CommUNITY Magazine (vol 3 iss 7 )

Words that Are Transphobic and Why Handling Triggers & Thought Ruts School Daze....Dignity in Policy...Help is Here For the Love of the Game How To Be a Trans Ally

Hilton Albany

Friday, October 16

5:30 pm Reception

6:30 pm Dinner & Awards

Join us on a special night to benefit the Pride Center of the Capital Region and celebrate the important contributions of this year’s awardees who work hard to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community.

This year we will be honoring the following community members: Marielle McKasty-Stagg, Volunteer of the Year John Prokop, Community Service Award Bank of America, Business of the Year Award Maria Westbrook, Paul Postiglione Youth Services Award Mike Mitchell, Libby Post Council Leadership Award Neil & Jane Golub, Nancy Burton Straight but not Narrow Award Planned Parenthood- Mohawk Hudson (Saratoga location), Organization of the Year Kenneth Mortensen Jr., Harvey Milk Award Capital PRIDE Steering Committee- Ed Davis, Corey Polesel, Scott Levine, Special Recognition Award

Tickets and Information: www.capitalpridecenter.org

FEATURES Celebrate 45 Years as the Community’s Center with a look at improved accessibility!

Lift Restored

pg. 5

Understanding Identities: Words That Are Transphobic & Why pg. 8

We Asked....

pg. 9

September 2015 Volume 3, Issue 7 CONTENTS

COLUMNS Ask the Lawyer

by

Geri Pomerantz pg. 17

Trans View School Days...Dignity in Policy...Help is Here by Moonhawk Riverstone pg. 20 To Be a Blessing Walking Forward by Louise Bower Bannister pg. 25 Ask Mark Your Tax Questions by Mark D. Witecki pg. 27

CommUNITY Intro

pg. 10

Triggers & Thought Ruts

pg. 10

Sex Ed Corner

pg. 13

The Fashionable and the Frivolous School, Shoes, and Shame by Alan Bennet Ilagan pg. 28

pg. 14

Michael Cooks and You Can Too A Taste of Italy by Michael Meade pg. 31

How To Be a Trans Ally

For The Love of The Game

by Acey Mercer pg. 21

"There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle, because we do not live single-issue lives" ~Audre Lorde

4

Here’s Guffman Something About Mary by

Patrick White pg. 33

NEWS,UPDATES & INFORMATION From the Editor’s Desk Program Director’s Corner Quick Clips Affiliates Calendar Weekly Events Calendar Special Events Calendar CommUNITY Calendar Advertisers Index

pg. 7 pg. 7 pg. 9 pg. 35 pg. 36 pg. 37 pg. 38 pg. 30

Lift Restored

The Pride Center of the Capital Region is pleased to announce the completion of our brand new Elevator Lift! After nearly a year of preparation, stages of installation, and City inspections, full access has been restored to our Garden Level for programs and events for all. We are thrilled to be able to offer complete access to the most used area of our building once again. We are now working with the City of Albany to get an accessible parking only spot in front of the Center and looking in to a curb-cut for easier access from the street.

This huge project would not have been possible without the generous support of: • • •

The Carlilian Foundation The Community Foundation of the Capital Region William Tuthill & Greg Anderson

5

Dan McCoy: An Ally to Albany’s LGBT Community

• Declared June Pride Month in Albany County • Within 6 months of taking office, Dan issued Executive Order 12-02 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression.

• Actively speaks out on behalf of the LGBT community throughout Albany County • Works closely with the Pride Center’s Youth Support Program to make Lawson Lake available without charge for the program’s Summer Leadership Camp • Works closely with LGBT organizations such as the Pride Center and In Our Own Voices to develop trainings and seminars throughout the county to combat bullying.

• Authored one of the first bills to make cyber-bullying a crime • Increased awareness and assistance for alcohol and substance abuse

Dan McCoy believes government should mirror the community it serves, he has appointed members of the LGBT community to positions of leadership in Albany County government.

Re-Elect Dan McCoy, Albany County Executive.

Vote Thursday, September 10th in the Democratic Primary Polls Open Noon to 9 p.m. For more info, www.danielpmccoy.com Paid for by the Friends of Daniel P. McCoy 6

I love the Fall. Temperatures start to cool. It’s the best fashion season. Everyone comes back from their summer vacations.

School is back in session!

I always got excited with the start of the new school year and the promise of new adventures in learning.

Our Center Youth program will be soon kicking off a new school year with a new Center Youth Action team, going out into our schools throughout the Capital Region and

providing much needed education and support. Of course this comes after having just held our 3-day Youth In Power Summer Leadership Camp for 56 amazing young folks.

Filled w i t h fun workshops, o u t - door activities, a n dempowering seminars, this is the culmination of months of preparation. But the investment of time and energy is worth it when you see the happy faces of 56 campers!

Looking ahead to this Fall, we have a lot of exciting things to look forward to. On Saturday September 26th, we will participate in the final AIDS Walk at Washington Park. On Friday October 16th, we will host the horrific murder of Tamara Dominguez, a 36 year old woman who was run over three times by an SUV in front of a church in Kansas City.

18.

Transgender, gender non-conforming P R O G R A M and gender questionD I R E C T O R ’ S C O R N E R ing members of our by R O S Y G A LVA Ń community have to think about how to survive on a daily basis, while I write this

The number 18 keeps haunting me, ring- piece in the attempt to ing in my head as I write convince you of the imthis piece. This morning I portance of allyship. learned of the fatal stabbing of Jasmine Collins, 18 and counting. the 18th Trans woman murdered this year in It’s past time for our the United States (15 of movement to speak up who were Trans women and out about these of color). She was only atrocities, and to stand 32 years old. Jasmine’s up in a real, measurable murder was preceded by way for Trans Lives. Will

our annual Pride Center Gala at the Hilton Albany, an evening to honor the amazing work of people, organizations and businesses making strides in the LGBTQ community.

And then to cap off our 45th Anniversary year celebration, the Troy Music Hall will be hosting a benefit concert for us starring Sandra Bernhard on Saturday, November 21!

Let the celebration continue!!!

Be well and be empowered!

Michael Weidrich Interim Executive Director

you continue to exclude Trans people from gender specific groups? Will you continue to chide LGBTQ centers across the country for making space for the survival and safety of all those in need of our support? Will you continue to sit back while transgender people get denied housing, medical care, employment, safety, life? It’s time to stand on the right side of history and understand that no one is free if others are oppressed.

18.

If this number isn’t enough of a reason to convince you of why your allyship is desperately important, you may want to consider taking time to reflect why it is that you might value some lives over others.

7

U n d e r s ta n d i n g I d e n t i t i e s : T r a n s p h o b i c T e r m s

*Trigger Warning: Language / Examples of Transphobia

8

Designed by Clinton Andor - Sourced from UC Davis LGBT Resource Center

We

asked:

“What is the most important issue or challenge facing the LGBTQ community (locally, nationally or globally)?"

QUICK CLIPS

We asked members of the Leadership Development Council, as emerging leaders in the movement, what they see as the current issues challenging our community. Here's what a few members see as most important: "As a nurse, I see the huge health disparities among the LGBTQ community and want to take meaningful strides to close those gaps. The Capital Region is in desperate need of culturally competent care for LGBTQ individuals. We need a community health center. Especially for the often forgotten about and Get Your Policy Right medically neglected trans* and genderqueer individuals." - Nikki Alcala, (Guidance for school dignity..for all on pg. 20) Health & Wellness Coordinator, Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless "I fear that LGBTQ Youth will continue to experience a lack of tolerance from both family and peers. Children are emotionally ill-equipped to deal with any kind of intolerance. Outreach to LGBTQ youth, to let them know it’s okay to be who they are, I think is the most important issue facing the community. Pride Centers are the start, but it needs to come from home, schools and organizations (like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts)." -David Connors, Financial Advisor, RBC Wealth Management

Trans Students...Take the Field!

"Audre Lorde said “there is no thing such as a single-issue struggle, because (Acey's in it for the love of the game on pg. 21) we do not live single-issue lives,” and I agree – it’s impossible to determine the Most Important Issue facing the LGBTQ community. If I have to be narrow, I think in New York we should be working on passing GENDA, improving educational and economic supports, enhancing transparency and accountability with law enforcement, and promoting visibility for all of the people in our community." - Lauren Ford, Education Specialist, Professional Development Program, Rockefeller College, University at Albany "Here in the U.S. our issues and challenges are nothing compared to other parts of the world. Although our country has hit some pretty remarkable milestones in the last few years in regards to equality and relationship recognition, LGBTQ youth health and homelessness are important and major issues facing our communities. Homelessness disrupts the lives and development of these young people and can lead to significant negative outcomes in mental and physical health, lower education attainment, and economic instability. " -Victor Ikeda-Wood

"Girl "Shoes!

(Past the shame and to the self on pg. 28)

"On a local and national level, I think trans* rights, education, and protection are the biggest issue we currently face as a community. Society as a whole should be more aware of what's happening across the country, and globally, with trans* people and the struggles they face. However, the LGBTQ community also has a lot to learn and a lot to fight for when it comes to this specific group of individuals within the LGBTQ group." -Noel Letourneau,Marketing Coordinator, ANS Advanced Network Services, LLC The Leadership Development Council is a diverse group of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Allied professionals dedicated to the preservation and future growth of the Pride Center of the Capital Region. The council’s mission is to develop and empower young LGBTQ and allied professionals and develop a new generation of leaders within the community.

Above, left to right: Nikki Alcala, David Connors, Lauren Ford, and Noel Letourneay. Not pictured: Viktor Ikeda-Wood.

Come Out...Find Something to Do (Find an event in our community in the leading Capital Region LGBTQ Events calendars starting on pg. 35)

LETTERS TO THE EDITORmweidrich@capitalpridecenter.org

9

Community Intro

Meet the new Pride Center 's newest addition, Jeremy Hollon. Jeremy will work with the Pride Center as a Program Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator. He will be assisting the Pride Center in its effort to develop and expand its volunteer program.

This will be done by engaging community members with meaningful volunteer opportunities to help them build transferable jobs skills and confidence.

5 Jeremy Facts Has a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education: "I received a B.S. in Music Education with a focus in vocal music from The College of Saint Rose in 2014."

Loves to attend concerts and musicals: "I enjoy attending popular musical events at places such as Proctors Theater, Park Playhouse, The Palace Theater, and Tanglewood. The most recent events that I attended were Singin' in the Rain and The Pajama Game at Park Playhouse in Washington Park, as well as Mahler's 8th Symphony at Tanglewood in Massachusetts."

Triggers & Thought Ruts Trauma, triggers, ruts in our thinking - they can be difficult to deal with and keep us in an unhealthy state. Here are some tips on how to reframe your thinking, respond when triggered and cope with trauma. If you or some you know would like more help, consider one of the Pride Center's support groups.

Visit www.capitalpridecenter.org/programs-services/center-support/ for more.

CATASTROPHIZING → → → → → → → TRUST

We imagine the worst possible outcome and maybe think it's the only outcome.

We can honor our feelings in the present without allowing ourselves to predict the future. We can add realistic odds, too.

SHOULD'S → → → → → → →NON-STRIVING

We form strict rules and unrealistic expectations.

We can practice flexibility and forgiveness and release our expectations (for progress, for efficiency, etc.) altogether.

FILTERING + MAGNIFYING → → → → LETTING GO

We filter out the positive and magnify We can practice holding our thoughts the negative...like looking through in attention and releasing them, tinted binoculars. instead of fixating on negatives.

EMOTIONAL REASONING → → → → → PATIENCE

We decide that because something feels true, it must be.

We can notice an emotion and identify it as such, experience it, and let it go.

POLARIZED THINKING & LABELING → → → → → → → NON-JUDGING

We make blanket positive / negative Try to step back instead of reacting to assessments for whatever comes up. everything. To start, think in shades of gray, spectrums or percentages.

We name call, to limit our perception even further

Loves superhero movies and television shows: "I love watching superhero movies. My favorite superhero movies to date are Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. Agents of Shield is my favorite superhero TV show."

Loves to bake: "I have enjoyed baking since I was in middle school.

Some of my favorite things to bake are snickerdoodle blondies, chocolate fudge cake, and strawberry bread."

Travel Lover: "I visited several different countries while I attended The College of Saint Rose, including Ireland, Costa Rica, Germany, and France."

Read Jeremy's bio online:

www.capitalpridecenter.org/ about-us/staff/jeremy-m-hollon

10

HELPFUL COPING STRATEGIES Acknowledge that you have been through traumatic events.

Connect with others, especially those who may have shared the stressful event or experienced other trauma.

Exercise — try jogging, aerobics, bicycling, or walking.

Relax — try yoga, stretching, massage, mediation, deep muscle relaxation, etc.

Take up music, art, or other diversions.

Maintain balanced diet and sleep cycle.

Avoid over-using stimulants like caffeine, sugar, or nicotine.

Commit to something personally meaningful and important every day.

Write about your experience for yourself or to share with others.

Some material above was sourced from groundingyoga.com and The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

Traditional & Holistic Psychotherapies for Healing & Growth

Dedicated to inclusiveness & social justice for the LGBTQ Community

First United Presbyterian Church 1915 Fifth Ave., Troy 12180

www.unitedprestroy.org

272-2771

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Relationship & Parenting Issues Healing Trauma & Abuse Depression & Anxiety

You are warmly welcome to join us!

10 AM Sunday Service

Relationship Violence Addictions & Recovery Living With HIV & Illness

Rainbow flags in the sanctuary & outside

Body Image & Eating Disorders Homestudies & Adoption Services

C

hoices Counseling Consulting &

518-438-2222 Fax 438-7777

523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203 info@choicesconsulting.com · www.choicesconsulting.com

5 “ x 7”

Lifestyle Photography is... Your Everyday, Your Important Moments, Your Once In A Lifetimes, Your Loved Ones.

Lifestyle Photography for a Lifetime of Moments

www.Facebook.com/ZhangPhotography www.JayZhangPhotography.com JZPhotographicServices@gmail.com

11

“My business is my life.”

Place your ad in CommUNITY and expand your brand awareness while directly reaching the important LGBTQ market. For more information contact Steven at 518-462-6138 or sminchin@capitalpridecenter.org Get more out of both.

The Living Balance Sheet® can help you find hidden value in your balance sheet. Learn how to protect and grow your business and make the most of untapped potential.

This revolutionary financial model lets you see the big picture of your finances – both business and personal – all in one place.

Helping you to adjust your strategies for optimal impact across the board, while allowing you to maximize your opportunities and the value of your business.

It’s worth it. Visit veronica_mangione@wagroupllc.com, or call VERONICA MANGIONE at 518-867-3210 for more information on The Living Balance Sheet ®.

Wealth Advisory Group LLC is an agency of:

®

The Living Balance Sheet ® and the Living Balance Sheet ® Logo are registered service marks of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. The graphics and text used herein are the exclusive property of Guardian and protected under U.S. and International copyright laws. © Copyright 2005 – 2013, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.

Registered Representative of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS) , . Securities products and services are offered through PAS. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY (Guardian). PAS is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. This firm is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. |PAS is a member FINRA, SIPC|

VERONICA MANGIONE, Financial Representative • Wealth Advisory Group LLC • 255 WASHINGTON AVE EXT, SUITE 108 • ALBANY, NY 12205 •

Pub5941 GEAR 2013-0972

Thomas J. Walling, CFP®

INVESTMENT ADVISER REPRESENTATIVE

NY Insurance License #LA910069 235 Lark St., Suite 43 Albany, NY 12210

Direct: 518.878.1294 thomas.walling@ceteranetworks.com Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC

 Design Build  Renovations  Additions  Green Services  Decks  Porches  Carpentry

“Providing All Your Residential,

Historic & Commercial Construction Needs!”

Customized solutions to allow you to maintain your independence.

www.scofieldsolutions.com 518-956-0345 12

P.O. Box 504 Delmar, NY 12054

Phone: Fax:

admin@skylandsservices.com www.skylandsservices.com

518.488.0506 518.439.1222

SEX ED CORNER

by

Lyndon Cudlitz

Sexpert, Lyndon Cudlitz, will bring you monthly helpful tips and stimulating information. To make your brain even sexier and slicker, we’re kicking it off with information to help you decide which lube is best for your body and activities!

13

How To...

Don't Make Assumptions

Just as you shouldn't make assumptions about someone's sexual orientation, you also shouldn't make assumptions about a person's gender or gender identity. Exploring gender (and sexuality) is a healthy expression of growing and developing as a person. No one ever benefits from being labeled.

Create a Safe and Open Environment

Work toward creating an affirming environment where individual gender expression is supported and where there is room for dialogue and discussion. Challenge homophobic and transphobic remarks and jokes. Use inclusive, supportive, non-gender-specific language. Support others who challenge inappropriate behavior. "What are you?" is not an ok question to ask. "What pronoun do you use?" is an example of a better question.

Be Informed and Examine Your Own Biases

We are all products of a society with rigid gender roles. We are taught what is feminine and what is masculine, female and male, and told not to blur these categories. Recognize your level of comfort with the different types of gender expression, and see how this can affect your interactions with your friends, classmates, co-workers, and others. Read reliable sources, attend workshops to educate yourself about gender issues and talk to people in the know.

Understand What Gender Identity Means

Each person's gender identity is natural to that person. Gender may not be experienced solely as female or male. Educate yourself about sexual identity and social stereotypes. Most importantly, understand that sexuality and gender identity are only two aspects of a whole person.

Walk the Walk

Support your friend or family member's gender explorations and encourage healthy dialogue and development. For many, accessing an LGBTQ youth community may be their first chance to explore gender identity and nontraditional gender expression. Actions beyond creating safe space may be important in empowering people to ask for support with gender identity issues. Be personally accountable when mistakes are made and model active support for gender-nonconforming expression.

We all can learn how to be a better ally, and following the tips above are a good start. In the coming month teacher's and student's will be getting to know a new class and may benefit from some additional pointers.....

14

...Be A Trans Ally Ally Checklist For Students and Teachers ✓ Familiarize yourself with the language and use preferred terms of the individual. ✓ Use language that doesn't assume youth have a specific sexual orientation or gender identity. ✓ Make yourself aware of the resources (both local and national) that exist. ✓ Model behavior you wish to see in others. ✓ Encourage the formation and/or success of a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) ✓ Promptly intervene when youth behave disrespectfully toward their peers based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or other differences.

Ally Checklist For Teachers ✓ Schedule ongoing trainings for teachers and students to equip them to support all students. ✓ Display posters or other symbols indicating a trans friendly environment. ✓ Discuss reporting procedures. ✓ Encourage representation of all types of diversity - in hallways, classrooms, in curriculum, at events. ✓ Enforce a zero tolerance policy for bias and transphobic language. ✓ Consider non-discrimination policies that exceed the minimum state and federal regulations. ✓ Bring in speakers to talk about their experiences as a trans person. ✓ Treat youth fairly by avoiding double standards for trans students and cis students.

Learn more and make your organization, school, business, place of worship or medical practice become more trans inclusive and learn in depth how to be an ally and serve the community? Book a training from the Pride Center and go far beyond the check list to effective ally-ship.

Training and education is an essential component in creating safer services and community spaces for LGBTQ people in the Capital Region. For over 20 years, the Pride Center of the Capital Region has delivered comprehensive trainings and presentations for K-12 schools, colleges, businesses, organizations, and governmental agencies in our 10-county service area. In 2013 alone, we reached over 2,500 audience participants.

Our nationally-known trainers are experts in providing education and professional development trainings for entities seeking to improve their services for LGBTQ individuals and community.

To learn more about the 40+ trainings the Pride Center offers visit: www.capitalpridecenter.org/trainingsservices or contact Lyndon Cudlitz, Training and Education Manager at (518) 462-6138 ext. 16

The Pride Center of the Capital Region is committed to sustaining an inclusive, welcoming community characterized by dignity and sensitivity, representing the cultural, ethnic and racial diversity of our region.

15

Your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Com m unity Cente

Share your

commitment

Let us help you create the perfect wedding rings to show the world your special commitment!

JOIN US ON

1675 Western Ave | Albany, NY 12203 | 518.464.9636 | www.druesanders.com

16

ASK THE LAWYER by Geri Pomerantz

Claims by the religious right that religious liberty in America is under siege, though ludicrous, are occupying the resources of our judiciary and some state legislatures.

The free birth control provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been challenged in more than 100 lawsuits around the country since the passage of the ACA five years ago. Meanwhile, states seeking to allow public officials and businesses to refuse to provide services or take actions that could be viewed as supportive of same sex marriage are considering state level religious freedom restoration acts that extend into the public sphere without a compelling state interest.

And at least one county clerk, in Kentucky, has sued the governor over her purported right as a public official to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples based on her religious beliefs. The cases involving the religious objections to the birth control provisions of the ACA are of course much farther along than the cases following the Supreme Court’s June 2015 same sex marriage case. It is likely that the US Supreme Court will again take up the issue of the ACA’s contraceptive coverage mandate in the next term.

The ACA requires employers with 50 or more full time employees to offer group health insurance coverage

“Religious

objectors can not be allowed to impose the constraints of their beliefs on the rest of the Nation”. “The rights conferred by the First Amendment and the RFRA do not include a right to have the government or third parties behave in a manner that comports with an individual’s religious beliefs.”

2nd Circuit Court of Appeals

providing minimum essential coverage” including “preventative care and screenings” for females without any cost sharing requirements (no copays, deductibles or co-insurance).

Through regulations, federal agencies, defined “preventative care” to include amongst other things, all FDA approved contraceptive methods for women with reproductive capacity.

This is the contraceptive coverage mandate at issue in these challenges to the ACA. The ACA includes exemptions for religious employers, such as churches and associations (such as the Archdiocese of New York). Other religious affiliated not for profit organizations that hold themselves out as a religious organization and oppose providing the mandated coverage based on religious objection, are eligible for an accommodation to opt out of providing the coverage.1 These eligible organizations can opt out of paying for objectionable medical services without denying important services to the employees.

These eligible employers simply need to notify the federal government or their insurer, or third party administrator if self-insured, that it is eligible for the religious objection to the contraceptive mandate, and the employer will have no further role in providing coverage for the objectionable services. If the employer

chooses not to provide the coverage for birth control, the insurer or third party administrator (for self-insured employers) will do so. The employer does not pay any fee for this coverage, and doesn’t even have an obligation to notify their employees about the availability of such coverage. In other words, the employer simply identifies itself as a religious objector, and then nothing further is required of it. A third party then provides the coverage, as required by the ACA, filling the gap such that the insured individual is not deprived of the benefits of coverage.

Hundreds of religious affiliated not for profits have challenged the ACA accommodation that allows them to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage, under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

The RFRA was passed by Congress in 1990 following the Supreme Court decision in Dept. of Human Res of Oregon v. Smith. Smith involved the free exercise of religious clause of the First Amendment. It held that the first amendment does not prohibit enforcement of valid laws of general

The Circuit courts have held that the ACA does

not substantially burden the practice of religion Ask the Lawyer continued on pg. 18

LAW OFFICE OF GERI POMERANTZ, ESQ. Proudly serving the LGBT community and our friends

Practice focused on family and matrimonial law

694 Columbia Turnpike East Greenbush, NY 12061 Tel: 518-479-3713 http://pomerantzlaw.org/ 17

Ask the Lawyer continued from pg. 17

Indeed, as the Second Circuit pointed out, this is the accommodation that right that religious liberty was identified by the Supreme Court in America is under siege, in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores though ludicrous, are (holding amongst other things that occupying the resources of for profit corporations must also be our judiciary and some state allowed to seek the accommodation) to alleviate any substantial burden on legislatures religious expression.

Claims by the religious

application that incidentally burden religious conduct. This created some tension with prior case law, which held that the first amendment is violated if a challenged law imposes a substantial burden on religious practice and the burden is not justified by a compelling government interest, thus imposing stricter scrutiny. The RFRA requires that the government may only substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion if it is demonstrated that the application of the burden is in furtherance of a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.

The RFRA requires strict scrutiny of laws where the incidental burden on religious exercise is substantial.

Although the religious not for profits succeeded over 80% of the time in the federal trial courts in their RFRA challenges to the ACA contraceptive mandate and accommodation, those cases were all reversed on appeal by the federal circuit courts, including most recently the second circuit court of appeals in Catholic Health Care Systems v. Burwell (decided 8/7/15).

Several cases have already been to the Supreme Court, but there has not yet been a final decision on the merits.

Those cases have been sent back down to the lower courts for further consideration. It is likely that at least one of these cases will be on the Supreme Court’s calendar next term.

The Circuit courts have held that the ACA does not substantially burden the practice of religion, ending the inquiry under the RFRA. By allowing the employer to self-certify and opt out of the birth control mandate, any substantial burden is eliminated.

18

Although the court must generally accept the rationality and significance of the RFRA plaintiff ’s religious beliefs, it is for the court, to assess the magnitude of the burden of the law or regulation on those beliefs. Requiring the employer to fill out one little piece of paper identifying itself as a religious objector, is simply not substantial.

It is very different from those cases in which, for example, a person was denied unemployment benefits when fired for refusing to work on her Sabbath or because a religious pacifist

Hundreds of religious affiliated not for profits have challenged the ACA accommodation that allows them to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage, under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)

refused to work on the production of armaments. In the ACA cases, no government benefit is denied, nor is the religious objector required to do anything more than identify itself as a religious objector.

The federal appeals courts have denied the plaintiff religious not for profit organizations’ claims that the consequences of the religious objector notification triggers a third party to provide objectionable services, in violation of plaintiff ’s rights. The notification is simply a means to identify and exempt the employer from the mandate. The coverage is then provided by third parties in spite of the employer, not because of the employer, and in no way impairs the

employer’s freedom to believe, express or exercise religion. These religious institutions do not have a right to dictate the conduct of government to comport with their religious beliefs.

As the second circuit held “Religious objectors can not be allowed to impose the constraints of their beliefs on the rest of the Nation”. “The rights conferred by the First Amendment and the RFRA do not include a right to have the government or third parties behave in a manner that comports with an individual’s religious beliefs.”

1

In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, 134 S. Ct. 2751 (2014). the Supreme court inexplicably held, amongst other things, that the RFRA applied to the for profit business, whose religious beliefs were substantially burdened by the birth control mandate of the ACA, without allowing it the accommodation given to not for profit religious organizations.

The legal rights of LGBTQ families are an ever-changing landscape, to be addressed monthly in this column. The material in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to give legal advice, and should not substitute for the independent advice of counsel. The views expressed in this column are solely those of Ms. Pomerantz and do not reflect the opinion of the Pride Center.

The material in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to give legal advice, and should not substitute for the independent advice of counsel. The views expressed in this column are solely those of Ms. Pomerantz and do not reflect the opinion of the Pride Center.

Geri Pomerantz is an attorney in the capital district with a practice focused on family and matrimonial law, specifically including LGBTQ families. Geri conducts continuing legal education training for other lawyers, and conducts community education, on issues of importance to the LGBTQ community. She recently presented on parentage issues at the LGBT law day at Albany Law School. Geri is a member of the Collaborative Divorce Association of the Capital District.

She can be reached at GPEsq@pomerantzlaw.org

Interim Healthcare…

Providing Companions, Aides and Nurses in the Home 2 to 24 Hours a Day So You or a Loved One Can Stay in Your Home.

Call today (518) 452-3655 52 3655 www.interimhealthcare.com

Residential • Commercial Land & Development Landlord / Tenant Representation

Brian Brosen & Reginald Monroe Licensed Associate Real EstateBrokers

Are you searching for a Financial Advisor?

Are you searching for a Financial Advisor?

Are you unhappy with your current advisor?

Are your accounts receiving the service they deserve?

Are you struggling to manage your portfolio on your own?

Has your portfolio lived up to your expectations?

Experience the Wells Fargo Advisors difference. If you are looking for a Financial Advisor who stands apart from the crowd, come and see what makes us different. We offer comprehensive Are youinvestment unhappy advice, with your current a broad rangeadvisor? of investment choices, and dedicated personal service.

Are your accounts receiving the service they deserve?

Are you struggling to manage your portfolio on your own?

Has your portfolio lived up to your expectations?

Experience the WellsKelleher FargoWealth Advisors difference.

If Wells you are Meleco, DiNallo, Management Group of Fargo Advisors looking for a Financial Advisor who stands apart from the crowd, CW Kelleher President come andVicesee what- Investment makes Officer us different. We offer comprehensive 30 S Pearl St P-2 investment advice, a broad range of investment choices, and Albany, NY 12207 (518) 455-7461 dedicatedDirect: personal service. cw.kelleher@wellsfargoadvisors.com www.melecodinallokelleher.wfadv.com

Investment and Insurance Products: u NOT FDIC Insured u NO Bank Guarantee u MAY Lose Value

74034-v5 A1585

94171_4

Caring Caregivers Needed!

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, isManagement a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Meleco, DiNallo, Kelleher Wealth Group of Wells Fargo Advisors Wells Fargo & Company. © 2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved.

CW Kelleher Vice President - Investment Officer 30 S Pearl St P-2 Albany, NY 12207 Direct: (518) 455-7461 cw.kelleher@wellsfargoadvisors.com www.melecodinallokelleher.wfadv.com

0214-03393

19

TR A NS* V IEW

SCHOOL DAZE...DIGNITY IN POLICY...HELP IS HERE... by

Previous years in September columns I have alluded to the old advertising billboard and bumper stickers that said: “School’s Open: Drive Carefully”. Well, how about this year we try: “School’s Open: Policy Carefully” instead! Transgender students need to stop being run over by the lack of effective policies and administrative leadership in schools so that they safely go to school and receive an education.

Last year amid a huge brouhaha the Shenendehowa School District passed and instituted a policy purporting to make it safe for transgender students attending their schools. Would that were the case. Colleagues and activists I’ve spoken with said all along that the school district resisted educational efforts by transgender experts, had a fundamental lack of knowledge of the issues and challenges transgender students face in the schools in their districts. I can say from clinical experience that individual teachers and social workers “get it” but the administration clearly does not. The sensationalistic manner in which they proposed and voted on the policy did nothing but fan the flames of ignorance and bigotry and give transgender students a message that their district was not going to support them, and it was not safe here. No one was taking a moment to step into the shoes of a transgender student or their family while all this hysteria was being played out in the media. Then, when one looked at the policy--and mind you--Shenendehowa officials had been exposed to what clear effective policies look like, one found a very very flawed likely illegal policy. Shen school officials had been told the contents of the recent ruling by the federal Department of Education with regard to Title IX and transgender students and what had been very clearly stated.

They ignored all that information and instituted a policy directly in violation of Title IX placing undue hardship on transgender students, and requiring the compulsory outing of a student’s transgender status in order for the student to be at school. It even included a statement that the student could 20

Moonhawk RiverStone

not transition gender at school if their grades did not meet certain criteria!

Really?! So, if I have multiple sclerosis and I need to use a wheelchair to get around school, you mean I need to have a certain grade average in order to use my chair??? Really? Since when does is access to one’s medical care dependent upon one’s grades? Apparently that’s the policy at the Shenendehowa school district.

transgender

students need to stop being run over by the lack of effective policies and administrative leadership in schools so that they safely go to school and receive an education

Anyone wanting to put in place a policy to support and protect transgender students need only to have accessed model policies available online or through such folks as the New York Civil Liberties Union, or reach out to individual policy experts such as myself who have been writing these polices for over a decade. Now, it’s even easier. When the Dignity for All Students Act was passed in June 2011 it had a year’s delay to implementation until July 2012. Now 3 years in place, we know while the law is great, it has not stopped bullying--nor for some populations like LGBT youth even slowed it down. Within DASA is a very clear guideline on the proper treatment for transgender students. It took NYS Dept. of Education 3 years to write a policy that effectively outlines in excruciating detail what needs to happen in school districts statewide

to protect transgender students and give them equal access to a safe and effective educational environment.

No school district needs to reinvent the wheel here. No one needs to put their own particular spin on transgender protections for student. All that needs to be done is for school boards to simply adopt the Dept. of Education policy as their own. Nice and simple and easy. This is the law.

There is no need for hearings, no need for sensationalistic press and shouting parents. Just do the business of implementing state law into the running of the school district. During the Shenendehowa hearings, I was reminded of my past experience--when the federal government ordered busing to making school more racially balanced and fair, and was reminded when we first racially integrated schools the riots that ensued when the law was being enforced. Eventually most of social distress quieted down.

For a country founded on equality for all, we are, at times, loath to share it with other Americans. Transgender students are now bearing the brunt of this next extension of rights in the public schools.

The time is now in school districts to adopt, institute and implement the New York State Dept. of Education’s policy: New York State Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students Guidance Document. The second part of that is to train all school board members, administrators and teachers in exactly what this policy means and how to enforce for the safety of all students, not only transgender students.

The New York Civil Liberties Union issued a report in June 2015 just prior to the Dept. of Ed’s policy finalization detailing the horrific treatment of transgender students under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and how the failure of school districts to effectively implement DASA is causing deep and enduring distress for transgender students and robbing them of their right to an education.

For a country

founded on equality for all, we are, at times, loath to share it with other Americans.

Transgender students are now bearing the brunt of this next extension of rights in the public schools

Below are some links. Share them with your school districts. Make sure school districts are fully aware of their responsibility to protect and serve transgender students. It is not the responsibility of school districts to demean, to out and to thwart transgender students at every turn. It is the responsibility of schools to be model citizens, not models of discrimination and bigotry. Until next time...T

Links: NYS Dept. of Education, July 2015 policy: http://www.capitalpridecenter.org/?p=20426 GLSEN Model Policy: http://www.capitalpridecenter.org/?p=20429 NYCLU Dignity for All Transgender Report: http://www.capitalpridecenter.org/?p=20428 California Safe Schools Policy: http://www.capitalpridecenter.org/?p=20427

TRANS VIEWŠ #135

Rev. Moonhawk River

Stone of Riverstone Consulting is an Interfaith Minister, transgender activist, writer, educator, consultant, keynote speaker and psychotherapist in private practice for over 25 years with experience and extensive expertise in all aspects of transgender policy and health.

Trans Pride Trans Pride

The Trans Pride program is dedicated to empowering trans* and gender non-conforming people and their allies through social opportunities, community building, resource sharing, and advocacy.

The Trans Pride program is dedicated to emDiscussion Group Meet & Greet powering trans* and gender non-conforming discussion group informal social evening peopleA and their allies throughAnsocial opportufocusing on issues for trans* people to nities, community building, resource sharing, important to trans* and advocacy. connect and build people and community.

1st Tuesdays, 7-9PM

community.

3rd Tuesdays, 7-9PM

The Discussion Group and Meet & Greet are open to all trans* people and those questioning their gender, ages 18+.

Trans* denotes a wide range of people including those who identify as transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, genderqueer, gender-non-conforming, questioning their gender, and more. We use the asterisk to help us remember that trans* identities and experiences are diverse, while still sharing a common thread.

All meetings take place at the Pride Center, 332 Hudson Avenue, Albany

P: 518.462.6138 PROGRAMS@CAPITALPRIDECENTER.ORG www.capitalpridecenter.org

Discussion Group - A discussion group focusing on issues important to trans* people and community.

1st Tuesdays, 7-9PM Meet & Greet - An informal social evening for trans* people to connect and build community.

3rd Tuesdays, 7-9PM

The Discussion Group and Meet & Greet are open to all trans* people and those questioning their gender, ages 18+.

Trans* denotes a wide range of people including those who identify as transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, genderqueer, gender-non-conforming, questioning their gender, and more.

We use the asterisk to help us remember that trans* identities and experiences are diverse, while still sharing a common thread.

All meetings take place at the Pride Center, 332 Hudson Avenue, Albany P: 518.462.6138 PROGRAMS@CAPITALPRIDECENTER.ORG www.capitalpridecenter.org 21

Your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Com m unity Center since 1970

OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE Center Youth: Support, outreach & advocacy for LGBTQA youth ages 18 and under. Programs include regional groups, Albany Youth Organizing! (AYO!) Drop in Space, HIV testing, the Center Youth Action Team, opportunities with legislators, and annual events. We support schools in 11 counties by providing training for staff and students on how to support LGBTQA youth.

Trans Pride: Promoting the wellbeing of transgender and gender non-conforming communities in a safe, empowering space through social opportunities, community building, peer support, resource sharing and advocacy.

Vintage Pride: Connecting LGBTQ older adults to each other and to the broader community with monthly social Training & Education Services : Creating safer spaces gatherings, special events, educational and leadership and services for LGBTQ people in the Capital Region by opportunities, and celebrating their resilience and offering comprehensive, high quality, individualized community contributions. trainings for mental health and medical providers, Business Alliance: Business Alliance members gain colleges, businesses, organizations, and any entity exclusive visibility, ways to leverage customer allegiance & seeking to improve services for LGBTQ individuals and access to a dedicated consumer base. Monthly Mixers to communities. meet up with friends, distribute business cards, and make Center Fam ilies: Helping LGBTQ headed families in the Capital Region achieve their goals of building and sustaining happy and healthy families through providing ongoing social and community building opportunities.

Center Support: Offering low-cost counseling, and peer support groups such as Men’s Group, Women’s Group, and Family and Friends of LGBTQ people. Also providing comprehensive and culturally specific referrals for LGBTQ individuals. Rainbow Café has been open since 1971 and is an open community space for recurring events such as Game Nights & Supper Sunday.

Center Arts: Our Romaine Brooks Gallery is a creative space and outlet for LGBTQ artists and themed work.

LGBTQ Book Club also meets monthly to discuss works written by LGBTQ authors.

332 HUDSON AVE. ALBANY, NY 12210



important business contacts. .

Capital PRIDE: As the producer of the largest annual Capital Pride celebration in Upstate NY, the Pride Center brings a record breaking 30,000 festival and parade attendees, and 35,000 people celebrating throughout PRIDE week each year.

Com m UNITY Magazine: The Pride Center’s monthly publication highlights & informs the larger Capital Region on local LGBTQ news and events as well as supports other LGBTQ organizations. Over 3,000 avid readers reached per month across 10 counties.

CapitalPrideCenter1 CapitalPrideCtr

518-4 62-6138



W W W .CAPITALPRIDECENTER.ORG

Our m ission is to prom ote the w ell-being of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identified people and those affected by discrim ination based on gender identity and expression.

22

Traditional & Holistic Psychotherapies Traditional & Holistic Psychotherapies Traditional Traditional & Holistic & Holistic Psychotherapies Psychotherapies Traditional & Holistic Psyc FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME for Healing & Growth for Healing for Healing & Growth & Growth for Healing & Growth for Healing & Grow by

Acey Mercer

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Sexual Orientation Sexual & Orientation Gender Identity & Gender Identity Sexual Orientation & Gender I

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Relationship & Parenting Issues

RelationshipRelationship & Parenting & Issues Parenting Issues

Relationship & ParentingRelationship Issues & Parenting Iss

T raditional & Holistic Psychotherapies T raditional & Holistic Psychotherapies T raditional & Holistic Psychotherapies for Healing & Growth for Healing & Growth for Healing & Growth

Despite theTrauma rising& Abuse attention snide whispers and confused remarks do not have Healingestablished Trauma & Abusepolicies Healing Healing Trauma Healing & Abuse Trauma & or Abuse Healing Trauma & Abuse given to trans*Depression issues, &opportunities challenging my gender and &participaand practices.Depression Until sports' programs & Anxiety Anxiety Depression Depression Anxiety & Anxiety Depression & Anxiety for transgenderRelationship and gender noncon- tion in sports. Adults and kids alikeViolence develop and Relationship enforce policies of in- Violence Violence Relationship Violence Relationship Relationship Violence forming students involved in athletgave double takes, long stares, snickclusion, transgender students will & Recovery hoices hoices hoices C CAddictions &Addictions C Addictions & Recovery Addictions Addictions & Recovery Recovery & Recovery ics remain limited.

Some transgender ers and would blatantly point at me, continue to be denied access to and Living With HIV & Illness Living With HIV & Illness Living With HIV & Illness Living With HIV Living & Illness With HIV & Illness students, like their non-transgender which typically coincided with vari- the benefits of athletic participation.

Body Image & Eating Disorders Body Image & Eating Disorders Body Image Body & Eating Image Disorders & Eating Disorders Image & Eating Disord peers, enjoy athletic competition and ous degrees of verbal response. "Why Transgender students shouldBody have the Services Homestudies & Adoption Services HomestudiesHomestudies & Adoption Services & Adoption Services Homestudies & Adoption Homestudies want to be part of a school sports team. is there a boy on the girls’ team, that’s same right to participate and benefit& Adoption Se Athletics are widely accepted as intefrom the positive aspects of athletics gral parts of the school experience, yet (and all other activities) as other stumany school sports programs do not This is a Counseling message&that needs to Consulting Counseling Counseling & Counseling Consulting Consulting Counseling & Consulting &dents. & Cons Tr a di t i o nal & Hol i s t i c Psychot h er a pi e s Tr a di t i o nal & Hol i s t i c Psychot h er a pi e s Tr a di t i o nal & Hol i s t i c Psychot h er pi e s have policies or guidelines in place to be strongly communicated and sup518-438-2222 518-438-2222 518-438-2222 518-438-2222 518-438-2222 It is not uncommon for oversee the inclusion of transgender communities, Fax and438-7777 Fax 438-7777 Fax 438-7777 Fax 438-7777 Fax 438-7777ported by families, f o r Heal i n g & Gr o wt h f o r Heal i n g & Gr o wt h f o r Heal i n g & Gr o wt h youth to remain silent student athletes.

Without constructive schools.

A fundamental step to create 523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor)Avenue, · Albany,Suite NY 12203 523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203 523 Western Avenue, 523 Western Suite 2AAvenue, Suite floor) 2A· Albany, (secondNY floor) 12203 · Albany, NY 12203 523 Western 2A (second floor) · A trans * (second identity policy,info@choicesconsulting.com most sports programs are un- about their thisinfo@choicesconsulting.com change is to acknowledge that · www.choices · info@choicesconsulting.com www.choicesconsulting.com · www.choicesconsulting.com info@choicesconsulting.com info@choicesconsulting.com · www.choicesconsulting.com · www.choicesconsulting.com Sexual Or i e nt a t i o n & Gender I d ent i t y Sexual Or i e nt a t i o n & Gender I d ent i t y Sexual Or i e nt a t i o n & Gender I d ent i t y prepared to safely and appropriately gender is a core part of everyone’s in order to participate in Relationship & Parenting Issues Relationship & Parenting Issues Relationship & Parenting Issues accommodate transgender and genidentity and it is more complex than the sports they love.

Healing Trauma & Abuse Healing Trauma & Abuse Healing Trauma & Abuse der nonconforming athletes. Due to our society suggests. We must reex3.75 “ x 5” 3.75 “ x 5” “ x 5” 3.75 “ x 5” 3.75 “ x 5” U3.75nfortunately the traditional sex-segregated world amine the narrow belief that bodies Depression & Anxiety Depression & Anxiety Depression & Anxiety , silence alone of athletics, transgender and gender determine gender identity and cultiRelationship Violence Relationship Violencedoes not Relationship Violence always nonconforming youth often feel disvate efforts to shift the paradigm to be Addictionsfor & Recovery Addictions & Recovera y safeAddictiohaven ns & Recovery offer couraged and uncomfortable particimore expansive and encompassing of Li v i n g Wi t h HI V & I l n ess Li v i n g Wi t h HI V & I l n ess Li v i n g Wi t h HI V & I l n ess gender nonconforming pating in athletic programs for their various identities and the diverse bodBody Image & Eating Disorders Body Image & Eating Disorders Body Image & Eating Disorders student athletes. natal sex. Several studies show that ies attached. Permitting transgender Homestudies & Adoption Services Homestudies & Adoption Services Homestudies & Adoption Services schools can be hostile places for transyouth to participate in sports in their gender students and those who do affirmed gender can provide an enornot conform to stereotypical gender mous boost to their self-confidence Psychot Tradi”tionalbeing & HolCounselisintgic&Psychot aditional & HolCounseisliexample.

Counseislintgic&During Consultingherapies ConsultingheraapiesTrmild ntgic&Psychot ConsultinghTreradipiteisonal & Hol expectations. These students are often weird, and self-esteem, while also providsubjected to peer bullying, which stig- travel fgames, there were numerous ing them with positive experiences 51 8 4 3 8 2 222 51 8 4 382 222 51 8 4 3 8 2 222 or Healing & Growth for Healing & Growth for Healing & Growth Fax 438-7777 out of that will help them in all other areas 438-7777 abruptly Fax 438-7777 shooed matizes and isolates them, thus con- times I Faxwas tributing to higher incidences of low bathrooms of their lives. It is imperative that as (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203 the 523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second flooror ) · Albany, NY 12203directed 523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albaway any, NY 12203523 Western Avenue, Suite 2Afrom & Gender Identittiyng.com my Orietnting.actomion· www. & Gender IdentiDespite ttiyng.com info@choiSexualcesconsulOrietnting.actomion· www.&silence Gender Identittiyng.cominfo@choiSexualcesconsulOrietntinabout g.actomion· www. choicesconsul cesconsul choicesconsul choicesconsul self-esteem, depression, and suicidal lockerinfo@choiSexualroom. caregivers/parents, students and proRelationship &emerged Parenting Issues & Parenting Issues Relsituations ationship & Parenting Issues ideation. identity,Relationshipvarious fessionals we challenge athletic proHealing Trauma & Abuse It was ing Trauma & Abuse ing Trauma & Abuse leaving Healme feeling Healdiscouraged. grams’ dependence on sex and gender n & Anxiety was Depressionlove & Anxiety Deprthe ession & Anxiety gameDepressiothat It is not uncommon for youth to re- definitely for as dominant organizing indoctrina3.75 “ x 5” 3.75 “ x 5” 3.75 “ x 5” main silent about their trans* iden- a motivator tion. Together we must compete to retionship Violence Relationship Violence and fueled Relationship Violence my Relaresiliency tity in order to participate in the – for others, not enough.

For construct the guiding principles in the Addictions & Recovery Addictions & Recovery it is just Addictions & Recover y sports they love. Unfortunately, si- many transgender world of sports to be more welcoming Living With HIathletes, V & Il ness Living With HIV & Il ness Living Withstudent HIV & Il ness lence alone does not always offer a competition and coming out are seen and inclusive of trans* athletes.

Body Image & Eating Disorders Body Image & Eating Disorders Body Image & Eating Disorders safe haven for gender nonconform- as an Homesteither-or proposition. Youth udies & Adoption Services Homestudies & Adoption Services Homestudies & Adoption Services ing student athletes. Those who do may often feel forced to choose, benot conform to typical expectations lieving each aspect of their identity of gender expression are notable tar- cannot comfortably coexist. As result, Holistic Psychotherisapies Traditional & Holistic PsychotherapiesTrAcey aditional & HoliMercer, stic PsychothTreradipiteisonal &MSW Counseling &abstain Consulting Counseling & Consulting Counsestudents ling & Consulting gets for uninformed assumptions and many transgender a Family Therapist at ridicule. Remembering back to ear- from sports in518-4order to 38-2222 518-438-2222 all together 518-438-2222 for Healing & GrowthChoices for HealinCounseling g & Growth for Healing & Gr&owth ConFax 438-7777 or unFax 438-7unwanted 777 Fax 438-7attention 777 lier years, I repeatedly experienced avoid any sulting (www.choicescondue stress.

These are deliberate 523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203 523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203sursulting.com) and Senior Orientation & Gender Identity Sexual Or i e nt a t i o n & Gender I d ent i t y Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Sexual choicesconsulting.com as fo@choicesconsulting.com · www.choicesconsulof ting.com our info@choicesconsulting.comyouth · www.choicesconsulting.cominfo@choicesconsul vival intactics toting.com · www.exist Consultant forRelatthe Traini o nshi p & Par e nt i n g I s sues Rel a t i o nshi p & Par e nt i n g I s sues Rel a t i o nshi p & Par e nt i n g I s sues best they can in unfair and unequal ing Institute for Gender, Heal i n g Tr a uma & Abuse Heal i n g Tr a uma & Abuse Heal i n g Tr a uma & Abuse Tr a di t i o nal & Hol i s t i c Psychot h er a pi e s Tr a di t i o nal & Hol i s t i c Psychot h er a pi e s Tr a di t i o nal & Hol i s t i c Psychot h er pi e s settings.

For many transgender Relationships, Identity, and Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Relationship & Parenting Issues

Relationship & Parenting Issues

Relationship & Parenting Issues

Healing Trauma & Abuse

Healing Trauma & Abuse

Healing Trauma & Abuse

Traditional & Holistic Psychotherapies Traditional & Holistic PsychothTreradpiteisonal & Holistic Psychotherapies C C C CC for Healing & Growth for Healing & Growth for Healing & Growth Addictions & Recover y

Living With HIV & Illness

Living With HIV & Illness

Living With HIV & Illness

Body Image & Eating Disorders

Body Image & Eating Disorders

Body Image & Eating Disorders

Homestudies & Adoption Ser vices

Homestudies & Adoption Ser vices

Homestudies & Adoption Ser vices

Fa x

Counseling

Fa x

438-7777

3.75 “

x

3.75 “

5”

hoices

5”

hoices

hoices

Healing Trauma & Abuse

Healing Trauma & Abuse

Healing Trauma & Abuse

Depres ion & Anxiety

Depres ion & Anxiety Choices Choices Relationship Violence

Depres ion & Anxiety

Choices

Relationship Violence

Addictions & Recovery

fstudent or Healing & Growth for Healathletes ing & Growth for Healing & Gr,owth

competition and coming Sexual Orientan ation & Gender Identity Sexual Orientation & Gender Idare entity Sexualseen Orientation & Gender Identity as out Relationship & Parenting Issues Relationship & Parenting Issues-or Relproposition ationship & Parenting Issues either Relationship Violence

438-7777

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Choices Choices Choices Relationship & Parenting Is ues Relationship & Parenting Is ues

Relationship & Parenting Is ues

Depression & Anxiety

x

hoiceshoices

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Healing Trauma & Abuse

Fa x

438-7777

523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203 523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203 i n fo @ c h o i ce s co n s u l t i n g. co m · w w w. c h o i ce s co n s u l t i n g. co m i n fo @ c h o i ce s co n s u l t i n g. co m · w w w. c h o i ce s co n s u l t i n g. co m

523 Western Avenue, Suite 2A (second floor) · Albany, NY 12203 i n fo @ c h o i ce s co n s u l t i n g. co m · w w w. c h o i ce s co n s u l t i n g. co m

5”

Counseling & Consulting 518-438-2222

& Consulting 518-438-2222

& Consulting 518-438-2222

x

Relationship Violence

Relationship Violence

Addictions & Recover y

Counseling

3.75 “

Depression & Anxiety

Depression & Anxiety

Depression & Anxiety

Relationship Violence

Addictions & Recover y

Living With HIV & Il ness Healing Trauma & Abuse

Healing Trauma & Abuse

Depression & Anxiety

Depression & Anxiety

Relationship Violence

Relationship Violence

Addictions & Recovery

Negative stereotypes and fearful misconceptions about gender diversity are perpetuated when athletic programs deny transgender students the ability to participate in sports and/ 3.75 “ x 5”

3.75 “ x 5”

3.75 “ x 5”

Living With HIV & Il ness

Relationship Violence

Addictions & Recovery

Depression & Anxiet(www. y Depression & Anxiety Sexuality Depression & Anxie(TIGRIS) ty trigrisinstitute.com) or RelationshiIfp Violeyou nce Relationship Violence Relin ationship VioAlbany. lence someoneAddictiyou of Addictionscounsel& Recovery ons & Recovery know is Addictioin ns & Recoverneed y ing, advocacy, or support in anLiveducationing With HIV & Il ness Living With HIV & Il ness Living With HIV & Il ness al setting please contact Acey at Acey@ Body Image & Eating Disorders Body Image & Eating Disorders Body Image & Eating Disorders choicesconsulting.com or (518) 438-2222.

Living With HIV & Il ness ChoiBodyces ImageC&hoiEatces ing DiCsohoircdesers Homestudies & Adoption Services

Homestudies & Adoption Services

Homestudies & Adoption Services

23

Addictions & Recovery Addictions & Recovery & Holistic Addictions & Recovery Traditional & Holistic Psychotherapies Traditional Psychotherapies Traditional & Holistic Psychotherapies Counseling & Consulting Counseling & Consulting Counseling & Consulting Living With HIV & Il ness Living With HIV & Il ness Living With HIV & Il ness for518-438-Healing for Healing & Growth for Healing & Growth 518-438-2222 2222 51& 8-438-2222 Growth

Body Image & Eating Disorders

Body Image & Eating Disorders

Body Image & Eating Disorders

Body Image & Eating Disorders

Body Image & Eating Disorders

24

T O

B E

A

B L E S S I N G

Walking Forward by Louis Bower Bannister

This article is part of my current journey and is written partly in response to a Pastoral Letter written on 18 July by Bishop William Love of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany following both the SCOTUS Marriage Equality ruling and the actions of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church which is the governing body of the national denomination held every three years. His letter, for those wishing to read it, may be found at: www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org.

In a recent meeting of liberal-minded Episcopalians who live and worship in the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, Bishop William Love asked us who we thought he was. This meeting was held a short time after the SCOTUS marriage equality ruling and after the General Convention of The Episcopal Church voted to introduce a gender neutral marriage liturgy for trial use by same sex couples throughout the Episcopal Church.

I have thought a lot about the Bishop's question over the past several weeks.

He is notoriously conservative in this theology, particularly where GLBT and women's issues are concerned.

It would have been easy for me to answer, “Homophobic,” or “Bigot,” or “Narrow-minded.” But I honestly don't think that he is a bigot, and I have come to realize that we are all narrow-minded in some form or other.

My answer to the Bishop's question is quite simple: We are very much the same person.

What? How? We each grew up in the church. We each love Jesus. We each serve the church. We each pray daily.

We each seek to serve others in the name of a loving God. We each read our Books of Common Prayer. We each devoutly read and try to live out the word of the Bible. We each have very strong and clear convictions based on our interpretations of what we read in the Bible.

But we differ fundamentally because those interpretations vary, and in that we are broken because of our separate convictions.

I have struggled for seven years to live as an active member of congregations in The Episcopal Diocese of Albany. This struggle is new to me in my 40 years of life because in every other place I have ever lived I have known my beloved church, The Episcopal Church, to be a brightly shining beacon of inclusive love and forward thinking that practices radical hospitality and love to all who enter through its doors. Who I am as a gay man was never an issue for me in the church because I was always deeply aware that I was seen, honored and loved completely as a child of God. It is, I have realized, impossible for me to be seen, honored or loved completely as a child of God in this diocese by its bishop or by a majority of its clergy. Impossible because they cannot see past my sexuality. They see me not as a child of God but as someone who they consider to be an abhorrent sexual being that is not of

God and when they see me that way they are not looking at me through the eyes of Jesus. And to me, if they, as members of the clergy and as human beings who profess to be followers of Jesus, cannot see me through the eyes of Christ, then they have failed their baptismal vows and their ministries in the church.

What can I do about that while on my journey?

I can continue to see them, honor them, and love them as children of God. I can pray that they might one day have a change of heart that allows them to see me just as I see them.

And that we might all, together in The Episcopal Diocese of Albany, be witnesses of the inclusive and loving Gospels that the overwhelming majority of The Episcopal Church lives in the world through thought, word and deed.

And now, for a time, my journey takes me to worship in a neighboring diocese where I am, without exception, a child of God. My departure from my church home is not an admission of defeat, but a way for me to continue to love and serve the church and to live into my full potential as a beautiful and spiritual being. I miss my beloved church family at The Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, but, have come to realize as I have discovered in my heart...

I have not left. I have walked forward.

Louis Bower Bannister is a life-long Angli can/Episcopalian who lives in Albany. He is the proprietor of The Enchanted Florist in downtown Albany. He can often be seen his enthusiastic and delinquent We Are Broken because of our separate convictions chasing puppy, Oliver, through Washington Park.

This article is one of a series provided by Advocates for Welcoming Congregations, a Capital Region group that encourages the welcoming of LGBT persons into the full life and leadership of communities of faith. The group also works to make visible for members of the LGBT community opportunities for practicing their faith traditions.

25

Members

as of Aug. 19, 2015

Albany Medical Center Albany.com/Mannix Marketing Alliance for Positive Health Aras Performance Group, Inc Bank of America/ Merrill Lynch Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, BBL Hospitality Trans*,Queer & Allied Berkshire Bank Foundation Professionals’ Bomber's Burrito Bar Networking Event Buenau's Opticians Canterbury Animal Hospital Capital District YMCA Casswood Insurance CDPHP Central Avenue BID Classy Body Art Connections Psychotherapy Consumer Optical Corey Jamison Consulting, LLC. Deb Best Practices Decrescente Deja Vu DiCarlo's Ellis Medicine Empire Merchants North Experience and Creative Design, Ltd. Geri Pomerantz, Esq GP Fund Solutions LLC HomoRadio Interim Healthcare James Leone State Farm Janet Stein / Arbonne International Jay Zhang Photography Joseph Roche, Accounting Journey United Church of Christ Key Bank LAX on Lark Lucas Confectionery and Wine Bar Mansion Inn Mark D. Witecki, CPA Mazzone Hospitality / Aperitivo Bistro McGeary's Mexican Radio Schenectady Montgomery County Office for Aging MVP Health Care New York Life Insurance Company Northeast Acura NYSUT Oh Bar Olde English Pub Save the Date for October!

Peck’s Arcade Price Chopper Supermarkets Monday, Oct. 5th Rain Modern Chinese 6-8 pm RBC Wealth Management Renaissance Albany Hotel River Street Men’s Club ROCKS Ronnie Mangione / Wealth Advisory Group Samaritan Hospital Spindles on Remsen Scofield Access Solutions LLC Security Plumbing & Heating Supply 241 Remsen St, Cohoes, 12047 Skylands Services, INC $10 Suggested Donation Spectrum 8 Theatre donate in advance at Sunrise Management and Consulting TD Bank The Desmond The Grocery Tri City Rentals University at Albany Foundation Waterworks Pub Wells Fargo Wolff ’s Biergarten, Schenectady

www.capitalpridecenter.org/events/octobernetworking

26

ASK MARK YO U R TA X Q U ESTI O N S

Welcome to the DEAR MARK column where you can ask a tax question. Of course some questions cannot be answered to due to the limited space in this column or warrant more facts due to specific circumstances of the taxpayer. Answers that apply to specific taxpayers may not necessary apply to others. Changes in tax law and rules may affect answers given at any point. You can write Mark at Mark Witecki CPA CFP(R) CFE, 3701 State St, Schenectady, NY 12304

============================

Dear Mark W, I received a notice from the IRS and they are looking for a form 5500 for me. It says something about a pension. What is that about? I do have a pension plan for my business and I am self employed with no employees except myself.

Sign me, Wondering Dear Wondering, Form 5500 is designed to report pension information for a pension plan.

Certain plans do not have to report on Form 5500 but others do. If you are self employed, and the value of your pension during at the end of the year is $ 250,000 or more, and you do not choose to file Form 5500-SF electronically, then you can file Form 5500-EZ and that return is filed on paper only, unless it is the final year of the plan.

Please contact me as I need a lot more information from you to adequately answer your question.

Mark,

Mr. Witecki,

I just bought a brownstone and it needs a lot of work. I have heard of historical tax credits. How do they work?

I recently sold a painting for 8700 dollars but I don't know what the cost is because I inherited the painting. What to do about taxes?

VTY, Adam

Yours Truly Albany Al

Dear Adam, It depends if the historical property is commercial, residential rental or commercial. There are a lot of rules, such as those certifying your property as a historical property and then other rules such as choosing to take the credits during construction or at the end, the percentage of exterior work that will be done, etc. Contact me for an appointment as the rules are complex. ============================

Dear Mark, I received a notice from the Worker's Compensation Board and the letter says I owe a lot of money over 20 thousand. I have a small corporation and no other employees besides myself . I asked my accountant and she does not know what to do. Help me.

Dear Help me, One and two person employeeowners of corporations are not liable for worker's compensation unless they have other employees. Worker's Compensation should be advised of that. There is also a similar rule for NYS Short Term Disability Insurance which the Worker's Compensation Board regulates that may also be sending you a notice.

Dear Albany Al, Try and get the value of the painting from an art appraiser on the date of death of the person you inherited the painting from. If an estate tax return was done for the deceased, the painting's value might be listed on the return. The tax cost of the painting is the Date of Death value from the person

you inherited the painting from.

Answers that apply to specific taxpayers may not necessary apply to others.

Changes in tax law and rules may affect answers given at any point. You can write Mark at Mark Witecki CPA CFP(R) CFE, 3701 State St, Schenectady, NY 12304. Mark D. Witecki specializes in small businesses and professional individuals. Mr. Witecki has a B. S. in Accounting from S. U. N. Y. Albany and an M. S. in Accounting from Syracuse University. Mark D. Witecki is a Certified Public Accountant, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ practitioner, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified College Planning Specialist and is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® , CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Mark’s office is located at 3701 State Street, Schenectady, New York

============================= ============================= =============================

Mark D. Witecki Certified Public Accountant Certified Financial Planner™ Certified Fraud Examiner Tax Preparation 3701 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12304 (518) 346-4000 f: (518) 346-5196

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the Certified Marks CFP (c).

Certified Financial Planner ™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S. which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP’s initial and ongoing certification requirements

27

THE FASHIONABLE AND THE FRIVOLOUS by ALAN BENNET ILAGAN

SCHOOL, SHOES AND SHAME

Show Your Pride Online

When I was in third grade, saddle shoes were all the rage.

At least I thought they were - the way they contrasted so delightfully in and of themselves, the way they sharpened an outfit. I didn't pay much attention to who exactly was wearing them, but I loved the way they looked and soon became obsessed with getting a pair.

At Buster Brown there was a pair of saddle shoes - for boys in fact - and I rejoiced as I slid them on my feet. Ahh, the glory of a pair of shoes! These shone in shiny black and white, beacons of pride and joy, like tickling piano keys as I walked. I marched around the store, admiring them in the shoe mirrors.

They were bold, and at first my feet were unaccustomed to something so demanding of a second look. Could I pull them off? Of course! How could I not? I thought of those pretty little girls parading around in their pristine saddle shoes, topped by perfectly-white frilly socks. How they glided along on dainty footsteps, how they made it look so effortlessly elegant and easy, and how I wanted to do the same.

The first day I wore my saddle shoes I felt like I was floating into school. I was making my own black-and-white checker-tiled dance-floor, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers all rolled into one (before I even heard their names in the ‘Vogue’ rap).

Yet the whispers upon my entering class were not of awe or envy. I knew those whispers even then. These were whispers of confusion. These were the whispers of discomfort. These were the whispers of ridicule. I thought I heard someone say they were girl shoes.

28

Then, sudden and swift and irrevocable, the onslaught of shame. With reddened face and panicky disposition, I seethed in inner agony. I quickly took my seat and swung my feet under my chair, away from prying eyes. At heads-down time,

I peeked under the desks to study the feet around me. Only girls were wearing saddle shoes.

I shrunk in embarrassment. I cringed at the monstrosities on my feet. I'd made a fatal misstep. I who never faltered, who never failed, now felt the hot flush of being the almost-object of ridicule.

I felt myself teetering on the brink of becoming ostracized from the only people who seemed to matter. Yet I never let on that those whispers bothered me, or even made it to my ears. I never let on how badly they crushed my ego and destroyed the silly bit of joy I got in those shoes. I never let on that when they tried to break me, they had in fact succeeded.

I didn't wear the saddle shoes much after that – just a few more times so as not to arouse the suspicion or ire of my frugal parents for not making use of new shoes. They went back into their box, worn only at home or on vacation or where I could be myself and not worry about being chided for it.

Everything I do today, every strange, questionable object I wear, is done in honor of that little boy who was robbed of such joy, held captive for the rest of his boyhood by a gang of innocently cruel children. They were taught by the world to dress like a boy or a girl, and there was never room for anything in-between.

Another line between innocence and shame. Another demarcation of growing up. The way we erase our identities to fit in, to feel like we belong – I didn’t know then that it was the very way I would grow to hate myself. It would take years before I returned to my quirky style. Years of khakis and polos, and jeans and sneakers, and trying to be the boy everyone wanted me to be. Years in which I pushed my lovely saddle shoes into the dark recesses of my closet, and the life-loving fun that should comprise every childhood into the hidden recesses of my heart.

Alan Bennett Ilagan is a freelance writer and amateur photographer who resides in upstate New York with his husband Andy. He created the website www.

ALANILAGAN.com, which contains a repository of his work, as well as a daily blog; the website recently celebrated its tenth anniversary online. He was the manager of the Romaine Brooks Gallery from 2008 to 2012. His writing has appeared in Instinct, xy magazine, Capitalmen, Q Northeast, the Windy City Times, and the Boston Phoenix. Notable artistic collaborations have been created with the likes of Steven Underhill, Paul Richmond, Dennis Dean, and Michael Breyette.

Welcoming Congregations

Join Us In Exploring Your Spiritual Side At One Of The Welcoming Congregations Below: Community Congregational Church (UCC) 221 Columbia Tpke, Rensselaer www.clintonheightsucc.org

First Church in Albany 110 North Pearl Street, Albany www.firstchurchinalbany.org (518)463-4449

Community Reformed Church of Colonie 701 Sand Creek Road, Colonie www.coloniereformed.org (518)869-5589

First Congregational Church of Albany UCC & NACCC 405 Quail Street, Albany www.firstcongregationalalbany.org (518)482-4580

Congregation Agudat Achim (Conservative) 2117 Union Street, Schenectady www.agudatachim.org (518) 393-9211

First Lutheran Church 181 Western Avenue, Albany www.FirstLutheranAlbany.org (518)463-1326

Congregation B’nai Shalom (Reform) 420 Whitehall Road, Albany www.bnaishalom.albany.ny.us (518) 482-5283

First Presbyterian Church 362 State Street, Albany www.firstpresalbany.org (518)449-7332

Congregation Berith Sholom (Reform) 167 Third Street, Troy www.berithsholom.org (518)272-8872

First Reformed Church 8 North Church Street, Schenectady www.1streformed.com

Congregation Beth Emeth (Reform) 100 Academy Road, Albany www.bethemethalbany.org (518)436-9761

First Unitarian Society of Schenectady 1221 Wendell Avenue, Schenectady www.fussonline.org (518)374-4446

Congregation Gates of Heaven (Reform) 842 Ashmore Avenue, Schenectady www.cgoh.org (518)374-8173 Congregation Ohav Shalom (Conservative) 113 New Krumkill Road, Albany www.ohavshalom.org Congregation Temple Sinai (Reform) 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs www.templesinai-saratogasprings.org (518) 584-8730 Delmar Presbyterian Church 585 Delaware Ave, Delmar www.delmarpres.org Eastern Parkway United Methodist Church 943 Palmer Avenue, Schenectady www.easternparkway.weebly.com (518)374-4306 St. George’s Episcopal Church 30 North Ferry St., Schenectady www.stgeorgesschenectady.org Emmanuel Baptist Church 275 State Street, Albany, NY www.emmanuelalbany.net (518)465-5161

First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany 405 Washington Avenue, Albany www.albanyuu.org (518)463-7135 First United Methodist Church 603 State Street, Schenectady, www.gbgm-umc.org/schenectady (518)374-4403 First United Methodist Church, East Greenbush www.fumceg.org First United Presbyterian Church 1915 Fifth Avenue, Troy www.unitedprestroy.org (518)272-2771 Friends Meeting (Quaker) 727 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 436-8812 Presbyterian New England Congregational Church, Saratoga http://pnecchurch.org/ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 501 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville www.goodshepherdchurchloudonville.org (518)458-1562

Holy Trinity National Catholic Church 405 Washington Avenue, Albany www.NCCofA.org/holytrin.html (518)434-8861 Journey United Church of Christ 500 Kenwood Blvd, Delmar www.journeyucc.com Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs www.saratogaspringsumc.org (518)5843720 Saint Aelred’s Priory and Retreat House (National Catholic) 670 Bunker Hill Road, Northville staelredpriory@aol.com (518) 863-8086 / (518) 434-8861 St. Andrews Episcopal Church Main at Madison Avenue, Albany www.standrewsalbany.org (518)489-4747 St. John’s Lutheran Church 160 Central Avenue, Albany www.stjohnsalbany.org (518)465-7545 Temple Israel 600 New Scotland Avenue, Albany www.tialbany.org (518) 438-7858 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga 624 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs www.saratoga-uu.org (518)584-1555 Unity Church in Albany 21 King Avenue, Albany www.unitychurchinalbany.org (518)4533603 Woodstock Jewish Congregation (Reconstructionist) 1682 Glasco Turnpike, Woodstock www.wjcshul.org (845)246-1671

Proud To Be Open!

Affirming!

Welcoming!

Joyous!

29

Every WEDNESDAY

“TRIVIA NIGHT”

ng

7PM

Fun & Prizes!!

Every THURSDAY

“50¢ WING NIGHT” Beer Specials

Check out our new “Express Lunch” - Only $599 Call 372-6024 for details

441 State Street, Schenectady, NY (518) 372-6024

EVENTS THINGS TO DO CONTESTS

GAZETTE

Guide to the Capital Region

P I TA L R E G I O N

DINING NIGHTLIFE DIRECTORY & MORE! WWW.DAILYGAZETTE.COM

CAPITOL

FE Act

Cuomo touts tax relief

Proudly continuing to serve as the voice

of the LGBT community after 22 years…

Live every Sunday 10AM – 2 PM

Advertisers Index AIDS WAlk .....3 Albany.com.....30 Albany Gay Men’s Chorus....35 Buenau’s Opticians.....32 Canterbury Animal Hospital.....11 Choices Counseling & Consulting.....11 Congregation Agudat Achim.....38 Corey Jamison Consulting.....12 Drue Sanders Custom Jewelers.....16 First United Presbyterian Church.....11 Friends of Dan McCoy.....6 HomoRadio.....30 Interim Healthcare.....19 Jay Zhang Photography.....11 Law Office of Geri Pomerantz....17 Joseph Roche, Accountant.....29 Ronnie Mangione, Financial Advisor.....12 Nico’s Rooftop Tavern.....30 Northeast Acura.....16 Presnyterian Rainbow.....34 Project Hope.....32 Queer Engineer.....34 Realty USA - The Capital Team.....19 RiverStone Consulting.....11 Saratoga Pride.....34 Scofield Access Solutions, LLC.....12 Security Plumbing and Heating Supply.....11 Skylands Services.....12 Spectrum 8 Theatre.....32 Tri City Rentals.....40 Welcoming Congregations.....29 Wells Fargo Advisors.....19 Thomas J. Walling, CFP® / Cetera Advisor Networks.....12 Warner and Warner Attorneys at Law.....19 Mark Witecki CPA, CFP......27

Check us “OUT”: WRPI 91.5 FM or wrpi.org 518.276.6248

DODSON/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER

r a photo Monday at Woodub in Guilderland.

30

•

homoradio.blogspot.com

Breaks eyed for manufacturers, For more information contact Steven @ (518) 462-6138 or sminchin@capitalpridecenter.org some homeowners

BY MICHAEL VIRTANEN

MICHAEL COOKS AND YOU CAN TOO by MICHAEL MEADE

Inspired by a couple of friends who went to Rome this summer (and came home five pounds heavier, raving about the cuisine), I thought that this month we’d take a vicarious tour of Italy through a couple of classic Italian pasta sauces.

meat for later. In the same pot, sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil & butter until the onions are translucent. Deglaze the pan with wine and reduce by half. Puree the whole tomatoes and add them to the pot along with the sliced carrots and reserved meat. Simmer for about 1 1/2 hours.

(If the sauce becomes too dry add a little water or chicken stock) Salt and Pepper to taste.

In a big pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta al dente. Serve sauce over pasta with grated cheese.

Pasta Bolognese Bolognese sauce (ragu alla Bolognese in Italian, also known by its French name, Sauce Bolognaise) is a meatbased pasta sauce originating in Bologna in the central Northern region of Italy. It’s one of the most famous Italian sauces and one that most Americans are familiar with. The people of Bologna traditionally serve their famous ragu with freshly-made tagliatelle (the Northern Italian name for fettuccine). Less traditionally, the sauce is served with rigatoni or used as the stuffing for lasagna or cannelloni.

1 lb. ground beef 1 lb. ground veal or lamb 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 1 large onion, chopped 4 - 6 cloves of garlic 1/4 cup red wine 2 carrots, peeled and sliced 1 16 oz. can whole tomatoes with/ juice Salt & pepper to taste 1 pound fettuccine or rigatoni Parmesan cheese for grating on top

Have all your meats ready to go and start a big pot of water boiling. Peel and dice the onion. Then peel and finely chop the garlic. Peel the carrots and cut them into 1/2 inch pieces cutting across the carrot. In a large sauce pot, brown the chopped beef and (veal or lamb), drain fat and reserve

Fettuccine Alfredo Alfredo is a sauce made from heavy cream, butter, parsley and minced garlic. It is most often served on fettuccine. Alfredo sauce was invented in Rome in 1914 by restaurant owner Alfredo di Lello. An earlier version was a Roman dish known as Fettuccine al burro (fettuccine with butter), prepared only with butter, Parmigiano Reggiano and reserved cooking water as a sauce. The butter was added both before and after the fettuccine was put into the serving bowl, a technique known as “doppio burro” (double butter). Di Lillo’s original contribution was to increase the amount of butter and add cream to the recipe to create a thicker, smoother (and even richer) sauce.

Fettuccine Alfredo became extremely popular and di Lello's restaurant attracted many celebrities. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, two silent screen stars whose marriage created a media frenzy not equaled until Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, fell in love with the dish while on their

highly-publicized honeymoon in 1919. As a result, Fettuccine Alfredo was introduced in the United States and became for many Americans their first taste of Italian cuisine. Today, Fettuccine Alfredo is far more popular in the United States than in Italy, where it is mostly served to American tourists (many Italians have never even tried it). You can make any modification you like to the basic Fettuccine Alfredo, including cubed cooked chicken, fresh or frozen peas or other vegetables. It can also be served on any type of pasta you like.

1/2 cup butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste) 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste) 1 pound fettuccine Chopped fresh parsley for sprinkling Additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling

In a big pot of salted boiling water, cook fettuccine al dente. While pasta is cooking, melt butter in large skillet; brown the minced garlic in the butter, then add cream, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for a few minutes uncovered to reduce and thicken sauce. Remove from heat and add cooked fettuccine and one cup of Parmesan. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Toss to combine and serve immediately with an extra sprinkling of Parmesan cheese over the top, if desired.

Michael Meade graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, worked at Jack’s Oyster House in Albany and is currently sous-chef at Thunder Mountain Curry in Troy.

Questions and comments are welcome at Michaelmeade1215@yahoo.com

31

HIS PROFILE PIC DOESN’T TELL YOU EVERYTHING

Ask if he’s been tested for syphilis. Get yourself tested.

iSYPHY

syphilis has many profiles

Go to: r u b b a b o y z . n e t

32

HERE’S GUFFMAN by PATRICK WHITE

SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

My first encounter with Mary Darcy was seeing her interview Stephen Sondheim at HVCC a couple of years ago. She was so poised, professional, engaging, knowledgeable and spontaneous, I thought to myself who is this? I have since seen her onstage as the housewife Muriel who breaks out of her shell in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” the jaded Joanne in Mr. Sondheim’s ‘Company’ with LAGS and most recently as the soothsayer/domestic [Cassandra] in ‘Vanya and Sonia and Mash and Spike’ at Curtain Call. It was also hard not to notice how many people were attracted to Mary and attended her shows to see her.

I sat down with her recently to find out

something about Mary.

What do you do, Mary?

“I write, edit, sell advertising and plan events for All Over Albany which is a website about the Capital Region-Albany, Schenectady, Troy all the hamlets in between, things to do within the North, South, East and West of us. I spend my days writing about things people need to know who live in the Capital region. It’s kind of the virtual water cooler for the Capital region. What the news of the day is, what do you want to do, where do you want to go. What food is really good. We just took 120 people down the Hudson on a train and back up on a cruise. We did tasting and tours. It’s for curious people. People who have an omnivorous curiosity and are really engaged in the place that they live. One of the things that they are interested in is theater.”

What interests you about the theater?

“I write and sell that by day…What [do] I really want to do? Is act. I have known from the day I could walk and talk that I wanted to tell stories. I tell them in print. I tell them in improv with the Mop & Bucket, I’ve been working with them for four years. My favorite place to tell them is onstage. I just finished doing ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ and I had this little role. I walked on and walked off. It’s the easiest thing in the world. You walk on, you make people

laugh and you walk off. I had this moment, Cassandra has this big speech in the second act and I felt this give and take with the audience and I felt this incredible…they were coming with me on a journey. It was this moment that even as I was doing it I felt in the back of the head ‘This is so awesome. You are so lucky and so blessed.’

“We have this limited amount of time, this limited time on this earth which I’ve become conscious of recently because I’ve recently lost both of my parents and I’m rethinking what my priorities are in life. And my priorities are-I’m going to do as much of this as I’m going to fit into my life! Not only do I get joy but I give other people joy.

“People have said to me that acting is selfish. Look at me, look at me. Acting for me has never been look at me. It’s always bout what can I do in service? What can I do in service of the story? In service of the play, in service of the audience? Paying attention to other people and other people’s stories. If you find your niche in life where you can share something, be of service, which people are really enjoying, whatever it is…if you’re a doctor, if you’re a chef, if you’re whatever it is, if you’ve found it- Hallelujiah! Because some people go through their whole lives and never find it.”

What’s your take on the state of theater in the Capital Region?

“I’m excited about all these new companies. People will say ‘Oh, we don’t have enough talent to handle all these companies. Last summer I was thrilled with ‘Avenue Q’ (put on by Family Players at the GE Theatre directed by Jeffrey Hocking). It’s not my favorite show but I could close my eyes and think I was listening to the cast album, it was that good.

“The other thing is the sharing. It now feels this theater community is stronger than it ever has been. I see the community in community theater. There was ‘Anything Goes’ in the Park by Not So Common and this year the show was stronger than anything Not So Common has been able to do before, I think, because of all the sharing that’s going on between theatres. This year they had a problem with the set. This design was too large, it didn’t fit the stage and they put out a call- We need to do this set, we have one weekend left and everything needs to be redone. It’s like, everybody came to their

aid. It’s this beautiful set. Someone said it was like by Ikea. Everything folds and fits into everything else. It’s great and it happened because this group put out this call looking for help and this community said yes. We are now saying Yes. “The other thing is all the programs for kids. I grew up and there were three places-ACT, SCP and SLOC. I grew up in Saratoga and later there was Home Made but not when I was a kid. When I was a kid there was nothing. When I was a kid, every day I’d ride my bike or watch TV and I felt something that I couldn’t name. Much later I knew…acting is what I should have been doing.”

What are you excited about in the new season?

I'm looking forward to so many things!

Mostly ‘Sweeney Todd’ at SLOC, ‘Clybourne Park’ at Schenectady Civic and ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ at Curtain Call and ‘Angel Street’ at Albany Civic.

Angel Street Albany Civic Theater 235 Second Ave. Albany, NY 12209 September 4, 5, 6; 11, 12, 13, 2015 Sweeney Todd Schenectady Light Opera Company (SLOC) 427 Franklin Street Schenectady, NY 12305 January 29 – Feb 7, 2016 Glengarry Glen Ross Curtain Call Theater 210 Old Loudon Rd. Latham, NY 12110 February 19 - March 19 Clybourne Park Schenectady Civic Players 12 S Church St, Schenectady, NY 12305 (Auditions: March 1 & March 3@ 7:30PM) May 6 – 8 and 11 – 15, 2016 Patrick White is a Capital Region actor, director and teacher who will be in “The Night Alive” at Curtain Call Theatre 10/16-11/7. He teaches an acting class Saturday mornings in downtown Albany. white.patrick1963@gmail.com 33

These Presbyterian Churches Welcome You Where you can find a place ~ come as you are!

Albany First Presbyterian State & Willett Streets www.firstpresalbany.org Sunday Worship 8:30 am & 10:45 am

Hudson First Presbyterian Church 369 Warren Street FirstPresHudson.org Sunday Worship 10:45 am

Spencertown St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church 5219 County Route 7 SaintPetersPC.org Sunday Worship 10:00 am

Albany Westminster Presbyterian 262 State Street www.WPCalbany.org Sunday Worship 10:00 am

Hudson Falls First Presbyterian Church 5 River Street www.fpchudsonfalls.org Sunday Worship 10:00 am

Stephentown Stephentown Federated Church 1513 Garfield Road StephentownFederatedChurch.org Sunday Worship 9:30 am

Amsterdam United Presbyterian Church 25 Church Street www.upchurch25.org Sunday Worship 9:30 am

Putnam Station Putnam United Presbyterian Church 365 County Route 2 518-547-8378 Sunday Worship 10:00 am

Stillwater Stillwater United Church 747 Hudson Avenue StillwaterUnitedChurch.org Sunday Worship 9:00 & 10:30 am

Colonie Roessleville Presbyterian Church Elmhurst and Central Avenue 518-459-2816 Sunday Worship 9:30 am

Rensselaer First Presbyterian Church 34 Broadway 518-463-0894 Sunday Worship 10:00 am

Troy (Lansingburgh) Cornerstone Community Church 570 3rd Avenue www.cornerstoneccl.org Sunday Worship 10:00 am

Delmar Delmar Presbyterian Church 585 Delaware Avenue www.delmarpres.org Sunday Worship 10:00 am

Rensselaerville Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church 1454 CR 351 rvillepres.org Sunday Worship 11:00 am (Summer Only)

Troy First United 1915 Fifth Avenue (downtown) www.UnitedPresTroy.org Sunday Worship 10:00 am

Glens Falls First Presbyterian Church 400 Glen Street

Saratoga Springs Presbyterian-New England Congregational 24 Circular Street www.pnecchurch.org Sunday Worship 10:45 am

Valatie First Presbyterian Church 3212 Church Street 518-758-9658 Sunday Worship 11:00 am

FPCgf.org

Sunday Worship 10:00 am Guilderland Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church 2291 Western Avenue

Scotia-Glenville Trinity Presbyterian Church 185 Swaggertown Rd. HamiltonUnionPresbyterianChurch.org www.ScotiaTrinity.org Sunday Worship 8:30 am & 10:00 am Sunday Worship 10:00 am

West Charlton West Charlton United Presbyterian 1331 Sacandaga Road www.westcharltonUPC.org Sunday Worship 10:30 am

QueerEngineer age ad for September 2015 CommUnity Get to know us & how you can support LGBTQ* students in science, technology, engineering, & mathematics. /QueerEngineer

For any questions regarding this ad, please contact Judy Moyer (518) 283-7663 or Moyer.Judith@gmail.com.

Presbyterian Rainbow contract for 2015

@QueerEngineer

We are all God’s children ~ Come as you are!

34

A Pride Center of the Capital Region affiliate

Affiliate Events CHORUS REHEARSAL The Albany Gay Men’s Chorus rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:45 to 9:00pm at the First Lutheran Church.

For more information: www.albanygmc.org, E-mail: albanygmc@yahoo.com, Voice-mail: (518) 459-7563 or join us on Facebook at: Albany Gay Men’s Chorus - AGMC.

MOVIE NIGHT-SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH We will begin at 5PM at Harvey’s Pub, 14 Phila Street Saratoga Springs,. From there, we can decide who wants to see what movies and leave accordingly for Bowtie Cinemas.

LESBIAN NETWORKING BREAKFAST We meet on the third Thursday of each month, at the Country Corner Café on Church Street in the upstairs dining room at 7:30 am. Latecomers are welcome.

MONTHLY GLBTQ SUPPORT GROUP Second Sunday of the Month Fallstaff Building, Skidmore College 3-4:30pm.

Contact Caroline with questions: 518.857.9361

agmc

AGMC

is an affiliate of

agmc is an affiliate agmc is an affiliate of

of

A GMC AGMC

AGMC AGMC

AGMC

is looking new members is lookingfor for new members Albany Gay Chorus Albany Gay Men’s Men’s Chorus

is looking for new members Albany Gay Men’s Chorus

Rehearsals Tuesdays Rehearsals are are Tuesdays 6:45 - -9:00 pm at the 6:45 9:00 pm at the First Lutheran Albany.

First Lutheran Church Church ofof Albany.

For more Information Information For more Website:w www.albanygmc.org Website: w w.albanygmc.org E-mail: albanygmc@ yahoo.com E-mail: albanygmc @ yahoo.com Voice-mail: 518 518- 459-7563 Voice-mail: - 459-7563 Join usfacebook... on facebook...

Albany Gay Men’s Chorus - agmc Join us on Albany Gay Men’s Chorus -

agmc

35

WEEKLY EVENTS

SUNDAYS

EveryLGBTQ Alcoholics Anonymous Sun. in the Garden Level 7-8:30 † **

of the month

2

nd

pm

of themonth

Game Night in the Rainbow Cafe

6-9

Supper Sunday on the 1st Floor

59

pm

of themonth

Mon..of themonth

Weds.

MONDAYS

Weds.

TUESDAYS (ages 18 & under) Saratoga Springs Library, Susman Room pm 49 Henry St, Saratoga Springs 4:30-6

Tues.

3rd

Capital Region Support Group for Family & Friends of LGBTQ People**

First Unitarian Society of Schenectady 1221 Wendel Ave, Schenectady more info: Deborah Kenyon 7pm deborahkenyon2@gmail.com, 518-584-4774 (C), 518-695-4117 (H)

Trans* Pride Meet & Greet on the 1st Floor 7-9pm

Tues.

of themonth

4

th

Saratoga LGBTQA Youth Group

(ages 18 & under) Saratoga Springs Library, Susman Room 49 Henry St, Saratoga Springs Tues.

of themonth

4:30-6

7pm

Women’s Group on the 1st Floor

6-7pm social hour 7-8pm discussion

(ages 18 & under)

Proctor’s Theater, Guild Room 432 State St., Schenectady

6-7:30pm

LGBTQ Narcotics Anonymous† ** in the Garden Level 7:30-8:30pm

FRIDAYS

Saratoga LGBTQA Youth Group

of themonth

LGBTQ Book Club on the 1st Floor

Schenectady LGBTQA Youth Group

of themonth

2

7pm

THURSDAYS

Trans* Pride Discussion Group on the 1st Floor 7-9pm

nd

Live from the Livingroom Poetry Open Mic** in the Garden Level

of themonth

Men’s Peer Support Group on the 1st Floor 7-8:30pm

Tues.

6-7pm social hour 7-8pm discussion

of themonth

Thurs.of themonth

Sun.

of themonth

- pm

Every

Last

Every

Women’s Group on the 1st Floor

Weds.

Sun.

1st

2 3rd th 4 nd

WEDNESDAYS

AYO! Youth Drop in Space

Every Friday of the month

(ages 18 & under) on 1st Floor & in the Garden Level

3-9pm

garden level only on 1st Fridays

Albany LGBTQA Youth Group (ages 18 & under)

in the Garden Level

7-8:30pm

Special Artist Reception and Opening in the Romaine Brooks Gallery check out the artists at www.capitalpridecenter.org/RBG

on the 1st Floor

5-9pm

Except where noted all events take place at pm

The Pride Center 332 Hudson Ave Albany, NY 12210 The Garden Level can be accessed from the street through the door beneath the front steps

†

36

Anonymous meetings held at the Pride Center are non-affiliated, independent groups **indicates

an outside group that meets at the Pride Center

Special Events

Friday September 4 Opening Reception for Seeing Me: Archetypes of Beauty

Join us at the Romaine Brooks Gallery for a special 1st Friday reception to celebrate the opening of Pilar ArthurSnead's solo show, Seeing Me: Archetypes of Beauty. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and community as you visit with the artist and her photographic installation.

Friday, August 7 Romaine Brooks Gallery The Pride Center 332 Hudson Ave, Albany, 12210 5-9 pm Free!

Tuesday, September 15 2015 U.S. Trans Survey-Taking Event!

The National Center for Trans Equality (NCTE) is working with organizations across the country to provide access to complete the U.S. Trans Survey to those who may not have computer access, who may need assistance when taking the survey, or who may need a safe place to take the survey. This will occur through “survey events” throughout the country.

We are excited to announce that the Pride Center will be hosting a survey taking event at September's Trans Pride Meet and Greet!

We'll have snacks, laptops and WiFi available in the Garden Level. The survey can be completed on a computer or on any web-enabled device, such as a tablet or smart phone, and is available in English and Spanish. Group facilitators will also be present to help folks navigate the site, or to help answer any questions!

The Meet and Greet will still occur on the 1st floor.

OPEN TO TRANS* AND GENDER-QUESTIONING PEOPLE 18+ ONLY. Thank you in advance to our cisgender (non-trans) friends and partners for showing your allyship by respecting the survey space as a trans-only space.

Tuesday, September 15 Garden Level & Rainbow Cafe The Pride Center 332 Hudson Ave, Albany, 12210 7-9 pm Free!

The U.S. Trans Survey is now available to complete! If you can not make the event or would like to complete the survey at home visit: www.ustranssurvey.org

Saturday, September 26 2015 AIDS Walk

The 2015 Capital Region AIDSWalk will bring together our community to celebrate the lives of friends, family, and our neighbors living with HIV/ AIDS. Please join us for a fun filled day with food, entertainment, and awards to support local organizations providing HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention education, counseling, and healthcare services for those living with this disease.

Proceeds benefit the men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS served by the Pride Center and Capital Region AIDS organizations!

Saturday. September 26 Washington Park, Albany 11 am - Registration 12 am - Walk

Sunday, September 27 Apple Picking with Center Families This annual, seasonal classic can only get better with friends!

Plan now and enjoy a special day picking apples with community and our little ones!

Center Families is program of the Pride Center dedicated to empowering and celebrating LGBTQ headed families across the Capital Region.

Sunday, September 27 Indian Ladder Farms 392 Altamont Road, Altamont, 12009 Time TDA No Cost to Enter - Pay for What you Pick

LOOKING AHEAD : Monday, October 5 LGBTQA Professionals’ Networking Event

The Region’s Largest LGBTQA Monthly Event returns in October with it's first installment in Cohoes. Plan now to join us and meet up with friends , distribute your business cards, and make important business contacts.

Monday, October 5 6-8PM Spindles on Remsen 241 Remsen St., Cohoes, 12047 $10 suggested donation

(May be donated beforehand, for your convenience at www.capitalpridecenter.org/events/octobernetworking/)

Friday, October 16 2015 Pride Center Gala!

Friday, October 16 Hilton Albany 5:30 pm Info: www.capitalpridecenter.org/2015-pride-center-gala

37

SPORTS / FUN & GAMES Gay Skate - Tuesdays - An open skate for the LGBTQ Community! $9.50 w.

Skate Rental / $6.50 w. your own skates.

For more info contact David at DB40@ AOL.com or (518) 573-3962 - 7-9:30pmRollarama Skating Center, 2710 Hamburg St., Schenectady Geek and Gaymer Night -Thursdays - 9pm- Rocks, 77 Central Ave, Albany (518) 472-3588 Capital Area Pride Bowlers will be starting the first half of their new season on Sept 13th the Sunday till Nov 29th.

Then off for the holidays ! It is 15.00 per week dues. For the first day of bowling arrive by 5:30. Open to all. Sportsman Bowling Lanes, 1652 Crane St. Schenectady. More info - Dimas (518) 894-1083.

K

A

R

A

O

K

E

Waterworks Pub - Mondays - 10pm - 2am, No Cover. (18+) 76 Central Ave, Albany, (518) 465-9079 Oh Bar - Thursdays - 10pm - 1am, No Cover. (21+) 304 Lark St., Albany, (518) 463-9004 Waterworks Pub - Fridays - 10pm 18+ (w. cover)- 76 Central Ave, Albany, (518) 465-9079 ROCKS - Fridays - 9pm-12am 77 Central Ave, Albany, (518) 472-3588 Circus Cafe - Saturdays -10pm - 2am, (21+) 392 Broadway, Saratoga, (518) 583-1106 Center Square Pub - Saturdays - 10pm - 2am, No Cover. 32 Dove St., Albany, (518) 729-2880

OPEN MIC / LITERARY Wednesday 8/ 12- Live from the Livingroom monthly poetry open mic- The Pride Center, Garden Level 332 Hudson Ave, Albany, (518) 4626138

Calendar

Open Minded Mic & Talent Showcase (for all performers)- Every 1st & 3rd Thursday - sign up 8:30pm start 9:00pm - Rocks, 77 Central Ave., Albany - (518) 472-3588

Variety Open Mic - Sundays - 10 pm - 12am - Waterworks Pub, 76 Central Avem Albany - (518) 465-9079 SOCIAL / SUPPORT GROUPS Out of the Closet I Am (for women who have sex with women): 1st & 3rd Wednesdays- 6:30pm-8pm Men’s Empowerment Group: 1st & 3rd Thursdays -6-7:30pm Voices of Unity (for Transgender people of color): 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month from 6pm-7:30pm Groups listed above meet at In Our Own Voices, 245 Lark St., Albany, (518) 432-4188 YouthPride! A student led meeting that centers around helping LGBTQ students and allied students discuss matters in our community, schools, and in their Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) that they have in their schools. YouthPride provides leadership development and an opportunity to help plan activities around GLSEN’s Days of Action and Days of Support. 1st Friday of the month 6-9pm- Professor Java’s Coffee Sanctuary, 217 Wolf Rd., Colonie Trans Partners Group: provides support for people to discuss and explore their relationships with trans-identified or gender non-conforming individuals.

Open to people currently in partnerships with trans-people or people exploring their gender identities. Monthly on Tuesdays at 5pm. Contact Faith Hoffman at faith@choicesconsulting.com for more information. Choices Counseling and Consulting, 523 Western Ave. Suite 2A Albany, NY 12203-1617, (518)438-2222

Calendar

Reach over 30,000 readers in the Capital Regions LGBTQ and Allied community with your event. List here, it in the leading printed and most widely distributed LGBTQA calendar.

Send the details of your event and a brief description to sminchin@capitalpridecenter.org by the 15th of the month preceding your event.

38

*CommUNITY Magazine prints 10 issues a year, with double issues in Dec/Jan & June/ July *event listings may be edited for space and content.

T

R

I

V

I

A

Live Trivia with Frieda- Tuesdays ROCKS - 8-10pm 77 Central Ave, Albany, (518) 472-3588 Oh Bar - Wednesdays - 9pm-12am 304 Lark St., Albany, (518) 463-9004

SPECIAL COMMUNITY EVENTS The Gayly Bowl is a community event from In Our Own Voices where teams can engage in a number of athletic challenges moving from novice to advance, all in the spirit of healthy competition. Food, prizes and swag items will be provided to all who come and participate.

Additional team points and incentives will be given for HIV testing. Sept. 19 – 1-4pm Six Mile Water Works Park (136 Fuller Rd) more info and to register: gsantos@inourownvoices.org BEAR ALBANY Celebrates 10 years with INFAMOUS JOCK PARTY WEEKEND! Friday events include Cigar Night on the Patio @ Eginma Co. in Troy and BEAR e OKE! at Waterworks Pub. Saturday night: The Main Event! Bring your JOCK to ROCKS. Clothes check available! Sunday: Brunch at McGeary's at noon, later, Hot Boi Auction at ROCKS. For complete schedule, hotel information and more visit: www.bearalbany.com The Great Gay Geek Retreat! Free Your Inner Geek! For the third year in a row, gay geeks will be gathering at Easton Mountain for a weekend of relaxation, exploration, and geeky fun! Join us for star talks, creative workshops, bonfires, horror movies, outdoor games and more!

September 18-20 - Easton Mountain Retreat Center - 31 Herrington Hill Rd., Greenwhich, NY. For rates and additional information visit: www.eastonmountain.org

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE

P AID PERMIT #798 ALBANY, NY

332 Hudson Avenue Albany, NY 12210

Distinguished Living...Successful Living...Gay Living Tri City Rentals is a Proud Supporter of the LGBT Community

Visit one of our 24 Fine Capital District Apartment Communities

www.TriCityRentals.com

518.862.6600