2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
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Russia detains 2x Olympic champion Brittney Griner on drug charges Women’s basketball star detained by Russian customs, likely bargaining chip in Putin’s war against Ukraine schedule indicated that the last time she played for the UMMC was on January 29. Her social media accounts have been inactive since February 5. Griner’s off-season participation overseas is not out of the norm for approximately 60% of the WNBA’s players currently a part of the league. Off season and overseas earnings roughly quadruple what these pro athletes are paid under the WNBA’s capped salary of $228,000 annually — an abysmal salary when compared to the millions earned by American male counterparts at home. That, in and of itself, is a loaded topic to be explored at another point. But for today, let’s get Brittney home. Her life matters too.
By: Nicole Lashomb* TRT Editor-in-Chief
OPINION
One of the nation’s most decorated W.N.B.A. Basketball pros and double Olympic champion, Brittney Griner, was detained by Russian custom officers at the airport shortly after her arrival to the country. Griner helped lead Team USA to the gold medals at both, the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games. When was she initially held captive is anyone’s guess. To date, Griner is still being held prisoner, while her wife and family await any news of her detainment abroad and hope for a potential extraction from the war-laden country back to the U.S. Currently, nothing has been detailed about the condition of Griner’s imprisonment, other than the reported news that she is being held on alleged “drug charges” after Russian Federal Customs Service allegedly discovered vape cartridges of hashish oil in her luggage at an airport in close proximity to Moscow. According to Healthline, hash oil is a concentrated cannabis extract that can be smoked, vaped, eaten, or rubbed onto the skin, and a legalized substance from within the U.S. That, in combination with her being an out and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community adds another web of uncertainty if Griner could also be charged with another crime according to Russian law, being gay. Of utmost concern, of course, is for her physical and mental health, including potentially torturous conditions she could be subjected to while detained by the propaganda-filled, war hungry, Putinified hell. Via a written statement, the W.N.B.A. said that she has the league’s “full support” and that their focus is also on her swift and safe return to the U.S. Due to the legality of the situation, additional comments nor information are being provided. “The 31-year-old Griner, who led Phoenix to the franchise’s third ever title in 2014 and a surprise return to the WNBA finals in October, has also played for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the offseason since 2015, helping the Russian club to three domestic titles and EuroLeague Women championships in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021,” The Guardian (https://bit.ly/36OBwFV) reported. I was not surprised to learn that someone who helped uplift the Russian club to multiple championships would be used as a bargaining chip less than a year later by Putin by hyping up bogus charges to justify detainment. Someone as deranged as Putin doesn’t view people as people. Instead, he manipulates systems, monies, and drives cooperation out of fear and concern rather than actual loyalty. We’ve seen this countless times throughout the beginning of his wars endlessly in Ukraine and Syria.
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The invasion of Ukraine Russian troops directed to Ukraine report that they are not clear on what the purpose of the invasion is while also being denied adequate food, water, and shelter as they knowingly slaughter Ukrainian men, women and children on Putin’s orders. This madman offers no discernment what-soever between any of them at all. He uses people, chews them up, spits them out and lies to the entire global community while fabricating the most heinous propaganda to run on state sponsored Russian media so that Rus-
substantial that there is nothing left of Ukraine and its people so that Putin can rebuild the Soviet Union. The sinister dictator and former KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years — who raised to the rank of lieutenant colonel — demands absolute loyalty from all. However, Putin has loyalty to nothing other than the self-preservation of power. Griner’s situation We should all be concerned for anyone being detained by Russia. I am deeply alarmed for Griner’s safety as
ACCORDING TO THE GUARDIAN, THE 31YEAR-OLD OLYMPIAN HAS ALSO PLAYED FOR UMMC EKATERINBURG DURING THE OFFSEASON SINCE 2015, HELPING THE RUSSIAN CLUB TO THREE DOMESTIC TITLES AND EUROLEAGUE WOMEN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2016, 2018, 2019 AND 2021. sians themselves do not learn the truth of what is actually being done. Thanks to social media and countless U.S. media coverage, that veil is finally being pierced. Likewise, Russian troops have reported that they were told not to return once the “mission” was completed, whatever that is. It’s clear that Putin’s endgame is to create a destruction so
her intersectional identity will undoubtedly also be used against her if Putin doesn’t get what he wants, if it hasn’t already happened without the mainstreams’ knowledge. An exact date of Griner’s arrest has not been made public at the time of press, citing that the incident took place at some point in February. Her
*Nicole Lashomb is Editor-in-Chief of The Rainbow Times and holds an MBA from Marylhurst University and a BM from NY’s esteemed Crane School of Music. Letters to the editor may be emailed to editor@therainbowtimesmass.com.
Multiple Award Winning
The Rainbow Times New England’s Largest LGBTQ+ Newspaper — Boston Based TheRainbowTimesMass.com editor@therainbowtimesmass.com sales@therainbowtimesmass.com Phone: 617.444.9618 Publisher Graysen M. Ocasio
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The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The Rainbow Times, LLC. TRT is an award-winning publication that started printing in late 2006. The 1st print issue was published in Feb. 2007. The articles written by the writers, columnists, and correspondents solely express their opinion, and do not represent the endorsement or opinion of The Rainbow Times, LLC or its owners. Send letters to the editor with your name, address and phone number to The Rainbow Times (address shown above), or e-mail any comment/s to the editor-in-chief at: editor@therainbowtimesmass.com. All submissions will be edited according to space constraints. The Rainbow Times, LLC reserves the right not to print any or all content or advertisements for any reason at all. TRT is not responsible for advertising content. To receive The Rainbow Times at your home via regular mail, or through electronic delivery, please visit its website. The whole content and graphics (photos, etc.) are the sole property of The Rainbow Times, LLC and they cannot be reproduced at all without TRT’s written consent. The appearance of names or photographic representations in TRT does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation or gender identity of the named or depicted individuals.
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GRAPHIC: KATLOVE / PIXABAY
Southern Equality campaign launches $20K emergency grant to support Trans youth in Texas
BRC launches 9th annual Bisexual+ health awareness month #BiHealthMonth campaign highlights the importance of connecting bisexual+ people to each other, communities & health care resources
IN THE LIMELIGHT
BOSTON—The Bisexual Resource Center (BRC; https://bit.ly/3szZGwg), America’s oldest national bisexual organization, will celebrate the 9th annual Bisexual+ Health Awareness Month (#BiHealthMonth) social media campaign throughout March 2022. Learn more about #BiHealthMonth through the BRC website at https://bit.ly/349LWPK. #BiHealthMonth, founded and led annually by the BRC, raises awareness about the bisexual+ (bi, pansexual, fluid, queer, etc.) community’s social, economic and health disparities; advocates for resources; and inspires actions to improve bi+ people’s well-being. This year’s #BiHealthMonth theme is “Connection.” This theme has been chosen to highlight the importance of connecting bisexual+ people to each other, to supportive communities and to health care resources that are affirming of their identities. While there are many different ways that bi+ people can connect, the goal of connection is to build safe, inclusive spaces — in-person and online, locally and globally — for bi+ people to share their experiences and create meaningful relationships. When bi+ people are connected, it greatly improves their physical, mental and social health, particularly for bi+ people living in historically oppressed, marginalized or isolated communities. "This year's #BiHealthMonth is all about connection,” said Belle Haggett Silverman, president of the Bisexual Resource Center. “How are we connected as people? As communities? As a movement? We know that, while connection comes in many forms, it is
always crucial for people to thrive individually and collectively. When we create spaces for bi+ people to come together and support each other, we can build a healthier, happier bi+ community and improve health outcomes for bi+ people worldwide." Throughout the month of March, the BRC will partner with a diverse array of leading organizations, including #StillBisexual, AIDS United, Athlete Ally, the Battered Women’s Justice Project, BiArtsFestival, Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago, Bi Women Boston, Fandom Forward, Fenway Health, Howard Brown Health, Human Rights Campaign, LGBT Center of Wisconsin, Los Angeles Bi Task Force, Magic City Acceptance Center, Mini Productions, Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, NARAL, North Shore Pride, the NYC LGBT Center, PFLAG National, the National LGBTQ Task Force, SAGE, SpeakOUT Boston, Step Up For Mental Health, TAIMI, the Visibility Impact Fund and others to feature engaging and informative content, events, research, resources and actions. The BRC invites individuals, organizations, media outlets, companies and anyone interested to participate all month long by posting online using #BiHealthMonth, hosting local community events, donating to the Bisexual Resource Center and more. Some #BiHealthMonth highlights this year include a screening of the short film “Treacle,” hosted by April Kelley; panels on bi+ health featuring conversations with BRC board members Gabby Blonder, Andrea Holland, and River McMican; new, original content from bi+ advocates, including Robyn Ochs; and a full calendar of BRC-hosted online events (https://bit.ly/3huZGaU) including a
See BRC On Page 11
Reports surface that trans-affirming families in TX are facing investigations of “child abuse” As families of transgender youth in Texas face alarming new threats of state interference, including seeing their love and affirmation for their children classified as “child abuse,” the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) has launched a new rapid response grant round to quickly route funds to Texans impacted. The grant round of $20,0000 will be distributed through CSE’s Southern Equality Fund (https://bit.ly/3C2pQLv). Transgender youth and their families in Texas have faced a years-long assault from state lawmakers, with the crisis escalating dramatically last week, when the Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a legal opinion deeming it “child abuse” to affirm, support, and provide best-practice medical care for transgender young people. Governor
decision-makers in Texas. As a transgender person, I know that affirming and understanding your transgender child is a tremendous and honorable act of love. And as a Southerner, I believe that we cannot stand by as our LGBTQ community faces these relentless attacks. This emergency grant round is one way we can provide assistance to families working overtime right now to navigate a scary and unsettling moment. We will disburse this first round and fundraise to support additional rounds of grants.” The new grant round is a part of the Southern Equality Fund, launched 7 years ago to provide financial and logistical support to grassroots Southern organizers. Since March 2020 the Campaign for Southern Equality has pivoted grant-making efforts to pro-
PHOTO: EHIMETALOR AKHERE UNUABONA / UNSPLASH
Greg Abbott subsequently directed the Department of Family & Protective Services to enforce the order. Trans youth and families of trans youth in Texas can now submit a short application for rapid response grants of $250, which can help cover the cost of legal services, emergency planning, mental health support, and more. Click here to view the application in English (https://bit.ly/36HHRD5), and click here for Spanish (https://bit.ly/36VmRJh). Allison Scott (She/Her), Director of Impact & Innovation at the Campaign for Southern Equality, said today: “As a parent, my heart goes out to the families whose lives are being upended by a disgusting and terrifying political attack from anti-LGBTQ
vide Emergency Assistance to LGBTQ individuals and families grappling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past two years we’ve opened up more than $475,000 in rapid response funding through our COVID19 Rapid Response Grant Program (https://bit.ly/3HyXUQu). If you don’t live in Texas but want to support this emergency fund for Texas families, click here to make a donation and we’ll route it to families who need support (https://bit.ly/3C574TG). Based in Asheville, NC, the Campaign for Southern Equality (southernequality.org/) promotes full LGBTQ equality across the South. Our work is rooted in commitments to equity in race, gender and class.
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Rehearsal for Life’s “Banned in Boston” – Back to School Edition Faith Soloway, Jane Lynch, and Tim Meadows to Headline All-New Online Musical to Benefit Urban Improv
IN THE LIMELIGHT
BOSTON—Rehearsal for Life, a non-profit leader in Bostonarea’s creative youth development sector, has announced its new Banned in Boston (https://bit.ly/3NjlXHh) musical to be presented virtually on April 14, 2022 at 7 p.m. The 2022 performance will once again be written and scored by award-winning creative Faith Soloway, Interim Artistic Director of Rehearsal for Life and cowriter of Amazon’s award-winning show Transparent, with special guest performances by actors Jane Lynch of Glee and Tim Meadows of Saturday Night Live. Sponsorships to the popular, annual event are available at BannedinBoston.org, however, to promote accessibility and inclusivity for all, individual tickets are available with a pay as you can or are able to option here (https://bit.ly/3wKkwLU). Download past events and classroom images here (https://we.tl/t7zUzPDwBzY). In keeping with the Banned in Boston tradition, more than two-dozen politicians, celebrities, and business leaders will join the cast to support Urban Improv’s important work with Boston Public School students. This year’s musicalesque romp, ‘Back To School’, will be a dystopian comedy based on the exaggerated reality of returning to school during the pandemic, when in-person learning and gatherings remain challenging.
“As a former teaching artist in Urban Improv, I grew up in this organization and know the impact of the work with students learning to manage difficult situations and conversations,” said Soloway. “To prepare for this year’s show, we are uniting Boston luminaries with students and staff and there is nothing I like more than collaborating on an original musical and having more people in this creative process working together. This year’s premiere of going ‘Back To School’ is a reflection of what it has felt like for us and it promises to be heartwarming and hilarious at the same time!” As of this moment, the 2022 Banned in Boston cast includes: Faith Soloway, Artistic Director, Urban Improv, and Head Writer, Transparent; Jane Lynch, Actress, musical comedy Glee;
Transgender people to lead 2022 virtual PTWC, Mazzoni Center says By: Audrey Cole The Rainbow Times
PHILADELPHIA—The Mazzoni Center announced in mid-February their decision “to pivot the 2022 edition of its Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, PTWC, to a virtual format due to concerns over the lingering pandemic.” In lieu of the decision, the Conference coordinators are centering the workshops on trans people’s experiences. The PTWC is not only an event for trans and nonbinary people but also a favorite of many people who love and have family members who are trans. “I love going there with my transgender wife; supporting her and her journey is supporting us,” said Sam Roland, a junior Villanova University student who attends each year whether in person or virtually. “I support the work it does because it matters to so many of our friends, family, to me, and specifically to my wife, who is trans, black, beautiful, and proud.” Call for trans-led workshops It is the conference’s aim to center
The flag of the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference 2018 displayed all throughout downtown Philadelphia. PHOTO: THE RAINBOW TIMES’ ARCHIVES
the event on trans people’s lives from the perspective of trans experiences, lived or learned and acquired. Because of that, their intent is to have the community members themselves lead the conversations and the workshops. “These are not buzzwords, but a recognition of the truth about where ex-
See PTWC-Mazzoni On Page 11
Tim Meadows, Actor, Saturday Night Live; Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director, Massachusetts Cultural Council; Brad Brown, Owner, Blue Frog Bakery; Ginger Brown, Executive Director, JP Main Streets; Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent, Boston Public Schools; Sonia Chang-Díaz, MA State Senator; Steve Conine, Co-Chairman, Wayfair; William ‘Mo’ Cowan, Chief Legal and External Affairs Officer, Devoted Health; Linda Dorcena Forry, VP of Diversity, Inclusion & Community, Suffolk Construction; Tom Hamilton, Bassist, Aerosmith; David
Howse, Executive Director, Emerson College, Office of the Arts; Kendra Hicks Lara, Boston City Councilor, District Six and Urban Improv alum from 15 years ago; Shirley Leung, Columnist, The Boston Globe; Amina Michel-Lord, Educator, Mission Hill School; Jim McGovern, US Congressman; Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, President & CEO, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health; JC Monahan, News Anchor, NBC Boston; Robert Rivers, Chairman & CEO, Eastern
See Banned In Boston On Page 11
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People of faith in red states support LGBTQ protections LGBTQIA+ IN THE SOUTH
WASHINGTON—According to a new analysis of data (https://bit.ly/3q3ch9C) from the Public Religion Research Institute, strong majorities of religious Americans support LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. The analysis includes breakdowns of numbers from a broad spectrum of states including Alaska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and more. Overall, 69% of people of faith favor or strongly favor passing LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. The analysis was released recently by Faith for Equality, a coalition of 120+ religious groups that support LGBTQ dignity, and can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3q3ch9C. “PRRI’s American Values Atlas, which contains interviews with more than 20,000 Americans in all 50 states, reveals a remarkable breadth of support for nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans, noted Robert P. Jones, CEO and Founder of PRRI. “Nationally, strong majorities of every religious group--including 61 percent of white evangelical Protestants--favor laws that would protect gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people against
PHOTO: JON TYSON / UNSPLASH
In these states, 69% favor or strongly favor nondiscrimination protections, according to Faith for Equality
discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing. And majorities in every state, including the deep South, favor LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws.” A majority of states lack LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections on the
Rainbow PrideDoku — Enjoy! To our readers, we hope you enjoy this puzzle before, during and after Pride Season 2022. Maybe it’ll help de-stress you too. Good luck! The solution is
state level, leaving more than half of the LGBTQ population in America vulnerable to discrimination. Without a federal law, LGBTQ people remain vulnerable to being evicted from their homes, kicked out of a business that’s open to the public, denied health care, removed from a jury, or denied government services in a majority of states simply because of who they are. With one in three LGBTQ people having reported experiencing discrimination (https://ampr.gs/3i59lVR) in their personal lives, a federal nondiscrimination law would guarantee that LGBTQ people are extended the same federal nondiscrimination protections that others in the United States have enjoyed for decades. “No matter our faith, gender, orientation, race or zip code, we all deserve to live with freedom and dignity. LGBTQ people are made in the image of God and should be free to live, work, worship and exist as their full selves in public without fear of discrimination,” said Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life. “The vast majority of religious Americans share these values and agree that the equality and freedoms of LGBTQ people must be protected. Extremist politicians and Christian nationalists have weaponized religious language to mask their own bigotry and justify policies that attack human dignity. This is bad theology and immoral politics. The Faithful Majority provides a better witness that is true to the shared teachings of our traditions. I urge Congress to honor our values by passing federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people in jobs, housing and public accommodations." Equality Act The Equality Act, which would update federal law to include express and
enduring nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans in key areas of life, passed the U.S. House in a bipartisan victory just over a year ago and had its first-ever hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee shortly afterwards. President Biden has vowed to sign it into law and just reiterated that commitment in his recent State of the Union (https://bit.ly/35Y6c7J). “Catholics understand the importance of following the Golden Rule, and values like treating others fairly, equally and with respect are rooted in our faith and religious teachings,” said Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director of New Ways Ministry. “This compels us to support protecting all Americans from discrimination. A federal nondiscrimination law would help alleviate the personal suffering of LGBTQ people, provide them equal access to our society’s opportunities, and, in many cases, save lives. We are all God’s children and we all deserve to go about our daily lives without the fear of discrimination.” Equality today “Equality is the civil rights issue of our time. Americans of all faiths and none overwhelmingly recognize that, as a matter of both law and justice, protecting our friends and neighbors from second-class status can wait no longer,” said Rabbi Jack Moline, President of Interfaith Alliance. “LGBTQ+ people deserve safety and celebration now. We can avoid the need for future memorials and retrospectives through swift and commendable action by the Senate and President Biden to pass the Equality Act into law. This is our opportunity to affirm that equal protection under the law applies to every person, regardless of who they love or
See People of Faith On Page 11
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“How Do I Un-Remember This? Unfortunately True Stories” by Danny Pellegrino
THE BOOKWORM
By: Terri Schlichenmeyer* Special to TRT
S
ome things are better forgotten.
That time you had a wardrobe failure in gym class. Ugh, when your Mom revealed one of your childhood incidents to your best frenemy. The worst date everrr. Those are things you’d like to pretend never happened but they did and, as in “How Do I Un-Remember This?” by Danny Pellegrino, what have you learned from them? Memories are funny things: you can reminisce with someone about something you both saw or experienced, but you won’t remember the exact same things in the same way. Says the host of the podcast Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino, that’s when it’s perfectly okay to take a “little detour...” Growing up in a small town in Ohio, Pellegrino remembers being an awkward kid. He had many friends, but they couldn’t always be trusted. At sleepovers, he generally preferred the company of the host’s mother because she could be counted on for good gossip. He liked girls sometimes, but he remembers how confusing that was because he liked boys, too. He recalls bad dates, good brothers, the process of coming out, and the fluster of being outed. Even his family could be awkward: he remembers family trips as being full of cheap motels, bad roads, and “stress wine” for his mother. And what can you learn from this? You learn that if your parents can embarrass you, they will, and that bruises last forever but they don’t always hurt that long. Know that there are days when it’s perfectly okay to say no but that any time is a good time to
discuss “The Trolley Song.” You’ll see why we should retire the young-whitecis-man trope in superhero movies. You’ll learn why it’s important to be careful of the things your cleaning lady has access to, and be thankful if you have parents who love you. And you’ll learn that sometimes, life is simply “about getting through the journey alongside the ones you love.” Judging a book by it’s cover is something we’ve been told not to do, but still. Looking at the front of this memoir hints at the humor inside, and yep, humor is here but it isn’t the only thing. “How Do I Un-Remember This?” is warm and fuzzy, too. That might be because this book is more like a conversation than a monologue. Author Danny Pellegrino includes his readers in his memories, and even when they’re not identical, they’re universal. Embarrassments Read the rest of this review at The Rainbow Times’ website
Bayard Rustin: Orgs. push for forever stamp WASHINGTON—In commemoration of Black Queer civil rights leader Bayard Rustin’s birthday on March 17th, the National Black Justice Coalition, a leading Black LGBTQ+/SGL civil rights organization, is urging Congress to pass the Bayard Rustin Stamp Act (https://bit.ly/3qBDOPV), legislation introduced by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton which would require the U.S. Postal Service to issue a forever stamp depicting Bayard Rustin to honor his life and work. “Bayard Rustin was a master political organizer and pacifist. He spoke truth to power, serving time in prison
for refusing to register for the draft and engineering the first Freedom Rides, which challenged segregation on interstate buses. We would not have the opportunity to celebrate many watershed moments in American and Global history without Rustin’s tireless leadership and labor to the modern civil rights movement as well as the global fight for human rights,” explained David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition. “Moreover, while Rustin was critical to the civil rights movement and or-
See Bayard Rustin On Page 11
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Popular Gay social influencer, Evan Peix, is a sweet and hot Latinx man By: Mike Bahr Special to TRT
E
ENTERTAINMENT
van Peix is injecting caliente Latino flavor into today’s gay clubs with his two energetic singles, “Tu Si” and “Me Elevas.” The songs are part of a music genre called “Guaracha,” a sound that originated in Cuba, acclaimed for combining a rapid tempo with bold lyrics. “I was introduced to Guaracha two years ago while in Colombia,” Evan explains from his Miami home. “A cab driver played Fumaratto’s ‘Me Provocas’ and it literally threw me into a three-minute trance! I went into the studio to try my hand at Guaracha. That’s when ‘Tu-Si’ was born.” Written and produced by Evan Peix, “Tu Si” and its follow-up single, “Me Elevas”, are being distributed independently. Videos for both are available on YouTube and they echo the frenetic, sultry joy of the singles. Many of the dancers, including Malik Delgaty, who poses with a ball python in “Tu Si,” are models Evan regularly collaborates with on his OnlyFans page. “It’s important for me that my songs and videos reflect the same Evan Peix that guys know from OnlyFans,” Evan says. “For me, the singer and the social influencer are intertwined. Everything I create is a reflection of my art and sexuality.” Evan was born in New York but moved to Bolivia when he was nineyears old to join the South American version of the Mickey Mouse Club. Ten thousand kids auditioned for the show and only ten were selected. “I loved going to the studio every day for rehearsals and our weekly filming,” he says. He and the cast were the closest of pals for the four years of production and in that time, they released multiple albums together. The friends remain in touch today. “Each one of the members have paved their own unique careers in life,” Evan attests and then with a grin he delivers the punchline. “From TV news anchors to super models, singers, dancers … even a drag queen! I was always the provocative stripper.” After dropping out of high school at 18, Evan moved to Miami with $500 in his pocket. “I found a room in Little Havana, Miami for $300 and spent the rest on protein shakes and a gym membership. I couldn’t afford furniture so I slept on a piece of cardboard.” He found a job bussing tables, but wasn’t very good at it. “I dropped more than one plate on the lap of an unfortunate diner,” he recalls. A gym buddy suggested he try stripping and when he did, he found it to
ALL PHOTOS: JORGINHO FREIRE
Advocate shakes up gay dancefloors everywhere he goes; Peix’s music is spicy, his heart grand
be, in his words, “easy as breathing.” It was also very lucrative. He saved his first $60,000 and enrolled in audio engineering school. “Fans are always surprised with how multifaceted I am,” he continues. “I produce songs, create and edit videos, play instruments, dance, sing, tumble … give me a stripper pole and prepare to be amazed!” Evan is also a social advocate. He
runs The Dreamer Project, an initiative that raises money for the needy in South America. The group recently came to the aid of male webcam models in Venezuela who were facing incarceration, charged with creating and distributing indecent content. The Dreamer Project helped to pay their hefty fines so that the men could find safety out of the country. The Dreamer Project is now raising
funds for Niños del Sol, an orphanage in Medellin, Colombia. The orphanage houses over twenty children and is in desperate need of food, clothing, and basic supplies for its youth. “Everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their life’s dreams,” says Evan. “Many good people have helped Read more about Evan Peix at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
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Diversity of skin color, skin tone lacking in sex ed textbooks Indiana University study: One area still lacks representation of Black and Brown people: sex education colors commonly associated with Black and Brown people were presented, the hues were noticeably washed out or lightened with white shading.” “Sex research and education materials—including human sexuality textbooks—rarely reflect racial or skin tone diversity and inclusion in their anatomical imagery,” Rosenstock Gonzalez said. White skin color seen as normative The most frequent skin color-coded was white with pink undertones, which comprised 42.3 percent of the anatomical images. The second most prevalent color was pinkish brown, at 29.1 percent. While skin color and skin tone alone are not necessarily definitive indicators of race, they are what we use to quickly categorize individuals, the researchers said. Depicting light skin tones as normative perpetuates not only racism but “colorism,” which privileges light skin over dark skin. “Racism and colorism perpetuate body ideals that have implications for self-esteem, disordered eating, and mental health and well-being, as well as sexual and reproductive health,” Herbenick said. “Our findings demonstrate the perpetuation of colorism within sexuality education, and how colorism becomes part of institutional structures and systems of formal education.” The researchers note that such skin
PHOTO: KATIE MOUM / UNSPLASH
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—In recent years, attention to diversity of images in visual media—TV, movies, stock photos, children's books and more— has increased. But according to a new Indiana University study, at least one area still seriously lacks representation of Black and Brown people: sex education. With support from IU's Racial Justice Research Fund, IU researchers Yael R. Rosenstock Gonzalez, Deana Williams and Debby Herbenick investigated skin color and skin tone diversity in anatomical diagrams within contemporary human sexuality textbooks. Rosenstock Gonzalez and Williams are doctoral students in the Center for Sexual Health Promotion, a research center based in the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington. Herbenick is the center's director and a professor in the school. Their findings were recently published online in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. The research team found that only 1.1% of diagrams represented dark skin tones, while 83.5% represented light skin tones. Their findings are based on analysis of skin tone and skin color diversity in 182 anatomical diagrams and images from eight contemporary, college-level human sexuality textbooks. “Our findings demonstrate a pattern of staggeringly uneven representation of darker skin tones in comparison to lighter skin tones,” Williams said. “And in some images where skin
color bias has a negative impact on the health outcomes of people with dark skin tones, who may avoid or delay sexuality education opportunities or clinical care if they do not see themselves represented in recommended re-
sources, thereby endangering their sexual and reproductive health. “Sexuality authors and educators as Read the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
Rep. Pressley on war & people of Ukraine WASHINGTON—Early this month, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement on the House’s passage of H.Res 956 a resolution supporting the people of Ukraine. “ … I joined my colleagues in voting YES on a resolution in support of the Ukrainian people and condemning Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. As Putin continues his unjust invasion, we cannot lose sight of the people most impacted and who will continue to suffer as a result of this senseless violence. “The crisis in Ukraine is devastating and demands a robust global humanitarian response. The United States and our allies must lead with compassion
in this moment. This begins by welcoming refugees fleeing this conflict and ensuring that humanitarian and asylum protections are offered equitably. We must also continue to prioritize diplomacy and work towards a negotiated solution to this crisis. I remain opposed to broad-based sanctions that could unfairly impact Russian civilians who did not choose this war and believe we must exhaust every diplomatic option with urgency to de-escalate the violence and save lives. “We must stand strongly in support of democracy, peace, and diplomacy.” Read the rest at TheRainbowTimesMass.com
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March 10, 2022 - April 13, 2022
Banned In Boston From Page 5 Bank; Shayna Seymour, Co-Host, WCVB-TV’s Chronicle; Sally Taylor, Musician & Artist; Corey Thomas, President & CEO, Rapid7, and more. All proceeds benefit Rehearsal for Life’s flagship program, Urban Improv (https://bit.ly/3tGxJ6R), serving 1,200+ Boston Public School students grades 4–12 every year. This past year, rather than having the students travel to its studio space in Jamaica Plain, the team of 10 teaching artists went into schools every week to bring the programs to the students. Kristen Sherman, Head of Development & Finance at Rehearsal for Life shares, “We have no doubt that the incredible contributions of Faith and the creative team in collaboration with the Urban Improv students, teachers, and parents will provide guests with another much-needed comic relief during a year of stress and disappointment. Urban Improv, which has continued to serve students throughout this year, is needed now more than ever. Thank you everyone for their continued support, ensuring that our Boston public school students receive access to our programs, therefore strengthening their social and emotional skills to help them deal creatively with real-life challenges through dialogue and performance.” About Urban Improv Rehearsal for Life’s Urban Improv program uses theater as a vehicle for social change. Since 1992, the interactive program has engaged more than 80,000 young people in over 125 schools and community groups. Urban Improv’s structured improvisational
theater workshops are designed to strengthen social and emotional (SEL) skills and help students deal creatively with real-life challenges through diaRead the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
Bayard Rustin From Page 8 ganizing the 1963 March on Washington - what many people do not know or celebrate is that Bayard Rustin was a Black, same-gender loving (SGL) man.” On March 17, 1912, Bayard Rustin was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He was a leader in civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights movements. Rustin began his work as an activist in his youth by protesting discriminatory Jim Crow Laws, a set of state and local laws enacted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that enforced racial segregation primarily in the United States South. Rustin believed in the complete desegregation of schools, public transportation, and the workforce. He organized several marches and bus rides to protest racial discrimination. Though an influential leader of the civil rights movement, Rustin often worked in the shadows and did behind the scenes work as his identity as a Black same gender loving/gay man was seen as a liability in this time when being gay was still punishable. “It is critical that we honor Bayard Rustin’s work in the Civil Rights movement. It is our firm belief that ensuring the contributions of Black trans, queer, and non-binary/non-conforming members of our community are recog-
stagram (https://bit.ly/3HyzTJn).
Bisexual Social and Support Group (BLiSS) meeting (March 2), a Bi+ Crafternoon (March 6); and an in-person Bi/Pan Guyz+ Social Night (March 23). For more on #BiHealthMonth, follow the Bisexual Resource Center on Twitter (https://bit.ly/35IkJ7a), Facebook (https://bit.ly/3ptp4SN), and In-
The Bisexual Resource Center works to connect the bi+ community and help its members thrive through resources, support, and celebration. Through this work, we envision an empowered, visible and inclusive global community for bi+ people. Visit biresource.org (https://bit.ly/35jOR8Z) for more information.
People of Faith From Page 6
nation protections for LGBTQ people nationwide. Our work brings together Republicans and Democrats, businesses large and small, people of faith, and allies from all walks of life to make the case for comprehensive nondiscrimination protections that ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally.
Freedom for All Americans (https://bit.ly/36inkoo) is the bipartisan campaign to secure full nondiscrimi-
pertise is held regarding trans health and wellness,” said Sinéad D. Murano (They/Them/Theirs, She/Her/Hers), PTWC’s Logistics Coordinator. “It is also an indictment of a cisnormative healthcare system that de-prioritizes the voices of trans patients and often seeks to disempower us.” Murano attributes the community’s reliance on one another on “lived experiences” because the “mainstream narratives of gender-affirming care often don’t match up.” “This is why we say that trans people hold the most valuable form of expertise: lived experiences. This is why we want community members to submit workshops based on their lived experiences,” Murano added. “Whether it’s your own journey from one provider to next, your experience of after-care for surgery, transition storylines, debunking medical myths, the journey across the HRT prescription spectrum, etc. trans folks all have tangible and lifesaving knowledge stored inside themselves, body, and mind.” Teaching health providers as patients? Several members of the trans community, when searching for health care providers, have found many medical obstacles. There are instances in which trans people find themselves having to teach practitioners about transgender
health, needs, the trans experience, etc. “I went to see a medical provider and he said he liked opening his practice to trans people but he had a hard time understanding ‘it all’ as he asked me to teach him more about trans men,” said Joshua Sanders from central Massachusetts. “I felt compelled to give him a trans 101 course while I waited to be seen and treated with dignity and respect. That shouldn’t happen. What I’ve truly learned about my health, I’ve learned mostly on my own.” Thus, sharing self-taught knowledge and lived experiences is part of trans people’s own survival skills for themselves and within their own community. “Many trans & gender-variant folks can immediately think of a handful of times, (in our own lives or those of our kin) that other community members debunked something in mainstream narratives regarding trans health stories we were told,” Murano told The Rainbow Times. “How many community members have learned just as much if not more about trans healthcare from other members of the community than their providers? How many thousands of personal testimonials from trans folks refute the clinical narratives that adhere to outdated & shallowly researched ‘data.’” Read the rest of thisstory at TheRainbowTimesMass.com
Read the rest of this story at TheRainbowTimesMass.com
BRC From Page 4
how they identify, and to finally secure the blessings of liberty for all.”
PTWC-Mazzoni From Page 5
Trans News? ... TransHeadlines.Com
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March 10, 2022 - April 13, 2022