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GAYZETTE
Spring 2012 vol. 3 no. 1
The newsletter of the Reading Pride Celebration serving the Greater Reading area with the latest GLBT news, reviews, announcements and more.
Pride
y for its second is getting read ming on Reading Pride Celebration, co , ading Pride annual Miss Re Historic Abe Lincoln W yndham 15th at the June . reet, Reading PA 100 North 5th St Prides first Miss nte is Reading that night, Precious Calie ing up her title n. She will be giv Precious for a job well Celebratio Reading Pride for t thank you to r expectations e to say a grea ve exceeded ou and I would lik t year. You ha las ed. done over the much appreciat and it is so very Reading Pride, and ing Pride 2011 e t are Miss Read to sing for us. Th the nights even Co-hosts for t Miss Kimmie be Lana Davis aybe we can ge ch. M ent will Kimberly Kalba llroom. Entertainm fonda Cox. Deejay place in the Ba So event will take fer a tin Group, and e Lincoln will of y, an adult La music. The Ab and Geri Farle r. inning his best sp a ba Journey will be year, as well as e Ballroom this food station in th website: our at obtained is be can ake it out to th you can m Applications ration.org. Hope will be Miss Reading Pride ideceleb www.readingpr e. So who was a great tim u? event. Last year 12? Will it be yo 20
LGBT me m tribute to orial be planned for Reading Pr Celebrat ide ion 2012
by Richard Todd Wagner This year I am working with a group of people to get a memorial tribute started. My main idea is to do a PowerPoint presentation at the Pride event. I would also like to create a photo segment around the main garden in the park, I need featuring the people of Reading Pride. My photos of inspiration for this is our beloved Mary Gomez who was one of Reading Prides founders and people who was a big part of Pride. Mary is missed so much, and I think we owe it to her for all she were a part has done. I appreciate everyones help with of the LGBT this please. I need photos of people who were a part of the LGBT community, as well as their community names and dates of birth as well as death. We are also looking to make a quilt with tributes from people who knew them. These quilts will be placed around the main stage at Pride for everyone to view. I think the photos of our friends and loved ones surrounding the main garden will be a great place for people to talk about the good times with these special people. So please, people of the LGBT and the straight alliances, help me with this. It means a lot to me. You may send photos to me at rt524wagner@gmail.com. When this tribute is finished, it will be available on YouTube. -Richard Todd Wagner is an RPC committee member and co-chair of The
Gayzette. He can be reached at rt524wagner@gmail.com
INSIDE
White Hous e Drum Maj
Transwoman Faith Journey, p.7
An Easter Message, p.6
or Award, p.
EDITORIALS
From
There has been much rhetoric on Mayor Spencers decision to add his name to the national list of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Much of it has been supportive, and some bitter and hurtful. As someone who is directly affected by this issue, I have to speak out and thank Mayor Spencer for his leadership and his commitment to doing what is right for all. Now, there has been much selective quoting of the Bible in an attempt to show that God is not accepting of gays and same -sex marriage. But it has always amazed me that that those who use these quotes from the Old Testament call themselves Christians, yet totally ignore the teachings of Christ contained in the New Testament which contains no such condemnation of homosexuality. I offer a huge thank you to all those of the faith community who lent their support, not only to Mayor Spencer but also to the LGBT community. They do this on a contin-
2 . . .those who use hatred, discrimination and prejuuing basis and give these quo a home to those tes from dice come from fear and ignowho have been rance. If someone truly wants to the Old Te stament learn about the LGBT community, ostracized and call thems abandoned by attend Reading Pride Celebration elves others claiming to Christia held this July ns, yet tota What in Centre Park people just15th. being doing youll find are like lly ignore th Gods work. e teach- you. Thank you to all ings of Ch -Richard L. Spangler, President rist con- Reading Pride Celebration who support and tained in th encourage us. e New Testamen tw ETTE My partner contains n hich The GAYZ of 31 years and os I were blessed condemna uch tio in 2010 to be link homosexu n of married not Follow this t you ality.
SURVEY
and tell us wha think
only legally in Connecticut but more importantly in a beautiful Ecumenical Catholic Mass in Reading. It has always been my experience that
The Gayzette:
a GLBT and Allies Publication
Spring 2012 vol.3 no.1
Harvey Milk, I dug deeper into the past, that foundation of centuries-long closeted oppression. These events and names of our gay roots is where we come from, so have fun with this one. And remember the summer issue coming out in June will be a Reading Pride Celebration trivia crossword. Send answers and clues by May 20th to brennacorbit@gmail.com Please make the subject line RPC Trivia Crossword. Thank you. Brenna J. Corbit is a librarian at Reading Area
Community Colleges The Yocum Library. She is a post-op male-to-female transsexual and shares her life with her partner, Jolene. Brenna can be reached at brennacorbit@gmail.com
ARTICLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Precious Caliente Deb Coggin Brenna J. Corbit Joe DiCindio Jennifer Glass Justin Mason Dewayne Messenger Ricardo Nieves Barbara Peronteau Ben Renkus Richard Spangler Richard Todd Wagner
EDITORIAL STAFF
Kimberly Kalbach Ben Renkus Richard Spangler Richard Wagner
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Brenna J. Corbit
The Gayzette: a GLBT and Allies Publication is a quarterly publication of the Reading Pride Celebration. DISCLAIMER The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Reading Pride Celebration. Our Mission is to Celebrate Unity and Diversity In the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community of Reading and Berks County. Contributions are encouraged and must be submitted via email, CD or flash drive. Articles are subjected to editing and may be rejected; article length approximately 250 words or less. Deadline for Summer issue submissions is June 3, 2012 Contact: brennacorbit@gmail.com
BE D AR HE AK E SP UT O d Se n a er lett to the or t Edi AY! be about 200 D itor should the right to TO e ed has be
to th board ma y Letters he editorial tter. Letters vity. ords. T reject any le clarity and bre om w r r .c ccept o to editing fo orbit@gmail a ac ted r isse is subjec tters to brenn summe end le for the S dline
PROUD THOUGHTS
To the board and members of Reading Pride, thank you for all of your help with event planning, advertising, and support. A huge thank you goes to the Queens who helped with the pancake breakfast and the benefit shows at the Crowne Plaza and Red Star! You all are amazing people on and off stage, and I look forward to working with you again in the future. To the management and staff of the Crowne Plaza and Red Star, thank you for your hospitality and willingness to work with Pride. And to all of my fans, friends, family, and my partner in life and love, Ross, thank you for always supporting and believing in me in every endeavor I take on. As much as I will miss representing Pride, I will forever be bonded with it. During the past year, I have been able to watch what happens on the inside. The hard work and planning are definitely worth it when you get to see the immense sense of joy people experience, not only at Pride itself, but at the other events planned throughout the year. I have enjoyed my time working with Reading Pride so much that I am now a board member and look forward to continue working with the organization. If you were there for last years pageant, then you know you are in for a treat again this year. Being held once again at the Historic Abraham Lincoln Wyndham Hotel in Reading, we are planning a night of great entertainment and competition. So mark your calendars for June 15th 2012, so you dont miss out on the excitement. To the queen who is crowned Miss Reading Pride Celebration 2012, consider yourself one lucky queen. You not only gain a title, but a family! It has been an honor and a privilege to represent Reading Pride this past year, and I look forward to seeing you all at my give up.
-Precious Caliente (Justin Mason) is an RPC committee member.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have helped me throughout my reign as
RPC NEWS
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She has made it her life's work to bring diverse peoples together in whatever way she can, through many means and venues. This includes many interfaith services, dialogues, and festivals including Reading Pride Celebration's Interfaith Services. Congratulations, Nancy! We at Reading Pride Celebration and all of the other organizations to whom you have so selflessly given your time and talents recognize this award as well deserved. We want to say "Thanks for all you do"! -Ben Renkus is RPC Vendor Committee Chair
contact rb1502@aol.com
Check us out online for additional news, photos, events and a lot more
www.readingpridecelebration.com
The eight included three students from Albright: Andrea Ecland, Mariam Mahmood, and Sean Snyder. The rest are community members: Karina Archie, Bob link Manrodt, John Morgan, Joan Reppert, and Follow this t you Nancy. All were involved in the creation of ll us wha and te think the College's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge Project which http://w ww.surv was spearheaded by President Obama at eymonk ey.com 269 colleges and universities throughout /s/V69J 5WJ the United States. The Drum Major Awards are facilitated by the White House and the Cooperation for National and Community Service and presented to people who make a difference in serving their communities, often without recognition.
ET The GAYZ
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SURVEY
Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? ~Ernest Gaines
touch with your local and state representatives, sign petitions, and show support for gay marriage Senate Bill 461, which after being introduced in February 2011 by Senator Daylin Leach, has been sitting in committee at a standstill.
On a more local note, I would personally like to thank Readings Mayor Vaughn Spencer, who recently joined seven other Pennsylvania Mayors in supporting full civil marriage rights for the GLBT community in Pennsylvania. It is because of politicians such as Mayor Spencer, Senator Leach, and many others who support full marriage equality that I have hope for a more equal tomorrow.
-Justin Mason is an RPC committee member and current RPC Ms Reading Pride Celebration
50 percent of Pennsylvanian s either strongly or somewhat strongly suppo rt a constitutional amendment to allow same-se x marriage, a whopping 42 percent increas e since 2009.
OPINION
family, and I know for these groups that it bittersweet when it comes to the military. So, to the sisterhood, read on and enjoy. A once timehonored Navy tradition in which a sailor is chosen to be the first off the ship to kiss his loved one on the photo: ww dock was w.thewee k.com won by a petty officer who kissed her partner, another petty officer. This first Navy same-sex kiss post-DADT appears to be first reported by The Virginian For me personally, I would like to thank -Pilot and then picked up by USA Today. both Petty Officer Gaeta and Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell for the post-DADT Both articles describe how, after almost kiss. Once upon a time, gays were forced three months at sea in Central America and into secrecy, and with your kiss and the with homecoming nearing, the ship's family crowds cheers, the stigma vanished. readiness group sold one-dollar raffle tickThank you for protecting our Country. I ets to pick the sailor to deliver the first kiss salute you on many different levels. on the dock. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta bought 50 tickets and won. It was -Ricardo Nieves is an RPC Committee Member the first time on record that a same-sex couple was chosen to kiss upon a ship's return, the AP reports Navy officials said.
Once upon a time, gays were ecy, forced into secr ss and with your ki ds and the crow a cheers, the stigm vanished.
Since I have many lesbian friends, more so than most gay males, I dont need a translator to speak lesbian. I get it. I get and understand them. I love them. In fact, it is my opinion that I dont see them being represented nearly as much as gay men are, and its totally unfair. They still seem to be greatly marginalized. Hopefully this article will attempt to undo some of this, so this seasons article is for my sisters in arms. Were allies and support one another as brothers and sisters in the queer struggle! Dont worry; I didnt forget the bisexual and transgender
rights as particularly Today, we witness a mands that the European Parliament, Unitevidenced by the complete and total ed Nations, and coundecriminalization of homosexuality reversal of the great tries everywhere denounce this barbaric throughout the nastrides Russia has and archaic law in the tion. Today, we witness a complete and made for her citizens Russian Federation immediately. total reversal of the great with the anti-LGBTI strides Russia has made for Caryl Dolinko & Mark her citizens with the antilegislation in Chapman LGBTI legislation in St PetersSt Petersburg. Co-Presidents burg. This unfair, discriminaInterPride, Inc. tory, and reactionary legislaInterPride is the intertion further endangers an already marginalnational association of LGBTI Pride Organized segment of your population. Fair and izers with members throughout the world. equitable laws must apply to all of your Information about the organization can be sons and daughters or they cant exist for found at www.interpride.org any of them. InterPride has a strong relationship with the LGBTI community in Russia spanning many years and now fears for the safety of all LGBTI citizens under this new law. We strongly encourage the reversal of this ludicrous law and hope that with international pressure, common sense will prevail. St. Petersburg continues to defy the call from international organizations and institutions to withdraw this legislation. Interpride de-Rich Spangler is RPC President contact rb1502@aol.com
Meeting House on Sunday evenings. I still find it hard to believe that, in the 21st century, I encounter people who are afraid to be out. Well, I do understand it, grown up this area As with other having can be quiteinoppressive which of differences, especially queer Mayors from Having a supportive cities around the ones. who is willing to be pubMayor country, I stand lic about his stance on equality is like a beacon of hope that together with lets me know there is a chance them in support for things to change and truly be open and welcoming. It also of same-sex gives me the chance to share couples right to this good news with others who hope marry Mayor think there is no free to in this city for them to be live as Vaughn Spencer they have been created by God. I applaud Mayor Spencer for signing on to the National Mayors for Marriage Equality list! I also applaud our City Council for presenting a Proclamation declaring October as LGBT History Month in Reading, on behalf of the LGBT community in Reading! I long for the day that my partner and I can be married in the City of Reading! May that day be so very soon! P.S. For those of you out there who might worry about the Mayors support of that sort of thing, that those sorts of people will now be coming to the city, let me assure you that WE ARE ALREADY HERE! (Continued on page 7)
First, I believe that ALL people must have equal rights! Period! Second, I am a new resident in the city and the Mayors support of LGBT Equality and the annual Reading Pride Celebration, among other things, helped me and my partner of 13 years to make our choice to reside in the City of Reading. Having a city that is LGBT friendly is important to me and my life. Third, I am also a pastor on staff of Vision of Hope Metropolitan Community Church, which has started a multi-site location in Reading, meeting at the Quaker
an assurance that, even though we may It is a story die, we shall still live. This claim regarding worth cherishresurrection is something martyrs went to ing for us Christians. Perhaps we forget their deaths proclaiming. how radical a thing it is to proclaim that the one Christians call their Messiah has been As people following the resurrected one, risen from the dead. The claims we affirm that there is Christians make regarding the But for Ch resurrection are claims that ristians, something that lies beyond this earthly life. make the Christian faith unique the claim th at We believe that our and thus separate us from our Christ rose brothers and sisters of other from souls will live on. And not only that, we believe great faith traditions. While the dead is what that, because we are there is a concept of the resurgives us ho rection in Judaism, most Jews pe. It is united with Christ through baptism, we will today do not place much stock what help s us hang also share in Christs in that concept and assume on in spite o resurrection! In the fullthat resurrection is only a f all ness of time, when this Christian teaching. And Mus- kinds of trials and earthly life has passed lims who also have a belief in tribulations away, whether we are a heavenly life after death . alive or whether we have deny that Jesus was really been long dead, Christians the one crucified on Calvarys hill; thus if affirm that God will raise us up and that we he wasnt crucified, then there is no resurwill be given imperishable bodies. rection. But for Christians, the claim that Christ rose from the dead is what gives us hope. It is what helps us hang on in spite of all kinds of trials and tribulations. It gives us Yes, all of it is an astonishing mystery but a mystery worth contemplating. If you dont have a community of faith and are (Continued on page 7)
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she finally began to look beyond the cultural and religious clichs and began to take her faith seriously that she found a loving God who embraces her and will never ever let her go. Like other trans folk who are faithful, it was her faith that gave her the strength to admit who she truly is and become the charming woman she is today. What Barbara remembers the most from that evening occurred during the question and answer time. One kind man admitted he did not want to come that night and how he really wanted to stay home, but his wife made him go and dragged him along. Then he said he was glad he came and thanked Barbara for the evening. That made her blush and left her speechless except for a humble thank you in return. Please join Barbara Peronteau at the Sterling on Sunday, May 20 from 3-7pm where she will be the featured speaker. There will also be jazz, good food, wine, a silent auction, and good friends, both old and new. -Barbara Peronteau is an RPC committee
member
that is looking to encounter the presence of the living God, then come check us out! We worship Sundays* at 7pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 108 N. 6th Street, Reading! (*In March and April that means the 2nd and 4th Sundays.)
-Rev. Deb Coggin is the Lead Pastor, and Rev. Jen Glass is a pastor on staff at Vision of Hope MCC. Vision of Hope is a member of the denomination known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. For the last 42 years, MCC has grown into the worlds largest Christian faith group providing spiritual support to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender persons along with their allies. We are Led by Christ, Empowered to Rock the World with locations in Mountville, York, and Reading (Sundays at 7pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 108 N. 6th Street).
Easter
(Continued from page 6) interested in entering into the mystery of Easter with us, our Holy Week services are as follows: Maundy Thursday, 6pm; Good Friday, 6pm; the Great Vigil of Easter with the Sacrament of Christian Baptism (our principle Easter service) at 7:30pm, and Easter Sunday at 1pm.
-Fr. Dewayne Messenger id pastor of All Souls Ecumenical Church located in the chapel at Calvary UCC, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, Pa. Worship is 1 pm Sunday, Contact: 610-621-1738 or info@allsoulsecumenical.org
"[T]he deeper your spiritual practice, the more you are aware that everybody is androgynous."
Ram Dass quoted in Gay Soul, Finding the Heart of Gay Spirit and Nature by Mark Thompson
WHATS COOKING?
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powder, baking soda, and salt, and then mix into the cream mixture. Next, stir in the sour cream and vanilla. In another bowl, mix together filling ingredients--nuts, cinnamon and sugar. In the greased pan, alternate a layer of batter then a layer of filling. Continue so that the last layer is that of the filling. Bake in preheated oven 45 minutes at 375 degrees; after 30 minutes turn heat down to 350 degrees. In a pan, cook the above until chocolate and jelly melts Add cup bread crumbs dough ingredients 8 tbs sugar 8 eggs 1 tbs oil (for each egg) 6 cups flour 1 tbs lemon extract
Coffee Cake
ingredients 2 sticks of softened butter 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 4 cups flour 3 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. baking soda tsp. salt 1 pint sour cream 2 tsp. vanilla filling ingredients 1 cup chopped nuts 2 tsp. Cinnamon cup sugar Instructions Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan. In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar, and then beat in eggs one at a time. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking
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ACROSS 6. These 1969 riots launched the gay rights movement in the U.S. 7. A gay-themed Mae West play of 1927 that was banned on Broadway. 9. The Society for _____ _____ in Chicago was the first U.S. known earliest gay rights organization in 1924. 11. American author James Baldwin publishes the gay novel ______ _____ in 1956. 14. A gay Greek philosopher from 300 B.C. 16. This Act passed by England during the reign of Henry VIII made sexual relations between men a criminal offense punishable by death. 18. The term homosexuality was coined in the late 19th century by what German psychologist? 20. A Roman Emperor (205-222) who promoted phallic worship and had contests to find men with the largest phalli and publicly married one them, an athlete from Smyrna. 22. The disease known as a gay plague appeared in 1981. 26. The first American President to recognize gay and lesbian rights. 28. In 1992, this country allowed gays and lesbians to serve in the military. 29. The first state to decriminalize homosexual acts in 1961. 31. Author of the 1928 lesbian classic The Well of Loneliness. 32. 19th Century American author of the openly gay Calamus poems. 33. This historic island is the birthplace of a famous Greek lesbian poet of antiquity mentioned in 34 Down. 35. In 1922 this openly bi-sexual poet published a book of poetry entitled A Few Figs from Thistles, which stated that women have a right to sexual pleasure. 37. A term used for masculine bonding in Japanese Samurai warrior society. 38. This feminist and anarchist (1869-1940) openly defended homosexuality in the early 1900s. 39. This state passed the first gay rights bill in 1981.
The next crossword will be Reading Pride Celebration trivia. At least 40 words and clues needed. Please send entries by May 20 to brennacorbit@gmail.com
DOWN 1. This 18th Century British philosopher argued against the sodomy laws of England. 2. _________ 175 was passed by Germany in the early 1870s which criminalized same-sex male relations with punishment including prison and a loss of civil rights. 3. Gay people were required to wear a ______ _____ in Nazi-occupied Germany. 4. In 1952, this gay British mathematician and computer pioneer was sentenced to a year of hormonal treatments causing impotence and breast development for gross indecency with males. 5. A transman Jazz musician of the 40s and 50s. 8. The first American whose sex reassignment surgery became public in 1952. 10. This openly gay San Francisco Mayor was assassinated in 1978. 12. The first lesbian magazine to be published in the U.S. in 1947. 13. This Greek God of wine was also associated with homosexuality. 15. This person founded the Sexology Institute in Berlin (1919-1933), which primarily focused on civil rights for women and gay people. 17. Walt Whitman was a member of this gay association that met in the bar mentioned in 19 Down. 19. The 19th Century Poet Walt Whitman frequented this bohemian semi-gay pub in New York City. 21. This society that was formed in 1951spearheaded
ANSWERS ACROSS 6.STONEWALL 7.THEDRAG 9.HUMANRIGHTS 11.GIOVANNISROOM 14.SOCRATES 16.BUGGERY 18.BENKERT 20.ELAGABALUS 22.AIDS 26.CLINTON 28.CANADA 29.ILLINOIS 31.HALL 32.WHITMAN 33.LESBOS 35.MILLAY 37.WAKASHUDO 38.GOLDMAN 39.WISCONSIN DOWN 1.BENTHAM 2.PARAGRAPH 3.PINKTRIANGLE. 4.TURING 5.TIPTON 8.JORGENSEN 10.MILK 12.VISAVERSA 13.DIONYSUS 15.HIRSCHFELD 17.FREDGRAY 19.PFAFFS 21.MATTACHINE 23.DIONYSIACA 24.KINSEY 25.TRANSEXION 27.WILDE 30.MOLLYHOUSE 34.SAPPHO 36.IOWA 37.WEWHA
the contemporary organized gay rights movement in the U.S. 23. This 4-5th Century epic poem by Greek poet Nonnus celebrated homosexual passion. 24. This 1947 report revealed that 10% of the male population is predominantly homosexual. 25. An obsolete term meaning to change sex and perhaps one of the oldest known terms referring to transgender. 27. This Victorian British poet was sentenced in 1895 to two years of hard labor for his homosexual relationship with the son of an aristocrat. 30. An archaic 18th century term for an English tavern that was frequented by the gay community. 34. This female Greek poet born on the island mentioned in 33 Across wrote romantic poetry towards other females. 36. In 1992 this American university extended health benefits to domestic partners of its gay and lesbian employees. 37. A famous Zuni berdache of American Indian history (1849-1896) (an individual who combined the work and traits of both men and women).
The Gayzette
is always looking for more writers, film and book reviewers, photographers, copy editors, sponsors and advertisers for the Summer 2012 Issue.
Deadline for submissions is June 3, 2012. Advertisers and Sponsors contact Kim Kalbach at mustbekimmie@yahoo.com All other submissions contact Brenna J. Corbit at brennacorbit@gmail.com
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