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Home Away From Home...

Reflecting back on my first semester here at PENN I am truly astonished as to the manner in which I’ve been able to make a rather seamless transition from working professional and part-time “happy homemaker” to full-time graduate student. Just a few months prior to my departure for academia I had all but abandoned Corporate America, and was pretty much living the “typical Southern California gay lifestyle.” You know, late mornings filled with critical tasks such as brunch with other unemployed friends, daily run to the dry cleaners, cameo at the gay gym and juice bar, shopping at the infamous Beverly Center (where you can easily find a man along with your clothing) and let’s not forget the incredible sunsets by the beach (did I mention it was a nude establishment?).

As you can see, I had a pretty harsh and sheltered life and leaving the safe, “comfy” confines of Los Angeles to attend school some 3000 miles away was definitely going to be a dose of reality for me. Outside of leaving my significant other and our two wonderful cats (who for whatever reason seem to possess dog tendencies and mannerisms), I can honestly say that my initial thoughts of trekking to “ the other side” was somewhat unnerving. For years, East-coasters have ranted about the quirkiness of Californians; our seemingly strange behaviors, knack for slacking and overwhelming state of liberalism (hell, what isn’t allowed in California?).

Oddly enough, we too possess preconceived notions about you Eastern-types. I’ll be one of the first to admit my own biases. From day one I pretty much expected to be “unaccepted,” both on campus and in the greater Philadelphia area. From a cultural perspective, I have been accustomed to environments where my sexuality was never an issue. For the past eleven years I have resided in San Francisco and Los Angeles where quite frankly, there are little or no difficulties in living an openly gay life or in being involved in an interracial relationship (we refer to the mixing of cultures as ‘swirling” ala the chocolate and vanilla swirl cones most of us from the 70s generation grew up on). In coming to Philadelphia, my perception was that society-at-large in this area of the country was neither diverse nor inclusive of others that were different in any way. As a gay male of Black and Latin descent (Panamanian to be exact), there were definite concerns surrounding my interaction with the Philadelphia gay community.

The first three weeks of the semester were by far the most difficult. I was in complete disarray and unsure as to whether I could shake the culture shock I was currently experiencing. Reminiscing about my previous activities at home, it dawned on me just how much the community (on a whole) meant to me. In San Francisco and Los Angeles I often participated in gay sporting leagues and events. As a former jock it was my affiliation with the San Francisco gay basketball and softball leagues respectively, that assisted me during my “transition period” just some seven years earlier. Overall, I had a strong sense of connection and felt in-sync with the local gay community. Having lost this foundation, things now felt a bit bizarre.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a movie and TV buff. I have this knack for memorizing weird scenes and lines from many sources. Often a situation will arise that parallels one of these strange moments. During this somewhat depressing period, I conjured up mental images of Dorothy – yes that one, from Kansas who clicked her heels three times stating “there’s no place like home.” Naturally, I didn’t have the snazzy red pumps, so size twelve Timberlands sufficed. Care to guess how many times I clicked my heels first semester?

Luckily, I had the good fortune of stumbling across the LGBT Center. It was very encouraging to know that PENN supported such activities. I recall my undergraduate years (many moons ago) and the lack of support that existed on my former campus. Many questioning students (including myself), essentially had to “fend for themselves,” and the casualties were quite high.

Since becoming more active within the “LGBT family” I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for both the campus and local gay community on a whole. Additionally, my condition of homesickness has started to subside. It definitely helps that I’ve been rather successful in cultivating some great friendships along the way. Everyone in the center, most notably Erin and Preeti has been exceptional in “taking me in and essentially opening their arms out to me.” For that, I am eternally grateful.

Overall, the outlook surrounding future experiences at PENN and in the Philadelphia gay community remains positive. In such a short span of time I’ve grown in so many ways - so many in fact, that I grasp as to how to justify it in words. Right now, I’m feeling like I’m on “cloud nine” and really starting to establish a groove. Without a doubt, I will cherish all of my experiences during my brief tenure here. Most importantly, I will make a concerted effort to contribute and successfully perpetuate the legacy of the LGBT Center by helping to make this a “home away from home” for others, as it has been for me.

P.S. Special thanks to others who have contributed to my positive PENN experience and have put up with my “mad dashes” to Jamba Juice and Trader Joe’s...

~JC Warren is a first year M.S. student from Los Angeles in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Mind Your P’s & Q’s

Meet the mailman...and the taxi driver, bookstore owner, CEO...

Last year, I missed out, entirely, on B-GLAD events. New Year’s resolution: lose weight. Senior year’s resolution: do everything I possibly can! And with the way this year’s celebration is shaping up, there’s no way I’d miss this particular part of “everything” for the world (well, maybe for West Africa...but that’s another story).

On the 19th of March, we commence our activities with a new name (TBA) and the primary source of information, art, writings and ramblings for the week in our supplement to the Daily Pennsylvanian. This year’s theme: Who Are the People in Your Gayborhood? The supplement will be available online; at your request, we can also mail you a copy. I’m planning on being in Penn’s gayborhood, so I certainly hope to see you at some events!

The day after the supplement’s premier, we’ll be having the Kickoff Rally on College Green, an art exhibition opening, sponsored by PennGALA, in the Fox Art Gallery featuring Loren Cameron’s work as well as Penn artists’, and the ALLIES event, “How to Be An Ally.” The day sets the tone for the rest of the celebration, which is event-packed! Come along to meet new people in your gayborhood.

On Thursday, QSWAP brings the commissioner of Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services, Alba Martinez, to Penn. Both the Queer community and the Social Work School are very excited. She is expected to be a crossover hit (kind of like Shakira). Then, the Greenfield Intercultural Center and Lambda Law bring us Yale’s Associate Law professor, Kenji Yoshino, for a discussion about sexuality and the law.

Friday is the day to be a social extrovert. Performance artist Mohan Sikka joins us at the Fireside Lounge in the ARCH in the late afternoon. Attendants surely will shuffle their way home to prep for the Grad Mixer followed by the annual dance, which features a QSA drag show throughout the night, both happening in the ARCH as well. The dance, usually our most well attended event, is certainly not to be missed. Doors will open at 10pm and DJ Zodiac will be stringing together the music.

Over the weekend, there are also events. Singer/songwriter and former Penn student Doria Roberts will be hosting an Open Mic Night, and we’re still working out a service activity for the day. The Open Mic is...well...open, so, anyone’s welcome to show your stuff. There’s a faith based program on Sunday and Oscar Night will be hosted by SPEC that same night. Join us to comment on Bjork’s dress (swans are beautiful!) or Anne Heche’s new “husband.”

Then, we start the workweek with Jim Gladstone reading at the Kelly Writers’ House as a pregame to the Keynote Speakers, Danny Robert from the MTV’s Real World, New Orleans and Sophia Paquis from MTV’s Road Rules. This was a huge decision for the committee to make. Over the years, at least all that I had been on the planning committee for, the debate always rages on about bringing an academic or bringing in someone who will surely draw a large crowd. This year, we made the sacrifice to bring “popular” culture to our campus to gain the queer community more exposure, thus increasing awareness and promoting acceptance. The climate on campus is a lot different now than what it used to be, I’m sure, but homophobia/heterosexism still exists and runs rampant through certain sectors of the Penn community. The need for a “big” event like this can’t be questioned; hopefully, our timing is right.

Danny is 22 and currently living in Atlanta. When his boyfriend gets out of the military, they are hoping to move to the West Coast together. Sophia is 23 and living in New York. She’s actually not out to her father, and is dealing with that issue now. The speakers have never spoken together and are looking forward to it. We are looking to bring in a moderator from the University of the Arts or our own Annenberg School who has done research regarding LGBT in the media. Overall, we are expecting a huge turnout and lots of attention. Hopefully it does affect the way our community is perceived and the communication that is, or isn’t, happening between our community and the Penn community as a whole.

BGLAD doesn’t end with the Keynotes, however. On Tuesday, Anndee Hochman will be bringing us a writing workshop and reading from her own work in Harrison College House. PEARL hosts its annual BGLAD event, this year with hip-hop act D’Lo and dinner. Not to mention that throughout the whole week, we will have “20 Minutes On... “ discussions over lunch in the Houston Hall Bistro, as well as LGBT-themed movies playing on our campus movie stations.

The week is chock full of something to get you out-and-about in Penn’s gayborhood. I ask you to attend one event if you can to show your support for the community we’ve managed to build here. If you have any questions, feel free to call the LGBT Center or email me and I’ll do what I can to answer those questions. We hope to see you in our gayborhood sometime between the 20th and 27th, but anytime, really, is perfectly fine with us. And bring a little of your own gayborhood along; I wouldn’t mind meeting the firefighter, the homemaker, the engineer...

~Jen Moore is a senior English major, Women’s Studies minor originally from New Jersey.

This is Jen’s “Weeeeee!!!” squirrel, not to be confused with the squirrel that was running around the LGBT Center a few weeks ago after it chewed a hole in our bathroom wall. Luckily, Marty the exterminator trapped the squirrel and released it, but not until after Erin screamed.

What do HPV and the PAP have to do with me? More than You Think

So, you may be wondering what HPV and the PAP have to do with you. Well, it turns out that HPV should mean much to every sexually active adult in the country, especially gay and bisexual men. Don’t sit there looking smug, ladies. New evidence shows that women who have sex with women are at risk for HPV, as are women that have sex with both men and women.

So what is this HPV thing anyway? HPV or the human papilloma virus is a very common viral disease that everyone is familiar with on some level. There are many subtypes of HPV. People most often recognize its common effect on the skin. Anyone who has a wart on his or her hand, foot, or any other location has been infected with HPV. However, seemingly normal skin around a wart may also be infected and not be symptomatic. That is why it is so difficult for people to rid themselves of warts. Often, most subtypes are only a cosmetic nuisance; however, there are subtypes that can cause more severe problems.

Certain subtypes of HPV target the genital and anal regions. These subtypes result in the dreaded genital or anogenital wart. This column discusses the sexually transmitted form of HPV. So, why is anogenital HPV infection such concern?

First off, it is estimated that between 50-75% of adults, regardless of sexual orientation, who are having sex are infected with HPV. This makes HPV the most common sexually transmitted viral disease. Each year, more than ONE MILLION persons in the U.S. become infected with HPV. Only about 2% of infected persons show symptoms, and it is in this patient population that anogenital warts manifest themselves.

Not only are anogenital warts embarrassing when having sex with a new partner, but also the risk of transmitting the virus from one partner to another during a SINGLE act of sex is estimated to be 60% (in symptomatic individuals). No estimate is available re: transmission from infected persons with no visible warts to partners, but it is estimated to be high.

For patients with visible lesions, there is a small, but definite risk of developing cervical or anal cancers. This is due to specific viral strains within the subtypes that cause anogenital warts. THAT is why it is important for men and women to be screened for HPV infection and treated, if necessary. Once detected, the visible lesions can be treated. Removal of the anogenital wart does not cure the person. Persons infected with HPV remain infected for life; however, most people’s immune systems can hold the infection in check. Periodically warts will reappear and need treatment. The risk of asymptomatic persons developing cancer is unknown at this time, but is probably higher than uninfected persons.

For these reasons all women, regardless of sexual orientation, must have annual PAP smears to look for HPV infection. The PAP smear, conducted during the annual gynecological exam, is the screening process for detecting HPV in women. Recent medical articles have reported that women who have sex with women can infect each other with HPV, and that it can be transmitted by fingers and sex toys. As HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, it is extremely easy to infect someone. Most infections probably occur between partners that show no symptoms. The cervix is the most commonly infected site, which is why women may be infected without knowing it, as the cervix is not readily visble day to day. The labia may also be infected, however.

Men who have sex with men should also be screened for HPV. Even if not having penetrative anal sex, it is possible, through skin-to-skin contact, to transmit the virus to the anal area of a partner. Condoms help to reduce the risk of transmission during any form of penetrative sex, but as they do not cover the scrotum, they are not completely effective. Transmission of the virus to and from the scrotum is probably very common. Men who have sex with men should tell their health-care provider that they are sexually active with other men so that screening can be considered. There is discussion of beginning anal pap smears for men, but at present the best screening is examination of the genital and perianal region for warts.

Most people with anogenital warts present to their physician because something isn’t right “down there.” Patients often think that they may have hemorrhoids, skin tags, or some other condition, which in fact turn out to be symptomatic HPV infection. HPV can often be diagnosed during a physical exam in the case of men, and through physical exam and PAP smears in women. Any person with any changes in the skin of the genital or anal area should see their healthcare provider immediately for evaluation.

For persons diagnosed with HPV infection, there are many treatment options. A full discussion of treatment options is beyond the scope of this article. In addition, both the patient and physician must decide upon the best course of treatment. Treatment courses include surgery, cryotherapy (freezing), laser treatment, and topical medications. Each has its own plusses and minuses. Generally, warts that have been present for less than one year are treated more successfully, with fewer needs for repeated therapy, as are small (< 2mm) warts.

HPV infection is common, but as patients take a more active interest in their health, it is hoped that a reduction in new infections can be accomplished. The first step is wider screening of all sexually active populations. In addition, it is important to talk with sexual partners about STD’s (sexually transmitted diseases) and ensure that one practice safer sex EVERY time one has sex. Although no method will provide complete protection, safer sex is the best choice to reduce transmission of STD’s between persons.

~David Dinan is a fourth year medical student, currently completing a pathology fellowship. Post-medical school, he plans to go into pediatrics, with an interest in the health of LGBT youth. He also serves as the student co-chair of the LGBTC Advisory Board.

OUT & In-Focus: Joan Lau ‘92

Joan Lau can’t say enough good things about Philadelphia. Having just returned after many years away, Joan is eager to get reacquainted with the city and find the perfect sushi restaurant.

Joan is no stranger to the area. She grew up in Delaware and came to the University of Pennsylvania in 1988 because of its great bioengineering program. Joan did not come out until later in her time at PENN and thus was involved only briefly with the LGBA (now the QSA) as well as with PEARL. However, Joan says she found PENN a positive place to come out and felt that it was easy to find people in the LGBT community to provide support during her coming out process.

Joan graduated with a BSE in Bioengineering in 1992 and left PENN to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Indiana and later at the University of Cincinnati. While in Cincinnati, Joan met her partner Brook Zitek at a medical school party. After completing her Ph.D., Joan worked for an orthopedic company making hip implants.

This past October, after nearly ten years away from Philadelphia, Joan and Brook moved back to Philadelphia. Joan says she’s thrilled to be back in Philadelphia after spending so much time in the Midwest. “This is a great city,” Joan stated over and over, noting that it is a good size and has lots of good restaurants.

Joan is currently working as Project Manager in drug development on depression compounds at Merck in Plymouth Meeting. She likes what she’s doing and says that the project manager’s role, that is, expert at nothing but knowledgeable about lots of things, is the perfect role for her. She likes that she gets to interact with all parts of the project and all of the people involved.

She has remained active with PENN throughout her time away. In Indiana she started the Indiana PENN alumni club and still interviews for PENN. She got involved with PENN Gay and Lesbian Alumni (PennGALA) while in Cincinnati and has been involved as Secretary and now as a General Board Member.

Joan’s advice for soon-to-be graduates of PENN? Make use of the resources at PENN. Joan mentioned that she met many interesting people after PENN by checking the LGBT check box on a PENN Career Network survey just before graduation.

For now, Joan and Brook are getting integrated back into Philadelphia life. They are currently looking to buy a house in the Chestnut Hill/Mt. Airy area. Joan says she looks forward to going to shows, eating out around town, and getting involved in the political scene again. Sushi patrons be on the lookout for a woman with a mission!

~Preeti Advani is the Center’s Social Work intern and is originally from New Jersey.

Carriage House is Moving Ahead

As unusual as it may be in the world of construction, the Carriage House renovation is on schedule, courtesy, in part, of the warm winter we have had. Substantial completion, excepting the landscaping, is expected by early May, with move-in projected for the first week in June. The new LGBT Center will certainly be ready for business by the start of the 2002-2003 academic year in September and a “grand opening” is being planned for some time in October.

The plan for the new Center’s furniture was approved in January. Though the exterior of the 1876 building, which is historically significant, will be preserved, the interior, and the furnishings, will be contemporary and simple. Wood used in trims and built-in furniture will be light (such as maple and ash) and accents in the modern furniture will be red and gray. The architects have done an excellent job in selecting durable and attractive furnishings, staying within a fairly modest budget.

Fundraising is continuing. Volunteers are currently being sought for a phone-a-thon scheduled for the evenings of April 10 and 11. Dinner will be provided to participants, along with a brief orientation to the project and guidelines for making telephone calls. Then, calls will be made to alumni who have not previously made gifts to the Carriage House. Students are particularly encouraged to volunteer, as we assume alumni will be eager to talk about what life is like nowadays for LGBT and allied students. If you are able and willing to help with this important project, please contact Bob at 215-898-5044 or <bobs@pobox.upenn.edu>.

~Bob Schoenberg is the Director of the LGBT Center.

Preparing for the Real World

A few weeks ago I stepped into my Mom’s car and she sighed and said, “I see that you shaved your head again.” It was a surprising statement to hear coming from her, because she seemed to finally be okay with all of my haircuts and hair colors. However, in short measure I understood her complaint. She explained that I would be entering the “real world” and the “job market” soon and that to be taken seriously I had to present a certain image. I wasn’t in the “college world” any more and I had to grow up.

Surprisingly – or maybe not — I hadn’t really given this much thought recently. As a transgender college student I have gone through a lot of outward changes in the last four years or so, and as I am far from the end of my journey into determining who I am, I had assumed that I would go through a lot more. I also knew that I would be looking for a job in the next few weeks and that eventually I wanted to work with children. I knew that this would present a problem for me, but I hadn’t really considered what I would have to do to achieve my goals.

My Mother is a very supportive woman, and although I have never said the words “I’m” and “transgender” in the same sentence to her, she knows most of what I’ve gone through in the last couple of years with my gender. So I guess that I thought that she would see the image that I now present to the world as a newer version of myself, as I do, rather than as an experiment that has to end with my college years. I was obviously wrong.

This is a problem that we all face as queer people and allies. We have two resumes: one with the real list of activities in which we took part, and the one that only lists our straight achievements. It has been so long since I worried about whether people would value the work that I have actually done, that I forgot that I am a walking version of the resume problem. If I look as I do now, and/or if I continue to change outwardly, I present myself as the type of person that so much of the world would like to avoid. In essence, I might be closing any open doors in my path.

So the question of what to do looms large for me. I am letting my hair grow out, which pleases my Mother. This is hardly my only masculine feature though, and I’ve never been able to look like a girl effectively. However, I can’t really pass as a man either. This places me in the sticky in-between I was in all along, and leaves me to wonder if entering the “real world” is something that I’ll ever be able to do.

My Mother talked about the image that I present and referred the changes that I’ve gone through as “experimentation.” While it is definitely true that I’ve be experimenting it’s not like I fit nicely into a mold before I started with this experiment and I can’t help but wonder what she thinks I should look like when the experiment is over. It’s been an interesting puzzle to play with over the last few weeks to try to make myself more “hirable.” I only wish that the game wasn’t so personal and the stakes weren’t my future.

~Shel White is an invidualized major in SEAS and is originally from Central PA.

Once, when I was a little girl
My father took me to the supermarket.
Waiting in line,
     I saw a giant.
A giant with a shiny bald head
		that I wanted to touch
And skin the color of the crispy edges of toast.
I pointed –
	Daddy Daddy lookit the bigblackman!
The giant swiveled around.
My father babbled apologies.

“That’s all right,” said the giant.
He squatted down and looked right into my baby eyes.
“Sweetheart—
	God makes us in all colors.
	He made me black.
	He made you white.
	And that’s okay.”
The man, who wasn’t a giant any more,
Stood.
“She’s a little girl.
   	 If we don’t tell her – how else is she going to know?”

I had forgotten about meeting the bigblackman,
Until yesterday,
When someone told me that

Although he doesn’t discriminate against homosexuals,
He thinks they are an abomination in the eyes of god.

He didn’t sense the irony in what he said,
But I did.

I wonder,
If he had gone shopping with my father
And met the man who wasn’t really a giant,
Would it have made a difference?

Is it possible to change a person’s mind
When they are grown already?
Can anybody be this man’s bigblackman?
Did he hear me when I told him
“Prejudice and hatred concern everyone,
even if you think you are not involved.
And hate is never ever okay.”?

I don’t think I will ever know.

~Bethany is in the Reading/ Writing/Literacy Program at the Graduate School of Education and is originally from Rhode Island.