It Begins
03/01/2025
The Trump Administration continues its attack on the LGBTQ community and to “reshape” the American Family as outlined is the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. While on the campaign trail when many people cried out against Project 2025, Mr. Trump claimed he has not read it. I am absolutely sure that this was true, he had not read it, after all it was written by his former cabinet and advisers as a blueprint to dismantling government agencies and has a lot to say about what your private relationships should look like and who you should marry.
In fact, Christian Nationalist vision of the family is a key ingredient of the 922 page manual. According to Project 2025, not all families are created equal. On page 451, it defines the “right” kind of family as “a married mother, father, and their children.” It claims this is the “foundation of a well-ordered nation and a healthy society.” Yes, I could point to the similar propaganda that came out of Germany in the 1930’s, but I will refrain.
Promoting this biblical concept of family is cited as a top-five goal for a revamped Department of Health and Human Services, which it criticizes for “having lost its way” by “promoting equity in everything we do.”
The document says efforts at promoting diversity should be repealed and replaced with policies that support what it calls the formation of “stable, married, nuclear families.”
In other words, the authors of Project 2025 believe they have the right to dictate what your family should look like, extending the arm of government into your home — and into your bedroom — to enforce a Christian nationalist worldview. They consider this not just a policy preference, but a core function of governance itself.
To propel this view, Idaho lawmakers pushed forward a resolution to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling on same sex marriage, arguing it’s an overstep of federal authority. The House State Affairs Committee’s decision prompted emotional testimony, with opponents stressing the importance of equal rights and questioning the historical misuse of states’ rights arguments. Both local and out-of-state voices, including those labeled as anti-LGBTQ+ groups, expressed their viewpoints. The resolution now heads to the full House for a vote, and it appears their main goal is to get to the Supreme Court so Obergefell v. Hodges can be overturned.
It should be noted that traditional families — people who are married with children — no longer make up the majority of family compositions in the U.S., according to recent polling by the Pew Research Center. This shift in family structures is due in part to more same-sex couples adopting children or starting their own families, reflecting the diverse and evolving landscape of today’s American society.
That diversity, according to the authors of Project 2025, poses a danger to “the very moral foundations of our society.”
The document lays out several proposals for undermining the rights of those who don’t fit the biblical definition of a family. For instance, it wants the government to protect the right of businesses to discriminate against same-sex couples and says that federal grants should be made available to faith-based groups that refuse to recognize same-sex marriage, specifically, groups that, “affirm that marriage is between not just any two adults, but one man and one unrelated woman.”
While acknowledging that this would violate the Respect for Marriage Act, which bans discrimination against same-sex couples, the document nonetheless calls for the government to “protect faith-based grant recipients that maintain a biblically based, social science–reinforced definition of marriage and family.”
Its policy proposals also demonize children raised in nontraditional households, stating, “Social science reports that assess the outcomes for children raised in homes aside from a heterosexual, intact marriage are clear: All other family forms involve higher levels of instability; financial stress or poverty; or poorer behavioral, psychological, or educational outcomes” which is a misstatement of the facts.
One especially alarming proposal is to criminalize transgender identity as pornography. This proposal likely takes its cue from Russia’s so-called gay propaganda bill passed in 2022, which bans all forms of what it refers to as LGBTQ “propaganda” and prohibits Russians from promoting same-sex relationships. Similarly, Project 2025 considers the “propagation of transgender ideology” to be pornography.
In fact, Christian Nationalist vision of the family is a key ingredient of the 922 page manual. According to Project 2025, not all families are created equal. On page 451, it defines the “right” kind of family as “a married mother, father, and their children.” It claims this is the “foundation of a well-ordered nation and a healthy society.” Yes, I could point to the similar propaganda that came out of Germany in the 1930’s, but I will refrain.
Promoting this biblical concept of family is cited as a top-five goal for a revamped Department of Health and Human Services, which it criticizes for “having lost its way” by “promoting equity in everything we do.”
The document says efforts at promoting diversity should be repealed and replaced with policies that support what it calls the formation of “stable, married, nuclear families.”
In other words, the authors of Project 2025 believe they have the right to dictate what your family should look like, extending the arm of government into your home — and into your bedroom — to enforce a Christian nationalist worldview. They consider this not just a policy preference, but a core function of governance itself.
To propel this view, Idaho lawmakers pushed forward a resolution to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling on same sex marriage, arguing it’s an overstep of federal authority. The House State Affairs Committee’s decision prompted emotional testimony, with opponents stressing the importance of equal rights and questioning the historical misuse of states’ rights arguments. Both local and out-of-state voices, including those labeled as anti-LGBTQ+ groups, expressed their viewpoints. The resolution now heads to the full House for a vote, and it appears their main goal is to get to the Supreme Court so Obergefell v. Hodges can be overturned.
It should be noted that traditional families — people who are married with children — no longer make up the majority of family compositions in the U.S., according to recent polling by the Pew Research Center. This shift in family structures is due in part to more same-sex couples adopting children or starting their own families, reflecting the diverse and evolving landscape of today’s American society.
That diversity, according to the authors of Project 2025, poses a danger to “the very moral foundations of our society.”
The document lays out several proposals for undermining the rights of those who don’t fit the biblical definition of a family. For instance, it wants the government to protect the right of businesses to discriminate against same-sex couples and says that federal grants should be made available to faith-based groups that refuse to recognize same-sex marriage, specifically, groups that, “affirm that marriage is between not just any two adults, but one man and one unrelated woman.”
While acknowledging that this would violate the Respect for Marriage Act, which bans discrimination against same-sex couples, the document nonetheless calls for the government to “protect faith-based grant recipients that maintain a biblically based, social science–reinforced definition of marriage and family.”
Its policy proposals also demonize children raised in nontraditional households, stating, “Social science reports that assess the outcomes for children raised in homes aside from a heterosexual, intact marriage are clear: All other family forms involve higher levels of instability; financial stress or poverty; or poorer behavioral, psychological, or educational outcomes” which is a misstatement of the facts.
One especially alarming proposal is to criminalize transgender identity as pornography. This proposal likely takes its cue from Russia’s so-called gay propaganda bill passed in 2022, which bans all forms of what it refers to as LGBTQ “propaganda” and prohibits Russians from promoting same-sex relationships. Similarly, Project 2025 considers the “propagation of transgender ideology” to be pornography.
Horizons On Aging Conference
01/30/2025
Horizons on Aging Summit
Rainbow Elder Care, in association with United Church Homes, presents the 2025 LGBTQ+ Horizons on Aging Summit “Navigating Wellness and Nurturing Resilience in Uncharted Seas” on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Registration opens at 9:15 am. The program begins at 9:45 am and runs to 5:00 PM.
The program will take place at the Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St., Dayton, OH 45402. There will also be a Library Elder Awards Reception from 6:30 pm to 8:00 PM. Ample parking is available on the street and in the Library parking garage. Please place this event on your calendar as it will be a very enlightening.
Rainbow Elder Care, in association with United Church Homes, presents the 2025 LGBTQ+ Horizons on Aging Summit “Navigating Wellness and Nurturing Resilience in Uncharted Seas” on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Registration opens at 9:15 am. The program begins at 9:45 am and runs to 5:00 PM.
The program will take place at the Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St., Dayton, OH 45402. There will also be a Library Elder Awards Reception from 6:30 pm to 8:00 PM. Ample parking is available on the street and in the Library parking garage. Please place this event on your calendar as it will be a very enlightening.
Ohio Senate Bill 104
01/01/2025
Ohio Once Again Attacks the Most Vulnerable Among Us
by Randy Phillips
It seems this statement certainly applies to Ohio Senate Bill 104: It is not about bathrooms, just like it was never about water fountains. This bill, now law, is an attempt to legislate a whole group of people out of existence. After all, only 1.14% of all US citizens identify as transgender or nonbinary according to the US census bureau and with such a small percentage it is easy to demonize this group to excite fear, and fear, as we just witnessed, wins elections. The result is now Governor DeWine has signed into law SB 104 & HB 183 with requires all individuals in primary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher learning to use the restrooms and other facilities that align with their sex assigned at birth.
For those of you who are not vary familiar with individuals who are transgender, Please trust me when I say that there are individuals who have transitioned some years ago, who look very opposite of what they were pronounced at birth. This is just an attempt to legislate a whole group of people out of existence. Just like the whole, “don’t say gay” bill that was introduced in Florida. For a point of reference, a like; don’t say gay bill has been reintroduced in Ohio. [We will keep you informed on that one.]
Jocelyn Rosnick, Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio said: “We are increasingly disheartened as the Ohio General Assembly’s continue to attacks against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across Ohio. Senate Bill 104 is a cruel invasion of student’s rights to privacy, which could result in unwarranted governmental disclosures of private, perusal information. If allowed to go into effect;, SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non=conforming individuals of all ages. This bill ignores the material reality that transgender people endure higher rates of sexual violence and assaults, particularly while using public restrooms, than people who are not transgender. All Ohioans deserve to access the facilities they need in alignment with their gender identity, without fear of harassment or bullying.”
by Randy Phillips
It seems this statement certainly applies to Ohio Senate Bill 104: It is not about bathrooms, just like it was never about water fountains. This bill, now law, is an attempt to legislate a whole group of people out of existence. After all, only 1.14% of all US citizens identify as transgender or nonbinary according to the US census bureau and with such a small percentage it is easy to demonize this group to excite fear, and fear, as we just witnessed, wins elections. The result is now Governor DeWine has signed into law SB 104 & HB 183 with requires all individuals in primary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher learning to use the restrooms and other facilities that align with their sex assigned at birth.
For those of you who are not vary familiar with individuals who are transgender, Please trust me when I say that there are individuals who have transitioned some years ago, who look very opposite of what they were pronounced at birth. This is just an attempt to legislate a whole group of people out of existence. Just like the whole, “don’t say gay” bill that was introduced in Florida. For a point of reference, a like; don’t say gay bill has been reintroduced in Ohio. [We will keep you informed on that one.]
Jocelyn Rosnick, Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio said: “We are increasingly disheartened as the Ohio General Assembly’s continue to attacks against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across Ohio. Senate Bill 104 is a cruel invasion of student’s rights to privacy, which could result in unwarranted governmental disclosures of private, perusal information. If allowed to go into effect;, SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non=conforming individuals of all ages. This bill ignores the material reality that transgender people endure higher rates of sexual violence and assaults, particularly while using public restrooms, than people who are not transgender. All Ohioans deserve to access the facilities they need in alignment with their gender identity, without fear of harassment or bullying.”
Transgender Day of Remembrance
11/02/2024
November 20 - 7:00 PM - Sinclair CC
We are very please to announce our Keynote speaker for Transgender Day of Remembrance 2024 is singer/song-writer, dancer, model, actor and activist, Laith Ashley.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual event here in Dayton to honor those transgender and non-conforming individuals who lost their lives in 2024 due to violence. All to often these individuals are estranged from their families so it is altogether fitting that we honor them and celebrate the life lived.
On November 20th at 7:00 pm at Sinclair Community College’s conference center we will read their names, and light a candle for these individuals. Additionally, Khris Goins, founder of Black Trans Men of Ohio will speak along with Judas, a 21 y.o. person, and Chrissy Ray, a trans female and of course our keynote speaker, Laith Ashley.
Laith launched his career with a campaign for Barneys New York, back in February 2014. In 2017 he was the first transgender man to be featured in a Diesel campaign, and in February 2020, became one of the faces of the Abercrombie FIERCE campaign. Laith has been on the cover of countless magazines and has had featured stories published in countless others all around the world. Laith was on the cast of reality TV series “Strut”, with executive producer by Whoopi Goldberg in 2016, and raised the heart rates of viewers in his appearances on season one of hit series, “Pose”, on FX, and Taylor Swift’s love interest in the music video for Lavender Haze.
Laith graduated Fairfield University in 2012 with a degree in Psychology. Before beginning his career in the entertainment industry, Laith was a counselor for homeless youth in New York City and spearheaded trans sensitivity training in medical facilities and homeless shelters. He now uses his platform to help inform others about the trans experience, and the experience of other marginalized groups, as well as advocating for social justice, in hopes for a more open, loving and accepting world. Tickets for this FREE event are available on our website.
8/4 Memorial
08/01/2024
8/4 Memorial
On August 4th, 2024, on the 5th anniversary of the mass shooting that took place in the Oregon District, ‘The Seeds of Life” memorial will be unveiled and dedicated. The design for this memorial was chosen by a committee made up of artist and community leaders to reflect creation, inspiration, and community growth since the horrific event that left 9 people dead, besides the assailant and many others injured.
“The memorial is to honor nine lives that were lost on August 4, 2019,” said Jes McMillan, executive director of the Mosaic Institute who has worked so diligently with her team to create a mosaic of healing and togetherness that provides the ground work before the 9 sculptures within the memorial along with the live plantings to represent those that were injured, and a large bench where people can sit and reflect.
“These things have a long-term impact. That is the only thing I can stress because I get that a lot, you know? Oh, it’s been going on for five years, you should feel better, or you should be doing alright. There is no time limit on trauma,” said Dion Green, mass shooting survivor.
Join us on August 4th, from 3-4 pm for the dedication of this historic piece. Next door to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth Street in the Oregon District. The artist team includes: Terry Welker, FAIA: architect/sculptor, team leader Sierra Leone: poet, educator, community builder Jes McMillan: artist, community builder, The Mosaic Institute James Pate: artist, designer, community builder
“This memorial will be an important step in the healing process as we remember those who were lost and grieve with those who were affected by this tragedy in the heart of our community,” said Sandy Hunt, memorial co-chair.
Funding for the 8/4 Memorial is possible thanks to the support from the CareSource Foundation, City of Dayton, Conor Group Kids & Community Partners, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Kettering Health Network, Montgomery County, Premier Health, Sinclair College, University of Dayton and donations from the Gem City Shine hosted by Dave Chappelle.
On August 4th, 2024, on the 5th anniversary of the mass shooting that took place in the Oregon District, ‘The Seeds of Life” memorial will be unveiled and dedicated. The design for this memorial was chosen by a committee made up of artist and community leaders to reflect creation, inspiration, and community growth since the horrific event that left 9 people dead, besides the assailant and many others injured.
“The memorial is to honor nine lives that were lost on August 4, 2019,” said Jes McMillan, executive director of the Mosaic Institute who has worked so diligently with her team to create a mosaic of healing and togetherness that provides the ground work before the 9 sculptures within the memorial along with the live plantings to represent those that were injured, and a large bench where people can sit and reflect.
“These things have a long-term impact. That is the only thing I can stress because I get that a lot, you know? Oh, it’s been going on for five years, you should feel better, or you should be doing alright. There is no time limit on trauma,” said Dion Green, mass shooting survivor.
Join us on August 4th, from 3-4 pm for the dedication of this historic piece. Next door to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth Street in the Oregon District. The artist team includes: Terry Welker, FAIA: architect/sculptor, team leader Sierra Leone: poet, educator, community builder Jes McMillan: artist, community builder, The Mosaic Institute James Pate: artist, designer, community builder
“This memorial will be an important step in the healing process as we remember those who were lost and grieve with those who were affected by this tragedy in the heart of our community,” said Sandy Hunt, memorial co-chair.
Funding for the 8/4 Memorial is possible thanks to the support from the CareSource Foundation, City of Dayton, Conor Group Kids & Community Partners, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Kettering Health Network, Montgomery County, Premier Health, Sinclair College, University of Dayton and donations from the Gem City Shine hosted by Dave Chappelle.
A Threat To Our Rights
07/01/2024
Ohio Lawmakers Threaten Our Rights!
June is PRIDE month and as we have been celebrating our individuality and openness, many of our Ohio lawmakers have been taking advantage of the distraction to push the agenda to take away those rights. Currently in the Ohio legislature is HB-245 & HB-8, and SB-104.
HB-245 would amend sections 2907.39 and 4301.25 of the Revised Code to prohibit adult cabaret performances in locations other than adult cabarets. What does this mean? This means that simple drag performances in public such as PRIDE events, PRIDE parades and the like would become prohibited. This was born out of the desire to end those dreaded drag queen story hours that cranked up the extreme right wing folks and has sent them into overload. Never mind the logic behind such fears do not make sense. Drag has been around for many, many years and depicted in film and TV to no ill effect. I do not believe anyone who ever watched “Tootsie”, “Mrs. Doubtfire” or “Mash” suddenly had a desire to wear a dress or change their sexual orientation.
Key Concerns with HB 245
Criminalization and Felony Charges: HB 245 makes it a crime and in some cases a felony, to perform while transgender or in drag outside of adults-only clubs. The bill’s broad and ambiguous language creates significant legal risks and uncertainties.
Obscenity and Harmful Labeling
The bill equates living as or performing while transgender, and the art form of Drag, with being obscene and harmful to juveniles, perpetuating harmful stigmas and discrimination.
Chilling Effect on the Arts
By criminalizing Drag performances outside of “adult cabaret” venues and imposing felony charges if these performances occur in the presence of someone under 18, HB 245 will have a chilling effect on artistic expression and lead to self-censorship in spaces where gender-bending is part of the art form.
Conflict with First Amendment Rights
HB 245 poses a serious threat to First Amendment rights by restricting freedom of expression and artistic performance.
This bill is currently in House committee yet has not been introduced in the Ohio Senate.
When we look at HB-8, this sparks a whole new set of concerns. In summary: HB-8 would establish a fundamental right for parents to make decisions concerning the ‘upbringing, education, and care’ of the parent’s child, and prescribes specific obligations for he schools with regard to parental involvement. After being amended four times, HB-8 goes much further than protecting parental rights. It adds broad curriculum censorship reminiscent of the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bills from last session, adds a definition of sex to undermine existing civil rights protections granted to LGBTQ+ people, and creates disclosure and alternative curriculum rules for teachers and counselors that leave educators with impossible and conflicting rules and new obligations, further straining resources and time.
House Bill 8 adds a definition of sex that specifically contradicts Supreme Court precedents, Title IX laws, and undermines existing LGBTQ+ discrimination for employee and for students. This bill prohibits “sexuality content” that is not ‘age appropriate” defining “sexuality content’ as any oral or written instruction, presentation, image, or description of “sexual concepts or gender ideology.” Yet, sexual concepts and gender ideology are not defined leaving room for broad interpretation. It also specifies that parental consent to health care services do not waive the parent’s right to access their child’s educational or health records or to be notified about a change in the student’s services or monitoring. This amendment added a specific, explicit requirement for counselors and teachers to “out” a student that questions their gender identity or sexual orientation to their parents, no exceptions. Even in situations in which there is a fear of abuse.
A single parent will have the ability to file a complaint about the topics addressed by an entire class, which the school must address withing 30 days, even if that parent’s child has been removed from class. The bill also specifies that an appeals process for the parents must be in place. On the last Legislative session day before their summer recess, extremists in the Ohio legislature added an anti-LGBTQ+ amendment into Senate Bill 104 on the House floor. The last-minute amendment places a bathroom ban for transgender people in schools K-12 through Higher Education into an unrelated bill related to the College Credit Plus program. This amendment to SB 104 bans transgender and gender diverse people from using restrooms and other facilities aligned with their identities in schools and all universities in Ohio. This bill impacts both youth and adults. Bathrooms and overnight accommodations in all university or school related facilities are included in this bill, including stadiums and school-sanctioned field trips. It is time to get vigilant and reach out to law makers to protect your rights. This bill is currently in House committee yet has not been introduced in the Ohio Senate.
June is PRIDE month and as we have been celebrating our individuality and openness, many of our Ohio lawmakers have been taking advantage of the distraction to push the agenda to take away those rights. Currently in the Ohio legislature is HB-245 & HB-8, and SB-104.
HB-245 would amend sections 2907.39 and 4301.25 of the Revised Code to prohibit adult cabaret performances in locations other than adult cabarets. What does this mean? This means that simple drag performances in public such as PRIDE events, PRIDE parades and the like would become prohibited. This was born out of the desire to end those dreaded drag queen story hours that cranked up the extreme right wing folks and has sent them into overload. Never mind the logic behind such fears do not make sense. Drag has been around for many, many years and depicted in film and TV to no ill effect. I do not believe anyone who ever watched “Tootsie”, “Mrs. Doubtfire” or “Mash” suddenly had a desire to wear a dress or change their sexual orientation.
Key Concerns with HB 245
Criminalization and Felony Charges: HB 245 makes it a crime and in some cases a felony, to perform while transgender or in drag outside of adults-only clubs. The bill’s broad and ambiguous language creates significant legal risks and uncertainties.
Obscenity and Harmful Labeling
The bill equates living as or performing while transgender, and the art form of Drag, with being obscene and harmful to juveniles, perpetuating harmful stigmas and discrimination.
Chilling Effect on the Arts
By criminalizing Drag performances outside of “adult cabaret” venues and imposing felony charges if these performances occur in the presence of someone under 18, HB 245 will have a chilling effect on artistic expression and lead to self-censorship in spaces where gender-bending is part of the art form.
Conflict with First Amendment Rights
HB 245 poses a serious threat to First Amendment rights by restricting freedom of expression and artistic performance.
This bill is currently in House committee yet has not been introduced in the Ohio Senate.
When we look at HB-8, this sparks a whole new set of concerns. In summary: HB-8 would establish a fundamental right for parents to make decisions concerning the ‘upbringing, education, and care’ of the parent’s child, and prescribes specific obligations for he schools with regard to parental involvement. After being amended four times, HB-8 goes much further than protecting parental rights. It adds broad curriculum censorship reminiscent of the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bills from last session, adds a definition of sex to undermine existing civil rights protections granted to LGBTQ+ people, and creates disclosure and alternative curriculum rules for teachers and counselors that leave educators with impossible and conflicting rules and new obligations, further straining resources and time.
House Bill 8 adds a definition of sex that specifically contradicts Supreme Court precedents, Title IX laws, and undermines existing LGBTQ+ discrimination for employee and for students. This bill prohibits “sexuality content” that is not ‘age appropriate” defining “sexuality content’ as any oral or written instruction, presentation, image, or description of “sexual concepts or gender ideology.” Yet, sexual concepts and gender ideology are not defined leaving room for broad interpretation. It also specifies that parental consent to health care services do not waive the parent’s right to access their child’s educational or health records or to be notified about a change in the student’s services or monitoring. This amendment added a specific, explicit requirement for counselors and teachers to “out” a student that questions their gender identity or sexual orientation to their parents, no exceptions. Even in situations in which there is a fear of abuse.
A single parent will have the ability to file a complaint about the topics addressed by an entire class, which the school must address withing 30 days, even if that parent’s child has been removed from class. The bill also specifies that an appeals process for the parents must be in place. On the last Legislative session day before their summer recess, extremists in the Ohio legislature added an anti-LGBTQ+ amendment into Senate Bill 104 on the House floor. The last-minute amendment places a bathroom ban for transgender people in schools K-12 through Higher Education into an unrelated bill related to the College Credit Plus program. This amendment to SB 104 bans transgender and gender diverse people from using restrooms and other facilities aligned with their identities in schools and all universities in Ohio. This bill impacts both youth and adults. Bathrooms and overnight accommodations in all university or school related facilities are included in this bill, including stadiums and school-sanctioned field trips. It is time to get vigilant and reach out to law makers to protect your rights. This bill is currently in House committee yet has not been introduced in the Ohio Senate.
Masquerage, A Sad Goodbye
07/01/2024
After 24 Years, Masquerage Announces The End
At the very beginning, Brent Johnson of the budding Square One Salon served on the associates board of the Aids Resource Center, ARC and took on the task of creating a fundraiser for ARC. It was to be a Halloween Party of Parties. As this concept developed, his partner, Josh Stucky who came up with the name “Masquerage” as a masked rage party complete with fashion show.
As the Cannery complex had not been fully developed yet, the empty underdeveloped spaces became home to the first Masquerage. DJ Hill, and DJ Venus cranked out the tunes to get the party started and soon Lisa Grigsby stepped in to produce Maquerage.
Over the years this annual Party of Parties continued to be a signature fundraising event for ARC and later with the re-branding Equitas. A variety of themes and an ever changing line up of entertainment hit the stage, but as it was from the very beginning, at the very heart of it all was the Rubi Girls who enthralled the crowd year after year with their very own brand of entertainment.
Lisa Grigsby said of the ending: “I just heard that Equitas has made the very difficult decision to discontinue Masquerage moving forward. Dayton’s Party of Parties for a cause had an incredible 24 year run. I had a blast producing this event from 2009-2013! I want to say a great big thank you to all who volunteered, performed and supported this event. I made so many friends along the way!”
At the very beginning, Brent Johnson of the budding Square One Salon served on the associates board of the Aids Resource Center, ARC and took on the task of creating a fundraiser for ARC. It was to be a Halloween Party of Parties. As this concept developed, his partner, Josh Stucky who came up with the name “Masquerage” as a masked rage party complete with fashion show.
As the Cannery complex had not been fully developed yet, the empty underdeveloped spaces became home to the first Masquerage. DJ Hill, and DJ Venus cranked out the tunes to get the party started and soon Lisa Grigsby stepped in to produce Maquerage.
Over the years this annual Party of Parties continued to be a signature fundraising event for ARC and later with the re-branding Equitas. A variety of themes and an ever changing line up of entertainment hit the stage, but as it was from the very beginning, at the very heart of it all was the Rubi Girls who enthralled the crowd year after year with their very own brand of entertainment.
Lisa Grigsby said of the ending: “I just heard that Equitas has made the very difficult decision to discontinue Masquerage moving forward. Dayton’s Party of Parties for a cause had an incredible 24 year run. I had a blast producing this event from 2009-2013! I want to say a great big thank you to all who volunteered, performed and supported this event. I made so many friends along the way!”
Show your Pride!
05/27/2024
June is Pride month - show your support and participate in as many activities as possible!
More Pride information is here…
More Pride information is here…
Apple Vision Pro
03/30/2024
Apple Vision Pro
Paul Simmons
As a long-time Appleholic, resisting the urge to buy Apple’s latest technological wonder was impossible.
About 2 months in with the Apple Vision Pro (AVP)…
First, it’s an amazing piece of technology! Spatial Computing (Apple’s name) has to be experienced to understand and appreciate. Secondly, this is obviously a first-gen teaser of what’s to come. Yes, it’s typical Apple in it’s polish and attention to detail, but there are still a lot of areas in need of further development - both software and hardware. So, here are some initial thoughts, in no particular order of importance…
It’s hard to wear more than a couple of hours or so at a time - even with either of the supplied head bands - it starts to weigh down on your face, particularly the bridge of your nose.
There is a minor problem with lens flare - once you notice it, it can be annoying. And, once you see it, you can’t unsee it!
You can’t cry when watching content… there’s no place for the tears to go! The face band has a tight light seal around your face.
Keeping the battery connected to a power source full time seems to be best - if the battery gets too low, the AVP sleeps/shuts down and no longer syncs with iCloud. Battery life is a couple of hours or so. The battery is external and hangs down on a cable.
3D movies (lots on AppleTV, no extra fee) are really fun, but not as sharp as I'd like. That’s probably a 3D encoding problem… You can record 3D content on iPhone 15s or on the AVP. If you record local video in 3D with an iPhone or the AVP… wow! Movies and TV shows look really awesome… everything I’ve watched so far has a theatrical film quality, not a 4K video image where you can count every hair on an actor’s head! I actually prefer the theatrical appearance.
Adding a Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard really enhance the user interface experience. The popup keyboard is clunky at best and hard to use. Bluetooth mice are not supported. Apple’s interface tracks your eye movements and what you’re looking at. Stare at a button or some menu item, then tap your fingers together to select it. Move your hand up and down or left and right to scroll.
The built-in speakers in the headband above your ears are exceptional. I’ve experimented with Air Pods Pro 2 to replace the speakers… the speakers actually sound much better - a fuller, more immersive, sound.
Eating/drinking while wearing AVP can be problematic… if you’re in an immersive environment (your room is totally masked), you can’t see your hands, you can't see an object to grab/pick up - you can’t see where your mouth is!!! The AVP app store has a growing number of apps specifically engineered for the AVP. Quite a few take advantage of the 3D capabilities. A lot of iPad apps will work, and many developers are promising AVP versions in the near future. Interestingly, Apple’s core apps - Pages, Numbers, and KeyNote, are not available yet.
Bottom line, I’m impressed and can’t wait to see where Apple goes with the AVP. And, I’m still learning… the more I use it, the more I discover.
Paul Simmons
As a long-time Appleholic, resisting the urge to buy Apple’s latest technological wonder was impossible.
About 2 months in with the Apple Vision Pro (AVP)…
First, it’s an amazing piece of technology! Spatial Computing (Apple’s name) has to be experienced to understand and appreciate. Secondly, this is obviously a first-gen teaser of what’s to come. Yes, it’s typical Apple in it’s polish and attention to detail, but there are still a lot of areas in need of further development - both software and hardware. So, here are some initial thoughts, in no particular order of importance…
It’s hard to wear more than a couple of hours or so at a time - even with either of the supplied head bands - it starts to weigh down on your face, particularly the bridge of your nose.
There is a minor problem with lens flare - once you notice it, it can be annoying. And, once you see it, you can’t unsee it!
You can’t cry when watching content… there’s no place for the tears to go! The face band has a tight light seal around your face.
Keeping the battery connected to a power source full time seems to be best - if the battery gets too low, the AVP sleeps/shuts down and no longer syncs with iCloud. Battery life is a couple of hours or so. The battery is external and hangs down on a cable.
3D movies (lots on AppleTV, no extra fee) are really fun, but not as sharp as I'd like. That’s probably a 3D encoding problem… You can record 3D content on iPhone 15s or on the AVP. If you record local video in 3D with an iPhone or the AVP… wow! Movies and TV shows look really awesome… everything I’ve watched so far has a theatrical film quality, not a 4K video image where you can count every hair on an actor’s head! I actually prefer the theatrical appearance.
Adding a Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard really enhance the user interface experience. The popup keyboard is clunky at best and hard to use. Bluetooth mice are not supported. Apple’s interface tracks your eye movements and what you’re looking at. Stare at a button or some menu item, then tap your fingers together to select it. Move your hand up and down or left and right to scroll.
The built-in speakers in the headband above your ears are exceptional. I’ve experimented with Air Pods Pro 2 to replace the speakers… the speakers actually sound much better - a fuller, more immersive, sound.
Eating/drinking while wearing AVP can be problematic… if you’re in an immersive environment (your room is totally masked), you can’t see your hands, you can't see an object to grab/pick up - you can’t see where your mouth is!!! The AVP app store has a growing number of apps specifically engineered for the AVP. Quite a few take advantage of the 3D capabilities. A lot of iPad apps will work, and many developers are promising AVP versions in the near future. Interestingly, Apple’s core apps - Pages, Numbers, and KeyNote, are not available yet.
Bottom line, I’m impressed and can’t wait to see where Apple goes with the AVP. And, I’m still learning… the more I use it, the more I discover.
Ohio SAFE Act
12/29/2023
Saving Ohio Adolecents from Experimentation - Is it really SAFE?
To enact sections 3109.054, 3129.01, 3129.02, 3129.03, 3129.04, 3129.05, 3129.06, 3313.5319, and 3345.562 of the Revised Code to enact the Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act regarding gender transition services for minors, and to enact the Save Women’s Sports Act to require schools, state institutions of higher education, and private colleges to designate separate single-sex teams and sports for each sex.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio is HB-68 as passed by the Ohio House and Senate and is currently on the Governors desk for signing.
As we enter this next political election cycle it was expected that we would see more redirect with political speak like “Save the Children and SAFE.” The easiest way to try to get re-elected is to try to tell your base that you are doing something to protect them, even if there is no protection at all and simply an attack for the sake of bullying on the most vulnerable in our society, the transgender community. It is a small percentage of our population therefore the easiest to attack without to much political damage to yourself, right? In 2023, 589 anti-trans bills have been introduced in 49 states, 85 have passed, 269 are still active, and 235 have failed.
It does seem that political parties find it advantageous to find a group or person to attack to advance their political position rather than stand on policy itself. The medical community, state and local LGBTQ Communities, national organizations, and educational professionals turned out to oppose HB-68, but testimony was not allowed, it was pushed straight through. Those that showed up at the Capitol to protest and offer testimony were told to leave that the bill had been passed without testimony so all should leave. The only hope is that the governor will listen to the experts and veto this bill, yet in the past he has typically given in to the extreme right, so only time will tell.
Many all over Ohio have been reaching out to the governor to encourage him to veto this bill.
In a press conference held on 12/29/2023, Governor Mike Dewine did VETO HB-68, stating the consequence of this bill could not be more profound, and is about protecting human life and these gut wrenching decisions should be made by parents with the advice of doctors. Please thank Governor Dewine.
To enact sections 3109.054, 3129.01, 3129.02, 3129.03, 3129.04, 3129.05, 3129.06, 3313.5319, and 3345.562 of the Revised Code to enact the Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act regarding gender transition services for minors, and to enact the Save Women’s Sports Act to require schools, state institutions of higher education, and private colleges to designate separate single-sex teams and sports for each sex.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio is HB-68 as passed by the Ohio House and Senate and is currently on the Governors desk for signing.
As we enter this next political election cycle it was expected that we would see more redirect with political speak like “Save the Children and SAFE.” The easiest way to try to get re-elected is to try to tell your base that you are doing something to protect them, even if there is no protection at all and simply an attack for the sake of bullying on the most vulnerable in our society, the transgender community. It is a small percentage of our population therefore the easiest to attack without to much political damage to yourself, right? In 2023, 589 anti-trans bills have been introduced in 49 states, 85 have passed, 269 are still active, and 235 have failed.
It does seem that political parties find it advantageous to find a group or person to attack to advance their political position rather than stand on policy itself. The medical community, state and local LGBTQ Communities, national organizations, and educational professionals turned out to oppose HB-68, but testimony was not allowed, it was pushed straight through. Those that showed up at the Capitol to protest and offer testimony were told to leave that the bill had been passed without testimony so all should leave. The only hope is that the governor will listen to the experts and veto this bill, yet in the past he has typically given in to the extreme right, so only time will tell.
Many all over Ohio have been reaching out to the governor to encourage him to veto this bill.
In a press conference held on 12/29/2023, Governor Mike Dewine did VETO HB-68, stating the consequence of this bill could not be more profound, and is about protecting human life and these gut wrenching decisions should be made by parents with the advice of doctors. Please thank Governor Dewine.