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queerVOICE
A More Perfect Union
James Duggan copyright 2013
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Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day, our national holiday celebrating a people united together against the tyranny of one government to form a more perfect union; a nation where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is equally afforded to all its citizens.
Two hundred and thirty-seven years since that historic day in Philadelphia, we as a nation still seek to form that more perfect union, evidenced by such movements as Women's Suffrage and the African-American civil rights battle.
For almost five decades, queer Americans, inspired by the successes of these great reform movements, have been fighting for our full equality too, seeking equality through the same civil rights that comes with full citizenship.
These movements were inspired by the simple truth that all persons are created equal, and strengthened by a will to pursue their rightful liberties that were denied them. In doing so, they have shown us that to become a more perfect union we as a people must continue to grow and mature.
It should be made clear that attempts to equate our fight for equality with that of these two movements would be an error; their struggles and fights are unique to them. However, it needs to be understood that while our struggles are not equivalent, our longing and desire for full equality remains the same. We feel the sting of discrimination, the pain of emotional and physical abuse, and the loss of our martyrs.
No, the pursuit of civil rights is not a procession of either gender or race; it is a fundamental quest of every person simply by birth, a quest whose purpose is to help form us more perfectly as a nation.
Our opponents put forth an argument that individual rights can only flow from who you are and not by what you do. They believe that we choose to be queer and are not born this way. This "fact" makes us undeserving of recognition in the application of full civil rights, especially when it comes to our right to marriage equality.
Opponents of queer equality base their arguments solely on their understanding of the bible, biblical interpretations that have been seriously challenged by notable scholars and Christian denominations worldwide.
Unlike these opponents, my (Christian) spirituality believes that it is my nature to be queer, just as I can no more control my height or eye color (naturally, anyway). I was conceived, gestated and born queer. To oppose this nature would be to not only go against the will of God but to live a life unfulfilled and incomplete, the ramifications of which would be to limit my full contribution to family and society alike.
Just like with heterosexuals, there are homosexuals who are meant to be joined to another, a partner, in order to fulfill themselves and to reach their full potential. This completion or fulfillment of individuals, found in both opposite-sex and same-sex marriages, helps bring about a stable, prosperous and diverse society.
This is true of anti-queer discrimination supports. They hold over the heads of individuals the fear of being fired or removed from their homes simple for being who they are by nature. This destabilizes our society and holds back our perfection. Only when our nation fully embraces anti-discrimination and marriage equality will we be considered free citizens.
So let us recall the great sacrifices that individuals and groups have made throughout history as they fought for their equality and civil liberties. May we be inspired by them and find strength, conviction, and a greater sense of urgency in our battle to obtain our full civil rights. Only then will this nation be a more perfect union.
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What It Looks Like From Here
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2013
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 Last weekend I attended, after a 10 years absence, the Heritage of Pride's New York City Parade and Festival, in addition to a few special events, like Dance on the Pier, featuring Deborah Cox, Whoopi Goldberg, and headliner, the iconic Cher.
Hundreds of thousands of revelers-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and their heterosexual allies-lined more than 37 blocks along the famous (and lavender-painted stripped for the occasion) Fifth Avenue, in what, granted, some critics thinks, has become too long a parade-running time, approximately six hours, but, hey, organizers defend the length based upon their ideology "to be all inclusive as well as diverse."
Who marches these days down Fifth Avenue in NYC's pride parade, from 37th St. down to the gay historic Christopher Street in the still-charming Greenwich Village?
 Of course, the parade begins with the legendary Dykes on Bikes, wow, after not having been in attendance at the NYC pride parade, this contingent has swelled considerably in numbers! Are ALL these lesbians living and working and raising families in the Big Apple these days? No problem-I'm just curious.
Well, to begin with the politicians of the Big Apple and the Empire State, the mayor, the city council (all of them marching as a contingent), the governor, the U.S. senators and representatives, along with other city officials, with their own contingents, the police commissioner, members of New York Police Department, followed by members of the LGBT NYPD group, a very large and impressive number, I might add, and the fire commissioner, and contingents of the NYFD, followed by the LGBT NYFD group, a growing number, but with noticeably less women than in their police counterpart group, I observed, and even some other city departments are represented in the parade like emergency services. These days you learn quickly and appreciate even more just how true the clich� is that "we-the LGBTQ community-are literally everywhere."
 Of course, all kinds of community-based nonprofits from the NYC Community Center to AIDS organizations to cultural and entertainment volunteer-based groups like the NYC Gay Men's Chorus to gay male baton and flag twirlers made their presence felt to the throngs of well-wishers and on-lookers with a certain level of razzle-dazzle from the singing to the dancing to performing by the floats from many of the city's, and even some of the borough's, popular bars and clubs serving the LGBTQ community.
Not surprisingly, there was a significant increase of presence by Corporate America participating and supporting the NYC gay pride parade as we become more visible, acceptable, and attractive as a niche market, a savvy consumer group, so, yes, more and more companies want those pink(er) dollars.
Just to mention a handful, Diet Coke, VitaminWater, Kiehl's, Delta, TD Bank, SKYY Vodka, Bud Light, AT&T, MasterCard, Wholefoods, Target, Macy's, Amtrak, NBCUniversal, W Hotels, The Art of Shaving, Walgreens, New York Life, Prudential, AVONPride, Barefoot Wines & Bubbly, ILLY Coffee, and Showtime.
 Of course, one of the highlights (and, clearly, historic moments that won't be repeated) was the appearance of Grand Marshall Edith Windsor and her success in winning the fight against DOMA! The crowd was already high on energy and kinder and friendlier than usual, I noted having stood at the corner of 21st Street at Fifth Avenue, for three hours, and forever festive, but when Windsor rode by us, waving from side to side, from the convertible, she was placed in, I must admit that I was experiencing a genuine out-of-body moment. I can't really explain the emotional feelings of pride, justice and empowerment that seemed to flow through my body from head to toe and back again!
So, truly, my return to attending NYC Gay Pride Parade was about as festive as it can get (well, barring Dance on the Pier a few hours later) and it just re-enforced my belief that no one presents a better parade than organizers in NYC! As the classic song goes, "I love a parade!"
So, what's with all of this excitement? What's my beef? Why does this column end on a rant?
Here's my issue- It's what's wrong with our own beloved LGBTQ community when it comes to Philadelphia Pride!
Ours compared to theirs pales in comparison on all fronts. We're the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, we're a major, world-class city, we're NOT the sixth borough to NYC.
We need to move our community events, like Philadelphia Pride, up a considerable number of notches. We have the resources, the talents, the skills, the abilities, but do we have enough of the passion?
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From the QUEER Frontlines
Philadelphia's Mazzoni Center hosts 12th Trans-Health Conference
Alan Gu�o
copyright 2013
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 Reporting from Philadelphia, I attended the Trans-Health Conference - now in its 12th year. It is sponsored by Philadelphia's Mazzoni Center.
Under the direction of coordinator Jacsen Callanan, the conference brought together health professionals, community leaders and advocates to highlight current issues in transgender health.
This 3-day conference featured workshops, plenary sessions, social gatherings, and organizational tables. It also hosted separate conference programs for youth attendees - as well as medical, legal, and behavioral health providers.
The opening plenary speaker was Geleni Fontaine, a holistic healer from New York. Having backgrounds in both Western and Eastern Asian healing practices, Geleni encouraged attendees to show care and compassion to one's own body and to remember that healing is not done alone, but in a community setting. Geleni also reminded us that the economic marginalization of the trans community often limits access to Western care and highlighted the benefits of holistic/alternative medicine for transgender people.
This year's workshops presented a diverse array of subjects in addressing health issues including: parenting/family, medicinal needs, college transitions, homelessness, mental health, surgery, substance abuse, aging, and spirituality.
 A number of this year's workshops featured families who have trans members. Notable among those was a workshop presented by three professionals: Peggy Cryden, Fiona Smith, and Catherine Hyde (a therapist, nurse, and PFLAG leader), who are all mothers of trans teens or young adults.
By speaking openly of their struggles and joys as parents and combining that with their professional expertise, they provided a true "safe space" for those in attendance to address their concerns and share their hopes with other parents. The workshop underscored the importance of supportive families that raise trans children.
Along those lines, a diversity of ages and its related programming was on full display at the conference. In addition to workshops featuring trans kids, the young adult trans community had a strong presence which included discussing the issues of education and transition needs during the school/college years. The conference also provided resources for older members of the community such as aging/wellness programs that addressed the health details of transgender seniors.
As healthcare reform continues in this country, other workshops featured very important information on how the Affordable Care Act will affect the trans community. While opportunities appear on the horizon, the health system continues to be difficult for many transgender people in terms of access to insurance. And regardless of eligibility, coverage of transition-related costs continues to be a complex matter - and still requires significant effort to file an insurance claim.
As I report "from the Frontlines", it was exciting to attend this year's Trans-Health conference and find a community prioritizing such vital issues.
As the transgender community continues its march toward equality, it is in a special situation to acknowledge that health is an important part of this fight.
Whether fighting for equality in accessing healthcare - or reminding its members of its own responsibility in taking care of itself - the transgender community seems to have a profound understanding of the fact that, in building an active and vibrant movement, health issues must come first.
Alan Gu�o is a finance executive with business degrees from the University of Michigan and UCLA. Originally from Michigan, he now lives in California - and considers the birth of his LGBT advocacy and activism to have occurred in the aftermath of Proposition 8's passage. He continues to share the message of equality as both a singer and songwriter.
 
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speakOUT on the Qt!
Jordan Gwendolyn Davis
copyright 2013
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Double Edged Sword: Gender Stickers Are Gone, But Fare Hikes Still Reality  |
Outdated SEPTA Transpass
with Gender Sticker
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So, as of 2 AM July 1, SEPTA has officially eliminated its policy of placing gender stickers on monthly and weekly passes: But the elimination of those little, yellow stickers was a hard-fought battle for a local group called Philly Rage, a group that formed in 2009 and has the slogan: "Keep Transit Officials Out of Your Pants." The group objected to the gender stickers disenfranchised some people in the LGBT community. "One of the first people to take a public stand on the issue was Charlene Arcila, a local trans woman and community advocate. In 2007, after trying to board a bus and being told she couldn't use the transpass she had purchased because of her gender, Charlene worked with Equality Advocates to file a formal complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations," RAGE says on its website of the beginning of the three-year campaign. By early 2012, SEPTA decided to eliminate the stickers. I am glad that the gender stickers have been eliminated, as I had waited for this day ever since I moved to Philadelphia back in early 2011. A lot of money was wasted during a time when my old name was on my driver's license, and thus, I did not feel like investing money in a pass which may or may not be confiscated (and believe me, pre-hormones, a pass with an F sticker would likely have been confiscated). However, one of the recurring themes of my blog is that "what are LGBT rights when the least of us are screwed?" I will admit that this whole gender sticker thing had distracted me from many other complicated issues with Philadelphia's transit system, some of which were amplified by the fare hikes/tariffs. Some of the most regressive include eliminating almost all suburban fare zones, shrinking the number of zones on regional rail, barring people from using their Transpass between Center City Stations (although between Center City and Airport would still be valid), which would reward suburbanites and punish city travelers, even though Philadelphia obviously has the most ridership of the five county region. If I was in charge of SEPTA, I would have frozen the base fare on city busses and suburban transit, while adding MORE FARE ZONES to suburban operations and pressuring operators to actually enforce the rules. Furthermore, concerning the railroad division, I would be in favor of: 1) Requiring all Philadelphia stations (except for Forest Hills and Somerton, plus Cheltenham) to be Zone 1, 2) Allowing those with transpasses to travel on regional rail to anywhere on Zone 1, and in exchange, 3) Ticket gating Temple, Market East, Suburban, 30th, and University City stations, 4) Expanding the number of fare zones to 8 by splicing numerous far flung stations into different zones, 5) Charging the highest fare for travel to Delaware, and, 6) Simplifying the fare structure to even dollar amounts to range from $3-$12. But hey, I am Monday morning quarterbacking here, though I must admit, the whole gender sticker thing distracted me from these very real issues. Transgender people have a very high poverty rate, and while we don't ask for special treatment, I feel we must form coalitions with other groups affected by poverty in order to advocate for better, more fairer transit costs for everyone. While I do join everyone in celebrating this hard fought victory, of which I was proud to have joined, albeit late in the game, I want everyone to also think about how these fares affect our lives, and how they screw over folks that live and transverse an already distressed city. Jordan Gwendolyn Davis is a lesbian transgender feminist writer and activist from South Philadelphia who has approached LGBT rights from a social justice perspective and fights for the rights of the underdog, as she is one. Her blog, Jordan Gwendolyn Davis; The Life And Views Of A 28 Year Old Transsexual Lesbian Progressive Activist, can be found here and she can be reached at [email protected]. [Editor's Note: This article was originally posted on Ms. Davis' blog] 
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Thom's Table
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2013
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 It's truly an orgy of food that indulges, and, better yet, satisfies with delicacies, every discerning palate at the fifth annual Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, presented by Caesars Entertainment, which takes place July 25-28. The premier four-day culinary and spirits festival is actually spread out across all four casinos and resorts under the Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City umbrella, including: Caesars, Harrah's Resort, Showboat and Bally's, as the event has grown considerably over the first five years. Last year's festival was distinguished by including a large number of authorities in the wine, beer and spirits industry, in addition to all the food meticulously prepared by culinary experts and chefs, showcasing the latest and greatest in the world's culinary developments and trends with delicious tastings and dazzling demonstrations. Festival organizers promise that this year there will be even more vendors and purveyors in the event's history at the popular The Grand Market. It's names, names, names also this year with the headlining chefs for the 2013 lineup in addition to the locally celebrated chefs and Atlantic City's own rising stars.  They include: Robert Irvine, former host of "Dinner Impossible" and who currently stars in "Restaurant: Impossible" on the Food Network. He owns two restaurants, Robert Irvine's Eat! and Robert Irvine's Nosh, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; Rocco DiSpirito, who formerly hosted the reality cooking competition "Rocco's Dinner Party" on Bravo TV and is the author of Now Eat This; and there will also be Pat and Gina Neely, who are the stars of the Food Network's "Down with the Neelys'" and also own several barbeque restaurants in Tennessee.  The Neelys' appearance has resulted in one of this year's special events that are surely not-to-be-missed, Blues, Brews & BBQ. Tickets for special events, the market, dinners with celebrity chefs, among other events, range from $55 to $150 per person and can be purchased online here.
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 This year's Fourth of July Weekend can be even more colorful than merely the red, white and blue of Old Glory in historic Philadelphia. Turn yourself over to Vixens & Vagabonds Queer & Kinky Cabaret who will be performing their latest, one-night only extravaganza, "Starstruck: Hollywood Edition," 9 pm, July 6, at Tabu, 200 South 12th Street, in the heart of the city's Gayborhood.
Featuring Mxtress of Ceremonies, The Notorious OMG and special guests Icon Ebony Fierce and Saline Storm with DJ Brandon Robert, this version of LiCK's award-winning monthly show celebrates all things Hollywood, from celebrities to cinema, with more than a little bit of twisted, gender-bendering fun. For you film buffs, a portion of the proceeds (tickets are only $12 per person or for those who really get into the action by wearing a costume pay only $10) will benefit the 19th Philadelphia QFest, July 11-22 [qfest.com]. "We have been a community partner for Philadelphia QFest for several years and are excited that this is the first of the two events we are doing for the festival," explained Lascivious Jane, artistic director and one of the brainchilds of Liberty City Kings Drag & Burlesque. 
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What They Said and Did!
Copyrighted 2013
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You know, you've totally made it when not only is your domicile featured in a slick upscale magazine like Elle D�cor (May 2013) but you're even on the cover. The now lesbian-friendly publication  led off with "Ellen (DeGeneres) & Portia (de Rossi) At Home" proudly showing off the Hollywood girl power couple like it was the most natural thing in the world. Indeed, how times have dramatically changed. Literally, a ranch set in the Santa Monica Mountains, a truly breathtaking retreat is quite eclectic and personal, demonstrating DeGeneres' passion for decorating (who knew?). "I got a very thorough education in mid-century 20th-century French furniture within the first weeks of our dating," explained de Rossi. DeGeneres who has, according to de Rossi, moved more times than anyone she's ever known, adores redoing entire houses. "I can only change the furniture so much and I get bored. Then I need a new structure to work on," said the popular daytime out talk show host. Australian-born de Rossi admitted that she was initially less thrilled with the structure than the landscape. Her passion is horses (she maintains two of them) and said that sometimes she has to compete with DeGeneres over the space and use of the barn. De Rossi recalls: "There are times I'll come to the barn and see a beautiful piece of early American furniture where my horses are groomed. I have to explain to Ellen that I need to fit a horse in there." ______________________________________________ Austin Mahone. The heir apparent to that much older pop superstar, Justin Bieber, the 17-year-old is predicted to become, according to Details (June/July 2013), the next teen idol. Well, that's what the "Mahonies," his hardcore fan base which  identifies intensely and completely with the performer as the numbers continue to grow and grow. It seems that he's begun working all the angles already. Today's superstars cover the territory, so, naturally, Mahone, is promoting Trukfit clothing (Lil Wayne's line) because he's "the youth ambassador" for the wildly successful performer. That fan base, from 2 to 21, knows what they want, so Mahone poses more in public shirtless. Ever since he began working out with a personal trainer, he's discovered what it's like actually to have muscles. Michele Mahone, mother and manager of her son's career and fortune, says of his physical transformation that "he's proud of himself." Following in Bieber's footsteps, his fans are girls who love Mahone for a variety of reasons, "his voice, his songs, his eyes, his hair, his nose, his smile. . ." but his devoted "Mahonies" loves him most because they are, well, simply theirs. The young singer was first discovered on YouTube where the fan numbers just kept coming and Mahone was expanding online to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Without any formal training as a singer, Mahone just started posting his own music videos. "People came up to me in the school hallways," he recounts, "people I didn't know, telling me, 'Wow, you're so good, please post another video." The rest is becoming history." ______________________________________________ It's book time, and what better type of book, than one with pictures and conversations (said Alice in her adventures in Wonderland)? Editors at Metro (June/July 2013) chose to feature  Scene (powerHouse Books), portraits by photographer Jeannette Montgomery Barron who captured the amazing 1980's life in the artistic and cultural worlds of New York City. "Today's New York City doesn't feel alive, cracking with that synergy between the art world and music world and fashion world that was happening in the'80s," remarked pop icon Madonna. She ought to know. She was there then. Living in the East Village, Barron shared mutual friends with Madonna, shooting the likes of queer Jean-Michel Basquait, queer Andy Warhol and queer Keith Haring." Barron captured enough "directors, writers, designers, models and actors who round out this collection" making it feel "like the guest list of the Mudd Club. Even Daniel Dafoe offers a steady-eyed stare on the cover." Observed the editors: "What's refreshing about Barron's work is how beside-the-point the subjects' sexualities are."
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