DAN LEVY IS DOING US ALL A - Out 'Schitt's Creek' Creator Gets Candid - Pride Source
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4 MSU Professor Accused of Sexual Misconduct Study: Religious Exemption Especially Harsh on LGBTQ Seniors DAN LEVY IS DOING US ALL A Out ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Creator Gets Candid WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM FEBRUARY 1, 2018 | VOL. 2605 | FREE
2 BTL | February 1, 2018 www.PrideSource.com
HUMAN RIGHTS
ARTS
COVER
Dan Levy
NEWS
4 Dignity Denied: Study Finds LGBTQ Seniors Especially
Vulnerable to Religious Exemptions
9 MSU Investigating Allegations of Sexual Harrassment
Against Prof. Sue Carter
10 Log Cabin Assails Dems for Blocking Ric Grenell
Local Survivor Sheds Light p. 19
Nomination
11 Pence Breaks Tie to Confirm Anti-LGBT Brownback on Human Trafficking p. 14
Nomination
14 Local Survivor Sheds Light on Human Trafficking
15 Biden Foundation Sets Up Advisory Councils for COMMUNITY CONNECTION MARRIAGE HAPPENINGS
Women, LGBT Rights
OPINION
12 Parting Glances
12 Viewpoint
13 Creep of the Week
LIFE
16 Dan Levy is Doing Us All a Big Favor 26 Moss Earns LGBTQ Support in 24 Best of LGBT Events
19 Michigan Native Releases Photo Book of NYC Bid for State Senate
Drag Queens ANN ARBOR
23 Mary Lambert Thinks You’re a Babe
24 Happenings
26 A Safe Space for Comedy Mary Lambert
28 Classifieds Thinks You’re
29 Puzzle & Crossword 27 From Outlaw to Conformist Biden Foundation Sets A Babe
COOL CITIES: ANN ARBOR Up Advisory Councils for p. 23
27 Inclusive Justice Urges
22 Ypsi Pride Hosts Turnabout Fundraiser
Educators to Support LGBTQ Women, LGBT Rights p. 15
22 Necto Pride Night Features BenDeLaCreme
23 Mary Lambert Thinks You’re a Babe
VOL. 2605 • FEBRUARY 1, 2018 EDITORIAL News & Feature Writers ADVERTISING & SALES ONLINE AT
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Dignity Denied
If religious exemption laws expand, services at risk of disappearing
in many health organizations include same-sex visitation rights,
admitting LGBTQ adults to emergency medical care or providing
Study Finds LGBTQ Seniors Especially care, giving loans or housing vouchers and Medicare and Medicaid-
Vulnerable to Religious Exemptions funded hospitals could refuse service to LGBTQ seniors.
NEWS
BY EVE KUCHARSKI
P
icture someone in the LGBTQ
community, and the image is often of
a young and affluent person. However,
according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the
population of the nation’s people aged 65 years
and older is set to double by 2050, to almost
84 million. And, public perception aside, it
is estimated that there are nearly 3 million
LGBTQ adults who are 50 years or older living
in the U.S. today.
These statistics are part of a December
2017 report conducted by the Movement
Advancement Project, Public Rights/Private
Conscience Project and SAGE: “Dignity
Denied: Religious Exemptions and LGBT
Elder Services.” These three groups worked
together to create a study highlighting that
LGBTQ seniors are an especially high-risk
group in the battle for and against religious
exemptions.
MAP is an independent think tank that
provides research to aid LGBTQ people in
attaining equality, The Public Rights/Private
Conscience Project examines how religious
liberty rights conflict with fundamental
rights to equality and liberty and SAGE is Worried gay couple standing outside White House. Photo by David Advertures IStock.
the country’s largest and oldest organization
groups, are those who stand to lose the most.
dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ
older adults.
based on a resident’s involved verbal or
physical harassment from other residents. There are four main avenues to increasing this Executive Orders and Agency
What follows is a summary of the study’s - 20 percent involved refusal to admit
or re-admit a resident.
discriminatory behavior:
- Executive orders and agency
Guidance
findings, and how they relate to Michigan:
- 14 percent of incidents were guidance that permits discrimination by In October 2017, both the U.S. Departments
committed by staff. federal contractors and grantees, as well as of Jusice and Health and Human Services
Harassment is Alive and Well government employees. released “sweeping” religious exemption
in Senior Care Facilities These seniors frequently find themselves at
the mercy of organizations that are religiously-
- State religious exemption laws
that in some states already permit medical
guidance and regulation. (Though not included
in the report, an example of regulations like
The study found that the majority of involved. According to the American Civil professionals to decline service to LGBTQ these happened at the start of 2018. The
healthcare services for the aging are offered Liberties Union, 14 percent of hospitals in the people. HHS announced a new department called
by religiously-affiliated organizations — about U.S. have a religious affiliation and make up - Increasing permissions to deny Conscience and Religious Freedom.) Based
85 percent. This affiliation could be part of the almost a fifth of all hospital beds in the country. service, and potentially serious implications off these rulings, any employer or insurance
reason that LGBTQ older adults have reported from the Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. company is now able to refuse to provide
coverage for contraceptives due to religious or
discrimination when accessing a variety of
services like “at work, at the doctor’s office, Religious Exemption Laws Only Colorado Civil Rights Commission, in which
a baker refused to bake a wedding cake for an “moral” reasons, regardless of being publicly
within residential communities and when
seeking housing and when accessing social
Stand to Expand LGBTQ couple. The case is currently under
consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court and
funded.
The report found that in 2014 alone, the
supports like community centers.” According to the study’s findings, federal a ruling is expected by the end of June. federal government gave $1.88 billion to
Of the group of nearly 800 LGBTQ seniors and state policymakers and activists are - Court Cases that permit providers in the aging networks through grants,
who were surveyed, almost half of those who working to allow religious organizations discrimination in employee benefit plans, that contracts or reimbursements, serving almost
had entered long-term care had experienced across the U.S. the ability to discriminate “could result in discrimination in pension and 11 million older Americans.
some type of discrimination or mistreatment. against LGBTQ people. LGBTQ seniors, insurance benefits.” If religious exemption laws expand, services
- 23 percent of these incidents were who frequently rely on the services of these at risk of disappearing in many health
4 BTL | February 1, 2018 www.PrideSource.com
organizations include same-sex visitation Though a decision is not expected by
rights, admitting LGBTQ adults to emergency SCOTUS until June, if the court rules in the
medical care or providing care, giving loans favor of the baker, the study reports that the
or housing vouchers and Medicare and implications could be far-reaching.
Medicaid-funded hospitals could refuse “An older LGBT person could be denied
service to LGBTQ seniors. any service that might remotely be seen to
include a ‘creative’ element, including long-
State Religious Exemption term care, programming at senior centers,
congregant meal sites and even health care,”
Laws in Michigan the report stated.
The study also reported that businesses
Currently, 21 states in the U.S. have laws could also potentially even refuse to provide
in place that allow people, churches and basic services like meals, or as in a recent
nonprofit organizations to seek religious case where an LGBTQ widower was refused
exemptions. For now, Michigan has no broad service by a funeral home.
religious exemption law. According to the
report, the “broad” language of these rules
allows for those seeking exemptions to test Discrimination in Employee
the boundaries of their state’s discrimination
rules.
Benefits Plans
Currently, Michigan is one of seven states Currently, organizations that are based upon
to permit child welfare agencies to “refuse religion, like houses of worship or religious
to place and provide services to children and schools, are legally allowed to hire people
families, including LGBT people and same- who follow the same religion as long they
sex couples, if doing so conflicts with their do not discriminate around race or disability.
religious beliefs.” Michigan is also one of 29 The study reports that recent court rulings
states to have “no public accommodations are paving the way for this to extend to
non-discrimination law covering sexual religiously-affiliated health service providers
orientation or gender identity.” This means like Catholic hospital systems. Organizations
that organizations could continue to receive like these are arguing that their affiliation
funding while actively discriminating. could qualify them to gain similar exemptions
to places of worship.
The Implications of the A 2017 court case in which SCOTUS ruled
in favor of a religiously-affiliated hospital that
Masterpiece Cakeshop Case had a “church plan” which regulated employee
benefits, and sought religious exemptions on
The Colorado baker involved in the U.S. it. The ruling found that “church plans” neither
Supreme Court case Masterpiece Cakeshop, must be established, nor maintained, by a
Lt. v. Colorado Human Rights Commission, church to qualify for the exemption.”
is directly challenging Colorado’s statewide The study estimates that the U.S. has
law that prohibits discrimination on the basis hundreds of thousands of employers that
of sexual orientation and gender identity. identify as religiously-affiliated, and provide
He argued that his position as a baker gave work to millions of employees. If employers
him the “artistic” free speech under the were able to prove that they too followed a
First Amendment to refuse service to the “church plan,” the plan may not be subject to
gay couple who requested a wedding cake, federal anti-discrimination rules.
because the cake conveyed a message with
which he did not agree.
Conclusions
Overall, MAP found that LGBTQ Overall, the study found that LGBTQ
seniors are among the most vulnerable group
seniors are among the most to be impacted by religious exemption rules
vulnerable group to religious because of their reliance on regular services
in the arenas of health, employment and
exemption rules because of their general care. Should religious exemption
rules extend further, they stand the risk of
reliance on regular services in losing access to critical benefits that they
the arenas of health, employment rely on at a higher rate than younger LGBTQ
adults.
and general care. Should religious The full report can be found online at lgbtmap.
exemption rules extend further, org/dignity-denied-lgbt-older-adults.
they stand the risk of losing
access to critical benefits that AGING RESOURCE
they rely on at a higher rate SAGE Metro Detroit is a Ferndale based branch of
the national organization.
than younger LGBTQ adults. >> www.sagemetrodetroit.org
www.PrideSource.com February 1, 2018 | BTL 5
MSU Investigating Allegations of Sexual Harassment Against Prof. Sue Carter BY TODD HEYWOOD Sue Carter, an out lesbian professor at Michigan State University is being investigated by the Office of Institutional Equity over allegations of sexual harassment. Carter resigned from the MSU Athletic Council for the NCAA last week, in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal of former MSU Dr. Larry Nassar. “As both professor and priest, I am profoundly saddened by Michigan State University’s public posture and seemingly callous regard for these girls and women,” Carter wrote in her resignation letter. SUE CARTER She is accused by Ellen Fedon-Keyt of an inappropriate sexual relationship 26 “She was putting herself out there as years ago. if she couldn’t imagine this happening at Jason Cody, spokesman for MSU, MSU and as if she was all above this,” confirmed by text message the university Fedon-Keyt said in an interview. “It made was investigating Carter over the allegation. me feel ill and I just thought, ‘You don’t Between The Lines does not normally get to do this.’” identify the victim of sexual assault or Carter confirmed in a phone call the harassment, but Fedon-Keyt, in interviews relationship had occurred, but declined to over the weekend, agreed to be identified for address the specifics of the complaint. this story. Fedon-Keyt is a psychologist in Fedon-Keyt alleges that she was a Wayne the Detroit area in private practice. State University student at the time the She said she came forward with her relationship began, and Carter was teaching allegations after seeing Carter’s quotes journalism at both Wayne State and MSU. related to her resignation from the Athletic Lori Randlett, a friend of Fedon-Keyt, Council. recalls the relationship as something her “After reading the recent Detroit News friend was not willing to discuss at the time. article, I am stepping forward to say from But she said she was concerned about the personal experience that Sue Carter has no power dynamic between Fedon-Keyt and room to make self-righteous statements Carter. about the sexual predations and moral “I mean, she was her professor,” Randlett responsibilities of others,” Fedon-Keyt said. wrote in a letter to MSU this weekend. “I apologize. I am deeply sorry for any That letter triggered the investigation by harm that our consensual relationship the Office of Institutional Equity. caused Ellen 26-years ago,” Carter said. www.PrideSource.com February 1, 2018 | BTL 9
Log Cabin Assails Dems for Blocking Ric Grenell Nomination
NEWS
BY CHRIS JOHNSON immediately clear which Democrat, if any, is
objecting to bringing the Grenell nomination
Log Cabin Republicans officials are to the Senate floor.
assailing Democrats for blocking the Chris Harris, a Murphy spokesperson,
confirmation of Richard Grenell as U.S. denied the senator has blocked unanimous
ambassador to Germany. consent on Grenell and said Murphy is
The Grenell nomination, President Trump’s deferring to Senate leadership on bringing
most high-profile openly gay appointment, the nomination to the floor.
is being held up purportedly over comments “Such a request has not yet been made this
Grenell made years ago on Twitter about year by the way,” Harris said. “And just for
the appearance of women, including Hillary your information, the same was true when
Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Callista leadership’s request eventually went around
Gingrich and Rachel Maddow. in December.”
The Log Cabin missive, dated Jan. 29, The absence of a U.S. ambassador to
attributes the hold up over Grenell to Germany may complicate U.S. foreign policy.
“Democratic dithering,” asserting actions When Trump visited the World Economic
from the Senate minority are holding up Forum in Davos, David Martosko, political
an important nomination and the historic director for the U.S. Daily Mail, commented
confirmation of an out gay ambassador. on Twitter with the position vacant “the U.S.
“In earlier times confirmations such as Mr. had no German ambassador there to follow
Grenell’s were perfunctory, made swiftly with up with the appropriate CEOs.”
deference to our nation’s commander-in-chief Besides the signatories of the Log Cabin
in a way that transcended partisanship,” letter, others have expressed support for the
the letter says. “Sadly, time and time again confirmation of Grenell. Among them is the
over the course of the past year, Democratic But Grenell is perhaps best known on he again apologized. Obama administration’s U.S. ambassador to
senators have abused procedural courtesy to Twitter for his combative relationship “Anybody who knows me knows that I am Russia Michael McFaul and “Ellen” show
prevent votes by simple acclamation.” with reporters, including those from the a very caring person and very sensitive — and executive producer Andy Lassner.
The letter has 22 signatures from Log Washington Blade. Taking a cue from Trump, I also appreciate good humor,” Grenell said. But other LGBT groups have remained
Cabin members as well as prominent who has declared war on the media, Grenell “Unfortunately, there are times where what silent. The Human Rights Campaign and
Republicans and commentators. Among often accuses reporters of harboring biases was intended to be humorous turned out to be the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute haven’t
them is the George W. Bush administration’s that undermine their reporting. not so humorous, and, again, that was never come out in favor of the Grenell nomination
former White House press secretary Ari The dispute over Grenell’s confirmation is my intention and I regret that.” and didn’t respond to a request to comment
Fleischer; Phil Karpen, president of American purportedly over mean tweets the nominee That wasn’t enough for Sen. Chris Murphy for this article.
Commitment; and Heather Higgins, CEO of made and unfolds in the context of the (D-Conn.), who led Democrats on the Senate There are few out LGBT appointees in the
Independent Women’s Voice. #MeToo movement in which women are Foreign Relations Committee to oppose Trump administration. Two were confirmed
First nominated by Trump in September, coming forward with allegations of sexual advancing the Grenell nomination to the unanimously in the Senate: James Abbott,
Grenell founded the international consulting misconduct. Senate floor. The party-line committee vote who was confirmed to the Federal Labor
firm Capitol Media Partners in 2010 and served One 2011 tweet directed at Maddow, a took place in October, but months later the Relations Authority; and David Glawe, under
in various roles as a public communications lesbian news anchor on MSNBC, said she nomination has yet to come to the Senate secretary for intelligence and analysis at the
adviser and a Fox News commentator. Under “needs to take a breath and put on a necklace” floor. Department of Homeland Security.
the George W. Bush administration, Grenell and another compared her look to that of pop Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Claudia Slacik, was nominated, but not yet
was the longest serving U.S. spokesperson singer Justin Bieber. One tweet directed at (R-Ky.) could force a vote on the nomination, confirmed, to the board of the U.S. Export-
at the United Nations and served four U.S. Gingrich questioned whether she “snaps on” but it’s unclear if the votes are present to Import Bank. Trump also re-nominated
ambassadors. her hair. At around the same time, Grenell confirm Grenell. lesbian Democrat Chai Feldblum to the U.S.
For a period of less than two weeks, tweeted “Hillary is starting to look like Stephanie Penn, a McConnell Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
Grenell served during the 2012 presidential Madeleine Albright.” spokesperson, said “there are still Democrat which by law requires appointments of
campaign as a foreign policy spokesperson (Those tweets echo comments he reportedly objections, but we don’t yet have a scheduling different parties.
for Republican nominee Mitt Romney, made in 1992 as a young aide for the re- announcement.” The office of Senate Minority Leader
but resigned amid pressure from social election campaign of George H.W. Bush, Although the Senate no longer requires Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), to whom the
conservatives over his sexual orientation. according to a Washington Post article in 60 votes to break a filibuster on presidential missive is addressed, didn’t respond to the
Grenell never had the opportunity to speak 1995. A fellow staffer recalled Grenell telling nominees, any individual senator can still Washington Blade’s request for comment.
publicly in the role. a female aide wearing a red shoes flowery refuse to give unanimous consent. That
Grenell, who has described himself as a dress, ‘Didn’t your mother ever tell you means it will require 30 hours of debate to
gay conservative Christian, has a same-sex only whores and very small children wear move forward. This article originally appeared in the Washington
partner, Matt Lashey. According to The red shoes?‘”) According to Murphy’s office, Republicans Blade and is made available in partnership with
Atlantic, the two have been together for 15 Although Grenell deleted the tweets and sought consent to move forward with the the National LGBT Media Association.
years and Lashey himself is a conservative apologized for them, they continued to haunt Grenell nomination on Dec. 12, but the
Christian who graduated from Jerry Falwell’s him through his confirmation hearing, where confirmation vote never happened. It wasn’t
Liberty University.
10 BTL | February 1, 2018 www.PrideSource.comPence Breaks Tie to Confirm Anti-LGBT Brownback Nomination
BY CHRIS JOHNSON at the State Department. Traditionally, the
appointee in that role has advocated for
In his role as president of the U.S. Senate, religious minorities facing persecution
Vice President Mike Pence had to break the overseas.
tie Jan. 24 to confirm Sam Brownback as U.S. The confirmation of Brownback, whom
ambassador at-large for religious freedom. Trump first nominated last year, was opposed
Brownback was approved on party-line by LGBT groups.
50-49 vote. Pence’s tie-breaking vote Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of GLAAD, said
was necessary to end the filibuster on his in a statement Brownback is unfit for the
nomination and the confirmation itself. (For position, but complement other anti-LGBT
presidential appointees, only a majority vote appointees in the Trump administration.
is necessary to overcome a filibuster.) Sens. “There is a vast difference between
Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and John McCain combating the real and horrific persecution
(R-Ariz.) were absent from the votes. facing religious minorities across the globe
Both Pence and Brownback, who and Brownback’s own record of distorting
represented Kansas in Congress as a religious freedom to promote anti-LGBTQ
congressman and senator becoming governor discrimination,” Ellis said. “Brownback
of the state, have long anti-LGBT records. now joins the ranks of an administration
As Kansas governor, Brownback rescinded fully committed to promoting religious
an executive order barring anti-LGBT exemptions as a weapon of discrimination
discrimination in state employment and against LGBTQ people and other vulnerable
signed into law a “religious freedom” communities.”
allowing religious groups at taxpayer- nationwide and opposed “Don’t Ask, Don’t (D-Va.), Brownback refused to say laws in
funded public universities to exclude LGBT Tell” repeal. foreign countries criminalizing LGBT status
Brownback’s anti-LGBT history was on were always unjustified. This article originally appeared in the Washington
members.
display during his confirmation when queried The U.S. ambassador at-large for Blade and is made available in partnership with
As a U.S. senator, Brownback championed
about his past by Senate Democrats. Upon international religious freedom heads up the the National LGBT Media Association.
a proposed U.S. constitutional amendment
that would have banned same-sex marriage repeated questioning from Sen. Tim Kane Office of International Religious Freedom
www.PrideSource.com February 1, 2018 | BTL 11LGBTs ‘Our Misfortune’
Parting
Glances
OPINION BY CHARLES ALEXANDER
W
ell-known Spanish philosopher Jorge Agustin Nicolas
Ruiz de Santayana y Borras – known succinctly in
English as George Santayana – was born in 1863 and
died in 1952.
He was gay – lived through the worldwide nightmare of Hitler
and Nazism that took the lives of 50 million people, 6 million of
them Jews, thousands of them, homosexuals – and famous for
warning all who cared to listen: “Those who do not learn the lessons
of the past are doomed to relive them.”
Having so jogged our own LGBTQ memory with his warning –
and with Trump and his right-wing religious cronies stage center
– step back in this nefarious Parting Glances to the year 1933 in
Germany.
Within months of Adolf Hitler’s appointment as Germany’s
Chancellor, Nazi SS thugs in Berlin stood menacingly in front of
Jewish-owned businesses.
They held up signs in their grubby, beat-opponents-to-a-pulp
hands. “Kauft nicht bei juden! (“Don’t buy from Jews!”).”
Nationwide the Nazi slogan was, “The Jew is our misfortune.”
Sieg heil! Germany has had a history of Jew-baiting dating to the
16th century. There’s an infamous, seven-point tract called: “On
the Jews and Their Lies.” It circulated widely in 1543. It urged
Germans to “ ... set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury
and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever
see a stone or cinder of them.”
It’s no stretch of imagination to say that for
those historians who have documented the
history of the Holocaust, a variation can happen
again. They see cautions, hints and alarming
similarities between times then and now.
It continued.
Viewpoint
“This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom,
so that God might see that we are Christians, and do not condone
LGBTQ Rights in Era
or knowingly tolerate such public lying, blaspheming of his Son
and of his Christians.”
Its author was Martin Luther, founder of the Protestant
movement. It is, one can say without fear of contradiction, an
embarrassment to the many protestant denominations that have of Marriage Equality
evolved since Luther’s time (1483-1586). Many but not all.
In 1935, Nazi Germany decreed the notorious Nuremberg Laws. BY JAY KAPLAN & JOSHUA MAGALLANES
Jews were made non-status residents with no rights. They were
excluded from practicing any medicine, law or teaching of Aryan
I
citizens (non-Jews). t’s been more than two and half years since the U.S. their families.
In 1938, Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges held that our And yet, we know that the goals of complete LGBTQ
vandalized, burned and destroyed during the November weekend Constitution guarantees us both the fundamental right equality have not been achieved. Michigan, like 29 other
that lives in lasting infamy as “Kristallnacht.” Translated literally to marry and the ancillary benefits associated with a legal states, lacks civil rights laws that specifically prohibit
as the “night of crystal,” or the “night of broken glass.” Soon Jews marriage. The Williams Institute reports that as of June discrimination based and sexual orientation and gender
were required to wear yellow stars. 2017, there are approximately 550,000 same-sex couples identity.
Failure to do so meant death. Soon, Jewish property was married nationwide, including 157,000 who married We know that current Michigan family law fails
confiscated. Jews were deported to lice-ridden ghettos. since Obergefell. It is not possible to over-emphasize to recognize LGBTQ parent-child relationships that
German city after city was declared, “Judenfrei.” Free of Jews. the historical significance of this legal decision, which were established prior to marriage equality. We see our
It was hard not to know what was going on. But most Germans acknowledges that LGBTQ people are entitled to be a opponents attempt to justify unfair treatment of us because
part of society’s oldest and most traditional institutions,
which provides more than a thousand state and federal See next page
See next page
legal benefits and protections to same-sex couples and
12 BTL | February 1, 2018 www.PrideSource.com® Viewpoint: Brown Now that we have to access
Continued from p. 8
to the most traditional and
of their “religious beliefs,” maintaining that
those beliefs provide them with a license to
conventional institution, do we David Kupelian BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI
I
feel less LGBTQ? If so, could this
discriminate — in employment, in public t seems like every second there’s a Much better, surely, to repress and
accommodations(a bakery and medical have negative consequences new story about sexual harassment or
services), in foster care and adoption and in abuse. The most recent being Larry deny all things sexual in the name
our public schools. for addressing the remaining Nassar, the USA Gymnastics and Michigan
of “Judeo-Christian morality.”
The Trump Administration Justice challenges to full equality? State doctor
Department has given tacit approval and who sexually between sex of any kind.
support for this position, arguing in courts assaulted “Leftists have been dreaming, scheming,
that there is a constitutionally protected right over 150 preaching, protesting, demanding,
to discriminate LGBTQ people, regardless of consequences for addressing the remaining girls and litigating and legislating total sexual
civil rights laws and other legal protections. challenges to full equality? women over freedom – complete sexual anarchy, no
The struggle continues and it is essential On Thursday, February 8, 2018 Seattle two decades. rules whatsoever – for decades,” he says.
that the LGBTQ community works with other therapist Joshua Magallanes and myself will He was This is not true. But it’s hard for
coalitions and organizations to ensure that our be offering a workshop that explores the sentenced Kupelian, who appears to want iron-fisted
civil rights movement continues beyond the both the current state of LGBTQ rights post- to up to 175 sexual repression in the name of his God,
right to legally marry. Obergefell, as well as addresses the impact DAVID KUPELIAN years in to distinguish between two adult dudes
Part of our ability to both successfully of marriage equality on both our identity and prison. kissing on the lips and the molestation of a
educate, organize and advocate for ourselves relationships. But, by the child. Really, I think he’s the one with the
is dependent upon how strong we identify as We hope to have both a lively and thoughtful time this column is published, I’m sure morality problem.
LGBTQ individuals and as part of the LGBT discussion about how this historical Supreme it’ll be eclipsed by another story of sexual In his column Kupelian makes the
Community. But how has marriage equality Court decision has not only changed our lives abuse and scandal. And we all know who favorite claim of the anti-gay right that
impacted that identity and our affiliation with (in having the choice and opportunity to we can blame: the gays. “older males” initiate and convert “younger
the LGBTQ community? marry), but also the way we view ourselves See, if only we hadn’t let gays start males into homosexuality.” He also claims
For years both society and laws as LGBT people. We hope to see you there getting married maybe we could’ve that “pedophiles see their cause as the next
marginalized us – considering our lifestyle at Affirmations Community Center at 7 P.M. prevented much of this wave of sexual great civil rights movement.”
and relationships to be both unhealthy and harassment, abuse and assault. First of all, you can’t “convert” someone
unstable. This forced us to develop our Jay Kaplan is a staff attorney at the ACLU Or so says WorldNetDaily’s Vice into being gay. That’s not how it works. If
own unique LGBTQ identity and to form of Michigan. You can reach him at jkaplan@ President David Kupelian. anything, the outpouring of women coming
relationships and a community that some aclumich.org. Joshua Magallanes is a Seattle- Kupelian writes in a Jan. 29 column that forward to speak out against the men
would view as unconventional, in order for based therapist specializing in the LGBTQ abortion, out-of-wedlock births, casual sex, who sexually assaulted them only serves
us to live as our authentic selves. Now that community. He can be reached at joshuatherapy. STDs and porn “testify to the wholesale to strengthen the argument that sexual
we have to access to the most traditional com. Affirmations Community Center 2889 E. abandonment of the Judeo-Christian orientation isn’t something that changes
and conventional institution, do we feel less morality of previous generations. Not to depending on one’s mood. Otherwise,
Maple Road, Troy.
LGBTQ? If so, could this have negative mention the glorification of homosexuality straight women wouldn’t continue to have
(indeed, its elevation to the status of sex with straight men in this sexist trash
specially protected class), the redefinition culture.
of marriage and the creation of dozens And unless thousands of pedophiles
® Parting Glances of bizarre new genders that never before march on Washington, Kupelian can stuff
Continued from p. 8 These AFA boycotts have not as yet been existed in all of human history.” his “next great civil rights movement”
effective. Ford Motor Company has not “All of human history” is a little too nonsense.
gone under. Disney World still has popular broad to tackle in this column, so I’ll just It’s important to note that when Kupelian
looked the other way. say that I doubt Kupelian has researched thinks “pedophiles” he thinks “gays.”
gay days. And, so far, The Home Depot or
Most minded their own business. Shoah, gender identity going back that far. I’d also But the majority of pedophiles are men
Target — God Bless them! — have not been
the Holocaust, was underway. “Kauft nicht like to say to the homo Deep State: glory, who abuse girls. See, for example, Roy
affected significantly. (Lesbian shoppers will
bei Juden” visibly began. It ended with six glory homo-lujah. Moore, a pedophile who most Republicans,
see to that.)
million deaths. “The predictable result of all this including Donald Trump, supported
What’s disturbing is that it’s all too easy to
It’s no stretch of imagination to say that wild ‘sexual freedom?’” asks Kupelian. because even a pedophile was better than
picture an AFA Bible bully carrying a sign,
for those historians who have documented “Confusion, immorality, insecurity, pain, a Democrat.
“Don’t Buy from Gays or Gay Supporters!”
the history of the Holocaust, a variation can guilt, addiction, mental illness, infidelity, Sexual abuse and assault thrives in
And, standing theocratic thug to thug
happen again. They see cautions, hints and divorce, family breakdown, depression, darkness. It is not because gays can
with them: Trump, Pence, Franklin Graham,
alarming similarities between times then self-destructive behavior and suicide.” get married that Larry Nassar sexually
Pat Robertson and hundreds of so-called
and now. In other words, the radical left dared say assaulted so many young women. It was
Christians who choose to remain silent.
Trends to take note of and warnings to that sex is normal and we should maybe because, in large part, of the shame and
Choose to look the other way. One gay less
watch out for. Especially for LGBTQ citizens. not criminalize relationships between secrecy that surrounds sex, coupled with
to think about. (WWJD?)
(Trumps new victims?) consenting adults and ended up ruining the the power and influence of an abusive man.
Having reviewed as much, it’s noted with Charles Alexander is prolific both as a BTL world and making Jesus very sad. The same is true for Harvey Weinstein or
acute interest that the American Family columnist (700-plus columns) and as a well- Much better, surely, to repress and deny Trump.
Association has demanded its 180,000 known LGBT community artist (1000 Face all things sexual in the name of “Judeo- Kupelian would like to go back to a time
members boycott The Home Depot, Target, Book images). He is a Spirit of Detroit Award Christian morality.” when we didn’t talk about this stuff. And
Ford Motor Company and Walt Disney World recipient and an Affirmations LGBT CENTER One of the problems with Kupelian’s wouldn’t you know it, “don’t talk about
for their generous support of the LGBTQ argument – and there are many – is that he it” is strikingly similar to what abusers tell
Jan Stevenson awardee. Connect with him at
community. (81 percent of evangelical/ claims that “the left” makes no distinction their victims.
Charles@pridesource.com.
fundamentalists voted for Trump.)
www.PrideSource.com February 1, 2018 | BTL 13Local Survivor Sheds Light on Human Trafficking
HUMAN RIGHTS
“
BY EVE KUCHARSKI
It was February of my
I
n the well-to-do suburbs of Birmingham,
it can be difficult to imagine something sophomore year of high school. I
criminal taking place on the streets.
However, for the then 15-year-old Theresa
had a crush on this guy, and he said,
Flores, that was not the reality. At 15 years old, ‘Would you like a ride home from
she fell victim to human trafficking.
“It was February of my sophomore year school?’ I was so naive; I really though
of high school. I had a crush on this guy, and he was going to take me home. He
he said, ‘Would you like a ride home from
school?’ I was so naive; I really thought he gave me a pop that was laced with
was going to take me home,” Flores said in a
biopic about her experience. “He gave me a drugs, and then I got raped. He said
pop that was laced with drugs, and then I got they took these pictures, ‘We’re going
raped. He said they took these pictures, ‘We’re
going to show these to your dad. We’re going to show these to your dad. We’re
to show these to his boss. And you have to
going to show these to his boss. And
”
earn them back.’”
For the next two years, under the cover of you have to earn them back.
her trafficker being her friend, Flores was
forced regularly into sex work around Detroit.
She told no one in her family about her secret. – Theresa Flores
She credits her father’s promotion at work
with saving her life. What are some of the impacts that sex
“My dad was transferred 1,000 miles away,
trafficking has on its victims?
we were able to move and I didn’t tell anybody The S.O.A.P. project, which stands for Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution, is in 13 state and over 25 cities.
we were leaving,” Flores said. “I don’t think In our most recent 2016 YES Survey,
I’d be alive today if they hadn’t moved.” when comparing the life experiences of
Today, Flores works to fight against what What are some common pitfalls for LGBTQ youth Why is the LGBTQ population particularly sex trafficked LGBTQ youth vs. non-sex
she fell victim to, with the S.O.A.P. project, to watch out for, to avoid getting involved in susceptible to falling victim to this crime? trafficked LGBTQ youth, the sex trafficked
which stands for Save Our Adolescents from human trafficking? The understanding of the intersectionality LGBTQ youth were significantly more likely
Prostitution. And the name isn’t a random between LGBTQ homeless/runaway youth to report a history of meth use, and a health
Traffickers meet the needs of an LGBTQ
acronym, six years ago, Flores realized that is an emerging field of knowledge. What we history of PTSD, asthma and chronic pain.
youth by manipulating and exploiting their
hotel bathrooms were a good way to reach do know is that LGBTQ youth account for The sex trafficked LGBTQ youth were
vulnerabilities. According to the Trafficking
out to victims. a disproportionate rate of the runaway and significantly more likely to report a history of
Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000,
“Because they usually clean up after each homeless youth population, and experience self-harm, characterized by cutting, drinking
sex trafficking is defined as a situation “in
man that they have to be with, and they’re in disproportionately high rates of victimization. alcohol excessively, using drugs, not eating
which a commercial sex act is induced by
the bathrooms alone,” Flores said. “So, every In a three-year analysis, from 2014-2016, for long periods of time and vomiting.
force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the
hotel has different kinds of items, so it’s really the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Furthermore, LGBTQ youth who had been
person induced to perform such an act has
an opportunity to get them alone, and they’re Research completed a longitudinal study sex trafficked were significantly more likely
not attained 18 years of age.” It is always sex
going to see that number.” titled the Youth Experiences Survey (YES): to report negative lifetime experiences of
trafficking when under age 18 if there is an
Now, S.O.A.P. has spread to 13 states and Exploring the Sex Trafficking Experiences of physical abuse and emotional abuse by a
exchange. Males, females and transgender
is in over 25 cities nationwide. Homeless Young Adults in Arizona. parent or guardian, sexual abuse (both in
persons can be victims of sex trafficking.
Although Flores’ story might seem like a (The study) ... explores the sexual childhood and young adult years), harassment
Common recruitment methods used
rare occurence, human trafficking can occur exploitation experiences of homeless youth by peers and dating violence.
by traffickers include forms of deception
anywhere and to anyone, and, especially, to like seduction and romance, false job and young adults, including LGBTQ youth. Hogan also provided a list of warning signs
members of the LGBTQ population — who advertisements and lies about educational or LGBTQ participants were increasingly that includes poor physical health, a lack of
are considered to be at higher risk. travel opportunities. likely over the three years to report being a control of one’s possessions or money, poor
January is the annual, Human Trafficking sex trafficking victim and went from being mental health or abnormal behavior and a
Awareness Month, and though it is over, there Can social media play a part in trafficking? 38.4 percent in 2014 of the sex trafficked restrictive work environment.
are still many steps one can take to avoid What I have seen in our research is an older group, to 54.4 percent in 2016.
falling victim to it, or help someone who has. male offering a younger male a place to stay. Research from the True Colors Fund,
Between the Lines spoke with Kimberly A. They meet up on a social media app and what from the Serving Our Youth Study in 2015, A full list of these warning signs can be found
Hogan, who is the research project director the younger male believes to be a safe place indicated that the number one reason for online at humantraffickinghotline.org. For
at the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention to stay for the night, turns into being brought LGBTQ youth homelessness is they were more information about S.O.A.P., please visit
Research in Phoenix, Arizona, to understand into the life of sex trafficking. The young forced out, or ran away from their homes. soapproject.org, or call (614) 216-1619. The
the issue further, and how it relates specifically male has to engage in a sex act for a place This was for both LGBQ and Transgender national Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-(888)
to the LGBTQ population. to stay. youth. 3737-888.
14 BTL | February 1, 2018 www.PrideSource.comFormer Vice President Joe Biden has created advisory councils for women and LGBT rights. Washington Blade
file photo by Michael Key
Biden Foundation Sets Up Advisory Councils
for Women, LGBT Rights
BY CHRIS JOHNSON Biden Foundation, said in a statement each
council member “has made it their life’s work
Former Vice President Joseph Biden, to protect and advance the rights of the most
among the potential Democratic candidates vulnerable.”
for the 2020 presidential election, announced “We’re honored to have them volunteer
on Monday the creation of two new advisory their knowledge to the Foundation as we
councils for his foundation: One to advance work together to build a more just society,”
LGBT rights, the other to end violence against Terrell added.
women. Biden has a record of highlighting the
Members of both councils are made up of issue of violence against women. As a U.S.
prominent advocates on women’s and LGBT senator, he was author of the Violence Against
issues, many of whom are supporters of the Women Act, a law that was reauthorized in
Democratic Party. 2013 when he was vice president to include
Individuals named to the LGBTQ Equality LGBT-specific protections.
Advisory Council include singer Cyndi On LGBT issues, Biden was also at the
Lauper, former NBA player Jason Collins, forefront. The vice president famously came
transgender activist Sarah McBride, Judy out for same-sex marriage days before former
Shepard, marriage equality advocate Evan President Obama and called transgender
Wolfson and former U.S. ambassador to issues the “civil rights issue of our time”
Romania Michael Guest. and was active in championing international
Biden said in a statement members of the LGBT human rights.
councils “have devoted their lives to that Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors
creed, and we’re lucky to have them lend their Fund, highlighted the issue of LGBT
expertise to this mission.” youth homelessness in a statement on her
“By working together, we can do more to membership of the LGBT council.
protect the rights of all people, expand access “In America, up to 1.6 million youth
to opportunity and give every American a experience homelessness each year. 40
chance at a middle-class life,” Biden said. percent of them identify as LGBTQ, compared
“I am eager for what we will accomplish to the seven percent of the general youth
together.” population that is LGBTQ. The True Colors
According to a statement from the Biden Fund is working hard to change that,” Lauper
Foundation, the advisory councils will said. “As a lifelong ally and advocate, Vice
recognize the power of public-private President Biden gets it — and today, I’m proud
initiatives, serve as ambassadors for the Biden to join the Biden Foundation as we work to
Foundation and guide strategic partnerships to make equality a reality.”
create societal change. See article online for complete list of
Louisa Terrell, executive director of the council members.
www.PrideSource.com February 1, 2018 | BTL 15Out ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Creator
Talks Show’s Beloved Gay
Relationship and Living
More Like His Free-Spirited
Pansexual Character
BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI
N
ext time you see Dan Levy, thank him.
Thank him for “Schitt’s Creek,” his super-
bingeable comedic riff on a once-affluent
family forced to live like fish out of Perrier in the
podunk Canadian town the show is named after. And
thank him, he who created and developed the series,
which premiered in 2015 on Pop TV (and can also be
seen on Netflix), for willfully remaining single only to
craft and deliver more rib-tickling bons mots for the
show’s fourth – and most affectionate – season. Thank
him again while you’re at it, because the 34-year-old
former MTV Canada co-host has somehow found the
time to create yet another queer-themed project that he
tells me is in the works.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, for now we
have David Rose (Levy), replete with his color-averse
apparel and drop-crotch pants, general distaste for
people, and his animated and generally disgusted facial
contortions worn like memes in the making. Johnny,
David’s perpetually on-edge father, is played by real-
life father and “American Pie” and “Best in Show”
actor Eugene Levy, who also serves as the comedy’s
co-creator. Together they’ve developed both a comedic
knockout and a rich what-if satire of Kardashian life.
“Schitt’s Creek” also stars Catherine O’Hara, as the
deliciously histrionic wig-loving family matriarch and
former soap star Moira, and Annie Murphy as Alexis,
the self-involved-but-somehow-sweet daughter who
once argued with David over who would get murdered
first in their sketchy new motel digs.
Via an allegorical wine conversation with hotel co-
owner Stevie Budd (Emily Hampshire) presented in the
show’s first season, “Schitt’s Creek” expertly tackled
David’s pansexuality (“I do drink red wine, but I also
drink white wine; I like the wine, not the label”). Then
there was a throuple, and now there’s Patrick (Noah
Reid), a yin-yang match so absolutely perfect for David
– notice all the ways he challenges David, especially
with the potential mortification of this season’s open-
mic night at the store they co-own together – you’d be
heartbroken if they didn’t last.
Read on as Levy freewheeled his way through our
conversation about living vicariously through David
and Patrick’s loving relationship, opening the minds of
parents with queer kids, and how David has influenced
him to “to try to live my life more out loud.”
As a gay man, how personally rewarding is it to you to have
one of the healthiest, most normal relationships on the
show be between two queer men?
You know, all I really can do is think back to a time
when I didn’t think being myself was ever going to
be a possibility. It’s such a full circle moment for me
right now to be writing this love story for them and to
Photo: Vanessa Fein
look back at it and just remember that there was a time
in my life when I honestly didn’t think that would be a
16 BTL | February 1, 2018 www.PrideSource.compossibility for myself. So, it’s incredible. And to more rewarding takeaway from the experience.
have the network support to really be able to tell
the kinds of stories that I want to tell with it and Did you need characters like them when you were
not have any interference is rare and a privilege. younger?
When you have that kind of freedom, there’s It’s interesting, because it’s still kind of an
also a certain level of responsibility to try and ongoing conversation on the show in terms
tell the most authentic story you possibly can. of Patrick being fresh out of the closet and
I think with these two characters I didn’t want exploring what that means. There’s fear on
to reduce it to caricature. I didn’t want it to be either side. And, yes, I grew up knowing
some kind of lesson that we’re trying to ram that my parents ultimately would not have a
down someone’s throat. It was really about problem with it, but when you’re going through
presenting a story of two people who have that and you’re internalizing that much fear you
found love with each other. get to a point where you ask yourself, “Well,
maybe they will have a problem with it; maybe
You’ve made very deliberate choices regarding the I’m misreading the situation.” There are so
treatment of David’s sexuality both as it relates to many questions that I think we’re forced to ask
him but also as it relates to the other people in ourselves because we’re alone in that process.
his life.
Which show with queer themes did you gravitate
Personally, I never learn when someone is
trying to teach me something. I learn through toward most as you were coming into your own?
experience, and presenting complete tolerance I guess it would be “Will & Grace.” I think “Will
and acceptance across the board is the only & Grace” really opened up the conversation.
scenario that should be existing right now. I “My So-Called Life” affected me more just
want to show this without trying to make it feel because I was such a huge fan of the show. I
like an educational lesson for people who don’t think we’ve come a long way, and there’s still
quite understand it. a long way to go, but all you can really do is
The letters that I’ve gotten from families seize the opportunities that are given to you and
who are more conservative leaning and who try and make good with the power that TV can
have never quite understood the fight – to offer.
have letters from these people explaining that
they’ve never had a point of entry before, that I watched the sixth episode of the new season,
was the most amazing and eye-opening part of “Open Mic,” and it was the first time that I ugly cried
this whole conversation. In a way, it opened my watching the show. In fact, until then, I hadn’t cried
eyes to understanding them a little bit better and listening to Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” either.
understanding that sometimes I look at it with When is the last time you serenaded a man?
“how can I not see the bigotry?” but at the same Never! Because the intention is always to keep
time, if people do not know what they do not them! (Laughs) (That scene) all stems from a
know, all you can try to do is guide them with conversation I had with a friend of mine who
a gentle hand. was seeing someone who chose to sing to them
and it really just disrupted the whole momentum
You guided Larry King with a gentle hand last year
of their relationship because, unlike Noah who
when you were on “Larry King Now” to talk about has such a beautiful voice, this person did not,
the show. It was really interesting to watch the and it just didn’t work out in the end. But I knew
dynamic between you and Larry as you explained Noah could sing, and I knew he was a musician
pansexuality to him – that must’ve opened up going into it, so it was always my intention to
a lot of eyes who hadn’t even heard the word somehow find a way for him to sing.
“pansexual.” You know, I don’t love writing dialogue
It’s about having conversations. We should have where people are talking about their feelings. I
more of them. Talk to people instead of coming would much rather bring some fun, interesting
at things with bats swinging – and don’t get me and dynamic ways of showing that kind of
wrong, there are times when that is absolutely feeling, and the idea that David would be so off-
necessary. But I think when it comes to the put and embarrassed by his partner choosing to
world of sexuality, which is ever-changing, try sing in front of a room full of people – and then
to have a conversation with people and lead to know that Noah has this voice, and that in
them down the path of acceptance by way of the end we could use this as a device to really
setting an example. cement them as a couple in ways that I don’t
I’ve had great conversations with people on think they even expected – was really special.
the streets who’ve come up and told me that And I had always had this fondness for
when they came out of the closet their parents the lyrics for that song, and for a long time
didn’t quite understand them, but by watching whenever it came on at a bar or something, I
the show and seeing how accepting Johnny and would always be the person turning to someone
Moira Rose are to their kids – the fact that it saying, “The lyrics to this song are really
was never a question – allows them to feel safer, beautiful.” When you’re listening to the Tina
allows them to feel like, “Oh, why am I having Turner version it’s just a pop song and people
such a problem with it when these people who are like, “Yeah, I know, it’s fine,” and it’s like,
I’ve come to know and love are not asking “No, no, no – the lyrics are really beautiful.”
the same questions that I’m asking? Why am So, when we thought of this idea, it was the
I asking them then?” And it’s changed the only option, this idea that Patrick would sort of
conversation in their house. You can’t ask for a See Dan Levy, page 18
www.PrideSource.com February 1, 2018 | BTL 17You can also read
