The GAYZETTE

a GLBT and Allies Publication

The newsletter of the Reading Pride Celebration serving the Greater Reading Spring 2011
area with the latest GLBT news, reviews, announcements and more. vol. 2 no. 1

From the Desk of the President— Martha's voice has dominated the air-
waves, and her charisma and spirit has em-
“Everybody dance now!” braced millions of people around the world.
RPC 2011 She is responsible for some of the top-selling
and most recognizable pop hits of the 80s
Proudly Announces.... and 90s.
By Rich Spangler
With this being the fifth ―It's Raining Men,‖ the cult pop classic, is
year for the Reading Pride still heard everywhere―radio, movies, com-
Celebration Festival, mercials and TV;
we wanted to kick it ―We were able to sign ―S weat ‖ (E verybod y
up a notch and bring on one of most iconic Dance Now) was the
you something spe- figures of the GLBT highlight of C&C Music
cial. So we thought community during the Factory's career, and sold
about who we could get to headline 5 1/2 million copies world-
this year's show. And with a little luck 80s and 90s and still wide; Black Box's Dream-
and a little birdie whispering ( thank going strong today.‖ land featured four # 1
you Victoria) we were able to sign on Billboard dance singles
one of most iconic figures of the GLBT com- and three Top 40 hits
munity during the 80s and 90s and still going including ―Strike It Up,‖ a single that contin-
strong today. ues to receive massive airplay and is still
heard at every NFL and NBA game!
If you have ever been on the dance floor Martha Wash to headline Reading Pride
of a gay club, you have danced to her music All of the above have achieved major Celebration Festival 2011.
or sang along to her hits on the radio. success and all have one common denomi-
nator – Martha Wash. She is the heart and release on May 30, 2011.
It is with great pleasure that RPC an- soul of dance music.
nounces that our headliner for this year's And to all those who traveled with us to
Festival is the one and only, the Weather Girl Martha continues to record new music― Capital Pride in Washington DC in 2009,
herself, Ms Martha Wash. her latest record ―I've Got You‖ is due for and were bummed because we had to
(Continued on page 2)

RPC to hold Ms Reading lous night with some unforgettable perform- If you are interested in participating,
ances! download your application NOW! You can
Pride Celebration also have the application emailed to you by
The pageant is open to any male at least contacting me at [email protected]
by Richard Todd Wagner 21 years old, contestants must live within 50
miles of Reading, Pa., and an entry fee of R e g i s t r a t i o n f o r m :
Reading Pride Celebration is proud to an- $30 must be submitted with application and www.readingpridecelebration.com
nounce that we will be holding a Ms Reading is non-refundable.
—-Richard Todd Wagner is vice president
Pride Celebration Pageant this year! That's of Reading Pride Celebration.
right. You heard it here first. We have been The winner will receive a crown, a sash,
flowers, and a cash prize of $300, which will Contact: [email protected]
working hard to put together an extravagant
event. We want to thank all of those who be awarded in three installments. Additional
have worked diligently to help put this to- details and rules along with application and
gether. contract will be available on our website. The
deadline for submission is May 25. There are
The pageant will be held at the historic requirements that must be sent in along with
Abraham Lincoln Wyndham Hotel Friday June application, so don't wait until the last minute!
10, 2011 starting at 8 pm. Tickets will be
available for purchase on the RPC website for
INSIDE

Lisa‘s legal view: DOMA The Bible and queer spirituality: Rainbow over
$8 in advance or $10 at the door. There will
no more?, p.4 Scapegoating , p.6 RACC, p.7
be a light food menu available, as well as a
cash bar, with table seating. Show your sup-
port to the community, the contestants, or just Drag queen photographer
Outcast Films, p. 4
have a great time! This is bound to be a fabu- Amanda Orth, p.3
EDITORIALS 2
—Letter from the editor newsletter, a idea long held by VP Richard your input, please. Letters to the editor are
Wagner. I would be a disaster in any other certainly welcome.
Materializing dreams capacity, and I don‘t do math. I had a strong And most of all I want to thank my life-
background in writing partner Jolene for her input, not to mention
by Brenna J. Corbit and layout in various
―I had a strong her loving support.
capacities, so I went to background in So, what is in the future for The
After a year of publishing work. But my skills writing and Gayzette? We would like to see more
The Gayzette, it is about would mean nothing layout in various themed issues as with the last issue on
time to look at what we have without contributions. capacities, so I school bullying. Others are pushing for a
accomplished and dream to went to work. bimonthly, even a monthly. We would like to
accomplish as a newsletter for The Reading So as if just waiting But my skills see more advertizing and sponsorship to
Pride Celebration. for the go-ahead, RPC fund the dreams of a color magazine for-
would mean
members, the GLBT mat.
As a budding guest at the monthly meet- community, and strong
nothing without
ings early last year, I decided to offer my allies started pumping contributions.‖ But these goals are nothing without your
talents to the organization‘s dream of doing a out articles, photos, assistance. We need more dedicated writ-
recipes, advertisements and sponsors. And ers, photographers, advertizing agents,
the issues just kept growing. We mass editors and layout artists. Just as a dedi-
From the Desk of the President— emailed copies to more than 300 people in cated committee was able to make the
the community, and Richard Wagner ex- dream of The Reading Pride Celebration
(Continued from page 1)
hausted his printer to make as many hard come true, so can we make the dreams of
copies available at Pride events, but even this publication come true
leave just as Martha began her show, I can't these were not enough! Thank you, every- —Brenna J. Corbit is a librarian at Reading Area
think of a better way to make it up to you one! Community College’s The Yocum Library. She is
than to bring Martha to Reading Pride Cele- a post-op male-to-female transsexual and shares
bration 2011. I also want to thank our readers for which her life with her partner, Jolene. Brenna can be
reached at [email protected]
this newsletter would be pointless. Give us
Check out the web site at
www.readingpridecelebration.com for more
info on Pride and to hear a snippet of Mar-
tha's new song. Check us READING
—-Richard Spangler is president of Reading Pride out PRIDE
CELEBRATION
online
Celebration. Contact: [email protected]

meetings
The Gayzette: for every third Monday
a GLBT and Allies Publication
Spring 2011 vol.2 no.1 additional of the month
Newsletter Committee Chairs
7 pm at
Brenna J. Corbit and Richard Todd Wagner

EDITOR, COPY EDITOR, CONTRIBUTORS

DESIGN and LAYOUT Alejandro Cappello
Brenna J. Corbit Awilda I. Castro Suárez

news, photos, events

ASSTISTANT COPY Deb Coggin
EDITOR Brenna J. Corbit
Jolene M. Flamm Lisa DeLong

and a lot more

Vanessa Domico
EDITORIAL STAFF
Jolene M. Flamm Jennifer Glass
Kimberly Kalbach
Sixth & Penn Avenue
Kimberly Kalbach
Ben Renkas Amanda Orth
Ben Renkus
www.readingpridecelebration.com West Reading, PA
Richard Spangler
Richard Wagner Richard Spangler
Richard Todd Wagner
PHOTOGRAPHY Meeting Dates
Brenna J. Corbit
Charles F. Corbit March 21, 2011
Amanda Orth April 18, 2011
Richard Todd Wagner
Microsoft Image Gallery May 16, 2011
June 20, 2011
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 Befriend us on Facebook
and find more information and photos
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 Spring issue submissions is June 5, 2011

Contact: [email protected]
NEWS 3
ance photos of some of the best queens
Hobby turns official for in the area―Whitley Nycole DeAire‗,
Reading Pride Celebration Sofanda Cox, Lana Davis, and Victoria
Stiles have all been gracious to sit for
photographer me. You can also find me shooting
shows at the Red Star Saloon whenever
by Amanda Orth there is a drag event.

As a proud, life-long ally of the GLBT Attending out-of-town drag shows

community, I have been blessed in recent and pageants has also become a week-
years to have the opportunity to volunteer end staple for me; my giant camera is
with Reading Pride during their annual cele- always in tow. I was recently named the
bration at Centre Park. It was there, official photographer for
a few years ago, that I discovered ―But it wasn't until the Miss Gay Keystone
my passion for creative portrait RPC 2009 when I was International Pageant,
photography. Prior to that, my asked to manage the and I have been asked
hobby was mostly landscapes and drag tent that the two to be the official pho-
inanimate objects, rather than hu- tographer for this year‘s
man subjects. I was keeping my
distinct loves came Reading Pride Celebra-
fear of becoming a run-of-the-mill together and formed tion, as well, of which I
department store photographer at the beginning stages am thrilled and hon-
bay. of my hobby today.‖ ored.

While my love for the art of drag Being

began at The Scarab back in 1998, my love able to support the GLBT
for photography began much earlier. But it community while doing
wasn't until RPC 2009 when I was asked to something I love is more
manage the drag tent that the two distinct than I could have imag-
loves came together and formed the begin- ined just two years ago,
ning stages of my hobby today. and I look forward to
meeting and working with
Interacting with this fabulous group of all of you for many years
performers and taking a few gorgeous pho- to come.
tos of the girls in action quickly melded drag
contact:
and photography together for me. Those rubyrougephotogra-
published photos got the attention of many of [email protected]
my friends and family, drag being something
still unfamiliar to most of them. Through
those photos, I was able to bring awareness
to them, not only about drag and female
impersonation, but also about the GLBT
community and the causes, fundraisers, and
events that take place here in Reading.

While I am still a hobbyist, I‘ve been fortu-

nate to have taken portraits and live perform-
THE GLBT WORLD AT LARGE / VIEWS 4

Outcast Films, In addition to organizing a film festival in

representing the Reading, Outcast Films is launching an
aggressive grassroots outreach campaign,
LGBT community HIV@30: Looking Back, Moving Forward.
As you know, 2011 marks the 30th anniver-
sary of the first reported cases of AIDS in
by Vanessa Domico
the U. S. To honor this anniversary, the
HIV@30 campaign will feature four related
Outcast Films is a film distribution com- titles and is designed to stimulate discus-
pany dedicated to the fair and equal repre- sion with an emphasis on HIV prevention.
sentation of the diverse LGBT community. The campaign will reach audiences in 20
As president and founder of Outcast Films, plus cities and will premiere at the prestig-
I am looking for partners in the area to ious Film Society of Lincoln Center in NYC
bring LGBT films to the big screen in in April.
Berks County.
Sex in an
Ep
My partner of nearly 12 years, Anke
Meanwhile, look for Outcast Films at the HIV@30 tit idemic, one of the
next Reading Pride Celebration festival, and les from O
Walz (a mathematician at Kutztown Uni- Films utcast
stop by our booth to share your thoughts
versity), and I have recently moved to the about having an LGBT film festival in Read-
Reading area, and although Outcast Films ing.
is based in NYC, I spend much of my time of whether laws regarding sexual orientation
here and want to organize a film festival or For additional information about Outcast are subject to the more permissive standard
monthly series in Berks County. I have Films or to volunteer please visit of review or whether a more rigorous stan-
been in dialogue with various members of www.outcast-films.com or send an email dard, under which laws targeting minority
the community, including associates of [email protected] groups with a history of discrimination are
RPC and GoggleWorks. viewed with suspicion by the courts, should
apply.'' Attorney Holder adds, ―…the Presi-
dent has concluded that given a number of
Lisa’s legal view— DOMA Section 2 allows states to discrimi- factors, including a documented history of
nate and treat legal same-sex marriages
DOMA No More? as less than legal. Nor does the an-
nouncement repeal DOMA. The law is still
discrimination, classifications based on sex-
ual orientation should be subject to a height-
ened standard of scrutiny.‖
intact and the current administration is
by Lisa M. simply making the decision not to defend
De Long, Esq. Applying a heightened level of scrutiny
it. As long as DOMA still exists, the gov- would mean that where laws treat individuals
ernment can choose to enforce it at will. differently based on their sexual orientation,
Cheerful celebra- the government would have to prove that
tion accompanied Attor- There are additional
ney General Eric legal concerns regarding ―. . . with the repeal there was an important government
interest in denying equal protection
Holder‘s announcement exactly what the ramifica- of Don‘t Ask Don‘t of the laws as guaranteed by the
a few weeks ago that tions of deciding not to Tell and now the 14th Amendment. The Supreme
the Obama administra- defend Section 3 are, as Attorney General‘s Court has not applied an exact level
tion would no longer the Attorney General and announcement of scrutiny to use when deciding
defend Section 3 of the the President are not part
regarding the cases regarding sexual orientation,
Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA was en- of the Judicial Branch of
acted by President Clinton on September, 21 Government, but rather unconstitutionality of nor are they bound by the Presi-
DOMA, show dent‘s recommendation. It is how-
1996 and outlined the federal stance that the Executive branch. As
marriage was between one man and one such, their decision will not significant movement ever a huge step in the right direc-
tion.
woman. While the announcement is surely be binding on the courts, in the right direction.‖
something to cheer about, we are still a long and state and federal As with most change, equal
way from any significant change on the legal courts can continue to hear cases regard- rights and government protection for LGBTIQ
status of same-sex marriage. ing same-sex marriage and to deny basic individuals will take time. Slow steady pro-
civil rights to LGBT individuals. Also, gress is the best approach, and, surely,
First, Section 3, the only Section that the whether DOMA is right or wrong, the job of these past few months with the repeal of
announcement covers, only pertains to the the Executive branch is to uphold the law, Don‘t Ask Don‘t Tell and now the Attorney
Federal government‘s involvement in deny- not to decide which laws to defend. As General‘s announcement regarding the un-
ing a couple‘s federal benefits if they are such, legal issues still remain regarding constitutionality of DOMA, show significant
legally married in their own state. As written, the legality of DOMA, and until Congress movement in the right direction.
Section 3 prevents the federal government repeals the law or the Supreme Court
from recognizing a same-sex marriage, even finds it unconstitutional, it still stands. ——Lisa DeLong is a graduate of Florida Coastal
if it is a legal marriage in the state in which School of Law and is currently practicing law focus-
the couple lives. The brightest spot of Attorney Holder‘s ing on LGBTQI issues and rights. She has had the
letter was the discussion of the level of honor of arguing for the end of the military policy of
The announcement does not cover Sec- scrutiny that courts should apply in cases "Don't ask don't tell" in front of State Supreme Court
Justices at the Williams Institute and has argued
tion 2 of DOMA, which allows states to re- where individuals are treated differently
First Amendment Rights in front of the Florida
fuse to recognize legal same-sex marriages based on their sexual orientation. The Supreme Court. Currently, she lives in Sinking
from other states. Generally, states recog- letter includes the statement ''the Admini- Spring with her partner and 13yr old son.
nize legal marriages from other states, but stration faces for the first time the question Contact: [email protected]
NEWS and EVENTS 5
A short stack for a tall cause fundraiser was a good reason
to be “dragged” out of bed on a cold December morning!

Drag q
u
up pan eens Sofand
c a
right: M akes and sau Cox and Bia
d ary Bru sage w nca De
, Sofanda Cox, an Kimbe it M
rly Kalb nner, Stepha h a smile. S onet served
toria Stiles, Lana Davis bee‘s ach. ph nie Cy e
Drag qu eens Vic day at the Apple ran, Kri ated left to
were servers for the
oto: Ric
sta Cy
Bianca DeMonet Wagner hard T
th. photo: Richard Todd odd W ran, an
mb er 18 agner d
fundraiser Dece

Samuel Fisher, Fredd Blessing, and Freddy Hooks were

some of the many hungry supporters enjoying their short
stacks for a tall cause. photo: Richard Todd Wagner

The Wyndham, the official hotel of

Reading Pride Celebration 2011
by Ben Renkus last year. Details will be posted on
our website.
The RPC executive committee met with
Dennis Spotts, assistant manager of the Discussed were the possibility of
Abraham Lincoln, a Wyndham historic ho- several fundraising events that will
tel, at his invitation last February help to raise needed funds so that
19th to see how they can help we can continue to
―The Committee
promote Pride and our community. decided to name the expand Pride and its
The Wyndham had supported mission. RPC and the
Wyndham the Wyndham are proud to
Pride in 2009 and 2010, but we
wanted to do more this year. The Official Hotel of announce the First
Committee decided to name the Reading Pride Annual Ms. Reading
Other events discussed are GLBT and
Wyndham the Official Hotel of Celebration 2011 for Pride Celebration 2011
(Drag) Pageant to be held at Friends Piano Bar Nights, perhaps a GLBT
Reading Pride Celebration 2011 its active
the Abraham Lincoln on Wedding Expo and just maybe a formal Din-
for its active participation and sup- participation and ner/Dance. As long as you support our
port of Pride. support of Pride.‖ Friday, June 10 at 9 pm. events, we will keep sponsoring more events
This event is open to every-
one, as are all of our events, to try to bring the community together!
Once again the Wyndham has
offered to house our headliners for the festi- especially those who appreciate drag at its
finest. You won't want to miss this! Details For more information on these events log
val as they have over the past two years.
will be posted on our website. Be sure to on to www.readingpridecelebration.com
The Wyndham will also reserve a bank of —Ben Renkus is the vendor chair for Reading
rooms for the Pride festival attendees and buy your tickets early―it could be the
Pride Celebration. Contact: [email protected]
vendors at a discounted rate as they did hottest ticket in town!
RELIGION and SPIRITUALITY 6
—The Bible and queer spirituality which met in her home, and Phoebe, a
deacon at the church at Cenchraea. And on
Scapegoating and oppression of minorities the other, there is 1 Corinthians 14:34, ―As
in all the churches of the saints, women
apropos to focus on women during the should be silent in the churches. For they
month of March, Women‘s History Month. are not permitted to speak, but should be
subordinate, as the law also says.‖ We
The Twentieth Century has brought have Mary Magdalene who the Women‘s
great change especially in the role of Bible Commentary points out is the first to
women in society. Women have see the risen Jesus, and she is the
been viewed as property of the ―Women are an- first to tell others what she has
males, and they were second- other example of seen. And in opposition, we read
class citizens. The end of the how the church 1 Timothy 2:11&12, ―Let a woman
Nineteenth and beginning of the has used scrip- learn in silence with full submis-
Twentieth Century saw great
by Revs. Deb Coggin ture to oppress sion. I permit no woman to teach
change for women as they began or to have authority over a man;
and Jennifer Glass a particular
to struggle for independence, and she is to keep silent.‖
in 1920, they gained the right to population.‖
As pastors of a Christian church that vote. Which message is the truth of
predominately ministers to the God‘s word? Are women are to be active in
LGBT community, we are ―. . . we can find four
major examples of Yet, consider this quote: "I the life of the church, or are women to be
frequently asked, what does solemnly believe that there was
how scripture has submissive and silent? Women are another
the Bible really say about never an hour in the Methodist example of how the church has used scrip-
Homosexuality? Well, there been used to oppress Episcopal Church when it was in ture to oppress a particular population.
is no simple answer. In fact, particular social so great a danger as it is today.‖
we often present information groups: African Is this statement about homo- Got questions? about the Bible? about
like this in a four to six hour Americans, Jews, sexuality? It could have been, other matters of faith? Please feel free to
workshop. Before we even but this statement was made at
women and now, email Pastors Deb and Jen at pas-
get into the potential scriptural a general conference by The [email protected]
references, we share some homosexuality, all
Rev. Dr. James M. Buckley on
things we think are important supported by the truth May 6, 1888. The issue was not
—-Rev. Deb Coggin is the Lead Pastor and Rev.
which we call ―Bible Basics.‖ of scripture.‖ about homosexuality but the Jen Glass is a pastor on staff at Vision of Hope
seating of four women who were MCC. Vision of Hope is a member of the denomi-
As we consider Biblical interpretation in elected delegates from the Kansas, Minne- nation known as the Universal Fellowship of Met-
―Modern‖ times, we might ask the ques- sota, Pittsburgh and Rock River confer- ropolitan Community Churches. For the last 42
tion, why have interpretations of the Bible years, MCC has grown into the world’s largest
ences. The words were spoken in the de- Christian faith group providing spiritual support to
been used to justify oppression of a spe- bate against seating the women. The re- LGBT persons, along with their allies. We are
cific group of people? Fear is one answer. sult―the women were not seated. “Led by Christ, Empowered to Rock the World,”
Political and economic power is another with locations in Mountville, York, and Reading
reason to oppress. On the one hand, in the New Testament (Sundays at 7pm at the Quaker Meeting House,
we read about women such as Lydia, a 108 N. 6th Street).
Additionally, throughout history society founding member of a Christian community
has attempted to find scapegoats to take
blame for its depravities. The term scape-
goat comes from its biblical use on the
Day of Atonement. A ritual was performed
by the priest who symbolically placed the
sins of the people on a goat. This goat
was then driven into the wilderness carry-
ing the sins and impurities of the people
(Paul J. Achtemeir, Harper‘s Bible Diction-
ary). Throughout history we can see how
different cultures have made enemies of a
particular group of people and thereby
placing blame on them for the problems of
that society.
Get short, timely messages
In the United States alone, in less than from Reading Pride Celebration
225 years, we can find four major exam-
ples of how scripture has been used to
oppress particular social groups: African
Americans, Jews, women and now, homo- The Gayzette
sexuality, all supported by the truth of is looking for writers, photographers, editors, sponsors and advertisers
scripture. for the Spring 2011 Issue. Deadline for submissions. is June 5, 2011.
Advertisers and Sponsors contact
In this article we will cover one of Kim Kalbach at
these, women, and in later articles the [email protected]
All other submissions contact
next ones, leading up to more reference to
Brenna J. Corbit at
the Bible and homosexuality. It‘s only [email protected]
THE COMMUNITY 7
issues so that they can became
Reading Area Commu- safe havens for the GLBT college
nity College goes over community.

the rainbow And one ground-breaker was

the November 2007 RACC host-
by Brenna J. Corbit ing of the Pa Diversity Network‘s
(PDN) Photo Project―100 Same-
If you Sex Couples: Facing Inequality, a
―I stepped onto haven‘t no- well-attended event.
RACC's campus and ticed, there
suddenly realized has been a Other events have been the
rainbow rising annual April GLBT Awareness
that GLBT programs events. A few of these events
over Reading
were absent. No one Area Commu- were heterosexual privilege pre-
even said the word nity College‘s sented by Liz Bradbury and
‗gay‘ out loud. I (RACC) cam- Patricia Sullivan of the PDN, The rainbow flag flies over RACC during the National
pus, and at its transgender issues discussed by Day of Silence at RACC April 2010, an event long in the
couldn't believe it! [. . gender therapist Dr. Maureen making. photo: Brenna J. Corbit
foot there is
.] The silence about more than a Osborne, a film viewing of Gay
GLBT issues was pot of gold. Pioneers, honoring of the Na-
deafening. I felt like Kym Klein- tional Day of Silence, and raising
smith, adap- of the rainbow flag over RACC.
something was
tive tech/
seriously wrong.‖ educational (Continued on page 8)
support spe-
cialist for the Center for Academic Success,
has been spearheading a series of
RACC events over the past four years
that helped form that rainbow.

As a nine-year Kutztown University

employee, Kleinsmith grew used to
the gay-friendly atmosphere, but when
she came to RACC in 2006, some-
thing was wrong.

―I stepped onto RACC's campus

and suddenly realized that GLBT pro-
grams were absent,‖ says Kleinsmith.
―No one even said the word ‗gay‘ out
loud. I couldn't believe it! I thought I
had been transported back to the
and
1980‘s or something. The silence dges to fight hate
RA CC students sign ple nal Day of Si len ce
about GLBT issues was deafening. I felt tio
oppr es sion during the Na t
like something was seriously wrong.‖ : Brenna J. Corbi
April 2010. photo
Kym Kleinsmith addresses the RACC community
So Kleinsmith set out to make some about the importance of The National Day of Si-
changes. With administrative support, she lence, a part of a month-long series of GLBT events
implemented Safe Zone Training, sessions April 2010. photos: Brenna J. Corbit
to educate faculty and staff about GLBT

Reading Area Community College

GLBT AWARENESS Invites you to a series of month long
GLBT Awareness Events:
MONTH —Discussion of the Stonewall Riots and showing of the film Gay Pioneers.
Wednesday April 6, 2:00 to 3:30 pm
—Liz Bradbury will address GLBT bullying. Friday April 8, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
—National Day of Silence and raising of the rainbow flag in the quad at
APRIL noon. Friday April 15th, all day.
—TBA—a panel of transgender speakers and discussion of transgender
2011 issues.
—GLBT film and book display in The Yocum Library. All month.
—Gay history bulletin board display outside room 209, Berks Hall. All
month.
Rooms have not yet been selected. Please contact Kym Kleinsmith for
Sponsored by the additional information [email protected]
Center for Academic Success
THE COMMUNITY / RECIPES 8
Reading Area Community GLBT presence on campus would bring
negative retaliation. Instead, the college
College goes over the rainbow
community, both gay and straight, wel-
comed the presence.
(Continued from page 7)
―Diane [Marabella, Senior VP of Enroll-
Implementing GLBT events was met ment Management/Student Services] . . .
with few, if any problems. was originally concerned that there might
be some anti-gay sentiment on campus, so
―I did have to jump through a few hoops she got RACC security to be vigilant during
to raise the rainbow flag on one of our flag- events. But nothing negative happened.‖
poles last year on the National Day of Si-
lence,‖ says Kleinsmith, ―but this year they This April‘s series of events are listed on
already gave me the go-ahead.‖ page 7.
Contact: [email protected]
One of the biggest challenges has been
starting a Gay Straight Alliance, a dream
yet to be fulfilled.

―We tried for two years to get the GSA

going, but the bottom line is that despite
many students saying they were interested,
we never had enough students able to com- The first GLBT Aw
mit to the time it takes to get a GSA going, areness Committe
RACC: Ginny Na e at
glic, Kym Kleinsmi
Kleinsmith explains.‖ and Brenna J. Co th,
rbit.
photo: Charles F.
Corbit
Kleinsmith has also been the contact
person at RACC to host the film portion of
the weekend-long events of the Reading
Pride Celebration. Students browse the Pa Diversity Network‘s
In a gay community that was too long Photo Project―100 Same-Sex Couples: Facing
silent, there were some concerns that a Inequality at RACC in November 2007.
photo: Brenna J. Corbit

Alejandro Alejandro’s Mac and Cheese

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with Captain  1 jar of Ragú® Cheese Sauce
Crunch Method:
Cook noodles as directed on the package
Ingredients: Drain water off the noodles.
 3 cups of Captain Crunch cereal You‘ve just
Heat the jar of cheese sauce in a saucepan.
 3 eggs, beaten Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked
created
 4 chicken breasts noodles. a mouth-watering
 Cooking oil Serve with your favorite vegetable. recipe and you
would like to
Method: share it with the
Mash the Captain Crunch cereal in a
community?
bowl.
Clean the fat off the chicken breast. Well, then send
Dip each breast in the beaten egg. your recipe to us
Coat each breast with the mashed ce- along with
real. a picture of your
Place the chicken breasts on a paper
creation to
towel until ready to be fried. [email protected]
Fry the breasts in a frying pan coated
with oil. Fry on each side for about five
minutes.
photo: Richard Todd Wagner
POETRY 9

The Person on the Bridge

by Awilda I. Castro Suárez

To Tyler Clementi

Nobody on the George Washington bridge

heard the splash of his body,
hundreds of people drove over the bridge,
some thinking about dinner or unpaid bills,
none thought about the violinist ready to jump.
They said his privacy was violated,
streamed live on the Internet,
Tweeted,
posted in Facebook,
bullied, what happens in the intimacy of their rooms,
the scapegoat of so many prejudices. we shove them deeper and deeper inside their closets,
We weren‘t there we may say, each time we deny them the right to marry,
we didn‘t put the camera in his room, we stamp them as third class citizens.
we are innocent, Yes we are responsible of that person‘s desperation,
but the truth is we aren‘t, this person is a son, a niece, a grandson, an aunt,
each time we use the word gay as a joke the kind nurse who takes care of your mother,
we kill another Tyler Clementi, the lawyer who fights for your rights,
each time faggot or dyke comes out of a mouth the newspaper delivery guy,
we kill another Brandon Teena, a poet,
each time we use homosexual as a synonym for a sexual predator actually, a couple of years back that desperate person,
we kill another Matthew Shephard, was me.
each time we feel superior enough to judge

JOIN AN AWARD WINNING TEAM Positions Available

Fundraising
Grant Writing
Sponsorship
Copy Editor
Educators
Public Relations
and Marketing
Please join us !
Interested persons may submit a
letter of interest to
JOIN AN AWARD WINNING TEAM [email protected]
or call 610.375.8209
We are looking for you if you live in The Greater Or even better attend
Reading Area and are interested in working with a monthly general meeting
an all-volunteer non-profit GLBTA organization held at 7 PM at Chef Alan's
that is team-based and community-centered. We Restaurant in West Reading.
Upcoming meeting dates:
want to continue Reading Pride Celebration's March 21, 2011
growth with the hope of expanding the scope of April 18, 2011
May 16, 2011
the organization's mission in the community. June 20, 2011
ANNOUNCEMENTS / EVENTS 10

W is hes to ...
t h d ay
Ha ppy Bir

Kimmie K
albach
Richard Spangler March 28
June 8

Good Property
Proud Management Brian Pinto
SPONSORS For all of your property May 6
management needs!
of the Reading Pride 932 Penn St
Celebration Reading, Pa 19602
610-743-4174
Chef Alan’s
6th and Penn Aves.
West Reading, Pa 19611
All Souls Anniversaries
610-375-4012
Ecumenical Church
Worshipping every Sunday
Judy’s on Cherry at 1:00pm in the Chapel
at Calvary UCC.
upscale
Sinners and Saints
Mediterranean dining
are welcome!
lunch Tues.-Fri. 11:30 - 2 640 Centre Avenue
dinner Tues.-Sat. 5 - 9:30 Reading, Pa 19601
332 Cherry Street 610-621-1738
Reading, Pa. 19602
610-374-8511 Diamoz Nightclub
Ralph’s Food Market and Restaurant
grocery and PA Lottery 1913 W. Broad St.
Bethlehem, Pa.
open 7 days a week 610-865-1028
146 Oley St Amber and Nath
(2nd and Oley Sts.)
Reading, Pa. 19601 Immix Wireless an Brown
610-374-8744 Berkshire Mall April 29, 2006
1705 State Hill Road
Feeney’s Funeral Home Wyomissing, PA 19610
625 N 4th St 610-378-9300 &
Reading, PA 19601-2892 Fairgrounds Square Mall
Red Star Saloon 3050 North 5th Street Highway
11 S. Tenth Street Reading, PA 19605
Reading, Pa. 19602 610-939-9377
610-375-4116