CONNECTING THE BLUEGRASS LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
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IN THIS ISSUE
JANUARY 2018
FEATURE
VOL 40 / NO. 1
2017 - A Year In Review
page 12
The Pride Community Services Organization Board looks back at 2017, a year that may go down in the history of the LGBTQ+ community as the “Push-Back Year”, but with a lot to celebrate here locally.
THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ABOUT page 4 Have you ever considered the wisdom of pockets? Helena Handbasket explores the connection with her dad and the usefulness of pockets.
A JOURNEY HOME page 6 JR Zerkowski spent Thanksgiving in New York City “Dining On Park Avenue” and having fellowship with some of the city’s homeless individuals.
LEXINGTON PRIDE FESTIVAL PRIDE IN DIVERSITY
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2018
AROUND THE LIBRARY page 8 Ashley Householder reviews the story about two teenage boys in Proxy by Alex London, which can be found in the PCSO Pride Library.
page 14
2018 Lexington Pride Festival Chair Paul Brown and Secretary Carmen Wampler-Collins team up to write about the Pride that can be found in embracing the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. They tell about LoveABLE, a new support group of the Pride Community Services Organization that is geared toward LGBTQ+ persons (and allies) with mental or physical disabilities and/or mental or physical chronic conditions.
HUMOR ADVOCACY CULTURE
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FEATURE COMMUNITY CALENDAR JANUARY 2018 // LinQ 3
TALKIN’ ABOUT
by Helena Handbasket
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y daddy carried a pocket knife. He was a down-to-earth, Eastern Kentucky man who wasn’t flashy at all. As a matter of fact, when I was a freshman in high school, he told me that boys didn’t wear gold necklaces. And then by the time I was a senior, he was borrowing mine when he would go out on a date. It’s funny how some people can have an influence over someone without even trying. But this article isn’t about my daddy or about pocket knives or personal influences. This article is about pockets. What a wonderful invention. I’m not sure when the first garment was designed with pockets or if there was a specific use for pockets when they were invented (since men didn’t carry wallets then and there was no such thing as cell phones), but they sure can be handy. I find it interesting that front pockets of most jeans are sewn in and are usually a white cotton fabric which makes a little pouch inside just above the thigh with the purpose of letting you carry things that you need to keep close to you in them. But most back pockets of jeans are just a patch sewn on so that they can stay close to the body and are not designed to carry much. But then you have cargo pants with pockets all over the place. Was the cargo pant made to carry more stuff or did
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someone along the line decide that pockets could look fashionable and be functional as well? Very clever. I see people in skinny jeans now and they are so skin-tight that whatever a person has in their pocket is visible (at least I was thinking that was something in his pocket… maybe not). So, we could debate that since they are so tight, should there really be pockets in skinny-stretch jeans? This would be a good argument for a man-purse. There are even phrases about pockets like, “She is as useless as a pocket with a hole in it.” I shouldn’t have to explain that one, but… if a pocket has a hole in it, then it can’t fulfill its purpose of holding stuff in it (unless there is some “other” purpose for the hole in your pocket—I won’t even begin to delve into that discussion). Another one is, “He is as handy as a pocket on a shirt.” True that I do have a lot of shirts with pockets on them and they can be quite handy—so I have to say that one is pretty accurate. I must admit that I usually carry too much in my pockets. I always try to have a little change in my pockets. I also have a lot of keys to carry around that I need with me… car keys, work keys, house keys, etc. I also carry a little coin that has a little travel prayer on it (that is almost worn off because I
have carried it for so many years) that says, “God protect us as we travel, by air or land or sea. Keeps us safe and guide us, wherever we may be.” I also carry a little medallion that has an angel on it to remind me that there are angels all over, both seen and unseen. Now, recently, one of my step-daughters gave me a little red Christmas cardinal to carry for luck. Now I know that these little items don’t have power to keep me safe or magically prevent harm, but what they do is remind me that I do believe in the power that keeps me safe and healthy and happy. The power that lives inside of me… the power that comes from my higher power, and the power that we give to and take from each other. The power of connection with each other can be the most powerful resource if we give of ourselves unselfishly and it can also be the most destructive force if we have ill intentions toward one another. So, anyway, I continue to carry these things just because. Don’t judge me! Oh… I almost forgot… yeah, I also carry a pocket knife. I guess I AM just like my daddy. (Giggle… or maybe not exactly like him.) Send comments or suggestions to HelenahandbasketKY@gmail.com
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TransKY ADVOCATE by Tuesday G Meadows
THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE “To everything(turn turn turn)/There is a season(turn turn turn)/And a time to every purpose, under heaven/A time to be born, a time to die/A time to plant, a time to reap/A time to kill, a time to heal/A time to laugh, a time to weep” Turn Turn Turn, The Byrds
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as they were reasonable and logical. I always thought that conservatives, liberals, and moderates had more in common than we had differences. I remember a day when moderates were courted by both sides, now they seem to be despised from both the left and the right. America is so extremely partisan now that it’s no wonder we all feel like we are on a whirling gyroscope. We seem more divided than ever, over everything from healthcare to immigration. Several surveys, including one from the Pew Center, show that Americans are sharply divided on the use of public restrooms and transgender people serving in the military. People have started to dig their heels in instead of listening. The wedge issue for most candidates running for any public office these days, from president to dog catcher, seems to still be reproductive rights. Sexual assault, destroying the Constitution, and even being accused of being a pedophile just doesn’t seem to matter to a sizeable portion of the electorate. To say the least, most of 2017 was not a good year for the transgender community. We had a record number of murders of transgender individuals, most of them trans or queer people of color, not only here in the U.S., but worldwide. Additionally, the homeless rates for transgender people is still increasing. Then we had the president trying to
ban us from military service, lots of politicians trying to make hay from our use of public restrooms, and the federal government starting to strip away at most of our protections. In 2017, we saw brazen verbal attacks from almost every conservative politician, religious leaders, even some who are progressive on other issues, and a host of other individuals who pushed discrimination and harassment against all LGBTQ+ people, but especially transgender individuals. I am hoping that 2018 will be a better year, but I remind myself every day that I was told by my wife more than once, “Hope is not a strategy.” Hope without action is pretty much useless. At the end of 2017 we saw a number of openly transgender people elected to office, we saw the transphobic and homophobic Roy Moore defeated, and federal judges telling the Trump administration that they cannot enforce their discriminatory transgender military policy, and lots of prominent women (and men) coming forth to confront their sexual abusers. Indeed, hope is not a strategy, but it is still something that we must not lose in the face of another trying year. You may write me at tmeadows828@gmail.com or follow my blog at Tuesdaysgonewiththewind. wordpress.com. Now Tuesday is gone with the wind.
ADVOCACY
t’s a new year and I don’t know about you, but I am certainly ready to move forward. However, moving forward doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t look into the rearview mirror. When you reach my age, you realize that going forth means that your life is nearing the end quicker. But none of us should live in the past, or the future, but rather, the here and now. Life is always going to be cyclical, up and down, back and forth. Nothing and no one can last forever. Most of us only have between 70 and 80 years, or less, on this earth to do some good. I am not especially fond of regrets, but they remind us of our mistakes that we must figure out how to correct while we still have time. This year, discrimination against marginalized groups hit a boiling point... several times. Charlottesville. Police brutality. Presidential tweets. I can’t think of one single marginalized community that would think that they are better off now under our present government than they were in 2016. Racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and the seething underbelly of the current status quo were on display for the world. I used to think that if you gave me enough time to explain things to someone then I could help them to have more empathy for people who weren’t like them. Whether someone was a member of the Republican or Democratic party didn’t matter, as long
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THE JOURNEY HOME DINING ON PARK AVENUE
by Stan “JR” Zerkowski, Founder of Lexington Interfaith Encounters Executive Director, Fortunate Families, Inc.
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t was the day after Thanksgiving. Brad Yelvington and I were at St. Bart’s Episcopal Church on Park Avenue, next to the Waldorf Astoria, in NYC to taste some of the best fare in the city. The best chefs of NYC—from The Waldorf, Four Seasons, Lotte NY, Omni Berkshire, Intercontinental NY Barclay and others—together with community partners and St. Bart’s, created a feast to call attention to homelessness and hunger and to build the culture of encounter. We acquired tickets to the 4 p.m. seating. Tables were set up in the magnificent St. Bart’s Church; we ate on fine china with the turkey served on silver trays. Dining together with homeless sisters and brothers, those with means and the materially poor sat side by side, dined and engaged in conversation. Truly, this is the church at its finest and was a snapshot of what I suspect heaven will be like: no class distinction, but all of God’s children dining at one common banquet of love! Among those at my table were 3 men and 1 young lady who were homeless. I sat beside Emmanuel (honest, that was his name!), a 30-something year old with a shaved head and tattoos, who came to NYC hoping to find a better life. He ended up sleeping on the streets. Mel, who sat to my left, was in his 60s, I called him “Mel Tormé” all during the dinner. His smile beamed every time I said it. I’d say Tracy was in
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her late 20s. A stunningly beautiful young lady, she was very shy and terribly dirty. She barely ate. A few times I asked her if everything was OK. She always said yes, but didn’t engage very much with those seated at our table. Toward the end of the meal, she looked over to me and said, “I’m just overcome. This is so beautiful. I could barely eat or talk.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she pulled her napkin to cover her face. I told her if she was going to cry so was I. Tears rolled down both of our faces. I hugged her. She said she never imagined being treated like this. The dignity extended was overwhelming. Brad sat at another table and had a young man named Osama beside him. Osama, who looked like he had not bathed nor eaten a good meal in a long time, earned a college degree and was very articulate. Hard times left him homeless in NYC. When he sat down at the table, he ate his dinner roll ravenously, several gave him their dinner rolls too. Osama was clearly hungry. We all were, actually. Physical hunger was just the tip of the iceberg for every one of us. After enjoying a sumptuous dessert buffet—tables laden with beautiful pastries and pies lined smack down the middle of the nave of the magnificent church—we helped distribute to-go boxes and hugged our newly found brothers and sisters; they said they hoped to
see us again next year. God willing, they will. That was the 4 p.m. seating. For the 7 p.m. seating, we agreed to serve wherever we were needed. We were tasked with staffing the coat room which was the magnificent Lady Chapel. As guests came in—the homeless and the affluent—we checked in their coats and bags and gave them each a ticket. Besides the photo of the dinner, I’ve included a photo of the precious treasure we had the honor of accepting that evening before the dinner. For our sisters and brothers who live on the streets, this is a photo of all they own. Imagine turning over all you own and entrusting it to another so you could eat a meal. For many, it was visibly distressing to part with coats or bags despite us assuring them that a ticket would secure a safe return. Some of our sisters and brothers cannot imagine trusting someone. It is foreign to their experience. Yet, they trusted so they could enjoy a meal. The eyes of the guests and the words exchanged as they handed over their possessions were heartbreaking and a lesson in understanding the distressing circumstances of too many. After the meal, they came to retrieve their possessions. Plastic bags, old suitcases, big lawn bags stuffed with things, lots of very smelly stuff, was the precious treasure we returned alongside designer coats, Burberry scarves,
God’s possessions. I hugged God. I spoke with God about all kinds of things—from where God sleeps on the streets of NYC to why God spent 4 years in prison. I saw joy on God’s face as God thanked me, of all people, for a wonderful meal and for some average piano music I shared as the night ended. And after it all, when the dinners were a memory, St Bart’s—God’s home on Park Avenue—was being prepared for
stories with the movers and shakers of NYC became a reality. For we who enjoy privilege beyond our understanding, to dine with and serve brothers and sisters whom we might never otherwise meet and learn how much we have in common was a gift that ranks among the best that I have known. Was it coincidence that Emmanuel sat beside me? The name Emmanuel means “God with us.”
As the coat-check chapel was getting less crowded with belongings, some decided to linger a bit. There was a beautiful grand piano in the chapel. I played some Christmas carols and some classical pieces. It was an impromptu private little concert after a sumptuous meal. They were thrilled. I was thrilled. One older lady who sat there with her lawn bag came up to me and said, “Honey, nobody ever played a private concert for me. God bless you.” She had tears in her eyes. That evening, November 24, 2017, I ate with God. I cared for
the building’s usual fare: ritual that, hopefully, leads to more encounters with God. Someone imagined the possibility of Fair Share Friday at St. Bart’s and it became a reality. A new year invites us to imagine new possibilities, new dreams, and new vision. My evening on Park Avenue proves that dreams do come true. For sisters and brothers who are homeless, the dream of savoring the fare of NYC’s finest chefs, sitting in a magnificent building, dining at tables with linen and fine china, rubbing shoulders and sharing
God will come disguised as someone who offers us the opportunity to safeguard their possessions, including their dignity and pride. We’ll encounter God over and over and over. In this New Year, God will come down to sit beside every one of us, talk with us, and dine with us— maybe not on Park Avenue—but somewhere. Will we recognize God, though? Keep your eyes and heart open, I will too.
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and topcoats worth more than one can imagine. We hugged guests and thanked them for coming. We asked them if they enjoyed their dinner and we helped each person put on their coat. Our sisters and brothers who are homeless would, especially, thank us for the meal and for the wonderful time. Tears in their eyes revealed hearts that were touched. Tears in our eyes revealed hearts that were touched.
You may contact JR at jrchevychase@aol.com
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AROUND THE LIBRARY reviewed by Ashley Householder
Proxy written by Alex London
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“Only humans could stand in for one another. They all began as equals, but a contract, like a confession, changed their relationship. One became debtor, one became creditor... A goat would always be a goat, but humans could change how they defined one another and how they defined themselves. That was civilization. But beneath it all, everyone bleeds” (London 2013, p. 234).
went into this novel with no earthly clue what it was about, intending solely to review it for LinQ. I gathered from the title and cover that it was going to be sci-fi, and knew that it contained LGBTQ+ themes (which is, of course, why I am reviewing it), but otherwise went into this book fairly blind. What I discovered, however, was that it is a delightful work of dystopian fiction with both complex themes and likeable characters. I will admit that my copy of this book is a galley, meaning it is not the final print version of the book, but an Advanced Reader Copy (“ARC”). Because of this, some parts of the writing seemed a little rough (there were grammatical errors and a few typos), but I will not be judging the book based on the merits of its ARC. This is also a disclaimer in case I get any details that might have changed wrong. Proxy follows the stories of two teenage boys: Syd (short for Sydney) and Knox. While Knox has grown up in a world of wealth and privilege, Syd knows only poverty and desperation. Knox is a patron, meaning his family has enough money to instantly forgive any crime, pushing the punishments onto a proxy. Syd, a proxy, has been indebted to Knox since birth, brutally punished for every single crime Knox has ever committed,
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from breaking a vase to theft. And, unfortunately for Syd, Knox breaks the law quite frequently. When Knox gets into a car crash and accidentally kills one of his friends, Syd is sentenced to a life of hard labor for his crime. Fed up with the system, Syd decides to run away, but not before taking his patron with him. On the run from both the law and Knox’s father, the two teens begin to forge a bond that neither of them ever expected as they learn more about the harsh truths of their society. I will first begin by addressing the LGBTQ+ content, which was my initial reason for reviewing this book. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was not only a gay main character in this novel, but a gay character of color (Syd is described as having dark brown skin). This is becoming increasingly more common in the world of young adult literature, and I could not be more thrilled about this fact. I am a proud supporter of the We Need Diverse Books movement, and I think it’s important for
minorities and marginalized groups to be represented in all literature, not simply relegated to their own niche genre. By including diverse characters, authors are showing not only the reality of our diverse society, but implying that minorities deserve just as much attention as the majority culture in fiction. Another thing I admired about Syd is that his sexuality
was shown. The idea of constant ads being played for everyone made me think of M.T Anderson’s Feed, and I was also intrigued by the idea of a zoo of genetically engineered “extinct” creatures (though I will admit the scene with the penguin being eaten by a lion traumatized me a bit as a bird-lover). In addition to the subtle commentary on “Number Elevens,” I also liked the subverted religious themes of sacrifice and chosen ones. At one point (as quoted above), proxies are compared to sacrificial goats, unique only because of their ability to ascribe worth and meaning to other human beings. This thread continues as the novel progresses, making the reader think deeply about concepts such as morality and self-sacrifice. When is it okay for a few to die for the greater good? How many deaths are too many? Where do we draw the line between morality and self-serving evil? These are deep questions explored in this novel, and while I wish the author had delved deeper, I was impressed to see how he worked religious faith
into this dystopian novel about debts and social injustice. The themes of self-sacrifice and debt come to an ultimate head at the very end of the novel, though I won’t spoil it for you here; it’s a finale you’ll have to experience for yourself! Though imperfect, this was an extremely entertaining work of dystopian fiction that kept me on my toes and wanting to read more the entire time. It’s incredibly easy to write bad dystopian fiction, and I commend London for finding an interesting way to explore deep concepts without resorting to overused stereotypes or tropes. I was also impressed to see a gay character for whom coming out was not the focus. While coming out stories are important, it’s nice to simply see gay characters be heroic leads every once in a while. Because of this, I would recommend Proxy not only to LGBTQ+ youth, but to fans of dystopian fiction in general. Trust me; you will not be disappointed! Proxy can be found in the PCSO Pride Library under YA FIC L.
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does not define him as a person. While it’s certainly a part of what shapes him as a character, Syd is ultimately a product of his upbringing, growing up poor and indebted to those much more powerful than he is. Though he is mocked and looked down upon for being a “Number Eleven” (meant to be a derogatory term for homosexuals in this universe), Syd’s story does not focus on his sexuality. In fact, there isn’t even a forced romantic subplot (excluding a few good-humored jokes between the ramrod-straight Knox and Syd). Instead, it focuses on unraveling his personal history in order to embrace an inevitable destiny. This is certainly no run-of-the-mill coming out story, though those narratives are certainly equally valid in young adult literature. I was also pleased by how interesting and creative this dystopian universe was. While I sometimes wished there had been more detail in the technology and inner workings of this world, I was fascinated and intrigued by what
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reviewed by Amy Curtis
A Different Dolphin
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his colorful, beautifully illustrated children’s book tells the captivating story of a dolphin who dares to be different. The dolphin does not feel like they belong anywhere, they are different from all the other dolphins in their pod. What is their purpose and their place? The dolphin first feels ostracized and alone, and by the end of the tale, realizes the freedom found in being yourself
written by Aaron Clippinger
and celebrating uniqueness. The dolphin is different from others in its pod, but so what? Everyone has gifts and talents, and differences are what make us special. There is freedom in realizing that. The upbeat rhyme scheme caters to a younger audience, but the valuable, relatable life lessons covered will appeal to everyone. You can find A Different Dolphin in the PCSO Pride Library in C FIC C. Q CULTURE . JANUARY 2018 // LinQ 9
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by Barb Stead
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SisterSound Promises You Can’t Stop the Beat
or its 22nd Concert Season, SisterSound, the Lexington Women’s Chorus, wants you and your nearest and dearest to join them as they prove You Can’t Stop the Beat when you are presenting music like Rock Around the Clock, Some Days You Gotta Dance, Can’t Stop the Feeling, All that Jazz, Jailhouse Rock , Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and many others. By mid-January we are all looking for something fun and different to do and this concert hits that spot! Join SisterSound on Saturday, January 20, 2018, 7:00 p.m., at Crestwood Christian Church, 1882 Bellefonte Dr, Lexington 40503. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children age 4 to 12, and children 3 and under are free. Need tickets and haven’t crossed paths with a SisterSound
member yet? Call 859-263-0702 and we’ll hold tickets at “will call” for you. Additionally, mark your calendars now for SisterSound’s Spring Concert on Saturday, May 19, 2018, 7:00 p.m., also at Crestwood Christian Church. Are you interested in singing with SisterSound? New members are always welcome! All you have to do is be female, at least18 years of age, able to match pitch with those around you and enjoy singing with other women. Rehearsals for the May concert start on Sunday, January 28, 2018, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the choir room at Centenary Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Road, Lexington. Come and join the fun!
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2017 - A Year In Review by The Board of Pride Community Services Organization
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FEATURE
here are certainly some years that are more challenging than others. 2017 can absolutely be considered as one of those challenging years. Progress for equal rights is never linear. When gains are made, push-backs will always follow. We have worked very hard over the last several years to make gains for equal rights that should make us proud, culminating with the Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling in 2015. As expected, this past year we got push-back from conservative state and federal officials. That push-back came in the form of the elections at the end of 2016, reactionary maneuvers by the Trump Administration and Congress, and the resurgence of many hate groups. I think we will all remember 2017 as “The Push-Back Year.” But even with all of the problems in 2017, we also had a lot to celebrate. So, let’s take a look back at 2017!
JANUARY: On January 4, Democrat Rick Nelson proposed a bill in the Kentucky House of Representatives that would have discriminated against transgender people using public restrooms, but the bill did not get out of committee. To coincide with The National Women’s March in Washington, Lexington held their own march organized by the Kentucky Chapter of the National Organization for Women. On January 21, 5,000 plus women, along with thousands of men, gathered in order to promote civil rights for every human, regardless of gender, with speeches and a march. Several LGBTQ+ Organizations also walked in the Martin Luther King Parade on January 16 to show their solidarity with the African American community. FEBRUARY: The Kentucky Bourbon Bears hosted another successful North American Bear Weekend at the Marriott Griffin Gate during the weekend of February 2. The Fairness Campaign held its annual Lobby Day on February 15 in Frankfort to urge lawmakers to pass a statewide Fairness ordinance that would protect LGBTQ+ individuals across the state and stop businesses and employers from discriminating against the LGBTQ+ community. The Imperial Court of Kentucky had one of their largest fund-raisers with Wags and Drags, which benefited the Scott County Humane Society. MARCH: AIDS Volunteers (AVOL) moved into their new offices located at 365 Waller Avenue, Suite 100 (one building over from the PCSO Pride Center.) PCSO’s new office 12 LinQ // JANUARY 2018 . FEATURE
manager Carmen Wampler-Collins began working at the PCSO Pride Center.
APRIL: Bluegrass Black Pride held Reflections: A Drag Show. The show was a tribute to days past and starred many of Lexington’s top drag performers, with the highlight being the reintroduction to many of us here in Lexington of William McArthur Bowles (Mr. Willy), who performed drag at the Lyric Theatre in the 1950s. PCSO (previously GSO/GLSO) celebrated their 40th anniversary of incorporation with a banquet on April 29. On April 23, AVOL held their Walk For Life 25, raising funds to help them with the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS. PFLAG of Central Kentucky sponsored the showing of the documentary Gender Revolution at Lafayette High School. PCSO and Lexington Pride Festival held their Turn-About Show, which featured amateur drag performers at Crossings Bar. The University of Kentucky Office of LGBTQ* Resources held their Pride Week on campus. Kendryck Heart and Seven were crowned Mr. and Miss Lexington Pride 2017. MAY: The Lexington Pride Festival had its best fund-raiser of the year with the Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction held at Soundbar. On May 20, SisterSound held their spring concert Let’s Go To The Movies. In honor of the up-coming Pride Festival, Lexington, through the sponsorship of the Bluegrass Community Foundation, painted the crosswalks at Short and Limestone in rainbow colors. JUNE: To coincide with the National LGBTQ+ Equality March on Washington, hundreds gathered in Lexington to rally and march on June 11. The Imperial Court of Kentucky held their annual Bourbon Ball at the Hilton in downtown Lexington. Woodford County Fairness held their first ever picnic in Midway. Georgetown Fairness held an Ice Cream Social in the city park in June. The Lexington Pride Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary and had their most successful PrideFest in downtown Lexington on June 24 with nearly 30,000 people attending. The event was headlined by Ginger Minj with Helena Handbasket as the show’s host and MC. Lexington Fairness held their annual Fairness Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Lexington the night before PrideFest with nationally known entertainers Alex Newell and Dana Goldberg. Bluegrass United Church
of Christ got into the fun of Pride week by showing the movie Sordid Wedding at the Kentucky Theater on Thursday night. The day after Pride Fest, LexPride sponsored United in Dignity, an interfaith prayer service. JULY: Several LGBTQ+ groups marched together in Lexington’s Annual Fourth of July Parade. Sponsored by PCSO, Lexington Fairness, JustFundKy, and The Office of LGBTQ* Resources at UK, the second Transgender Healthcare Workshop was held by Trans Parent Lex. Nationally, President Trump tweeted out that he would tell the military to no longer allow transgender individuals to join or serve in the military; in response PCSO issued a press release condemning his actions.
SEPTEMBER: Several LGBTQ+ organizations participated in the annual Roots and Heritage Festival on September 8. AVOL held Dining Out for Life on September 14. Pride in da’ Park was held at Woodland Park by Kentucky Black Pride on September 16. Festival Latino was also held on September 16. PCSO held their third annual Pride Community Prom at the LexArts Performance Hall on September 30. OCTOBER: Morehead Pride held their second annual Pride Festival on October 7. Frankfort Fairness held their first Pride Festival on October 14. Georgetown Fairness held their second Community Cookout/Festival on October 28. PCSO started a new support group at the PCSO Pride Center, LoveABLE, for LGBTQ+ people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. NOVEMBER: The Miss Kentucky Large and Lovely Pageant was held at the Lyric Theatre, honoring Chelsea Pearl. For the first time, several openly transgender candidates were elected to local and state offices throughout the U.S., which was cause for celebration. Bluegrass Black Pride held their annual Awards Banquet, honoring those that helped promote diversity in the LGBTQ+ community here in Kentucky, including awarding PCSO its Ally Award. The PCSO Pride Library added a transgender-specific section to its collection. TransLex held their gender-affirming clothing exchange at the PCSO Pride Center. The Lexington Transgender
DECEMBER: On December 1, World AIDS Day was observed with Celebration of Life at the Lyric Theatre sponsored by Bluegrass Black Pride, Lexington Fayette County Health Department, PCSO, AVOL, Bluegrass Care Clinic, Moveable Feast, and JustFundKY. UK’s second Feast on Equality was held at the Carrick House benefiting students and the University of Kentucky Office of LGBTQ* Resources. New Song in the Bluegrass held their always exciting and well attended annual holiday concert at the Episcopal Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Lexington benefiting Moveable Feast. PCSO was a major sponsor of Blossom 2018, a Latinx New Year’s Eve Eve fashion show and party. In addition to these notable events, the PCSO provided 330 hours of programming free of charge to the LGBTQ+ community through our seven groups that hold regular, recurring meetings at the Pride Center. We also provided over 60 hours of safe, free meeting space to other LGBTQ+ groups in the community. Finally, we kept the doors to our Pride Center (the only community-based LGBTQ+ Pride Center in Kentucky) open for over 1,200 hours this year to provide a safe, welcoming drop-in space, information, and referrals for our community. We are certainly thankful that we were able to facilitate so many support groups and provide space for the many others who met regularly throughout the year at the Center. We are mostly grateful that we are able to continue to provide support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community at large and one person at a time. The PCSO Board would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who volunteered, donated money and/ or time, and to the Lexington LGBTQ+ community as a whole for all of your support in 2017. We are a communitybased organization and we truly could not do what we do without your help. The Board is very proud of the PCSO’s accomplishments this year, especially in the face of the challenges that 2017 presented. As we move into 2018, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ persons in Central Kentucky, to providing robust programming through the PCSO Pride Center, and to working with our partners and friends in Central Kentucky to build a more inclusive community for us all. Finally, the editors and staff of LinQ, the only monthly LGBTQ+ centered magazine in the state of Kentucky, wish to thank everyone who was involved with LinQ in 2017. The advertisers, supporters, contributors, and everyone who reads our magazine make it possible for us to not only keep everyone informed, but to also record the history of our local LGBTQ+ community.
Q FEATURE . JANUARY 2018 // LinQ 13
FEATURE
AUGUST: PCSO held LGBTQ+ diversity training for administrators/counselors/teachers in Fayette County Public Schools at the new Frederick Douglass High School. PCSO held a program to end Interpersonal Violence in the LGBTQ+ community at the PCSO Pride Center. The Imperial Court of Kentucky hosted Lexington’s back to school carnival at the Lyric Theatre, where school supplies were distributed to children in need. UK had their LGBTQ+ back to school event with many community organizations represented to welcome back students. Central Kentucky High School GSAs had a picnic at Shillito Park for their back to school celebration.
Community observed Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 at The University of Kentucky with a vigil for the loss of lives in 2017.
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY
COMMUNITY
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by Paul Brown, 2018 Lexington Pride Festival Chair & Carmen Wampler-Collins, 2018 Lexington Pride Festival Secretary
espite the strong stereotypes that exist in pop culture about LGBTQ+ people, when we look at ourselves in reality, we are a diverse group. Some struggles unite us, but our community spans a variety of gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, races, socioeconomic classes, abilities, etc. We are all different. We are all special. Each of us has unique needs and unique gifts. Too often, instead of taking Pride in our diversity, our differences put us at odds with one another. We understand our own disenfranchisement as part of the LGBTQ+ community, but it can be difficult to understand the perspective of someone who identifies differently or who is part of more than one marginalized group. Many have suggested that we ignore our differences and focus on the things that unite us. While I understand the sentiment, failing to recognize and take Pride in our differences can lead us to leaving out members of our LGBTQ+ family whose needs go unaddressed, and whose talents and voices we can’t afford to lose. One such group is people with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses. We all know that belonging to the LGBTQ+ community puts one in a marginalized minority. Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ folks with disabilities and chronic illnesses have an even more difficult time finding acceptance and Pride, both within and outside the LGBTQ+ community. The PCSO’s newest group, LoveABLE, intends to help change that. LoveABLE’s moderator, Betsy
14 LinQ // JANUARY 2018 . COMMUNITY
Donelson, is a long-time disability and LGBTQ+ rights activist. As a member of both minorities, she was frustrated at the lack of resources that were available to support LGBTQ+ Pride for people like her. “There is a lot of discomfort about disabled people being sexual AT ALL, so there aren’t very many safe places where we can explore and celebrate our sexual and gender identity. Alternatively, a lot of the places where LGBTQ+ people find community and build Pride are inaccessible to us. I knew I couldn’t be the only person who was feeling cut off from the LGBTQ+ community because of my disability.” Betsy stepped up to get the group started when the PCSO was prompted by David Frye from The Vermont Pride Center in his effort to promote the creation of such groups nationwide. “Doing this group with the PCSO was a perfect fit in a lot of ways,” says Betsy. “The disability community in Lexington is largely segregated by condition, so those of us with multiple conditions don’t fit anywhere. I have always thought a better way to do things would be to let people self-identify. That’s a model that I’ve seen in the ever-expanding alphabet of the LGBTQ+ community. As a bisexual, the skills I’ve learned from the queer community served me well in dealing with my disability, and vice versa. At the PCSO, all the identities under the umbrella are encouraged to participate, while at the same time, each letter is supported in celebrating their uniqueness. That’s what we’re trying to do in terms of both disability/chronic illness and
sexual and gender identity. We want to create an accessible place where everyone can find Pride in who they are.” The response to the group has been fabulous. Attendees have repeatedly told us how important it has been to them. While LoveABLE was created to serve a very specific segment of the LGBTQ+ community, it has strengthened our PCSO family as a whole. Many LoveABLE attendees, because of their positive experience, have begun joining other activities at the PCSO. This one group, focused on “special needs”, has been a key to increasing Pride and building connections between diverse people in our community. We know that we still have work to do in being more inclusive. We plan to carry this work into our 2018 Lexington Pride Festival. Pride Festival Logistics Chair, Paulo Raya-Guffin, is a regular attendee of LoveABLE. He is placing a special emphasis this year on making the festival as accessible as possible. Please reach out if you have suggestions on how we can accomplish this goal. Instead of being afraid of our differences, maybe it’s time we recognize them as the basis of Pride for the LGBTQ+ community. Perhaps if we focus on creating opportunities for specific groups within our rainbow family to share unique experiences, we’ll be able to build bridges that will unite us all in Pride. With your help, we can make the PCSO an organization that better serves the whole community. Let’s do it!
Q
IMPERIAL COURT OF KENTUCKY NEWS by Nicole Diamond, Minister of Protocol of the College or Monarhcs of the ICK
appy New Year from the Imperial Court of Kentucky!!! December was a busy month of FUNdraising with lots of exciting events, we would like to thank you for your overwhelming support and generosity. It’s due to your kindness and giving that we were able to provide Christmas presents for 56 children. We are gearing up for a packed 2018. It is election season in the Bluegrass. The Election Oversight Committee is busy accepting applications for Monarch and the Board of Directors. If you feel that you would like to get more involved in the fundraising efforts of the Imperial Court of Kentucky, please contact
Daddy Wayne, Clayton Burchell, or Fred Worsham for additional information regarding applications. The Academy of Drag Arts and Sciences is busy planning the Falsies/Annual Elections of the Imperial Court of Kentucky. We are excited to announce that this annual event will be held on Sunday March 4, 2018. Watch for more details on this event coming soon. Planning is well underway for our annual Wags and Drags event with the Scott County Humane Society on Saturday February 24, 2018 at the Grand Reserve. If you would like additional information or tickets please contact Nicole Diamond. This is always a fun event dedicated to the fur
babies. Make your plans now to attend. Members of the Imperial Court of Kentucky will be traveling north on Sunday January 14, 2018 to support the Reigning Monarchs of our sister court, The Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court of the Buckeye Empire in Cincinnati. We would like to invite you to join us! We ask that you continue to watch our Facebook page and website for additional information regarding upcoming fundraising events. It is thanks to YOU, that the Imperial Court of Kentucky is able to assist local charities in their efforts towards equality, prevention, and need. Thank you! Q
COMMUNITY
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Charlotte’s Web sing Christmas classics at Celebration of Life, an event presented by Bluegrass Black Pride, Lexington Fayette County Health Department, PCSO, AVOL,
Marjorie DeMaille and Alison Schaffer share a moment at the Senior Independent People/PCSO holiday pot luck at the PCSO Pride Center on December 15th.
Bluegrass Care Clinic, Moveable Feast, and JustFundKY in honor of World AIDS Day on December 1st at the Lyric Theatre.
“Sexy Santa” Devin Valentine poses with PCSO & Lexington Pride Festival Treasurer Jacob Boyd at Very Fairy Christmas, an ICK fundraiser to benefit the Lexington Pride Festival, at Soundbar on December 20th.
José Rivera, the Mariachi, perfoms at Celebration of Life at the Lyric Theatre on World AIDS Day, December 1st.
Uma Jewels channels Amy Winehouse in her performance of Rehab at the PCSO Downtown Crawl Show at Crossings on December 22nd.
“Sexy Santa” Devin Valentine poses with PCSO Board Member & Lexington Pride Festival Vice Chair Tuesday G Meadows at Very Fairy Christmas, an ICK fundraiser to benefit the Lexington Pride Festival, at Soundbar on December 20th.
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Phoxee Roxx performs at the PCSO Downtown Crawl Show held at Crossings on December 22nd as a Good Giving Guide Challenge fundraiser.
Mr. Lexington Pride 2017, Kendryck Heart, perfoms at Very Fairy Christmas on December 20th.
JANUARY
COMMUNITY & SOCIAL GROUPS
CALENDAR & DIRECTORY
Wednesday, January 3 5:30 p.m.-LoveABLE Meeting (PCSO Center) 7:00 p.m.-“Heart To Heart” LGBT Discussion Group (PCSO Center)
Wednesday, January 17 5:30 p.m.-LoveABLE Meeting (PCSO Center) 7:00 p.m.-“Heart To Heart” LGBT Discussion Group (PCSO Center)
Thursday, January 4 6:30 p.m.-PCSO Board Meeting (PCSO Center)
Friday, January 19 7:00 p.m.-Senior’s Bistro (Potluck) (PCSO Center)
Saturday, January 6 10:00 a.m.-Grief Support Group (Ahava Center) 2:30 p.m.-Bluegrass Black Pride Meeting (Northside Library) 7:30 p.m.-TransKentucky Meeting Monday, January 8 6:00 p.m.-LGBT Sci-Fi/ Horror Group (PCSO Center) Tuesday, January 9 6:30 p.m.-PFLAG Meeting (St. Michael Church) Wednesday, January 10 5:00 p.m.-Richmond’s Alphabet Soup Support Group (UU Fellowship Hall) 5:30 p.m.-LoveABLE Meeting (PCSO Center) 7:00 p.m.-“Heart To Heart” LGBT Discussion Group (PCSO Center) Saturday, January 13 9:00 p.m.-Kentucky Bourbon Bears Board Meeting (Crossings) Monday, January 15 Editorial & Ad Deadline for LinQ Magazine 10:00 a.m.-MLK Day Freedom March (Lexington Convention Center)
Saturday, January 20 7:00 p.m.-SisterSound Winter Concert (Crestwood Christian Church) Sunday, January 21 3:00 p.m.-Kentucky Fried Sisters (PCSO Center) Monday, January 22 6:00 p.m.-LGBT Sci-Fi/ Horror Group (PCSO Center)
24-Hour National Crisis Line
1-800-221-0446
24-Hour Teen Crisis Line
1-800-432-4510
24/7 Veteran’s Administration Crisis Line
1-800-273-8255, Press 1
AA/Alcoholic Teens
859-277-1877
Alcoholics Anonymous
859-967-9960
Arbor Youth Services
859-254-2501
Council for Peace and Justice
859-488-1448
Fairness of Louisville
502-893-0788
Gay-Straight Alliance, Teens
859-221-4396
“Heart to Heart” Discussion Group
859-253-3233
Imperial Court of Kentucky
859-619-7521
KY Survivors Area of Narcotics Anonymous
859-253-4673
Legal Aid of the Bluegrass
859-431-8200
Lexington Fair Housing Council
1-866-438-8617
Lexington Fairness
859-951-8565
Lexington Human Rights
859-252-4931
Lexington Pride Festival
859-253-3233
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
PCSO Pride Center
859-253-3233
PFLAG Central Kentucky, Inc.
859-338-4393
PFLAG Louisville
502-223-1323
Rainbow Bowling League
270-404-0211
SAGE Elder Hotline
1-888-234-7243
SisterSound
859-806-0243
Social Services, Lexington
211
TransParentLex
859-230-0409
TransKentucky
cassiemt@yahoo.com
TransLex
eellett@pcsoky.org
Transgender Youth Family Allies
1-888-462-8932
Trevor Lifeline 24/7
1-866-488-7386
United Way
859-313-5465
VA, Lexington LGBT Veteran Care Office
859-233-4511, Ext. 3482
COLLEGE STUDENT GROUPS
Wednesday, January 24 5:30 p.m.-LoveABLE Meeting (PCSO Center) 7:00 p.m.-“Heart To Heart” LGBT Discussion Group (PCSO Center) Thursday, January 25 6:30 p.m.-Lexington Pride Festival Committee Meeting (PCSO Center) Sunday, January 28 6:00 p.m.-ICK’s Board of Directors/Membership Meeting (PCSO Center) Wednesday, January 31 5:30 p.m.-LoveABLE Meeting (PCSO Center) 7:00 p.m.-“Heart To Heart” LGBT Discussion Group (PCSO Center)
For more details on events, view the full calendar at pcsoky.org at the bottom of the webpage
Berea College ACE
859-958-3633
BCTC Gay-Straight Alliance
859-246-6365
Centre College BGLA
859-238-5332
EKU Alphabet Center
859-622-5041
EKU Pride Alliance
859-622-1027
Morehead State University
606-783-2071
TUnity (Transy)
859-445-3822
UK LGBTQ* Resource Center
859-323-3312
RELIGIOUS GROUPS Ahava Center for Spiritual Living
859-373-8910
Bluegrass United Church of Christ
859-233-0208
Central Christian Church
859-233-1551
Faith Lutheran Church
859-266-7621
First Presbyterian Church
859-252-1919
Hunter Presbyterian Church
859-277-5126
Lex Friends, Quakers
859-254-3319
Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church
859-255-1075
St. Martha’s Episcopal Church
859-271-7641
St. Michael's Episcopal Church
859-277-7511
Unitarian Universalist Church
859-223-1448
Woodland Christian Church
859-266-3416
HIV/STD TESTING, SERVICES & INFO AIDS Volunteers of Lexington (AVOL)
859-225-3000
Health Department, Fayette County
859-288-2437
Health Department, Woodford County
859-873-4541
HIV/AIDS Legal Project
502-584-1254
Moveable Feast
859-252-2867
Northern KY Region
859-341-4264
UK Adolescent Medicine
859-323-5643
CALENDAR & DIRECTORY . JANUARY 2018 // LinQ 19
Thank You Presenting Sponsor
UK HealthCare and Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing
Gold Sponsors Brown-Forman and Kentucky Eagle
Silver Sponsors iDentity Dental Studio, UK College of Fine Arts, PNC Bank, UK Federal Credit Union
Bronze Sponsors QX.net, UPS Store-Lexington/Georgetown, Carson’s Food and Drink, Humana, Doug Smith Designs, GE Appliances, Windstream, UK Alumni Association, Verble, Worth, and Verble, UK Office of Institutional Diversity, UK Libraries, Simply Piano, Park Equine Hospital, and the UK Colleges of Design, Agriculture, Education, Public Health, Social Work, Lewis Honors, Gatton Business, and Law.
FEATURE . NOVEMBER 2016 // LinQ 20