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CONTENTS ISSUE 735 July 27-August 9, 2023

Pride in Pets

18 T his Old Horse Offers Green Pastures For Horses In Need 22 G ood For You, Good For Your Dog: Why Visiting A Minnesota State Park Benefits People And Their Pets 26 A n Emerging VOICE In Veterinary Care

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Photo by Deb Rose - Minnesota DNR

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12: Photo courtesy of MP Present, 14: Photo courtesy of Brian Wagner, 28: Photo courtesy of WeatherTech

OUR LAVENDER

27 Books

OUR SCENE

28 Our Rides

10 Travel: Winnipeg 2.0 12 Carte BLANCHE Access Behind The Scenes With The Golden Girls 14 LGBTQ+ Art On Display At Loring And Powderhorn Parks This Summer

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ON THE COVER

Photo by Brenda Teter

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LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

OUR AFFAIRS

8 From the Editor 9 A Word in Edgewise

OUR HOMES OUR RESOURCES

32 Community Connection 33 The Network

OUR VOICES

34 Bad Gay

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Entire contents copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Publication of the name or photograph of any person, organization, or business in this magazine does not reflect upon one’s sexual orientation whatsoever. Lavender® Magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising. This issue of Lavender® Magazine is available free of charge during the time period published on the cover. Pickup at one of our distribution sites is limited to one copy per person.

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OUR LAVENDER | FROM THE EDITOR

All Pets Are Welcome!

BY RANDY STERN

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LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

have our favorite goats, horses, cows, chickens. Our animal friends come in all shapes and sizes – and purposes.

Recently, someone had been showing up to some events I usually attend with a goat. It could be seen as unusual, but it is quite normal these days in our part of the country.

It should not be strange that we want to connect with our animal friends. All of our animal friends!

Our Pride in Pets issue starts off with a place where old racehorses go to get better

care in their latter years. It is a great start to connect with a horse who had a rough life early on to find peace and solace with caring human beings.

We also introduce you to a group of budding veterinarians who want to connect with our pet-loving community by being out and proud in what they do. It is one thing to find an LGBTQ+ primary care physician to take care of us. Hopefully, it will be easier to find a vet to take care of our pets.

Our Minnesota State Parks and other properties owned by the Department of Natural Resources do welcome pets, although there are few things to take in consideration. That is why they are here to help us the next time we take our best friends into the state park system.

Looking for new pet accessories for your automobile? We have some suggestions for you from one of the leading names in vehicle accessories.

Plus, so much more! Go ahead and peruse this issue. Have your best friend next to you when you do. 

Photo by Randy Stern

What is your definition of a pet?

It is a friend that never lets you down. OK, save for the occasional hair on the sofa, a few things broken in the living room, or an interesting smell coming from the utility room, we love our pets no matter what!

As LGBTQ+ people, we simply love our pets. This serves as your yearly reminder that pets do matter – no matter what kind of pet you own.

Pets serve as part of our lives. They fill the space when we need them. Your loyal dog may not like your partner’s relatives sometimes, but that’s OK. Your cat will never move from their spot on the sofa where the remote to your entertainment system is located, but that’s OK. Your iguana may have scared off your last date, but that’s OK, too.

Lately, the idea of a pet has expanded from your usual dog, cat, and fish. In some circles, there has been a goat around with their handler. I heard that’s a cool pet to have.

However, the further from the city you traverse, the idea of a pet expands even wider. We

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Be Sure To Make It A Round Trip

BY E.B. BOATNER

Many who label OceanGate’s Titan a Titanic Taxi for billionaires, who deny the doomed five were in any way explorers, may harbor in their own hearts yearnings for glory. To conquer Everest, for example, despite photos of long queues inching up the slopes, having paid tens of thousands for the privilege, sometimes using deceased humans, like “Green Boots” as landmarks.

Why seek the depths, the heights? Fame?

Hubris? Because they can? Asked “Why?” in June, 1924, as he prepared for the third Everest attempt, mountaineer George Mallory snapped, “Because it’s there!” His body was discovered in 1999, and buried in situ.

There was always a first human: to ascend in a hot-air balloon, to tinker an aircraft out of a bicycle…to craft the first spear, to discover mastodon tastes better held over this hot flame struck with flint. Fewer opportunities today? Some let themselves be sealed into rocket-driven containers and shot into space, others wedged into submersible tubes hoping they will not implode during the 2 1/2 mile drop to gawk at the grave of an earlier “Unsinkable” vessel, that they’ll return to daylight with bones intact and blood still running in the proper tubes. Humans are like that. Some, anyway.

It’s difficult to fathom a modern submersible pilot claiming safety is over-rated, or ignoring multiple safety warnings by fellow submariners.

We’ll never know why two of Titan’s more seasoned voyagers, who’d already made the descent on other vessels, joined, and I thought back again about Green Boots. Who was he, would anyone ever know? Why couldn’t someone just remove him?

I searched, and was surprised to learn the green boots’ owner had been identified in 2014, that he was 28-year-old Tsewang Paljor (19681996); that the body was not recoverable, and he remains as a North slope trail-marker for other Everest aspirants. He was a member of the elite ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) attempting to be the first Indians ever to summit from Everest’s North side. When ordered back because of bad weather, three went on, their leader, already behind, turned back. He was elated when the three radioed they’d made it. But they never returned. Summit Fever? Altitude will take its toll.

Paljor in his shallow cave became “Green Boots” from 1996 to 2014.

High-altitude mountaineer Ed Viesturs has remarked “People make decisions on success, not survival.” He himself once stopped 300 feet

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short of a Summit. “My rule,” he explained, “was that climbing had to be a round-trip.”

The update on Titan is that a “debris field” has been found some 1,600m from the target debris, and that an unmanned rover had descended and retrieved it, together with, as it was tactfully described, “Presumed human remains,” the volume and aspect of which has not been detailed.

Further online exploration uncovered yet another oddity concerning young Tsewang Paljor. It would have been prohibitively expensive to reclaim the body identified in 2014, but when an attempt was made to see about a possible onmountain burial, the corpse had vanished, along with others along a swathe of Everest’s North side. Like Superior, the Heights and the Depths are equally reluctant to give up their dead.

Humans will remain curious, and the less critical thinking they apply, or the greater their ignorance of the desired target, the greater need there will be for those with their feet on the ground to have protocols for what will (or won’t) be expended in coinage and human life to rescue the reckless from themselves. 

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OUR SCENE | TRAVEL

BY CARLA WALDEMAR

A passport, a plane ticket, an hour and a bit of your time and you’re in an intriguing foreign country: Welcome to Winnipeg, star of Canada’s “middle province.”

This was my first post-pandemic visit to Manitoba’s capitol city, so I set off to discover the new blooms in its garden of tourist delights as well as to reconnect with friendly faces from the past.

My hotel, the Fort Garry, provided both, with a soothing new spa and the relaunch of its oncefabled brasserie to revitalize the venerable grande dame. Plus, talk about location: It’s only steps away from The Forks, the city’s most-visited attraction.

That rambling recreational site, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, occupies land long-venerated by First Nations tribes. Today, it’s anchored by a global food hall with taste treats ranging from pizza to pierogies to ramen, with stops along the way for a craft beer and one of Wienerpeg’s superior dogs.

Then stride across the iconic Riel Bridge nearby to say bonjour on the French-speaking side of the river, St. Boniface. It’s anchored by the town’s landmark cathedral, whose spectral skeleton hovers above the skyline–ravaged 50 years ago by a fire that spared only its classic stone façade.

Today it encircles a modern church bearing stained-glass windows honoring the Native culture— a brown-skinned Virgin wearing moccasins, for instance.

The cathedral’s cemetery heralds the tombstone of Louis Riel, a Metis (half French, half Native) hero who led the Red River Rebellion for Metis’ rights—and was hanged for his efforts.

Today, history resurrects him as the Father of Manitoba.

One of the current daughters of Manitoba is Emily Butcher, darling of its culinary scene, who recently opened Nola, a few blocks further along the riverbanks of St. Boniface. Her forward menu of small plates is infused with Asian touches — (Reuben gyozas, Japanese fried chicken), along with my choices—succulent corn and nori fritters aside coconut chimichurri; honey-glazed carrots with gunpowder (!) seasoning and whipped feta; and a spin on a classic Waldorf salad, glammed up with grapes, halumi cheese, candied walnut and chili honey. Dessert? Sure! How often do you have a chance to nibble on black sesame/roasted parsnip cheesecake before bedtime?

Today is going to be a three-museum marathon, so I’m off to Juneberry, in the St. Vital neighborhood, to fuel up. The cheery neighborhood café, festooned in bright berry colors, showcases a perfect Eggs Bennie, complete with rosemary hollandaise and aged goat cheese on house-made

10 LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

(Clockwise) Tribute to First Nation tribes, cocktails and nibbles at James Avenue Pumphouse, tropical biomes at The Leaf, Assiniboine Park, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, sculpture by First Nation artists at WAG-Qaumajuq Gallery. Photos by Carla Waldemar

Winnipeg 2.0

focaccia. Then the first of the day’s Uber drivers (three Punjabis and one Kurd) delivered full-on praise for his new home in this city.

First stop: the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, with its signature spiraling tower of hope rising near The Forks. Its mission: to explore what, exactly, are human rights and the bleakness of their loss—from the Biblical expulsion of Jews from Babylon on through Karl Marx, Gloria Steinem, Harvey Milk. From WWII’s Japanese round-ups to Vietnam War protesters to Canada’s own assault on its First Nations people, mirroring our own.

Today the First Nations are saluted in a stunning new addition to the Winnipeg Art Gallery, called Qaumajug. It houses the world’s

largest public collection of Inuit art—primarily soapstone gently carved into animal shapes. When I win the lottery, I’ll be first in line to purchase some in the enticing gift shop.

The Manitoba Museum helps put all these discrete bits of history into context, starting with dinosaurs, on to its iconic bison in the new Prairie Gallery. Once again, we meet Louis Riel, who tried to legislate a Metis Provincial government, and the account of the Famine of 1870, when they were left to starve. Move on to the replica of the 1669 sailing ship Nonesuch (climb aboard if you wish, matey), which actually sailed around North America before docking here. Alight to explore the streets of Winnipeg circa 1920, where you can rest your feet in a silent movie house.

Dinner tonight was in a Winnipeg blast from the past, too—the James Avenue Pumphouse of 1906. Peer through glass at its muscular machinery while you dine on small-plate treats like prawns in spicy mango mayo or mango pesto cauliflowerets. Bragging rights if you finish off what has to be the world’ largest pierogi, stuffed with smoked gouda, potato, kielbasa and TLC. Some might think you’d skip breakfast after that feast, but then some would be wrong—not when there’s a chance to grab a seat aside the locals at Modern Electric Lunch, where you’re destined to face the day with hard choices: mushroom hash or pistachio ricotta pancakes? Pork belly tostada or Turkish eggs? I went with the classic Eggs Bennie—this time on a lemon-dill scone, topped with the usual suspects plus asparagus, all drizzled with brown butter hollandaise.

Then it’s back to the airport—not to catch a plane, but to ogle them in the new location of the Royal Western Aviation Museum, where 25 aircraft are on display, including several you can climb aboard. In an inviting fashion, the museum goes beyond big hunks of metal to the human stories behind them—such as transporting wintertime food and supplies to the otherwise-unreachable far north of the province; ferrying Native kids (alas) to boarding schools; and hiring the first Aboriginal females as medevac attendants. James Bond (whose creator came from Winnipeg)

might have loved the spy planes and the protospaceship.

An Uber rather than propellors took me to the newest attraction in Assinoboine Park—a series of biome gardens called The Leaf— inter-connected domes lush with plants, from ultra-tropical to Mediterranean to right in Winnipeggers’ back yards. Butterfly garden and waterfall, too. Linger for lunch at adjoining Gather Craft Kitchen, which makes creative use of lush local produce—cauliflower fritters to roasted carrots (although I noticed lots of uber-burgers going by). Don’t miss the lemon tart with meringue crumbles and lemongrass ice cream.

Think I cannot manage dinner? Think again. I made a fast run through the 1920s-era red-brick Exchange District’s boutiques and cafes to activate an appetite, then headed for the city’s first café heralding First Nations cuisine and personnel. It’s called Feast, and that’s truth in advertising. I enjoyed a giant buffalo rib with bannock (like cornbread without the corn), then sweetgrass ice cream (or go for the cedar Manitoba salmon. The bannock pizza.

The Manitoba pickerel). Sweet service, too.

For more information, check out www.tourismwinnipeg.com  Welcome to The Peg, where Pride isn’t just a month—it’s a way of life. The city has celebrated Pride since 1987, and gay marriage since 2004. In fact, LGBTQ+ doesn’t even cover it here—it’s 2SLGBTQ to honor non-binary individuals in pre-white-contact First Nations.

The city elected the first openly gay mayor of a North American city.

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Club 200 Livening the bar scene for over two decades Fame Dance club agog with go-go dancers and DJs Happenings The newest nightspot in Osborne Village, featuring Drag Fridays and Diva Saturdays Drag Brunch: www.tallestpoppy.com Lists monthly events Reel Pride Oldest LGBTQ+ film festival in Canada PrideWinnipeg.com in late May

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OUR SCENE | ARTS

(Opposite page) Vince Kelley. Photos courtesy of MP Present

Carte BLANCHE Access Behind the Scenes with The Golden Girls

BY SUSAN SWAVELY

Come see Golden Girls like you’ve NEVER seen it before in this insanely funny, nostalgic, and heartwarming stage version of the classic TV show, touring the country now! Golden Girls will be showing in Minneapolis at the Pantages Theatre on August 2nd through the 6th. You can check out the show, get the entire schedule, and purchase your tickets at www.goldengirlstour.com A part of the all-male cast, Vince Kelley (he/him) plays the iconic Blanche, and is so excited to share this hilarious show with Minneapolis. He is originally from Detroit, where he lives now with his “husband, Matthew, and [their] dog Mary J. Blige, who is a boy,” but the couple actually spent some time living in Minneapolis before moving back home to Detroit. Kelley says, “I was so excited to move [to Minneapolis] because of all the amazing theaters. I mean, there is one on every corner. My first audition was for The Guthrie, and I was cast in Christmas Carol! I thought, well, I’ve made it! I was wrong. It’s a TOUGH town to break into.” Even though they no longer live here, Kelley is excited to bring the show to a city he loves.

Kelley has been working with the producers of Golden Girls, Murray and Peter, for five years, and says, “I started out with them on a different production, Pray The Gay Away, which actually played Minneapolis in 2019. During the pandemic, they were working on this Golden Girls show and when they asked if I was interested in coming on board, I was like, YES!” And thus, the tour-

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LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

ing production of Golden Girls was born! For such a fun and funny show, there has also been fun to be had at every step of the process. He elaborates: “The rehearsal process for a new work like this is a little less conventional than your typical play. It’s an evaluation. I would say we built the framework for the show in about 3 weeks, and have been working on it since. We are constantly coming up with new lines and bits and the atmosphere the team has created gives us the opportunity and ability to try them out in front of an audience. We never do the same show twice, which is sooooooo fun and different as an actor. Keeps us on our toes and focused and fresh.”

The audience of this show can definitely expect a wild ride and an incredible production. So much time, effort, hard work, and love has been poured into the rehearsal process of this show. Kelley talks about his process specifically as an actor, getting into the mindset of

such an iconic character as Blanche. He says, “The process for me, this is going to sound gay, starts in the heels. I don’t know what my final product will be until I’m in my shoes. It makes me feel complete. Like a gay Sweeney Todd with his blades.” And even though the show consists entirely of “men in wigs,” as Kelley says, he clarifies, “we don’t use the word ‘DRAG.’ We are actors, female impersonators.

Drag is a totally separate art form that I have the upmost respect for. And while what we are doing has been made political as of late, our show is not.”

Kelley loves being part of a talented cast and production team. Every actor, designer and crew member brings something unique and beautiful to the show. Kelley says, “I LOVE our cast. To think that all the right people were in the right place at the right time is really mind blowing.” A group of actors with real chemistry is so important, and these actors definitely have just that. Kelly says, “We actually like being together. Also, Murray and Peter are the best producers I’ve worked for. They bring together top talent, onstage and off, and everyone keeps coming back project after project.

It’s literally a dream come true.” Come see the magic they create together onstage, and see for yourself how palpable the chemistry and

friendship between these incredible actors is!

Golden Girls is a show is for everyone (well, everyone 18 years old and older)! Kelley says, “While I one hundred percent agree that the LGBTQ+ community has made these women icons, our show is for everybody. And it’s multigenerational. Women who watched the show originally love our show. Gay men who watched the show with their grandmothers. Millennials who watch reruns on Hulu. Husbands dragged by their wives.” In tough times like these, sometimes the best medicine for society is to

take a deep breath and laugh, real, big, belly laughs, and that’s just what Golden Girls sets out to do. Side-splitting laugher is their goal, and they never fall short! Kelley says that audiences can, “expect the unexpected. This is the Golden Girls like you’ve never seen them before. This is as if they took the show from NBC to HBO. When we say, 18+, we mean it.”

Audiences can also expect the chance to talk with all the actors after the show. Kelley says, “We do a Meet and Greet after the show and women will come up in groups and be like, I’M THE BLANCHE! I’M THE ROSE! It’s so fun.” Not only do you get to see an incredible show, but you’ll also get to talk to the creators of such a masterpiece afterward!

You really don’t want to miss out on this iconic stage play version of Golden Girls! Just like Kelley says, “We have the lobster Jell-O mold for Pete’s sake!” Don’t delay, get your tickets today!  Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue August 2-6 Pantages Theatre 710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis $34.00-103.00 www.goldengirlstour.com/tour/2023

AUGUST 8 – 13 · ORPHEUM THEATRE HennepinTheatreTrust.org

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OUR SCENE | ARTS

Photos courtesy of Brian Wagner

LGBTQ+ Art On Display at Loring and Powderhorn Parks This Summer

BY ALEXANDER REED

There is something to be said about the power of art as a communal force, as something that brings people together into a shared appreciation of beauty. Especially for the LGBTQ+ community, the power of art is incredibly important. Not only does it act as a medium of self-exploration and expression, but it can also be a conduit for inspiring a more positive future for everyone.

Art festivals are a great embodiment of art’s ability to bring people together for communal engagement, bringing art out from the museums and galleries into public places for all to see. Minneapolis is home to many art festivals, including the upcoming fairs at Loring Park and Powderhorn Park. Both fairs will have a wide assortment of art, including art from LGBTQ+ artists.

Powderhorn Art Fair

Riley Kleve has been knitting for as long as they have had the ability to. They begged their mom to pass down her knitting knowledge, observed workers at their local yarn shop, participated in a handspinning group at their college, and eventually founded their own company, Better Days Yarn. Using their yarn, Kleve produces a wide assortment of colorful displays, from dish towels, art yarn, and fairy lights.

Fairy lights are decorative string lights coated in prismatically colored yarn. They emanate a soft, warm glow perfect for fostering a cozy environment. Kleve’s fairy lights differ from most art in the way that they invite their owner into a creative mood, asking them to incorporate this colorful piece into their home in their own unique way. As Kleve themselves say, “So much of the commercial art world is about showing off wealth by making a home or office look the same as the white-walled gallery where the art is displayed and sold, which is not my style at all. I Continued on page 16

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OUR SCENE | ARTS

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST PRESENTS

PRODUCED BY VOSS EVENTS

strive to make art that my friends and community can integrate into their own lives any way that they see fit.”

Kleve’s LGBTQ+ experiences are tightly intertwined with their art. “I approach them both in the same way, where some days I’m working to create something new and beautiful, and other days I’m working to pass on what I’ve learned to others.” To Kleve, community is essential for yarn and LGBTQ+ people. Shared knowledge spreads through community strengthens bonds to the past, increases proficiency, and helps people live authentically.

In addition to Kleve, the Powderhorn Art Fair will also feature the art from Z Kaplan, a gender-liberated artist creating incredible ceramics, and Mo O’Laughlin, a trans non-binary artist whose work explores the relationship between movement and emotion. All of their work can be found at the Powderhorn Art Fair. The fair is held at Powderhorn Park on August 5th and 6th.

Loring Art Fair

AUGUST 1 STATE THEATRE

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LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

Brian Wagner is a gay, non-binary lithographer. Lithography uses limestone, water, and grease to produce prints. Wagner’s work has an interest in spaces and the feelings they evoke for the people who inhabit them. “The current body of work I have been spending time with involves densely-layered, rendered lithographs that explore the tenderness, loneliness, acceptance, and gentle anger of queerness and healing,” Wagner explains. “These prints and writings consider the physical and emotional spaces of love, hurt, trauma, and remembrance of relationships in the forms of drawn landscapes and queer symbolism of the day-to-day life of a queer person.”

Rustic landscapes populate their prints, juxtaposing wild and twiggy plains with uncertain houses. When observing their prints, I find myself surrounded with an evocative unknown, wondering just how much comfort I ought to take in these uncertain landscapes. Likewise, the houses feel like they guard their own secrets. Their windows don’t give access to their interiors, so I can judge these houses only by their textured exteriors.

For Wagner, rural spaces are an important focus. As Wagner explains, “For me these spaces I draw are meant to be reclaimed and lived in. These are spaces of transition and are often temporary, ever-changing, and ever-growing, something that they find cohesive with my own queerness, and identity. Much of my youth was spent out in the fields and these are still formative relationships to me, today.

Queer people exist everywhere-not just in big cities, and these environments are often not safe for us to be in. The snippets of text used offer a glance into the lived experience of a queer individual-some are laced with loneliness; others hurt; and some contextualize the healing that follows trauma. It’s my hope that these spaces can offer solace to someone who has faced the same.”

Wagner will showcase their most recent creation of dirt and silt and branch and bone, as well as many of their older pieces.

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In addition to Wagner’s art, the Loring Art Fair will also be host to many other LGBTQ+ artists. Other LGBTQ+ artists at the Loring Art Fair include quilt maker and painter Sandi Garris, photographer Andy Hall, seashell jeweler Brenna Klassen-Glanzer, glass blower Jon Offutt, and acrylic painter Marisa Ray. The Loring Park Art Fair will be held at Loring Park on July 29th and 30th.  Loring Park Art Festival July 29-30 Loring Park, Minneapolis www.loringparkartfestival.com Powderhorn Art Fair August 5-6 Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis www.powderhornartfair.com

Limited run – weekends only!

Closing August 5th Dudley Riggs Theatre, 824 Hennepin Ave

Get tickets at BraveNewWorkshop.org or scan QR code.

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OUR SCENE | PRIDE IN PETS

This Old

Horse Offers Green Pastures For Horses In Need

BY LINDA RAINES

“The wind of Heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears” …

Arabian Proverb Like many young girls, I went through my preteen and teenage years with an overwhelming love for horses—my walls were plastered with horse posters, my book shelves lined with Breyer horse models and stacks of Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley novels. I spent as much time as I could at the house of a friend who had a horse. We often ‘rode’ him…and by riding, I mean, we clambered up the barn gate, swinging ourselves onto his back sans a saddle, bridle or bit. Basically, we sat on him and let him wander at will until he grew tired of us and stopped in the middle of the field to graze.

Or, once, when he was really peeved at us, he made his way through the smallest of the barn doors, neatly scraping both of us off his back into small, disgruntled, undignified heaps in a mud puddle.

Photos by T. Thomas Photography

I begged my parents for a horse, but the general answer of “we don’t have room for one” didn’t ring true even to a 10-year-old who knew that our farm consisted of several thousand acres. I figured out later that my dad reckoned that once the infatuation with the horse wore off, he’d be stuck caring for it while I went on my merry way to other interests.

Well, Dad…I’m in my mid-50s now, and the interest hasn’t worn off! Sadly, I’ve still never realized my dream of owning a horse and indulging in what I call ‘horse therapy’—pressing my face into their necks, breathing in that comforting, delightful scent of warm horse right under their manes. I was bemoaning this fact not long ago to Carey Bohman, part of the North Star Gay Rodeo Association, who suggested that I might get my horse fix by volunteering for a local organization known as This Old Horse.

I reached out to Nancy Turner and Jeanne Klein, representatives for This Old Horse, and had a wonderful conversation about this amazing organization and what they do.

Horses are not usually an animal that many think of when it comes to the idea of “rescue” and “adoption” in the way that they think of dogs and cats in those terms.

Tell our readers how This Old Horse went from being a hope-filled dream of giving these beautiful creatures a soft place to land in their golden years to being the wonderfully successful rescue group that it is today.

People often wonder what you can do with a horse that is not rideable. We ask them what do you do with your Labrador when you’re not duck hunting? Mostly love them and enjoy their company.

We recognized that older horses who had aged out of ‘production’ as sport horses, show horses, therapy horses, mounted patrol, breeding stock, etc. were particularly unwanted and vulnerable to neglect or ending up in perilous circumstances such as the slaughter pipeline.

These horses had loyally done what had been asked of them and our mission is to honor and revere their lives of service. Regardless of their success, the horse ends up with no pension fund and no control over their fate. And we wanted to help.

As opposed to a place, we imagined a community of like-minded, compassionate people who might band together to help horses. And This Old Horse was born in 2012.

What kinds of horses do you generally take into your program? Do you tend to generally have former racehorses, or do you take in any horse in need—saddle horses, rodeo horses, ponies, draft breeds?

Since 2012, we have helped more than 700 horses representing 68 different breeds—from miniature horses to giant draft horses—and some donkeys and mules. Most of our horses are surrendered to us voluntarily by their owners. Occasionally we collaborate with the Animal Humane Society on neglect cases. If we don’t have room to take a referred horse, we try to help by maintaining a waiting list and direct owners who are struggling to the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition to apply for microgrants to assist them with keeping their horse at home.

One of our initiatives we call Racehorse Reimagined helps transition Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses from the tracks to retirement or through a transition to a new sport horse career like polo, dressage, jumping, etc. We have established a close and positive relationship with the Minnesota racing industry partners who provide support to the racehorses in our program.

We also have a large program for miniature horses and ponies we call This Little Horse. Several of the horses in this program are community ambassadors, visiting schools, nursing homes, libraries as service animals and promote community events. It is always a surprise for drivers to look over and see a few little horses traveling to their gig in a minivan–a minivan being the obvious choice for a mini horse.

Your sanctuar y isn’t limited to just one spot; you have facilities and host sites all over the metro area. Is that so that you can take in even more deser ving horses who need your help?

We currently manage 12 different farms averaging 200+ horses under our direct care each day.

We also have a foster network of people with horse property who have room in their barn and in their heart for one or two more.

We own three large facilities. Our original farm is Wishbone Ranch in Hastings. We also have large programs in Hugo, primarily supporting off track racehorses, and in New Richmond, Wisconsin.

Tell our readers how they can be a part of This Old Horse—I’m sure you have a range of volunteer opportunities that are available, based on interest, skills and previous experience with handling and caring for horses.

We have welcomed more than 3500 volunteers since our inception! Volunteers are the backbone of our mission. Most of our volunteers have had no horse experience at all before coming to us.

It is a welcoming and supportive group of people and horses who are happy to share what they have learned. While most of our volunteers work directly in the barns, we also have volunteers that do landscaping and gardening, volunteer for special events, fundraise, write thank you notes, follow

Continued on page 20 LAVENDERMAGAZINE.COM

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Photo by Moon Lai Photography

OUR SCENE | PRIDE IN PETS

20 LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

Photo by Kari Markham

along on adoption placements—there is a place for everyone. We have many family groups that volunteer together. Children under 16 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and we have lots of parents who like to spend time volunteering side by side with their kids—and have something in common to talk about.

Many of our volunteers think of the barns as kind of a church of sorts—people gather around a common goal and practice of tending and kindness. Every morning after the morning feed crews finishes up, they gather for potluck meals–and take every opportunity to celebrate birthdays with cake! People who have met at the barn have become the closest of friends. It is truly a happy place.

Some of our volunteers work just one event a year. And some volunteer full time. There is no minimum (or maximum) requirement. Online applications are available on our website.

What if someone falls in love with a particular horse? Can they be adopted?

It is easy to fall in love with horses. They are amazing partners—empathetic friends who can be trusted with your deepest secrets and heart’s desire. Many people, particularly in metro areas, have just never had the chance to get up close and personal with horses. But once they do…magical things happen.

Our adoption program is essential to our ability to create capacity to help more horses. We have a placement team that helps match horses and adopters and follows along to assure the match is a good one. Our safety net program assures that we will take back any horse placed through us at any time.

For folks who aren’t in the position to own their own horse or adopt one of the horses in your care, you have options to ‘sponsor’ one of the horses at Wishbone Ranch. Are people who sponsor a particular horse able to come down to the ranch to visit ‘their’ horse?

Our sponsorship program is primarily a recurring monthly donation on behalf of all or one particular horse—and sometimes it is to honor a horse or memory of a horse that never been in our program—just as a dedication.

Sponsors are more than welcome to come and visit the horse they honor through their gift!

I saw on your website that you’re developing and implementing a new program called This Helping Horse, which looks like it will be focused on getting horses involved with different forms of therapy ser vices. Can you tell us a bit about that?

If you ask us, all time spent with a horse is therapeutic. But we also have several formal equine assisted learning classes and sessions facilitated by certified practitioners where participants pursue a connection with a horse as a way of connecting and understanding their own journey.

Horses are naturally empathic, and many people find it easy and comfortable to relate to a horse as they puzzle through life’s curveballs.

You have a number of fundraisers throughout the year that help support the mission, but one that is coming up quickly is The Polo Classic. When you hear “polo”, a lot of people think of those great scenes in Pretty Woman. Tell our readers about this event, and how they can come out and enjoy the hats, the horses, and the hoopla of such an exciting sport that raises much-needed funds for This Old Horse.

For many fans, the first Sunday in August has become a tradition of fun, friends, and fashion where they gather at the regional polo tournament known as The Polo Classic. It started as a charity fundraiser in 1989. In 2021, the event was gifted to This Old Horse, and we made it our own as a fundraiser for equine welfare. This is a perfect marriage where elite sport horses are engaged in raising money for their less fortunate equine friends.

The Polo Classic is first and foremost a thrilling sporting event with up to 100 elite horse and human athletes tearing up and down the 300-yard field. Spectators line both sides of the field—on the clubhouse side, continuous peaked canopies are reserved for groups. On the stable side, you will find a large general admission hexagon tent and reserved tailgate spots. Most people bring their own food and beverages, picnic style, but food trucks are available. Beverages are sponsored by Heineken.

Guests will feel right at home in casual wear but both men’s and women’s fashion rules the day. Martin Patrick 3 is our Style Sponsor, creating a Polo Classic ‘look book’ on their website.

Karen Morris Millinery sponsors a hat parade during halftime. Local fashion and style icons provide fun commentary and judging. And for the Pretty Woman fans—the halftime divot stomp and champagne toast will satisfy!

It is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it is so much fun. The gates open at 11 am, the championship match starts at 2 pm and it is finished by about 5 pm. More information and reservations for tickets, tents and tailgates can be found at www.thepoloclassic.com.

So, there you are…if you’re a horse lover like I am but unable to have one of your own for any number of reasons, check out This Old Horse and see all of the ways that you can help these deserving, loving animals. And, if you want to assist in a really fun way, consider coming out to The Polo Classic on August 6th—I’ve already picked out my fascinator, dress and shoes to stomp those divots between chukkas!  This Old Horse 19025 Coates Blvd. Hastings, MN (651) 437-1889 www.thisoldhorse.org

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OUR SCENE | PRIDE IN PETS

Good For You, Good For Your

DOG

Why Visiting a Minnesota State Park Benefits People and Their Pets

BY SARA BERHOW

Many people are aware of research on the health and wellness benefits of owning pets. Having a dog helps people be more active, provides companionship, reduces stress and helps people be more social. The great news for pet owners is that spending time in nature with your pet can multiply these health and wellness benefits, and Minnesota state parks and trails are the perfect place to explore with your four-legged family member.

There’s a growing body of research about the benefits of spending time in nature.

The American Psychological Association tells us that exposure to nature is linked to benefits like improved attention, lower stress, better mood and even increased empathy and cooperation. A study at the University of Washington shows evidence that contact with nature is associated with increased happiness, positive social interactions and a sense of meaning in life.

Outdoor activities like hiking are healthy, inexpensive and a great escape from the daily grind. Bringing along an innately curious pet will make you notice the natural world around you. The sights, sounds and smells of nature are invigorating and interesting to both people and pets. If you’re new to outdoor recreation or unsure about spending time in nature alone, the alertness and intuition of your pet can provide an added sense of security.

Here’s some more motivation to explore Minnesota with your furry friend: all Minnesota state parks and trails are pet friendly, and there are a variety of ways for you to enjoy these spectacular places with your dog or cat.

Campgrounds in Minnesota state parks are pet friendly. If you’re not into camping, there are still many reasons to visit a state park or state trail. Activities like hiking, lounging in a hammock, watching wildlife or picnicking are just a few options.

Your pet will need to be leashed and supervised during your visit.

If you haven’t camped or explored a state park with your pet before, here are a few tips and tricks.

22 LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

PRACTICE BEFORE YOUR TRIP

If you plan to camp and your pet is anxious in new situations, you may want to do a trial run in your backyard or a location close to home.

Set up your tent, then let your pet explore it and get comfortable being inside the tent. Try walking in your neighborhood with any new equipment like leashes, collars, harnesses or packs to make sure they fit your pet comfortably.

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR PET LEASHED AND CONSIDER TRAINING

Not everyone loves your pet as much as you do, so you’ll need to be able to control your pet to avoid close contact with other visitors who may not be comfortable with your pet. After all, the outdoors is for everyone, and all visitors are looking for the same low-stress outdoor experience you are. Be sure your dog knows basic obedience skills like “come,” “sit,” and “stay.” Keeping your pet leashed and on trail also protects sensitive habitat and means your pet won’t be chasing after wildlife.

Additionally, you may want to work on “leave it” to keep your pet from picking up items on the trail. Teaching “quiet” can stop barking to keep your experience in nature a peaceful one.

CONSULT A VETERINARIAN

Before your visit, check in with a veterinarian to see if any precautions should be taken to ensure your pet’s safety outdoors. Make sure your pet is healthy enough for the activities you plan to do. You can also discuss vaccines or preventative medications that can protect your pet from illness-causing insects, parasites and bacteria your pet may encounter.

Photo by Deb Rose - Minnesota DNR

PACK SMART

Make sure your pet has a collar with an ID tag, and a sturdy leash.

Pack enough food and water for your pet. Dogs don’t sweat like humans do, so having adequate water is important to keep your dog cool on a hot day. Don’t forget poop bags, and always clean up after your pet. You might think pet waste is a natural part of the cycle of life, after all, wildlife poops in the woods. However, pets eat a different diet than the native wildlife. Pet waste adds excess nutrients to the environment that can cause problems for wildlife and even contaminate water supply.

KNOW WHERE YOU CAN GO

While Minnesota state parks are pet friendly, there are a couple of places you shouldn’t bring your pet. Swimming beaches aren’t open to pets, and only service animals are allowed in buildings within state parks like visitor centers, cabins and lodges.

Now, you’re ready to plan your trip to a state park or trail.

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OUR SCENE | PRIDE IN PETS

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website is a great place to start planning. You’ll find lists of state parks and state trails to explore. The ParkFinder tool at mndnr.gov/parkfinder can help you find a state park that has the features and amenities you’re looking for, including accessible facilities for visitors with disabilities.

Many state parks offer naturalist programs, and some are dog friendly like the B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. These programs are free, open to both kids and adults, Event are listed online at mndnr.gov/ptcalendar.

A vehicle permit is needed for state parks. Permits can be purchased on the DNR website, using the Yodel app or in person at a state park office. The cost is $7 per day or $35 per year. To provide access to more Minnesotans, the DNR is also partnering with more than 100 public libraries throughout Minnesota to offer park permits for check out. See if your local library is participating at mndnr.gov/librarypass.

All camping and lodging in state parks requires a reservation, which can be made online at mndnr.gov/reservations or by calling 866-8572757. 

ff-leash areas are quite fetching!

Our off-leash areas are quite fetching!

Three Rivers offers captivating scenery for you and your dog to enjoy and explore year-round in our parks.

• Nine off-leash areas throughout the metro area totaling nearly 200 acres • Dog-friendly paved, turf, regional and skijoring trails *Passes are required for off-leash areas.

Annual and day pass options available.

ThreeRiversParks.link/DogOffLeash 24 LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

OUR SCENE | PRIDE IN PETS

An Emerging

VOICE In Veterinary

Photos courtesy of VOICE - University of Minnesota Chapter

Care

BY EMI GACAJ

In LGBTQ+ communities, pets play a unique role: a recent study conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University documented the influence that animals can have on the well-being, identity development, and even stress of their LGBTQ+ owners. In other words, our pets take care of us in ways we cannot imagine.

But who takes care of our pets?

Enter VOICE: Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment. This national student organization, with a local chapter at the University of Minnesota, is centered around making the veterinary field inclusive and welcoming. The national organization identifies crosscultural awareness: understanding and uplifting identities like gender identity, sexuality, religion, race, and ability, as a vital part of meeting the needs of the people – and pets – veterinary medicine serves.

“The main purpose of any VOICE organization is to increase awareness and respect for anyone in the veterinary field – and celebrate diversity,” Courtney Labe exclaims. She’s a rising third-year student at the veterinary school, on the small animal track with an interest in oncology, and the incoming President for VOICE UMN. The group focuses on building inclusive relationships within the student body, administration, and community, and creating spaces for the veterinary field to give back.

“It’s about having someone who looks like me,” Zynia Alvarez voiced.

She’s the incoming Vice President for VOICE UMN, and a rising fourthyear student at the veterinary school, with an interest in clinical pathology. “I don’t think I saw veterinarians that looked like me growing up.”

A 2011 survey conducted by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges found that 7% of veterinary students identified as LGBTQ+, with an estimated 10% percent of veterinarians identifying as nonwhite – with the profession dubbed as one of the “whitest jobs in America” by the Atlantic in 2013. Moreover, a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that LGBTQ+ veterinary students and professionals face obstacles due to their sexuality and gender identity, including a portion of individuals experiencing harmful remarks in school and the workplace.

Labe and Alvarez identify other barriers to getting into veterinary medicine. To get into veterinary school, you typically need a Bachelor’s degree and hundreds of hours of shadowing or pre-clinical work, which are often unpaid. Veterinary school applications are expensive and timeconsuming, and acceptance rates hover in the very low 10-15% range.

Finally, veterinary school itself costs thousands of dollars and takes time, dedication, and hard work.

One of the most prevalent barriers is the idea of even getting into veterinary medicine. “If you don’t see anyone like you practicing veterinary medicine, well, you’re going to think that’s not a possibility for you,” Labe shares. VOICE UMN believes that one of the key solutions to this issue is mentorship. Their focus for the next year is just that: creating opportunities for young people to get involved in veterinary medicine, get to know the profession, and feel supported by established members in the field. They also hope to host volunteer events, continue their mission of community service, and have fun!

Helping future veterinarians best serve diverse communities and embrace inclusive approaches is the goal.

In the past, VOICE has hosted a “pronoun panel”, educating on reContinued on page 26 LAVENDERMAGAZINE.COM

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OUR SCENE | PRIDE IN PETS spectful language and terminology, and they hope to make it a yearly event, along with other talks that uplift certain affinities in the veterinary field. Alvarez recounted their Hispanic Heritage Month talk which delved into the specifics of working with Hispanic colleagues and clientele, and how to honor and best navigate those moments as a veterinary professional. Their objective is to create spaces for open discussion and education around making animal care inclusive.

They also see collaboration between student groups and the school as key. One of VOICE’s focus points is to facilitate the relationship between administration and the student body, and to collectively address issues and challenges that arise. Alvarez and Labe feel that positive change has come from this work, especially through their new advisor, Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky, the veterinary school’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion director. “She does bring up these conversations a lot, so that they can be addressed, and for me, that’s amazing because it’s so easy to not talk about these things and ignore them,” Alvarez comments.

For those seeking to get into the veterinary field, both Alvarez and Labe cannot stress enough the importance of mentorship. Finding those that can guide your path, and give you vital advice about your journey, can make a big difference. For those moving into the professional world, taking into account what a practice looks like – and how inclusive an environment may be – can transform a career.

As for their “hot takes” on veterinary medicine? It all comes back to representation. The importance of finding a veterinary professional that values the unique needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and their pets cannot be overstated. Finding a provider that represents you builds trust and understanding and empowers you in caring for your pet.

For the future, both share that the veterinary field has remained stagnant for a long time, and efforts need to focus on intentional and effective change. They hope schools will recognize – and transform – how expensive the admissions process is and continue outreach to young people

26 LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

that this is a realistic career option. “It’s easier to trust your care team when they aren’t all carbon copies…they might have different ideas to offer, and present them in a way that is most accessible” both Labe and Alvarez express. Designing ways to bridge the gap between pet owners and compassionate veterinary care needs to be the long-term ambition.

The presence of VOICE in our community holds immense significance: future veterinarians dedicated to serving diverse pet owners and making a positive impact. Looking to support their work, or get involved?

You can find them on Instagram and Facebook as VOICE UMN, and of course, throughout the campus community, advocating for inclusive veterinary medicine! 

OUR AFFAIRS | BOOKS

Books

BY E.B BOATNER

My Friend Anne Frank: The Inspiring and Heartbreaking True Story of Best Friends Torn Apart and Reunited Against All Odds Hannah Pick-Goslar Little, Brown and Company $29

In 1933, Hannah Pick-Goslar’s Jewish family fled Nazi Germany for Amsterdam, settling next door to the Franks, also relocated, with a daughter Hannah’s age. Hannah, tall and shy, and Anne, slight and sprightly, became fast friends in nursery school. The power of this memoir is Hannah’s presence. She was with Anne through the last nearly normal days, kids going about their daily activities. On 12 June, 1942, Hannah attended Anne’s thirteenth birthday party; the roomful of classmates watched a rented Rin-Tin-Tin film and Anne, among many other gifts, received that red, tan, and cream plaid diary in which she began writing her thoughts now shared worldwide. It was to be Anne’s last childhood party. The darkness was nearly upon them. Heartfelt, heartbreaking; an extraordinary tribute to friendship.

Tomb of Sand

Geetan Jali Shree tr. Daisy Rockwell HarperVia $29.99

Following her husband’s death, eighty-yearold Ma has begun to slide. Intransigently depressed, she has relinquished joy, and even, fear her responsible eldest son and dutiful daughter, the will to live. Hope is nearly abandoned when Serious Son, her youngest grandson, gives her a golden cane studded with butterflies. The cane’s magic draws her out of bed and into a hedonistic, carefree life as alien to her children as was her previous withdrawal. Escapades with her

feminist daughter Beti, friendship with a hijra, even jettisoning her traditional saris, unchain her spirits while dumbfounding the rest of the family. Playful, fantastical, free with wordplay and matters temporal, Tomb encompasses Partition and gender anomaly, ecstasy and tragedy–what it means to live a life. Winner 2022 International Booker Prize.

Light Come Out of the Closet: Memoir of a Gay Soul Roger Leslie, PhD Paradise Publishing House $19.95

Leslie grew up in a close-knit, Polish-American family with parents committed to their children’s Catholic schooling. His firmly held three absolutes: “I love God; I love my family; I am gay.” He adroitly leads the reader through the fear and dread experienced when an intelligent child realizes that should his parents not unconditionally love a gay child, God, too, might withhold His affection. Burden enough for an adult, the conflict was overwhelming for the youngster. Now at peace and author of some seventeen books including Isaac Dinesen: Gothic Storyteller, spiritual inspiration volumes Divine Destiny and My First Last Year,

this memoir is an inspirational recounting of his struggle to find love, discovering that “In the dark night of the soul we find our own happiness.”

Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most Adam Alter Simon and Schuster $28.99

Alter, professor of marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business tackles “stuckness,” the dreaded place for anyone who’s wanted, needed, or been on deadline to produce. Using a large number of case studies of well-known individuals in wide spectrum of undertakings, Alter segues skillfully from one to the next, the swiftness of the changes providing a tour-deforce of “unsticking” right before your eyes.

Changing your habit patterns can override inertia; defining your goal then breaking it into segments provides both better understanding and movement. Seek out different people to shake up your thinking, change your perspectives, release the Stuck Thing. Alter’s own brisk pacing and barrage of suggestions offer a glimmer of hope–“Maybe I can do this!” keeping one turning the pages. Worth a try! 

Robb Clasen Financial Associate Financial coaching & guidance focused on individual and companies' goals and values.

763-746-3131 robb.clasen@thrivent.com www.connect.thrivent.com/ robb-clasen/

www.teefhealth.com Locally and LGBTQIA+ owned

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OUR HOMES | OUR RIDES

Photos courtesy of WeatherTech

Giving Your Pet The Best with WeatherTech

BY RANDY STERN

Traveling with your pets could be a challenge. You can do so, but what if you want something more durable, well-made, and long-lasting to make life easier for your pet?

Bollingbrook, Illinois-based WeatherTech is well known for floor mats for your automobile. They make an all-weather floor covering that protects your carpet underneath. They also make a line of vehicle protection products, such as bumper steps for your truck or SUV, along with mud guards for your lower wheel openings, front end and side window guards.

Did you know that they also make a line of products for pet travel in your vehicle?

A browsing of WeatherTech’s website shows 13 items you can choose from. All are made with WeatherTech’s strong and durable materials at its highest quality.

What does WeatherTech have to offer among the 13 items available?

Continued on page 30

28 LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

OUR HOMES | OUR RIDES

With some help from Fiona Noone, the Director of Marketing at WeatherTech, we chose six of them to spotlight here.

For one, we live in an SUV world. Therefore, not every pet can make it up and over the rear bumper onto the vehicle. WeatherTech produces a PetRamp that makes it easier for pets to walk onto the rear cargo area without having to jump over the rear bumper into the cargo area. The PetRamp is a high-traction, foldable item that can easily fit into the cargo hold away from your pet.

If you have an older pet and own a larger vehicle, you could opt for the EasyRamp that is more compliant. There is an extra section in the middle that helps in balancing your pet as they enter into the cargo hold, along with an easier incline for assisting the pet. The maximum weight of this ramp is 300 pounds.

Protecting a pet while traveling is important. WeatherTech offers a few solutions to help maintain the interior of your vehicle. Behind the second or third row of seats, you can install a Pet Barrier without any drilling or tools to install. It also comes with a bag and kits to extend the barrier or create a fence between your pet and your passengers.

30 LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

If your pet is able to sit in the back seat, you can equip your vehicle with a Pet Partition, along with Seat and Door Protectors. We want our pets to be closer to us, however we want to ensure that the interior will be in good shape when we sell or trade in our vehicle. The Pet Partition serves as a barrier between the front and rear/second-row seats, while the mesh construction enables your pet to see through.

It also comes with pockets for a leash, treats, waste bags, toys, and more.

Both the Seat and Door Protectors are made of water-repellent materials. They are designed to protect your upholstery and door cards from scratching, spills, and other damage. They are specifically designed and made to fit in your vehicle.

WeatherTech not only produces pet products for your vehicle. They also have solutions for your home, as well. For example, they offer a Double High Pet Feeding Bowls that reduce the neck bends a larger pet would make for feeding and drinking. The stand is in light gray with both bowls in white, which is easier to spot. You can also order additional bowls for these stands. In fact, there is a choice of single or double bowl feeders, along with single or double low feeders.

Each of these products are made for every vehicle and home, and made of the same strong materials used on everything WeatherTech produces. One important piece to know about WeatherTech’s pet travel products: They are made at the plant located at their Bollingbrook headquarters. They proudly state that they are indeed made in the U.S.A. “We have a long history in delivering custom-fitting automotive aftermarket accessories

that protect vehicles of different shapes and sizes across the world,” explained Noone. “While we’re car people, we’re also pet people—we’re motivated to protect them too. It’s why we make trustworthy pet solutions that not only keep them safe when on the road but safe when enjoying mealtime at home. Our Pet Barrier, pet ramps, Pet Safety Harness, Pet Partition, non-toxic Pet Feeding System and more are made by a group of passionate people who put as much attention to detail into them as they do our automotive solutions.”

Noone also stated that “[a]s an added bonus, when our customers buy WeatherTech, they’re helping to support the American economy and employment—something we can all feel good about.”

How does one get one of these pet products from WeatherTech?

“Customers can find an easy-to-navigate online shopping experience,” Noone explained, “which includes many helpful product overview and installation videos. They can also expect expediency once their order is placed. As a U.S.A.-based manufacturer and retailer, our products are in stock and ready to be shipped. They don’t have to wait for overseas delivery!”

“Additionally,” Noone continued, “we offer many different shipping options for their convenience. This enables us to get their favorite auto, home or pet products into their hands quickly. Have questions along the way? No problem. WeatherTech has friendly and knowledgeable agents that can assist with answering any customer questions or concerns.”

Need a quality-made, durable item for your pet? Browse through WeatherTech’s website and find the right item for your best friend.  WeatherTech www.weathertech.com

4330 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55409

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COMMUNITY CONNECTION Community Connection brings visibility to local LGBTQ-friendly non-profit organizations.

To reserve your listing in Community Connection, email advertising@lavendermagazine. com.

ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE Foster Adopt Minnesota

Finding families and providing information, education, and support to Minnesota Adoptive, Foster and Kinship communities.

2446 University Ave. W., Ste. 104 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 861-7115, (866) 303-6276 info@fosteradoptmn.org www.fosteradoptmn.org

ANIMAL RESCUE

Second Chance Animal Rescue

Dedicated to rescuing, fostering, caring for, and adopting out dogs and cats into forever homes.

P.O. Box 10533 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651) 771-5662 www.secondchancerescue.org

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS

Quorum

Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce working to build, connect, and strengthen for a diverse business community.

2446 University Ave. W., Ste 112 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 460-8153 www.twincitiesquorum.com

CASINOS

Mystic Lake Casino Hotel

Nonstop gaming excitement with slots, blackjack, bingo and more plus distinctive bars and restaurants.

2400 Mystic Lake Blvd.

Prior Lake, MN 55372 (800) 262-7799 www.mysticlake.com

ENVIRONMENT

The Nature Conservancy

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Aliveness Project

Community Center for individuals living with HIV/AIDS – on-site meals, food shelf, and supportive service.

3808 Nicollet Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55102 (612) 824-LIFE (5433) www.aliveness.org

Family Tree Clinic

We're a sliding fee sexual health clinic and education center, now in Minneapolis.

1919 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis MN 55403 (612) 473-0800 www.familytreeclinic.org

NAMI Minnesota

(National Alliance on Mental Illness) Providing free classes and peer support groups for people affected by mental illnesses.

800 Transfer Rd. #31 St. Paul, MN 55114 (651) 645-2948 www.namihelps.org

Rainbow Health Minnesota

Meeting the health needs of LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV with holistic service.

2700 Territorial Rd. W. St. Paul, MN 55114 General: (612) 341-2060 MN AIDSLine: (612) 373-2437 www.rainbowhealth.org

Red Door Clinic

Sexual health care for all people. Get confidential tests & treatment in a safe, caring setting.

525 Portland Ave., 4th Fl. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 543-5555 reddoor@hennepin.us www.reddoorclinic.org

LIBRARIES

Quatrefoil Library

Your LGBTQ+ library and community center. Free membership, events, and e-books/audiobooks. Check us out!

1220 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 729-2543 www.qlibrary.org

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

Radio K

TNC is an environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive.

1101 W. River Pkwy., Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1291 (612) 331-0700 minnesota@tnc.org www.nature.org/minnesota

Radio K is the award-winning studentrun radio station of the University of Minnesota.

330 21st. Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 625-3500 www.radiok.org

EVENT VENUES

Purchase, refinance, and home equity loans. I’ll help you with every step of the process. NMLS 2259195 1608823. An Equal Housing Opportunity Betsy Phillips @ 651-274-9367 www.LoansbyBetsy.com

Landmark Center

A classic venue, with a grand cortile and beautiful courtrooms, accommodates celebrations of all sizes.

75 W. 5th St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 292-3228 www.landmarkcenter.org

GRANTMAKERS/FUNDERS PFund Foundation

PFund is the LGBTQ+ community foundation that provides grants to students and grants to non-profits.

PO Box 3640 Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-870-1806 www.pfundfoundation.org

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MORTGAGE

Nonprofit Mortgage Company

MUSEUM

Minnesota Historical Society

Create your own adventure at MNHS historic sites and museums around Minnesota. mnhs.org

Walker Art Center

Showcasing the fresh, innovative art of today and tomorrow through exhibitions, performances, and film screenings.

725 Vineland Pl. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 375-7600 www.walkerart.org

PERFORMING ARTS

Chanhassen Dinner Theaters

The nation’s largest professional dinner theater and Minnesota’s own entertainment destination.

501 W. 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317 (952) 934-1525 www.ChanhassenDT.com

Children’s Theatre Company

Children’s Theatre Company excites the imagination with world-class familyfriendly theatre for kids, teens, and adults.

2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 874-0400 www.childrenstheatre.org

Guthrie Theater

Open to the public year-round, the Guthrie produces classic and contemporary plays on three stages.

818 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 377-2224 www.guthrietheater.org

Lyric Arts Main Street Stage

Theater with character. Comedies, musicals, & dramas in a professional, intimate setting where all are welcomed.

420 E. Main St. Anoka, MN 55303 (763) 422-1838 info@lyricarts.org www.lyricarts.org

Minnesota Opera

World-class opera draws you into a synthesis of beauty; breathtaking music, stunning costumes & extraordinary sets.

Performances at the Ordway Music Theater - 345 Washington St., St. Paul, MN 55102 (612) 333-6669 www.mnopera.org

Minnesota Orchestra

Led by Music Director Designate Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra, one of America’s leading symphony orchestras.

1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 371-5656, (800) 292-4141 www.minnesotaorchestra.org

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Leading performing arts center with two stages presenting Broadway musicals, concerts and educational programs that enrich diverse audiences.

345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 224-4222 info@ordway.org www.ordway.org

Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

An award-winning chorus building community through music and offers entertainment worth coming out for!

1430 W. 28th St., Ste. B Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 339-SONG (7664) chorus@tcgmc.org www.tcgmc.org

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

Everyone is welcome at Hennepin Church! Vibrant Worship. Authentic Community. Bold Outreach.

511 Groveland Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-5303 www.hennepinchurch.org

Plymouth Congregational Church

Many Hearts, One Song; Many Hands, One Church. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

1900 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-7400 www.plymouth.org

St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral

An inclusive and affirming community transforming lives through God’s love.

519 Oak Grove St. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 870-7800 www.ourcathedral.org

Westminster Presbyterian Church

An open and affirming congregation, welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities.

1200 Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 332-3421 www.westminstermpls.org

SENIOR LIVING Friends & Co

Fostering meaningful connections for older adults for 50+ years. Offering quick drop-in chat line, phone & visiting companionship services.

2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 260-S St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 721-1400 www.friendsco.org

Senior Community Services

Providing non-medical services that meet the changing needs of older adults & support their caregivers.

10201 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 335 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 541-1019 www.seniorcommunity.org/lav

SOCIAL SERVICES

Lutheran Social Service of MN

Serving all Minnesotans with personcentered services that promote full and abundant lives. lssmn.org | 612-642-5990 | 800-582-5260 Adoption & Foster Care | welcome@chlss.org Behavioral Health | 612-879-5320 Host Homes | hosthomes@lssmn.org Supported Decision-Making | 888-806-6844 Therapeutic Foster Care | 612-751-9395

TRAVEL DESTINATIONS Discover St. Louis Park

Minnesota’s Sweet Spot! Visit us for exceptional dining, attractions, shopping, hotels and event space.

1660 Hwy 100 S., Ste. 501 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 426-4047 www.DiscoverStLouisPark.com

Discover Stillwater

Get away to Stillwater for delicious dining, fun shops, and unique nightlife in this charming rivertown! info@DiscoverStillwater.com www.DiscoverStillwater.com

Visit Greater St. Cloud

Give yourself a break. Visit Greater St. Cloud.

1411 W. St. Germain St., Ste. 104 St. Cloud, MN 56301 (320) 251-4170 info@visitstcloud.com www.visitstcloud.com

YOUTH

The Bridge for Youth

Emergency shelter, crisis intervention, and resources for youth currently or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

1111 W. 22nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55405 (612) 377-8800 or text (612) 400-7233 www.bridgeforyouth.org

THE NETWORK Locally Owned & Operated Since 1950

Estimates 7am-4:30pm

Account Executive. Lavender Media is seeking to add a Twin Cities based full time Account Executive to our sales team. We are looking for an outgoing, organized, self-driven & motivated professional with excellent phone, writing and presentation skills.

Candidates should enjoy working directly with clients who are interested in growing their business through Lavender advertising and event sponsorships. Candidates must be local. Includes base pay + commission and an employee benefits package that includes group health, dental, life insurance and LTD. Applicants should have experience with Mac software environment, Excel, Word, social media platforms & database software such as Filemaker Pro. They should exhibit an elevated level of organization, attention to detail, the ability to work as part of a team, effective communication, self direction, enjoys working with new people and has a natural drive to grow. Please send your cover letter and resume to stephen.rocheford@lavendermagazine. com

Josh Kelly LGBTQIA+ Realtor®

612.219.2211 JoshKelly@edinarealty.com JoshKelly.edinarealty.com

Bill’s Gun Shop & range More Guns - More Lanes

MORE FUN!

billsgs.com

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OUR VOICES | BAD GAY

Photo courtesy of BigStock/BOULANGER

Episode 6

BY LAKEY BRIDGE

I own a few rental cottages in a resort town.

The cottages are “historic” (read: old) and “charming” (read: the floors creak and there’s no central air). But they are walking distance to the lake and I allow renters to bring their pets, which buys me a lot of grace and a 5-star rating.

I truly enjoy being a host—even when guests complain. I like it when it’s the wife/ girlfriend who complains, because I’m a lesbian and I’m very skilled at dealing with angry women. I get yelled at by a woman every day at home. Doesn’t rattle me a bit.

When renters text me, they always use too many exclamation marks for the problem at hand—e.g. “I can’t find the dish detergent!!?!!”

I respond by taking responsibility and declaring myself a moron. (“I stupidly put the dish detergent in the cabinet under the kitchen sink where no one would think to look for it. I’m such an idiot.”)

That tactic always works. They feel vindicated, intellectually superior and then generous for forgiving me. They always comfort me in the aftermath—reassuring me that they love the cottage and ask if there’s anything they can do to help during their stay.

This is when I preemptively apologize for any shoddy housekeeping. “I’m going to have to fire my cleaning gal. But I don’t have the heart to do it. She only has the one leg now.

34 LAVENDER JULY 27-AUGUST 9, 2023

Has to clean while propping herself up on a stick. She’s saving for a prosthetic. Poor thing.”

(Note: I don’t have a cleaning lady. I clean the cottages myself. And I’m not very good at it— even with the two legs.) The guests always vow to leave the cottage cleaner than they found it to save further hardship.

The complaints almost always come on the first day that renters arrive—when they’re still stressed from travel and adjusting to the fact that their vacation fantasy is now the grim reality that they’re trapped in a small cottage with bad water pressure for a week with their family. But by day two, when they’ve happily acclimated to the louche lifestyle I offer, I rarely hear a peep.

So, I was surprised this week to get an email from a renter who has been at a cottage for a week into their full-summer stay. These renters have been an absolute dream. Their only question on arriving was if I had a shovel so they could tidy up the landscape. (I, umm, have never used a shovel or pulled a weed in my life.)

This week, though, I got an email with the subject line: Creature in the attic. My first thought was that this was a complaint that warrants a few exclamation marks.

But my renter was perfectly calm and surprisingly chipper. He started by acknowledging my no-kill spider policy (I ask renters to

gently place them outside); my request that guests put food out at night for the neighborhood stray cat, Mittens; that they tolerate the fat bumble bees that nest above the front door because they are my friends (they are!); and not to chase off the groundhog that sits on the picnic table and watches TV thru the window—even when it makes alarming groundhog noises when someone turns the channel.

(I also include extensive notes on what to do if a deer wanders into the house—they do make a mess.)

“But,” he wrote, “I don’t think you want a family of raccoons in your attic.” My heart sank. A neighbor had raccoons in her attic. It did not end well for the raccoons.

“Do you think that maybe it’s a monster in the attic and not very cute animals?” I wrote.

He responded with a laugh emoji as if I had made a joke. I wasn’t joking.

My spouse happened into the room as I was frowning at my computer screen. I made the mistake of telling her about the animal drama.

She immediately started yelling at me, which— as noted above—is like mother’s milk to me.

“Call the exterminator!” she demanded.

But, instead, I contacted the only person I could trust in this situation.

Find out who I contacted and whether we found a monster in the attic in our next episode! 