Headlines from the Granite State
Pappas introduces veterans bill
US Rep. Chris Pappas introduced a bill that would create an LGBTQ Veterans Advisory Committee at the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Pappas, the first openly gay man to represent the Granite State in Congress, is a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.
“LGBTQ+ veterans, whether they served during the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ era, in the years following, or more recently during the Trump administration’s transgender military ban, all face unique challenges after separation or retirement,” Pappas explained in a public statement.
Reports Stars and Stripes, “The committee’s membership would include professionals in fields related to health care and other needs unique to the LGBTQ veterans; at least one lesbian, gay or bisexual veteran with a service-connected disability; at least one transgender veteran with a service-connected disability; minority LBGTQ veterans and LGBTQ veterans who have been both voluntarily and involuntarily separated from service.
It would report to the VA Secretary on VA’s LGBTQ veterans programs and activities.
Supporting this legislation are the Minority Veterans of America, Out in National Security and the Modern Military Association of America.
New venue for Pride drag show
Derry, New Hampshire officially celebrated Pride month for the first time this year, but the town’s public Taylor Library wasn’t quite ready for a drag story-time reading by Michael McMahon, performing as Clara Divine. The library canceled Divine’s appearance in response to complaints from a pair of conservative locals—library trustee Lorraine Lindenberg and State Rep. Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien, according to the Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass.
The town’s Tupelo Music Hall, however, quickly picked up the story-time event.
“Myself and the entire Tupelo Music Hall family were disheartened to hear about the cancellation of Drag Story Time with Clara at the Taylor Library last week,” Tupelo’s owner Scott Hayward told the Eagle-Tribune. “I’ve always thought of New Hampshire, specifically Derry, as a community of love and inclusivity.”
“Derry is most certainly not what it is being portrayed it is in the media or online,” said Derry Town Council Chair Jim Morgan said. “The bigotry of those that opposed this event is not what our community stands for and this now lays at their feet.”
“Hatred of any race or sexual orientation is not a badge of honor to wear,” Morgan told the Eagle-Tribune. “We need to do better.”
Revision a school policy
The school board of Epping, New Hampshire is grappling with a new policy of guidelines concerning transgender and nonbinary students. The major concern is over when, or if, it’s appropriate to allow “school personnel to inform parents of their child’s decision to come out,” reports Seacoast Online.
The board’s intent is to keep parents in the loop concerning the well-being of their kids; the problems here are over the privacy rights of the students, the physical and emotional safety of those whose families may not be supportive, and concerns of school counselors if required to break confidentiality with the students they’re counseling.
After hearing from students, staff and board members, the board decided at a July meeting to keep working on revisions to the policy before voting on it.
“The current policy adopted in 2015 stated that school employees should not disclose information unless legally required to do so or unless the student has authorized such disclosure,” reports Seacoast Online.
A revised draft of the policy update would cut off the required parent notification after sixth grade, or for students “not capable to make a decision due to age or disablity,” and provide a case-by-case possibility for exception, signed by the superindentent, “if the student has concerns about physical or emotional harm due to their coming out.”
Eyes on Pride
Though pandemic precautions prevented their traditional Pride Parade and Marketplace, Seacoast Outright partnered with the Prescott Park Arts Festival in June. Their scaled-down but no less festive Pride in the Park”event featured community partner tables, Pride merch, snacks and pre-show activities before a drag performance plus a screening of the film “Love, Simon.”
They’re also still hoping to go all out with a full Pride celebration in October, so keep an eye on their website for details.
Seacoast Outright is celebrating its 27th year supporting LGBTQ+ youth in the Seacoast area and beyond. Their Pride parade and festival is their largest annual fundraiser.
More: seacoastoutright.org
