2016 PRIDE GUIDE

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2016 PRIDE GUIDE

AUGUST 18-21, 2016 | FMPRIDE.COM

2016 Proud Supporters Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Friends of Pride

2016 Proud Supporters Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

HIV/AIDS/STDs/Viral Hepatitis is a community problem that needs a community solution.

The North Dakota Community Planning Group for HIV & Viral Hepatitis Prevention Care and Treatment seeks meaningful involvement from community members like you to help develop, refine, and tailor HIV prevention interventions that are culturally sensitive and scientifically sound and that address the unique needs of those communities at highest risk for HIV infection.

For more information, call Christopher Wegner, HIV Program Manager, Family HealthCare, 701.271.6373 www.facebook.com/northdakotacpg1

Putting the Edge of the Acronym in the Heart of Pride

By Darcy J. Corbitt-Hall Rebel Marie and Reed Rahrich During our nation’s celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, it is difficult for those under the transgender umbrella to feel recognized. Nestled on the edge of the acronym, transgender and queer plus folks rarely even see their flags nor have their voices included prominently in the festivities. This erasure is all too common, with the concerns and civil rights of transgender and queer Americans relegated to the backseat of the equality bandwagon. Transgender and queer Americans face staggering rates of homelessness, poverty, employment discrimination, violence, and HIV, more so than gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans. It was not until marriage equality was achieved that the LGBTQ+ community at-large turned its attention to the accessibility of transitionrelated healthcare, employment and housing stability, and positive visibility. Even in this new frontier, the conversation is largely dominated by the voices of white, gay cis- men and women and straight allies with the occasional token voices in the mix.

Even still, there is much that the transgender and queer community can celebrate during Pride. We can celebrate the victories we have achieved such as the removal of the armed forces’ ban on transgender service, the Federal transgender student directive,

and small victories throughout the country such as the Massachusetts Transgender Nondiscrimination Bill and numerous Federal court victories. We can celebrate the increased visibility of our community which makes it easier for us to exist in a world which largely wishes we did not. This visibility is paying off with more Americans knowing and thinking positively about their transgender neighbors than two years ago. We can celebrate that we have risen above the rubble to fight for our right to live open and affirming lives. In the face of erasure, we have helped one another. From Transgender Lifeline, the nation’s only crisis lifeline for transgender and queer folk, to our own Tristate Transgender, the area’s only transgender and queer specific support organization, transgender people are showing their mettle and advocating and fighting for each other.

In our own community transgender and queer folk have seen increased visibility and movement.

Tristate Transgender has continued its mission to help the transgender community with social support, finding resources such as counselors and physicians, and advice for other needs which are especially difficult for transgender people (e.g. safe stores and preferred washrooms) both in person

and on their website. Visit Tristate and support them with the purchase of a Taco-in-a-Bag at Pride in the Park.

Darcy Corbitt, a graduate student at NDSU and transgender advocate, has brought transgender issues to the forefront with over 20 television, radio, and print media interviews and over a dozen public talks throughout the state. Visit Darcy at her table at Pride-in-the Park. Transgender activist, Faye Seidler, has continued her hard work with the weekly transgender mentor program at the Pride Center, and with numerous workshops and transgender cultural competency trainings throughout the community.

The Red River Trans Clothing Exchange, started this year, helps local members of the transgender community with the opportunity to “shop” in a safe and affirming space. MSUM’s Raymond Rea brought the story of cultural, generational, and gender transitions poignantly to the stage

Rebel Marie is one of Tristate Transgender’s community leaders. Contact her through Tristate’s website at tristatetrans.org or rebelmarie701@ gmail.com.

earlier this year with the debut of his play The Sweet New. Even local institutions have contributed to the dialog by hosting talks by prominent transgender personalities— Aydian Dowling at NDSU, and Mya Taylor at MSUM, and The Forum has published numerous stories including a front page story where we talked about the need for bathroom equality.

Now a moment of truth— this election year could bring many setbacks in our fight, and we are certain to face transphobic legislation at unprecedented rates. We must stand strong and resolved as a community, resisting the urge to flee hatred. We must declare together that “enough is enough.” We must live boldly, openly, and affirming of our identities and the identities of our friends and neighbors. Arm in arm we will progress forward with courage and strength.

Darcy J. Corbitt is a local transgender advocate and institutional consultant. Contact her through her website at darcycorbitt.org.

Reed Rahrich is an outspoken local transman fighting for social change through various creative outlets. Contact him at rerahrich@gmail.com.

Rainbow Health Initiative Works to Advance LGBTQ Health Equity in Minnesota

Rainbow Health Initiative (RHI) has released the results from the 2015 Voices of Health Survey, the largest statewide data collection of Minnesota’s LGBTQ population. While 2015 survey results found encouraging evidence of improvements in lowered rates of tobacco use and increased insurance coverage, little progress has been made in reducing the very high rates of depression and anxiety in the LGBTQ community, as well as disparities in food security, homelessness, and healthcare access.

their trans identity in the past year.

At the time of the survey, 8% of LGBTQ respondents were homeless. This is over twice the most recent estimated rate of homelessness in Minnesota (3%), according to Wilder Research.

14% of all LGBTQ respondents reported experiencing homelessness at least once in their life. A staggering half of LGBTQ respondents reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact at some time in their life.

In light of the many barriers preventing LGBTQ people from accessing health care, RHI has committed to increasing the number of health care providers with the knowledge necessary to provide LGBTQ culturally responsive care. RHI has created resources—in the form of an online healthcare provider directory and “patient toolkit”—for LGBTQ people to increase their health care literacy and self advocacy skills. The directory and toolkit are both free, available online, and can be accessed at: www.rainbowhealth.org. “Having community-based data helps to build a clear picture of the health disparities of the LGBTQ communities,” said Executive Director Joann Usher. “These tools put important skills and knowledge about accessing LGBTQ relevant health care in the hands of those most impacted by LGBTQ health disparities.”

One-fifth of respondents said that they are not out to their doctor about their LGBTQ identity.

Transgender people are most heavily impacted by a lack of transgender cultural responsiveness and antitrans discrimination among health care providers. Nearly one in every four trans respondents reported that they had to teach their doctor about

This month, RHI completed another important step towards achieving health equity in Minnesota. For the past year, with funding from the Bush Foundation, RHI convened an advisory board with members from throughout the health care Joann M. Usher

field. The goal was to create Standards of Inclusion for LGBTQ clients and patients. These Standards would apply throughout the healthcare sector, including hospitals, emergency rooms and clinics. The Standards developed by the advisory board cover issues of education, data collection, LGBTQ cultural responsiveness, how to create inclusive environments, and LGBTQ employee recruitment and retention practices.

The advisory board concluded its work this month and now RHI will

take the Standards of Inclusion to the community for feedback and begin an implementation strategy this fall.

Rainbow Health Initiative is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing health equity for the LGBTQ communities through research, education, and advocacy.

To read the 2015 Voices of Health Report in full, or access the online Patient Toolkit or LGBTQ Provider Directory, visit www.rainbowhealth.org.

Minnesota LGBTQ Provider Directory Transgender Aging Project Online Resource Library LGBTQ Patient Toolkit Standards of Inclusion Voices of Health Survey

www.RainbowHealth.org We want to hear from you!

Take the only anonymous statewide LGBTQ health survey! Scan the QR code or visit:

tinyurl.com/2016voh

Ally is a Verb: Seven Ways White/Queer Allies Can Support QTPOC

By Kandace Creel Falcón and Zach Packineau In light of the tragedy of the Orlando Pulse shooting in June, where mostly Latin and Black LGBTQ folks were targeted in an act of hateful and deadly violence, understanding how to best support queer and transgender people of color (QTPOC) as allies is important to our shared liberation struggles.

While we appreciate the important relationships we cultivate with allies of color and white allies in our community, QTPOC also hold dear the special moments when our communities can hold space for one another.

we seek space that does not include you if you do not identify as QTPOC. 2. Respect our identities as complex by not making assumptions about our racial identities. Asking about our backgrounds with a simple “How do you identify?” is acceptable as long as you’re also sharing where you’re coming from. Please avoid the urge to demand receipts from us, “Where are you from?” expects us to prove our identities in demeaning ways.

3. Honor our cultures by challenging cultural appropriation. For instance, do not dress up as Indigenous/Native American/American Indian people or other people of color for Halloween. Furthermore, profiting off our cultures by disconnecting them from their origins to be trendy anytime of the year is never good allyship.

One way the F-M QTPOC community is holding space for one another is through the second annual hosting of Brownch. Brownch is an informal social space specifically for queer and trans people of color intended for community building. We model our gathering after those first created in Minneapolis by Alfonso Wenker, Coya White Hat-Artichoker, and friends. 4. Reach out to QTPOC when acts of racism, sexism, homophobia, and/ Even though Brownch centers those or transphobia occur. Check in with who identify as QTPOC, our al- your friends/family to see if they lies still have important roles to are doing okay, ask how you can play. If you’re open to support- best support them in light of having QTPOC in our community, ing to navigate the intersections of here are seven ways you might oppression. This can be especially best enact your important allyship. important for support QTPOC residing in mostly white communities.

1. Support our need to be with one another and don’t take it personally when 5. Include us in the process before

details/vision are set. For example, if you are planning an event and want QTPOC participation/attendance, avoid setting the time/date/program for the event without checking in with the community most impacted.

These organizing efforts may unintentionally re-center dominant perspectives instead of fostering inclusion. Likewise, avoid tokenizing our participation (are you including us for good optics or are we truly valued from the inception?) to ensure programming considers our needs.

6.

Center our experiences and knowledges by reading, re-tweeting, linking to, promoting, and/or amplifying our voices and perspectives whenever you can. While there is a definite need for white folks to dis-

mantle white supremacy through sharing their perspectives and knowledge, QTPOC are the experts on our lives. Sharing our expertise with your networks is one way you can challenge white supremacy. And lastly, 7.

Practice ally as a verb, not a noun. Good allies make mistakes, learn from them, and never see their journey as over. Allyship is not about earning your ally sticker, but instead a constant process of learning and doing better when you may be called in by your QTPOC friends.

Queer and trans people of color are invited to join us for Brownch: Sunday, August 21st, 11:00 am1:00 pm at Atomic Coffee on Broadway in downtown Fargo.

Zach Packineau challenges centuries of colonialism by identifying proudly as Indigenous.

He is professionally gay, a seasoned advocate for LGBTQ rights and reproductive healthcare, a full-time volunteer (check his LinkedIn profile), and he LOVES his QTPOC fam - hey, y’all!

Kandace Creel Falcón, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) is a proud Xicanx femme and serves as Director and Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at MSUM. Currently tweeting on intersectional feminism @kjcfalcon.

SUPPORTS FARGO MOORHEAD PRIDE

• LGBTQ PROGRAMS • LGBTQ RESOURCE ROOM • NDSU PRIDE ALLIANCE student organization • PRIDE NETWORK for faculty, staff, administrators and graduate students • SAFE ZONE training allies • LGBTQ STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS • EQUITY AND DIVERSITY CENTER • DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

For more information on any of these groups, go to www.ndsu.edu/diversity.

North Dakota State University does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or status as a U.S.

Fargo-Moorhead used to be the grooving grounds of DJ Joyride and the Icedbreaks Crew. The Red River Valley inspired a radio personality, public performer, dj and event host as they served one another until his move in 2011 to Portland, Oregon.

DJ Joyride Unless this 2016 will be your first Fargo-Moorhead Pride, you're likely familiar with this performer, back for his sixth FM Pride Celebration.

His return is always energizing and his upbeat attitude contageous. Catch him for three performances this pride: Friday Night at the Sanctuary, opening the PRIDE Block Party on Saturday, and closing down the bar alongside DJ Star IV inside Usher's House after the Block Party Drag Show.

Rose City Underground (Portland) Icedbreaks Entertainment djjoyride.com

Nina DiAngelo

Nina DiAngelo has been performing in the Midwest and around the country for almost 20 years.

You can listen to her live every Thursday on IHeart Radio (96.7 Pride Radio Twin Cities ). Not only is Nina former National Entertainer of The Year, she has also won several awards for celebrity impersonations. You can catch her at the Saloon in Minneapolis Friday and Saturday Nights.

"FM Pride is one of my favorite gigs!!! So Glad to be back!”

CoCo Montrese Coco Montrese is a former Miss Gay America, but is most noted for her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Additionally, she's been the premier Janet Jackson impersonator on the Las Vegas strip for almost a decade. This summer you will see her yet again on Logo TV as she is a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race ALL STARS, Season 2!

Roxy Marquis Roxy Marquis originally hails from Sioux Falls, SD but has called Minneapolis home for over a decade. She has been recognized as “Best Drag Queen� in the Twin Cities several times by Lavender Magazine and City Pages. Roxy is perhaps best known for her performances as Madonna and Dolly Parton. In her personal life, she has been in a committed relationship with her partner of 10+ years.

CeeCee Russell CeeCee Russell is known for her seamless impersonations of several celebrities. Most notably, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Dionne Warwick. She has traveled the country for over 25 years and is excited to be a part of FM Pride for the first time this year.

Love unites us all.

FLEXIBLE. AFFORDABLE. PERSONAL.

The opportuni�es are endless when you begin at Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Get ahead with a career or technical degree that will get you into the workforce quickly, or earn a transfer degree. M State is the exible, affordable and personal op�on for higher educa�on in the F-M area.

minnesota.edu 87 7.45 0. 3322

Can’t Hide.

Our Pride.

Get to know us at aarp.org/nd.

NDQuits offers FREE help quitting smoking and smokeless tobacco.

NORTH DAKOTA

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH

Your Calling. Your Place.

At Sanford Health, we embrace the different perspectives and individual strengths of each member of our family. We value diversity because it makes us stronger, allowing us to deliver exceptional health care to the communities we serve.

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If you are passionate about patient care, enthusiastic about helping people improve their health and are a warm, compassionate professional, you’ll find a rewarding and fulfilling career at Sanford Health.

Learn more at careers.sanfordhealth.org.

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September 16 • 8pm September 17 • 3pm & 8pm FARGO THEATRE

The City of Fargo values human diversity and works to promote equal opportunities.

The Fargo Human Relations Commission is committed to working in the area of human rights development in the community. www.cityoffargo.com/humanrelations

prid

MSU Moorhead has PRIDE for ALL its Students.

MSUM wants all its students to feel that they belong. That’s why we strive for a campus free of discrimination, harassment and violence.

The Rainbow Dragon Center provides a welcoming and safe space for all LGBTQ students and provides activities, support and education to students, faculty and staff.

To find out more about the Rainbow Dragon Center and the other resources MSUM offers, visit mnstate.edu/safezone.

mnstate.edu/safezone Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Proudly serving Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo since 1959. fmambulance.com

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Doors open at 12:00 PM Show starts at 1:00 PM $5 suggested donation 8

Consessions and bar available prior and during reception following the show.

Seating is first come, first serve.

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