options October 2015
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options
In This Issue:
Rhode Island’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community news source since 1982. October 2015, Vol. XXXIV, Issue 6
Youth Pride Inc. Gala, Oct. 16 p. 22
Passages: Guy Abelson pg. 7
Pride Benefit with Cheryl Wheeler, Oct. 25 p. 8
LGBTQ Feminism with Jenn Steinfeld p. 12
4 From the Editor
20 Out on the Town
6 From the Publisher
23 YPI Now Serving Ages 9+
6 Advertisers
23 Lesbians on the Loose
8 Calendar of Events
24 SAGE-RI Elects New Board
10 News Briefs
26 AIDS Walk Keeps Hope Alive
12 LGBTQ Feminism: Jenn Steinfeld 28 RI Pride Holds Annual Meeting 14 Leelah’s Law
30 Resources
16 Q&A with Lambda Legal
38 Worth a Look
18 What’s Next, Stephen Hartley?
Home delivery is free! Subscribe at www.optionsri.org, email frank@optionsri.org, or write to us at our PO Box. © OPTIONS 2015. Options is published monthly. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the governing board, volunteers, or staff. Listings are provided as a resource and do not imply endorsement. Submissions to Options must include a phone number or email address. Names may be withheld on request. Submissions, ads, calendar, or resource listings for the November issue must be delivered by October 16.
Options | October 2015
Publisher Kyle McKendall kyle@optionsri.org Editor in Chief Jen Stevens editor@optionsri.org Resources Editor Myra Shays Calendar Editor Sam Simas calendar@optionsri.org Copy Editors Julia Barber, Rex LeBeau, Kyle McKendall, Myra Shays Graphic Design Theresa “Reese” Barzyk Photo Editor Michael Scanlon IV Writers Kurt Bagley, Adam Brooks, Annie Cronin-Silva, Jeana DeLaire, Jesse DeRita, Jodi Glass, Demoya Gordon, Stephen Hug, Roz Rustigian, Francis Ryan, Melanie Silva, Kim Stowell, The Lit Chick Photographers Ryan Clarke, Jack Hartwein-Sanchez Finance Director Donny McKendall billing@optionsri.org Subscription Manager Francis Ryan frank@optionsri.org Distribution Coordinators Kellie & Belinda Marcil distribution@optionsri.org Advertising advertising@optionsri.org
Contact Us info@optionsri.org PO Box 6406 Providence, RI 02940 (401) 724-LGBT www.optionsri.org
Cover: Samantha Minor & Kiara Hernandez, Luis Pagan & Paige Parks, PrYSM, Alyssa St. Franc (not on mailed cover).
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Letter to the Editor
Dear Reader, Many young, charismatic LGBTQ leaders are emerging locally with clear visions for the future, raising our expectations for what lies ahead. They are neither afraid to have a straightforward conversation, nor to call out injustice when they see it.They want to engage with you.They want to know what you think. And they want to move forward with you. August Guang of Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) delivered a moving speech while accepting the Most Original Float Award at Rhode Island Pride Honors on September 13. August reminded us to be conscious of how trans people and people of color are further marginalized, and took the opportunity to advocate for the Community Safety Act, a city ordinance that would ban racial profiling by police and especially guide their interactions with people of color, immigrants, and youth. Ron Lewis has been on fire this year, poetically spreading his message of openess about issues like racism and HIV stigma to large audiences at the PrideFest Rally, the AIDS Walk, and Pride Honors. (Photos p. 20) Last month, transgender students across the nation went back to school under the protection of Title IX, which now guarantees students the right to use a restroom in accordance with their gender. (p. 16) Combine that good news with the extraordinary fact that Youth Pride Inc. (YPI) has cast a wider net by offering services to children as young as nine (p. 23), and you can’t help imagining how much less homophobia and transphobia these students are destined to endure. I look forward to celebrating these advances at YPI’s gala on October 16, when Alyssa St. Franc, a youth advocate who was profiled in Options’ September issue, accepts YPI’s annual award named in honor of Luis Pagan, one of the most genuinely inspiring young leaders I’ve ever known. Luis Pagan passed away suddenly in 2006 at age 22 while a board member of YPI. Luis was a beloved member of many communities— in his Providence neighborhood, at Brown University, and with youth empowerment groups like Youth in Action and Rhode Island Teen Institute, where we became friends in 1999. Luis was a peacemaker, a communicator, a so-called “quilt-weaver,” who always made strong connections by seeing your true colors and letting you see his. I wish for community members to embrace Luis’ philosophy when we find ourselves in conflict with one another. To round out this forward-looking issue, you’ll learn about legislation to ban conversion therapy (p. 14), discover Stephen Hartley’s new mission (p. 18), and enjoy a fascinating interview with the ever-pioneering Jenn Steinfeld, who’ll articulately steer you out of Luis Pagan gender, race, and class oppression toward what it means to be aware, empowering, and liberated. (p. 12) In Solidarity, Jen Stevens
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I’m writing to thank the librarians at the Newport Public Library. Members of my church help distribute Options Magazine, and we always drop off a stack at the Newport Library. Last Friday, over the course of the day, someone turned the covers over, moved the magazines to the back of the console, dumped God’s News on top of them, and finally removed all but one issue. The librarians corrected these problems as they arose. When the perpetrator took almost all the issues of Options away, the librarians disposed of the God’s News. It’s very sad to see this sort of thing happen in Newport, a city founded on religious freedom, and in a country that prides itself on freedom of speech and freedom of the press.The librarians understand this. Hopefully in the future, issues of God’s News and Options can sit peacefully side by side, awaiting their respective readers to take them home. In the meantime, cheers to the librarians keeping a lookout! Thank you. - Rex LeBeau, Newport
- -
From the Editor
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Options | October 2015
2016 Legends Calendar Release Party
a benefit for
options magazine
Sunday, November 8 The Colosseum 180 Pine St, Providence 7:30pm For the 11th consecutive year, Rhode Island’s drag legends have produced a themed calendar to raise money for the community. Your $20 donation to Options grants you access to this legendary drag show featuring your favorite drag queens and a copy of the 2016 Legends Calendar! Doors open at 6:00pm for a meetand-greet with performers and calendar signing. Purchase tickets in advance at www.optionsri.org.
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Options | October 2015
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From the Publisher
Advertisers in This Issue
Dear Reader, I’ve been questioning the future directions of Options and other LGBTQ nonprofit organizations. I’m confident in our organization’s decision to collaborate on some important work ahead, but some think Options should move forward without considering the larger concerns of the LGBTQ community. I find this suggestion to be self-indulgent, myopic, and detrimental to those who still struggle with their sexual orientation or gender identity. Progress is best made with concern for the collective good, not simply individual needs. Yes, it’s important to celebrate individual or organizational accomplishments and activism, but it’s more important to have a holistic approach to solving the challenges our entire community is working toward overcoming. When you widen your perspective, you’ll find that HIV and STD infections remain prevalent; the abuse and addiction of and to alcohol and drugs impacts many; depression and anxiety have permeated our community; the coming-out process is an extremely difficult and scary experience to navigate; legal battles impacting trans people are being fought every day; and some religious institutions and elected officials are working to reverse progress that has been made. When highlighting Options Magazine’s progress, this larger perspective is equally important. I ask you to think beyond your own connection to our publication and to remember the 30-year-old reader who is out, proud, and getting married, but nonetheless struggles with his family’s religious affiliations and lack of understanding of LBGTQ needs. Don’t forget about the 16-yearold who’s reading this issue in her local coffee shop, and for the first time in her life sees that our community is much more than a parade once a year. Don’t forget about the reader in his or her 60s who’s spent a lifetime seeking a healthy relationship but whose internal struggles have built too many walls for that to happen. I implore you to widen your perspective and find a cause that impassions you. Be it RI Pride, Youth Pride, SAGE-RI, PFLAG, or one of the many other organizations in our community—get involved. We are all in critical need of your support. While we’ve made substantial strides in improving the quality of queer life, our work isn’t done. I’m not willing to let the nonprofits that have championed the progress of our community fade away. The purposes that queer organizations serve are just as vital and essential to us today as they’ve ever been. I hope you’ll join me in these efforts.
Onward,
Kyle McKendall
ACOS: ArtBeat..............................................................................11 ACOS: Drag Bingo.......................................................................28 ACOS: Know Your Status.........................................................25 American Wallpaper...................................................................27 Bill Hendrickson, Electrician....................................................18 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island............................. 2 City Kitty............................................................................................25 Classic Flute Duos........................................................................25 Do It Right........................................................................................26 Gordon School..............................................................................13 Gregorys Optical..........................................................................25 Insperiors Inspired Interiors....................................................29 Jennifer A. Minuto, Attorney...................................................29 JDHS Photography.......................................................................24 John D. DaPonte, Mental Health Counselor.................29 Kara Hoopis Manosh, Attorney.............................................. 4 LGBT Vacation Planners............................................................19 Melissa DaSilva, Om Therapy................................................... 6 Michael E. Brennan, Realtor.....................................................29 Michael O’Mara, Mental Health Counselor...................37 Mister Sister Erotica....................................................................28 Moses Brown.................................................................................... 7 Neighborhood Health Plan of RI.........................................29 Options - 2016 Legends Calendar Release Party......... 5 Patriot Subaru.................................................................................17 PFLAG................................................................................................... 7 Plumbing by Paul...........................................................................37 PPAC - Motown.............................................................................. 9 Red Fin Crudo Restaurant......................................................13 Residential Properties................................................................17 Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights..............19 Senior Care Concepts................................................................. 6 SERVPRO..........................................................................................25 Sojourner House Masquerade Ball...................................... 4 The Stable........................................................................................... 4 Stephen J. Dennis, Attorney....................................................37 The Village.........................................................................................39 White Horse Vapor.....................................................................40 Youth Pride Inc. Annual Event...............................................22
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Options | October 2015
Passages: Guy Abelson
by Roz Rustigian
Guy Abelson, 67, a longtime resident of Providence, died unexpectedly on September 2. A civic leader and philanthropist in action, Guy was a stalwart champion of the underdog, particularly the hungry among us and those afflicted with HIV/AIDS. For almost two decades his signature event “Taste of the Nation” was the happening of the year, raising millions of dollars for the RI Community Food Bank. Guy was instrumental in the founding of AIDS Project RI and remained a tireless leader in the planning and implementation of World AIDS Day events and the annual Walk for Life. Guy’s career was multifaceted; he was a TV promoter, florist, interior designer, restaurateur, caterer, fund-raiser, event planner par excellence, and a true friend to so many. His flair for sculpting unique settings and his love of fine food resulted in two outstanding and singular restaurants: Cafe in the Barn and In-Prov. His unparalleled creativity and easygoing personality attracted a large and loyal client base, all of whom viewed him simultaneously as a cherished friend and an honored guest at their own events.
for Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital enabled him to combine his many talents while devoting countless hours to supporting affiliated hospitals, especially Bradley Hospital. He is survived by two brothers, Neal and Mark, a niece Annie, a nephew Carl, and his partner John Esposito. A memorial celebration will be held Saturday, October 10, at 10am at the Unitarian Church at the corner of Benefit and Benevolent Streets in Providence. In lieu of flowers the Abelson family and John suggest that donations be made in memory of Guy to The RI Community Food Bank and AIDS Project RI.
Seven and a half years ago, Guy added full-time employment to his chock-filled schedule. His job as Special Events Manager
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Calendar of Events Youth Pride Inc. Annual Gala October 16
Potluck and GenSilent Screening October 18
October Sun. 4 John Kelley hosts a night of comedy with Kitty Litter, Frank O’Donnell, John Morris, and Coleen Galvin Yaroshenko to benefit House of Hope CDC, an organization dedicated to ending homelessness, 7pm.The Comedy Connection, 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. $25. For tickets, visit www.ricomedyconnection. com.
now have to hide their lifestyle, spouses, and friends in order to survive as they enter the country’s long-term care system, said to be rife with discrimination and bullying. All are welcome to the free event, which offers continuing education credit to social workers attending the film. For more information, contact Rex LeBeau at 595-9068 or interweave@channingchurch.org.
Thu. 8 Sweet Little Variety Show, 8pm. Aurora, 276 Westminster Street, Providence. A queer-produced potpourri of entertainment including music, comedy, dance, and oddities. $6. Find Sweet Little Variety Show on Facebook.
Sun. 18 Headmaster Meets the Dean, 7pm. The Dean Hotel, 122 Fountain Street, Providence. The biannual art magazine for manlovers hosts an evening contrived by Maxfield Munson, and features a performance by Headmaster No. 7 contributor J.R. Uretsky along with special guests. $40. Email headmaster@headmastermagazine. com for more info.
Fri. 9 Paula Poundstone, 8pm. Hyatt Regency, 1 Goat Island, Newport. Acclaimed comic Paula Poundstone makes her Newport Comedy Series debut. See more at www.newportcomedy.com/ shows/paula-poundstone-on-friday-october-9th. Sat. 10 A night of comedy with John Kelley and Vickie Shaw, 9pm. Indigo Pizza & Lounge, 599 Tiogue Avenue, Coventry. $20.
Wed. 21 Queer Book Club, 7-9:30pm. Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence. Reading: The Underground Girls of Kabul: In Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan by Jenny Nordberg. Discount if book is purchased at Books on the Square. For more info, email queerbookclub@gmail.com.
Sun. 11 RI Prime Timers, 4:30-7pm. Networking group for older gay and bi men. Social, dinner, and meeting. For more info, www. riprimetimers.org or call Steve at 996-3010.
Fri. 23 ArtBeat, a fundraiser for AIDS Care Ocean State featuring an online and live auction, 6:30-9:30pm. Providence Biltmore Hotel, 11 Dorrance Street. For more info, www.aidscareos.org.
Thu. 15 Halloween Costume Contest Bingo, 7pm. The Riviera Bingo Palace, 1612 Elmwood Ave, Cranston. $20 gets you into all games and benefits AIDS Care Ocean State. 18+. Doors open at 6pm; Bingo starts at 7pm. For reservations, contact Chris Dalpe at 521-3603.
Sun. 25 Cheryl Wheeler performs live, 7pm. Manchester 65, 65 Manchester Street, West Warwick. $25 to benefit Rhode Island Pride. For more info, www.prideri.com.
Fri. 16 Youth Pride Inc.’s Annual Gala: The Roaring Teens & Twenties, 5:30-10pm. The Arcade, 65 Weybosset Street, Providence. Honorary Chairperson Jacqueline DiMera with awards presented to Elizabeth Roberts, the Rhode Island Foundation, and Alyssa St. Franc. Food, performances, silent auction, music, dancing, signature cocktail and cash bar from New Harvest Coffee & Spirits. Tickets cost $50 and are available at www.youthprideri.org. Sat. 17 The Village presents Last Comic Standing finalist Michele Balan with John Kelley, 8pm. 373 Richmond Street, Providence. $20 in advance at the bar/$25 at the door. www.thevillageri.com. Sun. 18 Potluck and Screening of GenSilent. Channing Memorial Church, 135 Pelham Street, Newport. 5pm potluck in the parish hall behind the church, 7pm film screening in the sanctuary. SAGE and Channing’s Interweave Program present Stu Maddox’ film which features LGBT seniors answering questions about how oppression affected them in the years before Stonewall, and whether they
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Wed. 28 RI Pride Annual Meeting, 7pm. 1055 Westminster Street, Providence, Floor 2. All are welcome. Members (those frequently involved over the past year) will vote on a Board of Directors election slate. November Sun. 1 Options Release Party, 3-6pm. The Stable, 125 Washington Street, Providence. Join Options Magazine for the release of the November issue.Volunteers needed for distribution. Sun. 8 2016 Legends Calendar Release Party, a benefit for Options Magazine, 7:30pm. The Colosseum, 180 Pine Street, Providence. $20 donation to Options grants access to this legendary drag show and a copy of the 2016 Legends calendar. Doors open at 6pm for a meet-and-greet with performers and calendar signings. For tickets, visit www.optionsri.org. Thu. 12 Sweet Little Variety Show, 8pm. Aurora, 276 Westminster Street, Providence. A queer-produced potpourri of entertainment
Options | October 2015
ArtBeat October 23
2016 Legends Calendar Release Party November 8
including music, comedy, dance, and oddities.
Sun. 29 Options Release Party, 3-6pm.The Stable, 125 Washington Street, Providence. Join Options Magazine for the release of the December issue.Volunteers needed for distribution.
Sun. 15 RI Prime Timers, 4:30-7pm. Networking group for older gay and bi men. Social, dinner, and meeting. For more info, www. riprimetimers.org or call Steve at 996-3010. Wed. 18 Queer Book Club, 7-9:30pm. Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence. Reading: On the Move, A Life by Oliver Sacks. Discount if book is purchased at Books on the Square. For more info, email queerbookclub@gmail.com.
ACOS Tue. 4pm, (gay males): Wed. 1:30pm Alcoholics Anonymous (LGBT Group): Tue. 7pm PFLAG (parents, friends, allies): 1st & 3rd Wed. 6:45pm TGI Network (trans*): 1st & 3rd Tue. (7pm) & Sat. (3pm) TransFamily New England: 2nd Mon. 6:30pm YPI (youth): Way Out Thu. 4pm/Gender Spectrum Tue. 4pm See Resources on page 30 for more info.
RAYMOND LUKE JR. PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS. ALL OTHER PHOTOS BY ANDREW ECCLES.
Thu. 19 Pie Eating Contest Bingo, 7pm. The Riviera Bingo Palace, 1612 Elmwood Ave, Cranston. $20 gets you into all games and benefits Aids Care Ocean State. 18+. Doors open at 6pm; Bingo starts at 7pm. For reservations, contact Chris Dalpe at 521-3603.
Regularly Scheduled Support Groups:
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Options | October 2015
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News Briefs
by Adam Brooks
Lauded RI Lawyer Lise Iwon Retires Lise Iwon of Wakefield is retiring after 32 years of practicing law focused on families, civil rights, LGBT protections, housing issues, and health discrimination. Lise and Peg Iwon met her wife, Peg Laurence, in law school and it was love at first sight. With the help of their family, they started their own law practice in 1983. Peg took cases that earned money to keep them afloat while Lise took pro bono cases in support of their mutual mission to improve their community. Lise served as the Court Appointed Special Advocate for children, fighting to improve the lives of children who were orphaned, abandoned, abused, and neglected. She fought for marriage equality, testifying at hearings year after year. Peg and Lise married in 2005. When Peg died in 2012, Lise was dismayed to learn that she was unable to claim the marital deduction when she filed her taxes. That was her call to action; in only six months, Iwon led the charge to change Rhode Island law and wrote the declaratory ruling to allow civil unions to be recognized by the Division of Taxation. Iwon is a recipient of the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Dorothy Lohmann Community Service Award, and the Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Pro Bono Publico and Continuing Service Awards. She received two Pro Bono Publico Awards from the American Bar Association, and the Susan B. Anthony Award from the National Organization for Women, and was a Lawyers Weekly USA Attorney of the Year, among many other achievements. Iwon participates as a volunteer with the Rhode Island Bar Foundation, the Rhode Island Bar Association, the Courthouse Center for the Arts in Kingston, and the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County. No Bully Organization Starts First New England Program in Pawtucket No Bully, a San Francisco non-profit organization combating bullying in schools, is implementing their program in Pawtucket public schools. The organization, founded by Nicholas Carlisle, trains school employees to stop students from bullying and cyberbullying by taking an empathetic approach. The program started in 2003 as a collaboration of teachers, lawyers, and psychologists committed to preventing modern-day students from enduring the kind of bullying that they had to face as they were growing up. According to Carlisle’s website, “Bullying and harassment often cause lasting physical and mental harm, marginalize diverse students, and negatively impact the entire school culture.” So far, the No Bully organization has worked to make the campuses of over 120,000 students bully-free.Thanks to a $130,000 grant from Hasbro, Pawtucket school staff and teachers have been undergoing No Bully training to help them implement practices that will support an inclusive, cooperative, and respectful environment. It’s clear that LGBTQ students and those perceived as different are likely targets for teasing as well as verbal and physical abuse. When 14-year-old transgender student Hannah Rini learned about the program coming to her school, she said, “Just being accepted for who you are—I think
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that’s the best thing you could ever ask for.” Already, Rhode Island educators are confident that the No Bully program has potential. Pawtucket elementary school teacher Lorraine Fusco said, “It looks like it’s going to be very successful for Rhode Island, and I’m just glad Pawtucket is going to embrace it.” Imperial Court Launches USS Harvey Milk Campaign With the aim of honoring the LGBT pioneer, the International Court System is co-sponsoring a drive, led by Jacqueline DiMera, Empress XVIII of the Imperial Court of Rhode Island, to have the United States Navy name a vessel after Harvey Milk. Naval vessels have always been given the names of people and places that have helped to shape the history of our country, yet no ship in the current naval fleet recognizes the contributions of an LGBT American. Before his election as the first openly gay political figure in the United States, Milk served proudly in the Navy during the Korean War and held the rank of Lieutenant at the time of his discharge in 1955. Assisting in this campaign are Honorary Co-Chairs Congresswoman Susan Davis of California; Commander Zoe Dunning, a retired member of the U.S. Navy; and Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk’s nephew and cofounder of the Harvey Milk Foundation. The campaign urges supporters to send letters to: The Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, 1000 Navy Pentagon, Washington DC 20350-1000. To learn more and track the campaign’s progress, visit the USS Harvey Milk Campaign’s Facebook page (www. facebook.com/ussharveymilk). The campaign is moving quickly in hopes that Americans will soon be able to climb aboard the USS Harvey Milk. RentBoy Raid Causes Protests Among Sex Workers The Department of Homeland Security and the New York City Police Department raided the Manhattan headquarters of the male escort site Rentboy.com. The authorities characterize the website as an “internet brothel” that has been promoting illegal prostitution since the mid 1990s. Seven were arrested in the raid including CEO Jeffrey Davids. Protesters outside the federal courthouse in Brooklyn argue that the removal of the site will only cause sex workers to be more at risk, and they’re demanding that the charges against Davids and his employees be dropped. The raid came just days after several large LGBT advocacy groups, such as GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) and the Transgender Law Center, announced that they would be working with Amnesty International to fight for the decriminalization of sex workers to protect them from abuse, arrest, and sex trafficking. The Transgender Law Center stated, “the US federal government is not only jeopardizing countless people’s lives and only source of livelihood, but sending a clear and troubling message that the country is less invested in addressing systemic issues of racial, economic, and anti-LGBT injustice than in further criminalizing the individuals most marginalized by those systems.” Michael Belman, one of the arrested Rentboy employees, was released on a $200,000 bond and said, “Escorts are not just sex objects. They are real people performing a valuable service.”
Options | October 2015
Bigoted Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Arrested, Released, and Praised In August, Kim Davis, a 49-yearold municipal county clerk from Rowan County, Kentucky, defied a federal court order by refusing to issue a marriage license to David Moore and David Ermold. Davis denied this license and others saying it went against “God’s word,” which garnered her the adoration of many Republicans and devout Christians nationwide. Davis was jailed in contempt of court for five days and, upon her release, was celebrated in a rally attended by Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, and many anti-LGBT supporters. Surprisingly, members of the LGBT hate group The Westboro Baptist Church are not in support of Davis because they consider her four marriages over the last ten years adulterous and sinful. The stipulation for Davis’ release is that she must not interfere with the issuing of marriage licenses by the deputy clerks to all legally eligible couples. However, Davis pledged to do her part in preventing same-sex marriages in her speech upon being released. Columbia University law professor Katherine Franke said, “Kim Davis has all sorts of religious liberty rights secured under the First Amendment and under other laws, but they are not at stake in this case. All she’s asked to do with couples that come before her is certify that they’ve met
Options | October 2015
the state requirements for marriage, so her religious opposition to same-sex marriage is absolutely irrelevant in this context.” New Proposed Bill Could Allow LGBT Discrimination The First Amendment Defense Act, recently proposed by Congressman Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), aims to negate anti-discrimination laws under the guise of religious freedom. The bill would allow individuals or organizations to discriminate against married same-sex couples, among others, without penalty from the federal government (such as the denial of grants, loans, employee benefits, or tax deductions), as long as they can make the case that they are following their religious beliefs. For example, a federally-funded homeless shelter could turn away an LGBTQ person without fear of losing funding. The bill would also allow lawsuits to be filed on behalf of organizations or individuals who feel they have been forced to approve of same-sex marriages. Many moral or religious objections are considered fair game under the legislation’s broad and vague wording. Those who believe that “sexual relations are properly reserved to” opposite-sex married couples could discriminate against unmarried or single mothers. Versions of this bill have been around since 2013, and while its premise has been gaining support since the legalization of same-sex marriage this past June, the First Amendment Defense Act is expected to fail.q
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LGBTQ Feminism in RI: Jodi Glass asks
Jenn
Steinfeld
photo by Constance Brown
Jodi: Would you tell us about yourself in relation to your activism?
Jenn: I am Jenn Steinfeld, the Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island. I have been an activist and agitator for social justice for more than 20 years, and have a commitment to working in an intersectional, anti-racist, liberationist framework. I believe in the power of democratic participation and civic engagement to make government work for us all. As a visibly queer woman, I have not always felt welcome in feminist and women’s spaces, so I am excited about being a visible part of the local women’s movement. Jodi: When did you first identify as a feminist, and how do you define feminism? Jenn: I’m the product of a wonderful and narrow point in history I like to call the “Free to Be You and Me” Generation. We fall between Gen X and Gen Y. I was raised to be feminist— to believe that women had the same inherent value as men and deserve to be fully participatory in the workplace, government, and community as well as the family. My mom worked hard to help my sister and me recognize and deconstruct rigid gender roles. I think she feels it worked a little too well in my case, but I believe her commitment to the mantra “girls can do anything” has allowed me to live comfortably in my own skin, identifying as a queer butch woman with a variant gender presentation. Now I live in a world with
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a diversity of genders, so I would say that I define feminism as the belief that all people are inherently equal, regardless of gender, while recognizing that the gender expectations with which we are raised and the ways that people treat us based on their perception of our gender have a huge impact on how we see ourselves and the world. I also am committed to an intersectional feminism, meaning that I try to look at the many ways that privilege and oppression work together, and to find ways to elevate women that include women of color and trans women and women with disabilities and undocumented women, etc. The feminist movement has (often deservedly) gotten a bad rap for only addressing issues of importance to women with race and class privilege, and I am committed to opening that agenda up and to working to recognize the ways my own privilege shapes my thinking. Jodi: Where do you find feminism in Rhode Island today? Jenn: I find feminism everywhere in Rhode Island today. I think we are at an exciting time for gender liberation, and we have two large populations pushing to move a feminist agenda: the aging Boomers, who see the unfinished promise of the ERA [Equal Rights Amendment], and the up-and-coming Millennials, who have an unprecedented expectation of equity and equality in their families and their workplaces. I also find a lot of “undercover feminism” in the sense that there are many
organizations that are living feminism without necessarily centering the label. For example, I’m on the board of Girls Rock! RI, and our mission is to “use music creation and critical thinking to foster empowerment, collaborative relationships, and the development of healthy identities in women and girls.” We do identify as a feminist organization, but participants don’t have to, and “the F-word” isn’t in our mission or vision. Or the PVD Lady Project, whose mission is to “connect, inspire, and showcase awesome women doing amazing things”—they don’t define themselves as a feminist networking group, but they are elevating and supporting one another in incredible ways. Rhode Island NOW is also an inspiring source of local, vibrant feminist action; their Traveling Book Club features current writing on issues that impact women and they have a young, political cohort that continuously impresses me. I am not aware of much organizational active queer feminism right now, but Rhode Island Pride and Anthony Maselli (Mr Gay RI 2014) are incredibly intersectional in their approach to community. If you haven’t seen Anthony talk about the 2015 Pride theme indivisible, click over right now: http://www.rifuture.org/indivisible-ripride-is-radicalized.html. Jodi: How can we, as a community, keep feminism alive and thriving? Jenn: This is a struggle for all social movements. I think feminism is alive and thriving, and I think the label is coming back. I also think feminist issues vary
Options | October 2015
across communities and generations, and we all sometimes struggle with positions that are not our own. For instance, I had an argument with my mother about young educated women leaving the workforce to stay home with their kids. Her position was, we fought for the right to work while pregnant, with kids, after getting married, etc., and these young women are squandering those gains. And I had a few thoughts. First, my understanding was that feminism fought for the right of women to make their own choices and have more autonomy, and therefore we should support women making decisions even when we don’t agree with them, or wish they would make different ones. Second, women of color and women with less economic privilege have always worked outside the home out of necessity, so there are some racist and classist issues with her viewpoint. And lastly, that because of cost and availability of childcare, many people are “choosing” to stay home because they can’t afford to do anything else. So, if we want to see women staying in the workforce we need to advocate for things like paid leave, affordable child care, living wages, etc. To keep feminism thriving, we have to recognize that issues and priorities change, and show up and listen to people who have different perspectives. I know a lot of women who do not identify as feminists because they have felt shamed by other women for their choices, beliefs, desires, and priorities; this is not a way to build a sustainable movement! One thing I am struggling with in my own work is talking about women’s issues in a way that includes trans and queer folks. At the Women’s Fund we work at a systemic
level to promote gender equality and level the playing field for women and girls. And for me, that means fighting the patriarchy and getting us all out of limited gender roles and into more possibility. But I know that, especially because many branches of feminism are hanging on tight to essentialist views of gender, many trans women don’t feel included or welcome under our umbrella. I want readers to know that most of our programming is open to people of all genders, and anyone who identifies as a woman is welcome to participate in our leadership development program. And if anyone has an issue with our language or anything we put out, please let me know—I want to do better. q
GORDON SCHOOL empowering young minds open house Saturday, November 7, 10am
Learn how students challenge assumptions, debate issues, analyze data, consider multiple perspectives, think critically, problem solve, and enjoy exploring and playing on the beautiful 12 acre campus. Affording Gordon: A Financial Aid Workshop Tuesday, November 17, 5:30pm Nursery to eighth grade
Options | October 2015
www.gordonschool.org
East Providence, RI
401-434-3833 13
Leelah’s Law by Jesse DeRita
Would Bar Conversion Therapy for Teens
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Options | October 2015
T
his past winter, the tragic suicide of Leelah Alcorn made national headlines and caused an outcry among the LGBTQ community about the rights of teens to live as their authentic selves. Alcorn, a 17-year-old transgender girl, committed suicide on December 28, 2014, leaving behind a suicide note on the social media site Tumblr, where she spoke about the role of conversion therapy and her parents’ denial of her gender identity as the major factors that played into her decision to end her own life. Leelah’s suicide note went viral online and sparked a national debate about conversion therapy for minors. A national petition was started to create Leelah’s Law, a law banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors, and was signed by over 120,000 people. President Obama expressed his support for this type of legislation being passed at the state level. Conversion therapy, also called reparative therapy, is the practice by clergy, mental health counselors, psychologists, or other clinicians aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person to a straight or cisgender identity. Barbaric methods such as electric shock stimulation and inducing nausea, vomiting, or paralysis while showing the patient homoerotic images may be used to create aversion to same-sex attraction and alternative gender expression. This is a tremendously damaging practice and contributes to higher suicide rates among LGBTQ youth, who are two to four times as likely to attempt suicide as their straight, cisgender peers. The practice has been condemned
Options | October 2015
by every major mainstream mental health organization, including The American Psychiatric Association, The American Psychological Association, The Pan American Health Organization, and The American Association of Pediatrics. In Rhode Island, there are efforts both in the state legislature and among the mental health community to see this practice banned statewide. A task force of students in the Masters of Social Work program at Rhode Island College worked together with State Senator Donna Nesselbush to draft and submit a bill to the State Senate this past session, and while it was well-received, it was not passed, and will be resubmitted in January 2016. I recently sat down with two of the bill’s advocates to discuss it and find out how we in the local community can help with this issue. Jacquelyn Scavone and Elliott Paxton Buelter are both dedicated activists for LGBTQ causes as well as graduate students of social work at RIC. They, along with their peers in the graduate program and select local lawmakers, have been working tirelessly to see this bill become law in Rhode Island. It is an issue close to their hearts: as clinicians, they understand just how damaging this practice is. It’s an ineffective technique that encourages the untruth that sexual orientation and gender identity are choices and can be changed. Scavone and Buelter passionately explained to me that, through investigation, they were able to obtain the names of a handful of clinicians who are still practicing these therapies
on our GLBTQ youth, causing them lifelong harm and undermining the acceptance they may find outside of their home environments. Without protections like Leelah’s Law in place, if parents decide their teen is better off straight or cisgender and send that child to a reparative therapist, the minor has no rights to opt out, short of emancipation. Family support is a huge factor for these affected youths and a lack thereof results in much higher rates of suicide and suicide attempts, risky sexual behavior, drug use, depression, self-blame, and self-hatred. This directly hurts the youngest members of our community and there is a way to help. You can help further this bill and see it become law by calling your Rhode Island State Senator and State Representative to express support for the bill to prevent conversion therapy for minors. Organizers are calling for supporters to show up and take a stand when the bill is considered this year. If you would like to help, you can send an email to banconversiontherapyri@ gmail.com requesting information and you will be added to the email list to receive updates. We are often unsure of how to help the unsupported LGBTQ teens and kids we know are hurting. This is a way to help them, and I encourage you to contribute your voice to this effort. For more information on conversion therapy and its effects, visit www.nclrights.org/bornperfect-thefacts-about-conversion-therapy. q
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Ask Lambda Legal by Demoya Gordon, Lambda Legal Regional and Transgender Rights Project Adviser
Back to School: Bathrooms
Q
: I am a transgender boy, beginning my junior year at a new high school this month. I am not only anxious about starting classes and meeting new people, but also because I have heard that the school will not let me use the men’s bathroom or locker room. While I really don’t want to make waves, I know that the law provides protection from this kind of discrimination. What are my options for dealing with the school?
A
: Going back to school is tough. Readjusting to a packed schedule, extra-curricular activities, and new friends can be a source of stress for anyone, but using the correct bathroom should not be. Medical experts recognize that it is paramount to the well-being of transgender people to live in accordance with their gender identity in every aspect of their lives. Using the restroom is a core part of that experience, and federal law mandates that a school or workplace cannot bar you from using the bathroom that corresponds with your gender identity. “Title IX protects all persons, including transgender students, from sex discrimination,” the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) stated
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recently in GG v. Gloucester County Sch. Bd., reaffirming that preventing a transgender male student from using the bathroom violated federal law. “Granting transgender students access to restrooms consistent with their gender identity will serve the public interest by ensuring that the district treats all students within its bounds with respect and dignity,” the agencies added. Schools also cannot credibly claim that banning a transgender student from using the appropriate bathroom is meant to protect that student from harassment. As both the ED and the DOJ noted, transgender students are safest when they are not singled out by schools as different. “Allowing transgender students to use the restrooms consistent with their gender identity will help prevent stigma that results in bullying and harassment and will ensure that the district fosters a safe and supporting learning environment for all students, a result that is unquestionably in the public interest,” the agencies said. If you face difficulty when trying to use the bathroom, these tips from Lambda Legal’s Transgender Rights Toolkit can help: 1) Stay calm and explain to school authorities that you are using the restroom that matches your gender identity.
2) Seek support from a teacher, other adult, or friend who will be on your side. 3) If the issue persists and you are still being denied access to the bathroom, you can file a complaint with the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (www2.ed.gov/ ocr) or with your local or state antidiscrimination agency. 4) Let us know. Lambda Legal’s Help Desk (toll-free: 866-542-8336 or www.lambdalegal.org/help) takes calls from transgender and gendernonconforming people who have experienced discrimination. Denying a transgender person access to the gender-appropriate bathroom increases the danger transgender people face when using public facilities. Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself and educate others, or reach out to Lambda Legal if you need more help or support. For more information, visit www. lambdalegal.org to find our Transgender Rights Toolkit and our “FAQ: Answers to Some Common Questions about Equal Access to Public Restrooms.” q Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and those with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.
Options | October 2015
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What’s Next for
by Francis Ryan
Stephen
Hartley?
Photo by Jen Bonin
Options Magazine contributor Francis Ryan sat down with Stephen Hartley, former development director at AIDS Care Ocean State (who’s perhaps even better known for his drag persona, Kitty Litter), to discuss his recent departure from the organization and his new role at House of Hope Community Development Corporation. Options: Thank you for sitting down with us, Stephen, and congratulations on your new role at House of Hope. This is exciting news! What brought about the sudden departure from AIDS Care Ocean State? Stephen Hartley: Thank you and first, I must say, it was not really sudden. I was with ACOS as their development director for ten years. The average length of stay for any person in that line of work is three or four years. I stayed much longer because I felt that they needed my guidance to raise money and, admittedly, I believe that I brought ACOS as far as I could bring them. I was ready to take on new challenges and give someone else the opportunity to further enhance the organization. As I left, I felt confident that I secured all of the tools needed to keep the wheels in motion. Overall, I remain committed to the fight against HIV and I look forward to continuing this in my next position. O: What exactly is your new position and how did you find it? SH: I am really eager to begin work as the Director of Development and Public Relations with House of Hope CDC, an organization that works with the homeless in our area. When word got out that I was looking for new challenges, people began to reach out to me from various organizations. I was contacted by individuals from House of Hope CDC and, having previously known about their mission and values, I immediately knew it was the perfect fit for me. Aside from operating 12 shelters throughout the state of Rhode Island, House of Hope CDC also offers necessary assistance with moving into permanent housing. This is accomplished through the efforts of social workers who teach or strengthen vital skills such as balancing checkbooks, applying for jobs, writing resumes, and many other factors deemed necessary for an individual’s success.
professional role mean for her moving forward? SH: Kitty Litter has always and will always be an advocate for organizations that improve the greater community. Kitty is associated with ACOS quite a bit, but out of respect and consideration for anyone who fills my position, I need to step back and distance Kitty from certain events. I oversaw a development office that was event-driven because I loved fundraising through social events. Understandably, a new development director for ACOS will have a new or different approach for the organization. Additionally, as I get older and continue in my professional career, taking on the role of Kitty Litter will be challenging. I will need to be more selective about when and where Kitty Litter will make an appearance. You will still see her assisting with or attending fundraisers for Youth Pride and Options Magazine, but the number of events she will attend is becoming more limited. No, Kitty’s not going to retire; where Kitty will end up is anyone’s guess! O: Thank you for taking the time to update us on your new adventure. We wish you the best of luck at House of Hope CDC and appreciate all that you do for Rhode Island’s LGBTQ community. SH: Thank you for having me, and for all that you do, too.q
O: Your drag persona, Kitty Litter, has almost become synonymous with ACOS. What does your new
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Options | October 2015
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OUT
30th Annual AIDS Walk RI, 9/13/15 Rhode Island Pride Honors, 9/13/15 Photos by Jack Hartwein-Sanchez & Ryan Clarke
On the Town 20 20
Options || October October 2015 2015 Options
Options | October 2015
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THE ROARING TEENS AND TWENTIES Youth Pride Inc.’s Annual Event Friday, October 16, 2015 5:30pm-10:00pm
The Arcade in Downtown Providence will play host to amazing food, a silent auction, music, dancing, a signature cocktail & cash bar from New Harvest Coffee.
Come dressed in your favorite 1920s attire!
Honorary Event Chairperson Jacqueline DiMera will make this event a night to remember!
TICKETS ARE $50.00 www.YouthPrideRI.org
Sponsored in part by: 22
Anne Marie Silvia & Kathy Trier
don’t grow up invisible
Youth Pride Inc.
options magazine
Options | October 2015
One big change we’re happy to announce is the expansion of one of our new don’t grow up invisible programs, 13 and Under Day, which brings a whole new age range of young LGBTQQ and allied people together to form community. by Jeana DeLaire YPI has traditionally ser ved youth With the fall semester underway, between the ages of 13 and 23, but over we’re beginning to see a lot of changes the last year our organization received here at Youth Pride Inc. (YPI). Youth multiple requests to ser ve a younger from cities and towns across the state population. These requests originated are par ticipating in YPI for the first from young people in elementar y and time. Fresh paint in vibrant orange and middle schools taking the initiative purple shine on the walls with the first to seek out people with whom they phase of our redesign now underway. can relate and discuss their identities, Our new programming schedule, based teachers looking for resources for on youth feedback and crafted by YPI young students, and suppor tive parents staff, has set for th new and familiar searching for safe places to bring their sounds of laughter and lively discussions children. While the requests var y, a during suppor t groups, ar ts and crafts common theme we hear is a feeling activities, and gay/straight alliance of frustration at the lack of resources (GSA) meetings, with new volunteers available to young people under 13 leading workshops from areas within that focus on the LGBTQQ community. One mother recently visiting YPI with their exper tise.
Youth Pride Inc.
a young child being bullied for their gender expression exclaimed, “It’s a miracle that this program exists.” 13 and Under Day is a two-hour block of time occurring every Thursday from 5-7pm. Young people ages 9-13 are welcome during this time and must return a signed guardian consent form to par ticipate. Activities include a suppor t group beginning at 5pm and an hour of drop-in from 6-7pm with ar ts and crafts, board games, and other activities. Email jeana@youthprideri. org or alexis@youthprideri.org with questions and to receive a guardian consent form.q Youth Pride Inc. provides support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQQ young people ages 9-23. Our Dropin Center is at 473 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903. Visit www. youthprideri.org, email info@youthprideri. org, or call (401) 421-5626 for more info.
Lesbians
Loose
on the
by Annie Cronin-Silva & Melanie Silva Fall is in the air! Long gone are the summer breezes, beach days, and ice cream cones. But don’t fret—we have plenty of fall activities to pack your calendar! Attending the Options release party at the end of August was a fabulous way to close out the summer. It was a jam-packed day at The Stable as the bar was decorated with copies of Options Magazine featuring cover girl and local drag sensation BB Hayes, who was in the crowd. We loved the article on BB, though admittedly, we’re biased. Melanie first saw BB in a Rhode Island gay bar over 15 years ago and from that moment on, no one could compare. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.You couldn’t ask for a more sincere and sweet human being than BB Hayes. It was refreshing to chat with so many of our readers and we encourage you to attend our release parties and get
Options | October 2015
to know the volunteers who write, edit, and distribute this magazine every month. After the release party, we ventured to The Village in honor of longtime community volunteer Kevin Mitchell who passed away earlier this summer. Donations were being made toward his final expenses. Although we didn’t know Kevin personally, the outpouring of love and admiration in the room warmed our hearts. We have witnessed community members come together in support of so many worthy causes recently; we couldn’t help sensing a feeling of security, knowing that if we had to ask for help, we could find it within this generous community. Stephen Hartley, aka the divine Miss Kitty Litter, has left his position as Development Director of AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS). We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge his years
of dedication, enthusiasm, compassion, and hard work. Stephen brought muchneeded attention to HIV/AIDS and raised more money for ACOS than he ever imagined possible. Kitty Litter’s countless fundraisers, Bingos, and comedy nights brought us—and thousands of others— out on the town and kept us laughing for over a decade. We’re eager to support Stephen in his next endeavor as he combats homelessness at House of Hope in Warwick. We thank you, love you, and wish you luck, Kitty! We traditionally end our column with suggestions to enhance your social life, and this month we’re urging you to flip to the Calendar on page 8 and choose at least two events to attend this autumn. Come out, be seen, and be part of the community!q
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NEWS FROM by Kim Stowell
representation of the LGBT elder community. And the framework and operating structure for SAGE-RI was strengthened to provide a foundation for this new growth and expansion on which we are now embarking. What’s Next?
Annual Meeting (front row, from left): Sally Hay, Freeman Freeman, Corrine Hill, Executive Director Kim Stowell, Deb DeCarlo, Patrick Smock, Sue Pearlmutter
New Board It is SAGE Rhode Island’s distinct pleasure to introduce our new Board of Directors. The entire SAGE family is grateful to this talented group of individuals for their commitment to the organization. They are: Deb DeCarlo, Freeman T. Freeman, Sally Ann Hay, Corrine Hill, Sue Pearlmutter, and Patrick Smock. Please wish them well when you see them. Their election took place at SAGE’s September 12 Annual Meeting—always a lively event with great food and fascinating people. This year’s event included the first of a series of annual awards. The Harry Hay award, given for demonstrating courage and conviction while advancing the cause of LGBT elders, went to long-time SAGE activist Sally Hay. The Contributors Award, for important contributions that add to the well-being of the LGBT elder community and beyond, went to Jeff Hartley for his beautiful and moving documentary about many of our local LGBT community members. And the last award was the Unsung Hero, which went to Cathy Gorman, whose professionalism and determination while attending countless meetings and events on behalf of SAGE-RI has helped the organization become what it is today.
Looking ahead, there is much to be excited about. Some of the next year will look familiar: SAGE will continue hosting social events, educating the public, training professionals, and advocating for and supporting our LGBT elders. However, there are some new endeavors on the horizon too. In October, SAGE-RI will begin sending a monthly newsletter to members and stakeholders containing useful news and links to important resources, and information about new programs and events, like the ongoing and very popular LGBT Café. In addition, SAGE will be holding several open houses this fall at some great locations.This will be a chance for new folks to connect with the organization, meet people, and find out what is going on among Rhode Island’s LGBT elders. SAGE welcomes all, young and older, to join them at these events.q SAGE-RI (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) seeks to address issues of concern to older LGBT Rhode Islanders and is a member-driven organization of diverse people of all ages. For information on programs or to join SAGE-RI, drop us a line at info@sage-ri.org; visit www.sage-ri. org; leave us a message at (401) 443-4451; write to us at 1 Virginia Avenue, Suite 102, Providence, RI 02905; or find us on Facebook as SAGE-Rhode Island.
JDHS PHOTOS
An Excerpt from the Remarks of Advisory Committee Chair Marguerite McLaughlin What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time, SAGE came together with a sense of urgency reflected in our theme “Life at the Tipping Point” and another later meeting entitled “Make It or Break It.”This urgency was predicated on our mutual desire to be able to do more for our community, and by a series of benchmarks made mandatory for each SAGE affiliate by our national parent organization, SAGE-USA.What we all recognized was the fact that our youthful child, SAGE-RI, had become a teenager, and at the age of 17 was looking to live a far more impactful life. SAGE-RI had come into its own and was euphemistically looking for the “keys to the car,” ready to head off onto bigger challenges and adventures. SAGE-RI grew in innumerable ways this year. Under the very thoughtful and caring concern of the RI Foundation’s Adrian Bonéy, SAGE-RI was awarded the full amount of grant money to help achieve its goals.Training, education, and information was delivered at fairs, expos, and to any organization that longed to learn about the needs and special interests of the elder LGBT community. Volunteers represented at countless meetings to assure the
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AIDS Walk RI: Keeping Hope Alive Care Ocean State. Fitzgerald was the founding executive director of the Family AIDS Center for Treatment and Support (FACTS), which was one of the first 13 pediatric AIDS demonstration projects created nationwide in 1988. FACTS grew into a full-service AIDS organization and merged with Sunrise House to become AIDS Care Ocean State. Hope Harris’ family leads the 2015 AIDS Walk, courtesy AIDS Project RI.
“Keeping Hope Alive” was the theme for the annual AIDS Walk RI fundraising event, which featured an approximately two-mile course beginning and ending at the Rhode Island State House on September 13.
The theme especially reflected the spirit of the day. To honor the memory of the late AIDS Project RI board member Hope Harris, an award was created in her name to recognize a person or organization with a deep dedication to the fight against HIV/AIDS.The first annual Hope Harris Award was presented to Paul Fitzgerald, the president and CEO of AIDS
Our emcee for the day was NBC 10’s Barbara Morse Silva, and speakers included Congressman David Cicilline; Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza; RI Public Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH; community Representative Ronald Lewis; and Philip Chan, MD, from the Miriam Hospital’s Immunology Center. NBC 10’s Mario Hilario and Drs. Alexander-Scott and Chan served as honorary event co-chairs. The life of wellknow local philanthropist Guy Abelson, who passed away recently and was deeply involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, was celebrated at the event. AIDS Walk RI 2015 was organized by AIDS Project Rhode Island and AIDS Care Ocean State. Special thanks to our
by Stephen Hug
sponsors: Cardi’s Furniture, CVS Health, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Miriam Hospital/a Lifespan Partner, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, United Healthcare, the City of Providence, MetLife, McLaughlin & Moran, NBC 10, GoLocalProv, 94 HJY, Coast 93.3 Radio, Latino Public Radio, WBRU, Poder 1110, Latina 100.3, WJFD, and WUMD. Donations are still being accepted at www.firstgiving.com/aidswalkri and more information is available at www. aidsprojectri.org and www.aidscareos. org.q AIDS Project RI is a division of Family Service of RI, providing case management, various health-related services, advocacy, prevention education, and HIV and Hep-C testing. APRI’s location is 9 Pleasant Street, Providence. Call (401) 831-5522 or visit www.aisdprojectri.org for more info.
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Options | October 2015 Miriam Hospital HIV/STD Clinic 1125 North Main Street Providence, RI
Options | October 2015
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RI PR I D E
by Kurt Bagley
Rhode Island Pride Honors on September 13 was another great night to remember.Thank yous are owed to many individuals who helped make the evening happen, but primarily to our presenting sponsors, Dark Lady and Alley Cat; High Output; the Providence Marriott, who so smoothly accommodated our moving the event indoors due to inclement weather; and to our hosts, Payton St. James and John Kelley.The Marriott also provided some great food alongside Clean Plate and The Melting Pot. Please show our community’s support of these amazing restaurants as they continue to help us make Pride something to be proud of.
Rhode Island Pride’s Annual Meeting will be held this month on October 28. The Board of Directors accepted nominations to board positions in September and will advertise an election slate in mid-October via our e-newsletter and through social media. At the Annual Meeting, members who are present will have the opportunity to vote yes or no to individuals on the slate. You are considered a voting member if you are an active participant in various Pride committees and/or have volunteered for Pride events on a regular basis over the past year. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your voice be heard!q
It was a joy to honor RI Future’s Steve Ahlquist with the Spirit of Pride Award in recognition of his responsible journalism and advocacy on the varied issues our community faces, and it was a real pleasure to listen to Kate Monteiro as she accepted the Pyramid of Pride Award from Rodney Davis to honor her decades of activism and dedication to the movement. Volunteer of the Year Jess Wrubel, Rookie Volunteer David Manning, and PrideFest MVPs Rich Pezzillo and Michael DeGrandpre were all recognized for their valuable contributions in 2015. The evening ended with the PrideFest Video Retrospective which was expertly produced by Paul Roselli and can be viewed at www.prideri.com. Save the date for the 2016 RI Pride Honors: Sunday September 18.
Rhode Island Pride is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the visibility, equality, and diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and provides safe space to come out, express, and celebrate all sexual identities and genders. For more information, email info@prideri.com or call (401) 467-2130.
We’ve moved! Find us in the heart of Providence’s West Side at 1055 Westminster Street, 2nd floor. We’re 1/3 of a mile from Youth Pride, just up the road from Ogie’s, and around the corner from the Avery. We’re sharing space with Options Magazine. Our downstairs neighbors, Providence Community Acupuncture, should be open in early October, when we will hold a joint open house/grand opening party. Check our website for details. Don’t forget: there is something going on at the Pride Center almost every Wednesday evening. Check our online calendar, join us, and be a part of all the great things we do for the community. Nominated Best Erotic Boutique in U.S., AVN Awards 2012
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Options | October 2015
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â&#x20AC;˘ 1-800-459-6019 (TTY 711) 29
Resources Options originated in 1982 as the offical newsletter of the Rhode Island Gay Task Force. Editor Jos Fayette explained, “The RIGTF wants to make the homosexual community aware of their options as gay men and women in Rhode Island. And it’s only because we live, work, love, and play in this state that there are such a large number of options available to all of us.” Options has always, and will continue to print LGBTQ resources so that you can, as Fayette went on to say, “Exercise your OPTIONS today to make positive changes in your life tomorrow.” Help us help you! Email info@optionsri.org if you come across a resource listing that needs updating. Phone numbers are in the 401 area code and addresses are in Rhode Island, unless otherwise indicated.
Addiction Support Groups AA Brothers in Sobriety: Saturday 7:30pm. 372 Wayland Avenue, Providence. 751-9328. Alcohol/Drug Helpline: RI Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence. 24hr. (866) 252-3784. RI LGBT AA Group: Tuesdays 7-8pm. The Wellness Company,132A George M Cohan Blvd.,Providence.All are welcome. Set Them Free: Narcotics Anonymous open discussion group. Wednesdays 7:30-9pm. Anchor Recovery Community Center, 249 Main Street, Pawtucket. 721-5100. info@anchorrecovery.org. www.anchorrecovery.org.
Seven Hills Behavioral Health: Addiction support services and Narcan. 1173 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA, 508-9994159. 310 S. Main Street, Fall River, MA, 508-235-1012. Leonard Amaral, Program Manager, lamaral@sevenhills.org. Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous: 12-step program. Fridays at 7pm. Providence Presbyterian Church, 500 Hope Street, Providence, side entrance, downstairs to the left. Gay, but all are welcome.
AIDS/Health Resources AFIA Center for Health & Wholeness: Meals, food pantry, HIV support groups, recovery groups, recreational and social activities. Sponsored by AIDS Project RI. Free to clients. Wednesday and Thursday 12-3pm. Mathewson Street Church, 134 Mathewson Street, Providence. Contact Gordon Cooper, 331-1350 ext. 3268. info@uwri.org. www.familyserviceri.org. AIDS Action Hotline: MA only. (800) 235-2331. www.aac.org. AIDS Care Ocean State: Confidential HIV & Hep C testing, safer-sex supplies, case management, emergency funds, clinical services, assisted and supportive housing for people living with HIV/AIDS, street outreach, ENCORE, HIV+ support groups. Speaker’s Bureau, 18 Parkis Ave., Providence. 521-3603 (call 781-0665 to schedule an appointment). www.aidscareos.org. AIDS Project RI: Division of Family Service of RI. Case management, buddies, COBRA and dental services, emergency fund, mental health counseling, nutrition support, assessment and referral, wellness programs, advocacy, strength training, prevention education, HIV testing. 9 Pleasant Street, Providence. 831-5522 www.aidsprojectri.org.
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AIDS Quilt RI: Displays local AIDS memorial quilt panels, panel-making programs including Anna’s Workshop, HIV/AIDS education for young people. PO Box 2591, Newport. 434-4880. admin@aidsquiltri.org. www.aidsquiltri.org. Brown University AIDS Program: Clinical trials, public policy, research, lectures, conferences, patient and community education. 121 South Main Street, Second Floor, Providence. 863-6790. brunap@brown.edu. brown.edu/Departments/BRUNAP. Community Care Alliance: Case management, support, personal care items for people living with HIV/AIDS in northern Rhode Island. 245 Main Street, Woonsocket. 235-6092. lcohen@famresri.org. Comprehensive Community Action Programs: Medical, mental health, dental, social services, LGBT outreach. 311 Doric Avenue, Cranston. Also Coventry, Pawtucket, and Warwick. 467-9610. Gabriel Care, LLC: Nursing/social worker case management and financial compensation for assistance and supervision for those living with HIV. MassHealth funded for MA residents. 376 South Main Street, Fall River, MA. Contact Jenn, (508) 678-1002.
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HIV Antibody Testing: Anonymous.Free or sliding scale.RI Department of Health. Providence, Newport and other locations. 222-2320. Home and Hospice Care of RI: Medical care management for HIV/AIDS. 24hr nursing staff for treatment. 1085 North Main Street, Providence. Referrals: 782-0725. Bereavement groups: Contact John Charette, 727-7079. Main Office: 415-4200 or toll-free 800-338-6555. www.hhcri.org. House of Compassion: HIV/AIDS housing. 2510 Mendon Road, Cumberland. 658-3992. LGBT Caregiver Online Support Group: For LGBTs caring for someone with chronic health problems. www.caregiver.org Luis E. Martinez House CHS, Inc.: Supportive, permanent housing for 10 adults living with HIV/AIDS and/or substance abuse. New Bedford, MA. Contact Joe Taylor. (508) 984-7514. Partners in Learning About AIDS: Outreach to minorities, women of color, and LGBT community at clubs and other locations. North Providence office provides free condoms and information about STIs and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. 1006 Charles Street, Suite 5, North Providence. 484-7523. info@plaidsproject.org. www.plaidsproject.org. Planned Parenthood of So. New England: Confidential, lowcost, same-day & walk-in STD and HIV testing. Commonsense approach to health. 111 Point St., Providence. 800-230-7526. www.ppsne.org. Project Weber: Services for male sex workers. Drop-in center, support groups, HIV and Hep C testing, clean needles. 383-4888. www.projectweber.org.
Seven Hills HIV Prevention & Screening: TWIST program, HIV and STI prevention and testing,partner care.1173AcushnetAvenue, New Bedford, MA, 508-999-4159. 310 S. Main Street, Fall River, MA, 508-235-1012. Contact Leonard Amaral, lamaral@sevenhills.org. SSTAR (Stanley Street Treatment & Resources): Counseling, drug treatment, detox, domestic violence programs, free and confidential HIV, HEP C, and STD testing, education, case management and support. MA and RI locations. 386 Stanley Street, Fall River, MA. (508) 679-5222. Project Aware (HIV/HCV); (508) 324-3561. Family Healthcare Center; (508) 675-1054. www.sstar.org. Steppingstone, Inc.: Welcome Home Medical case management program. One-on-one peer support in Somerset to Wareham area. HIV support groups available. Free and open to any HIV+ person 18+. 5 Dover Street, New Bedford, MA. (508) 984-7514. www.steppingstoneinc.org. Tranquil Mind & Wellness: Counseling, alternative healing, yoga, Pilates, meditation.109 Rhode Island Road, Lakeville, MA. (508) 947-1683. www.tranquilmind.net. Thundermist Health Center: Provides HIV/AIDS services including medical care and treatment by an HIV specialist, dental care, behavioral health counseling, nutritional assessment and counseling, pharmacy consultation, free and confidential HIV testing. 450 Clinton Street, Woonsocket. Contact Philip Kane. 767-4100 ext. 3516.
Information/Education
The Center for Sexual Pleasure & Health: Education, pleasure, health, advocacy. Tues. -- Sat. 12 -- 6 and by appointment. 250 Main Street, Unit 1, Pawtucket. 489-5513. www.thecsph.org. Fenway Community Center LGBT Helpline: Support, information and referrals. Fenway Community Health Center, Boston. Open daily 6-11pm. (617) 267-9001 or 888-340-452 GLBT National Help Center Hotline: Local resources
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nationwide provided by social services agency. 888-843-4564. www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org. Newport Out: LGBT website for Newport. www.newportout.com. RILGBT-News: Low-volume email distribution list for LGBT & AIDS news from RI. Not a discussion list. To subscribe: tinawood@cox.net. United Way of RI Referral Line: 2-1-1
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Nightlife The Alley Cat Providence: Downtown neighborhood bar. Monday-Thursday 3pm-1am, Friday 3pm-2am, Saturday 2pm2am, Sunday 2pm-1am. 19 Snow Street, Providence. 272-6369. Bobby’s Place: Dancing, pool, video lounge, karaoke. SundayWednesday 5pm-1am, Thursday-Saturday 5pm-2am. 62 Weir Street,Taunton, MA. (508) 824-9997. www.bobbysplacema.com. Brooklyn Coffee Tea House: 209 Douglas Ave., Providence: public/private venue for music, art, film screenings, weddings, showers, etc. RHODYWOOD@yahoo.com; 359-0192. Club Body Center: Gay men’s sauna. Membership required. One-day pass available. Open 24hr. 257 Weybosset Street, Providence. 274-0298. www.cbcresorts.com. The Dark Lady: Downtown bar and nightclub. TuesdayThursday 9pm-1am, Friday & Saturday 9pm-3am, Sunday 9pm1am. 17 Snow Street, Providence. 272-6369. EGO: Providence’s newest gay nightlife performance/event space. Sunday and Thursday 9pm-1am, Friday and Saturday 10pm-3am, 73 Richmond St, Providence. 383-1208. www.egopvd.com.
Indigo Lounge: 599 Tiogue Ave, Coventry RI 02816. Breakfast buffet, specialty pizzas, T Dances, live entertainment, karaoke Thurs. Hours vary, closed Mon. www.indigopizza.com. Mirabar: Downtown bar and nightclub. Monday-Thursday 3pm-1am, Friday and Saturday 3pm-2am, Sunday 3pm-1am. 15 Elbow Street, Providence. 331-6761. www.mirabar.com. Providence Eagle: Leather, Levi, bear cruise bar. MondayThursday 2pm-1am, Friday 2pm-2am, Saturday-Sunday 12pm2am. 124 Snow Street, Providence. 421-1447. The Stable: Downtown video bar. No cover. Monday-Thursday 2pm-1am, Friday 2pm-2am, Saturday 12pm-2am, Sunday 12pm1am. 125 Washington Street, Providence. 272-6950. The Village: Downtown Providence’s newest LGBT owned and operated restaurant and live entertainment venue. Lunch & dinner Wednesday through Sunday for varying hours. 373 Richmond St. 228-7222, www.thevillageri.com
Political & Legal Groups American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): 128 Dorrance Street, Suite 220, Providence. 831-7171. riaclu.org. Amnesty International OUTfront: Program to campaign globally for LGBTQ human rights. (212) 807-8400. Cvohs18904@yahoo.com. www.amnestyusa.org. Brown University Queer Alliance: Student advocacy and support organization. queer@brown.edu. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD): LGBT/ HIV legal info hotline. Weekdays 1:30-4:30pm. 30 Winter Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA. (617) 436-1350 or (800) 455-GLAD. gladlaw@glad.org www.GLAD.org. Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund: 120 Wall Street, Suite 1500, NY. (212) 809-8585. www.lambdalegal.org. Lawyers for Equality and Diversity (LEAD): Advocates for LGBT causes. lawyersforequality@gmail.com. National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Assoc./New England: Works for fair and accurate media coverage of LGBT issues. info@nlgja.org, www.nlgja.org.
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The Next Thing (TNT): Political and support group for queer people of color located at Brown University. 863-3062. tnt@brown.edu. RI Commission on Prejudice and Bias: Hate crime awareness training program. www.hatecrimeri.org. RI Socialist Action: 952-5385, adgagneri@gmail.com. Spanish: 351-3514, walsil@cox.net. RI Human Rights Commission: Anti-discrimination law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit. 180 Westminster Street, 3rd floor, Providence. 222-2662 TTY: 222-2664, richr.ri.gov. Scouts for Equality: An organization composed largely of Boy Scouts of America alumni dedicated to ending the BSA’s ban on gay members and leaders. Contact Carol Crowther. ccrowther1@gmail.com. Facebook.com/riscoutsforequality. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network: Serving LGBT military personnel and veterans. PO Box 65301, Washington DC. (202) 328-3244. or (800) 538-7418. sldn@sldn.org. www.sldn.org.
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Religious & Spiritual All Saints Memorial Church: 674Westminster Street, Providence. 751-1747. asmcri@verizon.net. www.allsaintsmemorial.org. Amicable Congregational Church: UCC. Open & Affirming. Pastor William Sterrett. Sunday 10am. 3736 Main Road, Tiverton. 624-4611. amicablechurch@aol.com, www.amicablechurch.org. Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists: robin@awab.org, www.awab.org. Barrington Congregational Church: UCC. “The white church.” Sundays 10am. 461 County Road, Barrington. 246-0111. office@bccucc.org, www.bccucc.org. Bell Street Chapel: Unitarian Universalist. A Welcoming Congregation. Rev. Margaret Weis. Sundays 10am. 5 Bell Street, Providence. 273-5678. www.bellstreetchapel.org. Beneficent Congregational Church: UCC. An Open & Affirming congregation in the heart of Providence. Co-Pastors Todd & Nicole Yonkman. Sundays 10am. 300 Weybosset Street, Providence. 331-9844. BeneficentChurchUCC@gmail.com, www. beneficentchurch.org. Berean Baptist Church: A safe and welcoming place for all God’s children. Sunday 10am. 474 Chapel Street, Harrisville. 568-5411. bereanbaptist@verizon.net. www.bereanri.org. Calvary United Methodist Church of Middletown: LGBTQ early dementia support group. Contact Amy. Sundays 10:30am. 200 Turner Road, Middletown. 847-6181, www.middletownmethodist.com. Central Congregational Church: UCC.An Opening & Affirming Congregation. Sundays 10:30am. 296 Angell Street, Providence. 331-1960. www.centralchurch.us. Channing Memorial Church: Unitarian Universalist. A Welcoming Congregation. Sundays 10am. 135 Pelham Street, Newport. 846-0643. administrator@channingchurch.org. www.channingchurch.org. Charter Oak Grove ADF: An Open and Welcoming Congregation of Neo-pagan Druids in CT. charteroakadf@gmail. com, www.charteroakadf.org. Christ Church in Lonsdale: Episcopal. 1643 Lonsdale Avenue, Lincoln. Services 8am and 10:30am. 725-1920. office@christchurchlincoln.org. www.christchurchlincoln.org. Church of the Ascension, 390 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, RI 02910.
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Sundays at 10am. 461-5811. www.ascensioncranston.org. Church of the Epiphany: A diverse Open & Affirming Episcopal congregation. 1336 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence. 434-5012. info@epiphanyep.org, www.epiphanyep.org. Church of the Holy Paraclete: Independent Old Catholic. Fr. Jakob Lazarus. Sunday 9am and 6pm. 155 Douglas Avenue, Providence. 218-0706. www.holyparaclete.org. Edgewood Congregational Church: UCC. Open & Affirming. Service 10am. 1788 Broad Street, Cranston. 461-1344. office@edgewoodchurchri.org. www.edgewoodchurchri.org. Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Sundays 8 and 9:30am. 120 Nate Whipple Highway, Cumberland. 658-1506. office@emmanuelri.org. www.emmanuelri.org. First Congregational Church in Bristol: An Open and Affirming Congregation. Skip Macaulay, Interim Pastor. 281 High Street, Bristol. 253-7288. www.fccbristol.org. First Unitarian Church: A welcoming congregation. Sunday 10:30am. 1 Benevolent Street, Providence. 421-7970. admin@firstunitarianprov.org, www.firstunitarianprov.org. First Unitarian Church: Service 11am. 71 8th Street, New Bedford, MA. (508) 994-9686. admin@uunewbedford.org, www.uunewbedford.org. First Universalist Society: UU. Welcoming congregation. Samegender weddings. 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA. (508) 5285348. fusf@verizon.net, www.fusf.org. Foxboro Universalist Church: UUA. Service 10am. 6 Bird Street, Foxboro, MA. 508-543-4002. chair@uufoxborough.org. www.uufoxborough.org. Grace Episcopal Church in Providence: 175 Mathewson Street, Providence. 331-3225. hello@gracechurchprovidence.org. www.gracechurchprovidence.org. Immanuel Lutheran Church: A Reconciling in Christ congregation. Pastor Sandra Demmler D’Amico. 647 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA. (508) 222-2898. www.immanuellc.org. Interweave at Channing Memorial UU Church: A membership organization for the spiritual, political and social wellbeing of LGBTQ persons, and their allies, confronting oppression. 135 Pelham Street, Newport. 846-0643. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd: A “Reconciling in Christ” congregation (Welcoming). 3383 Old North Rd., Kingston,
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RI. Sundays 9 am. Pastor Mary Hansen-Joyce. 789-7776; office@ goodshepherdri.org Mathewson St. Church: United Methodist. 134 Mathewson Street, Providence. 331-8900. MathewsonStUMC@gmail.com. Mercy of God Community: Christian, inclusive religious order. mercycomm@yahoo.com, www.mgc.org. Murray Unitarian Universalist Church: Marriage and commitment ceremonies for all. Rev. Bob McKetchnie. 505 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA. (508) 222-0505 www.murrayuuchurch.org. Newman Congregational Church: Open & Affirming. 100 Newman Avenue, Rumford. 434-4742. www.newmanucc.org. Newport Congregational Church: UCC. Open & Affirming. Rev. Hayes and Rev. Baker. 73 Pelham Street, Newport. 849-2238. Park Place Congregational Church: 71 Park Place, Pawtucket. 726-2800. office@ppucc.necoxmail.com, www.parkplaceucc.com. The Pub Church: An Open & Affirming church that meets in a pub. Location may change. Saturday 5pm. The Dugout, 722 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA. thepubchurch@gmail.com. Pilgrim Lutheran Church: An inclusive congregation. Sundays 8 and 9:30am. 1817 Warwick Avenue, Warwick. 739-2937. parishasst@pilgrimlutheranri.org, pilgrimlutheranri.jimdo.com. Pilgrim United Church of Christ: Open and Affirming. 635 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA. (508)-997-9086. Riverside Church: UCC.15 Oak Avenue, Riverside. Service 10am. 433-2039. www.rcc-ucc.com. St. Augustine’s Church and Episcopal Center at URI: 15 Lower College Road, Kingston. 783-2153. Sundays 8am and 10am. StAugustinesChurch@necoxmail.com, www.staugustineuri.org. St. James Church: Episcopal. 474 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence. 353-2079. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church: Sundays 8 and 10am. 50 Orchard Avenue, Providence. 751-2141. StMartinsNB.Secretary@gmail. com, www.stmartinsprov.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church: Welcoming Church. Monthly LGBT Eucharist. 136 Rivet Street, New Bedford, MA. (508)994-8972. stmartins1887@comcast.com, www.stmartinsma.org. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Sundays 9am.50 Park Place,Pawtucket. 728-4300. office@stpaulspawtucket.org, www.stpaulspawtucket.org. St. Paul’s Church: A welcoming Episcopal church. Sundays 9am. 2679 East Main Street, Portsmouth. 683-1164. stpaulsportsmouthri. org.
St. Peter & St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church: 25 Pomona Avenue, Providence. 272-9649.stpanda25@verizon.net. www.stpeters-standrews.org. Saint Therese Old Catholic Church: Open & Affirming. Fr. David Martins. Sunday 10:30am. 1500 Main St., W. Warwick, RI 02893. 680-9076. stocc134@gmail.com, www.saintthereseocc.org. Second Congregational Church of Attleboro: UCC. Open & Affirming. 50 Park Street, Attleboro, MA. Sunday 10am. (508) 2224677. office2nd@verizon.net, www.attleborosecondchurch.org. Seekonk Congregational Church: Rev. Joy Utter. Sundays 9am. 600 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, MA. (508) 336-9355. sccucc@verizon.net, www.scc-ucc.com Soka Gakkai: Buddhist association for peace, culture, and education. Contact for weekly meetings in Providence. 930 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. (617) 264-2000. www.sgi-usa.org. Temple Agudas Achim: Reconstructionist congregation. 901 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA. (508) 222-2243. office@agudasma.org, www.agudasma.org. Temple Beth-El: Rabbi Sarah E. Mack. 70 Orchard Avenue, Providence. 331-6070. info@temple-beth-el.org, www.templebeth-el.org. Temple Emanu-El: A welcoming Conservative congregation. Rabbi Wayne Franklin. 99 Taft Avenue, Providence. 331-1616. info@teprov.org, www.teprov.org. Temple Habonim: A warm, Welcoming Reform congregation. Rabbi Andrew Klein. 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. 2456536. office@templehabonim.org, www.templehabonim.org. Temple Sinai: A Welcoming Reform temple. Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser, 30 Hagen Avenue, Cranston. 942-8350. webmaster@templesinairi.org, www.templesinairi.org. Unitarian Church in Fall River: Sunday 10:30am. 309 North Main Street, Fall River, MA. 508-678-9700. office@unitarianchurchfr. org, www.unitarianchurchfr.org. Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven: Service 10:30am. 102 Green Street, Fairhaven, MA. (508) 992-7081. www. uufairhaven.org. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County: 27 North Road, Peace Dale. 783-4170 or Val 789-7282. uucscri@ yahoo.com. www.uusouthcountyri.org. Westminster Unitarian Universalist Church: A UUA Welcoming Congregation. 119 Kenyon Avenue, East Greenwich. 884-5933. www.westminsteruu.org.
Bear Providence: Monthly social events for the bear community. www.bearprovidence.com Bisexual Resource Center: PO Box 170796, Boston, MA. (617) 424-9595. brc@bicresource.net www.biresource.net. Biversity Boston: Mixed-gender social events for Boston and the surrounding area. (617) 424-9595. biversity-subscribe@biversity.org, www.biversity.org. Boston Bisexual Women’s Network: Social activities including monthly brunches, coming out groups and quarterly newsletter “Bi Woman Quarterly.” www.biwomenboston.org. Bears Ocean State (BOS): Informal e-group for gay & bisexual bearidentified and affiliated men for friendly companionship.All welcome. groups.yahoo.com/group/bearsoceanstate. Cape and Islands Gay & Straight Youth Alliance (CIGSYA): 56 Barnstable Road, Hyannis, MA. (508) 778-7744. info@cisgsya.org, www.cigsya.org. Communisong: For unity through song. Non-performance
monthly singing session. www.communisong.net. CORISMA: Potluck get-togethers for couples from RI and southeast MA. corismainfo@comcast.net, www.corismagroup.org. Imperial Court of RI at Providence: Drag and non-drag performers raise funds for local charities. All welcome to general membership meetings on first Monday at Dark Lady, 17 Snow Street, Providence. icri.prov@gmail.com. www.icriprov.org. Mixed Borders Gardening Group: Gardening and more. Monthly meetings, all welcome. Mixedborders@cox.net. www.mixedborders.com. Opera Club: Enjoy hearing and attending. Last Sunday of each month at 1pm. BrettCornellpi4@aol.com. Providence Gay Men’s Chorus: New season rehearsals begin in January and August. Singers and non-singing volunteers welcome. Monday 7-9:30pm. Beneficent Church, 300 Weybosset Street, Providence. www.provgmc.org.
Social Organizations
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RI Association of Gay Professionals: Networking and philanthropy. www.riagp.com. RI Parents Pride: Gay parents socializing together with their children. Contact Melanie. 464-2288. saphicangel120@yahoo.com. RI Pride: Open house 4th Wednesdays. Festival & Parade 3rd Saturday in June. Office: 1005 Main Street #1105 Pawtucket. Mail: PO Box 1082, Providence, 02903. 467-2130. info@prideri.com, www.prideri.com. RI Prime Timers: Social and networking group for older gay and bi men. Second Sunday. Call Steve, 996-3010. www.riprimetimers. org. RI Skeptics Society: Yearning to talk with someone rational? Refreshing discussion. Fourth Saturday. East Providence restaurant
location. www.meetup.com/skeptics-133/. RI Women’s Association: Lesbian social group. 21+. Dances & events. www.riwa.net. SAGE/RI (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders): Advocacy, education and social events for LGBT seniors. SAGE-RI at CareLink, 1 Virginia Ave., Providence, RI 02905. 443-4451. sageriinfo@gmail. com. www.sage-ri.org. SEMASSMEN: Social group for GBQ men of southeastern MA & RI to foster strong friendships. Semassmen-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com. rlevass@yahoo.com. Yankee Lambda Car Club: Regional club for GLBT vintage and specialty car enthusiasts. www.yankeelcc.com.
Sports & Recreation PrideSports Boston: Network of twenty-plus gay sports leagues/teams in Boston area. www.pridesportsboston.com. Boston Gay BASKETBALL League: ksg.bgbl@gmail.com, www.bgbl.com. Big Gay Al’s Duckpin BOWLING League: Proceeds benefit AIDS causes. Tuesday 6:30pm. 1463 Atwood Avenue, Town Hall Lanes, Johnston. Contact Frank Ferri. 831-6940.www.bgalbowling. com. www.townhalllanes.com. GALA Bowling League: Sundays 5:50 p.m., E. Providence Lanes, 80 Newport Ave., E. Providence. Season begins Aug. 30. View us on Facebook or email galabowling1990@gmail.com. FLAG (For Lesbians And Gays) FOOTBALL: Boston-based recreational football club. All skill levels are encouraged to participate. Saturday mornings in the fall and spring. www.flagflagfootball.com. Boston Pride HOCKEY: www.bostonpridehockey.org. Rondeaus KICKBOXING: 272-5425. www.rondeauskickboxing.com. Main Street MARTIAL ARTS: Non-profit. Welcoming dojo and community center. 1282 North Main Street, Providence. 274-7672.www.mainstma.org. Chiltern Mountain Club: OUTDOOR recreation club in New England. events@chiltern.org. www.chiltern.org. Boston Gay ROWERS: Worldwide online community for gay and lesbian rowers, coxies, coaches, and race officials. www.glrf.org. Boston Ironsides RUGBY Football: www.bostonironsides.org. Providence Women’s RUGBY Center: Competitive and recreational. www.providencerugby.com Frontrunners Rhode Island RUNNING Group: Running and walking group. Newcomers welcome. Meet at the end of Blackstone
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Boulevard at Hope Street, Providence.Thursday 6pm. Contact Brian. 751-7643. bripm@cox.net, frontrunnersri@gmail.com Frontrunners Boston RUNNING Group: Morning walk/ run along the Charles River. Saturdays,10am. Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA. www.frontrunnersboston.org. OutRyders SKIING: New England’s largest gay and lesbian ski and snowboard club. www.outryders.org. Boston Strikers SOCCER Club: Non-profit social organization to learn and improve soccer skills in a relaxed, congenial environment. www.bostonstrikers.com. Renaissance City SOFTBALL League: New players and boosters always welcome. www.providencesoftball.org. Beantown SOFTBALL League: Friendly competition. 27 teams in four divisions of play: competitive, intermediate, and recreational. (617) 297-7490. www.beantownsoftball.com. LANES (Liquid Assets New England SWIMMING): Fitness and/or competition. (617) 937-5858. www.swim-lanes.org. TENNIS-4-All: Boston area tennis organization. www.tennis4all.org. Cambridge Boston VOLLEYBALL Association: Players of all skill levels welcome. secretary@cbvolleyball.net www.gayvolleyball.net. Ocean State Pride VOLLEYBALL League: Adult coed indoor league following USVBA rules. No try-outs. Fee applies. Kent County YMCA, 900 Centerville Road, Warwick. ospvolleyball@gmail.com. East Coast WRESTLING Club: (617)937.5858 x6. ecwc@juno.com. www.eastcoastwrestlingclub.org.
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Students & Youth Bristol Community College The Lambda Connection: (TLC@ BCC) Robert Delaleu, Advisor; BCC-G118, 777 Elsbree St., Fall River, MA (774)357-4056. Brown University Queer Alliance: Umbrella organization at Brown University for LGBTQ groups. 863-3062. queer@brown. edu or lgbtq@brown.edu. CCRI Triangle Alliance: an LGBTQQ student-run group at CCRI, on the Flanagan, Liston, and Knight campuses. www.ccri.edu/triangle/. LGBT National Youth Talkline: 800-246-7743. Private oneto-one chat and info on local resources. Peer Listening Line: Youth-staffed hotline for GLBT youth. Support, info and referrals. 5-10pm. Fenway Community Health Center, Boston, MA. (617) 267-9001 or (800) 399-PEER. www. fenwayhealth.org. Salve Regina University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Alliance: 100 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport. Contact: Benjamin Mead, benjamin.mead@ salve.edu SeaQuel (Southeast Asian Queers United for Empowerment and Leadership): a program of PRYSM. Monthly Sunday meetings. 383-7450. SeaQuel@prysm.us. www.prysm.us.
S.H.E.P.A.R.D. (Stopping Homophobia, Eliminating Prejudices and Restoring Dignity): Providence College, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence. 865-1631. shepard@providence.edu. The Trevor Project: The only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBT youth. Also offers social networks. (866)4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386). thetrevorproject.org. University of RI LGBTIQ2: Alumni association. 874-5808. gsimonelli@uri.edu. URI LGBTQ Center: A cultural department for students, faculty and staff. Florence Badejo. 874-2894. Youth Pride Inc.: Support, education & advocacy for LGBTQQ young people ages 13--23. Tues. -- Fri. 2 -- 8pm. The Way Out peer support group Thurs. 4pm. Gender Spectrum support group Tues. 4pm. Visit our website for full calendar of events. 743 Westminster St., Providence. 421-5626. info@youthprideri.org. www.youthprideri.org.
Support Groups & Social Services Abuse Victims and Survivors: Support on phone for LGBTQ victims & survivors of partner abuse. Confidential peer-led groups. Hotline: (617) 742-4911. TTY: (617) 227-4911. advocate@tnlr.org. Adoption Options: Non-sectarian help. Jewish Family Service, 959 North Main Street, Providence. Contact Betsy Alper. 3315437. www.adoptionoptions.org. Child & Family Services: Counseling, young parent support, adoption, more. LGBT groups beginning July. Open six days. 66 Troy St., Fall River, MA. (508) 676-5708. www.childfamilyservices.org Community Care Alliance: Stipend, assistance, training provided by Family Resources Community Action. 235-6095. www.famresri.org. Foster parents needed: For newborn to age six. 276-4300. www.childrensfriendri.org. Family Service RI: Training, stipend, support provided for nurturing families. Family Service of RI. Contact Gregary Wright. 331-1350 ext. 3305. www.familyserviceri.org. Seven Hills Behavioral Health: HIV Prevention and Screening. 310 South Main Street, Fall River, MA. (508) 235-1012. T.W.I.S.T. (508) 672-0378. Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center: Offering resources for victims of domestic violence. 723-3057. www.bvadvocacycenter.org. Compass: FTM trans info, support and social group.
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Boston first Thursday 7-9pm. compassftm@gmail.com. www.compassftm.org. Crossroads RI Hotline: (800) 367-2700. Day One: Counseling & legal aid for victims of sexual assault/ abuse & incest. 24hr hotline. (800) 494-8100. 421-4100. www.dayoneri.org. Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County: Support, court advocacy, counseling, safe home, info for women and men in abusive or controlling relationships. 24hr free and confidential helpline. 782-3990 or toll free 800-494-8100, www. dvrcsc.org. Gay Fathers of Greater Boston: Support. 738 Main St. #323, Waltham, MA. (781) 333-8429. info@gayfathersboston.org, www.gayfathersboston.org. Gay Officers Action League (GOAL)/New England: Law enforcement officers (sworn & civilian), fire, rescue & publicly employed EMS. Confidential. P.O. Box 171587, Boston, MA 02117. www.newenglandgoal.org. On Facebook at NewEnglandGOAL.Gay Share: Coming Out? Gay menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support group. No fee. Wednesday 7:30pm. Contact Tom or Mike. 369-9448. info@gayshare.org, www.gayshare.org. GLBTQ Domestic Violence Project: Support, info, shelter. 955 Massachusetts Avenue, Private Message Box 131, Cambridge, MA. (800) 832-1901. www.glbtqdvp.org. Helpline for LGBT Youth: Trevor Helpline and social networks for crisis and suicide prevention. 24/7. (866) 4-U-Trevor.
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HIV+ Gay Men’s Support Group: Refreshments served. AIDS Care Ocean State, 18 Parkis Avenue, Providence. 5213603. New members contact Scott. 640-3108. Kathys’ Group: Free support group for lesbians with cancer or any life-threatening illness. Partners and caregivers welcome. Meets monthly in Providence. 888-5KATHYS. Mantalk of S.E. Mass: Socializing and discussions for gay, bi and curious men. Confidential. Drug and alcohol-free. 18+.Thursdays in Taunton and first Tuesdays in New Bedford. 7-8:30pm. mantalksouthcoast@yahoo.com. MentalHelp.net: National directory of inpatient treatment options for those with substance abuse problems. www. mentalhelp.net/care/substance-abuse/ri/ Partner Support Group at Fenway Health: A ten-week support group with the purpose of building community and connections for anyone who identifies as non-trans, ages 18+, and is in a relationship with a trans* person(s). 1340 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. Contact Sarah Eley, LICSW. 857-313-6551. seley@fenwayhealth.org. PFLAG (Parents, & Friends of Lesbians & Gays): Attleboro Chapter serves Southeast Mass. Third Wednesday 6:45 p.m., Second Congregational Church, 50 Park St. (side door). email pflagattleboro@gmail.com. Greater Providence Chapter serves all R.I. First Wednesday at 6:45 p.m., Met School, 325 Public St., Providence. 751-7571. PFLAGprovidence@gmail.com. www. pflagprovidence.org. RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 24hr helpline: (800) 494-8100. 467-9940. RI Rainbow Support Group: For people with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ. Last Tuesday. 98 Rolfe Street, Cranston. 6-7:30pm. Contact Ken Renaud. 785-2100. Samaritans: 24hr hotline for suicidal,lonely,despairing,depressed. (800) 365-4044. 272-4044 (RI only). www.samaritansri.org. Sexual Health Education & Advocacy Program: HIV, sexual wellness, domestic violence risk reduction. Free, confidential, bilingual (Spanish). No caller ID used. Calls blocked for safety. 861-6191 ext. 121. Sojourner House: Call for confidential support group. Support, shelter, advocacy and information for people in abusive relationships. Including specific LGBT services. No caller ID used. Outgoing calls blocked for safety. 24hr helpline. 765-3232. 8616191. www.sojournerri.org Straight Spouses: Groups and online support. www. straightspouse.org. TGI Network of RI: Support, advocacy for transgender, transsexual, gender-variant and/or intersex people. Borderlands peer group 1st & 3d Tues. and 1st & 3d Sat. of the month. Location & information: 441-5058. info@tginetwork.org. www. tginetwork.org. Trans* Partners New England: Gives romantic partners of transgender people a confidential, safe space to explore the impact of a loved one’s gender identity on their relationships, and to connect with other loved ones of transgender people.
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First Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm. Providence. Location unpublished for privacy. partners@tginetwork.org. Trans* Youth Family Allies: Support for gender-variant and transgender children ages 3-18. info@imatyfa.org, www.imatyfa. org. Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA): Growing organization to address the concerns of fair treatment of transgender veterans and active duty service members. www. tavausa.org. Women’s Resource Center of Newport and Bristol Counties: Offering services to victims of domestic violence. 846-5263. www.wrcnbc.org. q
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Worth a Look by The Lit Chick
Quietly brilliant comedian Tig Notaro has been anything but reserved lately. With the release of her Netflix documentary Tig, and her recent HBO comedy special Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted, Notaro is hard to miss, and for anyone who’s gotten a glimpse of her unique brand of comedy, equally hard to forget. Tig documents the personal aftermath of Notaro’s landmark comedy show in 2013, where she performed a day after being diagnosed with breast cancer, and within months of the death of her mother. There was also a battle with a C. diff infection that nearly killed her, and the loss of her girlfriend in the midst of it all. “I came on stage not knowing if I was going to live or die, and because my life had fallen apart so quickly, I kind of assumed I was Approximately 20 percent of Americans are disabled in some way. The recently published QDA: A Queer Disability Anthology, edited by Raymond Luczak, offers the experiences of 48 LGBTQ people with physical and mental disabilities ranging from fibromyalgia to quadriplegia, autism to major depression, and everything in between. With poems, short stories, comics, and sometimes simply their own words, they relate their experiences of what it means to be apart from the mainstream, either visibly or invisibly. They talk about what we seldom hear, about being marginalized within an already marginalized group, and claiming their own spaces within it. Luczak, who is deaf, says he created the book as a response to common media portrayals of disability, which he terms inspiration porn. “We disabled are not superheroes nor as helpless as you think,” says Luczak. “It is critical to maintain an ongoing conversation within the LGBT community [about] what it means to be physically, mentally, and emotionally different. It’s like coming out all over again.” Among my favorites in the book include poems by exAmish slam performer James Shwartz and Artists Without Walls’ Liv Mammone. Mammone writes, “It isn’t a wheelchair; it’s a fully automated battle station. It isn’t a cane; it’s a dousing rod. It isn’t a limp; it’s a swagger. It isn’t a stim; it’s how my fabulous self is pulling magic out of the air.” QDA is a must read for anyone with a disability of any kind, and for anyone who wants to gain a new perspective on what it means to be “able.” Find it at www.squaresandrebels.com.
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going to die,” said Notaro, who opened the show with, “Good evening and hello. I have cancer. How are you?” With her trademark understated charm and honesty, Notaro had her audience laughing at all of it, and on its feet begging for more. In its wake, comedian Louis CK produced an audio recording of the groundbreaking show, called Live. Tig finds Notaro struggling to recover from that year, and also tells her improbable love story that followed, with fellow comedian and now-fiancee Stephanie Allynne. Watch Tig on Netflix; Notaro’s recent HBO comedy special, Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted, on HBO and HBOgo.com; and listen to her podcast, Professor Blastoff on iTunes.
In honor of Halloween, I give you a review of the Portland band Priory’s newest album, Need to Know. The second album for singer-songwriters Brandon Rush and Kyle Sears is electropop and hard rock, with a dash of eerie creeptasticness. Rush wrote the song “Put ‘Em Up” as a tribute to his brother, who is gay, and to acknowledge his difficulties coming out. With a pop-rock feel, the song deals with the struggles of gays and lesbians who find themselves bucking gender norms. The everhipster Priory produced a video for the song that is as artistic as it is impactful. The song is definitely one of the highlights of the album, but I also found myself drawn to the upbeat opening track “Call to Arms” and the album’s standout single “Weekend,” a catchy soundtrack for your off-hour adventures. From the first few tracks, the album gets a bit darker; “Friends and Demons” finds kids running amok with ominous results; “New Thing” has them repeating the sins of the past; and “Mother Mary” prays for death.The larger-than-life sound, with its poppy hooks, delicious electric shifts and guitar rock tears make it hard not to listen to the end. It’s a little “growing pains meets Redrum,” and for those of you who want to relive the horror of growing up this October, this album is worth a listen. q
Options | October 2015
3 1 Providence Place Mall 1st floor Kiosk Providence, RI 02903 182 Thames Street Newport, RI 02840 Tel: 401.236.2739