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In THis Issue July/August 2015 - Volume 3, Issue 6 1 Cover 3 In this issue in the news: 6 national 8 interNational Out on LI: 11 Network News 11 Marriage equality: Law of the land Calendar Out front: 14 Reese witherspoon & Sofya Vergara Out and about: 17 Q-music: in the indigo girls' footsteps
18 early summer reading list 21 BE scene: LIgaly's 15th annual prom 22 BE scene: 25th annual long island pride parade & pridefest
24 Interview with amy ray Living healthy: 26 wellness: Organic & local foods 101 Living smart:
Living Out is produced by the LGBT Network.
28 Finance: student loans: an overview Points of view: 30 POV: book 'em
get published!
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Contributors
long island life LGbt culture
june 2015
vol 3, issue 5
SPECIAL PRIDE GUIDE EDITION!
PRIDE 25
Long Island Pride Parade and PrideFest Celebrates 25th Anniversary on Saturday, June 13th
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Together is a beautiful thing. This is a moment to celebrate. You’ve worked hard to get this far, and look at what you’ve accomplished. At Wells Fargo, we recognize your successes, and are committed to supporting the financial needs of our LGBT community, customers, and team members. Because when we work together to realize our dreams — it’s nothing short of a beautiful thing. wellsfargo.com/lgbt
© 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. ECG-1244316
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LIVING4/8/15 OUT 10:25 • AM5
In the news
national News
By Rachel Roth
MARRIAGE EQUALITY: THE LAW OF THE LAND, TURN TO PAGE11 ACLU Urges doj to end workplace discrimination based on orientation The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch (right) asking that the Justice Department recognize that anti-gay discrimination violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The request follows the Justice Department's decision in December 2014 to treat cases of anti-transgender discrimination as violations of Title VII.
florida: Ban on gay adoptions repealed Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation that repealed an almost 40-year ban on same-sex couples adopting children. The Florida law has not been enforced in five years, and the repeal will take effect on July 1.
Rep. David Richardson, Florida's first openly gay lawmaker, was responsible for amending the adoption bill to remove the ban.
Texas gov. abbot: no special session will be called on marriage equality Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he wouldn’t hold a special session for lawmakers to reconsider anti-gay marriage measures
struck down during the legislative session – which is now over - despite petitions by social conservative groups asking Abbott to recall lawmakers.
Medical association says no medically valid reason for trans military ban The American Medical Association unanimously passed a resolution against the trans military ban, concluding there is "no medically valid reason to exclude transgender individuals from service in the
U.S. military." An estimated 15,500 transgender people are serving in America's armed forces and under current policy are banned from being treated by doctors.
Health Officials suggest gay men get meningitis vaccinations in chicago Chicago health officials are urging gay men to obtain meningitis vaccinations after a recent cluster of cases and a death. The Chicago Tribune reported that six men have been diagnosed with meningitis since early June, five in
N.C. House Passes override vote on Marriage bill veto The North Carolina House passed an override measure against Gov. Pat McCrory's veto of a bill that allows court officials to opt out of presiding over same-sex marriages for religious objections. According to The Charlotte Observer, the law, which was written and backed by the leader of the state Senate, Phil Berger 6
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(R-Eden), says magistrates can now recuse themselves from performing all marriages and that assistant and deputy registers of deeds can opt out of issuing any marriage licenses. Gov. McCrory expressed discouragement, issuing a statement that criticized the override – and how fellow Republicans in the House handled it.
Chicago and one in DuPage County. One of those men has died, and lab results are pending for a seventh person also thought to be stricken with the disease.
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Pentagon updates Antidiscrimination policy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter (right) said the Pentagon has updated its nondiscrimination policy to include "sexual orientation." Carter discussed the need to uphold "diversity and inclusion," but did not explicitly comment on the ban on transgender service members.
Transgender teen is 9th slain this year
Congressman calls for investigation of school that denied gay grad speech Evan Young (above), the valedictorian of Twin Peaks Charter Academy in Longmont, CO, was allegedly barred from speaking at the school’s commencement ceremony because he reportedly planned to announce that he is gay during the speech. The school has denied that was the reason for his preventing him from speaking, saying instead it was "based on a concern that the speech would compromise the "solemnity" of the occasion, and that Young failed to submit a draft of his speech in advance to reflect requested changes.
According to the Daily Camera, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis has requested that the St. Vrain Valley School District or another "mutually agreed" third party to investigate the incident. Kathy DeMatteo, president of the Twin Peaks Charter Academy Board of Directors, released a statement saying that, in accordance with its grievance policy, "an investigation will be launched following the June board meeting and a written response will be provided within 30 days."
Alabama transgender teen Mercedes Williamson (left) was killed in George County, Ala. last month. Josh Brandon Vallum, 28, and a self-described member of the Latin Kings has been charged with her killing. Vallum allegedly confessed the crime to his father, and her body was found in a field behind his dad’s house, the Sun Herald reported. Williamson's murder marks the ninth reported homicide of a trans woman this year.
Kentucky city approves lgbt non-discrimination ordinance Midway, Ky., approved an ordinance that prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The ordinance passed the City Council 4-2, making Midway the eighth city in the state to pass an LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance.
PennsylvaniA Senate appoints trans woman as state physician general The Pennsylvania state Senate unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Rachel Levine as state physician general, making her the first transgender person in Pennsylvania appointed to a governor's cabinet, as well as one of the highest-ranking transgender public officials in the U.S.
"I think [being trans] has helped me in terms of the LGBT community in terms of understanding what all the issues are," said Levine in an interview with The Patriot-News. "I've been able to serve as a mentor and role model to LGBT individuals at the medical center as well as in the community."
legislation allows adoption agencies to refuse lgbt parents
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder approved several bills that will allow publicly funded adoption agencies to turn away LGBT parents on religious grounds. The Michigan state Senate
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voted Wednesday to pass the bills by a 26-12 vote. The ACLU announced it is preparing a lawsuit challenging the bills as discriminatory, the Lansing State Journal reported. LIVING OUT
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In the news
international News
Greece introduces bill to allow same-sex civil unions Legislation has been introduced that would extend civil unions to gay and lesbian couples in Greece. If it passes, which it is expected to do later this month, the bill will extend insurance, taxation, and inheritance rights to gay couples. It will not, however, grant gay and lesbian couples adoption rights.
By Rachel Roth
mexico supreme court rules in favor of marriage equality
The Mexican Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation decided earlier this month that it was unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the right to wed. The justices weren't deciding whether to overturn bans in individual states but offering a "jurisprudential thesis" to Mexico's states, the Associated Press reported.
In other words, while this thesis won’t change the law, judges and courts in individual states can now consider the thesis if a marriage case is tried in their jurisdiction. A handful of Mexico's 31 states have already legalized marriage equality, as well as the nation's capital, Mexico City.
2 men charged with homosexuality, sentenced to jail in morocco
Ireland to pass law allowing legal gender change without doctor sign-off Ireland is in the process of drafting one of the world’s most progressive laws allowing legal gender recognition for transgender people. According to BuzzFeed News, Ireland’s cabinet announced that it had agreed to revise a proposed a gender identity bill to remove a provision that would require a doctor to sign off before someone can change their legal gender.
If the law passes with these proposed amendments, Ireland will go from being one of the last countries in Europe to give trans people a way to change their legal gender to one of just four countries in the world where someone can make their change simply by filing a declaration.
Two gay men in Morocco charged with “violating public modesty” have been convicted and sentenced to four months in jail and a fine of up to around $135, according to a statement posted to the Facebook page of the Moroccan LGBT group Aswat Collective. The men were arrested on June 3 while taking a photograph in front of landmark in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. On June 16, Moroccan newspaper the Al Massae reported that 20 gay and trans people have been arrested in recent months.
Smallest country in the world legalizes marriage equality Pitcairn Island, a tiny island Pacific that's home to just 48 people, has passed a law allowing same-sex marriage — but has no gay couples wanting to wed. 8
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According to the Huffington Post, the island was first settled in 1790, and is a British Overseas Territory that has some legal autonomy and is often considered the world's smallest country
by population. Islanders are descended from the mutineers of the British navy vessel Bounty and their Tahitian companions.
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MARRIAGE EQUALITY: LAW OF THE LAND
Marriage equality is now the law of the land. In the long-awaited Supreme Court decision, the justices decided 5-4 that states cannot ban same-sex marriages. Justice Anthony Kennedy authored the majority opinion and wrote that gays and lesbians "may not be deprived of liberty" or of that "fundamental right" to marry, and the court said that under the 14th Amendment's protections, "couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty."
The court addressed the argument that granting gays and lesbians the right to marry is a threat to the sanctity of marriage saying; “it would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their
25TH ANNUAL LI PRIDE PARADE
hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness.”
The four justices who voted against the ruling - Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito - each wrote their own dissenting opinions. Justice Roberts wrote that the court had taken an "extraordinary step" in deciding not to allow states to decide the issue for themselves, saying that the Constitution does not define marriage. And Justice Scalia called the ruling “a threat to American Democracy.” Shortly after the decision was announced, President Obama addressed the nation from the Rose Garden, saying the court “reaffirmed that all people should be treated equally, regardless of who they are or who they love,” and called the ruling “a victory for America.”
volunteer with The LGBT Network
DRAWS LARGE CROWD Thousands of people took part in the 25th Annual Long Island Pride Parade and PrideFest on Saturday, June 13th. The all day festival started with a parade down Main Street in Huntington, with four Grand Marshals – CoFounder (and LGBT Network CEO) David Kilmnick, Co-Founder Steve Heneghan, and Former Directors Kevin O'Halloran and Jimmy Pizzo – rolling down the route.
It was a bright and sunny day to celebrate 25 years of Long Island Pride. Spectators lined the parade route to watch over 50 marching groups make their way down Main Street in Huntington. At PrideFest, in Heckscher Park, the crowd was treated to all day entertainment. Entertainers such as Amber, David Hernandez, Anita Antoinette, Aiden Leslie, and other local and national performers played to the largest crowd that PrideFest has ever seen and over 60 vendors were on site at Heckscher Park giving away freebies and selling a variety of goods and services.
Next year's Long Island Pride Parade and PrideFest will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2016.
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE 25TH ANNUAL LONG ISLAND PRIDE PARADE AND PRIDEFEST, TURN TO PAGE 22.
Know Your Status for you and your partners Free HIV and STD/STI Testing Available during drop-in hours and by appointment at all locations of The Long Island LGBT Community Center.
It’s fun. The LGBT Network relies on the support of their many enthusiastic volunteers to serve the Long Island and Queens LGBT community. As a volunteer, you will join the ranks of other kind, compassionate, generous, and hardworking individuals who have affected tremendous and far-reaching change for our community.
Drop-In Hours
It’s easy.
The Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. N., Suite 110 Woodbury Every Thursday, 5-8pm
Becoming a volunteer for The LGBT Network is simple. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please fill out an online application at our website, www.lgbtnetwork.org, or visit one of our centers for a copy of the application. We will match you with a volunteer position that best utilizes your time, skills and interests.
The Center at Bay Shore 34 Park Avenue, Bay Shore Every Wednesday, 5-8pm
The Hamptons LGBT Center 44 Union Street, Sag Harbor By Appointment
Free, quick, and confidential testing for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
You can make a difference.
Volunteers are invaluable to the success of The LGBT Network in the community. By getting involved, you can meet new people, greet and help the many community members that walk through our doors, assist with programs and special events, and much more.
Get started: visit lgbtnetwork.org/volunteer to apply today! Nassau Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. N., Ste. 110 Woodbury, NY 11797 T 516.323.0011 F 516.750.4715
Suffolk West Suffolk Central Center at Bay Shore Center at Patchogue 34 Park Avenue Coming Soon! Bay Shore, NY 11706 T 631.665.2300 F 631.665.7874
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Suffolk East The Hamptons LGBT Center 44 Union Street Sag Harbor, NY 11963 T 631.899.4950 F 631.665.7874
Queens Center at Little Neck 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy. Little Neck, NY 11362 T 516.323.0011 F 516.750.4715
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the HIV/STD Outreach and Testing Program at testing@lgbtnetwork.org or 631.665.2300 Nassau Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. N., Suite 110 Woodbury, NY 11797 T 516.323.0011 F 516.750.4715
Suffolk West Center at Bay Shore 34 Park Avenue Bay Shore, NY 11706 T 631.665.2300 F 631.665.7874
Suffolk East The Hamptons LGBT Center 44 Union Street Sag Harbor, NY 11963 T 631.899.4950 F 631.665.7874
Queens Center at Little Neck 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy. Little Neck, NY 11362 T 516.323.0011 F 516.750.4715
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calendar of events Volunteer Orientation Monday, August 10th, 1 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Are you interested in giving back to the community in an impactful way? Then this is the opportunity for you- be a SAGE-LI volunteer! RSVP required to Alyssa Cottone by Friday, August 7th at 631.665.2300 or acottone@ lgbtnetwork.org. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI OUTdoors Trip: LongHouse Reserve Saturday, August 22nd, 3 p.m. 133 Hands Creek Road East Hampton
The LongHouse Reserve (133 Hands Creek Rd in East Hampton) offers art in all forms with its art collections, gardens, sculptures and programs that reflect world cultures and inspire a creative life. Admission cost is $8 per person. RSVP and payment required to Chris Polistena by Thursday, August 20th at Free and confidential testing for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. 631.899.4950 or www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300 cpolistena@lgbtnetwork.org. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
SAGE-LI Nassau Mingle at Eisenhower Park Tuesday, August 11th, 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 25th, 11 a.m. Parking Field 3 SAGE-LI OUTdoors Trip: 1899 Hempstead Tpke. Sagamore Hill East Meadow, NY 11554 Friday, August 28th, 12:30 p.m. Summer is upon us and we are enjoying 20 Sagamore Hill Road the outdoors! Picnic tables are available Oyster Bay but feel free to bring your own lawn chair. If you plan on attending, contact Alyssa Cottone 24 hours in advance to confirm in case of poor weather conditions. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
8th Annual Fire Island Senior Invasion Wednesday, Aug. 12th, 11 a.m. Sayville Ferry 41 River Road SAGE-LI joins Queens Center for Gay Seniors, Silver Connections, and SAGENYC for our day trip to the Ice Palace at Cherry Grove. The total for this trip is $42, which includes a full Italian buffet, all day access to the Ice Palace pool, 2 free drinks, bingo, and a round trip ticket on the ferry. Please note that there is an additional fee if you park your car at the Sayville Ferry parking lot. We are meeting at 11am at the Sayville Ferry (41 River Rd), taking the 11:30am ferry to Cherry Grove and returning on the 6pm ferry back to Sayville. Van transportation to the ferry terminal is available upon request on a first come, first serve basis. The Invasion is rain or shine. RSVP with the full payment is required by Wednesday, August 5th. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
SAGE-LI Health Series: Medicaid Assistance Program Tuesday, Aug.18th, 10a.m. - 1p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury Wednesday, Aug. 26th,10 a.m. - 1 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor The Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council is enrolling individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled into Medicaid, Medicaid BuyIn for Working People with Disabilities (MBI-WPD), Medicaid Spend-down, Medicare Savings (MSP), and Medicaid for Institutional Care in a Nursing home. If this is a service that you are interested in, please contact Alyssa Cottone at 631.665.2300. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Drop-In HIV/STD Testing: Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Thursdays, 5-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury By Appointment. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor
Sagamore Hill (20 Sagamore Hill Rd in Oyster Bay) was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States. Explore the natural surroundings and become inspired by the legacy of one of America’s most popular presidents by joining us for a guided tour of his newly restored home right on the LI Sound. Admission cost is $10.75 per person. We are having lunch at the picnic tables located on the grounds, so please bring a bagged lunch. RSVP and payment required by Thursday, August 27th. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
20 Something 2nd & 4th Fridays, 7:30-9 p.m Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury Discussion and support group for LGBT people in their 20’s. A safe and affirming space to share their experiences. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Advisory Board (SAGE-LI) Monday, Sept. 14th, 1-2 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Tuesday, Sept. 1st 1-2 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury We want to hear your voice! This group provides feedback on current SAGE-LI programming, offers ideas for additional programming, and helps plan future events. All are welcome! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Alcoholics Anonymous Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Closed group for all ages. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
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Hampton Bays Mingle 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. Hampton Bays Senior Center, 25 Ponquogue Ave., Hampton Bays SAGE-LI’s bi-monthly social for LGBT seniors 50+ on the East End. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
LIFE in Nassau 2nd Thursday, 7-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury LIFE in Nassau meets every second Thursday. Open to adults of all genders and orientations with an interest in BDSM topics.
LIGALY Advisory Board Mondays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Youth help plan new programs and events at LIGALY. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
LIPSA Tuesday Night Tease Bowling League Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. Bowl Long Island, 138 West Rd., Patchogue Friendliest co-ed/mixed LGBT Bowling League. LIPSAbowling@optonline.net, 516.375.9473
LITE Social and Discussion Group 1st & 3rd Mondays, 7:30-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury Wednesdays, 7:30-9 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 6:30-8 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor An open discussion group for transgender people and their friends and family. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Living PositHIVly 2nd & 4thThursdays, 7-8:30 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
Long Island LGBT Bereavement Group 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury This group provides a safe and supportive environment for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one or friend while offering help and guidence with the grieving process. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Monday Mingle Mondays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore SAGE-LI’s weekly social for LGBT seniors 50+ at The Center at Bay Shore. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Nassau County Mingle Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury SAGE-LI’s weekly social for LGBT seniors 50+ at The Center at Woodbury www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
OUTlet Fridays, 8 p.m.-Midnight Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
SAGE-LI Evening Mingle 3rd Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury If you workand/or have engagements during the day that limit you from attending the fabulous SAGE-LI daytime programming, this is the program for you. All are welcome! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
SAGE-LI Women at Nassau Wednesdays, 7:30-8:45 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury
(SWAN) A social and discussion group for lesbian, bisexual, & transgender women as well as women questioning their identity. There is no SWAN Wednesday, August 19th. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
TRUE Calling Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury LIGALY is offering a great opportunity for LGBT youth and their friends to show off their skills! Sing, act, dance, or perform. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
Friday night social program for LGBT Women 2 Women Tuesdays, 7:15-8:45 p.m. youth and their friends ages 13-21. Themes for this month include "PRIDE Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Night" (June 12th), and "Crossplay W2W is dedicated to providing a safe and Night" (June 19th). $2 admission, supportive space for lesbians age 40+. transportation available. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Parent Support Group 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 6-7 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore 1st Monday, 6-7 p.m. Nassau: Center at Woodbury, 20 Crossways Park Dr. North, Suite 110, Woodbury If you workand/or have engag Discussion group for parents of LGBT children. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
PEP Teams – Suffolk Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Interactive leadership program promoting sexual health for LGBT young people. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
Safe Schools Team Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore Youth leadership program for young people committed to creating safer schools on Long Island. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.665.2300
You Gotta Believe Mondays, 6-9 p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore
The Long Island LGBT Community Center has partnered with You Gotta Believe, a non-profit organization that places teenagers into permanent adoptive homes, to provide Adoptive Parent Preparation Classes! If you are interested in participating, please call 631.665.2300. www.lgbtnetwork.org
Youth Group Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m. East End: The Hamptons LGBT Center, 44 Union St., Sag Harbor All East End youth should come check out this new hot LGBT spot. Every Tuesday is a fun interactive youth group: hang out with others in the lounge. You won’t want to miss it! www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
Youth Support Group 4th Thursday, 5-6p.m. Suffolk: Center at Bay Shore, 34 Park Ave., Bay Shore For all youth under 21 to come share their thoughts, problems and ups and downs in a confidential, safe space. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 631.899.4950
A support group for LGBT and allies living with HIV/AIDS. www.lgbtnetwork.org, 516.323.0011
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out and about
Life, Lesbians and the Pursuit of Hotness Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara talk making out, gay cred and a ‘liberating’ summer of lady-led films by Chris Azzopardi
Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. 14
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out Front
L
egally… lesbian? Well, not exactly. To the delight of their queer-lady fans, Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara may kiss up on each other, but it’s all just part of their Hot Pursuit. In the film, Witherspoon portrays Officer Cooper, a by-the-books cop assigned to protect the ultra-fashionable widow of a drug dealer (Vergara of Modern Family) – at one point faking lesbian to escape a potentially sketchy situation. This isn’t Witherspoon’s first on-screen kiss with another woman, of course. And even though the Oscar-winning actress couldn’t recall her prefame woman-on-woman debut during our interview – 1996’s Freeway, when she and Brittany Murphy made out – how could we forget? “I don’t think I’ve kissed another girl on screen,” Reese says, as we’re asked to move onto the next question.
Here’s what else the budding BFFs had to say about lesbians, Legally Blonde and female liberation during this gay press exclusive. Dealing with homosexuality in comedy can be delicate, and some people take offense to pseudo lesbianism. As actors, how do you know when not to go too far? Is there a “too far”? Reese: I think gay people are able to play straight roles; straight people are able to play gay roles. The whole point of being an actor is to transform. If people don’t understand that we need to be malleable in our sexuality, then I think they need to lighten up. Sofia, you’re on a gay-loved TV show. Reese, you famously taught us the “bend-andsnap.” Looking back, when
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It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your sexual orientation is, what you do for a living, what your ethnicity is – women are women, and we all have a lot in common. were you both first aware that you had a gay and lesbian following? Reese: For me, probably Legally Blonde, or Cruel Intentions. Sofia: I’ve never really thought about it. I’ve always had a lot of gay friends as very close friends. I don’t know! My (Modern Family) character, Gloria – they like her! Reese: Her attitude. And the way she dresses – yeah! Reese, what did the bendand-snap do for your gay cred? Reese: Um, well, hopefully legitimized my dance moves! I have a strong dance game. Sofia: She does, she does!
Reese: And now I’m working on a Latino audience with my dance game. Sofia: Oh, the Latino audience adores her! Reese: (Laughs) Sofia’s taught me how to Latin dance. Sofia: You didn’t need me to teach you anything – you knew already. Reese: I had a beat in my heart. How much of the "nuzzle Reese's face in Sofia's bosom" scene was improvised? Sofia: Oh, it was half and half. Reese: Yeah, it was in the script, and the Sofia decided she'd yank my ponytail. Sofia: Yeah, she smelled very good! I don’t have to tell you that your makeout scene in Hot Pursuit is already getting a lot of lesbian buzz. How accustomed are you to
attention from lesbians at this point in your career? Reese: I have a ton of lesbian friends, and I think any kind of woman who relates to us or enjoys the movie – that’s awesome! Sofia: Half of the time I don’t know if they’re lesbian. It’s just normal. It’s not like they’re like, “Hi, I am a lesbian and I am a fan!” Reese: (Laughs) The whole movie is: It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your sexual orientation is, what you do for a living, what your ethnicity is – women are women, and we all have a lot in common.
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out Front I’ve loved watching the evolution of female actors in the action genre. How does it feel being a part of “the girls can be just as bad as boys” movement in Hollywood? Reese: I think it’s great. It’s liberating because it’s not all about our characters’ romantic lives or that we’re chasing men – it’s that we’re running for our lives and we have to figure out a way to get along so that we survive. How do you feel about it, Sofia? Sofia: About her lesbian followers?! Sure! Let’s talk some more about Reese’s lesbian followers. Sofia: (Laughs) No, like I said, I didn’t really notice. I think the thing with movies is to entertain everybody. You don’t have to
be anything special to enjoy the entertainment of what we’re doing. We’re doing it for everybody. How do female-led films like Hot Pursuit – directed by a woman, Anne Fletcher, and featuring strong female leads – contribute to the feminist movement? Reese: Anything where two women are relating to each
other – and we’re the leads of the movie, and it’s directed by a woman – it’s kind of a new thing. So, we’re excited. But it’s actually a really exciting summer for women’s films with Pitch Perfect 2, directed by a woman (Elizabeth Banks), and Spy with Melissa McCarthy, and Trainwreck with Amy Schumer. Last summer was not good for women’s films. I mean, I kept going, “What am I gonna see this summer?” And there weren’t any good movies last summer for women. I think this is the summer for women. Hillary Clinton would be happy to hear that. I bet she’d dig all this Hot Pursuit girl power. Reese: We hope everybody likes it! So, Reese, you get to dabble in drag. You make a cute boy,
by the way. Reese: Thaaaanks! How was it determined what kind of boy you’d be for your drag debut? Reese: It was really interesting! Like, obviously I was José Bieber, the Latin Bieber, in this movie. As soon as I put on the clothes, my whole personality changed. You know, I was talkin’ to the honeys! Sofia: Actually, I have to say, it was one of my favorite scenes, because to see her like that was so odd. I wasn’t prepared. She suddenly showed up like that to the set and it was so hilarious. I mean, if you see the movie, at the end there are some bloopers of me not being able to control myself. Reese: Because she thought I was hot. Sofia: No. I thought you looked ridiculous!
Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. Reach him via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com.
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40
YEARS
Amityville • Coram • Greenport • Patchogue • Shirley • Southampton • Wyandanch Coming Soon: Brentwood and Riverhead
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out and about Q-Music
by gregg shapiro
in the indigo girls' footsteps By the time you read this, the fantastic new Indigo Girls CD, One Lost Day (IG/Vanguard), the duo’s first new studio album in four years, should be available for purchase. More than 25 years into their recording career, Indigo Girls have never sounded better. Over the course of their prolific career, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have also inspired countless other women (and men), gay and straight, to pursue music. The following are just a few examples.
anne stott Provincetown-based Anne Stott returns with Love Never Dies (annestott. com), her first full-length album since 2010’s Pennsylvania. A more experimental release than its predecessor, the disc opens with the instrumental “And Then” and includes the almost nine-minute “Light Breaks,” featuring Harshal Tole on tabla.
michelle malone Out singer/songwriter Michelle Malone definitely qualifies as one such artist. However, her connection to the Indigos goes deeper than just inspiration. Like Ray and Saliers, Malone was a presence on the Atlanta music scene. In fact, her independently released debut album was released a mere year after the Indigo Girls’. Malone even recorded for Ray’s indie Daemon Records label, as well as majors such as Arista and Velvel. Malone’s latest Stronger Than You Think (SBS), is another example of her musical versatility. There’s the semi-autobiographical rockabilly number “Vivian Vegas” (which deserves to be a hit), the bluesy empowerment stomp of “My Favorite Tshirt,” the country-pop of “When I Grow Up” and the Stonesy rock of “Ashes.” Malone even conjures Mary Gauthier on the dazzling “Ramona,” Lucinda Williams on the opener “Stomping Ground” and Susan Werner on “Birthday Song (I’m So Glad).”
For a complete list of artists, visit livingoutli.org. Interview with Amy Ray on page 24.
rachel garlin
You can hear the Indigo Girls’ influence on Rachel Garlin, as well as that of Ani DiFranco. Garlin, who quotes Gwendolyn Brooks on “Gwendolyn Said,” the opening track on Wink At July (Tactile). There’s a literary quality to Garlin’s work as she makes reference to the late, gay graffiti artist in the marvelous “Hey Keith Haring,” gives a shout out to Caravaggio in “Up On A Ladder in Boots,” and soars above us on the title track.
anne mccue
With Hoagy Carmichael, Billy Holliday, and George Gershwin as “musical guideposts,” queer Aussie singer/songwriter Anne McCue swings in an entirely new direction on Blue Sky Thinkin’ (Flying Machine). Does it work? Yes! The easiest way to explain how is that these songs not only have a timeless quality, but they are the kinds of songs that you can imagine hearing other people singing. Tunes such as “Dig Two Graves,” “Things You Left Out In The Rain,” “Spring Cleaning In The Wintertime,” “It Wasn’t Even Fun While It Lasted” and the title track, have potential standard stamped all over them.
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out and about
I-read
by gregg shapiro
Early Summer Book Club* Artistic expression Featuring queer and straight voices, Brandon Doman’s “Strangers Project,” which began with the simple question, “What’s your story?,” has resulted in the book What’s Your Story? (Harper Design, 2015), featuring a selection of 200 stories (out of more than 10,000), as well as more than 50 illustrations and photos
Celebrated writer Bernard Cooper (Maps To Anywhere, The Bill From My Father) takes readers back to the early days of his artistic exploration in the marvelous memoir My Avant-Garde Education (Norton, 2015).
creative writing City of Starlings (Sibling Rivalry, 2015), the stunning third full-length poetry collection by gay writer Daniel Nathan Terry, features a literary aviary, a virtual botanical garden, dogs, deer and family, as well as cover art by the poet’s husband Benjamin Billingsley. With this book, Terry enters the realm of Mary Oliver.
the whole queer truth If you prefer to be read to rather than reading, the audio book of Stonewall (Listening Library, 2015) by Ann Bausum, read by gay Y/A author Tim Federle over the course of three compact discs (and three hours), puts the historic 1969 event in perspective for listeners of all ages
words that rock Award-winning gay poet and writer Rigoberto González returns with the chapbook Our Lady of the Crossword (A Midsummer Night’s Press, 2015) in which he address his “cultural heritage and sexuality” over the course of 10 poems including “My First Male-to-Male Kiss,” “The Tattooed Man Can Can-Can” and the titular piece.
*For a complete reading list, visit livingoutli.org
Fiddler Records founder Amy Fleisher Madden’s debut novel A Million Miles (Animal Manufacturing, 2015), with a foreword by Cold Cave’s Weslet Eisold, is a late 1990s coming of age story that provides insight into the indie rock scene of the era, featuring narrator Maddy and her fave band Crimson + Clover.
Cleary Wolters, the inspiration for the character Alex (portrayed by Laura Prepon) in the acclaimed and popular Netflix series Orange Is The New Black has her say in her memoir Out of Orange (Harper One, 2015).
Now in paperback, Not My Father’s Son (Dey Street, 2014/15) by Alan Cumming, the selfdescribed “Scottish elf trapped inside middle aged man’s body,” tells his story from “then” to “now,” with detours to 2010 when he was in the process of filming his episode of the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?
At the chapel of love Forcing The Spring: Inside The Fight for Marriage Equality (Penguin, 2014/15) by Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Jo Becker is described as “the definitive account of five remarkable years in American civil rights history,” detailing the struggle for marriage equality and the historic legal battle fought against California’s Proposition 8.
In Just Married: Same-Sex Couples, Monogamy, and the Future of Marriage (Princeton University Press, 2015), author Stephen Macedo looks at both sides – the left’s take on “monogamous marriage as a special status defined by law” and the right’s fear-mongering about polygamy, the dissolution of marriage as it is known.
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EAST END
WEDDINGS
W IN E & SPIRITS
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be scene 15th Annual Ligaly Prom
Friday, June 26th, Courtyard by Marriott, Ronkonkoma Held on the same night of the historic Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, more than 150 youth, from Nassau and Suffolk counties, attended the 15th Annual LGBT prom held by Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY) at Venue on Seven located at the Courtyard by Marriott in Ronkonkoma. They celebrated their diversity, and the ruling, in a safe and welcoming environment with dancing, a buffet dinner, live DJ, a dessert bar and the crowning of this year's Rainbow Court!
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be scene
long island life LGbt culture
june 2015 5
Missed last month’s Pride Guide issue of Living Out? read it online at livingoutli.org
long island pride!
vol 3, issue
!
SPECIAL PRIDE GUIDE EDITION
PRIDE 25
and PrideFest Celebrates Long Island Pride Parade y, June 13th 25th Anniversary on Saturda
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connect with us
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saturday, june 13, 2015 in huntington Thousands of LGbt and allied community members came to huntington to celebrate the 25th annual long island pride parade and pridefest, presented by bethpage federal credit union!
Long Islanders cheered along the sidelines for the parade, which featured marching groups, floats, and vehicles, led by Grand Marshals, David Kilmnick, Steve Heneghan, Jimmy Pizzo and Kevin O’Halloran; the all-day entertainment lineup during PrideFest in Heckscher Park brought Amber, David Hernandez, Anita Antoinette, and other top national and local talent, plus community booths, activities for kids and families, a beer and wine garden, the TD Bank VIP Lounge, and much more.
Loud and proud youth led the parade down Main Street.
The LGBT Network and its constiteunts march down the parade route.
Presenting sponsor Bethpage Federal Credit Union at PrideFest
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David Hernandez waves while giving a powerful performance
Amber serenades the crowd with her classic dance hits.
Aiden Leslie pumps up the crowd for Amber!.
High school band, 20 Feet Under, has fun on stage. Thousands of LGBT and allied Long Islanders packed Heckscher Park to celebrate and show their Pride.
Anita Antoinette gets the crowd grooving..
Angelica Joni gives the crowd all she had on June 13th.
see more photos from this year’s pride parade and pridefest: Flickr.com/liglbtnetwork
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Lost and Found: An interview with Amy Ray by Gregg Shapiro
One Lost Day (IG/Vanguard), Indigo Girls’ 13th studio album is as awe-inspiring as anything Amy Ray and Emily Saliers has released over the course of their nearly 30 years as a duo. Sticking with the formula of alternating lead vocals (and songwriting) throughout the 13 tracks on the album, neither Ray nor Saliers has lost the ability to move us emotionally, on songs such as “Texas Was Clean,” “Findlay, Ohio 1968” and “Fishtails,” or physically, on rhythmic numbers including “Happy In The Sorrow Key,” “Learned It On Me,” “Olympia Inn” and “Southern California Is Your Girlfriend.” I spoke with Amy in the spring of 2015, shortly before the release of the album. Last year, 2014, was the 25th anniversary of the Indigo Girls’ self-titled commercial breakthrough 2nd album. What’s the secret to the Indigo Girls’ longevity? I think just giving each other space and knowing that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Just having the respect for the mystery of that and having an agreement with each other where we agree that we are going to evolve. When we can’t do that anymore we’re going to stop doing it. We know that there are going to be records that aren’t as good. In retrospect, we can’t always know that what we’re doing is forward thinking, but the point is to make the effort. Really make the effort and not stagnate. I think we have a lot of great friends. Our management and our booking agent has been with us since we were 24, for 26 years, basically. That really helps, to be honest. Sticking with the same people, if they are doing a good job; growing up together and respecting each other and having this family and this good groundwork. That helps us stay together. I’m glad you mentioned consistency. Over the years, with the exception of a few albums, Indigo Girls have worked with producer Peter Collins. 24
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However, on One Lost Day you worked with Jordan Brooke Hamlin. How did this come to be? Peter actually introduced us to her. We talked to Peter before we asked her. He gave us his blessing [laughs]. He’s a really big fan of hers. It felt like she’s a young, up and coming, gifted musician/producer. She’s like a renaissance woman, in a way. We’ve worked with Peter and Mitchell Froom, and John Reynolds being another producer that we really love. We feel like we’ve learned a lot from all those guys. I think we felt like we could work with Jordan and have this completely fresh and different perspective. She’s a fan. She’s listened to all of our records. She has a lot of depth of knowledge of the twists and turns in our career. That’s always hard for us; a producer that knows where we’re coming from. It also enables her to keep us from falling into the some old patterns. Not changing for change’s sake, but don’t do that “because it’s the easiest thing to do” kind of thing. I heard a record that she did for Lucy Wainwright Roche. It blew me away what she was able to do with Lucy to bring something different to her sound. That is what I love in a producer. Someone that can completely change your perspective of an artist; wake you up to something. If she can do that, either for people who haven’t listened to us for a while or have listened to all of our records and were waiting for us to do something that would turn their head a little bit – I thought she would be the one. Would you say that there was a noticeable difference working with a woman after working with men on those previous albums? I wouldn’t say (so) in this case. Because when we worked with Peter, for instance, we had Trina Shoemaker doing the engineering, so there was a woman in there. She works very closely with Peter. For me, in this particular case, I wouldn’t say it changed the music or anything like that because of gender.
The songs on One Lost Day are like an atlas, taking listeners from Florida to Texas and Michigan to Singapore in your songs and from Alberta to Southern California to Ohio in Emily’s songs. Can you please say something about the role geography plays in your songs? I think the role is that we write in a lot of different places. Often when we’re somewhere, that place is informing our writing. I think the idea of movement, the constant propulsion through time and space [laughs], really does inspire. You’re constantly asked to look at things from different perspective. I like that. I like what that does. I think it’s a good thing. For me, I think it informs it in a good way. I live in the south and it informs a lot of the songs that I write. With this particular batch of songs that fell together for me, they were all taken from different places, including where I live. I didn’t actually think about it at all when we were doing the arrangements and stuff. Then, in the studio, I was looking down at all the song titles and reading the lyrics, and I was like, “Wow! This is all over the map, literally.” It’s like a travelogue. The cover art for the album features pictures of you and Emily in rear-view and side-view mirrors and the song “Olympia Inn” is about one of Indigo Girls’ tour bus drivers. As someone who has spent a considerable amount of her life on the road as a touring musician, what is the most significant lesson you’ve learned from that experience? To be in the moment. That’s the most significant thing I’ve had to learn. If you’re constantly counting the days you’re going to be on the road or how long until you get home or how many hours until you get to this place or when is this gig going to be over [laughs] – whatever you’re doing because you’re tired or you’re waiting to get home or impatient or nervous or any of the things that are negative or cause you to roll through your time in a different
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way. Or if you’re excited about something coming up so you miss the things you’re doing. Everybody says, “Be in the moment.” But I really have had to learn that on the road. It’s really a good thing. It’s made me enjoy where I am and what I’m doing. At this age, the passage of time changes so drastically when you get older, it really does move faster. I think even physics says that. Sometimes I’ll be singing a song or I’m in the middle of a show and I’m super-tired, and I think, “Oh, man, I hope I can get through this show before my voice goes,” or this or that. I’ll just say (to myself), “This song or this show is going to be over in the blink of an eye. You’re going to be 80 years old, God willing, and sitting on your bed wishing you were playing this show [laughs]. Be in the show! [laughs].” That really helps me because I can remember all my life, even as a kid, just being mystified by how one minute I’m worried about something and the next minute it’s a year later. Time has gone so fast and it’s always bothered me that it moves so fast. It’s helped me to try to be in the moment and it slows things down a bit and helps me enjoy things more.
a Amy, I want to extend my condolences belatedly on the passing of your father. I recently interviewed lesbian writer Leslea Newman (Heather Has Two Mommies), whose latest book of poems, I Carry My Mother, is about the loss of her mother. Can you please say something about the intersection of grief and art in your work? I’m not sure how to define it yet. Grief is one of those scary things where you don’t really want to open up and write because the floodgates will open. For me, in some ways, what helped me was that I already had a bunch of songs started. My dad died and then 12 days later my daughter was born. In that moment of weird time and space after my daughter was born, I didn’t get much sleep and I was grieving, but I was trying to be a light instead of darkness to my child, not let all of that leak out, but be honest about it. I think kids feel so much. What was easier to me in my writing was for me to go back to things I had started and had struggled with how to finish and let my dad’s passing inform that. Then I didn’t have to open up a whole new can of worms where I couldn’t access my feelings very well because I didn’t have anywhere to start. Grief is so big – where do you start? Where do you start even thinking about it when you’re so sad? What helped my grief, too, was that I could look at words I’d written before he died. I had a place to start, but I put his imprint on those. Stories I knew about and things I felt about his death or his life would become part of a song that I was working on. Or images that I had of him; he’s a pretty strong character [laughs] in my world and had a rich history. Even reflecting on the funeral and the stories that were told; there were like a gazillion people there and a gazillion stories. That’s where the intersection was; what was life before this and what is life now? Art helped me figure that out.
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The brass on “Fishtails” and the strings and piano on “Findlay, Ohio 1968” reminded me that when I talked to Emily a couple of years ago she mentioned that, in addition to performing dates with symphony orchestras, she mentioned the possibility of an Indigo Girls symphonic album. Is that still in the works? Yes. There was a lot of trying to figure out how to achieve it. Most of the symphonies that we play with and love are union. We had started talking with Birmingham, but the union switched the way they do some things and it became cost prohibitive to do it at that time. We were trying to negotiate a way to do it. We just don’t sell that many records, so if you spend so much money on a record up front, you’re not even going to break even. That’s been the tripping up – how to honor the union and the musicians, be supportive. But at the same time be able to make the record within a certain budget so that you can break even on it. Now we’re working on a couple of different scenarios. The previously mentioned Lucy Wainwright Roche, whose mother Suzzy and aunts Maggie and Terre appeared on Indigo Girls’ Rites of Passage album, is a guest musician on One Lost Day. Does working with Lucy feel a bit like coming full circle? Yes. She’s been in our lives for a long time. We’ve known her since she was about eight [laughs]. She’s her own entity in the biggest way possible [laughs]. You can tell that she’s the product of Suzzy and Loudon, but she is so much her own person. It feels like this great lineage of musicality that we just get to be part of. I’ve always been inspired by her art – her songwriting and her voice and her personality [laugh], everything about her I love. For me, she’s been a catalyst for a long time. When you look at the
happened. I don’t think people see us as rock, even though we have all these records that have electric guitars and we totally rock and we love rock, we’re still always going to be seen as folk singers. I don’t mind that. Those are our roots, even though we were influenced by rock. We didn’t start as two people playing electric guitars in a band. We started by playing acoustic guitars. When we go out and play by ourselves, that’s still a majority of what we do, even if it’s rock. But Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell playing rock guitar either. You’re totally right. But that’s a different era. We’ve always had that “lesbian singer/songwriters” [laughs] dismissal sort of thing happen with us, so why would we be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [laughs]? But why did it take Joan Jett so long to get in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? That’s the question. She’s definitely a pioneer. I’m not holding my breath for that one. It would be so special if that happened, but it’s not that important to me. We’re speaking in late spring 2015, which means that the 2016 presidential election will be here before we know it. Do you have any thoughts on that? Oh, wow! I’m like a split personality about it. I really love Hillary Clinton but at the same time, I’m like, “Does it have to be a Clinton/Bush race?” I wish her last name was something different. My thoughts are that I think she’s a genius; an absolutely brilliant person. I think she could do a great job. I hope there’s a challenger to her for the Democratic nomination. Not to rock the boat, but because I think it’s good when different ideas are brought to the table. I think that will shake things up a bit and enable to understand more about her
b trajectory of our records and you see the Roches on earlier ones and then you see her, it’s like, “Yes!” It’s cool. Although it was a long time coming, Joan Jett was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What would it mean to you for the Indigo Girls to take their rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? I appreciate you saying that, but it would probably mean the apocalypse is coming [laughs] if that ever
a & b: Amy Ray in the studio.
if there’s something she can reflect off of and be challenged by. I think that if it’s just automatically Hillary running for president, it will be a disservice to her. If someone challenges her for the Democratic nomination, pushing her to be more than she is and different, allowing us to see other dimensions of her and how she’s thinking about things.
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living healthy
Wellness
As a society, we have become extremely disconnected from our food. And that makes sense when you consider how much of the food out there is disconnected from itself. Industrial farmers harvest crops that have been grown in tainted soil with chemicals that we shouldn’t consume, then send them off to become “food-stuff” – stripped of their nutrients, refined and enriched into products that are not at all like what they were originally intended by nature to be. The supermarket is filled with such products, and it requires a commitment
by jennifer nyx to sifting through the garbage there to ensure you load your cart with only whole foods. So eating foods that really are what they are supposed to be is a powerful way to reconnect with the source of our sustenance. And there are two classifications of foods that aim to do just that: organic and locally grown. There have been, in fact, lots of debates about which is better, as if it were a contest. Here’s a basic look at the difference between the two, and the benefits of each.
Organic
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local
Organic foods are best – because foods labeled organic by the USDA must meet very strict requirements assuring you that they’ve not been tainted with pesticides, hormones, or any other dangerous chemicals that are often used to create the more processed versions of our foods.
When you buy local at your farmers’ market, some of your local farmers will have certified organic produce to sell you. A lot of local farmers do grow organic foods, but they can’t label them as such without going through an intensive and expensive governmental process.
Now, there are some loopholes in the arrangement, as you can be sure there always will be when the government and corporate profits are mutually engaged. But by and large, if a food is USDA certified organic, you can trust that it was grown without dangerous chemicals.
Local farmers often can’t afford to pay to become certified organic. But when you buy local, you have the benefit of connecting directly with the person who has grown the food you’re considering buying.
There are some foods that you should almost always buy organic, and others that don’t matter quite so much. But the key is to minimize your exposure to dangerous chemicals that can seriously harm your health.
Most farmers are friendly and will be happy not only to tell you how they farm, but also to invite you to the farm for a visit so you can see their process first hand. You also have the benefit of knowing that your food hasn’t traveled too far to get where it is, and so it’s bound to be fresher.
Which Is Better?
An Added Pitch for Local
My answer is – both! Some people refuse to buy any food that isn’t organic. Others won’t purchase food that’s had to be trucked over a certain number of miles. My belief is that both foods have their place. If you live in a state where peaches don’t grow, you’re going to miss out if you don’t give in and go the grocery store to buy the organic kind. But if they are grown locally (like they are here), you have the option to get them as fresh and sweet as they come – and in all likelihood, they’ve been grown just as nature intended. So for variety and safety, a mix of both is probably your best bet.
Buying local isn’t just about your health and the food itself. When you buy local, you help reduce the “carbon footprint” that exists from all the food being shipped all over the world. You help your local economy, and the hardworking farmers who want to bring you these foods. And you actually save money yourself, because it doesn’t cost your local farmer as much to load up his harvest on a truck and bring them a few miles down the road as it does for the food companies to supply grocery stores throughout their regions.
And the best part of buying local? For me, it’s connecting with the food, with the people who grow the food, with taking my time walking around from one stand to the next, looking at all the bright colors and smelling fresh whole foods that have been grown and harvested rather than processed and boxed. Just strolling around the market takes you back to a simpler time and reminds you that we are not only what we eat. We are what feeds us. And what feeds us is more than food.
About the author: Jennifer Nyx is a Holistic Health Coach and Personal Trainer dedicated to support her clients with their health goals and empower them to make lasting changes in their behavior and lifestyle. you can find her at nyxwellness.com
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living smart
finance
by jennifer nyx
Student loans: an overview As we enjoy the summer, we may have to begin thinking about college and how we will be funding it in the near future. There are many types of different ways a college education could be funded, but one major source for many individuals is student loans. However, with so many types, it is important to consider which kind of student loan is best for you and which kind of student loan you are eligible for.
Direct Loans: Funded through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, Direct Loans is the largest federal student loan program where the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. There are four types of Direct Loans: subsidized, unsubsidized, PLUS, and Consolidation which help determine your interest rate and maximum loan amount. For both types of loans, if you choose to defer payments, your full payments would begin 6 months after graduating, leaving school, or dropping below halftime enrollment.
An unsubsidized student loan is available to all undergraduate and graduate students, and there is no need to demonstrate a financial need. Your school would determine the amount you can borrow based on your cost of attendance and other financial aid you are receiving. You would be responsible for paying the interest on an unsubsidized loan during all periods of the loan. What this means is that if you defer payments until you graduate, you would still have to pay the interest on the loan while you are in school. You can choose to make interest-only payments while you’re in school, or have the interest accumulate and capitalize (your interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan which you will begin paying when you graduate).
A subsidized student loan is available to undergraduate students that demonstrate a financial need (usually families with an annual income below $50,000). Your school would determine the amount you can borrow, and the amount cannot exceed your financial need. In addition, the government pays your interest on the loan while you are in school and enrolled at least half-time, during the first 6 months after graduating, and during any deferment period.
Other Types of Loans: Perkins Loans: Perkins loans are low-interest federal loans administered by the school for students that demonstrate exceptional financial need. All Perkins Loans are subsidized and funded by the government. Private & State Loans: Both private loans and state loans are non-federal loans, but they can help students ineligible for federal aid or those who do not receive enough aid to cover the cost of attendance. Institutional Loans: Institutional loans are non-federal loans given to students by the school.
PLUS Loans are used to cover expenses that are not covered by other financial aid means. These can be taken out by the parents of dependent undergraduate students or by graduate students themselves. A Consolidation loan allows you to combine any federal education loan you have into one loan so you have only one single monthly payment instead of multiple payments.
As shown above, there are many different types of student loans available! Additional information regarding the types of loans and additional financial aid can be found at studentaid.ed.gov. In addition, you can begin filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov.
For more information on how to manage your finances, whether you are a student or not, please visit livingoutli.org
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points of view
transmissions
by gwen smith Amiee Stephens in Florida and Michigan, respectively. This also follows the landmark 2012 Macy v. Holder case that first included transgender people under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Book ‘em In 2012, a transgender woman by the name of Victoria Ramirez was in the early stages of her transition. She also had a job as a bookseller at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Irvine, California.
While she had not started to live full time in her preferred gender role, she had started to take hormones, had begun to grow out her hair, and sometimes wore her nails polished while at work. Her manager spoke up, telling Ramirez that customers were complaining about Ramirez’s appearance. Further, the manager told Ramirez that their store was a “Neighborhood store,” and that Ramirez should “think of the children” who shopped at the store. A year later, Ramirez came out to her manager, and sought to begin to transition in the workplace. Ramirez’s manager was having none of it. Ramirez was forbidden to discuss her transition at work without a manager present, was forbidden to wear skirts, and was not allowed to use the women’s facilities. Ramirez was eventually let go for calling in sick, after Ramirez’s insistence that she was having stress-induced panic attacks due to her work environment. While Barnes & Nobel’s human resources department did later tell Ramirez that what the Irvine, California store did was wrong, and presumably attempted to place her at a location elsewhere, she was eventually not allowed 30
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to work elsewhere based on an assessment by Ramirez’s former manager.
Barnes & Nobel, as you would expect, has not spoken about the case. They have, however, pointed to their track record in support of transgender employees. That support does not, apparently extend to a manager at the Irvine, California location. This is the most recent in a string of similar anti-discrimination cases. At a Brooklyn location of Forever 21, sales associate Alexia Daskalakis bosses allegedly mocked by her employers after starting her transition in 2014. She was eventually let go without explanation. Likewise, Saks Fifth Avenue eventually settled a lawsuit after U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memo making it clear that Title VII protections extend to gender identity. The company had initially been arguing that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not cover their former employee, Leyth Jamal. Jamal has harassed in the work place – including male coworkers who asked if she was a sex worker – and was required to present as male at the Houston, Texas location she was employed at. These cases come in the wake of steps taken by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under President Obama, including lawsuits of their own to protect transgender workers Brandi Branson and
A report published in 2013 titled “A Broken Bargain for Transgender Workers” spoke to the difficulties transgender people like myself have in the workplace. We face an unemployment rate that is twice the rate of the population as a whole, with 44% of transgender people being underemployed. Transgender workers are four times more likely to have a household income of less than $10,000. Meanwhile, congress cannot pass a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and people make up horror stories to keep us out of appropriate public accommodations. You see, those fights over transgender people in bathrooms – a topic that I am yet again going into – extends into all of these cases, as employees were barred from gender appropriate facilities. When I transitioned, I was working at what was then Kinko’s Copies, long before FedEx made them part of their brand. While my story is nothing like what Ramirez or any others I named above faced, I can certainly empathize with the challenges behind transitioning in the workplace. My store’s owner handled my transition fairly equitably, although the store’s manager eventually forced me out while the owner was away. At that time, of course, there was no such recourse, and not an EEOC that would have interceded on my behalf if things had gone much worse. Seeing my transgender siblings have equal protection under the law is heartening. Much like Ramirez’s manager chastised her to do, I also “think of the children.” Unlike her, my thoughts are for the transgender youth of our world who may enjoy a world where they can transition on the job with less fear of discrimination. I expect my “neighborhood store” to reflect all
I can certainly empathize with the challenges behind transitioning in the workplace. those in that neighborhood – and that includes transgender people like me. As I mentioned, Saks Fifth Avenue settled the case that Leyth Jamal brought against them. I expect to see the cases against Forever 21 and Barnes & Nobel go down similar roads. I do worry about how things will stand after the Obama Administration is over, but am heartened by the case law being created now. Likewise, that I can be so sure of the outcome of these cases is a sure sign of a turning point
for transgender rights. We are seeing our rights upheld, and we are gaining enough support to make a stand for our rights in the workplace, rather than simply taking the abuse we are handed. We still have a long way to go, and I hasten to add that having these protections do not stop employers and others from violating out rights in the first place. Make no mistake, however, it is a vital thing to be able to throw the book at those who might infringe upon those same rights. Full disclosure: Gwen Smith’s spouse was once laid off at Barnes & Noble. You can find her on Twitter at @gwenners.
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Give bullying the boot at “Boot Camp Against Bullying,” a special fundraising event for the LGBT Network to support its Hamptons Center’s school and anti-bullying outreach and education. Proceeds from the Boot Camp Against Bullying benefit the LGBT Network and its Hamptons LGBT Center.
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