap years should be eliminated. The

BY TARA LYNN JOHNSON

Hanke-Henry Permanent Calendar, aimed at making business and financial institutions’ lives easier, advocates for adding February 29 and 30 to every year and then adding a full week every fourth December to keep the seasons where they are now.

Every date of every year would fall on the same day of the week forever, so your birthday would always be on the same day. I don’t think I like that. What if my birthday falls on a day I don’t like? I’m not a big fan of Wednesday, just sitting there in the middle of the week not really doing anything, not getting to the weekend any faster. And I never work on my birthday. What if it naturally then falls on a weekend when I’m off? Where is my PTO joy for my special day?

Apparently, the Hanke-Henry people are not in sync with a lot of working people though: they want to start every year on a Monday. For those who have New Year’s Day off, great. For others? It’s working a holiday and on a Monday. Forever. Uh—no.

If we must leap, then fine, add another day to my year, but let’s discuss moving it, shall we? I’m sure I’m not the only one who would prefer that it be added to a month in a warmer season—for sun, sand, and ocean purposes. If not September, then I suggest May, the birth month of one Kermit the Frog, Muppet extraordinaire and expert leaper. If we’re going to leap, what could be a more appropriate reason than that?  ▼

Freelance writer Tara Lynn Johnson wants longer Septembers on Rehoboth’s beaches in years divisible by four. Visit her any day of the week/month/year at taralynnjohnson.com.

Photo by Joel DeMott on Unsplash

Community Lutheran Church

Now hiring!

Are you a vocalist and pianist looking for a worship leadership opportunity?

Community Lutheran Church is looking for you!

We are seeking an innovative and creative musician to fill the role of Part-Time Worship Leader and Choir Director for our two Sunday morning services. Our church believes all people are created in God’s image and are welcome in our worship.

To apply, call Pastor Karis Graham at (302) 470-0379 or send your resume to pastor@bridgebuilder.church.

30897 Omar Road | Frankford, DE

BY ANN APTAKER

Unsettled Passion: Marguerite Yourcenar

She was here, she was there, she was everywhere, even as a child traveling about Europe with her father. And she never lost her taste for traveling the world.

Marguerite Yourcenar, born in Belgium in 1903 but raised in France, not only travelled the world, she conquered the world through her novels, essays, and short stories. It took her 77 years but finally, in 1980, Yourcenar broke one of the most impenetrable literary barriers in the world as the first woman ever admitted into the prestigious Académie Française, an institution established in 1635! What took 77 years for Yourcenar to accomplish, it took 345 years for that august institution to admit that women could create literature. Brava Marguerite Yourcenar!

It was said, by admirers and critics alike, that she wrote more like a man than a woman. One critic, whose name has been lost to history—but whose snark has not—wrote that her work did not contain “those often charming weaknesses…by which one identifies a feminine pen.”

Yourcenar herself didn’t entirely disagree. According to Yourcenar biographer Joseyane Sauvigneau, she would often write from the male point of view, putting herself into the headspace of a strong male protagonist. About writing from within the mind of Hadrian, emperor of Ancient Rome, in her masterpiece, Memoirs of Hadrian, Yourcenar said that it was difficult for her, if sometimes impossible, to write a woman as a main character, because, at that time, “the life of a woman was too limited or too secret.” The men she often wrote about were also likely to be male homosexual characters. She wrote of their passion, which she amply expressed in Memoirs of Hadrian. The emperor’s affection for his male lover is considered one of the great homosexual love stories in literature.

But what of Yourcenar’s love life?

She was clearly bisexual. After her father’s death in 1929, 26-year-old Yourcenar continued to travel extensively. Again according to biographer Sauvigneau, as well as other sources, during these travels

Yourcenar had affairs with women as well as with men. Some affairs were robust and satisfying; others were not.

their table, where she corrected what she felt were their incorrect interpretations of Coleridge’s poetry.

Whatever Frick said about Coleridge must’ve been a truly unique pickup line, because a year later Yourcenar crossed the Atlantic and moved in with Frick.

Whatever Frick said about Coleridge must’ve been a truly unique pickup line, because a year later Yourcenar crossed the Atlantic and moved in with Frick.

Among those which broke Yourcenar’s heart was her pursuit of André Fraigneau, her editor at Éditions Grasset, a French publishing firm which had published Yourcenar’s works. The problem was that while Yourcenar was bisexual, Fraigneau was strictly homosexual. He loved Yourcenar’s intellect and literary genius; he did not love her body or her heart. Yourcenar used the pain of that unconsummated passion in her novella Coup de Grace

Though still pining for Fraigneau, romantic stability finally arrived for Yourcenar in 1937 when she met Grace Frick, an American professor of English vacationing in Paris. Their meeting was not the typical meet-and-greet. According to anecdotal evidence, Yourcenar was having a drink with a friend at the bar of the Wegman Hotel. The two were said to be in lively discussion about the poet Samuel Tayor Coleridge. Professor Frick, whose academic expertise was English literature, overheard the conversation and went to

They lived together for 40 years, mostly in a house on Mount Desert Island, Maine, until Frick’s death in 1979. Their domestic life was more than merely romantic. Frick not only became Yourcenar’s first reader of the writer’s work, but translated Yourcenar’s writings from French to English, assisted with Yourcenar’s research for her historical pieces, and arranged the couple’s social life, a task Yourcenar was more than happy to hand off the Frick.

Upon Frick’s death, Yourcenar’s passion for travel and for romantic passion reasserted themselves. Though her travels were somewhat restricted due to advancing age and illness, her need for a life of passion resulted in a relationship with a 30-year-old gay man named Jerry Wilson. The two were inseparable and traveled through Europe as well as to various locales in Africa. Their relationship continued until Wilson's death of AIDS in 1986.

Yourcenar, now alone and in failing health, unable to travel and unable to write, died a year later in December 1987.

In our LGBTQ+ world of creativity, populated by scores of notable artists, writers, musicians, and performers of all types, Marguerite Yourcenar is in exceptional company. Marguerite Yourcenar was a brilliant, headstrong, and ornery woman who defied expectations. Her literary voice remains one of the strongest not just in queer literature, but in the literature of the world. ▼

Ann Aptaker is the author of short stories and the Lambda & Goldie award winning Cantor Gold series. Her latest book, A Crime of Secrets, was released July 4, 2023.

Photo:Bernhard De Grendel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2.

3.

TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY

Reflections

Am I a Man?

What a question, right? If you asked me if I identify with what our larger culture calls a "man," I would firmly disagree. However, if you asked me if I identify as a gay man, I would say yes, enthusiastically. For me, my sexuality and gender are intractable, and that's why it took me 25 years to realize that I was, in fact, a gay man.

Being transgender and intersex means that my relationship to gender has been, in a word, fraught. I've known I wasn't like my cisgender, perisex (non-intersex) sisters from a young age, and spent much of my life trying to hide it. Even after I came out as nonbinary and bisexual as a teenager, I was still shaving my facial hair and wearing padding under my clothes to make myself look more "feminine." It was only after my diagnosis as intersex and my recovery from anorexia that I allowed myself to consider medically transitioning.

A surgery and three years of hormones later, days before my 25th birthday, I was out walking my hound dog Copper. I was wondering why my relationships with women never seemed to work out, and it hit me. Why I'd always had queer male idols, why I always fell so hard for boys, why straight masculinity was so unappealing—I was a gay man.

Of course, the first person I told was my younger sister. Having tried to date men before coming out as a lesbian, she was sympathetic to my struggles with women. As a butch, she also shared a lot of my complicated feelings about masculinity and femininity. For her, when she found her butch identity, she felt at home. Having found my identity as a femme gay man, I couldn't agree more.

I came out to my mother as a gay man late last year. She was surprised, given the number of women I dated when I was younger, but supportive. It clicked for her when I told her, "Remember when I said I wanted to be Adam Lambert when I was 11? Yeah, this is apparently what that meant."

It meant that under all the social crap

BY JULIAN HARBAUGH AND MARJ SHANNON

I'd swallowed about gender, I was a gay man who wanted to wear makeup and sparkly clothes. Fifteen years later, I am

It meant that under all the social crap I'd swallowed about gender, I was a gay man who wanted to wear makeup and sparkly clothes.

happy to report that I am living my childhood dreams.

All dreams come with a reality check, however. Having a low tenor speaking voice and sporting a goatee, I now face the social backlash of daring to be gender defiant. I have gotten nasty looks and poor treatment when going out with friends, had slurs yelled at me while walking through the city at night, and frequently been misgendered even by well-meaning allies. Being an overtly feminine man is still a struggle even in a blue state like Delaware. But the community I've found with other transgender people and gay men, particularly trans gay men, has made it worth the price of being visible.

On Transgender Day of Visibility, I want to send out love to my gender-defying siblings. To the ones that rock a deep voice and lipstick, beards and dresses,

broad shoulders and high heels. To the ones who can't pass as cisgender, and to the ones who don't want to. To my transmasculine brothers, who share my same struggles. To my transfeminine sisters, who face systemic and interpersonal transmisogynistic violence by merely existing. To my nonbinary and gender expansive siblings, who daily confront a world that refuses to acknowledge their existence. We are beautiful, we are powerful, and we deserve to be seen. Together we can fight for a world of gender freedom.

Will you fight with me? ▼

Julian Harbaugh (he/they) is the Marketing Specialist at CAMP Rehoboth. When he's not making graphics or writing, he can be found painting in watercolors, walking his hound dog, Copper, and roaming garage sales looking for antique philosophy books.

We See You

Ifirst learned I have a transgender grand-niece some years ago, on Facebook. My niece, Kelly*—her mother—had posted a “Happy Birthday to my fabulous elder daughter!” message. Now, that gave me pause. Kelly had three kids—so far as I knew—and only the middle one was a girl. I wondered if she were announcing a child none of us ever knew she had. But when I checked the date of the message against the list of family birthdates, it corresponded with that of her eldest child—the now-18-yearold we knew as Jason.

I sought clarification, which shortly arrived: upon entering college the previous August, Jason had transitioned to Hannah—something she’d been contemplating doing for a few years. Hannah shared her news with her parents, siblings, and close friends; at her request, Kelly had agreed to share it with other family and

friends. She’d managed a few phone calls with grandparents, but then ran out of energy and time and went the Facebook-group route. She figured it simultaneously accomplished two purposes: it made Hannah’s transition known and also signaled Kelly’s own support.

In the years since that announcement, Hannah has flourished. She has had gender-affirming surgery. She has pursued a career in IT and not long ago married her long-time girlfriend (who also is trans). They just bought a house.

Just recently, during a family Zoom get-together, I learned I have a second transgender grand-niece. These monthly Zooms started during COVID and have persisted. Whoever is available joins; it’s an hour-long catch-up for a family that is widely dispersed. Think: Alaska to Delaware; Minnesota to California to Ohio. One brother and brother-in-law sometimes join from their second home in the Philippines.

Anyway, during that recent get-together, Kelly remarked, “So, I hear Pat is transitioning?” My nephew—Pat’s dad—confirmed the news. Like Hannah before her, Pat had made the change as she went off

to college, after a few years of thinking about it. Said Kelly, “Tell her to get in touch with Hannah and Lacey if she has any questions—they don’t live far from her school….” And with that, the conversation moved on to other topics.

I’ve always considered myself lucky, in terms of family—we’re a pretty accepting

…upon entering college the previous August, Jason had transitioned to Hannah…

bunch. No one has ever been rejected by the family for whom they love or how they identify.

I know that—sadly—not everyone has the good fortune to have such immediate, matter-of-fact support. Early results from the 2022 US Trans Survey (transequality. org) show that 29 percent of 16- and 17-year-olds felt their immediate families were unsupportive/very unsupportive of their transition. (The news was better among survey participants age 18+, only

12 percent of whom felt their immediate families were unsupportive/very unsupportive.)

Not that my family is perfect in its support. Early on, we did occasionally slip on a name. If you’ve referred to Kelly’s kids as Jason, Erica, and Brian for many years, that line-up can come trippingly off the tongue, even as you’re thinking, “Hannah…Hannah…Hannah.”

Thankfully, Hannah took those slips for what they were—ingrained pathways we were diligently working to rewire—and graced us with time to refresh the list. (Pat stuck with “Pat,” so there will be no deadname slip-ups there.)

March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility. When it rolls around, I have this to say to my trans family members: we see you. We always did; we still do. We always— and still—love you. Just the way you are.

May we all look forward to—and work toward—the day when all trans folk are equally seen, accepted, and loved. ▼ *All names have been changed.

Marj Shannon is editor of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth.

FIRST FRIDAYS IN LEWES

Grab Some Grog and Listen Up!

Remember that classic Cher tune, “If I Could Turn Back Time”? Well, it happens every First Friday on the Lewes Historical Society (LHS) campus. The Sussex Tavern opens its doors for an early evening of merriment, good cheer, and a glimpse back to yesteryear. Period music, back-inthe-day beverages, bonfires, tall tales, and campus tours entertain enthusiastic visitors who mix and mingle from 4:007:00 p.m. The LHS is on Shipcarpenter Street at the north end of Second Street, Lewes’s merchant promenade.

Like many LHS events, staff and volunteers dress in period outfits reminiscent of the Lewes maritime heyday, especially during the 1800s.

According to Ryan P. Schwartz, Director of Interpretation, First Friday historic happy hours and community nights began in March 2022. They were the brainchild of Andrew Lyter, then Director of Interpretation and Curator of Maritime History, who now serves as the Executive Director.

“The intention was to create a reliable, regular opportunity for the Society to engage with ‘Lewistowners’ and visitors alike in the historic setting of the Shipcarpenter Street campus,” Schwartz said. “We are all blown away by the thousands who have embraced these monthly events and come to visit with us, rain or shine! We now average between 200 and 300 guests each First Friday, with peak months at well more than 500.” First Fridays attracted more than 6,000 people last year.

The tavern itself is rather small but a hospitality tent and bonfires outside handle the overflow.

A selection of “adult beverages” is available inside and outside the tavern, including Bittered Sling, sangaree, milk punch, or grog, the most popular beverage and likely a favorite among seafarers aboard their ships. It’s a mix of rum, sugar, and lime juice.

The Bittered Sling may have been a precursor to an Old Fashioned with its combination of whiskey, lemon juice,

sugar, bitters, and hint of grated nutmeg. Sangaree is a slightly more potent version of sangria due to the inclusion of Madeira or port, brandy, and orange liqueur, plus a healthy splash of rum. Mary Rockett’s milk punch dates to 1711 when a British housewife created a blended mixture of hot milk, brandy, water, and sugar that resulted in an unusually tasty drink. The bars also serve current-day wine and beer.

“We now average between 200 and 300 guests each First Friday, with peak months at well more than 500.”

In addition to the historically inspired alcoholic cocktails, LHS has also expanded to include non-alcoholic tavern options as well as tea, coffee, and colonial-style hot chocolate served at the neighboring Lewistown Coffee-house, which opened in October 2023.

Food selections are sparse at First Fridays, so plan on dining at one of many choices in and around Lewes.

The Society’s nine historic structures on the campus are on display during First Fridays with guided tours at 5:00 and 6:00, there's Lewes Lore storytelling outside the tavern, and music throughout the evening. The Blarney Pilgrims, a personable Sussex County group, often performs Celtic music that features toe-tapping sing-alongs. Handouts are provided for those who want to participate. Their period dress adds to the ambiance.

According to group member Andy Dowell, Brad Stevens plays hammered dulcimer, harp, mandolin, and octave mandolin; Meri Holden plays violin (“fiddle”); and Andy himself plays the flute. One of Holden’s violins was made for her

BY MARY JO TARALLO

by a friend in Alaska, of native spruce. Dowell plays a wood flute, a reproduction of an early 19th century instrument.

“We love playing the jigs, reels, hornpipes, and airs of Celtic music. It’s lovely music, full of life and spirit,” said Dowell. “We play tunes we like, and as a group, we play tunes we all know. Most of the music we play at LHS we also play in sessions at Salisbury, Maryland’s Irish Penny.”

Other local favorites play as well. For example, in 2024, First Friday guests might hear 18th century tavern music from Forbes Road Frolic (April 5 and December 6) and from The Enslows (July 5).

The Sussex Tavern is a welcoming and cozy place. The bar is on one side and the “music room” on the other. Tables fill up quickly, so it is best to arrive early to snag a seat inside, especially in the chilly months. The crowd rotates since many visitors want to explore other buildings on the campus or listen to talks around the bonfire.

Aside from the music and the ambience, First Fridays provide an opportunity to learn about Lewes and the role the town played over the decades. Knowledgeable staffers and volunteers are eager to fill you in on the local community in a way that is both fascinating and educational.

The Lewes Historical Society is embarking on an ambitious strategic planning implementation that will enhance the historical interpretation of Lewes and its role in local and national history. There is much to learn from this organization and the LHS website is a great resource.▼

Mary Jo Tarallo is a former journalist and public relations professional for various non-profits including a ski industry trade association. She won a Gold Award for a United Way TV program starring Oprah Winfrey.

The REAL DIRT

Welcome Spring Equinox

The vernal equinox marks a pivotal moment in our natural world, signaling the arrival of spring and the rebirth of life after the dormancy of winter. At this time, the Earth’s axis is neither tilted away from nor towards the sun, resulting in nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness. Amidst this balance, trees emerge as quintessential symbols of renewal, personifying the spirit of regeneration and growth.

The spring equinox, occurring on March 19 this year in the Northern Hemisphere, holds profound cultural and spiritual significance across various civilizations. In ancient cultures, it was celebrated as a time of fertility, abundance, and the triumph of light over darkness. Festivals and rituals were held to honor the return of longer days and the promise of bountiful harvests to come. Furthermore, it serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth. It symbolizes harmony and equilibrium, as well as the cyclical nature of existence. As daylight increases and temperatures rise, nature awakens from its slumber, heralding a new season.

Among the myriad manifestations of spring, trees stand as towering symbols of resilience and vitality. As temperatures warm and daylight lengthens, dormant buds burst forth in a spectacular display of color and texture. Dogwoods, cherry trees, magnolias, and other flowering trees paint the landscape with hues of pink, white, and purple, captivating the senses. Their scent fills the air, sparking memories of springs gone by.

Moreover, the emergence of new leaves symbolizes a fresh start and the promise of new beginnings. With each leaf unfurling, trees undergo a remarkable transformation, transitioning from barren skeletons of limbs to lush canopies teeming with life. This regeneration not only rejuvenates the landscape but also inspires a sense of awe and wonder in those who witness it. For example, look towards the upper canopies of red

maples in the distance at this time of year. Their distinctive reddish hue at the treetops are their buds beginning to bust and leaves starting to unfurl.

The spring equinox serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between us and the natural world.

Beyond their aesthetic beauty, trees—as everyone knows—play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. As the lungs of the planet, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and purify the air we breathe. Additionally, trees provide habitat and food for countless species of wildlife, supporting biodiversity and an ecological balance that the Earth strives to maintain.

Trees also act as natural carbon

BY ERIC W. WAHL

sinks, storing carbon in their biomass and helping to regulate the Earth’s climate. Forests are vital carbon reservoirs, sequestering carbon through photosynthesis and long-term storage in their wood and the soil around them.

Historically, trees have held profound cultural and symbolic significance in societies. From the sacred groves of ancient civilizations to the tree of life in mythologies around the world, trees have been revered as symbols of strength, wisdom, and interconnectedness.

In many cultures, the spring equinox is celebrated with rituals and ceremonies honoring trees and their role in the cycle of life. Tree planting ceremonies, for example, symbolize a commitment to environmental stewardship and the renewal of the Earth’s vitality. Similarly, tree festivals and parades pay homage to the beauty and majesty of these living monuments to life.

I often remind my friends and family that existing trees in our open spaces are important, but maybe even more important is the next generation of trees. To truly create a legacy for our trees, their future lineage from their seeds or cuttings from their stick, need to be fostered now. For those are the canopies that our children and grandchildren will play under.

The spring equinox serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between us and the natural world. As we celebrate the return of spring, let us not forget the vital role that trees play in sustaining our planet and enriching our lives aesthetically, too. Let’s cherish and protect these ancient guardians, ensuring that their legacy of beauty and resilience endures for future generations.

Be safe, and let’s plant a tree. ▼

Eric W. Wahl is Landscape Architect at Pennoni Associates, and President of the Delaware Native Plant Society.

Photo credit: Amanda Frank on Unsplash.

CAMPshots

SCENES

FROM

REHOBOTH BEACH

MARCHing to the Beat of a Different Drum!

CR Open House, Clear Space, and More !

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1 ) at Dover Quartet Concert at CAMP Rehoboth: Joel Link, Bryan Lee, Camden Shaw, Julianne Lee, Laurie Thompson, Mike DeFlavia, Lisa Evans, Carrol Dennis, Richard Scalanghe; 2) at I Belong Art Reception at CAMP Rehoboth: Nikki Brooks, Megan Brooks, Debbie Woods, Michael Davitt, Leslie Sinclair, Samantha McIntyre, LaVerne McIntyre, Sharon BurtonYoung, Bernadette Allen, Tony “Tobuje” Burton.

OPPOSITE PAGE 3) at at I Belong Art Reception at CAMP Rehoboth: Sheila Exum, Taylor Gordon, Michael Dandridge, Dan DiGuglielmo, Kate Frampton, Juilio Umanzor; 4) at Purple Parrot: Sal Leone, Jonas Marusa, Tyler Townsend, Todd Babish, Mike DeFlavia, Stephen Facenda, Mark Lenard, Tony Sowers, Paul Smedberg, Connor Sweeney, Andrew Feschenko; 5) at The British Are Coming, CAMP Rehoboth Chorus Concert: Max Dick, Jeff Van Luyn, Jeff Buhrman, David Scuccimarra, David Streit, Doug Yetter, Rose Verona, Diane Duncam, Pat Coluzzi, Lori Kuebler.

More CAMPshots page 62

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

(Continued from page 61)

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1 ) at CAMP Rehoboth Open House: AJ Eckman, Susan Mandel Taylor, Glenn Lash, John Cianciosi, Marty Rendon, Diane Mead, Dotti Outland, EJ Kenyon, Kris Aulenbach, Sherri McGee, Jane Blue, Geri Dibiase, Deb Knickerbocker, Patricia Stiles, Leslie Ledogar, Mike DeFlavia, Kim Leisey, Teri Seaton, Michelle Manfredi, Polly Donaldson, David Garrett, RB Mayor Stan Mills, RB Commissioner Patrick Gossett, Jake Muenz, Janice Hare, Bobby Ostendorf, James Carfagno, David Szumski, Angie Scott, Kim Leisey, Elizabeth Campbell, Kevin Thomas, Kay Young, James Buswold, Donna Shifflett.

OPPOSITE PAGE: 2) at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub: David Herchik, Kelly Baxter, Ned Wheeler, Magnolia Applebottom, Chris Gearin, Matty Allen, Richard Looman, Eddie Adams, Nora Anderson, Justin Russell, Scott Burdette, Christopher Greaves, Will Andrews, Peter Militia, Patrick McGlone, Kevin Taylor, Matthew Mueller, Paul Maltaghati, Mike Safina, Emerson Bramble, Zaheer Tajani, Brent Quinn, Steve Morris, Matthew Stensrud; 3) at CAMP Rehoboth Young Professionals Social: Kathryn Lienhard, Kasey GonzalezCruz, Jay-Xavier Johnson, Jeff McCracken, Matt McKinnis, Josh Sheets, Johnny Will, Stephen Marana Jr, Dennis Diaz, Ken Little, Erin Bryan, Logan Farro, Alonza Parker, Jason Fluke.

(More CAMPshots page 76)

Celebrity Interview

Pod Save the Queen

BY MICHAEL COOK

Daniel Franzese Delivers Yass, Jesus! and Shows that We Don’t Have to Choose Between God and Gay

The relationship between organized religion and the LGBTQ+ community can sometimes be very fraught. Actor/activist Daniel Franzese and former Christian television host Azariah Southworth are delivering their own patented brand of faith and knowledge via the amazing podcast Yass, Jesus!, now on WOW Podcast Network.

With religious trauma being a frontpage story across the country, Daniel and I sat down for an extensive conversation. We discussed not just Yass Jesus! but dove deep into how the faith we all learned may just be very different factually, as well as how Franzese and Southworth are letting the entire LGBTQ+ community know that there still remains a place for them in Christianity.

MICHAEL COOK: The podcast Yass, Jesus! is wonderfully unique and is such an addictive and ultimately necessary listen.

DANIEL FRANZESE: I’m glad to hear that; I’m so glad you feel that way about it. I definitely think the same. Anything that feels like a sense of community to us is like a warm hug.

MC: What made you move over to the WOW Podcast Network?

DF: World of Wonder has always been

what I call my “Hollywood Family” and I feel like they’ve been with me pretty much since the beginning of my career. They’ve been friendly and accepted me in all stages of who I felt that I was. I have seen amazing things happen with the growth of RuPaul’s Drag Race and how Drag Race to me is the number one queer stage in the world that you could probably be on.

MC: What makes Yass, Jesus! significant and the place to do that?

DF: We are non-slut shaming, we are sex positive, how we are from Monday through Saturday is how we are when we show up Sunday on the show. We curse, we’re comfortable, we smoke weed, we show up exactly how we are; we wonder and ask questions. I hate the term “Bible study” because what are you studying? I mean, you would wonder.

When we had the tragedy of the Pulse shooting, I couldn’t find one prayer for LGBTQ+ people online, so now we end every episode with a prayer. Some of our guests pray for us or with us.

MC: Many times, LGBTQ+ people turn away from faith and feel that they don’t have a place in a spiritual world, and Yass Jesus! literally gives them that very space.

DF: I’m really excited to see some of the queens on Drag Race Season 16, and to see if they have faith journey stories. I am really excited to continue that story immediately and get deeper into it. Ask questions and find out things about them.

In the past we really had a great episode with Ginger Minj and talking about her faith journey. Silky Nutmeg Ganaches’ faith journey was so inspiring also, talking about how she was a minister of music and they turned on her when they found out that she did drag. She pointed to the sign where they were raising money for the church; it said, “Under Construction.” She asked, “Aren’t we all under construction?” These are powerful tales that I think are really affirming.

I want them to understand that God loves them, period.

MC: What is something that you have discovered about yourself that was truly core shaking during the podcast?

DF: Azariah and I have seen a lot of things come full circle from the show over and over again. He and I had a conversation about one of our guests saying, “Fix your crown,” and now we say that to each other all of the time. That is something that I carry with me all of the time. Whenever I feel like I’m less than or feeling a certain type of way I look in the mirror and say, “Fix your crown.” That came from our show.

MC: What are some specific Biblical stories that stand out to you?

DF: The story of David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel is a very gay love tale. If you read it—I don’t care who you are—it’s so beautiful. It’s always portrayed to us at heterosexual weddings and one of the trippiest things I learned is that the two covenants that are in the Bible and read at every heterosexual wedding are between two men or two women. They’re either between Ruth and Naomi

or David and Jonathan. So anytime anyone is reading from a Bible at a wedding, they are reading a covenant of love between two men or two women— mind blowing!

They aren’t framed that way—Ruth and Naomi were daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. Maybe people can’t conceptualize that they might have fallen in love. Her husband was dead for many years, her children were dead for many years, they stayed together as family; they created a new family. I think that is a great affirming message for queer women.

MC: Younger people are slowly starting to realize that it’s up to both our generation and their own to continue telling their stories.

DF: My goal used to be to be famous. I couldn’t wait to be famous when I was around 12. I mean, Damian in Mean Girls, that’s pretty famous. When you say that, people know who I am.

So, what’s the goal now? What do I want to do with my life now? I think about legacy.… Each of these episodes of Yass Jesus! is a piece of media that will last forever, and people can go and listen to these queen’s stories, listen to

Thinking of selling your home?

Dreaming of owning a home at the Beach?

Call me!

Lana Warfield

16712 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE

Office: 302-645-6661

Cell: 302-236-2430

E-mail: lcwarfield@hotmail com

their favorite pop star come and have these kinds of conversations, and listen to prayers read by queer ancestors.

MC: You mentioned Mean Girls and your legacy is cemented. Now, the musical is about to be released. Is looking back on your Mean Girls legacy like looking back on a different life all together?

DF: To me, the musical feels like its own thing, really; even the story is not entirely the same. I feel like they already made the musical of Mean Girls and now this is so everyone can see it. It still doesn’t

satiate me for another movie; I want to make another movie one day.

MC: If you could capsulize it, what is one thing that you want people to get from Yass Jesus!?

DF: I want them to understand that God loves them, period. And I want them to understand that there are a bunch of gay people vibrating on God loving them. As we always say, we’re on our knees for being gay and the Lord! ▼

Follow Daniel Franzese on Instagram: instagram.com/whatsupdanny/?hl=en

Check out Yass Jesus! on WOW Podcast Network here: podcasters. spotify.com/pod/show/yassjesus

Michael Cook has been a part-time resident of Rehoboth Beach for over a decade. He is currently a contributor to Instinct Magazine, World of Wonder’s WOW Report, and South Florida Gay News.

Photos courtesy Daniel Franzese (Instagram)

BY LESLIE SINCLAIR

SPOTLIGHT ON THE arts

CAMP Rehoboth Puts Art at the Heart of Our Community

Embrace the Spring Season with Art

As we anticipate the arrival of spring, we invite you to embark on a journey of self-discovery and enrichment through the appreciation of the arts. Read on as we unveil the opportunities awaiting you.

Art4Change: Youth Art for a Greener Earth

Mar. 16-Apr. 20, 2024 | Artists’ Reception: Mar. 17, 1-3 p.m.

This environmentally-themed showcase features the works of talented artists age 16 to 21. Through their original creations, they seek to raise awareness about environmental issues and foster a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with nature and all living beings.

Dive into the diverse array of mediums, including mixed media, photography, 3-D works, woven art, sketches, and more. Many pieces incorporate reclaimed and natural materials, furthering their message of sustainability and eco-consciousness.

Join us on March 17 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for the Artists’ Reception to celebrate the talent of these young artists and honor their dedication to making a positive impact on our planet. ▼

This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.

IMAGES

Above, top to bottom: Plastic Ocean by Gabe Blackwood; Toxic by Madison Laird.

Right, Decomposer by Sarah Cohen.

arts+entertainment

FEST ART 2024!

Apr. 26-May 31, 2024

Artists’ Reception: Apr. 26, 3-5 p.m.

Spring will be in full bloom as we prepare for the ever-popular FEST ART 2024!, CAMP Rehoboth’s premier community art show of the year. This exhibition, which celebrates women in the arts, is open to all.

We are privileged to announce DC artist Joey P. Mánlapaz as the juror for FEST ART 2024!. She is an accomplished contemporary realist painter recognized for her multifaceted roles as painter, educator, curator and juror of art exhibitions, and advocate for the elderly through art. Mánlapaz holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from George Washington University and is widely acclaimed for her depiction of the ever-changing landscape of Washington, DC, where

she resides and has a studio. The nation’s capital, by far the largest collector of her work, owns 43 of her paintings and prints.

When not at

the easel, Mánlapaz finds joy in conducting art workshops for older adults at assisted living and memory care facilities. She serves on the faculty at George Mason University and is a lecturer at The Art League in Alexandria, Virginia.

Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your talent alongside other artists by submitting your work for consideration. The submission period closes on March 22, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Scan the QR

Upcoming Contributor to CAMP Arts

Beginning with our April issue, local arts enthusiast (and Managing Director of Clear Space Theatre) Joe Gfaller will begin contributing to Letters’ CAMP Arts column. He’s looking forward to exploring topics such as discoveries he makes in the local arts community, and emerging trends and themes in the arts. Meanwhile, by way of introduction, here’s some of what Joe had to say during a recent conversation….

CAMP REHOBOTH: As shared with you in an email, we invited contributors to provide a six-word memoir for this issue. We’d love to hear yours, if you have one?

JOE GFALLER: I’m ready! It’s “Connecting and transforming communities through theatre.”

CR: Nice! Let’s follow-up with three fun facts about you….

JG: One: During a college linguistics class, the professor told me that my last name begins with an “illegal consonant cluster”—that’d be the “Gf.” It’s of German/Austrian origin, but the construction was dropped—except in a small valley in the Alps—at some point in history. I may be one of the very last living people on the planet with my last name.

Two: I have visited all 50 state capitals. I had to honeymoon in Honolulu to score #50, but it was worth the sacrifice!

code and complete the Registration and Submission Form to be part of this momentous event. ▼

Looking Ahead: Pride Unbound

Aswe transition from spring to summer, the celebration continues with Pride Unbound. Stay tuned for more details on this empowering exhibition, where LGBTQ+ and queer artists will share their unique perspectives and narratives, enriching our cultural tapestry with their creativity.

From spring to summer and beyond, the arts flourish at CAMP Rehoboth and we invite you to be part of it. Embrace the spirit of renewal and exploration as we celebrate the diversity of human expression through art. ▼

Three: My first memory of seeing a play was when I went to a production of The Wizard of Oz at a NewJersey community theatre when I really was too young—say, two?—to appreciate the experience. The lights went down, I wailed in terror, and Glinda the Good Witch asked that I be removed. I like to think the experience is one of my inspirations for working to create a more inclusive theatre space (lol)….

CR: What have you found most surprising about this area, now that you’ve lived here for several months?

JG: There are a few things…. First, it’s incredibly refreshing— especially for someone recently-arrived from St. Louis—to have an office that’s just a few blocks’ walk from the ocean. What a way to spend your lunch break! Another—it seems the grocery store parking lots function as roads. I mean, who knew?!

CR: Anything else you’d like to share with us now, before you start regularly contributing?

JG: Just that I’m delighted to be here in Rehoboth. I was in Rehoboth at some point in my 20s, as I traveled back and forth from Atlanta to visit my dad in New Jersey. It struck me even then as a place that hit “the sweet spot”—there’s a wonderful, out-and-active LGBTQ+ community, but we’re not isolated. We’re part of all the community. And, people have been so friendly and welcoming—I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us all. ▼

Leslie Sinclair is a member of the Delaware State Arts Council and a passionate leader of CAMP Rehoboth’s visual arts programs.

Joey P. Mánlapaz

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

BOOKED SOLID

The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation,

by

Raquel

Willis ©2023, St. Martin’s Press, $29, 384 pages

The catalogs began arriving a while ago.

If you’re a gardener, that’s a siren song for you. What will you put in your pots and plots this spring? What colors will you have, what crops will you harvest? It never gets old: put a seed no bigger than a breadcrumb into some dirt and it becomes dinner in just weeks. All it needs, as in the new memoir The Risk It Takes to Bloom by Raquel Willis, is a little time to grow.

The last time Raquel Willis remembers being completely safe and loved without strings attached was at age five, at a talent show. Shortly afterwards, some elders began telling Willis to speak with “a particular brand of clear,” to move differently, to act differently. Willis was a Black boy then, and that was how her father worked against his son’s “softness.”

Willis didn’t know the truth about herself then, but other boys did. So, eventually, did the girls, as at grade school Willis “gravitated...toward” them. Young Willis prayed for God to “just make me a girl” but the bullying that had already begun only got worse.

She changed schools and things were no better; meanwhile, her father tried “even harder to correct who I was becoming.” Friends and online friends were encouraging and supportive, offering her courage to come

out to her mother, who thought it was “a phase.” Her father was angry, then accepting. Other family members took Willis’s news in stride.

It was going to be okay. More than okay, in fact, because Willis was introduced to drag, and she started to feel more comfortable in women’s clothing than in men’s attire. To Willis, the drag troupe had begun feeling like family. She settled into life as a gay drag performer, because that was the “language” she had.

And then one day, while talking on the phone with an on-again off-again boyfriend, something important hit Willis, hard.

“I think I’m a woman,” she told him. “I’m a woman.... I am.”

Sometimes, it takes a while to understand the person you really are. Half a book, in this case, because The Risk It Takes to Bloom is quite wordy: author Raquel Willis tells her story in excruciating detail, and it can get rather long.

And yet, the length allows for clues that readers can follow, to truly see the woman, the activist and writer, who penned this book. But is that enough to attract readers? What sets this book apart from other, similar books by starpowered Black trans women?

The answer lies in the approachability of its author.

Willis tells her tale with a more anchoring feel, more down-to-earth, like she could have lived up the street from you or sat in the last row of your high school algebra class. You could’ve known her. You could know someone like her. Or Willis could be you.

Indeed, this book might hold plainspoken inspiration for anyone who needs it. If that’s you, get The Risk It Takes to Bloom, find a chair, and plant yourself.  ▼

Terri Schlichenmeyer’s second book, The Book of Facts & Trivia: American History, came out in January 2024.

Celebrity Profile

Geraldine Visawanathan Ready for Her Next Lesbian Movie

It’s quite the compliment to her time filming Drive-Away Dolls that Geraldine Viswanathan, after playing her first onscreen queer role, would “do anything” to make it happen again. “If I can weasel my way in there, honey, I’m going to. I’ll hold the boom. I’ll do catering,” says Viswanathan.

She might be in luck, considering the filmmaking team behind Drive-Away Dolls. Ethan Coen, of the Coen brothers, and longtime film editor Tricia Cooke, who is Coen’s wife and also an out lesbian (they’ve been in an open marriage for over 20 years) told me recently that they are just getting started.

Drive-Away Dolls is the creators’ first lesbian B-movie in a planned trilogy of sorts, and stars Viswanathan as Marian, who’s yet to be laid, much to the dismay of her freewheeling best friend, Jamie (Margaret Qualley), who has recently gone through a nasty breakup with her girlfriend Sukie (Beanie Feldstein). Together, Marian and Jamie head out on a road trip down to Florida, where it may be the ’90s but “don’t say gay” is still implied when they have a run-in with government officials for reasons that definitely seem like something Florida political figures would waste their time prosecuting.

CHRIS AZZOPARDI: How have you been describing this movie to your friends?

GERALDINE VISAWANATHAN: I describe it as a Coen movie, first and foremost, and I say it’s a wacky lesbian screwball road trip comedy caper where we’re driving down south and we have a package that some people really want.

CA: What are your thoughts on this film being released during a politically precarious time for queer people?

GV: I think Drive-Away Dolls is very quietly revolutionary. Initially, when reading it and while making it, it was just: Let’s make the most outrageous, funniest, wildest, queerest comedy that we can. Now, as the movie’s releasing, it does feel like there’s this added significance in this moment that we’re in.

The way that sex and sexuality are treated in this movie, it’s something that I wish I could have seen on screen growing up, where it’s shameless and approached with lightness and silliness and authenticity.

The way that sex and sexuality are treated in this movie, it’s something that I wish I could have seen on screen growing up…

CA: You mentioned we don’t see many lesbian women on screen, but then, of course, you are Indian, so that kind of intersectionality is even more rare. Can you talk about the importance of that representation?

GV: I feel like my first movie being Blockers, it felt significant to be the most outrageous and most sexual character in that movie. And then to be a South Asian young woman talking about how she wants to get laid—historically, South Asians are very desexualized and not really in those roles. I know that Ethan and Trish wrote this movie in the ’90s, and I feel like the fact that we’re making this movie now…maybe that’s one of the benefits of making this movie now? I don’t know if I would’ve been in this movie in the ’90s.

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

CA: Is Marian your first queer character?

GV: I did a play in Sydney that was a lesbian love story, but that’s theater. It’s a different world. It was like a lesbian rom-com with two girls. Super cute. It was set in high school and it was called Ellie and Abbie; we did it at a local theater. But yeah, this is my first time on screen.

CA: With a film about young queer people, what is it like to be the one sharing that narrative with kids who might be looking to see versions of themselves on screen?

GV: It’s super meaningful. I think if there’s any throughline in my career, it’s just liberation and freedom and self-acceptance, and it just feels like this is a part of that. And I love just working with women. I don’t need to play a straight love story ever again. No shade to straight men, but I’m good. I don’t need that.

CA: Did you draw from any personal experience or research to authentically capture the essence of Marian’s queer identity?

GV: I definitely did. I think it’s all invisible work. It’s all work that I did for myself to help me understand Marian, but I thought about my sexual awakenings and relationships and even people that I’ve been friends with and then been like, “Wait a minute.” Yeah, there was plenty that I related to with Marian, even though on the surface I thought I didn’t.

CA: This movie is a love letter to lesbian bars. Was part of the research for this movie to go to any lesbian bars?

GV: Yeah, that’s what’s so cool. We did a press junket in this lesbian bar, Henrietta Hudson in New York, and it’s one of two lesbian bars in the city left. So to have a love letter to those safe spaces is, again, so quietly revolutionary. ▼

Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi

“The cost of education has gotten to the point that people with means really ought to look at how they can support people. I really do hope my scholarship fund at the DCF encourages others to think about doing the same.”

At

Bob Martz, Wilmington, Bob Martz Scholarship Fund

DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay with donor Bob Martz

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CommunityNews

Continued from page 24

A John Williams Celebration

On Sunday, March 24, at 2:30 p.m., at the Cape Henlopen High School, the Delaware Symphony will present A John Williams Celebration, under the direction of guest conductor Scott Speck. This special performance is a tribute to the remarkable career of John Williams, showcasing a cross section of his most iconic and cherished compositions. The 95-minute concert will feature Williams’ work from beloved movies such as Jurassic Park, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Schindler’s List, and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

For additional information and tickets: delawaresymphony.org. ▼

Rehoboth Beach Gumbo Crawl

Get ready to gumbo! A delicious afternoon of gumbo tasting, live music, and fun awaits on Saturday, April 6, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This tasty event is hosted by the Purple Parrot and Rehoboth Beach Main Street.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Rehoboth Beach Main Street office (509 Rehoboth Avenue) or by calling 302-227-2772. ▼

Coastal Concerts Presents the Canellakis-Brown Duo

On April 6, at 2:00 p.m., Coastal Concerts hosts its final program of the season at Bethel UMC. The concert features cellist Nicholas Canellakis and pianist-composer Michael Stephen Brown. The duo presents an eclectic program that showcases their inimitable style and features classics alongside rarely heard gems plus their own compositions and arrangements.

For morre information and tickets visit coastalconcerts.org. ▼

Delaware Coastal Prime Timers

The merry men of Delaware Coastal Prime Timers have expanded their Morning Boardwalk Strolls (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.) to include Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Led by Kevin Todd, they meet at Rehoboth Avenue on the Boardwalk for a walk, then dig in for a hardy brunch at one of downtown’s fine eateries.

Contact coastalprimetimers@gmail.com to join in on the fun. ▼

Closing the Ruthlessness Gap

We Must Defend Our Progress or Lose It

It’s all coming at us too fast—just as the tech pioneers intended. Journalist Kara Swisher writes in her terrific memoir, Burn Book, that tech innovators two and three decades ago were not big on safety tools. “They needed to anticipate consequences more. Or at all,” she says. Instead, their ethos was expressed on early Facebook office posters: “Move fast and break things.” Judging by the current state of social media, they succeeded.

Like many people, I am addicted to the platform once called Twitter, despite Elon Musk turning it into a sewer pipe of hate and disinformation. I follow some smart people there, including Swisher, a witty lesbian who knows all the tech CEOs and talks bluntly to them.

Breaking things is also the evident mission of the Republican Party. Mitch McConnell, stepping down as Senate Minority leader at the end of this year, was successful in packing the Supreme Court with right-wing justices and destroying the comity of the Senate in service of raw power. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a theocrat who aided Trump’s January 6 insurrection and whose razor-thin majority is hostage to its most extreme members, will only take action on the floor if someone forces him.

American politics is epitomized by Trump’s recent visit to the Texas border where he baselessly claimed that countries like “the Congo” are emptying their jails and “insane asylums” and dumping the inmates here. Trump spoke of a “migrant crime wave,” despite the fact that immigrants to America commit crimes at a lower rate than people born here. Trump and his mob are the crime wave, eagerly spreading an epidemic of meanness and ignorance.

There is increasing talk of a “ruthlessness gap” between Republicans and Democrats. As Churchill said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the

truth has a chance to get its pants on.”

Republicans pretend they can save in-vitro fertilization while giving frozen embryos the same legal standing as children. They can’t. Sen. Cindy HydeSmith (R-MS), in blocking a bill to protect IVF, claimed it would lead to humananimal hybrids.

As Churchill said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”

It’s time for politicians to stop dabbling in science and medicine, and for voters to stop being so easily manipulated. Considering the number of email scams we all receive, we should have learned greater skepticism by now.

Progress is always followed by setbacks. Swisher quotes French philosopher Paul Virilio: “When you invent the ship, you also invent the shipwreck; when you invent the plane, you also invent the plane crash; and when you invent electricity, you invent electrocution.” Similarly, when you invent democracy, you invent demagogues.

“The only thing standing between freedom and the TOTAL OBLITERATION of our country is your endless gullibility,” Trump wrote to his supporters. “From the bottom of my heart, I’m asking for you to stand with me just one more time.”

Oh, pardon me. He said “support,” not “endless gullibility.”

Freedom is an empty word if it only means the freedom of a vindictive, cognitively declining sociopath to be above the law. It also means freedom from harm by the rich and powerful.

BY RICHARD J. ROSENDALL

Many business advocates don’t just want fewer regulatory guardrails, they want none at all.

An Alabama roofing company was recently fined $117,175 for violating federal child labor laws when a 15-yearold it hired fell 50 feet to his death on his first day. He died in 2019.

It is sad beyond words: a child’s entire future was stolen, and those responsible will pay a modest fine and move on. At his age I was an avid science fiction reader. When children die from others’ greed and recklessness, we might fitly pause to think of the futures that will never be.

It is not only guns that kill people. When you hear Republicans attack “jobkilling regulation,” think of child-killing labor practices. Think of their opposition to environmental regulations, building codes, and life-saving surgery for women with ectopic pregnancies.

If being “pro-life” is more to you than a slogan for gaining power, remember that the Democrats are the party with a real track record of protecting lives. Do not be deceived by culture-war rhetoric into going against your own best interests.

The civil marriage equality I helped win in DC has only been on the books for 14 years. The Obergefell ruling making our marriage rights nationwide was only nine years ago. If we value the progress that we and those who came before us have made, we must stand clearly and firmly against those who would see it undone.▼

Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist at rrosendall@me.com.

windsor's

“ WHERE FLOWERS SPEAK A BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE”

FLORIST SHOP • GREENHOUSES

20326 Coastal Highway • Rehoboth Beach, DE (Next to Arena’s Café)

302-227-9481

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

(Continued from page 63)

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Clear Space Theatre: Jeff Rowe, Ida Rowe, Joe Gfaller, David Button, Chris Berg, Terry Kistler, John Hulse, Lisa Graff, Joanna Glaze, James Riddle, Rick Nazzaro, Dan Carney, Elli Oechsler, Brandon Swain, Robb Mapou, April Armstrong, Tony Burns, Bruce Clayton; 2) at Polar Bear Plunge Chili Contest: Katherine Mavequill, Yolanda Pineda (Mariachi), Matt Littleton, Tony Rosales, Michael Stefanowicz, Mark Lenard, Michael White, Paul Weiss, Chad Baylor (Chesapeake & Maine), Eric Romero, Mit Patel (Dos Locos), Juanita Peterson, DJ Simon (Tiki Jac’s), Janet Hynes, Dean Yanchulis (Nalu), Claire Snyder-Hall, Mikki Snyder-Hall (Kiwi’s Kove)

OPPOSITE PAGE: 3) at Coastal Concerts 25th Anniversary: Richard Scalenghe, Carol Dennis, Wolfram Koessel, Peter Winograd, Laurie Carney, Daniel Avshalomov; 4) at Blue Moon: Lorne Crawford, Ivy Kepner, Riess Livaudais, Mark Pipkin, Brooks Woodward, Karl Zoric; 5) at The Pines: Paul Frene, Jeff McCracken, Christian Pinto, Bob McCollar, John Potthast, Jay Chalmers, Kim Strickland, Jamie Thompson, Amy Thompson; 6) at Peninsula Gallery: Carol Boyd-Heron, Michael Sprouse, Lynette Shelly, Brandon Ross, Barry Koplowitz, Laurence Schwinger; 7) at Eden: Scott, Shields, Tracy Shields, Mark Hunker; 8) at Salt Air: Tom Newton, Tony Burns, Jess Baum, John Hackett; 9) at Rehoboth Art League Opening Reception: Lync Newberry, Sean Norris. ▼

Q Puzzle What Cyndi Does Solution on Page 84

ACROSS

1 They won’t pose for nude photos

6 Perfect serves from Mauresmo

10 “Why, ___ delighted!”

14 “Lesbians ignite!” e.g.

15 Hiker’s snack

16 Kahlo’s cross

17 Word after “pinky”

18 Diva’s piece

19 BrontÎ woman

20 Start of a Cyndi Lauper quote

23 Get hard

24 Floor coverings

25 The 411

28 Chemist’s workplace

31 Accusations of pedophilia, e.g.

34 Swiss town with a bear mascot

35 Gave a pink slip to

37 Nancy Clue creator Maney

38 It may come before long

39 More of the quote

41 Breeder need

42 “Do” equivalent for the von Trapps

44 Roman deity identified with Diana

45 Carpenter’s connector

46 Lili Taylor’s ___ Pizza

48 Get dressed, with “up”

49 Goes out with

50 Part of UTEP

51 Blind rage

53 End of the quote

61 Wilde country

62 Quartet after a desertion

63 Sal of Rebel Without a Cause

64 Begin to wake up

65 Fairy tale bad guy

66 Kind of bear

67 Jodie Foster’s Little Man

68 Naysayers’ words

69 What Queer Eye gives to straight guys

DOWN

1 Schoolyard retort

2 Like recently cut leaves of grass

3 Ted Casablanca bit

4 Decides not to go

5 Throng of people

6 Tutti-frutti ingredient

7 Stick it in your bunghole

8 Lake of Ohio ferries

9 Orgasms, e.g.

10 Brewed drink for teetotallers

11 Like a member needing lube?

12 Hide well

13 Former lovers

21 Words on a shingle

22 Representative Baldwin

25 Erection supporter

26 Socially challenged

27 Allen Ginsberg, for example

29 Doug Mattis leap

30 Humdinger

32 Stage show

33 Supporters in the bedroom

36 Bond foe

39 Like Emma Donoghue

40 Harry Potter’s field

43 Place for trinkets

45 His poems inspired Cats

47 “___ Blossom” (Show Boat song)

52 Easy wins

53 Top

54 First name among lesbian writers

55 And so

56 k.d. lang record label

57 Coral hanky fetish

58 Etheridge’s “I’m the ___ One”

59 Kind of time

60 Needing BenGay

2 8 - T H E Y O U N G D U B L I N E R S

M A R 2 9 - F L Y I N G I V O R I E S : D u e l i n g

A P R 3 - D E L M A R V A B I G B A

A P R 4 - T H E F O U R H O R S E M E N : M e t a l l i c a T r i b

Deep Inside Hollywood

Stormy Daniels, in Her Own Words

In the documentary, Stormy, the porn star/dating show host Stormy Daniels—come on, you haven’t watched her tear it up on the wild OutTV queer dating series For the Love of DILFS yet?—gets to explain herself the way she’s always wanted. From director Sarah Gibson and executive producer Judd Apatow, the film follows the woman who helped expose yet another ugly aspect of Donald Trump as she navigates the sudden mainstream fame and political controversy that surrounded her. Reinvention can be tough, of course, but the bold, unflinching way Daniels has conducted herself in the wake of a scandal involving a sitting US President has been nothing short of inspiring so this is a doc to dive into. You can catch it on Peacock on March 18. Team Stormy! ▼

Kevin Williamson Returns to Rear Window

Kevin Williamson, the queer creator behind the Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer franchises, has just signed a multi-project development deal with Universal Television. Among the series in the pipeline are an adaptation of the Ruth Ware novel, The It Girl; a version of David Fincher’s film, The Game; an original project called The Waterfront; and, perhaps most excitingly, a reboot/ reimagining of the Alfred Hitchcock classic, Rear Window. One of the most beloved thrillers in film

history, it’s the story of a man who, in the process of observing the neighbors in his apartment building, witnesses actions that make him think a murder has occurred. The 1954 film starred Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly (and gay acting legend Raymond Burr as the suspiciously behaving neighbor) and, while no actors have signed on for the remake yet, this is absolutely going to be the kind of project actors will beg their agents to get them into the casting conversation. More on this one as it moves forward. ▼

BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE

The Uglies Look Good for Netflix

In a future dystopia, society will impose cosmetic surgery at age 16 for anyone not attractive enough to keep living, and those who reject their turn to become Pretty-with-a-capital-P wind up running away. That’s the premise of The Uglies, a new film from McG, based on the novel Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld. Coming this year to Netflix, the movie stars Joey King (who also produced) as a teenage girl who runs away to save a friend who rejected the surgery, and whose own life is changed by the process. Co-starring Keith Powers (The New Edition Story) and queer superstar Laverne Cox, it has the feeling of Logan’s Run for a new generation—in that one they killed you at age 30 no matter how hot you were—and we’re very much up for a dystopian thriller where everyday human traits like crooked teeth become the deadliest liabilities. It’s already wrapped, so we can’t give advice to the filmmakers at this point, but we’re really hoping for some wild, Botched-level characters populating the scenery. ▼

No Good Deed Adds More Queer Cast Members to the Lease

We already reported on lesbian TV creator Liz Feldman’s (Dead to Me) latest comedy project for Netflix, No Good Deed, starring Abbi Jacobson, Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow, Teyonah Parris, and Linda Cardellini. The eight-episode series revolves around multiple people vying to buy the same piece of property in the white-hot (meaning if you have to ask you can’t afford it) Los Angeles housing market. Now the cast has expanded to include gay comic actor Matt Rogers (Fire Island) and The L Word icon Kate Moennig. That means more queer bidders to battle over this fictional house and we are already rooting for them to crush the competition. If you’ve seen Dead to Me you already know that Feldman knows how to mine stress and discomfort for laughs—our favorite brand of comedy, really—so keep this one on your radar when it drops later this year. ▼

Romeo San Vicente has reinvented himself more times than Madonna.

Joyce A. Sexton

Joyce A. Sexton, 85, a former Texas resident, passed Sunday, February 18, 2024, at her home in Rehoboth Beach, with her wife, Terrie Kifer, by her side.

Joyce was born in Denton, Texas, February 23, 1938. She is predeceased by her parents, Wilton Benson and Velma Gertrude Rainey; her husband, Harrell Lloyd Sexton; and younger brother, Wilton Charles Rainey.

She is survived by her wife, Terrie Kifer; daughter, Kim Denise Mace (William Patrick Mace); and younger brother, Donald Wayne Rainey (Paula K. Rainey).

Joyce had two grandchildren, Tristan Parker Mace (Jordan) and William Kyle Mace (Heidi); and was blessed with three great-grandchildren. In addition, Joyce had many nieces and nephews.

Joyce’s career was launched as a secretary in Ft. Worth, Texas. She later qualified and worked for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Her career flourished through her hard work and determination. She held various positions in the United States and abroad. She ultimately retired as air traffic manager of Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center. Her stories of visiting Camp David

Charles Edward (Eddie) Major lll

Charles Edward (Eddie) Major III passed away on December 30, 2023, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Eddie was born April 7, 1964, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles and Janet Major; he was the oldest of three siblings.

In 1981 Eddie graduated from high school as a junior, then went to the University of Maryland where he got his master’s degree. He then graduated from Graham Webb Academy in Arlington, Virginia.

Eddie moved to Rehoboth Beach in the late 80s and got his first job at the Blue Moon working as bartender. He worked in different places until he opened his own hair salon on Rehoboth Avenue, Major Hair Designs, which he was very proud of. In 2013 he went into retail and went to work for Polo, Ralph Lauren.

Eddie loved his family, friends, and fur babies. He loved music, paintings, and crafts. One of his greatest gifts was his wonderful sense of humor. He always had a story to share of all those years living and working in Rehoboth, a town he loved and was proud of for being a sanctuary for the gay community.

Eddie is survived by his husband, Luis Martinez; his mother, Janet Major; his brother, Michael, and sister-in-law,

Shawn; his little sister, Pamela Major; several nephews, a great grand-niece, and great grand-nephew; and Paco, his cat.

“Love your God with all your heart and treat people the way you want to be treated,” was how Eddie lived his life. Until I see you again to spend eternity together, rest easy my beloved husband.

A private viewing was held on January 5, 2024, at Parsell Funeral Home.

Any donations to honor Eddie can be sent to CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971 (camprehoboth.com). ▼

and attending White House meetings were always interesting.

After retirement, she continued to excel in the aviation field as a consultant and liaison to the FAA. Joyce was very active and supported the Professional Women Controllers organization.

Joyce was full of life and loved to travel. She enjoyed singing, dancing, and cruising. There were many fun days boating and enjoying the beach. She was blessed with many friends and a loving family. At her request, no service was held. ▼

Nannette Grimes

Nannette Grimes, beloved wife of Mimi McKennan, daughter of Nada Lowry Grimes, and mother of bird-son (African grey parrot) Makeeba Waddles, departed this life Saturday, February 10, 2024. She was preceded in death by her father, William Randolph Grimes, and many beloved pets.

Nannette grew up in Loudoun County, Virginia. She lived and worked as an attorney in Frederick and Talbot counties in Maryland. Subsequently, she served the State of Maryland as a hearing officer in the Department of Labor Office of Hearings and Appeals. Always ready for new challenges and ways to help others, Nannette recently obtained the necessary training and licenses to pursue a new career as a financial advisor in Lewes. Nannette loved the beach, all living creatures, art, music, and all things unusual and unique.

A memorial service was held March 8, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rehoboth Beach. Those wishing to make a memorial gift are asked to donate in Nannette’s memory to Humane Animal Partners Delaware, humaneanimalpartners.org/give. ▼

William “Bill” Kelly

William Daniel “Bill” Kelly, 95, of Milton, passed away peacefully the morning of Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, having battled complications for three years from two strokes suffered in January 2021.

He was born September 25, 1928, to Clarence Allen Kelly and Emily Lucille Edwards in Toccoa, Georgia.

Bill was a veteran of both the US Army, which he joined in 1946, where he was stationed in post-war Germany, and the US Air Force, which he joined in 1953, where he was stationed in post-war Japan. He was discharged in 1957 and loved to tell stories of his time served in both Germany and Japan.

After training to be an electrician in the Air Force, Bill secured a job as an electronics technician for RCA and later GE. Bill spent most of his career working in the field across the continental US and Alaska, often for months at a time. He loved talking about the time he worked at the top of the Sears Tower building in Chicago and at the Today Show studio in New York City. Bill loved his job.

In July of 1964, Bill met the love of his life, Ronald “Ron” Tipton, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

During their long life together, Bill and Ron lived in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and Philadelphia and Downingtown, Pennsylvania. They eventually moved to Delaware for their

retirement years. To their friends and neighbors, the lives of Bill and Ron were a love story.

Bill is survived by his loving partner and husband of 59 years, and his devoted caregiver for the last three years of his life, Ron Tipton. Bill is also survived by his niece, Joyce Brown MacFarlin, of Cornelia, Georgia.

Funeral services were private. ▼

CROSSWORD PUZZLE SOLUTION

Fourth-Page-V

(puzzle on page 78)

Don’t

CAMP Rehoboth Volunteer Opportunities

to all the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Volunteers for the period:

1/19/24 - 3/1/24

WOMEN’S FEST

Join in the fun, entertainment, sports, and tradition by volunteering at the CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST! With over 25 events over four days, many people are needed to make this a success.

CROP: CAMP REHOBOTH OUTREACH PROGRAM

The CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) is constantly working to cultivate community and strengthen relationships and the connections between us all. Check the site for monthly volunteer opportunities. Sign up at camprehoboth.com/volunteers.

Your volunteer efforts benefit you and others.

☐

Send your check for $50 to CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. If you prefer to use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express call 302-227-5620.

— PLEASE VISIT — camprehoboth.com/volunteers to register as a volunteer and to sign up for available opportunities.

THANK YOU

ACCESSIBILITY

Hope Vella

ADVOCACY TEAM

Daniel Bruner

David Garrett

Leslie Ledogar

Sherri McGee

ARTS TEAM

Logan Farro

Jane Knaus

Lois Powell

Leslie Sinclair

Patricia Stiles

Debbie Woods

CAMP ADMIN

Sherri McGee

CAMP DATABASE

Sondra Arkin

CAMP LIBRARY

Glenn Lash

CAMP MAINTENANCE

Carol Brice

Eric Korpon

CAMP REHOBOTH OPEN HOUSE

Vincent DeLissio

Larry Rosen

Teri Seaton

Patricia Stiles

Russell Stiles

CAMP REHOBOTH CHORUS USHERS

Rick Buske

Debbie Cali

Yvonne Cipressi

Bob Croker

Lisa Cummings

Donna Dolce

Karen Folger

Marilyn Hewitt

Peggy Hughes

Dawn Kasow

Leslie Ledogar

Kathleen Lehmann

Marcia McCollum-Martin

CeCe Mitrani

Lois Powell

Wendi Schirvar

Susan Taylor

CAMP THEATRE

Teri Seaton

Russell Stiles

CAMPCIERGES

Barbara Breault

Ken Currier

Bob Grant

Jim Mease

Kim Nelson

Patricia Stiles

Russell Stiles

Joe Vescio

CAMPSAFE CONDOM STUFFING PARTY

Judy Cather

Mark Eubanks

William Graff

Shawn McHugh

Barb Ralph

Doug Sellers

Rachel Summers

Dave Walker

CAMPSAFE HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING

Dick Hospital

E.J. Kenyon

Mike Merena

Sharon Morgan

Joe Vescio

CAMPSHOTS PHOTO VOLUNTEERS

G Michael Beigay

Tony Burns

Vincent DeLissio

David Garrett

CHORUS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

Bill Fuchs

Dianna Johnston

Carolyn Laurenzo

Judy Olsen

Gloria Richards

Dave Scuccimarra

Travis Stevens

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Amanda Mahony

Albanese

Jane Blue

Pat Catanzariti

Wes Combs

Mike DeFlavia

LETTERS DISTRIBUTION TEAM

Glenn Lash

Jim Mease

LETTERS MAILING TEAM

Nancy Hewish

Grant Kingswell

Vicki Martina

Stephen Palmer

Linda Yingst

LETTERS PROOFING

Barb Ralph

LOVE YOURSELF: A SELF-CARE EVENT

Mark Eubanks

Kathy McGuinness

Doug Sellers

VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Madelyn Jablon

Marcia McCollum-Martin

Jim Mease

Kim Nelson

Rina Pellegrini

John Michael Sophos

Joe Vescio

CAMELOT MEADOWSRehoboth. 2000 3BR/2BA doublewide is 1,680 sq. ft. Family room with fireplace. Community pool & just 3.5 miles to beach. $200,000 (2051848) Lot Rent $693/mt.

*A/C

SUN RETREATS - Millsboro. 3BR/1BA 2016 Skyline Park Model w/ enclosed porch. Nice kit. Big bath. FP in LV. Marina, pool & more. $112,000 (2053018) Lot Rent $6,661 for the Season 4/15-10/31

A SPEN MEADOWSRehoboth. 1988 2BR/2BA is 1,140 sq. ft. Features a fully fenced backyard! Community pool. 4 miles to beach. $155,000 (2055860) Lot Rent $894/mt.

REHOBOTH SHORES - Long Neck. 1994 2BR/2BA 14’x70’ home has a fully fenced yard. Split bedroom plan. Marina! Community pool & playground. $79,800 (2054514) Lot Rent $677/mt.

ANGOLA BEACH -Lewes. 2019 3BR/2BA. Screened porch & open deck. Fenced yard. Community pools, marina. 10 miles to bch. $215,000 (2056218) Lot Rent $784/mt. includes water & sewer.

SEA AIR -Rehoboth. 2BR/1BA 2015 Forest River 36’ RV w/3 slide-outs. Nice kitchen. Sleeps 6-9 people. Community pool & 3 miles to beach. $42,500 (2050802) Seasonal 4/15-11/15 $5,250 Rent

POT-NETS BAYSIDELong Neck. 1970 3BR/1BA is approx. 1,300 sq. ft. Water views. Nice kitchen. Family room. Screened porch. So many amenities! $129,900 (2052248) Lot Rent $689/mt.

ANGOLA ESTATES -Lewes. 1988 3BR/2BA is 1,344sf. Nicely remodeled kitchen & baths. Vinyl plank flooring. Marina/pool community. 10 miles to bch. $175,000 (2056634) Lot Rent $722/mt.

2BR/1BA 2017 Forest River 28’ RV w/2 slides. Indoor & outdoor kitchens. Community pool & 3 miles to bch. $42,500 (2050802) Seasonal 4/15-11/15 $6,160 Rent for corner lot

POT-NETS BAYSIDELong Neck. 2006 3BR/2BA. 1,344 sq. ft. with wrap-around porch & fenced yard. 0.20 acres. Furnished w/2 golf carts. Marina community. $270,000 (2056236) Lot Rent $1,041/mt.

water & sewer.

SEA AIR -Rehoboth.

A SPEN MEADOWSRehoboth. 1991 3BR/2BA has “Aspen Room” + 10’x20’ sunroom for 1,306 sq. ft. Community pool & 4 miles to RB boardwalk. $169,900 (2053864) Lot Rent $788/mt.

COLONIAL EAST - Rehoboth Beach. Updated 1976 3BR/1BA with screened porch Shed. Community pool. Just 4 miles to the Rehoboth or Lewes beaches. $75,000 (2048249) Lot Rent $619/mt.

IRON HORSE RANCHLewes. +/- 2-acre lot on a private lane just off of Beaver Dam Rd. Public water & sewer avail (sewer impact fee already paid). $399,900 (2051768)

COLONIAL EAST - Rehoboth Beach. Remodeled 2005 3BR/2BA doublewide. Shed w/elec. Community pool. 4 miles to Rehoboth & Lewes beaches. $164,500 (2052192) Lot Rent $853/mt.

ANGOLA BEACH -Lewes. Remodeled 1973 4BR/2BA. Water views from front deck. Shed. Marina/pool community is 10 miles to bch. $209,000 (2055630) Lot Rent $734/mt. includes water & sewer

ANGOLA BEACH - Lewes. 1978 3BR/1.5BA home has 10’x30’ sunroom. Fenced yard. Furnished. Community pools, marina. 10 miles to bch. $115,000 (2056560) Lot Rent $715/mt. includes