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From The Publisher Some spring, huh? No, no, I’m not referring to the awful early spring weather here in New England. I am talking about— you guessed it—Boston Spirit! Our spring started with an amazing LGBT Executive Networking Night. We had nearly 1,200 attendees join us for an amazing night of networking, socializing and a wonderful talk from Kathy Griffin. I know Kathy has come under some fire recently—deservedly so, it was a bad decision—but she was incredible during her time spent with Boston Spirit. She delivered a passionate, humble, honest and very funny talk that everyone in attendance truly enjoyed. It was quite a night. As if that weren’t enough, we got to follow that up with our historic march in the Boston Pride parade. Boston Spirit partnered with the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots and New England Revolution for the parade. It was the first time that these five professional sports organizations joined forces to march in the parade, and it sent a loud and clear message to fans around the world. This is, as you all know, a crazy time in our country. Messages—whether they are visual, written or spoken—are incredibly important. These five sports teams sent a message. If you are sports fan, or if you are not a sports fan, the teams have a very visible platform. The fact that they used
2 | BOSTON SPIRIT
that platform to support and advance causes within the LGBT community is an important step. To all of the politicians and groups who marched in the parade, we applaud your support, your continued effort and you leadership. Oh, and before I forget…we also had an amazing sunset cruise to support Fenway Health! So as you can see, it’s been a little busy. Don’t worry though, we have no intention of slowing down. We have several more very fun events in the works for the fall and winter so be sure and stay tuned! Happy summer and enjoy the issue.
David Zimmerman Publisher
Barking Crab Blue Man Group Boston IVF Boston Medical Center Boston Pride Boston Symphony Orchestra Brian Gerhardson - Ameriprise Broadway in Boston Burns & Levinson, LLP C.D.C Circle Furniture Club Café Columbus Hospitality Group Comcast Destination Salem DJ Mocha Dover Rug Eastern Bank Equinox Resort Evotaz Fenway Health Fertility Solutions Foxwoods Resort and Casino Gardner Mattress Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Howe Allen Realty Ink Block South End John Hancock Johnny Appleseed Trail Association Landry & Arcari Lombardo's Long's Jewelers Lucia Lighting Marriott Copley Place Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams Morgan Stanley Wealth Services North Shore Music Theatre North Shore Pride Northwest Mutual Ogunquit Playhouse Partners Healthcare Peabody Essex Musem Porches Inn PrEP Provincetown Tourism Rent Rockland Trust Ross Simons Seashore Point Seasons Four Sienna Stowe Mountain Lodge Takeda TD Bank Victory Programs
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Contribute your opinion: editor@bostonspiritmagazine.com
As We Go To Press Take Pride! And when I say “Take Pride,” I mean it. Take it! Take pride! I’ve heard a lot of chatter over the years about how important it really is to go to Pride anymore. I mean, we’ve got most of our rights, right? So goes the banter. But it seems the past few months have proved that train of thought to be off-key at best and disastrous at worst. And so, I say, take pride. And here’s more on why: Have you ever been perplexed by why we call it Pride? I mean, isn’t pride supposed to be a bad thing? One of the seven deadly sins? In fact, the deadliest of them all? The one that leads all the others? Why would we want to name our LGBT community’s celebration after the deadliest of sins? I heard a story recently that helped me understand. This young friend graduated from college. He told me how his grandmother told him how proud she was of him. “I’m so proud of you,” she said. “Yes! I am so proud of myself,” he replied. “No, no,” she told him. “It is not for you to take pride in yourself. We are proud for you. You be grateful. You be humble. We will be proud.” Aha! I thought. It makes sense not to get too proud for fear of hubris, arrogance and a fall. But what if no one takes pride in you?
4 | BOSTON SPIRIT
That is the situation that we as LGBT people have confronted for eons, and still do today. The world has never said to LGBT people, “we’re proud of you.” For centuries, no one took pride in us. We needed to go away. We needed to change who we were. We weren’t allowed to be teachers or foreign service workers or priests. We weren’t welcome to love who we felt drawn to love. We were forced to go through conversion therapy. We were burned at the stake and marched into concentration camps and gassed to death. No one took pride in us. In fact, it was the opposite. Society inscribed us with shame. So we had to take pride for ourselves. And we have. And, for better or for worse, we need to keep taking it! We may have gained rights—marriage, military and so on. But society still does not take pride in us. A society where a terror incident like Pulse still happens does not pride in LGBT people. A society that quietly sidelines gay atrocities in Chechnya does not pride in LGBT people. A country that reverses rights for transgender school children does not pride in LGBT people. A country that allows transgender people to still be discriminated against does not pride in LGBT people.
A society where we have to battle each year to simply march in a St. Patrick’s Day parade does not pride in LGBT people. And so, even with so many of our rights, any place where we have to fight for the simple act of acting as the human beings that we are does not take pride in us. And so it is that we must take pride over and over and over. We must take pride. Until our elected officials and clergy and neighbors and the world repeatedly says, “LGBT people, we take pride you,” we must keep taking pride for ourselves. So in solidarity with all those who perished throughout history for loving against accepted norms, we take pride. In solidarity with those who stood up to power for LGBT rights, we take pride. In solidarity with LGBT today who still experience discrimination in all it’s forms, we take pride. In respect for ourselves and our LGBT friends and family, we take pride. We take pride. Take it. Take it seriously. Take pride! Now go march!
James Lopata Editor
We’re a community of many communities.
Together we celebrate that being yourself is just being human.
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Fierce and Funny
Contents
Feature
JUL|AUG 2017 | VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 4
Spotlight
Hit List Fierce and Funny Seaside Sundries Gender Nonconforming Pioneers Loosen the Bible Belt Bride Pride Smooth Aesthetics Family Affair Senior Spirit When Age No Longer Divides Us Newsmakers | Rhode Island Newsmakers | New Hampshire Newsmakers | Connecticut Newsmakers | Vermont Newsmakers | Maine
34
Hit the Road
30
Gender Nonconforming Pioneers
Boston’s Bio-Techies
42
Heroes of the Resistance
46
At the epicenter of a worldwide industry, LGBTQ life science professionals network to achieve greater breakthroughs
8 10 15 16 17 18 20 27 28 28 32 34 36 38 40
Almost 50 years later, these Stonewall vets are still fighting for the rights of us all
Seasonal Hit the Road
A dozen destinations for summertime A&E and R&R
49
The Gold Dust Orphans spin another camp classic
Calendar Hull Pride
Dudes ‘n’ Drag Queens Football Fundraiser 82 AIDS Walk and Run 83 LifeSavor Gala 84 Pride & Passion 86 LGBT Elders Conference 87 RED Party + Auction 88 Safe Homes Gala 89 Boston Pride 90 Noho Pride 94 OUTstanding! Leaders Awards 95
Coda
Culture ‘Greece’ is the word
Boston’s Bio-Techies
72
Broadway Fierce
Meet the song-and-dance man behind those wacky, incisive political videos
77
Scene
Boston Spirit Executive Networking Night
88
‘Greece’ is the word
78
96
Coda
96
SPOTLIGHT Trending STORY Scott Kearnan
Hit List NEWS, NOTES AND TO-DOS FOR EVERY GAY AGENDA
Steve Buckley and Alex Reimer
Boston this year (as it was in 2003), and the Patriots are the first NFL team to sponsor the longrunning event. Team owner Robert Kraft was recently spotted at an annual scholarship dinner hosted by FLAG Flag Football, Boston’s LGBT flag football team. More: gaybowl.org
GRAB A SEAT and take a read WELCOME BACK Jim Clerkin,
GET TAG TEAMED by “Two Outs,”
a new LGBT sports podcast from two gay local media personalities: veteran “Boston Herald” columnist Steve Buckley and 24-year-old Alex Reimer, on-air personality with sports radio station WEEI, which produces the podcast. “Two Outs,” which launched in April, has so far covered topics like the public speculation over Aaron Hernandez’s sexuality and interviewed athletes like out former MLB player Billy Bean. We love that “Two Outs” highlights intergenerational rapport between two gay media MVPs. More: media.weei.com/ twoouts.htm
SALUTE THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS for their headline-
grabbing sponsorship of Gay Bowl XVII, the annual tournament produced by the National Gay Flag Football League. Gay Bowl, which runs October 5–8, will be held in
of “Barstool Sports,” the Boston-founded sports and lifestyle website that just introduced to its roster of contributors its first openly gay blogger. “Gay Pat” joined the digital stereotypically bro-tastic site that touts its “By the Common Man, For the Common Man” slogan. “I look forward to bringing a new perspective to Barstool,” wrote Gay Pat in his first blog entry. “Just goes to show that if you suck enough dicks you can get a job anywhere.” More: barstoolsports.com
the DJ and radio producer previously known to Bostonarea commuters as “Gay Jim” on the “Matty in the Morning” show on Kiss 108. Last year Clerkin moved to Birmingham, Alabama to serve as program director for 97.3 Play, but he decided to return back to Boston after the station and Southern living proved an ill fit. In June, Clerkin started his new role as producer of the Kim Carrigan- and Doug Goudiehosted Boston.com morning
Jim Clerkin
show on WRKO 860 AM. He’s also resuming his DJ residency at Kristen Porter Presents’ second Saturdays “Dyke Night” parties at Machine nightclub. Welcome home to the Hub, Jim! More: wrko.com/shows/ bostoncom-morning-show
HAIL THE CONSTITUTION STATE
for upholding the dignity and safety of LGBTQ youth. In May, Connecticut became one of the latest states to ban so-called “conversion therapy” for minors, discredited and dangerous practices designed to alter a young person’s sexuality or gender identity. “At a time when we see LGBTQ youth turning to suicide at record rates, to remain silent is to be complicit,” said Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy in a statement released after signing the law that bans the practice. Connecticut is one of just nine states with a ban on conversion therapy, and Vermont is the
PUBLISHER David Zimmerman EDITOR IN CHIEF James Lopata MANAGING EDITOR Robert Phelps [rob@bostonspiritmagazine.com] ART DIRECTOR Dean Burchell CONTRIBUTING LIFESTYLE EDITOR Scott Kearnan [lifestyle@bostonspiritmagazine.com] CONTRIBUTING ARTS EDITOR Loren King CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alyssa Gillin, Natalie Nonken, Kim Harris Stowell CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Joel Benjamin COVER PHOTO Rasmus Degnbol/Redux On the web [BOSTONSPIRITMAGAZINE.COM] T alk to us [FEEDBACK@BOSTONSPIRITMAGAZINE.COM] E ditorial Contact [EDITOR@BOSTONSPIRITMAGAZINE.COM] P ublishing and Sales Contact [PUBLISHER@BOSTONSPIRITMAGAZINE.COM OR 781-223-8538] T he Fine print Boston Spirit magazine. A Division of Jake Publishing, LLC Published
JUL|AUG 2017 | VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 4
by Jake Publishing, LLC. Copyright 2004 by Jake Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without the written permission of Boston Spirit magazine. Neither the publishers nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. The publishers accept no liability for the accuracy of statements made by advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of any person, organization or business in this magazine does not reflect upon one’s sexual orientation in any way. Boston Spirit Magazine, 398 Columbus Ave. #395, Boston, MA 02116
8 | BOSTON SPIRIT
“Rupaul’s Drag Race” alums Gia Gunn and Laganja Estranja), and original series “Gayborhood,” a mock reality show set in Chicago’s Boystown. More: revry.com
PICK UP A PINT of Ben &
only other New England state with a similar prohibition in place.
SIGN UP for a subscription to Revry, which bills itself as the “first and only global LGBTQdedicated content streaming platform.” The just-launched service, accessed via an app downloaded to a tablet, Apple TV or other digital media devices, offers a curated selection of streaming LGBTQthemed films, television shows, music videos and other more—with an emphasis on short, “snack”-sized content. Current feature titles include the British run of “Queer as Folk,” podcasts like “High Tea” (hosted by
Jerry’s to show support for the Vermont-based ice cream company’s quirky and clever effort to support same-sex marriage in Australia. Ben & Jerry’s recently announced that its 26 shops Down Under will no longer serve double scoops of the same flavor until the country legalizes equal marriage; the shops also installed rainbow-adorned post boxes in its Oz ice cream parlors to collect pro-equality postcards that will be delivered to members of parliament before the legislative session resumes. “Love comes in all flavours!” said Ben & Jerry’s in a statement about the effort. We’re proud to see our Green Mountain State exports are doing their part to spread equality worldwide. More: benandjerry.com.au [x]
‘Queer as Folk’ on Revery
SPOTLIGHT Celebrity STORY Scott Kearnan queen but I wasn’t on an international level. I can’t think of any downside to winning “Drag Race” aside from that sometime you’ll be out dancing with your friends, trying to have a moment, and someone else is trying to have their moment with you. I can’t always have my moments anymore. I’m always accommodating other people’s moments. [SPIRIT] This was the show’s first season moving from Logo to VH1. Do you think it’s a good thing that it is reaching an even larger audience? Or is there something to be said for keeping it more of a subculture? [BOB] Once you put drag on TV, it’s already reached a ton of people. But the point of drag hasn’t changed. Who are you talking to who thinks it needs to be kept a secret? [SPIRIT] Not a secret—but certainly some people fear that as something subversive reaches a larger audience, it could get watered down.
Fierce and Funny BOB THE DRAG QUEEN TALKS LIFE AFTER “RUPAUL DRAG RACE” TRIUMPH “RuPaul’s Drag Race” just wrapped up its ninth season, but fans of the show are still sweating last year’s winner—the alwaysuproarious Bob the Drag Queen. It was a long road to the crown for Bob, born Christopher Caldwell. He grew up in Georgia, where he was first introduced to drag through his mother, who owned a gay bar. But he fully credits “Drag Race” for inspiring him to throw his own wig into the ring, so there was particular poignancy to nabbing the top spot in season eight. This summer should be a busy one for the fierce and funny performer. It sees the premiere of “Cherry Pop,” a comedic new indie film about the behind-the-scenes drama at a neighborhood drag bar. And he also brings his standup show to Provincetown’s Art House (August 15–31), even as he finishes work on an upcoming documentary about his rise to the top of the “Drag Race” fleet. He took a few minutes to chat with Boston Spirit ahead of his Cape Cod debut. [BOSTON SPIRIT] We learned on “Drag Race”
that activism is a really important part of who you are. Is that reflected in your show?
[BOB] I don’t do activism during my show;
it’s not me ranting politically for an hour. But there’s a political section in my show, just like I also talk about everything from celebrity gossip to “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
10 | BOSTON SPIRIT
[SPIRIT] How do you see activism playing a role in your work going forward? [BOB] I’ve always said my activism is where I’m best utilized. What that means changes. Maybe once it meant being out there on the streets, getting arrested—whereas today I feel like it’s best that I use my platform to bring attention to certain issues that I find unacceptable. Right now, for example, that includes the fact that I feel like Trump has done a lot of things that are not just un-presidential, but illegal and there don’t seem to be any consequences about it. [SPIRIT] Fingers crossed that, hopefully, he’ll find his feet held to the fire soon. [BOB] Sure, but if Trump is impeached we’re left with Pence. And we don’t want that. So impeaching Trump is not the be-all-end-all solution. [SPIRIT] It’s been one year since your “Drag Race” crowning. How has life changed the most for you? What’s been the best part of the last year—and is there anything about “Drag Race” fame that you don’t love? [BOB] I don’t think my life has changed much over the past year, to be honest. I don’t necessarily think I’m happier, and I’m certainly not sadder. Before “Drag Race” I was a successful drag
[BOB] That’s like something hipsters say about bands. “I loved them before they were mainstream!” If you like the show, you like the show. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is already a less intense version of what drag is, even when it was a niche show. What we do in nightclubs we could never get away with on VH1. We could never tell those jokes. So it being on VH1 doesn’t mean it’ll be any more watered down. [SPIRIT] When it comes to comedy, you once said, “If you’re easily offended, please stick around. It makes it more fun for me.” In today’s world, people can use social media as a direct way to complain about comedy they find offensive. Does that affect the way you work? [BOB] I do not care at all. I don’t mean for that to sound catty. But I recognize the difference between micro-aggressions and macro-aggressions. If someone makes a joke about another drag queen being overweight, that’s a micro-aggression. A macro-aggression is what’s happening to gay people in Chechnya. So I don’t have sympathy for a person over here saying, “Bob says I’m this, that or the other,” when someone across the universe is going through something actually significant. I’m not here for that. I don’t have the time. [SPIRIT] What’s your best advice to future winners of “Drag Race”? [BOB] The best advice I could give is: When people give you advice, always consider the source. [x]
ptownarthouse.com.
P E A B O DY E S S E X M U S E U M
A blockbuster summer!
THROUGH OCTOBER 9, 2017
Discover an era when floating cities ruled the seas.
EXPLORE THE RARE POSTERS, GUITARS, MONSTER MASKS AND SCULPTURES COLLECTED BY KIRK HAMMETT, THE LEAD GUITARIST OF METALLICA.
AUGUST 12–NOVEMBER 26, 2017 Ocean Liners: Glamour, Speed, and Style is co-organized by the Peabody Essex Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Fiduciary Trust Company is the lead sponsor and Eaton Vance Management is a major sponsor. The exhibition is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation provided generous support. The East India Marine Associates of the Peabody Essex Museum provided additional support. MEDIA PARTNERS
161 Essex St. | Salem, MA | pem.org
The Peabody Essex Museum organized “It’s Alive!” Classic Horror and Sci-Fi Art from the Kirk Hammett Collection. Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation provided generous support. The East India Marine Associates of the Peabody Essex Museum provided additional support. Frankenstein (detail), 1931, produced by Universal Pictures, printed by Morgan Lithograph Company.
JUL|AUG 2017 | 11
MEDIA PARTNERS
What is TRUVADA for PrEP? TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a prescription medicine that is used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1. To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.
|Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP? Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: u Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. u Also take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.
|What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP? Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: u Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA. If you develop kidney |What is the most important information I should know problems, your healthcare provider may about TRUVADA for PrEP? tell you to stop taking TRUVADA. Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP: u Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic u You must be HIV-negative before you start taking acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency TRUVADA for PrEP. You must get tested to make sure that you do that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA to reduce the risk of get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain u Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your u Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white before starting or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night u Bone problems, including bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomachu You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away. u You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP: |What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking • Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. TRUVADA for PrEP? • If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider u All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider right away. if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, u To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: including hepatitis. • Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners. u If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if • Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while infections make it easier for HIV to infect you. taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if • Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, you should keep taking TRUVADA. such as having fewer sex partners. u If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not • Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can be passed to the your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. baby in breast milk. u If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine u All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. u If you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA, your healthcare TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. u Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not These medicines include certain medicines to treat hepatitis C (HCV) approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV and stop taking TRUVADA, infection. your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page.
Have you heard about
TRUVADA for PrEP™? The once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when used with safer sex practices. • TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex. • You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.
visit start.truvada.com
IMPORTANT FACTS
This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEPTM (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.
(tru-VAH-dah) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative. • Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. • You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you were exposed to HIV-1 or have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. • See the “How To Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information. TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.
ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA for PrEP is a prescription medicine used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1. • To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health. Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. • Take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.
HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1. • Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • Use TRUVADA for PrEP together with condoms and safer sex practices. • Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP” section. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. • Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. • Bone problems. Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.
BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis. • Have any other medical conditions. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can pass to the baby in breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.
HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners. • Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you. • Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners. • Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.
GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV infection. • Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit start.truvada.com for program information.
TRUVADA, the TRUVADA Logo, TRUVADA FOR PREP, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: April 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0092 05/17
SPOTLIGHT Style STORY Scott Kearnan MONKEY CANDLE FROM GREENTREE HOME CANDLE ($35) O’Shea loves the “detail and nostalgic quality” of Greentree, which makes its 100% beeswax candles—including this cheeky monkey—from its studio in the foothills of New York’s Catskill Mountains.
FEATHER BOW TIE FROM BRACKISH ($195) Ten years ago, Ben Ross handmade bow ties from turkey feathers as gifts to the groomsmen in his wedding. Now he runs Brackish, a South Carolina maker of individually handmade ties made from real, unique feathers, meaning no ties are exactly alike.
TASSEL EARRINGS FROM HECHIZO ($60) Brooklyn-based designer and fabricator Hali Emminger combines ceramics, metals and textiles to create pieces for her Hechizo jewelry line, like these beautiful tassel earrings. Her work “somehow feels vintage and modern at the same time,” said O’Shea.
LOBSTER ROPE CHEW TOY FROM JAX & BONES ($17) You can’t leave your four-legged friend off your shopping list. This eco-friendly maker of pet toys, sales of which benefit an animal rescue nonprofit, creates items that are “very durable for heavy chewers,” said O’Shea.
CANDLES ($30) AND HAND SOAP ($15) FROM FURTHER
Seaside Sundries CHIC SOUVENIRS TO SPICE UP YOUR LIFE BACK HOME Wondering what you’ll bring home from your next Provincetown vacation? We have a few ideas: A suntan. Amazing memories. And maybe, just maybe, an oversized inflatable flamingo. This season marks the first for Salt Supply, a new retail shop from Kevin O’Shea, creative director for Salt Hotels, a portfolio of chic inns that O’Shea developed with his husband, hotel industry vet David Bowd. Salt Hotels has three properties in Provincetown: Salt House Inn, Eben House and the
distinct, just-opened Residence at Eben House. But Salt Supply is the team’s first standalone retail space, and it’s filled with stylish souvenirs you’ll actually want to take home. These aren’t tacky tchotchkes, but a curated collection of cool items—from wearable accessories to home décor pieces—designed by indie artisans. “The stock has a sense of humor,” said O’Shea. “We work with a lot of small artisans and vendors, many of whom have never been represented in a
brick-and-mortar retail store before. This allows us to not only support small businesses but also deliver really unique products that our guests won’t find anywhere else: the ultimate vacation takeaways.” Want some suggestions on exactly what you’ll want to nab from Salt Supply’s shelves? Here are a few of our favorite finds. (Salt Supply is located at 353 Commercial Street, Provincetown; 508-413-9269; facebook. com/saltsupplystore.)
“Further products are sustainable, responsible, all made in the USA—and smell fantastic!” said O’Shea. The signature scent is a combination of bergamot, olive and grass, and it’ll always bring back memories of your perfect P’town getaway.
WINE FLASK ($28) AND FLASK WITH SHOT GLASS ($20) FROM TOTE+ABLE “Who couldn’t use a fashionable flask?” asks O’Shea. We’ll gladly take one of these clever pieces from a Californiabased, family-owned business. The small flask comes with its own shot glass; the large one holds an entire bottle of wine.
TOTE FROM BITTLE & BURLEY ($150) Brooklyn designer Chris MacManus handcrafts all of his sturdy, masculine canvas bags. “He uses the best quality materials,” praises O’Shea. “One of his bags will last you a life time—and they’re beautiful!” [x]
JUL|AUG 2017 | 15
SPOTLIGHT Art STORY Scott Kearnan
“Captain Wright” Ria Brodell PHOTO Gregory Burdett [RIGHT] “Olga Nikolaevna Tsuberbiller”
Gender Nonconforming Pioneers
[LEFT]
LITTLE-TOLD STORIES ILLUSTRATE EVOLUTION OF GENDER ROLES
individuals, and its book contains historic background on each.
Ria Brodell could have used more queer role models while growing up in Idaho in a conservative Catholic family. But now the Boston-based artist has created a series of works that shed light on gender nonconforming pioneers.
“I chose people that I could identify with,” said Brodell. “So much of the history that I grew up learning was white male centric, and there’s so much that has been left out— including queer history—that is extraordinarily important to understand.”
Brodell’s collection of paintings, called “Butch Heroes,” has been exhibited at a number of art galleries and recently collected into a limited edition book. Through this work, Brodell shares the little-told stories of real but unheralded historic figures—and illuminates how our ideas of gender identity have evolved over hundreds of years.
Brodell also chose to depict the subjects of “Butch Heroes” in paintings that resemble traditional Catholic holy cards—those that conventionally feature important religious saints. It’s a way of nodding to her Catholic upbringing while celebrating a different set of inspirational individuals.
“Sometimes I wonder, if I’d had these people to look at, how much easier life could have been for me when I growing up,” said Brodell. The figures represented in “Butch Heroes,” unearthed by Brodell over countless hours of research, come from all corners of history. What they have in common: All were assigned female at birth, but presented themselves in traditionally masculine ways—especially by the standards of their respective, pre-20th century eras. Some had romantic relationships with women. Some embodied transgender or gender-neutral identities. Whatever their differences, they all, in some way or another, could be categorized as “butch”—a word that Brodell, like many LGBTQ activists, views in political terms and wants to “reclaim” from those who would use it as a slur.
16 | BOSTON SPIRIT
“It seemed like the perfect format,” said Brodell. “Those cards were used as a way to present role models. From Saint Francis to Saint Anthony, you were encouraged to look to them if you needed anything, for their teachings, and for their courage.” Among the very different but still-courageous figures represented in Brodell’s whimsical, colorful “Butch Heroes” paintings are Qánqon Kámek Klaúla, a maleidentifying Native American warrior who served as a guide and courier to fur trappers and traders; Olga Nikolaevna Tsuberbiller, a trailblazing Russian academic and mathematician; and “Captain Wright,” a male-presenting Briton whose death, and subsequent revelation of biologically female characteristics, caused a kerfuffle across 19th-century London newspapers. “Butch Heroes” spotlights about two-dozen
[CENTER]
Throughout the series, Brodell is careful to avoid anachronistically applying modern sex- and gender-related terminology to individuals who aren’t here to self-identify and to whom contemporary categories may be ill-fitting or irrelevant. Brodell bases choices like pronoun designation on how the (frequently gender-fluid) subjects presented themselves at various points throughout their individual biographies. Brodell is interested in capturing their personal selfexpression, not lobbing labels. After all, Brodell (whose preferred pronouns are they/them/their) understands that labels are only helpful to a point. Identities evolve. “I’ve changed my terminology myself,” said Brodell, who has self-identified as gay, as queer and as a dyke at various points in their journey. Today Brodell is most comfortable identifying as non-binary trans and genderneutral, but acknowledges that these terms have become less important with age. “To be honest, I don’t really think about it a lot,” said the artist. “When I was growing up, I really used those terms because I needed to find my community. They were labels, and I wanted to find where I belonged. Today I find myself not using them as much.” After all, if “Butch Heroes” demonstrates anything, it’s that fully realized stories can never be captured by any single word. [x]
riabrodell.com.
SPOTLIGHT Youth STORY Scott Kearnan Kristen Becker PHOTO Kim Sakamoto going to take his word over mine. Whatever works!” To be fair, Becker is pretty adept at communicating with conservative crowds. You may not expect that from a comedian who also founded a tour called “Dykes of Hazard.” But as a native Southerner herself, she knows that utilizing condescension won’t win over hearts and minds. “I know how to walk the line,” says Becker. “You have to understand the cultural roots and nuances of bigotry. You can’t walk in there as just another Yankee telling a redneck he’s ignorant.” “You can have a gender studies degree from Smith College, but as soon as you say ‘heteronormative,’ not one person is going to listen,” she adds. While the still-ongoing comedy tour is a way of opening dialogue and deconstructing foundations of discrimination, Becker wanted a way to provide more immediate help to young queers in intolerant environments—hence Summer of Sass.
Loosen the Bible Belt SASSING UP THE SUMMER WITH COMEDIAN KRISTEN BECKER Kristen Becker is a comedian. But there’s a serious mission behind her so-called “Summer of Sass.” Many of us in New England forget that our region’s generally progressive LGBT politics are still fairly exceptional—not a national rule. And we take for granted that we have a nearby gay enclave like Provincetown, where we can escape for a quick jaunt and be instantly surrounded by LGBT history, culture and community. Though Becker, an out lesbian, now lives in Provincetown, she was raised in Louisiana—and she never forgot the uniquely fervent level of anti-LGBT animosity that can exist in areas of the Deep South. That’s why she launched her Summer of Sass, an effort to temporarily relocate young people from more oppressive communities to Provincetown for the summer. Becker helps hook them up with housing and jobs, connects them with local mentors, and offers them the all-too-rare opportunity to live as exactly who they are for a summer—and, hopefully, to return home renewed with the knowledge that tolerant, inclusive corners of the country exist. “We’re always telling young people that it gets better,” says Becker. “That alone isn’t the answer. So I decided, let’s bring them up here and show them what better looks like. Let’s motivate them by showing a community that’s not all gay, that works.”
Teddy PHOTO Scott Coffey “Plus, it’s an important mental health break,” she adds. The “Summer of Sass” is an offshoot of a larger project that Becker launched two years ago: “Loosen the Bible Belt,” a standup comedy tour through religious Red States that aims to bridge LGBT and non-LGBT audiences, educating and enlightening through the power of laughter. Becker developed “Loosen the Bible Belt” with straight pastor Jay Bakker—a tattooed hipster who just happens to be the son of Jim and Tammy Faye. She thought that together they could reach audiences—especially malleable moderate crowds—who might otherwise ignore messages from either one of them alone. “You have to teach people in the manner that they learn,” says Becker. She chuckles. “That’s why I got a straight white Christian pastor on board. I know some people are
Becker identified three participants for this inaugural season of her program, helping them find homes and jobs in P’town. Two are teenagers: Teddy, a gay boy from Shreveport, Louisiana (Becker’s hometown), and Sam, a transgender boy from Tyler, Texas. A third, Khloe, is in her mid-20s—but Becker bent her rules on age to help. A transgender woman from a small town in Louisiana, Khloe has faced constant discrimination in her community, which has made it hard for her to realize her dream of finishing nursing school (she’s the first in her family to attend college) and building a better life. She’s now applying to nursing schools up North. “So many nights I sit and cry,” says Khloe. “A lot of the girls here don’t work, or they work the streets or work the clubs. I wanted to break that mold. I wanted to show that it’s okay to go to college, it’s okay to work to achieve the American dream.” “But being discriminated against, they make it so hard,” she says. If Becker has her way, she’ll help make it easier. She considers this first Summer of Sass to be “proof of concept year.” Her ultimate goal is to raise enough money to rent a house, hire a director with nonprofit management experience, and grow to accommodate at least a dozen young people per year. “I feel like I have a responsibility to speak up for people who can’t speak up for themselves,” said Becker. And that’s no joke. [x]
kristenbecker.com and loosenthebiblebelt.com.
JUL|AUG 2017 | 17
SPOTLIGHT Pride STORY Scott Kearnan
Bride Pride SECOND ANNUAL WORLD’S LARGEST ALL-WOMEN WEDDING In July, Ilene Mitnick and Allison Baldwin will organize Bride Pride in Provincetown, an event that is dubbed the world’s largest all-women wedding and marriage renewal ceremony. They have plenty of practice. They get married every single night. “I’m an ordained minister, and I marry Allison every night,” says Mitnick. The couple has been together for over 15 years; they were joined in a civil union in Connecticut in 2006 and married in 2009. But each night as they lay in bed, Baldwin asks Mitnick to marry her once more. So as they drift off to dreamland, Mitnick manages to mutter one last phrase: It begins with, “By the power vested in me.” This nightly ritual has become a sweet symbol of the pair’s enduring love. So too is Bride Pride—albeit on a grander scale. The mass wedding, which will take place on July 22 on the grounds of the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum, expects to attract over 100 women who want to tie the knot (or renew their vows) in the country’s gayest zip code. Singer-songwriter Amy Bishop will perform, local vendors are offering Bride Pride participants discounts on wedding- and honeymoon-related services, and though Mitnick won’t officiate this event, that honor still goes to someone very special: out comedian Kate Clinton. Clinton also presided over last year’s inaugural Bride Pride, which brought together more than 50 couples from 15 states and Canada, in ages ranging from 27 to 72. They traveled from every corner of the country,
18 | BOSTON SPIRIT
and not just to help Bride Pride get closer to reaching its eventual goal of getting a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. (That’ll take 200 women.) They came to Provincetown because, for many of them, legal recognition of marriage has not necessarily equated to cultural acceptance in their region of the country.
“ Just because it’s legal everywhere doesn’t mean it’s easy or comfortable. ” Allison Baldwin “Just because it’s legal everywhere doesn’t mean it’s easy or comfortable,” explained Baldwin. “I remember one couple from last year, who came from Tennessee, who told us how they felt so embraced here. They never knew what it was like to hold hands in public like they could in Provincetown.” Mitnick and Baldwin understand well the unique sense of inclusion and freedom in love that accompanies a romantic getaway in Provincetown. The couple first visited P’town together in 2002. It was Mitnick’s first trip, and she was recently out following a 20-year marriage to a man. “I felt so free and so liberated, and so fortunate to be in love, out and in the open, in Provincetown,”
she recalls. “I felt like I’d found my tribe, and entered into an amazing club.” Provincetown took on a special meaning for the twosome, who eventually moved there and purchased a bed & breakfast in the East End. They opened their charming property, Roux, in 2014, welcoming guests from all over the world. Last year’s debut Bride Pride was held on the front lawn of Roux during Women’s Week. The timing was part of a larger intention to use the event as a way to attract more lesbian tourism to Provincetown, where some of the more heavily marketed events tend to skew more toward men, they say. This year’s event also coincides with a women-centric week, the annual Girl Splash series. But the decision to move Bride Pride up on the calendar was also informed by the current political climate. “After the election, we got a number of phone calls from women who didn’t want to wait,” said Baldwin. With the change of administration, and a lot of uncertainty over the future of LGBT rights, a mass same-sex wedding like Bride Pride took on greater symbolic resonance—and so did its move to the Pilgrim Monument, a tribute to early American history that will now host a massive celebration of the march toward equal rights for all. “We wanted to lean in to love,” said Baldwin. “We wanted to put love out there in a way that feels even bigger and bolder than before.” [x]
rouxprovincetown.com.
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JUL|AUG 2017 | 19
SPOTLIGHT Health & Beauty STORY Megi Abashidze-Nevins Megi Abashize-Nevis
Smooth Aesthetics SKINCARE TIPS TO LEAVE YOU FEELING COMFORTABLE UNDER THE SUN Let’s face it, whatever you are doing outside in the sun between May and September feels oh, so good. What you may not know is that the extra daylight and warm temperature makes this time of year
super-stressful on your skin. So how can you enjoy the summer outdoors on the beach—say, in Ogunquit or Provincetown— and still prevent long-term damage to your face and body?
The sun cause about 90 percent of injury to the skin, which means sagging, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, thickening and general signs of aging. Here’s how to safely achieve that healthy glow:
Beautiful, healthy skin begins and ends with sunscreen. The number one way to guard your skin is to wear UVA/UVB protection every single day, rain or shine, summer or winter. Wear clothes
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with SPF to protect your body as well. I tell my patients, if you have to use one and only one anti-aging skin care product, it would be a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Here are the sunscreens I recommend: EltaMD‑UV clear SPF 46 broad-spectrum; Beautycounter- Protect all over broad-spectrum SPF 30 Protect Stick sunscreen broad-spectrum SPF30; and Colorescience-Sunforgettable brush-on sunscreen SPF 30 and SPF50 (great to reapply even over make-up). Use salicylic acid cleanser. Salicylic acid gently exfoliates skin and helps shed sun damage. Oily type skin can tolerate a salicylic acid cleanser once a day, drier and more sensitive skin once or twice a week. I recommend using MDRejuvena‑Enzyme Exfoliating Cleanser and daily cleanser. Avoid the oils. Using facial and body oils during the summer
makes your skin more susceptible for sunburn. Moisturize. A common mistake is that we don’t need to use moisturizer in the summer. You need to use moisturizer all year, but switch creams and ointments with gel, gel-cream and/ or serum. I like to use Vitamin C or other antioxidants skincare products. Vitamin C keeps your skin clear and bright. I recommend Skin Medica-Ultra Sheer Moisturizer for normal to oily skin. Don’t forget the lip balm with sunscreen. I recommend Protect Lip balm SPF30. Retinoids are the fountain of youth and beauty. However when applied they can make your skin sun sensitive and if you don’t reapply SPF, you could get a bad sunburn. I recommend using MD Rejuvena‑MD Rejuvena Rejuvaphyl Rejuvenating Complex LS with 0.25% Retinol and Retinol 0.5%.
Keep hydrated. Drink lots of of water—and ice in your vodka doesn’t count! I add lemon, mint and cucumber to mine. It tastes delicious and is refreshing too. Without adequate water intake, skin appears dull and wrinkles and pores more prominent. Also, when skin is hydrated, plump and elastic, it is less likely to crack and let in external particles that cause irritations and blemishes. What if you already have sun damage? Our parents in decades past never thought to put sunscreen on us, and don’t forget those college years where we baked in the sun with baby oil! Sun damage can be evident through hyperpigmentation, brown spots, redness and broken vessels. Please know that it will take time, patience and determination, but it’s never too late to reverse the effects of sun damage. First and foremost, start wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen
every single day and reapply every two hours. I would also recommend using Retinoid creams/gels at night and Vitamin C serum in the morning. For four to six weeks, use Hydroquinone product (skin brightening) to speed up the clearing process. There are a number of professional treatments that can really help. My recommendations are: IPL for vascular and pigmented lesions; chemical peels (three to five sessions); and fractional laser, invasive or non-invasive (it depends on severity of sun damage and/or dermal needling). All these treatment can be accomplished in a short amount of time. [x]
Megi Abashize-Nevis is the owner and founder of Smooth Aesthetics Med Spa in Stoneham, Massachusetts, where she offers expertise in everything from skin care products and regime, anti-aging and acne treatments to getting rid of sun damage.
BLUE MAN GROUP
JUL|AUG 2017 | 21
SPOTLIGHT Food STORY Scott Kearnan
Family Affair STAR CHEF MARY DUMONT SERVES UP A NEW DOWNTOWN BOSTON BISTRO Chef Mary Dumont’s wife, Emily FrenchDumont, is Cultivar’s director of operations and played a large role in shaping the design of the new Downtown Boston restaurant: a gorgeous ground-level space in the chic Ames Hotel that is swathed in rich wood floors, cast iron framework, and rusticchic accents like recycled chicken coops. Dumont honors the memory of her late mother with a bar top made from the wood of 300-year old beech tree, nicknamed the “Queen of the Forest” and the same type of tree that grew in the yard of Dumont’s childhood home in New Hampshire. And the couple’s oldest two daughters (they have four) are working in the restaurant as hosts and all-around “gofers.” Hers has always been a tightknit family, but the arduous process of opening Dumont’s first self-owned restaurant brought the brood “even closer together,” says the chef. Indeed, Cultivar was a while in the making. Dumont, a former “Iron Chef America” contestant and “Best New Chef” winner from “Food & Wine” magazine, has been working on the restaurant since she left her longtime role as executive chef at Cambridge’s lauded Harvest in 2015. Her epicurean experience stretches back much farther, though. Dumont grew up in the Granite State, but she launched her cooking career in San Francisco at spots like Alta Plaza, a gay restaurant and piano bar in Pacific Heights, and Jardinière, an acclaimed fine dining icon owned by award-winning lesbian chef Traci Des Jardins. Dumont also cut her teeth in the Castro, where “all the guys I worked with were drag queens,” she chuckles. They also became her best friends, and guided her through the double-devastation of a major breakup and the passing of her mother. “They saved my life,” says Dumont. “They’d say, ‘Honey, we’ve been through all that and worse.’ And they’d put me in the backseat of a convertible and we’d go driving with the hair of their wigs blowing in the wind.” Dumont remains active in her LGBT community: One of Cultivar’s first special events was a patio party to coincide with the Boston Pride festival, which was held just a block away. But the restaurant, of course, welcomes guests of all stripes to step inside and be fed like, well, family.
Chef Mary Dumont produce—from tomatoes to radishes to leafy greens—year-round. Dumont calls her Cultivar menu “modern American garden cuisine,” a phrase that only begins to connote the farm-to-table freshness found in signature plates like Burgundian snail toast and whole organic chicken with blue corn grits, dried cherries and just-snipped herbs. She also sources her ingredients with an extremely unique level of personal care. Dumont grows some ingredients at her home garden in rural Groton, while many others are plucked directly from Cultivar’s spacious patio, where the chef has installed Freight Farms: shipping containers outfitted as greenhouse-like, hydroponic gardens that allow Dumont to grow her own
Other elements are also thoughtfully sourced, including the sustainable seafood at the restaurant’s raw bar and the bottles reflected in the beverage list, which emphasizes artisan gins for their botanical qualities that complement the cuisine. Like a united family, everything here fits perfectly together—even the name. “Cultivar refers to any plant, whether vegetable or fruit, that has been cultivated through human intention to have the best characteristics of several plants.” “That’s the way I look at my life at this moment. It’s like I’ve taken cuttings of every part of what I’ve gone through to make one complete thing.” [x]
JUL|AUG 2017 | 27
SPOTLIGHT Senior Spirit STORY Bob Linscott
Senior Spirit
When Age No Longer Divides Us WHAT WOULD THE LGBT COMMUNITY BE LIKE WITHOUT AGEISM? Despite many efforts across the country in the past two decades to adopt a stronger commitment to diversity and inclusion, we have yet to truly address issues of ageism. Author Ashton Applewhite, in her book “This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism,” suggests that ageism is the final elephant in the room that hasn’t been addressed. Not that we have solved issues around race, gender and sexuality, but as a nation we are working through those and making some progress. Whereas there has not been any conscious effort to address the damaging effects of ageism. It is impossible to blame anyone for this state of affairs. We learn from society at an early age that growing old is not good, that youth is a premium and elders are useless. Part of the fault lies in the way our educational system is set up. From the
moment we enter school, we are grouped by age and we stay that way until we enter the workforce. We remain segregated by age and only interact with people within a few years of our own age. This pattern continues throughout our lives. Often, the only elders that young people know are their own grandparents and possibly the old lady down the street whose driveway they shovel. SAGE USA decided to break through this generation segregation with the SAGE Table initiative. They inspired people all across the country to host dinners and invite LGBTQ people and allies from all ages to the table. The LGBT Aging Project was eager to jump into the mix, as intergenerational initiatives are important to the success of our work.
The Boston SAGE Table was held on May 17 at Mount Pleasant Home in Jamaica Plain. Fifty guests attended representing various generations—the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials—and a mix of genders, races and cultures. Guests were divided into small groups as the evening began with ice breaker questions such as “what words were used to describe gay people when you were in high school” or “who was the first openly LGBT person you were aware of, and how old
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were you at the time.” As the dinner was served and guests got to know each other, the questions required a bit more thought and discussion such as “What would be meaningful for you to receive from someone of a different generation” and “How do you imagine you and your friends getting older? In what kind of community do you see yourself living? Who will you take care of? Who will take care of you?” The evening ended with a large group discussion around the question “What would be possible in
the LGBTQ community if there was more contact between the generations.”
invitation to dinner and some engaging questions.
It is always a good sign when an event ends and nobody leaves. That was the case with the first Boston SAGE Table. An electricity was generated and the conversations continued in pairs and small groups long after the program finished. The overwhelming sentiment that was shared by all participants was that this should happen again soon and often. All it took to break down the silos of generation segregation was a simple
If you would like to be part future intergenerational programs, please contact The LGBT Aging Project at Fenway Health at (857) 313-6590. For a tool kit on hosting your own SAGE Table please visit www. sagetable.org. [x]
Life at Seashore Point is always being in Perfect Harmony. Exciting Just ask happy resident John Brewer.
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Worn out from taking care of a house, I was determined to downsize. After discovering many places on the Cape didn’t take pets, I heard about The Residences at Seashore Point. Pet-friendly, it offered the perfect solution for me and my “best friends”. With underground parking, a gym, beautiful surroundings and open spaces for my dogs to run, the “boys” and I really love it here. I no longer have to shovel snow, mow the lawn, clean the gutters or do repairs. Maintenance services are wonderful. Best of all, I’ve never felt better.
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SPOTLIGHT News STORY Kim Harris Stowell
Newsmakers | Rhode Island This Just in from Little Rhody
Ajello banning “conversion therapy” on children by licensed health care or human services professionals.
R.I. Representative Edith H. Ajello
HOUSE VOTES TO BAN ‘SEXUAL ORIENTATION CHANGE’ THERAPY FOR LGBT KIDS On June 1, the state’s House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Representative Edith H.
“Conversion therapy is worse than ineffective,” said Ajello. “It can be extremely harmful, especially in children. Sexual orientation, as well as gender identity, is widely recognized by science and medicine as simply innate to a person. It is no more a disease or a condition that needs to be changed than is race or eye color. Putting someone, especially a young person, through conversion therapy can lead them to a host of serious problems including depression, substance abuse, isolation and suicide.”
Rally for conversion ban
PROVIDENCE ENACTS POLICE PROTECTIONS FOR GENDER IDENTITY By a vote of 13–1, the Providence City Council has finally approved passage of a police accountability measure that
DESTINATION SALEM
proponents say could be a national model to prevent discriminatory profiling based on race, gender identity and immigration status. Such a law was originally introduced in 2014. The “Providence CommunityPolice Relations Act” would
Providence Pridefest flags mandate policies for police body cameras and prohibit racial and other forms of discriminatory profiling and establish new protections for transgender people. Democratic Mayor Jorge Elorza has said he’ll sign it into law.
“I KNEW RHODE ISLAND WOULD SHOW UP” These were the words—despite an unseasonably cold and rainy night—from Janson Wu, executive director of GLAD, speaking to a large crowd at the Ocean State’s Justice for All event in early June. Wu had come to talk about GLAD’s work on critical LGBTQ issues in Rhode Island and across New England and the nation. Held at Providence’s Red Fin Crudo + Kitchen, the evening offered a chance to galvanize support regarding the future of same-sex marriage as well as the right to discriminate against LGBTQ citizens based on religious views.
PRIDEFEST CELEBRATES 41 With a them of “R.I.S.E.: Rhode Islanders Standing
for Equality,” Rhode Island Pride rang in its 41st annual Pridefest event in Providence on June 17. Highlights on the program when this issue of Boston Spirit went to press just beforehand, included a day of music, drag shows, stand-up comedy, more than 200 vendor booths plus a “kid’s zone,” a youth center, and a grown-ups-only beer, wine and spirits garden. After the sun went down, the lights came up on New England’s only illuminated Night Parade, which wound up in block parties throughout the city.
BOSTON MARRIOTT
“The energy in the city is electric, and we send an open invitation to everyone to participate in weekend events that transform the city into a Gay Disney World,” said Alex Gorriaran, former Rhode Island Pride president. Says Pride’s interim board president Davide Gnoato, “We are excited to welcome thousands of visitors to the city to celebrate the diversity of our LGBTQ community. As part of our theme this year, we not only rise to celebrate, but also to reignite the fight against discrimination and equality for all.” [x]
JUL|AUG 2017 | 33
SPOTLIGHT News STORY Rob Phelps
Newsmakers | New Hampshire Headlines from the Granite State PROBATION FOR
service and a $650 restitution fine. The district court judge issuing the ruling also ordered Richard to write a letter of apology to Rainbow Times owner Nicole Lashomb. Richard received a year continued without finding, which means no guilty charge on his record if he meets his probation requirements. A second man, Lawrence Gilman age 20, of Milford chose to go to trial in June.
The suspects in the Rainbow Times news box attack in Salem, Massachusetts
RAINBOW TIMES NEWS BOX EXPLOSION To avoid a trial, one of two suspects admitted to blowing up the Rainbow Times news box in Salem, Massachusetts, last August. John Richard, age 23, of Hollis is facing a year’s probation, 50 hours of community
Both young men were charged with “malicious or wonton defacing or damaging property over $250 and throwing, secreting, launching or placing an incendiary device.” Many in both the Salem and wider LGBT community consider the action a specifically targeted hate crime.
LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS LAUNCH NEW GROUP Log Cabin Republicans officially opened a new state chapter on May 12 with a
Adam Lord of the Log Cabin Republicans launch event at the One Hundred Club in Portsmouth. Governor Chris Sununu delivered the keynote address at the event. Other guests included State Senate President Chuck Morse, House Speaker Shawn Jasper, Vice Chairman of the state’s Republican party Wayne MacDonald and Log Cabin President Gregory T. Angelo. The group’s primary goal is to help the state’s GOP win elections, the group’s treasurer and cofounder Adam Lord told New Hampshire Public Radio. The second goal, Lord added in the interview, is to explain to LGBTQ people that the GOP is inclusive. “Everything that goes [on] throughout the country—the stigmatism of the Republican party not being inclusive of the LGBT [community]—is something we need to get away from,” he said.
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New Hampshire Republicans “are some of the most open and welcoming Republicans in the country,” cofounder Doug Palardy, husband of State Senator Dan Innis, told seacoastlonline.com.
CONCORD CELEBRATES PRIDE
Said Innis, the values of the new chapter—which include small government, individual freedoms and low taxes—align with those of the state’s Republican Party and Libertarian platforms. He described the national organization Celebrating Concord Pride at Tandy’s Pub of Log Cabin Republicans as the only LBGT group But only a very slim margin of lawmakers with “a seat at the table in the Trump kept it from a vote. administration.” “By tabling instead of going against it,
TRANSGENDER IDENTITY BILL STILL ALIVE Activists see a slight silver lining in the tabling of a House bill to ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity earlier this legislative session. The bill was backed by the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee.
[legislators] showed how uncomfortable they were with going against it,” J. J. Smith, public policy co-chair for the state’s Public Health Association, told the Concord Monitor in early June. The hope is to build upon that sentiment. Meanwhile, the Senate, Smith added, already appears ready to pass the protections into law next year.
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A large crowd assembled across the State House lawn on May 16 to show their support for the LGBT community. Says ABCaffiliate WMUR-TV, “Hundreds of people filled the State House lawn decked out in rainbows and symbols of love and peace in support of the LGBT community. “Religious leaders of different faiths led a blessing at the start of the rally and the New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus performed for the crowd.” “We just got together and put it together,” said organizer Caitlin Murphy. “We really wanted to show young people and maybe people who aren’t out yet [that] there is a welcoming community and that Concord is a great, diverse place.” The celebration spilled over into an afterparty held at Tandy’s Pub. [x]
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SPOTLIGHT News STORY Natalie Nonken
Newsmakers | Connecticut Articles from The Constitution State
CONVERSION THERAPY BANNED It’s official. As of May 10, it is illegal for mental health professionals to practice conversion therapy on LGBT youth. Governor Dannel Malloy signed the bill into law after a unanimous vote from the state’s Senate. Connecticut is the ninth state to ban the practice. Other states include New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Illinois, Vermont, Oregon, California and New York (by executive order). The District of Columbia has also taken action, along with three cities— Seattle, Miami Beach and Cincinnati.
Govenor Mally signing anti-conversion therapy into state law. PHOTO courtesy ct.gov.
FOXWOODS
“This is supported by the science,” Gov. Malloy stated publicly as he signed the bill into law. “It’s supported by our cultural awakening and awareness that we are a society of many different players and very different folks, and we shouldn’t try to make everyone just like us. We should recognize
that some people are simply not us, but that doesn’t make them bad and it certainly doesn’t make them mentally ill—and it certainly should not subject them, anyone, to therapies that we know don’t work and aren’t supported by science.”
STUDENTS TAKE STAND AGAINST CATHOLIC SCHOOL POLICY In May, the Hartford Courant’s Shawn R. Beals reported on recent controversies in Catholic schools over what seem to be blatant anti-LGBT policies. A student at Middletown’s Mercy High School—a Catholic high school for women— wanted to bring another woman to her senior prom as her date. The school had a policy that a woman had to either go to the prom with friends or bring a man as her date. This prompted the Mercy student to start a petition, “Let Girls Take Girls to Prom,” which received over 1,800 signatures on change.org. Since attention was drawn to this issue during prom season, a number of Mercy High School alumni are pushing for the school to change its policies. While traditional Catholic policies are typically upheld in Catholic high schools, many are pushing for
John Scagliotti and cinematographer Arnaud Lalanne review footage. change as they have hope that Pope Francis is setting the tone for a more open-minded Catholic church.
“BEFORE HOMOSEXUALS” WOWS FILM FEST A historical documentary wowed the crowd at the 30th annual Out Film CT LGBT Film Festival, which took place June 2–10 in Hartford. “Before Homosexuals,” by Emmy Awardwinning filmmaker John Scagliotti, chronicles same-sex dating and love as far back as ancient times. In it the filmmaker
uses history to set his own story in a broad social context. In November 1975, at the time that he was news director for WBCN Radio Boston, Scagliotti was arrested for “soliciting to commit an unnatural act.” He fought his arrest and conviction all the way up to the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, which overturned the ruling. Connecticut’s longest running film festival, Out Film CT also presents the Eros Film Festival each fall and the First Thursdays Cinema series—screenings at Cinestudio in Harfford on the first Thursday of each month. [x]
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SPOTLIGHT News STORY Rob Phelps
Newsmakers | Vermont
Green Mountain State Update STATE HISTORY UPDATE “We need to move beyond Ethan Allen here in Vermont,” State Historic Preservation Officer Laura Trieschmann told the Brattleboro Reformer. “A lot of history remains to be told and we need to gather this information while we can still celebrate it, creating an inventory while the players are here to tell their stories.” Trieschmann talked to the Reformer while spending the day in Bellows Falls. She is working on a new National Parks Service Northeast Region initiative identifying historically significant properties related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer history in Vermont.
She came to Bellows Falls to check out the Andrew’s Inn, which, according to the Reformer, “served as a travel destination for gay men and women who came to the village from as far away as New York and Boston to find safety and acceptance during the ’70s and ’80s. The Inn was located in the former Windham Hotel, now home to Popolo Restaurant, and remains virtually unchanged.”
VERMONT PRIDE 2017 “Solidarity” is the theme for Vermont’s Pride Festival and Parade, slated for Sunday, September 10. The event starts at 12:30 p.m. with the parade down Church Street. Following on the parade’s heels is the festival in
Popolo Andrew’s Inn site Battery Park, taking place from 1 to 5 p.m. “Humorous and useless prizes” will be awarded to official parade entries (groups, floats, etc.) in the categories of “Crowd Pleasing,” “Expression of Theme” and “Costumes and Make-Up.” It’s not to late to sign up for an offical entry spot; to register, go to www. surveymonkey.com/r/KC2RMD8.
Events will be hosted throughout the month of September as well. Check out www. pridecentervt.org/parade-festival for unfolding details.
SOUTHERN VERMONT PRIDE WEEKEND Four local arts and LGBTQ organizations—Vermont Performance Lab, Green Mountain
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Crossroads, the Rockingham Arts and Museum Project and CineSlam —joined forces to produce a full weekend of activities and events as part of the annual Southern Vermont Pride Weekend. It all happened in various locations across Southern Vermont but mostly in Putney, Brattleboro and Bellows Falls. The weekend featured the CineSlam Festival, Vermont’s only LGBT film fest, live performances, a dance party at Popolo Restaurant in Bellows Falls and much more. For info on next year’s Southern Pride Weekend and related activities all year long, go to greenmountaincrossroads.org or vermontperformancelab.org.
BEN AND JERRY’S DOWN UNDER “Imagine heading down to your local Scoop Shop to order your favorite two scoops,” says a Ben & Jerry’s rep. “But you find out you are not allowed—Ben &
Ben Jerry’s at Vermont Pride Jerry’s has banned two scoops of the same flavor. You’d be furious! But this doesn’t even begin to compare to how furious you would be if you were told you were not allowed to marry the person you love.”
Such is the logic behind a bit of activism/marketing by the progressive South Burlington ice-cream maker. At 26 ice cream shops in Australia, the company is installing postboxes for people to send letters in
support of marriage equality to lawmakers. Ben & Jerry’s staunchly supported marriage equality in the United States, but a majority of Aussies are still fighting for it Down Under. [x]
JUL|AUG 2017 | 39
SPOTLIGHT News STORY Rob Phelps Youth Lobby Day
PRIDE PORTLAND With its theme of “Love Is Love,” paradegoers expressed what loves means to them by representing “Love is [fill in the blank]” in their floats, costumes and just about any other creative way they chose to express it. The 10 days of Pride Portland began on June 9 with a kick-off party and parade and festival wrapping up the festivities on June 17. Check out the next issue of Boston Spirit for photos, and visit prideportland.org for details on next year’s events, along with related activities throughout the coming year.
BELFAST HAS PRIDE
Newsmakers | Maine
News from the Pine Tree State YOUTH LOBBY DAY On May 17, an impressive team of LGBT and allied young people went to Augusta to make their voices heard. Organized by EqualityMaine, GLSEN and Rep. Andrew McLean of Gorham, the group included students from Limerick to Orono as well as interns with EqualityMaine. After training that included witnessing the House in session, the group lobbied on two bills: against one that would undermine Maine’s anti-bullying law, and for another that would provide training to school staff on suicide prevention and intervention.
Health and Human Services’ ability to make sure that LGBT elders are receiving federal services. “Sexual orientation and gender identity questions on these surveys were designed to ensure that vital services were reaching vulnerable LGBT Americans,” they stated in the letter. “By rolling back data collection, it is possible that the needs of millions of Americans go unmet.”
“For so many years, young LGBT Mainers thought the State House was not a place where their voice was heard,” said Rep. McLean. “Today, we learned that not only do they have a voice, but that it is being heard loud and clear!”
COLLINS LEADS CALL TO FOR ELDER REPORTING Senator Susan Collins, along with Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, led a bipartisan group of 19 senators calling to restore LGBT questions on a federal elder-service survey. In a letter to the U.S. Special Commission on Aging, the group stressed that removal of these questions limit the Department of Portland Pride
40 | BOSTON SPIRIT
LGBTQ MidCoast Mainers and their allies gathered on June 10 in the City of Belfast for their second annual Pride parade and festival. Last year’s inaugural event drew hundreds from across the MidCoast, and at the time this issue of Boston Spirit went to press, organizers were looking forward to making this year’s even bigger and better. For more, visit the “Belfast Has Pride” Facebook page. “It seemed there were no small-town pride events, and if you want pride, you have to go to Portland or Bangor, one of the larger communities,” MaKayla Reed, co-organizer, told the Bangor Daily News prior to last year’s event. “We wanted to create one big event that would pull the whole community together. I think we live in a really wonderful town that is the center of the Midcoast, and we’re trying to redefine what pride is as a model for other small towns.” [x]
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FEATURE Science STORY Rob Phelps
Shire Pharmaceuticals at the 2016 Boston Pride Parade.
Boston’s Bio-Techies At the epicenter of a worldwide industry, LGBTQ life science professionals network to achieve greater breakthroughs In just the past few decades, extraordinary achievements like the Human Genome Project have propelled medical and other scientific breakthroughs light years ahead. The digital age has provided life scientists with the tools to process data faster, more efficiently and exponentially more productively. This means better therapies and vaccines for AIDS/ HIV and cancer, treatments for congenital disorders from birth on, complications that come with aging and all kinds of remedies that make us stronger, healthier, happier—you name it. At the heart of this brave new world in life sciences are the scientists and other professionals in the biotechnology industry themselves. The Boston area is arguably the Silicone Valley of the life-sciences industry. In 2016, our region’s jobs in this sector were estimated at 68,000, with new positions increasing at 6.1 percent over the previous year and expected to grow consistently at this rate, according to the most recent MassBioEd report. The report went on to forecast some 11,600 new employment
42 | BOSTON SPIRIT
opportunities in this area between now and 2020. OutBio is a new initiative among LGBTQ individuals in the life sciences industry. It aims to further maximize the potential of all these recent achievements by providing a platform to help its members develop their careers, share ideas in an open forum, and welcome talent—from previously underrepresented areas of our region’s diverse communities—into many of the new positions opening up in the Boston area. Hot topics at meetings range from nondiscrimination best practices in the workplace to brainstorming solutions for groundbreaking research. The group’s founder Ramsey Johnson, senior director of clinical operations at X4 Pharmaceuticals, held the first meeting in 2015. “There were about 12 people there including myself,” he recalls. “Flash forward just two years later and we have about 260 members. And we’re growing with every meeting.” Meet-ups take place roughly monthly at various companies throughout the Boston and Cambridge area like Biogen, Pfizer,
OutBio founding member Ramsey Johnson. Shire, Takeda, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Moderna Therapeutics. and Ironwood. Each gathering typically includes an educational component—often presentations by representatives from the host company or guest speakers from local universities. One event at Biogen launched that company’s Global LGBT Coalition in Life Sciences in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign. Sometimes the gatherings include social activities. “We had an activity similar to speed dating where each person sat across from someone they didn’t know and got to know them,” Johnson says. “Everyone loved that." And there is always networking—the lifeblood of the organization. The group started in 2015. “Selfishly, I started it because I knew that my position
at my previous company was going to be coming to an end and I thought it would be a great way of networking and socializing with people in the drug development industry,” said Johnson. So he sent out an informal email, offering to host the first one at the company where he was working at the time. Even though there were barely a dozen who showed, the ideas exchanged that night invigorated the work they were doing. Right from the start, Johnson could see the value of cross-pollination between companies for members’ careers as well as for their employers, the wider industry and, by extension, nothing short of mankind—Johnson certainly won’t put it in such lofty terms, but the work he and his colleagues are doing simply makes a huge difference to us all. “Up until recently we had this very catchy name of The LGBT Drug Development Group. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue,” Johnson says. Along with the new name, the group has created a new Facebook page (OutBio-Boston), a LinkedIn networking group (OutBio) plus a steering
Cupcakes, cocktails & cutting‑edge conversation OutBio’s networking events often feature an educational component. But there’s always plenty of time for cupcakes, cocktails, and conversation. The roof deck at Takeda Oncology in Cambridge, where the last event in June was held, proved an especially conducive setting for the social networking part. “It’s a great way for folks to meet other people in the drug development industry,” said OutBio founder Ramsey Johnson. “We get together, chat, network over food [not just cupcakes!] and drinks and have fun.”
OutBio is a networking group for LGBT individuals in the drug development industry. To become a member, there are just two requirements: One—be LGBT or an ally. And two—be in the life sciences/biotech industry or have a desire to network with people who are. If you meet those two criteria, email Ramsey at ramsey.johnson@x4pharma. com and let him know you’re interested in coming to OutBio’s upcoming event on July 21 at Moderna Therapeutics in Cambridge. You can also check out the OutBio-Boston page on Facebook or join the OutBio group on LinkedIn. [x]
[CONTINUES 44]
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committee to help chart their path into the future. Johnsons says the steering committee hopes to establish a scholarship program. And they’re looking for more opportunities to give back to the LGBT community. Outreach is one important goal—not growing membership per se since that’s already happening—but reaching out to people who might not see themselves as potential members.
A welcoming bridge Javier Barrientos has been an OutBio member since the start. Senior Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion at Biogen, he says “One of the biggest challenges that the LGBT community has is not knowing that they have a place and an opportunity to work in the life sciences. Sometimes people
“ Sometimes people think that life sciences are only for people who have a PhD or scientific background, but in reality this industry employs everybody. From lawyers to administrative assistants to finance people to engineers.” Javier Barrientos think that life sciences are only for people who have a PhD or scientific background, but in reality this industry employs everybody. From lawyers to administrative assistants to finance people to engineers.” This, Barrientos points out, is true in all underrepresented groups, which is one of the challenges that OutBio is helping to overcome. Helping young people realize their potential is another important goal. This year as
co-host of the New England Human Rights Campaign dinner, Barrientos created a committee to offer free seats to emerging talent from LGBT clubs at New England schools. The hope is to establish mentorships and possible working relationships for young people with those already in the industry, “to provide that bridge,” Barrientos says. “A lot of us in the LGBT community don’t necessarily have a gay parent or a gay adult in
the family who can show us the way,” he says. “So we need to rely on these kind of networks and mentoring relationships to have somebody show us the ropes how to build careers in a particular industry.” OutBio aims to help find and to nurture the best talent from all age groups, from all areas of the community. “At Biogen, we see this organization as essential because the life sciences are moving into very innovative spaces. We’re trying to create breakthrough therapies to very entrenched, rare and other types of diseases. So we need the best talent from all backgrounds. Having groups like OutBio allows people in the LGBT community to see that they belong and can thrive. At companies like Biogen, we see how a rich mix of differences can be leveraged in a positive
Plan to take care of each other Michele B. O’Connor
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A wealth plan that is thoughtfully constructed can help you provide for those you love. True wealth is not only about money. It’s about the relationships, interests and goals that bring you joy ... and what should be at the heart of your wealth plan. As a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor with significant experience working with same sex couples and the larger LGBT community, I know every client’s circumstances and resources are unique. By understanding your total life picture, we will work together to build a solid financial plan so you can be more at ease enjoying those things that matter most. Building confidence in your future is my goal. Call me and let’s arrange a meeting.
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FEATURE History STORY Scott Kearnan
Heroes of Resistance Almost 50 years later, these Stonewall vets are still fighting for our rights Picture it: A beautiful May afternoon on Cape Cod. It’s the 13th anniversary of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, the first state in the country to enact such legislation, and David Velasco Bermudez and Bob Isadore are throwing chicken on the grill in the yard of their Yarmouth Port home, an adorable antique-filled hideaway obscured from a quiet side-street by rows of leafy trees, shrubs and flower gardens. A toast of red wine is raised to the setting sun, and a few words offered to commemorate that momentous marriage milestone. But as the impromptu cookout continues and piles of steamed corn dwindle, conversation turns to America’s current political landscape—one that has ratcheted up the volume on vitriolic rhetoric aimed at marginalized groups. There are very real fears that LGBT rights may roll back. The air is filled with uncertainty, but Bermudez knows one thing to be true: “We still have to fight.”
A desire to inspire And in fact, he and his husband have been fighting for LGBT rights for decades now—albeit in very different ways. Bob
Isadore has been highly involved in Democratic causes over the years, managing successful campaigns for politicians like former state rep Cleon Turner. Isadore also spent 10 years as the first gay president of the Cape & Islands Democratic Council, and he’s currently in his 14th year as president of the Yarmouth Democratic Town Committee. In both roles he ran unopposed since his first election, and he has had a very strong hand in influencing progressive politics on the oft-conservative (by Massachusetts standards) Cape. He even received a Democrat of the Year award from then-senator John Kerry. On the other hand, Bermudez’s activism is rooted in a bar, not a voting booth. He is a Stonewall Veteran, one of only about 20 still-living people who were actually inside the Greenwich Village bar, now a U.S. National Monument, when the infamous police raid of June 28, 1969 took place. That raid, and the subsequent nights of riots and demonstrations, essentially birthed the modern LGBT rights movement—and as someone who experienced the event firsthand, Bermudez considers himself a steward of its story. Though they’re not the type to seek
the spotlight, both Bermudez and Isadore have shared their respective tales from the front lines of the LGBT rights movement with audiences ranging from student groups to senior centers. Their home has welcomed guests like Deval Patrick and Elizabeth Warren. And they have marched together in NYC Pride, Boston Pride (Bermudez was 2015’s grand marshal), and Provincetown Carnival.
Remembering the raids Along each Pride parade route, they say, young people have stopped them to offer thanks. It’s appreciated. But they don’t want gratitude—they want to inspire. “It’s going to get harder again,” says Bermudez, turning to a writer 40 years his junior. “Guys our age, we fought for you. And when I’m not here anymore, I want you to be able to tell one of many stories, from one man who was there that night.” Ironically, Bermudez wasn’t even planning to be at Stonewall Inn the evening of the raids. At the time, this Bronx-raised boy was 29 years old and recently divorced from a woman with whom he’d had a son. He had moved into a Columbus Circle studio apartment with a shared bath and didn’t even realize he was living in a local gayborhood—until, that is, handsome guys who hung out in the downstairs laundromat started getting chatty. Soon Bermudez, who worked as an interior designer
JUL|AUG 2017 | 45
and sang in off-Broadway shows, had a tightknit group of friends. Bermudez says they’d often hit the Continental Baths to check out that “nutty” new performer, Bette Midler, or hit the bars with fellow showbiz pals—including, when she was in town, Judy Garland. Bermudez remembers her as a sweet but damaged soul: Whatever Garland’s own struggles, her spirit certainly lifted the gay boys who flocked to her. “She was all eyes and smile,” he remembers. On June 27, after Bermudez paid his respects at Garland’s funeral, he reluctantly agreed to join friends who were hitting the bars in celebration of the lost legend’s life. Before the night wound down, they decided on one last drink at Stonewall Inn. It was a “filthy” joint, laughs Bermudez fondly. But it was a fun one too. He remembers regulars like
Sylvia Rivera, an eventual transgender activist who he knew to curse like a sailor, and Stormé DeLarveri, a tough drag king who Bermudez says took it upon herself to play personal bodyguard to other LGBT folks, shadowing them between bars in case homophobes or cops harassed them. Police violence against the LGBT community ran rampant at the time, something Bermudez knew well. Not long before the Stonewall raid and
riots, two cops trailing his walk home from a different gay bar beat him with batons and stole his money—“all two dollars”— leaving him bloodied and with screams of “fag!” and “queer!” ringing in his ears. Stonewall, all things considered, felt safe. Bermudez remembers its single, rundown bathroom where boys who left their home in street clothes might change into makeup. There were colorful bartenders who rinsed
drinking glasses for reuse in a bucket of sudsy water. There was a pool table, some jukeboxes, cigarette machines and bouncers who would size up visitors through a peephole in the door, asking suspect nonregulars if they were “in the club.” The Stonewall Inn positioned itself as a private club rather than a bar, allowing it to serve liquor without a license. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the mafia-owned establishment also made regular payoffs to the police to keep away the raids that regularly infiltrated the city’s gay bars, illegal businesses from which they’d haul out everyone from street kids to drag queens in handcuffs. Someone missed a payment, because there was no usual warning when the cops descended in the wee hours of June 28. Bermudez was hanging with some fellow Nuyoricans in their regular rear
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What sparked the riot The exact sequence of the riots has historically invited conflicting reports. Unsurprisingly, riots don’t unfold neatly like a movie script—certainly not like that for the 2015 movie “Stonewall,” a contrived bomb that’s depiction of the night Bermudez calls “embarrassing.” “You couldn’t tell what was happening” once the riot began, says Bermudez, who was one of about 200 people inside the bar. He remembers that the patrons, normally docile during raids, started shouting back to the cops. Tensions escalated. Someone was shoved. And soon, the melee began. It was scary, says Bermudez, who dodged flying bottles and thrown chairs to make it to the forced-open front door and into the night— “one of those beautiful moonlit
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booth when the cops arrived and slammed shut the doors, trapping everyone inside. They began their usual process of checking IDs and making arrests. But this night, there was something different in the air, says Bermudez. A harassed and harangued community had reached its collective breaking point.
nights that are rare in New York,” he remembers. Outside, the mob of hundreds more angry LGBT people had already formed. They hurled bricks at windows and uprooted a parking meter to batter the door, now that the police had barricaded themselves inside. Bermudez remembers moments of terror—he was punched in the head by an undercover cop—and weird levity, like the Rockettes-style kick-line of chanting drag queens that formed. One image though, was pressed most indelibly into his memory: As he fled from Stonewall Inn, he ran past a young gay man, pressed to the ground by police, being choked by their batons. Bermudez, fresh from his own assault, was never able to forget what he saw—and for years after, he says, “I thought that he had to have been killed.” He was wrong. Decades later, Bermudez would join the NYC-based Stonewall Rebellion Veterans’ Association and serve on its executive committee. He met the organization’s founder, Williamson Henderson, and in conversation it became clear: Henderson was the boy Bermudez saw being choked.
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They had both survived. And they would make sure their stories did, too.
Stewards of the stories Bermudez and Isadore, meanwhile, have together built enough stories to fill volumes of books. They met in 1974, when Bermudez spotted a handsome guy using a phone booth. They made conversation in a nearby stereo store, but it took about two months for Bermudez to track down Isadore again. In the days before Grindr, he had to rely on his hazy recollection of a name (which he misremembered) and job (Isadore was working as a buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue). They’ve been together ever since. They’ve lived in New York. They’ve lived in Santa Clara, outside of San
Francisco, in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, where they lived through the assassination of Harvey Milk and the deaths of countless friends from AIDS. They lived in Puerto Rico, where they once opened a floral and gift shop in old San Juan. And now they live on Cape Cod, in the home where they were married in 2004 on the 35th anniversary of the Stonewall raid—thereby making Bermudez the first Stonewall vet to enter a legal same-sex marriage.
Together they are a perfect match, and still as in love now as in 1974. Isadore credits Bermudez’s passion for inspiring much of his political work. Bermudez credits Isadore—the cordial and diplomatic yin to his fierce and fiery yang—with helping “learn to listen as much as I love to talk.” They laugh. And talk they will, especially in today’s climate. Both men found themselves especially emotionally affected by last year’s massacre at Orlando’s LGBT nightclub Pulse. Isadore
delivered a stirring speech on the incident at a recent ACLU forum, taking aim at “the poisonous, hateful rhetoric of discrimination and prejudice coming from some of our political candidates and religious leaders [that] make them as guilty as the person who is firing the gun.” And it has only encouraged Bermudez to be more committed to speaking out about his Stonewall experience. “It changed my outlook,” he says. “Before, when I’d talk about Stonewall, I could get a little emotional. Now I’m not a crier. I’m simply an advocate.” As for his night at the Stonewall Inn? “I was there at the wrong time and the right time,” says Bermudez. “And I’m so glad I was.” [x]
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SEASONAL Summer Travel STORY Scott Kearnan and Loren King
Hit the Road A dozen destinations for summertime A&E and R&R Ah, sweet summer. New Englanders may cherish the season more than most. After all, it’s our well-deserved reward for soldiering through such wearying winters. So we know you want to maximize this fleeting window of opportunity for sleeveless sun and fun.
Of course, you could spend an entire vacation in a single destination like Provincetown or Ogunquit. But in a region rife with incredible arts, entertainment, recreation and relaxation opportunities, why not break up your summer into a series of day or weekend trips to LGBTQ-friendly properties all over New England? To help fill your calendar and map out your fun, we’ve gathered 12 destinations—one for each full week of summer—along with a dozen entertaining events that caught our eye in the vicinity of each locale—from beloved hot spots to far off the beaten path.
Stars shine on Commercial Street July–September Once again the Provincetown Art House summer season offers a lineup of stellar performers from the worlds of Broadway, cabaret, comedy, television and drag. This summer’s Art House series at Town Hall includes Bianca Del Rio, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 winner (July 10); Megan Hilty, star of Broadway’s “Wicked” and a Tony nominee for the recent revival of “Noises Off” (August 6) with Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host; Sutton Foster, Tony Award winner for “Anything Goes” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (August 13) with Michael Rafter at piano; and Laura Benanti, Tony Award winner for “Gypsy” and star of “She Loves Me!” (September 3) with Rudetsky as pianist and host. The Town Hall series will be raising funds this year for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Members of Well Strung
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The seventh annual “Broadway @ The Art House” series, which takes place in the twostage venue at 214 Commercial Street, features another cavalcade of Broadway stars: Michael Cerveris, Tony Award winner as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for “Assassins” and Tony Award winner as Best Actor in a Musical for “Fun Home,” opens the series on July 1–2, with Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host. He’s followed by awardwinning cabaret artist Tori Scott (July 8–9); and Alice Ripley, Tony winner for Best Actress in a Musical for “Next to Normal” (July 16). Perennial favorites, the singing string quartet Well-Strung, unveil their new show for five performances only, July 23–27. Burlesque Supertroupe The Atomic Bombshells return to Provincetown celebrating their 10th anniversary with an all new show entitled “Cream” (July 28 to August 29).
Brass Key Guesthouse Provincetown, Massachusetts
Rudetsky will also accompany Melissa Errico, star of “Finian’s Rainbow,” “High Society,” and “Anna Karenina” on Broadway and a Tony nominee as Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” (July 28–29) ; and Christine Pedi, star of Broadway’s “Chicago,” “Talk Radio” and “Little Me” and daily host of SiriusXM Radio’s On Broadway channel (July 30). The legendary cabaret star and perennial Art House favorite Marilyn Maye returns August 4–7 with Billy Stritch at the piano. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 8 star Bob The Drag Queen will make her Art House debut August 15–31. Also making her Art House debut is Beth Malone, Tony nominee for playing Alison Bechdel in the groundbreaking Broadway hit “Fun Home” (August 20–21). Rudetsky joins Faith Prince, Tony Award winner for “Guys and Dolls” (August 25–26); and season closer Ana Gasteyer, star of TV’s “Grease Live,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Suburgatory,” and Broadway’s “Wicked” on September 9. www.ptownarthouse.com
Provincetown in summer feels like a LGBT family reunion: You can’t walk down Commercial Street without bumping into someone you know. That’s also why we love the buzzy Shipwreck Lounge at Brass Key Guesthouse. The cozy indoor cocktail bar spills out to a spacious patio that transplants some of the South End’s gay social scene to P’town. You’re pretty much guaranteed to find some similar faces roasting marshmallows over fire pits (on “Mellow Mondays”), downing islandthemed drinks (on “Tiki Tuesdays”) or grooving to ’80s and ’90s tunes (on “Rewind Wednesdays”). The patio even has its own separate bar pouring trendy wine-on-tap, and plenty of oversized lawn games like giant Jenga. Besides being a hot gathering spot, Brass Key offers gorgeous accommodations to guests. The super-chic property, which features an infinity pool and access to the only Kiehl’s product spa outside of Manhattan (at its neighboring sibling property, Crowne Point Historic Inn), encompasses nine buildings gathered around a courtyard, which creates the sense of an intimate, transportive oasis within the Provincetown hubbub. Whether you’re staying in the aptly named Victorian (which once hosted President William Taft) or the balcony-equipped Carriage House, Brass Key will unlock plenty of amazing memories.
brasskey.com
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For art’s sake July 8
Bob the Drag Queen
Bad Girls July–September
Provincetown’s entertainer extraordinaire Varla Jean Merman returns with an all-new solo show “Bad Heroine” running at the Art House June 23 through September 1, with Gerald Goode at piano. Merman also stars alongside Ryan Landry and Peaches Christ in “5 to 9” (July 7–September 9), Landry’s parody of the hit movie “9 to 5” but set in our even more absurd Oval Office. Peaches Christ is also doing triple-duty onstage this season. Besides “5 to 9,” the drag comedy star will host “Idol Worship,” a special, one-night-only show starring cult film icon Mink Stole on July 25. Peaches also appears as “Big Queeny” alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 Winner Jinkx Monsoon as Lil’ Queeny in “Return to Grey Gardens” (July 5–September 7), a spoof of the the cult classic Maysles brothers’ 1976 documentary “Grey Gardens.” Then, Monsoon gets the stage all to herself (July 8–September 10) accompanied by Major Scales. Also making an Art House debut is “Kitten n’ Lou: Holier Than Thou” (July 8–Sept. 10). Described as “everyone’s favorite gay-married superduo dyke darlings,” Kitten LaRue and Lou Henry Hoover come fresh from a critically-acclaimed, sold out smash run at Fringe World in Australia and Joe’s Pub in New York City. “Holier Than Thou” features vocal characterizations by none other than the very-busy Jinkx Monsoon and her partner in crime Major Scales. Varla Jean Merman
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel (“Indecent”) and Emmy-winning producer/director Ryan Murphy (“American Horror Story,” “Feud: Bette and Joan”) will join acclaimed American painter Paul Resika as the honorees at the annual Summer Awards Celebration for the Fine Arts Work Center (FAWC) in Provincetown on July 8 at 6:30. Out creative powerhouses Vogel and Murphy are currently enjoying particularly stellar years. Vogel, the author of 22 plays including her Pulitzer winner “How I Learned to Drive” and “The Baltimore Waltz,” was nominated for a 2017 Tony Award for her critically acclaimed “Indecent,” now on Broadway. She was also honored with a lifetime achievement award at this year’s Obie Awards. “Indecent” boasts a strong lesbian storyline as it explores the real-life scandal around the 1923 Broadway production of “God of Vengeance.” Originally written in Yiddish in 1906, the English language version of “God of Vengeance” premiered in 1922 at the Provincetown Playhouse in Greenwich Village. The play, with prostitution and a lesbian love affair as prominent storylines, moved uptown to Broadway but was shut down by police on charges of obscenity soon after its opening. Vogel’s play also examines the ensuing trial and tackles themes of censorship, xenophobia and homophobia. Murphy is one of the most heralded producer/directors working in the industry today. His roster of successful shows— “Glee,” “American Horror Story,” “American Crime Story,” “Nip/ Tuck”—often pushed LGBT storylines front and center. Murphy also directed “The Normal Heart” for HBO, based on Larry Kramer’s play about the early years of the AIDS epidemic and wrote and directed “Running With Scissors,” a feature film adapted from the memoir by out writer Augusten Burroughs. In 2016 Murphy launched the Half Foundation, an initiative which offers jobs, mentorships and scholarships to women, people of color and members of the LGBT community seeking employment in the entertainment industry. This year’s visual artist is a star in his own right. Paul Resika is an American painter of international stature based in New York and Provincetown. Formerly a student of Hans Hofmann, he began exhibiting in New York City in the 1940s. Resika has had several dozen one-person exhibitions, has chaired the Parsons School of Design’s MFA program and is a member of the National Academy and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His work is in the permanent collections of multiple museums worldwide including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the National Academy, the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, Poland and numerous others. An exhibit of Paul Resika’s work entitled “Recent Paintings” will be on display during the event at the on-site Hudson D. Walker Art Gallery.
www.fawc.org. Ryan Murphy PHOTO Robert Trachtenberg, Paula Vogel and Paul Resika [PICTURED AT TOP]
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Cliff House Cape Neddick, Maine Like P’town, Ogunquit is usually a must-go destination for LGBT New Englanders in summer. This year, though, consider staying in neighboring Cape Neddick, home to the historic Cliff House—a 130-room grand hotel perched dramatically on the rocky shores of the Atlantic. Cliff House first opened its doors in 1872, but last fall the property completed an enormous renovation. Not only will you find updated guest rooms—stylish accommodations that frequently boast fireplaces and waterfront views—but there are also fantastic dining options at the on-site Tiller Restaurant, turning out elegant and eclectic coastal cuisine, and Nubb’s Lobster Shack, a fun, casual option for lobster rolls, craft beers and the like. Most importantly, make sure you book a treatment in the brand new spa, because your muscle-melting massage or complexionclearing facial will come with time to relax in the facility’s lounge—a cliff-front room with a wide wall of windows offering some of the best sea views in the entire Ogunquit area, bar none. And when you want to do some unique sightseeing, Cliff House can organize off-site activities like kayak trips and lobstering cruises.
destinationhotels.com/cliff-house
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amazing clients At Burns & Levinson, we pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our clients. Here, we profile a pro bono client, The Provincetown Theatre and its encore run of Oscar Wilde’s Salome.
The play is dense with elements of religious mysticism, prophecy and superstition. Its characters argue, debate, and dismiss ideas about religious belief, morality, the ruling class, and especially human lust and subservience to sexual desire. Wilde's lyrical text mates image-rich cadences and repetitions with the narcissistic, violent and sexually-charged appetites of the play's central characters. Wilde himself called the language of the play "byzantine". Salome is peopled with the historic characters of the bible including: King Herod (the lecherous ruler who is slowly going mad); Queen Herodias (the mother of Salome, also wrongly accused of multiple sins by John the Baptist); Salome (Herod's stepdaughter who becomes defiant in her sexual awakening); and Jokanaan (aka John the Baptist, who rails against Herodias and issues dark prophesies from his prison cell). The cast is further filled out with other biblical royals, court toadies, religious zealots, slaves and soldiers. According to director Tristan DiVincenzo (who is also Executive Artistic Director for The Provincetown Theater), "Our audiences will see a highly-stylized Salome performed against the junked landscape of a ruined future...a sort of post apocalyptic scene of desolation, overlaid with the trappings of ruling class grandeur.”
By Jo Brisbane The Provincetown Theater is newly-defined, reclaiming its identity as a safe harbor for theatrical spectacle, cutting-edge re-imaginings of classic theatre, and fresh casting that cuts across gender, age, national and international boundaries. Due to popular demand, The Provincetown Theater presents an encore run of Oscar Wilde's wildly controversial Salome from July 12 to August 20. Written in 1891, the play was quickly condemned as a blasphemous take on the biblical fable of Salome, and banned in England for the next forty years.
Critic Steve Deroches describes the production as "lush and decadent" and praises the four principal actors for bringing a "crackling vigor to the performance working in precision to cloak themselves in subtle camp, but never releasing the audience from the tension of the narrative." Desroches further praised the direction of the theater itself, pointing to "Salome" as "an encouraging vision of a new path as it takes the kind of risks audiences want, and expect, from theater in Provincetown. And it pays off marvelously.” "From the moment director Tristan DiVincenzo rips down the batik curtain to expose a stage cluttered with cars, columns and candelabra, it's clear that this production of Oscar Wilde's Salome will not be your everyday spectacle," writes critic Howard Karren, further describing the production's style as "a hypereclectic mix of steampunk, rococo, leather porn, Grand Guignol, circus freak and Ziggy Stardust, and the production, fabulous even by Provincetown standards,
is dangerously elaborate, so much so that misplaced props and actors' slips seem almost to be built into the concept.” Critic Debbie Forman points out that Wilde's drama is "dark and intense and this production capitalizes on the decadence and disarray of an era, which some might say hasn't changed much in our time.” For Salome and other recent shows, DiVincenzo and his artistic staff have collaborated with many other types of creators ranging from performance artists, cabaret performers, classic musicians and dancers, to rock musicians, visual artists, punk rockers and pole dancers. The result is always compelling, sometimes messy, never boring. Through joint grants (from Massachusetts Cultural Council and its Cultural Facilities Fund and USDA), The Provincetown Theater has recently been able to re-design its tech booth and to purchase and install new risers for its seating, providing audience members with excellent sight lines. The risers provide new flexibility for staging patterns, from traditional proscenium to theatre in the round. Its theatrical light and sound capabilities are considered the most extensive available in Provincetown, and its projection system is cinema-quality. The Provincetown Theater will host several events for the Provincetown Film Society's upcoming International Film Festival in Fall 2017. The Provincetown Theater's final productions for 2017 include: a dance and movement-based version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (October 5 to 30); an immersive theatrical experience based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (November 24 to December 16); and the theater's New Year's Eve gala celebrations (December 29 to January 1). The Provincetown Theater's lobby and bar provide an intimate spot to gather before curtain time and during intermission, and there is ample parking available to patrons at the rear of the theater. Location: 238 Bradford Street, Provincetown, MA For ticketing, sponsorship, volunteer or audition information, please contact the theater by calling 508-487-7487 or online at provincetowntheater.org.
THE PROVINCETOWN THEATER FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT Formed in 2001 in the birthplace of modern American theater, the primary purpose of The Provincetown Theater Foundation (PTF) is to sustain, encourage and promote the performing arts on Outer Cape Cod through the maintenance and management, both physically and artistically, of The Provincetown Theater located at 238 Bradford Street, Provincetown, Massachusetts in order to provide performance and educational space for theatrical artists within the Cape Cod community and beyond.
Crown-ing Glories July–August There’s no shortage of entertainment every night of the week this summer at Provincetown hotspot, the Crown and Anchor. Perhaps one of the few antidotes to Trump-induced angst is a night of topical comedy from Provincetown’s own smart and sassy Kate Clinton. The comic performs a new show, “Knock! Knock! Who’s There? Zombie Apocalypse” through July and August at 7 p.m. in the Cabaret Room of the Crown and Anchor. Why Knock! Knock! jokes? “They got people through the Great Depression; they’ll get us through the Zombie Apocalypse,” promises Clinton’s description. “They’re fun, fast and will make you laugh the whole show.” Besides Clinton, other popular Provincetown performers headline at the Crown’s Cabaret Room this season. Dina Martina’s new show is “packed with ludicrous song stylings, unfortunate dance, overburdened costumes and sidesplittingly hilarious videos.” Performing throughout the summer, Dina’s shows “are impossible to describe, other than that they’ve become synonymous with jawdropping pathos and mind-blowing comedy.” Besides a host of regular performers, from Illusions— billed Provincetown’s Most Exhilarating Drag Revue—to Miss Richfield 1981 and her new show “2020 Vision,” the
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Dina Martina, Margaret Cho and Kate Clinton [AT RIGHT] Leslie Jordan and Kim David Smith
Crown and Anchor presents a lineup of big names in its luxe Paramount room. These include out and proud stage, TV and film performer and master storyteller Leslie Jordan (July 8–9) with his new show “Exposed!” Broadway musical stars Linda Eder (uly 24–25) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (August 6) each perform in concert, and the one and only Margaret Cho brings her side-splitting wit to Town Hall on August 12. Kim David Smith wowed audiences and critics with his sexy, spooky MC last summer in the Cape Playhouse’s terrific production of “Cabaret.” This season, Smith will perform two shows at the Crown on August 16 and 17. Billy Porter, best known for his 2013 Tony Award winning portrayal of Lola in “Kinky Boots,” returns to the Paramount for two nights only Aug. 19–20. Also returning to Provincetown is legendary actress and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin (August 26–27) accompanied by Billy Stritch. The irrepressible Sandra Bernhard, host of the live daily show “Sandyland” on SiriusXM Radio and a popular Provincetown presence, returns to the Paramount August
28–29 in her new show, “Sandra Monica Blvd: Coast to Coast,” billed as “a journey to find the soul of America... the back roads and the byways on a gas station map while weaving in the soundtrack you might hear on an AM radio station you pick up from Oklahoma.” Who wouldn’t want to take that ride? www.onlyatthecrown.com
Camden Harbour Inn Camden, Maine Owned by gay couple Raymond Brunyanszki and Oscar Verest, this Maine gem offers peace, tranquility and fourdiamond dining in a wealthy summer colony: a mid-coast destination so picturesque, it was the setting for the Lana Turner film “Peyton Place.” Lovers of elegant surroundings appreciate the Netherlands natives’ style of European luxury, found in tranquil ocean-side rooms decked in cheery yet calming hues of cream and violet. (Truly luxe is the Royal Dutch Suite, with its own Finnish spa.) Reestablish inner harmony with specialty massages in the spa, dine at Natalie’s, the inn’s impressive restaurant known for its killer cocktail program, and enjoy scoping out Camden, an absolutely adorable seaport filled with options for shopping, enjoying arts and culture and enjoying salty sea air in the great outdoors—perhaps during a sightseeing cruise around the coast or a hike to the top of Mt. Battie-Camden Hills State Park. You’ll fall in love with the place—and maybe one day, you’ll return to take advantage of Camden Harbour Inn’s “Maine is for ALL! Lovers” same-sex wedding package. In honor of each nuptial, the inn even makes a donation to the HRC.
camdenharbourinn.com
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Magic men July–September
Camp Out LGBT Weekend July 14-16
Camp John Waters September 22-24 Kent, Connecticut Tucked in the Berkshire Mountains of Connecticut is Club Getaway, a sports- and adventure-focused summer camp for adults that unleashes the child inside. Activities include everything from aerial ropes courses to rock climbing, zip lines to waterskiing. Club Getaway also has a knack for hosting theme weekends—and in July, it will be home to the Camp Out LGBT Weekend, an experience for queer campers featuring dozens of outdoor activities (all voluntary, of course!), cabin lodging with gourmet meals and on-site nightlife and gay-focused events like a drag brunch. Even more creative is September’s Camp John Waters, an outdoorsy ode to the subversive gay filmmaker. It’ll unite fans for special activities inspired by Waters’ career: from “Hairspray karaoke” to a film marathon and burlesque lessons. And yes, Waters himself will be on hand to perform his one-man show and judge a costume contest. This year’s inaugural Camp John Waters is sold out, but the response has been so overwhelming that future installments are anticipated—so keep your eye on the website and in the meanwhile, get your Club Getaway feet wet with the Camp Out, which still has availability.
clubgetaway.com
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OK, it’s a strip show, but Ptown Male Call is much more. “Magic Mike” meets Madonna as the performers, culled from the worlds of dance, music, acrobatics and gymnastics, strut their considerable stuff nightly this summer at Provincetown’s Post Office Cabaret. The energetic, hour-long show, billed as Provincetown’s only nude male dance revue, is now in its second season. Ptown Male Call is the creation of Troy David, a veteran stage and screen producer and Provincetown regular, who wanted to recapture the down and dirty Times Square burlesque shows of the ’90s but spruce it up for the modern era. Male Call boasts other top-notch creative talent, too. It’s directed by Robert La Fosse, a former ballet and Broadway dancer (he received a Tony nomination for “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway”) who has choreographed more than 75 works for ballet, opera, film, TV and theater.
ptownmalecall.com
Greens Treat Suites Northampton, Massachusetts
Patrick Stafford
Cape summer stock July–September Prolific actor Stephen Caffrey will forever be beloved by LGBT audiences for playing Fuzzy in the groundbreaking 1989 classic “Longtime Companion.” Caffrey heads to the Cape Playhouse in Dennis to star as abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko in John Logan’s Tony-winning drama Red. It runs July 25–August 5 under the direction of David Glenn Armstrong. Patrick Stafford, who received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his role as Ken in “Red,” will reprise his performance for Playhouse audiences.
Northampton is known for its progressive politics and high number of same-sex households, so you’ll find plenty of LGBT-friendly lodging when you’re looking to explore this artsy area tucked into the foothills of the Berkshires. But for a truly unique experience—something that feels like an especially awesome Airbnb find—lay your head at the super-secluded Greens Treat Suites. It’s a charming little setup run by John Sielski and Jim Dozmati, a loving couple of 39 years. The husbands live on a quiet side street just outside of downtown, where they run two self-contained, ultra-private accommodations: the Mountain View Suite, where two bedrooms, a living room and full kitchen enjoy lovely rural vistas, and the Bamboo Suite, a hideaway cloistered in a bamboo grove with a kitchenette and cedar wet room with rainwater shower. (It’s a good place to get some romantic ideas.) The gents are congenial hosts, and at these adorable accommodations from which to explore, your only neighbors will be the chickens: Sielski and Dozmati run a small CSA program from the picturesque garden on property.
greenstreat.com
That’s not the only reason to head to the legendary Cape Playhouse this summer. Notable shows in this season’s lineup include “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (July 11–22) with music and lyrics by Willian Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin; and the irrepressible Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim classic musical “Gypsy” (August 8–19) starring Julia Murney, last Stephen Caffrey seen on Broadway in “Wicked,” as the ultimate stage mother Rose. Murney will be joined by a fellow Elphaba, Caroline Bowman (“Kinky Boots”) as Louise, James Lloyd Reynolds as Herbie, Jane Blass as Mazeppa, Tess Soltau as June and Playhouse favorite Jennifer Cody as Tessie/Cratchit. Cape Playhouse Artistic Director Michael Rader directs; Jason Sparks choreographs. The season concludes August 22–September 2 with “Murder for Two,” in which two actors play 13 roles (not to mention the piano) in a winking homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries.
capeplayhouse.com
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“Hello Again,” starring Audra McDonald and Martha Plimpton
Song and dance July 10 & August 24 The North Shore Music Theater in Beverly continues its popular “OUT at the North Shore” LGBTQ nights. After taking in “Beauty and the Beast” (July 10, 7:30 p.m.) or “Young Frankenstein” (August 24, 7:30p.m.), guests can enjoy a postshow reception with live music. Tickets are regular price for each evening and include the post-show reception with the cast in NSMT’s Backstage Bistro.
www.nsmt.org
North Shore Music Theater’s “Young Frankenstein”
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Made in Maine July 14–23 Among the many new films at the 20th edition of the Maine International Film Festival (MIFF), running July 14–23 in Waterville, are two new features with LGBT themes. “Hello Again,” based on Michael John LaChiusa’s 1994 musical, stars Audra McDonald, Martha Plimpton, Cheyenne Jackson, T.R. Knight, Rumer Willis and Jenna Ushkowitz. Tom Gustafson directs the story that follows 10 people of various backgrounds who find love and lust through several different eras of New York City history. The score includes “I Got a Little Time,” “The One I Love” and “Mistress of the Senator.” MIFF also presents “Nobody’s Watching,” from Julia Solomonoff, an Argentinian director based in New York. It’s about Nico, a famous actor in Argentina, who arrives in bustling New York but nobody takes notice. As he juggles bartending, babysitting and odd jobs to keep himself afloat, Nico puts on a new persona in order to fit in. But when old friends from Buenos Aires come to visit, he needs to reconcile the image of his old life with the reality of the struggling actor in New York City. More than 70 filmmakers are expected to attend this milestone year for the MIFF.
www.miff.org
Kate’s Lazy Meadows Mt. Tremper, NY They don’t come kitschier than this motel owned by bisexual singer/songwriter Kate Pierson, she of the red beehive hairdo and The B-52s fame. Kate’s Lazy Meadows, owned by Pierson and her wife Monica Coleman, is located in the Catskill Mountains, just over the western Massachusetts border. The property is primarily made up of suite-style log cabins, many with fireplaces and kitchenettes, and they are decorated— well, exactly as you’d imagine, considering that two of Pierson’s interior design collaborators were Phillip Mayberry and Scott Walker, the visual artists whose upstate New York home served as the “Love Shack” in the B-52s music video. Expect a retro sensibility straight out of a ‘50s drive-in, where campy accouterments and quirky flea market finds share space with, say, drawers full of VHS B-movies. Great for cuddling up when you’re exhausted from hiking on nearby Mount Tremper, or fishing on the Esopus Creek behind the motel. Plus: You can spend time shopping and dining in Woodstock, just a 15-minute drive away, making you feel even more in the heart of bohemia.
LazyMeadow.com
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Struttin’ in Portland August 15–September 10 If you’re heading to Portland, Maine this summer, bop on over to Portland Stage’s production of “The All Night Strut!” (August 15–September 10), a classy, sassy musical celebration of the ’30 and ‘40s, from Harlem jive to the romance of stage and screen. This song and dance extravaganza, conceived and originally directed and choreographed by Fran Charnas, is presented by Portland Stage and Maine State Music Theatre. Filled with jazz, blues, bebop and American songbook standards, the revue weaves together the work of legendary songwriters such as Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Cab Calloway and the Gershwins. This international hit has delighted audiences old and young with its sublime music and sheer energy with songs including “Minnie The Moocher,” “In The Mood,” “Fascinating Rhythm,” “Hit That Jive, Jack,” “I‘ll Be Seeing You,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing” and “As Time Goes By.” Performances are at Portland Stage, 25A Forest Ave., Portland, Maine.
www.portlandstage.org
june 16–september 3
Enjoy classical music with Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, joined by world-renowned guest artists, along with concerts featuring the Boston Pops, Natalie Merchant, Four Voices, Diana Ross, Hot Sardines and more, at the idyllic summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
888-266-1200 • tanglewood.org 62 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Montreal Pride August 11–20, Quebec, Canada Okay, okay: While we’ve focused on New England getaways here, it’s worth mentioning that our neighbors to the north are throwing quite a Pride party in August—and the five-hour driving time from Boston puts it about as close as many other destinations within our own region. And Montreal Pride will definitely be worth the mileage. The multiday extravaganza, which attracts tens of thousands of attendees, will feature concerts by A-list artists like Nelly Furtado, a drag show featuring performances from a dozen “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alums, tea dance parties by the beach and a special Pride Day at La Ronde, Eastern Canada’s largest amusement park, among other special events. If you’re looking for some new friends to join you at the parties and parade, consider hitting Montreal with MJW Adventures, the Boston-based, gay-owned travel service specializing in LGBT group outings. MJW is organizing a Montreal Pride excursion August 18–21 that will place guests in the heart of the city’s gay village and amid all the excitement.
fiertemontrealpride.com and mjwadventures.com
[BELOW] Music Director/Conductor Christopher Wilkins and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the
Pillow talk August 4–6 If you haven’t done it yet, make this the summer you head to Becket, in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. The lush grounds of Jacobs’s Pillow, the acclaimed and historic dance mecca, is a trip you won’t forget. Celebrating its 85th anniversary season with more than 200 free events, ticketed performances, exhibits and talks, the Pillow again offers its annual Weekend Out (Aug. 4–6) specifically for LGBTQ patrons. The weekend includes a special tour honoring Pillow founder Ted Shawn and his Men Dancers, and a Saturday night dance party with DJ BFG hosted by Tyler Ashley, The Dauphine of Bushwick, after the evening performances. Those performances are from Doug Varone and Dancers in the
Ted Shawn Theatre and from Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion in the Doris Duke Theatre (Friday and Saturday at 8:15 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2:15 p.m.). Out dancer and choreographer Kyle Abraham is a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award winner who returns to the Pillow with his newest work “Dearest Home,” a lush collection of solos and duets that embody love and longing, born from dialogues with a diverse set of subcultures. “Dearest Home” is an interactive dance performance that explores cultural views and exchanges about love and the absence of love. Tickets start at $25.
www.jacobspillow.org/events/ weekend-out-at-the-pillow/
Music of the night July 19–August 23 What’s better than great music for free? Each Wednesday at 7 p.m. from July 19 through August 23, Boston Landmarks Orchestra presents its summer program of concerts at the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade under the baton of music director Christopher Wilkins. The opening event is “Music for a Summer Evening”
(July 19) and the season finale (August 23) is “Landmarks Dance Carnival” that culminates in a grand performance of Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo” with choreography by Peter DiMuro, curator/choreographer for Public Displays of Motion and The Dance Complex.
landmarksorchestra.org
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“Camp” Camp August 20–27, Southwest Maine Heading to summer camp is a quintessential American teenage experience—but plenty of LGBT people opted out when we were younger, turned off by the brash heteronormativity of many single-sex summer camps. As adults, though, we now have the awesomely named “Camp” Camp, tucked away in southwestern Maine at a location only revealed to registered guests. It attracts over 200 diverse LGBT people annually, this year August 20–27, with all the activities you may have enjoyed as a kid: adventure courses, hikes, canoeing, tie dying, pottery—oh, my! But the community-building environment is worlds apart from intimidating adolescent experiences. Camp’s cabins are even named for famous LGBT people, so after a day of swimming you may dry off in Greg Louganis—or you could hit the hay in RuPaul after wowing the talent show with your drag. Throw in evening campfire parties, a barn dance and even a sanctioned skinny-dipping outing (something you probably didn’t have at teenage summer camps) and it equals a perfect summer vacation. And if you’re concerned about your ability to pay the $1,675, all-inclusive registration fee, know that there’s sliding work/play fee scale that allows some payment via sweat equity. In fact, half of attendees work in some capacity to reduce their rate.
campcamp.com
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Providence delivers LGBTQ movies and more August 8–13 Nearly 20 shorts and three features make up (so far) this year’s LGBTQ sidebar of FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival, celebrating its 21st year, August 8–13 at various venues in Providence, Rhode Island. The three features are “Prom King, 2010,” directed by Christopher Schaap, about a New York college student Charlie whose romantic notions of love learned from Hollywood movies are at odds with his reality of “icky online encounters, seedy back-rooms, and the unexpected tears of cute freshmen who aren’t ‘really out.’” From Canada is “Écartée” (“Split”), directed by Lawrence Côté-Collins, about a woman’s documentary film project that is threatened when she falls for the girlfriend of the excon she’s been filming. Paddy Quinn—who’s originally from Pawtucket, Rhode Island and a 2008 Boston College graduate—makes his feature directing debut with “High Low Forty,” about long estranged brothers who reconnect along a road-trip home to say goodbye to their hardened father on his deathbed.
“Prom King”
The RIIFF expands it annual LGBTQ Film Symposium, first introduced in 2015. The LGBTQ Film Festival Summit will include panel discussions with LGBTQ Film Festival programmers, media personnel and distributors from throughout the East Coast. The Summit will explore strategies of how to better integrate LGBTQ films into the mainstream culture and reach a wider audience.
Marga Gomez.
Get ready to “Glow” July27–30 LGBT performers will take center stage at the first-ever Glow Festival at the American Repertory Theater’s Oberon in Cambridge this July. Quinn Cox, who launched the popular late-summer Afterglow Festival in Provincetown, created the Glow Festival, which draws top talent from New York City cabaret, club and performance venues. Opening the festival is Mx Justin Vivian Bond, an award-winning trans-genre artist living in New York City, whose only New England appearance this summer is for two Glow shows on July 27 at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Marga Gomez brings her newest solo show “Pound” to Glow July 28 at 10 p.m. after a
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Justin Vivian Bond PHOTO David Kimelman
www.film-festival.org/
critically acclaimed Off-Off Broadway run under the direction of David Schweizer. In “Pound,” Gomez plays “a celibate celesbian catapulted through a vaginal portal into a steamy data cloud where notorious lesbian cinematic archetypes such as extortionists, showgirls, murderers and school teachers hook up in spectacularly meta ways.” A former Andy Warhol Factory superstar, Penny Arcade is credited as one of a handful of artists who created performance art as we know it today. Penny makes her Boston/Cambridge debut in her latest show, “Longing Lasts Longer” (July 30, 8 p.m.) and turns contemporary stand-up on its head with a blend of satire, memoir and comedy.
www.americanrepertorytheater.org
Penny Arcade
Highland Inn Bethlehem, New Hampshire This so-dubbed “lesbian paradise” in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is perfect for those who want to enjoy an outdoorsy getaway with someone special—or maybe just connect with other women who come here, year after year, from all over the country. The postcard-pretty 18-room inn, which includes a separate cottage and dog-friendly farmhouse (perfect for booking as a small group), is adorned in the style of a Victorian country home and set amid the Granite State’s White Mountains, home to some of the most picturesque views in New England. So when you’re not wandering the 100-acre property’s 15 miles of trails, lounging by the 54-foot pool or de-stressing in the on-site massage room, you can take advantage of all the area’s other mountainside attractions: from zip-lining to antiquing to horseback riding. That said, we have a feeling you’ll want to spend as much time at the inn as you can, getting to know your fellow travelers around the breakfast table or during Highland’s year-long Women’s Concert series, which draws folksy singer-songwriters to the living room every Saturday night for intimate performances.
highlandsinn-nh.com
Frog Meadow Newfane, Vermont Hop on over to Frog Meadow Farm, a country bed and breakfast owned by husbands Dave King and Scott Heller, who first opened their home to guests in 2007. A decade later, Frog Meadow has earned a reputation as a gay men’s retreat in the gorgeous rural environs of southern Vermont, and it proves especially popular with guys interested in exploring intersections of their spiritual and sexual life. Frog Meadow, a quick jaunt from Vermont’s famed gay nude beach at Rock River, frequently hosts workshops led by visiting experts on topics like sexual energy massage. And most recently, Rhode Island native and viral video star Davey Wavey chose Frog Meadow to film the videos for his new “30 Days of Pleasure” series, a month-long guide for gay men who want to discover new aspects of their sexual being. But even if you’re just interested in a quaint getaway, Frog Meadow will deliver. Amid the pretty stone patios and vibrant flower gardens, you’ll find rustic-contemporary, wooden beam-filled accommodations like the semi-secluded Brook Cottage or plush Frog Meadow Suite, with its two-person Jacuzzi. It’s a perfect getaway for singles and couples looking to feel refreshed and re-centered.
frogmeadow.com
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Lea Delaria comes home August 26 Comedian, actress and jazz singer Lea Delaria has been a Provincetown staple since 1994. This summer, she heads to North Truro to debut at the Payomet Performance Arts Center on August 26 at 8 p.m. Long a favorite for her Broadway roles and her LGBT activism—she’s been out for her entire career, beginning in the early ’ 80s—Delaria earned a whole new generation of fans with her award-winning role as Carrie “Big Boo” Black in the Netflix hit series “Orange is the New Black.” In addition to her following in Provincetown, DeLaria has deep roots in Boston, too. She was the guest of honor at the 2016 Elliot Norton Awards for Boston’s theater community. Delaria was lauded for her role in the American Repertory Theater’s 2011 production of Prometheus Bound directed by Diane Paulus. She’s been a frequent act at ART’s Oberon; last year she performed “House of David,” her acclaimed CD of David Bowie songs. Delaria was the featured vocalist at the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, and has performed in some of the most prestigious houses in the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Chicago Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House.
www.payom et.org
Moose Meadow Lodge & Treehouse Waterbury, Vermont Husbands Willie Docto and Greg Trulson first met at a log home bed and breakfast in West Virginia in 1992. So naturally, when they moved to Vermont and opened their own bed and breakfast, they decided to build a similar experience—and invite others to revel in the romantic spirit of woodland-chic surroundings. The result is Moose Meadow, a property that includes a four-guestroom luxury log cabin overflowing with antlers, wildlife taxidermy and various backwoods bric-a-brac (including many twig furnishings handmade by Trulson). Probably the most coveted housing on the 86-acre property, though, is the two-story Treehouse, an ultimate experience in “glamping” set amid maple and pine trees, with 31 wide windows offering views of mother nature in all her glory. When you’re not hanging here, in the hot tub or hiking up to the sky loft, a glass-enclosed gazebo offering panoramic mountaintop vistas, you may even care to chitchat with your hosts, both of whom are active in the local LGBT community. Docto is founder of the Vermont Gay Tourism Association, and Trulson, a justice of the peace, officiated the green mountain state’s first gay wedding here.
Moosemeadowlodge.net
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The Lincoln Inn & Restaurant Woodstock, Vermont Foodies will fawn over this adorable getaway in the Green Mountain State. The lesbian-owned Lincoln Inn has just six guestrooms on a sixacre property that was built in 1875—and once used as a farmhouse by Abraham Lincoln’s cousin (hence the nearby Lincoln Covered Bridge, one of the only wooden bridges of its kind left in the country). Owner Mara Mehlman, a Los Angeles native, founded the current incarnation of the inn because she was so enamored with picturesque New England. Her other love, though, is wife Jevgenija Saramova, a chef who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe and now presides over the Lincoln’s fine dining restaurant, where incredibly artful four-course prix fixe menus vary daily, determined by the ingredients that Saramova sources from local purveyors—and from her own chef’s garden. (For the utmost indulgence, seven- and twelve-course chef’s tastings are also available.) The idea is to recreate in Vermont the European model of the “restaurant with rooms,” dining destinations where tourists go to have amazing epicurean experiences. At Lincoln, you’ll find all that in an LGBT-friendly environment—and in a town filled with art galleries and charming boutiques.
lincolninn.com
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howeallen.com
COLUMBUS HOSPITALITY GROUP
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CULTURE Music STORY Loren King
‘Greece’ is the word The Gold Dust Orphans spin another camp classic The Gold Dust Orphans’ latest extravaganza, “Greece,” brings the award-winning Boston theatrical troupe’s trademark wild wit to the 1978 musical starring John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing. Many of Gold Dust Orphans favorites such as Larry Coen, Qya Marie and Penny Champayne join newcomers in the latest Ryan Landry musical parody that blends sock hop with sward and sandal epics. Audiences and critics alike praised the show during its recent run at Boston’s Machine nightclub. Now, “Greece” heads to Provincetown for the summer. It will be performed at Provincetown High School Sundays at 7:30 p.m. until September 3. The show is described as “What happens when Zeus’s only daughter is caught
obsessing on the petty goings on of mere mortals? Theres only one punishment to fit such a crime! Send her to a public school! But not so fast! No sooner does she arrive on Earth when she meets a gorgeous Trojan, releases her Kraken and all Hades breaks loose! Add to that a tangled web of love stories to rival “A Midsummer Nights Dream” and we think you get the picture!” Of course, plot summations can’t begin to describe the over-the-top pleasures of a Landry/Gold Dust Orphans show. For more than two decades, the troupe has been skewering Hollywood and Broadway classics with mash-ups that combine knowing affection and comic broadsides. A Tennessee Williams spoof (“Pussy
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on the House”), a twisted take on ’40s noir (“Mildred Fierce”) and last year’s Provincetown production of “Brown is the New Pink,” a hilarious send-up of the TV phenom “Orange is the New Black,” are just a few highlights from the vast Landry oeuvre (he’s even been to ancient Greece before with 2008’s “Medea”). Boston Spirit caught up with the prolific Landry, who divides his time between Boston and Provincetown, about how “Grease” became “Greece.” [SPIRIT] Can you tell me a little about
your concept and/or approach to this musical? The images I saw look like Greek mythology meets beefcake/pin-up. What a combo! [RYAN LANDRY] My recipe is
pretty simple. Melt two pounds of “Grease” in an ancient greek style sauce pan. Toss in one cup “Clash of the Titans” and cook it on high heat until the plot has thickened. Gently stir in two quarts of groovy songs and add a dash of drag for color. Sprinkle with jokes and anecdotes both sharp and silly. Bake until hilarious. Serves thousands.
[SPIRIT] Were you (are you) a fan of the movie? Why did you want to put your special spin on this one? [RL] Yes, I am most definitely
a fan! I remember going to an actual theater to see it when it first came out and wanting all the time to be the “Beauty School Dropout.” Many of the Orphans are also big fans of the film and they, of course, have bugged me to no end for years about us doing our own version. Finally, the time has come.
[SPIRIT] How much “Grease” will we see in “Greece”? [RL] Enough to lubricate the
pan but not so much that you’ll burn your souvlaki.
[SPIRIT] Who is in it and what can you tell me about the cast? [RL] We have some pretty
heavy hitters in the cast this time around. Comedic actors from all over Boston. It seems like, these days, every actor in town wants to be a Gold Dust Orphan. And why not? We’re been voted the best comedic company in New England and I’m pretty proud of that fact. Along with Orphan regulars Tim Lawton, Larry Coen, Qya Marie and Penny Champayne we also have
Michael Underhill, Vanessa Calentropo, Malari Martin, Jackie Theoharis, Mac Leslie ... the list goes on and on. All I can tell you about the cast is that there a lot of new faces and every one of them is gorgeous. They know they have a lot to live up to and them seem ready for the challenge. [SPIRIT] Have you written new musical numbers? Are they close parodies of the songs we know from “Grease,” like “You’re the one that I want,” etc. [RL] All songs are rewritten
parodies of existing songs. Everything from this show has something to do with the late ’50s / early ’60s. Maybe something from “West Side Story,” a little bit of “Bye Bye Birdie,” Elvis, Roy Orbison, the Beach Boys, Leslie Gore, the Shang Ri Las. If it fits the story and has a cool beat ... it’s in there.
[SPIRIT] Will “Greece” in Provincetown be the same production as in Boston? [RL] Yes, we are actually
performing at the Provincetown High School this summer! Can you imagine?
[SPIRIT] A bonus question: as an artist who regularly skewers popular culture and satirizes icons, I want to address the banality and evil in the White House right now. I know many people who are upset and depressed over it; others who are galvanized. Has Trump and his minions affected your attitude/ state of mind as an artist in any way? Do you have any renewed sense of purpose even if it’s just to continue to take audiences’ minds off this pathetic reality? [RL] Absolutely! When a Bozo
like Trump comes into power all bets are off, the rule book goes out the window and it’s full speed ahead on the social commentary train. I think many people are missing the boat, however. His true nature doesn’t have much to do with racism, misogyny or xenophobia. He may indeed be all those things but he is a greedy pig first and foremost. He doesn’t care if you’re a woman, black, Mexican or Muslim. If you’re part of the billionaires club, well, that’s a whole other can of worms. That means you are “somebody” to him. Everyone else is a serf. He dreams of more power and more money and that’s pretty much all his rancid little brain can handle. Does that answer your question? [x]
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CALENDAR
Weekend Out at the Pillow
GLAD Summer Party It’s pretty hard to overstate the importance and impact of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). The work of this Boston legal advocacy organization reverberates around the country—and the world. Its successes in landmark cases have created new benchmarks for LGBT rights, including issues like equal marriage. It was GLAD’s Mary Bonauto who argued the case that made Massachusetts the first state in the country to welcome same-sex marriage, and she later stood before the Supreme Court to make the groundbreaking national case there. So sign us up to support GLAD at is annual summer fling in Provincetown, an always-fabulous fête filled with mixing, mingling, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and some exciting items offered up for bidding by celebrity auctioneer Kate Clinton. Sold! Saturday, July 29
Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum in Provincetown
glad.org
Jacob’s Pillow Festival is famous in the dance world for the caliber of its international talent. And it’s legendary in LGBT history for its founder, modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn, who blazed trails with an all-male troupe that included his longtime lover. A gay-focused weekend at the Pillow is a natural fit, and bursts with special exhibits, performances, tours and socials. Besides the expected excellent dance performances, special “Weekend OUT” elements include an evening dance party with DJ BFG and the chance to mix and mingle with other queer culture vultures in the beautiful Berkshires. August 4– August 6
Jacob’s Pillow Dance in Becket, MA
jacobspillow.org
Provincetown Carnival: Gods and Goddesses Grab a love-filled lightning bolt and take aim like Zeus, or summon the amorousness of your inner Aphrodite. “Gods and Goddesses” is the theme of this year’s Provincetown Carnival, so we anticipate plenty of toga-clad revelers will be hunting for love—or just a great party—in the sea of activities taking over Commercial Street. This year’s festivities will include not only the vibrant parade through town but special events like the “Poseidon’s Playground” pool party at Brass Key Guesthouse, Mount Olympus-inspired costume ball at Crown & Anchor, “Adonis at the A-House” dance party and “Hot as Hades” underwear party at Club Purgatory. The gods have clearly smiled upon thee. August 12–August 18
Throughout Provincetown
ptown.org/carnival
Providence LGBTQ Film Festival The Ocean State is ready for its close-up. Film has always been a powerful medium for sharing stories that reflect the LGBT experience, and the 17th annual installment of this queer film fest will bring together over 40 films—from comedies to dramas to documentaries—that give insight to our lives. Screenings will be held around the city, and though the festival is concentrated at Bell Street Chapel Theatre, there will also be after-parties at area clubs and “meet the director” forums that will give attendees a chance to mix and mingle with some of the visiting filmmakers. Lights, camera, action! August 8–3
Throughout Providence, RI
film-festival.org
Sandra Bernhard She’s brash, she’s bold—she’s Sandra Bernhard, bitch. For the last 40 years, this pioneering comedian has been blazing trails. She was one of the first women in her industry to work the type of bombastic, expletive-laden sets more associated with men. She was among the first modern mainstream entertainers to publicly acknowledge her bisexuality. And she has inhabited some revolutionary roles: As Nancy Bartlett on “Roseanne,” she portrayed the first series-regular lesbian character in sitcom history. Now Bernhard brings her cutting wit to Provincetown for a pair of summer shows. Monday, August 28 and Tuesday, August 29
Crown & Anchor, Provincetown
sandrabernhard.com
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Idina Menzel
Levi Kreis Gay crooner Levi Kreis first turned heads—and nabbed a Tony award—for originating the Jerry Lee Lewis role in “Million Dollar Quartet,” the jukebox musical about a legendary recording session between Lewis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. But Kreis proves he can embody the emotions found in many more seminal shows in his latest album, “Broadway at the Keys.” The record features Kreis’s interpretations of songs like “One Song Glory” from “Rent” (he once toured in the role of Roger), “Living in the Shadows” from “Victor/ Victoria” and “Corner of the Sky” from “Pippin.” Hear the handsome, hunky musician perform them live during a supporting tour, which reaches the gay Maine enclave of Ogunquit this summer. Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15 WHERE
MaineStreet, Ogunquit HOW
levikreis.com
Long before she had tots around the world wailing along to the soundtrack to the Disney flick “Frozen,” Idina Menzel was a favorite among LGBT audiences for originating the role of bisexual performance artist Maureen in the queer rock opera “Rent.” That show’s signature song, “Seasons of Love,” is among the tunes she’s been performing on her latest national tour, though expect to also hear familiar melodies from musicals like “Wicked,” her new self-titled album of original pop tunes, a few cover songs— and, of course, a certain Disney anthem too. Just “Let It Go,” and enjoy. July 7 (Foxwoods) and July 8 (Boston)
Grand Theater at Foxwoods Casino and Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Boston
idinamenzel.com
Glow Festival: Justin Vivian Bond Trans alternative cabaret artist Justin Vivian Bond opens up the first night of the Glow Festival, a series of singers, storytellers and performance artists created by Quinn Cox, founder of Provincetown’s Afterglow Festival. Bond, who has long been lauded for progressive, political art-making, will come to Cambridge for the aptly titled show “Justin Vivian Bond Shows Up,” a mix of song and conversation that will follow the whims of its unique, fascinating performer. The Glow Festival continues through July 30, with other acts including lesbian comedian Marga Gomez and bisexual avant garde artist Penny Arcade. Thursday, July 27
Oberon, Cambridge
cluboberon.com
Queen + Adam Lambert No one could ever replace Freddie Mercury. The late frontman of Queen, who died of AIDS-related illness in 1991, was a powerhouse vocalist and a trailblazing artist whose gender-bending onstage flamboyance and bisexual relationships helped bring queer visibility to rock and roll arenas around the world. But “American Idol” alum Adam Lambert, a proudly gay artist with aweinspiring pipes and striking stage presence, certainly does Mercury proud in his role as lead singer for the group now. Catch the out entertainer and the rest of the band as they tear through towns wailing hits like “Somebody to Love,” “We Are the Champions” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Sunday, July 23 (Mohegan Sun) and Tuesday, July 25 (TD Garden) WHERE
Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, and TD Garden, Boston HOW
levikreis.com
SCENE Pride PHOTOS courtesy Hull Pride
Hull Pride Hull Yacht Club | Hull | June 3, 2017
The Town of Hull officially proclaimed June 3 Hull Pride Day, and by all accounts this year was one of the biggest. LGBT and allies’ families, neighbors, summer visitors, volunteers and vendors overflowed into Mariner’s Park. The crowd enjoyed field games, live music, a dance party, field games and more. The first Hull Pride scholarship was awarded to a Hull High School graduate, and “Drag Queen in Chief” Trampolina entertained everyone, along with the live band SeaWitch. Artist Trish Turner donated the raffle prize.
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SCENE Networking PHOTOS Jessica Kirschner
Boston Spirit Executive Networking Night Marriott Copley Place | Boston | April 26, 2017
Featured speaker Kathy Griffin wowed a crowd of more than 1,200 LGBT professionals and friends at Boston Spirit’s 11th annual LGBT Executive Networking Night. More than 45 exhibitors mixed and mingled with attendees at Boston Spirit’s annual night of networking, socializing, food tasting (gratis local culinary entrepreneurs) and seminars led by some of the region’s most prominent business experts in their fields—the largest networking night in new England for LGBT professionals.
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SCENE Benefit PHOTOS Courtesy Boston FLAG Flag Football
Dudes ‘n’ Drag Queens Football Fundraiser Venu | Boston | May 18, 2017
With the New England Patriots announcing their official sponsorship of Gay Bowl XVII this fall (Oct. 5–8), Boston’s FLAG flag football team—the tournament’s hosts—are hard at work getting ready to welcome thousands of LGBT football players from all over the country. For starters, the team raised $15,000 at its sold-out “Dudes ‘n’ Drag Queens” fundraiser. The fun featured football’s finest eye candy along with amazing prizes, including tickets to see Lady Gaga. It was one of the spring’s hottest and fiercest nights out. Check out gaybowl.org for more.
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SCENE Category PHOTOS Jean-Marie Bonofilio
AIDS Walk and Run Esplanade and city route | Boston | June 4, 2017
Thousands came together to honor those we’ve lost and give hope to all who live with HIV/AIDS at the 32nd annual AIDS Walk and Run Boston, New England’s largest HIV/AIDS fundraising and awareness event. Together, participants of the 4.85-mile walk and 5K race raised a $750,000 this year, with the top team—the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard—raising $91,643. WCVB-TV newscaster Randy Price emceed the event and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced the city’s participation in a global campaign to end HIV.
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SCENE Gala PHOTOS Matt Kurkowski
LifeSavor Gala The Langham | Boston | May 4, 2017
With the help of 850 guests, the annual LifeSavor Gala for Community Servings raised a record breaking $720K—exceeding their goal by 25 percent and hitting the $10 million milestone of funds raised during the gala’s 25-year history. For every dollar raised at the event, 90 cents goes directly to providing medically tailored meals to homebound, critically ill individuals and their families. LifeSavor was presented by Citizens Bank, along with sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and The Langham, Boston.
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Thank You!
T H E D I N N E R PA R T Y
Thank You to all of our Table Captains and Event Team, our corporate sponsors, Dr. Susan M. Love Award recipient Ann Maguire, Congressman Gerry E. Studds Award recipients The Hat Sisters, and the nearly 2,500 LGBT people, friends, supporters and volunteers who attended the 2017 Dinner Party and Men’s Event for helping to make both events such a huge success. A special thanks goes out to our Event Chairs Bren Cole, Beth Pilgrim, Diane Tucker, Steve Dyer, Ryan Gosser, and Maurice Maxie, whose hard work made both nights possible. With your help, we raised a record-breaking $1.2 million in cash, pledges and in-kind donations to support the life-saving services and programs at Fenway Health!
PLATINUM SPONSORS:
GOLD SPONSORS: VIP RECEPTION SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
KPMG
BRONZE SPONSORS
CONVERSE
SAMUELS & ASSOCIATES
ATHENAHEALTH
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY, AND POPEO, P.C.
AAFCPAS
DOWLING & O’NEIL
SEYFARTH SHAW LLP
AARP MASSACHUSETTS
EATON VANCE
SIMMONS COLLEGE
BABSON COLLEGE
KLETJIAN FOUNDATION
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
LOCKE LORD LLP
SULLIVAN & WORCESTER LLP
CAROUSEL INDUSTRIES
MCKESSON
CITYSIDE SUBARU
PFIZER
COLUMN HEALTH
PINCK & CO
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MA BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB DELOITTE GILEAD SCIENCES IVF NEW ENGLAND
OLIVIA SANTANDER BANK TUFTS HEALTH PLAN
WALGREEN CO WEBSTER BANK WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
FDME-35
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MEDIA SPONSOR
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SCENE Gala PHOTOS Marilyn Humphries
Pride & Passion Marriott Copley | City | May 2, 2017
Greater Boston PFLAG raised approximately $750,000 to support its work with LGBTQ youth and their families at Pride & Passion 2017, its signature annual benefit and auction. This year’s Cornerstone of Equality Award went to Josh Kraft, Nicholas President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and president of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, for his long-time commitment to social justice, notably fostering acceptance and respect for LGBTQ youth. Four high school students were also honored with the Elsie Frank Scholarship, recognizing high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership in improving their school’s climate for LGBTQ youth. This year’s recipients were Jo Gutierrez-Barnes of Northampton, Abigail McCarthy of Wayland, Raeonah Miles-Willis of Charlestown and Rory Smith of Halifax.
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David Brown and Ben Perkins. 4 [2] Bob Kraft, Val Frias and Josh Kraft. [3] David Brown and Rufus Gifford. [4] Rufus Gifford and Liz Page. [5] Tina Rose and Catie Curtis. [6] Mark Mettler, Josh Kraft and Val Frias. [7] Catie Curtis and Chris Edwards. GBPFLAG_05.jpg [8] Josh Kraft congratulates 7 Elsie Frank Scholarship Winner Raeonah MilesWillis of Charlestown. [9] Jo Gutierrez-Barnes of Northampton, Rory Smith of Halifax, Raeonah Miles-Willis of Charlestown and Abigail McCarthy of Wayland. [10] PFLAG Mom Julian GBPFLAG_09.jpg and Bob Kraft. 10 [11] Great Boston PFLAG Executive Director Val Frias.
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LET’S DANCE!
SCENE Conference PHOTOS Keanu Burke
LGBT Elders Conference Salem State University | Salem | March 17, 2017
The sixth annual “LGBT Elders in an Ever Changing World” drew 180 social service and health care professionals, students and older adults attending 17 breakout session. This one-day e vent focused on interdisciplinary practice a nd p olicy f or working w ith LGBT o lder adults and caregivers. The sessions featured presentations by top qualified experts in social work, medicine, law and just about everthing in between. Speakers included Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and Paul Lanzikos, executive director at North Shore Elder Services, and Kate a nd Linda Rohr shared an amazing personal story in the keynote: Kate i s a practicing p hysician a nd transgender w oman who waited u ntil she was 67 to come out a nd have gender affirmation s urgery a t 70 w ith the support of her wife Linda. Partnering to sponser this year’s event were North Shore Elder Services, Salem State University, CareDimensions, AARP Massachusetts and Tufts Health Plan. Plans for next year’s event, slated for March 16, 2018, are already underway.
Paul Lanzikos, executive director, North Shore Elder Services; Kim Driscoll, Mayor of Salem; Dr. Kate Rohr, keynote speaker; Linda Rohr, co-presenter; Patricia Maguire Meservey, president, Salem State University; and Michael Festa, state director, AARP.
www.mochadj.com INFO@MOCHADJ.COM
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Katherine Truscott, Sara Malconian, Janet Lawn and Maryann Chaisson.
SCENE Benefit PHOTOS David Fox
RED Party + Auction Red Lantern | Boston | April 23, 2017
Victory Programs celebrated another year of health, housing and prevention services when nearly 300 supporters came out for the 27th annual Dinnerfest RED Party + Auction fundraiser. The event raised more than $145,000 and set a new event record for the third year in a row with a 12 percent increase over last year. Kudos to this year’s event co-chair trio Tiffani Faison and Richard Gordon, restauranteurs, and Boston Spirit’s own features editor Scott Kearnan, along with hardworking auctioneer Kathy Kingston and volunteers who included Imperial Court of Massachusetts members and the Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
Dinnerfest 2017 guest, volunteer and staff.
Way and her Husband Brandon.
Boston Sister KrisTall Mighty.
John Affuso, Jim Seligman and Joe Castellana. 88 | BOSTON SPIRIT
Boston Sisters with Susan Dickason from United
Javier, Victory House client speaker, and his mother Maria Figueroa.
SCENE Gala PHOTOS Dan Vaillancourt/Patrick O’Conner Photography and Joe Mangiacotti
Safe Homes Gala Beechwood Hotel | Worcester | May 5, 2017
With its “Cinco de Marvelous” theme this year, more than 250 attendees made the 2017 Safe Homes Gala and People of Courage Awards a sold-out success once again. This year’s awardees went to Aliana Roman for the Youth and Young Adult category, Michelle Baronas for Volunteer, Dale LePage for Public Service, Hanover Insurance for Corporate and Massachusetts Attorney
General Maura Healey for Social Justice Advocacy and Action. This year’s event brought in more funds than any previous gala since they began in 1995. The only program in the area providing specialized services to LGBTQ youth, Safe Homes is a program of The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, a human services agency headquartered in Worcester.
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SCENE Pride PHOTOS Jim Dalglish, Rob Phelps & Jim Lopata
Boston Pride Back Bay | Boston | June 10, 2017
With a theme of “Stronger Together,” tens of thousands from all stripes of the rainbow flag filled the streets of Boston for the 47th annual parade, the crown jewel of this annual week-long celebration. More the 300 groups marched in the parade, including a float with 29 survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. And Boston Spirit scored a first in the 75-year history of the Parade by partnering with the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots and New England Revolution to bring, for the first time, the five professional sports organizations marching together in the Parade.
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SCENE Pride PHOTOS Courtesy Northampton Pride
Noho Pride Downtown | Northampton | May 6, 2017
The threat of rain couldn’t hold back at least 40 floats, 100 contingents and an estimated 30,000 people from coming out for the 36th annual Northampton Pride Parade and Pride Event. This year, Noho Pride coordinated its theme with Boston, Worcester and other regional Prides to deliver the “Stronger Together” message of hope and solidarity.
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SCENE Gala PHOTOS Colin Howell
OUTstanding! Leaders Awards Back Bay Events Center | Boston | April 25, 2017
For advocacy and modeling of LGBTQ inclusion and equality in the Jewish day school movement, three inspiriation individuals were honored as Hachmei Lev Honorees this year at Keshet’s annual spring gala. Rebekah Farber was recognized for raising LGBTQ awareness among philanthropists and for her related service on many boards, Dr. Marc Kramer for his long-time advocacy and Dr. Susie Tanchel for her work and service as a role madel as, until recently, the only out head of a Jewish day school in America.
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CODA Satire STORY Scott Kearnan [SPIRIT] With everything going on in the world, how important is laughter right now? [RAINBOW] For me, it’s everything. I feel it’s so important—and sometimes it’s endangered by the political correctness of our world right now, which makes me nervous. There’s a lot that goes over the line, but for me, I can’t get through life without laughing, and when people say to me, “thank you, you’re helping me get through stuff,” it’s a reflection of how important comedy is.
Broadway Fierce Meet the song-and-dance man behind those wacky, incisive political videos Politically speaking, it’s been a trying year. But thanks to Randy Rainbow, a selfprofessed “show queen” from NYC, we’ve managed to laugh our way through it. Several years ago, Rainbow (and yes, that’s his real last name)—then working reception in a Broadway production office—launched an irreverent gay-theater-geek blog. It gained fans aplenty and eventually formed the foundation for increasingly popular online videos that featured Rainbow in hilarious fake phone calls and interviews with celebrities. But Rainbow really rocketed to viral, video-fueled stardom during the last election, thanks to uproarious clips that spliced the performer—and his gut-busting original song parodies—into otherwise-real news interviews with Trump administration officials and other politicos. He gives great guffaw when we need it most. And now he’s taking his act on the road for his very first New England tour. If you’ve ever wanted to meet the man behind the videos, here’s your chance. [SPIRIT] You recently starred in an Orbitz
advertisement for gay travel with P’town’s own Miss Ritchfield 1981! How was that? [RAINBOW] I actually stayed with her the very first time I went to Provincetown. She’s a dear friend I’ve known for years. I used to make the videos for her shows, and we ended up sharing a manager for two minutes. I love her.
[SPIRIT] With a name like Randy Rainbow, was there any chance you wouldn’t be gay? [RAINBOW] I mean, my father wasn’t gay, but they just had to give me the alliteration so that I sound like a fucking Care Bear. It just worked out that I’m gay. If I were a quarterback or something, it wouldn’t work. But they made my middle name Stewart, just in case I was like, a straight lawyer or something. [SPIRIT] What was your coming-out like? [RAINBOW] Well, my mother told me—so
that was easy. I had just started seeing a guy, and she came into my room one night and said, “I know everything about you.” I had to say no words. But of course, because she’s a Jewish mother she can’t keep her mouth shut. She said, “I’ll let you tell the rest of the family.” Three hours later, they already knew. [SPIRIT] What sparked your passion for Broadway and showtunes? [RAINBOW] I come from a creative family.
It was always around. My father was a musician and my mother was very into musicals. She made me as gay as I am. She wanted it this way, apparently. I remember one day I woke up, came into the living room, and she said, “I taped ‘Funny Girl’ for you. It was on TV last night. And I bought you the album because you’re going to want it when you’re done.” She had a lot to do with how gay I am.
[SPIRIT] How did the next-level success of the past year affect you? [RAINBOW] The whole thing changed my life completely. I have a manager now. We talk about TV projects. I’m doing a tour. And yet, I’m still making videos in my living room. That’s the magic of social media. I’m going to fancy events and getting awards and meeting celebrities, but I’m still in my tiny apartment with my green screen. It’s a very isolating thing. Anyone who does this will tell you that. It’s very strange. I’m alone, I hit “Send” and I say, “let’s see what happens!” [SPIRIT] If you could interview anyone in real life, who would it be? [RAINBOW] Hmm. Probably Kellyanne Conway. I think I’ve done the most fake interviews with her. So that would be fun, after all the times I’ve talked to her in my head in my apartment. [SPIRIT] Have you heard feedback from any of your faux-interview subjects? [RAINBOW] I mostly hear from the CNN-type people that I replace in the interviews. I hear Jake Tapper is a fan. It’s never the subjects, but the interviewers. I try to be a voice for them, because you just know they’re losing their shit right now. [SPIRIT] How will you translate your video comedy to a live tour? [RAINBOW] I bring some of my videos and perform with them in the background, like a live presentation. I do a Q&A session with fans. And then I get drunk, and make out with everyone. [x]
Catch “Randy Rainbow Live” Thurs., Aug. 3, at Boston Center for the Arts; Fri.–Sat., August 4–5, Leavitt Theatre, Ogunquit, ME; Thurs., Aug. 10, Capitol Plaza Hotel, Montpelier, VT; Fri.–Sat., Aug. 11–12, Harbor Hotel, Provincetown; and Sun., Aug. 13, Columbus Theatre, Providence, RI. randyrainbow.com or brownpapertickets.com.
FEATURING KATE CLINTON
36th ANNUAL SUMMER PARTY Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum Saturday, July 29 | 4PM – 7PM Honoring Jeanne Leszczynski & Diane DiCarlo
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