CommUNITY Newsletter Fall 2020

commUNITY

FALL 2020 VOL 6 ISSUE 3

Table of Contents

4-5. The Pride Center Oral History Project 11. Self-Care & Work-Life Balance‌

18. Protecting the LGBTQ Community

8-9. Trans Day of Remembrance at the Pride Center

12-16. Mattachine Society Members

Were Early Crusaders for Quee Rights

19-20. LGBTQ Candidates Made Strides in 2020 Elections

Board Members Board Officers

President: Cynthia Bott Vice President: Scott Levine Treasurer: Stephanie Slominski CIA Secretary: Meghan Baxter

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Board Members Atsushi Akera David Kahn David Reed Joanne Georges John Daniels Lance Rider Maggie Morrison Mackenzie Valentine Robbie Gardner Ulysses deArmas Victoria Esposito

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Saying Goodbye

Cynthia Bott, Board President

D

ear Pride Center Community Member, My term as Board President expires at the end of this year. When I joined the board in 2016, I had no idea circumstances would call me into the role of Board President. I was raised with the belief that volunteer service is a responsibility; when called to service, one must respond.

Thus, I found myself in the role of Board President in 2017.

It has been a tumultuous four years. Programs and services have grown under the leadership

of Pride Center staff and volunteer facilitators. We have had several very successful Pride celebrations. The board is robust and diverse and stands ready to guide the center through the pandemic’s challenges. I will miss the day-to-day involvement and faces I have grown used to seeing regularly, but I look forward to a respite before finding other ways to serve our community. I am aware of the challenges within our community and the need for ongoing conversation and action so that all members of our community receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

I have met many remarkable and wonderful individuals over the last four years. Two of them are John Daniels and Ulysses deArmas, both of whom will be assuming leadership positions as the New Year begins. John will be the new Board President, and Ulysses will be our new second Vice President. Please welcome and support them in their new roles.

A heartfelt thanks for all of your support of the Pride Center over these many years.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Bott

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The Pride Center Oral History Project

By Cynthia Bott, PC Board President

When the Pride Center began planning the celebration of our 50th anniversary COVID had not even been imagined. As the realities of the pandemic settled in and restrictions began to be imposed, we had to alter plans, and like many nonprofits, figure out ways to continue providing services to the community on a reduced budget. Thankfully, we were able to forge ahead with plans for an oral history project because of the capacity to conduct the interviews virtually.

Working with Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Senior Historian and Curator for Social History with the NY State Museum, interviews began earlier this year. Potential interviewees were identified by contacts of the center and through a review of the Pride Center Archives in the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, housed at SUNY Albany. Those who had been interviewed were also instrumental in identifying other potential candidates. As you might imagine, finding members of our community who were instrumental in the center’s founding and the early years proved to be a challenge. Some of those important people are still with us, but others have died, and some simply could not be located. Ashley continues this important work that will become part of the permanent collection of the NY State Museum.

In addition, the interviews were used to create a documentary previewed at our 50th Jubilee. Filmmaker John Romeo donated his time and skill to craft a 30-minute documentary highlighting different themes that emerged and our center’s history. Both John and Ashley served with grace, considering the restrictions of our budget and the complete disregard of deadlines.

I was 11 years old when the Pride Center was founded. Watching the documentary and listening to the interviews reminded me that much of the freedom I enjoy today is because I am able to stand on the shoulders of those who were willing to put reputation and safety at risk to grow and nurture our community. All of us owe a debt to those who came before, and all of us have an 4

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obligation to lift up those who come after us.

Special thanks to David Kahn, board member and Executive Director of the Adirondack Museum, who facilitated Ashley’s introduction and kept pushing for the project. Additional thanks to Ashley and John, who have treated this project with respect and care. Finally, heartfelt thanks to those who sat for an interview and shared your experiences, preserving a vital part of history for the LGBTQ movement and the Pride Center.

Those individuals are: Nancy Burton Richard Conti Gloria DeSole Judy Disco Scott Edward Judith Fetterley Candace Groudine Sheila Healy Scott Levine Paul Leyden Joanne Mattera Maggie Morrison Ken Mortensen Frieda Munchon Gary Pavlic Libby Post Ken Screven Stephanie Slominski Keith St. John Cindy Swadba Vince Quackenbush Dr. Ray Werking Gwen Wright THANK YOU!

Do not fret if you missed the Jubilee. We will be releasing parts of the documentary and snippets from the interviews as we move through the holiday season in conjunction with our holiday fundraising. Our goal this year was to raise $100,000 to keep us operating through 2021. We are well on the way with the $40,000 raised through the Jubilee but need your assistance to keep moving forward. Please consider making a donation to the Pride Center today so we may continue to provide much-needed services, repair our building, and survive the economic impact of the pandemic.

Thanks, Cynthia Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Ashley.Hopkins-Benton@nysed.gov John Romeo PhatAkter Productions, LLC Romeoactor@gmail.com

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E DI T ORIA L

Letter from Executive Director

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Martha Harvey, Executive Director/CEO

020! Am I right? 2020 has been an exceedingly stressful year for all of us. And like every seriously challenging time in history, it has shown us the very best of ourselves and each other. As the year winds down and the holidays approach, we know that even though this year has been unlike any other, we remain stronger together, even if “getting together” means looking at each other on a computer screen.

We have all been afforded the opportunity to reevaluate what in life is really important. That family,

whether blood or chosen, means everything. Community means everything. And when forced to discover new ways to stay connected, we rise to the occasion and take stock of what we know for sure – that love and compassion, in many varied forms, can carry us through any strife.

You, as a member or ally of the LGBTQ community, understand the significance of the role that you play. Many of you graciously shared your personal stories of the Pride Center for the 50th Anniversary Video that was created this year in partnership with the New York State Museum. Others of you joined us for a safe, socially distanced “50th Anniversary Jubilee” held at the Jericho Drive-in. Many of you learned how to use Zoom and joined our virtual support groups. Others have donated their time, talent, and treasure throughout these past eight months to help keep the Pride Center going.

It should not come as a shock that, like many other non-profit organizations, the Pride Center of the Capital Region is struggling to stay afloat. Not being able to host our biggest fundraiser of the year due to the ongoing pandemic was certainly not how we wanted to celebrate our 50th birthday and has forced us to make staffing and program changes.

And so we must lean on you – our community members, our allies, our family – to pull us through this dark time. With your continued support, we can and will not only survive but thrive!

Please consider making a year-end, tax-deductible gift to the Pride Center of the Capital Region. Together we remain NY Tough! Keep love in your heart and stay six feet apart.

Sincerely,

Martha Harvey 6

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Thanks for making a difference in our community Bank of America recognizes Pride Center of the Capital Region. Community leaders like you are a vital resource and inspiration to us all. Thanks to you, progress is being made and our community is becoming a better place to live and work.

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/local.

Š2019 Bank of America Corporation | AR64WX5V | ENT-216-AD

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“#TDOR Trans day of remembrance. Dia deb la memoria trans.” by francisperezs is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Trans Day of Remembrance at the Pride Center

By Atsushi Akera, PC Board Member

The Transgender Day of Remembrance, or TDoR, was founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a day of remembrance for Rita Hester of Allston, Massachusetts. Hester was murdered due to transphobic violence, and such events, since its inception, evolved into an internationally recognized day for memorializing all transgender individuals killed for their identity.

Officially and across the world, we observe TDoR on November 20th. It complements the Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV on March 31st. The Trans Pride Social/Discussion Group met virtually on 11/17/20 to conduct our own TDoR memorial service.

Willow Harris, Trans Pride co-facilitator, conducted this service.

Our service revolved around the individuals killed in the United States during this past year. The service, which started at 6:10 pm, consisted of Harris providing a brief history of TDoR. Next, we streamed a powerful video-poem read by Max Binder & 8

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Mo Crist, “Real Boy/Real Girl,” from the College Unions 2016 Poetry Slam in Invitational, Austin, TX. Then read of the poem, “Say Their Names,” by Angela Bridgeman (Nov. 2017) and finally, a reading of the individual names.

We should note that in the United States, BIPOC and especially Black individuals bear a tremendously disproportionate burden of the transphobic violence that exists in this country. This was apparent from the names read during the memorial service. The individuals remembered during the event began with Aerrion Burnett, Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears, Angel Unique.

They continued until all 35 people that we were able to identify for this service were recognized. We also added several people’s names, including Alexa Negrón Luciano and Michelle “Michellyn” Ramos Vargas, who were killed in Puerto Rico this past year. Like the #BLM movement, the event centers on naming and de-

picting individuals killed by violence and ensure that they are remembered. Still, it is also an event designed to push us towards the broad acceptance of our community. We closed with a moment of silence for the named individuals.

Organization and resources, which are posted on the GLAAD Transgender Day of Remembrance page here, include the following: • Anti-Violence Project • International Transgender Day of Remembrance • National Center for Transgender Equality • Sylvia Rivera Law Project • Trans Women of Color Collective • Transgender Europe’s Trans Murder Monitoring Project • Transgender Law Center • TransJustice at the Audre Lorde Project Donations to assist with transgender awareness and acceptance may be made with any of these organizations, or locally, by donating to the Pride Center of the Capital Region.

Aerrion Burnett, 37 Missouri, US

Dustin Parker, 25 Oklahoma, US

Riah Milton, 25 Ohio, US

Serena Angelique Velázquez Ramos, 32 Humacao, PR

Alexa Negrón Luciano Toa Baja, PR

Marilyn Cazares, 22 California, US

Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears, 34 Oregon, US

Merci Mack, 22 Texas, US

Angel Unique, 25 Tennesse, US

Michelle Michellyn Ramos Vargas, 33 San German, PR

Brayla Stone, 17 Arkansas, US

Monika Diamond, 34 North Carolina, US

Bree Black, 27 Florida, US

Neulisa Luciano Ruiz Toa Baja, PR

Brian “Egypt’ Powers, 43 Ohio, US

Nina Pop, 28 Missouri, US

Brooklyn Deshauna Smith, 20 Louisiana, US

Penélope Díaz Ramírez, 31 Bayamón, US

Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells, 27 Pennsylvania, US

Queasha D. Hardy, 22 Louisiana, US

Felycya Harris, 33 Georgia, US

Sara Blackwood, 39 Indiana, US

Helle Jae O’Regan, 20 Texas, US

Selena Reyes-Hernandez, 37 Illinois, US

Jayne Thompson, 33 Colorado, US

Shaki Peters, 32 Louisiana, US

Johanna Metzger Maryland, US

Summer Taylor, 24 Washington, US

Kee Sam, 24 Louisiana, US

Tiffany Harris, 32 New York, US

Layla Pelaez Sánchez, 21 Humacao, US

Tony McDade, 38 Florida, US

Lexi, 33 New York, US

Tracy “Mia” Green, 29 Pennsylvania, US Yampi Méndez Arocho, 19 Moca, PR

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50th Anniversary Jubilee Recap On October 17, 2020, in lieu of our annual Awards Gala, we hosted a small, safe, socially distanced fundraiser and celebration at the Jericho Drive-in. With the amazing support that we received from our corporate partners, ticket sales, and generous donations from many of you, we were able to raise close to $40,000 with this event. Much needed funds to support our programs and services.

At this pandemic-influenced event, we screened the Pride Center’s 50th Anniversary Documentary, created in partnership with Ashley Hopkins-Benton from the New York State Museum and editing donated by John Romeo of Phat Productions. A special Thank You to Bonita Zahn for emceeing the event.

A very special thank you to our corporate partners:

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Alliance for Positive Health

Hannaford

Barefoot Wine/Empire Merchants

I Heart Media

Beekman 1802

M&T Bank

CDTA

Rivers Casino

Copps DiPaola Silverman, PLLC

ROCKS

Craig LeClaire Falvey Real Estate Group

SEFCU

Fly92

Waterworks Pub

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Self-Care & WorkLife Balance…

What Does This Mean for Us?

By Jen Maley-Wheeler LMSW, Director of Case Management and Training

As we enter our ninth month of quarantine, social distancing, and wearing masks, many of us continue to struggle with adjusting to this new “normal.” Experiencing an increase in depression, anxiety, or even alcohol or other substance use, COVID-19 has a toll on our mental health. So how are we, as a society, taking care of ourselves and each other?

Self-care means taking part in activities that deliberately engage the care-taking of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Good practice of self-care helps address our mood, relationships, and overall well-being.

Self-care is not something we force ourselves to do; rather, they are activities we enjoy with the benefit of feeling renewed.

Aside from the usual exercise recommendations, spending time with loved ones, and having a well-balanced diet, what are some ways you can practice selfcare? To share, I actively engage in mindfulness practice through crocheting, cross-stitching, and enjoying the outdoors. A simple way to describe mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment without judgment.

For me, crocheting and cross-stitching allow me to stay

in the present moment by concentrating on the stitch counts while at the same time relaxing my body and my brain. I experience tension release, decreased anxiety, and a renewed energy for the day – not to mention the end result is a rewarding work of art.

With our busy schedules, we may be asking ourselves, “When do I have time to practice self-care?”.

This is where the importance of work-life balance comes in. Whether we work part-time, full-time, attend school, or are a stay-at-home parent or full-time caregiver, work-life balance is critical to our overall health. By doing simple things like making a realistic daily “to-do” list, taking periodic breaks, asking for help from co-workers and peers, and not expecting perfection while at work, you too can begin enjoying a sense of work-life balance.

It’s also helpful to actively separate work tasks, such as e-mails and phone calls, from your home life. Essentially, make time for yourself.

Do you have a way of practicing self-care and work-life balance that you would like to share with others? I would love to hear from you and to post your activities and suggestions in our next newsletter. So, send me an e-mail at jmaleywheeler@capitalpridecenter.org.

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Obituary for Mattachine Member, Dick Leitsch

By Lance Rider, PC Board Member

As we prepare to look back on 2020, we will look further back to a time before Stonewall, before the founding of The Pride Center, and a time when homosexuality was criminalized and considered a mental illness by the medical community.

It was a time where being gay could lead to jail, loss of employment, loss of family, and in some cases, your life.

During this time, a group of incredibly brave men came together to form one of the secret societies of the 1950s. Dick Leitsch, one of the early LGBTQ movement architects and a President of the Mattachine Society of New York, passed away this past June. This article reminds us of the struggles before Stonewall and to fight those that still wish to put us in a closet.

Our history is not only the last 50 years of The Pride Center, the past 51 years since Stonewall, or even the past 80 years of the Mattachine Society. It is human history, and we should continue to learn it and become aware of our collective past.

As Lady Gaga says, “You Were Born This Way.”

Mattachine Society Members Were Early Crusaders for Queer Rights

By John McDonald, South Florida Gay News

Lost in the celebrations of this year’s Pride was the death of a historical crusader for LGBT rights. The passing of Dick Leitsch was a reminder of the role secret societies played in mid-20th century America.

Leitsch, who died June 22, led the New York chapter of the Mattachine Society. The West Coast-based soci-

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ety ceased operations around 1973, but a memorial to Mattachine Society continues to this day in New York City. On Friday morning, Daniel answered the telephone at Julius NYC to confirm the once-a-month party.

“They made a difference,” Daniel said. “They were extreme.”

Daniel added it was “sad” that

young people don’t know of this important period in queer rights. The Mattachine Society was an early gay rights group that, in many ways, is shrouded in mystery. And for some, mainly younger LGBT people, it can feel like an entirely new subject in the queer history of America. But knowing the history of this group’s members is important because they were the beginning of LGBT advocacy and support in the US. Founded in 1950 in Los Angeles, pre-Stonewall Riots, Mattachine grew from an underground social gathering into a public service agency, which is now celebrated through modern dance parties. Harry Hay, a man of many tastes and orientations, led the society at its inception.

And yet, its mere mention still does not register with many in the LGBT community. The Mattachine SociCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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CommUNITY ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Call For Submissions From LGBTQ Artists Submit Your Work to CommUNITY Are you an emerging artist or an inspired photographer in the capital region? Looking to reach new audiences, engage with the LGBTQ network, or gain exposure? We’re inviting you to submit your work to the CommUNITY newsletter!

We’d love to archive and publish the work of the creative and beautiful LGBTQ artists in the Capital Region.

ACCEPTED MEDIA: • Photography • Digital Art • Drawings • Art & Exhibit Gallery Details SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: 1. All contributions must be in high resolution (at least 300 dpi).

2. Provide a Word Document with your name, age, and media description.

3. Provide no more than a 200 word personal bio.

4. Submitters must be Capital-Region based/local.

5. Upload submissions to the following URL:

https://bit.ly/3frsXRD

*POC, transgender, those with disabilities, and older adults are strongly encouraged to apply or depicted in the work.

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Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady always strives to better the community through partnerships and charitable donations. We are proud to support the Pride Center of the Capital Region.

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Mattachine Society Members Were Early Crusaders for Queer Rights CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

ety existed during a time in America when it was not possible to be openly gay.

In the time before the Stonewall riots of the late 1960s, many gay men and women were living double lives in opposite-sex relationships. It took a radical fairy, like Hay, to establish the Mattachine Society as an important and viable networking group.

Under Hay’s reign, the Mattachine Society’s existence was characterized as a masquerading society of fools.

“In those days, the late Senator McCarthy was carrying on in Washington and seemed to be unable to differentiate between a homosexual and a communist, and many reacted very strongly to this,” said Dick Leitsch, past president of the New York Mattachine Society in a 1969 radio interview with WNYC. Leitsch died of liver cancer at a Manhattan hospice. He was 83.

Mattachine Society members were groundbreaking activists. They were brave men willing to organize in secret, knowing they could face disastrous outcomes if their sexuality was made known to the public—pioneers for a culture.

“Mattachines were court jesters of the 13th Century,” Leitsch told WNYC. “And they wore funny masks, and they camped around a lot and acted silly, but underneath the silliness, they were speaking truth to the King, and sometimes they were the only

people in the Kingdom who could get away with it.”

Archival documents and notes of the group’s membership are still rather difficult to obtain. Papers on the Mattachine Society can be found at the One Archives at the University of Southern California. The ONE archives -- the largest repository of LGBT materials worldwide -- have credible and extensive documentation of this once-secret society. Documents include notes from business and planning committee meetings.

There is also a photograph from a holiday party showing Hay -- one of the participants in Alfred C. Kinsey’s famous study of sexuality -- and seven other men sitting around a decorated tree. Another file contains audio from a 1961 hearing on homosexual rights in Los Angeles.

Martin Meeker, 47, is the director at the Oral History Center at UC-Berkeley. He has researched the Mattachine Society under the leadership of Hal Call and Don Lucas.

“Mattachine Society was run by people who recognized that the greatest problem faced by gay men and lesbians was their lack of access to information and their isolation from one another,” Meeker said. “Under the leadership of Hal Call and Don Lucas, the Mattachine Society sought to spread objective information about homosexuality and end the isolation of gay people across the country.”

Hay, an avowed Communist, led the Mattachine Society in 1952. Meeker’s evaluation is Call and Lucas were more effective in leading Mattachine as they sought to influence opinions of experts through the publications and circulation of information.

“By 1954, Hal Call was allowing his name to be printed in the San Francisco Chronicle as the head of this homosexual organization,” Meeker said. “He was a publically out gay man, probably one of the first in the country’s history.”

“To me, that is the definition of a radical act,” Meeker said.

As the Mattachine Society raised its profile with magazine publications and social services assistance, the 1960s arrived with the winds of change blowing. On the east coast, the Mattachine Society gained recognition with the 1966 “Sip-In” in which members challenged bars that refused service to gay people. The bars justified this practice as refusing to serve “disorderly” patrons.

At Julius New York, a Greenwich Village bar, the Mattachine Society currently has its own night on the third Thursday of each month. A person -- who would only identify themselves as a “worker” -- answered the telephone on a Tuesday afternoon last May. “The Sip-In is celebrated as a big victory,” the man said. “It started the whole momentum of the gay community stepping up and fighting for rights.”

The Sip-In was a challenge to the State Liquor Authority’s discriminatory policy of revoking the licenses of bars that served gays and lesbians.

“At the time, being homosexual was, in itself, seen as disorderly,” Leitsch told the New York Times in April 2016. The Sip-In is widely regarded as a precursor to the Stonewall Riots. Leitsch frequented Julius New York up until his death this year.

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Mattachine Society Members Were Early Crusaders for Queer Rights CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

chine focus on the 1950s when two men joined forces to wrestle control away from Hay and move the Mattachine Society in a different direction.

“Hay was a Communist,” Meeker said. “He was more politically radical and economically radical than Hal Call and Don Lucas.”

Meeker said Call and Lucas were “cold war liberals” and added some historians have mistaken the pair as “conservatives.”

“They were liberals like Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., who was an anti-communist cold war liberal,” Meeker said of the Pulitzer Prize winning JFK biographer. “(Call and Lucas) were definitely liberal.”

The tension between Hay’s administration of Mattachine – what Meeker termed a “foundation” and Call and Lucas’ tenure is still reflected in today’s philosophies. Meeker said the most hate is often generated between radicals and liberals.

“Because they both believe in some version of progressive social change, but their visions of how to bring about progressive social change are profoundly different,” Meeker said.

Back in New York, a more modern way of recognizing Mattachine is produced once a month at Julius, the city’s oldest gay bar and site of the famous Sip-In. Leitsch led the Sip-In protest on April 21, 1966, telling the bartender at Julius that they were homosexuals and wanted a drink.

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There is a famous picture showing the bartender with his hand covering the glass as Leitsch places his order.

“That photograph was in the Village Voice and led to the end of that bar,” said acclaimed screenwriter and director John Cameron Mitchell.

Cameron Mitchell spoke to the SFGN before Leitsch’s death. He called the Mattachine leader, “an inspiration.” “We give him a big salute every me he comes in,” Cameron Mitchell said.

Julius’ rich history is rightfully acknowledged once a month when a night is set aside for the Mattachine.

These parties are the brainchild of Cameron Mitchell and PJ DeBoy, collaborators on the 2006 feature film “Shortbus.”

“He’s an iconic creator,” said Chris Harder, a New York City-based burlesque performer. “He defined an entire show.”

That show was “Hedwig & The Angry Inch,” and Cameron Mitchell has played the title character. The Mattachine night at Julius’ has been described as trendy for the downtown city scene, Harder said. It has history too. Crafted out of a three-floor stucco building, Julius’ took its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

“It’s the only building in Manhattan I’ve seen stucco on,” Cameron Mitchell said. “It’s now a National Landmark building, which is sad because the exterior is still ugly.”

Cameron Mitchell said today Julius’ is modeled after an old pub, and it still serves burgers. It’s his neighborhood bar -- “my living room,” he said. At one time, however, Julius’ was known as a place where young guys met older men.

“It was a hustler bar in the 80s and 90s,” said Cameron Mitchell. “And then those hustlers got as old as their customers.”

The 55-year-old Tony Award-winning director could not resist dismissing former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

“Giuliani came in and in his view ‘cleaned these up,’” Cameron Mitchell said in a sarcastic tone. “When really he was just a bully and homophobe, and he tried to shut down a bunch of dance parties…just because he’s like that.”

Still, Julius has endured. The oldest gay bar in New York City is the site of celebrations and parties. And thanks to pioneers like Dick Leitsch and the Mattachine Society, no one will be refused a drink based solely on their sexual desires.

Cameron Mitchell organizes the monthly Mattachine party with Angela DiCarlo and Amber Martin. He collaborates with bar owner Helen Buford for the annual “Sip-In” celebration. Julius’ New York is located at 159 West 10th Street in Manhattan.

Jake Lewis and David Altermatt contributed to this report.

This report was initially hosted on the South Florida Gay News website and used as a reference by the Pride Center to showcase in this issue of the 2020 newsletter. The Pride Center does not own the original report or any of its creative/graphic materials.

PROGRAMS, SERVICES, & EVENTS BUSINESS ALLIANCE

Members gain exclusive visibility, ways to leverage customer allegiance, and access to dedicated consumer base. Monthly Mixers provide space to network with local professionals and community.

CAPITAL PRIDE

The largest LGBTQ Pride celebration in Upstate New York. A real community affair that takes palce on the 2nd weekend in June.

CAPITAL REGION PRIDEABILITY

This is a monthly group gathering for individuals with disabilities who are LGBTQAI and allies in order to provide support and resources to each other and come togehter to attend local events.

CENTER ARTS & FIRST FRIDAY

Showcasing the contributions of LGBTQ-identified artists through innovative programming in the local area, participation in arts events, and showings at our Romaine Brooks Gallery on the first floor of the Pride Center.

CENTER YOUTH

Support, outreach, and advocacy for LGBTQA+ youth ages 18 and under. Including regional groups, a drop-in group every Friday from 3-8PM in Albany that includes a facilitator-led discussion.

CommUNITY

A quarterly online publication highlighting and informing the greater Capital Region on local LGBTQ news, events, as well as the work being done by other organizations in the area. Includes advertising opportunities.

COUNSELING & CASE MANAGEMENT

Free counseling and case management services for all LGBTQ people ages 13+

FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR

LGBTQ older adults or differently-abled adults looking to connect with other members of the LGBTQ community. Home Visits, Phone Calls, Appointments, Errands, and Outings.

MEN’S PRIDE

Focusing on the experiences of gay, bisexual, transgender, same-gender-loving, MSMs, queer, and questioning men in the Capital Region.

Connect to share support, make friends, and learn about issues affecting men’s communities.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY TGNC SUPPORT GROUP

Peer support group focusing on significant others of transgender individuals. Sharing experiences and guidance on the journey your loved one is taking.

SUNDAY SUPPER

A potluck-style community meal for the entire community, friends, and family. Music, board games, good food, good fun. Held on the last Sunday of every month.

TRAINING & EDUCATION SERVICES

Comprehensive and customizable trainings, presentations, and technical assistance for healthcare providers, K-12 schools, colleges, businesses, organizations, and any group seeking to enhance environments and services for LGBTQ individuals.

TRANS* PRIDE

Promoting the wellbeing of the transgender, gender queer, gender fluid, agender, gender nonconforming, non-binary, and questioning community in a safe, empowering space.

TRANS* TALK

A spafe space for Trans* & Gender Non-Confirming Youth ages 18 & under who identify as Trans*, Genderqueer, intersex, agender, bigender, gender non-conforming, or questioning.

VINTAGE PRIDE

Connecting older (55+) LGBTQ adults to each other and the broader community with social gatherings, special events, and educational opportunities. Creating new memories while celebrating and honoring the resilience and contributions of our community.

WOMEN’S PRIDE

Focusing on the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, same-gender-loving, WSWs, queer, and questioning women in the Capital Region. Conenct to share support, make friends, and learn about issues affecting women’s communities.

All events are no longer meeting in-person due to COVID restrictions. You can find the virtual meeting links at capitalpridecenter.org. Have an accessibility question? Contact: Andromedia Indardeo, Director of Programs at: aindardeo@CapitalPrideCenter.org or call 518-462-6138

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Protecting the LGBTQ Community

By Tora Stringfield, Office Manager The lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) are a minority community that has been subject to discrimination for a long time in history relative to the different perceptions expressed. Many studies have proven that they are not perceived as a homogenous community (Domínguez, Bobele, Coppock, & Peña, 2015). Controversies still exist despite the increased attention on LGBTQ rights as the society remains discriminative, which necessitates increased awareness of minority rights.

Discrimination has been a long-standing issue when discussing LGBTQ issues. The bias expressed towards the LGBTQ community often tends to be different from that which is perceived by other groups. Quasha (2014) notes that societies tend to be more hostile to people who identify with this community because of the negative perceptions associated with such types of sexuality.

A relevant example is that gay attorneys tend not to be welcomed in the legal environment.

The findings underline that such individuals are more likely to miss on opportunity-to-learn resources in social and work environments because of the community’s negative beliefs (Quasha, 2014). Based on the report, it is underlined that the LGBTQ community has not perceived much positive development because they are still subjected to stigma for identifying with questionable sexuality that does not conform to the societal perceptions.

The other challenge the LGBTQ community faces despite the many years of awareness of minority rights is the loss of trust. People still fear associating with this community, which often results in unfair treatment (Sanscartier & MacDonald, 2019). For example, 19 percent of the LGBTQ community workers were either sacked or decided to quit their work because of their sexual orientation (McConatha & DiGregorio, 2016).

The finding underlines the magnitude of discrimination expressed towards the LGBTQ that either makes employers sack their employees or subject the workers to stress to the extent that they opt to resign. Even though 18

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there has been increased sensitization over the years on the need to avoid discrimination against minority groups, including LGBTQ, people still fear associating with people with such sexual identities. The findings underline the fact that employers are more likely to sack members of the LGBTQ when tensions arise in the workplace.

Based on the reports on the extent of discrimination and bias expressed towards members of the LGBTQ community, it is recommended that people should be more accommodative. Allowing more public sensitization should be done in social institutions and workplaces to understand that everyone’s rights should be protected and respected. No one should be judged based on their sexual orientation or other social dimensions (Stewart, 2018).

The realization that different states have varying laws on the concept of LGBT rights should also be a subject to focus on in the future (McConatha & DiGregorio, 2016).

There must be one language expressed to the public so that people are not treated differently in different states because this forms the foundation for discrimination.

In summary, the long-standing issues that have been apparent over the years despite the efforts to sensitize the public on LGBTQ include rampant discrimination and the loss of trust. As a result, people with such sexual identities tend to be stressed and subjected to unfair treatment. It is recommended that there be more public awareness of the rights of LGBTQ communities and that states should all communicate one language to avoid creating varying perceptions on the LGBTQ. References Domínguez, D. G., Bobele, M., Coppock, J., & Peña, E. (2015). LGBTQ relationally based positive psychology: An inclusive and systemic framework. Psychological Services, 12(2), 177–185. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038824 McConatha, M., & DiGregorio, N. (2016). Supporting diversity: Creating new constructs of families and communities in the virtual world. International Journal of Diversity in Education, 16(1), 1–18.

Quasha, S. (2014). A Review of “Creating Safe and Supportive Learning Environments: A Guide for Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth and Families.” Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental

Health, 18(1), 114–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/19359705.2 013.823347 Sanscartier, S., & MacDonald, G. (2019). Healing through community connection? Modeling links between attachment avoidance, connectedness to the LGBTQ+ community, and internalized heterosexism. Journal of Counseling Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000381

middle-aged, seniors, and current topics. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Americans at Risk: Problems and Solutions: The Middle-Aged, Seniors, and Current Topics.

Stewart, C. [Ed]. (2018). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans at risk: Problems and solutions: The

LGBTQ Candidates Made Strides in 2020 Elections

By Joanne Georges , PC Board Member

Despite the stress and nearly week-long wait for final ballot counts, this year’s election cycle yielded huge wins and historical gains for LGBTQ candidates. Over 220 openly LGBTQ candidates won congressional, federal, and local elections. Thanks to the tireless efforts of grassroots campaigning and organizations like the LGBTQ Victory Fund, these candidates are paving the way for LGBTQ visibility and rights.

The 2020 election year carried at least 1006 LGBTQ candidates running for office, according to The Conversation. Just 0.17 percent of roughly half-million officials are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. These recent wins show the needle is moving slowly but surely toward “equitable representation,” as summarized by the LGBTQ Victory Institute.

Here are just 10 of the newly elected rainbow officials: “Rainbow and American Flags” by Tony Webster is licensed under CC BY 2.0

SENATORS DELAWARE

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

Sarah McBride won a seat in the Delaware state senate.

She made history as the highest-ranking transgender elected official and the first openly transgender person to serve in a state Senate.

Kim Jackson won a seat in the Georgia State Senate as the first lesbian and openly LGBTQ state senator in Georgia. Jackson is now the third openly LGBTQ Black female state Senator in the US.

Shevrin Jones now represents the 35th District to the Florida State Senate and as the state’s first out LGBTQ+ state Senator. He is among the only out Black men serving in the US State Senate, a distinction shared with Jabari Brisport in New York.

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LGBTQ Candidates Made Strides in 2020 Elections CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

NEW YORK

MISSOURI

Jabari Brisport is the state Senator-elect for New York’s 25th State Senate district in Brooklyn, NY. Brisport is making history as the state’s first LGBTQ+ legislator of color.

Greg Razer is the only out LGBTQ+ representative in the deep-red state. Razer previously served in Missouri’s House of Representatives.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VERMONT

OKLAHOMA

COLORADO

Taylor Small is now Vermont’s first tranasgender legislator, winning a spot in the state’s House of Representatives.

Mauree Turner won their race for Oklahoma’s House of Representatives for District 88, making them the first openly nonbinary person elected to a state legislature. Turner is the first Muslim legislator in the state.

David Ortiz won his run for Colorado’s House of Representatives District 38, making him the state’s first bisexual legislator. As a veteran, Ortiz advocates for better care and rehabilitation for service members and veterans from a personal perspective.

KANSAS

CALIFORNIA

Sharice David has hit an extraordinary number of firsts. As the newly elected Kansas 3rd District House Rep, David is the first openly LGBTQ Native American elected to the US Congress. She is the first openly gay person elected to the US Congress from Kansas.

Finally, David is one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress.

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Mark Takano won his reelection to the House. Takano became the first gay person of color in Congress in 2011 as the representative of Southern California’s Riverside County.

For more information on how to support and recognize the efforts of LGBTQ candidates, check out the LGBTQ Victory Fund.

BLACK LIVES STILL MATTER ENGAGE WITH YOUR LOCAL BLM ORGANIZATION TO LEARN MORE.

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Greater than groceries.

Hannaford is proud to partner with the Pride Center of the Capital Region through the sponsorship of programs that strengthen our communities.

Hannaford is proud to have earned a 100 percent score on the 2019 Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.

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Join the Hannaford team.

Check out our career opportunities at Hannaford.com.

Sugar Cookie Truffles The Ingredients • • • •

sugar cookies cream cheese white chocolate candy melts sprinkles

The Instructions 1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper & set aside.

2. Place the sugar cookies in a food processor & pulse until you have fine crumbs.

3. Add in cream cheese & process again until well-combined.

4. Scoop 1 tbsp of dough mixture & roll between hands to form 10 balls & then place on prepared baking sheet.

5. Place the rolled dough into the freezer for about 30 minutes.

6. While the dough is chilling you can melt the chocolate by placing in a microwave-safe bowl & heating in the microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds.

7. Stir & microwave again for 20 seconds at 50% power level.

8. Continue until chocolate is smooth. Remove the chilled dough from the freezer.

9. Use 2 forks to dip the chilled dough balls into the melted chocolate, turning to coat.

10. Tap off any excess chocolate before returning the truffle to the baking sheet.

11. Immediately top with desired sprinkles. Repeat the process until you have coated all of the chilled dough balls.

REFERENCE: KLEINWORTHCO.COM

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