“It’s very funny. We really do treat this as a comedy until it’s not.” Which Shakespeare play are artists O’Malley Steuerman and Betse Lyons referring to? As You Like It? Perhaps A Midsummer Night’s Dream? More than just a name has been updated here. Their Romeo and Juliet, styled as R/J, brings comedy, contemporary flair, and representation to the Strand Theater Stage to complete their 15th season. Cover Image: Production photo of R/J at the Strand Theatre. Photo by Erik W Photography, erikwphotography.com, @erikwphotography on Instagram Previously cast together in Strand Theater’s production of Christmas at Pemberley, Steurman and Lyons […]
Uganda’s horrible anti-gay law will devastate HIV care
Kampala, Uganda – Amy Fallon writes in Global Health that the new anti-gay bill in Uganda, labeled as “among the worst in the world” by the United Nations would “devastate” the HIV response in the east African country, activists warn. The Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was passed by the nation’s Parliament on March 21st, prescribes life imprisonment for homosexual acts and the death penalty for “aggravated offences” such as those involving minors or people with disabilities. The bill also includes a duty to report same-sex acts and imposes up to six months in prison for the failure to do so. Activists […]
US Right Wing activists support Uganda’s ‘Kill the Gays’ bill
San Francisco – Greg Owen writes in LGBTQ Nation that a remarkable collection of well-known U.S. conservatives are openly supporting Uganda’s latest “Kill the Gays” law, claiming LGBTQ+ rights in Africa are just another form of “neo-colonialism.” Media Matters reports the Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh mocked those condemning the draconian legislation passed by Uganda’s Assembly in March as “cultural colonialists” whining over “protecting so-called LGBTQ rights” and claimed opponents of the bill “don’t think that Uganda has any particular right to govern itself and have its own culture and its own way of life.” (See also: Matt Walsh: Transphobe of […]
All About Pronouns: A guide to the perplexed
What are pronouns? Pronouns are words we use to refer to someone in the third person. Examples include they / them, she / her, and he / him. What does gender have to do with pronouns? In the English language, pronouns have historically been gendered, meaning they convey information about the person’s gender, whether that information is accurate or not. For many of us whose identity sits outside the binary or whose gender does not align with sex assigned at birth, being called by the wrong pronoun is uncomfortable and sometimes hurtful or traumatic. It’s important to not make assumptions about […]
What Do You See?
Whenever I facilitate a conversation about inclusion, I usually begin with this image. If you pictured an “Indian” or an “Eskimo,” you are not alone. This is a frequent response I’d receive in these discussions. One could argue the facial profile seen here does resemble Native American features, but most of us, in North America, quickly conclude the “Eskimo” as our answer because we were taught that Eskimos wear parkas with fur lining. If you glance again at the image above, you will notice, we never do see a face, therefore we cannot conclude anything about who is wearing the […]
A Lawyer Should Settle Your Estate
When a loved one has died, the shock and sorrow of their loss may quickly lead to another emotional jolt – the prospect of having to settle their estate. Being named personal representative (executor) under someone will be both an honor and a burden. The process usually takes several months. There will likely be financial accounts to marshal, real estate to deal with, bills and taxes to pay, and probate filings to prepare – all at an emotionally difficult time. For many personal representatives, their first question is “How can I get out of this?” The good news is that […]
Is Climate Change Affecting Your Yard?
April continues to be a roller coaster of weather, with midsummer-like highs and late-winter-like lows. How does your yard or garden look these days? It might be that more is needed than just better maintenance. Trees, shrubs, and flowering plants that were comfortable in our Chesapeake environment 20 years ago are struggling these days because of the effects of climate change … but how can you make choices that will keep your landscaping looking great and an asset to the curb appeal of your property? And if you make changes, how can you make sure they are reducing your carbon […]
Financial Planning in the Internet Age: 5 Tips to Protect Your Money Online
As internet use has taken over our daily lives, there’s been an unfortunate side effect. That’s a vast increase in fraud, enabling scammers to access consumer accounts and money. And it’s not just more of it that’s the problem. Scammers are getting better at it. As part of your financial planning, we want to arm you with our best tips on internet security to ensure that you avoid being the next victim. Over 56 billion reasons to pay attention – Today’s online fraud is big business. It costs Americans about $56 billion a year, according to a Javelin Strategy […]
Growing Attacks On Transgender Medical Care
Bills to ban best-practice medical care for transgender people are growing in number, growing in scope, and growing more extreme, according to a report released today by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), entitled “Bans on Medical Care for Transgender People.” The report looks at the sweeping attempts to ban and restrict medical care for not only transgender youth – but also transgender adults. Just last week, Missouri became the first state to effectively ban medically necessary care for both youth and adults. MAP analyzed the more than 250 bills introduced in recent years that attack access to medical care for […]
Queer Jewish Arts Festival on the Road in Baltimore
In honor of Pride month this June, the Gordon Center for Performing Arts invites the community to join for a series of programs on the road, in the gallery, and at the Gordon. The festival celebrates multiple facets of our identities – including gender, race, religion, and class – through the arts. Sponsored by the Grandchildren of Harvey M. & Lyn P. Meyerhoff Philanthropic Fund, the festival will highlight local, national, and international artists who are making art with queer and Jewish content and examine the complexity of how we present ourselves and move throughout life. “This year, we have […]